[OUTCOMES OF SURGICAL TREATMENT OF COMPLEX PATHOLOGY OF THE ASCENDING AORTA, AORTIC ARCH, DESCENDING THORACIC AORTA, THROUGH THE "ELEPHANT TRUNK" HYBRID METHOD].

Complete prosthetic surgery of the ascending aorta, aortic arch branches, and descending aorta in patients with aortic arch aneurysm, study and demonstration the possibility of the "elephant trunk" method. The paper describes the technology and demonstrates the results of the first 29 operations of ascending aorta, aortic arch, aortic arch branches and descending thoracic aortic prostheses performed by the staff of the Department of Aortic Pathologies of the Amusov State Institute during 2016-2020. All patients, underwent elephant trunk prosthesis surgery of the ascending aorta, aortic arch, aortic arch branches, and descending thoracic aorta as the first stage of reconstruction of aortic arch pathology. Most of the patients, except for three, underwent the second stage of surgery, endoprosthesis of the aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta through a vascular stent. In case of an aortic arch aneurysm or disruption of the anatomical integrity of blood vessels, restoration of the anatomical integrity of the aortic arch and aortic arch blood vessels or prosthesis of blood vessels in this basin can be performed through "elephant trunk" surgery. Optimization and improvement of preoperative diagnostics, surgical techniques, methods of protection of the brain, spinal cord and visceral organs, the use of hybrid / endovascular techniques allows treatment in case of complex damage to the ascending arch and descending thoracic aorta. The first completely satisfactory results of the performed operations were obtained, the hospital lethality was demonstrated within 10.3%.

[MINIMALLY INVASIVE APPROACH IN THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF THE ASCENDING AORTA PATHOLOGY: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES].

The aim - to improve the results of surgical treatment of ascending aorta pathology in combination with aortic valve disease by minimizing operative trauma for the purpose of rapid physical recovery of patients. In National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery from 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2019 65 patients were operated due to isolated aneurysms of the ascending aorta of small diameter and in combination with lesions of the aortic valve in whom upper J-shaped mininotomy was applied as an access. Comparison group which included 61 patients, where the traditional median sternotomy was used. There were no lethal outcomes. The intervention time was 220-380 minutes (mean 279,8±28,0 min.). Mean crossclamp time was 115,8±15,4 min. Intraoperative blood loss in all cases did not exceed 400 ml. Blood loss in the first postoperative day ranged from 50 to 300 ml (average 201,12±12,9 ml.). Mechanical ventilation on average lasted 4.5±0.5 hours after the intervention. All patients were transferred from the intensive care unit within 36±3.5 hours after surgery. The technique of correction of aortic valve defects in combination with aneurysm of the ascending aorta using minimally invasive access allows to minimize surgical trauma, provides a good cosmetic effect and can be used in clinical practice as an alternative to median sternotomy.

Photothermoplastic recording media and its application in the holographic method of determination of the refractive index of liquid objects.

The photothermoplastic medium based on the films of photosensitive polymeric composites with semiconductor properties is developed for application in optical information recording and storage, in holographic interferometry, as well as for medical purposes. This medium was used in the modified holographic device for determination of changes of the refractive index of homogeneous and inhomogeneous liquid objects. The technique and holographic equipment were modified by employing the specially developed and produced transparent cuvette of special shape and the phase shifting interferometry method. Experimentally demonstrated precision of the measurements is not less than 10-5.

Some features of information properties of holographic recording media based on a photoconducting carbazolyl-containing oligomer doped with an organic electron acceptor.

Unusual multimodal kinetics of diffraction efficiency in the cycle of hologram recording and erasing were observed in the recording media for the holographic photothermoplastic technique. It was shown that this effect is caused by competition between the simultaneous development of regular and random "frosty" surface reliefs of the photoconducting polymer film during the hologram development. The mechanism explaining the decrease of the maximal diffraction efficiency as compared to its calculated value is discussed.

[SELENIUM EFFICIENCY IN PROPHYLAXIS AND COMPLEX TREATMENT OF DIFFUSE GOITER].

Efficiency of the combined prophylaxis and treatment of a diffuse goiter by preparations of sele- nium and iodine at 54 patients--men at the age of 41-50 years with the diagnosis of a diffuse goiter of 1st and 2nd degree was investigated. The diagnosis of a diffuse goiter was based on palpatory and ultrasonic research of the thyroid gland, which volume was compared with a body surface area. All surveyed have been divided into three groups. Patients of the first group accepted preparations of selenium and the iodine throughout three months, the second group--iodine preparations, in control group only dynamic supervision was spent. Thyroid gland volume at men who constantly used iodated salt and had no palpatory signs of a goiter was also measured for control. In the group which members accepted selenium and iodine preparations, at 11,8 % of patients was noted reduction of thyroid volume to normal and was revealed more expressed reduction of thyroid volume (for 2.15 sm3/M2 ± 0.07 sm3/M2), than at monotherapy by iodine preparations (for 0.92 sm3/M2 ± 0.17 sm3/M2). The conclusion was made that it is possible to recommend selenium preparations in a dose of 100 mkg a day together with preparations of iodine for prophylaxis and treatment of a diffuse goiter in conditions of the combined insufficiency in consumption of selenium and light deficiency of iodine.

Understanding attraction stimuli of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, in non-chemical control methods.

Comparisons were conducted of flea catches of four commercially available flea traps in the laboratory and under field conditions, in both rural and urban locations. The results clearly showed the My Flea Trap™, which utilizes an intermittent light to attract fleas, to be far superior in trapping ability to the three continuous light traps; it caught up to 23 times as many fleas as the other traps. Altering the lighting mechanism to provide continuous rather than intermittent light significantly decreased the number of fleas captured. In addition, the use of a green filter significantly increased trapping efficiency, whereas the addition of a heat source had no apparent effect.

BRAIN AND EYE AS POTENTIAL TARGETS FOR IONIZING RADIATION IMPACT: PART II - RADIATION CEREBRO/OPHTALMIC EFFECTS IN CHILDREN, PERSONS EXPOSED IN UTERO, ASTRONAUTS AND INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGISTS. / GOLOVNYI MOZOK TA ORGAN ZORU IaK POTENTsIINI MIShENI DLIa VPLYVU IONIZUIuChOGO VYPROMINIuVANNIa: ChASTYNA II ­ RADIATsIINI TsEREBROOFTAL'MOLOGIChNI EFEKTY U DITEI, OSIB, EKSPONOVANYKh VNUTRIShN'O/UTROBNO, ASTRONAVTIV TA INTERVENTsIINYKh RADIOLOGIV.

BACKGROUND: Ionizing radiation (IR) can affect the brain and the visual organ even at low doses, while provoking cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and visual disorders. We proposed to consider the brain and the visual organ as potential targets for the influence of IR with the definition of cerebro-ophthalmic relationships as the «eye-brain axis¼. OBJECTIVE: The present work is a narrative review of current experimental, epidemiological and clinical data on radiation cerebro-ophthalmic effects in children, individuals exposed in utero, astronauts and interventional radiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines by searching the abstract and scientometric databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, published from 1998 to 2021, as well as the results of manual search of peer-reviewed publications. RESULTS: Epidemiological data on the effects of low doses of IR on neurodevelopment are quite contradictory, while data on clinical, neuropsychological and neurophysiological on cognitive and cerebral disorders, especially in the left, dominant hemisphere of the brain, are nore consistent. Cataracts (congenital - after in utero irradiation) and retinal angiopathy are more common in prenatally-exposed people and children. Astronauts, who carry out longterm space missions outside the protection of the Earth's magnetosphere, will be exposed to galactic cosmic radiation (heavy ions, protons), which leads to cerebro-ophthalmic disorders, primarily cognitive and behavioral disorders and cataracts. Interventional radiologists are a special risk group for cerebro-ophthalmic pathology - cognitivedeficits, mainly due to dysfunction of the dominant and more radiosensitive left hemisphere of the brain, andcataracts, as well as early atherosclerosis and accelerated aging. CONCLUSIONS: Results of current studies indicate the high radiosensitivity of the brain and eye in different contingents of irradiated persons. Further research is needed to clarify the nature of cerebro-ophthalmic disorders in different exposure scenarios, to determine the molecular biological mechanisms of these disorders, reliable dosimetric support and taking into account the influence of non-radiation risk factors.

Murine CD14 gene expression in vivo: extramyeloid synthesis and regulation by lipopolysaccharide.

A murine model system was used to study the distribution and regulation of CD14 gene expression in vivo. Western blot analysis failed to detect CD14 in plasma from untreated CB6 (BALB/c x C57Bl6) mice, but showed markedly increased levels of CD14 in plasma from mice treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Plasma levels of CD14 increased in a time- and dose-dependent manner, reaching a maximum between 8 and 16 h. Northern blot analysis of total RNA extracted from mouse tissues revealed low, but significant, levels of CD14 mRNA in many tissues of untreated animals with the highest levels in uterus, adipose tissue, and lung. After intraperitoneal injection of LPS, induction of CD14 gene expression was detected in all organs examined with the extent of induction varying between organs. Induction of CD14 mRNA was both time and dose dependent. Maximum induction in the heart and lung was observed 2-4 h after injection of LPS, while liver and kidney showed maximal induction between 8 and 16 h. In situ hybridization showed that CD14 mRNA was expressed in myeloid cells in many tissues, and that expression in these cells was upregulated by LPS. Unexpectedly, CD14 mRNA was also detected in other cells within tissues, including epithelial cells, and expression in these cell types also was upregulated by LPS. Immunochemical analysis revealed that CD14 antigen colocalized to the cytoplasm of cells expressing CD14 mRNA. These studies demonstrate that CD14 gene expression is not restricted to myeloid cells, and that the level of expression of CD14 is influenced by exposure to LPS.

BRAIN AND EYE AS POTENTIAL TARGETS FOR IONIZING RADIATION IMPACT. Part І. THE CONSEQUENCES OF IRRADIATION OF THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE LIQUIDATION OF THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT. / GOLOVNYI MOZOK TA ORGAN ZORU IaK POTENTsIINI MIShENI DLIa VPLYVU IONIZUIuChOGO VYPROMINIuVANNIa. Chastyna I. TsEREBROOFTAL'MOLOGIChNI EFEKTY OPROMINENNIa V UChASNYKIV LIKVIDATsIÏ NASLIDKIV AVARIÏ NA ChAES.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to ionizing radiation could affect the brain and eyes leading to cognitive and vision impairment, behavior disorders and performance decrement during professional irradiation at medical radiology, includinginterventional radiological procedures, long-term space flights, and radiation accidents. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to analyze the current experimental, epidemiological, and clinical data on the radiation cerebro-ophthalmic effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our analytical review peer-reviewed publications via the bibliographic and scientometric bases PubMed / MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and selected papers from the library catalog of NRCRM - theleading institution in the field of studying the medical effects of ionizing radiation - were used. RESULTS: The probable radiation-induced cerebro-ophthalmic effects in human adults comprise radiation cataracts,radiation glaucoma, radiation-induced optic neuropathy, retinopathies, angiopathies as well as specific neurocognitive deficit in the various neuropsychiatric pathology including cerebrovascular pathology and neurodegenerativediseases. Specific attention is paid to the likely stochastic nature of many of those effects. Those prenatally and inchildhood exposed are a particular target group with a higher risk for possible radiation effects and neurodegenerative diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The experimental, clinical, epidemiological, anatomical and pathophysiological rationale for visualsystem and central nervous system (CNS) radiosensitivity is given. The necessity for further international studieswith adequate dosimetric support and the follow-up medical and biophysical monitoring of high radiation riskcohorts is justified. The first part of the study currently being published presents the results of the study of theeffects of irradiation in the participants of emergency works at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP).

Regulation of an essential innate immune response by the p50 subunit of NF-kappaB.

Recognition of bacterial endotoxin (LPS) elicits multiple host responses, including activation of cells of the innate immune system. LPS exposure occurs repeatedly during septicemia, making strict regulation of gene expression necessary. Such regulation might prevent, for example, the continuous production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which could lead to severe vascular collapse. Tolerance to LPS is characterized by a diminished production of TNF during prolonged exposure to LPS, and is therefore likely to represent an essential control mechanism during sepsis. In the present study, which uses mice with genetic deletions of the proteins of NF-kappaB complex, we provide data demonstrating that increased expression of the p50 subunit of NF-kappaB directly results in the downregulation of LPS-induced TNF production. This contention is supported by the following observations: (1) tolerance to LPS is not induced in macrophages from p50-/- mice; (2) long-term pretreatment with LPS does not block synthesis of TNF mRNA in p50-/- macrophages (in contrast to wild-type macrophages); (3) ectopic overexpression of p50 reduces transcriptional activation of the murine TNF promoter; and (4) analysis of the four kappaB sites from the murine TNF promoter demonstrates that binding of p50 homodimers to the positively acting kappaB3 element is associated with development of the LPS-tolerant phenotype. Thus, p50 expression plays a key role in the development of LPS tolerance.

Regulation of the MEF2 family of transcription factors by p38.

Members of the MEF2 family of transcription factors bind as homo- and heterodimers to the MEF2 site found in the promoter regions of numerous muscle-specific, growth- or stress-induced genes. We showed previously that the transactivation activity of MEF2C is stimulated by p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. In this study, we examined the potential role of the p38 MAP kinase pathway in regulating the other MEF2 family members. We found that MEF2A, but not MEF2B or MEF2D, is a substrate for p38. Among the four p38 group members, p38 is the most potent kinase for MEF2A. Threonines 312 and 319 within the transcription activation domain of MEF2A are the regulatory sites phosphorylated by p38. Phosphorylation of MEF2A in a MEF2A-MEF2D heterodimer enhances MEF2-dependent gene expression. These results demonstrate that the MAP kinase signaling pathway can discriminate between different MEF2 isoforms and can regulate MEF2-dependent genes through posttranslational activation of preexisting MEF2 protein.

[Monitoring of iodine supply of the population of Kiev and Kiev region (according to the observation of representative groups)].

720 women and children living in Kiev and Kiev region have been observed to detect iodine supply of people. The authors revealed iodine deficit of mild degree in both groups. The women had median of urine iodine excretion equal to 85.9 microg/l and children--96.8 microg/l. The great frequency of cases of diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland shows also the presence of iodine endemic disease: 61.2% of Kiev schoolboys and schoolgirls and 40.8% of children of Kiev region had exceeding volume of the thyroid comparing age norms. The autors showed the necessity of introduction of the programm of global rodine prophylaxy by iodating salt.

Myastenia and small doses of ionizing radiation: experience of successful use of rituximab for treatment of an irradiated with myasthenia gravis. / MIASTENIIa I MALI DOZY IONIZUIuChOÏ RADIATsIÏ: DOSVID USPIShNOGO ZASTOSUVANNIa RYTUKSYMABU DLIa LIKUVANNIa OPROMINENOGO Z MYASTHENIA GRAVIS.

A clinical case of the rituximab («Rituksim¼, «Mabthera¼) use to treat a man affected by the Chornobyl NPP acci dent with malignant resistant form of myasthenia gravis in conjunction with chronic mixed infection by Toxoplasma, Epstein Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex virus is described. In the dynamics of two year's observa tion the clinical efficacy of monoclonal antibodies was shown as the main symptoms stabilization and reducing doses of glucocorticoid and anticholinergic therapy. The positive effect was marked in the nearest and remote peri ods. Taking to account the efficacy, safety and good tolerability of rituximab, it is advisable to recommend treat ment for people exposed to ionizing radiation and developing myasthenia associated with chronic mixed infection by Toxoplasma, Epstein Barr, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex virus.

[Role of seasonal factors in pre- and postnatal ontogenesis for etiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus].

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by autoimmune degradation of insulin-producing beta-cells. It was shown in a number of epidemiological studies of seasonality of birth in children with type 1 diabetes that the autoimmune process began during fetal and postnatal development. No such studies were carried out in the former Soviet Union countries. The aim of the present study is to compare the seasonal birth month pattern in patients with type 1 diabetes (10780 men and 9337 women) born in 1960-2002 to that in the total population of Ukraine (14 785601 men and 13 911370 women) born during the same period. Significant differences were found between these two populations: chi-squared = 103.97, p < 0.0001 and 135.17, p < 0.0001 in men and women, respectively. The results of cosinor analysis showed similar sinusoidal birth patterns of patients with type 1 diabetes in all sub-groups, irrespective of the age of clinical disease expression: 0-9, 10-19, or 20-29 years. In all cases, the highest and lowest predispositions to type 1 diabetes were inherent in the people born in spring and autumn, respectively. We propose that seasonal differences in the birth pattern in the two above populations could be due to long-term programming of glucose-insulin metabolism determined by the effect of certain seasonal factors during early ontogenesis.

[Using AELTIS-synchro-02 device in the therapy of chronic bacterial prostatitis].

The treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis combined antibacterial drugs and physiotherapy (low-energy laser radiation, electrostimulation of the prostate). Treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis with medication and complex two-channel bio-synchronized electrolaser therapy with application of the unit AELTIS-synchro-02 raises efficacy of treatment with chronic bacterial prostatitis due to combined effect of antibacterial drugs and bacteriostatic and immunomodulating actions of the physical factors applied. These normalize microcirculation in the region of the prostatic gland, improve a draining function of the prostatic ducts, allows achievement of good results in 88.2% patients.

[Gender-related risk of non-fatal stroke, myocardial infarction and blindness in the type 2 diabetic patients depend on the type of treatment].

The aim of present observational cross-sectional study was the estimation of the gender-related risk of non-fatal stroke, myocardial infarction and blindness in type 2 diabetics (T2D) depending on treatment in Ukraine. In Dec 2005 the data from 11 Ukrainian regions for all living T2D already included into the nationwide population-based diabetes register (start of creation Jan 2001) was extracted. Male/female relative risks (RRs) for non-fatal stroke, myocardial infarction and blindness were calculated in treatment groups: Diet only (DO) 7273/15901; oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD) 15109/ 33913; insulin (I) 5529/12462 male/female respectively. 95% confidence intervals were estimated using logarithmic transformation, chi-square test was used to compare the differences between groups. The higher prevalence of stroke among men was in those patients treated with OAD or DO:RRs = 1.38 (1.26-1.51) and 1.48 (1.25-1.76), respectively. The gender differences were absent among those treated with I:RR = 0.98 (0.87-1.10). An excess male risk of myocardial infarction was in persons treated with I:RR = 1.37 (1.21-1.55), though smaller than in those treated without I - male/female RRs: 2.18 (1.97-2.41) and 2.37 (1.99-2.86), respectively for OAD and DO (P<0.001 in both cases). The significantly increased female prevalence of blindness was in patients treated with I:RR = 0.80 (0.70-0.92). The latest is in accordance with our earlier results, which have demonstrated the raised prevalence of both low sight and proliferative retinopathy among the insulin-treated diabetic women. No sex-related differences in blindness prevalence were revealed in patients treated with OAD or DO. The gender risks of not-fatal stroke, myocardial infarction and blindness in T2D are significantly different depending on the fact of insulin treatment. Further research could clarify if it depends upon insulin-related hyperandrogenisation in T2D women.

Molecular cloning of human p38 MAP kinase.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are intracellular serine/threonine kinases activated by dual phosphorylation of adjacent threonine (T) and tyrosine (Y). A diverse number of extracellular signals induce activation of MAP kinases. Here we describe the cloning of a cDNA encoding human p38 MAP kinase (p38). The amino acid sequence of human p38 is 99.4% identical to mouse p38 [Han et al. (1994) Science 265, 808-11]. Like murine p38, the dual phosphorylation site of human p38 MAP kinase is characterized by a TGY sequence. Previous studies have described activation of p38 following exposure to products of microbial pathogens, physical-chemical stimuli and cytokines. The highly conserved nature of p38 suggests the importance of its function in regulating cellular responses.

Iodine excretion in regions of Ukraine affected by the Chornobyl Accident: experience of the Ukrainian-American cohort study of thyroid cancer and other thyroid diseases.

Urinary iodine concentrations were measured in 11,926 subjects who are participants in the Ukrainian-American Cohort Study of Thyroid Cancer and Other Thyroid Diseases Following the Chornobyl Accident. Measurements were made in two time periods corresponding to the first and second thyroid screening cycles (1998-2000, 2001-2003). These time periods fall before and after initiation of a government program to increase iodine sufficiency. Median urinary iodine concentrations did increase in the later time period compared to the earlier [47.5 microg/L, 95% confidence interval (CI) 46.5-48.9 microg/L versus 41.7 microg/L, 95% CI 40.4-42.5 microg/L], but levels remained in the mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency range as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), indicating the need for further efforts at iodination. In both time periods, urinary iodine levels were found to vary by place of residence and were lower in rural compared to urban areas. Iodine status needs to be considered when evaluating risk of thyroid cancer and other thyroid diseases.

A rightward promoter to the left of the att site of lambda phage DNA: possible participant in site-specific recombination.

The binding has been studied of Escherichia coli RNA-polymerase to the fragments of lambda DNA obtained by digestion with restriction endonucleases BsuI, HindIII, BamHI, EcoRI and HindII + III. There are at least six sites of RNA-polymerase binding in the b2-region. In vitro transcription of those BsuI-fragments of the b2-region which contain six binding sites is rightward. Therefore, the fragments contain promoters rather than mere RNA-polymerase binding sites. One of the promoters of the b2 region named patt was calculated to be about 50 bp to the left of the att site. We postulate that this promoter might correspond to the hef-target which was described as important for the site-specific recombination.