Primary hyperparathyroidism in combination with metabolic syndrome and sleep apnea

This paper presents a case of primary hyperparathyroidism with a broad spectrum of metabolic disturbances and concomitant sleep apnea syndrome. As shown a timely surgical treatment helps to improve the mineral parameters and alleviate the risk of possible cardiovascular complications in future. The article is the RePrint from the original publication in Obesity and Metabolism (2014) 11(3); pp. 51-55. doi: 10.14341/omet2014351-5

Modeling Organisational Management Structure of the United University

Introduction: higher education institutions are currently going through intensive reorganization processes that also have effect on university organisational management structures. This is caused by the mismatch between traditional linear-functional structures of management and current situation in the market of educa¬tional services and by the inability to respond flexibly to changes in the external environment. The purpose of the article is to develop a conceptual model of the university management organisational structure as well as alternative scenarios for transition to the above model based on the analysis of domestic and foreign approaches pertaining to the development of university management structures formed due to the merging of separate universities, scientific organisations, institutions and colleges. Materials and Methods: the conceptual article is based on the analysis of works by domestic and foreign authors in the field of development of organisational design and management structure of a modern university. To achieve this goal, the authors made a comparative analysis between organizational management structures of domestic federal universities and international universities, reorganized in the process of merging. The scenario approach allowed to determine various versions of the organisational management structure model that ensures positive results following the integration of vari ous scientific and educational organisations. Results: the analysis of approaches to designing organisational management structures of an educational institution was made, including: organisational management structures of federal universities, implemented approaches to development of management structures of leading foreign universities. The goals and tasks of the transition to the new organisational design of the university, the principles and requirements for the formation of an effective organisational structure of management are substantiated. Based on profilisation criteria, the provisional structure of the scientific and educational institutions of the merged university is proposed. The analysis of domestic and international approaches to the development of university management structures allowed to put forward alternative scenarios for the formation of the organisational management structure model of a united university for the implementation of priority directions of its development. Discussion and Conclusions: the proposals and recommendations following the results of the research seek to create conditions for effective interaction between the subdivisions of the united university, optimisation of the managerial and organisational functions of the leadership of educational and research institutions. For universities originated after the merging of separate universities, scientific organisations, institutes, colleges, variants of the contour model of the organisational management structure are proposed. Those proposals are universal during organisational merging of universities

Multiple hormonal resistance and metabolic disorders in pseudogypoparatiosis

Pseudohypoparathyroidism is a rare group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous diseases caused by the inactivation of the PTH-signaling pathway. The main component of the disease is resistance to PTH, causing a disturbance of calcium-phosphorus metabolism. With pseudohypoparathyroidism, there may also be a development of insensitivity to thyrotropic and gonadotropic hormones of the pituitary gland and the formation of characteristic clinical features in the form of subcutaneous calcifications, brachidactyly, obesity, stuntedness, mental retardation. This article describes the clinical case of pseudohypoparathyroidism in a 35-year-old woman with classic phenotypic hypoparathyroidism with hereditary Albright osteodystrophy and a proven mutation in the GNAS gene, and discusses the spectrum of metabolic disorders of the disease

Association between <i>HSPA8</i> Gene Variants and Ischemic Stroke: A Pilot Study Providing Additional Evidence for the Role of Heat Shock Proteins in Disease Pathogenesis

HSPA8 is involved in many stroke-associated cellular processes, playing a pivotal role in the protein quality control system. Here we report the results of the pilot study aimed at determining whether HSPA8 SNPs are linked to the risk of ischemic stroke (IS). DNA samples from 2139 Russians (888 IS patients and 1251 healthy controls) were genotyped for tagSNPs (rs1461496, rs10892958, and rs1136141) in the HSPA8 gene using probe-based PCR. SNP rs10892958 of HSPA8 was associated with an increased risk (risk allele G) of IS in smokers (OR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.07–1.77; p = 0.01) and patients with low fruit and vegetable consumption (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.14–1.63; p = 0.002). SNP rs1136141 of HSPA8 was also associated with an increased risk of IS (risk allele A) exclusively in smokers (OR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.23–2.28; p = 0.0007) and in patients with a low fruit and vegetable intake (OR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.05–1.60; p = 0.04). Sex-stratified analysis revealed an association of rs10892958 HSPA8 with an increased risk of IS in males (risk allele G; OR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.05–1.61; p = 0.01). Thus, SNPs rs10892958 and rs1136141 in the HSPA8 gene represent novel genetic markers of IS

Synthesis of Aromatic Polyimides Based on 3,4&prime;-Oxydianiline by One-Pot Polycondensation in Molten Benzoic Acid and Their Application as Membrane Materials for Pervaporation

A series of aromatic polyimides based on the asymmetrical diamine 3,4&#884;-oxydianiline and various tetracarboxylic acid dianhydrides, both &ldquo;rigid&rdquo; and &ldquo;flexible&rdquo; structure, have been synthesized using the original method of one-pot high-temperature catalytic polycondensation in molten benzoic acid. The synthesized polyimides were investigated using fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and 1H NMR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). It was found that the synthesized polyimides, depending on the used dianhydride, are characterized by different solubility in organic solvent and molten benzoic acid, molecular weight, glass transition temperature (Tg) from 198 to 270 &deg;C, an amorphous or semi crystalline structure with the degree of crystallinity from 41 to 52%. The influence of the method of synthesis on the formation of the crystalline phase of polyimides was studied, and the obtained results were compared with the literature data. The effect of dianhydride chemical structure on the performance of polyimide in pervaporation more specifically, dehydratation of azeotropic isopropanol solution was investigated and compared with the commercially available polyetherimide Ultem 1000&trade;. Membrane structure was studied using scanning electron microscopy. It was found that polyimide PI-DA is the most effective for separation of 88 wt.% isopropanol/12 wt.% water mixture compared to the polyimide PI-6FDA and commercial polyetherimide Ultem 1000&trade; demonstrating normalized permeation flux of 2.77 kg &micro;m m&minus;2 h&minus;1 and separation factor of 264 (water content in permeate 97 wt.%)

Polymorphism of SERF2, the gene encoding a heat-resistant obscure (Hero) protein with chaperone activity, is a novel link in ischemic stroke

Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the most serious cardiovascular events associated with high risk of death or disability. The growing body of evidence highlights molecular chaperones as especially important players in the pathogenesis of the disease. Since six small proteins called “Hero” have been recently identified as a novel class of chaperones we aimed to evaluate whether SNP rs4644832 in SERF2 gene encoding the member of Hero-proteins, is associated with the risk of IS. Methods: A total of 1929 unrelated Russians (861 patients with IS and 1068 healthy individuals) from Central Russia were recruited into the study. Genotyping was done using a probe-based PCR approach. Statistical analysis was carried out in the whole group and stratified by age, gender and smoking status. Results: Analysis of the link between rs4644832 SERF2 and IS showed that G allele is the risk factor of IS only in females (OR=1.29, 95%CI 1.02–1.64, Padj=0.035). In addition, the analysis of associations of rs4644832 SERF2 and IS depending on the smoking status revealed that this genetic variant is associated with an increased risk of IS exclusively in non-smoking individuals (OR=1.26, 95%CI 1.01–1.56, P = 0.041). Discussion: Sex- and smoking interactions between rs4644832 polymorphism and IS may be related to the impact of tobacco components metabolism and sex hormones on SERF2 expression. Conclusion: The present study reveals the novel genetic association between rs4644832 polymorphism and the risk of IS suggesting that SERF2, the part of the protein quality control system, contributes to the pathogenesis of the disease

A new role of AMP-activated protein kinase in regulating proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells

Purpose: Natriuretic peptides (NPs) administered during early reperfusion are protective in models of myocardial infarction. A previous study examining the endogenous components of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) protection of reperfused myocardium, implicated both sarcolemmal (s) KATP and mitochondrial (m) KATP channels. The indirect evidence characterising the relationship between BNP signalling and KATP was obtained using sulphonylurea receptor inhibitors in a rat isolated heart model of ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Here we seek to further examine the relationship between NPs and sKATP openings using single channel electrophysiology. Given our previous findings and the overarching consensus that cardioprotective autacoids open KATP channels, it was hypothesised that NPs elicit sKATP opening. Methods: Cardiomyocyte isolation. Left ventricular cardiomyocytes were isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rat hearts subjected to enzymatic digestion with Liberase Blendzyme DL. Cardiomyocytes were cultured overnight in Medium 199, prior to patch clamp. Single channel patch clamp. Single channel recordings at room temperature (22°C) were made from cell attached patches bathed in Na+ Locke, pH 7.2. The recording pipette contained high KCl (140 mM), pH 7.2. Recordings (45 sec) were made over a range of patch potentials (0, -30, -60, -90, -120 mV), in the absence (control) and in the presence of bath applied BNP (10, 100 nM and 1 µM), pinacidil (200 µM) or pinacidil vehicle (DMSO, 0.25%). Recordings were also made with BNP and pinacidil applied concomitantly. Data are mean ± S.E.M. Results: The current voltage relationship of sKATP under control conditions was linear at –ve patch potentials, the mean conductance being 52.9 ± 1.8 pS (n = 18 hearts, n = 35 cells). Pinacidil caused a four fold increase in sKATP open probability compared to control. Mean channel conductance in the presence of pinacidil was 59.9 ± 1.9 pS (n = 16 hearts, n = 44 cells). Interestingly BNP at all concentrations had negligible effects on sKATP open probability and unitary conductance. However, BNP at all concentrations and patch potentials inhibited pinacidil induced sKATP openings, restoring channel open probability to baseline. Conclusion: These data illustrate the inhibitory effect of NP signalling on sKATP function in the cardiomyocyte under normoxia. They are concordant with the inhibitory effect of atrial NP on KATP in the pancreatic beta cell, but are in apparent conflict with the current cardioprotection paradigm. However, differential effects on sKATP and mKATP and the effects of hypoxia-reoxygenation require further exploration