Description and Genomic Analysis of the First Facultatively Lithoautotrophic, Thermophilic Bacteria of the Genus Thermaerobacter Isolated from Low-temperature Sediments of Lake Baikal.

Members of the genus Thermaerobacter belong to the phylum Firmicutes and all isolates characterised to date are strictly aerobic and thermophilic. They were isolated from a mud sample of the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, hydrothermal vents, and silt compost. A novel thermophilic, facultatively lithoautotrophic bacteria of the genus Thermaerobacter, strain PB12/4term (=VKM B-3151T), with a metabolism that is uncharacteristic of the type species, was isolated from low-temperature surface sediments near the Posolsk Bank methane seep, Lake Baikal, Russia. The new strain grows with molecular hydrogen as electron donor, elemental sulfur, and thiosulfate as electron acceptors, and CO2/[Formula: see text] as carbon source. The genome of strain PB12/4term consists of one chromosome with a total length of 2.820.915 bp and the G+C content of the genomic DNA was 72.2%. The phylogenomic reconstruction based on 120 conserved bacterial single-copy proteins revealed that strain PB12/4term belongs to the genus Thermaerobacter within in the class Thermaerobacteria, phylum Firmicutes_E. The strain PB12/4term is closely related to Thermaerobacter subterraneus DSM 13965 (ANI=95.08%, AF=0.91) and Thermaerobacter marianensis DSM 12885 (ANI=84.98%, AF=0.77). Genomic and experimental data confirm the ability of the Thermaerobacter PB12/4term pure culture to facultatively lithotrophic growth, which is provided by the presence of [NiFe]hydrogenase enzymes that are absent in T. marianensis DSM 12885 and T. subterraneus DSM 13965. The data obtained on the physiological and biochemical differences of strain PB12/4term provide a deeper insight into the species diversity and functional activity of the genus Thermaerobacter.

Anaerobic oxidation of petroleum hydrocarbons in enrichment cultures from sediments of the Gorevoy Utes natural oil seep under methanogenic and sulfate-reducing conditions.

This article presents the first experimental data on the ability of microbial communities from sediments of the Gorevoy Utes natural oil seep to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons under anaerobic conditions. Like in marine ecosystems associated with oil discharge, available electron acceptors, in particular sulfate ions, affect the composition of the microbial community and the degree of hydrocarbon conversion. The cultivation of the surface sediments under sulfate-reducing conditions led to the formation of a more diverse bacterial community and greater loss of n-alkanes (28%) in comparison to methanogenic conditions (6%). Microbial communities of both surface and deep sediments are more oriented to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), to which the degree of the PAH conversion testifies (up to 46%) irrespective of the present electron acceptors. Microorganisms with the uncultured closest homologues from thermal habitats, sediments of mud volcanoes, and environments contaminated with hydrocarbons mainly represented microbial communities of enrichment cultures. The members of the phyla Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, and Caldiserica (OP5), as well as the class Deltaproteobacteria and Methanomicrobia, were mostly found in enrichment cultures. The influence of gas-saturated fluids may be responsible for the presence in the bacterial 16S rRNA gene libraries of the sequences of "rare taxa": Planctomycetes, Ca. Atribacteria (OP9), Ca. Armatimonadetes (OP10), Ca. Latescibacteria (WS3), Ca. division (AC1), Ca. division (OP11), and Ca. Parcubacteria (OD1), which can be involved in hydrocarbon oxidation.

Minimally Manipulated Bone Marrow-Derived Cells Can Be Used for Tissue Engineering In Situ and Simultaneous Formation of Personalized Tissue Models.

Red bone marrow and autologous bone tissue (bone fragments and bone chips) of the donor were harvested intraoperatively during autoplasty of talus bone defect. Titanium chips were obtained by grinding a fragment of a microporous titanium-coated hip arthroplasty (Zimmer). Bone marrow mononuclear cells were isolated in the operating room, and bone and titanium fragments were incubated with a suspension of mononuclear cells. The quality of revitalization was assessed by fluorescence microscopy and histological examination after culturing of adherent cells on the bone and titanium fragments. During culturing on bone chips, bone marrow mononuclear fraction cells demonstrated significantly higher metabolic activity than bone marrow cells (p=0.04). Mononuclear fraction cells were also capable of stable colonization of titanium fragments with the formation of composite tissue model.

Genomic profiling of late-onset basal cell carcinomas from two brothers with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder. It is commonly caused by mutations in PTCH1 and chiefly characterized by multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) developing prior to the age of 30 years. In rare cases, NBCCS presents with a late onset of BCC development. OBJECTIVE: To investigate BCC tumorigenesis in two brothers, who showed characteristic features of NBCCS but developed their first BCCs only after the age of 40 years. Two other siblings did not show signs of NBCCS. RESULTS: We obtained blood samples from four siblings and nine BCCs from the two brothers with NBCCS. Whole exome sequencing and RNA sequencing revealed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of PTCH1 in eight out of nine tumours that consistently involved the same haplotype on chromosome 9. This haplotype contained a germinal splice site mutation in PTCH1 (NM_001083605:exon9:c.763-6C>A). Analysis of germline DNA confirmed segregation of this mutation with the disease. All BCCs harboured additional somatic loss-of-function (LoF) mutations in the remaining PTCH1 allele which are not typically seen in other cases of NBCCS. This suggests a hypomorphic nature of the germinal PTCH1 mutation in this family. Furthermore, all BCCs had a similar tumour mutational burden compared to BCCs of unrelated NBCCS patients while harbouring a higher number of damaging PTCH1 mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that a sequence of three genetic hits leads to the late development of BCCs in two brothers with NBCCS: a hypomorphic germline mutation, followed by somatic LOH and additional mutations that complete PTCH1 inactivation. These genetic events are in line with the late occurrence of the first BCC and with the higher number of damaging PTCH1 mutations compared to usual cases of NBCCS.

Enhanced multiresolution wavelet analysis of complex dynamics in nonlinear systems.

Multiresolution wavelet analysis (MWA) is a powerful data processing tool that provides a characterization of complex signals over multiple time scales. Typically, the standard deviations of wavelet coefficients are computed depending on the resolution level and such quantities are used as measures for diagnosing different types of system behavior. To enhance the capabilities of this tool, we propose a combination of MWA with detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) of detail wavelet coefficients. We find that such an MWA&DFA approach is capable of revealing the correlation features of wavelet coefficients in independent ranges of scales, which provide more information about the complex organization of datasets compared to variances or similar statistical measures of the standard MWA. Using this approach, we consider changes in the dynamics of coupled chaotic systems caused by transitions between different types of complex oscillations. We also demonstrate the potential of the MWA&DFA method for characterizing different physiological conditions by analyzing the electrical brain activity in mice.

Extended detrended fluctuation analysis of electroencephalograms signals during sleep and the opening of the blood-brain barrier.

Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) is widely used to characterize long-range power-law correlations in complex signals. However, it has restrictions when nonstationarity is not limited only to slow variations in the mean value. To improve the characterization of inhomogeneous datasets, we have proposed the extended DFA (EDFA), which is a modification of the conventional method that evaluates an additional scaling exponent to take into account the features of time-varying nonstationary behavior. Based on EDFA, here, we analyze rat electroencephalograms to identify specific changes in the slow-wave dynamics of brain electrical activity associated with two different conditions, such as the opening of the blood-brain barrier and sleep, which are both characterized by the activation of the brain drainage function. We show that these conditions cause a similar reduction in the scaling exponents of EDFA. Such a similarity may represent an informative marker of fluid homeostasis of the central nervous system.

[Molecular epidemiology peculiarities in forming of antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus pneumonia strains, isolated in elderly patients.]

Despite of advances in diagnostics and treatment of respiratory tract infections, respiratory tract bacterial infections morbidity is still remaining the significant problem of modern medicine. Moreover, microbiological diagnostics of etiology identified in community-acquired aged patients pathogens spectrum allows to consider the main causative agent Streptococcus pneumoniae. Antimicrobial agents resistance of this pathogen is the actual problem in treatment of all forms of pneumococcal infections and is till one of the factor defining the epidemiology significance of pneumococcal infection as the source of forming of epidemiological clone. Aim of our study was to estimate the peculiarities of antimicrobial agents resistance of S. pneumoniae strains, isolated in aged patients with diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia and bronchitis. There were used such methods as disco-diffusion method, method of minimum inhibitory concentration, strains were isolated from patients with community-acquired pneumonia, bronchitis, and carriers, then there were conducted molecular epidemiology monitoring of the isolated strains to the main antimicrobial agents resistance determinants. There were revealed that in all groups multidrugresistance had been caused with the similar process of forming to macrolides. In colculsion, the gained results allows to consider that in population causing invasive and non-invasive forms there are the same processes of antimicrobial agents resistance to macrolides.

[Perspectives of improvement of the diagnosis of prostate cancer based on analysis of PCA3 gene expression].

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death. The widespread introduction into the clinical practice of test for prostate specific antigen (PSA) led to an increase in the number of prostate biopsies performed. At the same time, a decrease in the threshold of age-specific PSA standards has resulted in an increase in the number of unnecessary biopsies. In this regard, a need has arisen for new prostate cancer biomarkers. PCA3 is a non-coding mRNA that is exclusively expressed by prostate cells. Currently, three generations of test diagnostic systems based on the quantitative analysis of the PCA3 mRNA in the urine or its cell sediment has already developed, and they differ in the type of material studied and the method for estimating the amount of PCA3 mRNA. Clinical studies of the developed test systems have shown that a high level of PCA3 expression in the patients urine correlates with the probability of detecting prostate cancer. PCA3 test has higher positive and negative predictive values than previously used PSA test. These data are repeatedly confirmed by studies conducted in different clinics. Thus, the introduction of the method of quantitative determination of PCA3 in clinical practice can significantly improve the efficiency of diagnosis of prostate cancer and reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies.

Characterizing scaling properties of complex signals with missed data segments using the multifractal analysis.

The scaling properties of complex processes may be highly influenced by the presence of various artifacts in experimental recordings. Their removal produces changes in the singularity spectra and the Hölder exponents as compared with the original artifacts-free data, and these changes are significantly different for positively correlated and anti-correlated signals. While signals with power-law correlations are nearly insensitive to the loss of significant parts of data, the removal of fragments of anti-correlated signals is more crucial for further data analysis. In this work, we study the ability of characterizing scaling features of chaotic and stochastic processes with distinct correlation properties using a wavelet-based multifractal analysis, and discuss differences between the effect of missed data for synchronous and asynchronous oscillatory regimes. We show that even an extreme data loss allows characterizing physiological processes such as the cerebral blood flow dynamics.

[Arterial Hypertension and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Gene Polymorphism].

OBJECTIVE: to determine the association of polymorphisms of C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene with essential arterial hypertension (EH) in the group of patients of Belarusian ethnicity. METHODS: The clinical examination and molecular genetic study of the polymorphism C677T of MTHFR gene by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis were performed in 423 people, including 315 patients with EH and 108 healthy individuals. RESULTS: The distribution of C and T alleles of polymorphism C677T of the MTHFR gene in hypertensive patients was 67.8 and 32.2%, in normotensive individuals - 71.8 and 28.2%, respectively. In the group of hypertensive patients, the prevalence of the TT (C677T) genotype of the MTHFR gene was 10.8%, in the healthy group - 5.5%. The TT genotype of the C677T MTHFR gene was more common in hypertensive patients with obesity in comparison with hypertensive patients with body mass index < 29.9 kg/m2 (61.8 vs 38.2%, respectively; p.

[Arm Motor Function Recovery during Rehabilitation with the Use of Hand Exoskeleton Controlled by Brain-Computer Interface: a Patient with Severe Brain Damage].

We studied the dynamics of motor function recovery in a patient with severe brain damage in the course of neurorehabilitation using hand exoskeleton controlled by brain-computer interface. For estimating the motor function of paretic arm, we used the biomechanical analysis of movements registered during the course of rehabilitation. After 15 weekly sessions of hand exoskeleton control, the following results were obtained: a) the velocity profile of goal-directed movements of paretic hand became bell-shaped, b) the patient began to extend and abduct the hand which was flexed and adducted in the beginning of rehabilitation, and c) the patient began to supinate the forearm which was pronated in the beginning of rehabilitation. The first result is an evidence of the general improvement of the quality of motor control, while the second and third results prove that the spasticity of paretic arm has decreased.

[RESPIRATORY DISORDERS AFTER PROSTHESIS FOR THE ANTERIOR ABDOMINAL WALL HERNIA AND THEIR PREDICTORS].

Postoperative respiratory disorders after prosthesis for the anterior abdominal wall hernia and their predictors were analyzed in 37 patients. Hypoxemic respiratory disorders were revealed in 59% patients. Speciphic predictors for the respiratory disorders occurrence after prosthesis for the anterior abdominal wall hernia were determined: obesity, syndrome of obstructive sleep apnoe, intraabdominal pressure raising to more than 16 cm of a water column immediately after the prosthesis. The prosthesis duration have constituted more than 3 yrs.

[Cone beam CT in diagnostics of facial trauma]. / Konusno-luchevaia komp'iuternaia tomografiia v diagnostike povrezhdenii litsevogo skeleta.

The article provides a review of domestic and international scientific literature to reveal the possibilities of cone-beam computed tomography in facial trauma diagnostics. The ratio of maxillofacial trauma continues to grow progressively. The current situation increases the need for high-quality, fast and extremely informative radiology diagnosis for such conditions. At the moment the possibilities of multislice computed tomography are well examined in the facial trauma diagnosis. But the potential of cone-beam computed tomography aren't fully known yet by radiologists and maxillofacial surgeons. This review presents an analysis of the method's technical features, its advantages, disadvantages and special application aspects in facial trauma.

Quantifying chaotic dynamics from integrate-and-fire processes.

Characterizing chaotic dynamics from integrate-and-fire (IF) interspike intervals (ISIs) is relatively easy performed at high firing rates. When the firing rate is low, a correct estimation of Lyapunov exponents (LEs) describing dynamical features of complex oscillations reflected in the IF ISI sequences becomes more complicated. In this work we discuss peculiarities and limitations of quantifying chaotic dynamics from IF point processes. We consider main factors leading to underestimated LEs and demonstrate a way of improving numerical determining of LEs from IF ISI sequences. We show that estimations of the two largest LEs can be performed using around 400 mean periods of chaotic oscillations in the regime of phase-coherent chaos. Application to real data is discussed.

[INTRAABDOMINAL HYPERTENSION AND RESPIRATORY DYSFUNCTION AFTER PLASTY OF THE ABDOMINAL WALL HERNIA].

The impact of intraabdominal pressure on postoperative state of respiratory system after surgery for abdominal wall hernia (AWH) was analyzed. The investigation was conducted in 2013-2014 yrs in 35 patients. Perioperative state of pulmonary mechanics, the gas exchange, and the indices of a spirogram were analyzed. The postoperative period course, the rate of the respiratory insufficiency occurrence were analyzed. Respiratory insufficiency was observed, as a rule, in 24 - 48 h after hernioplasty. The AWH plasty lead to the intraabdominal pressure raising, the PaCO2-EtCO2 gradient changes, and the PaO2/FiO2 ratio as well.

[Radiobiological Human Tissue repository: progress and perspectives for solving the problems of radiation safety and health protection of personnel and population].

Radiobiological Human Tissue repository was established in order to obtain and store biological material from Mayak PA workers occupationally exposed to ionizing (α- and/or γ-) radiation in a wide dose range, from the residents exposed to long term radiation due to radiation accidents and transfer of the samples to scientists for the purpose of studying the effects of radiation for people and their offspring. The accumulated biomaterial is the informational and research potential that form the basis for the work of the scientists in different spheres of biology and medicine. The repository comprises 5 sections: tumor and non-tumor tissues obtained in the course of autopsies, biopsies, surgeries, samples of blood and its components, of DNA, induced sputum, saliva, and other from people exposed or unexposed (control) to radiation. The biomaterial is stored in formalin, in paraffin blocks, slides, as well as in the freezers under low temperatures. All the information on the samples and the registrants (medical, dosimetry, demographic, and occupational data) was obtained and entered into the electronic database. A constantly updated website of the repository was developed in order to provide a possibility to get acquainted with the material and proceed with application for biosamples for scientists from Russia and abroad. Some data obtained in the course of scientific research works on the basis of the biomaterial from the Repository are briefly introduced in the review.

[Primary motor cortex as one of the levels of the construction of movements].

The data obtained during the recent decades led to revision of the dominant in neurophysiology view of primary motor cortex as "the cord area" which transfers the motor commands to the spinal cord. Contrary to this point of view, it was shown that MI primates neurons participate in all stages of organization of motor behavior and that the final postures of complex coordinated movements are represented in the MI map. Characteristics of movements controlled by MI revealed by currently available methods were predicted and explained by N.A. Bernstein about 70 years ago. According to his concept, there are some levels of the construction of movements that exist in the central nervous system. Area 4 (i.e. MI), which is one of them, appeared on the definite stage of evolution for resolving the particular movement tasks. In support of this conception we are showing that: 1) MI controls the movements that differ from the movements of other levels by their characteristics (the mode of operating and the sense content); 2) some voluntary movements can be executed without participation of MI; 3) different motor areas of the cortex are coupled with different aspects of movement behavior.

[Chronic recording of scapular movements in quadruped animal (dog)].

The simple and relatively non-traumatic method of attaching the sensor to the scapular for chronic recording the scapula movements with magnetic tracking device is presented. During experiment the sensor fixed to the skin with the nylon thread passing through the m. deltoideus in the middle part of the scapula. This method provided stable recording of the scapular movements, shown in four dogs with previously learned coordination of head and forelimb movements.

[Immunolocalization of microsporidium paranosema locustae canning lSP70 family proteins in locust infected fat body].

Immunolabeling method of microsporidium Paranosema locustae proteins on cryosections of locust infected fat body was proposed. In contrast to single parasite cells and artificially infected host cell cultures, this method allows to study molecular mechanisms of host-parasite relationships and in particular the secretory microsporidial proteins either at cellular or tissue level. Immunolocalization of the EPR-specific and cytoplasmic forms of Hsp70 family of molecular chaperones on cryosections showed accumulation of these proteins in the respective compartments of intracellular developmental stages of P. locustae and their absence in host structures. This allows to use them in diagnostics of microsporidiosis lesions in infected tissues as well as in colocalization analysis with P. lociustatre secretory proteins as a marker of parasite. The cytoplasmic chaperone stains cytoplasmic compartment homogeneously, but in the infected host cell during sporogony it disappears partially from the intracellular stages of development which damaged by maturing spores. Thereby study of molecular mechanisms of host-parasite relationships is to be carried out at the earlier stages of infection before active sporogony.

[Peculiarities of the expression, structure, and localization of the subtilisin-like protease in the microsporidium Paranosema locustae].

Peculiarities of the expression, localization, and structure of the subtilisin-like protease from the microsporidium Paranosema locustae, a parasite of the migratory locust and other orthopteran species, are analyzed. Heterologous expression of the microsporidian ferment in the bacterium Escherichia coli allowed obtaining antibodies to the recombinant protein and to start its examination. In spite of the presence of the N-tail signal peptide in the ferment, potentially able to secret it into the cytoplasm of the infected cell, immunoblotting with obtained antibodies had demonstrated specific accumulation of the protease in the insoluble fraction of spore homogenate. At the same time, the ferment was absent in intracellular stages.of the parasite and also in the cytoplasm of infested host cells. Accumulation of mRNA, coding the studied protein in microsporidian spores was confirmed with the use of RT-PCR method. Heterologous expression of the protease in the methylotrophic yeast Pichiapastoris demonstrated the same result. The ferment of P. locustae was not secreted into a culture medium and was absent in the cytoplasm of yeast cells, accumulating in a dissoluble (membrane) fraction of the homogenate. On the whole, the obtained data testify to the fact that the subtilisin-like protease of P. locustae plays an important role in the physiology of spores rather than participates in host-parasite relations during intra-cellular development.