New Technological Approaches to the Organization of the Work of Medical Personnel Performing Auscultation of Patients with COVID-19.

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the challenge of introducing methods for investigating patients reducing or eliminating the probability of infection of medical staff is currently relevant. This article provides an analytical review of new technological approaches to organizing the work of medical personnel in carrying out auscultation of patients with COVID-19. The development and approval of such technologies is shown to have started around the world. The ubiquitous and large-scale introduction of these methods into medical practice therefore seems expedient.

The collagen cross-linking enzyme lysyl oxidase is associated with the healing of human atherosclerotic lesions.

BACKGROUND: Acute clinical complications of atherosclerosis such as myocardial infarction (MI) and ischaemic stroke are usually caused by thrombus formation on the ruptured plaque surface. Collagen, the main structural protein of the fibrous cap, provides mechanical strength to the atherosclerotic plaque. The integrity of the fibrous cap depends on collagen fibre cross-linking, a process controlled by the enzyme lysyl oxidase (LOX). METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied atherosclerotic plaques from human carotid endarterectomies. LOX was strongly expressed in atherosclerotic lesions and detected in the regions with ongoing fibrogenesis. Higher LOX levels were associated with a more stable phenotype of the plaque. In the studied population, LOX mRNA levels in carotid plaques predicted the risk for future MI. Within the lesion, LOX mRNA levels correlated positively with levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and negatively with markers of immune activation. The amount of LOX-mediated collagen cross-links in plaques correlated positively also with serum levels of OPG. CONCLUSIONS: Lysyl oxidase may contribute to the healing of atherosclerotic lesions and to the prevention of its lethal complications. Mediators of inflammation may control LOX expression in plaques and hence plaque stability.

Effect of pancragen on blood glucose level, capillary permeability and adhesion in rats with experimental diabetes mellitus.

The effects of tetrapeptide pancragen (Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp-NH2) on blood glucose level and permeability and adhesion of mesenteric capillaries were studied in Wistar rats with experimental streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. Oral pancragen produced a pronounced hypoglycemic effect during treatment. Intramuscular pancragen normalized the adhesion of mesenteric capillary endothelium, but did not modify capillary permeability. The results indicate homeostatic and endothelioprotective effects of pancragen during the early period of diabetes mellitus.

Effect of peptide Vilon on the content of transforming growth factor-beta and permeability of microvessels during experimental chronic renal failure.

We studied the effect of Vilon in rats 2, 4, and 6 months after the onset of chronic renal failure. Subcutaneous injection of Vilon significantly decreased serum concentration of transforming growth factor-beta(1) and permeability of mesenteric microvessels in rats 2 months after the onset of chronic renal failure. Our results indicate that the preparation produces a potent homeostatic effect in the early period of chronic renal failure.

Serum TGF-beta 1 and TNF-alpha levels and cardiac fibrosis in experimental chronic renal failure.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize dynamics of changes of serum levels of TGF-beta1 and TNF-alpha in rats with cardiac fibrosis (CF) occurring during chronic renal failure (CRF), and to reveal the character pf correlations of these factors with amounts of cardiac collagen. DESIGN AND METHODS: CRF was induced by unilateral nephrectomy and by electrocoagulation of 25% of the cortex of remnant kidney. Post-operative checkpoints were 2, 4, and 6 months. Serum TGF-beta1 and TNF-alpha levels were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: CF became pronounced only at 6 months of CRF, while serum TGF-beta1 concentrations reached maximum at 4 months, i.e., at the checkpoint preceding the development of CF. Multiple regression showed cardiac collagen to correlate with both serum TGF-beta1 levels and time from the onset of CRF. Sensitivity and specificity of TGF-beta1 as serum marker of CF were 86% and 75%.

[Mast cells in normal and diseased heart]. / Tuchnye kletki serdtsa v norme i pri patologii.

Mast cells, producing different cytokines, chemokines, proteases, vasoactive substances and other mediators, are multifunction cells which play an important role in physiological reactions, as well as in pathological situations. In the human heart mast cells have been identified at the site of sarcolemma, in perivascular tissue, tunica adventitia of vessels, and also in coronary atheroma. Heart mast cells have a number of immunological and functional features that make them distinct from other mast cells, the features are believed to be due to microenvironmental influences on phenotypic and cytochemical characteristics. Mast cells play complex and considerable role in development of different pathological processes in the heart. Surface receptors to lgE (Fc epsilon RI) and anaphylotoxine G5a determine their participation in development of systemic and cardiac anaphylactic reactions. Direct activation of heart mast cells by intravenously injected substances used in therapy and diagnostics can also result in development of anaphylactoid reactions. It was shown that quantity and density of mast cells is much higher in patients with atherosclerosis, myocarditis, ischemic and dilated cardiomyopathy, than in humans without any cardiac pathology. Thus, the data allow to suggest that heart mast cells play an important role in regulation of a functional state of the myocardium both under normal and pathological conditions.

[The microvascular permeability of the skin and mesentery in rats adapting to hypoxia]. / Pronitsaemost' mikrososudov kozhi i bryzheiki u krys pri adaptatsii k gipoksii.

Changes of the rat skin and mesenteric microvascular permeability for Na-fluorescine were studied during adaptation to intermittent hypobaric hypoxia. The data obtained revealed that the microvascular permeability increased on the 10 th day after the hypoxia and decreased within 25 days of hte adaptation to the hypoxia in both areas under study.

[Functional status of mast cells in subcutaneous connective tissue of rats with lymphosarcoma of Pliss]. / Funktsional'noe sostoiianie populiatsii tuchnykh kletok podkozhnoi soedinitel'noi tkani krys s limfosarkomoi plissa.

The functional status of a population of mast cells taken from the subcutaneous connective tissue of rats with lymphosarcoma of Pliss and those suffering from aseptic inflammation was evaluated. The experiment established such manifestations of remote influence on the mast cell population, at early stages of tumorigenesis, as faster rates of tumor growth and mast cells maturation and enhanced degranulation. Initial signs of functional exhaustion of the mast cells population was seen as a paraneoplastic syndrome.

[Effect of heparin on the permeability of skin vessels in rats with lymphosarcoma of Pliss]. / Vliianie geparina na pronitsaemost' sosudov kozhi y krys s limfosarkomom plissa.

The effects of heparin on the permeability of skin vessels were investigated in intact rats with lymphosarcoma of Pliss. It has been ascertained that heparin treatment diminishes skin vessels permeability in both intact rats and those with blastoma. More pronounced effect was observed in the experiments involving chronic heparinization of animals, the permeability of vessels in tumor-bearing animals being lower than in intact ones.

[Morpho-functional characteristics of the mast cells of the subcutaneous connective tissue in rats with arterial hypertension]. / Morfofunktsional'nye osobennosti tuchnykh kletok podkozhnoi soedinitel'noi tkani krys pri arterial'noi gipertenzii.

Mast cells of the rat subcutaneous connective tissue were studied in experimental hypertension. An increase was discovered in the degranulation of the cells in rats with spontaneous and adrenal-regenerative hypertension. These animals demonstrated a rise in the number of immature cells with a relatively low content of serotonin. The changes described are believed to be linked with arterial pressure elevation.