General features of the energetics of complex formation between ligand and nucleic acids

The analysis of the energy contributions of various physical factors to the complex formation between biologically active compounds and nucleic acids in aqueous solution was performed. A comparison of the energy parameters was made for ligand-ligand, intercalator-DNA, MGB-DNA and ligand-RNA groups. It was shown that the energetics of these reactions is of compensatory nature. Physical factors exerting the most pronounced influence on the energy parameters were identified. Correlation of the energy contributions to MGB-DNA complex formation and its biological effect was foun

Binding polynomial in molecular self-assembly

In the present work the concept of a binding polynomial is revisited for the most widely used case of self-assembly of identical molecular units and results in the re-construction of a link to the grand partition function of such a system. It is found that if the self-assembly process is not pronounced (i.e., the product of the equilibrium constant and the monomer concentration is close to zero), the binding polynomial has the meaning of a molecular partition function that is given by the summation over energy levels of any molecule in the system. In other cases the concept of a binding polynomial may be misleadin

Stocks and fraction composition of phosphorus in the Ili Alatau foothill soils and their change under long-term use

In soils of Ili Alatau (dark kastanozems, light kastanozems, mountain chernozems) both in continuous cropping system of sugar beet and in crop rotation with prolonged use of fertilizers the soil agrochemical indices, phosphorus reserves and group composition (total, organic and mineral) vary significantly. The total phosphorus content in the soils was 1720–2330 mg/kg and decreased in the series: virgin mountain chernozems > arable dark kastanozems > arable mountain chernozems > light kashtanozems > virgin dark kastanozems. It was observed, that in arable dark kastanozems, as compared to virgin soils, the content of available forms of phosphorus (loose-bound phosphates Ca-PI and miscellaneous calcium phosphates Ca-PII) increased, and the content of plant unavailable forms of phosphorus (poorly soluble Ca phosphates Ca-PIII, phosphates of aluminum Al-P and iron Fe-P) decreased. In arable mountain chernozems, in comparison with virgin mountain chernozems, the content of all fractions of phosphorus decreased. Arable light kastanozems contain the least amount of available phosphates and the highest of phosphates of aluminum and iron. When cultivating beets on light kastanozems, the content of all fractions of phosphorus, except iron phosphates, increased with increasing dose of fertilizers. The effectiveness of the application of the organic-mineral fertilizers was comparable to the introduction of NK + P1.5 and NK + P2, the yield of sugar beet in the crop rotation in these variants is the highest and amounts to 614 and 577 centner/ha; in the control value (obtained without fertilizers) – 197 centner/ha, and in the variant with application of only NK fertilizers – 277 centner/ha. In continuous cropping system these values were 576 and 561 centner/ha; 311 and 327 centner/ha respectively. Close values of crop yield were obtained in two variants: with the organo-mineral system and NK + P1.5, due to the additional use by the plants of sugar beet phosphorus of newly formed organic compounds

Analysis of tuberculosis incidence among health workers in the Dnepropetrovsk region.

The purpose of our study was to conduct a comparative analysis of tuberculosis incidence among healthcare workers in the general medical service departments and anti-tubercular departments in the Dnipropetrovsk region for the period from 2008 to 2017, analysis of the professional, clinical structure of tuberculosis cases for 2015-2017. Despite the decrease in the incidence of tuberculosis inUkraine,  the incidence of morbidity among medical workers in the Dnipropetrovsk region remains unfavorable. Over the past 3 years, 155 employees of health facilities have been infected with tuberculosis, including 134 from the institutions of the general medical profile and 21 employees of the anti-TB clinics. The risk group consists of representatives of scrub staff and nursing staff, as well as auxiliary (other) personnel, regardless of the profile of the medical institution. It was established that the morbidity of the staff of the institutions of the community network and the clinical structure of cases of tuberculosis is unfavorable with a high proportion of destructive changes in the lungs, bacterial discharge, less specific gravity of cases detected during prophylactic examinations

Analysis of tuberculosis incidence among health workers in the Dnepropetrovsk region.

The purpose of our study was to conduct a comparative analysis of tuberculosis incidence among healthcare workers in the general medical service departments and anti-tubercular departments in the Dnipropetrovsk region for the period from 2008 to 2017, analysis of the professional, clinical structure of tuberculosis cases for 2015-2017. Despite the decrease in the incidence of tuberculosis inUkraine,  the incidence of morbidity among medical workers in the Dnipropetrovsk region remains unfavorable. Over the past 3 years, 155 employees of health facilities have been infected with tuberculosis, including 134 from the institutions of the general medical profile and 21 employees of the anti-TB clinics. The risk group consists of representatives of scrub staff and nursing staff, as well as auxiliary (other) personnel, regardless of the profile of the medical institution. It was established that the morbidity of the staff of the institutions of the community network and the clinical structure of cases of tuberculosis is unfavorable with a high proportion of destructive changes in the lungs, bacterial discharge, less specific gravity of cases detected during prophylactic examinations

О проблемах диагностики и лечения пневмоний у детей

Background: Pneumonia is one of the most frequent serious potentially life threatening childhood diseases. The criteria for diagnostics and treatment were designed long ago and are clearly articulated. Nevertheless, diagnostics and therapy happen most often during outpatient management.Objective: The aim was to compare the diagnostic criteria of CAP among children in Russian and foreign guidelines and also to compare the incidence. Another aim is to find out the aptness to the Russian guidelines for the management of CAP among children.Materials and methods: The comparative analysis of childhood pneumonia diagnostics and treatment guidelines have been recently published in a range of countries. We reviewed some recently published pneumonia recommendations. The timeliness and adequacy of hospitalization and treatment was analyzed for 167 hospitalized children with pneumonia diagnosed according to Russian and WHO recommendations. We also used the information about the quality of X-ray pneumonia diagnosis in 679 patients from hospitals in Barnaul, Ekaterinburg and Murmansk (PAPIRUS research project).Results: We found a high percentage of late (5-th day and later) hospitalization of children with pneumonia (37 percent in 2002–2007 and 47 percent in 2013–2014) as well as a late ( 5 days) start of therapy (20 and 34 percent accordingly). In three regional hospitals only 27 percent of X-ray films of children treated for pneumonia were attested as meeting the pneumonia criteria. We found a high frequency of macrolides as a starting therapy in typical pneumonia which often had been ineffective. Amoxicillin/clavulanate and oral cephalosporins were also ineffective in doses < 45 mg/kg/day. A poor knowledge of the clinical features of atypical pneumonia was noted with a corresponding high frequency of -lactams as a starting medication.Conclusion. Our data shows the importance of training paediatricians in modern pneumonia diagnosis and treatment.Актуальность. Пневмония у детей — одно из самых частых, серьезных, потенциально угрожающих жизни заболеваний. Критерии диагностики и лечения пневмонии разработаны давно и четко сформулированы. Тем не менее, приходится сталкиваться с гиподиагностикой и нерациональной терапией, что наблюдается чаще на амбулаторном этапе.Цель: сравнительный анализ показателей заболеваемости, критериев диагностики внебольничных пневмоний у детей в российских и зарубежных рекомендациях и их соответствие действующим в России рекомендациям по диагностике и лечению пневмоний у детей.Материалы и методы. Проведен сравнительный анализ рекомендаций, опубликованных в последнее время в ряде стран, по диагностике и лечению пневмонии у детей. Изучалась своевременность диагностики и адекватность терапии на амбулаторном этапе у 167 госпитализированных детей с пневмонией. Диагноз пневмонии выставлялся согласно российским критериям с учетом рекомендаций ВОЗ. Также использовались данные оценки качества диагностики пневмонии с экспертной оценкой рентгенограмм у 679 больных, госпитализированных в 3 городах (Барнаул, Екатеринбург, Мурманск) в рамках исследования PAPIRUS.Результаты: выявлен высокий процент поздней (после 5-го дня болезни) госпитализации детей с пневмонией (37% — в 2002–2007, 47% — в 2013–2014 гг.), как и позднее (на 5-й день и позднее) начало лечения на амбулаторном этапе (20 и 34%, соответственно). В 3 областных стационарах пневмонические изменения на рентгенограммах были подтверждены экспертом только в 27% случаев.Заключение. Полученные данные указывают на наличие как гипо-, так и гипердиагностики пневмоний у детей, а соответственно, на важность повышения знаний педиатров в области диагностики и лечения пневмоний для оказания адекватной медицинской помощи детям на амбулаторном этапе

Низкая эффективность антибиотиков, назначаемых амбулаторно детям с пневмонией и острым средним отитом, как следствие несоблюдения клинических рекомендаций

Background: Amoxicillin is the drug of choice for treating the majority of community-acquired respiratory tract infections in children, including pneumonia and acute otitis media according to both international and national guidelines. Nevertheless, the practice of not following these guidelines is widespread.Objective: Our aim was to study a range of antibiotics prescribed prior to hospitalization to children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and acute otitis media (AOM), and to evaluate their effectiveness.Methods. Observational study of children with hospital-verified diagnosis CAP or AOM.Results. Amoxicillin was prescribed to only 4.5% of children with CAP and 1% of patients with AOM; along with parenteral cephalosporines and amoxicillin/clavulanate in adequate doses therapy was started in 34 and 25% respectively. Other children received 3d generation oral cephalosporines or macrolides, which rendered a very low effectiveness (19 and 10% respectively). In view of a flagrant inconformity of the prescribed antibiotics and their doses to the guidelines, non-effective prescriptions were made for 72% of children with CAP and 69% — with AOM. For children with atypical pneumonia macrolides were prescribed in only 19%.Conclusion. Since amoxicillin remains the main drug for treating infections caused by an ever increasing number of resistant strains of S. pneumonia and S. pyogenes, it should be prescribed to children with CAP and AOM: its doses (as well as doses of amoxicillin/clavulanate) should be not less than 45 mg/kg/d, and in risk group patients — 80–100 mg/kg/d. The pediatricians’ skills of differentiating atypical pneumonia should be improved.Амоксициллин, согласно как международным, так и отечественным рекомендациям, является препаратом выбора для лечения большинства внебольничных инфекций респираторного тракта у детей. Тем не менее практика назначения антибиотиков на догоспитальном этапе в разных странах демонстрирует низкий уровень следования стандартам лечения внебольничных пневмоний и острого среднего отита (ОСО).Цель исследования: изучить спектр антибиотиков, назначаемых на амбулаторном этапе детям с пневмонией и ОСО, а также оценить их эффективность.Методы. Дизайн работы — наблюдательное исследование когорты детей, госпитализированных с диагнозом внебольничной пневмонии (n = 261) и ОСО (n = 225) в 2008–2015 гг.Результаты. Амоксициллин был назначен только 4,5% детей с типичной внебольничной пневмонией и 1% — с ОСО; вместе с парентеральными цефалоспоринами и амоксициллином/ клавуланатом в адекватных дозировках стартовая терапия была начата всего в 34 и 25% случаев соответственно. Остальные дети лечились оральными цефалоспоринами 3-го поколения и макролидами с крайне низкой эффективностью (19 и 10% соответственно). Ввиду выраженного несоответствия спектра антибиотиков и их доз современным рекомендациям неэффективные стартовые назначения были сделаны при типичной пневмонии в 72%, а при ОСО — в 69% случаев. При атипичных пневмониях макролиды были назначены всего 19% больным.Заключение. Поскольку амоксициллин остается основным препаратом для лечения инфекций, вызванных Streptococcus pneumoniae и Streptococcus pyogenes в эпоху роста их резистентности, он должен использоваться в качестве стартового препарата при типичных пневмониях и ОСО. Дозы амоксициллина, в т. ч. защищенного, не должны быть ниже 45 мг/кг в сут, а при риске устойчивости пневмококков — 80–100 мг/кг в сут. Следует также повышать знания педиатров в дифференциальной диагностике атипичных пневмоний

General features of the energetics of complex formation between ligand and nucleic acids

The analysis of the energy contributions of various physical factors to the complex formation between biologically active compounds and nucleic acids in aqueous solution was performed. A comparison of the energy parameters was made for ligand-ligand, intercalator-DNA, MGB-DNA and ligand-RNA groups. It was shown that the energetics of these reactions is of compensatory nature. Physical factors exerting the most pronounced influence on the energy parameters were identified. Correlation of the energy contributions to MGB-DNA complex formation and its biological effect was foun

Ar-powered educational application based upon convolutional neural network

This research aims to justify the importance of using convolutional neural networks (CNN) in AR-powered educational applications to provide the learning process with impressive visualization of studied objects. Demonstration of the developed application proves neural network to be its basic part that allows for high-quality accuracy of object localization and image recognition in AR systems. As these systems provide a more informative and impressive way of learning, the application can be used for data mining and big data analysis disciplines to demonstrate real-time operation of localization, clustering and segmentation algorithms