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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Kashtanova DA, Klimenko NS, Strazhesko ID, Tkacheva ON, Starikova EV, Glushchenko OE, Gudkov EA, Ilina EN

Demographic aging poses a challenge to the medical community, pressing for research into the biological factors promoting longevity and its features. Below, we look at the gut microbiota as one of such factors. The aim of this non-longitudinal study was to profile the gut microbiota of centenarians and to compare it with that of relatively healthy, younger Moscow residents. The study recruited 20 people aged 97–100 years (mean age 98 ± 1 year); the control group consisted of 92 individuals aged 53 ± 13 years. For each stool sample, the variable V3–V4 regions of the microbial 16S rRNA gene were sequenced. Primary analysis, read filtering and taxonomic identification were conducted in the QIIME 1.9 environment; reconstruction of metabolic pathways was aided by PICRUSt. Statistical analysis was performed by means of Python v. 3.2. A few differences were detected between the gut microbiota of centenarians and younger individuals: Bifidobacterium (р = 0.026) and Coprococcus eutactus (р = 0.026) were more abundant in centenarians, whereas Bacteroides (р = 0.003) and Prevotella (р = 0.002) were better represented in younger participants. The potential for butyric acid synthesis was higher in the group of centenarians (р = 0.048). Surprisingly, the gut microbiota of centenarians was more diverse and surprisingly beneficial for advanced age. Besides, the gut microbiota of centenarians might have more pronounced anti-inflammatory potential due to its ability to better synthesize butyric acid.

Received: 2020-07-01

Published online: 2020-07-27

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2020.044

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VIEWS 4977

Larina NV, Nacharova MA, Korsunskaya LL, Vlasenko SV, Pavlenko VB

It was demonstrated previously that neurorehabilitation with the noninvasive BCI-controlled robotic device combined with conventional therapeutic modalities resulted in significant motor improvement in children with cerebral palsy. However, EEG records were not analyzed in the previous study. The aim of this paper was to describe the reactivity patterns of the EEG α-rhythm during a series of 10 BCI-based neurorehabilitation sessions. The study was carried out in 32 boys and girls aged 10 to 18 years with right- or left-side hemiparesis. EEG was recorded from 21 electrodes at rest and during kinesthetic imagery of finger extension. During the first session, patterns of α-rhythm reactivity during motor imagery differed between patients with left- and right-side hemiparesis. The differences were statistically significant at Р2 during left hand movement rehearsal (F1, 30 = 5.10; p < 0.05). During the final session, the pattern of α-rhythm reactivity was different: synchronization was taken over by desynchronization at some electrode sites, suggesting increased activity of the neocortex. The most conspicuous EEG changes were observed in children with left-side hemiparesis (F20, 300 = 1.84; p < 0.05). By the end of the rehabilitation course, the differences between patients with left-and right-side hemiparesis became much less pronounced. Rearrangements in the EEG patterns in the α-frequency band can be regarded as signs of beneficial reorganization of neural circuits responsible for planning and executing complex hand movements.

Received: 2020-06-16

Published online: 2020-07-16

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2020.043

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VIEWS 4596

Moshetova LK, Usharova SA, Turkina KI, Sychev DA, Saburina IN

Since the discovery of microRNAs just a few decades ago, our knowledge of these molecules and their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets has significantly expanded. There is an ongoing discussion in the scientific community about the possibility of using microRNA for the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. It has been shown recently that levels of some microRNAs vary in vascular eye disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. However, despite serious advances in our understanding of microRNA’s role in eye pathology, we still do not know whether it is possible to use microRNA as a biomarker for central retinal vein occlusion. Perhaps, the discovery of such candidate microRNAs will help in making the timely diagnosis and improve the quality of medical care in patients with retinal vein occlusion.

Received: 2020-06-26

Published online: 2020-07-15

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2020.042

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VIEWS 4095

Galimov OV, Khanov VO, Ziangirov RA, Galimova ES, Minigalin DM, Galimov DO

Morbid obesity is a distinct disorder which leads to metabolic disorders and to the development of many severe chronic diseases, therefore, the effective treatment of the disorder is an urgent problem of modern medicine. Currently, morbid obesity and the corresponding disorders are a growing problem associated with a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. The study was aimed to assess the morphological and functional changes in the stomach wall after gastroplication performed by the new method worked out in the Clinic of the Department of Surgical Diseases and New Technologies of the Bashkir State Medical University. Gastroplication was performed in 15 male rabbits of the Gray Giant breed aged 12–16 months weighting 3050–5380 g. The animals were withdrawn from the experiment 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, followed by histological examination of the stomach wall plicated section. Changes in the mucous membrane and the muscle layer of the stomach wall after gastroplication were adaptive and associated with no severe morphological impairment. That made it possible to use the method in clinical practice in 15 patients with morbid obesity, 9 women and 6 men aged 42 ± 2.1. In most patients (13 people, 86.7%), a steady decrease in the body weight was achieved during the first 2–12 months. Long-term treatment results had been tracked during two years. It has been confirmed, that the new laparoscopic gastroplication technique does not lead to pathological changes in the stomach wall plicated section, therefore, the simple and cost-effective method may be used in clinical practice for treatment of patients with morbid obesity.

Received: 2020-06-12

Published online: 2020-07-12

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2020.041

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VIEWS 3972

Lolomadze EA, Kometova VV, Rodionov VV

One of the key challenges facing today’s oncology is the discovery of early predictors of malignant neoplasms in patients’ biological samples. Liquid biopsy is a noninvasive diagnostic technique based on the detection and isolation of tumor cells, tumor-derived nucleic acid and exosomes circulating in the blood plasma of cancer patients. There is a plethora of research studies of circulating tumor DNA in patients with MN. The active proliferation of tumor cells occurs in the backdrop of altered gene expression. The presence of tissue-specific transcripts in the circulating RNA fraction suggests that levels of circulating RNA reflect the development of the primary tumor. We think that cell-free RNA circulating in the blood plasma is a promising molecular biomarker for early cancer detection.

Received: 2020-06-23

Published online: 2020-07-01

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2020.040

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VIEWS 4946

Pochernikov DG, Postovoytenko NT, Getman VV, Galkina IS

Popularization of the real-time polymerase chain reaction method (RT-PCR), which is a trend of the recent years, allowed to significantly expand of the range of microorganisms that can be detected in the genitourinary tract of men. Moreover, the available picture of the microbiome's bacterial component structure became more detailed. Lactobacillus spp. remains one of the least studied groups of microorganisms. Treating patients with reproductive disorders, the authors have accumulated clinical experience demonstrating the possible relationship between presence of Lactobacillus spp. in the ejaculate and changes in the level of sex hormones and the key values registered with a spermogram. This study aimed to compare the levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, estradiol, prolactin, progesterone, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in blood serum and changes in spermogram values in 210 men with and without Lactobacillus spp. detected in their ejaculate. The treatment group included 105 men whose ejaculate had Lactobacillus spp. in the amount of (Lg) ≥ 103, as detected by RT-PCR. The control group included 105 men whose ejaculate did not have Lactobacillus spp. detected; the microbiome's bacterial component structure of their ejaculate was normal. Compared to the control group, treatment group had hormonal disorders registered more often: abnormal levels of three or more hormones (p = 0.04), hyperestradiolemia (p = 0.05), increased level of SHBG (p = 0.01). It was established that the presence of Lactobacillus spp. in the ejaculate of treatment group participants is associated with oligoastenoteratozoospermia (p < 0.01), decreased concentration of spermatozoa (p = 0.01), their decreased motility (p < 0.01) morphology abnormalities (p < 0.01). Thus, the presence of Lactobacillus spp. in the ejaculate can be interpreted as an additional marker of hormonal imbalance and fertility dysfunction in men.

Received: 2020-05-29

Published online: 2020-06-30

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2020.039

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VIEWS 4511

Vechorko VI, Anosov VD, Silaev BV

Emergency surgery in the infectious diseases hospital is an urgent problem during the COVID-19 pandemic. Municipal Clinical Hospital No.15 named after O. M. Filatov has been providing emergency surgical care after conversion, from March 27, 2020 until now. The hospital’s medical staff has built up extensive experience: 194 surgical procedures were carried out in April, and 289 surgical procedures were carried out in May 2020. The paper reports the experience of emergency surgery at the stage of conversion to an infectious diseases hospital. Among all hospitalized patients, 482 (5.29%) people had acute surgical pathology requiring emergency surgery. Among patients who underwent urgent surgery, 472 (98%) people had the caused by COVID-19 community-acquired pneumonia of various degrees of severity. The paper discusses some features of acute surgical pathology and complications identified in patients with COVID-19. The surgical care features in the hospital after conversion are proper epidemiological regime implementation, minimization of the number of staff in the operating room, possible minimization of the number and reduction of the duration of surgical procedures. The most important challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic is medical staff safety.

Received: 2020-06-15

Published online: 2020-06-29

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2020.038

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VIEWS 4806

Milushkina OYu, Popov VI, Skoblina NA, Markelova SV, Sokolova NV

Transition to distance education in spring 2020 led to the overuse of information and communication technologies by the participants of the educational process. The aim of this study was to characterize the patterns of using electronic devices in high school students, their parents, and teachers in the settings of traditional brick-and-mortar education and distance learning. We created online questionnaires that were used to survey 200 high school students, 389 teachers and 251 parents before the transition to distance learning and also 658 teachers and 500 parents after the transition. Statistical analysis was conducted using Student’s t test, χ2, and Pearson’s contingency coefficient; relative risks were calculated using fourfold contingency tables. Differences were considered significant at p ≤ 0,05. After the transition to distance learning, the number of electronic devices used by each student increased for 96.6% of the surveyed students; the average screen time also increased. About 80% of the surveyed parents reported that their children had more health complaints; of them, 60% reported symptoms typical of computer vision syndrome. We established a correlation between the readiness to cut down on screen time and the subjective assessment of vision as perfect or good by the respondents (Pearson’s contingency coefficient 0.3; p ≤ 0.05). Our study confirms the relative risk for subjectively assessing one’s vision as satisfactory or poor in individuals who use ED on a daily basis; the risk is 1.13 for students, 1.41 for parents, and 1.27 for teachers (p ≤ 0.05). The study proves that eliminating screen time from daily activities for at least one day per week is an effective measure for preventing vision disorders.

Received: 2020-05-14

Published online: 2020-06-28

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2020.037

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VIEWS 4937