Degree Of Destruction Research Articles

Tanshinone IIA alleviates IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis and inflammation by regulating FBXO11 expression

ObjectiveThis study explored the pharmacological mechanism of Tanshinone IIA (TAN IIA) in the treatment of Osteoarthritis (OA), which provided a certain reference for further research and clinical application of Tan IIA in OA. MethodsCHON-001 cells were stimulated with 10 μg/mL IL-1β for 48 h and treated with 10 μM TAN IIA for 48 h. Cellular viability and apoptosis were evaluated by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, and Cleaved caspase-3 was measured by Immunoblot assay and RT-qPCR. TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS in CHON-001 cells were determined by RT-qPCR and ELISA. To further verify the effect of TAN IIA on OA, a rat model of OA in vivo was established by right anterior cruciate ligament transection. TAN IIA was administered at 50 mg/kg or 150 mg/kg for 7 weeks. The degree of cartilage destruction in OA rats was observed by TUNEL and HE staining. Cleaved caspase-3 and FBXO11 were measured by immunohistochemical staining, RT-qPCR, and Immunoblot. TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS in chondrocytes of OA rats were detected by ELISA. ResultsIL-1β stimulated CHON-001 cell apoptosis and inflammation, and TAN IIA had anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammatory effects on IL-1β-regulated CHON-001 cells. TAN IIA down-regulated FBXO11 and inhibited PI3K/AKT and NF-κB pathways, thereby alleviating apoptotic and inflammatory reactions in CHON-001 cells under IL-1β treatment. Moreover, TAN IIA treatment improved chondrocyte apoptosis and inflammations in OA rats. ConclusionTAN IIA inhibits PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways by down-regulating FBXO11 expression, alleviates chondrocyte apoptosis and inflammation, and delays the progression of OA.

Порівняльна клінічна характеристика застосування цифрових і аналогових відбитків на якість непрямих реставрацій у пацієнтів із дефектами твердих тканин жувальних зубів у різні терміни спостереження

Introduction. Diseases of the hard tissues of the teeth are recognized as one of the most common dental diseases. These are mainly dental caries, congenital defects, fractures, fluorosis or acid erosion. Production of indirect restorations, which require taking impressions of the jaws, is one of the most common methods of restoring the hard tissues of the tooth when they are significantly destroyed. In today’s era of growing interest in digital dentistry, researchers are still undecided as to whether a digital impression provides the same accuracy as a conventional impression for making indirect restorations. Goal. To conduct a comparative characterization of the use of digital and analog impressions on the quality of indirect restorations in patients with defects of the hard tissues of chewing teeth at different follow-up periods. Research material and methods. The research involved 58 patients aged 25-60 years who applied to the Department of Stomatology of the P. L. Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine for the purpose of orthopedic treatment of 79 defects of the hard tissues of the lateral teeth with destruction of 50-60% of their occlusal surface. In the course of orthopedic rehabilitation, patients were made indirect restorations - ceramic inlays using E. MAX Press material (Ivoclar Vivadent, Liechtenstein, Germany). The research group was further divided into 2 subgroups depending on the method of obtaining the impression. Subgroup A included patients who underwent digital scanning of a one-stage two-phase silicone impression, and subgroup B included patients who underwent impression removal using an intraoral digital impression system (TRIOS®, 3shape). The degree of destruction of the occlusal surface of chewing teeth and the choice of indirect restoration was carried out using the index of destruction of the occlusal surface of chewing teeth for I and II class according to Black (IROPZ). The clinical quality of indirect restorations was evaluated 1 week after the installation of the restoration and at long-term periods (12, 24, 36 months) using visual-instrumental control and according to the recommendations of the revised FDI criteria for the evaluation of direct and indirect dental restorations (2023). The presence of inflammatory changes in periodontal tissues was determined using the gingivitis index, the presence of dental plaque was determined using the OHI-S index (Green-Vermillion, 1964), the gingival sulcus bleeding index (SVI) was determined according to the Miihlemann and Son method before indirect restorations, during 1 week, 12 month and 24 month visits after cementation. Conclusion. Dental restorations made using digital impressions showed similar marginal discrepancy as restorations made using traditional impression methods (P>0.05). Lateral masticatory restorations fabricated by intraoral scanning using CAD/ CAM technology have acceptable results in terms of periodontal tissue condition, color, contour, marginal adaptation, and occlusion. Although both direct and indirect digitization have been shown to be equally effective, digital impressions have shown advantages in patient acceptance of the procedure. They take less time for both the doctor and the patient and facilitate the digital workflow. No significant difference was found between conventional and digital displays in the accuracy of the 3D data sets. Key words: defects of hard dental tissues, indirect restorations, digital and traditional impression, inflammatory changes in periodontal tissues, marginal adaptation.

Crystalloscopic analysis in detection of saliva metabolome specialties in elderly people

The purpose of this study was to assess the features of saliva crystallization in middle-aged and elderly people. The study included middle-aged (45-60 years old; n=63) and elderly (over 60 years old; n=78) men who signed an informed consent to participate. Crystalloscopic analysis of saliva in order to characterize the metabolic characteristics of the body and the composition of biological fluids. The intrinsic crystallization of mixed saliva was studied using the method of classical crystalloscopy. The structure index, crystallizability, facia destruction degree and the clearity of the marginal protein zone were determined. Each of the parameters was expressed on a 5-point scale. In general, the study made it possible to establish the presence of shifts in the crystallogenic properties of mixed saliva in the older age group (over 60 years old) relative to middle-aged people. Thus, the features of the crystalloscopic picture of biological fluid in elderly subjects included a decrease in the total crystallogenic potential of biological fluid, which was manifested in a decrease in crystallizability and the structural index of dehydrated saliva facies. In addition, the involutive shifts of the crystallograms were represented by an increase in the degree of destruction of facies and the expansion of the marginal zone of micropreparations. The revealed transformations of the crystallogenic properties of the biological medium allow us to speak about age-dependent characteristics of the component composition and physico-chemical parameters of saliva and, therefore, indirectly describe the involutive changes in the metabolome of this biological fluid.

Autopsy findings in fire deaths in relation to manner of death: Analysis of autopsy records in Friuli, Italy (1993–2020)

The determination of the cause and manner of death can be particularly difficult in burned and charred bodies and autopsy remains a key element in the investigation. In this study, 39 autopsy records of fire deaths were reviewed in relation to the manner of death (25 accidents, 8 suicides, 3 homicides and 3 instances in which the manner of death remained undetermined). The analysis focused on the study of the burns, the degree to which the bodies were consumed by fire and the evidence of signs of vital exposure to fire and of non-fire-related injuries. Total surface body area (TBSA) was found to be significantly higher (p = 0.02) in suicides than in accidents. Moreover, the degree of destruction according to the Crow-Glassman Scale and the presence of a pugilistic posture tended to be higher in suicides compared to accidental deaths, whereas such parameters were found to be variable in homicides.With regard to the anatomical distribution of burns, in contrast with the literature, the feet were affected by burning in all suicides, with a significantly higher prevalence than in accidents (p < 0.01).Traumatic non-fire related injuries were noted in all homicides (with no signs of vital exposure to fire), 1 complicated suicide, 1 undetermined death and 13 accidents.We found that very few studies have focused on the analysis of burn distribution and extension according to manner of death and that there is currently no standardised anatomical model with which to study these variables for forensic purposes.

GRINDING OF FIBROUS SEMI-FINISHED PRODUCTS AS A MECHANOCHEMICAL PROCESS. MATHEMATICAL MODELING

It is known that the process of grinding fibrous semi-finished products proceeds in the form of four successive stages, accompanied by complex processes of fibrillation and hydration of fibers subjected to mechanical action. The development of these processes over time determines the dynamics of changes in cellulose fiber, which ultimately leads to the formation of the necessary paper-forming properties. The paper shows that the representation of the grinding of fibrous semi-finished products as a mechanochemical process makes it possible to formulate a mathematical model of the grinding dynamics based on the principles of formal kinetics. The latter makes it possible to single out the stages of the milling process in the form of a standard kinetic mechanism of successively occurring reactions. The corresponding model is presented as a system of ordinary differential equations with constant coefficients, the solution of which presents no fundamental difficulties. Since it is not the degree of destruction that is determined experimentally, but the degree of grinding, it is proposed to present the relationship between these values as a power series with a limitation in the form of a linear approximation. However, due to the large dimension, the parametric identification of the model has fundamental difficulties. The paper proposes a reduction method that allows overcoming the problem. The corresponding parameters are identified by comparing the model and the array of experimental data. The presented approach makes it possible to obtain an adequate closed mathematical description of the dynamics of grinding fibrous semi-finished products.

ПОЛИМЕРЛІ ЕРІТІНДІЛЕРДІҢ РЕОЛОГИЯЛЫҚ ҚАСИЕТТЕРІН ЗЕРТТЕУ

Annotation. The long-term operation of the deposit, the alternation of reservoir zones with high and degraded filtration and capacitance properties due to the heterogeneity of the reservoir, the deformation of the development system due to downtime and inactivity of wells predetermined the selective movement of water through the most permeable layers. As practice shows, the widespread use of traditional flooding technology does not ensure the effective production of residual reserves from low-permeable and highly watered formations. Therefore, increasing the degree of oil extraction from the depths of the developed fields using effective methods of active impact on water-oil-saturated formations is an important scientific and technical task facing the oilmen of the republic. One of the most effective and promising methods of stabilizing oil production is physics-chemical technologies based on the use of injection of polymer compositions. The main purpose of injection of polymer compositions is to equalize the heterogeneity of productive layers by reducing the mobility of the displacing agent in highly conductive interlayers and increasing the coverage of the reservoir by flooding both in power and in stretch. As is known, the effectiveness of the use of technologies based on polymer solutions depends on their good selective filterability into zones with high water saturation, which allows creating water-insulating screens in the desired direction and to a sufficient depth. It is known that the effective use of polymer solutions depends on the influence of various factors: molecular weight, polymer concentration in solution, filtration rates, reservoir permeability, as well as such an important parameter as the rheological properties of polymer solutions. The study of the rheological properties of polymer solutions allows us to substantiate and propose for practical implementation effective integrated technologies for increasing oil recovery during the operation of the oil fields under consideration. In this work, the rheological properties of polyacrylamide, physical parameters, taking into account their physics-chemical properties, are studied. The influence of mineralization and water hardness on polymer solutions is considered. The issues of mechanical destruction of polymers have been studied. The degree of mechanical destruction of the polymer is estimated based on the results of the study of the rheological properties of the polymer sample.

Tectonic evolution and accumulation characteristics of Carboniferous shale gas in Yadu-Ziyun-Luodian aulacogen, Guizhou Province, South China

The Yadu-Ziyun-Luodian aulacogen (YZLA) developed into being NW-trending in the Late Paleozoic, and was considered as an important passive continental margin aulacogen in Guizhou Province, South China. This tectonic zone is considered a large intracontinental thrust-slip tectonic unit, which has undergone a long period of development. It was ultimately determined in the Yanshanian, where the typical Upper Paleozoic marine shales were deposited. In 2021, Well QSD-1 was deployed in the Liupanshui area at the northwest margin of the aulacogen, and obtained a daily shale gas flow of 11011 m3 in the Carboniferous Dawuba Formation. It thus achieved a breakthrough in the invesgation of shale gas in the Lower Carboniferous in South China, revealing relatively good gas-bearing properties and broad exploration prospects of the aulacogen. Being different from the Lower Paleozoic strata in the Sichuan Basin and the Yichang area of the Middle Yangtze, the development of the Carboniferous Dawuba Formation in the aulacogen exhibits the following characteristics: (1) The Lower Carboniferous shale is thick and widely distributed, with interbedded shale and marlstone of virous thickness; (2) The total organic carbon (TOC) content of the shale in the Dawuba Formation ranges from 1% to 5%, with an average of 2%, and the thermal maturity of organic matter (Ro) varies from 1% to 4%, with an average of 2.5%, indicating good hydrocarbon generation capacity; (3) The main shale in the aulacogen was formed during the fault subsidence stage from the Middle Devonian to the Early Permian. Although the strong compression and deformation during the late Indosinian-Himalayan played a certain role in destroying the formed shale gas reservoirs, comparative analysis suggests that the area covered by the current Triassic strata has a low degree of destruction. It therefore provides good conditions for shale gas preservation, which can be regarded as a favorable area for the next exploration.©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.

A Multi-Input Convolutional Neural Networks Model for Earthquake Precursor Detection Based on Ionospheric Total Electron Content

Earthquakes occur all around the world, causing varying degrees of damage and destruction. Earthquakes are by their very nature a sudden phenomenon and predicting them with a precise time range is difficult. Some phenomena may be indicators of physical conditions favorable for large earthquakes (e.g., the ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC)). The TEC is an important parameter used to detect pre-earthquake changes by measuring ionospheric disturbances and space weather indices, such as the global geomagnetic index (Kp), the storm duration distribution (Dst), the sunspot number (R), the geomagnetic storm index (Ap-index), the solar wind speed (Vsw), and the solar activity index (F10.7), have also been used to detect pre-earthquake ionospheric changes. In this study, the feasibility of the 6th-day earthquake prediction by the deep neural network technique using the previous five consecutive days is investigated. For this purpose, a two-staged approach is developed. In the first stage, various preprocessing steps, namely TEC signal improvement and time-frequency representation-based TEC image construction, are performed. In the second stage, a multi-input convolutional neural network (CNN) model is designed and trained in an end-to-end fashion. This multi-input CNN model has a total of six inputs, and five of the inputs are designed as 2D and the sixth is a 1D vector. The 2D inputs to the multi-input CNN model are TEC images and the vector input is concatenated space weather indices. The network branches with the 2D inputs contain convolution, batch normalization, and Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) activation layers, and the branch with the 1D input contains a ReLU activation layer. The ReLU activation outputs of all the branches are flattened and then concatenated. And the classification is performed via fully connected, softmax, and classification layers, respectively. In the experimental work, earthquakes with a magnitude of Mw5.0 and above that occurred in Turkey between 2012 and 2019 are used as the dataset. The TEC data were recorded by the Turkey National Permanent GNSS Network-Active (TNPGN-Active) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations. The TEC data five days before the earthquake were marked as “precursor days” and the TEC data five days after the earthquake were marked as “normal days”. In total, 75% of the dataset is used to train the proposed method and 25% of the dataset is used for testing. The classification accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and F1-score values are obtained for performance evaluations. The results are promising, and an 89.31% classification accuracy is obtained.

Host-parasite interactions: a study on the pathogenicity of different Mesanophrys sp. densities and hemocytes-mediated parasitic resistance of swimming crabs (Portunus trituberculatus).

Mesanophrys sp. is a parasitic ciliate that invades and destroys the hemocytes of the swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus). In the present study, we employed an in vitro model to elucidate how Mesanophrys sp. destroys crab hemocytes. We also evaluated the relationship between the parasite's density, the destruction rate of the hemocytes, and the rapid proliferation pattern of parasites in host crabs. We found that the survival rate and cell integrity of crab hemocytes decreased with an increase in Mesanophrys sp. density, depicting a negative correlation between hemocyte viability and parasite density. Further analyses revealed that crab hemocytes could resist destruction by a low density (10 ind/mL) of Mesanophrys sp. for a long time (60h). Mesanophrys sp. and its culture medium (containing the ciliate secretions) destroy the host hemocytes. The natural population growth rate of Mesanophrys sp. decreased with an increase in the parasite density, but the Mesanophrys sp. density did not affect the generation time of the parasites. In summary, Mesanophrys sp. can destroy crab hemocytes, and the degree of destruction is directly proportional to the parasite density. The resistance of crab hemocytes to Mesanophrys sp. decreased gradually with an increase in the parasite density.

APPLICATION OF FENTON'S HETEROGENEOUS SYSTEM FOR THE TREATMENT OF ORGANIC-CONTAINING WASTEWATER

With the growth of the Earth's population, the problem of the shortage of clean water is becoming global. And for the survival of humanity, it is necessary to significantly reduce the amount of harmful wastewater that pollutes the environment. Wastewater polluted with organic substances, usually produced by the production of dyes and the food industry, causes great damage to the environment.&#x0D; The expediency of catalytic oxidation for the treatment of organic-containing effluents has been theoretically substantiated. As a catalyst, it is proposed to use new nanostructured composites of the «core-shell» type based on transition metal oxides (CoFe2O4/SiO2/CuO) for the Fenton system. The oxidizing agent in this system is H2O2, which is used in «green technologies».&#x0D; It was investigated that the degree of destruction of the dye methylene blue (MB) depends on the composition of the catalyst, the ratio of the concentrations of the catalyst and dye, and the presence of a preliminary stage of dye adsorption.&#x0D; The investigated catalyst was tested on simulated dairy wastewater (SDW). The research was carried out in a barbotage-type apparatus (Schott filter). For the system «dairy wastewater – CoFe2O4/SiO2/CuO – О2– Н2О2», the degree of dairy wastewater treatment is 63 %, and residual COD value is 39,52 mgO2/dm3. It was established that in the process of purification by the CoFe2O4/SiO2/CuO catalyst, active oxidizing compounds are formed, which significantly intensify the process.&#x0D; Thus, there are reasons to assert that the prospect of developing a highly efficient catalytic oxidation technology in the Fenton system for the treatment of wastewater containing organic pollutants. And the results obtained and the conclusions drawn about the technological feasibility of using CoFe2O4/SiO2/CuO as a catalyst can find practical application for the implementation of technological schemes closed behind water and in other wastewater treatment technologies, in particular food production.

Keloids are transcriptionally distinct from normal and hypertrophic scars.

Wound healing and skin regeneration after injury are complex biological processes, and deep injuries with a high degree of tissue destruction may result in severe scar formation. Clinically, scars can be classified into normal, hypertrophic and keloid scars. However, the molecular signature of each scar type is currently not known. The aim of this study was to reveal the transcriptional landscape of normal, hypertrophic and keloid skin scars following hand and plastic surgery based on total RNA sequencing. Eighteen skin scar samples from hand and plastic surgeries of human donors were minced directly after removal and stored in TRIzol (Thermo Fisher, USA). Samples were then subjected to RNA isolation, cDNA library preparation, bulk RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. We show that keloid scars transcriptionally differed from normal and hypertrophic scars. Normal and hypertrophic scars presented overlapping clustering, and eight genes were shown to be commonly expressed between hypertrophic and normal scars. No genes were specifically expressed at a higher level in keloid and normal scars. Based on gene ontology pathway analysis, genes with a higher level of expression in keloid scars lead to increased (extra-) cellular matrix proliferation and cell interaction. Moreover, tumour-like genes were more highly expressed in keloid scars, supporting the clinical impression of strong and diffuse growth. This study furthers our understanding of the classification of differential scar types based on molecular signature, which may shed light on new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for keloid scars in the future.

Progress in clinical diagnosis and treatment of diabetic Charcot neuroarthropathy of foot and ankle

To summarize the progress of clinical diagnosis and treatment of diabetic Charcot neuroarthropathy (CNO) of foot and ankle to provide reference for clinical treatment. The research literature on diabetic CNO of foot and ankle at home and abroad was widely reviewed, and the stages and classification criteria of CNO were summarized, and the treatment methods at different stages of the disease course were summarized. CNO is a rapidly destructive disease of bone and joint caused by peripheral neuropathy, which leads to the formation of local deformities and stress ulcers due to bone and joint destruction and protective sensory loss, which eventually leads to disability and even life-threatening. At present, the modified Eichenholtz stage is a commonly used staging criteria for CNO of foot and ankle, which is divided into 4 stages by clinical and imaging manifestations. The classification mainly adopts the modified Brodsky classification, which is divided into 6 types according to the anatomical structure. The treatment of diabetic CNO of foot and ankle needs to be considered in combination with disease stage, blood glucose, comorbidities, local soft tissue conditions, degree of bone and joint destruction, and whether ulcers and infections are present. Conservative treatment is mainly used in the active phase and surgery in the stable phase. The formulation of individualized and stepped treatment regimens can help improve the effectiveness of diabetic CNO of foot and ankle. However, there is still a lack of definitive clinical evidence to guide the treatment of active and stable phases, and further research is needed.

Kinetics of Ibuprofen Degradation in Aqueous Solution by the Action of Direct-Current Glow Discharge in Air

The kinetics of decomposition of ibuprofen in its aqueous solution by the action of atmosphericpressure direct-current discharge in ambient air has been studied. The treated solution served as both the cathode and the anode of the discharge system. Degradation rates and effective degradation rate constants have been determined. Based on these data, the energy yields and degrees of destruction were calculated for various discharge powers (discharge currents). Discharges in a liquid cathode and anode differ little in the energy yields of degradation. But the rates and rate constants of degradation in the liquid cathode are higher than in the liquid anode. Therefore, the complete destruction of ibuprofen in the liquid cathode is achieved within shorter discharge times. A comparison is made of the destruction efficiencies for the cases of solution treatment using glow, dielectric barrier, and pulsed corona discharges.

Predictors of conversion surgery after conservative treatment for pyogenic spondylitis

BackgroundPatient demographic and clinical characteristics may be factors associated with the success of conservative treatment for pyogenic spondylitis. The ability of imaging findings at initial diagnosis to predict patient outcomes remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with conversion surgery after conservative treatment for pyogenic spondylitis, with a special focus on the initial computed tomography (CT) findings. MethodsThis study enrolled 35 patients with pyogenic spondylitis who underwent CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at diagnosis and were followed-up for more than 6 months. Patients were diagnosed by MRI, and the degree of bone destruction was assessed on CT cross-sectional images. Vertebral body destruction was classified as grades 0 (almost normal), 1 (endplate irregularity), 2 (vertebral body destruction not involving the posterior wall), and 3 (destruction involving the posterior wall). Patients were divided into four groups based on grade of bone destruction and their clinical characteristics were compared. Results1, 11, 11, and 12 patients were classified as grades 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Univariate analysis showed no significant differences in the demographic and clinical characteristics of the four groups. Eighteen (51.4 %) patients had been treated surgically, with the rate of surgical treatment being significantly higher in patients with grade 3 (83.3 %) than in those with grades 0 + 1 (25 %) and grade 2 (45.5 %) (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that epidural abscess on MRI (odds ratio [OR] 10.8, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.68–69.7), grade 3 bone destruction on CT (OR 3.97, 95 % CI 1.21–13.0), and C-reactive protein (CRP) improvement rate after 1 week of treatment (OR 0.95, 95 % CI 0.91–0.99) were risk factors for surgery. ConclusionsEarly surgical treatment should be considered for patients with pyogenic spondylitis who present with an epidural abscess on MRI and bone destruction extending to the posterior wall on CT at the time of diagnosis.

Анализ последствий взрывной аварии на территории промышленного предприятия

The article describes the types of explosions, the conditions for their occurrence and the characteristics of their behavior. Based on the image of a mushroom cloud of explosion products that occurred at the optical-mechanical plant in Sergiev Posad, the approximate amount of the explosive involved in tritol equivalent was calculated, which amounted to 1750 kg. Based on this, an assessment of shock and explosive loads was carried out, and the degree of destruction of nearby buildings was determined. The calculated blast loads are described and compared with actual damage. An explosion of a similar mass of matter extended three times in time was assessed. For this case, the calculated loads are also given, which were compared with real damage. As a result of the calculations, it was concluded that, most likely, there was an explosion of the scattered substance. It was accompanied by a set of explosive phenomena moving from one combustion mode to another, as a result of which the duration of the explosive effect was increased by no less than three times. Thus, having information about emergency explosions, it is possible to reconstruct the scenario of the occurrence and development of an emergency situation, which is important when investigating similar incidents.

Utility of Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Assessing Corticospinal Tracts for the Management of Brain Tumors: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Introduction Intra-axial brain tumors are a significant health problem and present several diagnostic and treatment challenges.Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has posedseveral limitations, such as the inabilityto delineate the detailed anatomy of fibers in structures like the brainstem and the inability to accurately judge the extent of tumor infiltration.Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), based on the concepts of isotropic and anisotropic diffusion, is capable of visualizing and segmenting white fiber bundles in high detail and providing crucial information about tumor boundaries, extent, neighboring tracts, and more. This information can be very useful in initial non-invasive diagnosis, preoperative tumor grading, biopsy planning, surgical planning, and prognosis. Methods and materials This is a cross-sectional observational study in a tertiary care setup, conducted over a one-year period. The study was performed in Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College (Seth G.S. Medical College) and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (K.E.M. Hospital), a tertiary care hospital located in Mumbai, India. Fiber tractography was performed and was used to visualize the corticospinal tracts passing through the length of the brainstem. Changes in the degree of infiltration, destruction, and displacement of the corticospinal tracts were observed carefully. Adult patients who were diagnosed with brain tumors, willing to participate in the study, and capable of providing written informed consent prior to study registration were included. The DTI findings along with information from other investigations were used to decide the best course of management for each case. Results The study included 30 participants with a mean age of 46.0 ± 17.1 years, 63.3% and 37.7% being male and female, respectively. According to the lesion's location, the pons was found to be the most often affected area in 23.33% of cases, followed by the temporo-parietal region (13.3%) and the frontal region (13.3%). These lesions had heterogenous enhancement in 63.3% of the instances and homogeneous enhancement in 36.7% of the cases, according to a contrast study. According to their consistency, the lesions were further divided into two categories: solid lesions, which were present in 66.7% of instances, and cystic lesions, which were present in 90% of cases. Results from the diffusion tensor technique revealed that infiltration accounted for 40.0% of cases, displacement for 76.7%, and loss of white fiber tracts for 20.0%. DTI findings were significantly associated withthe type of planned management and with the presence of post-management neurological deficit. Conclusion DTI played a complementary role in the assessment of tumors and can be used to improve surgical planning and therapeutic decision making. Preservation of corticospinal tracts is vital to prevent motor impairment. Availability of qualitative data with the depiction of corticospinal tracts in a three-dimensional projection and their relation with the brain tumors by DTI greatly helps in preoperative decision making and surgical approach.

Laparoscopic approach for renal denervation: an experimental study on animals

Aim. To study the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic mechanical renal denervation.Methods. Thirty sheep with mean weight 92.3±2.1 kg were divided in 2 groups: control group (group I, n=15) and mechanical laparoscopic renal denervation group (group II, n=15). The follow-up period was 6 months. The following parameters were assessed: blood pressure in response to high-frequency electrical intraluminal stimulation, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen test (BUN), damage to the renal arteries according to the result of angiography, the degree of destruction of nerve fibers according to histological examination.Results. All animals were alive during the entire observation period. The creatinine and BUN were within the normal ranges during the observation period. Angiography of the renal arteries did not reveal iatrogenic stenotic lesions. After 6 months in group 2 there was hypertensive response of blood pressure to high-frequency electrical stimulation (in-creased systolic blood pressure ∆70.27±5.31 (p&gt;0.005), diastolic blood pressure ∆49.87±6.05 (p&gt;0.005)). After 6 months, the animals were euthonised, further histological examination was completed. Histological examination: in the group II, there was swelling and vacuolization of the nerve fiber without signs of demyelination.Conclusions. Laparoscopic mechanical renal denervation is a safe technique. However, the hypotensive effect is short-term.

Prevalence of dental erosions in routine dental patients flow and recommendations of their treatment

Purpose: to identify patients with erosions at a dental appointment and draw up an individual plan for preventive and therapeutic measures, depending on the identified etiological factors, the degree of destruction of the hard tissues of the tooth and the activity of the process. Materials and methods: 30 patients (14 men and 16 women) were examined for dental erosions, the average age of the participants was 33.66 (±9.58) years. The treatment plan and preventive recommendations were made on the basis of the identified etiological factors, the degree of destruction and the stage of activity of the process. Results: оf the 30 patients, tooth erosion was detected in six of them (20%). Taking hormonal drugs to correct estrogen levels was detected in two patients (6.6%), gastritis with high acidity in one patient (3.3%), an acidic diet combined with aggressive brushing of teeth in one patient (3.3%), Sjögren’s syndrome – in one patient (3.3%), frequent use of carbonated drinks – in one patient (3.3%). According to the degree of destruction of the six patients in whom erosions were detected, I degree was observed in one patient (16.6%), II degree – in two patients (33.3%), III degree – in three patients (50%). According to the activity of the process, out of the identified six patients with erosions, the active stage was observed in four patients (66.6%), the stabilized stage – in two patients (33.3%). Conclusion: the location of erosive lesions is due to an etiological factor or a combination of them. Identification and elimination / minimization of the etiological factor is the most important step in preventing the progression of erosive lesions. The choice of treatment method in patients with dental erosions depends on the degree of destruction of hard tissues and the stage of process activity

Evolution Characteristics of Plastic Zone in Jointed Rock Mass of High-Temperature Hydraulic Tunnel

The evolution characteristics and the extent of the plastic zone in rock mass can reflect the failure characteristics and destruction degree of a hydraulic tunnel. In this research, we derived the equation of a plastic zone range based on a gateway-like structure high-temperature tunnel through a theoretical analysis. On-site monitoring and discrete element model simulation were combined to analyze the temperature field law and plastic zone evolution characteristics of the jointed rock mass at high temperatures. The results show that the joints affect the temperature field variation in rock mass, and the vertical and horizontal joint groups pose significantly greater influence than the inclined joint group on temperature field. The sensitivity of the joint internal friction angle and thermal expansion coefficient to the range of the plastic zone is relatively small. Under various joint spacings, the influence of horizontal and inclined joint groups on the plastic zone morphology decreases, while the vertical joint group exhibits an incremental influence on the plastic zone morphology. Similar to the influence of the temperature field, the vertical and horizontal joint groups have a significantly greater influence on the plastic zone range than the inclined joint group. Under various rock mass temperatures, the plastic zone in rock mass results in the occurrence of uneven expansions along the direction of the joint dip angle, which changes the potential failure direction of rock mass and increases the potential destruction degree of rock mass, whereas it exhibits a smaller uniform expansion perpendicular to the joint dip angle, and the boundary of the plastic zone coincides with the joint surface, relatively hindering the potential destruction degree of rock mass. The research results of this study have certain reference values for the stability control of jointed rock mass in high-temperature hydraulic tunnels.

Assessment of military destruction in Ukraine and its consequences using remote sensing

The article raises the problem of using Earth remote sensing data to collect evidence of damages caused by the military actions of the Russian army in Ukraine. The core data set obtained by deciphering aerial photographs reflects the general current and operational situation in the affected area, reducing the subjectivity and uncertainty of damage characteristics on the ground. Earth remote sensing data visualize visible damage to the environment, which can be recognized and assessed using images of different spectral bands with appropriate resolution. Among the damage caused to the environment as a result of hostilities, according to the Earth remote sensing data, it is possible to study: degradation of land resources, destruction of natural ecosystems by fires, destruction of structures (buildings) and structures. Satellite images with a very high resolution (≤ 1 m) make it possible to quantify the degree of damage to the soil surface due to shell explosions: the amount of metal fragments and chemicals that have entered the soil, damage to the biological cover, etc. Images with a resolution of less than 30 meters in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) range allow to depict the devastating effects of forest and steppe fires caused by military actions. Using two different time frames, one before the fire and one after, will ensure the accuracy, objectivity and reliability of the evidence collected. These very high resolution Earth remote sensing images are used to investigate the destruction of structures (buildings) and constructions. The analysis of satellite images guarantees the diagnosis of the condition of the building in three degrees of destruction: completely destroyed, partially destroyed or not destroyed. In order to ensure the storage, quick search, analysis and visualization of all useful information obtained from the data of Earth remote sensing, it is necessary to use geoinformation systems.The proposed methodology for assessing military destruction is characterized by simplicity, accuracy and versatility, and does not require the use of expensive equipment.