Vol 71, No 3 (2016)

Objective. Determine the characteristics of placental energy metabolism and to establish its role in the development of placental insufficiency at an exacerbation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in 25–28 weeks of gestation.

Methods. In a prospective study of the case-control type included pregnant, delivery on term of 37–38 weeks. The sample of 50 pregnant women, including 25 CMV-seropositive with exacerbation of CMV infection at 25–28 weeks of gestation and with the titer of IgG antibodies to CMV 1: 1600 at the time of the study and 25 CMV-seronegative women the same pregnancy. The study was conducted at the obstetric department of pathology of pregnancy and laboratory «Etiopathogenesis mechanisms and recovery processes with non-specific lung diseases» Far Eastern Scientific Center of Physiology and Pathology of Respiration together with the urban maternity ward at City Hospital in the period from 2014 to 2015. The activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and a dehydrogenase lipoic acid was determined by histochemical methods on cryostat sections of fresh frozen tissue placenta by the method of R. Lilly. Evaluation of the intensity of histochemical reactions carried out by the program cytophotometry Scion. The morphology of the placenta was studied in paraffin sections stained with hematoxylin Böhmer-eosin, van Gieson’s picrofuchsin and alcian blue by Steedman. 

Results. Exacerbation of CMV infection at 25–28 weeks of gestation leads to a decrease in the intensity of the histochemical reaction of pyruvate dehydrogenase in 2.4 times, lipoic acid dehydrogenase — in 2.9 times, and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase — in 1.5 times in the syncytiotrophoblast villous placenta. The placental morphological structure study showed villi in a state of death or necrotic changes, as well as increasing the number of avascular immature villi. In the maternal part of the placenta were marked constriction clearances, hypertrophy of muscle and connective tissue layers blood vessels. 

The conclusion. The findings suggest that the exacerbation of CMV infection at 25–28 weeks of pregnancy causes a decrease in the intensity of energy metabolism in the placenta by suppressing the activity of the enzymes α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, which is accompanied by disturbances of the morphological structure of the placental barrier, the development of placental insufficiency.

Background: Antibiotic tolerance (AT) represents one of the causes of the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance that allows escape of non-replicating metabolically inert microorganisms (persisters) from any antibiotics attack because molecular targets of antibiotics are lacking thereby creating the potential for chronic infections. 

Aims:Determine the heterogeneity of the strains of opportunistic pathogens E. coli and P. aeruginosa isolates from children with hematologic malignancies containing bacterial persisters that cause the AT phenomenon. 

Methods: Children with hematological malignancies were divided into 2 groups according to the intensity of antibiotic treatment of infectious complications. Ciprofloxacin-induced persisters were quantitatively determined in the biological materials obtained from sick children. 

Results: Within the clinical isolates of E. coli and P. aeruginosa, about a third of the strains belong to high-persisting. The numbers of persistent forms of bacteria did not correlate with a minimal inhibitory concentration values ciprofloxacin (r=0.148, n=25, p>0.05). Interestingly, higher level of formation of persistent E. coli and P. aeruginosa, is associated with higher frequencies of infection attacks, massive antibiotic use and unfavorable course of the disease in children. 

Conclusions: Therefore, detecting the persistent forms of bacterial pathogens including those associated with the health-care associated infection, specifically, in immunocompromised patients, should be included into the contemporary algorithms of microbiological observation and monitoring of patients and intrahospital environment.

The article is a brief review of publications devoted to the problem of persistent dysphonia. The main cause of voice disorders is the scarring of the vocal folds resulting from trauma, surgical manipulation, inflammatory process. Treatment of cicatricial lesions of the vocal folds remains a challenge, as far as existing methods do not ensure the recovery of the ultrastructure of the vocal folds. The authors present modern data on the structure of the vocal folds at the cellular level. Considered pathologic processes occur in different stages of scarring. Applied technologies of phonosurgery and conservative treatment, their effectiveness and shortcomings are covered. Analysis of experimental research conducted in the world demonstrates the promise of using the methods of tissue engineering to treat scarring of the vocal folds and to restore the microstructure of the latter. Identified current issues remain unresolved, which leads to the need for further experimental and clinical studies in the treatment of this pathology.

Digital revolution is one of the major global trends resulting in the unprecedented scale and depth of penetration of information and communication technologies into all sectors of national economy, including healthcare. The development of this trend brought about high expectations related to the improvement of quality of medical assistance, accessibility and economic efficiency of healthcare services. However, euphoria of the first steps of digital revolution is passing now, opening doors to more realistic analysis of opportunities and conditions of realization of the true potential hidden in the digital transformation of healthcare. More balanced perception of the peculiarities of innovation processes in the sector is coming together with understanding of the serious barriers, hampering implementation of the new ideas and practices due to complicated interweaving of social, economic, ethical and psychological factors. When taking into account the industry specifics it becomes evident that digital revolution cannot be a quick turnaround but rather would pass a number of phases and is likely to last more than one decade. In this context the article focuses on the prospects of the new business models, capable of making significant changes in today’s economic landscape of the sector (including uber-medicine, retail clinics, retainer medicine, network models of medical services). The authors also provide assessment of the current situation and perspectives of digital healthcare development in Russia.

Background: Myokines are produced and released by muscle cells in response to muscular contractions. Endogenous Cushing syndrome (CS) and acromegaly cause significant changes in muscle tissue leading to atrophy or hypertrophy. However, there is no data whether these endocrine abnormalities influence myokine secretion. 

Aims: To evaluate serum levels of myostatin, interleukin-6 (IL6) and irisin in patients with CS and acromegaly. 

Materials and methods: Fasting serum samples were taken and stored in aliquot at ≤-20°C from consecutive subjects with clinically evident and biochemically confirmed active CS, acromegaly and healthy volunteers matched by age, sex and body mass index (BMI). Commercially available kits were used to assay serum myokine levels. Grip strength was measured by a dynamometer. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) was measured by immunochemiluminescence assay (Liaison), twenty-four hours urine free cortisol (24hUFC) ― by immunochemiluminescence assay (Vitros ECi), salivary free cortisol ― by electrochemiluminescence assay (Cobas). One-way ANOVA was utilized to assess the difference between groups. 

Results: We enrolled 88 subjects: 30 patients suffered from CS (group 1), 28 ― acromegaly (2) and 30 matched healthy controls (3) with no difference among the groups in sex, age and BMI (p=0.492, 0.062 and 0.174 respectively). Mean 24hUFC in subjects with CS and mean IGF1 in subjects with acromegaly were significantly higher as compared to other groups (p<0.001). Right-hand grip strength was lower in patients with CS as compared to both patients with acromegaly and healthy subjects (p=0.04). However, among these young adults we did not find statistically significant differences in measured myokines levels: irisin ― p=0.15; IL6 ― p=0.34; myostatin ― p=0.50. There was a significant correlation between myostatin and irisin in the whole group of people and in every separately analyzed subset of patients (p<0.001), but no correlation was found between any measured myokines and 24hUFC or IGF1.

Conclusions: Hypercortisolism or supraphysiological IGF1 levels do not significantly influence serum levels of myostatin, IL6 and irisin in young adults.