Coexistence of multiple sclerosis and brain tumours: Case report and review

In the present report, a review of the literature on the combination of multiple sclerosis and brain tumours is performed. Additionally, the frequency of such combination, possible etiopathogenetic mechanisms, current diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches are reviewed. Furthermore, the case of a 30-year-old man with multiple sclerosis and anaplastic astrocytoma of the right temporal lobe is described in detail. Specifically, the patient underwent a series of tests, including laboratory analyses of blood and cerebrospinal fluid, brain MRI in various modes, MR spectroscopy and excised tumour’s pathohistological and immunohistochemical examination. Results of the tests are reported here. A staged examination and treatment of the patient allowed the researchers to perform a correct diagnosis and obtain a satisfactory functional outcome

An analysis of the Medicago falcata s.l. alfalfas collected in the ex-USSR territories for the fullness of their coverage

Background. The collection of wild yellow alfalfas from the Medicago falcata s.l. complex maintained at the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) is a unique genetic stock collected while exploring the ex-USSR territories from 1924 to 2018. It includes Medicago falcata L. proper, M. borealis Grossh., M. romanica Prod., M. quasifalcata Sinsk., M. difalcata Sinsk., and M. glandulosa David. Gap analysis makes it possible to assess the sufficiency of VIR’s collecting efforts in a certain locality or administrative unit and plan further collecting activities to ensure comprehensive conservation of sickle alfalfa genetic diversity.Material and methods. Databases of the Perennial Forage Crop Genetic Resources Department at VIR, and digital maps of administrative subdivisions of Russia and neighboring countries served as the research material. The ex-USSR administrative subdivisions were accepted as operational units. For each of them, the number of ser. Falcatae Vass. species and the number of accessions per administrative subdivision were taken into account. Statistical data processing included construction of frequency tables and differentiated mapping.Results. The coordinates of collection sites were identified for 446 accessions. Collections of six wild species within the studied complex were analyzed across the ex-USSR space, and in more detail in Krasnodar Territory.Conclusion. The target areas were identified for further collecting activities. For Russia, the prioritized regions where the collection could be replenished are the northern frontier of the area of sickle alfalfa distribution in the European part and its eastern borderline in Siberia, both characterized by extreme environmental conditions. To increase the geographic diversity of the collection, additional collecting efforts are required, along with mobilization of accessions from the neighboring countries

Hydrogel Nanocomposites with Silver Nanoparticles

Copolymer hydrogels based on acrylic monomers (primarily acrylamide and acrylonitrile) are synthesized and their physicochemical properties are investigated. Methods of incorporation of nanoparticles of gold and silver into hydrogel pores and methods of their stabilization using reagents of different nature are developed. Our studies showed pronounced bactericidal properties of the nanocomposites regarding gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and, at the same time, their biocompatibility to stem cells

Association between Arg753Gln (rs574308) polymorphism of the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) gene and the risk of pulmonary sarcoidosis among the residents of Karelia”

Genetic factors play an important role in the development and progression of many disorders including lung sarcoidosis which is a systemic inflammatory granulomatous disease of unknown etiology, characterized by the formation of epithelioid cell granules in affected tissues. Intensity of the developing inflammation may partially depend on genetic factors which may influence both susceptibility to lung sarcoidosis, and also clinical course of the disease and the degree of inflammatory response from the immune system. Allelic polymorphism of distinct genes is therefore worth of study. In the carriers of certain allele variants, one may observe either increase, or a decreased production of pro-inflammatory factors. Among the candidate factors involved in higher susceptibility of humans, one may consider Toll-like receptors (TLRS) which may contribute to formation of granulomas. Relevant data concerning association between the allele variants of these genes and susceptibility to lung sarcoidosis, and its clinical course are still quite limited and contradictory. The aim of the present study was to analyze the association between the Arg753Gln (rs574308) polymorphism of the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) gene and the risk of developing pulmonary sarcoidosis.A total of 253 persons were under study including 122 patients diagnosed with morphologically verified sarcoidosis with lung involvement (average age, 41.00±12.56 years), and 131 healthy donors comprising a control group (average age, 44.00±14.23 years). The distribution of alleles and genotypes for the Arg753Gln (rs574308) polymorphic TLR2 gene marker was studied in the groups of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and healthy donors. The test alleles of this polymorphic marker were typed by means of PCR technique followed by length analysis restriction fragments (PCR-RFLP method).There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution of allele and genotype frequencies for the polymorphic marker Arg753Gln (rs574308) of the TLR2 gene between the control group and the group of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis: χ2 = 2.0, df = 1, p = 0.158 and χ2 = 2.19, df = 2, p = 0.140, respectively.The polymorphic marker Arg753Gln (rs574308) of Toll-like receptor 2 gene is not associated with the risk of developing pulmonary sarcoidosis among ethnic Russians of the Republic of Karelia

FOXP3, IL2R, CD8A and RORγ gene expression in peripheral blood leukocytes of healthy people and patients with arterial hypertension

Impaired balance of T regulatory and T effector lymphocytes has recently been considered as an important pathogenetic link in arterial hypertension (AH). There are, however, contradictory literature data about contents of these cells in the patients with hypertension, or obtained in experimental animal models of induced hypertension. Most results about changed patterns of immune cells in cardiovascular diseases were obtained by means of flow cytometry. There are also some works on expression of genes encoding surface and cytoplasmic differentiation antigens of immune cells in the patients with cardiovascular pathologies. These results coincide with the data obtained with flow cytometric techniques. Purpose of the present study was to analyze of the levels of gene transcripts encoding differentiation markers of regulatory (FOXP3, IL2R) T cells, effector T subpopulations (T helpers 17 (RORγ), and CD8 lymphocytes (CD8A) in healthy subjects and the patients with arterial hypertension (stages I-II). We examined healthy individuals (40 people, 20 men and 20 women), 27 patients with hypertension who did not receive antihypertensive therapy (14 men and 13 women), 26 hypertensive patients taking β-adrenergic receptor blockers (metoprolol or bisoprolol), including 12 men and 14 women. The relative levels of transcripts in peripheral blood leukocytes were assessed by real-time RT-PCR. It was shown that the transcriptional activity of FOXP3, IL2R, RORγ, and CD8A genes in peripheral blood leukocytes of the diseased people was significantly higher than in healthy individuals (p < 0.01). This finding may indicate an increased number of circulating T regulatory lymphocytes, CD8+ cells and T helpers 17 in hypertensive patients, and activation of T cell immunity in these patients. There were no statistically significant gender differences in FOXP3, IL2R, RORγ and CD8A gene expression in leukocytes, both in the group of healthy people and in hypertensive patients. The patients receiving cardioselective β-adrenergic receptor blockers (metoprolol and bisoprolol) exhibited lower expression of these genes, thus, probably, indicating antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of these drugs

Evaluation of commercial traits in the accessions of Medicago sativa L. from Asia Minor

Background. One of the main tasks of the present-day breeding practice is the development of high-yielding intensive-type fodder crop cultivars for indoor feeding of livestock. Alfalfa, as a productive and high-protein crop, deserves special attention. An offer of new breeding sources would enable breeders to broaden the diversity of alfalfa cultivars. Objective. The present study involved 65 local varieties and wild accessions of alfalfa from Turkey preserved in the VIR collection. Material and methods. Yekaterinino Experiment Station of VIR (Tambov Province) was chosen as the research site. Evaluation of the alfalfa collection was carried out in 2015–2017, using the methods developed at VIR for fodder crop research targeted at such traits as green biomass yield, seed productivity, and leafiness. The cultivar ‘Marusinskaya 425’ was used as the reference. Results and conclusions. In 2015, four accessions were identified as promising for their green matter yield and seed productivity: local varieties k-3373 and k-3378 from Konya Province, k-5992 from Isparta Province, and k-6116 from Sivas Province. In 2016, three accessions exceeded the reference in the yield of green matter, and three accessions had higher seed productivity. Eight accessions surpassed the reference in leafiness. In 2017, only one accession, k-6009 (Kayseri Province), significantly exceeded the reference in green matter yield. Nine accessions were selected for their high seed yield. The maximum seed productivity was observed in the accession k-3379 (Konya). Leafiness was notably higher than the reference’s in 15 accessions. The average for three years shows that none of the accessions credibly surpassed the reference in green matter yield. Four accessions had higher seed productivity than the reference. According to the three-year average, 11 accessions exceeded the reference in leafiness. All in all, in the three years of study, the accessions k-3373, k-3378 and k-3379 (Konya) were selected for high green matter yield and seed productivity. High seed productivity and leafiness, with satisfactory green matter yield, were registered in the accession k-5992 (Isparta). The accession k-6009 (Kayseri) significantly exceeded the reference in green matter yield, but demonstrated low seed productivity and poor leafiness. The place of origin for the identified local accessions had been Central Anatolia, with its continental climate. These accessions are valuable breeding sources with noteworthy commercial traits. Alfalfa from Asia Minor can be recommended for use in breeding practice, targeted at the development of new high-yielding intensive-type cultivars