Application Package Research Articles

Влияние авторского контента студентов в социальных сетях на процессы продвижения бренда образовательной организации

Background: The high level of competition in the educational services market in the Russian Federation is due to the large number of offers from public and private educational organizations of higher education. In accordance with current legislation, an applicant has the right to apply to several universities in the country at once and, as a rule, upon admission, gives preference to those whose brand is most famous. All this dictates the need to actively promote the brand of an educational organization using the capabili-ties of the mass media. At the same time, the budgets of regional educational organizations are often limited in the ability to conduct full-fledged advertising campaigns and do not provide funding for marketing activities to promote the university brand.Aim: to determine the impact of students’ original content on social networks on the processes of promoting the brand of an edu-cational organization. Materials and methods: An analysis of modern open access literary sources on the problem of forming the image and promoting the brand of an educational organization, as well as a content analysis of publications in social networks and the media, was carried out. The empirical basis of the study consisted of materials from a sociological study carried out using Googleforms, N = 520, average age (22.2 ± 2.37). The author's questionnaire underwent sociological and ethical examination; the norms of confidentiality and autonomy were observed in relation to the respondents. Mathematical data processing was carried out using variation statistics methods using the Excel for Windows Statistica 21.0 application package. Results: In just one month, students published 25 gaming videos on their personal pages for Russian Student Day. Each of them received from 2 to 20 thousand impressions during the competition. Students accompanied their publications with the hashtags speci-fied in the competition conditions, which made it possible to systematize the posted material, and when searching for information about the university on a social network, quickly find the necessary content. Conclusion: It has been shown that systematization in the collection, planning, and dissemination of information contributes to the rapid promotion of a positive image in the external and internal environment due to the displacement of negative information reasons from the agenda, provides the ability to manage information flows, and minimizes information risks.

Центр патологии сетчатки в рамках новой модели организационной структуры по профилю «Офтальмология» при диабетической ретинопатии.

Relevance. The most serious consequences of the global epidemic of diabetes are its systemic vascular complications, one of which is diabetic retinopathy as the most common cause of visual function loss among diabetic patients and the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment among the working population. However, with a well-organized screening system and early detection of this complication, more than 80% of cases of blindness and visual impairment can be prevented or treated. One of such approaches is the establishment of a specialized ophthalmological Center, which will elevate medical care for patients with diabetes complications to a qualitatively new level. Purpose of the study is to evaluate the functional role of the created retinal pathology centre within the framework of the new information and technological model of medical care in the profile «ophthalmology» for diabetic retinopathy in the Tomsk region. Materials and methods. The data of the federal statistical observation form No. 12 were used as materials. Statistical analysis methods: analytical; descriptive statistical method. The critical level of significance was set at p <0.05 (95%). Data processing was carried out using electronic spreadsheets «MSOffice Excel 2010» and the application package «Statistica» for Windows 10.0. Results. In the Tomsk region, a project is being implemented to introduce a unified organizational model of telemedicine service for monitoring diabetic retinopathy based on artificial intelligence technology, including a regional expert Center for retinal pathology as the main organizational and methodological unit, operating in close collaboration with healthcare institutions in the Tomsk region. Тhe Center’s task is early detection of diabetic retinopathy with further organizational and methodological support for identified cases. The activities of the Center are regulated by regional legal documentation aimed at regulating its work and adapting a new patient routing scheme for patients with diabetic retinopathy. The expected results of the project will reduce the predicted visual disability due to diabetic retinopathy in the Tomsk region to 80%, which will have a positive impact on the main performance indicators of the ophthalmological service in the region. Findings. The model allows for the integration of the Center for Retinal Pathology, prevention rooms of medical organizations, including remote municipal entities of the Tomsk region, equipped with ophthalmological fundus cameras for digital retinal photography, the ability to exchange data between networked medical organizations and the Center for Retinal Pathology. All these organizational changes will have a positive impact on reducing the overall prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the region.

Understanding how a non-National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technology appraisal drug is added to the hospital drug formulary

Abstract Introduction In England, only medications listed in a hospital formulary can be used to treat patients in a National Health Service (NHS) hospital. Medications approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) via technology appraisal (TA)1 are included in hospital formularies.[1] Non-NICE TA medications need to be reviewed by the hospital’s drug and therapeutics committee (DTC) for inclusion in the hospital formulary. Research shows that different DTCs make contrary decisions concerning the same non-NICE TA drug request for inclusion in the hospital formulary, contributing to postcode prescribing and inequality in medication access.[2] To understand how and why different DTCs make different decisions, it is vital to understand how a non-NICE TA drug is added to a hospital formulary. Aim To identify the process and variations when adding a non-NICE TA drug to a hospital formulary. Methods As part of a larger study, the DTC of a tertiary centre where this research was based developed and sent a questionnaire exploring DTC processes to Chief Pharmacists (via Microsoft Forms) of ten large tertiary centres in England. After completing the questionnaire, a semi-structured interview was conducted with each Chief Pharmacist to clarify ambiguity in the questionnaire responses. Only data regarding how a non-NICE TA is added to the hospital formulary was used in this study. A hierarchical task analysis (HTA) was developed; data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis to identify subgoals, tasks and subtasks required to add a non-NICE TA drug to the hospital formulary. The HTA was developed iteratively. Results A total of ten Chief Pharmacists (100% of those approached) completed both the questionnaire and interview. Adding a non-NICE TA drug starts with the applicant requesting and completing an application package, followed by obtaining approval to submit the application package for review. Once approval is granted, the application package goes through three review levels: initial, preliminary, and final review. The non-NICE TA drug is added to the formulary once the application package is clinically and financially approved. This process involves over 100 tasks and subtasks. The process described varied from one centre to another with the following main variations: 1. application package components, 2. how the application package is submitted for approval, 3. the depth of review the application package receives, and 4. how the final review is conducted. Conclusion Adding a non-NICE TA drug to a hospital formulary is complex and varied across each centre, indicating a lack of national standardisation in the process. The variations identified could contribute to health inequalities as all patients may not have equal access to the same medications. Therefore, further research is required to study the impact of these variations on patient access to medication via the NHS. Currently, there are no studies in the literature that described the process of adding a non-NICE TA drug to the hospital formulary across the tertiary centres in England. The study only included tertiary centres in England and there should be caution when considering the transferability of the findings to other types of hospitals.

The effects of Juniperi fructus essential oil and vacuum packing on the shelf life of rainbow trout fillets during storage at 2±1°C.

We hypothesized that the combined effect of vacuum packaging and Juniperi fructus essential oil addition would increase shelf life. Six different treatments were tested. The effects of the different concentrations of J. fructus essential oil (0%, 0.3% and 0.6%) and packing method (non-vacuum and vacuum) on the fish (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets of stored 4±1 °C were investigated in terms of its microbiological (mesophilic aerobic bacteria and yeast-mold), chemical (pH, total volatile alkaline nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid (TBA value)) and sensory quality. The results showed that J. fructus essential oil had a positive significant effect on quality parameters (p<0.05). In conclusion, based primarily on sensory, TVB-N and mesophilic bacteria data the shelf-life of fresh rainbow trout was 4 days (non-vacuum packaged), 13 days (vacuum packaged), 19 and 28 days treated with J. fructus oil (0.3 and 0.6%, v/w) under vacuum packaged, respectively. J. fructus essential oil application and vacuum packaging; extended the shelf life of fish fillets by an average of 15 days. The combined use of J. fructus essential oil and packaging techniques could form the basis for new studies.

Melatonin and sexual development of adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Objective — to study the level of daily melatonin excretion in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) at the stages of puberty, taking into account the course of puberty. Materials and methods. The investigation involved 172 patients with DM1 aged 9—18 years (85 boys and 87 girls), who stayed in the Endocrinology Department of the SI «Institute for Children and Adolescents Health Care of the NAMS of Ukraine» for examinations and treatment. The DM1 duration was 1 to 10 years. With account of the level of sexual development at the time of examination, adolescents were divided into the following subgroups: prepuberty (T1); early puberty (T2); puberty itself (T3); late puberty (T4). The nature of sexual maturation was assessed with account of the norms for the corresponding age. The nature of melatonin production was assessed by the excretion of its main metabolite — 6-­sulfatoxymelatonin in daily urine, which was determined by fluorometric method. Statistical processing of the results was carried out using application packages Microsoft Excel and SPSS 17.0. Results and discussion. The effects of puberty on melatonin production have been determined, with its increase during puberty and late puberty. It has been proven that violation of the puberty course is accompanied with changes in the melatonin levels, corresponding to the degree of sexual development of girls and boys with DM1. In conditions of accelerated puberty, the melatonin level increases, and it decreases in case of slowdown sexual development. In girls of 14—18 years old, the lowest melatonin levels were determined in patients with delayed sexual development and primary amenorrhea. During sexual maturation, formation of epiphyseal­pituitary­gonadal and epiphyseal­pituitary­thyroid links takes place, their nature changes in the course puberty. Conclusions. In adolescents with DM1, the age-related dynamics of daily melatonin excretion during puberty is preserved, with an increase in its levels during late puberty. Melatonin levels in patients with DM1 depend on the sexual maturation course, and they are altered in case of its disorders. Regardless of gender, at delayed sexual development significantly lower melatonin levels were registered in comparison with patients with normal sexual development. The nature of correlations between melatonin and hormonal indicators depends on the level of an adolescent’s sexual development and gender.

Capivasertib: A Novel AKT Inhibitor Approved for Hormone-Receptor-Positive, HER-2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer.

To review the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of capivasertib for the treatment of adults with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer with 1 or more PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN alterations. A literature search was conducted using PubMed and MEDLINE databases, published abstracts, and studies from ClinicalTrials.gov between 2003 and February 2024. Keywords included capivasertib, AZD5363, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and breast cancer. All applicable publications, package inserts, meeting abstracts, and clinical trials with capivasertib were reviewed. Capivasertib is a first-in-class inhibitor of 3 isoforms of AKT (AKT-1, AKT-2, and AKT-3) which is an essential component in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway involved in oncogenesis. In the phase III CAPItello-291 trial, capivasertib in combination with fulvestrant (C+F) demonstrated improved progression-free survival (PFS) (7.3 vs 3.1 months) compared with placebo-fulvestrant (P+F) cohort in AKT-altered pathway patients who had progressed through prior aromatase inhibitor. The most common adverse reactions of any grade reported in the C+F group were diarrhea, cutaneous skin reactions, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer patients experience progression following endocrine therapies and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors. Capivasertib is a viable treatment option for patients with PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN activating mutations following progression on endocrine-based regimens in the metastatic setting or recurrence within 12 months of completing adjuvant therapy. Integration of capivasertib into clinical practice is ongoing; intermittent dosing and favorable toxicity are attractive for future novel combination prospective trials.

Circulating microRNA-21-3p in patients with arterial hypertension

Objective — to study changes in the blood plasma levels of microRNA‑21‑3p in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and their relationship with the characteristics of the course of the disease.&#x0D; Materials and methods. Examinations involved 24 patients with hypertension stage II and degree 2—3 (11 men, 13 women) aged from 42 to 60 years. The control group consisted of 12 practically healthy individuals, age and gender matching. The examinations were carried out in the Department of Hypertension and Kidney Diseases of the GI «L. T. Mala National Therapy Institute of NAMS of Ukraine». The degree, stage of hypertension and the presence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), established CVD and kidney disease were assessed in accordance with current recommendations. All patients underwent general clinical laboratory and instrumental examinations. The blood plasma level of circulating microRNA‑21‑3p was determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase‑polymerase chain reaction (qRT‑PCR) using reagent kits for monitoring and analyzing microRNA expression «TaqMan microRNA Assay» (ThermoFisher Scientific, USA). Small nuclear RNA U6 was used as a reference. Relative expression was calculated in relative units (r.u.) using the ΔΔCt method. Statistical analysis of the obtained data was carried out using standard methods with application packages Microsoft Excel and SPSS 19.0.&#x0D; Results. A significant decrease in the plasma levels of microRNA‑21‑3p in patients with hypertension was established in comparison with practically healthy individuals. The most pronounced decrease in plasma microRNA‑21‑3p levels was observed in patients with the most severe hypertension (stage 3 AH) and in subjects, in whom antihypertensive therapy did not result in the achieving target levels of «office» blood pressure (BP). Significant negative correlations were found between the plasma microRNA‑21‑3p levels and hemodynamic parameters (BP levels) and the left ventricular myocardial mass index — an indicator of the severity of left ventricular hypertrophy, one of the key lesions of target organs. The obtained results indicate the presence in patients with hypertension of a significant deficiency in the production of microRNA‑21‑3p, which, according to the literature data, has pronounced antihypertensive and cardiovascular‑ and renoprotective properties.&#x0D; Conclusions. A significant decrease in the blood plasma levels of microRNA‑21‑3p, the endogenous regulator of gene expression with antihypertensive and organoprotective properties, was established in patients with hypertension in comparison with practically healthy subjects. The revealed decrease in the blood plasma levels of this microRNA was enhanced at severe and uncontrolled hypertension and associated with the degree of hypertensive heart damage. The data obtained indicate the important role of microRNA‑21‑3p in the hypertension pathogenesis and the prospects of finding methods for correcting its production.

Clinical and functional characteristics of patients with chronic dizziness

Objective. To form a clinical and functional characterization of patients with chronic dizziness. Materials and methods. A single one-stage cohort study of 32 patients with chronic dizziness (CD), among them 26 women and 6 men, mean age - 49 [36.5; 51.5] years, was conducted. Patients were examined by objective neurologic examination, laboratory (general and biochemical blood tests) and instrumental (radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound) methods were used during the study. Barany’s test was also performed, and neuropsychological testing was performed. The data were processed using descriptive statistical methods of the application package “Statistica”, 10.0. Results. During the examination, patients complained of dizziness (100 %) and shakiness when walking (84 %), provoked mainly by intermittent visual stimuli (31 % each). Subjective neurological deficit in patients with CD was caused by kinesthetic sensations of instability (34 %), accompanied by decreased attention and memory (28 %). Objectively, the phase of optokinetic nystagmus in Barany’s test lengthened in the studied group - 190 [170; 225] s and the time of balance retention in Romberg’s pose decreased - 3 [2; 5] s. CD patients were characterized by high personality anxiety - 53 [44; 53] points and autonomic imbalance according to the questionnaire of A.M. Vein - 42 [40; 44] points. We did not reveal a connection of CD with structural anomalies, pathology of brachiocephalic vessels. Conclusion. The clinical and functional status of CD patients was characterized by the absence of focal lesions of the nervous system and a small number of concomitant diseases causing vertigo. At the same time, the patients’ subjective sensations underlying the perception of non-existent stimuli led to impaired maintenance of vertical body position and, in turn, formed an anxiety disorder.

Вегетативні розлади та адаптаційні поведінкові реакції при синдромі вегетативної дисфункції в дітей, які перехворіли на інфекцію COVID-19

Aim - to study the features of autonomic homeostasis as one of the markers of the body impaired adaptive mechanisms and the development of pathology in children after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Materials and methods. There are 95 children aged 7-14 years were included. The study group included the 75 children without chronic pathology who had a mild or moderate course of COVID-19 infection and had laboratory confirmation of the disease. The control group included 20 children who had no COVID-19 infection. The state of the autonomic nervous system was assessed by the Cardio-Spectrum rapid heart rate variability analysis system according to the conventional methodology with the calculation of the tension index (Baevsky Index), which reflects the balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the ANS. Statistical processing of the obtained data was performed with application package "Statistica 10.0 for Windows" by the method of variation statistics. Results. All children from both groups had symptoms of somatoform autonomic dysfunction. It was discovered that 54.7% of children with COVID-19 had vagotonia, 24% had sympathicotonia, and 21.3% had euthonia, what is significantly different from the distribution in the comparison group. After analyzing the wave structure of the variability of heart rhythm in children after COVID-19 it was noted a significant increasing of all components of the spectrum. These results characterize an increasing of the absolute level of activity of regulatory systems. Given into account the multidirectional nature of vegetative shifts in children after COVID-19, a comprehensive method of correction was proposed. This method include in addition to medications a rational diet, treatment of physical and mental stress, psychotherapy, and the elimination of factors supporting the presence of chronic stress. Conclusions. The COVID-19 infection leads to tension in the adaptive mechanisms of autonomic regulation with a shift towards the depletion of compensatory mechanisms. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent of the child and child's parents was obtained for the research. No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Обобщение лучших образовательных практик в высшей школе (по итогам опроса финалистов Конкурса педагогического мастерства РАНХиГС)

Currently, there is a multifaceted transformation of higher education in terms of digitalization of the teaching and educational process, visualization of teaching, use of Internet resources, application packages, electronic library and reference systems, organization of group interaction among students and other aspects of the educational process in higher education. The purpose of this work is to identify trends in the use of various technologies and teaching methods in the higher education system, problems of their application and the formation of a basic list of resources and interactive teaching methods for implementation in universities of the Russian Federation to improve the quality of education and the effectiveness of the educational process. The achievement of this goal was carried out on the basis of summarizing the results of a survey of finalists of the RANEPA Pedagogical Excellence Competition in December 2023. Lists of the main resources of platforms for training, solving standard problems of communications and cooperation in the digital environment have been compiled; resources for storing and distributing educational and other materials; tools for searching, processing and visualizing information; resources for storing and distributing educational and other materials and other resources and tools for organizing the educational process in higher education have been formed. The need to improve a number of domestic platforms, in particular professional and specialized application software packages, spreadsheet editors for performing statistical procedures; digital tools for organizing group work of students and others have been justified. Proposals for further reform of the activities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and specific higher education institutions and directions for subsequent scientific research have been formulated.

УЧАСТИЕ СПЕЦИАЛИСТА ПО ОКАЗАНИЮ МЕДИЦИНСКОЙ ПОМОЩИ НЕСОВЕРШЕННОЛЕТНИМ ОБУЧАЮЩИМСЯ В ФОРМИРОВАНИИ ЗДОРОВЬЕСБЕРЕГАЮЩЕЙ СРЕДЫ ОБЩЕОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЙ ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ СКРИНИНГА И ПРОФИЛАКТИКИ ПЛОСКОСТОПИЯ)

One of the important tasks of medicine, education, state and municipal authorities is to protect the health of children and adolescents - students of general education institutions. The deterioration of indicators characterizing the health status of schoolchildren requires improving the organization of medical and preventive care for students, creating a favorable and safe environment for their harmonious growth and development. The results of ongoing preventive medical examinations show that functional deviations and chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system (impaired posture, flat feet) have moved to the first ranking place. The purpose of this study was to improve the work on creating a health-preserving environment with the participation of a specialist in providing medical care to minor students (using the example of screening and prevention of flat feet) in a general education organization. To conduct the study, theoretical (analysis of reporting documentation) and experimental (observation, plantography) methods were used. The study was approved by the local ethics committee of the Kazan State Medical University (protocol №8 of October 18, 2022) and was conducted on the basis of two schools in Kazan in November-December 2023. The survey involved 383 children (whose parents signed voluntary informed consent) aged 8-12 years, of which: 257 girls and 126 boys. Statistical processing was carried out in the Microsoft Excel application package. Processing of the results included the calculation of average values and the proportion of the characteristic (%). When comparing the reliability of differences in proportions (p) of signs, Fisher's test with φ-transformation was used. The results obtained showed a high prevalence of morphofunctional foot disorders in first-graders. To improve the work of a general education organization in creating a health-preserving environment and preventing diseases (using the example of preventing flat feet), a work scheme for a specialist in providing medical care to minor students is proposed.

Autoreactive processes in children in the initial period of multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 and after rehabilitation

BACKGROUND: The problem of the pathogenesis of the multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), associated with SARS-CoV-2, remains relevant, but is still far from being resolved. In this regard.&#x0D; AIM: The aim our research was to study and evaluate the levels of autoantibodies to native and denatured DNA in the blood serum of children who underwent MIS-C, associated with SARS-CoV-2, in comparison with the initial period of the pathological process.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: 101 children aged 2 to 17 years old were examined, 77 of them was with a confirmed diagnosis of MIS-C associated with SARS-CoV-2. We have formed 3 groups: group 1 — children with MIS-C upon admission to the hospital; group 2 — children who underwent MIS-C after a course of rehabilitation; group 3 — comparison group. All children underwent determination of the concentrations of IgG-autoantibodies to native and denatured DNA in blood serum, which was performed by EIA ELISA using commercial test systems of Vector-Best LLC (Russia) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Statistical processing of the obtained results was carried out using the Statistica v. 10.0 application package. Statistical processing used the Newman–Keuls multiple comparison test.&#x0D; RESULTS: It was noted that both in the initial period of MIS-C and after rehabilitation, an increased content of autoantibodies to nDNA and dDNA was determined compared to the control group. At the same time, there was a significant excess of the levels of indicators in the post-rehabilitation period compared with the initial period of MIS-C. During a clinical examination of children who underwent MIS-C, most of them noted the appearance of pain in the joints. The results obtained indicate the persistence of inflammatory reactions with the development of an autoreactive component. This requires both the search for risk markers for the development of MIS-C and further monitoring of children who have undergone MIS-C to prevent autoimmune complications, including arthritis, damage to the vascular endothelium with the possible formation of thrombotic complications.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: In the acute period of MIS-C and after rehabilitation, increased levels of the average content of autoantibodies to nDNA and dDNA were noted compared to the control. Individual values of autoantibodies to nDNA and dDNA exceeded normative levels of the indicator were found in a significantly larger number of children in the post-rehabilitation period after MIS-C, and this excess was more pronounced compared to the acute period of the process. When assessing the clinical condition of children after MIS-C, most of them showed pain in the joints during exercise, abdominal and neurological disorders, and decreased tolerance to physical activity, which indicates persistent inflammatory reactions.

PHIR: A Platform Solution of Data-Driven Health Monitoring for Industrial Robots

The large-scale application of industrial robots has created a demand for more intelligent and efficient health monitoring, which is more efficiently met by data-driven methods due to the surge in data and the advancement of computing technology. However, applying deep learning methods to industrial robots presents critical challenges such as data collection, application packaging, and the need for customized algorithms. To overcome these difficulties, this paper introduces a Platform of data-driven Health monitoring for IRs (PHIR) that provides a universal framework for manufacturers to utilize deep-learning-based approaches with minimal coding. Real-time data from multiple IRs and sensors is collected through a cloud-edge system and undergoes unified pre-processing to facilitate model training with a large volume of data. To enable code-free development, containerization technology is used to convert algorithms into operators, and users are provided with a process orchestration interface. Furthermore, algorithm research both for sudden fault and long-term aging failure detection is conducted and applied to the platform for industrial robot health monitoring experiments, by which the superiority of the proposed platform, in reality, is proven through positive results.

The relationship between renal and retinal parameters in uncomplicated hypertension in middle-aged people

Background. Controlled arterial hypertension (HTN) does not mean complete regression of preclinical target organ damage. Objective. To study the relationship between indicators characterizing the structural and functional state of the kidneys and retina in middle-aged patients with uncomplicated HTN, receiving combination antihypertensive therapy (AHT) and having office systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure levels &lt; 140 and &lt; 90 mmHg. Design and methods. We examined 87 patients (65 males and 22 females, average age 50,5 ± 4,87 years) with stage I and II HTN without clinically significant concomitant pathology taking double combined AHT (group average office level of SBP and DBP 134 ± 12,3 and 84 ± 14,5 mmHg, respectively). For at least the previous 12 months, patients had regularly received voluntary dual combination AHT based on pharmacological blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. HTN patients underwent a comprehensive assessment of the structural and functional state of the kidneys and fundus of the eye. To assess the relationships between biomarkers of kidney and retinal damage in the examined individuals within the entire set of studied parameters, correlation analysis and comparative analysis of the same quantitative (renal or retinal) indicators were used in subgroups of individuals divided according to a conditionally selected qualitative characteristic corresponding to the norm or deviation from the norm (value central retinal arterial equivalent (CRAE ≥ or &lt; 145 μm), central retinal venous equivalent (CRVE ≥ or &lt; 227 μm), albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR ≥ or &lt; 10 mg/g), foveal avascular zone area (FAZ ≥ or &lt; 0,36 mm²). Statistical processing of data was carried out using the Basic Statistics / Tables modules of the application package Statistica for Windows (version 12). The relationship between quantitative renal and retinal indicators was studied using the Pearson r correlation coefficient. Comparative analysis of quantitative parameters within the examined group, conditionally subdivided according to a certain qualitative criterion, was performed using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test. Results. CRVE values directly correlated with ACR (r = 0,30; p = 0,037), FAZ area — with ACR (r = 0,40; p = 0,005), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) — with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r = 0,45; p = 0,001); CRAE values inversely correlated with serum urea (r = –0,34; p = 0,019), SCT — with serum creatinine (r = –0,36; p = 0,011). Patients with ACR ≥ 10 mg/g compared with patients with ACR &lt; 10 mg/g were characterized by significantly lower values of the retinal arteriovenous ratio (0,646 ± 0,09 and 0,689 ± 0,08, respectively, p = 0,016). Patients with FAZ area ≥ 0,36 mm² compared with those with FAZ area &lt; 0,36 mm² had higher proteinuria values (0,101 ± 0,13 and 0,075 ± 0,14 mg/g, respectively, p = 0,01). Conclusions. Middle-aged patients with uncomplicated HTN without clinically significant concomitant pathology, receiving double combined AHT, demonstrate significant associations of indicators characterizing the structural and functional state of the kidneys and retinal microcirculation in terms of their preclinical damage.

Enhanced Biodegradation Rate of Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Composites Using Reed Fiber.

To enhance the degradability of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), reed fiber (RF) was blended with PBAT to create composite materials. In this study, a fifteen day degradation experiment was conducted using four different enzyme solutions containing lipase, cellulase, Proteinase K, and esterase, respectively. The degradation process of the sample films was analyzed using an analytical balance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The PBAT/RF composites exhibited an increased surface hydrophilicity, which enhanced their degradation capacity. Among all the enzymes tested, lipase had the most significant impact on the degradation rate. The weight loss of PBAT and PBAT/RF, caused by lipase, was approximately 5.63% and 8.17%, respectively. DSC analysis revealed an increase in the melting temperature and crystallinity over time, especially in the film containing reed fibers. FTIR results indicated a significant weakening of the ester bond peak in the samples. Moreover, this article describes a biodegradation study conducted for three months under controlled composting conditions of PBAT and PBAT/RF samples. The results showed that PBAT/RF degraded more easily in compost as compared to PBAT. The lag phase of PBAT/RF was observed to decrease by 23.8%, while the biodegradation rate exhibited an increase of 11.8% over a period of 91 days. SEM analysis demonstrated the formation of more cracks and pores on the surface of PBAT/RF composites during the degradation process. This leads to an increased contact area between the composites and microorganisms, thereby accelerating the degradation of PBAT/RF. This research is significant for preparing highly degradable PBAT composites and improving the application prospects of biodegradable green materials. PBAT/RF composites are devoted to replacing petroleum-based polymer materials with sustainable, natural materials in advanced applications such as constructional design, biomedical application, and eco-environmental packaging.

Comparison of Cooling Loads of a Building in the Site with Heat Balance and Radiation Time Series Methods and Computer Aided Analysis

Recently, extensive research has been conducted on energy saving in the buildings. Cooling loads and heat gains stand out as a pivotal factor influencing energy consumption, underscoring the critical need for accurate calculations. This study aims to compare Radiation Time Series and Heat Balance methods, recognized as optimal approaches for cooling load calculations in the ASHRAE Handbook, utilizing computer software. The primary focus of this investigation was a four-floor U-type geometry primary school in Kayseri, comprising 116 spaces and 93 zones. The building was modeled using Revit software, employing the Radiant Time Series method, and IESVE software, incorporating the Heat Balance method. All relevant data inputs were defined, and subsequent cooling load calculations were executed. The outcomes reveal that Revit produces a total cooling load estimate of 0.6% lower than IESVE. In conclusion, the values derived from both RTS and HB methods for calculating the building's cooling loads exhibit noteworthy proximity, affirming the robustness of these methodologies in conjunction with computer software applications.

Chatbots in Health Care: Connecting Patients to Information

Why Is This an Issue?&#x0D; &#x0D; Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in health care settings. Chatbots geared toward patient use are becoming more widely available, but the clinical evidence of their effectiveness remains limited.&#x0D; &#x0D; What Is the Technology?&#x0D; &#x0D; AI-based chatbots are computer programs or software applications that have been designed to engage in simulated conversation with humans using humanlike language.&#x0D; Chatbots can help humans save time and allow them to focus on more high-level creative or strategic thinking by taking over more routine or repetitive tasks, such as automated customer service chats, appointments, or staff scheduling.&#x0D; &#x0D; What Is the Potential Impact?&#x0D; &#x0D; Anyone with access to an internet-enabled computer or a smartphone could use these chatbots to access health information.&#x0D; Chatbots can provide patients with 24/7 access to health information, such as symptom assessment, supportive information, medication reminders, or appointment scheduling, allowing access to information when health care providers are unavailable. There appear to be trends toward efficacy and user satisfaction, but the evidence to support the clinical effectiveness of chatbots in health care is still being established.&#x0D; Existing health care chatbots are mostly free for patients to access, although some developers and health care providers charge fees to access additional features or content. Some apps may be prescribed to patients by providers. These could be covered by insurance or licensed to health care providers by the developer.&#x0D; &#x0D; What Else Do We Need to Know?&#x0D; &#x0D; Ethical and data privacy issues remain top of mind when considering the widespread implementation of chatbots for patient use in health care settings.&#x0D; ChatGPT and other AI tools that were not developed specifically for health care do not necessarily provide the level of data privacy that is required of health care information. They are also trained on historical datasets and do not provide responses based on the most current clinical recommendations or health data.&#x0D; The development of AI-specific ethical frameworks could facilitate safer and more consistent development of AI tools in health care by preventing the misuse of AI technologies and minimizing the spread of misinformation.&#x0D; AI tools still require human oversight in terms of moderation and troubleshooting.&#x0D;

Econometric modeling of the mutual impact of import-export operations in the Republic of Azerbaijan

The recent economic changes have led to the formation of new bases for the interaction of the domestic economy with the world economy, which has significantly increased the role of external economic factors in the country’s development. The volume of foreign trade, as well as the structure of export and import of goods, is mainly determined by the state of the country’s economy and production. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the impact of economic factors such as the volume of industrial production and domestic consumption, the volume of gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita income, the ratio of domestic and world prices, and the real exchange rate of the national currency. The primary objective of this article is to statistically analyze, reflect, and forecast the volume of export and import during the transition period of the economic development of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The econometric analysis of foreign trade operations, specifically import-export activities, in the Republic of Azerbaijan for the years 1995-2022 has been conducted in this research. Econometric research approaches were implemented using the operations of the Eviews 8 program package. Regression analysis, correlation analysis, construction of graphs, Descriptive Statistics, Dickey-Fuller test, Granger test, Cusum test, and Cointegration were performed using the tools in the Eviews 8 application package for evaluation.

Diagnostic efficacy of metaepiphyseal osteomyelitis in young children: a prospective study

INTRODUCTION: Modern and effective diagnosis of osteomyelitis is the basis for successful therapy; at the same time the problem of establishing this pathology, especially in the early stages of the development of the process, has not been completely resolved.OBJECTIVE: To develop of ultrasound imaging of metaepiphyseal osteomyelitis in young children, depending on the duration of the disease.MATERIAL AND METHODS: 108 children (boys — 65% (70/108), girls — 35 (38/108)) from 1 month to 2 years were examined. Children's age from 2 up to 8 months — 57% (62/108), newborns — 26% (27/108). The age of other children: 12% (13/108) — 9–12 months, 5% (6/108) — 1– 2 years. All children underwent x-ray and ultrasound study. The diagnosis of osteomyelitis was verified by joint puncture (n=102), bone puncture (n=57), drainage of periarticular phlegmon (n=12).Statistics: processing of the study results was carried out using the Statistica 13.0 application package (TIBCO Software Inc, 2017). To assess the effectiveness of ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis, the diagnostic effectiveness and predictive value of positive or negative results were calculated, and the likelihood ratio was calculated.RESULTS: 3 groups were identified depending on the duration of the disease at the time of admission to the hospital: Ia — 1–3 days, Ib — 4–7 days, Group II — 8–14 days, Group III — 15–21 days from the onset of the disease. DE indicators for patients of group Ia: sensitivity — 81.8%, specificity — 60.0%, accuracy — 75%, PV(+)=81.82%; PV(–)=60.00%; OR=4.50. DE indicators for patients in group Ib: sensitivity — 86.6%, specificity — 66.6%, accuracy — 80.95%, PV(+)=87.5%; PV(–)=60.0%; OR=7.00. DE indicators for patients in group II: sensitivity — 92.98%, specificity — 80.0%, accuracy — 93.44%, PV(+)=98.15%; PV(–)=57.14%; OR=37.86. DE indicators for patients of group III: sensitivity — 91.66%, specificity — 91.0%, accuracy — 91.66%, PV(+)=100.0%.DISCUSSION: Ultrasound imaging of acute osteomyelitis in children of group Ia included nonspecific changes in periarticular tissues and had the lowest diagnostic accuracy (75%). Diagnostic accuracy increased in group Ib to 85% due to initial structural changes in the zone of preliminary calcification and hyaline cartilage of the epiphysis. Disease progression in group II was characterized by more distinct structural changes in the metaphysis with an increase in diagnostic accuracy to 93%. In patients of group III, the highest rates of diagnostic accuracy (91.67%) were obtained due to visualization of destructive changes in the epiphysis, metaphysis and zone of preliminary calcification.CONCLUSION: The ability to detect ultrasound signs of acute hematogenous metaepiphyseal osteomyelitis in children will allow the use of this method in the early diagnosis for the timely selection of an adequate treatment tactics.

Tolerance and taste perception of goat milk-based original complementary food products: results of a multicenter clinical study

The formation of taste preferences and diversity of a child’s diet, as well as the prevention of neophobia, are relevant and discussed issues in clinical practice and scientific literature. A group of authors from St. Petersburg and Kazan conducted a multicenter clinical study to study both food tolerance and taste perception of two complementary feeding products based on goat milk (vegetable and vegetable-grain). We studied eating behavior using a questionnaire and physical development in 92 healthy children aged 8 to 11 months. Statistical processing of the material was carried out using the IBM Stata 12 application package. The assessment of food tolerance showed good results for all products studied. The physical development of children in both regions met the standards both at the beginning of testing and at the end. At the same time, taste perception had regional characteristics, depended on the place of residence of the children and, probably, on the mother’s food preferences during pregnancy for a variety of vegetable and vegetable-grain components of dishes. It should be taken into account when expanding the infant’s diet.