[Aerobic exercise and fatigue indices in rheumatoid arthritis patients in the health resort care setting]. / Aerobnye uprazhneniya i pokazateli ustalosti u bol'nykh revmatoidnym artritom v usloviyakh sanatorno-kurortnogo lecheniya.

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There is strong evidence that physical activity is an effective way to reduce fatigue. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of aerobic exercise (walking) to reduce fatigue in RA patients in the health resort setting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 102 female patients with RA (age 54.38±11.3 years, body mass index 20-29 kg/m2, DAS28-ESR ≤3.2, with severe fatigue of VAS ≥50) who received 21 days of health resort treatment. The health-improving and therapeutic complex includes dosed physical activity, aerobic exercises (walking). Visual analog scale (VAS0-100) and Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Scale-Numerical Rating Scale (BRAF-NRS V2) were used to assess fatigue, and the 50-meter walking test was used to evaluate the functional status of patients. RESULTS: A correlation between walking duration and the number of steps at a distance of 50 m (p<0.001) as well as between these indices and fatigue (p<0.001) was shown. A positive effect of a standard three-week medical rehabilitation program for patients with RA on fatigue NRS severity (p=0.003) and NRS effect (p=0.037), as well as on patients' functional status (reduced time spent on the 50-meter test, p=0.01) was demonstrated. When comparing groups of RA patients with low (group 1, <5000-6000 steps per day) and optimal (group 2, ≥7000-8000 steps per day) aerobic exercise, positive results were noted in the short term (at 3 weeks) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise is a promising intervention for treating fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Medical rehabilitation in a resort setting is the best starting point to encourage performing regular physical activity, as well as the best way to develop exercise programs tailored to rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Transcription profile analysis of the endometrium revealed molecular markers of the personalized 'window of implantation' during in vitro fertilization.

To determine the most informative markers for assessing the functional state of endometrium during the 'window of implantation' and creating a model for assessment of the readiness of endometrium for embryo implantation. Forty-seven women with tubal infertility and a successful IVF pregnancy participated in the study. Pipelle endometrial sample was performed during the supposed 'window of implantation' in natural cycle with subsequent histological study, and transcriptional profile of genes GPX3, PAEP, DPP4, TAGLN, HABP2, IMPA2, AQP3, HLA-DOB, MSX1, POSTN determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Differences in the level of mRNA expression of all the studied genes in the receptive endometrium were found in comparison to the prereceptive one, which allowed us to classify two functional states of the endometrium. The results of histological examination responded to the stage of maturation of the endometrium in 78.7% of cases. Receptive endometrial status can be determined based on the integral evaluation of mRNA expression level of 4 PAEP, DPP4, MSX1, and HLA-DOB genes. The model for determining a personalized `window implantation' is offered for practical application in ART.

Method of Selection of Bacteria Antibiotic Resistance Genes Based on Clustering of Similar Nucleotide Sequences.

A new method for selection of bacterium antibiotic resistance genes is proposed and tested for solving the problems related to selection of primers for PCR assay. The method implies clustering of similar nucleotide sequences and selection of group primers for all genes of each cluster. Clustering of resistance genes for six groups of antibiotics (aminoglycosides, ß-lactams, fluoroquinolones, glycopeptides, macrolides and lincosamides, and fusidic acid) was performed. The method was tested for 81 strains of bacteria of different genera isolated from patients (K. pneumoniae, Staphylococcus spp., S. agalactiae, E. faecalis, E. coli, and G. vaginalis). The results obtained by us are comparable to those in the selection of individual genes; this allows reducing the number of primers necessary for maximum coverage of the known antibiotic resistance genes during PCR analysis.

[Comparative results of preimplantation genetic screening by array comparative genomic hybridization and new-generation sequencing].

Aneuploidies as quantitative chromosome abnormalities are a main cause of failed development of morphologically normal embryos, implantation failures, and early reproductive losses. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) allows a preselection of embryos with a normal karyotype, thus increasing the implantation rate and reducing the frequency of early pregnancy loss after IVF. Modern PGS technologies are based on a genome-wide analysis of the embryo. The first pilot study in Russia was performed to assess the possibility of using semiconductor new-generation sequencing (NGS) as a PGS method. NGS data were collected for 38 biopsied embryos and compared with the data from array comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH). The concordance between the NGS and array-CGH data was 94.8%. Two samples showed the karyotype 47,XXY by array-CGH and a normal karyotype by NGS. The discrepancies may be explained by loss of efficiency of array-CGH amplicon labeling.

Comparison of the Expression Profiles of Immune Response Gene mRNA in Umbilical and Venous Blood of Newborns of the First Day of Life.

The expression of immune response gene mRNA in the umbilical and venous blood were compared in newborns of the first day of life with and without signs of infection. The expression of il1b, il6, il8, il10, il12a, il15, il18, tnfa, tgfb1, tbx21, gata3, foxp3, rorc2, cd45, cd68, cd69, tlr2, tlr4, tlr9, and mmp8 mRNA was evaluated in umbilical and venous blood cells of newborns by reverse transcription real time PCR. In full-term newborns without signs of infection, the expression of il8, tlr2, tlr4, and mmp8 in venous blood was higher than in umbilical blood, while in preterm newborns, the levels of mmp8 transcript were elevated while the levels of tlr9, cd45, and gata3 were reduced. The expression of some markers differed in the umbilical and venous blood and in newborns with congenital infectious disease and without signs of infection.

Proteomic Analysis of the Urine for Diagnostics in Newborns.

Proteomic analysis of the urine was used for noninvasive diagnostics of abnormalities in newborns treated in the neonatal intensive care unit. This approach can be used to differentiate between infectious and noninfectious respiratory disorders.

[Stimulation of Research in Biomedicine. Role of Effective Contract].

Background: Analysis of publication activity in the field of biomedicine shows insignificant input of Russia in the world scientific product. This is largely due to the lack of incentives for researchers. Article describes stimulation of researchers in Russia, compares it with foreign models, formulates main shortcomings of support and stimulation of research in Russia and introduces the concept of effective contract. Aims: Development of personnel motivation and stimulation of employees of scientific and research organizations in the field of health. Materials and Methods: As a successful experience the article describes the implementation of effective contract in Veltishev Research and Clinical Institute for Pediatrics where for years remuneration of researchers depended upon their positions without consideration of research results. Effective contract brought significant changes in the traditional system setting new performance and efficiency criteria. New evaluation system took into account publication activity, presentation activity, implementation of research results, raising scientific personnel, thesis work and income-generating activities. Results: Introduction of effective contract already in the second year led to a rise in the number of foreign publications, publications in journals with impact factor of more than 2, the general increase in the number of articles in peer-reviewed journals with impact factor more than 0.3, the growth of the number of articles by 1 researcher, Hirsch index improving both by individual employees and the entire Institute, increase of grant activity and presentation activity at top-rated professional congresses. The growth of publication and presentation activities has been achieved at the reduction of research staff by 23%. From financial viewpoint effective contract resulted in the redistribution of resources in favour of more efficient researchers. Conclusions: The introduction of effective contract and increase of requirements for scientific output did not cause resistance of staff, although demanded certain time for joint development of criteria by scientific community, as well as the development and implementation of soft for continuous assessment of research activity.

Caspase expression in placental terminal villi in spontaneous and induced pregnancy.

Placental levels of caspase 1, 8, and 10 were studied by the immunohistochemical method in full-term spontaneous and induced pregnancies. The levels of these caspases in the placental terminal villi were significantly higher in induced pregnancy. The changes were more marked after intracytoplasmatic injection of spermatozoa.

Expression of carbohydrate metabolism markers in full-term spontaneous and induced pregnancy.

Peculiarities of the expression of glucose transporter (GLUT1 and GLUT3) and insulin-like growth factor immunophenotypes in placental villi in full-term physiological pregnancy were studied by immunohistochemical method. In induced pregnancy, changes of different degree in the expression of carbohydrate metabolism markers were detected (most pronounced changes were detected in GLUT3 expression), which was probably associated with higher incidence of obstetrician complications in these patients.

[Corrosive activity of natural microbial associations at various conditions of cultivation].

Influence of microbial associations isolated from different ecological niches on corrosion of mild steel was changed depending on composition of medium and aeration regime. Both decrease and increase in corrosion losses were observed, which indicated that the subdivision of microorganisms into destructors and passivators of corrosion is merely conventional.

Use of potentiated preparations to relieve alcohol and opium withdrawal syndromes.

The efficiency of potentiated preparations from ethanol and morphine hydrochloride in the therapy of patients with alcohol and opium withdrawal syndromes was compared in an open clinical trial. Potentiated ethanol relieved the major clinical manifestations, possessed hypnagogic properties, and reduced the severity of neurological and vegetative disorders in patients with the alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Potentiated morphine produced the anxiolytic, myorelaxing, and analgetic effects. Test preparations did not cause side effects.

[Initial stages of steel biocorrosion]. / Issledovanie nachal'nykh étapov biokorrozii stali.

Initial stages of corrosion of mild steel induced by Klebsiela rhinoscleromatis BO2 were studied in various media. The effect of the microorganism was detected 8-10 h after inoculation. The number of viable cells were virtually unchanged within one month in all media, but the corrosive activity of the strain decreased. The corrosive activity of microorganisms can be determined by spectrophotometry even only after incubation for 24 h. At a low level of organic substrate, even strong colonization with microorganisms does not inevitably result in a significant damage to metals.

[Increase in the ecological danger upon the use of biocides for fighting corrosion induced by microorganisms]. / Povyshenie ékologicheskoi bezopastnosti pri ispol'zovanii biotsidov dlia bor'by s korroziei, indutsiruemoi mikroorganizmami.

Five synergistic combinations of biocides were found, among which the combination of kathon + copper sulfate was the most efficient against Serratia marcescens. Depending on the ratio of these biocides, the synergistic effect of this pair allowed 4-20-fold decreases in the effective concentrations. Combinations of biocides with salts (carbonates and phosphates) that facilitate passivation of steel were found, which considerably decreased the corrosion losses of mild steel in comparison to isolated treatment with biocides or salts. The data showed that biocides must be added to corrosion-prone systems simultaneously with the beginning of their exploitation. Otherwise, considerably excessive amounts of biocides or their synergistic compositions are needed.

[Development of biological methods of combating steel corrosion, induced by aerobic microorganisms]. / Razrabotka biologicheskikh metov bor'by s korroziei uglerodistoi stali, indutsirovannoi aérobnymi mikroorganizmami.

Cocultivation of degrading microorganisms and their antagonists decreases the corrosion loss of carbon steel by 20 to 80%. It was found that a microorganism can either accelerate or inhibit corrosion, depending on the nutrient. The magnitude of the effect on corrosion depends on the ability of the microorganism to respond to changes in the nutrient-medium composition by releasing acidic or alkaline metabolites.

[BCG vaccination: characteristics of drugs and causes of vaccinal complications]. / Vaktsinatsiia BTsZh: kharakteristika preparatov i prichiny postvaktsinal'nykh oslozhnenii.

Series of BCG and BCG-M vaccines causing complications in children vaccinated in Russia's areas in 1995 were checked up. All the series met the Russian and international specifications for BCG and BCG-M vaccines. The incidence of postvaccinal lymphadenitis was 5 times less than the limit laid down by an official article. The properties of the agents produced no significant effect on the number and type of postvaccinal complications. The risk for complications was much less when BCG-M was used. The risk factors were defects of intradermal vaccine administration and contaminant abnormalities prior to vaccination and at the moment of local vaccinal response.

[Effect of bile on the amylolytic activity of various biological media]. / Vliianie zhelchi na amiloliticheskuiu aktivnost' razlichnykh biologicheskikh sred.

It has been established in experiments in vitro that bile activates amylase in blood, saliva and homogenates of the pancreas and small intestinal mucosa. Activation was found to depend on the amount of bile added and enzyme origin. It is suggested that bile has a direct effect on conformation of the amylase molecules.

[Age and infectious psychoses in children and adolescents]. / Vozrastnye osobennosti infektsionnykh psikhozov u detei i podrostkov.

Infectious psychoses were studied clinically in 60 children divided into three age groups: 3-7 years, 7-12 years and 12-17 years. Acute respiratory diseases, influenza, tonsillitis, otitis were the etiologic factors of psychoses. Short-term delirium states characterized by visual and tactile hallucinations prevailed in the first group. Affective-asthenic syndromes prevailed in the second group children. Their psychoses were characterized by both visual and acoustic illusions. Protracted or periodical disorders of the consciousness including psychosensory, senestopathic and depersonalization ones prevailed in the third group.