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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Issue 3, 2026

Topic Meckel's diverticulum

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Issue 4, 2025

Topic Chronic cerebral ischemia

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Issue 5, 2025

Topic Age-related alterations in the immune system

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Issue 6, 2025

Topic Anxiety and depressive disorders

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Issue 1, 2026

Topic Miscarriage

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Issue 2, 2026

Topic Postmenopause

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New articles

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 176

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 238

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 284

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Popular articles

Kozin SA, Lysikova EA, Yakovlev RYu, Mukhina KA, Soloveva AE, Shmigol TA, Makarov AA, Mitkevich VA

High efficacy of the synthetic Ac-His-Ala-Glu-Glu-NH2 (HAEE) peptide in suppression of the congophilic amyloid plaque formation was earlier shown in the animal model of Alzheimer's disease. The study conducted as part of the pre-clinical trial aimed to determine the optimal therapeutic dose of this peptide when used as an anti-amyloid agent for treatment of this disorder. The APP/PS1 transgenic mice randomized into four experimental groups and one control group (eight males and eight females per group) were used as model animals. Mice of experimental groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 twice a week throughout eight weeks received subcutaneous injections of drugs with the following HAEE dosage: 0.18 mg/kg, 0.30 mg/kg, 1.50 mg/kg, 3.00 mg/kg. Mice of the control group were administered saline. The Congo red stain was used to determine amyloid plaques in the hippocampus of all animals. Quantification of such plaques showed a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in the number of plaques in mice of experimental groups (the average plaque number per brain slice was 7.5 ± 2.1, 3.2 ± 0.9, 3.1 ± 0.6, and 3.3 ± 0.7 in mice of groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively) compared to control mice (15.7 ± 4.6). Since the number of plaques in groups 2, 3, and 4 did not change significantly, the minimal HAEE dose, with which the lowest number of amyloid plaques is observed in the studied mice, is 0.3 mg/kg. This is roughly equivalent to the dose of 1.75 mg in terms of one adult human. Thus, the optimal therapeutic HAEE dose for clinical trials has been experimentally substantiated.

Received: 2025-12-09

Published online: 2026-02-04

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2026.006

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VIEWS 976

Ilina AA, Lakman IA, Bikmeyev AT, Enikeeva AR, Badykova EA, Zagidullin NSh, Bryukhanova OA

Tortuosity of the coronary, cerebral arteries, aorta and its branches remains an important vascular problem, which, on the one hand, complicates selection of the X-ray surgical treatment tactics, and on the other hand worsens the disease outcome. The lack of common standards for assessment of tortuosity of the coronary, cerebral arteries, aorta and its branches reduces the diagnosis accuracy in patients at high risk of cardiovascular events. The use of machine learning for automated tortuosity assessment represents one possible solution to this problem. The study aimed to analyze and compare accuracy, feasibility, and limitations of the available methods for automated assessment of tortuosity of the coronary, cerebral arteries, aorta and its branches using the machine learning tools. The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA protocol. The search for papers published in 2015–2025 in the PubMed, Scopus, and eLibrary databases was performed using the following keywords: deep learning, machine learning, artificial intelligence, vessel tortuosity, curvature. Six papers out of 240 were included in the analysis. The analysis has shown that 80% of approaches are based on convolutional neural networks, and skeletonization aimed to isolate small blood vessels from the artery represents an essential preprocessing phase. In 50% of papers, tortuosity was determined qualitatively based on the presence of bending angles over 45°. Quantitatively, tortuosity was determined as a distance coefficient and a measure of curvature. In three studies out of six, verification of estimates was carried out by comparing the results with expert opinions (accuracy was 0.92–0.94). The study limitations are as follows: monocentricity, the use of data from one type of equipment.

Received: 2025-12-22

Published online: 2026-02-05

DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2026.005

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VIEWS 810

Special Project Author's Work

Secrets of a quality research study and a good manuscript

At the end of 2015, Bulletin of RSMU saw an important change in its typographic design and content. We formulated new editorial policies and established strict ethical standards for submitted manuscripts in accordance with the guidelines of reputable international bodies. As a result, about a quarter of the submitted works have been rejected, the primary reason being the author trying to submit a previously published article. Sometimes authors believe that by making slight changes to the introduction, excluding a few people from the study, performing a new statistical analysis, and thus obtaining totally new results they will turn their old manuscript into a novel work. That is why we would like to talk about scientific integrity, honesty, plagiarism, and self-plagiarism in our special project “Author’s work”.

American physicist Richard P. Feynman, a Nobel laureate, was always very scrupulous about the quality of a research study. During his commencement address at the California Institute of Technology in 1974, he talked about scientific integrity and honesty and warned young researchers “not to fool” themselves. A must-read for anyone who believes he/she is a true scientist.

In 1918, Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov, a Nobel laureate, delivered two lectures: on the mind in general and the Russian mind in particular; on those mind qualities that determine the success of a research work and on how these qualities are present in the Russian mind. Pavlov's thoughts are an effective vaccine against poor intellectual work.