Obtaining enough good and excellent quality embryos is one of the key factors for achieving pregnancy using assisted reproductive technologies. This work was aimed at developing a mathematical model for predicting good and excellent quality embryos based on semen microbiota assessment in normozoospermia. The study included 127 men whose semen was used for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the proportion of good-quality blastocyst developed on the 5th day of culturing (good-quality blastocyst development rate, GBDR). The 1st group included 57 patients with GBDR ≥ 40%, the 2nd group included 70 patients with GBDR < 40%. All patients’ semen was assessed at the day of fertilization. Semen parameters were evaluated in accordance with the WHO standards and semen microbiota composition was determined by means of real-time PCR. Discriminant analysis was used for development of the prognostic model. We developed a method for predicting efficiency of the embryological IVF stage in normozoospermia: EGO-Pro-N prognostic index (Embryos of GOod and Excellent quality Prognosis in Normozoospermia). If the EGO-Pro-N value is greater than 0.212, the probability of receiving GBDR ≥ 40% is low. Conversely, if the EGO-Pro-N value is less than or equal to 0.212, the probability is high. Sensitivity and specificity of the method were 71.9% and 70.0% respectively, accuracy was 70.9%. The developed model allows us to predict good and excellent quality embryos based on comprehensive semen microbiota assessment in normozoospermia before IVF.
VIEWS 1116
The study of the metaplasticity-based transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocols is an extensively studied approach to increase the effectiveness of stimulation. However, the effects of protocols with different intervals between the TMS blocks on cognitive functions are poorly understood. The study was aimed to assess the effects of two theta-burst transcranial stimulation (iTBS) protocols with short and long intervals between blocks on the working memory (WM) performance in healthy volunteers. A total of 16 participants were underwent a single TMS session of each protocol, which were applied in random order (iTBS 0–15 — two iTBS blocks over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) iTBS with an interval of 15 min between blocks followed by stimulation of the vertex area in 60 min after the first block; iTBS 0–60 — iTBS block over the left DLPFC iTBS, block of the vertex stimulation after 15 min, and the second block of iTBS over the left DLPFC iTBS 60 min after the first one; iTBS 0 — one block of iTBS over the left DLPFC iTBS and two blocks of the vertex stimulation; control protocol — three blocks of the vertex stimulation with similar intervals). WM was assessed using the n-back test before the first block and after the second and the third stimulation blocks. No significant effects of protocols on  WM or differences between protocols in alterations of test results and the responder rates to TMS between protocols were observed. The trend toward statistical signficance was reported for the protocol with short interval (iTBS 0–15). Furthermore, low reproducibility of individual iTBS effect was reported. The study of protocols with short intervals between blocks involving larger cohort of volunteers and taking into account the other factors potentially influencing the effect of the protocol (number of blocks and duration of a single block) seems to be promising.
VIEWS 1011
One of the subjects being discussed by the professional community currently is the role possibly played by the mirror neuron system (MNS) in the violation of social behavior of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The MNS is known to shape the perception of emotions of others and understanding and imitation of their actions. Mu rhythm desynchronization in EEG is considered to be the indicator of the MNS activation. The purpose of this study was to identify the features of reactivity of the EEG mu rhythm within an individually determined frequency range in preschoolers with ASD in situations requiring instrumental, emotional and altruistic helping behavior (HB). The study involved children 4–7 years old with ASD (n = 26) and their normally developing peers without the condition (n = 37). Although in most cases, HB was more pronounced in the group of normally developing children, the differences between the groups are significant only for altruistic HP (p < 0.01), and for the situation requiring complex altruistic and emotional HP it approaches significance (p = 0.09). Evaluation of the mu rhythm reactivity indices showed that the tasks invoking complex altruistic and emotional HB bring this indicator down significantly in children with ASD compared to the group of normally developing participants, as shown by the central leads of the left and right hemispheres and the parietal lead of the right hemisphere (C3: p = 0.02 ; C4: p = 0.03; P4: p = 0.03). It is assumed that the detected features stem from the impaired functioning of the MNS and the downstream regulation to the MNS from prefrontal cortex and other areas of the neocortex. The data obtained can be used in development of EEG biofeedback training protocols for children with ASD.
VIEWS 1082
Severe complex deformities of the forefoot in elderly patients with no rheumatoid arthritis result in the pronounced decrease in quality of life, chronic pain, reduced mobility, failure to get shoes for everyday use, exacerbation of the concomitant somatic diseases. The use of conventional  joint preservation techniques in such patients often leads to the deformity relapse, persistent pain, and the need for revision surgery that is often impossible due to worsening of the patients' general somatic status and local functional status. The study was aimed to improve surgical outcomes in elderly patients with no rheumatoid arthritis who had severe forefoot deformities. The prospective cohort study that involved allocation to the retrospective group for comparison of surgical outcomes in 65 patients was carried out in 2016–2019. The results obtained before and after surgery were assessed using the FFI, AOFAS Hallux, and AOFAS Lesser Toes scores. The Maryland scores were used to assess the outcomes during the postoperative period. The study revealed significant differences in treatment outcomes based on the AOFAS Hallux (p = 0.0001), AOFAS Lesser Toes (p = 0.0001), FFI (p = 0.0001), and Maryland (p = 0.0001) scores. In view of the elderly patients' specific nature, the radical surgical techniques that do not ensure joint preservation may be considered as effective and predictable methods of correction aimed at reducing the rate of revision surgeries. These techniques represent a one-step method to improve the quality of life of elderly patients.
VIEWS 956
Technological versatility and the humoral and cellular immune response induction capacity have conditioned wide spread of adenoviral vectors as vaccine and gene therapy drugs. However, vaccination with Sputnik V made a significant portion of the population immune to the types 5 and 26 (Ad5 and Ad26) recombinant human adenovirus vectors, which are some of the most frequently used bases for candidate vaccines. Today, vaccine designers tend to select alternative adenovirus serotypes as platforms to develop vaccines against new pathogens on. A good example is simian adenovirus type 25 (SAd25), which belongs to subgroup E. It is genetically distant from Ad5 and exhibits extremely low seroprevalence in human beings, which makes it an appealing alternative vaccine vector. The purpose of this work was to design and study a new vaccine platform based on simian adenovirus type 25. We relied on the advanced methods of molecular biology and virology to construct and make recombinant adenoviruses; the phylogenetic analysis in the context of this study was enabled with bioinformatic methods. The resulting recombinant adenoviral vector can effectively replicate itself in the HEK293 cell line (human embryonic kidney cells). This work substantiates the expediency of further investigation into the SAd25 vector as a platform for development of the prevention vaccines against various infectious diseases.
VIEWS 1181