Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, enters the cell by binding the cell surface proteins: angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2). The expression of these proteins varies significantly in individual organs and tissues of the human body. One of the proteins’ expression regulation mechanisms is based on the activity of the microRNA (miRNA) molecules, small non-coding RNAs, the most important function of which is the post-transcriptional negative regulation of gene expression. The study was aimed to investigate the mechanisms of the interactions between miRNA isoforms and ACE2/TMPRSS2 genes in the colon tissues known for the high level of expression of the described enzymes. The search for interactions was performed using the correlation analysis applied to the publicly available paired mRNA/miRNA sequencing data of colon tissues. Among the others, such miRNAs as miR-30c and miR-200c were identified known for their involvement in the coronavirus infection and acute respiratory distress syndrome pathogenesis. Thus, new potential mechanisms for the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 enzymes regulation were ascertained, as well as their possible functional activity in a cell infected with coronavirus.
VIEWS 3795
Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) are common in women in their reproductive years. In more than one-third of patients tumors are detected at the age of 15–29, the average age at initial diagnosis is 40. The study was aimed to improve methods for BOTs diagnosis in pregnancy and to determine the possibilities of organ preservation treatment. A group of 300 pregnant women with various tumor-like formations and ovarian tumors was examined. Of them, 25 patients had borderline epithelial tumors (22 patients had serous and 3 patients had mucinous tumors). Ultrasound examination together with blood serum СА-125, sFas, VEGF and IL6 level assessment were performed prior to surgery. The results obtained were compared with the results of morphological studies. Organ preservation and radical surgical treatment were carried out, and chemotherapy, if necessary. Perinatal outcomes were studied when performing the cross-comparison. It was discovered, that ultrasonography and logistic regression analysis made it possible to distinguish between benign ovarian tumors, BOTs and malignant ovarian tumors. The levels of VEGF above the 500 pg/ml, IL6 above the 8.1 pg/ml and СА-125 above the 300 U/ml indicated the high probability of malignant ovarian tumors in pregnant women. Only the morphological study of ovarian tissue, obtained regardless of surgical methods, ensured understanding of the ovarian tumor’s true nature during pregnancy. At the same time, in three pregnant women with ovarian tumors, the morphological examination revealed some tissue areas common both for BOTs and malignant ovarian tumors. Thus, the predominance of the tumor early stages, relatively mild course and, favorable prognosis in patients with BOTs make it possible to use gentle surgical treatment making it possible to preserve menstrual function and fertility.
VIEWS 2892
Due to refinements of assisted reproductive technology, the number of multiple pregnancies has increased substantially. Time-lapse microscopy (TLM) is a tool for selecting quality embryos for transfer. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of single-embryo transfer of autologous oocytes performed on day 5 of embryo incubation in a TLM-equipped system in patients with good ovarian reserve. The study was carried out in 208 infertile women with good ovarian reserve (over 8 oocytes retrieved). Single-embryo transfer following incubation in a TLM-equipped incubator was performed in 95 patients, who formed the main group; the control group consisted of 113 patients undergoing single-embryo transfer following a traditional culture and embryo selection procedure. We assessed the quality of transferred embryos, the rates of clinical pregnancy and pregnancy loss. Two subgroups were identified in each group of the participants: the 5SET subgroup (nonelective single-embryo transfer), which included 45 patients from the main group and 67 controls, and the 5еSET subgroup (elective single-embryo transfer), which consisted of 50 main group patients and 46 controls. The groups did not differ in terms of age, infertility factors and infertility duration. The quality of transferred embryos was excellent or good in all main group patients (100%); in the control group, the quality of transferred embryos was excellent or good in 93.8% of cases (р = 0.037). Clinical pregnancies were achieved in 64.2% of women in the main group and in 60.2% of controls (р = 0.65). Delivery rates were 54% and 51.1% in the 5eSET and 5SET subgroups of the main group, respectively (р = 0.940). For the control group, delivery rates were 54.4% and 34.3% in the 5eSET and 5SET subgroups, respectively (р = 0.052, Fisher exact test). Elective single-embryo transfer (5eSET) and the use of TLM increased the chance of pregnancy 2.17-fold (р = 0.01).
VIEWS 2922
The development of brain-computer interfaces based on the use of EEG sensorimotor rhythms reactivity parameters and designed for the rehabilitation of people (including children) with impaired motor functions is currently relevant. The study was aimed to analyse the EEG μ-rhythm in the individual frequency range in children during imitation of biological and non-biological motion. EEG was recorded at frontal, central and parietal cortical regions in 136 normally developing right-handed children aged 4–15, at rest and during the execution and imitation of movements using the computer mouse. When the children moved the computer mouse on their own (F1, 132 = 31.17; p < 0.001) and executed the concentric moving of the coloured circle (F1, 132 = 90.34; p < 0.001), the μ-rhythm desynchronization developed in the frontal, central and parietal neocortical regions. The μ-rhythm synchronization was detected during the non-biologocal motion imitation (F1, 132 = 12.65; p < 0.001), compared to the task on the autonomous movement execution. The μ-rhythm desynchronization was observed during the biologocal motion imitation in relation to autonomous movement execution (F1, 132 = 9.58; p = 0.002). The described effects had their own features in the groups of children aged 4–6, 7–9, 10–12 and 13–15. The study results demonstrate the desirability of taking into account the μ-rhythm reactivity age-related features and the visual stimuli nature when developing software for the brain-computer interfaces.
VIEWS 2983
In recent years, the incidence of tuberculous peritonitis increased. Peritoneal tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose, and often the diagnosis is verified with significant delay. In clinical practice, a quick and affordable diagnostic radiology method, ultrasonography (USG), is proposed for patients with suspected tuberculous peritonitis. The study was aimed to describe the sonographic semiology of tuberculous peritonitis, to create the integrated scale for the individual peritoneal tuberculosis sonographic symptoms significance assessment, and to determine the role of ultrasound imaging in the diagnosis verification. Retrospective study of the invasive and ultrasound investigation results of 37 patients with confirmed tuberculous peritonitis was carried out in 2009–2019. Similar data obtained by investigation of 28 patients with the disorders which often mimic the tuberculous peritonitis (peritoneal carcinomatosis and sarcoidosis, non-specific ascites) were used as a comparison group. Direct and indirect signs of peritoneal lesion in patients with tuberculosis were identified. On the basis of that, an integral scale for the individual sonographic symptoms significance assessment was created. Each sonographic symptom received a 0–3 score. Assessment of those sonographic signs visualization allowed us to evaluate the probability of the disorder’s tuberculous etiology. The following data were obtained: score under 4 corresponded to low probability, score 5–8 corresponded to medium probability, and score over 9 corresponded to high probability of tuberculous peritonitis based on the visualization of all described songraphic symptoms. The proposed integrated scale for the sonographic signs assessment allows the clinician to verify the tuberculous peritonitis diagnosis based on the ultrasound imaging data or to select the further tactics of diagnosis.
VIEWS 3599