Contrast-enhanced radiotherapy (CERT) is a binary treatment modality in which the absorbed radiation dose is not only determined by the parameters of the external radiation source but also affected by the concentration of a dose-enhancing agent (DEA) in the studied object. In this work we assessed the distribution of the absorbed dose in a murine B16F10 melanoma injected with a single dose of an aqueous Bi-DTPA solution. The mice were exposed to a single fraction of X-ray irradiation for 28.5 min. In vivo measurements of DEA concentrations were done on a micro-CT scanner using the radiopacity values of malignant tissues from the obtained CT images. We found that the presence of DEA enhanced the absorbed dose more than twofold in 6% of the tumor volume; in 29% of the tumor volume the absorbed dose increased more than onefold. The tumor growth delay time calculated for our model was 0.76 days (we only accounted for the damage caused directly by radiation), whereas in our previous research study tumor growth delay was 10 days. This discrepancy may indicate that in the tumors exposed to contrast-enhanced radiotherapy growth delay results from both the damage directly caused by radiation and other antitumor mechanisms.
VIEWS 5263
The actual prevalence of genetic variants causing familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in every population remains unknown. The aim of this work was to determine the spectrum of pathogenic variants in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and clinically diagnosed FH using targeted sequencing. We selected 38 patients with ACS from the sample of 2,081 participants of two multicenter observational studies (2004–2007; 2014–2016) who had a clinical diagnosis of FH based on the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network score and Simon Broome criteria. The men and women included in the study were ≤ 55 and ≤ 60 years of age, respectively. Molecular genetic screening was done by targeted next-generation sequencing. We started by sequencing 3 genes associated with FH, including LDLR, APOB, and PCSK9. If no relevant variants were detected, the panel was expanded. Of 38 patients, 24 (63.2%) were shown to have mutations that could cause clinical manifestations of FH and premature coronary artery disease. All patients were heterozygous carriers. Mutations were detected in three “classic” genes LDLR, APOB, and PCSK9 associated with FH, as well as in other genes involved in lipid metabolism, such as APOE, ABCA1, ABCG5, ABCG8, LPL, ANGPTL3, and MTTP. Five variants detected in our study sample had not been described previously: the pathogenic p.Val273_Cys313del variant of the LDLR gene, the likely pathogenic p.Arg160His variant in the APOE gene, two variants of uncertain significance p.Glu612Lys and c.*415G>A in the PCSK9 gene, and the mutant variant p.Ala776Ser in the LDLR gene. We conclude that the use of clinical diagnostic criteria in patients with ACS and FH enables identification of carriers of both “classic” mutations associated with FH and rare genetic variants that can be phenotypically expressed as FH.
VIEWS 4754
In a number of occupations, there is a shortage of labor force that can be filled with economically active part of the population, including people with disabilities (handicapped, HC). Unfortunately, observance of hygienic requirements in the context of HP adolescents vocational training has not been studied sufficiently: most scholars have researched only the conditions of teaching healthy adolescents. This study aimed to examine the HC adolescents vocational training conditions and develop measures to improve their working conditions with pathologies factored in. We examined adaptation potential, anxiety level, mental efficiency, sick rate and personal well-being assessment in HC adolescents (n = 120) aged 16–18, not impaired intellectually, studying sewing equipment operation, shoe repairs in the boarding scool. In the context of the study, we applied Smirnov hygiene criteria, Giessen Symptom Questionnaire, Spielberger's Test Anxiety Questionnaire, Sivkov scale, correction tables, Baevsky adaptation index. For the purposes of statistical analysis, we used parametric (Student t-test) and non- parametric (Mann–Whitney) criteria. The Spearman's correlation coefficient helped determine interrelationship of the studied parameters. We identified the following key adverse hygienic factors that have a significant impact on the students' health: intense character of labor performed, insufficient artificial lighting, noise level above the norm, high content of organic solvents and dust in the workshop's air. The timetable of the boarding school was also found to be inefficient. The results of this study allowed developing and introducing a software program to automatically compile the school's timetable with the aim to improve psychosomatic health of the students and halve the number of health-related complaints.
VIEWS 4405
Present day education routines subject schoolchildren to considerable loads associated with studying. This research effort aimed to study the effect attention switching physical exercises (the type peculiar to the mental arithmetic curricula) have on heart rate, adaptation abilities, stress resistance, higher mental functions and conditioned reflex activity of children. Examining 124 schoolchildren aged 7–9 and 10–12 years, we applied the pedagogical experiment method that includes benchmarking, formation and control stages, as well as a number of psychological methods: short-term, associative and image memory diagnostics; Bourdon-Wiersma test; search for logical solutions; evaluation of motor skills. Varicard 2.51 was used to assess functions of the cardiovascular system and other physiological state indicators. At the benchmarking stage, we discovered the differences in higher mental functions conditioned by age and gender. Girls aged 7–9 had their memory, attention, ideation indicators 20–40% higher than boys of the same age. Boys aged 10–12 had their higher mental functions developed 10–30% better than girls of the same age. At the formation stage, we registered the optimizing effect attention switching physical exercises have on information processing speed and memorizing effectiveness: corresponding indicators increased 1.5–2 times (7–9 y.o., both genders) and 1.2–1.5 times (10–12 y.o., both genders), accordingly. It was concluded that adding the attention switching physical exercises to mental arithmetic curricula makes training sessions more effective.
VIEWS 4785
The growing incidence of nutrient-related diseases is a global challenge. The aim of this work was to study consumption of staple food products and to estimate the incidence of nutrient-related diseases in Voronezh region. Food consumption was analyzed from the reports of the local branch of the Federal State Statistics collected over two 5-year periods (1995–1999 and 2012–2016). The incidence of nutrient-related diseases was estimated based on the reports providing information about patients’ visits to healthcare facilities. The districts of Voronezh region were assigned to 5 ranks. Over the studied periods, the population of Voronezh region considerably changed its diet: consumption of fish and seafood, fresh fruits, meat, vegetables, gourds and melons, eggs, vegetable oil, milk and dairy products per person increased significantly. At the same time, consumption of sugar, breads and potatoes still exceeds the recommended intake 1.42-2.04-fold, which means that the main component of the diet is carbohydrates. We observed a significant 4.5-fold increase in obesity incidence, a 1.8-2.0-fold increase in the incidence of anemia and endocrine disorders and a 1.2 increase in the incidence of gastrointestinal diseases. In terms of prevention measures, the priority should be given to areas at a high risk of nutrient-related diseases.
VIEWS 4581