Proteomics-Based Regression Model for Assessing the Development of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

The clinical course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is very ambiguous, showing either an indolent nature of the disease or having latent dangerous progression, which, if diagnosed, will require an urgent therapy. The prognosis of the course of the disease and the estimation of the time of therapy initiation are crucial for the selection of a successful treatment strategy. A reliable estimating index is needed to assign newly diagnosed CLL patients to the prognostic groups. In this work, we evaluated the comparative expressions of proteins in CLL blood cells using a label-free quantification by mass spectrometry and calculated the integrated proteomic indexes for a group of patients who received therapy after the blood sampling over different periods of time. Using a two-factor linear regression analysis based on these data, we propose a new pipeline for evaluating model development for estimation of the moment of therapy initiation for newly diagnosed CLL patients.

Epidemiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a population-based study in Krasnoyarsk region, Russia.

BACKGROUND: Krasnoyarsk region is a territory with the widespread risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as tobacco smoke, air pollution, and occupational exposure. An assessment of COPD prevalence based on medical diagnosis statistics underestimates the true COPD prevalence. This study aims to evaluate how medical examinations may increase the accuracy of estimates of COPD prevalence. METHODS: True COPD prevalence was estimated as a number of patients with the established disease diagnosis supplemented by the additional disease cases detected during medical examinations per 1,000 inhabitants of the region. Official medical statistics data and the data collected from the Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases program 2011 among 15,000 inhabitants of the region aged 18 years and older were analyzed. RESULTS: This study revealed the COPD cases without official medical diagnosis. The true prevalence of COPD is estimated to be two times higher than the prevalence estimates based on medical diagnosis statistics. CONCLUSION: Undiagnosed and untreated cases of COPD result in severe COPD forms as well as addition of severe comorbidities. Because of this, there is an increase in the index of potential years of life lost. Conducting special medical examinations may increase the number of COPD cases detected at the early stages of the disease. This, in turn, may reduce the overall burden of the disease for the population of the region.

Astroglial control of neuroinflammation: TLR3-mediated dsRNA-sensing pathways are in the focus.

Neuroinflammation is as an important component of pathogenesis in many types of brain pathology. Immune mechanisms regulate neuroplasticity, memory formation, neurogenesis, behavior, brain development, cognitive functions, and brain metabolism. It is generally believed that essential homeostatic functions of astrocytes - astroglia-neuron metabolic coupling, gliovascular control, regulation of proliferation, and migration of cells in the neurogenic niches - are compromised in neuroinflammation resulting in excitotoxicity, neuronal and glial cell death, and alterations of intercellular communication. Viral neuroinfection, release of non-coding RNAs from the cells at the sites of brain injury or degeneration, and application of siRNA or RNA aptamers as therapeutic agents would require dsRNA-sensing pathways in the cells of neuronal and non-neuronal origin. In this review, we analyze the data regarding the role of astrocytes in dsRNA-initiated innate immune response in neuroinflammation and their contribution to progression of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental pathology.

Chronic respiratory diseases and risk factors in 12 regions of the Russian Federation.

BACKGROUND: Estimation suggests that at least 4 million people die, annually, as a result of chronic respiratory disease (CRD). The Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD) was formed following a mandate from the World Health Assembly to address this serious and growing health problem. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of CRD in Russian symptomatic patients and to evaluate the frequency of major risk factors for CRD in Russia. METHODS: A cross-sectional, population-based epidemiological study using the GARD questionnaire on adults from 12 regions of the Russian Federation. Common respiratory symptoms and risk factors were recorded. Spirometry was performed in respondents with suspected CRD. Allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic bronchitis (CB) were defined by the presence of related symptoms according to the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma and the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines; asthma was defined based on disease symptoms; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was defined as a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume per 1 second/forced vital capacity ratio <0.7 in symptomatic patients, following the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines. RESULTS: The number of questionnaires completed was 7,164 (mean age 43.4 years; 57.2% female). The prevalence of asthma symptoms was 25.7%, AR 18.2%, and CB 8.6%. Based on patient self-reported diagnosis, 6.9% had asthma, 6.5% AR, and 22.2% CB. The prevalence of COPD based on spirometry in patients with respiratory symptoms was estimated as 21.8%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of respiratory diseases and risk factors was high in Russia when compared to available data. For bronchial asthma and AR, the prevalence for related symptoms was higher than self-reported previous diagnosis.