Нетрадиционные факторы риска и их значение в оценке сердечнососудистого риска у бессимптомных пациентов

Cardiovascular diseases retain their leading position among the leading causes of death worldwide. The contribution of many factors to increasing risk of developing cardiovascular diseases was proven. The article provides an overview of current views on the role of risk factors in assessment of cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic patients. Determination of individual cardiovascular risk is not questioned. However, more information is accumulating on the need to supplement the existing cardiovascular risk assessment scales with new factors in order to more accurately predict cardiovascular risk. The value of alternative risk factors, such as psychosocial factor, level of physical activity, family history of cardiovascular diseases, coronary artery calcification, ankle-brachial index, and identification of atherosclerotic plaques during ultrasound scanning of the brachiocephalic arteries, is described. Studies that consider the impact of these risk factors on reducing discrimination against cardiovascular risk when added to the globally used risk assessment scales are presented.Сердечно-сосудистые заболевания (ССЗ) сохраняют лидирующие позиции среди ведущих причин смертности во всем мире. Доказан вклад многих факторов в увеличение риска развития ССЗ. Представлен обзор современных представлений о роли факторов риска у бессимптомных пациентов в оценке сердечно-сосудистого риска.  Определение индивидуального сердечно-сосудистого риска не подвергается сомнению, однако накапливается все больше сведений о необходимости дополнения имеющихся шкал оценки сердечно-сосудистого риска новыми факторами с целью более точного его прогнозирования. Отражены сведения о значении нетрадиционных факторов риска, таких как психосоциальный фактор, уровень физической активности, семейный анамнез развития ССЗ, коронарная кальцификация, лодыжечно-плечевой индекс, выявление атеросклеротических бляшек при ультразвуковом сканировании брахиоцефальных артерий. Приведены исследования, рассматривающие влияние этих факторов риска на улучшение дискриминации сердечно-сосудистого риска при добавлении их к используемым в мире шкалам оценки риска

Possible association between corneal infections and contact lenses wearing to correct ametropia in children

Possible association between corneal infections and contact lenses (CLs) wearing of various design to correct ametropia in children was analyzed. Between 2011 and April 2014, 20 children (7 boys, 13 girls) aged 9‑17 years which were diagnosed with traumatic keratitis were admitted to Morozov Children’s Hospital. All patients used CLs (rigid, n = 1; soft, n = 9; orthokeratology, n = 10) to correct ametropia for 6‑48 months. There are pretty strong evidences that CLs (including orthokeratology ones) provide better quality of vision and life as compared with spectacles, reduce myopia progression, and promote better accommodation. However, in spite of these advantages, CLs have disadvantages as well. People who wear CLs may require frequent eye care specialist follow-up due to the higher risk of corneal disorders. Even nearly perfect CL represents a foreign body (especially for a children eye) that may provoke numerous complications including severe ones. With accurate fitting, proper care, and careful monitoring of the cornea, CLs should be safe and effective

ROLE OF TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR ALPHA IN IMMUNE PATHOGENESIS OF DIFFERENT DISEASES AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR EVOLVING ANTICYTOKINE THERAPY WITH MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (generally known as cachectin) was noted as a hallmark since the time of its discovery and still retains its position as one of the most intensely studied molecules in the field of biomedicine. TNFα is considered a prototype molecule of the family which, on the one hand, plays an important role in regulating normal differentiation, growth and metabolism of various cells, and on the other hand, acts as mediator of inflammatory processes in various human diseases. Intensive interdisciplinary studies of TNFα biological role and therapeutic use have led to understanding of its polyfunctional effects and establishment of its leading role in immune pathogenesis of diseases, which was the basis for the development of “anticytokine” therapy with highly specific monoclonal antibodies. We aimed for a search of literature in the field of studying TNFα structure and properties, its role under normal conditions, in different diseases and therapy. The literature studies were performed using scientific searching systems and databases. The results are as follows: the role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) in human body in normal and pathological state was considered. Possible TNF-inducible signaling pathways, as well as existing inhibitors based on monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases are  described. In conclusion, intensive interdisciplinary studies of TNFα biological functions in normal state and diseases are still relevant today, despite huge knowledge gained on this subject.Undisputable progress in understanding the functional multiplicity of TNFα as a participant in regulation of various physiological and pathological processes in the human body has promoted development of biological agents, i.e., the tumor necrosis factor inhibitors based on monoclonal antibodies, which proved to be highly effective drugs for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other  diseases, thus being effective and safe biopharmaceuticals

Сравнительная оценка использования моно- и поликлональных антител при определении подлинности различных лекарственных средств на основе интерферона альфа-2b

Quality control of recombinant interferon (rIFN) products with the help of modern analytical methods, including those used for identification, is becoming increasingly relevant nowadays. Identification is especially challenging in the case of Russian rIFN products that contain not only interferon (IFN) alpha-2b, but also other active ingredients and excipients that hinder the use of physical and chemical methods. Manufacturers of such products use IFN neutralization assay with mono- and/or polyclonal antibodies for identification. The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of using different types of antibodies in the identification test based on neutralization of IFN antiviral activity in IFN alpha-2b products containing other active ingredients and excipients in addition to IFN. Materials and methods: the following materials were used in the study: MDBK cells, vesicular stomatitis virus, samples of IFN alpha-2b products with different composition and by different manufacturers, mono- and polyclonal antibodies by different manufacturers. Identification of rINFs was carried out by a biological method based on neutralization by specific antibodies of IFN ability to suppress the cytopathic effect of the indicator virus in a cell culture using a reference standard for comparison. Results: both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were shown to neutralize the activity of the tested IFN alpha-2b substances. Polyclonal antibodies interact with all products containing the same active ingredients, irrespective of their composition. Monoclonal antibodies interact selectively with some products. Conclusions: polyclonal antibodies can be used for identification of any product containing IFN alpha-2b. The use of monoclonal antibodies for this purpose is limited and depends on the composition of the product.В настоящее время все большую актуальность приобретают вопросы оценки качества лекарственных препаратов на основе рекомбинантных интерферонов (рИФН) с использованием современных аналитических методов, среди которых одними из важнейших являются методы определения подлинности. Особую проблему представляет оценка подлинности интерферона в отечественных препаратах на основе рИФН, содержащих помимо интерферона (ИФН) альфа-2b иные действующие и вспомогательные вещества, затрудняющие определение этого показателя физико-химическими методами. Производители препаратов указанного типа используют для оценки их подлинности реакцию нейтрализации ИНФ различными моно- и поликлональными антителами. Цель работы: оценка пригодности различных видов антител для проведения испытания по показателю «Подлинность» в реакции нейтрализации противовирусной активности интерферона в различных лекарственных средствах на основе интерферона альфа-2b, содержащих помимо интерферона иные действующие и вспомогательные вещества. Материалы и методы: в исследовании использовали клетки MDBK, вирус везикулярного стоматита, образцы различных лекарственных средств, содержащих интерферон альфа-2b, разного состава и производства, моно- и поликлональные антитела различного производства. Определение подлинности рИНФ проводили биологическим методом, основанным на нейтрализации специфическими антителами способности ИФН подавлять цитопатическое действие индикаторного вируса в культуре клеток в сравнении со стандартным образцом. Результаты: показано, что образцы всех субстанций на основе интерферона альфа-2b нейтрализуются как поликлональными, так и моноклональными антителами. Поликлональные антитела взаимодействуют со всеми лекарственными препаратами различного состава, изготовленными из тех же субстанций. Моноклональные антитела избирательно взаимодействуют с некоторыми препаратами. Выводы: поликлональные антитела универсальны с точки зрения возможности их использования для определения подлинности любого препарата, содержащего ИФН альфа-2b. Применение с этой целью моноклональных антител ограничено и зависит от состава препарата

Challenges in QCD matter physics - The Compressed Baryonic Matter experiment at FAIR

Substantial experimental and theoretical efforts worldwide are devoted to explore the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter. At LHC and top RHIC energies, QCD matter is studied at very high temperatures and nearly vanishing net-baryon densities. There is evidence that a Quark-Gluon-Plasma (QGP) was created at experiments at RHIC and LHC. The transition from the QGP back to the hadron gas is found to be a smooth cross over. For larger net-baryon densities and lower temperatures, it is expected that the QCD phase diagram exhibits a rich structure, such as a first-order phase transition between hadronic and partonic matter which terminates in a critical point, or exotic phases like quarkyonic matter. The discovery of these landmarks would be a breakthrough in our understanding of the strong interaction and is therefore in the focus of various high-energy heavy-ion research programs. The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at FAIR will play a unique role in the exploration of the QCD phase diagram in the region of high net-baryon densities, because it is designed to run at unprecedented interaction rates. High-rate operation is the key prerequisite for high-precision measurements of multi-differential observables and of rare diagnostic probes which are sensitive to the dense phase of the nuclear fireball. The goal of the CBM experiment at SIS100 (sqrt(s_NN) = 2.7 - 4.9 GeV) is to discover fundamental properties of QCD matter: the phase structure at large baryon-chemical potentials (mu_B > 500 MeV), effects of chiral symmetry, and the equation-of-state at high density as it is expected to occur in the core of neutron stars. In this article, we review the motivation for and the physics programme of CBM, including activities before the start of data taking in 2022, in the context of the worldwide efforts to explore high-density QCD matter.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures. Published in European Physical Journal

Особенности регуляции иммунного ответа у пациентов с коморбидным течением хронической обструктивной болезни легких и бронхиальной астмы

The aim of this study was investigation of cellular and humoral immunity and of systemic inflammation in patients with COPD + asthma phenotype. Methods. The study involved 115 patients (60 males) including 44 patients with stable COPD stage I–II, 39 patients with mild controlled or partially controlled asthma and 12 patients with COPD + asthma phenotype. Twenty healthy nonsmokers were included as controls. Results. Immune disorders in patients with COPD + asthma phenotype included increased numbers of T-helpers, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes and increased IgE level. Increased serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-4 and decreased IFN-γ concentration were also found in these patients. Conclusion. Th2-type of the immune response was observed in patients with COPD + asthma phenotype; these findings could underlie persistent inflammation. Изучено состояние клеточного гуморального иммунитета, уровень эйкозаноидов (ТХВ2 ЛТВ4), про- и противовоспалительных цитокинов (интерферон (IFN)-γ, фактор некроза опухоли (TNF)-α, интерлейкин (IL)-4) у больных с коморбидным течением хронической обструктивной болезни легких и бронхиальной астмы. Выявлены высокий уровень эйкозаноидов, увеличение секреции провоспалительных (TNF-α и IL-4) и снижение продукции противовоспалительного (IFN-γ) цитокинов на фоне дисбаланса клеточного иммунитета с преобладанием В-клеточного звена. Увеличение секреции эйкозаноидов, синтеза оппозиционного IL-4 и снижение продукции цитокинов Th1-типа, сопряженные с увеличением иммуноглобулина Е, указывают на механизмы переключения на Th2-тип иммунного ответа. Выявленные особенности способствуют хронизации воспалительного процесса и развитию бронхиальной обструкции по 1-му и 2-му типам иммунного ответа с привлечением реагинов, цитокинов, эйкозаноидов