Medical Antennas for Microwave Radiothermometry of Biological Objects.

The results of an analytical review of various antennas used in medicine are presented. Issues of modern microwave radiothermometry related to the development of new antennas are discussed, as well as possible ways to solve them. The tasks of further research aimed at creating new designs for conformal antennas and antenna arrays providing a significant expansion of the functionality and improvements in the characteristics of medical radiothermographs are formulated. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Grant No. 22-19-00113), https://rscf.ru/project/22-19-00113/.

Microminiaturization of Multichannel Multifrequency Radiographs.

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the challenge of introducing methods for investigating patients reducing or eliminating the probability of infection of medical staff is currently relevant. This article provides an analytical review of new technological approaches to organizing the work of medical personnel in carrying out auscultation of patients with COVID-19. The development and approval of such technologies is shown to have started around the world. The ubiquitous and large-scale introduction of these methods into medical practice therefore seems expedient.

Some Methods for Substantiating Diagnostic Decisions Made Using Machine Learning Algorithms.

Various classification algorithms used in the diagnosis of breast cancer based on microwave radiometry data are considered. In particular, their principles of operation and the possibility of substantiating diagnoses using numerical data are discussed. A substantiation algorithm based on decision trees and a naive Bayesian classifier is presented. Examples of substantiation are given for breast cancer.

[Characteristics of the quality of life in women 55-64 years old living in the urban conditions.]

The article presents the results of the study of the quality of life (QOL) characteristics in the urban women 55-64 years old using the SF-36v2 questionnaire, the estimation of the standardized quantities of QOL is given. A total of 509 women were examined and divided into two age groups: the 1st group is 55-59 years old (n=210), the 2nd group is 60-64 years old (n=299). It is established that the women older than 59 years have a decline in the indicators of the physical functioning (p<0,001), the role functioning conditioned by a physical state (p=0,001), as well as the intensity of pain (p=0,011), which will negatively affect their activity in everyday life, their productive activities, making it difficult to continue working on pension. The analysis of the physical component of the QOL also revealed its decrease in women older than 59 years (p<0,001). At the same time, statistically significant age differences in the psychological component of the QOL (p>0,1) were not established. The results of the research show that the determining factor that has a positive effect on the process of successful aging in women of the second age group is not the physical but the psychological component of the quality of life.

Mobilan: a recombinant adenovirus carrying Toll-like receptor 5 self-activating cassette for cancer immunotherapy.

Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) is considered an attractive target for anticancer immunotherapy. TLR5 agonists, bacterial flagellin and engineered flagellin derivatives, have been shown to have potent antitumor and metastasis-suppressive effects in multiple animal models and to be safe in both animals and humans. Anticancer efficacy of TLR5 agonists stems from TLR5-dependent activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) that mediates innate and adaptive antitumor immune responses. To extend application of TLR5-targeted anticancer immunotherapy to tumors that do not naturally express TLR5, we created an adenovirus-based vector for intratumor delivery, named Mobilan that drives expression of self-activating TLR5 signaling cassette comprising of human TLR5 and a secreted derivative of Salmonella flagellin structurally analogous to a clinical stage TLR5 agonist, entolimod. Co-expression of TLR5 receptor and agonist in Mobilan-infected cells established an autocrine/paracrine TLR5 signaling loop resulting in constitutive activation of NF-κB both in vitro and in vivo. Injection of Mobilan into primary tumors of the prostate cancer-prone transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice resulted in a strong induction of multiple genes involved in inflammatory responses and mobilization of innate immune cells into the tumors including neutrophils and NK cells and suppressed tumor progression. Intratumoral injection of Mobilan into subcutaneously growing syngeneic prostate tumors in immunocompetent hosts improved animal survival after surgical resection of the tumors, by suppression of tumor metastasis. In addition, vaccination of mice with irradiated Mobilan-transduced prostate tumor cells protected mice against subsequent tumor challenge. These results provide proof-of-concept for Mobilan as a tool for antitumor vaccination that directs TLR5-mediated immune response toward cancer cells and does not require identification of tumor antigens.

Functional genetics-directed identification of novel pharmacological inhibitors of FAS- and TNF-dependent apoptosis that protect mice from acute liver failure.

shRNA-mediated gene-silencing technology paired with cell-based functional readouts reveals potential targets directly, providing an opportunity to identify drugs against the target without knowing the precise role of the target in the pathophysiological processes of interest. By screening a lentiviral shRNA library targeting for major components of human signaling pathways and known drug targets, we identified and validated both canonical as well as 52 novel mediators of FAS and TNF ligand-induced apoptosis. Presence of potential therapeutic targets among these mediators was confirmed by demonstration of in vivo activity of siRNAs against four identified target candidates that protected mice from acute liver failure (ALF), a life-threatening disease with known involvement of death receptor (DR)-mediated apoptosis. Network-based modeling was used to predict small-molecule inhibitors for several candidate apoptosis mediators, including somatostatin receptor 5 (SSTR5) and a regulatory subunit of PP2A phosphatase, PPP2R5A. Remarkably, pharmacological inhibition of either SSTR5 or PPP2R5A reduced apoptosis induced by either FASL or TNF in cultured cells and dramatically improved survival in several mouse models of ALF. These results demonstrate the utility of loss-of-function genetic screens and network-based drug-repositioning methods for expedited identification of targeted drug candidates and revealed pharmacological agents potentially suitable for treatment of DR-mediated pathologies.

[Light- and electron-microscopic study of pelobiont Pelomyxa secunda (Gruber, 1884) comb. nov. (Archamoebae, Pelobiontida)].

Morphology of a pelobiont Pelomyxa secunda (Gruber, 1884) comb. nov. was investigated at light- and electron-microscopical levels. Locomotive forms are elongated or cigar-shaped. The size of active forms varies from 200 to 300 µm. Larger individuals (up to 400 µm) are not able to directed movement. Organism can produce short, usually finger-shaped hyaline pseudopodia at the frontal side or laterally. The cell coat is represented by amorphous glycocalix, up to 300 nm in thickness. A thin periphery cytoplasmic zone is deprived of any organelles, vacuoles, endocytobionts and other inclusions and separated from main cytoplasm by a layer of arranged microfilaments. P. secunda is multinucleate organism; nuclei are of granular type. The nucleolar material is represented by two forms of discrete structures differing in size and electron density. Two or three layers of short microtubules organized in the parallel arrangement are associated with outer side of the nuclear envelop. P. secunda possess two types of obligate prokaryotic endocytobionts lying in individual symbiontophoric vacuoles. Undulipodia, kinetosomes and root microtubular derivatives are not observed in P. secunda cells as well as any developed cytoplasmic microtubular cytoskeleton.

[Postural control characteristics in elderly women with fallers].

Using computer posturografic (stabilometric) complex a study of postural control peculiarities was carried out in 108 women aged 65-74 years who had experienced two or more falls during the year (fallers). These tests were: Sensory Organization Test, Motor Control Test, Rhythmic Weight Shift. It was found that elderly women with fallers had a decrease of sensory information (somatosensory - by 1,8 %, of the visual - by 6 %, and of the vestibular - by 10,1 %), the neurophysiological mechanisms of postural control (by 5,7 points), violation of adaptation possibilities of sensory and motor components of the legs to respond quickly to changes in the center of gravity within the support base of its footing (7,3 ms), as well as reducing balance control in the frontal (by 7,2 %) and sagittal (by 23,2 % ) planes compared with the women of the same age without fallers.

[The level of expression of molecules of adhesion on monocytes depending on morphological differentiation of nuclei].

The article demonstrates that in conditions of absence of antigen stimulation in venous blood percentage of promocytes made up 26% (20.0; 36.0), monocytes proper--40% (29.5; 47.0), polymorphic nuclear monocytes--31.0% (24.5; 43.0). The molecule of L-selectin was expressed by 42.2% of monocytes; of LFA-1--99.72%; of ICAM-1--88.88%; of LFA-3--94.11%; of PECAM-1--97.50% of monocytes. The positive correlation is established between content of polymorphic nuclear monocytes and level of expression of molecules of LFA-1, ICAM-1, LFA-3, and PECAM-1. This occurrence can testify readiness to implementation of phase of sliding, solid adhesion and transmigration immediately by polymorphic nuclear monocytes primarily.

[Reisolation and redescription of pelobiont Pelomyxa paradoxa Penard, 1902 (Archamoebae, Pelobiontida)].

Morphology of a pelobiont Pelomyxa paradoxa Penard, 1902 was investigated at light- and electron-microscopical levels. Locomoting cells are cigar-shaped. The cells produce many hyaline pseudopodia of digital and conical form at lateral sides of the body. The organism has a pronounced hyaline bulbous uroid with broad peripheral zone of hyaloplasm and many conical hyaline villi. There is a thin layer of amorphous glycocalix at the cell surface. "Structure" and food vacuoles of different size are very abundant in the endoplasm. Two different species of prokaryote endocytobionts are peculiar for P. paradoxa. Uninucleate stage dominates in the life cycle of P. paradoxa. Usually there are no more than 10-12 nuclei in multinucleate forms of P. paradoxa. Pelomyxae nuclei are closely surrounded by thick multilaminar layer and additionally by one more layer, which is formed by small vesicles with electron-dense content. Several irregular-shaped nucleoli are situated at the nucleus periphery. Inside the nucleoli, and sometimes directly in nucleoplasm the small round bodies are revealed, these bodies being formed by tightly packed electron-dense fibrils. Many non-motile flagellae are located mainly in the uroidal zone of the cell. Pronounced lateral root and 50-60 radial microtubules originate from the electrone-dense muft around the kinetosome. All elements of the rootlet system of flagella are limited by peripheral layers of cytoplasm. P. paradoxa occupy an intermediate position between two groups of species of Pelomyxa genus--P. gruberi + P. prima and P. palustris + P. stagnalis + P. belewski, which differ greatly by the organization of their flagella basal apparatus.

[Stress proteins in the cells of Porphyra purpurea (Rhodophyta) thallus].

Heat shock proteins have been revealed for the first time by the methods of Western blotting using alkaline phosphatase and ECL in the cells of Porphyra purpurea from Kattegat area of the Baltic Sea in normal and experimental stress conditions. It was demonstrated with application of monoclonal anti-Hsp70 antibodies that a slight band about 70 kDa is present constitutively at the film; additionally the polypeptide of about 40 kDa ("Hsp40") has been detected. After heat shock at 28 degrees C during 1 hr significant "expenditure" of Hsp70 was observed, as well as the pronounced induction of "Hsp40"; the induction was expressed especially strongly in 24 hr after the stress application.

[Influence of industrial pollution of ambient air on health of workers engaged into open air activities in cold conditions].

The article presents the results of a study on assessment of occupational exposure to air pollutants and related health effects in3792 outdoor workers engaged in operations performed in the vicinity of non-ferrous metallurgical facilities in Far North. Findings are that during cold season repeated climate and weather conditions are associated with higher level of chemical hazards and dust in surface air. At the air temperature below -17 degrees C, maximal single concentrations of major pollutants can exceed MAC up to 10 times. With that, transitory disablement morbidity parameters and occupational accidents frequency increase significantly. The workers with long exposure to cooling meteorological factors and air pollution demonstrate significantly increased prevalence of respiratory and circulatory diseases, despite relatively low levels of sculpture dioxide and dust in the air, not exceeding the occupational exposure limits. It has been concluded that severe cold is to be considered asa factor increasing occupational risk at air polluted outdoor worksites dueto more intense air pollution, higher traumatism risk and lower efficiency of filter antidust masks respiratory PPE and due to modification of the toxic effects.

[A contact electroimpulse impact on the ureteral and bladder wall of mature dogs: a 1-year results of a morphological prospective study].

The aim of the study was investigation of morphological changes in the urinary bladder and ureteral wall of dogs in response to contact electroimpulse impact (CEII); to develop recommendations for utilization of contact electroimpulse lithotripsy in humans. Effects of single-impulse CEII on the bladder and ureteral mucosa produced by an electroimpulse lithotripter were studied in 23 mature mongrel dogs. The morphological material was studied immediately after the impact, 1, 6, 14 days and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after it. The 0.1-0.7 J electroimpulse impact resulted in fragmentary epithelial necrosis and aceptic inflammation within a muscular layer. An enhanced to 0.8 J impact caused local damage to all layers of the wall including adventitium while a 0.9-1 J impact caused ureteral perforation in 3 cases. Duration of morphological rehabilitation depended on the impact power and was optimal for 0.1-0.5 J impulses with complete mucosal repair to day 14 and complete morphological rehabilitation to month 6 after the procedure. In power 0.6-1 J mucosal recovery increased to 1 month while complete formation of the connective tissue finished after 1 year. None cases of development of ureteral strictures after CEII was observed in follow-up for 1 year.

[Peculiarities of postural balance among elderly men with fear of falling syndrome].

A comparative study of postural balance among elderly men of 65-85 years old with postural instability and an equal number of falls, experiencing and not experiencing the fear of the probability of falling was conducted. Analysis of the data of computer stabilometery found that men fearing to fall in all functional tests had medium speed indicators of general center of mass (GCM), the mean radius of GCMs indicators significantly higher and indicators of mean half-period fluctuations of GCMs in the sagittal and frontal areas were significantly less than among men of similar age not fearing to fall down. These results indicate that the emergence of feelings of fear of possible falls among elderly and senile patients with postural instability has an objective basis in the form of more severe violations of the postural control system in comparison with those that do not face the fear of the probability of falling.

[Regional standardization of water chemical substances in case of the Arkhangelsk region].

The paper gives the data characterizing the status of water supply systems, the efficiency of waterworks, and the quality of drinking and Severnaya Dvina River waters. It generalizes the data characterizing the sanitary-and-epidemiological situation and human health in the region. There is evidence for the assumption that regional standardization of chemical compounds in the drinking water of northern regions should be carried out during water preparation, which confirms the conclusions of hygienic and toxic studies previously conducted in individual areas and those given in the references.

A In Vitro and In Vivo Study of the Ability of NOD1 Ligands to Activate the Transcriptional Factor NF-kB.

Pattern-recognition receptors (PRR) play a crucial role in the induction of the defense reactions of the immune system against pathogenic bacterial and viral infections. The activation of PRR by specific, highly conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) induces numerous immune reactions related both to innate and adaptive immunity. In addition to the well-studied Toll-like receptors, pathogens can be recognized by the receptors belonging to the other PRR families; including NOD-like receptors (NLR). Stimulation of members of NOD-like receptors (NOD1, 2) and Toll-like receptors results in the activation of the transcriptional factor NF-kB regulating gene expression in numerous molecules implicated in the development of proinflammatory reactions. As opposed to Toll-like receptors, the NF-kB-activating ability of NLRs has not been fully studied. In this work, we examine the ability of one member of the NLR family - NOD1 - to activate the main proinflammatory transcriptional factor NF-kB. We also compare the NF-kB-activating ability of NOD1 ligands of a different structure with TLR4,5 ligandsin vitroandin vivo.

Toll-like receptors and their adapter molecules.

Toll-like receptors (TLR) are among key receptors of the innate mammalian immune system. Receptors of this family are able to recognize specific highly conserved molecular regions (patterns) in pathogen structures, thus initiating reactions of both innate and acquired immune response finally resulting in the elimination of the pathogen. In this case every individual TLR type is able to bind a broad spectrum of molecules of microbial origin characterized by different chemical properties and structures. Recent data demonstrate the existence of a multistep mechanism of the TLR recognition of the pathogen in which, in addition to receptors proper, the involvement of different adapter molecules is necessary. However, functions of separate adapter molecules as well as the principles of formation of a multicomponent system of ligand-specific recognition are still not quite understandable. We describe all identified as well as possible (candidate) adapter TLR molecules by giving their brief characteristics, and we also propose generalized possible variants of the TLR ligand-specific recognition with involvement of adapter molecules.