2nd Group Research Articles

Novel bioactive peptides alleviate Western diet-induced MAFLD in C57BL/6J mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis via TLR4/NF-κB and Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as a leading chronic liver disease. This condition is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fat within liver and can progress from simple steatosis to more severe stages involving chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects and underlying mechanism of novel bioactive peptides (EWYF and EWFY) on Western diet-induced MAFLD in C57BL/6J mice. Mice fed a normal chow diet (ND group) and Western diet (WD and treatment groups) for 8weeks. Treatment groups received EWYF and EWFY peptides in low (10mg/kg/day) and high (50mg/kg/day) doses were divided into four groups: EWYF10, EWYF50, EWFY10, and EWFY50. Western diet-induced body weight gain and increased liver weight along with visceral adiposity, which were markedly reversed by bioactive peptides in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, bioactive peptides significantly reduced hepatic steatosis, liver injury and proinflammatory response. Western diet-induced glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, whereas bioactive peptides significantly improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Persistent intake of Western diet triggered chronic inflammation and severe oxidative stress, which were significantly alleviated by bioactive peptides treatment via inhibiting NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and mitigated pyroptosis by modulating TLR4/NF-κB and Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. Furthermore, molecular docking studies suggest that EWYF and EWFY act as fructokinase antagonists and TLR4 inhibitors, which potentially alleviates Western diet-induced MAFLD. Collectively, these findings highlight EWYF and EWFY as promising candidates for MAFLD treatment due to their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties via specific molecular inhibition.

Alterations in gut microbiome in age- and diet-induced colorectal cancer (CRC) progression in a preclinical model.

223 Background: CRC is the third leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide with age and diet among the strongest risk factors. Emerging evidence suggests gut microbiome plays important role in CRC and is highly impacted by the exposome primarily the food intake. Since diet and age plays an important role in gut microbiome diversity, the present study aimed to investigate the alterations in the gut microbiome in young versus old mice harboring CRC allografts and fed with different diets. Methods: Two cohorts of C57BL/6 including young (n = 9, age = 6 weeks) and old (n = 9, age = 20-24 months) mice were implanted with 1x10 6 MSI (microsatellite instable) CRC MC38 tumor cells. Mice in both cohorts were randomized into three different diet groups: normal diet (ND; standard chow), high-fat (HF) and calorie-restricted (CR: 30% reduction in total calories). Mice were housed individually under standard laboratory conditions. Mice fecal samples were collected and subjected to DNA isolation (ZymoBIOMICS-96 MagBead DNA Kit), followed by metagenomic shotgun and whole genome sequencing (ZymoBIOMICSe and Illumina NovaSeq, respectively). P ≤ 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: Fecal microbiome analysis showed that old microbiome has higher alpha diversity compared to the young mice. No statistically significant differences in were found in microbiome diversities between the diet groups. Pairwise permanova results showed statistically significant differences between microbiomes of old vs. young groups ( P : 0.001), CR vs. HF groups ( P : 0.012) and HF vs. ND groups ( P : 0.021). ANCOM-BC analysis determined the differentiating features and microbial functional pathways in the young mice compared to the old mice group and in different diet groups with relative abundance differences of larger than log 10 2. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron ( P : 1.43E-39) and Parabacteroides goldsteinii ( P : 2.20E-23) were enriched in young and old groups, respectively. Akkermansia muciniphila ( P : 0.008) was significantly enriched in ND compared to CR group. Lactococcus lactis ( P : 9.94E-160) and Lachnospiraceae bacterium A4 ( P : 4.95E-10) were significantly enriched in HF compared to ND diet groups and vice-versa, respectively. Among the functional pathways, CMP-legionaminate biosynthesis I ( P : 2.38E-13) and L-arginine biosynthesis IV (archaebacteria) ( P : 4.77E-11) were the most significantly enriched in young and old groups, respectively. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the differential diversity and microbial features of gut microbiome in age- and diet-induced CRC progression. Collectively, alteration in diet and age of the host lead to changes in gut microbiota which has a direct impact on activation of specific signaling pathways, metabolism and local and systemic immune responses, which may in turn affect chemosensitivity and outcome in CRC

ВЛИЯНИЕ КОНТАМИНИРОВАННОГО МИКОТОКСИНАМИ КОРМА И ПРОТИВОПАРАЗИТАРНОЙ ОБРАБОТКИ ЭПРИНОМЕКТИНОМ НА КИШЕЧНУЮ МИКРОБИОТУ ЖИВОТНЫХ В УСЛОВИЯХ ЭКСПЕРИМЕНТА

Animals are exposed to numerous stress factors in industrial conditions. The greatest danger is posed by mycotoxins that change the composition of the microbiota in animals, which is one of the reasons for the development of immunosuppression. The purpose of the study is to establish changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota in laboratory animals with combined contamination of feed with mycotoxins and antiparasitic treatment with eprinomectin. The study was conducted on laboratory rats (five groups of 10 rats each). Animals of the 1st group received a standardized diet and were not exposed to mycotoxins and eprinomectin, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th groups of animals received food containing mycotoxins (DON – 0.93, T-2 – 0.025; ZEA – less than 0.02 mg/kg). Additionally, animals of the 3rd and 5th groups were subjected to a single antiparasitic treatment with the drug Veteprin (active ingredient – eprinomectin). Enterosorbent modified with polyarginine was administered daily with food to animals of groups 4 and 5 at a dose of 0.2 g/kg for 12 days at the final stage of the experiment lasting 50 days. The material for bacteriological research was samples of the contents of the cecum. The luminal microflora of the cecum in all animals is dominated by Bifidobactererium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. However, a noticeable decrease in their number is observed with the combined effect of eprinomectin and mycotoxins on the animal body, which indicates a decrease in colonization resistance and inhibition of parietal digestion. Against the background of a decrease in the proportion of obligate anaerobic microflora in the intestine, the number of facultative opportunistic microorganisms increases. Increased growth of yeast-like fungi in the intestine indicates decreased immune reactivity and impaired intestinal barrier function. The use of a sorbent modified with polyarginine normalizes and stabilizes the intestinal microflora.

Evaluation of the effect of probiotic preparations with antioxidant and enzymatic action based on the Bacillus subtilis strain on the growth and physiological state of fish

The conducted experiments showed that fish grown using feed containing probiotics with different mechanisms of action — enzymatic and antioxidant — showed gains and fatness coefficient exceeding the control values by more than 7 % and 5–13 %, respectively, with a decrease in feed costs of 6.7 %. Analysis of weight distribution among the studied fish groups revealed that in the experiments the percentage of individuals with higher body weight was higher by 9.65 and 14.75 %, amounting to 58.16 and 63.26 %, respectively. In the open field test, the juvenile sterlet from the 2nd experimental group recorded orientation activity, which was lower than in the 1st experimental and control groups by 3.79 % and 1.61 %, respectively, amounting to 34.8 units/min. However, the background motor activity in this group was the highest — 36.78 units/min. In the 1st experimental and control groups, on the contrary, a decrease in this indicator was observed. It was found that in individuals of the experimental groups, an increase in the reaction to the primary stimulus (vibroacoustic stimulus) was observed, followed by a sharp decrease in activity when exposed to the second stimulus. This indicates the manifestation of a defensive reaction (freezing), characteristic of sturgeon fish. In the control group, the reaction to the primary stimulus also increases, but to a lesser extent, and then remains almost unchanged. After exposure to the third stimulus, the activity of individuals of the control group does not return to the original level, exceeding it by 13.35%. At the same time, in individuals of the experimental groups, the activity approaches the background level. The ratio of orienting activity to background activity (activation level) in fish of the second experimental group was 13.9% lower than in the first experimental and control groups. This indicates that fish from the first experimental and control groups exhibit higher activity when entering a new environment. At the same time, individuals from the second experimental group demonstrate more restrained motor behavior. The reactivity indices in the experimental groups under the influence of low-frequency sound are 1,46–10,54 % higher, under short-term light stimulus and constant light exposure they are lower by 12.09–27.47 % and by 9.72–14.88 % in the 2nd and 1st groups, respectively, compared to the control group. Fish fed with feeds with experimental probiotic additives demonstrated increased resistance to high temperature and salinity. The highest heat resistance and salt tolerance were shown by fish from the first experimental group. Probiotic preparations with targeted action stimulate growth and stabilize the physiological state of fish in extreme conditions.

ВЛИЯНИЕ СКАРМЛИВАНИЯ КУКУРУЗНОГО ЭКСТРАКТА НА РАЗВИТИЕ ВНУТРЕННИХ ОРГАНОВ ЦЫПЛЯТ МЯСНОГО НАПРАВЛЕНИЯ ПРОДУКТИВНОСТИ

The purpose of research is to study the effect of feeding complete feed (CF) with 6.5 % corn extract and 6.2 % mixture of corn extract and perlite on productivity, ration conversion and development of internal organs of broiler chickens. From the fourth day of cultivation, three groups of 38 heads of young birds were formed according to the principle of pair-analogues. In accordance with the scheme of the experiment, the birds from the 1st (control) group were given complete feed (CF) without the inclusion of additives. Corn extract (CE) was added to the complete mixed feed for poultry of the 2nd (experimental) group in the amount of 6.5 % by weight of the feed. The diet for chickens of the 3rd group included 6.2 % of a mixture of corn extract and perlite (in a ratio of 3.42 : 1). Feeding 6.5 % corn extract resulted in a 1.8 % increase in heart mass; a significant decrease in liver weight by 12.7 % (p < 0.05), in contrast to the group of birds that received complete feed without additives. Also, when feeding a mixture of 6.2 % corn extract and perlite, there was a trend towards an increase in heart weight by 2.5 % and a decrease in liver weight by 15.3 % (p < 0.05), relative to the control group. The pH values of the blind processes were in the range of 6.23–6.30, which is the biological norm. The inclusion of 6.5 % corn extract and a mixture of 6.2 % corn extract and perlite in a ratio of 3.42 : 1 by weight of the feed into complete mixed feeds can help increase the growth intensity of meat poultry, while not adversely affecting the growth and development of internal organs.

Features of NeuN Expression in the Cingulate Cortex of the Cerebral Hemispheres of Mice After Administration of Escherichia Coli Lipopolysaccharide

The aim was to observe changes in NeuN expression in the cingulate cortex of the cerebral hemispheres of mice after intraperitoneal administration of various doses of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Material and methods. The study was conducted on 12 C57Bl/6 mice, which were injected intraperitoneally at the same time for 4 days with saline (control group) or E. coli LPS in one of the following doses: 0.5 mg/kg/day (1st group), 1 mg/kg/day (2nd group) or 2 mg/kg/day (3rd group). Brain sampling was performed in animals and histological preparations with a 5 µm thickness were made and stained with antibodies to the NeuN. The number of NeuN-expressing cells in the cingulate cortex of the cerebral hemispheres, in the Cg1 area/dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, was counted. The data were also statistically processed. Results. In immunohistochemical study, the number of neurons expressing NeuN in the 1st group (LPS at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day) was 8226.9±336.94 cells per 1 mm2, in the 2nd group (LPS at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day) – 7889.4±211.83 cells per 1 mm2, in the 3rd group (LPS at a dose of 2 mg/kg/day) – 7039.7±580.42 cells per 1 mm2, in the control group – 9985.6±576.75 cells per 1 mm2. Immunofluorescent study revealed no difference between the samples. Conclusion. When LPS is administered intraperitoneally to mice for 4 days at doses of 0.5–2 mg/kg/day, the expression of NeuN, a marker of mature neurons, decreases. The data obtained can be used to create a model of age-related neurodegeneration.

The Effect of Polyethylene Fiber and Flowable Resin Composite on Fracture Resistance in the Restoration of Large MOD Cavities.

This invitro study aims to evaluate the effect of placing polyethylene fibers used in large Class II MOD (mesio-occlusion-distal) cavities into different flowable resin composites and in different positions on the fracture resistance of the restoration. Ninety healthy human molars were used in the study. No treatment was performed on 10 of these teeth and they were used as the control group. The other 80 teeth were divided into 8 groups by opening large MOD cavities (n = 10). The groups were divided into 4 main groups according to the use of fiber strips; no fiber, placed in the buccolingual direction, placed in the mesiodistal direction, and placed in an "O" shape on all walls. Each main group was divided into two subgroups according to the use of the nanofill flowable composite or flowable short fiber resin composite (SFRC) as the base material. All teeth were aged with a thermal cycler and then fractured with a universal testing machine. Fracture types were recorded in terms of fracture strength and repairability. Kruskal-Wallis, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey post hoc tests were used to compare fracture strength values (p < 0.05). The highest fracture resistance was observed in the control group (2888.67 ± 395.43 N). The control group was significantly higher than all groups except the 7th and 8th groups (p < 0.05). Among the restored groups, the highest mean fracture resistance values were observed in the 8th group (2463.92 ± 332.37 N). The 8th group was statistically significantly higher than the 1st and 2nd groups (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between any of the other restored groups (p > 0.05). The application of polyethylene fiber in the treatment of teeth with large MOD cavities in different positions did not result in a significant difference in fracture resistance.

Vaping-associated mechanisms of gastroesophageal reflux disease development

BACKGROUND: There is convincing evidence of the negative impact of vaping on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. In addition, it is advisable to evaluate the gastroenterological aspects of smoking electronic cigarettes. AIM: To assess the impact of vaping on the functional state of the gastroesophageal zone in healthy people compared to patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 90 patients, divided into three groups of 30 people. The first group consisted of individuals without gastrointestinal diseases, regularly (more than 12 months) smoking vapes. Patients of the 2nd group suffered from gastroesophageal reflux disease. The 3rd group (control) included healthy individuals without bad habits. Using validated questionnaires, clinical manifestations of reflux syndrome were assessed, daily pH-impedancemetry was performed, and serum gastrin and motilin levels were studied. Statistical processing was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis criterion and the Dunn test. Fisher's exact test was used to compare qualitative features, and the Spearman correlation coefficient was used to assess dependencies. The study established a significance criterion of p 0.05. RESULTS: In the 2nd group, along with symptoms of reflux disease, a low pH level of the esophagus lower third and a high daily number of all types of reflux were recorded. In this group, in comparison with the control group, a low level of motilin in the blood was detected (83.2 [56.9; 99.3] pg/ml and 189.7 [117.6; 362.3] pg/ml, respectively, p=0.001). In the group of vapers, compared with healthy controls, a greater severity of reflux syndrome and an increase in the daily number of acidic (54 [39.5; 71] and 21.5 [18; 28.8], respectively, p=0.001) and weakly acidic (7.5 [4.3; 9.8] and 2 [1; 3], respectively, p=0.001) refluxes were recorded, against the background of a decrease in the pH level in the esophagus (4.7 [4.1; 5.9] and 6.7 [6.2; 6.8], respectively, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Vaping is accompanied by an increase in the number of gastroesophageal refluxes, probably due to inhibition of the motility of the lower esophageal sphincter and can contribute to the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Assessment of typing methods, virulence genes profile and antimicrobial susceptibility for clinical isolates of Proteus mirabilis

Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) is one of the most important causative pathogens associated with complicated urinary tract infections with a 20% incidence. For epidemiological determinations, several phenotypic and molecular typing methods have been implicated. Sixty P. mirabilis isolated undergo antibiotic susceptibility test by standard Kirby Bauer method. They showed high resistance to nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole that appear mainly in 3rd age group. The 2nd age group comprised most of the resistant isolates to the tested antibiotics. A total of 73.33% of isolates were classified as multi drug resistance (MDR) and 78.3% of isolates were distributed in several antibiotypes with MAR index over 0.2. Twenty-one isolates were strong biofilm-producers and they were significantly related to MDR. Different virulence factors as protease, urease and hemolysin production are detected. Detection of several virulence genes by PCR; zapA and ureC were harbored by all isolates, followed by rsbA (95%), ureA and flaA (93%), hpmA (91.7%) and mrpA (73.3%). Determination of genetic diversity between isolates was performed by different methods (RAPD, ISSR, ERIC, BOX-AIR and REP-PCR) by using several parameters as typeability and discriminatory power indicating that ERIC-PCR was the best method followed by REP-PCR 1R. Rand’s & Wallace coefficients were used for calculating the congruence among typing methods. Conclusions: The results obtained from both conventional and molecular typing methods indicated that molecular methods are superior to conventional methods in the discrimination of isolates. ERIC-PCR and Rep-PCR provide high discrimination ability among P. mirabilis clinical isolates contributing to epidemiological studies.

Peptide pool instability of precancerous lesions in rats with chronic pancreatitis model and/or without type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The search for early and minimally invasive diagnostic approaches to pancreatic cancer (PC) remains an important issue. One of the most promising directions is to find a sensitive key in the metabolic changes during widespread causes of PC, i.e., chronic pancreatitis (CP) and diabetes mellitus (DM). The main objective of this study was to analyze the peptide pools in the blood plasma and pancreas of rats with modeling of CP and/or without type 1 DM in association with pancreas histopathological grading features. The study was conducted on white non-linear male rats, divided into 3 groups: 1st group: control, 2nd group: rats with cerulein-stimulated CP, and 3rd group: rats with CP and streptozotocin-inducible type 1 DM. Total protein and peptide content were determined in the pancreas and blood plasma. The peptide pools were fractionated using size-exclusion chromatography. Rats with CP showed a high degree of fibrosis in the pancreas and grade 1 ductal pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), associated with decreased total peptides in the pancreas. In rats with CP and DM, 2nd and 3rd grade PanIN with pronounced acinar metaplasia was observed in association with decreasing total pancreatic protein and peptide pools. While there was a decrease in total protein and an increase in total peptide in blood serum, the changes were more pronounced in rats with CP and DM. A study revealed both qualitative and quantitative differences in the distribution of peptide pools in 2 groups with pathologies. Qualitatively, plasma samples from pathological groups exhibited an increased number of peaks. Quantitatively, there was a higher proportion of peptides with molecular weights exceeding 700 Da observed in both plasma and pancreas. The analysis of peptide pools obtained from plasma and PanIN development demonstrated that the peptide pool can serve as an early and complementary indicator of PC emergence.

Treatment outcomes in young adults with gastric cancer

Introduction. According to global data, gastric cancer (GC) is the 5-th most common malignancy with a high cancer-related mortality rate. However, in recent decades, there has been a tendency towards an increase in the incidence of GC among young patients (18 to 40 years old), which currently amounts to 4.4–9.8%. Aim: to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical, combined and palliative treatment options in early-onset GC. Material and Methods. the study included 129 patients aged 18–45 years, who underwent radical, cytoreductive and palliative surgery with or without combination with drug therapy for localized, locally-advanced and primary disseminated GC. the patients were divided into three clinical groups: 1) the surgical group (n=27) included patients with only surgical treatment; 2) the group of combined treatment (n= 58) included patients with PCI &lt;7 who underwent surgery with the volume of CC0 in combination with CT (neoadjuvant, adjuvant, perioperative, simultaneously with or without hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and patients who underwent only HIPEC; 3) the additional (palliative) group (n=44) included patients with PCI&gt;7 who underwent systemic CT in combination with pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC). Results. the median overall survival (OS) in three groups was 58, 30 and 13 months, respectively. In patients with IV stage of disease who underwent HIPEC with CC0 surgery, OS in the 2nd group was 17 in comparison with 13 months in the third group (PIPEC). Conclusion. Aggressive multimodal treatment in the absence of comorbid status in young patients will allow for intensification of both the perioperative drug therapy component and the implementation of extended multivisceral resections that facilitate radical surgical treatment to improve both DFS and OS.

Comparison of Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycle vs. Conservative Rehabilitation on Functional Status and Muscle Features in Stroke Patients

Background Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Cycle is used in the rehabilitation of stroke. Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of CR and FES cycle therapy on the functional status and muscle features in stroke patients Methods The 1st Group(n = 15) received only CR for 6 weeks, and the 2nd Group(n = 15) received FES cycle 3 days a week for 4 weeks in addition to the CR treatment. Brunnstrom recovery staging(BRS), Fugl-Meyer lower extremity evaluation(FME); Berg Balance Scale(BBS), Functional Ambulation Classification(FAC), Barthel Index(BI), Fatigue Severity Scale(FSS), 6 min walk test(6mWT), knee extensor and knee flexor muscle strengths(KEMS, KFMS) in both groups were assessed before and after treatment(6th week). Pennate angle(PA) and rectus femoris muscle thickness(RFT) were measured. Results Significant improvement was detected in BBS, FAS, BI, FME, 6mWT, KEMS, RFT scores after intra-group treatment compared to before treatment in both groups. Only the 2nd Group showed a significant difference in KFMS, FSS, BRS lower extremity, PA values after treatment compared to before. No significant superiority of the groups over each other was detected. Conclusions CR and FES Cycle contribute to the improvement of the functional status of the patients, but their superiority over each other was not observed.

Growth performance, carcass traits, meat composition, digestibility coefficients and caecal microbiota of growing rabbits fed diets supplemented with a herbal mixture.

The study investigates the effect of dietary herbal mixture (HM) levels on growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits' performance, carcass characteristics, blood biochemicals, and microbiological characteristics from 5 to 13 weeks of age. In this study, 96 New Zealand White rabbits (male and female ratio 1:1) were used, and they were five weeks old. The rabbits were at random allocated into four experimental groups (n = 24 each) comprising 12 replicates, each with two rabbits. The 1st group acted as the control and received feed without additional supplements. The 2nd group received 0.30% HM, the 3rd group received 0.50% HM, and the 4th group received 0.70% HM. As the concentration of the herbal mixture extract was raised, the inhibitory zones grew significantly. The addition of HM to rabbit diets at a 0.5% concentration significantly increased body weight and weight gain compared to the control diet and other treatments. The apparent digestibility coefficient of ether extracts and the rabbits' capacity to absorb lipids significantly increased with increasing HM levels up to 0.7%. In addition, the HM increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and decreased triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood. Interestingly, when rabbits were fed varying amounts of HM, all types of bacteria significantly declined, yet helpful lactic acid bacteria increased. In conclusion, HM supplementation improved rabbit growth, blood parameters, and gut microbial balance, with a 0.5% level yielding the best results, indicating that HM has significant potential as a novel feed supplement for growing rabbits.

The modulation of low molecular weight sulfur compounds levels in visceral adipose tissue of TLR2-deficient mice on a high-fat diet.

Obesity treatment requires an individualized approach, emphasizing the need to identify metabolic pathways of diagnostic relevance. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), particularly TLR2 and TLR4, play a crucial role in metabolic disorders, as receptor deficiencies improves insulin sensitivity and reduces obesity-related inflammation. Additionally, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) influences lipolysis, adipogenesis, and adipose tissue browning through persulfidation. This study investigates the impact of a high-fat diet (HFD) on low molecular weight sulfur compounds in the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) of C57BL/6 and TLR2-deficient mice. It focuses on key enzymes involved in H2S metabolism: cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS), cystathionine gamma-lyase (CGL), 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST), and thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (TST). In C57BL/6 mice on HFD, MPST activity decreased, while CBS level increased, potentially compensating for H2S production. In contrast, TLR2-deficient mice on HFD exhibited higher MPST activity but reduced level of CBS and CGL activity, suggesting that TLR2 deficiency mitigates HFD-induced changes in sulfur metabolism. TST activity was lower in TLR2-deficient mice, indicating an independent regulatory role of TLR2 in TST activity. Elevated oxidative stress, reflected by increased glutathione levels, was observed in wild-type mice. Interestingly, cysteine and cystine were detectable only in the VAT of the C57BL/6 ND group and were absent in all other groups. The capacity for hydrogen sulfide production in tissues from TLR2-/-B6 HFD group was significantly lower than in the C57BL/6 HFD group. In conclusion, TLR2 modulates sulfur metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation in obesity. TLR2 deficiency disrupts H2S production and redox balance, potentially contributing to metabolic dysfunction, highlighting TLR2 as a potential therapeutic target for obesity-related metabolic disorders.

Comparison of en-bloc direct vertebrae rotation and non-direct vertebrae rotation for the correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis Lenke 5C: a retrospective study in Changsha, China.

A retrospective study. This study aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness of en-bloc direct vertebrae rotation (DVR) to non-DVR for the correction of Lenke 5C. The primary goal of posterior correction is to preserve the lumbar spine and achieve a well-balanced spine. However, very few studies have examined the effects of en-bloc DVR (ED) on Lenke 5C correction. A retrospective study was conducted with a minimum follow-up of four years involving 95 patients (ED group, n=45; non-DVR [ND] group, n=50). Radiographic measurements included thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, sagittal vertical axis, coronal balance, and Cobb angles preoperatively and postoperatively. Flexibility curves and axial vertebral rotation were assessed using computed tomography before and after surgery. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire. The preoperative major Cobb angles were comparable between the ED group (52.2°±2°) and the ND group (52.8°±3°), with no significant difference (p=0.327). At the last follow-up, the average Cobb angle was significantly lower in the ED group (4.6°±2°) compared to the ND group (6.1°±3°), indicating a significant difference (p=0.005). The postoperative radiographic shoulder height showed no significant difference at the last follow-up. The axial vertebral rotation was significantly greater in the ED group (8.4°±0°) than in the ND group (11.1°±1°) (p=0.001). Additionally, the ED group demonstrated substantial preservation of fusion levels with an average of 5.6 fused segments compared to 6.3 in the ND group. A significantly higher incidence of satisfactory outcomes was observed at the final follow-up, with the correction rate of the ED group superior to that of the ND group for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis Lenke 5C. Moreover, patients in the ED group reported better outcomes on the SRS-22 questionnaire and had a shorter hospital stay than those in the ND group.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ACTIVITIES OF HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS PROVIDING PERINATAL CARE DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF DELIVERIES PER YEAR

Introduction. In the context of a constant decline in the birth rate in Ukraine, the issue of organizing accessible and high-quality perinatal care for mothers and newborns is acute. Since 2020, the National Health Service of Ukraine, the central executive body, the activities of which are directed and coordinated by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, has concluded contracts with medical service providers for a group of priority services, which include assistance during childbirth. Thus, perinatal care services have been identified as priority medical services for the state. Aim. The purpose of the study was to compare the data of the main performance indicators of health care facilities in Ivano-Frankivsk, Zhytomyr, and Chernihiv regions that provided perinatal care in 2023, depending on the number of births per year. Materials and methods. A comparison of performance indicators (indicators characterizing the provision of perinatal care, indicators of bed capacity utilization, indicators of physician workload, indicators of personnel potential of health care providers) for three groups of health care providers depending on the number of births per year, namely: up to 300 births (group 1, n=22), 300-1500 births (group 2, n=23), more than 1500 births (group 3, n=10). Data from the reporting forms No. 21, No. 20 of the Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, as well as questionnaires on personnel support (age structure of medical workers, number of obstetrician-gynecologists who personally provide medical care in delivery) were used. The study was conducted in health centers that provided perinatal care during childbirth in Ivano-Frankivsk, Zhytomyr, and Chernihiv regions. Results. It was determined that the 3rd group had the lowest average share of normal births, the largest share of multiple deliveries, the largest share of premature births among all newborns, the largest share of newborns with a body weight of up to 1000 g, the largest number of respiratory system disorders occurring in the perinatal period, and the number of preeclampsia, eclampsia per 1000 births. In all three groups of HCPs, the proportion of cesarean sections from the total number of births differed significantly (p=0.002). The largest share of caesarean sections was found in the 3rd group (28.96% [26.77–40.16]). The significantly lowest value of the occupancy rate of beds for pregnant women was determined in the 1st group (22.88% (18.19-38.85), only 83.5 days a year the bed was occupied. In the HSP of the 2nd group, the bed was occupied per year 124.9 days, and in the 3rd group of hospitals – 192.43 days, respectively. It was determined that during the year, obstetrician-gynecologists are on standby at the workplace, taking 1 birth, mostly physiological, for 9 days. The 2nd and 3rd group of health care providers — 1 birth in 4 days. Conclusions. Improving the quality and availability of perinatal care in the network of the hospital district requires the transformation of the organization of the provision of this care on the basis of effective management of personnel, financial, material and technical resources and the creation of rational scientifically based clinical routes in accordance with medical indications.

FUNCTIONAL STATE OF THE ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE SYSTEM IN THE BLOOD SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH GENERALIZED PERIODONTITIS AND TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Aim. To determine the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase, the content of SH groups in the blood serum of patients with generalized periodontitis in patients with diabetes mellitus 2 type and in their combination. Materials and methods. The study involved 68 people with a clinically established diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as 32 patients with confirmed generalized periodontitis, divided into 4 groups. The concentration of superoxide dismutase and catalase and the content of SH groups in the blood serum of patients were determined using a biochemical method. Statistical processing of data was carried out using the Shapiro-Wilk criterion. The level of statistical significance of differences between samples was assessed using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. Results. The highest levels of catalase activity and the lowest levels of superoxide dismutase activity were found in patients of group 4 with generalized periodontitis against the background of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The indicator of catalase activity in the subjects of the 4th group exceeded by 45.2% the results of the 2nd group and by 28.1% – of the 3rd group. At the same time, the SOD activity of the 4th group was not only lower than the control data, but also 26.8% of the results of the 2nd group (p&lt;0.01) and practically did not differ from the indicators of the 3rd group. It should be noted that the combination of generalized periodontitis and type 2 diabetes causes a decrease in the content of SH groups by 12.7% relative to group 3. This indicates that against the background of type 2 diabetes, the development of combined pathology is accompanied by inhibition of the functional capabilities of antioxidant defense. Conclusions. In the comorbid course of generalized periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus, the intensity of free radical oxidation processes in the blood serum increases with an increase in the concentration of catalase and superoxide dismutase, which indicates the strain of enzyme antioxidant processes with inhibition of functional glutate reserves.

COVID-19 AND PREGNANCY

Physiological changes that occur during pregnancy may alter the response to COVID-19 infection. Pregnancy is considered a risk factor for infectious diseases, but the increased risk of complications with COVID-19 is controversial. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the impact of the disease on the condition of the mother and fetus has been questioned. The aim of the study. To assess the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the course of pregnancy, fetal growth depending on the period of pregnancy, when the disease occurred in a pregnant woman in a mild and moderate form. Materials and methods. Two groups were formed: 1st main group 60 pregnant women suffering from COVID-19 in different stages of pregnancy, 2nd control group 20 healthy pregnant women without COVID-19 infection. A general clinical, bacterioscopic, bacteriological, immunoenzymatic, ultrasound examination was performed. Statistical analysis was performed according to generally accepted methods of variational statistics. Approval of the scientific work was obtained from the Bioethics Commission of the Bukovyna State Medical University (Ukraine). The work is a part of the research work "Prevention, diagnostics and treatment of disorders of perinatal period and reproductive system of women and adolescent girls" (No. 201110H, state registration No. 0111U006499). Research results. A significant decrease in free estriol was revealed by 3.82±0.29 (p&lt;0.01) in the main group when infected in the first trimester of pregnancy with the subsequent development of fetal growth retardation syndrome in 14.29% in the first trimester and in 12.5% ​​in in the third trimester of pregnancy, intrauterine infection of the fetus in 25%. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the third trimester of pregnancy led to a decrease in fetal growth and the birth of children with a weight of 2962.55±56.73 (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions. The most favorable period for infection with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy is the second trimester (50%), however, a decrease in the hormone-producing function of the placenta is observed during infection in the first trimester, which leads to the development of fetal growth retardation, however, the weight at birth does not differ from the control group , unlike infection in the third trimester, where there is a significant decrease in fetal growth, the study is important for timely prevention of complications.

Features of pancreatic parenchyma fibrosis in the comorbid course of chronic pancreatitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Under the conditions of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic pancreatitis (CP) progresses with the development of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), which occurs when the active area of the acinar epithelium decreases as a result of the inflammatory process and fibrosis of the organ. The objective of the study was to study the peculiarities of the processes of the pancreas tissue fibrosis in patients with chronic pancreatitis in case of comorbidity with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A prospective cohort study was conducted with the analysis of inpatients’ medical records of 305 patients. The first group of patients consisted of 96 people with an isolated course of CP, the second group consisted of 116 patients with CP with comorbid COPD, the third group consisted of 93 patients with isolated COPD. The comparison group consisted of 30 practically healthy persons. The study also used data from a clinical blood analysis, a biochemical study of the content of markers of the syndrome of deviation of the pancreas enzymes in the blood, the content of elastase-1 in feces, ultrasonographic examination of abdominal organs, changes in the carbohydrate-pro­tein components of the extracellular matrix, the state of collagenolytic activity of the blood plasma. In patients with CP in the exacerbation phase without comorbid pathology, as well as with comorbid COPD and isolated COPD, a significant activation of fibrosing reactions was established: activation of collagen synthesis was registered as an indicator of an increase in the content of protein-bound oxyproline (PBOP) in the blood: in patients of the 1st group – 1.7 times, patients of the 2nd group – 2.1 times and 3rd group – 2.3 times (p&lt;0.05). The specified direction of changes is confirmed by the indicator of the content of type IV collagen in the blood, which increased in comparison with the indicator in practically healthy persons, respectively, in patients of groups 1, 2, 3 – by 1.4 times, 2.4 and 2.5 times (p&lt;0.05), i.e. maximally in pa­tients with COPD and with comorbidity of CP with COPD. In patients with a comorbid course of CP and COPD, a correlational interdependence was established between the indicators of the state of the protein components of the connective tissue of the extracellular matrix of the pancreas (PBOP) and hyperamylasemia (r=0.32, p&lt;0.05), the intensity of endotoxicosis (r=0, 37, p&lt;0.05), the level of glycemia (r=0.45, p&lt;0.05), and the inverse relationship between the content of elastase-1 in feces (r=-0.33, p&lt;0.05 ), insulinemia (r=-0.46, p&lt;0.05), which indicates the interdependence of these changes and their role in the pathogenesis of the progression of chronic pancreatitis. Correlation relationship between the parameter of ultrasonographic histography of the pancreas – L, which indicates the degree of the pancreas fibrosis, and the content of type IV collagen in the blood (r=0.54, p&lt;0.05), the content of PBOP in the blood (r=0.46, p&lt;0.05), hexosamines (r=0.38, p&lt;0.05) points to the biochemical mechanisms of the pancreas fibrosis and opens up prospects for developing the ways of pathogenetic correction and prevention of CP progression in comorbidity with COPD.

Justification of Performing Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Kidneys in Patients in Critical Conditions

Acute kidney injury is a serious problem in intensive care and healthcare in general. The aim of the study is to determine the opportunities and justify the expediency of performing diffusion–weighted images and ASL-perfusion in assessing morphofunctional renal disorders in patients in critical conditions. Material and methods. 101 patients diagnosed with acute kidney injury on the basis of the RSFHF «City Clinical Hospital № 1» (the town of Smolensk) had magnetic resonance imaging of the kidneys and retroperitoneal organs performed using diffusion-weighted images and ASL-perfusion. The data obtained from the autopsy kidney material of deceased patients (n = 32) were compared with the lifetime indicators of diffusion-weighted images and ASL-perfusion. The control group consisted of 54 volunteers without pathology of the genitourinary system. Results. According to the results of magnetic resonance imaging, all patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 (n = 48) included patients with the following results: there was no qualitative restriction of diffusion, the measured diffusion coefficient was = 1.89–2.1´10– 3 mm2/s, ASL-perfusion was ≤ 469 ml/100g/min. In the 2nd group (n = 31), the following results were obtained: qualitatively – there was no restriction of diffusion, the measured diffusion coefficient was = 1.89–2.1´10-3 mm2/s, ASL-perfusion was ≥ 470 ml/100g/min. In the 3rd group (n = 22), the presence of diffusion restriction was noted, the measured diffusion coefficient was &lt; 1.79´10-3 mm2/s. ASL-perfusion was not required in this group of patients, the results were false positive. Conclusions. Magnetic resonance imaging of the kidneys using diffusion-weighted images and ASL-perfusion makes it possible to determine morphofunctional renal disorders without the use of invasive techniques, as well as to predict the outcome in each group of patients.