Breast milk microbiota (concept, sources, role of bacteria for a child and mother)

Scientific discoveries of recent years demonstrate a crucial role of the human microbiome in human health. The establishment of a healthy, functional gut microbiota of the newborn requires physiological conditions, one of which is breastfeeding. The role of breast milk as a “direct supplier” of live microbes for the establishment of the newborn gut microbiota became known only at the beginning of the new millennium, previously it was believed that the breast milk was sterile. Today, the breast milk microbiota can be defined as multi-species assemblage, in which microbes interact with each, representing a complex organized ecosystem, among which the genera Streptococcus and Staphylococcus are dominant. Lactobacillus, Pseudomonas, Bifidobacterium, Corynebacterium, Enterococcus, Acinetobacter, Rothia, Cutibacterium, Veillonella and Bacteroides are also often referred to the common bacterial genera. The article presents two theories of the origin of bacteria in the breast milk (endogenous and exogenous bacterial translocation pathways) and explains why both of them are true. The role of bacteria in the breast milk of healthy women, in the global sense, is viewed in the context of the establishment of the infant gut microbiota. The article lists the main producers of antibacterial peptides (bacteriocins) in the breast milk and considers the effective immunological protection using the example of the population of bifidobacteria and bacteroids prevailing in the breastfed infant gut. However, the breast milk microbiota is also important for women’s health. We tried to explain why infectious lactational mastitis is now considered to be the result of dysbiosis in the mammary ecosystem, which leads to the development of an inflammatory process, and why Streptococcus thermophilus (TCI633) shows promise in the fight against human ageing

Methods of the determination of inorganic arsenic species by stripping voltammetry in weakly alkaline media

Two methods are considered for the direct determination of trace amounts of As(III) and As(V) in solutions by stripping voltammetry (SVA) using an ensemble of gold microelectrodes (Au-MEA) previously developed by the authors of this paper. In both methods, analyzing a mixture of As(III) and As(V), analysts first record an SVA signal of As(III) in a supporting Na2SO3 electrolyte. To record an analytical SVA signal of As(V), in the first method one should use the reduction of As(V) to As(III) on the surface of an Au-MEA catalyzed by the system Mn(II)/Mn(0) and followed by the formation of As(0) and its anode dissolution. In the second method, the photoreduction of As(V) to As(III) in a Na2SO3 solution is conducted under UV irradiation followed by the reduction of As(III) to As(0) and its electrooxidation on Au-MEA. The two methods are compared taking into account their performance characteristics and interfering ions. To improve the reliability of the results of analysis at an insignificant increase in its cost, we propose the consecutive use of both methods. The procedures are simple and rapid, do not require the removal of dissolved oxygen or toxic reactants, and can be used for the analysis of aqueous solutions at the place of sampling. The results of analyses of real objects, snow, river water, and process solutions are presented

Spin-transfer mechanism of ferromagnetism in polymerized fullerenes: AbinitioAb initio calculations

A mechanism of the high temperature ferromagnetism in polymerized fullerenes is suggested. It is assumed that some of the C$_{60}$ molecules in the crystal become magnetically active due to spin and charge transfer from the paramagnetic impurities (atoms or groups), such as hydrogen, fluorine, hydroxyl group OH, amino group NH$_2$, or methyl group CH$_3$, dispersed in the fullerene matrix. The exchange interaction between the spins localized on the magnetically active fullerenes is evaluated using \textit{ab initio} calculations. The nearest neighbour and next nearest neighbour exchange interaction is found to be in the range $0.1\div 0.3$ eV, that is, high enough to account for the room temperature ferromagnetism.Comment: typos corrected, 8 pages, 3 figures, LaTe

Clinical and electroencephalographic characteristics of chronic tic disorders in children and adolescents

Chronic tic disorders (CTDs) are one of the relevant problems of pediatric neurology, the higher prevalence of which is associated with undifferentiated therapy without considering comorbidity.Objective: to enhance the efficiency of diagnosis and therapy of tic disorders in children and adolescents in terms of video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring data.Patients and methods. The investigation enrolled 116 patients, including 83 (71.6%) boys and 33 (28.4%) girls at the age of 3 to 15 years (mean age, 9.0±3.0 years), diagnosed with CTD who had been examined at the Specialized Neurology Department, Voronezh Regional Children's Clinical Hospital One, in the period 2010–2014. The investigation consisted of two steps: 1) clinical, laboratory, and neurophysiologic  examination; 2) differentiated therapy. The Yaele Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) was used. The diagnosis was established in accordance with the draft classification of epileptic seizures and epilepsy syndromes by the Intern ational League Against Epilepsy. Video-EEG monitoring was carried out in an awake state and during daytime and/or nighttime sleep. Results and discussion. EEC epileptiform activity was recorded in 46.6% of the patients; a concurrence of CTDs and epilepsy was ascertained in 16.4% of cases. The risk factors of epilepsy in children with CTDs and EEG epileptiform activity are isolated motor tics in the facial region (p=0.0023), MRI epileptogenic changes (p = 0.01), a remitting course (p=0.02), and an early age at the full-scaled picture of tic disorder (p=0.02). CTD therapy with antiepileptic drugs (extended-release valproic acid) was effective and safe in both epileptic seizures (remission in 85.7% of cases) and tics with an improvement in 81.5% of cases with retention in therapy during 2–3 years. Therapy with dopamine transmissionlowering drugs was effective against tics; however, their intake for more than 6 months increased a risk for added epileptic seizures in patients with EEG epileptiform activity (the secondary bilateral synchronization phenomenon and epileptic seizures were recorded in 42.9 and 14.3% of the patients, respectively)

New Advantageous Method for the Production of Purified Cholera Toxin B-Subunit and Monoclonal Antibodies to It

Put forward is an efficient method for manufacturing cholera toxin B-subunit. Its advantages are relative simplicity and economy feasibility, as well as maximum output of the purified B-subunit, absolutely free from toxic A-subunit contaminant. All this is due to the deployment of cholera vibrio recombinant strain producing only cholera toxin B-subunit instead of cholera toxin as it is, which results in lack of residual preparation toxicity. Applied has been gel-penetration column chromatography, providing for stable native state and maximum antigen output. The method under discussion is verified experimentally. Sample purity has been analyzed after each phase of chromatographic investigation on TSK gel HW-60, using disc electrophoresis. It is established that three steps of purification are ample for the obtainment of cholera toxin B-subunit preparation free from admixtures. Immunological activity of the purified B-subunit is validated by monoclonal antibody obtainment. Designed preparation of cholera toxin B-subunit and monoclonal antibodies to it can serve as a basis for the development of various immune-diagnostic test-systems alternatives

Differentiated approach to correcting low vitamin D status in adolescent girls in Moscow

Introduction. The work is devoted to the study of vitamin D status in adolescent girls and the selection of adequate doses for its correction.Study objective. To study the dynamics of calcidiol concentration in the blood serum against vitamin D3 intake and evaluate the effectiveness of correcting doses of vitamin in adolescent girls from Moscow.Study design. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospective, randomized clinical study.Materials and methods. The study involved adolescent girls aged from 11 to 17 years (n = 218) from I-II health groups, with determined serum level of 25(OH)D. Participants were randomly assigned to the main and control groups. The adolescent girls in the study group received vitamin D3 tablets, and the control group received a placebo. Study duration was 6 months. The dose of vitamin D3 was dependent on baseline serum caLcidioL levels and ranged from 800 IU to 2000 IU. Vitamin D status was redetermined in the girls who completed the treatment (n = 192).Results. Initially, 96.4% of girls had a low vitamin D status, while vitamin D insufficiency was observed in 26.6%, deficiency in 57.8%, deep deficiency in 12%. The median level of 25(OH)D in the main group before taking the vitamin was 16.25 ng/ml, after taking - 24.1            ng/ml, in the control group - 17.9 and 11.4 ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.001). In the main group, an increase in the content of the metabolite was observed in 94.9% of the subjects, the initially identified pronounced deficit was completely absent.Conclusions. A differentiated approach to prescribing different doses of cholecalciferon, depending on the baseline level of 25(OH)D, BMI and age, is an effective method for replenishing vitamin D deficiency in adolescents. The high probability of normalization of vitamin D status in certain age groups, mainly with the appointment of low corrective doses of cholecalciferol justifies the possibility of their use for 6 months or more in adolescents during puberty period

Problem of distribution of volumes of medical care between the medical organizations of various forms of ownership in the system of obligatory medical insurance

The article substantiates the relevance of the revision of the state regulation of the industry in the form of legal, economic intervention of the state in the sphere of health care. The activity of medical organizations of state and non-state ownership, their interaction is considered. The medical organizations participating in implementation of the territorial program of compulsory medical insurance of Sverdlovsk region for the period 2013-2017, forms of ownership of organizations are considered. The problems of the lack of clear criteria for the distribution of medical care between organizations of different legal forms, the interaction of medical organizations of different forms of ownership, the level of income of the population of the region and the structure of consumer spending of households of the Sverdlovsk region in the dynamics for seven years are identified and analyzed. The result of the study was formulated by authors criteria for the distribution of medical care between public and private medical institutions operating in the system of compulsory medical insurance.В статье обоснована актуальность пересмотра государственного регулирования отрасли в форме правового, экономического вмешательства государства в сферу здравоохранения. Рассмотрена деятельность медицинских организаций государственной и негосударственной форм собственности, их взаимодействие. Рассмотрены медицинские организации, участвующих в реализации территориальной программы обязательного медицинского страхования Свердловской области за период 2013-2017 г.г., формы собственности организаций. определены и проанализированы проблемы отсутствия четких критериев распределения медицинской помощи между организациями различных правовых форм, взаимодействия медицинских организаций различных форм собственности, уровень доходов населения области и структура потребительских расходов домашних хозяйств Свердловской области в динамике за семь лет. Результатом исследования явились сформулированные авторами критерии распределения объемов медицинской помощи между государственными и негосударственными медицинскими учреждениями, работающими в системе ОМС

The role of magnetic resonance angiography in the intracranial aneurysm treatment assessment and the follow-up of the patients

The presented literature review shows up-to-date information about the possibilities and new methods of magnetic resonance angiography in patients with cerebral aneurysms who have undergone surgical treatment. The articles for analyses have been taken from the PubMed database. The most important aspects of the implementation and the possibilities of improving magnetic resonance angiography protocols for visualization and postoperative control of treated cerebral aneurysm have been considered

«Микробиологическая чистота» сухих питательных сред, используемых для оценки стерильности иммунобиологических лекарственных препаратов

Medicinal products fail sterility testing if visual observation shows the growth of microorganisms that manifests itself as turbidity, sedimentation, flocculation and other changes in the growth medium. A key factor allowing robust determination of changes in the culture that may be suspected of contamination is the quality of growth media used, namely their transparency, and absence of foreign matter detectable by microscopic examination of the growth media smears. The presence of such foreign matter makes it especially difficult to interpret the results of testing of immunobiological products, namely live bacterial vaccines, because they cause turbidity of the media due to their specific composition. The article dwells upon the results of testing (in terms of Transparency and Microbial content) of dehydrated growth media recommended by the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation, 13th ed., General monograph 1.2.4.0003.15 for sterility testing of immunobiological medicinal products. The study revealed the presence of microorganisms, including pathogenic ones, in the growth media. In view of the fact that certificates of analysis and technical documentation accompanying components of growth media and dehydrated growth media produced by most national and foreign manufacturers do not contain any data on the acceptable levels of microorganisms it is argued that these products have to be tested for microbial content. The study also investigated the ways of improving the quality of commercial dehydrated growth media at the preparation stage.Несоответствие лекарственных средств требованиям испытания по показателю «Стерильность» устанавливается при обнаружении роста микроорганизмов, определяемого визуально по наличию мутности, осадка, хлопьев и других изменений питательной среды (ПС). Определяющим фактором, позволяющим достоверно установить наличие изменений в посевах, подозрительных на контаминацию, является качество используемых ПС, а именно их прозрачность, а также отсутствие в них загрязнений, обнаруживаемых при микроскопии мазков ПС. Присутствие таких загрязнений особенно затрудняет интерпретацию результатов испытания иммунобиологических лекарственных препаратов (ИЛП), вызывающих помутнение среды вследствие особенностей своего состава, в частности живых бактериальных вакцин. В основу статьи положены исследования качества образцов сухих ПС, рекомендуемых Государственной фармакопеей Российской Федерации XIII издания ОФС.1.2.4.0003.15 для проведения испытания на стерильность ИЛП, по показателям «Прозрачность» и «Микробная обсемененность». Установлено, что среды обсеменены различной микрофлорой, в том числе и патогенной. Учитывая отсутствие в сертификатах качества и в технической документации на компоненты ПС и на сухие ПС большинства отечественных и зарубежных производителей информации об уровне их допустимой обсемененности, обоснована необходимость оценивать их качество по показателю «Микробная обсемененность». Изучена возможность улучшения качества изготовленных промышленным способом сухих ПС на этапе приготовления