Deformation versus Sphericity in the Ground States of the Lightest Gold Isotopes.

The changes in mean-squared charge radii of neutron-deficient gold nuclei have been determined using the in-source, resonance-ionization laser spectroscopy technique, at the ISOLDE facility (CERN). From these new data, nuclear deformations are inferred, revealing a competition between deformed and spherical configurations. The isotopes ^{180,181,182}Au are observed to possess well-deformed ground states and, when moving to lighter masses, a sudden transition to near-spherical shapes is seen in the extremely neutron-deficient nuclides, ^{176,177,179}Au. A case of shape coexistence and shape staggering is identified in ^{178}Au which has a ground and isomeric state with different deformations. These new data reveal a pattern in ground-state deformation unique to the gold isotopes, whereby, when moving from the heavy to light masses, a plateau of well-deformed isotopes exists around the neutron midshell, flanked by near-spherical shapes in the heavier and lighter isotopes-a trend hitherto unseen elsewhere in the nuclear chart. The experimental charge radii are compared to those from Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations using the D1M Gogny interaction and configuration mixing between states of different deformation. The calculations are constrained by the known spins, parities, and magnetic moments of the ground states in gold nuclei and show a good agreement with the experimental results.

[Identification of Melittin-Like Proteins with a Molecular Weight of 67 κDa that Interact with Na

Melittin, a peptide from bee venom, was found to be able to interact with many proteins, including calmodulin target proteins and ion-transporting P-type ATPases. It is assumed that melittin mimics a protein module involved in protein-protein interactions within cells. Previously, a Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase containing the α1 isoform of the catalytic subunit was found to co-precipitate with a protein with a molecular weight of about 70 κDa that interacts with antibodies against melittin by cross immunoprecipitation. In the presence of a specific Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase inhibitor (ouabain), the amount of protein with a molecular weight of 70 κDa interacting with Na^(+)/K^(+)-ATPase increases. In order to identify melittin-like protein from murine kidney homogenate, a fraction of melittin-like proteins with a molecular weight of approximately 70 κDa was obtained using affinity chromatography with immobilized antibodies specific to melittin. By mass spectrometry analysis, the obtained protein fraction was found to contain three molecular chaperones of Hsp70 superfamily: mitochondrial mtHsp70 (mortalin), Hsp73, Grp78 (BiP) of endoplasmic reticulum. These data suggest that chaperones from the HSP-70 superfamily contain a melittin-like module.

The Role of NMDA Receptor Subunits in the Effect of Memantine on the Brain of Healthy Animals.

The non-competitive NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist memantine has neuroprotective properties and is the first non-cholinergic drug approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The purpose of this work was to test the hypothesis that injections of memantine to healthy animals can affect the subunit composition of NMDA receptors in the brain, which may explain the effects of its chronic administration. For this, the expression of subunits GluN1, GluN2A, GluN2B, and GluN2C was studied in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rats after single or five subchronic injections of memantine. The results showed that the GluN2C subunit (GRIN2C) plays an important role in the effects of memantine; against the background of memantine treatment, the expression of this subunit markedly decreased in the prefrontal cortex, but not in the hippocampus, which significantly affected the excitation/inhibition balance in cortical structures.

[Experience in performing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in patients after heart transplan- tation].

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer (PCa) occupies a leading position in the structure of oncological morbidity and mortality and is an urgent problem of modern oncourology. In recipients after organ transplantation, due to the intake of immunosuppressants, the risk of aggressive forms of cancer increases, which necessitates active treatment. In the world, there is not enough data on the radical treatment of PCa in patients after heart transplantation (HT), especially on surgical treatment. We present the first experience in Russia and Eastern Europe of 3 robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for localized PCa in patients after HT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The procedures were performed from February 2021 to November 2021 at the FGBU NMRC named after V.A. Almazov. Preoperative preparation, as well as postoperative management of patients was carried out jointly by urologists and transplant cardiologists. RESULTS: The main demographic, perioperative indicators, as well as oncological and non-oncological outcomes are presented. All patients were discharged from the hospital in a satisfactory condition. During the follow-up period, there were no biochemical recurrences of PCa. Early urinary continence in all three patients was satisfactory. CONCLUSION: Thus, robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in patients after HT is a technically feasible, effective, and safe treatment for PCa. The comparative studies with prolonged follow-up are needed.

[Composition of oropharyngeal microbiota in patients with COVID-19 of different pneumonia severity].

AIM: To identify features of the taxonomic composition of the oropharyngeal microbiota of COVID-19 patients with different disease severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group included 156 patients hospitalized with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 in the clinical medical center of Yevdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry between April and June 2021. There were 77 patients with mild pneumonia according to CT (CT1) and 79 patients with moderate to severe pneumonia (CT2 and CT3). Oropharyngeal swabs were taken when the patient was admitted to the hospital. Total DNA was isolated from the samples, then V3V4 regions of the 16s rRNA gene were amplified, followed by sequencing using Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. DADA2 algorithm was used to obtain amplicon sequence variants (ASV). RESULTS: When comparing the microbial composition of the oropharynx of the patients with different forms of pneumonia, we have identified ASVs associated with the development of both mild and severe pneumonia outside hospital treatment. Based on the results obtained, ASVs associated with a lower degree of lung damage belong predominantly to the class of Gram-negative Firmicutes (Negativicutes), to various classes of Proteobacteria, as well as to the order Fusobacteria. In turn, ASVs associated with a greater degree of lung damage belong predominantly to Gram-positive classes of Firmicutes Bacilli and Clostridia. While being hospitalized, patients with severe pneumonia demonstrated negative disease dynamics during treatment significantly more often. CONCLUSION: We have observed differences in the taxonomic composition of the oropharyngeal microbiota in patients with different forms of pneumonia developed outside hospital treatment against COVID-19. Such differences might be due to the presumed barrier function of the oropharyngeal microbiota, which reduces the risk of virus titer increase.

[Successful microsurgical resection of a large brainstem abscess: case report and literature review]. / Uspeshnoe mikrokhirurgicheskoe udalenie abstsessa stvola golovnogo mozga: sluchai iz praktiki i obzor literatury.

OBJECTIVE: To present a patient with brainstem abscess treated by microsurgical resection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-years-old female patient admitted to the neurosurgical department in a severe condition with symptoms of intracranial hypertension, hyperthermia, general infectious signs and laboratory manifestations of infectious process. Contrast-enhanced MRI revealed a large brainstem lesion (abscess). Retrosigmoid craniotomy with total microsurgical resection of the abscess was performed. External ventricular drainage was incerted on the second postoperative day due to progressive hydrocephalus with clinical deterioration, it was removed in 8 days. Slow positive dynamics was observed in postoperative period. The patient was discharged in 2 weeks after surgery. CONCLUSION: There are no established algorithm for the treatment of brainstem abscesses. Therapeutic approach is advisable for small abscesses. There are 2 neurosurgical options for this lesion: stereotactic drainage and microsurgical resection with or without external ventricular drainage. Treatment strategy depends on location and size of abscess, as well as clinical state of the patient.

Laser Spectroscopy of Neutron-Rich

The mean-square charge radii of ^{207,208}Hg (Z=80, N=127, 128) have been studied for the first time and those of ^{202,203,206}Hg (N=122, 123, 126) remeasured by the application of in-source resonance-ionization laser spectroscopy at ISOLDE (CERN). The characteristic kink in the charge radii at the N=126 neutron shell closure has been revealed, providing the first information on its behavior below the Z=82 proton shell closure. A theoretical analysis has been performed within relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov and nonrelativistic Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approaches, considering both the new mercury results and existing lead data. Contrary to previous interpretations, it is demonstrated that both the kink at N=126 and the odd-even staggering (OES) in its vicinity can be described predominately at the mean-field level and that pairing does not need to play a crucial role in their origin. A new OES mechanism is suggested, related to the staggering in the occupation of the different neutron orbitals in odd- and even-A nuclei, facilitated by particle-vibration coupling for odd-A nuclei.

Large Shape Staggering in Neutron-Deficient Bi Isotopes.

The changes in the mean-square charge radius (relative to ^{209}Bi), magnetic dipole, and electric quadrupole moments of ^{187,188,189,191}Bi were measured using the in-source resonance-ionization spectroscopy technique at ISOLDE (CERN). A large staggering in radii was found in ^{187,188,189}Bi^{g}, manifested by a sharp radius increase for the ground state of ^{188}Bi relative to the neighboring ^{187,189}Bi^{g}. A large isomer shift was also observed for ^{188}Bi^{m}. Both effects happen at the same neutron number, N=105, where the shape staggering and a similar isomer shift were observed in the mercury isotopes. Experimental results are reproduced by mean-field calculations where the ground or isomeric states were identified by the blocked quasiparticle configuration compatible with the observed spin, parity, and magnetic moment.

Ouabain and Marinobufagenin: Physiological Effects on Human Epithelial and Endothelial Cells.

Long-term study on the identification of Na,K-ATPase endogenous inhibitors in mammalian tissues has resulted in the discovery of ouabain, marinobufagenin (MBG), and other cardiotonic steroids (CTS) in the blood plasma. Production of ouabain and MBG is increased in essential hypertension and other diseases associated with hypervolemia. Here, we compared the effects of ouabain and MBG on the Na,K-ATPase activity (measured as the transport of Na+, K+, and Rb+ ions) and proliferation and death of human renal epithelial cells (HRECs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) expressing α1-Na,K-ATPase. Ouabain concentration that provided the half-maximal inhibition of the Rb+ influx (IC50) into HRECs and HUVECs was 0.07 µM. In both types of cells, the IC50 values for MBG were 10 times higher than for ouabain. Incubation of HREC and HUVEC with 0.001-0.01 µM ouabain for 30 h resulted in 40% increase in the [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA; further elevation of ouabain concentration to 0.1 µM completely suppressed DNA synthesis. MBG at the concentration of 0.1 µM activated DNA synthesis by 25% in HRECs, but not in HUVECs; 1 µM MBG completely inhibited DNA synthesis in HRECs and by 50% in HUVECs. In contrast to HRECs, incubation of HUVECs in the serum-free medium induced apoptosis, which was almost completely suppressed by ouabain and MBG at the concentrations of 0.1 and 3 µM, respectively. Based on these data, we can conclude that (i) the effect of MBG at the concentrations detected in the blood plasma (<0.01 µM) on HRECs and HUVECs was not due to the changes in the [Na+]i/[K+]i ratio; (ii) the effect of physiological concentrations of ouabain on these cells might be mediated by the activation of Na,K-ATPase, leading to cell proliferation.

Effects of Dynamic and Static Loads on the Concentration of Sodium and Potassium in Murine Skeletal Muscles.

The effects of dynamic and static load on the intracellular concentrations of sodium [Formula: see text] and potassium (K+i) in m. soleus and m. biceps, respectively, were studied in mice. Both dynamic (swimming for 60 min) and static (hanging on the grid for 40 min) load led to a 2-fold increase in [Formula: see text] level, a decrease in K+i concentration by 25-35%, and 3-4-fold increase in the [Formula: see text] ratio. These effects of dynamic and static loads on the studied parameters remained unchanged in mice subjected to regular physical exercise (swimming or hanging on the grid for 1 h a day over 4 weeks). Our results suggest that dissipation of sodium and potassium transmembrane gradients during physical exercise can be considered as a factor of regulation of functional activity of skeletal muscles, which includes changes in transcription and translation of myokines observed previously.

[Prospects and peculiarities of the procedure of ultrasound ablation of subcutaneous veins of the lower limbs]. / Perspektivy i osobennosti tekhnologii ul'trazvukovoi obliteratsii podkozhnykh ven nizhnikh konechnostei.

The last decade has seen active development of minimally invasive (endovenous) methods of surgical removal of lower limb varicose veins (LLVV); however, the problem of increasing efficacy of these methods and improving long-term results still remains of current importance. The authors of this work propose a method of ultrasound ablation of subcutaneous veins of lower extremities. Our experimental study was aimed at determining the pattern of venous wall damage after ultrasound exposure. Samples of segments of the trunk of the great saphenous vein (GSV) were divided into 5 groups: group 1 - the control group, group 2 - treatment with a sclerosant in the amount of 0.3 ml for 30 s, group 3 - treatment with ultrasound at a frequency of 26 kHz and amplitude 40 µm and 0.3-ml sclerosant for 30 s, group 4 - exposure to ultrasound at a frequency of 26 kHz and amplitude 40 µm and 0.3-ml sclerosant for 60 s, group 5 samples were exposed to ultrasound at 26 kHz and amplitude of 40 µm for 60 s. The results of analysing the histological sections of the samples of the 2nd and 3rd groups demonstrated that the degree of alteration in the GSV wall on combined exposure to ultrasound and a sclerosant was 4.5-fold higher as compared with treatment with a sclerosant solution alone. During ultrasound exposure, the maximum temperature of the venous wall of group 5 samples was by 20 °C higher than in samples of group 4. Analysing the histological sections demonstrated a similar pattern of structural alterations of the samples of group 4 and 5, thus suggesting a possibility of controlling the temperature of the venous wall during ultrasound ablation without changing quality of structural lesions. The obtained findings showed a possibility of initiating irreversible dystrophic alterations in the venous wall on exposure to ultrasound by means of combining the mechanisms of chemical, mechanical, and thermal ablation.

Emergence of Clusters: Halos, Efimov States, and Experimental Signals.

We investigate the emergence of halos and Efimov states in nuclei by use of a newly designed model that combines self-consistent mean-field and three-body descriptions. Recent interest in neutron heavy calcium isotopes makes ^{72}Ca (^{70}Ca+n+n) an ideal realistic candidate on the neutron dripline, and we use it as a representative example that illustrates our broadly applicable conclusions. By smooth variation of the interactions we simulate the crossover from well-bound systems to structures beyond the threshold of binding, and find that halo configurations emerge from the mean-field structure for three-body binding energy less than ∼100 keV. Strong evidence is provided that Efimov states cannot exist in nuclei. The structure that bears the most resemblance to an Efimov state is a giant halo extending beyond the neutron-core scattering length. We show that the observable large-distance decay properties of the wave function can differ substantially from the bulk part at short distances, and that this evolution can be traced with our combination of few- and many-body formalisms. This connection is vital for interpretation of measurements such as those where an initial state is populated in a reaction or by a beta decay.

Precision Mass Measurements of

The neutron-rich isotopes ^{58-63}Cr were produced for the first time at the ISOLDE facility and their masses were measured with the ISOLTRAP spectrometer. The new values are up to 300 times more precise than those in the literature and indicate significantly different nuclear structure from the new mass-surface trend. A gradual onset of deformation is found in this proton and neutron midshell region, which is a gateway to the second island of inversion around N=40. In addition to comparisons with density-functional theory and large-scale shell-model calculations, we present predictions from the valence-space formulation of the ab initio in-medium similarity renormalization group, the first such results for open-shell chromium isotopes.

[Solitary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma concurrent with nodular parenchymal amyloidosis of the lung and Rosai-Dorfman disease]. / Solitarnaia épitelioidnaia gemangioéndotelioma v sochetanii s noduliarnym parenkhimatoznym amiloidozom legkogo i bolezn'iu Rozai-Dorfmana.

The paper describes a case of solitary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma concurrent with nodular parenchymal AL amyloidosis of the lung and Rosai-Dorfman disease in a 70-year-old woman. The core of the tumor was represented by bone tissue with dendriform ossification, as well as by amyloid that showed green apple birefringence at polarized light microscopy. The peripheral portions of the tumor and the myxohyaline stroma exhibited slit-like structures, epithelioid and fusiform cells with small cytoplasmic vacuoles. These cells expressed CD31, CD34, factor VIII, and cytokeratins 7 and 18. The Ki-67 proliferation index was 10%. S100- and CD68-positive histiocytes with the phenomenon of emperipolesis were revealed in the tumor and in the lymph nodes of the mediastinum and lung hilum. There was a positive reaction to immunoglobulin lambda light chains in the lymphocytic infiltration around amyloid clumps. The frequency of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma was less than 1 case per million people annually. We found only one case of its concurrence with pulmonary amyloidosis in the English-language literature. No relationship could be revealed between this tumor and Rosai-Dorfman disease.

[The morphological and molecular genetic characteristics of sarcomatoid chromophobe renal cell carcinoma]. / Morfologicheskaia i molekuliarno-geneticheskaia kharakteristika sarkomatoidnoi khromofobnoi pochechno-kletochnoi kartsinomy.

The paper describes a case of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma growing into the muscular layer of the descending colon and with metastases in 4 lymph nodes of paranephral tissue in a 66-year-old woman. The tumor had a zonal structure with an alternation of epithelioid and sarcomatoid structural sites and with the signs of grades I, II and III according to the grading system by Paner and et al. (2010). The sarcomatoid renal component occupied about 70.0% of the tumor. There was a pronounced immunohistochemical reaction with VEGF-A (5 scores), a high Ki-67 proliferation index (70%), and a large number of tumor cells with nuclear p53 expression (85%) in the areas with minimal differentiation and sarcomatoid elements (Grade III). These signs can serve as criteria for the aggressive behavior of the tumor. A large volume of the sarcomatoid carcinoma component and a strong reaction with VEGF-A are indications for targeted therapy with anti-VEGF drugs.

[The role of lymphadenectomy for treatment of colorectal liver metastases with regional lymph nodes involvement]. / Rol' limfadenéktomii v lechenii metastaticheskogo kolorektal'nogo raka pecheni s porazheniem regionarnykh limfaticheskikh uzlov.

Liver resection remains the method of choice for treatment of colorectal liver metastases with good long-term results. Regional lymph nodes involvement is significant negative prognostic factor. Moreover, it has been considered as a contraindication for liver resection for a long time. The role of lymphadenectomy remains controversial. Current state of this problem is reviewed in the article. Liver regional lymph nodes involvement takes place in 10-20% of cases. PET/CT is the most sensitive method of preoperative diagnosis. Involvement of liver regional lymph nodes is currently not absolute contraindication for liver resection. Routine lymphadenectomy does not make sense, and, perhaps, is justified only within scientific trials for more accurate disease staging. Indications for lymphadenectomy are suspicious changes of lymph nodes revealed by preoperative visualization methods or by intraoperative exploration. Modern chemotherapy regimens allow to reconsider the prognostic importance of liver regional lymph node metastases and to extend indications for liver resections.

[The role of remodeling complexes CHD1 and ISWI in spontaneous and UV-induced mutagenesis control in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae].

Chromatin remodulators are special multiprotein machines capable of transforming the structure, constitution, and positioning of nucleosomes on DNA. Biochemical activities of remodeling complexes CHD1 and ISWI from the SWI2/SNF2 family are well established. They ensure correct positioning of nucleosomes along the genome, which is probably critical for genome stability, in particular, after action of polymerases, repair enzymes, and transcription. In this paper, we show that single mutations in genes ISW1, ISW2, and CHD1 weakly affect repair and mutagenic processes in yeast cells. At the same time, there are differences in the effect of these mutations on spontaneous mutation levels, which indicates certain specificity of action of protein complexes ISW1, ISW2, and CHD1 on expression of different genes that control repair and mutation processes in yeast.

[Eosinophilic granuloma of the parietal bone of an adult patient with BRAF mutation]. / Éozinofil'naia granulema temennoi kosti s mutatsiei gena BRAF u vzroslogo patsienta.

The paper describes a case of eosinophilic granuloma of the parietal bone in a 32-year-old man. Histological examination revealed a large number of bean-shaped Langerhans cell histiocytes with lobed nuclei and nuclear grooves. The histiocytes alternated with the foci of obvious eosinophilic infiltration and with eosinophilic microabscesses. There were osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells, bone resorption, and numerous bone rods covered with osteoblast chains. The histiocytes expressed CD1α, langerin, CD68, S100, and p53 (in 90.0% of the tumor cells). The Ki-67 proliferation index was 18.0%. A molecular genetic study identified BRAFV600E mutation (nucleotide substitution s.1799 T>A (p.V600E) in the heterozygous state). Clinical and morphological data and the results of molecular genetic studies led to the conclusion that there was eosinophilic granuloma of the right parietal bone (the unifocal form of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), type I, group A1, with the monoossal nature of lesion and with BRAFV600E mutation). In adults, this disease is extremely rare (2-5 cases of LCH per million people, bone loss in the fourth decade of life in 2.5% of the patients).

[Disseminated combined small cell carcinoma with graft involvement after kidney transplantation from a deceased donor to two patients]. / Disseminirovannyi kombinirovannyi melkokletochnyi rak s porazheniem transplantatov posle peresadki pochek ot umershego donora dvum bol'nym.

The paper describes cases of disseminated small-cell carcinoma after kidney transplantation from a deceased donor to two patients. Microscopic examination showed that the kidney graft tumor consisted of tightly packed small rounded cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and a narrow cytoplasmic rim with invisible nucleoli. The mitotic index was 25-40/2 mm2. Azzopardi's phenomenon and crush artifact were detected in the tumor. Giant cell and large cell components were 30-40% of the area of sections. Immunohistochemical examination revealed the expression of synaptophysin, chromogranin A, CD56, TTF-1, HMWK, СК7, СК18, and Ki-67 (80% of tumor cells). Histological findings and immunophenotype in both cases led to the conclusion about combined small cell carcinoma with renal graft involvement. Both patients died from tumor dissemination 9 and 11 months after transplantations. In reviewing the literature, the authors found only one such observation.