Cytokine status in posttraumatic synovitis on the background of systemic and intra-articular use of NSAID and ozone

Joint  damage  initiates aseptic  self-sustaining inflammation, which  contributes the  progression of post-traumatic destruction of tissues  not  only  in the  pathological focus,  but  also outside  it,  significantly expanding the zone of degenerative changes due to secondary alterations. One of the leading roles in pathogenesis of the inflammation belongs  to secreted  mediators-cytokines – that  impart to the cells the proinflammatory potential and  promote the  long-term inflammation. These  effects  lead  to  disorganization of extracellular matrix and progressive  disintegration of cartilage.  In this regard,  the development and implementation of new pathogenetic treatment methods of post-traumatic synovitis permits  to limit the area of secondary alterations and activate  reparative mechanisms in the lesion  from the early terms,  thus potentially improving the results of  rehabilitation treatment and  increasing efficiency  of  conventional therapy   in  post-traumatic synovitis. Numerous experimental and  clinical  studies  have proven  the  effectiveness and  safety of ozone  therapy, e.g., in degenerative joint  diseases.  Despite extensive  data  highlighting effectiveness of ozone  therapy  in articular pathology, the  study of cytokine profile  when  using this treatment of posttraumatic synovitis  was performed only in few works, thus emphasizing the prospects for further research in this direction. The study was aimed for investigation of cytokine status in the patients with posttraumatic synovitis subjected to intravenous and intraarticular ozone  therapy  in combination with intra-articular administration of xefocam.The  work is based  on  the  results  of examination and  treatment of 69 patients with  traumatic injuries  of the  knee  joint,  complicated by development of  post-traumatic synovitis.  Two  study  groups  were  formed, comparable in volume  and  type  of joint  injury.  The  patients from  group  I (35 cases)  received  conventional combined treatment. Among  the  mandatory measures, evacuation of a synovial-hemorrhagic punctate was performed from the cavity of damaged joint. Conservative therapy included NSAIDs, medications that improve microcirculation, at standard dosages, as well as physical therapy. In group II (34 patients), traditional therapy was supplemented with a 10-day  course of intravenous injectable ozone  therapy  with 200 ml of NaCl  solution at a concentration of 2.0 mg/l daily and intra-articular ozone injection at a concentration of 5 mg/l in a volume of 20 ml 5 times  in a day. During arthroscopy, lavage of the joint  cavity was performed with ozonated saline solution at a concentration of 2.0 mg/l.  The ozone  therapy  was combined with three  intra-articular injections of xefocam  at a dose of 8 mg, once  every 4 days. A patent for the  invention was obtained for this treatment technology (No.  2456988 of 27.07.12).  The cytokine profile was evaluated by the content of Pro-inflammatory (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17), regulatory (IL-2), Il-1β receptor antagonist, and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-10) cytokines by solid-phase enzyme  immunoassay with an indicator label in the  form  of peroxidase. Statistical analysis of the results was carried  out using the Student criterion. Combined therapy  of intravenous and intraarticular ozone therapy  in combination with intra-articular injections of xefocam  contributed to the inhibition of the  inflammatory response, which  is reflected in  the  dynamics of depression of the  studied  cytokines: simultaneous reduction of proinflammatory cytokines with the limitation of the growth of anti-inflammatory mediators. The final measurements showed a decrease in the content of proinflammatory cytokines: TNFα by 24.6% (p2   < 0.001);  IL-17, by 17.3% (p2   < 0.01);  IL-6, by 20.1% (p2   < 0.001);  IL-1β, by 19.1% (p2   < 0.001), with a decrease in regulatory IL-2  by 25.7% (p2   < 0.001) and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL–10, by 21.3% (p2  < 0.001); Il – 4, by 25.7% (p2  < 0.001); IL-1ra, by 24.4% (p2  < 0.001), when compared to the data obtained with conventional treatment. The  results  obtained allow us to evaluate  this method as highly effective  in the treatment of post-traumatic synovitis,  thus contributing to suppression of inflammatory response  and reduces the secondary alteration of joint tissue structures, preventing the progression of post-traumatic osteoarthritis

Rapid ecological change in the coastal zone of Lake Baikal (East Siberia): Is the site of the world\u27s greatest freshwater biodiversity in danger?

Ecological degradation of the benthic littoral zone is an emerging, urgent problem at Lake Baikal (East Siberia), the most species-rich lake on Earth. Within the last five years, multiple changes have occurred in the nearshore benthos where most of the lake\u27s endemic species reside. These changes include proliferation of benthic algae, deaths of snails and endemic sponges, large coastal wash-ups of dead benthic algae and macrophytes, blooms of toxin-producing benthic cyanobacteria, and inputs of industrial contaminants into parts of the lake. Some changes, such as massive coastal accumulations of benthic algae, are currently shared with the Laurentian Great Lakes (LGLs); however, the drivers of these changes differ between Lake Baikal and the LGLs. Coastal eutrophication from inputs of untreated sewage is causing problems at multiple sites in Lake Baikal, whereas in the LGLs, invasive dreissenid mussels redirect pelagic nutrients to the littoral substrate. At other locations in Lake Baikal, ecological degradation may have different causes including water level fluctuations and the input of toxic industrial contaminants. Importantly, the recent deterioration of the benthic littoral zone in both Lake Baikal and the LGLs has occurred while little change has occurred offshore. This highlights the necessity of monitoring both the littoral and pelagic zones of large lakes for assessing ecosystem health, change and conservation

ВЛИЯНИЕ СТРУКТУРЫ ЛИГАТУРЫ AlSi20 НА МИКРОСТРУКТУРУ И ВЯЗКОСТЬ МОДЕЛЬНОГО СИЛУМИНА Al–6%Si В ТВЕРДОМ И ЖИДКОМ СОСТОЯНИЯХ

The effect of the structure of initial charging Al–20wt.%Si alloys on their structure after single remelting and crystallization at equal cooling rate of 20 °C/sec has been investigated. It is found that the structural information from initial charging alloys is steadily saved and transmitted in the «solid–liquid-solid» system. Viscosimetric study of the melts produced from large- and fine-crystalline charging alloys at heating to 1350 °С and subsequent cool-down has confirmed the conclusion that the melts are translators of the structural information. It is found that the temperature of viscosity polyterm branching (hysteresis) (th) at the conditions of heating and cool-down for the melt from coarse-crystalline charging alloy is 1100 °C and that from fine-crystalline charging alloy is 1000 °C. It is noted that in the second case and at cool-down lower than th the viscosity is characterized by elevated values and the polyterm branch has steeper climb. The obtained results testify in favor of using special procedures of charging metal processing for the purpose of embedding the positive structural information into them. Application of this approach is mostly expedient in producing aluminum based foundry alloys.Исследовано влияние структуры исходных шихтовых сплавов Al–20мас.%Si на их структуру после однократного переплава и кристаллизации с одинаковой скоростью охлаждения 20 °С/с. Установлено, что структурная информация от исходных шихтовых сплавов устойчиво сохраняется и транслируется в системе «твердое–жидкое–твердое». Вискозиметрическое изучение расплавов, полученных из крупно- и мелкокристаллических шихтовых сплавов в режиме нагрева до 1350 °С и последующего охлаждения, подтвердило вывод о том, то расплавы являются трансляторами структурной информации. Установлено, что температура ветвления (гистерезис) политерм вязкости (tг) в режимах нагрева и охлаждения для расплава из крупнокристаллического шихтового сплава составляет 1100 °С, а из мелкокристаллического шихтового сплава – 1000 °С. Отмечено, что во втором случае вязкость в режиме охлаждения ниже tг характеризуется повышенными значениями, а ветвь политермы имеет более крутое восхождение. Полученные результаты свидетельствуют в пользу использования специальных способов обработки шихтовых металлов с целью закладки в них положительной структурной информации. Применение данного подхода наиболее целесообразно при получении лигатур на основе алюминия.

A FRW Dark Fluid with a Non-Linear Inhomogeneous Equation of State

A dark Friedman-Robertson-Walker fluid governed by a non-linear inhomogeneous equation of state is considered which can be viewed as a conveniently simple paradigm for a whole class of models which exhibit phase transitions from a non-phantom towards a phantom era (superacceleration transition). From another side, such dark fluid models may describe also quintessence-like cosmic acceleration. Thermodynamical considerations for the processes involved, which are of great importance in the characterization of the global evolution of the corresponding universe, are given too. Connecting the proposed equation of state with an anisotropic Kasner universe with viscosity, we are led to the plausible conjecture of a dark fluid origin of the anisotropies in the early universe.Comment: 11 pages pdf, 2 figures; to appear in Eur. Phys. J.

Effect of Heating Temperature and Modification of Al-27% Cu-6% Si Melt on the Structure and Phase Composition of Crystallized Specimens

The effect of liquid-phase treatment of Al - 27 wt.% Cu - 6 wt.% Si melt used for making A34 solder on the structure and phase composition of crystallized specimens is studied. Pioneer data are obtained on the changes in the microstructure of the alloy due to its direct heating on the specimen stage of an NTEGRA Therma scanning probe microscope at 150 and 300A degrees C

Effect of Heating Temperature and Modification of Al-27% Cu-6% Si Melt on the Structure and Phase Composition of Crystallized Specimens

The effect of liquid-phase treatment of Al - 27 wt.% Cu - 6 wt.% Si melt used for making A34 solder on the structure and phase composition of crystallized specimens is studied. Pioneer data are obtained on the changes in the microstructure of the alloy due to its direct heating on the specimen stage of an NTEGRA Therma scanning probe microscope at 150 and 300A degrees C