[Lower jaw virtual reposition accuracy research]. / Izuchenie tochnosti virtual'noi repozitsii nizhnei chelyusti.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to study of the accuracy of the virtual reposition of the mandible (LF) by comparing the virtual and real position of the LF heads, as well as the analysis of factors contributing to the occurrence of errors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An experimental model of a human skull with a movable LF was made of radiopaque material. The resulting computed tomogram (CT) of the upper and lower jaws and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) was combined with dental scans of dental rows and CT scans and a report on the position of the heads of the LF was obtained. Then the LF was shifted to another position and this position was fixed. Optical bite recorders were obtained using an intraoral scanner. An experimental model with a fixed new position of the LF was placed in a tomograph and repeated CT was obtained. In the program, according to optical registers, a virtual reposition of the LF was carried out. The correspondence of the virtual and real position of the mandibular heads was compared. RESULTS: The absolute difference of glenoid fossa space between the actual and virtual reconstruction was 0.542±0.3354 mm in the anterior joint section (M±Î´, M - average mean, δ - standard deviation); for the upper joint section - 0.309±0.2246 mm; and 0.260±0.1862 mm for the posterior section. The integral indicator of surface coincidence (q) when the virtual and actual position are directly compared was 0.296±0.1254 (s.u.). CONCLUSION: The total margin of error depends on the following factors: repeated scanning error (teeth arches and bite scans), repeated CBCT error, a combination of scan and CBCT error, a combination of teeth arch scan and bite scan error, error of TMJ separation. The latter two factors were the most significant.

3D structure reconstruction of nanoengineered polymeric capsules using Coherent X-Ray diffraction imaging.

Nanoengineered polymeric capsules (NPCs) are smart objects that can be filled in with some desired chemical substance. They are considered among the most versatile tools in biology, pharmacy, medicine etc. Most often they have been used as containers for drug delivery. Main tools for studying their structure are electron (SEM, TEM) and fluorescence microscopies. In the case of electron microscopies, the main peculiarity was connected to the necessity of dried samples usage. In the case of fluorescence microscopy, the possible resolution is restricted by diffraction limits. The natural environment of the NPCs is liquid medium. In this paper we have developed a method of NPCs' structure investigation in liquid medium using coherent X-ray diffraction imaging (CXDI). The main points of this article are summarized as:•The procedure of NPCs' synthesis using layer-by-layer technique including gold nanoparticles;•Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging of the samples in liquid medium;•Imaging of objects without freezing of the sample.

Effect of Promising Antitumor Phenolic Antioxidant Anphen Sodium on the BCL-2 Family Proteins.

The proapoptotic effect of anphen (the effect on the level of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2) was investigated by immunoblotting. Incubation of Lewis carcinoma cell suspension with anphen at a concentration of 10-6 M for 0-3 h caused a 80% reduction in the level of the Bcl-2 protein and its homodimer. In vivo, when administered for 4 days to outbred mice, anphen (10-4 M) induced a decrease in the level of the Bcl-2 homodimer in the spleen cells by 20% and an increase in the content of the Bad protein (apoptosis activator) and the Bcl-XL protein. The antitumor effect of anphen may be due to blocking the hydrophobic pocket of the Bcl-2 protein.

Decrease in Bcl-2 Protein Level during the Development of Lewis Carcinosarcome.

We studied the development of Lewis carcinoma and possible antitumor effect of preliminary administered antioxidant anphen. The tumor was intramuscularly transplanted to C57Bl×DBA mice (7×106 cells per mouse). According to immunoblotting results, the content of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein steadily decreased starting from post-transplantation day 11. In few days, its content decreased by 15-20% and soon the animals died. After administration of anphen, the content of Bcl-2 decreased more rapidly than in the control. Atomic force microscopy revealed a decrease in the mean volume of erythrocytes and then increase in this parameter at the terminal stage of tumor growth. These findings suggest that anphen does not affect the tumor growth rate and mouse lifespan, but enhances apoptosis of blood cells of animals with Lewis carcinoma at the terminal stages of tumor growth.

Spectral imaging method for studying Physarum polycephalum growth on polyaniline surface.

The features of spectrophotometric scanner, generally exploited in the artwork field, are here considered in a non-conventional context to characterize the networks created by Physarum polycephalum slime mold during its motion on glass substrates covered with polyaniline: a polymer that varies its color and conductive properties according to the redox state. The used technique allowed the investigation of the effects coming out from the interaction between P. polycephalum and polyaniline. Thus, the contactless method of the analysis of polyaniline conductivity state resulted from the slime mold metabolism was suggested. Indeed, it is here demonstrated that P. polycephalum can modify properties of polyaniline due to its internal activity in contact zones.

A hybrid living/organic electrochemical transistor based on the Physarum polycephalum cell endowed with both sensing and memristive properties.

A hybrid bio-organic electrochemical transistor was developed by interfacing an organic semiconductor, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrene sulfonate), with the Physarum polycephalum cell. The system shows unprecedented performances since it could be operated both as a transistor, in a three-terminal configuration, and as a memristive device in a two terminal configuration mode. This is quite a remarkable achievement since, in the transistor mode, it can be used as a very sensitive bio-sensor directly monitoring biochemical processes occurring in the cell, while, as a memristive device, it represents one of the very first examples of a bio-hybrid system demonstrating such a property. Our system combines memory and sensing in the same system, possibly interfacing unconventional computing. The system was studied by a full electrical characterization using a series of different gate electrodes, namely made of Ag, Au and Pt, which typically show different operation modes in organic electrochemical transistors. Our experiment demonstrates that a remarkable sensing capability could potentially be implemented. We envisage that this system could be classified as a Bio-Organic Sensing/Memristive Device (BOSMD), where the dual functionality allows merging of the sensing and memory properties, paving the way to new and unexplored opportunities in bioelectronics.

Performance of Cepheid ® Xpert MTB/RIF ® and TB-Biochip ® MDR in two regions of Russia with a high prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of Cepheid® Xpert MTB/RIF® ("Xpert") and TB-Biochip® MDR ("TB-Biochip"). Sputum specimens from adults with presumptive tuberculosis (TB) were homogenized and split for: (1) direct Xpert and microscopy, and (2) concentration for Xpert, microscopy, culture [Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) solid media and Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube® (MGIT)], indirect drug susceptibility testing (DST) using the absolute concentration method and MGIT, and TB-Biochip. In total, 109 of 238 (45.8 %) specimens were culture-positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), and, of these, 67 isolates were rifampicin resistant (RIF-R) by phenotypic DST and 64/67 (95.5 %) were isoniazid resistant (INH-R). Compared to culture of the same specimen, a single direct Xpert was more sensitive for detecting MTBC [95.3 %, 95 % confidence interval (CI), 90.0-98.3 %] than direct (59.6 %, 95 % CI, 50.2-68.5 %) or concentrated smear (85.3 %, 95 % CI, 77.7-91.1 %) or LJ culture (80.8 %, 95 % CI, 72.4-87.5 %); the specificity was 86.0 % (95 % CI, 78.9-91.3 %). Compared with MGIT DST, Xpert correctly identified 98.2 % (95 % CI, 91.5-99.9 %) of RIF-R and 95.5 % (95 % CI, 85.8-99.2 %) of RIF-susceptible (RIF-S) specimens. In a subset of 104 specimens, the sensitivity of TB-Biochip for MTBC detection compared to culture was 97.3 % (95 % CI, 91.0-99.5 %); the specificity was 78.1 % (95 % CI, 61.5-89.9 %). TB-Biochip correctly identified 100 % (95 % CI, 94.2-100 %) of RIF-R, 94.7 % (95 % CI, 76.7-99.7 %) of RIF-S, 98.2 % (95 % CI, 91.4-99.9 %) of INH-R, and 78.6 % (95 % CI, 52.1-94.2 %) of INH-S specimens compared to MGIT DST. Xpert and Biochip were similar in accuracy for detecting MTBC and RIF resistance compared to conventional culture methods.

[Effect of oregano essential oil on the engraftment and development of Lewis carcinoma in F1 DBA C57 black hybrid mice].

The effect of a low uptake dose of oregano essential oil with drinking water for three months (Origanum vulgare L.) on the degree of Lewis carcinoma engraftment and some parameters of oxidative stress has been studied in vivo using F1 DBA C57 Black hybrid mice. Oregano essential oil has been established to possess an anticancer activity. The degree of tumor engraftment decreased by 1.8 times, its size decreased by 1.5 times, and the development of tumor was significantly suppressed in sick mice under the effect of oregano essential oil. It was found that the uptake of essential oil did not affect the intensity of lipid peroxidation in the brain of mice and resulted in a significantly (by 36%) decreased content of secondary lipid oxidation products in the liver as shown in a reaction with thiobarbituric acid as compared to control subjects. The activity of antioxidant enzymes was found to increase after three months of essential oil uptake (by 1.5-3 times) as compared to the control group. This effect of essential oil supports the presence of bioantioxidant properties in this essential oil.

[Selective effects of pulmonary surfactant on various subpopulations of alveolar macrophages in the model of experimental tuberculosis].

Pulmonary surfactant is necessary component for maintenance of high level of phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages. Tuberculosis inflammation reduces the production of surfactant by type II cells and phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages. The effects of exogenous pulmonary surfactant on the ultrastructural changes of various subpopulations of alveolar macrophages were studied by TEM-method. For investigations the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid from guinea pigs infected of M. tuberculosis and treated by isoniatid or isoniazid + exogenous pulmonary surfactant were used. It was shown that isoniazid + exogenous pulmonary surfactant normalizes the heterogeneous population of alveolar macrophages providing stimulating effects on their maturation and phagocytic activity more effectively than isoniazid therapy.

[Prevention of tuberculosis: current approaches to development of vaccines].

This review is focused on recent advances in development of new vaccines for the prevention of tuberculosis. The main reasons for lack of BCG vaccine efficacy in different populations and geographic regions are presented. Design of new vaccines based on live modified strains of Mycobacterium bovis BCG, attenuated strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, recombinant proteins and viral vectors is considered in the specific examples. The usage of the heterologous "prime-boost" vaccination strategy against tuberculosis is discussed.

[Changes in fatty acid composition in the brain and liver in aging mice of high cancer risk AKR strain and effect of savory essential oil administration on leukemic process].

Age-related alterations of fatty acid composition in liver and brain of AKR mice was investigated. The effect of savory essential oil (Satureja hortensis L.), added with drinking water on fatty acid composition in these organs and the processes of lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes were estimated. It was found that during aging the percentage of saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased while monounsaturated fatty acids increased. The development of leukemia was accompanied by the increase of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids percentage and a decrease of monounsaturated fatty acids amount. In the liver aging caused the increase in the percentage of saturated fatty acids, the decrease of monounsaturated fatty acids, while the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids was not changed. Leukemia (after 8 month) was accompanied by the increase of percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids and the decrease in the amount of oleinic and docosohexaenic acids. The intake of savory essential oil was accompanied by intensification of polyunsaturated fatty acids synthesis in mice liver and reduction of lipid peroxidation products content.

[Monitoring detection and treatment of new patients with pulmonary tuberculosis].

We estimated results of detection and treatment of TB patients registered in 2006 in 15 regions of RF under supervision of the Central Research Institute of Tuberculosis. The fraction of sputum positive patients increased in comparison with 2005. It ranged from 77.1% in Orel region to 35.2% in Astrakhan region. The primary MDR rate varied significantly from 2.5% in the Republic of Mordovia to 14.7% in Mary El (estimated level 5%). The frequency of efficient chemotherapy (evaluated from sputum microscopy data) increased in 8 regions and decreased in 7 ones. The efficiency varied from 69.0 to 81.1% in 9 regions (recommended level for 2007 68.5%). It amounted to 68.5% or higher (based on sputum culturing data) in Republics of Kalmykia and Tatarstan, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov and Ul'yanovsk regions. TB mortality rate in 2006 exceeded the acceptable level of 2.5% in 13 regions and the frequency of refusals to continue chemotherapy was higher than 5% recommended for 2010 by the Global Fund Target Project in 10 regions. The efficiency of treatment in sputum-positive patients was frequently evaluated by X-ray in 3 regions with poorly organized microbiological services. TB treatment efficiency estimated from cavity closure was higher than 60% in 10 regions; it the remaining ones it varied from 36,3% (Nizhny Novgorod) to 52.2% (Vladimir). The system of evaluation being tested permits to accurately register new TB patients, objectively estimate effectiveness of their treatment, and reveal causes of its failure. Also, it makes possible corrections of therapeutic strategy on a trimestrial basis instead of postponing them till the end of the year. Introduction of cohort analysis combined with supervision of responsibility regions by specialists of relevant research institutions would increase efficiency of TB control in each subject of Russian Federation. Supervisory management appears to be an efficacious tool for monitoring implementation of the TB control Program.

[The effect of volatile antioxidants of plant origin on leukemogenesis in mice].

The effect of savory essential oil added with drinking water (150 ng/ml) or with feed (2.5 microg/g) on the lifetime of AKR mice and the parameters of oxidative stress in animal blood were investigated. It was found for the first time that long-term administration of an essential oil in low doses increased the average lifetime of mice by 20-35% and was accompanied by a decrease in the hemolysis level and the content of lipid peroxidation products in erythrocytes of mice, as well as alteration in the structural state of their membranes and stabilization of polyunsaturated fatty acids level in mice liver cells.

New 5-modified pyrimidine nucleoside inhibitors of mycobacterial growth.

The WHO has declared tuberculosis (TB) a global health emergency. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover and develop new anti-TB drugs. Here we report on a new category of 5-substituted pyrimidine nucleosides as potent inhibitors of Myco-bacterium tuberculosis growth in vitro. A series of 2'-deoxy-, 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-, and 3'-amino-2',3'-dideoxypyrimidine nucleoside analogues bearing lengthy flexible alkyloxymethyl substituents exhibited marked inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis in vitro. 5-Dodecyloxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine was found to be a potent inhibitor of M. tuberculosis propagation in vitro. In contrast, monophosphates of the tested nucleosides were devoid of antimycobacterial activity. This new class of inhibitors seems to be a promising chemotherapeutic agent against TB and merits further studies.

[Psychoemotional changes in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis during therapy using psychological and neuropsychological methods].

Therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis in patients is complicated by their negative psychoemotional state frequently deteriorated by long inpatient stay. Enhancing the efficiency of rehabilitative measures in phthisiology requires active optimization of the patients' mental state. This problem can be solved by a package of correction measures involving psychological correction with reflex therapeutic normalization of the functional state of the cortical regions of the central nervous system in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. One hundred tuberculosis patients with decompensated mind, including 60 with OG and 40 with KG, were examined. A noticeable psychoemotional improvement was reliably detected 5 months after complex correction psychological and neuropsychological accompaniments of standard chemotherapy in the OG study.

[Comparison of radionuclide studies with pleural morphological changes in patients with tuberculosis pleurisy].

Forty-seven patients with pleurisy of tuberculous etiology underwent a radionuclide study using the reagent 99mTc-labeled technefit, the result of which was compared with the morphological changes in the pleural biopsy or resection specimens. First-degree pleural resorptive dysfunction (PRD) was ascertained in 27.6% of the patients. Morphologically, there were signs of acute edema of all pleural layers in both the area of inflammation and the proximal portions with reduced vessels in the microcirculatory bed (MCB). These patients had medical treatment. 59.6% of patients had second-degree PRD--circumscribed caseous foci and granulomas were morphologically found in the presence of progressive fibrosis with a small number of vessels in the MCB. 12.8% of patients had third-degree PRD--massive pleural fibrosis with a significant reduction in MCB vessels and lymph capillaries. Active tuberculous inflammation remained mainly in the deep layers of the pleura. Surgical treatment was performed in patients with second-third degree PRD. Thus, comparison of the results of a radionuclide study with morphological changes in the tuberculosis-afflicted pleura made it possible to establish the degree of pleural MCB impairments, to characterize the activity of a pathological process, and to define objectively treatment policy.

[Systemic transplantation of autologous mesenchymal stem cells of the bone marrow in the treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis].

The study undertaken 3 years ago examined the effect of systemic transplantation of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in the complex therapy of 27 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, including 15 patients with multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis and 12 with extensive drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. All the patients were bacteria-discharging persons with disseminated destructive processes in lung tissue, most (n=17) of them had chronic fibrocavernous tuberculosis. In all the patients, previous long specific antituberculous treatment was ineffective or inadequately effective. After systemic MSC transplantation, 16 patients were followed up for 1.5-2 years or more and the remaining 11 patients for at least 6 months. After MSC administration, a positive clinical effect was observed in all 27 cases; bacterial discharge stopped in 20 patients after 3-4 months; resolution of sustained lung tissue cavities further occurred in 11 patients. At present, a persistent remission of a tuberculous process may be stated in 9 of the 16 patients in whom MSCs were transplanted 1.5-2 years, significant positive bacteriological and morphological changes are observed in 6 patients. Thus, inclusion of transplantation of the autologous MSCs propagated in the culture into a course of antituberculous therapy may be a promising procedure for enhancing the efficiency of therapy in patients with resistant forms of pulmonary tuberculosis.

[Monitoring of the detection of new pulmonary tuberculosis cases and the efficiency of their treatment in the area supervised by the Central Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences].

The results of the detection and treatment of new pulmonary tuberculosis cases in 2006 were assessed in 15 subjects of the Russian Federation, supervised by the Central Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. As compared with 2005, in 2006 the proportion of bacteria-discharging individuals increased among the new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and ranged from 77.1% in the Oryol Region to 35.2% in the Astrakhan Region. The frequency of multidrug-resistant MBT among the new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (the expected frequency was 5%) showed a wide scatter and varied from 0.7% in the Republic of Ingushetia to 14.7% in that of Mariy El. The higher and lower percentages of patients receiving an effective course of chemotherapy, as shown by microscopy, were noted in 8 and 7 regions, respectively. Their scatter was 42.4% in the Nizhni Novgorod Region to 81.1% in the Republic of Mordovia. The efficiency of treatment, as evidenced by sputum culture, varied from 46.3% in the Nizhni Novgorod Region to 79.0% in the Republic of Mordovia. More than 3% of those who died from tuberculosis were recorded in 10 regions and more than 5% of those who discontinued a course of chemotherapy before the appointed time were notified in 8 regions. The cavity decay closure rate ranged from 36.3% in the Nizhni Novgorod Region to 52.2% in the Vladimir Region. Quarterly monitoring of the detection and treatment allows a precise registration of identified tuberculosis patients, objective assessment of the results of treatment, elucidation of reasons for ineffective chemotherapy, and corrections of a treatment process.