bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Correlation Between Homocysteine, Blood Coagulation and the Breast Cancer Risk and Clinicopathological Characters: A Case Control Study
Authors: Liu Zihao , Zhang Na , Zhao Zhihong , Li Fangxuan , Li Shixia , Ding Xin , Liu Juntian
Published: March 2022

Purpose
To investigate the correlation between homocysteine, coagulation function indexes and breast cancer risk and clinicopathological characteristics.
Methods
From January 2018 to December 2018, coagulation function test results and clinicopathological data from 369 female breast cancer patients were collected. 183 women with benign breast disease were selected as the control group. Results: The levels of HCY, Fbg and D-D in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05); PT, AT-Ⅲ, PC, F-VIII, and α2-AP were lower (P < 0.05). Concentrating on different menstruation status, serum levels of AT-Ⅲ, PC and α2-AP in menopausal patients were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05); HCY, Fbg and D-D in postmenopausal patients were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05), while the PT, F-VIII and α2-AP were lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of HCY, Fbg, AT-Ⅲ, PC, α2-AP, FDP, and D-D are higher in T2-T4 breast cancer patients than in Tis-T1 breast cancer patients, PT and ATPP levels are higher in Tis-T1 breast cancer patients; Fbg, AT-Ⅲ, α2-AP levels are increased in breast cancer patients with lymph node metastasis. Among premenopausal breast cancer patients, HCY, Fbg, and D-D levels were increased in patients with T2-T4 stage (P < 0.05); Fbg, AT-Ⅲ, and α2-AP levels were increased in patients with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). In postmenopausal patients, the levels of PT (SEC), AT-Ⅲ, PC, α2-AP, FDP, and D-D in the T2-T4 stage are higher than those in the Tis-T1 stage, and the levels of AT-Ⅲ and α2-AP in the lymph node metastasis increased in the number of patients (P < 0.05). The abnormal rate of HCY and PT in the triple-negative patients was higher than that in the Luminal A + B group and the HER-2 overexpression group. The abnormal rate of Fbg in the HER-2 overexpression patients was higher than that in the Luminal A + B group and the triple-negative group (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
Homocysteine and abnormal blood coagulation are related to the risk of breast cancer, and tumor size, lymph node metastasis and molecular typing in breast cancer patients.
Hematopoietic stem cell-derived fibrocytes as targets and tools for cancer therapy: mechanisms and therapeutic implications
Authors: Zhang Liyi , Qiu Haibo , Zhang Xu , Qi Jiali , Zhang Jiangwen , Tong Yin , Li Lei , Fu Li , Qin Yan-Ru , Guan Xinyuan
Published: March 2022

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) is an ideal target for cancer treatment. Recent studies have focused on eliminating CAFs and their effects by targeting their markers or blocking individual CAF-secreted factors. However, these strategies have been limited by their specificity for targeting CAFs and effectiveness in blocking widespread influence of CAFs. Here, we aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms of CAF generation and optimize CAF-targeted therapeutic strategies.Methods: Using FGFR2 as a tracing marker, we identified a novel origin of CAFs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Furthermore, we successfully isolated CAF precursors from peripheral blood of ESCC patients and explored the mechanisms underlying their expansion, recruitment and differentiation via RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.Results: We found that FGFR2+ hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-derived fibrocytes could be induced by ESCC cells, homing into tumor xenografts, and differentiate into functional CAFs. They could be mobilized by cancer-secreted FGF2 and recruited into tumor sites via the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis. Moreover, they differentiate into CAFs through the activation of YAP-TEAD complex which is trigger by directly contract with tumor cells. FGF2 and CXCR4 neutralizing antibodies could effectively block the mobilization and recruitment process of FGFR2+ CAFs. The YAP-TEAD complex-based mechanism can be used to locally activate the production of genetically encoded therapeutic payloads in tumor sites.Conclusion: We identified a novel CAF origin and systematically studied the process of mobilization, recruitment, and maturation of CAFs in ESCC under the guidance of tumor cells. These findings give rise to new approaches that target CAFs before their incorporation into tumor stroma and use CAF- precursors as cellular vehicles to target cancer cells.
Improving Infinium MethylationEPIC data processing: focus on enhancers and long noncoding RNA genes
Authors: Jeschke Jana , Bizet Martin , Defrance Matthieu , Calonne Emilie , Bontempi Gianluca , Sotiriou Christos , Fuks François
Published: March 2022

BackgroundIllumina Infinium DNA Methylation (5mC) profiling arrays are a popular technology for low-cost, high-throughput, genome-scale measurement of 5mC distribution, especially in cancer and other complex diseases. After the success of its HumanMethylation450 array (450k), Illumina released the MethylationEPIC array (850k) featuring, in addition to the regulatory regions primarily covered by 450k (promoters, gene bodies), increased coverage of enhancers. Despite the widespread use of 850k, analysis of the corresponding data remains suboptimal: it still relies mostly on Illumina’s default annotation, which underestimates enhancers and long noncoding RNAs. ResultsWe have thus developed an approach, based on the ENCODE and LNCipedia databases, which greatly improves upon Illumina’s default annotation of enhancers and long noncoding transcripts. We then compared the re-annotated 850k with both 450k and reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS), another high-throughput 5mC profiling technology. We found 850k to cover at least three times as many enhancers and long noncoding RNAs as either 450k or RRBS. We further investigated the reproducibility of the three technologies, applying various normalisation methods to the 850k data. Most of these methods reduced variability to a level below that of RRBS data. We then used 850k with our new annotation and normalisation to profile 5mC changes in breast cancer biopsies. 850k highlighted aberrant enhancer methylation as the predominant feature, in agreement with previous reports.ConclusionOur study provides an updated processing approach for 850k data, based on refined probe annotation and normalisation and allowing improved analysis of methylation at enhancers and long noncoding RNA genes. Overall, our findings will help to further advance understanding of the DNA methylome in health and disease.
Barriers in Implementation of Circular Economy Approach with the Consumption of Oilfield Produced Water
Authors: Attaran Mohsen , Sarma Sumita , Attaran Sharmin
Published: March 2022

A circular economy approach within wastewater consumption for agriculture has gained relevance in recent years. Extreme climate conditions (e.g., megadrought in California) have resulted in severe water shortages, yet there seems to be a reluctance to accept alternative water sources. Despite the numerous local initiatives towards oilfield water reuse, barriers remain to its implementation in practice. This study identifies the barriers towards widespread adoption of Oilfield Produced Water (OPW) for crop irrigation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five major stakeholder groups of the OPW: oil and gas managers/ business owners, farmers, entrepreneurs, water district managers, and water board personnel. This study used qualitative data analysis to identify factors influencing the beneficial uses and barriers to reusing OPW. The findings highlighted three macro-categories: water shortages, costs of treatment Vs. the expected benefits, and public perceptions vs. scientific studies based on thematic relevance and coherence. The interviews revealed the need for a tighter collaboration among the various stakeholder groups in this ecosystem that involves public-private partnerships and shared governance in managing the environment—addressing these barriers aids the development of a circular economy for wastewater.
Binary classifiers for noisy datasets: a comparative study of existing quantum machine learning frameworks and some new approaches
Authors: Schetakis N. , Aghamalyan D. , Griffin P. , Boguslavsky M.
Published: March 2022

One of the most promising areas of research to obtain practical advantage is Quantum Machine Learning which was born as a result of cross-fertilisation of ideas between Quantum Computing and Classical Machine Learning. In this paper, we apply Quantum Machine Learning (QML) frameworks to improve binary classification models for noisy datasets which are prevalent in financial datasets. The metric we use for assessing the performance of our quantum classifiers is the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC/AUC). By combining such approaches as hybrid-neural networks, parametric circuits, and data re-uploading we create QML inspired architectures and utilise them for the classification of non-convex 2 and 3-dimensional figures. An extensive benchmarking of our new FULL HYBRID classifiers against existing quantum and classical classifier models, reveals that our novel models exhibit better learning characteristics to asymmetrical Gaussian noise in the dataset compared to known quantum classifiers and performs equally well for existing classical classifiers, with a slight improvement over classical results in the region of the high noise.
Primary Malignant Brain Tumor Trends in Southern Iran, 2001- 2017: an alarming increase in glioblastoma
Authors: Ahrari Iman , Soltani Ahmad , Eqbal Meisam , Owji Seyed Hossein , Amin Amir Mousaie , Khosravizadegan Zahra , Rezaianzadeh Abbas , Shahraki Hadi Raeisi
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Primary Brain tumors which include a 1.7 percent of all cancers among which glioblastomas are the most lethal and the most frequent malignant types. Ionizing radiation and some genetic factors have been reported as the etiology of such cancers. We are reporting the trends in the Brain tumors with a focus on malignant types and its outcome in the South of the Iran for the first time.Methods: We selected all the patients with primary brain tumors who undergone brain surgery at teaching hospitals the Shiraz Medical School between 2001 and 2017. Data was obtained from Fars Population-based Cancer Registry. ICD-O-3 morphology coding system according to WHO 2007 classification of CNS tumors was used for grouping the tumors. Using SPSS, Total Growth Rate (TGR) and Incidence Rate (IR) were calculated to assess the changes overtime.Results: A total number of 2130 (male: 890, 41.8% and female: 1240, 58.2%) brain tumor cases from 2001 to 2017 were included in this study. The highest Incidence Rate (IR) was found in ‘unspecified tumors of the brain’ (2.74 per 100000) between 2011 and 2015 followed by ‘Astrocytoma’ (1.34 per 100000) between 2006 and 2010) and ‘Glioblastoma’ (1.25 per 100000) between years 2011 and 2016. Additionally, the Glioblastoma showed the highest IR in those aged between 30 and 59 of years (0.42 per 100000). Conclusion: An upward trend in the rate of malignant brain tumors in the Fars province could be an alarm sign for more studies to be done especially from the etiology point of view.
Automatic Classification of Real-Time Diseased Cotton Leaves and Plants Using a Deep-Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Rai Chitranjan Kumar
Published: March 2022

The automated detection and classification of plant diseases based on images of leaves is a significant milestone in agriculture. In this paper, the concept of deep learning was used to identify and predict cotton plant disease status using real-time images of leaves and plants. The models were trained using a database of 2293 images of cotton leaves and plants. The data included four distinct classes of leaves, plants disease combinations, and their respective categories. Python version 3.6.9 is used to implement the developed model. The model includes a deep learning package such as Keras, TensorFlow, and a Googlecolab cloud-based jupyter notebook as the development environment. For classifying leaves and plant diseases in cotton plants, our model attained an accuracy of 97.98%. The proposed technique outperformed the recent approaches indicated in earlier literature for relevant parameters. As a result, the technique is intended to reduce the time spent identifying cotton leaf disease in significant production regions and human error and time spent determining its severity.
Overweight Effects on Metabolic Rate, Chronic Diseases, Time Perception, Aging, and Lifespan: a Systematic Review
Authors: Oshakbayev Kuat , Bedelbayeva Gulnara , Gazaliyeva Meruyert , Dukenbayeva Bibazhar , Tordai Attila , Sabir Abdul Rakhimi
Published: March 2022

Background: The hypothesis that metabolic rate is inversely correlated with lifespan has long been debating. Another area of controversy is an evidence of a relationship between metabolic rate (MR) and time-flow perception (TFP), and aging. Aim: to study the impact of overweight and food intake on MR, TFP, chronic diseases, aging, lifespan; difficulties in weight loss.Methods. Design: a systematic review. Settings: Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Kopernio, PubMed, Mendeley were searched for articles published from January 1979 until February 2022. The study bases on a viewpoint supported by a systematic literature review of 3612 articles published worldwide.Results: In total, 107 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. From them, 22 articles were excluded with reasons. Overweight and overeating accelerate MR, leading to hyper-metabolic mode of the body. MR and lifespan are inversely correlated. TFP depends on MR; accelerated MR leads to deceleration of TFP. Every person has an individual ability to gain weight up to 'maximum bodyweight', which indicates the individual potential energy to weight gain. Overweight excessively consumes the body ‘vital energy’, is a soil to grow diseases; devours body potential energy. Weightloss creates ‘body power to weight gain’ that increases physical/mental activity, recovering from diseases, or weight regain. The body needs less calorie intake due to the decrease in MR by age. For weight loss should use very-low-calorie diets and manage metabolic intoxication.Conclusions: Our findings support that overweight and overeating increase metabolic rate, which delays time-flow perception, accelerates aging, limits lifespan. For weight loss should manage very-low-calorie diets.
Chronic Stress Disrupts the Homeostasis and Progeny Progression of Oligodendroglial Lineage Cells, Associating Immune Oligodendrocytes With Prefrontal Cortex Hypomyelination
Authors: Tsirka Stella , Kokkosis Alexandros , Madeira Miguel , Mullahy Matthew
Published: March 2022

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a chronic debilitating illness affecting yearly 300 million people worldwide. Oligodendrocyte-lineage cells have emerged as important neuromodulators in synaptic plasticity and crucial components of MDD pathophysiology. Using the repeated social defeat (RSDS) mouse model, we demonstrate that chronic psychosocial stress induces long-lasting losses and transient proliferation of oligodendrocyte-precursor cells (OPCs), aberrant differentiation into oligodendrocytes, and severe hypomyelination in the prefrontal cortex. Exposure to chronic stress results in OPC morphological impairments, excessive oxidative stress, and oligodendroglial apoptosis, implicating integrative-stress responses in depression. Analysis of single-nucleus transcriptomic data from MDD patients revealed oligodendroglial-lineage dysregulation and the presence of immune-oligodendrocytes (Im-OL), a novel population of cells with immune properties and myelination deficits. Im-OL were also identified in mice after RSDS, where oligodendrocyte-lineage cells expressed immune-related markers. Our findings demonstrate cellular and molecular changes in the oligodendroglial lineage in response to chronic stress and associate hypomyelination with Im-OL emergence during depression.
Vagão sustentável: educação ambiental na Escola Municipal Doralice Arruda em Teófilo Otoni - MG
Authors: SANTOS Anna Carolina de Souza , PORTUGAL Ester de Mattos Lorentz , MARQUES Izabel Cristina
Published: March 2022

A educação ambiental busca estabelecer uma relação positiva entre as pessoas e o meio ambiente, dessa forma, ela estimula os alunos a repensarem suas atitudes e proporciona ferramentas necessárias para que haja compreensão acerca da natureza. Nesse sentido, este artigo tem por objetivo realizar a conscientização ecológica antes e após a ação do Projeto Vagão Sustentável em uma escola em Teófilo Otoni-MG. A estratégia utilizada foi por meio de um conjunto de atividades aplicadas de forma dinâmica, criativa e lúdica, além da aplicação de questionários antes e após a intervenção. Com os resultados, foi possível tratar os dados e concluir que a maioria dos alunos tem domínio sobre o tema, e se tratando de saber o que é natureza 91,94% responderam que sabiam, 91,53% responderam que gostavam dela e 80,95% responderam que falavam com os pais sobre a mesma. Nesse sentido, ações como a realizada são de extrema importância, pois buscam validar o processo de educação ambiental.
Statistical mechanics of coupled supercooled liquids in finite dimensions
Authors: Guiselin Benjamin , Berthier Ludovic , Tarjus Gilles
Published: March 2022

We study the statistical mechanics of supercooled liquids when the
system evolves at a temperature TT
with a field \epsilonϵ
linearly coupled to its overlap with a reference configuration of the
same liquid sampled at a temperature T_0T0.
We use mean-field theory to fully characterize the influence of the
reference temperature T_0T0,
and we mainly study the case of a fixed,
low-T_0T0
value in computer simulations. We numerically investigate the extended
phase diagram in the (\epsilon,T)(ϵ,T)
plane of model glass-forming liquids in spatial dimensions
d=2d=2
and d=3d=3,
relying on umbrella sampling and reweighting techniques. For both
2d2d
and 3d3d
cases, a similar phenomenology with nontrivial thermodynamic
fluctuations of the overlap is observed at low temperatures, but a
detailed finite-size analysis reveals qualitatively distinct behaviors.
We establish the existence of a first-order transition line for nonzero
\epsilonϵ
ending in a critical point in the universality class of the random-field
Ising model (RFIM) in d=3d=3.
In d=2d=2
instead, no phase transition is found in large enough systems at least
down to temperatures below the extrapolated calorimetric glass
transition temperature T_gTg.
Our results confirm that glass-forming liquid samples of limited size
display the thermodynamic fluctuations expected for finite systems
undergoing a random first-order transition. They also support the
relevance of the physics of the RFIM for supercooled liquids, which may
then explain the qualitative difference between
2d2d
and 3d3d
glass-formers.
The origin of the period-$2T/7$ quasi-breathing in disk-shaped Gross-Pitaevskii breathers
Authors: Torrents Jordi , Dunjko Vanja , Gonchenko Marina , Astrakharchik Gregory , Olshanii Maxim
Published: March 2022

We address the origins of the quasi-periodic breathing observed in
[Phys. Rev. X vol. 9, 021035 (2019)] in disk-shaped harmonically trapped
two-dimensional Bose condensates, where the quasi-period
T_{\text{quasi-breathing}}\simTquasi-breathing∼~2T/72T/7
and TT
is the period of the harmonic trap. We show that, due to an unexplained
coincidence, the first instance of the collapse of the hydrodynamic
description, at t^{*} = \arctan(\sqrt{2})/(2\pi) T \approx T/7t*=arctan(2)/(2π)T≈T/7,
emerges as a `skillful impostor’ of the quasi-breathing half-period
T_{\text{quasi-breathing}}/2Tquasi-breathing/2.
At the time t^{*}t*,
the velocity field almost vanishes, supporting the requisite
time-reversal invariance. We find that this phenomenon persists for
scale-invariant gases in all spatial dimensions, being exact in one
dimension and, likely, approximate in all others. In
\bm{d}𝐝
dimensions, the quasi-breathing half-period assumes the form
T_{\text{quasi-breathing}}/2 \equiv t^{*} = \arctan(\sqrt{d})/(2\pi) TTquasi-breathing/2≡t*=arctan(d)/(2π)T.
Remaining unresolved is the origin of the
period-2T2T
breathing, reported in the same experiment.
Local injection therapy: the use of hyaluronic acid in osteoarthritis and other joint diseases
Authors: Dydykina I. S. , Kovalenko P. S. , Aboleshina A. V. , Kovalenko A. A.
Published: March 2022

The article deals with local injection therapy (LIT) in arthrological practice, the purpose of which is the introduction of a drug into the joint cavity or periarticularly, removal of excess synovial fluid from the joint cavity with subsequent analysis of its composition for differential diagnosis and decision-making on treatment tactics. The most commonly used in LIT are glucocorticoids, hyaluronic acid (GlK), autologous platelet-rich plasma. The method of introducing GLA into the joint cavity is considered by experts as a promising method for the treatment of osteoarthritis, the most common chronic joint disease. GlK-based preparations differ in concentration, molecular weight and production method. The article presents the results of studies using high- or low-molecular drugs GlK in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, hip and small joints. Attention is drawn to the fact that LIT with GlK preparations is used in the treatment of other diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Data are presented, including those of Russian authors, on the effectiveness of GlK in OA of the shoulder joints, in the syndrome of compression of the shoulder rotators. Thus, the restoration of range of motion and a significant reduction in pain in the shoulder area was achieved against the background of the use of 3 to 5 injections of the GlK preparation produced in the Russian Federation by bacterial fermentation. The unique production technology of the GlK preparation makes it possible to reduce the risk of bacterial endotoxins, completely purify the solution from hyaluronidase, increase homogeneity, and preserve the molecular weight. On the basis of the obtained evidence of efficacy and safety, HLA preparations are included by various medical associations and professional communities in Russian and international clinical guidelines for the treatment of OA.
Post covid syndrome and rheumatic diseases: focus on rheumatoid arthritis (own data)
Authors: Aronova E. S. , Belov B. S. , Gridneva G. I.
Published: March 2022

Introduction. In modern reality postcovid syndrome (PCS) is characterized by clinical heterogeneity and multi-organ involvement, often presenting a differential diagnostic and therapeutic problem. However, in most studies of PCS, stratification of patients taking into account individual comorbid conditions was not performed. Thus, only an extremely small number of studies have been devoted to assessing the course of PCS in rheumatic diseasesPurpose. To characterize the features of the course of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as to conduct a comparative assessment of clinical and demographic parameters in groups of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, differentiated by the presence of PCS.Materials and methods. The material of the questionnaire which contained questions regarding socio-demographic data of respondents, information on rheumatological history, comorbid diseases, data on past COVID-19, including cases of re-infection, and PCS.Results.The study included 32 adult patients (29 women, 90%) with a reliable diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Of the 32 patients who underwent COVID-19, in 23 cases it was possible to form a judgment about the presence or absence of PCS. To study PCS, 23 patients were stratified into two groups: 11 (47.8%) patients developed PCS (Group 1) and 12 patients had COVID-19 without consequences (Group 2). Both groups were represented predominantly by women (90.9% and 91.7%, respectively). In the general group 37.5% of patients with COVID-19 required inpatient treatment. The number of symptoms associated with COVID-19 did not correlate with RA activity, however, patients with higher RA activity were more likely to report increased arthralgia as a symptom of COVID-19. 47.8% of COVID-19 survivors experienced PCS. The average age, the number of comorbid diseases and the severity of RA symptoms at the time of COVID-19 were relatively higher in the group of patients with RA and PKS. Patients with PKS also noted a higher frequency of hospitalizations and a more severe course of COVID-19.Conclusions.A quantitative assessment of the risk of developing PKS is needed, which will serve as a basis for developing a strategy aimed at prevention, timely diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome in patients with RS. To this end, further studies on larger cohorts of patients are required.
The state of the lumen of the major cerebral vessels and systems of regulation of cerebral circulation in patients with cerebral ischemia with the development of epileptic seizures
Authors: Khasanova D. R. , Danilova T. V. , Latypova Z. K. , Gainetdinova G. R.
Published: March 2022

Introduction. Cerebrovascular diseases are often associated with the development of epileptic seizures. It was suggested that in the implementation of epileptogenesis in patients with ischemic brain damage, a hemodynamic factor, namely the state of the perfusion reserve, may be important.Objective. The examination of the state of cerebrovascular reactivity of different cerebral vascular basins in patients with the development of epileptic seizures affected by cerebral ischemia.Materials and methods. 772 patients with acute and chronic cerebral ischemia (265 stroke patients with epileptic seizures and 174 patients with seizures on the background of chronic cerebral ischemia and 203 patients with stroke and 130 patients with chronic cerebral ischemia without seizures) was comprehensively examined.Results. In patients with cerebral ischemia, focal seizures prevail. Cortical localization of ischemic foci prevailed in patients with both acute and chronic cerebral ischemia. Stenosis of the main arteries were more often detected as in patients with ischemic stroke with the development of epileptic seizures – 218 (82.3%) compared with patients with stroke in the comparison group – 151 (74.4%) patients, р < 0.05), and in patients with CBI (chronic brain ischemia) with the development of epileptic seizures – 121 (69.5%) people, p < 0.05) compared with patients in the comparison group – 74 (56.9%) patients. The prevalence of stenosisof the main cerebral arteries was revealed in more than 70% in patients with pre-stroke epileptic seizures – 77 (33.5%) compared with patients without precursor seizures, who have been diagnosed with stenosis of more than 70% were found in only 4 (11.5%) patients (χ2 = 10.1; p = 0.03). In the comparison group of patients, there was no significant difference in CVR (cerebrovascular reactivity) changes in the carotid system and in the VBS (vertebrobasilar system) – 30 (36.6%) and 42 (47.7%) examined, respectively.Conclusion. The revealed decrease in cerebrovascular reactivity in the vertebrobasilar basin can be considered as one of the risk factors for the development of epilepsy in conditions of brain ischemia.
Cardiovascular risk factors for cognitive deficiency and options for correction
Authors: Koberskaya N. N.
Published: March 2022

Cardiovascular risk factors for the development of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease are ranked among the most significant ones, especially in elderly patients. The review provides data on the influence of such factors as arterial hypertension, arterial hypotension, heart failure, coronary heart disease, etc. on the development of cognitive deficiency. The presence of two or more of these risk factors generally tends to increase the possibility of the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The author examines the relationship between these factors and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Insights into how CVD risk factors can cause progressive cognitive impairment provides further insight into the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease and the identification of methods to prevent or treat CV risk factors for cognitive decline. The course and outcome of cardiovascular diseases depend on the patient’s age, previous medical history, lifestyle, primary prevention, genetic and pathological factors that affect structural and hemodynamic functions. The article addresses issues of therapy of these disorders. Methods of non-pharmacological therapy are discussed: the importance of the patient’s lifestyle, physical activity, nutritional issues, social activity of patients. Much attention is paid to the role of cognitive training in the management of patients with cognitive impairments. The correction of risk factors for stroke and the progression of chronic circulatory disorders is one of the most elaborated areas. The therapeutic potential drugs with a multifactorial mechanism of action are discussed. One of them is Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761®, which meets the regulated content of active ingredients (flavone glycosides, terpene lactones and ginkgolic acid) and, perhaps, promises to be a more rational choice in the treatment of cognitive impairment. The role of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases is discussed.
Evaluation of the cognitive-motor training effectiveness in combination with drug therapy among patients with moderate cognitive disorders: the own research results
Authors: Kindarova A. A. , Fantalis D. , Preobrazhenskaya I. S.
Published: March 2022

Introduction. Non-drug methods of therapy for cognitive impairment is one of the topical areas of neurology. Studies have shown that cognitive training may be beneficial for maintaining mental alertness in healthy older adults, while patients with dementia and mild cognitive impairment are more likely to benefit from cognitive-motor training or rehabilitation. It is possible that the severity and type of cognitive disorders, as well as patients’ adherence to training, the correct construction of tasks, may affect the effectiveness of non-drug therapy for cognitive disorders.Аim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-motor training developed at Sechenov University in patients with moderate cognitive impairment (MCI).Materials and methods. 41 patients were included in the study, including 8 women and 33 men, the average age of patients was 60.3 ± 8.5 years, the average level of education was 14.2 ± 8.7 years, of which 15 patients met the criteria AD, 26 – VCI criteria. Patients underwent quantitative neuropsychological testing, assessment of emotional disorders, and also assessed such indicators as satisfaction with the quality of life, adherence to therapy. Subsequently, the patients were divided into groups of individual and group cognitive training. Classes with patients were held according to the standard scheme, 30–50 minutes a day, for 40 days. After 3 months, 10 patients were randomly selected from the individual training group and received an additional course of group cognitive-motor training.Results. Тhe study showed that after 1.5 months, patients showed a significant decrease in the severity of cognitive disorders (p < 0.05). The greatest positive dynamics was noted in relation to the level of attention (p < 0.05), memory (including primary modal-nonspecific mnestic impairment, p < 0.05), logical operations (p < 0.05). The patients included in the study also showed a significant decrease in the severity of depression (p < 0.05). The analysis showed that significant positive dynamics was recorded both in patients of the individual CT group and in patients who received group CT (p < 0.05). The positive effect on cognitive functions was maintained during the three months of follow-up. Comparative analysis of study patients after 6 months showed that patients who received additional sessions with a trainer reported an additional improvement in well-being. These differences were statistically significant, despite the small number of patients included in the repeat CT group (p < 0.05).Conclusions. The effectiveness of cognitive-motor training in patients with MCI was noted. The results obtained allow us to recommend this type of cognitive-motor training for use in clinical practice by neurologists, therapists and psychiatrists as an additional effective method for the treatment of cognitive impairment.
Differential diagnosis and treatment of neck pain
Authors: Maksimov Yu. N. , Khaibullina D. Kh. , Mansurov D. M.
Published: March 2022

Neck pain is widespread in the population and reaches 60%. Women in the age group under 60 are more likely to be affected than men. Acute pain is typical for young people, chronic – for patients of the older age group. Neck pain can be nonspecific, neural or mixed, depending on the involvement of various anatomical structures in the pathological process.Nonspecific (nociceptive, musculoskeletal) pain accounts for about 80–90% of all cases. The clinical picture may also include limited range of motion in the cervical spine (CS), changes in muscle tone in the region. With damage to the cervical spinal roots, neural symptoms join, which is observed in 11.9–43% of cases.The key to making the correct diagnosis is a deep study of complaints, anamnesis, and a thorough physical examination. Paraclinical research methods play a secondary role in the diagnosis, they are prescribed only if their results can affect the formulation of the diagnosis and further treatment. The need for differential diagnosis between nonspecific and neuropathic pain arises in the presence of complaints and clinical manifestations characteristic of both options. Standard schemes of drug therapy for nonspecific and neuropathic pain have certain differences, while they do not depend on the localization of the process and the involvement of certain structures in the process. In both cases, the main therapeutic tasks are to provide effective pain relief and influence on the inflammatory process. With these tasks, NSAIDs are most fully coping. The original diclofenac has a pronounced analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect with a high safety profile, which, together with a variety of dosage forms, makes it attractive for the treatment of various types of neck pain. An additional local effect on pathologically altered structures by the topical diclofenac forms significantly increases the effectiveness of the treatment. In the above clinical cases, two variants of neck pain are considered, which have similar symptoms, while being different forms of pathology.
Vitamin D and homocysteine in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
Authors: Bedenko A. S. , Antonenko L. M.
Published: March 2022

Introduction. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of vertigo. Among the possible pathophysiological concepts, the largest evidence to date has been collected on the relationship of BPPV with a lack of vitamin D. Few studies have also been published on the assessment of factors of endothelial dysfunction (and, as a result, disturbances in the microcirculation of the inner ear) and BPPV. The problems of metabolic disorders in BPPV were still poorly highlighted in Russian sources.Objective. To investigate the levels of 25-OH-vitamin D and homocysteine among patients with BPPV and compare these factors depending on recurrence.Materials and methods. The study included 53 patients with BPPV, age 60 ± 12.6 (Me 62 [55; 68]), men accounted for 24.5%, women – 75.5%. All patients underwent a study of the neurological status and neurovestibularexamination, which included the Halmagi test, the head shake test, the Fukuda test, the Dix – Hallpike and McClure – Pagnini tests. Plasma 25-OH-vitamin D and homocysteine levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The severity of vertigo was assessed using the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI).Results. The level of 25-OH vitamin D in with BPPV varied from 5.2 to 40 ng/ml, the average value was 19.53 ± 9.07 ng/ml, which corresponds to the deficit according to international recommendations (Me 17 [13; 24.8]). The level of 25-OH vitamin D in the group with recurrent BPPV was (Me 15 [12 and 22]), which was significantly lower than in the group with a single BPPV episode. The DHI score was significantly lower in the group with recurrent BPPV. There was a negative relationship between 25-OH-vitamin D levels and age, and a negative relationship between 25-OH-vitamin D and homocysteine in the DPPV group.Conclusion. There was a decrease in the level of 25-OH-vitamin D among patients with BPPV; in the group with recurrent BPPV, the level of 25-OH-vitamin D was significantly lower than in the group with a single dose of BPPV. The presence of an inverse correlation between the level of homocysteine and 25-OH-vitamin D indicates the advisability of more detailed studies of the potential contribution of endothelial dysfunction to the development of peripheral vestibular disorders due to impaired microcirculation of the otoconial apparatus.
Psychiatric and neurological aspects of sleep disturbance after coronavirus infection (COVID-19)
Authors: Spektor E. D. , Poluektov M. G.
Published: March 2022

There are both scientific interest and practical value to study the medical consequences of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to its pandemic status and high prevalence of different complaints among COVID-19 survivors. These complaints are called “post-COVID” or “long COVID” syndrome. One of the frequent symptoms of post-COVID syndrome is sleep disturbances, predominantly insomnia. The article provides epidemiological data, pathogenesis, socioeconomic factors, and therapeutic approach to insomnia associated with post-COVID syndrome.The increase of sleep disturbances prevalence in pandemic conditions has a comprehensive nature. It includes the disease consequences itself and change of lifestyle due to lockdown. The lifestyle change leads to physical activity decrease and inadequate sleep hygiene. Besides, the high stress level is also the reason for sleep disturbances. The direct effects of COVID-19 on the central nervous system are understudied at the moment. Nevertheless, there are reasons to suggest neurotropic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 to underlie post-COVID neurological and psychiatric disturbances.Taking into account that general practitioners are mainly addressed post-COVID complaints, the recommended hypnotics should be safe, easily prescribed, and highly effective. The probable presence of the psychiatric pathology should be also assessed because the sleep complaints might be its manifestation.
Dopamine receptor agonists: standard and non-standard applications in medicine
Authors: Vasenina E. E. , Gankina O. A. , Levin O. S.
Published: March 2022

Dopamine receptor agonists (DRA) are a class of therapeutic drugs able to directly stimulate dopaminergic receptors facilitating a stronger effect of the endogenous dopamine, which is widely used in treatment of diseases that are accompanied with dopaminergic neurotransmission deficiency. A classical hypodopaminergic condition is Parkinson’s disease and DRA are traditionally associated with it. However, even the first DRA, Bromocriptine, widely adopted in PD treatment, was initially registered as a medication for treatment of prolactinaemia and associated pituitary adenomas and is still widely used in gynecology and endocrinology. In several countries DRA are used in treatment of diabetes, eating disorders, and addictions. Dopamine is the cardinal neurotransmitter of the emotional control and the main neurotransmitter of the reward system, and that defines the interest for researching the dopaminergic agents in treatment of primarily mental illnesses, as well as correction of secondary affective disorders. The experimental effectiveness of ADR in slowing down the rate of progression of the neurodegenerative process in severe incurable diseases, as well as potential neuroprotection in cerebrovascular insufficiency, will allow in the future to determine the criteria for the use of ADR in these non-standard situations, which may even lead to a change in clinical recommendations for the treatment of individual nosologies. Presented in this article are both traditional uses of DRA and an overview of non-standard applications of this class of medications with a discussion of recent studies. In the future, the likelihood of a rethinking of ADRs as a class of only antiparkinsonian drugs, with the expansion of their therapeutic indications.
Evolution of Demographic Studies of the Don Host in the Late Imperial Period
Authors:   Joint Laboratory of the International Network Center for Fundamental and Applied Research, Peretyatko Artyom Yu. ,   Volgograd State University
Published: March 2022

Demographic processes on the territory of the Don Host Oblast (until 1870 — Land) have been studied since the beginning of the 19th century. Therefore, in modern national historiography this topic is considered well researched, and scholars usually do not address it purposely, providing results obtained by pre-revolutionary authors. However, a deeper exploration of the situation reveals that pre-revolutionary authors pointed out serious inaccuracy of the Don statistics. In this paper, for the first time in historiography, it is shown that as far as in the 1860s a prominent statistician N. I. Krasnov highlighted the anomality of the Don statistics and suggested it should be verified via comparison with the experience of world statistical science. But the majority of authors of the second half of the 19th century asserted that the experience of world statistics was inapplicable to The Don Host believing that the regional statistics had to reflect and describe the data but not to analyse it. The paper also shows that due to such an approach the study of the Don demography of the second half of the 19th century has been brought by to a dead end. National historians rely on initially inaccurate data, moreover, its verification by traditional historical methods is impossible. However, the French mathematician N. Bonneuil with the help of the Russian demographer E. V. Fursa developed a mathematical-statistical model to reconstruct demographic processes in the period in question. The article concludes that from a historical point of view this method is also sufficiently reliable, and its application by historians will allow the latter to significantly clarify the features of demography of the pre-revolutionary period.
Military Chaplaincy in the Russian Army during the First World War
Authors:   Mogilev State University named after A. A. Kuleshov, Starostenko Eleonora V.
Published: March 2022

The article examines the service of chaplains in the Russian army in 1917. The Institute of Chaplains was established in response to the growth of revolutionary propaganda in the army. The process of introducing a position and responsibilities imposed by official instructions are analyzed in the article. The main duties of the chaplains involved conducting talks and speaking to the soldiers. The article provides data on the appointment, transfer and dismissal of priests from the position of a chaplain. The most competent and experienced clergy were employed. However, in some armies this position was vacant for a long time, while in others there was a turnover of priests. The article also describes activities of the chaplains in the armies and expands on interaction with regimental priests. The observations of the chaplains enable to conclude about the decline in the spirit of the military clergy. The subject of the speeches, its compliance with the instructions of the protopresbyter are considered. The article focuses on the issue of the attitude of soldiers to chaplains and their speeches. It ranged from benevolence to explicit discontent and aggression. Although contemporaries praised the work of the military clergy, the reports reflected a less positive perception. Some chaplains did not fulfill the duties assigned to them; they allowed evasion from service in demoralized military units, familiarity with officers. The work of conscientious priests could not bring about serious results in the current social and political situation. The article was prepared on the basis of archival materials not previously published.
Political Reasons for Khmelnitsky Uprising from the Perspective of the Polish-Lithuanian Nobility
Authors:   University of Bialystok, Drozdowski Mariusz R.
Published: March 2022

The article discusses the political reasons for Khmelnytsky uprising in the opinions of the nobility of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The outbreak of the Cossack insurrection led by Bohdan Khmelnytsky at the beginning of 1648, which immediately involved broad strata of the Ukrainian society and quickly transformed into a national liberation war, caused terror among noblemen. An additional factor influencing the mood of the nobility was the growing awareness of Khmelnytsky’s political ambitions, whose realization posed a deadly threat to the current political system of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This article is largely devoted to discussing the views of the nobility on the subject of political motives encouraging the Cossacks to armed resistance against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which fundamentally influenced its assessment of the nature of the uprising. Detailed analysis of correspondence, seimiks’ resolutions (lauda) and instructions as well as certain fictional and journalistic sources is provided. The article emphasizes that there was a conviction among the nobility of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of the political motives of the Cossack uprising. This conviction was mainly based on the news about Khmelnytsky’s aspirations to separate Ukraine and to build an independent state entity referred to as the Russian Principality. Understanding by the gentry of the emancipatory aspirations of the insurgents had a huge impact on the nature of the Commonwealth policy the towards events in Ukraine in the second half of the seventeenth century.
Italian Militaries in the USSR during the Second World War. Objectives of the Campaign and Negotiations in the Post-War Period
Authors:   University “G. D’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Giusti Maria Teresa
Published: March 2022

Italy’s participation in the war against the USSR was dictated by at least three reasons: the common ideology which Mussolini and Hitler shared; Mussolini’s aspiration to revise the European order in the Mediterranean area, to the detriment of France and Great Britain; the goal of supplying Italy with the Russian raw material. The article examines the behavior of the Italian troops towards the Soviet war prisoners and the local population during the occupation from July 1941 to winter 1942–1943, which also depended on these reasons. Since 1944 some countries occupied by Italian forces, such as the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, had started asking the Italian government for the extradition of Italian alleged war criminals to be judged by local courts. In 1944, on the grounds of the reports produced by state and local commissions, the list of alleged war criminals in response to the USSR’s requests was limited to ten militaries who had been repatriated after the defeat. Initially the USSR was intransigent, but afterwards began changing its tune, and finally Moscow proved less adamant in its accusations. This new attitude was connected to negotiations on handing over of Soviet citizens who stayed in Italy after the end of the war. This was most likely a contributing factor in persuading the Soviets to relax their demands on the matter of alleged Italian war criminals. The strategy was successful and, according to the Yalta conference, many Russian and Soviet citizens, who had left the Soviet Union, against their own will were handed over to the Soviet authorities facing a very uncertain fate.