Synchronization of EEG activity in patients with bipolar disorder

© Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd. In paper we apply the method based on the Flicker-Noise Spectroscopy (FNS) to determine the differences in frequency-phase synchronization of the cortical electroencephalographic (EEG) activities in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). We found that for healthy subjects the frequency-phase synchronization of EEGs from long-range electrodes was significantly better for BD patients. In BD patients a high synchronization of EEGs was observed only for short-range electrodes. Thus, the FNS is a simple graphical method for qualitative analysis can be applied to identify the synchronization effects in EEG activity and, probably, may be used for the diagnosis of this syndrome

Development of Composition and Technologies of Dental Gel of Meloxicam

BACKGROUND: Dental gels have several advantages over other oral dosage forms. Being a viscoplastic dosage form, the gel, when applied to the damaged area of the gum or mucous membrane, creates a protective film, preventing mechanical irritation, and providing a localized effect of the drug components. AIM: The aim of this work was to develop the composition and technology of the dental gel of meloxicam, the study of the main technological and consumer characteristics, as well as the local irritating effect of the dosage form. METHODS: Dental gels were prepared using purified water, alcohol, glycerol, and buckthorn oil as solvents, gelling agents used were: Hydroxyethylcellulose Natrosol® 250 HHX Pharm, Carbopol® 974P NF Polymer, and solubilizer Poloxamer 407 (Lutrol® F 127). The bioadhesive component and Noveon® Polycarbophil component were used for dental gel preparation. Aspartame was used as sweetener. Menthol and ascorbic acid were used to correct the organoleptic properties of the pharmaceutical composition. The formulated dental gel of meloxicam at a concentration of 7.5% was evaluated for organoleptic properties, pH, rheological characteristics, bioadhesive properties, and stability under the accelerated aging period. The in vivo local irritant effect was evaluated using ten rabbits by cutaneous, subcutaneous, subconjunctival administration, as well as application to the upper palate. RESULTS: Based on the results of studying technological and organoleptic properties, the optimal composition based on the Natrosol® 250 HHX hydroxyethylcellulose gelling agent, glycerol solvent, and purified water in the ratio 1/5 was selected, the composition contains Noveon® bioadhesive in an amount of 2%. The composition has good taste, pH close to pH of saliva has high bioadhesive properties, satisfactory rheological characteristics. The shelf life of the experimental series by accelerated aging was 2 years. The selected composition does not have a local irritant effect. CONCLUSION: A new dosage form of meloxicam was developed – a gel for use in dental practice

Biomimetic cell-mediated three-dimensional assembly of halloysite nanotubes

Biomimetic architectural assembly of clay nanotube shells on yeast cells was demonstrated producing viable artificial hybrid inorganic-cellular structures (armoured cells). These modified cells were preserved for one generation resulting in the intact second generation of cells with delayed germination. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Применение ингибиторов фактора некроза опухоли α у женщин с анкилозирующим спондилитом во время беременности

Objective: to present our own experience of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitors (iTNFα) usage during pregnancy in women with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), to assess AS activity and outcomes of gestation.Patients and methods. A prospective observation of 55 pregnant women with AS who met the modified New York criteria of 1984. Fifty-six pregnancies were followed. The average age of the patients was 31.7±4.7 years, the duration of the disease was 132.2±85.4 months. The median BASDAI for pregnancy trimesters was 2.4 [1.2; 4.4], 2.7 [1.4; 4.2] and 2.2 [1.5; 4.0], respectively. 14 women received iTNFα 3 months before pregnancy.Results and discussion. In the first trimester, TNFα was used in 9 (16.1%) patients, in the second – in 9 (16.1%) and in the third – in 5 (9.3%); the median BASDAI for trimesters was 2.3 [1.0; 3.7], 3.4 [1.2; 3.5], 3.0 [0.8; 3.4], respectively. All patients who discontinued iTNFα just before or in early pregnancy had indications for resuming therapy in the second half of gestation. Cancellation of iTNFα at the end of the second trimester was not a risk factor for high activity in the third trimester. There was 1 adverse pregnancy outcome. In other cases, childbirth occurred at 38.9±1.4 weeks, newborns' body weight was 3273.1±435.6 g.Conclusion. Women with AS who plan a pregnancy should be prescribed drugs with the maximum allowed duration of use during gestation. Cancellation of iTNFα before and in early pregnancy is a risk factor for high AS activity, while renewal of iTNFα therapy during pregnancy is not always effective.Цель исследования – представить собственный опыт применения ингибиторов фактора некроза опухоли (иФНОα) во время беременности у женщин с анкилозирующим спондилитом (АС), оценить активность АС и исходы гестации.Пациенты и методы. Проведено проспективное наблюдение 55 беременных с АС, соответствовавших модифицированным Нью-Йоркским критериям 1984 г. Прослежено 56 беременностей. Средний возраст пациенток составлял 31,7±4,7 года, продолжительность болезни – 132,2±85,4 мес. Медиана BASDAI по триместрам беременности – 2,4 [1,2; 4,4], 2,7 [1,4; 4,2] и 2,2 [1,5; 4,0] соответственно. ИФНОα за 3 мес до наступления беременности получали 14 женщин.Результаты и обсуждение. В I триместре иФНОα применяли 9 (16,1%) пациенток, во II – 9 (16,1%) и в III – 5 (9,3%); медиана BASDAI по триместрам составляла 2,3 [1,0; 3,7], 3,4 [1,2; 3,5], 3,0 [0,8; 3,4] соответственно. Все пациентки, отменившие иФНОα накануне или на ранних сроках беременности, имели показания к возобновлению терапии во второй половине гестации. Отмена иФНОα в конце II триместра не являлась фактором риска высокой активности в III триместре. Имел место 1 неблагоприятный исход беременности. В остальных случаях роды произошли на сроке 38,9±1,4 нед, масса тела новорожденных – 3273,1±435,6 г.Заключение. Женщинам с АС, планирующим беременность, необходимо назначать препараты с максимально разрешенным сроком применения во время гестации. Отмена иФНОα перед беременностью и на ее ранних сроках – фактор риска высокой активности АС, при этом возобновление терапии иФНОα во время беременности не всегда эффективно

Zika virus has an oncolytic activity against human glioblastoma U87 cells

Glioblastoma is a highly lethal brain cancer. Virotherapy with the use of oncolytic viruses has since recently been regarded as a promising approach for the clinic treatment of human glioblastomas. The purpose of this work was to perform a primary evaluation of the Zika virus as a potential oncolytic agent against glioblastomas. In vitro experiments showed that the Zika virus strain MR 766 is able to selectively infect and lyse neoplastic cells of the human glioblastoma cell line U87 MG. The selectivity index (SI, the ratio of infectious titer for tumor cells to titer on normal untransformed cells) was 2·102. The selectivity of the replicative activity of Zika virus in relation to U87 MG glioblastoma cells was additionally confrmed by indirect immunofluorescence. Using the model of immunodefcient SCID mice with subcutaneous xenografts of human glioblastoma U87 MG, a strong antitumor activity of the Zika virus under a course (daily for 4 days) of intratumoral administration of 5·105 TCID50 of Zika virus was shown. Treatment with Zika virus resulted in more than a 10­fold reduction in mean volumes of tumors. The tumor growth inhibition index was 92.63 %. Recurrences (metastases) of tumor re­growth were not registered within 64 days of observation. This result demonstrated the prospect of further in­depth studies of the Zika virus as a potential oncolytic agent against human glioblastomas

Development of composition and technologies of dental film with ketorolac trometamine

The report presents the results of the development of dental films with ketorolac trometamine based on the natural biodegradable polymers from the groups of sodium alginates and xanthan gums in combination with lightly crosslinked acrylic polymer carbopo

Methodology for assessing the agroecological adaptability of genotypes under global climate warming

Background. The relevance of the research is due to the fact that, despite the breeding achievements in releasing cultivars with high potential yield and resistance to the most common stressors in the regions, it is almost impossible to foresee and accurately predict the reaction of cultivars under production conditions. Besides, extreme weather events, including heat waves, droughts and downpours, will increasingly manifest themselves under global climate warming. To reduce the risk of a significant decrease in gross grain harvests in dry years and achieve high results under favorable conditions, the goal was to develop a comprehensive indicator for assessing the agroecological adaptability of genotypes to some consequences of global climate warming.Materials and methods. The results of a competitive test of 5 cultivars and 9 promising lines of spring wheat for their yield across six years contrasting in moisture availability by calculating the indicators of responsiveness to favorable conditions, grain yield depression under unfavorable conditions and the relative yield index were used to develop a complex indicator proposed to assess the agroecological adaptability of a genotype to contrasting environmental conditions.Results. The proposed method makes it possible to perform a comprehensive assessment that takes into account the responsiveness of an accession to improved agroclimatic conditions and the degree of its reaction to adverse environmental factors, taking into account the yield index in the studied set. The method is recommended for evaluating the source material and identifying the diversity of its responses to changes in agroclimatic conditions as well as for the stage of competitive variety testing in plant breeding for adaptability

The distribution of tick-borne encephalitis virus genotypes in different types of landscapes of Eastern Siberia

To find out what is the role of some environmental factors in the formation of a heterogeneous viral population, the analysis of the distribution of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) genotypes in different types of landscapes of Eastern Siberia has been carried out. In our study, it was shown that TBEV area in all investigated landscapes of Eastern Siberia is represented not only by TBEV of genotype 3, absolute dominance of which is noted in the studied regions, regardless the landscapes where the foci are located, but also by strains of other genotypes. The relationship between genotypes 1,3 and "polytypic" strains with a certain type of landscape and the degree of their development by man has not been established. The prevailing number of strains of TBEV genotype 5 is isolated from the material collected in the Transbaikalia, in the landscapes of the mountain taiga. They, as well as the strain of genotype 4, are found in the foci, where joint circulation of several TBEV genotypes is noted. The strains of TBEV genotype 2 were revealed in the landscapes of plains and plateaus taiga and insular steppes and forest steppes of the southern part of the Baikal region. Moreover, the detection of RNA of TBEV genotype 2 in the "polytipic" 763-87 and 765-87 strains isolated in the floodplain and forest-steppe landscapes of the Barguzin hollow does not exclude the possibility of circulation of TBEV genotype 2 in the Transbaikalian foci. The greatest genetic heterogeneity of TBEV is observed in natural foci located along Lake Baikal and in the southeastern part of Transbaikalia

Characteristics of genetic and phenotypic properties of tick-borne encephalitis virus strains isolated from various source on the territory of Eastern Siberia

Since ixodid ticks and their feeders (vertebrates) form the basis of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) population, it was interesting to obtain a genetic characteristic of strains isolated from various sources in the territory of Eastern Siberia. In our study, it was found that the circulation of TBEV of genotypes 1, 2, 3, 5 and "polytypic" strains in the territory of Eastern Siberia is maintained both by the main vectors (I. persulcatus ticks) and by their feeders (small and large mammals, birds). The distribution of genotypes in strains groups from ixodid ticks and vertebrates varied. TBEV strains of genotypes 1 and 2 were significantly more often isolated from rodents, and genotype 3 from ixodid ticks (p < 0.05). Isolates of genotype 3 (85.5 %) prevailed in the group of strains isolated from ixodid ticks, of which 29.6 % belonged to "Vasilchenko", and 25.6 % to "Zausaev"subgenotypes. Genotypes 1 and 2 were represented by single isolates (3.3 % and 1.3 %, respectively). Among strains isolated from warm-blooded hosts, the proportion of genotype 1 was 35.3 %, genotype 2 -11.8 %, genotype 3 - 35.3 %. More than half of genotype 3 strains (58.3 %) were related to "Vasilchenko" subgenotype, and the strains of "Zausaev" subgenotype were not detected. The obtained data suggest that ixodid ticks and warm-blooded animals are amplifiers of TBEV of genotypes 3 and 1, respectively. The certain differences in the phenotypic characteristics of strains isolated from ticks and warm-blooded animals have been revealed. It has been found that strains isolated from ticks are more homogeneous in their antigenic characteristics, less heterogeneous in S-feature than strains isolated from warm-blooded sources. The strains isolated from warm-blooded animals demonstrate somewhat greater resistance to warming but reducing the reproduction of the virus at 42 °C, and have greater virulence compared to strains isolated from ticks