Bulletin of RSMU

ISSN Print 2500–1094 ISSN Online 2542–1204

Bulletin of RSMU

BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL OF PIROGOV UNIVERSITY (MOSCOW, RUSSIA)

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Yusef OV, Ibragimov BR, Klimenko MP, Gerasimova AA, Aimetdinova AB, Marnat EG, Abramov DD, Klimenko PA, Kurtser MA

Missed abortion is one of the most prevalent forms of early pregnancy loss that remains a pressing issue of obstetrics and gynecology. Despite advances in reproductive medicine, the molecular mechanisms underlying the embryo development termination in early gestation are poorly understood. A comparative singlecenter study aimed to assess the expression of TGF-β and MMP-9 genes in peripheral blood of women with physiological and missed abortion and assess their potential prognostic value for evaluation of the risk of early pregnancy loss. A total of 40 pregnant women were included in the study: 20 patients with the 9–11 week physiological pregnancy (control group) and 20 women diagnosed with missed abortion (index group). The TGF-β and MMP-9 gene expression was determined by the real-time polymerase chain reaction method after the total RNA isolation from peripheral blood. The Mann‒Whitney U-test and ROC analysis were used for statistical data processing. No significant differences in the TGF-β and MMP-9 gene expression between the studied groups were revealed. At the same time, ROC analysis made it possible to determine the threshold values of the studied indicators having some diagnostic information content. As for MMP-9, the threshold value Ct ≤ 29 ensuring the 80% sensitivity and 60% specificity turned out to be the most informative. As for TGF-β, the threshold value Ct ≤ 27.4 was characterized by the 75% sensitivity and 70% specificity. The findings suggest the potential prognostic value of the studied genes for evaluation of the risk of missed abortion.

Received: 2026-06-24

Published online: 2026-08-18

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2026.043

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Romanovskaya-Romanko EA, Ozhereleva OO, Plotnikova MA, Altuhov AS, Stukova MA

The use of live attenuated influenza vectors requires a balance between decreasing virulence and preserving immunogenicity. One possible approach to enhancing immunogenicity and protective efficacy of such attenuated strains is the integration of transgenes capable of activating the innate and adaptive immunity in the viral genome. The experimental study aimed to construct recombinant attenuated influenza viruses capable of expressing human IL1β and conduct comparative analysis of their replication properties, immunostimulatory activity, and safety profile in vivo. Recombinant strains with different transgene localization were generated by the reverse genetics method; their growth characteristics and transgene expression levels were assessed. Activation of the innate immunity genes in response to infection with recombinant strains was assessed in the А549 cell culture. The attenuated phenotype was confirmed in the mouse model. In the reported study, recombinant attenuated influenza viruses having the NS1 protein truncated to 124 amino acid bases and expressing human IL1β were constructed and produced. It was confirmed that recombinant strains could express the functionally active IL1β; the increase in relative expression of the innate immunity genes (RIG-I, MDA5, OAS1) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL6 and TNFα) in response to the infection of cells with recombinant strains compared to the empty vector NS124 was shown. Thus, the IL6 gene expression increased more than 10-fold (p < 0.0001) and that of the TNFα gene increased 3–4-fold (p < 0.0001). The attenuated phenotype of the recombinant strains produced was confirmed in in vivo experiments, which suggests preservation of the safety profile along with the enhanced immunostimulatory activity.

Received: 2026-07-02

Published online: 2026-08-17

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2026.044

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Seredin PV, Ippolitov YuA, Ippolitov IYu, Goloshchapov DL, Litvinova TA

The relevance of the study is associated with the search for minimally invasive molecular signatures of the dentogingival complex tissue condition in children. A pilot study aimed to identify spectral signatures of protein conformational changes in gingival crevicular fluid from children aged 8–14 years with dental caries and gingival inflammation (gingivitis) based on analysis of the IR spectral Amide III band in a pilot cohort. Gingival crevicular fluid samples collected from 20 children aged 8–14 years with different dental status were analyzed. FTIR spectra were acquired using synchrotron-based Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in a Bruker Vertex 80/v spectrometer in the range of 3800–700 cm–1 with a focus on the Amide III region. Spectral deconvolution combined with multivariate analysis was used to estimate the contribution of protein secondary-structure elements. In the pilot cohort, dental caries was associated with a directed increase in the total contribution of components related to β-sheet structures. Based on the summed contributions of the main secondary structure elements, the β-sheet contribution exceeded 50% across the four analytical groups, the disordered component ranged approximately from 21 to 31%, and the contributions of β-turns and α-helical components remained below 10–11%. Inflammatory gingival changes showed a tendency toward a decreased contribution of β-turns and a relative increase in disordered conformations. Thus, the Amide III profile may reflect integral physicochemical changes in proteins of gingival crevicular fluid in individuals with caries and gingivitis. The reported features should be regarded as candidate spectral signatures of a hypothesis-generating nature that require further clinical validation.

Received: 2026-06-15

Published online: 2026-07-31

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2026.042

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Osikov MV, Antonov VN, Zotov SO

COVID-19 is characterized by diffuse alveolar damage (COVID-19-DAD). The COVID-19-associated hemostatic alterations manifested by venous and arterial thrombosis deserve special attention. The issue is especially urgent for patients with diabetes mellitus. An observational study aimed to assess the role of polymorphisms of the genes ITGB3, ITGA2, and GP1BA in aggregation alteration in patients having COVID-19-DAD combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). The control group included healthy volunteers (group 1; n = 22). Patients with COVID-19-DAD were divided into two group based on the fact of having or not having T2D: group 2 with no T2D (n = 52) and group 3 with T2D (n = 56). Platelet aggregation was assessed with the ALAT-2 laser platelet aggregation analyzer; adenosine diphosphate (ADP) at a concentration of 2.5 µg/mL, collagen 2.0 µg/mL, adrenaline 5 µg/mL, and ristomycin 7.5 mg/mL were used as aggregation inducers. In patients with СOVID-19-DAD and T2D, the rate of aggregate formation with the ADP induction was higher in carriers of the Т/С and С/С variants compared to carriers of the Т/Т variant – by 14 and 23% based on the median (р < 0.05). Polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction in buccal epithelial scrapings. In the group of patients with СOVID-19-DAD having no T2D, depending on the ITGA2 gene rs1126643 polymorphism the collagen-induced platelet aggregation is accelerated with the С/Т and Т/Т variants compared to the С/С variant — by 55 and 49%, respectively (р < 0.05); among individuals with СOVID-19-DAD and T2D, carriers of the Т/Т variant show the rate of the collagen-induced platelet aggregation 30% higher compared to carriers of the С/С variant (р < 0.05). Conclusion: in patients with COVID-19-DAD and T2D, the presence of the mutant allele Т of the ITGA2 gene rs1126643 polymorphism and allele С of the ITGB3 gene rs5918 polymorphism increases the rate of the collagen- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation.

Received: 2026-05-18

Published online: 2026-07-28

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2026.041

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Likhomanova EN, Shevaldova OV, Kovaleva AV

The psychological effects of childhood cancer and its treatment extend to all family members, particularly healthy siblings, of the affected child. Previous studies have reported reduced quality of life and self-esteem, as well as increased death anxiety and loneliness, among these children. This study aimed to compare the severity of chronic fatigue in siblings of children with cancer and in children from families without a seriously ill family member, with consideration of the informant: the child’s self-report or the parent’s proxy report. A total of 113 parent–child dyads participated in this controlled cross-sectional study. The sibling group comprised 65 healthy children whose brother or sister had cancer, and the control group comprised 48 children from families without a seriously ill family member. The groups were matched for the children’s sex and age (7–11 years). Chronic fatigue was assessed using the Chronic Fatigue Severity Questionnaire. Linear mixed-effects models revealed a significant group × informant interaction (p < 0.001). In the control group, parents rated fatigue severity lower (Δ = –10 points) than did the children themselves. In the sibling group, parental ratings were comparable to or higher than the children’s self-ratings (Δ = 2 points, p < 0.001). Parent–child agreement was stronger in the sibling group (r = 0.73, p < 0.001) than in the control group (r = 0.34, p = 0.019). No between-group differences were found in the total fatigue scores based on the children’s self-reports. Siblings reported greater physiological discomfort (p = 0.037), but less decline in general well-being, cognitive comfort, and social functioning than controls (all p < 0.001). The results suggest, that in families of children with cancer, parental assessments of a healthy child’s fatigue differ from the child’s own perception of their condition. Parents tend to rate fatigue as more severe than do the children themselves, whereas the opposite pattern is observed in control families. This informant discrepancy should be considered when assessing the well-being of healthy siblings and when providing psychological support to families affected by childhood cancer.

Received: 2026-06-03

Published online: 2026-07-18

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2026.040

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VIEWS 386

Zornikov DL, Simarzina VM, Islamidi DK, Belykh NS, Kornilov DO, Abakumova EI, Khayutin LV, Plotko EE, Voroshilina ES

Transcervical endometrial sampling is widely used to study the uterine microbiota, but the risk of cervical contamination raises doubts about whether detected microorganisms genuinely originate from the endometrium. This study aimed to determine whether autochthonous endometrial microbiota can be detected in transcervically collected samples by quantitative PCR after accounting for cervical contamination. Paired cervical and endometrial samples were collected from 185 reproductive-age women using an Endobrush catheter for endometrial sampling. Microbiota composition was assessed by real-time PCR targeting 27 microbial groups. An endometrial signal was considered true if its quantity exceeded that in the paired cervical sample, adjusted for transfer thresholds of 30% (expected, based on prior in vitro data) and 100% (conservative). Before correction, microbial signals were detected in endometrial samples from 144 (77.8%) women. After correction, positive signals remained in 44.3% (30% threshold) and 37.3% (100% threshold) of women. Most Lactobacillus spp. positives fell into an uninterpretable gray zone (47.6% and 55.1% at the 30% and 100% thresholds, respectively). In contrast, opportunistic microorganisms largely remained true positives after correction. Autochthonous endometrial microbiota was detected in approximately 37% of women, typically comprising 1–3 predominantly non-lactobacillus taxa. Detection of opportunistic microorganisms in the endometrium therefore likely reflects their genuine presence, whereas Lactobacillus detection is, in most cases, indistinguishable from cervical contamination.

Received: 2026-05-28

Published online: 2026-07-05

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2026.039

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VIEWS 382

Bondorenko DV, Ivanov AS, Tananakina TP, Kashchenko SA, Pogorelova IA, Alexandrov IA

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), one of which is diclofenac sodium, are widely used in clinical practice. This study aimed to assess the effect of diclofenac sodium on bone marrow cellularity, the population of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (Lin−Sca-1+ c-Kit+, LSK), as well as the levels of tumor necrosis factor — (TNFa) and interleukin-1b (IL1b) in laboratory mice with experimental dermatitis. The study was a randomized controlled trial; the experimental phase lasted 96 hours. Male BALB/c mice (n = 6, age 46 weeks, 18–25 g) were randomized into five groups: intact, untreated dermatitis, dermatitis + diclofenac 1.5 mg/kg, dermatitis + diclofenac 3 mg/kg, diclofenac 3 mg/kg without dermatitis. The drug was administered intramuscularly 2 times a day for 96 hours. Dermatitis was modeled using sodium dodecyl sulfate and Dermatophagoides farinae. Bone marrow was collected after 96 hours. The total number of cells was determined by an automatic counter, the LSK cell population by flow cytometry, and cytokine concentrations by ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA (p < 0.05). We observed a decrease in bone marrow cellularity in dermatitis groups (0.95 ± 0.12 versus 1.20 ± 0.15 × 106 ml; p < 0.05). Diclofenac 1.5 mg/kg decreased cellularity moderately (0.80 ± 0.10 × 106 ml) and an increased LSK cells (3.8 ± 0.5% vs. 2.1 ± 0.3%; p < 0.05). Diclofenac 3 mg/kg markedly brought down cellularity (0.60 ± 0.08 × 106/ml) and LSK cells (1.4 ± 0.3%; p < 0.01), and brought up IL1b (15.5 ± 1.2 pg/ml) and TNFa (82.1 ± 4.5 pg/ml). Our findings indicate a dose-dependent effect of diclofenac sodium on hematopoiesis and inflammatory response.

Received: 2026-05-15

Published online: 2026-06-30

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2026.038

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VIEWS 390

Parochkina EV, Rumiantseva AA, Semenova DK, Bormotov DS, Temnov AA, Stupnikova GS, Zavorotnyuk DS, Bocharov KV

Intraoperative determination of tumor margins reduces the volume of resected tissue while ensuring complete removal of malignant tissue without increasing the risk of recurrence. The existing approaches, including intraoperative histology or tomography, are highly effective, but they extend the time of the surgery. Therefore, real-time analysis methods are a particularly interesting avenue. One such solution is mass spectrometric profiling based on ambient ionization mass spectrometry. The molecular profile of the examined tissue is compared with a reference database of healthy and pathologically altered tissues. For many human organs, samples for this database can only be obtained from autopsy material. However, due to the unavoidable time delay between the moment of death and sample collection, tissue degradation may change the picture of pathological process. This experimental quantitative study investigated the stability of polar lipid profiles in the liver and brain tissues of healthy BALB/c mice (n = 23) during the early postmortem period (0–72 hours). It has been shown that lysolipids and free fatty acids correlate with the postmortem interval (r > 0.6 overall; r = 0.75 for FA 20:4 and FA 22:6); therefore, they cannot be used as molecular markers in diagnostic models based on autopsy samples. At the same time, the profile of phospholipids in tissue cell membranes remains largely unchanged in the early postmortem period, which preserves their value as biomarkers detectable in both biopsy and autopsy specimens.

Received: 2026-05-12

Published online: 2026-06-29

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2026.037

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VIEWS 392