Three stages of the future physics researchers training at V. N. Karazin KhNU – SCPT laboratory

The work is dedicated to the good practice examples in the process of preparation of the future students for the departments of Physics. It have been supposed the three stages of the secondary school students’ experimental skills development. To teach students how to make simple research the extracurricular courses have been organised at the V. N. Karazin KhNU — SCPT Laboratory which is situated at the Department of Physics and Technology at the premises of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. During such training students gain special profound knowledge of physics and seriously improve their experimental skills by doing self-made experimental projects using recycled materials, simple household objects, ordinary toys by means of real tools.Работа посвящена удачному опыту в привлечении и подготовке школьников к поступлению на физические факультеты ВУЗов Украины. Выделяются три этапа развития и формирования экспериментальных умений школьников. Для дополнительного обучения детей сотрудники физико- технического факультета ХНУ имени В. Н. Каразина и НФТЦ создали специальную лабораторию интерактивных методов обучения. Во время занятий учащиеся школ Харькова и области получают дополнительную подготовку по физике, серьезно повышают свои экспериментальные навыки, знакомясь с научным исследовательским оборудованием. Школьники делают свои первые исследовательские проекты, используя предметы домашнего обихода, обыкновенные игрушки, а также отходы производства и ненужные части недорого оборудования.Робота присвячена вдалого досвіду в залученні і підготовці школярів до вступу на фізичні факультети ВНЗ України. Виділяються три етапи розвитку та формування експериментальних умінь школярів. Для додаткового навчання дітей співробітники фізико-технічного факультету ХНУ імені В. Н. Каразіна та НФТЦ створили спеціальну лабораторію інтерактивних методів навчання. Під час занять учні шкіл Харкова і області отримують додаткову підготовку з фізики, серйозно підвищують свої експериментальні навички, знайомлячись з науковим дослідницьким обладнанням. Школярі роблять свої перші дослідні проекти, використовуючи предмети домашнього вжитку, звичайні іграшки, а також відходи виробництва і непотрібні частини недорого обладнання

Accumulation of Mitochondrial DNA Common Deletion Since The Preataxic Stage of Machado-Joseph Disease

Molecular alterations reflecting pathophysiologic changes thought to occur many years before the clinical onset of Machado-Joseph disease (MJD)/spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), a late-onset polyglutamine disorder, remain unidentified. The absence of molecular biomarkers hampers clinical trials, which lack sensitive measures of disease progression, preventing the identification of events occurring prior to clinical onset. Our aim was to analyse the mtDNA content and the amount of the common deletion (m.8482_13460del4977) in a cohort of 16 preataxic MJD mutation carriers, 85 MJD patients and 101 apparently healthy age-matched controls. Relative expression levels of RPPH1, MT-ND1 and MT-ND4 genes were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. The mtDNA content was calculated as the difference between the expression levels of a mitochondrial gene (MT-ND1) and a nuclear gene (RPPH1); the amount of mtDNA common deletion was calculated as the difference between expression levels of a deleted (MT-ND4) and an undeleted (MT-ND1) mitochondrial genes. mtDNA content in MJD carriers was similar to that of healthy age-matched controls, whereas the percentage of the common deletion was significantly increased in MJD subjects, and more pronounced in the preclinical stage (p < 0.05). The BCL2/BAX ratio was decreased in preataxic carriers compared to controls, suggesting that the mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic pathway is altered in MJD. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that accumulation of common deletion starts in the preclinical stage. Such early alterations provide support to the current understanding that any therapeutic intervention in MJD should start before the overt clinical phenotype

Promoter Variation and Expression Levels of Inflammatory Genes IL1A, IL1B, IL6 and TNF in Blood of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3) Patients

Age at onset in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3/MJD) is incompletely explained by the size of the CAG tract at the ATXN3 gene, implying the existence of genetic modifiers. A role of inflammation in SCA3 has been postulated, involving altered cytokines levels; promoter variants leading to alterations in cytokines expression could influence onset. Using blood from 86 SCA3 patients and 106 controls, this work aimed to analyse promoter variation of four cytokines (IL1A, IL1B, IL6 and TNF) and to investigate the association between variants detected and their transcript levels, evaluated by quantitative PCR. Moreover, the effect of APOE isoforms, known to modulate cytokines, was investigated. Correlations between cytokine variants and onset were tested; the cumulative modifier effects of cytokines and APOE were analysed. Patients carrying the IL6*C allele had a significant earlier onset (4 years in average) than patients carrying the G allele, in agreement with lower mRNA levels produced by IL6*C carriers. The presence of APOE*ɛ2 allele seems to anticipate onset in average 10 years in patients carrying the IL6*C allele; a larger number of patients will be needed to confirm this result. These results highlight the pertinence of conducting further research on the role of cytokines as SCA3 modulators, pointing to the presence of shared mechanisms involving IL6 and APOE

Familial hypercholesterolemia: Molecular characterization of possible cases from the Azores Islands (Portugal)

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disorder of the cholesterol metabolism, which constitutes a risk factor for coronary arterial disease (CAD). In the Azores Islands (Portugal), where mortality from CAD doubles its rate comparatively to the rest of the country and where a high frequency of dyslipidemia has been reported, the prevalence and distribution of FH remain unknown. The molecular characterization of a group of 33 possible cases of FH of Azorean background was undertaken in this study. A DNA array was initially used to search mutations in the LDLR, APOB and PCSK9 loci in 10 unrelated possible cases of FH. No mutations were detected in the array; after sequencing the full LDLR gene, 18 variants were identified, corresponding to two missense (c.806G > A; c.1171G > A) and sixteen synonymous alterations. Six of the synonymous variants which are consistently described in the literature as associated with altered cholesterol levels were used to build haplotypes. The most frequent haplotype corresponded to TTCGCC (45%), a "risk" haplotype, formed exclusively by alleles that were reported to increase cholesterol levels. Some of the variants detected in the full sequencing of the LDLR gene fell within the ligand-binding domain of this gene, defined by exons 2 to 6. To add information as to the role of such variants, these exons were sequenced in the remaining 23 possible FH cases. Two missense alterations (c.185C > T; c.806G > A) were found in this subset of possible FH cases. The missense alteration c.185C > T, identified in one individual, is novel for the Portuguese population. In silico analysis was not conclusive for this alteration, whose role will have to be further investigated. This study represents the first approach to the establishment of the mutational profile of FH in the Azores Islands.This work was supported by the project entitled “High prevalence pathologies in the Azores: genetic and biochemical markers” with reference (M2.1.2/I/026/2008) funded by SRCTE. M. R. receives a PhD fellowship (M3.1.2/F/006/2011) from Fundo Regional para a Ciência. T.C. receives a post-doctoral fellowships from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (SFRH/BPD/38659/ 2007) and N. K. (M3.1.7/F/002/2008) and A. R. (M3.1.7/F/031/2011) both receives post-doctoral fellowships from Fundo Regional para a Ciência

Features of history, during of pregnancy, state of placenta and perinatal pathology in women with "operated heart"

The objective. То determine features of the history of women with «the operated heart», during of pregnancy, morphological and immunohistochemical pictures of a structure of a placenta and perinatal outcomes taking into account a komor-bidnost. The examination included 66 patients after surgical correction of various cardio-vascular pathology. The control group comprised 40 women without somatic and gynecologic pathology. Morphological research of placentae from all women of the main group (n=66) and 20 women of control group is conducted. More profound morphological and immuno-morphological studying of placentae is carried out in 25 supervision of the main group and 20 - control group. Pregnancy at women with «the operated heart» it is reliable more often than in control group, is complicated by anemia (p=0,04), gestational diabetes (p=0,002), gestational pyelonephritis (6,1%), a preeclampsia (9,1%). Of women with «the operated heart» the high percent (66,7%) of an operational labour, au-thentically lower mark of the newborn on a scale Apgar in the 1st minute (p=0,03), congenital malformations (3%), cerebral ischemia (9,1%), a fruit growth inhibition (7,6%) is characteristic. The analysis of results of patomorpho-logical research of placentae of women with «the operated heart» has shown that the difficult range of the changes characteristic of the chronic placentary insufficiency (PI) develops in 90,9% of supervision in a placenta. Formations of chronic PI is caused by processes of distsirkulyatomy genesis (a haemodynamic form of chronic PI). Supervision of patients with «the operated heart» demands multidis-ciplinary approach. Carrying out prevention of PI from a stage of pregravidarny preparation and from early terms of pregnancy is required.Цель. Определить особенности анамнеза женщин с «оперированным сердцем», течения беременности, морфологической и иммуногистохимической картин строения плаценты и перинатальных исходов с учётом коморбидности. Обследованы 66 пациенток после хирургической коррекции различной кардиоваскулярной патологии. Группа сравнения - 40 женщин без соматической и гинекологической патологии. Проведено морфологическое исследование плацент от всех женщин основной группы (n=66) и 20 женщин группы сравнения. Углублённое морфологическое и иммуногистохимическое изучение плацент проведено в 25 наблюдениях основной группы и 20- группы сравнения. Беременность у женщин с «оперированным сердцем» достоверно чаще, чем в группе сравнения, осложняется анемией (р=0,04), гестационным сахарным диабетом (р=0,002), гестационным пиелонефритом (6,1%), преэклампсией (9,1%). Для женщин с «оперированным сердцем» характерен высокий про-цент (66,7%) оперативного родоразрешения, достоверно более низкая оценка новорождённого по шкале Апгар на 1-й минуте (р=0,03), врождённые пороки развития (3%), церебральная ишемия (9,1%), задержка роста плода (7,6%). Проведенный анализ показал, что в 90,9% наблюдений в плаценте развивается сложный спектр изменений, характерных для хронической плацентарной недостаточности (ПН). В основе формирования хронической ПН лежат процессы дисциркуляторного генеза (гемодинамическая форма хронической ПН). Наблюдение пациенток с «оперированным сердцем» требует мультидисциплинарного подхода и профилактики ПН с этапа прегравидарной подготовки и с ранних сроков беременности

Feature of a current and management of pregnancy in women after surgical correction of heart diseases

The review of modern literature is presented in article concerning a current and conducting pregnancy at women after surgical correction of heart diseases. The problem of an assessment of risk of pregnancy at this category of patients and feature of the period of a gestation after correction of various types of defects is separately considered.В статье представлен обзор современной литературы по вопросу течения и ведения беременности у женщин после хирургической коррекции пороков сердца. Отдельно рассмотрена проблема оценки риска беременности у данной категории больных и особенности периода гестации после коррекции различных типов пороков

"The operated heart" and pregnancy: interdisciplinary approach to a problem

The review of modern literature on an important interdisciplinary question of a current and conducting pregnancy is presented in article at women after surgical correction of heart diseases. The problem of an assessment of risk of pregnancy at this category of patients, features of the period of a gestation after correction of various types of defects and perinatal outcomes is separately considered.В статье представлен обзор современной литературы по важному междисциплинарному вопросу течения и ведения беременности у женщин после хирургической коррекции пороков сердца. Отдельно рассмотрена проблема оценки риска беременности у данной категории больных, особенности периода гестации после коррекции различных типов пороков и перинатальные исходы

Structural features angiogenesis of placenta in women with cardiovascular disease: histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of placenta

The study involved 62 women with singleton spontaneous pregnancy, gave birth on time. Group I consisted ot 25 women with cardiovascular disease and a very low risk of complications for mother and fetus; Group 11-17 pregnant women with low and moderate risk. The control group consisted of 20 patients without somatic diseases, capable to influence the fetoplacental system with physiological pregnancy. In these groups, a thorough histological and immunohistochemical study of tissue of the placenta. It has been established that the presence of cardiovascular disease, even a very low-risk pregnancies complicated in most chronic placental observations insufficiency, which necessitates its prevention during pregravid preparation and early pregnancy. The data about the features of placental angiogenesis in cardiovascular disease in pregnant women.Обследовано 62 женщины с одноплодной спонтанной беременностью, родившие в срок. I группу составили 25 женщин с кардиоваскулярной патологией и очень низким риском осложнений для матери и плода; II группу -17 беременных с низким и умеренным риском. Группу контроля составили 20 пациенток без соматической патологии, способной оказать влияние на состояние фетоплацентарной системы, с физиологически протекавшей беременностью. В этих группах проведено тщательное гистологическое и иммуногистохимическое исследование тканей плаценты. Установлено, что при наличии кардиоваскулярной патологии даже очень низкого риска беременность осложняется в большинстве наблюдений хронической плацентарной недостаточностью, что диктует необходимость её профилактики в процессе прегравидарной подготовки и с ранних сроков беременности. Представлены данные об особенностях плацентарного ангиогенеза при кардиоваскулярной патологии у беременных

Morphological substantiation of laser exposure parameters and modes for surgical treatment of intrauterine pathology

The aim of the investigation was to substantiate experimentally the optimum parameters and modes of diode laser radiation in the treatment of intrauterine pathology based on the study of morphological changes in the endometrium.Цель исследования – экспериментально обосновать оптимальные параметры и режимы излучения диодного лазера при лечения внутриматочной патологии на основании изучения морфологических изменений эндометрия

Perinatal outcomes and morphological examination of placentas in pregnant women with critical lung lesions in new COVID-19 coronavirus infection

The objective of this investigation was to determine perinatal outcomes and the nature of placental lesions in pregnant women with critical lung injury during novel COVID-19 coronavirus infection.Цель исследования – определить перинатальные исходы и характер плацентарных повреждений у беременных с критическим поражением легких при новой коронавирусной инфекции COVID-19