Dynamic and Static Exercises Differentially Affect Plasma Cytokine Content in Elite Endurance- and Strength-Trained Athletes and Untrained Volunteers

Extensive exercise increases the plasma content of IL-6, IL-8, IL-15, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and several other cytokines via their augmented transcription in skeletal muscle cells. However, the relative impact of aerobic and resistant training interventions on cytokine production remains poorly defined. In this study, we compared effects of dynamic and static load on cytokine plasma content in elite strength- and endurance-trained athletes vs. healthy untrained volunteers. The plasma cytokine content was measured before, immediately after, and 30 min post-exercise using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pedaling on a bicycle ergometer increased IL-6 and IL-8 content in the plasma of trained athletes by about 4- and 2-fold, respectively. In contrast to dynamic load, weightlifting had negligible impact on these parameters in strength exercise-trained athletes. Unlike IL-6 and IL-8, dynamic exercise had no impact on IL-15 and LIF, whereas static load increases the content of these cytokines by ~50%. Two-fold increment of IL-8 content seen in athletes subjected to dynamic exercise was absent in untrained individuals, whereas the ~50% increase in IL-15 triggered by static load in the plasma of weightlifting athletes was not registered in the control group. Thus, our results show the distinct impact of static and dynamic exercises on cytokine content in the plasma of trained athletes. They also demonstrate that both types of exercises differentially affect cytokine content in plasma of athletes and untrained persons

Changes in the plasma levels of myokines after different physical exercises in athletes and untrained individuals

The influence of dynamic and static load on the plasma level of myokines in strength-and endurance-trained athletes and untrained subjects has been studied. The range of myokines has been found to depend on the type of loads and the level of fitness. Dynamic and static exercises have different effects on the level of myokines in athletes and untrained subjects. The dynamic load increases the level of IL-6 and IL-8 in the plasma of athletes, while the static load increases the concentration of IL-15 and LIF. At the same time, no increase in the level of IL-8 after cyclic loading or in IL-15 after a static load has been observed in the control group. These differences may be based on a number of mechanisms. The cellular composition of skeletal muscles and the phenotypic features of muscle fibers, changing as a result of regular exercise, can modify the processes of myokine production. However, the processes of transcription in muscle fibers are much more important; the most important ones are HIF-1α, [Ca2+]i and [Na+]i/[K+]i-dependent intracellular signaling pathways. The modification of these mechanisms caused by different physical loads and intensity is of great interest since it is a promising way to influence the metabolic processes at the cellular and systemic levels, which is very helpful in both improving athletic performance and correcting metabolic disorders in a number of socially significant diseases

B Cell Depletion Therapy as a Cutting-Edge Treatment of Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System

Demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system and multiple sclerosis in particular are a pressing issue for medical community and society as a whole. Deve- lopment and implementation of highly effective specific therapy significantly slow the disease progression and help maintain patients' quality of life and social participation. We analyzed pathogenic mechanisms of multiple sclerosis and other B cell-mediated diseases and reviewed therapeutic options for main disease stages

Analysing Dynamical Behavior of Cellular Networks via Stochastic Bifurcations

The dynamical structure of genetic networks determines the occurrence of various biological mechanisms, such as cellular differentiation. However, the question of how cellular diversity evolves in relation to the inherent stochasticity and intercellular communication remains still to be understood. Here, we define a concept of stochastic bifurcations suitable to investigate the dynamical structure of genetic networks, and show that under stochastic influence, the expression of given proteins of interest is defined via the probability distribution of the phase variable, representing one of the genes constituting the system. Moreover, we show that under changing stochastic conditions, the probabilities of expressing certain concentration values are different, leading to different functionality of the cells, and thus to differentiation of the cells in the various types

Treat-to-target in systemic lupus erythematosus: recommendations from an international task force.

The principle of treating-to-target has been successfully applied to many diseases outside rheumatology and more recently to rheumatoid arthritis. Identifying appropriate therapeutic targets and pursuing these systematically has led to improved care for patients with these diseases and useful guidance for healthcare providers and administrators. Thus, an initiative to evaluate possible therapeutic targets and develop treat-to-target guidance was believed to be highly appropriate in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients as well. Specialists in rheumatology, nephrology, dermatology, internal medicine and clinical immunology, and a patient representative, contributed to this initiative. The majority convened on three occasions in 2012-2013. Twelve topics of critical importance were identified and a systematic literature review was performed. The results were condensed and reformulated as recommendations, discussed, modified and voted upon. The finalised bullet points were analysed for degree of agreement among the task force. The Oxford Centre level of evidence (LoE, corresponding to the research questions) and grade of recommendation (GoR) were determined for each recommendation. The 12 systematic literature searches and their summaries led to 11 recommendations. Prominent features of these recommendations are targeting remission, preventing damage and improving quality of life. LoE and GoR of the recommendations were variable but agreement was >0.9 in each case. An extensive research agenda was identified, and four overarching principles were also agreed upon. Treat-to-target-in-SLE (T2T/SLE) recommendations were developed by a large task force of multispecialty experts and a patient representative. It is anticipated that 'treating-to-target' can and will be applicable to the care of patients with SLE

Recovery of dialysis patients with COVID-19 : health outcomes 3 months after diagnosis in ERACODA

Background. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related short-term mortality is high in dialysis patients, but longer-term outcomes are largely unknown. We therefore assessed patient recovery in a large cohort of dialysis patients 3 months after their COVID-19 diagnosis. Methods. We analyzed data on dialysis patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from 1 February 2020 to 31 March 2021 from the European Renal Association COVID-19 Database (ERACODA). The outcomes studied were patient survival, residence and functional and mental health status (estimated by their treating physician) 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis. Complete follow-up data were available for 854 surviving patients. Patient characteristics associated with recovery were analyzed using logistic regression. Results. In 2449 hemodialysis patients (mean ± SD age 67.5 ± 14.4 years, 62% male), survival probabilities at 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis were 90% for nonhospitalized patients (n = 1087), 73% for patients admitted to the hospital but not to an intensive care unit (ICU) (n = 1165) and 40% for those admitted to an ICU (n = 197). Patient survival hardly decreased between 28 days and 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis. At 3 months, 87% functioned at their pre-existent functional and 94% at their pre-existent mental level. Only few of the surviving patients were still admitted to the hospital (0.8-6.3%) or a nursing home (∼5%). A higher age and frailty score at presentation and ICU admission were associated with worse functional outcome. Conclusions. Mortality between 28 days and 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis was low and the majority of patients who survived COVID-19 recovered to their pre-existent functional and mental health level at 3 months after diagnosis

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

The image of the crisis situation as viewed by Belarusian students

Introduction. A crisis situation is a broad notion that includes a crisis event that caused life difficulties, the crisis state experienced, the person himself as the subject of the situation and other participants in it, as well as other internal and external circumstances. Stress resistance and human behavior in a crisis situation are largely determined by the way a person evaluates what is happening. The selection of significant events from the context of the situation largely depends on the person's perception of what is happening. The aim of the research is to study the image of a crisis situation and its consequences on the basis of students' perceptions. Materials and methods. The research involved 1st-4th year students studying in the educational institution “F. Skorina Gomel State University”. The sample of research was composed of 369 students (181 boys and 188 girls) aged from 16 to 24. The average age of the respondents was 18.6. As a psychodiagnostic toolkit was used the original method “Image of a crisis situation” (N.G. Novak). Results of the research and their discussion. The analysis of respondents' perceptions revealed the image of a crisis event, the image of a crisis condition, as well as perceptions of possible consequences of experiencing a crisis event. Conclusions: modern Belarusian students reflect a crisis event as sudden, destructive, undesirable, unusual, unexpected, abrupt, threatening, useless, excessive, takes away strength, a person feels a sense of internal tension, a sense of internal instability, confusion, lack of control over the situation, depletion of adaptive resources, understands that something needs to be done, that something needs to be done (it will not resolve itself), but does not know exactly how to behave, feels the need for support, and asks for help himself, ready to support and help others; key signs of a crisis state: timid, angry, sad, tired, excited, sensitive, gloomy, upset, annoyed, agitated, emotionally unstable, a sense of injustice, senselessness, misunderstanding of what is happening, anxiety, confusion, hatred, quiet, silent, honest, noble, dependent, lost, intelligent, passive; positive and negative poles are defined, reflecting the likely consequences of the process of experiencing a crisis event

Влияние уровня двигательной активности на пространственное распределение альфа-ритма электроэнцефалограммы

Интенсивность и характер двигательной активности оказывают влияние на закономерности формирования паттернов альфа-активности коры полушарий головного мозга. Выявлены отличия в функциональной межполушарной асимметрии головного мозга у лиц с низким уровнем двигательной активности. Показаны изменения функциональной подвижности в группах со средним и высоким (с преобладанием нагрузок динамического характера) уровнями двигательной активности

Влияние уровня двигательной активности на пространственное распределение альфа-ритма электроэнцефалограммы

Интенсивность и характер двигательной активности оказывают влияние на закономерности формирования паттернов альфа-активности коры полушарий головного мозга. Выявлены отличия в функциональной межполушарной асимметрии головного мозга у лиц с низким уровнем двигательной активности. Показаны изменения функциональной подвижности в группах со средним и высоким (с преобладанием нагрузок динамического характера) уровнями двигательной активности