“The Terek Host Cleaned out the Native Villages from the Infection with Their Own Hands”: Gorsko-Mozdok Regiments in the Ranks of the Armed Forces of the South of Russia in the Early 1919

Introduction. The article focuses on the creation of Gorsko-Mozdock regiments of the Terek Cossack Host in the Early 1919 and their subsequent participation in combat operations. The article provides an overview of related historical literature and underlines the importance of further research into the history of the Terek Cossack Host during the Civil War and publication of historical sources. The introduction provides a detailed account of how Terek Cossacks were drafted to the Armed Forces of the South of Russia, and touches upon the difficulties associated with mobilization (not enough officers, undermanning, shortage of weapons and typhus outbreak). Materials. The article introduces a previously unavailable historical source – the order of Terek Cossack Host Mozdock division Ataman Yesaul S.N. Portyanko dated January 17, 1919 on the commencement of mobilization and formation of Cossack regiments. Analysis. The order demonstrates overly optimistic expectations of the Cossack leadership regarding the support of the local population and mobilization results. In real life, fast implementation of the command’s plans proved to be impossible due to the situation in Cossack stanitsas. The document shows the Cossack command’s commitment to mobilize all available resources in order to defeat the Soviet power. Results. The article sums up the considerations by pointing out that during the Civil War the majority of the Terek Cossack Host opposed the Soviet power and supplied considerable human resources to the Armed Forces of the South of Russia. Despite the aforementioned difficulties caused by the situation in the region, the formation of Cossack regiments went rather well, and soon these regiments were dispatched to the front. The efforts undertaken by the Terek Cossack Host in the war against the Soviet power in 1919–1920 show the Cossacks’ unwavering commitment to give their all to victory. Upon the evacuation of the Armed Forces of the South of Russia from the Black Sea coast to the Crimea, Terek Cossacks could no longer hope for reinforcement and were incorporated into other White military units

The association between alcohol use, alcohol use disorders and tuberculosis (TB). A systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 2004, tuberculosis (TB) was responsible for 2.5% of global mortality (among men 3.1%; among women 1.8%) and 2.2% of global burden of disease (men 2.7%; women 1.7%). The present work portrays accumulated evidence on the association between alcohol consumption and TB with the aim to clarify the nature of the relationship.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic review of existing scientific data on the association between alcohol consumption and TB, and on studies relevant for clarification of causality was undertaken.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There is a strong association between heavy alcohol use/alcohol use disorders (AUD) and TB. A meta-analysis on the risk of TB for these factors yielded a pooled relative risk of 2.94 (95% CI: 1.89-4.59). Numerous studies show pathogenic impact of alcohol on the immune system causing susceptibility to TB among heavy drinkers. In addition, there are potential social pathways linking AUD and TB. Heavy alcohol use strongly influences both the incidence and the outcome of the disease and was found to be linked to altered pharmacokinetics of medicines used in treatment of TB, social marginalization and drift, higher rate of re-infection, higher rate of treatment defaults and development of drug-resistant forms of TB. Based on the available data, about 10% of the TB cases globally were estimated to be attributable to alcohol.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The epidemiological and other evidence presented indicates that heavy alcohol use/AUD constitute a risk factor for incidence and re-infection of TB. Consequences for prevention and clinical interventions are discussed.</p

Cytokine Profile of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis Caused by Pollen, Mite, and Microbial Allergen Sensitization

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is especially prevalent among the population of large cities. Immunologically, the airway epithelium is a region where the population of allergen-presenting cells concentrates. These cells actively express a group of receptors of the innate immune system. A specific cytokine profile is its representation. The study was aimed at evaluating the cytokine profile in patients with seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis. The cytokine profile of nasal secretion and blood serum of 44 patients with AR was studied. 24 of them had seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), and 20 patients suffered from perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR). The patients’ age ranged from 4 to 60 years. It was determined in our study that the activation of the GM-CSF production retained in patients with PAR sensitized to mite allergen components (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus). There was a higher production profile of TNF-α and TSLP in nasal secretion in the patients with perennial allergic rhinitis and additional high sensitization to SEs. Sensitization to mold fungal allergen components significantly increases in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. They demonstrated high level of sensitization to the Aspergillus fumigatus component m3. Thus, along with other clinical trials, the study performed would clarify some aspects of molecular pathogenesis of human allergic rhinitis

Genes Responsible for H2S Production and Metabolism Are Involved in Learning and Memory in Drosophila melanogaster

The gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H2S) produced by the transsulfuration pathway (TSP) is an important biological mediator, involved in many physiological and pathological processes in multiple higher organisms, including humans. Cystathionine-&beta;-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine-&gamma;-lyase (CSE) enzymes play a central role in H2S production and metabolism. Here, we investigated the role of H2S in learning and memory processes by exploring several Drosophila melanogaster strains with single and double deletions of CBS and CSE developed by the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. We monitored the learning and memory parameters of these strains using the mating rejection courtship paradigm and demonstrated that the deletion of the CBS gene, which is expressed predominantly in the central nervous system, and double deletions completely block short- and long-term memory formation in fruit flies. On the other hand, the flies with CSE deletion preserve short- and long-term memory but fail to exhibit long-term memory retention. Transcriptome profiling of the heads of the males from the strains with deletions in Gene Ontology terms revealed a strong down-regulation of many genes involved in learning and memory, reproductive behavior, cognition, and the oxidation&ndash;reduction process in all strains with CBS deletion, indicating an important role of the hydrogen sulfide production in these vital processes

The exposure to gDNA^OX (50 ng/mL) leads to a transient increase in expression cytoplasmic DNA sensor AIM2, while not changing expression levels of TLR9.

<div><p>A - intracellular localization of AIM2 (FITC-conjugated antibodies) and labeled probe gDNA<b>^red-ox</b> (x40). B – the ratio of the levels of AIM1 [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B1" target="_blank">1</a>] and TLR9 [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B2" target="_blank">2</a>] – encoding RNAs to the levels TBP-encoding reference mRNA in cells exposed to gDNA or gDNA^OX for 2 hrs (grey columns) and 48 hrs (black columns).</p> <p>C and D – Flow cytometry detection of AIM2 (C) and TLR9 (D) expression in MCF-7. Cells were stained with AIM2 (C) or TLR9 (D) antibody (secondary PE-conjugated antibodies). Panels D [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B1" target="_blank">1</a>] and E [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B1" target="_blank">1</a>] – control cells plots: FL2 versus SSC. R: gated area. Panels C [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B2" target="_blank">2</a>] and D [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B2" target="_blank">2</a>]: median signal intensity of FL2 (R) in MCF-7 cells (mean value for three independent experiments). Panels C [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B3" target="_blank">3</a>] and D [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B3" target="_blank">3</a>]: relative proportions of AIM2- or TLR9-positive cells in R gates [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B1" target="_blank">1</a>]. Background fluorescence was quantified using PE-conjugated secondary antibodies. </p> <p>*p < 0.05 against control group of cells, non-parametric U-test.</p></div

The exposure to gDNA^OX leads to an increase in the production of ROS.

<p>А – Microscopy-based evaluation of MCF-7 cells sequentially treated with DNA (50 ng/mL) and H2DCFH-DA (control, gDNA, gDNA^ox [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B1" target="_blank">1</a>]) and incubated for 30 minutes (x100). Alternatively, MCF-7 cells were incubated with DNA (50 ng/mL) for 1 hour followed by addition of H2DCFH-DA and photography 30 minutes later (gDNA^ox [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B2" target="_blank">2</a>]). B - MCF-7 cells exposed to gDNA^ox (0.5h; 50ng/mL), were sequentially treated with Mito-tracker TMRM (15 min) and H2DCFH-DA (15 min) (x200). C - Co-detection of labeled probe gDNA^red (50 ng/mL) and DCF after 30 minutes of incubation. D - The results of the quantification of fluorescence using plate reader [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B1" target="_blank">1</a>]. The time kinetics of fluorescence outputs in cells sequentially treated with H2DCFH-DA and, three minutes later, a DNA sample at final concentration of 5 or 50 ng/mL [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B2" target="_blank">2</a>]. The same for cells pretreated with DNA (final concentration 5 ng/mL) for one hour, with subsequent addition of H2DCFH-DA. *) p < 0.05 against control group of cells, non-parametric U-test.</p

Genome instability in MCF-7 cells exposed to gDNA^OX at final concentration 50 ng/mL for 24 hours.

<div><p>A – multiple micronuclei [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B1" target="_blank">1</a>], chromatin bridges [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B2" target="_blank">2</a>], M-phase chromatin decondensation [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B3" target="_blank">3</a>], non-treated control cells [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B4" target="_blank">4</a>] (x100). </p> <p>B – proportions of cells with micronuclei in non-treated control cells, cells exposed to gDNA, cells exposed to gDNA<b>^OX</b>. Grey columns: non-confluent, actively proliferating MCF-7 culture. Black columns: MCF-7 cells at high confluency. *p < 0.05 against control group of cells, non-parametric U-test.</p> <p>С - Exposure to gDNA<b>^OX</b> (50 ng/mL, 2 hours) induces formation of 8-oxodG-containing micronuclei (x100). </p></div

Increase in activity of transcriptional factor Nf-kB in MCF-7 cells exposed to gDNA^OX at final concentrations of 50 ng/mL for 2 hours.

<div><p>A Fluorescent microscopy of cells stained with anti-p65 (FITC) antibodies (x40). B Graph of the proportion of cells with nuclear staining for Nf-kB in three studied types of MCF-7 cultures.</p> <p>C, D (FACS) - the average signal intensity of FL1 (p65) in cells stained with anti-p65 (C) and Ser529-phosphorylated р65 (D) antibodies [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B1" target="_blank">1</a>]. - distribution of fluorescence intensities of the cells stained with Ser529-phosphorylated р65 antibodies (FITC) (green color) или FITC-conjugated secondary antibodies (grey color) [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B2" target="_blank">2</a>]. - proportion of Ser529-phosphorylated р65 -positive cells in total cell population [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B3" target="_blank">3</a>]. - the average of the median signal intensities of FL1 (Ser529-phosphorylated р65 +). Cells were cultivated either in absence (dark grey columns) or in presence of 0.15 mM NAC (light grey columns). </p></div

Activity of STAT3 is stimulated in MCF-7 cells exposed to either gDNA or gDNA^OX at final concentrations of 50 ng/mL.

<div><p>A FACS: Frequency plot for fluorescence intensities in cells stained with anti-STAT3 antibodies [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B1" target="_blank">1</a>] and the average of the median signal intensities of FL1 (STAT3) in these cells [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B2" target="_blank">2</a>].</p> <p>B Fluorescent microscopy of cells stained with STAT3 antibodies (x20) [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B1" target="_blank">1</a>]. - non-treated control cells and cells exposed to either gDNA or gDNA<b>^OX</b> for 2 hours [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B2" target="_blank">2</a>]. - cells pre-treated for 30 min by 0.15mM NAC, then exposed to either gDNA or gDNA<b>^OX</b> for 2 hours.</p> <p>С [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B1" target="_blank">1</a>] - evidence for nuclear localization of STAT3 (x100), the nuclei were stained with DAPI [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077469#B2" target="_blank">2</a>]. - to evaluate the background, the cells were treated with normal rabbit IgG and FITC-conjugated secondary antibodies. </p></div

Decrease in activity of transcriptional factor NRF2 in MCF-7 cells exposed to gDNA^OX at final concentrations of 50 ng/mL for 2 hours.

<p>A FACS: the average of the median signal intensities in cells stained with anti-NRF2 antibodies after various exposures. B - Fluorescent microscopy of cells stained to NRF2 (x40). C - Graph of the proportion of cells with nuclear staining for NRF2 in three studied types of MCF-7 cultures. *p < 0.05 against control group of cells, non-parametric U-test.</p