Demystification of Entangled Mass Action Law

Recently, Gorban (2021) analysed some kinetic paradoxes of the transition state theory and proposed its revision that gave the ``entangled mass action law'', in which new reactions were generated as an addition to the reaction mechanism under consideration. These paradoxes arose due to the assumption of quasiequilibrium between reactants and transition states. In this paper, we provided a brief introduction to this theory, demonstrating how the entangled mass action law equations can be derived in the framework of the standard quasi steady state approximation in combination with the quasiequilibrium generalized mass action law for an auxiliary reaction network including reactants and intermediates. We also proved the basic physical property (positivity) for these new equations, which was not obvious in the original approach.Comment: Minor correction

Spatial patterns of gray and white matter compromise relate to age of seizure onset in temporal lobe epilepsy

Objective: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) is frequently a neurodevelopmental disorder, involving subcortical volume loss, cortical atrophy, and white matter (WM) disruption. However, few studies have addressed how these pathological changes in TLE relate to one another. In this study, we investigate spatial patterns of gray and white matter degeneration in TLE and evaluate the hypothesis that the relationship among these patterns varies as a function of the age at which seizures begin. Methods: Eighty-two patients with TLE and 59 healthy controls were enrolled. T1-weighted images were used to obtain hippocampal volumes and cortical thickness estimates. Diffusion-weighted imaging was used to obtain fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) of the superficial WM (SWM) and deep WM tracts. Analysis of covariance was used to examine patterns of WM and gray matter alterations in TLE relative to controls, controlling for age and sex. Sliding window correlations were then performed to examine the relationships between SWM degeneration, cortical thinning, and hippocampal atrophy across ages of seizure onset. Results: Cortical thinning in TLE followed a widespread, bilateral pattern that was pronounced in posterior centroparietal regions, whereas SWM and deep WM loss occurred mostly in ipsilateral, temporolimbic regions compared to controls. Window correlations revealed a relationship between hippocampal volume loss and whole brain SWM disruption in patients who developed epilepsy during childhood. On the other hand, in patients with adult-onset TLE, co-occurring cortical and SWM alterations were observed in the medial temporal lobe ipsilateral to the seizure focus. Significance: Our results suggest that although cortical, hippocampal and WM alterations appear spatially discordant at the group level, the relationship among these features depends on the age at which seizures begin. Whereas neurodevelopmental aspects of TLE may result in co-occurring WM and hippocampal degeneration near the epileptogenic zone, the onset of seizures in adulthood may set off a cascade of SWM microstructural loss and cortical atrophy of a neurodegenerative nature

The impact of early peroral feeding on concentration of the serum interleukin–6 in patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Objective. The impact of early peroral feeding on concentration of the serum interleukin-6 in patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy was analyzed. Materials and methods. Results of pancreaticoduodenectomy in 39 patients, suffering the pancreatic head and periampullar zone tumors, was analyzed, in whom various methods of nutritive support were applied through period 2015 - 2017 yrs. With the aim of comparative analysis accomplishment of immunological reactivity the patients were divided into two groups: the first - 24 patients, to whom in postoperative period a combination of peroral and enteral feeding was conducted, and in the second - 15 patients, to whom peroral feeding was applied only. There were studied concentration of the serum interleukin-8 preoperatively and on the third postoperative day, as well as the levels of general protein and albumin on the first, third and 7th postoperative days. Results. In the patients, to whom nutritive support was done in a combined way (through microjejunostomy and in a peroral way), the level of interleukin-6 was higher (p=0.05), than in the patients, who used a peroral feeding only postoperatively: mediana 76.2 [51.5; 96.4] and 63.4 [43.5; 65,7] pg/ml, accordingly (p=0.055). While application of various methods of feeding in the patients a trustworthy difference between middle levels of albumin and general protein in the blood on the first, third and 7th days after pancreaticoduodenectomy was not observed (p > 0.05) while application of different feeding methods. Conclusion. Application of combined enteral and peroral feeding in patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy has no advantages upon a peroral one. Early peroral feeding promotes the reduction of immunological reactivity of organism as an answer on operative trauma, and the proteins levels, comparing with combined feeding in patients in postoperative period up to the 7th day do not differ essentially

Application of a New Method for Analyzing Images: Two-Dimensional Non-Linear Additive Decomposition

This paper documents the application of a new image processing algorithm, two-dimensional non-linear additive decomposition (NLAD), which is used to identify regions in a digital image whose gray-scale (or color) intensity is different than the surrounding background. Standard image segmentation algorithms exist that allow users to segment images based on gray-scale intensity and/or shape. However, these processing techniques do not adequately account for the image noise and lighting variation that typically occurs across an image. NLAD is designed to separate image noise and background from artifacts thereby providing the ability to consistently evaluate images. The decomposition techniques used in this algorithm are based on the concepts of mathematical morphology. NLAD emulates the human capability of visually separating an image into different levels of resolution components, denoted as ''coarse'', ''fine'', and ''intermediate''. Very little resolution information overlaps any two of the component images. This method can easily determine and/or remove trends and noise from an image. NLAD has several additional advantages over conventional image processing algorithms, including no need for a transformation from one space to another, such as is done with Fourier transforms, and since only finite summations are required, the calculational effort is neither extensive nor complicated

Tuberculosis outcomes related to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotype

Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains of different phylogenetic lineages and genetic families differ in biological properties that determine, to some extent, epidemiological features and clinical manifestation in tuberculosis (TB) patients.The aim of the study was to assess the risk of an adverse outcome of the disease in TB patients caused by various M. tuberculosis genotypes.Materials and methods. A total of 425 patients with respiratory TB were enrolled in this study. They were registered at phthisiatric facilities in the Omsk region from March 2015 to June 2017 period and included: males — 73.1%, mean age 39.9 years, females — 26.9%, mean age 42.0 years. M. tuberculosis culture and drug susceptibility testing and DNA extraction were performed in accordance with standard methods. Strains were assigned to the M. tuberculosis Beijing genotype and its epidemiologically relevant clusters B0/W148 and 94-32 by PCR based detection of specific markers. Non-Beijing strains were subjected to spoligotyping.Results. We found that 66.5% isolates belonged to the Beijing genotype, 12.8% — to LAM, 10.1% — to T, and 4.7% — to the Ural genotype. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) to anti-TB drugs was observed in 195 M. tuberculosis strains (45.9%). Moreover, Beijing genotype was more often isolated from patients with MDR-TB infection (PR = 2.09 (95% CI 1.6–2.74) and TB infection associated with HIV infection (PR = 1.14 (95% CI 1.01–1.31). Lethal outcome was double higher in patients infected with Beijing vs. non-Beijing strains, 28.6% vs. 14.0% (PR = 2.03; 95% CI 1.3–3.17). The risk factors were identified as follows: young age 18–44 years (RR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.18–2.7), co-morbidity with HIV (RR = 5.0; 95% CI 3.39–7.45), multiple (RR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.14–2.55) and extensive drug resistance (RR = 2.57; 95% CI 1.35–4.92), and association with the Beijing genotype (RR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.3–3.17).Conclusion. M. tuberculosis spread in the Omsk region is characterised by significant prevalence of the Beijing genotype, associated with multiple and extensive drug resistance. A significant association of adverse clinical outcomes and various factors, including association with the Beijing genotype, requires development of new approaches in the fight against tuberculosis

Моделирование Эпидемического процесса ВИЧ-инфекции в популяциях с различным естественным приростом численности населения

Aim: to assess the incidence, prevalence of HIV infection and population dynamics in populations with negative, zero and positive natural increase.Materials and Methods: Computer probabilistic modeling by the Monte Carlo method of the epidemic process of HIV infection in populations with different natural population growths was carried out. The parameters that are minimally necessary for such a description are used – population, birth rate, mortality, HIV prevalence, probability of HIV transmission.Results and discussion: When modeling the epidemic process, two main scenarios of the spread of HIV infection in a population without diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive effects were established. With a negative or zero population growth and a random distribution of healthy and infected individuals in the simulated space, the population density gradually decreases. At some point, the probability of contact of the infected and healthy person becomes less than the probability of an infected person to live up to this event. Under such conditions, the complete elimination of the virus from the population is theoretically possible. With a positive natural increase, it is possible to form a stable state in which the periods of increase in population size, incidence and prevalence of HIV infection change in a cyclical decline. HIV prevalence in countries such as Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho has been at the level of 25–30% for many years. In this case, the population steadily grows. Based on the conducted simulation studies, it can be assumed that in these territories an evolutionarily stable balance was formed between the share of healthy and HIV-infected people in which the prevalence does not occur above 30%.Conclusions. The development of the epidemic process of HIV infection is determined by the dynamics of natural population growth. With a negative or zero natural growth and a random distribution of individuals in the simulated space, a complete elimination of the virus from the population is theoretically possible. With a positive natural increase, it is possible to form an evolutionarily stable cyclic balance between the proportion of healthy and HIV-infected people. Цель: оценить заболеваемость, пораженность ВИЧинфекцией и динамику численности населения в популяциях с отрицательным, нулевым и положительным естественным приростом.Материалы и методы: проведено компьютерное вероятностное моделирование методом Монте-Карло эпидемического процесса ВИЧ-инфекции в популяциях с различным естественным приростом численности населения. Использованы параметры, минимально необходимые для такого описания, – численность населения, рождаемость, смертность, пораженность ВИЧ-инфекцией, вероятность передачи ВИЧ.Результаты: при моделировании эпидемического процесса установлено два основных сценария распространения ВИЧ-инфекции в популяции без диагностических, лечебных и профилактических воздействий. При отрицательном или нулевом приросте населения и случайном распределении здоровых и инфицированных индивидуумов в моделируемом пространстве плотность населения постепенно уменьшается. В определенный момент вероятность контакта зараженного и здорового человека становится меньше, чем вероятность инфицированному лицу дожить до этого события. При таких условиях теоретически возможна полная элиминация вируса из популяции. При положительном естественном приросте возможно формирование устойчивого состояния, при котором периоды подъема численности популяции, заболеваемости и пораженности ВИЧ-инфекцией сменяются циклическим спадом. Пораженность ВИЧ-инфекцией в таких странах, как Свазиленд, Ботсвана и Лесото, многие годы находится на уровне 25–30%. При этом численность населения стабильно прирастает. Исходя из проведенных имитационных исследований, можно предположить, что на данных территориях сформировался эволюционно устойчивый баланс между долей здорового и ВИЧ инфицированного населения, при котором пораженность не реализуется выше 30%.Заключение. Развитие эпидемического процесса ВИЧ-инфекции детерминируется динамикой естественного прироста населения. При отрицательном или нулевом естественном приросте и случайном распределении индивидуумов в моделируемом пространстве теоретически возможна полная элиминация вируса из популяции. При положительном естественном приросте возможно формирование эволюционно устойчивого циклического равновесия между долей здоровых и ВИЧ-инфицированных лиц.

Izloženost genotoksičnim agensima iz životnog okoliša tijekom prenatalnog razvoja i djetinjstva

Health disorders and diseases related to environmental exposure in children such as cancer and immunologic disturbances (asthma, allergies) are on the rise. However, complex transplacental and prepubertal genotoxicology is given very limited consideration, even though intrauterine development and early childhood may be critical for elucidating the cancer aetiology. The foetus is transplacentally exposed to contaminants in food and environment such as various chemicals, drugs, radiochemically contaminated water and air. Target organs of xenobiotic action may differ between the mother and the foetus due to specific stage of developmental physiology and enzyme distribution. This in turn may lead to different levels of clastogenic and aneugenic metabolites of the same xenobiotic in the mother and the foetus. Adult’s protective behaviour is not sufficient to isolate children from radioisotopes, pesticides, toxic metals and metalloids, environmental tobacco smoke, endocrine disrupting chemicals, and various food contaminants, which are just a part of the stressors present in a polluted environment. In order to improve legislation related to foetus and child exposure to genotoxic and possibly carcinogenic agents, oncologists, paediatricians, environmental health specialists, and genotoxicologists should work together much more closely to make a more effective use of accumulated scientific data, with the final aim to lower cancer incidence and mortality.Unatoč velikim naporima da se smanji okolišna izloženost u djece se dalje bilježi trend porasta pojavnosti karcinoma i imunosnih poremećaja (astma, alergije). Premda su intrauterini razvoj i rano djetinjstvo kritično razdoblje za tumačenje etiologije nastanka karcinoma, transplacentalna i prepubertetna genotoksikologija do danas su slabo istražene. Fetus je transplacentalno izložen brojnim fizikalnim i kemijskim čimbenicima: kontaminantima iz hrane i okoliša, radiokemijski kontaminiranoj vodi, zraku te lijekovima. Ciljna tkiva za djelovanje ksenobiotika mogu biti različita u majke i fetusa zbog različitosti u razvojnoj fiziologiji i distribuciji enzima. Zbog toga u organizmu majke i fetusa mogu nastati različite razine klastogenih i aneugenih metabolita istog ksenobiotika. Zaštitna uloga odraslih u namjeri da spriječe negativne utjecaje onečišćenog okoliša na djetetovo zdravlje često je ograničena jer su radioizotopi, olovo, PCB, pasivno pušenje, živa, endokrino aktivne tvari, pesticidi i kontaminanti prisutni u svim životnim područjima tijekom razvoja i rasta djeteta. Kako bi se poboljšalo zakonodavstvo vezano uz izloženost djece genotoksičnim i vjerojatno kancerogenim tvarima, tijekom razvoja potrebna je bolja suradnja onkologa, pedijatara, stručnjaka zdravstvene ekologije i genotoksikologa. Na taj način ostvarilo bi se uspješnije iskorištavanje postojećih znanstvenih podataka u cilju smanjenja incidencije karcinoma i mortaliteta