Clinical Puzzles and Decision-Making in Antisynthetase Syndrome.

We present a challenging clinical case of an antisynthetase syndrome (ASS) with a four-year follow-up. The disease debuted with skin manifestations and interstitial lung disease (ILD), then the severe Raynaud's phenomenon came to the fore with the development of occlusive vasculopathy and critical digital ischemia. After the relief of vascular lesions, the severity of the condition was determined by ILD. The use of combined pulse therapy with cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone, treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin made it possible to reduce the activity of ASS: lung lesion and the progression of vasculopathy. However, after the termination of an unplanned pregnancy, the patient again experienced an exacerbation with ILD progression. It was decided to use rituximab, against which the patient's condition was stabilized. Clinical and laboratory remission was achieved, which was maintained for a year and a half. However, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic triggered a re-exacerbation of the pulmonary domain of the disease, which forced us to use a nintedanib with a positive clinical and instrumental effect.

Blood lipids and anthropometric parameters in healthy subjects practicing yoga or resistance training in leisure time. What matters: type or intensity of physical activity?

AIM: The aim of the present study was to assess effects of yoga and resistance trainings on blood lipids and anthropometric parameters in people without cardiovascular diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study, which included 167 subjects, was conducted. Subjects regularly practicing yoga or resistance training not less than 2 times a week for a period more than one year were included in the study. Yoga trainings were defined as yoga asanas and resistance trainings were defined as any exercise that causes the muscles to contract against an external resistance. Anthropometric parameters, blood lipids and glucose, uric acid were assessed. We used International Questionnaire on long Physical Activity to assess physical activity and sedentary time. SPSS 17.0 was used to perform statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between "yoga training" and "resistance training" groups in general physical activity, moderate physical activity and sitting time in the whole group. HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher in "yoga training" compared to "resistance training" group and control group (1,65±0,37 mmol/l; 1,43±0,21 mmol/l and 1,34±0,22, pyoga-resistance training=0,001; pyoga-control=0,0001; presistance training-control= p2-3=0,037). LDL cholesterol was the lowest in subjects that had the highest level of vigorous physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: People practicing yoga and resistance training had more favorable blood lipid profile and anthropometric parameters than control group. "Yoga training" had more pronounced positive effect on HDL cholesterol. Level of LDL cholesterol was more likely to be associated with intensity of physical activity than with type of physical activity.

The Role of Genetic Polymorphism in the Formation of Arterial Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes and their Comorbidity.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary component plays a significant role in the formation of insulin resistance (IR) - one of the pathogenetic links of arterial hypertension (AH) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). However, the genetic predisposition to IR can not be realized and does not manifest itself clinically in the absence of appropriate factors of the environment (excessive nutrition, low physical activity, etc.). OBJECTIVE: The review summarizes the results of studies which describe the contribution of genetic polymorphism to the formation and progression of AH, DM2 and their comorbidity in various populations. RESULTS: In many studies, it has been established that genetic polymorphism of candidate genes is influenced by the formation, course and complication of AH and DM2. According to research data, the modulating effect of polymorphism of some genetic markers of AH and DM2 on metabolism and hemodynamics has been established. The results of numerous studies have shown a higher frequency of occurrence of AH and DM2, as well as their more severe course with adverse genetic polymorphisms. At the same time, the role of genetic polymorphism in the formation of AH and DM2 differs in different populations. CONCLUSION: Contradictory data on the influence of gene polymorphisms on the formation of AH and DM2 in different populations, as well as a small number of studies on the combined effects of several polymorphisms on the formation of comorbidity, determine the continuation of research in this direction.

Studies on membrane permeability of zebrafish (Danio rerio) oocytes in the presence of different cryoprotectants.

Investigation into fish oocyte membrane permeability is essential for developing successful protocols for their cryopreservation. The aim of the present work was to study the permeability of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) oocyte membrane to water and cryoprotectants before cryopreservation protocol design. The study was conducted on stage III and stage V zebrafish oocytes. Volumetric changes of stage III oocytes in different concentrations of sucrose were measured after 20 min exposure at 22 degrees C and the osmotically inactive volume of the oocytes (Vb) was determined using the Boyle-van't Hoff relationship. Volumetric changes of oocytes during exposure to different cryoprotectant solutions were also measured. Oocytes were exposed to 2 M dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), propylene glycol (PG), and methanol for 40 min at 22 degrees C. Stage III oocytes were also exposed to 2 M DMSO at 0 degrees C. Oocyte images were captured on an Olympus BX51 cryomicroscope using Linkham software for image recording. Scion Image was used for image analysis and diameter measurement. The experimental data were fitted to a two-parameter model using Berkeley Madonna 8.0.1 software. Hydraulic conductivity (L(p)) and solute (cryoprotectant) permeability (Ps) were estimated using the model. The osmotically inactive volume of stage III zebrafish oocytes was found to be 69.5%. The mean values+/-SE of Lp were found to be 0.169+/-0.02 and 0.196+/-0.01 microm/min/atm in the presence of DMSO and PG, respectively, at 22 degrees C, assuming an internal isosmotic value for the oocyte of 272 mOsm. The Ps values were 0.000948+/-0.00015 and 0.000933+/-0.00005 cm/min for DMSO and PG, respectively. It was also shown that the membrane permeability of stage III oocytes decreased significantly with temperature. No significant changes in cell volume during methanol treatment were observed. Fish oocyte membrane permeability parameters are reported here for the first time. The Lp and Ps values obtained for stage III zebrafish oocytes are generally lower than those obtained from successfully cryopreserved mammalian oocytes and higher than those obtained with fish embryos and sea urchin eggs. It was not possible to estimate membrane permeability parameters for stage V oocytes using the methods employed in this study because stage V oocytes experienced the separation of outer oolemma membrane from inner vitelline during exposure to cryoprotectants.

Studies on chilling sensitivity of zebrafish (Danio rerio) oocytes.

Human activity in the last few decades has had a devastating effect on the diversity of fresh water and marine fish. Further decline of fish population may have serious economic and ecological consequences. One of the most promising techniques to preserve fish population is to cryopreserve their germ cells. Cryopreservation has been successfully applied to fish sperm of many species, but there has been no success with fish embryo cryopreservation and fish oocyte cryopreservation has never been studied systematically. The aim of this study is to investigate the chilling sensitivity of fish oocytes. Experiments were conducted with zebrafish stage III (vitellogenic) and stage V (mature) oocytes, which were chilled at 10, 5, 0, -5 or -10 degrees C for 15 or 60 min using a low temperature bath. Control oocytes were kept at room temperature at 22 degrees C. Oocyte viability was assessed using three different methods: trypan blue staining (TB), thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) staining and observation of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). The results showed that zebrafish oocyte are very sensitive to chilling and their survival decreased with decreasing temperature and increasing exposure time periods. Normalised survivals assessed with TB staining after exposure to 0, -5 or -10 degrees C for 15 or 60 min were 90.1+/-6.0, 77.8+/-7.6, and 71.2+/-9.3%, and 60.2+/-3.8, 49.6+/-6.7, and 30.4+/-3.0%, respectively. The study found that the sensitivity of viability assessment methods increase in the order of MTT < TB < GVBD. It was found that stage III oocytes were more susceptible to chilling than stage V oocytes, and that individual female had a significant influence (p < 0.0001) on oocyte chilling sensitivity. Zebrafish oocyte chilling sensitivity may also be one of the limiting factors for development of protocol of their cryopreservation.