New methods to detect early manifestations of adverse side effects of glucocorticosteroids in children

The article focuses on the early manifestations of adverse side effects in children with nephrotic syndrome receiving glucocorticosteroids. The search for criteria of early side effect manifestations is a real challenge nowadays. The authors developed new diagnostic criteria for early detection of pharmacotherapeutical side effects in children with nephrotic syndrom

Structure and properties of biodegradable PLLA/ZnO composite membrane produced via electrospinning

These days, composite materials based on polymers and inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in optoelectronics and biomedicine. In this work, composite membranes of polylactic acid and ZnO NPs containing 5–40 wt.% of the latter NPs were produced by means of electrospinning. For the first time, polymer material loaded with up to 40 wt.% of ZnO NPs (produced via laser ablation in air and having non-modified surface) was used to prepare fiber-based composite membranes. The morphology, phase composition, mechanical, spectral and antibacterial properties of the membranes were tested by a set of analytical techniques including SEM, XRD, FTIR, UV-vis, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Antibacterial activity of the materials was evaluated following standard procedures (ISO 20743:2013) and using S. aureus and E. coli bacteria. It is shown that incorporation of 5–10 wt.% of NPs led to improved mechanical properties of the composite membranes, while further increase of ZnO content up to 20 wt.% and above resulted in their noticeable deterioration. At the same time, the antibacterial properties of ZnO-rich membranes were more pronounced, which is explained by a larger number of surface-exposed ZnO NPs, in addition to those embedded into the bulk of fiber material

Socio-Cultural Impact of Church Building in Russia (the Case of the Cathedral of Saint Martyr Catherine in Ekaterinburg)

In recent years, Russia has been going through a boom of church building. In 2009, the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) had 29,263 parishes and by 2019 this figure had risen to 38,649. In the last decade, the growth in the number of Orthodox religious organizations and places of worship has by far exceeded that of other assets of social infrastructure. While the number of churches is growing, however, the number of schools, kindergartens and hospitals is steadily falling. Unlike other elements of social infrastructure, church building is funded not from the state budget but is financed by donors, sponsors and by the ROC itself, with some of the funds coming from payments for religious rites (baptism, weddings etc). This article analyzes the historical significance and socio-economic impact of church building by focusing on the case of the Cathedral of Saint Martyr Catherine in Ekaterinburg. The right choice of the construction site for the cathedral-the choice that would be agreeable to the metropolitan bishop, municipal government, businesses and sponsors, local community and opinion leaders-will ensure not only that the project will be duly completed but also underline the fact that local communities are able to establish consensus and recognize each other's interests in local decision-making. One of the possible locations considered for building St.Catherine's Cathedral in Ekaterinburg was a former industrial site in the centre of the city. Eventually, it was chosen as the most suitable place for this large-scale project. Redevelopment of an underused or abandoned industrial site, resulting in the improvement in the quality of urban environment, can be seen as an effective instrument of project realization, contributing to the building's social and economic significance. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Some mechanisms of inflammation development in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Inflammation plays a key role in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), a disease characterized by peripheral insulin resistance and systemic glucolipotoxicity. The main source of inflammation in the early stages of the disease is visceral adipose tissue (VT). Macrophages are innate immune cells that are present in all peripheral tissues, including VT. Violation of the response of VT (MT) macrophages to changes in the microenvironment underlies aberrant inflammation and the development of local and systemic insulin resistance. The inflammatory activation of macrophages is regulated at several levels: stimulation of cell surface receptors, intracellular signaling, transcription, and metabolic levels. Which are activated by the transformation of macrophages along the pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory pathways. Such polarization of macrophages in modern immunology is divided into classical anti-inflammatory M1 polarization and alternative anti-inflammatory M2 polarization of macrophages. The M1 / M2 ratio of macrophages in the process of inflammation ensures the resolution of inflammation at different stages of its development. The review considers the main mechanisms involved in VT inflammation and the development of insulin resistance in T2DM, supported with the participation of immunocompetent cells, M1 / M2, as well as growth factors and humoral immunity factors secreted during this process

Legal Regulation of Crowdfunding in Russia and Foreign Countries

The article discusses the legal regulation of crowdfunding in Russia and some foreign countries. Crowdfunding is analyzed as a category that is an integral part of e-commerce law. The analysis of the formation of this institution in foreign countries, such as the USA, Italy, Belgium. Conclusions have been formulated regarding risks that should be considered before investing in crowdfunding. The prospects of the development of crowdfunding in Russia are also considere

The role of pioglitazone in the fight against insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Modern strategies for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus involve the use of pathogenetically based approaches aimed at achieving optimal glycemic control and its long-term retention. Timely and rational use of 9 classes of hypoglycemic drugs, including as part of combination therapy, makes it possible to achieve significant success in diabetes therapy. One of the fundamental principles in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus is the effect on insulin resistance. For this purpose, two groups of drugs are used: biguanides and thiazolidinediones (glitazones). The action of glitazones is directly related to an increase in the sensitivity of insulin-dependent tissues to insulin and a pronounced decrease in hyperinsulinemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. Of particular interest are the pathways of insulin signal transduction, the mechanisms of insulin resistance, and the possibilities of pathogenetic therapy with thiazolidinediones. Pioglitazone is currently the only available member of the thiazolidinedione class in the world, allowing to expand the management of diabetes mellitus by reducing insulin resistance in muscle and adipose tissue and glucose production by the liver. Its use can have a number of pleiotropic effects, including on cardiovascular diseases and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which expands the priorities for choosing hypoglycemic therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes at various stages of therapy

Electromagnetic dissociation of relativistic 8^8B nuclei in nuclear track emulsion

Experimental data on fragmentation channels in peripheral interactions of $^8$B nuclei in nuclear track emulsions are presented. A detailed analysis made it possible to justify selections of events of the electromagnetic-dissociation process $^8$B $\to^7$Be + \emph{p} and to estimate its cross section. Events of $^{10}$C peripheral dissociation that were observed in the same exposure are described.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, 4 tables, Published in Phys.Atom.Nucl.72:690-701,200