ISSN Print 2500–1094    ISSN Online 2542–1204
BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL OF PIROGOV UNIVERSITY (MOSCOW, RUSSIA)

New articles

Indices that reflect individual oral hygiene levels are widely used to determine microbial plaque of the tooth surface. When teaching patients how to take care about the oral cavity, dentists use visual demonstration of the dental plaque localization. The quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) technique represents a modern method to diagnose individual oral hygiene, in which even minimal microbial plaque buildup shows up as red fluorescence. The study aimed to assess the oral hygiene status using the quantitative light-induced fluorescence technique. Dental deposits were detected using QLF; the Quigley Hein, Green-Vermillion, DMF indices were detected clinically. The findings show that Simple Hygiene Scores do not exceed 2, when the caries intensity is very low or low (p < 0.05). In these groups, the Green-Vermillion and Quigley Hein index values reach 0.5 ± 0.23 and 0.2 ± 0.14, respectively. When the caries intensity is medium, Simple Hygiene Scores vary between 1–5 points. Very high caries intensity is characterized by the Simple Hygiene Score between 3 and 5 points (maximum Green-Vermillion and Quigley Hein index values reach 2.3 ± 0.43 and 2.1 ± 0.35) (p < 0.05). Thus, the quantitative light-induced fluorescence technique can be used in clinical trials for objective oral hygiene assessment, visual demonstration of dental plaque buildup to patients, and assessment of the dynamic changes in these indicators.
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Mass screening of newborns for 36 hereditary diseases in the Russian Federation will enable the reduction of childhood disability and mortality from hereditary disorders, as well as the identification of all-Russian and regional population-genetic features of the screened disorders. The study aimed to assess the results of newborn screening (NBS), including expanded newborn screening (ENBS), in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania obtained between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, as well as to study clinical and population-genetic characteristics of the diseases screened in the region. In phase I of assessment, biochemical testing, tandem mass spectrometry, and DNA diagnostics were performed, and the TREС/KREС levels were determined in 14,994 newborns. In 355 cases (2.36%), positive values were revealed. In phase II, the necessary laboratory and subsequent confirmatory DNA diagnostics were carried out in 324 cases (91.2%): repeated analysis by MS/MS and DNA diagnostics (for hereditary metabolic diseases), immunophenotyping (for primary immunodeficiency states). During the 2-year study, a total of 37 diagnoses were established, which accounted for 0.25% of all children screened in phase I and clearly indicated the program's success and effectiveness. We managed to verify the specific spectrum of mutations characteristic of phenylketonuria (PKU) and medium-chain fatty acid acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD). The frequency of the disorder assessed within the framework of newborn screening was determined. The frequency of all PKU forms was 1 : 1153 newborns, and the frequency of MCADD was 1 : 789 newborns surveyed. All children are listed as sick in the medical genetic consultation of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania; they receive treatment in accordance with the clinical guidelines.
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High fatality rate and the lack of pathophysiological therapy are typical for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration is used to model ARDS in animals. The method has the limitation of requiring the use of equipment to perform intubation and control the animal’s state. The study aimed to assess the possibility of using intranasal LPS administration instead of intratracheal and determine the LPS optimal dose. A total of 150 mL of the E. coli O111:B4 LPS (7.5 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg) or 0.9% NaCl was administered to 21 Sprague-Dawley rats. After 48 h blood was collected from the tail vein to determine the white blood cell count and TNFa concentration. The lungs were retrieved to assess dry weight (wet/dry ratio) and to determine the expression of the genes encoding pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines using real-time PCR. The relative counts of CD68-, CD86-, and MHC II-positive cells in the lung tissue were also evaluated using flow cytometry. The w/d ratio was higher when the dose of 15 mg/kg of body weight was used (p = 0.0228, ordinary one-way Anova). Вlood lymphocyte counts were decreased (p = 0.0019, ordinary one-way Anova), and neutrophil counts were increased (p = 0.0021, ordinary one-way Anova) upon administration of both doses. The counts of CD86- (p = 0.0014, ordinary one-way Anova) and MHC II-positive cells (p = 0.0050, ordinary one-way Anova) increased after LPS administration. The IL10 gene expression was significantly increased upon administration of the dose of 15 mg/kg (p = 0.0024, ordinary oneway Anova), while the IL4 expression (p = 0.0194, ordinary one-way Anova) was decreased upon administration of the dose of 7.5 mg/kg. Thus, intranasal LPS administration can be used to model ARDS in the Sprague-Dawley rats. Administration of the high dose leads to the rapid development of inflammation in the lung.
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Popular articles

Today, there is a theory that proliferative potential of hematopoietic stem cells is depleted, and the balance of committed precursor cells shifts towards suppressors during the development of cancer. However, differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells can vary depending on the tumor type, localization, and microenvironment specifics. The study aimed to assess the impact of tumors of various origins on the CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (n = 10). Assessment of the cell cycle and cell differentiation via both direct contact with the tumor and exchanging humoral factors only in transwells was conducted by flow cytometry. In the co-culture with К562, the number of hematopoietic stem cells being in their synthesis phase was 2.1%, while in the control it was 11.2% (p = 0.01); in the co-culture with SK-mel37, the number of hematopoietic stem cells being in the G2‒M cell cycle phase was reduced to 0.3% (p < 0.05). 1301 and К562 directed the hematopoietic stem cell differentiation towards granulocyte-macrophage precursor cells (p < 0.05), while 1301 and SK-mel37 directed it towards common multipotent progenitor cells. It is interesting that the number of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells significantly increased (2-fold) compared to control after incubation with К562 in transwells (24.17% and 10.19%, respectively). Thus, properties of hematopoietic stem cells can vary depending on both tumor type and the way of interacting with these cells.
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It has been shown that Y-haplogroup N3a1-B211 is common in the Finnish-speaking peoples of the Ural-Volga region. The study aimed to investigate gene geography and phylogeography of the westernmost variant of this haplogroup: the N3a1-Y23475 branch. Comprehensive genotyping of 395 haplogroup N3a1-B211 carriers from 29 populations of Eastern Europe, Ural-Volga region, and Siberia revealed 78 carriers of its western branch reaching its maximum frequency in Mordovia’s populations (8% in Moksha, 9% in Erzya, 25% in Tengushevsky Erzya-Shoksha). Low N3a1-Y23475 frequencies in the Turkic-speaking and Slavic populations suggest the role of the Finnish-speaking substrate in their gene pools. According to the phylogenetic analysis data, the N3a1-Y23475 branch emerged 2.3–2.7 thousand years ago, but active accumulation of its current diversity took place mainly in the populations of Mordovia during the last millennium. We performed DNA genotyping in 74 haplogoup N3a1-Y23475 carriers using the 37 Y-STR panel. The Y-STR haplotype phylogenetic network created suggests two periods of population growth in ancestors of Mordovia’s indigenous population: about 1000 years ago in the populations of proto-Erzya and proto-Shoksha, about 500 years ago in the populations of Moksha and Shoksha. The fact of finding haplogroup N3a1-Y23475 in the Northern and Southern Altaians requires further research. Position of Northern Altaians-Kumandins in the phylogenetic network presumably reflects migration of Mordovia’s population to Altai in the 19th–20th centuries. The age estimates reported for Southern Altaians-Telengits can indicate the association with the haplogroup N3a1 ancestral homeland in South Siberia before resettlement of its ancient carriers in the Ural-Volga region about 1.7 thousand years ago.
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Dear researcher!
At the end of 2015, Bulletin of RSMU saw an important change in its typographic design and content. We formulated new editorial policies and established strict ethical standards for submitted manuscripts in accordance with the guidelines of reputable international bodies. As a result, about a quarter of the submitted works have been rejected, the primary reason being the author trying to submit a previously published article. Sometimes authors believe that by making slight changes to the introduction, excluding a few people from the study, performing a new statistical analysis, and thus obtaining totally new results they will turn their old manuscript into a novel work. That is why we would like to talk about scientific integrity, honesty, plagiarism, and self-plagiarism in our special project “Author’s work”.
Richard FEYNMAN Cargo cult science
American physicist Richard P. Feynman, a Nobel laureate, was always very scrupulous about the quality of a research study. During his commencement address at the California Institute of Technology in 1974, he talked about scientific integrity and honesty and warned young researchers “not to fool” themselves. A must-read for anyone who believes he/she is a true scientist.
Ivan PAVLOV On the Russian mind
In 1918, Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov, a Nobel laureate, delivered two lectures: on the mind in general and the Russian mind in particular; on those mind qualities that determine the success of a research work and on how these qualities are present in the Russian mind. Pavlov's thoughts are an effective vaccine against poor intellectual work.