Lev Vygotsky between two revolutions: on the political self-determination of the scientist

The paper presented texts of the three previously unknown Lvygotsky’s journal notes and comments on them. These texts were published in mid-July and early September 1917 in the Jewish weekly «New Path» under the pseudonym «L.S.» and «W». In these texts, Lev Vygotsky describes the features of the political behaviour of the Jewish population in connection with the revolutionary events in Russia. On the one hand, a clear discrepancy between the activation of party work and political rhetoric is mentioned, and on the other hand, reduction of the significance of Jewish communal life is highlighted. As a key characteristic of social and psychological wellbeing of the Jewish population Vygotsky singles out absenteeism, i.e. the lack of interest in politics. Eventually the scientist captures the increase in uncertainty in the Jewish environment and fear of the future political, social and economic reforms in Russia. In the comments on Vygotsky notes, there are definitions relating to the various features of the activities of the Jewish political parties and public organizations, information about various policy documents and staff characterized by social and political situation before the elections in the Consituent Assembly (Uchreditel’noe Sobranie). Particular attention is paid to the analysis of stylistic and structural features of the commented text construction. By implicit quoting the relationship between Vygotsky’s texts and the works of other authors is identified. Particular attention is paid to the author’s attitude to religious texts, which allows to select a characteristic feature of the «double vision» of real events of the revolution against the background of the Jewish history. The comments help to single out features of the political identity of the young Lev Vygotsky in the period between the two revolutions, which is important to study his biography and understanding of his world view

A clinical case of post-COVID-19 myoendocarditis and arrhythmic syndrome at the outpatient stage

Background: Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus entails the development of complications which affect the prognosis of the underlying disease. More than 40% of COVID-19 complications represent diseases of the cardiovascular system, most of which are the rhythm and conduction disturbances. In order to avoid these complications, it is necessary to detect cases of infection in a timely manner at the outpatient stage. Clinical case description: A 40-year-old patient came to the clinic with complaints of interruptions in the heart rhythm that appeared after the coronavirus infection. The laboratory examination (CBC) revealed signs of systemic inflammation (leukocytosis 12.6×109 U/l; erythrocyte sedimentation rate 18 mm/h, C-reactive protein 18 mg/l); the instrumental examination of the heart revealed the rhythm disturbances in the form of frequent ventricular ectopic activity and weakness of the SA node. The patient received propafenone (150 mg, 3 times a day) as a therapy with a positive effect. Against the background of improvement in the patient’s condition and despite the history of myocarditis and a positive result of enzyme immunoassay for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (IgG, 10 BAU/ml), the patient was prescribed immunization with the CoviVac vaccine. After the immunization, the condition worsening was observed in the form of an increase in the rhythm disturbances, which required an inpatient treatment. A clinical diagnosis of recurrent ventricular arrhythmia — ventricular extrasystole was established, and the therapy was corrected. The outcome was favorable. Conclusion: Myocarditis is one of the most common complications of SARS-CoV-2 and should be kept in mind at all stages of medical care. This clinical case demonstrates the importance of the correct diagnosis and treatment of post-COVID myocarditis, as well as the need to assess contraindications for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with cardiac complications

THE EFFECT OF AN ANTI-TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-? AGENT ON DISEASE ACTIVITY,BLOOD RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES, AND THE ARTERIAL WALL IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

Vascular dysfunction and inflammation in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) share the same pathogenetic mechanism wherein the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) plays a key role. Treatment with anti-TNF- agents is effective in inhibiting inflammation in PsA; however, their effect on the wall of large arteries has not been studied. Objective. To evaluate the effect of Adalimumab (ADA) on the arterial wall and blood rheological properties in PsA. Subjects and methods. Eighteen patients with PsA [12 women and 6 men; mean age 43.1±10.2 years; disease activity scores (DAS), 4.78 (4.0; 5.45)] were subcutaneously injected ADA, 40 mg/every two weeks, for 12 weeks. The investigators assessed the vascular wall, by measuring the mean and maximum common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) by ultrasound duplex scanning, and arterial rigidity (AR), by determining the refraction index (RI,%) and the rigidity index by digital volume photoplethysmography and Doppler study measuring the aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the carotid-femoral segment (Micromedical, UK), before and after treatment. Erythrocyte aggregation (EA) parameters [Т1 (sec), Kt (c.u.); (sec-1), I2,5 (%)] were measured recording the rate of inverse light scattering and the levels of blood lipids [total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG)], and atherogenicity coefficient (AC) by routine methods on an automated Express plus analyzer (Bayer, Germany) at baseline, 4, and 12 weeks. The median and the interquartile range [Me (Q25; Q75)] were calculated; the changes in the parameters were estimated by the Wilcoxon test (Wt) and the Friedman test (Ft) for dependent samples;

Outcomes of the multicenter monitoring of the causative agent of invasive listeriosis in the metropolis

Introduction. Invasive listeriosis is a rare disease posing a threat to high-risk groups and often leading to a fatal outcome. Its causative agent is Listeria monocytogenes, a ubiquitous saprophyte that has turned into an important foodborne pathogen with the growing industry of semi-cooked and ready-to-eat products. The aim of the study is the characterization of L. monocytogenes isolates in the Moscow region and identification of possible causes of susceptibility to infection Materials and methods. The multicenter monitoring of L. monocytogenes was conducted in the Moscow metropolitan area, using bacteriological and genomic methods for description of the pathogen, medical history collection and detailed analysis of patient case summaries. Results. In the cohorts of patients with perinatal listeriosis (PL) and meningitis-septicemia (MS), invasive listeriosis had a year-round occurrence with slight upswings in MarchApril and JulyNovember. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in the MS group, the minimum age of patients decreased to 31 years and the proportion of deaths increased 1.57-fold compared to 20182019. During the pandemic, an increase in the diversity of L. monocytogenes genotypes was observed, along with changes in the spectrum of pathogen genotypes throughout the pandemic stages. During the monitoring, a total of 73 L. monocytogenes clinical isolates belonging to 24 genotypes were described. Seven genotypes belonged to the first phylogenetic lineage (PLI); 14 genotypes belonged to PLII. The PL cohort had the highest proportion of PLI genotypes (52%). In the MS cohort, the group of men had the widest diversity of genotypes, 6 of which were identical to genotypes of food isolates. In the analysed set of isolates, 12 new profiles of internalin genes were identified and described. The whole genome sequencing detected the presence of plasmids in 9 of 58 genomes of clinical isolates. The comparison of core genomes revealed an epidemic relationship between isolates of the same genotype for ST4, ST21, and ST425. Conclusion. The performed study presents a detailed description of the diversity and virulence of L. monocytogenes circulating in the Moscow metropolitan area, thus providing information for timely diagnosis and treatment of invasive listeriosis

Lev Vygotsky between two revolutions: on the political self-determination of the scientist

The paper presented texts of the three previously unknown Lvygotsky’s journal notes and comments on them. These texts were published in mid-July and early September 1917 in the Jewish weekly «New Path» under the pseudonym «L.S.» and «W». In these texts, Lev Vygotsky describes the features of the political behaviour of the Jewish population in connection with the revolutionary events in Russia. On the one hand, a clear discrepancy between the activation of party work and political rhetoric is mentioned, and on the other hand, reduction of the significance of Jewish communal life is highlighted. As a key characteristic of social and psychological wellbeing of the Jewish population Vygotsky singles out absenteeism, i.e. the lack of interest in politics. Eventually the scientist captures the increase in uncertainty in the Jewish environment and fear of the future political, social and economic reforms in Russia. In the comments on Vygotsky notes, there are definitions relating to the various features of the activities of the Jewish political parties and public organizations, information about various policy documents and staff characterized by social and political situation before the elections in the Consituent Assembly (Uchreditel’noe Sobranie). Particular attention is paid to the analysis of stylistic and structural features of the commented text construction. By implicit quoting the relationship between Vygotsky’s texts and the works of other authors is identified. Particular attention is paid to the author’s attitude to religious texts, which allows to select a characteristic feature of the «double vision» of real events of the revolution against the background of the Jewish history. The comments help to single out features of the political identity of the young Lev Vygotsky in the period between the two revolutions, which is important to study his biography and understanding of his world view

<i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> ST37 Distribution in the Moscow Region and Properties of Clinical and Foodborne Isolates

Listerias of the phylogenetic lineage II (PLII) are common in the European environment and are hypovirulent. Despite this, they caused more than a third of the sporadic cases of listeriosis and multi-country foodborne outbreaks. L. monocytogenes ST37 is one of them. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ST37 appeared in clinical cases and ranked second in occurrence among food isolates in the Moscow region. The aim of this study was to describe the genomic features of ST37 isolates from different sources. All clinical cases of ST37 were in the cohort of male patients (age, 48–81 years) with meningitis–septicemia manifestation and COVID-19 or Influenza in the anamnesis. The core genomes of the fish isolates were closely related. The clinical and meat isolates revealed a large diversity. Prophages (2–4/genome) were the source of the unique genes. Two clinical isolates displayed pseudolysogeny, and excided prophages were A006-like. In the absence of plasmids, the assortment of virulence factors and resistance determinants in the chromosome corresponded to the hypovirulent characteristics. However, all clinical isolates caused severe disease, with deaths in four cases. Thus, these studies allow us to speculate that a previous viral infection increases human susceptibility to listeriosis

Analysis of the Face Mask Use by Public Transport Passengers and Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

(1) Background: The use of face masks and gloves in public places directly shows the commitment of the population to the established regulations. Public transport is one of the most-at-risk places of contamination. The aim of the study was to analyze the face mask use by public transport passengers and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: Public transport passengers and workers were surveyed. Periodic intermittent selective observation was used to gauge the level of adherence to the established regulations among public transport passengers. Factor analysis was used to identify factors determining the face-mask-wearing comfort. (3) Results: The majority of passengers (87.5%) and all transport workers (100%) used face masks and gloves. Most of the users wore only face masks. Only 41.6% of passengers and 74.7% of transport workers wore face masks correctly. Motivational attitudes at the implementation of preventive measures were determined: established regulations in the public place (55.8%) and the protection of one&rsquo;s own health and the health of family members (44.2%). Only 22.5% of those wearing face masks believed that doing so will have any effect on the spread of an infectious disease, and 10.8% wore masks to maintain the health of people around themselves. A low level of social responsibility was demonstrated. For 53.4% of workers, face mask wearing was uncomfortable. The majority of workers had adverse reactions to mask wearing: feeling short of breath (52.8%), hyperemia of face skin (33.8%), and facial hyperhidrosis (67.4%). (4) Conclusions: The comfort of wearing a mask is determined by adverse reactions occurrence, the properties of the mask, working conditions, and the duration of wearing the face mask. It is necessary to develop recommendations to reduce wearing discomfort. These recommendations, along with methods of raising the social responsibility of the population, can contribute to a greater commitment of the population to non-specific prevention measures

Siponimod versus placebo in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (EXPAND): a double-blind, randomised, phase 3 study

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