Laboratory of Senses

It is reported about a series of scientific and research events “Laboratory of Senses” organized in October and December 2016 at the Philological faculty of Samara State Socio-Pedagogical University. The content and purpose of “Laboratory of Senses” are characterized - teaching the analysis of literary text in literary, philological and linguistic methodology aspects with the achievements of various methodologies and scientific schools. Constructive performance of this series of activities carried out by teachers of the University with the bachelors and undergraduates is described

Cerebrovascular diseases epidemiology in the Stavropol region rural residents in the implementation context of the regional program «Fighting mediavascular diseases in the Stavropol region»

Relevance. During the implementation of the program for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in the Stavropol Territory, measures were taken to prevent hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes, train medical personnel in methods of timely detection of cerebrovascular diseases (CVD), recognition (including through training of the general population) and routing patients with acute cerebrovascular accidents; during a pandemic, opening specialized departments. This organizational experiment required an assessment of its impact on the most medically complex group of the population - rural residents. The aim was to study in dynamics the epidemic situation of CVD among the rural population in the Stavropol Territory in comparison with the Russian Federation. Materials and Methods. Information from official statistical observation forms on the incidence of CVD and mortality from them was studied. Results and Discussion. In the period from 2010 to 2022, there was an increase in the incidence of CVD in the rural population from 464.6 to 1045.1 per 100,000 rural population, which is partly due to the aging of the population, and partly due to improved diagnosis of CVD. The overall incidence of CVD increased from 1275.5 to 3416.1, which suggests an improvement in patient survival. The incidence of strokes of all types tended to decrease, which indicates the effectiveness of the impact on the risk factors for their development. The incidence of unspecified strokes decreased significantly, which led to an increase in the primary incidence of cerebral infarctions (which, however, grew more slowly in the Stavropol Territory than in the Russian Federation as a whole; the coefficients of the regression equations were 2.5 and 4.3, respectively). Between 2015 and 2022. the mortality rates (from 208.4 to 161.1) and mortality (from 5.8 to 2.8) from CVD decreased rapidly (relative to mortality from CVD in the Russian Federation). Conclusion. The proposed set of measures for the prevention and treatment of CVD, including preventive measures, a system of social mobilization, FAST-test, patient routing systems with the delivery of eligible persons to vascular centers within an hour, timely response to new risk factors for the development of CVD, was effective and can be recommended for implementation in similar areas with a high proportion of rural population

Perspectives of using Illumina MiSeq for identification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) form one of the most common symbiosis with the majority of land plants. AMF supply the plant with various mineral elements, primarily phosphorus, and improve the water supply. The search for the most effective AMF strains for symbiosis and the creation of microbial preparations on that basis is an important task for modern biology. Owing to the difficulties of cultivation without a host plant and their high genetic polymorphism, identifying AMF is very difficult. The high number of cryptic species often also makes morphological identification unreliable. Recent years have seen growth in the number of AMF biodiversity studies performed by modern NGS-based methods, Illumina MiSeq in particular. Currently, there are still many questions that remain for the identification of AМF. The most important are whether conservative or variable sequences should be used to select a marker for barcoding and whether universal primers or those specific to AMF should be used. In our work, we have successfully used universal primers ITS3 and ITS4 for the sequencing in Illumina MiSeq of the 5.8S rDNA – ITS2 region of the 35S rRNA genes, which contain both a conservative and variable regions. The molecular genetic approach for AMF identification was quite effective and allowed us to reliably identify eight of nine isolates to the species level: five isolates of Rhizophagus irregularis, and one isolate of R. invermaius, Paraglomus laccatum, and Claroideoglomus etunicatum, respectively. For all five R. irregularis isolates high variability in the ITS region and the absence of ecotopic-related molecular characters in the ITS2 region were demonstrated. The NCBI data is still insufficient for accurate AMF identification of Acaulospora sp. isolates from the genus to the species level

ВКЛАД УНИКАЛЬНОЙ НАУЧНОЙ УСТАНОВКИ «АРХАНГЕЛЬСКАЯ СЕЙСМИЧЕСКАЯ СЕТЬ» В ИЗУЧЕНИЕ СЕЙСМИЧНОСТИ РОССИЙСКОЙ АРКТИКИ

The article presents a Large-Scale Research Facilities "Arkhangelsk seismic network". The configuration, technical equipment, methods of processing earthquakes on the platform and the Russian part of the Arctic are presented. The actual results of the Large-Scale Research Facilities "Arkhangelsk Seismic Network" are discussed.В статье представлена уникальная научная установка «Архангельская сейсмическая сеть»: ее конфигурация, техническое оснащение, методики обработки платформенных землетрясений,  землетрясений российской части Арктики и прилегающих территорий, а также основные результаты ее работы

Диагностическая ценность прокальцитонина и С-реактивного белка при врожденных инфекциях у детей с экстремально низкой и очень низкой массой тела при рождении

The high frequency of infectious complications in the early neonatal period of adaptation in infants with extremely low (ELBW) and very low birth weight (VLBW) attracts particular attention. The aim of our study was to evaluate the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in congenital pneumonia and congenital sepsis in newborn infants with extremely low and very low birth weight.Methods. In 160 preterm newborns that were included in our prospective study, 33 had early neonatal sepsis, 42 children had congenital pneumonia, and 85 infants were without neonatal infection. A comprehensive clinical and laboratoryinstrumental examination of the newborn was done, including determining the concentration of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin at the age of 48–72 hours of life. Results. Low sensitivity of CRP at the age of 48–72 hours of life in congenital sepsis and congenital pneumonia was observed. However, under these pathological conditions CRP and PCT are characterized by high specificity. It should also be noted that PCT has a high sensitivity in children with congenital sepsis aged 48–72 hours. Moreover, PCT also has a high specificity (Sp 80,6%), which determines its advantage in the use of sepsis diagnosis in extremely premature infants compared to CRP.Conclusion. Maximum specificity reaches 100%, co-located with the assessment of CRP and PCT, which determines the feasibility of using this combination for verification of congenital infectious conditions such as sepsis and pneumonia in children ELBW and VLBW aged 48–72 hours.Актуальность. Высокая частота инфекционных осложнений в раннем неонатальном периоде у новорожденных с экстремально низкой (ЭНМТ) и очень низкой массой тела (ОНМТ) при рождении обусловливает необходимость ранней диагностики для уменьшения количества осложнений. Цель: оценка чувствительности и специфичности С-реактивного белка (СРБ) и прокальцитонина (ПКТ) при врожденной пневмонии и врожденном сепсисе у новорожденных детей с ЭНМТ и ОНМТ. Пациенты и методы. В проспективное когортное исследование включено 160 новорожденных с ЭНМТ и ОНМТ, из них 33 с врожденным сепсисом, 42 с врожденной пневмонией, 85 с основным диагнозом респираторного дистресс-синдрома. В первые 48–72 ч жизни новорожденным проводилось комплексное клиническое и лабораторно-инструментальное обследование, включающее определение концентрации СРБ и ПКТ.Результаты. Отмечена невысокая чувствительность СРБ в первые 48–72 ч жизни при врожденном сепсисе и врожденной пневмонии. Однако, при данных патологических состояниях и СРБ, и ПКТ характеризуются высокой специфичностью. Следует также отметить, что ПКТ обладает высокой чувствительностью в первые 48–72 ч жизни у детей с врожденным сепсисом. Кроме того, данный показатель имеет также высокую специфичность (80,6%), что определяет преимущество его изолированного использования по сравнению с СРБ при диагностике врожденного сепсиса у глубоконедоношенных детей. Заключение. Максимальная специфичность, достигающая 100%, выявлена при сочетанной оценке СРБ и ПКТ, что определяет целесообразность использования данной комбинации для верификации таких врожденных инфекционных состояний, как сепсис и пневмония, у детей с ЭНМТ и ОНМТ в возрасте 48–72 ч

Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Surface Functionalization Strategies

Surface functionalized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are a kind of novel functional materials, which have been widely used in the biotechnology and catalysis. This review focuses on the recent development and various strategies in preparation, structure, and magnetic properties of naked and surface functionalized iron oxide NPs and their corresponding application briefly. In order to implement the practical application, the particles must have combined properties of high magnetic saturation, stability, biocompatibility, and interactive functions at the surface. Moreover, the surface of iron oxide NPs could be modified by organic materials or inorganic materials, such as polymers, biomolecules, silica, metals, etc. The problems and major challenges, along with the directions for the synthesis and surface functionalization of iron oxide NPs, are considered. Finally, some future trends and prospective in these research areas are also discussed

Co-Expression of α9β1 Integrin and VEGF-D Confers Lymphatic Metastatic Ability to a Human Breast Cancer Cell Line MDA-MB-468LN

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Lymphatic metastasis is a common occurrence in human breast cancer, mechanisms remaining poorly understood. MDA-MB-468LN (468LN), a variant of the MDA-MB-468GFP (468GFP) human breast cancer cell line, produces extensive lymphatic metastasis in nude mice. 468LN cells differentially express α9β1 integrin, a receptor for lymphangiogenic factors VEGF-C/-D. We explored whether (1) differential production of VEGF-C/-D by 468LN cells provides an autocrine stimulus for cellular motility by interacting with α9β1 and a paracrine stimulus for lymphangiogenesis in vitro as measured with capillary-like tube formation by human lymphatic endothelial cells (HMVEC-dLy); (2) differential expression of α9 also promotes cellular motility/invasiveness by interacting with macrophage derived factors; (3) stable knock-down of VEGF-D or α9 in 468LN cells abrogates lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis in vivo in nude mice. RESULTS: A comparison of expression of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 (a VEGF-C/-D inducer), VEGF-C/-D and their receptors revealed little COX-2 expression by either cells. However, 468LN cells showed differential VEGF-D and α9β1 expression, VEGF-D secretion, proliferative, migratory/invasive capacities, latter functions being stimulated further with VEGF-D. The requirement of α9β1 for native and VEGF-D-stimulated proliferation, migration and Erk activation was demonstrated by treating with α9β1 blocking antibody or knock-down of α9. An autocrine role of VEGF-D in migration was shown by its impairment by silencing VEGF-D and restoration with VEGF-D. 468LN cells and their soluble products stimulated tube formation, migration/invasiveness of HMVEC-dLy cell in a VEGF-D dependent manner as indicated by the loss of stimulation by silencing VEGF-D in 468LN cells. Furthermore, 468LN cells showed α9-dependent stimulation of migration/invasiveness by macrophage products. Finally, capacity for intra-tumoral lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis in nude mice was completely abrogated by stable knock-down of either VEGF-D or α9 in 468LN cells. CONCLUSION: Differential capacity for VEGF-D production and α9β1 integrin expression by 468LN cells jointly contributed to their lymphatic metastatic phenotype

LIF-Dependent Signaling: New Pieces in the Lego

LIF, a member of the IL6 family of cytokine, displays pleiotropic effects on various cell types and organs. Its critical role in stem cell models (e.g.: murine ES, human mesenchymal cells) and its essential non redundant function during the implantation process of embryos, in eutherian mammals, put this cytokine at the core of many studies aiming to understand its mechanisms of action, which could benefit to medical applications. In addition, its conservation upon evolution raised the challenging question concerning the function of LIF in species in which there is no implantation. We present the recent knowledge about the established and potential functions of LIF in different stem cell models, (embryonic, hematopoietic, mesenchymal, muscle, neural stem cells and iPSC). We will also discuss EVO-DEVO aspects of this multifaceted cytokine