Tendencies of using the assisted reproductive technologies in Ukraine

Целью данного исследования являлось определение актуальных тенденций использования вспомогательных репродуктивных технологий (ВРТ) в Украине. В отчете Европейского общества репродукции человека и эмбриологии (2012) в 32 клиниках Украины указано начало 12 282 цикла ВРТ, что составляет 1,92 % от всех циклов, начатых в клиниках 34 стран, принявших участие в составлении европейского реестра. Для сравнения структуры циклов ВРТ в Украине были проанализированы показатели в областях со схожим количеством циклов ВРТ: Одесская (955 циклов), Львовская (975 циклов), Тернопольская (807 циклов) и Ивано-Франковская области (1362 цикла) на 2014 год. В результате исследования было определено, что в Украине (кроме Ивано-Франковской области) преобладают циклы с использованием интрацитоплазматической инъекции сперматозоидов и менее всего применяются циклы с донацией ооцитов и преимплантационной генетической диагностикой.The aim of this study was to determine the current trends of using the assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in Ukraine. In the report of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (2012) it is indicated the beginning of 12,282 ART cycles in 32 clinics of Ukraine, representing 1.92% of all cycles initiated in hospitals from 34 countries that participated in preparation of the European Registry. The rates from regions with a similar number of ART cycles were analyzed to compare the structure of ART cycles in Ukraine using data from 2014 year: Odessa (955 cycles), Lviv (975 cycles), Ternopil (807 cycles) and Ivano-Frankivsk region (1362 cycles). The study determined that the cycles with intracytoplasmic sperm injection are dominating ART cycles in Ukraine (except for Ivano-Frankivsk region) and the cycles with donation of oocytes and preimplantation genetic diagnosis are less often used

Sorption Properties of Clay and Pectin-Containing Hydrogels

As is known, polymeric polyelectrolyte hydrogels are superabsorbents that are capable of absorbing moisture in amounts many times greater than their own mass. Numerous studies have shown that besides water absorption and retention, they can also be effectively used as sorbents to purify water from heavy metals. In many works, attempts are made to improve the sorption properties of polyelectrolyte hydrogels by creating polymer composites based on them. Organic/inorganic composite materials frequently exhibited desired hybrid performance superior to their individual components and cost-efficient characteristics. The composites derived from natural polysaccharides and inorganic clay minerals are of special interest by virtue of their unique commercial and environmental advantages, which means that the design and development of environmentally friendly superabsorbents, introducing natural ingredients, have long been necessary. In this paper, we consider polymer hydrogels based on a copolymer of acrylic acid and acrylamide filled with pectin and bentonite. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of chemical conditions on hydrogels and their composites, kinetic, and absorption behavior toward metal ions in the presence of the chelating agent. In this chapter, an investigation of the kinetic patterns of swelling, deswelling, and sorption of the hydrogels and their composites will be presented

Review of Hydrological Peculiarities of the Flooding in the Amur Region with the Purpose to Establish a Complex of Sanitary-Anti-Epidemic Actions for Minimization of Social Implications

Described are the chronology and main peculiarities of floods in the Amur Region within the historical period since 1872 till present time. Given are the data on the damage to the Amur-river territory economy as a result of catastrophic high waters in 1928, 1950s, 1984, 2007. Comprehensively discussed are the peculiarities of the flooding, August-September 2013 as one of the most intense and prolonged in the history of the hydro-meteorological observations in the Far East. It is found out that Zeisk and Bureisk hydroelectric power stations turned out to be the only buffer storage restraining two thirds of the water volume of Zeya and Bureya rivers inflow in their flowages over a period of flood. Outlined are the general guidelines for emergency response activities under high water conditions for the Rospotrebnadzor Administration Quarters in the Amur Region. Implementation of the complex of actions through the offices of the territorial Rospotrebnadzor institutions in cooperation with the executive authorities has allowed for the prevention of epidemiological implications, providing for favorable sanitary-epidemiologic situation at the time of high water

FUNCTIONAL POLYMORPHISM OF THE PRO-INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE GENES IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

In the present time, incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) becomes broader, due to spreading resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) to anti-tuberculosis drugs and infection with highly virulent strains of M. tuberculosis. The MBT antigens can cause dysfunction of the receptors and modulate the cytokine secreting function of immunocompetent cells. Polymorphic genes of pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in the mechanisms of defense responses of innate immunity, determine the degree of resistance to individual mycobacterial infection, as well as severity and duration of the disease in cases of clinical manifestations. The aim of the study was to investigate the connections between allelic polymorphisms of IL2, IFNG and TNFA genes and changes in secretion of the corresponding pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IFNγ, and TNFα in vitro in patients with the newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), depending on the clinical form of the disease.A total of 334 patients (220 men and 114 women) aged 23 to 50 years with newly diagnosed infiltrative and disseminated TB were enrolled into the study. The control group consisted of 183 healthy donors (130 men and 53 women) of corresponding age. The material of the research included DNA extracted from the whole blood and supernatants of culture suspensions of mononuclear leukocytes isolated from venous blood in healthy volunteers and patients with TB. The evaluation of cytokines secretion was performed by measuring their concentration in the blood mononuclear cell culture supernatants. using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To study polymorphic regions of cytokine genes, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied. Analysis of the obtained data was carried out by means of the program Statistica for Windows Version 6.0 (StatSoft Inc., USA).It was found that the imbalance of secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in TB patients was associated with the polymorphic variants of genes of these cytokines. It was found that the hypo-secretion of IL-2 is determined by the carriage of the G allele and genotype GG (T-330G) of the IL2 gene in both the control group and in patients with TB, regardless of the clinical form. In patients with DTB carriers of the homozygous genotype TT (T-330G) of the IL2gene, increased protein secretion was established. The maximum secretion of TNFб was recorded in patients with the AA genotype (G-308A) of the TNFA gene in the control group and in ITB patients; the minimum concentration of TNFα was associated with the carrier of the homozygous GG genotype (G-308A) of the TNFA gene in all the examined groups. In patients with ITB and DTB, an increase in IFNγ secretion by mononuclear blood leukocytes is not associated with the carrier of polymorphism +874A/T of the IFNG gene.Reduced secretion of IL-2 and TNFα in TB patients is associated with polymorphisms of their genes – (T-330G) of IL2 gene and (G-308A) of TNFA gene, respectively. The polymorphism (+874A/T) of the IFNG gene does not have a modulatory effect on the secretion of IFNγ in patients with TB, regardless of clinical form of the disease

Individual Psychological Resources Forming Students' Resistance to Internet Addiction

The problem of Internet addiction has become increasingly relevant. The aim of the study is to analyze the psychological factors that help to prevent Internet addiction at youth age. The results of the empirical study of individual typological prerequisites of forming a resistance to Internet addiction among students are discusse

Impact of inter-ventricular lead distance on cardiac resynchronization therapy outcomes

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been shown as an essential treatment of patients with heart failure, leading to improvements in symptoms, left ventricular (LV) function, and survival. However, up to 30% of appropriately selected patients remain non-responders to CRT. The aim of our study was to test a hypothesis on the impact of lead positioning in the ventricular walls on CRT response in patients with advanced chronic heart failure with and without pre-operative inter and intra-ventricular myocardial dyssynchrony. We examined 53 guideline-selected CRT candidates. Response to CRT was defined in 6 months after implantation of CRT devices. All patients underwent standard and Doppler echocardiography for assessment of LV function and mechanical dyssynchrony. Individual right ventricular (RV) and LV lead tip position, inter-lead distance, and the horizontal and vertical components were measured on the radiograph images with using an automated custom made software Our results showed that the RLV inter-lead distance is an essential parameter correlated with the CRT outcomes. A logistic model comprising the RLV inter-lead distance with parameters of dyssynchrony demonstrated a high predictive power for odds of CRT success. © 2017 IEEE Computer Society. All rights reserved.Research was supported by Act 211 Government of the Russian Federation, agreement № 02.A03.21.0006 and Program of the RAS Presidium #I.33П

Статистическое изучение конъюнктуры валютного рынка

The authors attempted to conduct a statistical study of foreign exchange market and its environment, determined the theoretical basis of the study and aspects of practical application of the obtained results. To achieve this goal, the authors defined the subject of the statistical study of the foreign exchange market environment, structured scorecard to assess the state of the foreign exchange market, indicated the sources of information for the statistical analysis of the foreign exchange market environment in various areas. In the process of writing the article, the authors also used relevant materials on the topic of the research developed and published by the authorized organizations, including the international ones. In the study of the currency market and its situation in various areas the authors identified its importance for the financial stability of the national economy, the relationship with other segments of the fi nancial market, and the impact on macroeconomic indicators of economic development. Special attention was paid to the system of indicators to characterize the currency market environment, which is the methodological basis of the study and analysis of phenomena and processes occurring in the foreign exchange market. The authors compiled and structured a system of statistical indicators for the analysis of the status and development of the currency market in various areas in accordance with the available sources of information. This article discusses the issues related to deriving statistical data about the currency market from offi cial and alternative sources, the assessment of the completeness and reliability of statistical information was conducted, directions to improve statistical monitoring of the foreign exchange segment of the fi nancial market were determined. In the article, considerable attention is paid to the methodology of calculating separate indicators, including derivatives, in accordance with national and international statistical standards. In the study the authors came to the conclusion that currently, primary foreign exchange statistical information is suffi cient for calculating the recommended indicators characterizing the foreign exchange market environment, including supply and demand, and their correlation. In addition, the Bank of Russia has enough statistics to study the current situation with the sources of currency supply and demand in a relatively longer term. The indicators of the currencies turnover, its detailed structure, currency exchange rates, their fluctuations, and the business activity indicators are calculated fully or have the necessary reliable information for their assessment.Авторы статьи предприняли попытку статистического исследования валютного рынка и его конъюнктуры, определили теоретические основы его изучения и аспекты практического применения полученных результатов. Для достижения поставленной цели авторы определили предмет статистического изучения конъюнктуры валютного рынка, структурировали систему показателей для оценки состояния валютного рынка, обозначили источники информации для проведения статистического анализа конъюнктуры валютного рынка по различным направлениям. В процессе работы над статьей авторы широко применяли актуальные материалы по теме исследования, которые разрабатывают и публикуют уполномоченные организации, в том числе международные. В рамках изучения валютного рынка и его конъюнктуры по различным направлениям авторы определили его значение для финансовой стабильности национальной экономики, связь с другими сегментами финансового рынка, влияние на макроэкономические индикаторы развития экономики. Особое внимание было уделено системе показателей для характеристики конъюнктуры валютного рынка, являющейся методологической основой исследования и анализа явлений и процессов, происходящих на валютном рынке. Авторы обобщили и структурировали систему статистических показателей для анализа состояния и развития валютного рынка по различным направлениям в соответствии с имеющимися источниками информации. В статье подробно рассмотрены вопросы, связанные с получением статистических данных о валютном рынке из официальных и альтернативных источников, проведена оценка полноты и достоверности статистической информации, определены направления совершенствования статистического наблюдения за валютным сегментом финансового рынка. В статье значительное внимание уделено методологии расчета отдельных показателей, в том числе производных, в соответствии с национальными и международными статистическими стандартами. В результате проведенного исследования авторы пришли к выводу, что в настоящее время для расчета рекомендуемых показателей, характеризующих конъюнктуру валютного рынка, в том числе спроса и предложения, их соотношения, достаточно имеющейся первичной биржевой статистической информации. Кроме того, в распоряжении Банка России достаточно статистики для исследования складывающейся ситуации с источниками предложения и спроса валюты в относительно более долгосрочной перспективе. Показатели же оборота валют, его детальной структуры, валютных котировок, их колебаний, а также показатели деловой активности рассчитаны полно или есть необходимая достоверная информация для их оценки

НАПРАВЛЕНИЯ СТАТИСТИЧЕСКОГО ИЗУЧЕНИЯ ФИНАНСОВОГО СЕКТОРА ЭКОНОМИКИ

Principal directions of financial sector analysis are considered in the article. Various approaches for definition of financial sector in national and foreign literature are systematized. Main classifications and groupings for the allocation of institutional units between sectors and subsectors of the economy are presented. Connection between individual sectors and subsectors is estimated.В статье анализируются основные направления изучения финансового сектора экономики, систематизированы различные подходы к определению финансового сектора в отечественной и зарубежной литературе, рассмотрены основные классификации и группировки для распределения институциональных единиц на сектора и подсектора экономики, определена связь между отдельными секторами и подсекторами экономики

Влияние технологических добавок на свойства резин на основе тройного этилен-пропиленового каучука

The work focuses on investigating the influence of the processing additives on the filler dispersion and properties of the rubber compounds based on EPDM with carbon black and silica filler. It was found that these processing additives mainly change technological properties of the rubber mixes with a carbon black filler and essentially change both technological and physical-mechanical properties of the mixes with a silica filler. Besides, a combination of additives appeared to have stronger influence on the properties of the rubber compounds, especially with a carbon black filler.Целью настоящей работы было изучение влияния различных технологических добавок на свойства резиновых смесей на основе тройного этилен-пропиленового каучука в системах с разными типами наполнителей, выбор наиболее эффективных добавок, обеспечивающих сочетание хороших технологических и физико-механических свойств эластомерных материалов

Экспрессия провоспалительных и костимулирующих молекул на макрофагах in vitro у больных туберкулезом легких

The aim of this study was to identify features of the expression of pro-inflammatory and co-stimulatory molecules on the surface of macrophages in vitro in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, depending on the clinical form of the disease and sensitivity of the pathogen to anti-TB drugs.Materials and methods. 40 patients (36 men and 4 women) with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) were examined: 18 patients (16 men and 2 women, average age (44.56 ± 8.10) years) with disseminated tuberculosis (DTB) and  22 patients (20 men and 2 women, average age (46.54 ± 5.24) years) with infiltrative tuberculosis (ITB). Of those, 30 patients secreted Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) sensitive to the basic anti-TB drugs (ATBD), and 10 patients secreted MBT resistant to first-line anti-TB drugs. Venous blood was the study material. To isolate monocytes from the whole blood in order to transform them into macrophages, ficoll density gradient centrifugation with gradient density of 1.077 g/cm3 was used followed by immunomagnetic separation of CD14+ cells. Monocytes were cultured in a complete culture medium X-VIVO 10 with gentamicin and phenol red with the addition of the macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) (5 ng/ml) at a concentration of 1×106 cells/ml with the following stimulators: interleukin (IL) 4 (10 ng/ml) and interferon (IFN) γ (100 ng/ml). Immunophenotyping of macrophages was performed using monoclonal antibodies to CD80, CD86, and HLA-DR on a Beckman Coulter CytoFLEX LX flow cytometer (Beckman Coulter, USA). The analysis of the obtained data was carried out using the CytExpert 2.0 software application. The results were analyzed using statistical methods.Results. The number of intact and cytokine-stimulated (IL-4 and IFNγ) CD80-positive macrophages in patients with ITB and drug-resistant TB (DR TB) exceeded their number not only in healthy donors, but also in patients with DTB and drug-sensitive TB (DS TB), respectively. In addition, an increase in CD86 expression on the surface of macrophages was registered in patients with ITB and DR TB after adding IFNγ (M1-activation inducer) to the suspension culture. In contrast, in patients with DTB and DS TB, the number of macrophages with expression of B7 family co-stimulating molecules decreased or remained within the normal values in the absence of a reaction to cytokines during cytokine induction. Deficiency of HLA-DR-positive macrophages was found in all TB patients. The minimal number of macrophages expressing HLA-DR was found in patients with DTB and DS TB after cell incubation with IL-4 (M2-activation inducer).Conclusion. Evaluation of the expression of B7 (CD80/86) and HLA-DR membrane molecules on macrophages in TB patients allows to conclude that anti-TB immune response is impaired at stages of antigen presentation (in all examined patients with TB) and co-stimulation (in DTB and DS TB). An increase in the expression of macrophage surface molecules CD80 (with M1- and M2-stimulation) and CD86 (with M1-stimulation) in patients with ITB and DR TB indicates an increase in cell reactivity in these forms of TB. In addition, deficit of expression of HLA-DR (a key marker of pro-inflammatory cell activation) on the surface of macrophages in TB can be considered as a general (independent of the clinical form of the disease and drug sensitivity of the pathogen) pathogenetic factor of immune imbalance in pulmonary tuberculosis.Цель работы – установить особенности экспрессии провоспалительных и костимулирующих молекул на макрофагах in vitro у больных туберкулезом легких в зависимости от клинической формы заболевания и чувствительности возбудителя к противотуберкулезным лекарственным средствам.Материалы и методы. Обследованы 40 пациентов (36 мужчин и 4 женщины): 18  пациентов с диссеминированным туберкулезом легких (ДТБ) (16 мужчин и 2 женщины,  средний возраст (44,56 ± 8,10) лет) и 22 пациента с инфильтративным туберкулезом легких (ИТБ) (20 мужчин и 2 женщины, средний возраст (46,54 ± 5,24) лет) c туберкулезом легких (ТБ). Из них было 30 пациентов, выделяющих Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT), чувствительные к основным противотуберкулезным средствам (ПТС), и 10 пациентов, выделяющих MBT, устойчивые к лекарственным  средствам основного ряда противотуберкулезной терапии. Группу сравнения составили 15 здоровых доноров с сопоставимыми характеристиками по полу и возрасту.Материалом исследования являлась венозная кровь. Для выделения моноцитов из цельной крови с целью их трансформации в макрофаги использовали метод центрифугирования в градиенте фиколла плотностью 1,077 г/см3 с последующей иммуномагнитной сепарацией CD14+ клеток. Моноциты культивировали в полной питательной среде X-VIVO 10 с добавлением колониестимулирующего фактора макрофагов (M-CSF) (5 нг/мл) в концентрации 1×106 клеток/мл со стимуляторами: интерлейкином (IL) 4 (10 нг/мл) и интерфероном (IFN) γ (100 нг/мл).  Иммунофенотипирование макрофагов проводили с использованием моноклональныхантител к CD80, CD86, HLA-DR на проточном цитометре Beckman Coulter CytoFLEX LX (Beckman Coulter, США). Анализ полученных данных осуществляли при помощи программного приложения CytExpert 2.0 (Beckman Coulter, США). Полученные результаты анализировали статистическими методами.Результаты. Количество интактных и стимулированных цитокинами (IL-4 и IFNγ) CD80- позитивных макрофагов у больных ИТБ и с лекарственно-устойчивым ТБ (ЛУ ТБ)  превышало их число не только у здоровых доноров, но и у больных ДТБ и с лекарственно-чувствительным ТБ (ЛЧ ТБ) соответственно. Кроме того, у больных ИТБ и ЛУ ТБ регистрировалось повышение экспрессии CD86 на макрофагах после добавления в суспензионную культуру IFNγ (индуктор М1-активации). У больных ДТБ и ЛЧ ТБ количество макрофагов с экспрессией костимулирующих молекул семейства В7 при индукции цитокинами, напротив, снижалось или сохранялось в пределах нормы в отсутствие реакции на цитокины. Дефицит HLA-DR-позитивных макрофагов обнаруживался у всех больных ТБ. Минимальное число макрофагов, экспрессирующих  HLADR, установлено у больных ДТБ и ЛЧ ТБ после инкубации клеток с IL-4 (индуктор  М2-активации).Заключение. Оценка экспрессии мембранных молекул B7 (CD80/86) и HLA-DR на макрофагах у больных ТБ позволяет сделать вывод о нарушениях  противотуберкулезного иммунного ответа на стадии презентации антигена (у всех обследованных больных ТБ) и костимуляции (при ДТБ и ЛЧ ТБ). Увеличение экспрессии макрофагами поверхностных молекул CD80 (при М1- и М2-стимуляции) и  CD86 (при М1-стимуляции) у больных ИТБ и ЛУ ТБ свидетельствует о повышении реактивности клеток при данных формах течения ТБ. Наряду с этим дефицит экспрессии на макрофагах HLA-DR (ключевого маркера провоспалительной активации клеток) при ТБ можно рассматривать как общий (не зависящий от клинической формы болезни и  лекарственной чувствительности возбудителя) патогенетический фактор иммунного  дисбаланса при туберкулезе легких.