Significance of analysis of lipid extracts in cervical canal secretion for diagnosing of placenta-associated complications of pregnancy

Omics technologies hold great potential as the basis for development of the new diagnostic approaches in obstetrics. Cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) as part of the mother-placenta-fetus system can be used to diagnose obstetric complications. This study aimed to identify the features of lipid composition of the cervical canal secretion peculiar to Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) and preeclampsia (PE). We took CVF samples from 57 pregnant women and subjected them to an in-depth clinical-anamnestic and mass-spectrometric analysis. Lipid extracts of CVF were analyzed with a liquid chromatography system coupled with a mass analyzer. As a result, we identified 239 lipid compounds. In case of 17 lipids, mathematical analysis revealed significant differences between samples from women with normal pregnancy indicator values (normal group) and patients from the IUGR group (p < 0.05). As for the normal group and PE group patients, there were significant differences identified for 3 lipids (p < 0.05). Comparison of samples from the PE and IUGR groups yielded statistically significant differences in levels of two lipids (p < 0.05). Mainly, the lipids were oxylipins, sphingomyelins, triglycerides, and cardiolipins. The developed diagnostic model had the sensitivity of 0.81 and specificity of 0.91 (cut-off level — 0.50; AUC — 0.85). The data obtained are valuable in the context of development of the new methods of diagnosing placentaassociated complications of pregnancy and for understanding new mechanisms of pathogenesis of these complications.

Consolidation and reconsolidation of visual and semantic memory in Parkinson’s disease

Cognitive and mnestic impairments have a significant negative impact on the quality of parkinsonian patients’ life. Memory impairment causes changes in the mechanisms of information processing. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of transformations undergone by memorized visual and semantic content during memory consolidation and reconsolidation in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The study was conducted on 32 male patients with PD (ICD code: G20). Among the patients, 9 had rigidity/bradykinesia-d ominant PD, 11 had tremor-dominant PD, and 12 suffered from a mixed type of PD. Short-term memory span was assessed using the 10 words and the visual memory tests proposed by Luria. As stimulus materials we used a symbolic representation of the old Greek letter resembling an owl and a translated excerpt from a Canadian aboriginal epic. Regardless of the PD form, the quality of the memorized information was either altered or completely lost. The mechanisms underlying such transformations differed quantitively depending on the PD form. Transformation of the memorized information occurred in the conditions of both incidental and deliberate memorization and was represented by distortions (substitution of the original content with confabulations) and simplifications of the structural and semantic organization. We consolidated significantly lesser amount of auditory verbal (р = 0.018) and visual (p = 0.029) information. This trend was consistent with the pronounced distortion of content during its retrieval.

Degenerative disc disease in young adults: cytokine profile and angiogenic factors

Back pain (BP), associated with the degenerative disc disease (DDD), poses a heavy social and economic burden due to early disability and indications to surgery, emerging in young adults. Pathophysiological basis of premature intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is being actively studied. The study was aimed to define the profiles of inflammatory cytokines in DDD, as well as their relationship to the structural spine diseases. The molecular genetic analysis of the mRNA gene abundance in patients with BP and herniated IVD after discectomy and healthy individuals was performed by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction method. High expression of TNFα, IL17 was revealed in the IVD tissues of the affected patients (p < 0.01); the levels of TNFα and IL1β correlated with the DDD severity (r = 0.301 and 0.37; p < 0.05). Elevated expression of IL1β, IL6 was found in peripheral white blood cells (p < 0.01); the levels of IL6 negatively correlated with Modic type 1 and 2 changes (r = –0.31; p < 0.05), and the levels of IL17 positively correlated with the IVD herniation in combination with erosions of the adjacent vertebral body endplates and Modic changes (r = 0.401; p < 0.05). The expression of VEGF-А in the IVD tissues and white blood cells negatively correlated with the DDD grades (r = –0.85; p < 0.001), indicating reduced vascularization in the terminal phase of the disease. The findings on DDD demonstrate the contribution of the local low-immune inflammation, coupled with the intense disc vascularization at the earlier stages, and associated with the reactive inflammation in vertebral bodies. The results are prerequisites for developing the anti-inflammatory and reparative therapy based on the DDD grade and the presence of Modic changes in young adults with BP.

Metabolic “footprints” of the circulating cancer mucins: CA125 in the high-grade ovarian cancer

Mucins are large glycoproteins characterized by the abundant O-linked oligosaccharides (O-glycans) clustered on a protein backbone. Most of the circulating mucins are rapidly cleared by glycan-recognizing hepatic clearance receptors in the liver. Those mucins that remain in the bloodstream are most commonly used as markers in clinical diagnostics. One of such circulating mucins is MUC16; a peptide epitope of which is known as CA125 antigen — a marker for ovarian cancer. Here, using a targeted 1H-NMR profiling of plasma we are exploring a link between the measured CA125 values and the systemic metabolism of the patients within a group with confirmed high-grade ovarian cancer. The study allowed identifying statistically significant associations between the measured values of CA125 epitope and the plasma concentrations of glucose, glutamine, alanine, betaine and serine. The significance of the identified associations for the listed compounds is below 0.01. This, in turn, enables us to hypothesize about a possibility of including the metabolic measures into a composite score of the ovarian cancer based on the CA125 epitope of MUC16.

Factors associated with increase in alcohol consumption during first months of COVID‑19 pandemic among online social media users in Russia

The significant proportion of the Russian population are active online social media users. Changes in alcohol consumption in this target group during the COVID-19 pandemic remain understudied. The aim of this survey was to investigate changes in alcohol consumption and factors associated with the increase in alcohol use among online social media users in Russia during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was conducted among 1,518 users of online social networking services popular in Russia from June to September 2020. The survey revealed that 35.4% of men and 25.6% of women started drinking more frequently during the first months of the pandemic; 24.9% of men and 17.7% of women increased their usual consumption (volume) of alcohol on a typical drinking occasion, whereas 28.5% of men and 27.9% of women increased the frequency of heavy episodic drinking. Adjusted binary logistic regression analysis revealed a positive association between the increase in the frequency of alcohol consumption and the following factors: age from 18 to 29 years (OR: 1.710; 95% CI: 1.002–2.917), severe restrictions in everyday private life (OR: 3.127; 95% CI: 1.011–9.675) and severe negative professional or financial consequences due to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (OR: 2.247; 95% CI: 1.131–4.465). The odds of an increase in the frequency of heavy episodic drinking were more than twice higher (OR: 2.329; 95% CI: 1.001–5.428) among those who had experienced severe negative consequences of the pandemic to their professional and financial situation. Higher typical frequency and usual consumption (volume) of alcohol on a typical drinking occasion and higher typical frequency of heavy episodic drinking before the pandemic were positively significantly associated with the increase in these parameters of alcohol consumption during the first months of the pandemic. In times of large-scale epidemics and public health crises, it is advisable to consider the possibility of implementing screening and brief interventions, including via online social media, to prevent problems associated with alcohol use.

Plasma low molecular weight aminothiols in ischemic stroke patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

It was found that ischemic stroke (IS) results in decreased levels of a number of reduced forms of low molecular weight aminothiols (LMWTs). The study was aimed to assess the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus (Т2D) on the total content, reduced forms and redox status of LMWTs in patients with IS. A total of 175 patients with IS in the internal carotid artery basin (the average age was 62 (55–69)) years) were assessed, who were admitted to the Center within the first 10–24 h since the onset of neurological disorder. The index group included 68 patients with IS and T2D (males made up 41.2%). The comparison group consisted of 107 patients with IS and stress hyperglycemia (males made up 57%), and the control group included 31 non-diabetic patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease (CCVD) (males made up 54.8%). The admission plasma levels of LMWTs were assessed by liquid chromatography in all patients. It was found, that IS in patients with T2D was associated with the rapid decrease in total cysteine (tCys), total glutathione (tGSH), total homocysteine (tHcy), reduced glutathione (rGSH), and glutathione redox status (GSH RS), along with the increase in cysteine redox status (Cys RS) and homocysteine redox status (Hcy RS). In contrast to patients with stress hyperglycemia developing during the acute period of IS, patients with T2D had lower tCys, tGSH, and tHcy levels. Thus, GSH RS of 4.06% or lower in the first 24 hours after the IS in patients with T2D was a predictor of poor functional outcome (mRS score was 3 or more 3 weeks after IS).

Using motion capture analysis for assessing locomotion after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

An anterior cruciate ligament tear is one of the most common injuries to the capsular ligament apparatus of the knee necessitating operative treatment. Postoperatively, patients with anterior cruciate ligament injuries develop a pathologic gait pattern. Today, innovative diagnostic and rehabilitation methods for patients with gait disturbances associated with such injuries are in high demand. Below, we present a case of using 3D motion capture analysis for the personalized assessment of gait function in a patient with the reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament two months after surgery. The analysis revealed that the patient had a slower, shorter, wider step with longer step intervals than the healthy subject; the flexion and extension amplitude in the large joints of the operated leg was smaller than in the healthy contralateral leg. Motion capture analysis can be used to assess the postoperative dynamics in patients with anterior cruciate ligament tears.

Laser treatment of macular retinal folds in late postoperative period after retinal detachment repair

Macular retinal folds are a rare yet grave complication of surgical rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair. Clinical symptoms vary depending on the location and severity of folding. Fold located in the periphery of the ocular fundus can be asymptomatic, but macular retinal folds cause diminished visual acuity and metamorphopsia. Currently, the most effective treatment for retinal folds is repeat surgery. Its serious disadvantage is the risk of complications in the early postoperative period, including hemophthalmia, inflammation, secondary glaucoma, cataracts, RRD recurrence, macular tears, retinal vascular occlusion, etc. The clinical case described below demonstrates the potential of combination laser therapy for the treatment of macular retinal folds based on the use of modern diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

Long-term effects of multimodality laser therapy in patient with drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment

Drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment is a condition characterized by separation of the retinal pigment epithelium from the underlying Bruch’s membrane due to formation of drusenoid deposits. The disorder represents the intermediate stage of the age-related macular degeneration, and is a risk factor for the age-related macular degeneration progression to late stage characterized by geographic atrophy, which results in the irreversible central vision loss. Management of patients with this disorder is in most cases limited to follow-up. The feasibility of using the multimodality low power mode laser therapy for treatment of drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment is reported. The results of laser photocoagulation of the retina demonstrate the morphological and functional recovery: retinal pigment epithelial detachment sealing, improvement of visual function, and restored retinal architecture.

Novel Klebsiella pneumoniae virulent bacteriophage KPPK108.1 capable of infecting the K108 serotype strains

Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains are one of the major causes of nosocomial infections caused by the antibiotic-resistant bacteria. There are different options for dealing with this threat, among which is the clinical application of bacteriophages. The study was aimed to isolate and describe a virulent bactriophage, having the potential for therapeutic use. The standard phage biology and bioinformatic methods were used, which included the advanced techniques for protein structure prediction (AlphaFold software), and electron microscopy. The virulent podovirus KPPK108.1, being the member of genus Drulisvirus, which is able to specifically infect the K. pneumoniae strains with the KL108 type capsular polysaccharide, has been isolated from the wastewater. The sequence of the bactriophage genome has been defined, the biological properties have been investigated, and the genetic features have been described.