A computerized method for objective measurement of muscle tone

This article is concentrated on the objective computerizing method of measuring of muscle tone using compressive and decompressive deformation of superficial skeletal muscle of wrist in vivo. Four indices were highly recommended for complex analysis of muscle tone

Economic potential and development prospects of small businesses in rural areas

The article examines the role of small business in the development of rural areas by the example of bakery production. Moreover, it demonstrates the need for the interaction of small bakery businesses with large enterprises of the industry and grain processors. The article reveals the development trends of small bakery production in rural areas. The conditions for the participation of small bakery businesses in rural areas in the development of the production of functional and specialized bread are substantiated. The article proposes the directions and mechanisms of support for small bakery production at the level of rural territories. The development of modern methods of redistribution of bakery production in proportion to the living population, measures of state support for small bakery production and expansion of the range of bread products that contribute to improving the health of the population of Russia, is the theme of this study. The object of the research is the development of small bakery production as a condition for improving the quality of life of the population in rural areas. The subject of the research is production and management relations that ensure the development of small bakery production and its impact on the quality of life of the population in rural areas.peer-reviewe

Partial level density of the n-quasiparticle excitations in the nuclei of the 39< A <201 region

Level density and radiative strength functions are obtained from the analysis of two-step cascades intensities following the thermal neutrons capture. The data on level density are approximated by the sum of the partial level densities corresponding to n quasiparticles excitation. The most probable values of the collective enhancement factor of the level density are found together with the thresholds of the next Cooper nucleons pair breaking. These data allow one to calculate the level density of practically any nucleus in given spin window in the framework of model concepts, taking into account all known nuclear excitation types. The presence of an approximation results discrepancy with theoretical statements specifies the necessity of rather essentially developing the level density models. It also indicates the possibilities to obtain the essentially new information on nucleon correlation functions of the excited nucleus from the experiment.Comment: 29 pages, 8 figures, 2 table

Современные подходы к химиотерапии туберкулеза легких

Current approach to chemotherapy of pulmonary tuberculosis.Современные подходы к химиотерапии туберкулеза легких

ROLE OF ANGIOGENIC FACTORS FOR TRANSPLACENTAL TRANSFER OF THE MEASLES ANTIBODIES

Angiogenesis factors (VEGF, Ang-1, TGF-β) influence production, development and functioning of vascular endothelium that are part of the placental barrier structure and are involved into transplacental transfer of different substances. The aim of this study was to study the relationship between VEGF, Ang-1, and TGF-β concentrations, and the levels of transplacental IgG-antibodies to the measles virus in cord blood of children born to mothers with placental insufficiency. Patients and methods: venous blood was taken from 32 women with uncomplicated pregnancies, and 34 samples from pregnant women with placental insufficiency, as well as umbilical blood of their newborns, the level of IgG-antibodies to measles and the concentration of some angiogenic factors (VEGF, Ang-1, TGF-β) examined by ELISA techniques. The following results were obtained: in a cord blood of infants seronegative for the measles virus, born to women with placental insufficiency, showed uniformly low VEGF levels, decreased Ang-1 concentration (1.6) and increased TGF-β concentration (2.7) as compared to seropositive newborns. In a similar group of children from mothers with physiological pregnancy, the level of these factors did not differ from those in newborns with protective antibodies to measles. Conclusion: in physiological pregnancy, transplacental transmission of IgG-antibodies to the measles virus is directly dependent on the presence of specific antibodies in a woman; in case of placental insufficiency, an imbalance in the system of angiogenic factors may promote disturbances of transmission mechanisms for IgG measles-specific antibodies from mother to the fetus

IMPACT OF EXPRESS SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING TO RIFAMPICIN OF M. TUBERCULOSIS ON CHEMOTHERAPY EFFICIENCY IN THOSE SUFFERING FROM MULTIPLE DRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS

Goal of the study: to compare efficiency of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy prescribed basing on drug susceptibility testing results obtained by GeneXpertMTB/RIF with relevant correction as per data of culture on liquid media and basing on drug susceptibility testing through culture on liquid media only. Materials and methods. 185 pulmonary tuberculosis patients in the age from 18 to 60 years were included into the study and divided into three groups: Groups 1 and 2 included those susceptible and resistant to rifampicin respectively which was detected by GeneXpert MTB/RIF. Group 3 was formed retrospectively out of patients suffering from multiple drug resistance in whom no test systems had been used.Results. If chemotherapy regimen was appropriately chosen basing on rifampicin susceptibility data obtained only through GeneXpert MTB/RIF, the time of sputum conversion confidently did not differ for those suffering from multiple drug resistance and those without it.Prescription of chemotherapy regimen basing on GeneXpert MTB/RIF results with consequent correction as per culture results obtained by Bactec MGIT 960 confidently enhances treatment outcomes in multiple drug resistant tuberculosis patients both regarding sputum conversion rate and cavity healing compared to the group where treatment regimen was corrected basing on results of culture on liquid media. Using GeneXpert MTB/RIF significantly reduces the number of chemotherapy regimens corrections or transfers to the other regimen. Under-detection of rifampicin resistance when using GeneXpert MTB/RIF compared to Bactec MGIT 960 was fixed on the level of 1.5% (95% CI 0.42-5.44%)

Comparison of the effects of liraglutide and sibutramine in obese patients

Background: Obesity is a global noncommunicable pandemic. The low effectiveness of treating obesity is associated with the difficulty of maintaining weight loss due to the reaction of the appetite regulation system. Drugs with central mechanisms of action can help overcome this problem.Aim: The aim of our study was to compare the effects of liraglutide and sibutramine (Reduxin) on the dynamics of weight and cardiometabolic parameters in obese patients without cardiovascular diseases.Materials and methods: We estimated the dynamics of the main metabolic parameters (BMI, glucose, lipid metabolism, blood pressure), the level of hormones involved in the regulation of fat metabolism (leptin, adiponectin, insulin), the ­HOMA-IR index, markers of oxidative stress and inflammation during therapy with liraglutide in comparison with reduxin for 6 months in obese patients.Results: 64 obese patients were included in the study: 25 patients — in the “Liraglutide” group, 39 patients — in the “Sibutramine” group in accordance with the declared inclusion / exclusion criteria. The included patients were young, average body mass index (BMI) (37.92 ± 5.45 kg / m2), average glycemic level was 5.47 ± 0.81 mmol /l, HOMA-IR was 6.01 ± 4.25, blood pressure was at inclusion was within the normal range, but 21.8% of patients received antihypertensive therapy.Both treatment options provided a comparable decrease in body weight (-10.28% vs -9.47%, p = 0.13)., Leptin level (-32.12% vs -41.77%, p = 0.77) and myeloperoxidase (-33.33% vs -19.91%, p = 0.2). The blood pressure level did not change significantly on liraglutide, while on reduxin the level of diastolic blood pressure (dBP) increased significantly (6.87%, p = 0.006). There was a more pronounced decrease in insulin levels compared to the baseline level (-46%, p = 0.005), as well as a decrease in the HOMA-IR index (-50.08, p = 0.005) on liraglutide therapy.An increase in adiponectin levels (+ 45.36% vs 14.01%, p = 0.0045) and a decrease in low density lipoprotein(LDL) cholesterol were significantly more pronounced on reduxin therapy (-15.03% vs -9.4%, p = 0.006).36% of the participants completed their participation in the study ahead of schedule due to the lack of effect in the form of weight loss in the «Liraglutide» group. Side effects in the “Liraglutide” group were observed in 16% of patients. 48% of patients took part in the study within 6 months. In the «Sibutramine» group 33.4% of patients completed the study ahead of schedule for reasons unrelated to the drug intake, the side effects were observed in 20.5% of patients. 46.1% of participants in the «Sibutramine» group received therapy for 6 months.Conclusions: This study confirms the previous findings that both liraglutide and reduxin therapy provide effective weight loss. We found a positive trend in markers of inflammation, atherogenesis and oxidative stress, and leptin levels. Liraglutide therapy was accompanied by a more pronounced effect on the state of carbohydrate metabolism, and reduxin therapy provided a more pronounced dynamics of lipid disorders and adiponexin. Both groups were characterized by a rather low adherence to therapy, but the incidence of side effects requiring stopping therapy was higher in the Sibutramine group

The polyacrylic acid/modified chitosan capsules with tunable release of small hydrophobic probe and drug

© 2015 Elsevier B.V. Nanocapsules (≤200. nm) with a protection effect toward small hydrophobic guests (p-nitrophenyl laurate and acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin) and a tunable sustained release behavior have been fabricated through the layer-by-layer deposition of polyacrylic acid and modified chitosan. Cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, was used to increase the affinity of polyelectrolyte to the substrate. The release profile was monitored through original protocol involving a fast cleavage of the substrate released and a spectrophotometric control of the product. The shell permeability of the capsules and hence their protective effect may be tuned through the variation of the number of layers deposited, the sonication, and the adjustment of solution pH. Importantly, the dispersed loads serving as a template for the capsule fabrication may control their properties, including shell permeability