[Clinical and instrumental characteristics of psoriatic arthritis in men and women. Data from a cohort observational study].

AIM: To study and compare the clinical and imaging characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in men and women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 956 PsA patients observed in the Russian register, 411 (43%) men and 545 (57%) women. The average age of men/women was 46.0±16.50/50.7±17.20 years (p<0.001), the duration of PsA was 9.9±6.4/10.3±7.6 years (p>0.05), the age at the time of PsA establishment was 37.1±12.30/41.8±13.5 years (p<0.001). Rheumatological examination, X-ray of the pelvis, hands, feet were performed, the LEI, plantar fascia tenderness, body surface area (BSA), body mass index (BMI), CRP, HLA-B27 were determined. Patients filled out assessment scales of pain (Pain), disease activity (patient global assessment of disease activity - PGA), questionnaires HAQ-DI. The indices of Disease Activity in PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), criteria of minimal disease activity (MDA) were evaluated. RESULTS: The following differences in the course of PsA in men/women were revealed: X-ray sacroiliitis was detected in 175 (42.6%)/153 (28.1%); p<0.001; the presence of erosions of the joints of the hands and feet - 138 (33.6%)/170 (31.2%); p=0.435; LEI≥3 - 34 (11.4%)/78 (20.9%); p=0.001; Pain - at 48.5±22.60/51.5±22.80 mm VAS; p=0.043; PGA - 50.2±23.07/54.0±21.91 mm VAS; p=0.010; moderate and severe functional disorders (HAQ-DI) were more often observed in women (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively); the average value of DAPSA is 26.4±16.8/31.9±22.58; p<0.001; average BASDAI value: 2.7±2.83/1.8±2.78; p<0.001; MDA was achieved in 13 (3.2%)/22 (4.1%); p=0.486; BSA>10% - 54 (13.1%)/102 (18.7%); p=0.021; comorbid diseases - 154 (37%)/277 (51%); p<0.001. At the time of inclusion in the register, the proportion of patients receiving biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs was higher in the group of men. CONCLUSION: Our data, based on a large cohort study, demonstrate that PsA debuts in women at a later age than in men, the course of the disease is characterized by higher activity of peripheral arthritis, more pronounced functional disorders and a high prevalence of comorbid diseases. This creates a heavier burden of PsA in women and indicates that gender is an important characteristic of the patient that should be used to predict the course, therapeutic response and progression of the disease.

[Right upper lobe pulmonary sequestration as a rare cause of recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax]. / Sekvestratsiya verkhnei doli pravogo legkogo ­ redkaya prichina pravostoronnego retsidiviruyushchego spontannogo pnevmotoraksa.

A 19-year-old patient after previous wedge resection of the right upper pulmonary lobe a year ago urgently admitted with recurrent right-sided spontaneous pneumothorax. According to standard management of spontaneous pneumothorax, we performed diagnostic thoracoscopy and drainage of the right pleural cavity with regular X-ray examinations. However, these measures were ineffective. The patient was scheduled for surgery, and we intraoperatively observed an unusual cause of pneumothorax. Thus, we present spontaneous pneumothorax following right upper lobe pulmonary sequestration. The uniqueness of this case is associated with unusual manifestation and non-standard localization of rare lesion. A few cases of pneumothorax in similar patients are described in the world literature. The key limiting factor in diagnosis of such defects (identification of aberrant vessel supplying abnormal lung parenchyma) is the lack of routine CT angiography in patients diagnosed with pneumothorax. That is why CT changes were interpreted as postoperative ones, and the true cause was established only during redo surgery. A thorough inspection of the pleural cavity and alertness regarding unusual appearance of the right upper pulmonary lobe made it possible to suggest a non-standard diagnosis, avoid complications (bleeding from afferent vessel) and perform adequate lung resection.

[Main anthropometric indicators of children and adolescents living in the Chuvash Republic in the dynamics of 137 years].

Anthropometric studies conducted in 1884, 1928, 1946, 1965 and 1999 to study the characteristics of growth and weight indicators of children living in the territory of modern Chuvashia, partly reflected the influence of the living conditions of children in certain historical periods of the country's development: revolutions, civil and domestic wars, post-war stabilization, «perestroika¼. Over the last 22-year period, from 1999 to 2021, there has been the largest increase in the growth rate of indicators of the physical development of children and adolescents, which is considered as a positive trend, a manifestation of ongoing acceleration processes. It was revealed that in modern children, physiological growth jumps in comparison with their peers in 1884, 1930, and 1999 occur earlier - in the prepubertal period.

[Characteristics of PIK3CA gene mutations in Her2-low breast cancer]. / Kharakteristika mutatsii gena PIK3CA pri rake molochnoi zhelezy s nizkim urovnem ekspressii belka Her2/neu.

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the PIK3CA gene, encoding the catalytic subunit of the PI3K class IA p110α, is a common mechanism of activating of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in breast cancer (BC). The detection of these mutations in patients with hormone-positive Her2-negative BC is of important clinical value, since they are the predictor of the sensitivity of the tumor to the PI3K inhibitor - alpelisib. According to the status of the Her2/neu expression, all patients with hormone-positive Her2-negative BC can be divided into two groups - with low expression of Her2/neu (IHC 1+; 2+, ISH-) and with a complete lack of expression of this protein (IHC 0). OBJECTIVE: Establish whether there are differences of the PIK3CA gene mutations charasteristics in BC with luminal immunophenotype and low expression of Her2/neu in comparison with tumors in which Her2/neu expression is absent. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The presence of PIK3CA mutations was determined using real-time PCR on 96 patient tissues of hormone-positive Her2-negative BC. Commercially available cobas PIK3CA Mutation Kit (Roche) and cobas z480 analyzer were used. RESULTS: PIK3CA gene mutations were detected in 40 of 96 cases studied (41.6%). Most of them were localized in the exons 9 and 20, encoding helicase (p.E542K, p.E545X) or kinase (p.H1047X) domains of PI3K, respectively. The frequency of mutations in the exon 9 (p.E542K+p.E545X) was 2.6 times higher in Her2-low BC compared to tumors in which the Her2/neu expression was absent (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in mutation frequency in the exon 20. CONCLUSION: Statistically significant increase in the frequency of exon 9 mutations of the PIK3CA gene is specific for the group of patients with Her2-low BC. Our results supported the concept of Her2-low BCs as the unique entity and pointed out the need of their further study.

The Effect of Original Russian Neurotropic Drugs on Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides OATP1B1 and OATP1B3.

In experiments on HepG2 cells, we studied the effect of the original domestic neurotropic drugs omberacetam, fabomotizole, and ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate (EMHPS) (1-500 µM) on the activity and content of organic anion transporting polypeptides OATP1B1 and OATP1B3. It was shown that omberacetam (500 µM) increased the content of OATP1B1 and OATP1B3, fabomotizole did not affect the level of both transporters, and EMHPS (500 µM) increased the content of OATP1B1 compared to the control and did not affect the level of OATP1B3. The tested substances also reduced the OATP1B1/OATP1B3 ratio, as evidenced by a decrease in the penetration of atorvastatin, a substrate of the transporters, into HepG2 cells in the presence of omberacetam (100-500 µM), fabomotizole (500 µM), and EMHPS (10-500 µM). Evaluation of clinical significance of the obtained results, according to the FDA approach based on the calculation of the Cmax/IC50 ratio, showed that the effect of the tested substances on OATP1B1/OATP1B3 is clinically insignificant.

Neuromuscular organization and haptoral armament of Polyclithrum ponticum (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae).

Most gyrodactylids have a haptor armed with a pair of hamuli, two connecting bars and 16 marginal hooks. In some gyrodactylids, however, the haptor is disc-shaped and reinforced by additional sclerites. The genus Polyclithrum has arguably the most elaborate haptor in this group. This study aimed to gain better understanding of the anatomy of Polyclithrum by examining neuromusculature and haptoral armament of Polyclithrum ponticum, a species parasitizing Mugil cephalus in the Black Sea, with emphasis on haptoral sclerites and musculature in connection with host-attachment mechanisms. Musculature was stained by phalloidin, the nervous system by anti-serotonin and anti-FMRFamide antibodies, and haptoral sclerites were visualized in reflected light. The study provided new information on sclerites: in addition to previously described supplementary sclerites (A1-6), ear-shaped sclerites (ESSs) and two paired groups of ribs, reflected light revealed a rod-shaped process on the ESSs and a pair of small posterior sclerites. The sclerites were shown to be operated by 16 muscles, the most prominent of which were two transverse muscles connecting the hamular roots, three muscles attached to sclerite A2, the muscle fibres of anterior ribs and a set of extrinsic muscles. The nervous system consists of a pair of cerebral ganglia connected by a commissure and three pairs of nerve cords that unite in the haptor to form a loop between the opposite cords. The arrangement of sclerites and muscles suggests that Polyclithrum initiates the attachment by clamping a host's surface with longitudinally folded haptor and then secures its position with marginal hooks.

Broadband intermodal fiber interferometer for sensor application: fundamentals and simulator.

An intermodal fiber interferometer using the light from an incoherent broadband source has been considered analytically and implemented as a laboratory device. It was shown that this optical scheme could be used to measure external perturbations that cause a change in the optical length of a multimode fiber. The use of an optical spectrum analyzer and correlation functions approach in extracting the utility signal made it possible to achieve a linear response to the measured external perturbation and effective fading mitigation. A pair of integral coefficients was introduced: the contrast coefficient for characterization of the coherency of the operation regime, and the fading coefficient for estimating the signal stability against non-signal parasitic influences. Analytical expressions for the utility signal parameters were derived in dependence on the parameters of the light source, multimode fiber, and optical spectrum analyzer. The relationships among fiber length, width of the light source spectrum, and frequency resolution of the optical spectrum analyzer were stated for the optimum regime of interferometer operation. The simulation of the external perturbations performed at the elaborated device proved the applicability of the proposed scheme as a sensor of various physical quantities.

[Treatment of patients with rare bronchial foreign body - spruce branch]. / Opyt lecheniya bol'nykh s redkim tipom inorodnogo tela bronkhov ­ vetochkoi khvoinogo dereva.

Spruce branch is a rare radiolucent bronchial foreign body. Despite modern imaging tests and endoscopic examination, this foreign body is often detected only intraoperatively. This study enrolled 4 patients with spruce branch aspiration. In the 4th case, spruce branch was removed during rigid bronchoscopy that was associated with «lodging¼ type of foreign body. In two cases, spruce branch migrated to peripheral bronchial segments («extrusive¼ type) that required surgical treatment (thoracoscopy with resection of the right basal pyramid segments and wedge resection of the right lower lobe). The 3rd case was the most interesting. Initially, the foreign body was «underlying¼, but it migrated after partial endoscopic removal that finally required right-sided lower lobectomy. This report describes the peculiarities of clinical course and management of patients with a rare type of radiolucent bronchial foreign body - spruce branch.

[Dysglycemia in COVID-19 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Peculiarities of the Glycemic Profile in Hospitalized Patients and the Role of Steroid-Induced Disorders].

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of data on the features of dysglycemia in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and concomitant diabetes mellitus (DM) confirmed by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). AIM: to study the glycemic profile in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and type 2 diabetes mellitus by continuous glucose monitoring and the role of steroid therapy in dysglycemiadevelopment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 21 patients with COVID-19 and DM 2 and 21 patients with DM 2 without COVID-19 (control group) using a professional 4-7-day CGM. We also compared two subgroups of patients with COVID-19 and DM 2: 1) patients received systemic glucocorticosteroids (GCS) during CGM and 2) patients in whomCGMwas performed after discontinuation of GCS. RESULTS: Compared with controls, patients with COVID-19 and DM2 had lesser values of glycemic «time in range¼ (32.7 ± 20.40 vs 48.0 ± 15.60%, p = 0.026) andhigher parameters of mean glycemia (p <0.05) but similar proportion of patients with episodes of hypoglycemia (33.3% vs 38.1%, p = 0.75). Patients who received dexamethasone during CGM were characterized by higher hyperglycemia and the absence of episodes of hypoglycemia. In patients who hadCGM after dexamethasone discontinuation, hyperglycemia was less pronounced, but 60% of them had episodes of hypoglycemia, often nocturnal, clinically significant and not detected by routine methods. CONCLUSION: Patients with COVID-19 and DM 2had severe and persistent hyperglycemia but a third of them hadalso episodes of hypoglycemia. During therapy with dexamethasone, they had the most pronounced hyperglycemia without episodes of hypoglycemia. In patients who underwent CGM after discontinuation of dexamethasone, hyperglycemia was less pronounced but 60% of them have episodes of hypoglycemia, often nocturnal, clinically significant and not diagnosed by routine methods. It would be advisable to recommend at least a 5-6-fold study of the blood glucose level (with its obligatory assessment at night) even for stable patients with COVID-19 and DM 2after the end of GCS treatment.

[The role of health resort factors in preconception preparation of patients with reproductive disorders]. / Rol' sanatorno-kurortnykh faktorov v pregravidarnoi podgotovke patsientok s narusheniyami reproduktivnoi funktsii.

Reproductive dysfunction is a multifactorial problem, for the correction of which the most difficult are cases of pathology comorbidity. Individual preconception preparation, taking into account risk factors, is recognized as an effective measure to increase the chances of conception and prevent reproductive losses. OBJECTIVE: Optimization of treatment and rehabilitation measures at the preconception stage in patients with reproductive disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effectiveness of the use of natural and preformed physical factors in the preconception preparation of 180 women who underwent medical and rehabilitation measures in the health resort of the Altai Territory - the resort town of Belokurikha (Group 1, 79 patients) and outpatient conditions in the city of Barnaul (Group 2, 101 patients). Comprehensive spa treatment included climatotherapy, a combination of various methods: balneotherapy, peloidtherapy, physiotherapy and a prolonged course of herbal medicine. RESULTS: In patients of the 1st group, who underwent a course of rehabilitation treatment in a sanatorium-resort environment, compared with patients of the 2nd group, early reproductive losses were less common during pregnancy (7.1% and 20.7%, respectively; p=0.04) and more frequent term deliveries occurred (92.8% and 77.2%, respectively; p=0.02). The most significant predictors of the ineffectiveness of preconception preparation were the presence in patients of: chronic cystitis and autoimmune thyroiditis with hypothyroidism; oligomenorrhea at the time of pregnancy planning; aggravated by early reproductive losses and long-term wearing of intrauterine contraception history; burdened heredity for violation of carbohydrate metabolism. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive preconception preparation in the sanatorium-resort conditions of Belokurikha helps to increase the fertility of patients with reproductive disorders, the trophostimulating effect in the genital organs and the restoration of endometrial reception, which makes it possible to recommend this method for use in clinical practice.

Use of SEM/EDX methods for the analysis of ambient particulate matter adhering to the skin surface.

BACKGROUND: The skin is exposed to numerous particulate and gaseous air pollutants. The ones that need particular attention are the particles that adhere to the skin surface, which can later cause direct skin damage. This study aimed to characterize air pollution (AP) particles adhered to the human skin by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with X-ray dispersive energy spectrometry (EDX). METHODS: Tape stripping was performed from six healthy volunteers exposed to urban AP to collect stratum corneum samples from the cheeks and forehead. The samples were analysed using SEM equipped with EDX system with a silicon drift detector at an accelerating voltage of 20 keV. After the preliminary examination, the particles were located and counted using 1000× magnification. Each particle was analysed, increasing magnification up to 5000× for precise dimension measurement and elemental composition analysis. At least 100 fields or a surface of approximately 1 mm2 were examined. RESULTS: Particles adhered to the skin were identified in all samples, with a particle load ranging from 729 to 4525. The average area and perimeter of all particles identified were 302 ± 260 µm2 and 51 ± 23 µm subsequently, while the equivalent circular diameter was, on average, 14 ± 6 µm. The particles were classified into ten groups based on morphology and elemental composition. Chlorides were the most numerous particle group (21.9%), followed by carbonaceous organic particles (20.3%), silicates (18%), carbonates (16.4%), metal-rich particles (14%), and a minor number of bioaerosols, quartz-like, and fly ash particles. CONCLUSION: The SEM-EDX analysis provides evidence of the contamination of exposed skin to various airborne PM of natural or anthropogenic origin. This method may provide new insights into the link between exposure to AP and AP-induced skin damage.

[Endovascular treatment of aneurysms associated with cerebral arteriovenous malformations]. / Endovaskulyarnoe lechenie anevrizm, assotsiirovannykh s tserebral'nymi arteriovenoznymi mal'formatsiyami.

There are proximal, distal and intranidal AVM-associated aneurysms (G. Redekop, 1998). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate treatment outcomes in 120 patients with AVM-associated aneurysms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed treatment outcomes in 639 patients with cerebral AVM who underwent 1992 endovascular procedures between 2010 and 2019. AVM-associated aneurysms were found in 120 (18.8%) cases: 81 (67.5%) patients with 69 proximal and 29 distal aneurysms, 33 (27.5%) AVMs with intranidal aneurysms and 6 (5%) aneurysms without hemodynamic connection with AVM. One hundred and one malformations (16.9%) out of 596 supratentorial AVMs and 19 (44.2%) out of 43 subtentorial AVMs were associated with aneurysms. RESULTS: Intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 349 (53.3%) out of 639 patients with AVM: 97 (80.8%) out of 120 patients with AVM-associated aneurysms and 252 (48.6%) out of 519 ones with AVM and no aneurysms. All 33 patients with intranidal aneurysms in the AVM structure and 18 (94.7%) out of 19 patients with AVM-associated aneurysms and AVM in posterior cranial fossa had intracranial hemorrhage. There were 98 aneurysms in 81 patients with AVM-associated aneurysms. Eighty-nine (90.8%) ones underwent endovascular treatment, 6 (6.1%) patients with proximal aneurysms required microsurgery. Three distal aneurysms were not repaired. Thirty-four aneurysms were embolized with spirals. Embolization with spirals and balloon assistance was performed for 41 aneurysms, spirals with stent-assistance - for 9 aneurysms (including 1 distal MCA aneurysm in hemorrhagic period). Implantation of a flow-diverting stent was performed for 5 aneurysms (1 distal and 4 proximal aneurysms). There were 8 (8.9%) complications after embolization of 89 AVM-associated aneurysms (5 thromboembolic and 3 hemorrhagic events). CONCLUSION: According to our data, intranidal aneurysms require exclusion of the parent AVM segment due to high risk of hemorrhage. Treatment of proximal AVM-associated aneurysms should be carried out prior to AVM embolization. Distal aneurysms do not regress after definitive AVM treatment and should be operated on after total AVM embolization.

L-type Ca2+ Channels at Low External Calcium Differentially Regulate Neurotransmitter Release in Proximal-Distal Compartments of the Frog Neuromuscular Junction.

L-type Ca2+ channels (LTCCs) are key elements in electromechanical coupling in striated muscles and formation of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). However, the significance of LTCCs in regulation of neurotransmitter release is still far from understanding. Here, we found that LTCCs can increase evoked neurotransmitter release (especially asynchronous component) and spontaneous exocytosis in two functionally different compartment of the frog NMJ, namely distal and proximal parts. The effects of LTCC blockage on evoked and spontaneous release as well as timing of exocytotic events were prevented by inhibition of either protein kinase C (PKC) or P2Y receptors (P2Y-Rs). Hence, endogenous signaling via P2Y-R/PKC axis can sustain LTCC activity. Application of ATP, a co-neurotransmitter able to activate P2Y-Rs, suppressed both evoked and spontaneous exocytosis in distal and proximal parts. Surprisingly, inhibition of LTCCs (but not PKC) decreased the negative action of exogenous ATP on evoked (only in distal part) and spontaneous exocytosis. Lipid raft disruption suppressed (1) action of LTCC antagonist on neurotransmitter release selectively in distal region and (2) contribution of LTCCs in depressant effect of ATP on evoked and spontaneous release. Thus, LTCCs can enhance and desynchronize neurotransmitter release at basal conditions (without ATP addition), but contribute to ATP-mediated decrease in the exocytosis. The former action of LTCCs relies on P2Y-R/PKC axis, whereas the latter is triggered by exogenous ATP and PKC-independent. Furthermore, relevance of lipid rafts for LTCC function as well as LTCCs for ATP effects is different in distal and proximal part of the NMJ.

[Endovascular treatment of extracranial dissecting aneurysms of cervical arteries]. / Vnutrisosudistoe lechenie ekstrakranial'nykh dissektsionnykh anevrizm brakhiotsefal'nykh arterii.

BACKGROUND: Dissecting aneurysms of extracranial cervical arteries are a rare vascular pathology. To date, there is no consensus on the choice of optimal surgical approach for these aneurysms. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular treatment of various extracranial dissecting aneurysms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 19 patients with 21 extracranial dissecting aneurysms for the period from January 1, 2013 to October 19, 2020. Clinical examination, ultrasound and neuroimaging data were considered to determine surgical intervention. RESULTS: Nineteen patients underwent 20 intravascular interventions: aneurysm embolization with detachable coils with stent-assistance (n=9), flow-diverting stent implantation (n=5), arterial reconstruction with a stent for carotid stenting (n=3), aneurysm embolization with balloon assistance (n=1), aneurysm embolization with detachable coils without assistance (n=2). There were no complications. All patients were discharged without neurological impairment after 1-5 days. Long-term results of control angiography were analyzed within 1-19 months in 12 patients. All aneurysms were completely occluded. Asymptomatic occlusion of flow-diverting stent together with aneurysm occurred in 1 patient with low compliance to antiplatelet therapy. Other 6 patients are scheduled for elective angiography. CONCLUSION: Extracranial dissecting aneurysms of cervical arteries require vigilance due to their rare occurrence and risk of severe complications. In our opinion, intravascular interventions are advisable for these patients as effective and safe procedures.

COVID-19 in Patients with Diabetes: Clinical Course, Metabolic Status, Inflammation, and Coagulation Disorder.

The aim of the investigation was to study the clinical course of COVID-19 in the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and elucidate possible mechanisms of their mutual aggravation. Materials and Methods: The study included 64 patients with COVID-19; of them, 32 were with DM (main group) and 32 were DM-free (control group). The groups were formed according to the "case-control" principle. During hospitalization, the dynamics of clinical, glycemic, and coagulation parameters, markers of systemic inflammation, as well as kidney and liver functions were monitored and compared. Results: Among patients with DM, the course of viral pneumonia was more severe, as evidenced by a 2.2-fold higher number of people with extensive (>50%) lung damage (p=0.05), an increased risk of death according to the CURB-65 algorithm (1.3-fold, p=0.043), and a longer duration of insufficient blood oxygen saturation (p=0.0004). With the combination of COVID-19 and DM, hyperglycemia is persistent, without pronounced variability (MAGE - 1.5±0.6 mmol/L), the levels of C-reactive protein (p=0.028), creatinine (p=0.035), and fibrinogen (p=0.013) are higher, manifestations of hypercoagulability persist longer, including slower normalization of antithrombin III (p=0.012), fibrinogen (p=0.037), and D-dimer (p=0.035). Conclusion: The course of COVID-19 in patients with DM is associated with a high severity and extension of pneumonia, persistent decrease in oxygen supply, high hyperglycemia, accelerated renal dysfunction, systemic inflammation, and hypercoagulability.

[The first experience of endovascular treatment of chronic subdural hematomas with non-adhesive embolization materials of various viscosities: Squid 12 and 18]. / Pervyi opyt endovaskulyarnogo lecheniya khronicheskikh subdural'nykh gematom neadgezivnymi emboliziruyushchimi materialami razlichnoi vyazkosti SQUID 12 i 18.

Chronic subdural hematomas (CSH) usually require surgical evacuation via a burr hole or craniotomy. Certain incidence of recurrent postoperative CSH is known. Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization has been described as an alternative surgery for new or recurrent CSH or as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence. The authors report successful MMA embolization with 2 non-adhesive embolic agents of various viscosities (SQUID 12 and SQUID 18, Balt USA, Irvine, CA, USA) for recurrent postoperative CSH in a 44-year-old woman.

[Flow cytometry evaluation of the rhesus monkey cellular immunity following the Zaire ebolavirus (Filoviridae; Ebolavirus: Zaire ebolavirus) experimental infection].

INTRODUCTION: The outbreaks of the Zaire ebolavirus (ZE) disease (ZED) that have arisen in the last decade determine the need to study the infection pathogenesis, the formation of specific immunity forming as well as the development of effective preventive and therapeutic means. All stages of fight against the ZED spread require the experimental infection in sensitive laboratory animals, which are rhesus monkeys in case of this disease .The aim of the study is to evaluate the rhesus monkey cellular immunity following the ZE experimental infection by the means of flow cytometry (cytofluorimetry). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Male rhesus monkeys were intramuscularly infected by the dose of 15 LD50 (dose of the pathogen that causes 50% mortality of infected animals) of the ZE, the Zaire strain (ZEBOV). Levels of 18 peripheral blood lymphocyte populations of the animals before the ZE experimental infection and at the terminal stage of the disease were assessed using flow cytometry. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The certain changes in the levels of the lymphocyte populations were observed following infection, indicating simultaneous activation and suppression of the immune system during ZED. The increase in content was observed for T-lymphocytes, T-helper and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes expressing the corresponding markers of early activation. The decrease was recorded for T-lymphocytes and double-positive T-lymphocytes expressing corresponding markers of late activation, as well as natural killer cells expressing CD8 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: For the first time in the Russian Federation, the rhesus monkey cellular immunity before and after the ZE experimental infection was assessed using flow cytometry.

[Unfavorable outcome of giant vertebral artery aneurysm. Clinical case and literature review]. / Neblagopriyatnyi iskhod techeniya gigantskoi anevrizmy pozvonochnoi arterii. Klinicheskoe nablyudenie i obzor literatury.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the unfavorable natural course and prognosis of giant vertebral artery aneurysm, to analyze the literature, and to conduct a postmortem histopathological study of the features of this disease.

Doppler backscattering diagnostic with dual homodyne detection on the Globus-M compact spherical tokamak.

This article considers a four-frequency microwave Doppler backscattering (DBS) system in the compact spherical tokamak Globus-M. The hardware was adequate for the purposes of studying the peripheral plasma in the tokamak. The multichannel DBS system is based on duplication of a dual homodyne detection circuit for four incident Ka-band frequencies. The ray tracing results for a spherical torus are described, and specific requirements for the antenna tilt adjustment are defined. Some new experimental results are given for using DBS diagnostics on the Globus-M tokamak in order to illustrate its efficiency.

A new genus of ambrosia beetle from Melanesia (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Xyleborini).

A new genus of xyleborine ambrosia beetle, Melanesicus Beaver Petrov gen. n., with type species Xyleborus partitus Browne (1974) is described from the Melanesian region. The following new combinations are proposed: M. caledoniae (Beaver Liu, 2016) comb. n., M. deformatus (Browne, 1974) comb. n., M. granulosus (Schedl, 1975) comb. n., all from Xyleborus Eichhoff, 1864. Melanesicus tishechkini Petrov sp. n. is described from Vanuatu, and Melanesicus nukuruanus sp. n. Beaver from Fiji. The taxonomy, distribution and biology of the species included are briefly reviewed.