General dynamics of the URT microbiome and microbial signs of recovery in COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19 is caused by an airborne virus, SARS-CoV-2. The upper respiratory tract (URT) is, therefore, the first system to endure the attack. Inhabited by an assemblage of microbial communities, a healthy URT wards off the invasion. However, once invaded, it becomes destabilised, which could be crucial to the establishment and progression of the infection. We examined 696 URT samples collected from 285 COVID-19 patients at three time-points throughout their hospital stay and 100 URT samples from 100 healthy controls. We used 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing to evaluate the abundance of various bacterial taxa, α-diversity, and ß-diversity of the URT microbiome. Ordinary least squares regression was used to establish associations between the variables, with age, sex, and antibiotics as covariates. The URT microbiome in the COVID-19 patients was distinctively different from that of healthy controls. In COVID-19 patients, the abundance of 16 genera was significantly reduced. A total of 47 genera were specific to patients, whereas only 2 were unique to controls. The URT samples collected at admission differed more from the control than from the samples collected at later stages of treatment. The following four genera originally depleted in the patients grew significantly by the end of treatment: Fusobacterium, Haemophilus, Neisseria, and Stenotrophomonas. Our findings strongly suggest that SARS-CoV-2 caused significant changes in the URT microbiome, including the emergence of numerous atypical taxa. These findings may indicate increased instability of the URT microbiome in COVID-19 patients. In the course of the treatment, the microbial composition of the URT of COVID-19 patients tended toward that of controls. These microbial changes may be interpreted as markers of recovery.

[Semaglutide - effectiveness in weight loss and side effects when used according to studies by SUSTAIN, PIONEER, STEP].

Overweight and obesity are a worldwide common problem and are diagnosed with a body mass index (BMI) value in the range of 25.0-29.9 kg/m2 and ≥30.0 kg/m2, respectively. Obese patients are at high risk of developing concomitant diseases, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), hyperlipidemia, stroke and even some types of cancer. In the Russian Federation in 2016, the proportion of overweight people was 62.0%, with obesity - 26.2%. The authors performed an electronic search in the PubMed information database. Two search elements were used: «Semaglutide¼ and «Obesity¼. The search included studies published from the date of foundation of the database to August 2022. The search was limited only to the results of clinical trials. The authors obtained 26 results, but only the studies of SUSTAIN, PIONEER (Peptide Innovation for Early Diabetes Treatment) and STEP were considered, since they were original, randomized, controlled clinical trials conducted before the approval of semaglutide for the treatment of DM2 and obesity.

[Damage of the knee posterior cruciate ligament: biomechanics, basic diagnostics, treatment and secondary osteoarthritis prevention directions]. / Povrezhdeniya zadnei krestoobraznoi svyazki: biomekhanika, osnovnye napravleniya diagnostiki, lecheniya i profilaktiki vtorichnogo osteoartrita.

The analysis of literature data was performed on the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of injuries of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) of the knee joint. PCL is the largest intra-articular ligament of the knee joint, can withstand the maximum loads compared with other ligaments. It was noted that, in general, in cases of damage to the PCL, it is necessary to use a set of diagnostic methods, and the basic principles for the choice of optimal treatment plan for this patient. It considered the results of the conservative treatment of PCL partial ruptures, and it is indicated that this approach increases the risk of degenerative anatomical structures and functional disorders of the joint. It was noted that it is advisable to conduct surgical treatment to restore the stability of the knee joint and normalize function, while a number of methods for the reconstruction of PCL have been proposed to date. The usage of chondroprotectors for prevention of the secondary osteoarthrosis of the knee joint affected by posterior cruciate ligament rupture was analyzed in the literature data.

[Perspective Directions in Management of Severe Group Two Pulmonary Hypertension].

PURPOSE: To compare immediate results of mitral valve surgery in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension with versus without concomitant pulmonary artery denervation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January to December 2015 30 patients were randomly assigned into two groups. Patients of one group underwent mitral valve surgery (comparison group), in the other group mitral valve surgery was accompanied by pulmonary artery ablation (ablation group). Both groups had comparable anthropometric, echocardiographic, and hemodynamics characteristics. RESULTS: There were no hospital mortality and specific ablation-related complications. Left ventricular remodeling and decrease of pulmonary artery pressure were observed in both groups at discharge. On the third day after surgery systolic and mean pulmonary artery pressure assessed by right heart catheterization were 48 and 22 versus 59 and 39 mm Hg in ablation and comparison group, respectively (p.

[Effectiveness of Extended Myectomy in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy With Midventricular Obstruction].

PURPOSE: to assess effectiveness and safety of extended myectomy performed in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) with midventricular obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2010 and 2013 185 HOCM patients were operated for left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. Among these patients 32 had midventricular obstruction. Their age was 22-74 (mean 51.9+/-14.2) years. Mean peak gradient across LVOT was 89.1+/-20.4 mm Hg, thickness of interventricular septum was 26.9+/-4.3 mm. Operations were guided by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). RESULTS: There were no early deaths. Gradient at LVOT according to TEE decreased to 15.4+/-5.7 mm Hg. There were no complications specific for extended myectomy (such as ventricular septal defect, left ventricular wall rupture, or aortic regurgitation). In 2 (6.9%) patients permanent pacemaker was implanted because of complete atrio-ventricular block. Mean follow-up was 18.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] 17.2 to 20.3) months. Kaplan-Meier estimate of survival was 100% at 12 and 94.2% (95% CI 65.8-99.1%) at 22 months. CONCLUSION: Extended myectomy can be safely and effectively performed in HOCM patients with midventricular obstruction and should be considered individually in each patient.

[PERIFOCAL TISSUE REACTIONS TO IMPLANTATION OF THE SAMPLES OF HYDROGEL MATERIAL BASED ON POLYACRYLAMIDE WITH THE ADDITION OF THE CELLULOSE (AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY)].

Tissue reactions to the grafting of samples of composite hydrogel based on polyacrylamide and cellulose of different origin (plant and bacterial) were studied in 48 laboratory outbred rats and 24 rabbits of chinchilla breed. The observations were carried out on Days 5, 14, 45 and 90 after placement of implants in the muscle, joint cavity, deep defects of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone. The study has revealed no migration and degradation of the samples. On Day 90, the signs of their biointegration (regardless of their nature) were detected in the muscles and in one case (the sample containing bacterial cellulose) in the cavity of the knee joint of the rat. The materials had good biocompatibility with muscle, cartilage and bone tissues, did not cause perifocal inflammation and effectively functioned as a prosthetic articular cartilage until the end of the study period.

[Immediate Results of Mitral Valve Surgery in Asymptomatic Patients With Severe Mitral Regurgitation Due to Degenerative Mitral VaIve Disease].

Degenerative mitral valve disease nowadays is the most common cause of mitral insufficiency in developed countries and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. In the last decades repairing the mitral valve has become the operation of choice for treatment of the mitral valve prolapse, enabling to improve the geometry and function of the left ventricle and long-term survival. Nevertheless, the problem of choice of method of management of severe mitral regurgitation in asymptomatic patients with degenerative mitral valve disease remains unsolved. In this article we present immediate results of a prospective comparative study of mitral valve surgery in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients in dependence on NYHA class of heart failure.

[Immediate Results of Mitral Valve Surgery in Asymptomatic Patients With Severe Mitral Regurgitation Due to Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease].

Degenerative mitral valve disease nowadays is the most common cause of mitral insufficiency in developed countries and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. In the last decades repairing the mitral valve has become the operation of choice for treatment of the mitral valve prolapse, enabling to improve the geometry and function of the left ventricle and long-term survival. Nevertheless, the problem of choice of method of management of severe mitral regurgitation in asymptomatic patients with degenerative mitral valve disease remains unsolved. In this article we present immediate results of a prospective comparative study of mitral valve surgery in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients in dependence on NYHA class of heart failure.

Hydrothermal alteration of kimberlite by convective flows of external water.

Kimberlite volcanism involves the emplacement of olivine-rich volcaniclastic deposits into volcanic vents or pipes. Kimberlite deposits are typically pervasively serpentinised as a result of the reaction of olivine and water within a temperature range of 130-400 °C or less. We present a model for the influx of ground water into hot kimberlite deposits coupled with progressive cooling and serpentisation. Large-pressure gradients cause influx and heating of water within the pipe with horizontal convergent flow in the host rock and along pipe margins, and upward flow within the pipe centre. Complete serpentisation is predicted for wide ranges of permeability of the host rocks and kimberlite deposits. For typical pipe dimensions, cooling times are centuries to a few millennia. Excess volume of serpentine results in filling of pore spaces, eventually inhibiting fluid flow. Fresh olivine is preserved in lithofacies with initial low porosity, and at the base of the pipe where deeper-level host rocks have low permeability, and the pipe is narrower leading to faster cooling. These predictions are consistent with fresh olivine and serpentine distribution in the Diavik A418 kimberlite pipe, (NWT, Canada) and with features of kimberlites of the Yakutian province in Russia affected by influx of ground water brines. Fast reactions and increases in the volume of solid products compared to the reactants result in self-sealing and low water-rock ratios (estimated at <0.2). Such low water-rock ratios result in only small changes in stable isotope compositions; for example, δO18 is predicted only to change slightly from mantle values. The model supports alteration of kimberlites predominantly by interactions with external non-magmatic fluids.

Associations among urodynamic findings and symptoms in women enrolled in the Interstitial Cystitis Data Base (ICDB) Study.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to correlate the cystometric findings with the presenting symptoms of the 388 women enrolled in the NIH/NIDDK-funded interstitial Cystitis Data Base (ICDB) Study as of December 31, 1995. METHODS: All patients underwent a complete history and physical and completed standardized questionnaires to assess voiding symptoms and quality of life (QOL). A 3-day voiding log was also obtained, followed by a baseline urodynamic exam. All results are expressed as mean values +/- 1 standard deviation, and all reported correlations were significant. RESULTS: A correlation was seen between reported daytime, nighttime, and 24-hour frequency, and both volume at first sensation to void (VFSV) and maximal cystometric capacity (VMCC). Patients with constant severe urgency had smaller VFSV, 63 +/- 59 mL versus 108 +/- 90 mL, and lower VMCC, 163 +/- 102 mL versus 288 +/- 135 mL, than patients without the complaint. A negative trend was seen for both VFSV and VMCC versus the global severity. An inverse trend was seen between minimal and maximal pain scores over the 4 weeks before the exam and VMCC. (No correlation existed between current pain noted during baseline screening visits and VFSV or VMCC). No urodynamics correlates were seen with global measures of body pain and global health. Uninhibited detrusor contractions (UDCs) were seen in 56 of 384 patients (14.6%). A positive correlation was seen between urgency symptoms and the presence of UDCs. Correlations between the VFSV and VMCC were made with both the average voided volume (AVV) and the average maximal voided volume (AMVV) as determined by a 3-day voiding log. Significant positive correlations were seen with each pair-wise comparison (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings confirm that subjective measurements of symptoms associated with interstitial cystitis can be confirmed objectively with urodynamic studies.

Modification of the age transition model with implications for regional migration rates and their influence on the reproduction structure of a population.

"Models are developed for the dynamics of the age structure of the population of a region into which there are migration flows from other regions with different fertility coefficients. The model is explored in detail for a three-age-group population. A number of optimisation problems are formulated which can be used for various planning purposes."