Temporal evolution of bacterial species and their antimicrobial resistance characteristics in wound infections of war-related injuries in Ukraine from 2014 to 2023.

BACKGROUND: This study continues surveillance of antimicrobial resistance associated with combat injuries in Ukraine. AIM: To compare species composition, antibiotic resistance profiles, and emergence of new resistance genes between 2014-2020 and 2022-2023. METHODS: This was a retrospective multi-centre microbiological survey in Ukrainian hospitals. Antibiotic susceptibility, whole-genome sequencing and multi-locus sequence typing were conducted on 154 organisms obtained from 125 casualties between 2022 and 2023. FINDINGS: The data revealed a predominance of Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Acinetobacter baumannii (35.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.9%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.7%). High levels of carbapenem resistance were observed among A. baumannii {meropenem 72.2% [39/54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 58.4-83.5]; imipenem 66.7% (36/54, 95% CI 52.5-78.9)}, K. pneumoniae [meropenem 90.6% (29/32, 95% CI 75.0-98.0); imipenem 81.2% (26/32, 95% CI 63.6-92.8)] and P. aeruginosa [meropenem 47.8% (11/23, 95% CI 26.8-69.4); imipenem 60.8% (14/23, 95% CI 38.5-80.3)] strains. A. baumannii sequence type (ST)-78 and ST-400 were prevalent from 2014 to 2020, while five strains of ST-1077 were newly identified in 2022-2023. P. aeruginosa strains showed diversity across 16 STs, with ST-773 increasing in frequency and new STs emerging, but lacking carbapenemase genes. K. pneumoniae exhibited increased genetic diversity over time, with three STs from 2014 to 2020 and six new STs, including blaNDM-1, blaOXA-48 and blaKPC2 carriers, in 2022-2023. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of multi-drug-resistant isolates with STs associated with a high risk of global dissemination is increasing.

Photodynamic Therapy of Sarcoma M-1 in Rats with Photosensitizer Photoran E6.

We studied the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy with the photosensitizer Photoran E6 on the model of rat sarcoma M-1 positive for mutant p53 gene. Experiments showed that Photoran E6 exhibits high antitumor activity in photodynamic therapy of solid tumor of the connective tissue. Photodynamic therapy carried out during the optimal period after injections of Photoran E6 with the determined parameters of laser exposure allows achieving the maximum inhibitory effect on sarcoma M-1: 100% cured animals. Immunohistochemical study revealed no live tumor cells with expression of the mutant p53 protein in areas of photodynamic exposure.

Effect of Vitrification on Functional Morphology and Viability of the Ovarian Tissue.

The results of a complex morphofunctional study with markers of proliferation (PCNA and Ki-67), angiogenesis (CD31 and CD34), and structural integrity of mesenchymal cells (vimentin) suggest that the pool of primordial follicles was well preserved in vitrified ovarian tissue and that viability of its cellular components can be rapidly restored during incubation at 37°C within 4 h after thawing.

An electrochemical platform for localized pH control on demand.

Solution pH is a powerful tool for regulating many kinds of chemical activity, but is generally treated as a static property defined by a pre-selected buffer. Introducing dynamic control of pH in space, time, and magnitude can enable richer and more efficient chemistries, but is not feasible with traditional methods of titration or buffer exchange. Recent reports have featured electrochemical strategies for modifying bulk pH in constrained volumes, but only demonstrate switching between two preset values and omit spatial control entirely. Here, we use a combination of solution-borne quinones and galvanostatic excitation to enable quantitative control of pH environments that are highly localized to an electrode surface. We demonstrate highly reproducible acidification and alkalinization with up to 0.1 pH s(-1) (±0.002 pH s(-1)) rate of change across the dynamic range of our pH sensor (pH 4.5 to 7.5) in buffered solutions. Using dynamic current control, we generate and sustain 3 distinct pH microenvironments simultaneously to within ±0.04 pH for 13 minutes in a single solution, and we leverage these microenvironments to demonstrate spatially-resolved, pH-driven control of enzymatic activity. In addition to straightforward applications of spatio-temporal pH control (e.g. efficiently studying pH-dependencies of chemical interactions), the technique opens completely new avenues for implementing complex systems through dynamic control of enzyme activation, protein binding affinity, chemical reactivity, chemical release, molecular self-assembly, and many more pH-controlled processes.

[The results of monitoring of antigen types of rotaviruses of group A on the territory of the Russian Federation in 2011-2015.]

The data of seasonal monitoring are presented concerning antigen types of rotaviruses group A circulating on the territory of the Russian Federation in the periods of seasonal uprising of morbidity in 2011-2015. Annually, the study included from 10 to 12 subjects of the Russian Federation with annual testing from 444 to 728 samples from children aged younger than 5 years with acute infection diarrhea. In the seasons of 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2014-2015 the most prevalent [P] G types of rotaviruses correspondingly made up to: G4[P]8 -50.2%-36.5%-43.8%-1.6%; G1[P]8 - 26.6%-14.3%-27.3%-22.5%; G3[P]8 - 4.4%-23.7%-4.2%-2.0%; G9[P]8 - 4.3%-5.3%-10.1%-7.1%; G2[P]4 - 7.7%-7.9%-9.0%-3.1%. The expressed territorial irregularity of prevalence of antigen types of retroviruses was observed.

[Collective immunity against poliomyelitis among the population of several regions of Russia].

The goal of this work was to estimate the collective immunity against poliomyelitis among the population of 8 regions and republics of Russia. The rates of the collective immunity against poliomyelitis allow the polio vaccination quality to be estimated and the population protection rate to be simultaneously demonstrated. A total of 8 regions (2138 people) were tested. The antibodies to the polioviruses of 1-3 types were determined against the vaccine Sabin strains in the neutralization test in the RD cell line. As a result, we found that vaccination against poliomyelitis in all observed regions was maintained at the required high level. Thus, the number of people with antibodies to the polio in most regions and age groups approximates or reaches 100%, while GMT is also high. This work demonstrated the necessity of the continuation of vaccination against poliomyelitis and control over collective immunity.

Electrospray mass spectrometry with controlled in-source atomization (ERIAD) as a promising elemental method: evaluation of analytical features.

Electrospray ionization with controlled in-source fragmentation and atomization (ERIAD) is promising method for mass-spectrometric elemental analysis. This paper concerns the main analytical features and necessary instrumentation for ERIAD. The method is shown to be effective for more than 70 elements of the periodic table: those that present as cations in a water solution. It shows a high absolute sensitivity with a low spread from Li to U, and a detection limit of tens of parts per trillion. The soft ionization used results in the absence of plasma chemical reaction products, typical for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the spectra are nearly free from interferences. The method does not require a high resolution and can be used for samples with an artificial isotopic content. The method is essentially valid for radiochemistry and metallomics, as it has the possibility to combine measurements of chemical, elemental, and even isotopic content simultaneously.

[Oxidative carbonylation of vascular wall proteins in dynamics of experimental venous thrombosis].

The objects of the study were a total of 24 conventional sexually mature Wistar rats weighing 200-400 g. Thrombosis was modelled by means of ligation of the common iliac vein. Animals were withdrawn from the study on days 1, 3 and 5 after intervention. The materials for the study in each animal were homogenates of the vein portion below the site of ligation (thrombosed vein) and the portion of the symmetrical vessel (intact vein). Taken as controls were portions of the common iliac vein of intact animals matched by age, body weight, and keeping conditions. The level of spontaneous and induced in the Fenton reaction oxidative carbonylation of proteins was determined by means of carbonyl derivatives according to the R.L. Levine technique modified by E.E. Dubinina with optical registration of the formed dinitrophenylhydrazines at 356, 370, 430 and 530 nm. The reserve-and-adaptation potential was assessed by means of counting the ratio of the amount of carbonyl derivatives of proteins in spontaneous and induced oxidation. The obtained findings showed that experimental thrombosis is accompanied and followed by an increase in the content of carbonyl derivatives of proteins in the wall of thrombosed veins and, to a lesser degree, in that of intact veins. The maximal elevation of the parameters was registered during the first 24 hours of the development of pathology, demonstrating not only early but late markers of oxidative modification of proteins. Thrombosed veins on day 3 were found to have a decrease in the content of carbonylated proteins to the level of the control values, which was associated with a maximal value of the reserve-adaptation potential. However, day five was marked by a secondary increase in carbonylation accompanied by certain exhaustion of the reserve-adaptive potential. In intact veins, a decrease of the spontaneous oxidative modification level on day 3 was accompanied by a splash of induced carbonylation followed by stabilization of the parameters at the levels slightly exceeding the control values by day 5.

Stimulatory effect of volatile urinary components from intact mice on the proliferative activity of splenic lymphoid tissue in irradiated animals.

Immunohistochemical and morphometric analyses have demonstrated long-distance stimulatory effects of the natural volatile components of the urine of intact mice on the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes in mice exposed to a single total γ-irradiation in a dose of 1 Gy. These results are in line with the data on stimulation of the humoral immune response to thymus-dependent antigen in irradiated mice exposed to urine specimens of intact animals.

[The effectiveness of fractionated exposure of sarcoma M-1 to gamma-radiation and fast neutrons].

The effectiveness of fractionated exposure to gamma- and neutron radiation in their separate and combined use on the growth and functional morphology of mutant p53 sarcoma M-1 in rats was studied. Investigation techniques included immunostaining of PCNA and mutant p53 expressing cells, determination of mitotic activity and apoptotic death of tumor cells, as well as computer analysis of microscopic images. The antitumor efficacy of different types of radiation is shown to be determined by different levels of apoptosis induction, reduced proliferation and cellularity. Neutron radiation of the impulse generator has a marked damaging effect on the vasculature and the development of tumor necrosis. Fractionated irradiation at equal daily doses led to the decrease in the relative effectiveness of radio-inactivation of tumor cells. After 9 fractions of irradiation, the calculated value of the RBE of fast neutrons normalized to the input dose of 1 Gy by the coefficient of tumor growth inhibition, a reduced proliferative activity of PCNA and induced apoptosis of tumor cells was 3.4, 3.7 and 3.1, respectively. In the mode of daily superfractionation with splitting the dose in two fractions, the effectiveness of the combined exposure corresponded to the additive effect of gamma- and neutron radiation with a tendency toward synergism. There are reasons to believe that high resistance of sarcoma M-1 to the ionizing radiation impact is due not only to a fraction of hypoxic cells, but also the mutant status of p53 gene.

[ERIAD mass spectrometry (electrospray with controlled fragmentation) is the common method for metallomics and biochemistry of elementoorganic molecules].

The physical aspects of the ERIAD method (electrospray with controlled fragmentation) in terms of the problems of metallomics and biochemistry of elementoorganic compounds have been considered. It was shown that the method is well suited to study the objects of this class since it enables one to change from the molecular to the elemental analysis merely by changing the voltage between the nozzle and the skimmer. In the regime of molecular analysis, it is possible to determine the mass of the molecule as a whole and decipher its structure by controlled fragmentation, and in the regime of elemental analysis the number of atoms of heteroelements incorporated in the molecule can be quantified.

[Unfavorable effect of the period of new year holidays on total and cardiovascular mortality].

We studied effect of the period of new year holydays on parameters of total and cardiovascular mortality. We analyzed all registered deaths in Kemerovo from 01.01.1998 to 31.12.2001 using data of the Kemerovo registry office (ZAGS). In time interval from 21 December to January 10 of each year there were 1830 deaths (968 men and 862 women). Between January 1 and 5 compared with preceding and subsequent days total and cardiovascular mortality were 27% (p = 0.003) and 25% (p = 0.024), high respectively. We also noted dependence of the parameter studied on age and sex. Thus the period of New Year holydays is associated with increased total and cardiovascular mortality and this association can not be explained by the effect of low temperatures.

Morphofunctional study of the therapeutic efficacy of human mesenchymal and neural stem cells in rats with diffuse brain injury.

We studied the effect of transplantation of human stem cells from various tissues on reparative processes in the brain of rats with closed craniocerebral injury. Combined treatment with standard drugs and systemic administration of xenogeneic stem cells had a neuroprotective effect. The morphology of neurons rapidly returned to normal after administration of fetal neural stem cells. Fetal mesenchymal stem cells produced a prolonged effect on proliferative activity of progenitor cells in the subventricular zone of neurogenesis. Adult mesenchymal stem cells had a strong effect on recovery of the vascular bed in ischemic regions.

[The peculiarities of immune status of patients with coronary heart disease in the predoperative period during the individual year].

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the individual annual cycle (IAC), a period from one birthday to another, on the immune status of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). The subjects, 146 male CHD patients, were hospitalized to undergo coronary bypass surgery (CBS). The preoperative period in patients who were operated on in the 4th IAC trimester was characterized by significant changes in cell immunity parameters, such as a decrease in the relative number of T-lymphocytes, T-helpers, and NK cells, which was associated with a significant increase in the frequency of pyoseptic complications after CBS. During the 1st IAC trimester there was an increase in the functional activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes and monocyte level elevation, which corresponded with an increase in the number of coronarogenic complications. The data obtained demonstrate the dependence of the immune index dynamics of CHD patients on their IAC.

[Reparative bone regeneration after aseptic necrosis of the femoral head as influenced by 1-chloromethylsilatrane treatment].

The aim of this work was to study the effect of 1-chloromethyisilatranum on the processes of reparative bone regeneration in experimentally induced aseptic femoral head necrosis. Aseptic femoral head necrosis was modeled in 4 Chinchilla rabbits by destruction of spongy substance of femoral neck and cutting of ligamentum teres of its head. Rabbits of the experimental group were injected with 0.4 ml of 1% solution of 1-chloromethylsilatranum on postoperational days 5, 10, 15 and 20 into the damaged femoral head and close to the damaged joint. Animal were sacrificed by air embolism 5 weeks from the start of an experiment. Necrotic and repair processes in hip joints from damaged and intact sides were assessed radiologically and histologically prior to sacrifice. In rabbits of both control and experimental groups extensive aseptic necrosis of hip joints was found. The osseous tissue of damaged hip joints of experimental animals contained the chains of osteoblasts actively producing new bone matrix. Foci of bone regeneration were found both in the deep and peripheral regions of the epiphysis, which is indicative of active processes of bone repair. The results obtained suggest that administration of organic-silicon drug 1-chloromethylsilatranum stimulates (optimizes) the processes of repair osteogenesis following aseptic femoral head necrosis in experimental animals. Application of this preparation appears to be very promising.

[Biorthythmological risk factors for progression of coronary heart disease]. / Bioritmologicheskie faktory riska progressirovaniia ishemicheskoi bolezni serdtsa.

The study was undertaken to study a role of periods of an individual annual cycle (IAC) (from the date of a birthday to the following one) and the season of a year in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in its progression. The study enrolled 52 patients with functional classes II and stable angina pectoris. Clinical and functional parameters were estimated by the data of bicycle ergometric test (BET), 24-hour monitoring (24-h M), ECG, and echocardiography. The vast majority of cases of progression of angina were observed in autumn and winter. Moreover, in patients with angina, the duration of silent ischemia significantly increased and heart rate variability decreased in winter and that of painful ischemia increased in autumn, as evidenced by 24-h M. Trimesters 1 (months 1 to 3 from the date of birth) and particularly IV (months 10 to 12 from the date of birth) have been found to be characterized by a poor course of CHD. Thus, in trimester IV, the duration of total, and silent ischemia significantly prolonged, as shown by 24-h M; episodes of latent coronary insufficiency increased in number, as evidenced by BET. Thus, the course of CHD is determined by a number of biorhythmological factors: the season of a year and the period of IAC.

[Connection between the season of year, season of birth, and trimester of the individual year in patients with ischemic heart disease at risk for myocardial infarction and its complications]. / Sviaz' sezona goda, sezona rozhdeniia i trimestrov individual'nogo goda bol'nykh ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa s riskom razvitiia infarkta miokarda i ego oslozhnenii.

AIM: To clarify whether the periods of the individual year (from one birthday to another), season of the year, season of birth of patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) are involved in development of myocardial infarction and its complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Case histories of 349 men hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction (MI) have been analysed. The analysis concerned the rate of MI onset in various seasons of the year, trimesters of the individual year (IY) and seasons of the patient's birth. RESULTS: Incidence of MI was higher in winter and summer. MI complications develop more frequently in spring. Trimester I and IV (months i-III and IX-XII since birthday) appeared more favourable for development of MI and its complications. Most favourable for IM was trimester III of IY, for MI complications--trimester II of IY. IM occurred more frequently in IHD patients born in autumn, complications in those born in summer. CONCLUSION: Development of MI and its complications is determined by a number of chronobiological factors: season of the year, season of the patient's birth and period of the individual year. This information is valuable in planning preventive measures.

[Drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Sverdlovsk Region]. / Lekarstvennaia ustoichivost' mikobakterii tuberkuleza v Sverdlovskoi oblasti.

In the Sverdlovsk Region, multidrug resistance was observed in greater than 8% of patients isolating bacteria mainly in the residents of cities, former prisoners, those having fibrocavernous tuberculosis complicated by chronic nonspecific lung disease (CNLD). Primary resistance was determined in 4.7%, secondary resistance developing in 57.4% of cases 3 years or longer after the initiation of treatment. The most common cause of multiresistant tuberculosis is irregular treatment, patients' discontinuation of some antituberculous agents, as well as scarce financing of a tuberculosis control service, which prevents the standard treatment regimens from using in tuberculosis. Death due to tuberculosis was largely occurred irregularly treated dwellers of cities, tuberculosis-induced disabled individuals, alcohol abusers, patients with CNLD, or having fibrocavernous tuberculosis resistant to 4-5 antituberculous agents.

[Growth kinetics and functional morphology of M-1 sarcoma in rats before and after gamma-irradiation]. / Kinetika rosta i funktsional'naia morfologiia sarkomy M-1 u intaktnykh krys i posle gamma-oblucheniia.

The study was concerned with growth of sarcoma M-1 and basic morphological characteristics of proliferative activity of cells of this strain as well as apoptosis of cells at different stages of tumor progression in rats before and after a single gamma irradiation at 30 Gy. At the parenchymal periphery which determines tumor growth, the PCNA index of proliferating cells was 76.5%; spontaneous cell death--0.28%. During post-irradiation period, the sarcoma PCNA index fell to 62.3% while the apoptotic index rose five-fold. These findings support the concept of radiation-induced apoptosis being a major pathogenetic factor responsible for effectiveness of radiotherapy of tumors. Indirect evidence on PCNA immunostaining suggested that synthesis of this cyclin is sensitive to the level of oxygen input in the cell, yet it offers sufficient resistance to gamma-radiation.

Immunohistochemical and morphometric analysis of effects of vilon and epithalon on functional morphology of radiosensitive organs.

Studies of the effects of vilon and epithalon on functional morphology of the thymus, spleen, and duodenum in intact rats and rats exposed to single whole-body gamma-irradiation in a dose of 6 Gy showed that vilon stimulated proliferative activity of thymocytes and enhanced proliferative potential of stem cells in the intestine, thus stimulating the postradiation recovery of critical organs. Epithalon decelerated metabolic processes in the duodenal mucosa and suppressed hemopoiesis and lymphopoiesis in the spleen.