Effect of blue and red monochromatic light during incubation on the early post-embryonic development of immune responses in broiler chicken.

1. The light regime during incubation can influence embryonic and post-embryonic life and its effects can be mediated by rhythmic melatonin production in the embryonic pineal gland.2. This study explored whether the incubation of chick embryos under red or blue monochromatic light, which induces maximum and minimum melatonin production, respectively, can influence the development and reactivity of the immune system in chicks.3. In hatchlings, basal expression of immune genes (AvBD-1, PSEN-1, and IL-6) was evaluated in the duodenum using real-time PCR. The expression of these genes was measured weekly for three weeks after hatching, 3 h after intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. At these times, the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (He/Ly) was evaluated on blood smears, plasma immunoglobulin Y (IgY) concentrations by ELISA and IL-6 gene expression in the spleen by real-time PCR were determined.4. During development, the He/Ly ratio and plasma IgY concentration were not significantly influenced by the light quality during incubation. Red light increased gene expression of AvBD-1 in hatchlings and IL-6 in two-week-old chickens compared to birds incubated under blue light. The expression of IL-6 after LPS stimulation increased in an age-dependent manner, both in the duodenum and the spleen, reflecting the maturation of the immune system.5. The results suggested that red light may increase the local immune response in the gut immediately after hatching, but this effect was not apparent during later development.

Development and reactivity of the immune system of Japanese quail lines divergently selected for the shape of the growth curve.

1. Selection strategies for broilers must balance rapid growth with the welfare and health of animals, strategies must deal with the trade-off with other vital functions.2. Divergent selection of Japanese quail for high (HG) and low (LG) relative body weight gain between 11 and 28 days of age has been conducted to accelerate linear phase growth without influencing the final adult body weight. Higher body growth rate is often connected with a weakened immune system. Therefore, the present study explored the immunological characterisation of quail from HG and LG lines, which differ substantially in their growth rate.3. The trial evaluated the maternal investment to immunologically active substances, cell-mediated immunity stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) injection and the acute phase of the immune response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration in three different phases of early postnatal growth.4. Except for higher lysozyme activity in the LG group when compared to the HG line, the maternal investment did not differ between the two lines. Plasma antibody concentrations responded quickly to any change in growth rate in both lines. Overall, it seems that initial rapid growth of the LG line had long-lasting effects on immune responsiveness, even after the growth rate of the HG line escalated during the linear phase of growth.5. The study indicated that changes in the growth rate caused by the selection for growth in meat-type Japanese quail can influence the acute phase of the immune response and development of the immune system.

Prevalence of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance in acute care hospitals in Kyiv, Ukraine.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are among the most common adverse events in patient care, and account for substantial morbidity and mortality. AIM: To obtain the first estimates of the current prevalence of HAIs and antimicrobial resistance in acute care hospitals in Kyiv, Ukraine. METHODS: Prospective surveillance was conducted from January 2014 to December 2016 in five acute care hospitals in Kyiv. Definitions of HAIs were adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Healthcare Safety Network. FINDINGS: Among 53,884 patients, 3753 (7%) HAIs were observed. The most frequently reported HAIs were respiratory tract infections (pneumonia 19.4%, lower respiratory tract infections 4.1%), surgical site infections (19.6%), urinary tract infections (17.5%) and bloodstream infections (10.6%). Death during hospitalization was reported in 7.2% cases of HAI. The micro-organisms most frequently isolated from HAIs were Escherichia coli (15.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (14.8%), Enterococcus spp. (10.2%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.9%) and Klebsiella spp. (8.9%). Meticillin resistance was reported in 28.2% of S. aureus, and 14.2% of enterococci were resistant to vancomycin. Overall, 35.1% of all Enterobacteriaceae were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, with the highest resistance rates seen in K. pneumoniae (53.8%) and E. coli (32.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Infection control priorities in hospitals should include prevention of surgical site infections, pneumonia, bloodstream infections and urinary tract infections. These results may help to delineate the requirements for infection prevention and control in acute care hospitals.

The effect of different wavelengths of light during incubation on the development of rhythmic pineal melatonin biosynthesis in chick embryos.

Rhythmic pineal melatonin biosynthesis develops in chick embryos incubated under a light (L)-dark (D) cycle of polychromatic white light. The spectral sensitivity of the embryonic pineal gland is not known and was investigated in this study. Broiler breeder eggs (Ross 308, n=450) were incubated under white, red, green or blue light under the 12L : 12D cycle. Melatonin was measured in extracts of pineal glands by radioimmunoassay. The daily rhythm of pineal melatonin levels in 20-day-old chick embryos was confirmed during the final stages of embryonic life under all four wavelengths of light with expected higher concentrations during dark- than light-times. The highest pineal melatonin levels were determined in chick embryos incubated under red and white light and lower levels under green light. The incubation under blue light resulted in the lowest melatonin biosynthesis. Pineal melatonin concentrations increased substantially on post-hatching day two compared with pre-hatching levels and we did not find differences between birds incubated and kept in either white or green light. Our results demonstrate a selective sensitivity of the chick embryo pineal gland to different wavelengths of light. Rhythmic melatonin production is suggested as a possible mechanism, which transfers information about the quality of ambient light to the developing avian embryo.

[Analysis of results of excerpts of generalized parametric indicators of facet classification of occupations in medicine, practical, industrial pharmacy, cosmetology and major of related occupations introduced to State classifiers 003:2010].

A comparative analysis of the content and the list of codified occupations (CO) of State classifiers (SC) of occupations SC 003-95 and SC 003:2010 (total 15 000 positions) is considered. Found that the number of corresponding CO in the SC 003-95 consist of 906 items including 57 of Vol. 78 "Care of public health", as well as in SC 003:2010 - 799 and 59 respectively.

Reduced content of α-synuclein in peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with LRRK2-associated Parkinson's disease.

Measurement of α-synuclein level in the peripheral blood was proposed as a diagnostic test for Parkinson's disease. However, the results of these studies remain contradictory, probably because the examined samples included patients with different etiology of Parkinson's disease. To verify this assumption we studied the levels of α-synuclein in peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with Parkinson's disease associated with mutations in the gene of leucine-rich kinase 2 (LRRK2). The mean α-synuclein level was significantly lower in patients with LRRK2-associated Parkinson's disease (N=8) than in patients with sporadic form of the disease (N=33; p<0.02) and in controls (N=18; p<0.05). On the other hand, we found no differences in the level of α-synuclein level between patients with sporadic form of the disease and controls. We hypothesize that the level of α-synuclein in the peripheral blood largely depends on the etiology of the disease and cannot be used as a universal diagnostic test for Parkinson's disease.

[Normal values of temporal parameters of ECG in children according to results of clinico-epidemiological study ECG-screening of children and adolescents in Russian federation].

In order to obtain reliable information about time-domain ECG parameters in Russian children and to analyse their links with physiological changes the Project "ECG screening of children and adolescents of the Russian Federation" was carried out in 2003-2008. Time domain ECG parameters were studied in the representative sample of 5387 healthy individuals aged 0 to 18 years. In each age group, lower and upper limits of the norm for heart rate (HR), P wave, PQ and QRS intervals were defined as 2nd and 98th percentiles of their distribution. The equivalent limits of QT interval duration were defined as its 5th and 95th percentiles. Relationship between time domain parameters of pediatric ECG and HR was analyzed as well as relationship of these parameters with sex and age. The most important differences from prior pediatric studies completed 30 years ago were obtained for the heart rate limits. Among children aged 0 to 3, there was a tendency toward lowering of age-specific lower limits and elevation of age-specific upper limits. At ages older than 3 years, there was a tendency toward lowering of both the upper and the lower limits of HR. The newly obtained 2nd percentiles of the heart rate were lower than the known lower limits in nearly all ages. This indicates the necessity for revision of criteria of bradicardia in children. The present study showed that 5th and 95th percentiles of QTc interval (Bazett's formula) varied between 340 ms and 465 ms and were not significantly dependent on children's age and only for ages under 13 also on sex. Results of the study allowed to build age-specific ranges of norm for the time domain ECG parameters presented in a tabular form.

[Assesment of Parameters of QT Interval in Children and Adolescents.].

Aim. To determine limits of interval QT in children and adolescents aged 0-17 years and to detect possible ethnic differences of its changes. Material and Method. Twelve lead ECGs were recorded in 1531 subjects without overt cardiovascular pathology (47.2% females, 52.8 males, 57.3% of Slavic and 42.7% of Buryat i.e. mongoloid ethnicity). Results. Corrected QT interval (QTc) exceeded 440, 460 and 480 ms in 2.3, 1.05, and 0.26% of children. Prolongation of QTc was found in 0.46% and 0.11% of Slavic and Buryat children, respectively (p=ns). Starting from the age of 8 years girls had longer QTc than boys (454.1+/-15.2 and 438.3+/-8.4 ms, respectively, p<0.05). QTc less than 350 ms was registered in 12 children (0.78%). Eight of these children with mean QTc 329.1+/-32.3 ms had family history of syncope or sudden death. Variability of absolute QT values was 8+/-14.3 ms (maximally up to 40 ms). Conclusions. QT interval is prolonged when QTc duration exceeds 440 ms in children younger than 8 years and in male adolescents or 460 ms in girls aged 8 years or older and in children during first year of life. QT interval is shortened when QTc is less than 350 ms (1st degree of shortening). In children with QTc below 330 ms (2nd degree of shortening) short QT syndrome should be excluded. Normal variability of absolute QT value during sinus arrhythm on ECG at rest does not exceed 40 ms.

[Chronic viral hepatitis--one of the most important problems of current medicine]. / Khronicheskii virusnyi gepatit--odna iz naibolee vazhnykh problem sovremennoi meditsiny.

Main aspects of the study of chronic virus infection now cover clinico-morphological characteristics, prognosis of chronic liver diseases (CLD) by HBV and HCV; characteristics of extrahepatic lesions produced by HBV and HCV; features of CLD of mixed etiology (viral and alcoholic); treatment of CLD of viral etiology. The hypothesis is suggested on the generalized character of HBV and HCV infection. Approach to the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis including extrahepatic manifestation is proposed.

[Interstitial lung diseases--the clinical aspects of the problem]. / Interstitsial'nye bolezni legkogo--klinicheskie aspekty problemy.

Upon analysis of 550 cases of different chronic diffuse pulmonary diseases included in a group of interstitial diseases of the lungs (IDL) the authors came to the conclusion that IDL incorporate such variants as alveolitis, pulmonary vasculitis and pulmonary hemorrhages; granulomatosis covers exogenic allergic alveolitis, alveolitis in chronic active hepatitis; vasculitis group includes such rare diseases as necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis vasculitis and lymphoid granulomatosis; fibrosing alveolitis--secondary alveolitis in sclerodermia systematica, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, chronic active hepatitis. Knowledge of IDL etiology (environmental, occupational, induced by radionuclides, drugs, viruses, fungi) with focus on drug affection of the lungs is thought of value. Biopsy and bronchial lavage findings are compared clinically and morphologically. Mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis and approaches to inhibition of pulmonary fibrosis progression are outlined.

[The clinico-morphological characteristics of interstitial lung diseases]. / Kliniko-morfologicheskaia kharakteristika interstitsial'nykh boleznei legkikh.

Electron microscopic and immunohistochemical methods were employed to study composition of collagens in extracellular matrix and quantify oncoproteins c-sis and c-fos. It was established that interstitial pulmonary diseases of various etiology are characterized at early stages by alveolitis with activation of alveolar macrophages, at late stages by interstitial fibrosis with accumulation of collagens type I, III, IV and V and epithelial dysplasia which is likely to initiate bronchioloalveolar cancer.

[Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA using local nucleic acid amplification (polymerase chain reaction) in fixed tissues in chronic viral liver diseases]. / Vyiavlenie DNK virusa gepatita v metodom lokal'noi amplifikatsii nukleinovykh kislot (polimeraznaia tsepnaia reaktsiia) v fiksirovannykh tkaniiakh pri khronicheskikh virusnykh zabolevaniiakh pecheni.

PCR is a highly sensitive, convenient and rapid method for detection of viral DNA in fixed tissue samples which allows one to analyse the material from the pathology files, mainly biopsies. PCR in a fixed material requires larger amounts of DNA-polymerase and longer duration of every stage of thermo-cycles compared to PCR in the purified DNA samples.

[Intrathoracic and generalized granulomatosis in chronic diffuse liver diseases caused by the hepatitis B virus]. / Vnutrigrudnoi i generalizovannyi granulematoz pri khronicheskikh diffuznykh zabolevaniiakh pecheni, obuslovlennykh virusom gepatita B.

In 7 patients suffering from chronic diffuse liver diseases, they were combined with intrathoracic (3 patients) and generalized (4 patients) granulomatosis. Acute viral hepatitis or risk factors of infecting hepatitis viruses revealed in the case reports of 5 patients preceded the appearance of the signs of both lung and pulmonary damage. In 2 patients (without any indications in the case report to acute viral hepatitis and risk factors of infecting by hepatitis viruses) both the processes were established at a time. HBV markers were detected in all the 7 patients: in the blood serum in 3 and in the blood serum and liver tissue in 4 patients. Besides, HBsAg was identified in the smears of the lavage fluid sediment in 3 patients examined for that purpose. The role of HBV in both etiology of chronic diffuse liver diseases and granulomatosis is under discussion.

[Necrotizing sarcoid-like granulomatous vasculitis of the lung in a female patient with liver cirrhosis]. / Nekrotiziruiushchii sarkoidopodobnyi granulematoznyi vaskulit legkogo u bol'noi tsirrozom pecheni.

A case of necrotizing sarcoid-like granulomatous vasculitis (NSGV) in a female with liver cirrhosis (probably of virus etiology) complicated with systemic manifestations (skin vasculitis, syndromes of Raynaud and Sjögren). NSGV was diagnosed on the basis of the autopsy findings. Giant cell, epithelioid and macrophagal granulomas that differed from those in sarcoidosis by the presence of central necrosis, were found histologically in the walls of lung vessels and bronchi of various caliber. Keeping in mind a possible immuno-complexed pathogenesis of vasculitis in liver cirrhosis and NSGV as well as a probable viral etiology of liver cirrhosis it is likely that NSGV resulted from the vascular damage by immune complexes containing hepatitis virus antigens. Another peculiar feature of this observation was development of pulmonary hypertension.

[Cause of failures in the cryodestruction of malignant tumors of the oral mucosa and tongue and the ways to increase the effectiveness of cryogenic action]. / Prichina neudach pri kriodestruktsii zlokachestvennykh opukholei slizistoi obolochki polosti rta, iazyka i puti povysheniia éffektivnosti kriovoz-deistvii.

On the grounds of clinical observations over the use of cryodestruction on 109 patients with malignant neoplasms of maxillofacial localization it has been found that the recurrence took place mainly in cases when neoplasm was localized close to the large vessels (e.g. the lingual artery). The authors suggest to increase the cryoeffect through the artificial weakening of the speed of the blood flow in the vessels of the regions exposed to freezing. With this object in view, special experiments have been carried out and their results are described in the article.

Effect of hypokinesia and the combined action of gravitational load and hypokinesia on the structure of the hepatic portal system. / Vliianie gipokinezii i sochetannogo vozdeistviia gravitatsionnoi peregruzki i gipokinezii na stroenie vorotnoi sistemy pecheni

General hypokinesia during 1--6 weeks resulted in dilatation of the interlobular veins. sinusoids and central veins. The sequence of alterations corresponded to terms of hypokinesia. After exposure to "gravitation stress--hypokinesia for 1--6 weeks" stagnation in the portal system of the liver was less than after exposure to hypokinesia alone, but unevenness of lumens in the interlobular veins and sinusoids was more pronounced. The foci of the vessel spasm were determined. The signs of stagnation in the system of the portal vein and unevenness of the width of all the links of the portal bed were most pronounced after combination "hypokinesia for 1--6 weeks-- gravitation stress".