bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of teaching strategies and innovation to comply with the training competencies in an ophthalmology residency program during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic
Authors: Gonzalez-Garcia Angel Eduardo , Macias-Rodriguez Yolanda , Ruiz-Lozano Raul E. , Rodriguez-Garcia Alejandro
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

The coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic put medical residency programs in a predicament, impacting clinical attention and surgical practice. This study aims to describe the adjustments applied in an ophthalmology residency program to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Materials and Methods:

An observational, comparative, and descriptive study was performed in an ophthalmology residency program to analyze the adaptations and innovations implemented to overcome the medical attention and training restrictions enforced by the sanitary authorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020. The residents' record folders were analyzed yearly for academic, research, clinical, and surgical activities from 2018 to 2020. An online survey was applied to residents for congress attendance, research publications, time spent on classes, lectures, clinical cases, journal club, and surgical videos sessions during the pandemic.

Results:

Compared to years 2018 and 2019, during 2020, there was a significant increase in the hours destined per week to academic activities (6.04 vs. 16.42 h, P < 0.001); the monthly hours of journal club sessions (0.5 vs. 3.41 h, P < 0.001); and the number of published articles involving residents (0.4 vs. 2.52, P < 0.001). On the contrary, the hours of outpatient consultation (8 h/day vs. 4 h/day) and the number of cataract surgeries performed per resident decreased (48 vs. 15, P < 0.001) from 2019 to 2020.

Conclusions:

Prompt reaction and innovation were required to overcome the educational and training barriers imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While remote academic activities increased significantly, online patient consultation and surgical simulation were necessary to avoid hindering patient's attention and surgical training.
Screening of bio-derived surfactants for soil washing of PAHs: effects of substrate sources and trace metals distribution
Authors: Offiong Nnanake-Abasi O. , Udo Godwin J. , Inam Edu J. , Ekanem Akanimo N. , Awaka-ama Joachim J. , Uwanta Emaime J. , Dong Jun
Published: April 2022

In this study, we screened the performance of aqueous extracts of Talinum triangulare (AET) and soap solution prepared from Hura crepitans seed oil saponified by aqueous solution of ashed plantain peels (HCS) for removal of naphthalene and phenanthrene from soil. The distribution of trace metals in the soil before and after soil washing was also investigated. The results revealed maximum removal efficiencies after 25 min washing time of 96.25, 96.14, and 25.70% naphthalene, for Tween 80, AET and HCS, respectively. While for phenanthrene, the recorded maximum removal efficiencies after 25 min washing time were: 91.80, 26.00, and 94.0 for Tween 80, AET and HCS, respectively. Based on results from other experiments, AET generally showed slightly lower removal efficiencies compared to the commercial Tween 80 surfactant. Also, the results revealed that the three remediants affected the distribution of trace metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) in the soil after surfactant washing. Based on the amount of trace metals extracted, the performance of the three remediants are as follows: AET > Tween 80 > HCS. The performance of AET has been attributed to the presence of multiple heteroatomic moieties for trace metals adsorption and moderation of the acidic conditions of the soil.
IMMUNOLOGICAL PHENOTYPE AND HORMONAL BALANCE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN
Authors: Glushkov A. N. , Polenok E. G. , Mun S. A. , Gordeeva L. A. , Kostyanko M. V. , Lutsenko V. A. , Kolpinskiy G. I. , Brezhneva E. V. , Vafin I. A.
Published: April 2022

Serum concentrations of estradiol (Es) and progesterone (Pg), Es, Pg and benzo[a]pyrene-specific IgA and IgG antibodies were studied in 227 postmenopausal healthy women (HW) and 639 breast cancer patients (BCP). The high individual Pg/Es ratio ( 5.0) was revealed in HW (54.6%) and BCP (26.4%, p 0.0001, OR = 0.3) marked as “hormonal balance”. The low Pg/Es (≤ 5.0) ratio was detected more frequently in BCP (OR = 3.3) marked as “hormonal imbalance”. The high Pg/Es ratio was more common in HW with protective immunological phenotype (IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg ≤ 1 and IgA-Es/IgA-Pg ≤ 1) than with procarcinogenic immunological phenotype (IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg 1 and IgA-IgA-Es/IgA-Pg 1): 78.8 vs 47.4%, p = 0.005. The same parameters for IgG-immunological phenotypes in HW were 73.3 and 48.6%, p = 0.002. The differences between IgA-immunological phenotypes were lowered (41.6 vs 24.4%, p 0.007), whereas between IgG-phenotypes it was absent in BCP. Thus, for the first time it was revealed the influence of immunological phenotypes based on antibodies specific to the environmental chemical carcinogens and endogenous steroid hormones on the hormonal balance in HW and its reduced effects in BCP.
INCREASED SERUM LEVEL OF PEPTIDYL ARGININE DEIMINASE TYPE 4 IN VARIOUS MOLECULAR BIOLOGICAL SUBTYPES OF BREAST CANCER
Authors: Tereshin O. S. , Semenova A. B. , Vazhenin A. V. , Dolgushin I. I. , Nikushkina K. V. , Nikonova T. I.
Published: April 2022

Level of enzyme peptidyl arginine deiminase type 4 (PAD-4) was determined in serum samples collected from 98 females with primary breast cancer within January, 2017 – April, 2018 divided into 5 groups according to immunohistochemistry data: group 1 – luminal A cancer, 2 – luminal B Her-2 negative, 3 – luminal B Her-2 positive, 4 – non-luminal Her-2 positive, 5 – triple negative cancer. Samples were collected prior to the onset of any anti-cancer treatment, and in 41 cases – 15-24 days after performing radical surgery. Control samples were obtained from 20 healthy females. Serum PAD-4 level was measured with Human PAD-4 ELISA Kit (Wuhan Fine Biotech Co., Ltd, China) on automatic analyzer ADALTIS Personal LAB (Adaltis S.r.l., Italy). Statistical analysis was performed by using software IBM SPSS Statistics 19. Mean serum PAD-4 level before treatment was 9.0 ng/ml that did not change after surgery. However, mean PAD-4 level for healthy females was 1.5 ng/ml (0.0-2.0) ng/ml that significantly differed from cancer group (Mann–Whitney U test, U = 38.500, p0.001). in contrast PAD-4 level in various cancer groups was: group 1 – 11.05 ng/ml, group 2 – 11.9 ng/ml, group 3 – 10.8 ng/ml, group 4 – 7.99 ng/ml, group 5 – 9.9 ng/ml. Thus, level of serum PAD-4 was higher in groups with more favorable luminal cancer, but further research is needed to make definitive conclusions.
Glucose uptake by CD4+Т cell subsets in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (haart)
Authors: Korolevskaya L. B. , Saidakova E. V. , Vlasova V. V. , Shmagel K. V.
Published: April 2022

Metabolism of glucose, a universal biosynthetic substrate in CD4+T lymphocytes, is increased in HIV-infection. However, the issue of heterogeneity in glucose consumption by the CD4+T cell subsets remains unresolved. The aim of this work was to assess glucose uptake by resting and cycling naive and memory CD4+T cells in HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. We examined 47 subjects, 26 of whom were infected with HIV and were administered antiretroviral drugs. The following indices were determined: the number of CD4+T lymphocytes, size of naive (CD4+CD45R0-) and memory (CD4+CD45R0+) T cell subsets, frequencies of resting (CD71-) and cycling (CD71+) cell forms in each subset, the glucose fluorescent analog (2-NBDG) uptake by various CD4+T cell subsets. It was shown that, regardless of HIV status, the CD4+T cells are active glucose consumers. Cycling lymphocytes, compared with resting cells, uptake more biosynthetic substrate. We have revealed a trend for increased glucose uptake in HIV-infected patients when compared with healthy individuals. Memory cells, in comparison with naive lymphocytes, consume the substrate more actively, independent on HIV status. At the same time, naive CD4+T lymphocytes of HIV-infected individuals capture more glucose than the corresponding cell subset in non-infected donors. Cycling naive CD4+T lymphocytes of HIV-positive subjects are more active consumers of glucose than the analogues in healthy subjects. No differences were found between HIV-positive and HIV-negative groups for intensity of substrate consumption by the cycling memory CD4+T cells. Thus, in treated HIV-infected patients, CD4+T cells seem to uptake more glucose than similar cell subpopulations in healthy people, which, apparently, is mediated by the activity of resting naive lymphocytes. The data obtained indicate that metabolic characteristics in resting T-cells are instable and may change depending on the substrate availability.
Epiplexus phagocytes of nervous tissue in experimental brain contusion
Authors: Plekhova N. G. , Zinoviev S. V. , Prosekova E. V. , Radkov I. V.
Published: April 2022

Neuroinflammation is known to participate in pathogenesis of intracranial brain injury (TBI), e.g., brain contusion or concussion. In view of high overall prevalence of these conditions, there is a need for nosological verification of the mild- and moderate-severity neuroinflammation. Our research in immune regulation of blood flow in TBI, including a role of Kolmer cells in pathogenesis of neuroinflammation, is now at the stage of collecting research data and requires adequate experimental study. Purpose of our study was as follows: to assess the state of Kolmer cells in vascular plexus of brain ventricles in experimental model of mild traumatic brain contusion (mTBC). mTBC was reproduced in male Wistar rats using a model of a falling load weighing 200 g. Immunohistochemical study was performed in order to assess CD45 receptor expression on the brain cells. During acute period after mTBC, we observed constriction of blood vessels and pericellular edema of the brain tissues. Expression of CD45 cytodifferentiation receptors markers characteristic of the hematopoietic cell pools was found in parenchymal areas of neocortex and on the surface of choroid plexuses in brain ventricles. These data suggest participation of epiplexus and parenchymal macrophages in the pronounced pericellular edema of the brain. On the 8th day of observation, the spasm of the blood vessels persists, along with significantly weaker pericellular edema. In all the brain sections, leukocyte infiltration of tissues was not seen, and there was no expression of CD45 receptors, whereas increased number and size of nucleoli was found in the neurons. The results of our study confirm the role of cerebral vasospasm as a severe complication of neuroinflammation developing after mTBI. Acute inflammation is characterized by a series of vascular changes, manifesting by development of vasospasm, arterial, venous hyperemia and stasis. Venous hyperemia is characterized by further vasodilation, tissue plethora, the phenomenon of the marginal leukocyte stasis and their emigration, along with increased exudation processes. Innervation from subcortical neurons or local cortical interneurons to parenchymal arterioles and cortical microvessels provides minimal contact and predominantly targets the surrounding astrocytes and other cells. During acute period of mTBC, the inflammatory process is confirmed by the presence in parenchyma and on the surface of ependymal Kolmer cells and by expression of CD45 receptors. This finding points to inflammatory reasons for altered tone of pial blood vessels, capillaries of neocortex and ependymal areas, and changed depth of subarachnoid space. Response of astrocytes to the brain trauma could be another factor of neuroinflammation.
Comparative analysis of treatment efficiency in chronic periodontitis using experimental therapies with peptide-containing preparation and polyoxidonium
Authors: Sarkisyan N. G. , Chumakov N. S. , Khlystova K. A. , Drozdova L. I. , Yuffa E. P.
Published: April 2022

In this article, a comparative analysis of two experimental methods for treatment of chronic parodontitis was carried out, using a locally applied composition of silicon glycerohydrogel — peptide, and local injections of “Polyoxidonium” drug. The aim of this study was to compare efficiency of the two experimental methods for treatment of chronic periodontitis. Materials and methods: Using the facilities at the Institute of Immunology and Physiology (Yekaterinburg), a model of chronic inflammation of periodontal tissues was developed in Wistar rats, further treated by two experimental methods, i.e., (1) applying a composition containing organosilicon glycerohydrogel and a synthetic peptide, or (2) injections of “Polyoxidonium” drug directly into the foci of inflammation. Subsequently, a comparative evaluation of their efficiency was performed, including comparisons with control groups. The latters were treated by topical use of organosilicon glycerohydrogel (Group 1), and the local application of “Metrogyl Denta” gel (Group 2). Upon completion of the treatment, clinical and histological data were evaluated and compared. As based on the data obtained, we have found that all these drugs exerted favorable effect on the tissue regeneration, and led to reduced intensity of inflammatory processes. We have revealed also that the organosilicon glycerohydrogel — peptide composition provided a faster effect, due to the special characteristics of its components. The hydrogel, which has transcutaneous activity and plays a role of conductor substance, promotes faster penetration of the peptide into the tissues, thus allowing the peptide substance for more pronounced, complex antimicrobial and regenerative effect upon various pathogenetic components of chronic perirodontitis. If compared with the groups treated by glycerohydrogel silicon and “Polyoxidonium”, the terms of clinical improvement in the glycerohydrogel-peptide group were found to be increased by 57%, and appropriate indexes in the group treated with “Metrogyl Denta” improved by about 15%. The results of histological examination have confirmed normalization of the local tissue structure, as well as decreased inflammatory response observed for all the groups. Of particular interest, regeneration terms in the glycerohydrogel-peptide group were shorter (16 to 20 days) than in other groups (from 20 days), thus suggesting a more pronounced effect of this composition when compared to other treatments. Due to the presence of antimicrobial peptides in formulation of the glycerohydrogel-peptide composition, both pathogenetic and etiological links of the disease are affected, thus being important for development of integral approach to the treatment of chronic periodontitis.
Effect of local immunotherapy on the indexes of mucosal immunity in patients with surgical dental pathology
Authors: Latyushina L. S. , Malysheva L. Yu. , Piotrovich A. V. , Berezhnaya E. S.
Published: April 2022

Currently, inflammatory processes and injuries of maxillofacial region, occupy leading positions in the overall structure of surgical morbidity. Restoration of dentition integrity is based on intraosseous dental implants, being a widespread method of treatment in dentistry. The aim of the present work was to perform a comprehensive analysis of cytokine contents (IL- 1β, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-8, IL-10, TNFα, IFNγ) in maxillary sinus discharges and mixed oral fluid in the patients with surgical dental pathology (chronic odontogenic maxillary sinusitis, complicated by mandibular fracture, as well as during simultaneous dental implantation) and to assess the effect of locally applied immunotherapy on the parameters studied. As a part of the two-stage study, 218 people were comprehensively examined, divided into groups depending on the type of disorder and methods of treatment. The patients with chronic odontogenic sinusitis (J 32.0, n = 44) were treated with topical immunotherapy with Cycloferon (meglumine acridonacetate), patients with a mandibular fracture (S 02.6, n = 70) and with a dental implant (K 08.1, n = 70) received Betaleucine (recombinant IL-1β). At the first stage of the study, examination of all the patients with surgical dental pathology showed immunological predictors of low-efficient acute inflammatory response associated with imbalance of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine system. These predictors were primarily found in the patients with chronic odontogenic sinusitis, i.e., a decrease in IL-1β at high IL-1ra values in the maxillary sinus secretions. In the patients with complicated mandibular fractures, there was a pronounced dynamic decrease in IL-1β with consistently low values of TNFα in mixed saliva. There were distinct dynamic features of IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-1ra levels in oral fluid of the subjects undergoing implantological procedures. The second stage of the study, associated with the local use of Cycloferon and Betaleucine, and analysis of the data revealed different effects of the drugs on the studied parameters, presuming an integral effect of topical immunotherapy, i.e., some leveling of the previously detected imbalance of the cytokine system, due to normalization of their concentrations. Hence, the results obtained may indicate that the patients with surgical dental diseases treated with local immunotherapy had a higher adaptive potential of the local mucosal immunity.
Features of hapten specific sensitization and immune status in different student age groups
Authors: Dolgikh O. V. , Dianova D. G.
Published: April 2022

In recent decades, the frequency and prevalence of allergic diseases among children have increased dramatically. The aim of the current study was to investigate features of hapten specific sensitization and immune status in different student age groups during high-intensity educational process. A number of parameters related to specific sensitization to metals and organic compounds were studied: 67 first grade children and 35 6-7 grade children attending school with a high-intensity educational process simultaneously chronically exposed to exogenous chemical haptens (the observation group No. 1 and observation group No. 2, respectively); in 20 primary school students and 27 6-7 grade students educated in the absence of excessive exposure to negative factors (the comparison group No. 1 and comparison group No. 2, respectively). Measurement of serum IgE immunoglobulins specific to manganese, IgE specific to nickel, formaldehyde as well as IgG specific to benzene, lead, phenol was carried out by using enzymeallergosorbent test; level IL-4 (Th2) was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; level of CD19+ receptor expression on lymphocytes was estimated by flow cytometry. A simple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the data. To test null hypotheses about equality of mean values between two independent groups with a normal distribution, a two-sample Student’s t-test was used. It was found out that the degree of specific sensitization changed with age in students chronically exposed to exogenous haptens. The level of specific sensitization to organic compounds increases markedly in high school students vs. to primary school children (IgG level to phenol elevated by 1.5 times) paralleled with profoundly increased production of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 – by 1.8-fold) as well as activated humoral immunity (percentage of CD19+ lymphocytes increased by 1.3-fold). Probable causative link was found between amount of serum exogenous phenol hapten and increased concentration of phenol-specific IgG (F = 140.81; R2 = 0.53; p 0.001). Hapten-specific sensitization in school students increases progressively with age or duration of hapten exposure.
Association between peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets, insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction in males with abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome
Authors: Sumerkina V. A. , Telesheva L. F. , Golovneva E. S. , Tumanov S. V.
Published: April 2022

The components of the metabolic syndrome are associated with endothelial dysfunction and immune disorders, but the features of cell immunity in abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome remain ambiguous, and no unified concept regarding a mechanism for developing immune disorders has been proposed. Here we examined peripheral blood lymphocyte subset composition in males with abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome as well as their relationship with insulin resistance, visceral adipose tissue dysfunction and endothelial dysfunction. There were enrolled 124 males aged 18-45 years. Patients were divided into 4 groups: 1 group – males without abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome components; 2 group – males with abdominal obesity; 3 group – males with abdominal obesity and one metabolic syndrome component; 4 group – males with metabolic syndrome. The level of serum leptin, adiponectin, TFPI, PAI-I, uric acid, homocysteine, angiotensin II, and endothelin (1-21) was measured followed by calculating HOMA-IR, Tg/HDL, TyG, and VAI. Lymphocyte subset frequency was determined by flow cytometry (Beckman Coulter, USA). Group 2 vs Group 1 patients showed no significant differences in study parameters. In Group 3, count of CD3+CD25+ and CD3+HLA-DR+T lymphocytes was increased, whereas the TyG index was associated with percentage of T helper cells. In Group 4, males were found to have decreased percentage of lymphocytes as well as increased frequency of activated CD3+HLA-DR+ lymphocytes as compared to Group 1. A relationship between serum leptin level percentage of lymphocytes was found. Tg/HDL, TyG and VAI in metabolic syndrome were associated with count of CD3+CD4+ lymphocytes. Arterial hypertension co-found in patients with metabolic syndrome correlated with count of NK cells.
Role of WNT signaling morphogenic proteins (sclerostin and β-catenin) in adipogenesis
Authors: Kulakova A. S. , Snimshchikova I. A. , Plotnikova M. O.
Published: April 2022

Adipogenesis relies on complex and multi-faceted mechanism, as it is influenced by multiple cues, including the components from the WNT signaling pathway. The search for possible markers of developing metabolic diseases associated with obesity accounted for an interest to study the morphogenic proteins sclerostin and β-catenin. The aim of the study was to evaluate activity of the WNT signaling pathway in obese patients by measuring level of serum sclerostin and β-catenin proteins. Materials and Methods. There were enrolled 32 patients with metabolic syndrome featured with progressive forms of obesity (class I-III) lacking diabetes mellitus. Concentration of serum sclerostin and β-catenin was measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were presented as absolute and relative (%) number of patients; arithmetic mean; medians, 1 and 3 quartiles – Ме (Q0.25-Q0.75). In obese patients, serum sclerostin level (260 (230-308.75) pg/ml) was increased by 13.5% compared with healthy individuals (225 (220-230) pg/ml, (p 0.001)); concentration of serum sclerostin tended to increase depending on obesity class, most in parallel with decreased β-catenin level, being in agreement with previous studies that might be considered as a prognostic criterion for assessing course of pathological process in obesity.
Gamma-glutamyl hydrolase gene polymorphisms – another way to predict methotrexate efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Devald I. V. , Khodus E. A. , Khromova E. B. , Myslivtsova K. Yu. , Burmistrova A. L.
Published: April 2022

The current treatment strategy for rheumatoid arthritis has been formulated within the framework of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) concept “Treatment to achieve the goal”. Methotrexate prescribed as soon as possible after verifying rheumatoid arthritis is recognized as a first-line drug that allows to achieve disease remission and prevent destructive changes in the joints. Long-term clinical experience of using methotrexate allowed to conclude that almost 30% patients with rheumatoid arthritis turn out to be resistant to such treatment, enforcing to change the basal anti-inflammatory therapy, shift to using targeted or genetically engineered biological drugs, so that timeframe to prevent disease progression can be irreversibly lost. In the last decade, genetic testing for drug therapy effectiveness has been gaining momentum based on individual features in functioning of enzyme systems which regulate various stages of drug biotransformation. To date, a personalized approach to treatment of rheumatoid arthritis may be implemented after examining more than a dozen of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the folate cycle genes responsible for metabolizing methotrexate as well as its mechanism of action. In our work, we attempted to test a relationship between therapeutic response (efficacy and resistance) to methotrexate and -401CT (rs 3758149) SNP in the GGH (gamma-glutamyl hydrolase) gene, which coordinates the processes of extracellular methotrexate transport. A groups patients consisted of 85 basic anti-inflammatory therapy-naïve patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, who were initially treated with methotrexate at a dose of 10 to 17.5 mg per week, with subsequently assessed therapeutic efficacy 6 months after the treatment onset based on dynamics in DAS28 index that allowed to identify groups of “responders” and “non-responders”. Next, all patients from select groups underwent molecular genetic typing for GGH-401CT SNP by using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our study allowed to find that prevalence of the TT homozygous genotype (OR = 5.09; 95% CI 1.11- 23.3; p = 0.037) dominated in “methotrexate non-responders”, whereas “methotrexate responders” tended to have higher C allele frequency (OR = 0.54; 95% CI 0.27-1.01; p = 0.087), which allowed to identify them by genetic predictors of methotrexate therapeutic response in rheumatoid arthritis.
Non-specific activity of Staphylococcus aureus strains producing and not producing cytokine-like substances assessed by immuno-enzyme analysis
Authors: Fomina L. O. , Zurochka V. A. , Dobrynina M. A. , Gritsenko V. A.
Published: April 2022

A cytokine profile covering cytokine level in various biological fluids isa of great importance un ummunbe-based diagnostics, examinign parameters and stated bof functional asctivity of immune system organs. While using ELISA asw oner of the most common diagnostics tools, it is worth taking into account origin of biological samples. Daily Staphylococcus aureus broth culture supernaturants, positive and negative for cytokine-like substances, were used to determine non-specific activity by using enzyme immunoassay using kits pruchased from the JSC “Vector-Best” (Novosibirsk) as well as kits of LLC “HEMA” (Moscow) to diagnose some infections and hormone levels. We found that in supernatants from some Staphylococcus aureus strain producing cytokine-like substances identical to human, the absence of non-specific cross-activity assessed by ELISA was documednted exсept for the HBsAg test kit, which may indicate high specificity of the other kits studied and indirectly confirm an assumption that staphylococci secrete proteins specifically reacting mainly with antibodies against human cytokines, but can also cross-react with other antigens, but not antibodies.
A role of single nucleotide polymorphism in TNF, NOS3 and MMP9 genes at the risk of developing neonatal pneumonia
Authors: Meremianina E. A. , Svitich O. A. , Alieva A. I. , Sobolev V. V.
Published: April 2022

Neonatal pneumonia is one of the most common causes of infant mortality. Moreover, the diagnosis of this pathology represents a difficult task and requires to seek for additional solutions in clinical and laboratory practice. One of the current and promising ways to diagnose rerlies on search of predictive markers among the innate and adaptive immunity genes involved in disease pathogenesis. We used bioinformatics analysis to select genes playing essential role developing neonatal pneumonia. Next, cord blood samples collected from 234 newborns were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction for nine polymorphic markers in the TNF, IL10, IL17A, IL17F, IL6, NOS3, and MMP9 genes. The results of statistical analysis showed that heterozygous genotypes in the MMP9 and TNF genes were associated with the risk of developing early neonatal pneumonia, and also the protective role of homozygotes AA in the MMP9 gene and GG in the TNF gene. A search for associations with a risk of intrauterine pneumonia revealed an unfavorable role for heterozygous genotypes in the NOS3 and MMP9 genes. Thus, due to difficulties in diagnosis or in case of developing neonatal pneumonia, it may be recommended to add genetic analysis for assessing polymorphic markers in the MMP9 (rs17576), TNF (rs1800629) and NOS3 (rs1549758) genes along with standard test assays.
Features of immune regulation and specific sensitization in children of the Northern Siberia
Authors: Chelakova Yu. A.
Published: April 2022

This paper highlights the features of immune regulation and specific hypersensitivity in children residing in the Northern Siberia being exposed to the extreme climatic and exogenous chemical risk factors. An immunological diagnostic examination of 255 children permanently residing in the region of exogenous hapten exposure was conducted. The control group consisted of 130 children residing on the territory not being exposed to exogenous chemical factors. Level of serum class G, A, M immunoglobulins was assessed by using a Mancini radial immunodiffusion reaction. Amount of total serum IgE, neuron-specific enolase, and VEGF was measured by using the ELISA. Changes in level of IgG specific to phenol and copper as well as IgE specific to nickel and benz(a)pyrene were measured by using enzyme-linked allergosorbent test. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by using membrane-bound immunofluorescence with a panel of labeled specific monoclonal antibodies. High-quality statistical data analysis was performed by using Microsoft® Office Excel 2003 software as well as Statistica 6.0 application software package (StatSoft, USA). Statistical significance was determined by using Student’s t-test. Relation between signs was estimated by using correlation and regression analysis as well as Fisher’s test. Immunological study demonstrated that immunogram parameters were significantly changed in the observation group by containing increased percentage of CD16+ effector cells absolute and relative CD19+ cell count (p ≤ 0.05), relative and absolute count of CD25+ lymphocytes (p ≤ 0.05) as well as CD95+T cells as compared to the reference values and control group (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, level of neuron-specific enolase and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) was increased compared to control group (p ≤ 0.05). It points that regulatory mediators potentially mapped to the glia and vascular intima in children from the observation group were extremely activated. The level of both total (total IgE) and specific sensitization was significantly increased by assessing immunoglobulin G specific to phenol as well as immunoglobulin E specific to nickel and benz(a)pyrene (p 0.05). Parameters of programmed cell death were significantly altered that was paralleled with simultaneous activation of general and specific sensitization highlighting features of the immunological status in children examined distinguished by excessive stress of immune regulatory arms in case of combined exposure to climate-geographic as well as exogenous chemical risk factors.
Examining dynamic changes in the complement system components and immune complexes of various fractions in adolescents with obesity and metabolic syndrome affected by antihypoxants
Authors: Kukina G. N. , Kiryukhina S. V. , Labunsky D. A. , Kolmykov V. A. , Yurasova E. Yu. , Boyarkin E. V.
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we consider a relation between adolescent obesity and dynamic changes in the complement system components and immune complexes of various fractions affected by antihypoxants, because obesity is one of the most common non-communicable diseases worldwide and rises an interest for many researchers. New studies emerge revealing an imbalanced immune system that aggravates upon obesity and affects multiple immune processes, as well as increasing interest in studying obstructive sleep apnea syndrome resulting in tissue hypoxia, thereby increasing a risk of cardiovascular diseases. Our study allowed to detect metabolic syndrome in 89% of obese patients (groups 1 and 2) and 25% of adolescents with normal body weight (control group 2). We analyzed the complement components and circulating immune complexes of various fractions and revealed positive dynamics of the examined parameters due to combination therapy with the anti-oxidant Mexidol and hyperbaric oxygenation, which may indicate that oxygen-dependent neuroimmune mechanisms might be involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome in obesity. Such systemic activation of regulatory mechanisms for maintaining homeostasis is necessary for formation of biologically active thymusderived serum factor ensuring lymphocyte differentiation, i.e. pathogenetic therapy corrects dysregulatory impact of traditional therapy for obesity and optimizes immune responses. During the study we observed that the combination treatment using Mexidol and HBO resulted in better recovery of clinical functions and immune responses, and that such therapy exerted a positive effect on dynamics of patient mental activity. We believe that such therapeutic effects were due to antioxidant and antihypoxic activity of the applied pharmacological drugs. We also found that obese children are featured with metabolic syndrome and predisposed to developing relevant complications. Hence, for early diagnostics of metabolic syndrome it is necessary to study children with normal body weight that will allow to diagnose metabolic changes at earlier stage, because changes in blood biochemical parameters such as triglycerides, very low-density lipoproteins, glycemia levels etc. occur long before initial changes in person appearance might emerge.
IL17A rs2275913 gene polymorphism in Uzbek ethnic group and its linkage with development of allergic rhinitis
Authors: Dustbabaeva N. D. , Irsaliyeva F. Kh. , Nurmatova N. F. , Baybekova V. F. , Aydarova N. P. , Akhmedov Kh. S.
Published: April 2022

Currently, new insights into the general mechanisms of developing allergic diseases suggest that Th17 cells are involved in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis characterized by dominant production of cytokines IL-17A and IL-17F. Objective: to assess IL17A rs2275913 gene polymorphism in the Uzbek ethnic group and its linkage with development of allergic rhinitis. There were examined 83 patients with allergic rhinitis, among which 38 (46%) had intermittent form and 45 (54%) – with persistent disease form. In control group there were included 123 apparently healthy subjects. Genotyping of IL17A rs2275913 polymorphism was carried out by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time) “SNP-EXPRESS”-RV. While analyzing frequency distribution of the G and A alleles within the IL17A gene, it was found that the A allele dominated (38.7% vs 19.5%, respectively, χ2 = 15.9; p 0.05). The G/G genotype in the A/G IL17A gene polymorphism was much less abundant in AR patients compared to apparently healthy patients in control group. It was detected increased frequency of heterozygous G/A allele within the IL17A gene in AR patients vs. control group (56.9% vs 30.2%, respectively, χ2 = 11.9; p 0.05; OR = 3.1). While comparing the A/A genotype of the IL17A gene it was shown that its prevalence was significantly higher in AR patients compared to healthy subjects (14.1% vs 5.9%, respectively, χ2 = 4.6; p 0.05). Our findings demonstrated that the AA genotype in the IL17A rs2275913 gene is associated with developing AR in the Uzbek ethnic group. Such trait may be used as AR predictor, provide valuable information for design and implementation of pathogenetically justified methodological approaches to therapy and prevention of allergic rhinitis.
Assessing prevalence and clinical and allergological characteristics of fungal sensitization in Samara City
Authors: Mazokha K. S. , Manzhos M. V. , Khabibulina L. R. , Aseeva E. V. , Seleznev A. V.
Published: April 2022

Molds Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp., Aspergillus spp., and Penicillium spp. play a major role in populational sensitization. Fungal spores may become a predisposing factor in developing bronchial asthma (BA), allergic rhinitis (AR) and atopic dermatitis (AD). The aim of our study was to investigate prevalence and clinical manifestation of fungal sensitization in the City of Samara. 2016 – 2019 general clinical and allergological examination of 855 patients of different age suspected for respiratory allergy was performed. All patients were tested for measuring serum level of total IgE and IgE specific to most common respiratory and food allergens, including fungal allergens derived from Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp., Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., (RIDA Allergyscreen, R-Biopharm, Germany). 26 patients previously diagnosed positive to native Alternaria extracts and 50 patients with symptoms of exacerbated allergic rhinitis during summer and autumn were tested for serum level of IgE specific to recombinant molecular Alternaria component (rAlt a l, Phadia ImmunoCAP). It was found that 28.4% pediatric and 18.2 % adult patients (р = 0.0322). 25% of patients appeared to be sensitized to fungal allergens. Sensitization to various mold-derived allergens was distributed as follows: Alternaria allergens – in 23% all patients examined, (27% children and 14% adults); Cladosporium – in 11% patients (10% children and 8% adults); Aspergillus – in 5% patients (6% children and 2% adults); Penicillum – in 2% patients (1% children and 3% adults). Moreover, sensitization to Alternaria allergens prevailed in more than 90% patients with fungal sensitization that was more common in young individuals (up to 18% in 7-17-year-old group), but profoundly declined in subjects over 50 years of age (p = 0.00001, χ2 = 61.31). True sensitization to Alternaria (Alt a 1) was detected in more than half (63%) of patients with confirmed sensitization to native Alternaria extracts, whereas 66% and 25% patients with fungal sensitization suffered from allergic rhinitis and asthma, respectively. Sensitization to Alternaria is a risk factor of developing asthma in childhood (OR = 2.415). The data obtained evidence about prevalence of fungal sensitization and associated allergic diseases in the Samara region.
Influence of glycodelin on morphofunctional state of secondary immune organs in experimental model of allogeneic transplantation
Authors: Loginova N. P. , Troynich Ya. N. , Charushina Yu. A. , Zamorina S. A.
Published: April 2022

Glycodelin (PP14, PAEP, alpha-2-microglobulin, dimeric glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 42 to 56 kDa) is a marker of reproductive tissue receptivity. Immunoregulatory potential of glycodelin allows us to consider it among key factors that promote maternal immune tolerance to the developing embryo. In general, glycodelin has prospects for use in biomedicine as a biopharmaceutical to treat post-transplant complications. This work aimed to study the effect of glycodelin on morpho-functional state of the secondary organs of immune response in the course of in vivo experiment during allogeneic transplantation of bone marrow cell suspension to Wistar rats. The experiment was performed in white male Wistar rats aged 2-3 months (body mass, 250 g). The animals were kept at the Perm State National Research University animal clinic under GOST 33216-2014 “Rules for working with laboratory rodents and rabbits”. The animals were sacrificed on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 21st days according to international rules for working with experimental animals. In the control group, animals (n = 6) were injected once with a suspension of camptothecin-treated bone marrow cells; in experimental group, the animals (n = 12) were injected with a bone marrow cells in combination with glycodelin administered 4 times.We used recombinant glycodelin (MyBioSource, Germany), which was administered to the animals at a concentration corresponding to pregnancy state (0.75 μg/mL). Intraperitoneal injection of bone marrow cells simultaneously with glycodelin over the terms of experiment (21 days) showed that allogeneic transplantation caused hyperplasia of spleen and lymph nodes. In the functional zones of organs, proliferation and differentiation of immune cells developed. Injection of glycodelin at the early stages of experiment (3-7 days) caused an increase in proliferative processes in the organs of both T- and B-dependent immunity. Moreover, there were no signs of inflammation and apoptotic cell death in the organs. Since the 14th day of the experiment, eosinophilic infiltration of the organs was evident, being an indirect positive sign of response to the transplanted cells. By the end of study, differentiation processes dominated over proliferation in the organs. Thus, glycodelin stabilizes proliferative processes and promotes emergence of a new cell generation, thus supporting host response to the transplant. Apparently, glycodelin can participate in development of adaptive mechanism in secondary organs of immune system.
Political process in Spain in a pandemic
Authors: Kurakina-Damir A. A.
Published: April 2022

Spain became one of the most affected countries both in terms of the number of cases and deaths from COVID-19, and in terms of the damage caused to the economy, which had not fully recovered from the 2008 crisis. The pandemic crisis is now being tackled by a coalition government comprised of the center-left Spanish Socialist Labor Party (PSOE) and the left-wing Unidas Podemos, with external support from small regional forces. It is opposed by the rightwing bloc of parties, which includes recently shifting to the right Partido Popular (PP), the right-wing Vox and the center-right Ciudadanos, rapidly losing political weight. The key question today is whether the government, which is forced to turn to other parties for help, will be able to fulfill its responsibilities until the elections scheduled for the end of 2023. Last November marked two years since the last elections. The purpose of this article thereto is to determine the main features of the modern political process in Spain and take stock of the government’s actions, analyze expectations of society and predict further development of internal politics of Spain during the pandemic and in the post-pandemic reality. The author used a wide range of methods: the analysis and synthesis of information, the statistical method, as well as the system analysis; the author also relies on research by domestic and foreign Hispanists, opinion polls, government and party documents. The author concludes that the political process in Spain today is subject to negative influence of a strong confrontation between the coalition government and the opposition, and the Spanish society is split on a number of issues.
2021 regional elections in Catalonia: new trends in political participation
Authors: Baranov A. V.
Published: April 2022

In this article, the author identifies new trends in political participation in the elections of deputies to the Parliament of Catalonia (February 2021). Political participation in Catalonia is of interest from the perspective of changes in the identity and party orientations of voters, transformations of the Spanish and Catalan party systems. The analysis of territorial differences in political participation is promising in terms of clarifying their factors and dynamics. System analysis, synchronous comparative analysis, secondary analysis of the results of questionnaires are applied hereinunder. Political participation in the Catalan community is autonomous, it corresponds to the civic type of political culture, due to informatization of society and the pandemic, forms of online involvement in political activity prevail. The community is segmented along linguistic, ethnic and ideological lines, which increases the volatility and pluralization of the party system. New trends in political participation in the elections in Catalonia (2021) have manifested themselves in a significant decrease in voter turnout, preference for online forms of voting and political discussion, which is caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It has been proven that the public opinion of Catalan voters maintains a low level of trust in state institutions, despite improvements in economic situation. The paradox is explained by the long-term orientations and attitudes of political culture. The degree of awareness of electoral orientations (according to the self-esteem of the respondents) is high, the sources of formation of their orientations are, first of all, television and the Internet. The electorate is divided into supporters of state unity and secession, republic and monarchy. Increased support for secessionism is evident among the voters with a high level of income and education, among the inhabitants of the foothill and mountain areas. The Catalan elections in 2021 confirmed a moderate rise in secessionist sentiment. The left trend of changes in political participation in Catalonia is opposite to that of Spain as a whole, the results of regional elections in Madrid and the Basque Country.
Spain and the internationalization of the economy
Authors: Tayar V. M.
Published: April 2022

Since integration of the Spanish economy into the EU (since January 1, 1986), 35 years have already passed. During this period of time political and economic European map has undergone significant changes. Economic sectors were deeply transformed by globalization and regionalization. For Spain, the process of joining European structures mainly meant rebuilding of national economic system in accordance with the necessary criteria and norms, which set the Spanish economy on the path of diversification and modernization. In recent years, Brussels has been focusing on the growing importance of external economic and export component for the EU member–states. It means redistributing production and technological chains within the Eurozone and, furthermore, diversification of the EU trade and industrial external relations, including the demand and needs of third parties, i.e. on the markets outside the European Union. In this regard, for Spain it is of particular importance to build up its export potential, develop export clusters and extend internationalization of business, to reduce the cost of production, and intensify country’s participation in global price chains. At the same time, it is necessary to admit, that the Spanish economy and its external sector are under the pressure of both internal and external factors today. These are: protracted crisis phenomena in the European Union (Brexit, financial and economic difficulties in the Eurozone, price volatility in the energy market, etc.), the worsening conditions for interaction with the United States, trade wars, slowing global economic growth. Finally, the impact of the COVID-19 has been a major social and economic challenge for Spain.
Theoretical foundations of state and law
Authors: Vladlenov Denis
Published: April 2022

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, or stored in a data base or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The content and reliability of the articles are the responsibility of the authors. When using and borrowing materials reference to the publication is required. Collection of scientific articles published is the scientific and practical publication, which contains scientific articles of students, graduate students, Candidates and Doctors of Sciences, research workers and practitioners from Europe and Ukraine. The articles contain the study, reflecting the processes and changes in the structure of modern science.