Influence of Tocolytic Therapy with Hexoprenaline on Heart Rate Variability, Lipid Spectrum and Glycemic Level in Obese Pregnant Women

Background. Obesity is associated with the risk of spontaneous preterm birth. Hexoprenaline is the effective and most widely used tocolytic agent, possessing however a significant number of side effects. The effect of hexoprenaline tocolysis on heart rate variability, lipid spectrum and glycaemia level in obese pregnant women remain unexplored.Aim of the research. To study the effect of tocolytic therapy with hexoprenaline on heart rate variability, lipid spectrum and glycemic level in obese pregnant women.Materials and methods. The study included two groups of pregnant women with threatened preterm labor who received tocolysis with hexoprenaline. One group consisted of 68 obese patients, the other – 72 non-obese pregnant women (control group). Patients underwent Holter monitoring. Fasting serum glucose and lipids spectrum were measured before starting tocolytic therapy and after 24 hours of tocolysis.Results. In obese pregnant women with hexoprenaline infusion, the heart rate, the 24-hours number of supraventricular extrasystoles and ventricular extrasystoles during the day are significantly higher. Frequency domain parameters, very low frequency during the day, low frequency at night and 24-hours high frequency were significantly decreased than in control group. After a day of tocolysis in obese pregnant women, the level of total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins, triglycerides, and glucose significantly increases when compared with the results before therapy. For patients in the control group treated with hexoprenaline, only the concentration of high-density lipoproteins is increased.Conclusion. Obesity in pregnant women receiving hexoprenaline tocolysis is associated with low heart rate variability and an increase in the number of cardiac arrhythmias, as well as lipid disorders and an increase in glucose level

Ferroelectric nanocomposites based on polymer ferroelectrics and graphene/oxide graphene: Computer modeling and SPFM experiments

The authors are thankful to the Russian Science Foundation (RSF grant # 16-19-10112) and to the Russian Foundation for Basic Researches (RFBR grants # 16-51-53917) for support. Prof. Xiang-Jian Meng expresses his gratitude to the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC) for support of the project: "The study on the new type of infrared detector based on ferroelectric tunnel junction"

Peculiarities of immunological manifestations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the presence of chronic infection with <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> variant encoding cytotoxin-associated gene A

The study aimed to evaluate the association between cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody seropositivity and chronic Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined 92 women with moderate RA activity. Serum antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide (antiCCP), antibodies to H. pylori (anti-H. pylori-IgG), and total antibodies to H. pylori CagA antigen (antiCagA) were determined by enzyme immunoassay; the presence of anti-CagA-IgG positivity was confirmed by immunoblot. 68.5% of RA patients were positive for anti-H. pylori-IgG, and 44.4% of patients in this group were positive for anti-CagA-IgG. All the study participants were divided into three groups: I – H. pylori seronegative (H. pylori- ); II – H. pylori positive, CagA negative (H. pylori+/CagA- ); III – H. pylori positive and CagA positive (CagA+). The anti-CCP values in RA patients with CagA+ (group III) were significantly higher not only in comparison with patients seronegative for H. pylori (p &lt; 0.001), but also in comparison with patients from group II (H. pylori+/CagA- ) (p = 0.041). A study of the influence of the RA activity, the presence of RF and H. pylori on anti-CCP content demonstrated a small proportion of anti-CCP variability (R2 = 0.09), with a high contribution of H. pylori (beta = 0.25). The addition of the CagA(+) index (beta = 0.503) to the presented model allowed us to describe the variability of anti-CCP in almost 30% of cases (R2 = 0.29). In the group of RA patients with anti-CCP values exceeding the established threshold value of 20 U/mL (normal index), there was an increase in the proportion of patients infected with H. pylori (p &lt; 0.001), but not the proportion of CagA-positive patients (p = 0.06). When the threshold level was increased to 60 U/mL (three times the upper limit of normal) in patients with significantly high anti-CCP, the association with positivity for CagA became significant (p = 0.005). CagA is highly immunogenic and is capable of inducing an inflammatory response in the host that goes beyond the effect of H. pylori itself. Additional experimental studies are needed to investigate possible clinical and laboratory associations that may influence the treatment tactics of CagA+ patients with RA who are seropositive for anti-citrullinated antibodies, as well as to evaluate the possible effects of therapeutic intervention aimed at the eradication of H. pylori in this group

Печеночная недостаточность при механическом холестазе паразитарного генеза

In Tomsk zonal hepatologic center 358 patients with obstructive parasitogenic jaundice have been operated (alveococcosis-based — 43, echinococcosis-based — 17, opisthorchosis-based — 298). Clinical presentations of hepatic failure before the surgery have been observed at 30,7% of patients, more often — under long and intensive cholestasis. Postsurgical hepatic failure has developed at 23,1%. Intraportal medicine infusions play an important role in prophylaxis and treatment of hepatic failure along with timely and optimal surgery. Infusions permit to decrease the hepatic failure progress probability from 60,6 to 30,5%, probability of suppurative complications from 10,3 to 3,1% and postsurgical lethality from 38,2 to 9,5%.В Томском зональном гепатологическом центре оперировано по поводу механической желтухи паразитарного генеза 358 человек (на почве альвеококкоза — 43, эхинококкоза — 17, описторхоза — 298). Клинические проявления печеночной недостаточности до операции наблюдались у 30,7% пациентов, чаще при длительном и интенсивном холестазе. Послеоперационная недостаточность печени развилась у 23,2%. В профилактике и лечении печеночной недостаточности наряду со своевременностью и оптимальностью оперативного вмешательства важную роль играют внутрипортальные инфузии лекарственных средств, позволяющие снизить вероятность прогрессирования недостаточности печени с 60,6 до 30,5%, развития гнойных осложнений с 10,3 до 3,1%, уменьшить послеоперационную летальность с 38,2 до 9,5%

Polarization switching and piezoresponse in PVDF/P(VDF-TrFE) ferroelectric films and multifunctional G/GO composites

Such composites can serve as a multifunctional molecular unit. Further models are in progress. The work is supported by RFBR grants # 15-01-04924, # 16-51-53017 and RSF grant #16-19-10112

Случай массивной описторхозной инвазии протоков поджелудочной железы

The objective of the present publication is to show clinical case of a rare massive affection of pancreatic duct by opisthorchosis.Продемонстрирован клинический случай редкого массивного описторхозного поражения протоковой системы поджелудочной железы

Inverse modelling of European CH4 emissions during 2006-2012 using different inverse models and reassessed atmospheric observations

We present inverse modelling (top down) estimates of European methane (CH4) emissions for 2006-2012 based on a new quality-controlled and harmonised in situ data set from 18 European atmospheric monitoring stations. We applied an ensemble of seven inverse models and performed four inversion experiments, investigating the impact of different sets of stations and the use of a priori information on emissions.The inverse models infer total CH4 emissions of 26.8 (20.2-29.7) TgCH(4) yr(-1) (mean, 10th and 90th percentiles from all inversions) for the EU-28 for 2006-2012 from the four inversion experiments. For comparison, total anthropogenic CH4 emissions reported to UNFCCC (bottom up, based on statistical data and emissions factors) amount to only 21.3 TgCH(4) yr(-1) (2006) to 18.8 TgCH(4) yr(-1) (2012). A potential explanation for the higher range of top-down estimates compared to bottom-up inventories could be the contribution from natural sources, such as peatlands, wetlands, and wet soils. Based on seven different wetland inventories from the Wetland and Wetland CH4 Inter-comparison of Models Project (WETCHIMP), total wetland emissions of 4.3 (2.3-8.2) TgCH(4) yr(-1) from the EU-28 are estimated. The hypothesis of significant natural emissions is supported by the finding that several inverse models yield significant seasonal cycles of derived CH4 emissions with maxima in summer, while anthropogenic CH4 emissions are assumed to have much lower seasonal variability. Taking into account the wetland emissions from the WETCHIMP ensemble, the top-down estimates are broadly consistent with the sum of anthropogenic and natural bottom-up inventories. However, the contribution of natural sources and their regional distribution remain rather uncertain.Furthermore, we investigate potential biases in the inverse models by comparison with regular aircraft profiles at four European sites and with vertical profiles obtained during the Infrastructure for Measurement of the European Carbon Cycle (IMECC) aircraft campaign. We present a novel approach to estimate the biases in the derived emissions, based on the comparison of simulated and measured enhancements of CH4 compared to the background, integrated over the entire boundary layer and over the lower troposphere. The estimated average regional biases range between -40 and 20% at the aircraft profile sites in France, Hungary and Poland.</p

Presence of extracellular DNA in the Candida albicans biofilm matrix and its contribution to biofilms

DNA has been described as a structural component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in bacterial biofilms. In Candida albicans, there is a scarce knowledge concerning the contribution of extracellular DNA (eDNA) to biofilm matrix and overall structure. This work examined the presence and quantified the amount of eDNA in C. albicans biofilm ECM and the effect of DNase treatment and the addition of exogenous DNA on C. albicans biofilm development as indicators of a role for eDNA in biofilm development. We were able to detect the accumulation of eDNA in biofilm ECM extracted from C. albicans biofilms formed under conditions of flow, although the quantity of eDNA detected differed according to growth conditions, in particular with regards to the medium used to grow the biofilms. Experiments with C. albicans biofilms formed statically using a microtiter plate model indicated that the addition of exogenous DNA (>160 ng/ml) increases biofilm biomass and, conversely, DNase treatment (>0.03 mg/ml) decreases biofilm biomass at later time points of biofilm development. We present evidence for the role of eDNA in C. albicans biofilm structure and formation, consistent with eDNA being a key element of the ECM in mature C. albicans biofilms and playing a predominant role in biofilm structural integrity and maintenance.National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial ResearchFundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BD/28222/2006National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease

Salmonella enterica biofilm-mediated dispersal by nitric oxide donors in association with cellulose nanocrystal hydrogels

Protected by extracellular polymers, microbes within biofilms are significantly more resistant to disinfectants. Current research has been instrumental in identifying nitric oxide donors and hydrogels as potential disinfectant additives. Nitric oxide (NO) donors are considered a very promising molecule as biofilm dispersal agents and hydrogels have recently attracted a lot of interest due to their biocompatible properties and ability to form stable thin films. When the NO donor MAHMA NONOate was dissolved in phosphate saline buffer, it was able to reduce the biomass of well-established biofilms up to 15% for at least 24 h of contact time. Encapsulation of MAHMA NONOate and molsidomine within a hydrogel composed of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) has shown a synergistic effect in dispersing well-established biofilms: after 2 h of exposure, moderate but significant dispersion was measured. After 6 h of exposure, the number of cells transitioning from the biofilm to the planktonic state was up to 0.6 log higher when compared with non-treated biofilms. To further explore the transport processes of NO donors within hydrogels, we measured the nitric oxide flux from gels, at 25°C for a composite of 0.1 µM MAHMA NONOate–CNC. Nitric oxide diffuses up to 500 µm from the hydrogel surface, with flux decreasing according to Fick’s law. 60% of NO was released from the hydrogel composite during the first 23 min. These data suggest that the combined treatments with nitric oxide donor and hydrogels may allow for new sustainable cleaning strategies