Macular volume and fovea thickness as OCT-criteria for multiple sclerosis. Preliminary results

Background. The characteristic optical coherence tomography (OCT) changes in the optic nerve head in patients with multiple sclerosis are known and have been described many times, however, the state of the macular area is described in a small number of publications.The aim: to analyze the changes in the macular area of the retina in patients with multiple sclerosis, to identify the OCT signs pathognomonic for this disease and to trace their changes over time as the disease progresses.Material and methods. In addition to the standard ophthalmological examination, 28 patients (55 eyes) diagnosed with multiple sclerosis underwent OCT of the macular zone to determine the thickness of the fovea and the volume of the macula in the 6 mm zone. The follow-up period was 6–12 years. The endpoints were the primary treatment and the most recent inspection.Results. At the initial examination, the visual acuity was 0.96 ± 0.24 (95% CI: 0.9–1.03), fovea thickness – 253.0 μm (Q1–Q3: 233.0–264.0), macular volume – 5.471 mm3 (Q1–Q3: 5.281–5.625). In 37 cases (67.3 %), the macular volume was below normal. The initial fovea thickness was below normal in 9 cases (16.4 %). At the end of the study, visual acuity did not change statistically (p = 0.824) and amounted to 0.96 ± 0.25 (95% CI: 0.90–1.04). The fi nal thickness of the fovea was 247.5 μm (Q1–Q3: 233.0–260.0), changes are statistically significant (p = 0.02). Number of cases with a thickness below normal in the fi nal study was 11 (20 %), change of frequency of cases was not statistically signifi cant (p = 0.5). The fi nal macular volume was 5.393 mm3 (Q1–Q3: 5.197–5.565), the changes are statistically significant (p = 0.023). The final number of cases with a volume below the norm was 42 (76.4 %), the change in the frequency of cases is close to statistically signifi cant (p = 0.063). At all stages of the study, there was no case of an isolated decrease in the thickness of the fovea without a decrease in the volume of the macula.Conclusion. The decrease in the volume of the macula with time while maintaining the thickness of the fovea within the normal range can be attributed to the pathognomonic OCT signs of multiple sclerosis. This criterion can be used for a comprehensive assessment of the course and therapy of this disease

Features of speech disorders in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Introduction. Various speech disorders that lead to impaired communication occur in 3050% of ischemic stroke (IS) survivors. Although most attention is traditionally paid to aphasia, speech disorders also include the following: dysarthria, dysphonia (isolated or in combination with dysarthria and/or dysphagia), fluency disorders, and non-specific speech disorders associated with the severity of condition and a cognitive disorder. Objective: to study the variety of speech disorders and their features in patients with acute IS. Materials and methods. We examined 69 right-handed patients with mild-to-moderate acute IS and NIHSS score of 412. The patients were enrolled in the study on days 17 of the IS. Results. We found aphasia in 27/69 patients (39.1%), dysarthria in 21/69 patients (30.4%), dysphonia (isolated or in combination with dysarthria) in 17/69 patients (24.6%), fluency disorders in 19/69 patients (27.5%; 2 patients with tachylalia and 17 patients with bradylalia). In addition, 30 patients (43.5%) had dysphagia (isolated or in combination with dysarthria). At the initial examination, patients admitted within the 17 days of the acute IS onset presented with global or severe sensory and motor aphasia. At the same time, we discovered a pronounced positive dynamics in speech recovery thanks to speech therapy sessions. A significant remission in a speech disorder component led to the development of cortical aphasia affecting either anterior or posterior language areas at the end of the most acute IS period, while aphasia severity reduced to mild or moderate. Conclusions. A fast reduction in aphasic disorders due to the speech therapy sessions suggests that the focal and connectional diaschisis are the basis for the severe speech disorders

Mass-Spectrometric Study on Biological and Technogenic Fractionation of Stable Isotopes of Light Elements in Components of C3-Plants Grown in Climatic Conditions of Modern Natural Ecosystems

The mass-spectrometric IRMS/SIRA (SIRA – Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis) technique was applied to study the biological and technogenic fractionation of stable isotopes of light elements - carbon ( 13 C/ 12 C) in components of C3-plants by the example of grape (Vitisvinifera L.) grown in climatic conditions of modern natural ecosystems including urban ecosystems of agrarian regions. The carbon isotopes ratios 13 C/ 12 C in carbohydrates and ethanol in authentic samples of grapes and wines were studied by the FC-IRMS/SIRA method. The main goal of the conducted study was the determination of the correlation between specific climatic conditions of the C3-plants growing ecosystems and stable isotopes ratios in components of grapes and wines. The results of the study demonstrate the influence of climatic characteristics of natural ecosystems and technogenic factors (e.g. processing technologies) on the quantitative levels of the composition of stable isotopes of light elements. The publication has been prepared with the support of the «RUDN University Program 5-100». © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors therapy related neutropenia and thrombocythopenia correction in CML patients

At present, introduction of target therapy to chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) treatment made CML not life-limiting disorder. The main condition of treatment efficacy is its continuity. The most common causes of dose reduction and CML therapy interruption is hematologic toxicities such as neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. The adverse events correction in these circumstances is vital. Recommendations for neutropenia and thrombocytopenia correction are proposed in this article. The basement and results of the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and thrombopoietine receptor agonist for hematologic toxicities correction with clinical case are presented.</p

Appropriate levels of physical capacities development in adolescents with different state of health

Мета: обґрунтувати відповідність рівня розвитку фізичних можливостей дівчаток 12-13 років з різним рівнем фізичного здоров'я. Матеріали і методи. У дослідженні взяли участь 101 учениця старших класів 12-13 років. Вибір старшокласниць цього віку зумовлений найбільшою варіативністю їх морфофункціонального стану. Оцінку фізичного здоров’я дівчат проводили за методикою Г. Л. Апанасенко. Фізичну підготовленість оцінювали за допомогою 13 рухових тестів, які визначають різні аспекти фізичних можливостей дівчат. Результати: Визначено відповідні нормативи фізичної підготовленості дівчаток 12-13 років з різним рівнем здоров'я та раціональні параметри рухової активності. Висновки. Виявлено, що основним принципом реалізації занять розвивально-оздоровчого спрямування з фізичного виховання підлітків є диференційоване використання навантажень та оцінка їхньої фізичної підготовленості. Розраховані за допомогою коефіцієнтів кореляції та рівнянь регресії відповідні значення показників фізичного розвитку у дівчаток 12-13 років з різним рівнем фізичного здоров’я дають змогу за допомогою відповідних вправ усунути відхилення в показниках їх здоров’я.The aim: To justify the appropriate levels of physical capabilities development in 12-13-years-old girls with different levels of physical health. Materials and methods: The research involved 101 12-13-years-old female high-school students. The choice of female high-school students of this age is due to the greatest variability of their morpho-functional state. The physical health of the girls was assessed according to the method of H. L. Apanasenko. Physical fitness was assessed with the help of 13 motor tests that determine different aspects of girls’ physical capabilities. Results: Appropriate normative standards of physical fitness for 12-13-years-old girls with different levels of health and rational parameters of physical activity were determined. It was established that a rational option for planning physical training for 12-13-years-old girls is: 26 % of time should be spent on strength development; speed and strength qualities and agility - by 22 %; endurance - 18 % and speed qualities - 12 %. Conclusions: It was found that the main principle of the implementation of developmental and health-oriented training sessions for the physical education of adolescents is the differentiated use of loads and assessment of their physical fitness. Calculated with the help of correlation coefficients and regression equations, the appropriate values of physical development in 12-13-years-old girls with different levels of physical health make it possible, using appropriate exercises, to eliminate deviations in their health indicators

New approach for wine authenticity screening by a cumulative

New methodological approach for rapid control of wine authenticity without sample preparation, based on the quantitative NMR spectroscopy (qNMR) of the protium 1H and deuterium 2H nucleus is suggested. The content of dominant (e.g. water, ethanol) and some minor (e.g. glycerol, organic acids) components of wine are determined from qNMR 1H spectra for authentication of molecular composition. The sum of all exchanging hydrogen atoms of wine's components provide the 1H signal with a chemical shift of 4.8 ppm. Accounting for their content from 1H spectrum allows us calculate the 2H isotopic content in wine water from integral intensity of corresponding signal in the 2H qNMR spectrum using an internal or external standard with a known content of the 2H isotope. The possible addition of water can be found from comparison of this value with values of surface and/or ground waters from corresponding viticulture areas. This approach was used for white and red wines from the Black Sea region (Krasnodar area & Crimea peninsula). The 2H contents in investigated wines range from 157 to 165 ppm. The maximum 2H isotope content in surface waters does not exceed 148 ppm. A qNMR measurement of wine according to the proposed approach takes some minutes, that significantly exceeds the laboriousness of methods based on IRMS/SIRA (e.g. δ13C, δ18O). The error of qNMR measurements is less than 2.0%. The qNMR screening of deuterium (2H) in ethanol can be used for detection of possible wine chaptalization. This approach is similar to the known SNIF-NMR method. The positive difference with this method is the use of minimal quantity of enriched 2H standard and measurement of integral intensities of all signals instead of heights. It allows to reduce measurements' time as well as to measure the 2H content of all fragments of ethanol molecules – CH3−, CH2−, OH-groups. The publication has been prepared with the support of the “RUDN University Program 5–100”

Mass-spectrometric study on

The present study continues the 2015–2016 research project on biological characteristics of stable isotopes fractionation in grapes taking into account the agro-climatic growth conditions of this representative of the C3-pathway of photosynthesis group of plants in different geographical Black Sea regions. The first parts of the project were presented at the 39th and 40th Congresses of OIV in Bento Gonçalves (Brazil) and Sofia (Bulgaria). The scientific data on compositions of 13C/12C carbon and 18O/16O oxygen stable isotopes in carbohydrates, organic acids, and intracellular water were obtained for grapes of 2015–2016 growing seasons in the four areas of the Crimean peninsula as well as in several areas of the Don Basin and the Western Caspian region. This report presents the results of the 2017 season study of 13C/12C carbon and 18O/16O oxygen stable isotopes in carbohydrates and intracellular water of 12 red and white grape varieties (Aligote, Rkatsiteli, Sauvignon Zeleny, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Risling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Sira, Krasnostop) as well as in ethanol of wines made from corresponding grapes from the Crimean Peninsula and South-West Coast of the Greater Caucasus. To measure the ratio of carbon isotopes 13C/12C in grape (must) carbohydrates and wine ethanol the Flash-Combustion technique (FC-IRMS/SIRA) has been used, while the method of isotopic equilibration (EQ-IRMS/SIRA) has been used for the measurement of 18O/16O oxygen isotopes ratio in the intracellular water of grapes (must) and in the water fraction of wine. The GC-Combustion technique (GC-IRMS/SIRA) has been used for the first time to measure the carbon isotopes 13C/12C distribution in ethanol of studied wines. It has been found that the δ13CVPDB values for carbohydrates of red and white grape varieties as a result of biological fractionation of carbon isotopes in the agro-climatic conditions of plant growth (2017 season) for the studied geographical areas formed the following quantitative ranges: from − 26.72 to − 23.35‰ (the Crimean Peninsula) and from − 25.92 to − 23.87‰ (South-West Coast of the Greater Caucasus). The δ13CVPDB values for wine ethanol are in the following ranges: from − 28.15 to − 24.47‰ (the Crimean Peninsula) and from − 27.29 to − 25.78‰ (South-West Coast of the Greater Caucasus). The δ18OVSMOW values in intracellular water of grapes of the 2017 season range from − 1.24 to 2.17‰ (the Crimean Peninsula) and from 1.08 to 4.09‰ (South-West Coast of the Greater Caucasus). The results of this study show, in comparison with the results of studies of the 2015 and 2016 seasons, a decrease in the δ13CVPDB values for carbohydrates of grapes and ethanol of wine, which is explained by the changed climatic conditions of grapes growing in the vegetation period of 2017

New approach for wine authenticity screening by a cumulative 1H and 2H qNMR

New methodological approach for rapid control of wine authenticity without sample preparation, based on the quantitative NMR spectroscopy (qNMR) of the protium 1H and deuterium 2H nucleus is suggested. The content of dominant (e.g. water, ethanol) and some minor (e.g. glycerol, organic acids) components of wine are determined from qNMR 1H spectra for authentication of molecular composition. The sum of all exchanging hydrogen atoms of wine's components provide the 1H signal with a chemical shift of 4.8 ppm. Accounting for their content from 1H spectrum allows us calculate the 2H isotopic content in wine water from integral intensity of corresponding signal in the 2H qNMR spectrum using an internal or external standard with a known content of the 2H isotope. The possible addition of water can be found from comparison of this value with values of surface and/or ground waters from corresponding viticulture areas. This approach was used for white and red wines from the Black Sea region (Krasnodar area & Crimea peninsula). The 2H contents in investigated wines range from 157 to 165 ppm. The maximum 2H isotope content in surface waters does not exceed 148 ppm. A qNMR measurement of wine according to the proposed approach takes some minutes, that significantly exceeds the laboriousness of methods based on IRMS/SIRA (e.g. δ13C, δ18O). The error of qNMR measurements is less than 2.0%. The qNMR screening of deuterium (2H) in ethanol can be used for detection of possible wine chaptalization. This approach is similar to the known SNIF-NMR method. The positive difference with this method is the use of minimal quantity of enriched 2H standard and measurement of integral intensities of all signals instead of heights. It allows to reduce measurements' time as well as to measure the 2H content of all fragments of ethanol molecules – CH3−, CH2−, OH-groups. The publication has been prepared with the support of the “RUDN University Program 5–100”