Development of a Test System to Detect the Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2 and the Frequency of Its Detection in Patients.

We developed a new test system to detect the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 using allele-specific reverse transcription PCR and estimated the frequency of its detection in patients living in the Novosibirsk Region. Clinical samples were divided into 3 groups: samples collected from December 1 to December 30, 2021 (group 1; n=66), from December 30, 2021 to January 10, 2022 (group 2; n=20), and from January 11 to January 22, 2022 (group 3; n=101). Based on the identification of 5 mutations specific to SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.1.529), two systems of oligonucleotide primers and probes were developed for detecting this coronavirus genotype in clinical samples. Limit of detection (LOD95) was 4×103 genome equivalents per 1 ml of clinical sample for the first test system and 2×103 for the for the second test system. The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 was absent in group 1 of studied samples, but was detected in 20% (4/20) of group 2 samples and 88% of group 2 samples collected within less than 2 weeks of January 2022. Using developed test system, we showed that in less than 2 weeks the omicron variant has become dominant in patients, which confirms previously published data on its exceptional contagiousness.

[The using the modern technologies simulators for the strengthening of the back muscles in the schoolchildren suffering from first degree scoliosis]. / Primenenie sovremennykh tekhnologii dlia ukrepleniia myshts spiny u shkol'nikov so skoliozom I stepeni.

BACKGROUND: Strengthening the health of the young people and adolescents is a priority task for the health care system. The posture, as a habitual position of the body of a person standing at ease, is formed in the course of the child's physical development including the development of the static-dynamic functions. The problems of rehabilitation of the school-age children arising from the necessity to correct impaired posture, including scoliosis, are associated with their life activity and the socio-economic status. The majority of the school-age children spending a lot of time watching TV and playing computer games instead of going in for sports, keep a sedentary lifestyle, do not eat rationally, and experience a deficit of vitamins. These factors contribute to the formation of a weak muscular corset and, as a consequence, lead to the development of an impaired posture. In terms of physical nature, vibration is a mechanical oscillatory motion that repeats itself at certain intervals. The vibrational process of a vibrational impact may exert an appreciable biological effect on the human body; therefore, vibration is extensively used to correct the initial manifestations of the disturbances in the development of posture and strengthen the back muscles. AIM: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the vibrational effect produced by the simulator on the state of the back muscles in the 12-13 years old children presenting with the early signs of scoliosis. METHODS: A total of 40 girls at the age of 12-13 years suffering from 1st degree left-sided thoracic spine scoliosis and referred for the rehabilitative treatment were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis of scoliosis was established during a medical examination. The angle of curvature determined as described by V.D. Chaklin was 5-10°. The control group was comprised of 20 schoolgirls engaged in a special rehabilitation program within the framework of the therapeutic physical training (TPT) for 45 minutes three times a week. The main study group consisted of the schoolgirls who performed exercises on the simulator in addition to the special TPT rehabilitation program. When on the vibrating platform in the starting position on all fours, the girls performed the following exercises: (a) exercises with the extension and flexion of the back ('kitty'); (b) the 'boat' exercise made on a special cushion with the retraction of the abdomen, and (c) exercises on a balance with the lifting of the left arm and right leg (or vice versa). The duration of the course was 36 rehabilitation classes. Each lesson lasted 30 minutes. RESULTS: The above rehabilitative treatment made it possible to achieve a significant strengthening of the back muscles with increasing their endurance, the improved mobility of the joints of the upper extremities and of the spine joints in the girls of the main group in comparison with those comprising the control group. CONCLUSION: The additional and special corrective exercises with the use of the vibration platform performed by the girls with first degree scoliosis greatly contributed to the enhancement of the muscle strength, increased mobility of the spine and the joints of the upper extremities. This allows to conclude that the use of the vibration effect produced by physical exercises on the power plate simulator may provide an efficient tool for the correction of the initial signs of scoliosis and the strengthening of the spine muscles.

[Perception of Verbal Stimuli in the Norm and in Schizophrenia].

The present study investigates the early stages of selection of meaningful and meaningless verbal-in- formation in an implicit and two explicit tasks by means of the parameters of latency and amplitude of P100 EP component in healthy subjects (n = 99) and in schizophrenia patients with the first psy- chotic episode (n = 102). The obtained results indicate the disturbance of passive perception of meaningful verbal information in psychotic patients. When the instruction is presented patients re- spond similar to norm. The decreased amplitude of P100 component during the,passive perception of words in patients may be related to the severity of hallucinatory behavior. The analysis of changes in the characteristics of the P100 wave in task with instruction as compared to passive perception in the norm revealed a shortening of the time window'of the processing of information regardless to its category and relevance. In schizophrenia patients this feature was found only when reading of the pseudo-words. The results indicate the disturbance of automated attraction of attention to the semantically significant content of the verbal stimulus in the patients' group. The study demonstrat- ed the association between P100 wave characteristics and behavioural responses.

Design of Polyepitope DNA Vaccine against Breast Carcinoma Cells and Analysis of Its Expression in Dendritic Cells.

Polyepitope DNA vaccine inducing T-cell-mediated immune response against cancer-specific antigens is a promising tool for selective elimination of tumor cells. Breast cancer-specific polyepitope DNA vaccine was designed using TEpredict and PolyCTLDesigner software on the basis of immunogenic peptides of HER2 and Mammaglobin-1 (Mam) tumor antigens. LPS-free preparations of plasmid DNA encoding polyepitope T-cell antigen and full-length copies of HER2 and Mam antigens were obtained. TaqMan-PCR systems for evaluation of the expression of immunogens in cells were created. The protocol of vaccine DNA delivery into dendritic cells was optimized. Expression of the target immunogens in dendritic cells derived from human peripheral blood mononuclear fraction after transfection with plasmid DNA preparations is demonstrated.

[The Application of Backward Masking Test for the Study of Visual Information Processing in Healthy Subjects and Schizophrenic Patients.]

The study of 14 healthy individuals and.15 schizophrenia patients was performed in condition of visual backward masking. Sensory thresholds were identified using the method of constant stimuli. A special modification of backward masking technique with lateralized presentation of test and masking stimuli was applied to study the lateral characteristics of visual attention. It was found that thresholds of letter stimuli identification were significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia than in healthy subjects. Only in patients the asymmetry of visual perception was revealed with the higher recognition thresholds in the left visual hemifield. Overall data analysis suggests an association of the recognition threshold raising in schizophrenia patients with changes in the interruption mechanism functioning at the neocortex level.

[FEDERAL CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS].

The purpose of development of this clinical practice guidelines was to provide evidence-based protocols that help the practitioner and the patient make the right decision for the health assessment, treatment and prevention of pneumoconiosis. Pneumoconiosis is the interstitial lung disease of occupational origin caused by prolonged inhalation of inorganic dust, characterized by chronic diffuse aseptic inflammation in lung tissue with the development of pulmonary fibrosis. Currently, thereare no treatment that provide a cure pulmonary fibrosis and changes in the dynamics of decline in lung function. Regular, individually tailored treatment should be directed to the pathogenic mechanisms and some clinical symptoms of pneumoconiosis, as well as the prevention of complications. To enhance the effect of pharmacotherapy is recommended to use non-drug therapies that enhance the functionality of the respiratory system.

[Circulating microRNAs in lung cancer: prospects for diagnostics, prognosis and prediction of antitumor treatment efficiency].

The major methods of microRNA extraction from different biological fluids (particularly, serum and plasma), approaches to the analysis of microRNA concentration and composition, normalization methods used in data analysis are outlined in the review. The advantages and disadvantages of the described methodological approaches are being highlighted. Special attention is given to microRNAs, circulating in blood, which could be used as the markers for minimally invasive lung cancer diagnostics, prediction of antitumor treatment efficiency and disease prognosis. Prospects and limitations arising from the evaluation of clinical significance of microRNAs as the potential tumor markers, and emerging as roles of various microRNAs in the pathogenesis of lung cancer become known, are discussed.

[P100 and N170 Components of ERPs in Abstinent Cannabinoid Users during the Modified Stroop Task].

In the current work we conducted the comparative analysis of P100 and N170 components of ERPs in abstinent cannabinoid users and in healthy controls during the modified Stroop task. The latency of P100 and N170 components was shorter in the temporal, parietal and occipital areas in abstinent cannabinoid users in comparison with the control subjects. The cannabinoid group showed the decrease of P100 amplitude in the right temporal and parietal areas and the decrease of N170 amplitude in the left temporal and parietal areas. There were no differences in the behavioral indices between these two groups. Thus, cannabinoids influence upon the mechanisms of early selection and these alterations of brain activity are stable and long-term.

[EEG synchronisation in autistic children. Analysis of coherency].

EEG study of 5-7 years boys with autism revealed lower values of coherence in background delta, theta and alpha bands and higher values of coherence in background beta 1, beta 2 and gamma bands. Healthy boys showed higher values of beta and gamma coherence during cognitive task. Autistic persons demonstrated higher values of theta coherence during cognitive task.

Stripe domains and first-order phase transition in the vortex matter of anisotropic high-temperature superconductors.

We report the direct imaging of a novel modulated flux striped domain phase in a nearly twin-free YBCO crystal. These domains arise from instabilities in the vortex structure within a narrow region of tilted magnetic fields at small angles from the in-plane direction. By comparing the experimental and theoretically derived vortex phase diagrams we infer that the stripe domains emerge from a first-order phase transition of the vortex structure. The size of domains containing vortices of certain orientations is controlled by the balance between the vortex stray field energy and the positive energy of the domain boundaries. Our results confirm the existence of the kinked vortex chain phase in an anisotropic high temperature superconductor and reveal a sharp transition in the state of this phase resulting in regular vortex domains.

MIRA analysis of RARß2 gene methylation in DNA circulating in the blood in lung cancer.

Analysis of DNA epigenetic mutations in the blood circulating DNA is a prospective trend for creation of noninvasive methods for the diagnosis and treatment efficiency monitoring in cancer. The methylation status of target genes in circulating DNA was evaluated by methods based on preliminary bisulfite conversion of DNA. We used a different approach based on selection of hypermethylated sequences of circulating DNA by means of DNA-methyl-binding protein (methylated CpG island recovery assay, MIRA). Methylation was evaluated for RARß2 tumor suppression gene in circulating DNA in lung cancer and a trend was detected to higher methylation of this gene in the patients in comparison with healthy donors.

[Comparative EEG-study of normal and autistic children].

The work represents the results of a comparative study of a spectral power as well as averaged coherence in theta and gamma-EEG band in a healthy and autistic boys (the mean age 6 years 1 month). Healthy boys showed a decreasing in theta spectral power as well as in averaged coherence, and increasing in gamma spectral power as well as in averaged coherence during cognitive task. Spectral power of gamma band shows more high scores in autistic boys than in normal ones. Cognitive task situation do not change spectral power of the fast oscillations in autistic children. Spectral power of theta--band shows more low scores in autistic boys than in normal ones. Cognitive task situation do not change spectral power and averaged coherence of theta oscillations in autistic children.

[Specificity of visual event-related potentials to subthreshold presentation of erotic pictures in pedophilia]. / Osobennosti zritel'nykh vyzvannykh potentsialov v usloviyakh podporogovogo pred"yavleniya izobrazhenii eroticheskogo soderzhaniya pri pedofilii.

OBJECTIVE: To study visual event-related potentials (ERPs) associated with presentation of erotic pictures in backward masking condition in order to investigate perception, attention and information processing underlying the initiation and maintenance of abnormal sexual behavior in pedophilia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Participants (58 males committed sexual offenses against children) were divided into the pedophilia group (n=38) and the control group without disorders of sexual preference (n=20). Three types of stimuli were used: neutral pictures of nature (S1), adult heterosexual erotic pictures (S2) and erotic pictures with children (S3). Posterior N1 (N140) and anterior N1 (N120) and P3 (P320) ERP components were included in analysis. RESULTS: In both groups, the perception of erotic stimuli was accompanied by a significant increase in the amplitude and prolongation of the latency of the N140 and P320 components (p<0.001). N140 changes were characterized by right-hemispheric bias in both groups, however, asymmetry was observed for amplitude in the control group, and for latency - in the pedophilia group; besides, reactivity to S3 stimuli was weaker than to S2 ones in the pedophilia group. N120 amplitude was elevated significantly in response to S2 stimuli in the control group, and no changes were found in the pedophilia group. Between-group differences were revealed for early negative components N140 and N120, which parameters were entered as predictors into classification model based on discriminant analysis. The obtained accuracy of model was 87.23%. CONCLUSION: The specificity of neurophysiological reactions to erotic pictures in pedophilic patients corroborates the concept of disease as general neurodevelopmental disorder.

Influence of annealing on magnetic, relaxation and structural properties of composite and multilayer films.

This work is devoted to the research of influence of annealing to ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) properties of films of the A, B series with the compositions of (Co45-Fe45-Zr10)x(Al2O3)y, multilayer films of the D series with compositions {[(Co45-Fe45-Zr10)x(Al2O3)y]-[alpha-Si]}120 and revealing their relationship with the nanostructure characteristics. The films were obtained in an argon atmosphere (the A, D series) and with addition of oxygen (the B series). All samples were deposited on substrates by the ion-beam sputtering method and were annealed. The resonant fields and width of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) line were measured before and after annealing. The changes in the FMR field and width of the line at varying temperatures of annealing for the composite and multilayer films are analyzed in the work. The character of changes in the structural characteristics of films at different annealing temperatures is determined.

Cyclophosphamide metabolite inducing apoptosis in RLS mouse lymphosarcoma cells is a substrate for P-glycoprotein.

RLS lymphosarcoma characterized by enhanced expression of mdr1a and mdr1b genes encoding P-glycoprotein is insensitive to low doses of cyclophosphamide, but is susceptible to its high doses approximating the maximum tolerated doses. Induction of apoptotic death of RLS cells by high doses of cyclophosphamide was demonstrated by cytofluorometry and electrophoresis. Experiments on RLS(40) tumor cells derived from RLS lymphosarcoma and characterized by more intensive expression of mdr1a/1b genes showed that the therapeutic effects of cyclophosphamide increased under conditions of simultaneous suppression of these genes by specific small interfering RNA (siRNA). These findings suggest that active cyclophosphamide metabolite can be a substrate for P-glycoprotein.

[Adaptive method for EEG spectrum component decomposition].

A new computerized method for EEG rhythms extraction is proposed as a development of the idea of adjustable boundaries of frequency components that was put forward in previous investigations. Principle component analysis of the correlation matrix of EEG spectra with subsequent rotation of factor solutions was used for decomposition of a spectrum into physically meaningful spectral components. The method was tested on EEG of 14 healthy subjects recorded in 17 functional waking states. Fourteen independent spectral components in the spectral range from 0 to 100 Hz were extracted and their frequency boundaries were consistent with the current knowledge on frequency components of EEG oscillations. Main advantage of the described method is the adjustable estimation of EEG frequency oscillators taking into account characteristic properties of individual EEGs. Possible area of application might be the correct evaluation of spectral power of the EEG rhythms, EEG coherence and other spectral characteristics in clinical and experimental research, studies of the frequency characteristics of the EEG rhythms in different human functional states, changes in frequency characteristics of the EEG rhythms during maturation and in mental pathology.

[Analysis of event-related potentials to verbal stimuli in healthy subjects and schizophrenia patients].

In 30 healthy subjects and 32 patients after the first episode of schizophrenia 19 channel-EEG was recorded during visual presentation of a random sequence of words and pseudo-words. In the first series of the experiments, subjects had to read the presented verbal stimuli, in the second series they had to press a button when seeing a word, and in the third series they were instructed to press the button when seeing a pseudo-word. We studied components N170, P300 and N400. In the group of healthy subjects, the amplitude of N170 increased to words in the situation of their relevance, which corresponds to the "recognition potential", whereas in the group of patients, the amplitude of N170 increased to pseudo-words when they were relevant. So it was a paradoxical response. The amplitude of the ERP later waves (P300 and N400) in the group of schizophrenic patients was smaller and the relevance effect was impaired when the target stimuli were pseudo-words. However, the incongruity effect consisting in an increase in N400 amplitude to a non-target stimulus remained intact in patients.

[Molecular-genetic markers in lung cancer diagnostics].

The major approaches to different lung cancer marker development are outlined in the review, including genetic, epigenetic, protein, transcryptomic, proteomic, metabolic, and miRNA markers. As far as epigenetic changes are among the earliest events in malignant transformation, methylated markers are thoroughly discussed. Special attention is given to minimally invasive tumor markers, which could be detected in easily accessible biological fluids, because they can be useful for screening and early diagnostics of cancer (before its clinical manifestation) as well as for verification of standard methods of diagnostics. Extracellular nucleic acids, circulating in blood (cirNA), are highlighted as the potential source of material for the early lung cancer diagnostics, prediction of antitumor treatment efficiency, post-treatment monitoring and disease prognosis.

[The peculiarities of rat tissue reactions to intraperitoneal implants made out of biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates].

The reaction of rat tissues to intraperitoneal placement of implants made out of biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), was studied at different time points after the operation by the methods of light microscopy. It was found that after intraperitoneal PHA implant placement, the active adhesive process started leading to formation of fibrous adhesions between PHA implants and intestinal loops. When PHA implants were used in the form of films, they became surrounded by a thick fibrous capsule. As a result of PHA implant placement in the form of ultrathin fibers, the extensive foreign body granulomas with perifocal inflammation and sclerosis of surrounding tissues were formed. In these granulomas the polymer fragmentation and phagocytosis by macrophages with formation of giant cells of foreign body occured. It is concluded that PHA implants are not biodegradable and induce tissue reactions similar to those caused by other foreign bodies.

[Peak alpha frequency and psychopathological symptoms in schizophrenia].

Spectral characteristic of the alpha activity (frequency of the maximum spectral peak) were comparatively studied in schizophrenic patients with predominance of positive or negative symptoms and healthy subjects in the resting state and during cognitive task performance. In patients with negative symptoms, the spectral peak frequency of the alpha activity (8-13 Hz) was decreased at rest as compared to healthy subjects in all cortical areas. In patients with positive symptoms, the peak frequency of the alpha rhythm in the occipital cortical areas was higher than in healthy subjects. The performance-induced increase in the alpha-rhythm peak frequency during cognitive tasks was less expressed in schizophrenics than in healthy subjects. A correlation of these characteristics with psychopathological symptoms was revealed. The results suggest a difference in neurophysiological mechanisms underlying positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.