Characteristics of hospitalized patients with lethal outcome due to COVID-19

Objective. To analyze the characteristics of patients with severe COVID-19 and lethal outcome. Materials and Methods. This retrospective pharmacoepidemiological study (March – April 2021) enrolled 172 patients with confirmed COVID-19 and death in the intensive care unit of City Clinical Hospital No. 24. Results. The mean age was 74.4 ± 7.4 years, patients over 65 years old – 81% (n = 139), over 75 years old – 44% (n = 75). Males – 66% (n = 113). All patients had a secondary bacterial infection. The predominant COVID-19 complications were respiratory failure (100%), pulmonary edema (96%), multiorgan failure (96%), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (92.4%). All patients had concomitant diseases (cardiovascular – 94.2%, gastrointestinal tract – 81.2%, endocrine – 72.0%). The mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 7.4 points. The mean length of hospital stay was 12.4 ± 11.0 days (range: 1–36 days), the maximum number of deaths was observed on the 9th day. Analysis of laboratory parameters revealed a significant increase in ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase, and C-reactive protein levels, WBC, absolute lymphocyte count, as well as a decrease in RBC and platelet count at the last measurement before death. All patients received antibiotic therapy (carbapenems – 24%, fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins – 20% each). Antiviral therapy was performed in 62% (n = 106), predominantly with favipiravir (88%). Conclusions. The population of patients with fatal outcome due to COVID-19 was characterized by older age, high Charlson comorbidity index, predominance of cardiovascular, GI tract and endocrine diseases, and high levels of laboratory acute-phase inflammation markers

Stem cells for age-related macular degeneration

L.K.&nbsp;Moshetova1, O.I.&nbsp;Abramova1, I.N.&nbsp;Saburina2,3, K.I.&nbsp;Turkina2 1Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow, Russian Federation 2Institute for Molecular and Personalized Medicine, branch of Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow, Russian Federation 3Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russian Federation Unique biological properties of stem cells offer infinite opportunities to use them for numerous degenerative disorders. Thus, in ophthalmology cell replacement therapy is a prospective approach to manage irreversible retinal cell death in age-related macular degeneration. Currently, this disorder is the leading cause of disability, blindness, and reduced quality of life in people aged over 50 in developed countries and is therefore important medical social issue. None of current treatment approaches can either turn back or prevent pre-existing retinal cell degeneration. Therefore, cell replacement therapy and regenerative medicine are promising modalities since they are characterized by much greater prospects than traditional treatment. This paper reviews recent advantages in the treatment for this incurable disorder using various types of stem cells (i.e., mesenchymal, embryonic, and induced pluripotent stem cells). This paper first gives a brief overview of age-related macu lar degeneration and then describes the methods of retinal cell generation. Keywords: age-related macular degeneration, stem cells, eye tissue regeneration, pluripotent stem cells, clinical application of stem cells, regenerative medicine, cell therapy, tissue engineering. For citation: Moshetova L.K., Abramova O.I., Saburina I.N., Turkina K.I. Stem cells for age-related macular degeneration. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2019;19(3):143–148. About the authors: 1Larisa&nbsp;K.&nbsp;Moshetova — MD, PhD, Academician of RAS, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5899-2714; 1Olga&nbsp;I.&nbsp;Abramova — MD, postgraduate student of the Department of Ophthalmology, ORCID iD 0000-0002-6156-6126; 2,3Irina&nbsp;N.&nbsp;Saburina — PhD, Professor, Principal Researcher, Head of Laboratory, ORCID iD 0000-0003-2014-2535; 1Kseniya&nbsp;I.&nbsp;Turkina — MD, PhD, associate professor of the Department of Ophthalmology, ORCID iD 0000-0002-4989-7467. 1Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education. 2/1, Barrikadnaya Str., Moscow, 125993, Russian Federation. 2Institute for Molecular and Personalized Medicine. 7, Build. 2, 2nd&nbsp;Botkinskiy Pass., Moscow, 125284, Russian Federation. 3Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology.&nbsp; 8, Baltijskaya Str., Moscow, 125315, Russian Federation. Contact information:&nbsp;Olga&nbsp;I.&nbsp;Abramova, e-mail:&nbsp;[email protected].&nbsp;Financial Disclosure:&nbsp;no author has a financial or property interest in any material or method mentioned. There is no&nbsp;conflict of interests. Received&nbsp;17.07.2019. <br

From cellular senescence towards age-related macular degeneration: the role of telomeres

From cellular senescence towards age-related macular degeneration: the role of telomeres L.K. Moshetova1, O.I. Abramova1, K.I. Turkina1, O.P. Dmitrenko2, N.S. Karpova2 1Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow, &nbsp;Russian Federation 2Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russian Federatios&nbsp; Since the discovery, telomeres and telomerase have been extensively studied, at first, as a mechanism of cellular senescence, and then, as human health and disease indicators. Telomeres that protect chromosomal ends play a vital role in genomic stability by preserving information. This article reviews the results of early studies that later became the basis for further in-depth experiments. Studies that demonstrate the association between telomere shortening and the development of neurodegenerative disorders, e.g., age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are addressed as well. In addition, authors discuss the mechanisms of cellular senescence as a result of telomere attrition. The understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in aging may provide innovative therapeutic and preventive strategies for AMD. This disease is the third leading cause of blindness in elderly patients after glaucoma and cataract. AMD is diagnosed by typical retinal lesions in persons over 50 years.&nbsp; The prevalence of dry and wet AMD varies among ethnic and racial groups worldwide. Various types, stages, and prevalence of the disease may be seen in the same age group. These findings demonstrate the need for a biomarker to monitor the process of aging underlying AMD as well as potential explanations for the differences in its course and outcomes. Keywords: aging, cellular senescence, telomeres, telomere shortening, age-related macular degeneration, aging-associated diseases, sirtuins. For citation: Moshetova L.K., Abramova O.I., Turkina K.I. et al. From cellular senescence towards age-related macular degeneration: the role of telomeres. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2020;20(3):148–151. DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2020-20-3-148-151. </p

Association between relative telomere length and a genetic variant of SIRT1 gene and age-related macular degeneration

L.K. Moshetova1, O.P. Dmitrenko2, O.I. Abramova1, N.S. Karpova2, K.I. Turkina1, I.N. Saburina2,3 1Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow, Russian Federation 2Research Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow, Russian Federation 3Research Institute of Molecular and Personalized Medicine, Moscow, Russian Federation One of the most important factors predisposing to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is aging. Telomeres are important for aging by maintaining genome stability. Aim: to identify the association between relative telomere length of buccal epithelial cells and SIRT1 rs12778366 genetic variation and late AMD. Patients and Methods: 100 patients (200 eyes) were enrolled, i.e., 50 patients with AMD (AREDS category 4) and 50 patients without AMD. Genomic DNA isolated from buccal epithelial cells by phenol-chloroform extraction was used. Genotyping of SIRT1 rs12778366 polymorphic locus was performed by TaqMan® real-time PCR. Telomere length was measured by real-time PCR as described earlier [Cawthon, 2002] using specific primers. Relative telomere length was assessed by the relative telomere to single-copy gene (T/S) ratio. Results: the rate of allele C was 25% in the study group and 14% in the control group (p=0.049). The rate of heterozygotic TC genotype was twice higher in the study group compared to the control group (p=0.045). In heterozygotic carriers of the allele C of the SIRT1 rs12778366 gene, the risk of AMD is 2.048- and 2.425-times higher in сodominant and dominant inheritance pattern, respectively. In patients with late AMD, there are more short telomeres (64% vs. 48% in the control group, р=0.0002). Conclusions: further studies of a polymorphic SIRT1 gene locus in the association with telomere length in a larger sample are required. In the future, these molecular markers can be applied to predict the individual course of AMD and to implement preventive measures. Keywords: age-related macular degeneration, relative telomere length, rs12778366, SIRT1 gene, age-related diseases, buccal epithelium, genetic testing. For citation: Moshetova L.K., Dmitrenko O.P., Abramova O.I. et al. Association between relative telomere length and a genetic variant of SIRT gene and age-related macular degeneration. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2021;21(3):143–146 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2021-21-3-143-146. </p

SUGGESTION IN RELATION TO IMPROVEMENT OF STRUCTURE OF CASH COVER OF SERVICEMEN OF MILITARY POWERS OF UKRAINE

У статті наведено результати дослідження щодо зміни посадових окладів, окладів за військовим званням військовослужбовців Збройних Сил України, наведено порівняльний аналіз розмірів грошового забезпечення окремих категорій військовослужбовців та запропоновано підходи до удосконалення структури грошового забезпечення.В статье приведены результаты исследования относительно изменения должностных окладов, окладов за военным званием военнослужащих Вооруженных Сил Украины, приведен сравнительный анализ размеров денежного обеспечения отдельных категорий военнослужащих и предложены подходы к усовершенствованию структуры денежного обеспечения.The results of research in relation to the change of post salaries are resulted in the article, salaries after the military rank of servicemen of Military Powers of Ukraine, the comparative analysis of sizes of cash cover of separate categories of servicemen is resulted and offered approach to the improvement of structure of cash cover