Complex Monitoring of Biochemical and Radionuclide Parameters in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma during Immunotherapy

Study Objective. To study the effectiveness of complex monitoring of the kidney function, based on biochemical and radionuclide methods in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Materials and Methods. 41 mRCC patients after nephrectomy received nivolumab (n = 23) and interferon-α (n = 18) from 2015 to 2017. At baseline and 2 months after, all patients underwent blood chemistry, urinalysis, Rehberg test, and ELISA to determine serum levels of IL-17A, TGF-β, and erythropoietin. The monitoring of the renal function and urodynamics by complex renal scintigraphy (CRS) was used for all patients using a dual-detector gamma camera and simultaneous data recording in 2 projections. The interpretation of CRS data used the original SENS CRS technology. Study Results. Statistically significant correlations were established between IL-17A, TGF-β, and D (excretion rate of 99mTc-technephore from the parenchyma) and Rnfsc (a stable sign of nephrosclerosis), respectively. A significant correlation was established between the parameters of the complex functional monitoring with the prognosis for the risk of renal failure (RF) and efficacy of immunotherapy in mRCC. Conclusions. All mRCC patients after nephrectomy were recommended to undergo biochemical monitoring with inclusion of TGF-β and IL-17A, as well as radionuclide monitoring (CRS) to determine the RF risk at an early stage

ON-LINE PLATFORM FOR COMPETENCES DEVELOPMENT IN CORPORATE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS

The aim of the study is to present the model of interaction of university and business corporations in uniform information and educational space, which consists of the uniform requirements to the contents and quality of education and requirements of science; education and business are equally satisfied.Methods. The methods involve summing up the results of the national and international researchers’ findings on the problem of vocational pedagogical education; methods of expert survey and system analysis.Results. The information research results disclosing the drawbacks of the existing online-education technologies are presented. There is also a presentation of online-platform concept «The University of the 3rd Millennium» where modern university is considered as a service provider responsible for corporate education. Outsourcing will allow the companies to cut their expenses on employee education programs, while universities will accumulate additional resources by means of developing and selling innovative educational products. The additional funds will enable the university to carry out scientific research, to effectively implement post graduates’ employment programs, to introduce innovations.Scientific novelty. The authors define «as is» competences, which the university must have to launch this online-platform project, and «as to be» competences, which every university is to master to successfully implement the project. Internal high-risk systemic tensions and external challenges facing the platform are defined; strategic matrix of their intersection is developed. The latter allowed the authors to specify essential tasks which demand solution within the project. There is also a description of interconnection of the defined tasks with the «as to be» competences, and a Canvas model of the suggested online platform.Practical significance: The authors of the article propose the model of business and education interaction, within which state institutions and local authorities, enterprises and companies with different patterns of ownership will pass corporate education to a modern university, effectively fulfilling the functions of a research, educational and consultative center in many fields.The research results proving readiness of the heads of the companies and organizations (Moscow, St.-Petersburg, Lipetsk, Chelyabinsk, Kostroma) to outsource their corporate education to universities prove that the offered solution is more appropriate than the existing alternatives (systems of additional education in universities, MOOC, corporate universities)

Prevalence of geriatric syndromes in persons over 65 years: the first results of the EVCALIPT study

Aim. To study the prevalence of geriatric syndromes and assess their relationship with senile asthenia in persons aged ³65 years living in Russian regions with different demographic, climatic and socio-economic characteristics.Material and methods. We examined 664 patients aged 65-107 years (mean age, 79±9 years; men, 25%) living in Moscow (n=365) and Voronezh (n=299). All patients underwent a comprehensive geriatric examination, which consisted of two stages: a survey with original questionnaire and an objective examination.Results. The prevalence of senile asthenia was 66,4%, including 47,4% in people aged 65-74, 71,1% — 75-84 years, and 82,8% — ³85 years (p for trend <0,001). Senile asthenia was associated with age (odds ratio (OR), 2,36; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1,89-2,93; p<0,001) and female sex (OR, 1,52; 95% CI 1,06-2,18; p=0,024). Patients with senile asthenia had a lower socioeconomic status. Also, close associations of senile asthenia with other geriatric syndromes (dementia, depression, vision and hearing impairment, incontinence, falls, high risk of falls, functional decline, failure to thrive) with OR from 1,32 to 7,22 were revealed.Conclusion. The first results of the EVCALIPT study indicate a high incidence of senile asthenia in persons aged ³65 years and its close association with other geriatric syndromes and socio-economic factors