DETERMINING REFERENCE RANGES FOR TREC AND KREC ASSAYS IN IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SCREENING OF NEWBORNS IN RUSSIAN FEDERATION

In this work, we used a reference population of newborns and sampled dried blood spots on Guthrie cards of 2,739 individual samples to determine the reference intervals for TRECs and KRECs values, in order to diagnose primary immunodeficiency by means of neonatal screening. The median absolute values for TRECs and KRECs were 195 (CI95%: 185-206) and 185 (CI95%: 176-197) copies per μl, respectively; the normalized value for TRECs was 2780 (CI95%: 2690-2840), and for KRECs, 2790 (CI95%: 2700-2900) copies per 2 × 105 copies of the albumin gene or 105 cells. The reference interval was calculated for 99 and 99.9 percentiles of total TRECs and KRECs individual values. Due to asymmetric distribution of data, the outliers were filtered off, using the Tukey’s criterion applied after logarithmic transformation of the data. When analyzing absolute values for TREC/KREC (per μL of blood), no “drop-down” TRECs values were identified; for KRECs, 18 experimental values were excluded from further analysis (from 9.8 to 13.5). The outlying values were not identified among the normalized values of TRECs/KRECs. The obtained reference values for TRECs and KRECs (at the 0.1 percentile level) were, respectively, 458 and 32 per 105 cells, or 23 and 17 per μl of blood samples from neonates

Инфекции нижних дыхательных путей респираторно-синцитиальной вирусной этиологии у недоношенных детей и детей с бронхолегочной дисплазией

The article is devoted to the study of features of lower respiratory tract infection associated with respiratory syncytial virus. 40 cases of RSV-bronchiolitis in preterm children under year with/without bronchopulmonary dysplasia were analyzed. It was established that disease in those groups of patients had severe course because of the respiratory failure, which dominates in clinical pictures as symptoms of bronchial obstruction and apnea. Treatment of severe RSV-infection often demand admission to intensive care unit, supplemental oxygen and/or mechanical ventilation.Статья посвящена изучению особенностей поражения нижних дыхательных путей при респираторно-синцитиальной вирусной (РСВ) инфекции. Проанализировано 40 случаев РСВ-бронхиолита у недоношенных детей первого года жизни с бронхолегочной дисплазией и без нее. Установлено, что заболевание у данного контингента пациентов имеет тяжелое течение за счет развития дыхательной недостаточности, которая является основным клиническим проявлением, наряду с симптомами бронхиальной обструкции и апноэ. Лечение тяжелой РСВ-инфекции зачастую проводится в условиях отделения реанимации и интенсивной терапии, необходимо проведение оксигенотерапии и искусственной вентиляции легких

Этиология и клинические проявления острых кишечных инфекций у детей, по данным стационара г. Москвы за 2016—2018 гг.

The aim of the study was to study the etiology and clinical manifestations of acute intestinal infections (AII) in children aged 1 month to 18 years old who were hospitalized in the infectious diseases ward of a Moscow city hospital  in 2016—2018.A retrospective analysis of 9076 case histories was performed. Etiological interpretation was carried out using bacteriological examination of feces, latex agglutination reaction, immunochromatographic analysis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), serological reactions (indirect hemagglutination test).The majority of children hospitalized with AII (62.2%) were 1—6 years of age. The etiology of AII was deciphered in 32% of cases. Acute intestinal infections of viral etiology prevail (64%), among them — rotavirus (73%), less often — norovirus (21%). AII of bacterial etiology accounted for only 14%, among them salmonellosis remains significant (5.6%), and in young children — staphylococcal infection (1.7%). There were also mixed infections (22%), mainly of viral and bacterial etiology. Noteworthy is the increase in the frequency of occurrence of bacterial AII in the winter season. The leading topical diagnosis in the vast majority of patients (85.1%) was gastroenteritis with the development of exsiccosis (77.6%).Целью исследования было изучение этиологии и клинических проявлений острых кишечных инфекций (ОКИ) у детей в возрасте от 1 месяца жизни до 18 лет, госпитализированных в инфекционное отделение стационара города Москвы в 2016—2018  гг. Проведен ретроспективный анализ 9076  историй болезни. Этиологическая расшифровка осуществлялась с использованием бактериологического исследования кала, реакции латекс-агглютинации (РЛА), иммунохроматографического анализа (ИХА), полимеразной цепной реакции (ПЦР), серологических реакций (РНГА, РПГА).Большинство госпитализированных с ОКИ детей (62,2%) были в возрасте 1—6 лет жизни. Этиология ОКИ была расшифрована в 32% случаев. Преобладают острые кишечные инфекции вирусной этиологии (64%), среди них — ротавирусной (73%), реже — норовирусной (21%). ОКИ бактериальной этиологии составили  лишь 14%, среди них значимым остается сальмонеллез (5,6%), а у детей раннего возраста — стафилококковая инфекция (1,7%). Также встречались  микст-инфекции (22%), преимущественно вирусно-бактериальной этиологии. Примечательно увеличение частоты встречаемости бактериальных ОКИ в зимний период года. Ведущим топическим диагнозом у подавляющего большинства больных (85,1%) был гастроэнтерит с развитием эксикоза (77,6%)

КЛИНИКО-ЭТИОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА ОКИ У ГОСПИТАЛИЗИРОВАННЫХ ДЕТЕЙ ГОРОДА МОСКВЫ В 2015—2017 ГГ.

A retrospective analysis of the etiological structure and clinical manifestations of acute intestinal infections was conducted in 8459  children hospitalized in a specialized infectious disease department at the Children's City Clinical Hospital No.9 in Moscow,  in 2015—2017 based on the study of statistical reports of the Children's City Clinical Hospital No.9 for 2015—2017 and 2417 case histories of children aged 1 month to 18 years old.It was found that children with age 1—7 years of age (58.5%) are more likely to have acute intestinal infections and are hospitalized. The etiological interpretation of acute intestinal infections remains at a low level and is 28.6%. The leading causative agents of acute intestinal infections are viruses (83%), mainly rotaviruses (62%), less often noroviruses (18%). Topical diagnosis in the vast majority of patients with acute intestinal infections was gastroenteritis (74.7%), which leads to the development of toxicosis with exsiccosis,  especially in young children, which is the reason for hospitalization  in the hospital. The share of bacterial diarrhea is small (17%), among them salmonella  is significant, and in young children  — staphylococcal infection. In recent years, the relevance of identifying campylobacter and clostridium, these pathogens may be the cause of the development of diarrhea with hemoccolitis.Проведен ретроспективный анализ этиологической  структуры и клинических проявлений острых кишечных инфекций (ОКИ) у 8459 детей, госпитализированных в специализированное инфекционное отделение Детской городской клинической больницы №9 им. Г.Н. Сперанского ДЗ г. Москвы  (ДГКБ №9) в 2015—2017  гг. на основе изучения статистических отчетов ДГКБ №9 за 2015—2017  гг. и 2417 историй болезни детей в возрасте от 1 месяца жизни до 18 лет.Установлено, что чаще болеют ОКИ и госпитализируются дети в возрасте 1—7 лет жизни (58,5%). Этиологическая расшифровка ОКИ остается на низком уровне и составляет 28,6%. Лидирующим возбудителем ОКИ являются вирусы (83%), преимущественно ротавирусы (62%), реже — норовирусы (18%). Топическим диагнозом у подавляющего большинства больных с ОКИ оказался гастроэнтерит (74,7%), который приводит к развитию токсикоза с эксикозом, особенно у детей раннего возраста, что и служит причиной госпитализации  в стационар. Доля бактериальных диарей невелика (17%), среди них значимым остается сальмонеллез, а у детей раннего возраста — стафилококковая инфекция. В последние  годы актуальность приобретает выявление кампилобактерий и клостридий, т.к. эти возбудители  могут быть причиной развития диареи с гемоколитом

Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype Modulation and Contraction on Native and Cross-Linked Polyelectrolyte Multilayers

Smooth muscle cells convert between a motile, proliferative “synthetic ” phenotype and a sessile, “contractile ” phenotype. The ability to manipulate the phenotype of aortic smooth muscle cells with thin biocompatible polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMUs) with common surface chemical characteristics but varying stiffness was investigated. The stiffness of (PAH/ PAA) PEMUs was varied by heating to form covalent amide bond cross-links between the layers. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that cross-linked PEMUs were thinner than those that were not cross-linked. AFM nanoindentation demonstrated that the Young’s modulus ranged from 6 MPa for hydrated native PEMUs to more than 8 GPa for maximally cross-linked PEMUs. Rat aortic A7r5 smooth muscle cells cultured on native PEMUs exhibited morphology and motility of synthetic cells and expression of the synthetic phenotype markers vimentin, tropomyosin 4, and nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIB (nmMHCIIB). In comparison, cells cultured on maximally cross-linked PEMUs exhibited the phenotype markers calponin, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (smMHC), myocardin, transgelin, and smooth muscle R-actin (smActin) that are characteristic of the smooth muscle “contractile ” phenotype. Consistent with those cells being “contractile”, A7r5 cells grown on cross-linked PEMUs produced contractile force when stimulated with a Ca2+ ionophore

ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА ОСТРЫХ КИШЕЧНЫХ ИНФЕКЦИЙ У ДЕТЕЙ, ГОСПИТАЛИЗИРОВАННЫХ В СТАЦИОНАР Г. МОСКВЫ

The article presents the results of the study of the etiological structure and clinical features of acute intestinal infections of viral, bacterial and mixed etiology in children hospitalized in a specialized department of Children's Clinical Hospital №9 named G. N. Speransky, city of Moscow in 2008—2016. It was found that during 9 years of follow-up, the number of hospitalized patients with acute intestinal infections does not have an obvious tendency to decrease. More than half of hos-pitalized patients are children 1—7 years old. Among the reasons for acute intestinal infections of established etiology, viral agents (rotaviruses and noroviruses) prevail. Among bacterial intestinal infections, the most urgent are salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis and staphylococcal infection.  В статье представлены результаты изучения этиологической структуры и клинических особенностей острых кишечных инфекций (ОКИ) вирусной, бактериальной и смешанной этиологии у детей, госпитализированных в специализированное отделение ДГКБ №9 им Г.Н. Сперанского г. Москвы в 2008—2016 гг. Установлено, что на протяжении 9 лет наблюдения количество госпитализированных пациентов с ОКИ не имеет очевидной тенденции к снижению. Более половины госпитализированных пациентов составляют дети в возрасте 1—7 лет. Среди причин ОКИ установленной этиологии преобладают вирусные агенты (ротавирусы и норовирусы). Среди бактериальных кишечных инфекций наибольшую актуальность представляют сальмонеллез, кампилобактериоз и стафилококковая инфекция. 

Quasicrystalline phase formation by heating a mechanically alloyed Al65Cu23Fe12 powder mixture

Elemental powder mixtures of Al65Cu23Fe12 composition milled for two and four hours in a planetary ball mill were used to form quasicrystals. Annealing of the as-milled samples led to complex solid-state transformations. During the heat-up a sequence of solid-state reactions takes place in the as-milled powder. These reactions were studied both by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction methods. An analysis of the phase formation shows the effect of the difference in the thermodynamic driving forces, such as the positive heats of mixing for the Cu-Fe system and the negative ones for the Al-Fe and Al-Cu systems, on the phase transformation consequence

The evolution of crystalline precursors during the formation of Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystalline intermetallics in mechanically alloyed powders

Mechanical alloying (MA) of elemental powders in the Al-Cu-Fe system was carried out using two types of laboratory equipment (vibratory and planetary mills) to produce single phase, stable icosahedral quasicrystals. The sequence and nature of the solid state reactions during milling and subsequent annealing were studied in detail using qualitative and quantitative laboratory X-ray analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of milling parameters (energy intensity, temperature, milling time) on the course of transformations was elucidated. Specific reactions were identified which took place during annealing in different temperature ranges. The evolution of crystalline precursors of the quasicrystalline phase was established

In situ sem study of the micro-mechanical behaviour of 3D-printed aluminium alloy

Currently, 3D-printed aluminium alloy fabrications made by selective laser melting (SLM) offer a promising route for the production of small series of custom-designed support brackets and heat exchangers with complex geometry and shape and miniature size. Alloy composition and printing parameters need to be optimised to mitigate fabrication defects (pores and microcracks) and enhance the parts’ performance. The deformation response needs to be studied with adequate characterisation techniques at relevant dimensional scale, capturing the peculiarities of micro-mechanical behaviour relevant to the particular article and specimen dimensions. Purposefully designed Al-Si-Mg 3D-printable RS-333 alloy was investigated with a number of microscopy techniques, including in situ mechanical testing with a Deben Microtest 1-kN stage integrated and synchronised with Tescan Vega3 SEM to acquire high-resolution image datasets for digital image correlation (DIC) analysis. Dog bone specimens were 3D-printed in different orientations of gauge zone cross-section with respect to the fast laser beam scanning and growth directions. This corresponded to the varying local conditions of metal solidification and cooling. Specimens showed variation in mechanical properties, namely Young’s modulus (65–78 GPa), yield stress (80–150 MPa), ultimate tensile strength (115–225 MPa) and elongation at break (0.75–1.4%). Furthermore, the failure localisation and character were altered with the change in gauge cross-section orientation. DIC analysis allowed correct strain evaluation that overcame the load frame compliance effect and helped to identify the unevenness of deformation distribution (plasticity waves), which ultimately resulted in exceptionally high strain localisation near the ultimate failure crack position

Crystallochemical aspects of solid state reactions in mechanically alloyed Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystalline powders

A number of elemental mixtures have initial compositions close to Al₆₅Cu₂₃Fe₁₂ were mechanically alloyed at different energy intensities using a planetary mill. Laboratory X-ray diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and Mössbauer spectroscopy were used for characterization of the phase and structural state of mechanically alloyed powders after different periods of milling and annealing. Several exothermic effects were found, and these were ascribed to specific solid-state reactions. Quantitative phase analysis was applied in order to identify the mechanism of solid-state reactions taking place in the vicinity of the quasicrystalline phase domain in the Al-Cu-Fe system as a result of mechanical and thermal excitation and homogenization. Metastable intermetallics were identified which possess certain structural and topological elements identical to those found in quasicrystals