Femtomolar detection of the heart failure biomarker NT-proBNP in artificial saliva using an immersible liquid-gated aptasensor with reduced graphene oxide

Measuring NT-proBNP biomarker is recommended for preliminary diagnostics of the heart failure. Recent studies suggest a possibility of early screening of biomarkers in saliva for non-invasive identification of cardiac diseases at the point-of-care. However, NT-proBNP concentrations in saliva can be thousand time lower than in blood plasma, going down to pg/mL level. To reach this level, we developed a label-free aptasensor based on a liquid-gated field effect transistor using a film of reduced graphene oxide monolayer (rGO-FET) with immobilized NT-proBNP specific aptamer. We found that, depending on ionic strength of tested solutions, there were different levels of correlation in responses of electrical parameters of the rGO-FET aptasensor, namely, the Dirac point shift and transconductance change. The correlation in response to NT-proBNP was high for 1.6 mM phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and zero for 16 mM PBS in a wide range of analyte concentrations, varied from 1 fg/mL to 10 ng/mL. The effects of transconductance and Dirac point shift in PBS solutions of different concentrations are discussed. The biosensor exhibited a high sensitivity for both transconductance (2 uS/decade) and Dirac point shift (2.3 mV/decade) in diluted PBS with the linear range from 10 fg/mL to 1 pg/mL. The aptasensor performance has been also demonstrated in undiluted artificial saliva with the achieved limit of detection down to 41 fg/mL (~4.6 fM)

Risk of Venous Thromboembolic Complications in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Aim: The aim of this meta-analysis and systematic review was to evaluate the possible connection between AF and VTE.Material and methods. Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) contribute to intra-atrial blood stasis which leads to thrombus formation with its embolization. There is some evidence that AF can be a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The following databases were searched: PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The time frame for conducting a systematic literature search ranged from January 1, 1990 to November 1, 2021. The diagnosis of atrial fibrillation had to be confirmed by using ECG. The diagnosis of VTE could be made with Doppler imaging, ventilation/perfusion scan, CT angiography, venography, angiography or autopsy. Only the three studies with 102192 patients meeting the requirement were included in the meta-analysis.Results. The prevalence of DVT and PE were assessed using incidence rate ratios (IRR) method of the inverse variance random effects model and its 95% confidence interval (CI). The significant association between atrial fibrillation and pulmonary embolism was found (IRR, 4.18 95% Cl 1.958.98). Also there is obvious association between DVT and AF (IRR, 2.97 95% Cl 2.18-4.03).Conclusion. It can be concluded that the increased risk of developing VTE is associatedwith concomitant AF

Ecosystem and human health assessment to define environmental management strategies: The case of long-term human impacts on an Arctic lake

Abstract There are rich deposits of mineral and fossil natural resources in the Arctic, which make this region very attractive for extracting industries. Their operations have immediate and vast consequences for ecological systems, which are particularly vulnerable in this region. We are developing a management strategy for Arctic watersheds impacted by industrial production. The case study is Lake Imandra watershed (Murmansk oblast, Russia) that has exceptionally high levels of economic development and large numbers of people living there. We track the impacts of toxic pollution on ecosystem health and then -human health. Three periods are identified: (a) natural, pre-industrial state; (b) disturbed, under rapid economic development; and (c) partial recovery, during recent economic meltdown. The ecosystem is shown to transform into a qualitatively new state, which is still different from the original natural state, even after toxic loadings have substantially decreased. Fish disease where analyzed to produce and integral evaluation of ecosystem health. Accumulation of heavy metals in fish is correlated with etiology of many diseases. Dose-effect relationships are between integral water quality indices and ecosystem health indicators clearly demonstrates that existing water quality standards adopted in Russia are inadequate for Arctic regions. Health was also poor for people drinking water from the Lake. Transport of heavy metals from drinking water, into human organs, and their effect on liver and kidney diseases shows the close connection between ecosystem and human health. A management system is outlined that is based on feedback from indices of ecosystem and human health and control over economic production and/or the amount of toxic loading produced. We argue that prospects for implementation of such a system are quite bleak at this time, and that more likely we will see a continued depopulation of these Northern regions

ДОСВІД ФОРМУВАННЯ ЛІДЕРСЬКОЇ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТІ ВИКЛАДАЧІВ ХАРКІВСЬКОЇ МЕДИЧНОЇ АКАДЕМІЇ ПІСЛЯДИПЛОМНОЇ ОСВІТИ

The scientific works on the study of leadership competence and professional level of teachers at higher medical schools are analyzed in the article; the experience of formation of  Kharkiv Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education teachers’ leadership skills is described. It is proved that in the conditions of intellectual competition the continuous-improvement, teaching search and use of innovative technologies are mandatory requirements that are made demands on teacher-leader. Different approaches using self-monitoring and self-evaluation of activities and encourage the development of leadership qualities of teacher’s personality are described.У даній статті проведено аналіз наукових праць щодо дослідження лідерської компетентності та професійного рівня викладачів вищих медичних  навчальних закладів і висвітлюється досвід формування лідерських здібностей викладачів Харківської медичної  академії післядипломної освіти. Доведено, що  в умовах інтелектуальної конкуренції безперервне самовдосконалення, педагогічний пошук і використання інноваційних технологій є обов’язковими вимогами, які пред’являються до викладача-лідера. Приведено опис різних підходів із використанням самоконтролю та самооцінки власної діяльності й стимулювання розвитку лідерських якостей особистості викладача

Modern agglutinated foraminifera from the Hovgård ridge, fram strait, west of Spitsbergen: Evidence for a deep bottom current

Deep-water agglutinated foraminifera on the crest of the Hovgârd Ridge, west of Spitsbergen, consist mostly of large tubular astrorhizids. At a boxcore station collected from the crest of Hovgârd Ridge at a water depth of 1169 m, the sediment surface was covered with patches of large (1 mm diameter) tubular forms, belonging mostly to the species Astrorhiza crassatina Brady, with smaller numbers of Saccorhiza, Hyperammina, and Psammosiphonella. Non-tubutar species consisted mainly of opportunistic forms, such as Psammosphaera and Reophax. The presence of large suspension-feeding tubular genera as well as opportunistic forms point to the presence of deep currents at this locality that are strong enough to disturb the benthic fauna. This is confirmed by data obtained from sediment echosounding, which exhibit lateral variation in relative sedimentation rates within the Pleistocene sedimentary drape covering the ridge, indicative of winnowing in a south-easterly direction

Удаление метастазов при метастатическом раке толстой кишки с мутацией в гене BRAF — результаты много‑ центрового ретроспективного исследования

Introduction: local treatment of metastases is an integral part of colon cancer treatment. However, there is not enough data on the efficacy of surgical resection of metastases in patients with a BRAF gene mutation to recom‑mend this approach in routine practice. We initiated a retrospective multicenter study to assess the incidence of BRAF gene mutations in patients with metastatic colon cancer and to study the efficacy of metastasectomy in this group of patients.Materials and methods: we selected all patients who underwent surgical resection of metastases in various sites from the database of patients with BRAF gene mutations created as a result of a multicenter retrospective study with participation of 7 clinics in the Russian Federation. All 57 patients with RAS gene mutations and 43 patients with wild‑type RAS and BRAF genes who also underwent surgical resection of metastases at any stage of treatment were selected from the register of the Chemotherapy Department No. 2 of the NMRC of Oncology named after N. N. Blokhin for comparative analysis. Disease‑free survival and overall survival were used as primary efficacy criteria.Results: we found 26 patients with BRAF gene mutations who underwent surgical resection of metastases. When comparing disease‑free survival, the worst median was achieved in the group of patients with BRAF gene mutations: 7 months versus 14 months in patients with RAS gene mutations (HR 0.4, 94 % CI 0.23–0.7, P = 0.006); median disease‑free survival was not achieved in the wild‑type RAS and BRAF group (HR 0.2, 95 % CI 0.11–0.45, P <0.001).The median overall survival in the BRAF gene mutation group was 26 months versus 38 months in the RAS gene mutations group (HR 0.8, 95 % CI 0.33–1.98, P = 0.6) and 49 months in the wtRAS/wtBRAF group (RR 0.46, 95 % CI 0.17–1.24, P = 0.1). Resection of recurrent tumors in patients with metastases in retroperitoneal lymph nodes was associated with extremely low disease‑free survival (2 months); at the same time, disease‑free survival was 7 months after resection of isolated metastases in the liver and 8 months for metastases in the peritoneum.Conclusion: prognosis of patients with a BRAF gene mutation after surgical resection of metastases is worse than in patients with a different mutation phenotype. Nevertheless, literature data, as well as the results of our study, confirm the possibility of performing metastasectomy with careful selection of patients.Цель: Локальные методы лечения метастазов являются неотъемлемой частью терапии больных раком толстой кишки. Однако данных по эффективности хирургического удаления метастазов при мутации в гене BRAF недостаточно, чтобы рекомендовать данный подход в рутинной практике. Нами инициировано ретроспективное многоцентровое исследование по оценки встречаемости мутаций в гене BRAF при метастатическом раке толстой кишки, в рамках которого изучена эффективность метастазэктомии в этой группе пациентов.Материалы и методы: Из базы данных пациентов с мутацией в гене BRAF, созданной в результате многоцентрового ретроспективного исследования с участием 7 клиник Российской Федерации, были отобраны все пациенты, которым проводилось хирургическое удаление метастазов различной локализации. С целью сравнительного анализа из регистра отделения химиотерапии № 2 НМИЦ онкологии им. Н. Н. Блохина были отобраны все 57 пациентов с мутацией в генах RAS и 43 пациента с диким типом генов RAS и BRAF, которым также проводилось хирургическое удаление метастазов на любом из этапов лечения. В качестве основных критериев эффективности рассматривались выживаемость без признаков болезни и общая выживаемость.Результаты: Было найдено 26 больных с мутацией в гене BRAF, которым выполнялось хирургическое удаление метастазов. При сравнении выживаемости без признаков болезни наихудший показатель медианы был достигнут в группе пациентов с мутацией в гене BRAF — 7 месяцев против 14 месяцев при мутации в генах RAS (ОР 0,4, 94% ДИ 0,23–0,7, р=0,006); медиана выживаемости без признаков болезни в группе с диким типом генов RAS и BRAF не была достигнута (ОР 0,2, 95 % ДИ 0,11–0,45, р<0,001). Медиана общей выживаемости в группе с мутацией в гене BRAF составила 26 месяцев против 38 месяцев в группе с мутацией в генах RAS (ОР 0,8, 95% ДИ 0,33–1,98, р=0,6) и 49 месяцев в группе wtRAS/wtBRAF (ОР 0,46, 95% ДИ 0,17–1,24, р=0,1). Удаление рецидивных опухолей и при поражении забрюшинных лимфоузлов метастазами было ассоциировано с крайне низкой выживаемостью без признаков болезни (2 месяца), тогда как при удалении изолированных метастазов в печени она составила 7 месяцев, в брюшине — 8 месяцев.Выводы: Прогноз больных с мутацией в гене BRAF после хирургического удаления метастазов хуже в сравнении с пациентами с другим мутационным фенотипом. Тем не менее, данные литературы, а также результаты нашего исследования подтверждают возможность выполнения метастазэктомии при тщательным отборе пациентов

Доступ до інформації про діяльність Служби безпеки України в контексті протидії дезінформації

Rapid globalization and informatization of everyday processes, mass use of Internet resources and social networks contribute to the uncontrolled spread of disinformation. A general analysis of the concept of disinformation was carried out, its various interpretations were considered, and it was highlighted in broad and narrow understandings. The measures implemented by Ukraine to combat this dangerous phenomenon are outlined. Separate characteristics of the concept of “disinformation” are provided. On the example of the Security Service of Ukraine, the peculiarities of citizens' access to information about its activities are considered, the possibility of using mechanisms of access to public information in the context of countering disinformation about the state body is investigated. Thus, the role of timely and high-quality filling of official web resources of authorities, in particular the Security Service of Ukraine, was considered. It has been proven that the sites are official sources of reliable information about the work of state bodies, which is why they most often become the object of cyber attacks. The effectiveness of speeches in the mass media, control over the work of electronic mailboxes, as well as the peculiarities of official publications in social networks were analyzed. An overview of the official pages of the Security Service of Ukraine was carried out, and the information posted there was analyzed. The issue of access to public information through the provision of answers to requests was studied, the list of features of the realization of the right to information in wartime was analyzed. Since operational access to public information (via official websites, social networks) that is of significant public interest and is, in particular, related to the implementation of human rights to life, health, freedom and safety (about accidents, disasters and other extraordinary events, that have happened or may happen and threaten the safety of citizens) is important in wartime conditions, then any restrictions by the state bodies on the constitutional right of citizens to send individual or collective appeals and receive a response are inadmissible. The importance of the research lies in its universality and the possibility of practical use of the analysis results to improve the effectiveness of the work to counter disinformation of other state authorities.Досліджено механізм доступу до інформації про діяльність Служби безпеки України і можливість його використання з метою протидії дезінформації. Цілеспрямоване створення та поширення дезінформації про роботу державного органу (у нашому випадку Служби безпеки України) нівелює його авторитет, створює викривлену характеристику роботи та безпосередньо впливає на якість виконання завдань і функцій. Саме тому здійснено аналіз можливостей використання найбільш доступних способів – механізмів доступу до публічної інформації – з метою протидії дезінформації про Службу безпеки України. Через універсальний характер результати дослідження можна застосовувати в роботі інших державних органів

Common Origin of Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Microwave and Decimetric Solar Radio Bursts

We analyse quasi-periodic pulsations (QPP) detected in the microwave and decimetre radio emission of the 5 May 2017 7:04 UT (SOL2017-09-05T07:04) solar flare, using simultaneous observations by the Siberian Radioheliograph 48 (SRH-48, 4 – 8 GHz) and Mingantu Spectral Radioheliograph (MUSER-I, 0.4 – 2 GHz). The microwave emission was broadband with a typical gyrosynchrotron spectrum, while a quasi-periodic enhancement of the decimetric emission appeared in a narrow spectral band (500 – 700 MHz), consistent with the coherent-plasma-emission mechanism. The periodicity that we found in microwaves is about 30 seconds, coming from a compact loop-like source with a typical height of about 31 Mm. The decimetric emission exhibited a periodicity of about 6 seconds. We suggest a qualitative scenario linking the QPPs observed in both incoherent and coherent spectral bands and their generation mechanisms. The properties of the QPPs found in the microwave signal are typical for perturbations of the flare loop by the standing sausage mode of a fast magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) wave. Our analysis indicated that this sausage-oscillating flare loop was the primary source of oscillations in the discussed event. The suggested scenario is that a fundamental sausage harmonic is the dominant cause for the observed QPPs in the microwave emission. The initiation of oscillations in the decimetric emission is caused by the third sausage harmonic via periodic and nonlinear triggering of the acceleration processes in the current sheets, formed at the interface between the sausage-oscillating flare loop and the external coronal loop that extended to higher altitudes. Our results demonstrate the possible role of MHD wave processes in the release and transport of energy during solar flares, linking coherent and incoherent radio emission mechanisms