Bioengineered Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle-Loaded Hydrogel for Combinative Treatment of Spinal Cord Transection

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most destructive diseases. The neuroinflammation microenvironment needs comprehensive mitigation of damages. Thus, regulation of local, microenvironment drugs could be a potential effective treatment. However, clinical studies on SCI with common treatment have reported it to cause systemic toxicity and side effects. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) have been widely reported to have satisfying anti-inflammation function. Furthermore, green synthesis procedures can improve the capability and possible utilization of ZnONPs. However, the efficient administration and underlying mechanism of ZnONPs in SCI treatment remain unclear. Herein, an innovative approach was built by utilizing ZnONPs loaded in a skeletal muscle-derived adhesive hydrogel (ZnONPs-Gel). Different from the systemic application of ZnONPs, the local administration of ZnONPs-Gel offered the ZnONPs-loaded extracellular matrix with beneficial biocompatibility to the injured spinal cord, thereby promoting effective function recovery. Mechanistically, the ZnONPs-Gel treatment not only markedly reduced ROS production but also decreased apoptosis in the injured spinal cord. Therefore, the strategy based on local administration of the ZnONPs-Gel in the early stage of SCI may be an effective therapeutic treatment.

Local administration of epsilon-aminocaproic acid reduces post-operative blood loss from surgery for closed, Sanders III–IV calcaneal fractures

Purpose To investigate whether local administration of epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA) is effective and safe in reducing the post-operative blood loss in surgery for Sanders III–IV calcaneal fractures. Methods Patients with Sanders III–IV calcaneal fractures who were hospitalized in our hospital from January 2016 to February 2021 and underwent open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) via lateral approach with an L-shaped incision were included in the current study. Eighty five patients were randomly divided into two groups, EACA group (43) and control group (42). Twenty milliliters of 5% EACA solution or normal saline was perfused into the incision of patients in EACA group and control group, respectively. The volume of post-operative drainage was investigated as the primary outcome. Post-operative blood test, coagulation test, and wound complications were analyzed as the secondary outcomes. Results The volume of post-operative drainage at 24 and 48 h was 164.8 ± 51.4 ml, 18.9 ± 3.8 ml for patients in EACA group, and 373.0 ± 88.1 ml, 21.2 ± 4.4 ml for patients in the control group, respectively. EACA greatly reduced the post-operative blood loss compared to the control (normal saline). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant. No statistically significant difference was found between EACA group and control group with regard to the pre-operative, baseline characteristics. Post-operative blood test results demonstrated that haemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly higher in EACA compared to those of control group. No significant difference was found between EACA group and control group in terms of the platelet counts, prothrombin time (P.T.), activated partial prothrombin time (APTT), and wound complications. Conclusion Local administration of EACA is effective in post-operative blood loss reduction in ORIF surgeries for Sanders III–IV types of calcaneal fractures without increasing the incidence of periwound complication.

Assessing the awareness of young people in Yakutsk of the municipal youth policy implementation

В «Основах государственной молодежной политики Российской Федерации на период до 2025 года» стратегическим приоритетом названо создание условий для формирования личности гармоничной, постоянно совершенствующейся, эрудированной, конкурентоспособной, неравнодушной, обладающей прочным нравственным стержнем, способной при этом адаптироваться к меняющимся условиям и восприимчивой к новым созидательным идеям. Молодёжную политику в городе Якутске реализует Управлением общественных связей и молодежной политики, которое является отраслевым (функциональным) органом местной администрации, входящим в структуру Окружной администрации города Якутска. Управление обеспечивает осуществление полномочий в сфере молодежной и семейной политики на территории города. Ежегодно Управление проводит множество мероприятий в рамках реализации программ муниципальной молодежной политики: акций помощи, деловых и развлекательных игр, молодёжных форумов и т.д. Одной из слабых сторон молодежной политики является неполный охват целевой аудитории, отсутствие координации между отдельными участниками молодежной политики, неосведомленность молодежи о молодежной политике в целом и мероприятиях, проводимых в рамках осуществления программ молодежной политики. В статье представлены результаты исследования информированности молодёжи г. Якутска о муниципальной молодежной политике в целом и о деятельности Управления общественных связей и молодежной политики. Исследование проводилось путем простого анкетирования, проводимого в электронной форме посредством Google-анкет. Кроме анализа ответов, в ходе исследования были изучены различные информационные источники на предмет полноты освещения реализуемой молодежной политики. На основе полученных данных были сделаны выводы о недостаточной информированности молодежи и предложены некоторые мероприятия, которые могут способствовать как получению информации, так и оценке реализации молодежной политики, установлению обратной связи. In the “Fundamentals of the State Youth Policy of the Russian Federation for the Period up to 2025”, the strategic priority is the creation of conditions for the formation of a harmonious personality, constantly improving, erudite, competitive, not indifferent, possessing a strong moral core, capable of adapting to changing conditions and receptive to new creative ideas. The youth policy in the city of Yakutsk is implemented by the Department of Public Relations and Youth Policy, which is a sectoral (functional) body of the local administration, which is a part of the structure of the District Administration of the city of Yakutsk. The Department ensures the exercise of powers in the field of youth and family policy in the city. Every year, the Department holds many events within the framework of implementing the municipal youth policy programs: charity actions, business and entertainment games, youth forums, etc. One of the weaknesses of the youth policy is incomplete coverage of the target audience, lack of coordination between individual staekholders, lack of awareness of the youth of the youth policy in general and activities carried out within the framework of the youth policy programs. The article presents the results of a survey of the awareness of young people in Yakutsk of the municipal youth policy in general and about the activities of the Department of Public Relations and Youth Policy. The research was done by means of a simple questionnaire, carried out in electronic form using Google-questionnaires. In addition to analyzing the answers, in the course of the study, various information sources were studied for the completeness of coverage of the implemented youth policy. Based on the data obtained, conclusions were drawn about the lack of awareness of young people and some measures were proposed that could contribute to both obtaining information and assessing the implementation of youth policy, establishing feedback.

Gymnasial Status

The status of the members of the gymnasium is investigated in this chapter, with special attention to the organization of the younger users, to the gymnasial community as a well-defined body, and to their involvement in local administration. Evidence concerning the procedures for admittance in the gymnasium is presented, together with the role of ephebes and other younger users of the gymnasium: it is argued that the ephebate represented a pivotal moment in the life of the gymnasium’s users and their members retained strong institutionalized connections with their fellow ephebes for many years after their youth. The members of the gymnasium, officially called ‘those from the gymnasium’, were a varied but well-defined and conscious group, with a strong sense of community and the ability to act as a body. The higher end of the gymnasial community often occupied a position of importance in the echelons of the Ptolemaic administration, thus showing how ‘those from the gymnasium’ were the prime candidates for the running of the administration and bureaucracy.

Impact of Conservation Planning and Implementations on Cultural Heritage Values in the Historic Urban Site of Kuşadası

The study aims to evaluate the impact of the conservation planning and implementations on the cultural heritage values in a cultural landscape: Kuşadası, Aydın, Turkey. The study is limited to the decisions published on the Internet: decisions between 2013 and 2016. The methodology includes literature research, archive research in the related Regional Commission on the Conservation of Cultural Property, the Regional Directorate of Foundations, and the local administration. A site survey comprehending base map revision and photographic documentation, visual analysis, historical research and comparative study, and evaluation of conservation activities regarding concepts of conservation is also part of the research. As a result, conservation issues stem from inappropriate conservation implementations threatening the integrity of cultural heritage. The majority of the conservation implementations have focused on a single building scale. Unlicensed constructions stemming from insufficient control by the local administration in the historic urban environment and the lack of implementation of the conservation plan to remove inharmonious buildings and masses threatening the integrity of the urban layout. Preparation of a management plan, revision of the twenty-five-year-old conservation plan, and determination in their application are considered as indispensable for sustaining authenticity and integrity.

Practicing Anthropology in Greece: Knowledge, Skills and Rights in the Labour Market

In this paper we explore which kind of knowledge and skills developed by anthropology students through higher education are applied in the Greek labour market and how they are received by different professional sectors, such as central and local administration, private companies or NGOs. We also examine how professional rights of social anthropologists are being established, creating academic qualifications, lobbies and competitive relations among anthropology and other relevant disciplines. Furthermore, we illustrate the birth and establishment of practicing anthropology in Greece as it is being practiced in civil society institutions, local and international governmental and non-governmental organizations, especially since a proportionally big number of anthropologists are being employed in this field due to the recent European refugee crisis and the state of emergency that it brought to Greece and Europe. Through our analysis we wish to show that during the last three decades anthropology is gradually becoming socially and politically relevant in Greece. This process has started with the integration of the country in the core of European Union institutions and through the coexistence with diverse populations of migrant origins. The popularity of anthropology has been accelerated by the economic and refugee crisis of the last decade that multiplied the numbers of anthropologists working in the humanitarian sector. The discipline seems thus to come of age, with academic teaching and practicing anthropology being increasingly intertwined.

The effectiveness of early local administration of hyaluronic acid in experimental traumatic ischemia of the limb muscles

The experiments were performed on 280 male Wistar rats weighing 300-340 g. The design of the study included: modeling of compression injury of the soft tissues of the thigh, local injection of the preparation of hyaluronic acid "Gialift 3.5" into the area of damage 3 hours after the cessation of compression, taking into account the results after 7, 14 and 28 days. The introduction of hyaluronic acid into the area of compression injury of soft tissues reduces the severity of myoglobinemia, increases the immunohistochemical density of VEGF-positive cells, improves the perfusion characteristics of microcirculation, oxygen saturation, and specific oxygen consumption by tissues. Keywords: traumatic muscle ischemia, hyaluronic acid, myoglobin, microcirculation, metabolism, laser Doppler flowmetry, morphometry.

Experience of (for) science and higher education in times of the coronavirus crisis causing COVID-19 disease

The coronavirus causing COVID-19 disease, among many other effects, has re-evaluated the world of science and higher education. Experts representing the world of science have become indispensable for developing strategies to fight the pandemic, and their knowledge has become valuable not only for developing and producing an effective vaccine. Relying on modern and innovative facilities of higher education institutions, representatives of the business sector, state and local administration and science, must jointly participate in finding practical solutions to the problems of the state and society. Countries affected by the pandemic need such a system of research and higher education, in which science will serve social and economic development, university graduates will find absorbing work, and those in power will benefit from an independent expert base, regardless of which political option is at the helm of government. Given the new challenges faced by researchers and higher education in times of the coronavirus pandemic that causes COVID-19 disease and the changing economic and social conditions resulting from the pandemic, this paper examines the role and importance of the scientific world both during and after the pandemic.