Sex differences of subpopulation composition of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood in experimental acute and chronic ulcerative colitis

We studied sex differences lymphocytes subpopulations of peripheral blood in adult C57Bl/6 mice during acute and chronic colitis, induced with 1% DSS. We measured subpopulations of lymphocytes with flow cytometry. We showed that in the control group the female mice had statistically significantly higher values of the relative number of regulatory and cytotoxic T lymphocytes comparing to the males. During acute colitis the females showed an increase in the relative number of Thelpers and a decrease of cytotoxic Tlymphocytes, which reflects the activation of immune response. The males had a decrease in the absolute number of leukocytes, lymphocytes and cytotoxic and regulatory T lymphocytes, probably because of an increase in migration of these cells to the inflammation locus and local lymph nodes. In chronic colitis the females had a decrease in the absolute number of leukocytes, lymphocytes, T helpers, cytotoxic T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes when comparing with acute colitis. During chronic colitis the males had a decrease in the absolute number of T helpers and B lymphocytes but an increase of regulatory T cells in comparison with the control group; in comparison with acute colitis the males with chronic colitis had higher relative and absolute number of regulatory T cells. The increase of T regulatory lymphocytes is due to an increase in their proliferation rate in the thymus and increase of their migration to the inflammatory locus – the colon. Future clinical studies may be based on these results, which show that the treatment of colitis, especially with immunotropic agents, must take sex differences into account

Recurrent versus first cervical artery dissection - a retrospective study of clinical and vascular characteristics

Background and purpose Most recurrent cervical artery dissection (CeAD) events occur shortly after the acute first CeAD. This study compared the characteristics of recurrent and first CeAD events and searched for associations between subsequent events of an individual person. Methods Cervical artery dissection patients with a new CeAD event occurring during a 3-6 month follow-up were retrospectively selected in seven specialized stroke centers. Clinical and vascular characteristics of the initial and the recurrent CeADs were compared. Results The study sample included 76 patients. Recurrent CeADs were occlusive in one (1.3%) patient, caused cerebral ischaemia in 13 (17.1%) and were asymptomatic in 39 (51.3%) patients, compared to 29 (38.2%) occlusive, 42 (55.3%) ischaemic and no asymptomatic first CeAD events. In 52 (68.4%) patients, recurrent dissections affected both internal carotid arteries or both vertebral arteries, whilst 24 (31.6%) patients had subsequent dissections in both types of artery. Twelve (28.6%) of 42 patients with an ischaemic first dissection had ischaemic symptoms due to the recurrent CeADs, too. However, only one (1.3%) of 34 patients with a non-ischaemic first CeAD suffered ischaemia upon recurrence. Conclusion Recurrent CeAD typically affects the same site of artery. It causes ischaemic events less often than the first CeAD. The risk that patients who presented with solely non-ischaemic symptoms of a first CeAD will have ischaemic symptoms in the case of a recurrent CeAD seems very small.Peer reviewe

Biochemical markers of neurodegeneration in patients with cerebral small vessel disease and Alzheimer's disease

Introduction. Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) as well as the Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their comorbidities are the most common causes of cognitive impairments (CIs). Objective: to evaluate the predictive power of the biochemical neurodegeneration markers in patients with CSVD and AD. Materials and methods. We assessed the following neurodegeneration markers in 68 patients with CSVD (61.0 8.6 years; 60.3% males), 17 patients with AD (65.2 8.3 years; 35.3% males), and 26 healthy volunteers (59.9 6.7 years; 38.5% males): neuron-specific enolase (NSE), glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), neurofilament light polypeptide (NEFL) in blood (for all patients) and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; in patients with CSVD and AD). We assessed the predictive power of those markers with ROC analysis. Results. As compared to the control group, serum GFAP in patients with CSVD showed its predictive power at 0.155 ng/ml (sensitivity 74%; specificity 70%). Serum NEFL 0.0185 ng/ml (sensitivity 82%; specificity 96%) and NSE 4.95 g/ml (sensitivity 77%; specificity 71%) showed their predictive power in patients with AD. CSF GFAP 1.03 ng/ml (sensitivity 84%; specificity 88%), CSF NSE 19.10 g/ml (sensitivity 88%; specificity 91%), serum NEFL 0.021 ng/ml (sensitivity 71%; specificity 76%), serum NSE /CSF NSE ratio 0.273 ng/ml (sensitivity 87%; specificity 88%) help differentiate CSVD from AD. Conclusions. We found that serum GFAP can be a useful diagnostic marker in patients with CSVD, while serum NEFL and serum NSE can help identify the AD. In addition, CSF GFAP and CSF NSE as well as serum NEFL and serum NSE/CSF NSE can help differentiate CSVD from AD. We can use those markers in clinical and research practice to identify the vascular and neurodegenerative causes of CIs and their comorbidities, which is of a great importance in developing specific treatment and predicting the course of the disease

Возможность использования диквертина для лечения остеоартроза в гериатрической практике

Complex treatment of aged and old patients ( n = 60) suffering from deforming osteoarthrosis complicated with reactive synovitis in combination with associated pathology of cardiovascular system is studied. Natural antioxidant dicvertase introduced by ultrasonic waves was used. Positive combined action of ultraphonophoresis by dicvertase was revealed which resulted in lowering pain syndrome, increasing motions range in the affected joint, normalizing of immunity status which allows to broaden indications for the treatment of these patients by lowering the risk of development of pathologic response of the organism on the treatment and facilitates lowering drug loading on patients.Изучена возможность комплексного лечения больных деформирующим остеоартрозом, в том числе осложненным реактивным синовитом, пожилого и старческого возраста (60 пациентов) в сочетании с сопутствующей патологией сердечно-сосудистой системы с использованием природного антиокcиданта диквертина, вводимого ультразвуковыми волнами. Выявлено положительное сочетанное действие ультрафонофореза диквертина, проявившееся в уменьшении болевого синдрома, увеличении объема движений в пораженном суставе, нормализации иммунного статуса, что позволяет расширить показания для лечения этой группы больных, уменьшая риск развития патологической ответной реакции организма на лечение, и способствует снижению медикаментозной нагрузки на пациентов

ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ ПО ИЗВЛЕЧЕНИЮ ЦЕРИЯ ИЗ РАСТВОРОВ КОНЦЕНТРАТОВ РЕДКОЗЕМЕЛЬНЫХ МЕТАЛЛОВ ЭЛЕКТРОХИМИЧЕСКИМ И ЭКСТРАКЦИОННЫМ МЕТОДАМИ

In order to extract cerium from rare-earth metals (REM) recovered from Russian raw materials, the following modern domestic equipment was selected: OXITRON-58L-O2 diaphragm electrolyzer manufactured by LLC «Delfin Aqua» with the purpose of Ce(III) to Ce(IV) oxidation; EC-10FA centrifugal extractor manufactured by LLC «LIT» with the purpose of Ce(IV) extraction from the sum of REM. These units were used in the studies performed to identify conditions that would lead to cerium oxidation to a 4-valent state with the electrochemical method as well as to recover and clean Ce(IV) from rare-earth metals with the solvent extraction method. The experiments were performed with standardized test solutions of cerium nitrate and process solutions obtained using loparite concentrate from the Solikamsk Magnesium Plant. The conditions were identified and equipment operation modes were designed in order to enable the chosen electrolyzer model to achieve a degree of cerium oxidation in REM process solutions over 99 % at power consumption below 0,8 kW/h per 1 kg of CeO2, and extract cerium from REM concentrate solution using the laboratory cascade of 20 centrifugal extractors with further production of 99,6 % pure CeO2.Осуществлен выбор современного отечественного оборудования для извлечения церия из концентратов редкоземельных металлов (РЗМ), выделенных из российского сырья: диафрагменный электролизер OКСИТРОН-58Л-О2, изготовленный ООО «Делфин Аква», для проведения процесса окисления Ce(III) до Ce(IV); экстрактор центробежного типа модели ЭЦ-10ФА производства ООО «ЛИТ» для извлечения Ce(IV) из суммы РЗМ. На данном оборудовании проведены исследования режимов окисления церия до 4-валентного состояния электрохимическим методом, а также извлечения и очистки Се(IV) от РЗМ методом жидкостной экстракции. Эксперименты выполнены на модельных растворах нитрата церия и технологических растворах, полученных из лопаритового концентрата Соликамского магниевого завода. Определены условия и разработаны режимы работы оборудования, позволяющие на выбранной модели электролизера достичь степени окисления церия в технологических растворах РЗМ более чем на 99 % при расходе электроэнергии не более 0,8 кВт/ч на 1 кг СеО2, а на лабораторном каскаде из 20 экстракторов центробежного типа выделить церий из раствора концентрата РЗМ и получить СеО2 чистотой 99,6 %

Survival, cognitive functions, and brain MRI in patients with cSVD: 5-year observation

Introduction. Contributing to high disability and mortality, cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) is a common condition in senior and elderly individuals. Objective: to assess the 5-year survival as well as cognitive and MRI changes in patients with cSVD and cognitive impairment (CI). Materials and methods. A prospective 5-year study included 54 patients (of them 37 women; mean age: 60.51 6.76 years) with cSVD, CIs, and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs; Fazekas 23). Twenty-two subjects were followed up to assess cognitive functions and a type of CI, cSVD MRI features, WMH, white and grey matter, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume as well as microstructural brain changes and correlate cognitive and MRI parameters at 5 years timepoint after the baseline. Results. Dementia developed in 14% of the subjects and 14% of the subjects died over a 5-year period. The subjects assessed twice had controlled hypertension (HTN). CIs worsened in the domain of executive functions and memory with mixed-type CI worsening. The follow-up showed that the WMH and CSF volume increased while the white matter volume decreased and axial diffusivity increased in the corpus callosum. The CSF volume correlated with the Stroop Test results and delayed memory (r = 0.803 and r = 0.701, respectively) and with white matter atrophy (r = 0.256) while the latter correlated with the axial diffusivity increased in the corpus callosum (r = 0.560). Conclusion. cSVD with advanced WMHs is associated with high mortality and dementia progression. General cognition assessment and MRI scan are not enough sensitive to assess disorder progression over a 5-year period. Stroop Test and Delayed 10-Word Recall Test results and transition to mixed-type CI indicate CI worsening and, therefore, can be used for the follow-up assessment. Cognitive decline in extensive cSVD is mediated by the brain matter atrophy and altered CSF circulation

Implication for the core collapse supernova rate from 21 years of data of the Large Volume Detector

The Large Volume Detector (LVD) has been continuously taking data since 1992 at the INFN Gran Sasso National Laboratory. LVD is sensitive to neutrino bursts from gravitational stellar collapses with full detection probability over the Galaxy. We have searched for neutrino bursts in LVD data taken in 7335 days of operation. No evidence of neutrino signals has been found between June 1992 and December 2013. The 90% C.L. upper limit on the rate of core-collapse and failed supernova explosions out to distances of 25 kpc is found to be 0.114/y.Comment: Publishe

Фармакоэкономический анализ применения омализумаба у детей, больных тяжелой неконтролируемой бронхиальной астмой: данные реальной клинической практики в России

Background: Omalizumab is the first and yet the only biopreparation for asthma which combines high efficiency and high cost. The clinical-economic expediency of using omalizumab in asthmatic children has not been previously studied in Russia.Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the clinical and economic expediency of using omalizumab as additive treatment (to basic or supporting therapy) in children with severe uncontrolled atopic asthma under the Russian economic conditions.Methods: We conducted a mathematical simulation of asthma treatment in children with an increased frequency of hospitalization (9 times per year) with an average monthly omalizumab requirement of 558 mg. The model is based on the Markov chain. The model includes direct and non-direct costs. The planning horizons were 2 and 5 years. We analyzed the efficiency and utility of the costs and their influence on the budget. The stability of received data is proven by sensitivity analyzis.Results: Over a 5-year planning horizon the cost of an additional year of quality life (due to using omalizumab) was 1,259,185 roubles, while the “society’s solvency” is 1 341 308 roubles (cost utility analizis). It takes 39,820 rubles to prevent one hospitalization with omalizumab over a 5-year planning horizon (cost efficiency analizis), which is comparable to the cost of hospitalization (43,141 rubles). Total costs for treating 100 children with asthma, 7 of which would be treated with omalizumab, were equal to the amount of money which is enough to treat 105 children without omalizumab (analysis of budgetary influence).Conclusion: The analyses of cost efficiency and utility have shown that the strategy of using omalizumab together with standard treatment is economically expedient. Budgetary influence analysis has not detected a significant burden on the budget.Омализумаб является первым и пока единственным биопрепаратом для лечения бронхиальной астмы (БА), сочетающим высокую эффективность и высокую стоимость. Клинико-экономическая целесообразность применения омализумаба у детей с БА в России ранее не изучалась.Цель исследования: произвести клинико-экономическую оценку целесообразности применения омализумаба в качестве дополнительной терапии (к базовой или поддерживающей) у детей с тяжелой неконтролируемой атопической БА в российских экономических условиях.Методы. Проведено математическое моделирование лечения БА у детей с повышенной частотой госпитализаций (9 в год) при среднемесячной потребности омализумаба 558 мг/мес. Модель основана на марковских переходах. В модель включены прямые и непрямые затраты, горизонты моделирования составили 2 и 5 лет. Проведены анализы эффективности и полезности затрат, анализ влияния на бюджет. Стабильность полученных результатов подтверждена анализом чувствительности.Результаты. При 5-летнем горизонте моделирования стоимость дополнительного года качественной жизни за счет использования омализумаба составила 1 259 185 руб. при «пороге общества платить» 1 341 308 руб. (анализ полезности затрат). Для предотвращения одной госпитализации за счет использования омализумаба при 5-летнем горизонте моделирования необходимо затратить дополнительные 39 821 руб. (анализ эффективности затрат), что сопоставимо со стоимостью госпитализации (43 141 руб.). Общие затраты на лечение 100 детей с БА, из которых 7 получали бы омализумаб, равнялись сумме, на которую можно пролечить 105 детей без омализумаба (анализ влияния на бюджет).Заключение. Анализ полезности и эффективности затрат показал, что стратегия «омализумаб плюс стандартная терапия» является экономически целесообразной. Анализ влияния на бюджет не выявил значимой нагрузки на бюджет

Магнитно-резонансная томография в диагностике последствий перенесенной диссекции брахиоцефальных артерий

Introduction. Vessel wall imaging in patients with dissection plays an impotent role in the differential diagnosis of stenoocclusive processes of the main arteries of the head. However, the interpretation of changes in long-term periods remains difficulties. Purpose: to determine and compare the imaging patterns of the consequences of the postponed dissection using MRI and ultrasound.Materials and methods. 30 patients with confirmed dissection were examined for more than 1 year from the date of diagnosis. MRI was performed using vessel wall protocol imaging before and after contrast enhancement.Results. Postpone dissection imaging patterns were revealed: aneurysmal dilation of the artery (27%) and double lumen (20%) at the site of dissection; prolonged stenosis in 10% of cases, intimal flap — in 3% of cases. Occlusion persisted in 40% of cases.Conclusion. The use of MRI can improve the differential diagnosis of the causes of the stenоocclusive process of the main arteries of the head.Введение. Визуализационные исследования изменений сосудистой стенки при диссекции играют важную роль в дифференциальной диагностике стеноокклюзирующих процессов магистральных артерий головы, однако интерпретация изменений в отдаленные периоды остается сложной задачей. Цель исследования: определить и  сопоставить визуализационные паттерны последствий перенесенной диссекции по результатам магнитно-резонансной томографии (МРТ) и ультразвуковых исследований (УЗИ).Материалы и  методы. Проведено обследование 30 пациентов с  подтвержденной диссекцией в  сроках более 1 года от  момента постановки диагноза. МРТ выполнялась с  использованием протокола для визуализации сосудистой стенки до и после введения контрастного средства.Результаты. Выявлены визуализационные паттерны, соответствующие последствиям перенесенной диссекции. Наиболее часто на месте диссекции определялись формирование аневризматического расширения артерии (27%) и двойной просвет (20%). Пролонгированный стеноз определялся в 10% случаев, свободный лоскут интимы — в 3%. В 40% случаев сохранялась окклюзия.Заключение. Применение магнитно-резонансной томографии позволяет улучшить дифференциальную диагностику причин стенооклюзирующего процесса магистральных артерий головы