Confidence and RISC: How Russian papers indexed in the national citation database Russian Index of Science Citation (RISC) characterize universities and research institutes

The paper analyses Russian Index of Science Citation (RISC), a national citation database. We continue our previous study (Moskaleva et al., 2018) and focus on difference between bibliometric indicators calculated on, so to say, ""the best"" journals, so called RISC Core, and those which take into account all Russian journals available. Such a difference may show focuses of insitutional actors on different document types, publication strategies etc

Informative significance of serum cytokines and their importance for development of metabolic syndrome with arterial hypertension in elderly persons

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is among the main public health challenges worldwide, leading to significant labor losses, increased costs for treatment and rehabilitation of the patients. The aim of the present study was to identify the informative serum interleukins, by determining the odds ratio in elderly patients with MS and hypertension. The main group of 86 patients with MS and arterial hypertension (AH) aged 60-75 years was examined under clinical conditions. The inclusion criteria were as follows: age of 60-75 years, presence of MS, primary hypertension (grade II-III), absence of acute myocardial infarction, malignant neoplasms, disorders of cerebral circulation, kidney failure over last 6 months. Diagnostics of MS and hypertension was carried out in accordance with Expert Guidelines from the Russian Research Society of Cardiology on the MS Diagnosis and Treatment. Our first study of a large range of serum interleukins in elderly patients with MS and hypertension allowed us to reveal the inversely directed changes in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine contents. Combined AH/MS in elderly persons is accomplished by sufficient increase of the most proinflammatory cytokines, and vice versa, by significant decrease in anti-inflammatory cytokines in blood serum. This finding clearly points to importance of immunological regulatory systems for initiation of AH with MS at older age. Pro- and anti-inflammatory serum interleukins are actively involved into the AH/MS development in elderly accompanied by their pronounced imbalance. The mentioned immune reactions could underlie the MS/AH condition. High risk of this disorder is connected with changed production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-8, IL-1β), like as anti-inflammatory serum interleukins (IL-4, IL-10), with predominance of the former. The above interleukins should be considered dominant diagnostic markers of AH/MS in elderly persons. Measurement of serum interleukins and discriminant-based approach allows highly reliable differentiation of elderly patients with AH/MS from similar individuals without this disorder

Aromatic Amino Acids: Phenylalanine and Tyrosine in Patients with Hypertension and Coronary Artery Disease

Aim. To evaluate changes in the profile of aromatic amino acids (AAA) in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD): hypertension and coronary artery disease (CАD) in comparison with healthy study participants.Material and methods. One hundred and thirty-one participants were included in the study: 58 participants were included in the hypertension group, 46 in the CАD group, and 27 participants without signs of CVD in the control group. We used ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography in combination with a triple quadrupole analyzer to measure plasma AAA: phenylalanine and tyrosine (Phe, Tyr) in all study participants. The association of AAA with biochemical blood test parameters, echocardiography (EchoCG) parameters, blood pressure level and clinical characteristics was analyzed.Results. A statistically significant difference in the level of concentration of Phe and Tyr was revealed (p=0,002 and p=0,024, respectively), comparing the three groups. Post-hoc analysis showed differences in the circulating level of both amino acids in patients with CAD vs the control group (Phe p=0,008 and Tyr p=0,020). Also a statistically significant difference in the level of Phe of the hypertension and CАD groups (p=0,017) was found. A negative correlation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) with the level of Phe (r=-0,685, p<0,05) and Tyr (r=-0,583, p<0,05), as well as the level of Phe with total cholesterol (r=-0,461, p<0,05) was found in the group without CVD. In the hypertension group, only a weak positive correlation was found between very low-density lipoproteins and AAA levels (Phe r=0,326 and Tyr r=0,365, p<0,05), while in patients with CAD, the level of Phe and Tyr was negative correlated with high-density lipoprotein (r=-0,378 and r=-0,543, respectively, p<0,05), and the level of Tyr with LDL (r=0,349, p<0,05). When isolating the group with proven atherosclerosis of peripheral and/or coronary arteries, a statistically significant difference was revealed between the group of patients with CVD and clinical and instrumental signs of atherosclerosis and the group of patients with CVD without proven atherosclerosis in Phe level (p=0,019).Conclusion. Concentrations of AAA were higher in patients with CVD, comparing with the control group. At the same time, an increase of the Phe level was associated with the presence of peripheral or coronary atherosclerosis. The revealed correlations of AAA with EchoCG parameters and lipid spectrum parameters require further study to understand the involvement of AAA in pathogenesis of CVD and its potential role as treatment target

Метаболизм триптофана при различном эффекте иммунотерапии немелкоклеточного рака легкого ингибиторами PD-1 / PD-L1

Introduction. In the structure of cancer incidence, lung cancer ranks first among men. In order to study the molecular mechanisms of the initiation and progression of lung cancer, it is necessary to study not only the tumor cells themselves, but also the features of the systemic tryptophan metabolism. Tryptophan catabolites, being to a large extent product of the metabolic activity of the intestinal microbiota, can affect the effectiveness of immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors. The kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism is intensified in the body of cancer patients; its products have a pro-oncogenic and immunosuppressive effect, which may hinder the effectiveness of immunotherapy.Objective – to study the dynamics of changes in various metabolites of tryptophan metabolism in the blood serum and feces of patients with non-small cell lung cancer with various effects of immunotherapy with inhibitors of PD-1 (programmed cell death receptor 1) / PD-L1 (programmed cell death receptor 1 ligand).Materials and methods. The study included blood serum and stool samples obtained from 20 patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with PD-1 / PD-L1 inhibitors. Using high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric analysis, the levels of 13 tryptophan metabolites were assessed in patients with various effects of immunotherapy. The significance of differences between the samples was assessed using a nonparametric method according to the Mann – Whitney test. They were considered statistically significant at p <0.05.Results. In fecal analyzes of patients in whom a positive effect of immunotherapy was observed, baseline levels of 5-hydroxyindole acetate and quinolinic acid were lower than in patients with tumor progression. Positive clinical dynamics was accompanied by a decrease in the content of indole-3-lactate, kynurenine and indole-3-carboxaldehyde in the feces of patients. In the serum of patients with a positive response, the initial content of 5-hydroxyindole acetate, indole-3-acetate, indole-3-butyrate and quinoline acid was lower than in patients with progression of non-small cell lung cancer. A positive response to immunotherapy was characterized by an increase in the levels of indole-3-butyrate and indole-3-propionate, and a negative response was not accompanied by statistically significant changes in the studied tryptophan metabolites.Conclusion. Profiling tryptophan metabolites in feces and serum of patients with non-small cell lung cancer can be used to predict the effectiveness of immunotherapy with PD-1 / PD-L1 inhibitors.Введение. В структуре онкологической заболеваемости рак легкого занимает 1-е место среди мужчин. С целью изучения молекулярных механизмов инициации и прогрессирования рака легких необходимо исследовать не только сами опухолевые клетки, но и особенности системного метаболизма триптофана. Катаболиты триптофана, будучи в большой степени продуктами метаболической активности микробиоты кишечника, могут влиять на эффективность проведения иммунотерапии ингибиторами контрольных точек. Кинурениновый путь метаболизма триптофана интенсифицируется в организме онкологических пациентов, его продукты имеют проонкогенное и иммуносупрессивное действие, что может препятствовать эффективности иммунотерапии.Цель исследования – изучение динамики изменений различных метаболитов триптофанового обмена в сыворотке крови и кале больных немелкоклеточным раком легкого при различных эффектах иммунотерапии ингибиторами PD-1 (рецептора программируемой клеточной гибели 1) / PD-L1 (лиганда рецептора программируемой клеточной гибели 1).Материалы и методы. В исследование были включены образцы сыворотки крови и кала, полученные от 20 больных немелкоклеточным раком легкого, получавших ингибиторы PD-1 / PD-L1. С помощью высокоэффективной жидкостной хроматографии с масс-спектрометрическим анализом проведена оценка уровней 13 метаболитов триптофана у больных с различными эффектами иммунотерапии. Достоверность различий между выборками оценивали с помощью непараметрического метода по критерию Манна–Уитни. Они считались статистически значимыми при р <0,05.Результаты. В анализах кала пациентов, у которых наблюдали положительный эффект от иммунотерапии, исходные уровни 5-гидроксииндолацетата и хинолиновой кислоты были ниже, чем у больных с прогрессированием опухоли. Положительная клиническая динамика сопровождалась снижением содержания индол-3-лактата, кинуренина и индол-3-карбоксальдегида в анализах кала больных. В сыворотке пациентов с положительным ответом исходное содержание 5-гидроксииндолацетата, индол-3-ацетата, индол-3-бутирата и хинолиновой кислоты оказалось ниже, чем у пациентов с прогрессированием немелкоклеточного рака легкого. Положительный ответ на иммунотерапию характеризовался повышением уровней индол-3-бутирата и индол-3-пропионата, а отрицательный – не сопровождался статистически значимыми изменениями исследованных триптофановых метаболитов.Заключение. Профилирование метаболитов триптофана в кале и сыворотке больных немелкоклеточным раком легкого может быть использовано для прогнозирования эффективности иммунотерапии ингибиторами PD-1 / PD-L1

Beta-Strand Interfaces of Non-Dimeric Protein Oligomers Are Characterized by Scattered Charged Residue Patterns

Protein oligomers are formed either permanently, transiently or even by default. The protein chains are associated through intermolecular interactions constituting the protein interface. The protein interfaces of 40 soluble protein oligomers of stœchiometries above two are investigated using a quantitative and qualitative methodology, which analyzes the x-ray structures of the protein oligomers and considers their interfaces as interaction networks. The protein oligomers of the dataset share the same geometry of interface, made by the association of two individual β-strands (β-interfaces), but are otherwise unrelated. The results show that the β-interfaces are made of two interdigitated interaction networks. One of them involves interactions between main chain atoms (backbone network) while the other involves interactions between side chain and backbone atoms or between only side chain atoms (side chain network). Each one has its own characteristics which can be associated to a distinct role. The secondary structure of the β-interfaces is implemented through the backbone networks which are enriched with the hydrophobic amino acids favored in intramolecular β-sheets (MCWIV). The intermolecular specificity is provided by the side chain networks via positioning different types of charged residues at the extremities (arginine) and in the middle (glutamic acid and histidine) of the interface. Such charge distribution helps discriminating between sequences of intermolecular β-strands, of intramolecular β-strands and of β-strands forming β-amyloid fibers. This might open new venues for drug designs and predictive tool developments. Moreover, the β-strands of the cholera toxin B subunit interface, when produced individually as synthetic peptides, are capable of inhibiting the assembly of the toxin into pentamers. Thus, their sequences contain the features necessary for a β-interface formation. Such β-strands could be considered as ‘assemblons’, independent associating units, by homology to the foldons (independent folding unit). Such property would be extremely valuable in term of assembly inhibitory drug development

Взаимосвязь хинолоновых регуляторов Pseudomonas aeruginosa и уровня иммуноглобулинов в крови больных раком легких

Introduction. Researchers in the field of oncology have a significant interest in the role of microorganisms in development of malignant neoplasms.Aim. To study the levels of 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone (PQS) and 2-heptyl-4-quinolone (HHQ) produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the blood of patients with lung cancer and to analyze the relation between their changes and changes in the level of immunoglobulins and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the blood of patients with lung cancer.Materials and methods.  PQS and HHQ were quantified in the blood of patients using high performance liquid chromatography. The levels of immunoglobulins G (IgG),  secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA),  and VEGF in the blood were determined using ELISA.Results. Analysis have shown that the level of PQS in the blood of patients with lung cancer is 2-fold higher than in the control group. This change is accompanied by a decrease in the level of immunoglobulins IgG, as well as an increase in the content of s-IgA and growth factor VEGF in the blood.Conclusion. PQS level in the blood of patients with lung cancer is elevated creating conditions aggravating the course of the main disease and worsening its prognosis.Введение. Большой интерес у исследователей в области онкологии вызывает вопрос о роли микроорганизмов в развитии злокачественных новообразований.Цель исследования – изучить содержание 2-гептил-3-гидрокси-4-хинолона  (PQS) и 2-гептил-4-хинолона (HHQ), продуцируемых Pseudomonas aeruginosa, в крови больных раком легких и проанализировать взаимосвязь этого показателя с изменением уровня иммуноглобулинов и фактора роста эндотелия сосудов (vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF) в крови.Материалы и методы. Выполнены количественное определение PQS и HHQ в крови больных с помощью высокоэффективной жидкостной хроматографии, а также анализ иммуноглобулинов класса G (IgG), секреторного иммуноглобулина а (s-IgA) и VEGF с помощью твердофазного иммуноферментного анализа.Результаты. Исследования показали, что уровень PQS в крови больных раком легких в 2 раза выше, чем у обследованных контрольной группы. На фоне данного сдвига наблюдаются снижение уровня иммуноглобулинов IgG, а также повышение содержания s-IgA и VEGF в крови.Заключение. У больных раком легких происходит повышение уровня PQS в крови, что формирует предпосылки для отягощения течения основного заболевания и ухудшения его прогноза

«Кинурениновый переключатель» и ожирение

Aim. To assess the concentrations of bacterial and eukaryotic metabolites mainly involved in indole, kynurenine, and serotonin pathways of tryptophan metabolism in a cohort of patients with obesity. Materials and methods. Using high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection, the concentrations of several serum metabolites, such as kynurenine, kynurenic acid, anthranilic acid, xanthurenic acid, quinolinic acid, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetate, tryptamine, serotonin, indole-3-lactate, indole-3-acetate, indole-3- butyrate, indole-3-carboxaldehyde, indole-3-acrylate, and indole-3-propionate, were analyzed in a cohort of obese patients compared with healthy volunteers.Results. It was found that serum levels of tryptophan metabolites of microbial and eukaryotic origin were significantly increased in obese patients. Therefore, the concentration of kynurenine in the blood serum in obese patients was 2,413 ± 855 nmol / l, while in healthy volunteers of the same age group, the level of kynurenine in the blood serum was 2,122 ± 863 nmol / l. In obese patients, two acids formed due to kynurenine metabolism; the concentrations of kynurenic and quinolinic acids were increased in the blood serum. The concentration of kynurenic acid in the blood serum in obese patients was 21.1 ± 9.26 nmol / l, and in healthy patients, it was 16.8 ± 8.37 nmol / l. At the same time, the level of quinolinic acid in the blood serum in obese patients was 73.1 ± 54.4 nmol / l and in healthy volunteers – 56.8 ± 34.1 nmol / l. Normally, the level of quinolinic acid is 3.4 times higher than the concentration of kynurenic acid, and in case of obesity, there is a comparable increase in these acids in the blood serum.From indole derivatives, mainly of microbial origin, the concentrations of indole-3-lactate, indole-3-butyrate, and indole-3-acetate were significantly increased in the blood serum of obese patients. In obese patients, the serum concentration of 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetate was elevated to 74.6 ± 75.8 nmol / l (in healthy volunteers – 59.4 ± 36.6 nmol / l); indole-3-lactate – to 523 ± 251 nmol / l (in healthy volunteers – 433 ± 208 nmol / l); indole-3-acetate – to 1,633 ± 1,166 nmol / l (in healthy volunteers – 1,186 ± 826 nmol / l); and indole-3-butyrate – to 4.61 ± 3.31 nmol / l (in healthy volunteers – 3.85 ± 2.51 nmol / l).Conclusion. In case of obesity, the utilization of tryptophan was intensified by both the microbiota population and the macroorganism. It was found that obese patients had higher concentrations of kynurenine, quinolinic and kynurenic acids, indole-3-acetate, indole-3-lactate, indole-3-butyrate, and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetate. Apparently, against the background of increased production of proinflammatory cytokines by adipocytes in obese patients, the “kynurenine switch” was activated which contributed to subsequent overproduction of tryptophan metabolites involved in the immune function of the macroorganism. Цель. Изучить содержание метаболитов бактериального и эукариотического происхождения индольного, кинуренинового и серотонинового путей обмена триптофана у пациентов с ожирением.Материалы и методы. Методом высокоэффективной жидкостной хроматографии с масс-спектрометрическим детектированием изучили концентрации сывороточных метаболитов: кинуренина, кинуреновой кислоты, антраниловой кислоты, ксантуреновой кислоты, хинолиновой кислоты, 5-гидросииндол-3-ацетата, триптамина, серотонина, индол-3-лактата, индол-3-ацетата, индол-3-бутирата, индол-3-карбоксальдегида, индол-3-акрилата, индол-3-пропионата у пациентов с ожирением в сравнении с группой здоровых добровольцев.Результаты. Установлено, что у пациентов с ожирением в сыворотке крови статистически значимо повышен уровень метаболитов триптофанового обмена микробиотического и эукариотического происхождения. Концентрация кинуренина в сыворотке крови у больных с ожирением составляла 2 413 ± 855 нмоль/л, тогда как у здоровых добровольцев такой же возрастной группы – 2 122 ± 863 нмоль/л. Также у пациентов с ожирением в сыворотке крови были повышены две кислоты, которые образуются в результате метаболизма кинуренина – кинуреновая и хинолиновая. Концентрация кинуреновой кислоты в сыворотке крови у пациентов с ожирением составляла 21,1 ± 9,26 нмоль/л, а у здоровых 16,8 ± 8,37 нмоль/л соответственно. Тогда как концентрация хинолиновой кислоты в сыворотке крови при ожирении – 73,1 ± 54,4 нмоль/л, а у здоровых добровольцев – 56,8 ± 34,1 нмоль/л. В норме концентрация хинолиновой кислоты в 3,4 раза выше, чем концентрация кинуреновой кислоты, а при ожирении происходит сопоставимое их повышение. Из производных индола, которые имеют преимущественно микробиотическое происхождение, в сыворотке крови пациентов с ожирением статистически значимо повышена концентрация индол-3-лактата, индол-3-бутирата и индол-3-ацетата. У пациентов с ожирением концентрация в сыворотке крови метаболита серотонина – 5-гидроксииндол-3-ацетата – была повышена и составляла 74,6 ± 75,8 нмоль/л (у здоровых добровольцев – 59,4 ± 36,6 нмоль/л); индол-3-лактата – 523 ± 251 нмоль/л (у здоровых добровольцев 433 ± 208 нмоль/л); индол-3-ацетата – 1 633 ± 1166 нмоль/л (у здоровых добровольцев 1 186 ± 826 нмоль/л); индол-3-бутирата – 4,61 ± 3,31 нмоль/л (у здоровых добровольцев 3,85 ± 2,51 нмоль/л).Заключение. При ожирении происходит интенсификация утилизации триптофана как микробиотической популяцией кишечника, так и макроорганизмом. Установлено, что больные с ожирением имеют более высокие концентрации кинуренина, хинолиновой и кинуреновой кислот, индол-3-ацетата, индол-3-лактата, индол-3-бутирата и 5-гидроксииндол-3-ацетата. Видимо, на фоне гиперпродукции провоспалительных цитокинов адипоцитами у пациентов с ожирением срабатывает «кинурениновый переключатель», что и обеспечивает гиперпродукцию метаболитов триптофанового обмена, которые вовлечены в иммунологическую функцию макроорганизма.

Research Publications as a Means of Communication

The chapter provides a brief description of the evolution of scholarly journals, research publication databases and citation indexes. Various citation theories and peculiarities of researchpublications in different subject areas, the methods of subject classifications are described anddiscussedВ главе приводится краткое описание эволюции научного журнала, принципы формирования баз данных научных публикаций и указателей цитирования. Приведена информация о существующих теориях цитирования, описываются отличительные особенности публикаций в разных научных областях и подходы к предметной классификации научных публикаций и научных исследовани