Metabolic syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis: role of adiponectin (preliminary results)

The clinical value of the disorders and diseases integrated within the metabolic syndrome (MS) is in the combination of traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which significantly accelerates the development of cardiovascular events (CVEs). The detection rate for MS in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is shown to be higher than in the controls regardless of the diagnostic criteria for MS. At present, there are confusing data on the role of adipokins in RA. Objective: to determine the rate of MS and its components in RA patients and the association of the level of adipokin (adiponectin) with the components of MS in relation to the duration of RA. Subjects and methods: The investigation enrolled 69 RA patients divided into two groups: 1) 34 patients with early-stage (<2-year) RA and 2) 35 patients with end-stage (>2-year) RA. Results. MS occurred in 12 (17.4%) of the 69 patients with RA. There was central (abdominal) obesity in 37 (53.6%) patients with RA, hypertension in 29 (42%), low high-density cholesterol levels in 20 (29%), hyperglycemia in 11 (15.9%), and hypertriglyceridemia in 10 (14.5%). According to the presence or absence of MS, the patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) 12 patients with MS; 2) 57 without MS. In the patients with RA and MS, the duration of the disease was shorter; DAS28 and CDAI were higher than in those without MS: 15.4 [7; 24] months versus 51.8 [6; 72] months; DAS28 was 5.8 [4.9; 6.7] scores versus 5.1 [4.5; 5.8] scores; CDAI: 34.8 [21.8; 41.4] scores versus 24.2 [18; 31] scores, respectively (p < 0.05 in all cases). The serum level of adiponectin was lower: 13.1 [5.7; 10.7] ng/ml versus 20.6 [6.9; 30.9] ng/ml in the patients with RA and MS as compared to those without MS; but there were no significant differences. In the patients with early-end RA, the rate of MS was twice higher than that in those with end-stage RA; however, the differences were statistically insignificant (p = 0.1). The components of MS were encountered with the same frequency in early- and end-stage RA. The early RA group showed a correlation between SDAI (r = -0.34), body mass index (r = -0.41), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.33), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r =-0.35), and adiponectin. The >2-year RA group displayed no relationship between adipokins, activity markers, and metabolic disturbances. Conclusion. The preliminary results suggest the high rate of MS in patients with a high level of early RA disease activity untreated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, thus determining the high risk of CVEs just at disease onset. The role of adiponectin in the development of MS, CVEs in rheumatic diseases remains to be solved, which is the subject of further investigations. It is possible that normalization of adiponectin concentrations may promote reductions in the incidence of CVD, mortality rates due to atherosclerosis-induced CVEs, and the prevalence of MS and insulin resistance

Work-Related Pull Factors and Mechanisms for Attracting Internal Migrants to the Kaliningrad Region

Introduction. The importance of economic security issues for migration-attractive regions, especially the exclave Kaliningrad region, is growing. Increasing migration gain from Russia’s regions both brings obvious benefits and poses additional challenges. These include those related to the influx of workers whose professional qualifications do not suit the needs of the regional labour market. Thus, the article aims to analyze the compliance of the mechanisms for regulating internal migration with the work-related pull factors to ensure the Kaliningrad region’s economic security. Materials and Methods. The study relies on Kaliningradstat’s regional migration data for 2014–2021 and the interviews with representatives of various sectors of the regional economy, including migrants, conducted by the authors in the summer of 2022. The paper provides systematized and structured results of the content analysis of various sources on the implementation of labour policy and, in particular, the policy of attracting workforce (information and reference portals and websites of international, national and regional institutions, official statistical data by IOM and Rosstat). Results. Drawing on the example of the Kaliningrad region, the study considers several understaffed fields of occupation, including medicine, research and education, ICT, and small and medium-sized enterprises. Based on international and Russian research it analyses work-related mobility factors for each of them. It also classifies the practice of using external and internal migration selection mechanisms. Discussion and Conclusion. Based on the survey of migrants and employers in the Kaliningrad region, the study develops and discusses a list of pull factors and mechanisms for each considered workforce group that can be used to design policies for attracting workforce to the Kaliningrad region. The study results can be used in Russian regions willing to attract in-demand specialists

Changes in calf productivity and resistance as a result of using the lactulose-based feed additive

Objective: the aim of the research is to make a comprehensive assessment of the prebiotic feed additive effect on calves. The experiment was carried out in work conditions on 10 black-and-white Holstein-cross calves at the age of 2 to 32 days. To conduct the experiment, an experimental group and a test group have been formed. Each group has included five milk-fed calves at the age of 2 days and older. All the calves have been given colostrum in their first 2–4 hours after birth and then they have been fed three times a day, at regular intervals. The following methods are used: clinical, microbiological, immunological and statistical. The article describes the prebiotic lactulose-based additive effect on the intestinal microbiocenosis development in one-month old calves and presents an assessment of humoral and cellular components of natural resistance in calves. The research results show a positive effect of the lactulose-based additive on the symbiotic microflora of the gastrointestinal tract that improves the natural resistance of the body and the physiological status of animals, reduces the disease duration and contributes to an increase in weight gain. After feeding the calves with the lactulose-containing preparation during their first month of life, the weight gain of each calf in the experimental group has been 21.8 kg, or + 51 % of the initial weight and in the test group 19.0 kg, or + 41 % of the initial weight. Feeding the additive has an impact on the two components of natural resistance: serum bactericidal activity in the experimental group calves has been higher by 17.8 % and the phagocytosis activity has been higher by 30.5%, compared to the test group calves. Feeding calves with the lactulose-containing additive helps reduce the illness duration, stimulates the increase in live weight and affects the natural resistance level of newborn animals positively

INSCRIPTION PROCESS RESEARCH AND OPTIMIZATION FOR SUPERIMPOSED FIBER BRAGG GRATINGS

Subject of Research. The paper presents the study of inscription process distinctive features for superimposed fiber Bragg gratings. We analyzed spectral characteristics changes of superposition segregated gratings that appear during inscription of subsequent diffraction structures over the first ones. Method. Superimposed fiber Bragg gratings inscription was carried out by means of Talbot interferometer. Excimer laser system Optosystems MOPA CL-7550 was used as a radiation source. It was operating on gas mixture KrF (radiation wavelength is equal to 248 nm). The phase mask with a 1000 nm period was implemented in the inscription scheme for laser beam amplitude separation. Fiber Bragg gratings were inscribed in anisotropic optical fiber with 12 mol.% of GeO2 in optical fiber core. Main Results. Samples of superimposed fiber Bragg gratings were obtained and their spectral characteristics were analyzed. We have studied the regularities of the change in the reflection coefficient and the central wavelength of the first grating of the superposition from the number of diffraction structures inscribed over it, the exposure time during the inscription, and the spectral interval between them. Based on the results obtained, recommendations are given for optimizing the superimposed fiber Bragg gratings inscription process. Practical Relevance. The obtained superimposed fiber Bragg gratings can be used in the manufacture of optical filters, sensors for simultaneous measurement of several parameters, as well as for multiplexing and demultiplexing signals in telecommunications

Biological effectiveness of polyfunctional biopreparations in soft wheat cultivation and assessment of crop quality based on NDVI index

The influence of Bacillus subtilis strains and chitosan complexes on the soft wheat productivity and its infection with disease agents was determined in order to develop new preparative forms of polyfunctional biopreparations. The prospects of using polyfunctional preparations, combined the beneficial properties of microorganism strains as pathogen antagonists and chitosan as plant disease resistance activator has been shown the study. Their effectiveness has been convincingly demonstrated in protecting wheat from root rot, in increasing yields and improving grain quality Plants treated with complex preparation containing bacterial culture liquid (“Vitaplan, CL”) or its concentrate (“Vitaplan, CCL”) and Chitosan II had the best adaptive potential to agro-ecological environmental factors. At the same time, the «Vitaplan, CCL and Chitosan II» complex had the most pronounced protective properties. In the case of “Vitaplan, CL and Chitosan II» treatments, plants had the highest values of wheat potential (biological) yield. It was shown that the vegetative index NDVI, determined by the results of spectrometric analysis, can be used as an integral parameter of the biological effectiveness of polyfunctional biopreparations. The maximum value of NDVI was revealed in the case of “Vitaplan, CL and Chitosan II

Children’s Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome, Associated With a New Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19): Relevant Information and Clinical Observation

Background. New coronaviral infection (COVID-19) in most cases has less severe course in children than in adults. However, there were reports from the number of European countries and from United States (from March 2020) about children with new disease with signs of Kawasaki disease (KD) and toxic shock syndrome (TSS). So it has received one of the names children’s multisystem inflammatory syndrome (CMIS) associated with COVID-19. The aim of the study is to summarize up-to-date information about this disease.Methods. Information search in PubMed database, CDC (USA) and WHO websites, Search for information in PubMed database, on CDC (USA) and WHO websites, analysis of the medical records of observed patient with CMIS.Results. Clinical and laboratoryinstrumental manifestation and outcomes of CMIS in 120 children from Italy, France, Switzerland, England, USA with similar signs were analyzed. Proposed international diagnostic criteria of the disease in comparison with other phenotypically similar diseases (KD, shock syndrome at KD, TSS of Staphylococcal and Streptococcal etiology, macrophage activation syndrome), clinical observation of patient, algorithm of evaluation and management of patients with CMIS are presented

Cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis Associated with Coxsackievirus A2: Findings of a 20-Year Surveillance in the Russian Federation

Surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis syndrome (AFP) in children under 15 is the backbone of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Laboratory examination of stool samples from AFP cases allows the detection of, along with polioviruses, a variety of non-polio enteroviruses (NPEV). The etiological significance of these viruses in the occurrence of AFP cases has been definitively established only for enteroviruses A71 and D68. Enterovirus Coxsackie A2 (CVA2) is most often associated with vesicular pharyngitis and hand, foot and mouth disease. Among 7280 AFP cases registered in Russia over 20 years (2001–2020), CVA2 was isolated only from five cases. However, these included three children aged 3 to 4 years, without overt immune deficiency, immunized with 4–5 doses of poliovirus vaccine in accordance with the National Vaccination Schedule. The disease resulted in persistent residual paralysis. Clinical and laboratory data corresponded to poliomyelitis developing during poliovirus infection. These findings are compatible with CVA2 being the cause of AFP. Molecular analysis of CVA2 from these patients and a number of AFP cases in other countries did not reveal association with a specific phylogenetic group, suggesting that virus genetics is unlikely to explain the pathogenic profile. The overall results highlight the value of AFP surveillance not just for polio control but for studies of uncommon AFP agents

Детский мультисистемный воспалительный синдром, ассоциированный с новой коронавирусной инфекцией (COVID-19): актуальная информация и клиническое наблюдение

Background. New coronaviral infection (COVID-19) in most cases has less severe course in children than in adults. However, there were reports from the number of European countries and from United States (from March 2020) about children with new disease with signs of Kawasaki disease (KD) and toxic shock syndrome (TSS). So it has received one of the names children’s multisystem inflammatory syndrome (CMIS) associated with COVID-19. The aim of the study is to summarize up-to-date information about this disease.Methods. Information search in PubMed database, CDC (USA) and WHO websites, Search for information in PubMed database, on CDC (USA) and WHO websites, analysis of the medical records of observed patient with CMIS.Results. Clinical and laboratoryinstrumental manifestation and outcomes of CMIS in 120 children from Italy, France, Switzerland, England, USA with similar signs were analyzed. Proposed international diagnostic criteria of the disease in comparison with other phenotypically similar diseases (KD, shock syndrome at KD, TSS of Staphylococcal and Streptococcal etiology, macrophage activation syndrome), clinical observation of patient, algorithm of evaluation and management of patients with CMIS are presented.Новая коронавирусная инфекция (COVID-19) в большинстве случаев у детей протекает легче, чем у взрослых. Однако, начиная с марта 2020 г., из ряда европейских стран и США стали поступать сообщения о детях с новым заболеванием, имеющим признаки болезни Кавасаки (БК) и синдрома токсического шока (СТШ), получившим одно из названий — детский мультисистемный воспалительный синдром (ДМВС), ассоциированный с COVID-19.Цель работы. Обобщение актуальной информации о данном заболевании.Материалы и методы. Поиск информации в базе данных PubMed, на сайтах CDC (США) и ВОЗ, анализ истории болезни наблюдавшегося пациента с ДМВС.Результаты. Проанализированы клиническая и лабораторно-инструментальная манифестация и исходы ДМВС у 120 детей из Италии, Франции, Швейцарии, Англии, США, имеющего сходные черты. Приведены предлагаемые международные диагностические критерии заболевания в сопоставлении с критериями фенотипически сходных заболеваний (БК, синдром шока при БК, СТШ стафилококковой и стрептококковой этиологии, синдром активации макрофагов), клиническое наблюдение пациента, алгоритм оценки и ведения больных с ДМВС