Content of mediators of innate immunity in the tears of patients with vascular and neurodegenerative manifestations of diabetic retinopathy

According to the results of recent studies, diabetic retinopathy can be considered not only as a vascular disease, but also as a neurodegenerative process. Study of the composition of the tear fluid is used to assess the state of local immunity in the development of eye diseases. However, studies examining the effect of tear composition in diabetic retinopathy are few. The aim of the study is to determine the levels of IL-1β, IL-10, TGF-β3, MMP-7, TIMP-2, protein S100b, BDNF and NGF in the tear fluid ofpatients with vascular and neurodegenerative manifestations of diabetic retinopathy. The study included 80 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes which were divided into 2 groups: the 1st group included 40 patients who had no clinical signs of diabetic retinopathy on the fundus; the 2nd group included 40 patients with initial signs of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. All those included in the study were examined on an optical coherent tomograph RTVue-100 (USA); the volume of focal losses of retinal ganglion cells (FLV) was determined. An increase in FLV above the normative base of the device was regarded as an OCT-sign of retinal neurodegeneration. According to the results of OCT, the participants of the first and second groups were additionally divided into 4 subgroups: 1A — patients without vascular changes in the fundus and without OCT signs of retinal neurodegeneration (n = 12); 1B — patients without vascular changes in the fundus and with the presence of OCT signs of retinal neurodegeneration (n = 28); 2A — patients with initial non-proliferative DR and without OCT signs of retinal neurodegeneration (n = 10); and 2B — patients with initial non-proliferative DR and with OCT signs of retinal neurodegeneration (n = 30). The levels of IL-1β, IL-10, TGF-β3, MMP-7, TIMP-2, protein S100 b, BDNF, and NGF in tear fluid were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of IL-1β and IL-10 in tear fluid in all subgroups were comparable to controls throughout the study. TGF-β3 content in the tear fluid of patients in the group with initial signs of non-proliferative DR (group 2) was significantly (p = 0.001) lower compared with control and group 2. However, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between subgroups A and B within groups. The concentration of MMP-7 in the tear fluid in all subgroups was significantly lower than in the control (p < 0.05). However, in the subgroups with OCT signs of retinal neurodegeneration (1B and 2B), the deficiency of this metalloproteinase was more pronounced (p = 0.0001). The levels of the neuropeptides under study NGF, BDNF and S100 B in tear fluid did not differ from controls in all subgroups

Spatial and temporal features of soil erosion in the forest-steppe zone of the East-European plain

Data on the rate of the erosion-accumulation processes within the sloped junctions of soils studied on key plots in Tula, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts were analyzedyesBS

Predatory Bacteria: A Potential Ally against Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Pathogens

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria have emerged as a serious threat to human and animal health. Bdellovibrio spp. and Micavibrio spp. are Gram-negative bacteria that prey on other Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, the ability of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus and Micavibrio aeruginosavorus to prey on MDR Gram-negative clinical strains was examined. Although the potential use of predatory bacteria to attack MDR pathogens has been suggested, the data supporting these claims is lacking. By conducting predation experiments we have established that predatory bacteria have the capacity to attack clinical strains of a variety of ß-lactamase-producing, MDR Gram-negative bacteria. Our observations indicate that predatory bacteria maintained their ability to prey on MDR bacteria regardless of their antimicrobial resistance, hence, might be used as therapeutic agents where other antimicrobial drugs fail. © 2013 Kadouri et al

Shotgun metagenomic data on the human stool samples to characterize shifts of the gut microbial profile after the Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy

© 2017 The Authors The shotgun sequencing data presented in this report are related to the research article named “Gut microbiome shotgun sequencing in assessment of microbial community changes associated with H. pylori eradication therapy” (Khusnutdinova et al., 2016) [1]. Typically, the H. pylori eradication protocol includes a prolonged two-week use of the broad-spectrum antibiotics. The presented data on the whole-genome sequencing of the total DNA from stool samples of patients before the start of the eradication, immediately after eradication and several weeks after the end of treatment could help to profile the gut microbiota both taxonomically and functionally. The presented data together with those described in Glushchenko et al. (2017) [2] allow researchers to characterize the metagenomic profiles in which the use of antibiotics could result in dramatic changes in the intestinal microbiota composition. We perform 15 gut metagenomes from 5 patients with H. pylori infection, obtained through the shotgun sequencing on the SOLiD 5500 W platform. Raw reads are deposited in the ENA under project ID PRJEB21338

Cytokine Levels in the Serum of Patients with Chronic Kidney Insufficiency Before and After Hemodialysis

© 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.Chronic kidney insufficiency (CKI) is often the end point of a broad range of chronic kidney diseases and characterized with decreasing number of functionally active nephrons. Pathophysiological CKI is characterized by decreased glomerular filtration, which leads to accumulation of life-threatening toxic metabolites. Hemodialysis is the main therapeutic measure aimed to prolong patient’s life until kidney transplant is available. The goal of this study is to analyze serum level of 21 cytokines in CKI. We have found that the serum level of several (IL-2Rα, IL-3, IL-12 (p40), IL-16, IL-18, HGF, MIF, CSF-1, MCP-3, CXCL12, SCF, IFN-α2, LIF, β-NGF, and CXCL1) cytokines and chemokines was upregulated in CKI without hemodialysis as compared to controls (p = 0.005). Interestingly, serum cytokines were also upregulated in serum of CKI patients who received hemodialysis. Upregulated cytokines are associated with inflammation and activation of Th1 lymphocytes. We suggest that hemodialysis has limited effect on serum cytokine levels. It could be concluded that therapeutic effect of hemodialysis is not associated with removal of inflammatory cytokines from circulation. Further studies will help better define the underlying cause of an increased inflammation in CKI and identify the laboratory criteria for anti-inflammatory therapy

Артериальная гипертензия у больных подагрой: основы патогенеза, клиническое значение, диагностика

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) caused by vascular atherosclerotic lesion are the leading cause of death in gout patients. Analysis of the data available in the literature has indicated that monitoring blood pressure and target organ damage thoroughly serves as the basis for the prevention of CVD and cardiovascular catastrophes in patients with gout.Ведущей причиной смерти больных подагрой являются сердечно-сосудистые заболевания (ССЗ), обусловленные атеросклеротическим поражением сосудов. На основании анализа данных литературы показано, что тщательный мониторинг артериального давления и поражения органов-мишеней служит основой профилактики развития у больных подагрой ССЗ и кардиоваскулярных катастроф

Morphofunctional reorganization of plantar aponeurosis in experimental modeling of fasciopathy by synthetic analogue of prostaglandin E1

Foundation. Chronic plantar fasciopathic pain syndrome is a pathology that significantly affects the quality of life of patients of all age categories. Insufficient knowledge of the etiological and pathogenetic factors in the development of fasciopathies explains the multiplicity, and sometimes inconsistency, of conservative and surgical treatment regimens. The choice of the optimal variant of therapeutic or surgical intervention may be associated with experimental modeling of fasciopathies and the study of the dynamics of the pathological process.The aim. To study the morphological changes in structures identical to the human plantar aponeurosis in experimental modeling of fasciopathy in animals.Research methods. The material for the study was fragments of the tendonaponeurotic complex of the foot of laboratory animals (control group: animals with the introduction of physiological sodium chloride solution (n = 12); main group: animals with the introduction of alprostadil (n = 12)). The methods of light microscopy (staining with alcian and toluidine blue, according to Van Gieson, Weigert – Van Gieson and Picro-Mallory) and morphometry were used.Results and discussion. As a result of the study, it was found that the four-fold administration of alprostadil had a significant effect on the structure of the dense fibrous connective tissue of the plantar foot of laboratory animals. The mechanisms of damage (edema, microhemorrhages, infiltration by lymphocytes, plasmocytes and leukocytes, dystrophy by the type of mucoid and fibrinoid swelling, delamination and rupture of collagen fibers), adaptation and regeneration (the appearance of a large number of activated fibrocytes, fibroblasts, microvessels, neoplasm of collagen fibers) were activated. All this together led to spatial focal histotopographic changes, consisting in an increase in the cellular composition of connective tissue structures against the background of a noticeable violation of their spatial orientation.Conclusion. Modeling of fasciopathy using alprostadil was accompanied by the appearance of mosaic reversible and irreversible heteromorphic and heterochronous changes in all connective tissue aponeurotic structures. Such histotopographic changes should be considered as one of the reasons for the clinical manifestations of plantar fasciopathies, causing functional insufficiency and explaining the clinical recurrent nature of the pathological process

Characterization of Dysbiotic Changes of Skin Microbiota in Contact Sports Athletes

© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York.Contact sports athletes often suffer from various skin disorders (inflammatory diseases of bacterial and fungal origin, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, etc.) resulting in long breaks in training which ruin athletic performance. Wrestling implies intense skin-to-skin contact that creates perfect conditions for transmission of the infectious agents. Following the standard rules of hygiene (showering and handwashing directly after each competition and training) does not exclude the possibility to get an infection from sparring partner. To characterize the skin microbial composition of wrestlers who do not have current manifestation of any skin disorders, the metagenomic analysis was performed. Absolute predominance of Bacillus genus in metagenomic profiles of wrestlers’ skin was observed in contrast with the existing literature data. Classic microbiological approaches allowed to detect hemolytic forms of microorganisms. Wrestlers’ skin appeared to be colonized with hemolytic bacilli, whereas the non-wrestler athletes did not have such bacteria on their skin. Such dysbiotic shifts in the microbial community may cause the emergence of skin diseases. Revealed properties could help to design highly effective antiseptics for the contact sports hygiene

Gut Microbiome Shotgun Sequencing in Assessment of Microbial Community Changes Associated with H. pylori Eradication Therapy

© 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.Disturbance of intestinal microbiota content and functions often results in different pathological conditions. Pharmacotherapy including antibiotics use is one of the factors leading to dysbiosis. To evaluate the influence of antibiotics use on intestinal microbiota metagenomic profiles of stool, samples of 74 patients before and after Helicobacter pylori—eradication therapy—were analyzed. Evaluation of taxonomic diversity changes based on Shannon index and Bray-Curtis metrics allows to range patients according to mild, moderate, and severe risk of disturbance of intestinal microbiota pathological conditions