Severe Morphological Changes Research Articles

Biocontrol potential of Burkholderia gladioli STPT16 on postharvest decay of litchi fruit caused by Peronophythora litchii and Colletotrichum fructicola

Litchi downy blight (LDB) caused by Peronophythora litchii and anthracnose (AD) caused by Colletotrichum species are major pre- and postharvest disease of litchi fruit. Biocontrol agents such as Burkholderia has been applied for controlling postharvest fruit decay. In this work, an endophytic strain SZPT16 isolated from health litchi branch was identified as Burkholderia gladioli and exhibited strong antagonistic activity against mycelial growth and conidia/sporangia germination of two postharvest pathogens. Dual incubation of pathogen and biocontrol agents caused alterations in hyphal and conidial/sporangial structures and severe cell morphology changes such as mycelia deformation, cell wall collapse and cellular disorganization. Cell-free culture filtrates (CF, diluted at 25-fold) of B. gladioli SZPT16 showed an efficient inhibition on postharvest litchi decay by preharvest application (74.77 % protection) and postharvest application (64.68 % and 71.14 % protection for LDB and AD, respectively). Furthermore, UPLC-MS/MS metabolomic analysis identified 41 up-regulated differential metabolites, which mainly included nucleosides, nucleotides, and analogues, organic acids and derivatives, organic oxygen compounds, and organoheterocyclic compounds. This study firstly reported the efficacy of CF of B. gladioli SZPT16 in protecting postharvest litchi fruit against natural and inoculated pathogen infections. The overall results provide a promising alternative to chemical fungicides to control litchi postharvest decay.

Corneal microstructural changes of precise CHST6 gene mutation: a case series

BackgroundMacular corneal dystrophy (MCD) is an inherited, autosomal recessive disorder of defective keratan sulfate (KS) metabolism. It is caused by the mutations in carbohydrate sulfotransferase 6 gene (CHST6) which is essential for the sulfation of KS. Unlike the western world, MCD is the most common corneal stromal dystrophy in India, especially in south Indian population; it could be due to high frequency of consanguineous marriages.Case presentationThis study presents the clinical findings of one North Indian MCD family, including 6 patients and 3 unaffected relatives. We used slit lamp examination and in vivo confocal microscopy for assessment. Mutation screening was performed with Sanger sequencing, and corneal structure was analyzed through histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Our comparative findings revealed that all the patients identified with the deletion of major portion of CHST6 that included the Open Reading Frame (ORF). Although all the patients showed significantly reduced central corneal thickness (CCT-250 μm), a drastic decrease in stromal keratocyte count, and depletion of Bowman’s layer compared to controls.ConclusionsThis study first time revealed that MCD patients from one family with a deletion of major portion of CHST6 that included ORF leads to severe corneal morphological changes.

Mechano-chemical, high-consistency activation of kraft pulp in deep eutectic solvent of choline chloride and urea

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) offer an appealing green medium for the activation of cellulose fibres to promote their swelling, reactivity, hydrolysis, disintegration, and solubility for further processing. Typically, DES treatments are carried out below 5 wt% consistency even though a higher solids content could enhance the fibre activation and reduce the solvent consumption. In this work, a high-consistency (HC) mechano-chemical activation of bleached softwood kraft pulp was elucidated using a simultaneous fibre treatment with DES of choline chloride-urea and a sigma-type kneader or a twin-screw extruder at a solids content of 15–35 wt% and 30 wt%, respectively. Both HC treatments efficiently triggered fibre swelling, which was indicated by an increase in the fibre width, and loosened the cell wall structure which was indicated by an increase in the mesopore volume. Mechano-chemical HC processing generated fibre fines and external fibrillation, while the molecular-level structural alteration or changes in chemical composition were minor; the intrinsic viscosity and the crystallinity of the pulp remained at their initial level and only a small amount of xylan was dissolved. Overall, HC treatment in a twin-screw extruder caused notably more severe morphological changes in the fibres than batch treatment in a sigma-type kneader. Thus, the mechano-chemical HC treatment with DES provides an industrially relevant technology for cellulose modification and opens possibilities to enhance heterogeneous cellulose modification processes in which the highly available surface area of pulp is a key parameter.

Biochemical and histological changes in two nonalcoholic fatty liver disease models of different severity

Background. One of the priority areas of modern medicine, which unites the interests of various specialists (therapists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists), is the study of the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is widespread and of unconditional social significance. The search for adequate experimental models of NAFLD that reflect the severity of liver damage is of paramount importance for studying its etiology and pathogenesis.The aim of the study. To compare biochemical and histological changes in experimental models of NAFLD of varying severity.Materials and methods. Two NAFLD model versions were used: a light one – nonalcoholic steatosis (NAS) and a severe variant – non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The following biochemical parameters were measured: enzyme activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (AP), plasma glucose concentration, total protein (TP), total bilirubin (TBil) and its conjugate fraction (CB), plasma concentrations of homocysteine (HC), total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerides (TG), catalase (Cat), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA).Results. When used in a model of steatohepatitis, liver function was impaired to a significantly greater extent than in the model of steatosis; this difference was manifested in a statistically significant increase in ALT, AST, AP, TC, Tbil, MDA (p < 0.001) and a decrease in Cat, SOD (p < 0.05). This is confirmed by the development of more pronounced symptoms of disorders of pigment and lipid metabolism, cytolytic and cholestatic syndromes, significant activation of lipid peroxidation and depression of the antioxidant system when modeling non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Various degrees of severity of morphological changes in the experimental groups were revealed.Conclusion. The study showed the priority of determining biochemical markers, including the levels of ALT, AST, OBIL, TG, MDA and SOD to optimize laboratory methods for diagnosing the severity of liver dystrophy.The practical originality of the results lies in the optimization of the methodology for laboratory diagnosis of the severity of the pathological process in NAFLD.

Food emulsifiers aggravate inflammation and oxidative stress induced by food contaminants in zebrafish

Food emulsifiers like glycerol monostearate (G) and Tween 80 (TW) are commonly used to help formation and maintain stability of emulsions. However, certain food contaminants and emulsifiers often co-occur in the same food item due to food culture and cooking methods. For this reason, the present study investigated interaction of toxic effect of emulsifiers (G and TW) and process contaminants (acrylamide (AA) and benzo [a]pyrene (BAP)) on zebrafish. Adult zebrafish were exposed to emulsifiers, food contaminants, or the combination through diet for 2 h and 7 days. Oxidative stress and inflammation caused by food contaminants were increased when food emulsifiers were present. These combined treatments also induced more severe morphological changes than the contaminant alone treatments. In the gut, disruption of villi structure and increased number of goblet cells was observed and in the liver there were increased lipid deposition, infiltration of immune cells, glycogen depletion and focal necrosis. Increased accumulation of AA and BAP in the liver and gut were detected after addition of emulsifiers, suggesting that emulsifiers can enhance absorption of diet-borne contaminants. Our results showed food emulsifiers and contaminants can interact synergistically and increase risk.

Marrying Fe nanoclusters with 3D carbon nanofiber aerogels: Triggering fast and robust faradic capacitive deionization

Faradic-capacitive deionization (FDI) has emerged promising research branch of capacitive deionization (CDI) to address the crisis in freshwater supply due to its high desalination capacity and unique ion storage mechanism over traditional CDI. However, the ion-storage mechanism of FDI imposes notable limitations on its desalination kinetics, while issues such as volumetric expansion (as well as the damage caused to the composite material’s structure) contribute to poor cycling stability. Herein, we developed a rational material design of Fe nanocluster-impregnated CNFAs (Fe NCs@CNFAs) and further used it as chloride-capturing electrode for FDI. This unique nanostructure not only provides fast surface-driven pseudo capacitance but also establishes a flexible scaffold that effectively protects the Fe NCs from severe morphology changes. As a result, our Fe NCs@CNFAs-based FDI exhibited both ultrahigh desalination capacity (120.38 mg g−1) and fast desalination rate (0.42 mg g−1 s−1), with robust cycling stability (showing only a 15.25 % decrease in desalination capacity after 100 cycles). This study underscores the significance of the problem-driven approach by leveraging soft scaffold-protected ultrasmall nanocluster to induce fast and durable desalination performance.

High percentage of midpiece defects in Brangus bull sperm with no reduction in sperm kinematics.

The study investigated midpiece defects in sperm from a 5-year-old Brangus bull with a high rate of semen batch rejection, due to morphologically abnormal sperm, with no reduction in sperm kinematics. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted over a 16-month period, involving 28 ejaculates. Notably, despite the high proportion of midpiece defects (average 37.73%, from 3% to 58%), the study revealed stable sperm production, with no discernible differences in the kinematic data before and after cryopreservation. Electron microscopy identified discontinuities in the mitochondrial sheath, characteristic of midpiece aplasia (MPA). The anomalies were attributed to be of genetic origin, as other predisposing factors were absent. Additionally, the electron microscopy unveiled plasma membrane defects, vacuoles and chromatin decondensation, consistent with previous findings linking acrosome abnormalities with midpiece defects. The findings underscored the necessity of conducting thorough laboratory evaluations before releasing cryopreserved semen for commercialization. Despite substantial morphological alterations, the initial semen evaluation data indicated acceptable levels of sperm kinematics, emphasizing the resilience of sperm production to severe morphological changes. This case report serves as a contribution to the understanding of midpiece defects in bull sperm, emphasizing the need for meticulous evaluation and quality control in semen processing and commercialization.

N-Acetylcysteine protects against diazinon-induced histopathological damage and apoptosis in renal tissue of rats.

Diazinon (DZN) is a member of organophosphorus insecticides that has cytotoxic effects on different organs. n-Acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a widely used antioxidant in clinical, in vivo and in vitro studies. We evaluated the protective role of NAC against DZN-induced toxicity in kidney tissue of Wistar rats. 30 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of control, single dose of DZN, continuous dose of DZN, single doses of DZN + NAC and continuous doses of DZN + NAC. Kidney function test (blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid) was provided. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total sulfhydryl (T-SH) were determined in renal tissues. Renal cells apoptosis was detected using TUNEL assay. The mRNA expressions of apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators, including B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), Interleukin 10 (IL-10), Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 were analyzed in kidney tissues using Real Time PCR method. Chronic exposure to DZN was associated with severe morphological changes in the kidney, as well as impairment of its function and decreased kidney weights. Continues treatment with DZN significantly decreased the percentage of renal apoptotic cells as compared to rats treated with continuous dose of DZN alone (17.69 ± 3.67% vs. 39.46% ± 2.44%; p < 0.001). Continuous exposure to DZN significantly decreased TAC and T-SH contents, as well as SOD and CAT expression, but increased MDA contents in the kidney tissues (p < 0.001). A significant increase was observed in mRNA expression of Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, as well as TNF-α following exposure to DZN, but the expression of IL-10 and Bcl2 was significantly decreased. NAC can protect kidney tissue against DZN-induced toxicity by elevating antioxidants capacity, mitigating oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

Molecular and Phenotypic Investigation on Antibacterial Activities of Limonene Isomers and Its Oxidation Derivative against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae.

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) causes a devastating bacterial leaf blight in rice. Here, the antimicrobial effects of D-limonene, L-limonene, and its oxidative derivative carveol against Xoo were investigated. We revealed that carveol treatment at ≥ 0.1 mM in liquid culture resulted in significant decrease in Xoo growth rate (> 40%) in a concentration-dependent manner, and over 1 mM, no growth was observed. The treatment with D-limonene and L-limonene also inhibited the Xoo growth but to a lesser extent compared to carveol. These results were further elaborated with the assays of motility, biofilm formation and xanthomonadin production. The carveol treatment over 1 mM caused no motilities, basal level of biofilm formation (< 10%), and significantly reduced xanthomonadin production. The biofilm formation after the treatment with two limonene isomers was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, but the degree of the effect was not comparable to carveol. In addition, there was negligible effect on the xanthomonadin production mediated by the treatment of two limonene isomers. Field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) unveiled that all three compounds used in this study cause severe ultrastructural morphological changes in Xoo cells, showing shrinking, shriveling, and holes on their surface. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR revealed that carveol and D-limonene treatment significantly down-regulated the expression levels of genes involved in virulence and biofilm formation of Xoo, but not with L-limonene. Together, we suggest that limonenes and carveol will be the candidates of interest in the development of biological pesticides.

Open-source software for respiratory rate estimation using single-lead electrocardiograms

Respiratory rate (RR) is a critical vital sign used to assess pulmonary function. Currently, RR estimating instrumentation is specialized and bulky, therefore unsuitable for remote health monitoring. Previously, RR was estimated using proprietary software that extract surface electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform features obtained at several thoracic locations. However, developing a non-proprietary method that uses minimal ECG leads, generally available from mobile cardiac monitors is highly desirable. Here, we introduce an open-source and well-documented Python-based algorithm that estimates RR requiring only single-stream ECG signals. The algorithm was first developed using ECGs from awake, spontaneously breathing adult human subjects. The algorithm-estimated RRs exhibited close linear correlation to the subjects’ true RR values demonstrating an R2 of 0.9092 and root mean square error of 2.2 bpm. The algorithm robustness was then tested using ECGs generated by the ischemic hearts of anesthetized, mechanically ventilated sheep. Although the ECG waveforms during ischemia exhibited severe morphologic changes, the algorithm-determined RRs exhibited high fidelity with a resolution of 1 bpm, an absolute error of 0.07 ± 0.07 bpm, and a relative error of 0.67 ± 0.64%. This optimized Python-based RR estimation technique will likely be widely adapted for remote lung function assessment in patients with cardiopulmonary disease.

Hepatoprotective effect of D-Limonene Against Adriamycin Induced Hepatotoxicity in Experimental Rats

The presence study is to evaluate hepatoprotective function of d-limonene against adraimycin induced hepatotoxicity. Monoterpenes plays an essential role to fight against various diseases. Among the various monoterpenes an efficient d-Limonene plays a fundamental role to fight against hepatotoxicity caused by cancer chemotheraphy treatment. Male albino Wistar rats were administrated with ADR (15mg/Kg body weight) in six equal injections and the protection efficacy of d-limonene (100mg/Kg body weight) was examined with reference to tissue AST level and the pathological studies was examined by microscopic study. Rats treated with ADR results in elevated level of liver AST marker enzymes, whereas the level of AST was controlled when administrated with d-Limonene. However Histopathological proof added more protective role of rats treated with d-limonene against hepatotoxicity. ADR administration of 15mg/Kg body weight of rats increase the level of hepatotoxicity by increasing the marker enzyme activity and show severe morphological changes. The final outcome from our result suggests that d-limonene (100mg/Kg body weight) a vibrant monoterpene act as latent hepatoprotective negotiator by attenuating ADR induced hepatotoxicity.

Exploring Thiazolopyridine AV25R: Unraveling of Biological Activities, Selective Anti-Cancer Properties and In Silico Target and Binding Prediction in Hematological Neoplasms.

Thiazolopyridines are a highly relevant class of small molecules, which have previously shown a wide range of biological activities. Besides their anti-tubercular, anti-microbial and anti-viral activities, they also show anti-cancerogenic properties, and play a role as inhibitors of cancer-related proteins. Herein, the biological effects of the thiazolopyridine AV25R, a novel small molecule with unknown biological effects, were characterized. Screening of a set of lymphoma (SUP-T1, SU-DHL-4) and B- acute leukemia cell lines (RS4;11, SEM) revealed highly selective effects of AV25R. The selective anti-proliferative and metabolism-modulating effects were observed in vitro for the B-ALL cell line RS4;11. Further, we were able to detect severe morphological changes and the induction of apoptosis. Gene expression analysis identified a large number of differentially expressed genes after AV25R exposure and significant differentially regulated cancer-related signaling pathways, such as VEGFA-VEGFR2 signaling and the EGF/EGFR pathway. Structure-based pharmacophore screening approaches using in silico modeling identified potential biological AV25R targets. Our results indicate that AV25R binds with several proteins known to regulate cell proliferation and tumor progression, such as FECH, MAP11, EGFR, TGFBR1 and MDM2. The molecular docking analyses indicates that AV25R has a higher binding affinity compared to many of the experimentally validated small molecule inhibitors of these targets. Thus, here we present in vitro and in silico analyses which characterize, for the first time, the molecular acting mechanism of AV25R, including cellular and molecular biologic effects. Additionally, this predicted the target binding of the molecule, revealing a high affinity to cancer-related proteins and, thus, classified AVR25 for targeted intervention approaches.

Acute Exposure to Two Biocides Causes Morphological and Molecular Changes in the Gill Ciliary Epithelium of the Invasive Golden Mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857).

Limnoperna fortunei, the golden mussel, is a bivalve mollusk considered an invader in South America. This species is responsible for ecological and economic damages due to its voluminous fouling capability. Chemical biocides such as MXD-100™ and sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) are often used to control L. fortunei infestations in hydraulic systems. Thus, we proposed to investigate the effects of different periods (24, 48 and 72 h) of exposure to MXD-100™ (0.56 mg L-1) and NaDCC (1.5 mg L-1) on the gills of L. fortunei through morphological and molecular analyses. NaDCC promoted progressive morphological changes during the analyzed periods and only an upregulation of SOD and HSP70 expression during the first 24 h of exposure. MXD-100™ led to severe morphological changes from the first period of exposure, in addition to an upregulation of SOD, CAT, HSP70 and CYP expression during the first 24 h. In contrast, MXD-100™ led to a downregulation of CAT transcription between 24 and 48 h. In static conditions, NaDCC causes lethal damage after 72 h of exposure, and that exposure needs to be continuous to achieve the control of the species. Meanwhile, the MXD-100™ treatment presented several effects during the first 24 h, showing acute toxicity in a shorter period of time.

Unravelling the Structure Change and Its Catalytic Consequence of CuO Nanowires Towards CO2 Reduction Reaction

The CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a complex process with many possible products, and maintaining high selectivity for multi-carbon products remains a challenge. Currently, Cu-based catalysts are the only transition metal catalysts that can produce C2 products, and one of the popular Cu-based catalysts is CuO nanowires (NWs). We studied a series of CuO nanowires ranging from 50 to 200 nm for CO2RR using multiple characterization techniques including transmission electron microscopy(TEM), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and in situ X-ray adsorption spectroscopy. We found that there could be an activation process required for such CuO NWs to serve as efficient CO2RR catalysts. The CuO can go through multiple steps resulting in the severe morphology changes during the activation process, confirmed by TEM and SAXS. In situ XAS results showed that the CuO NWs will be reduced from Cu(II) to Cu(0) during the reaction, consistent with our previous work(1). H-cell testing results also indicated the C2 production can be boosted after specific activation pathway, which highlights the importance of catalyst pre-treatment. These findings not only deepen our understanding of CO2RR mechanism but also provide fundamental insights for CO2RR catalysts synthesis. References (1) Soo Hong Lee, Ian Sullivan, David M. Larson, Guiji Liu, Francesca M. Toma, Chengxiang Xiang, and Walter S. Drisdell. ACS Catalysis, 2020, 10(14), 8000-8011 Acknowledgement The authors acknowledge the funding support from the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy Contract (No. DE-AC02-05CH11231).

Assessment of the Chronic Process in the Liver under Study Conditions Using Conventional and in-Depth Laboratory Studies

The presented article describes the work carried out on white rats in an experiment on the occurrence of severe liver pathologies, as in humans. When assessing the pathological process in the liver, in-depth laboratory studies were mainly carried out in combination with traditional examination methods. Thus, in the conducted studies, a substance with hepatotoxic properties of heliotrin, when administered according to a subtoxic dose scheme, caused severe functional and morphological changes in the liver. It was found that the change in normal and deep laboratory blood parameters characterizing inflammatory processes in the liver corresponds to morphological data.

Insecticidal activity of brown seaweed (Sargassum latifolium) extract as potential chitin synthase inhibitors: Toxicokinetic and molecular docking approaches

In this study, Sargassum latifolium (S. latifolium) n-hexane extract as a novel source for insecticidal bioactive compounds was investigated. The composition of the extract was identified by using GC-MS analysis. We performed the study on four types of insects and larvae sp (Sarcophaga bullata, Tribolium castaneum, Musca domestica, and Solenopsis invicta) which cause a deleterious impact on the crops and human health. We used scanning electron microscopy to show the destructive effects of S. latifolium extract on the exoskeleton. The treatment exhibited severe morphological changes and a high mortality rate. Also, different bioinformatic approaches were utilized to investigate the possible insecticidal mechanism of the extract. Molecular docking showed the potential of the compounds to be chitin synthase inhibitors. Besides, the toxicokinetic parameters of the most promising compounds were evaluated to assess the impact of using the extract as an insecticidal agent on human health. S. latifolium extract exhibited promising insecticidal activity and acceptable toxicokinetic properties as compared to other known pesticide groups.

Pathomorphological changes of the placenta in antenatal asphyxia of the fetus associated with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in pregnant women

The objective: to determine the pathomorphological changes in the placenta by antenatal asphyxia of the fetus associated with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in pregnant women.Materials and methods. 21 placentas by fetal antenatal asphyxia which occurred at different terms of pregnancy in women with COVID-19 were examined. COVID-19 was diagnosed by a positive PCR test – detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The study groups were defined depending on the duration of the post-covid interval (time from the diagnosis of COVID-19 to delivery). I group (n=12) included placentas of women with antenatal fetal asphyxia, in whom the postpartum interval was 1–4 weeks; II group (n=9) – placentas of women with fetal death, in whom the postpartum interval was 5–14 weeks.In the I group, antenatal asphyxia of the fetus occurred in the term from the 13th to 36th weeks of gestation, in the II group – in period from the 29th to the 41st week. Macroscopic, organometric, microscopic methods of placenta research and a statistical method were applied. Fetal-placental index (FPI) was calculatedResults. In the studied cases, antenatal fetal death occurred in different terms of pregnancy, namely, from the 14th to the 41st week of gestation (median is 32 weeks). Pregnant women had COVID-19 from the 13th to the 35th week of gestation (median is 25 weeks); when the mother was diagnosed with COVID-19 after the 35th week, there was no case of antenatal fetal death. The severity of the course of the coronavirus disease was mild in 7 pregnant women, moderate – 12 persons, and a severe course with pneumonia was diagnosed in 2 women. The severity of morphological changes in the placenta did not depend on the severity of the course of COVID-19 in the pregnant woman (chorioamnionitis, p=1.0; intervillositis, p=0.63; obliteration of arterioles, p=0.32).In the I group, a slight increase in FPI was found up to 0.19 [0.12; 0.34], in the II group – a similar indicator was 0.16 [0.13; 0.24]. However, the absolute values of the weight of the fetus and placenta in both groups were lower than those for the given gestational age.The I group of placentas there were the pronounced inflammatory changes – placentitis: chorioamnionitis – 100% (95%CI: 85.4–100) and basal deciduitis – 91.7% (95%CI: 67.1–100). In the II group the inflammatory changes of the chorioamniotic membranes and basal plate were focal and were found in 6 placentas – 66.7% (95% CI: 29.2–94.8). Intervillositis was detected in 11 placentas – 91.7% (95%CI: 67.1–100) in the I group versus 2 placentas – 22.2% (95%CI: 1.1–58.9; p=0.006) in the II group.Villositis in the I group was determined in 8 cases – 66.7% (95%CI: 35.4–91.4) and in only one placenta in the II group – 11.1% (95%CI: 0.0–43.91; p=0.034). In the placentas of both groups the fibrinoid necrosis of the arteriole wall, proliferative changes in the vessel wall and necrosis of the endothelium were detected – 100% (95%CI: 85.4–100), dyscirculatory disorders (stasis, thrombosis, hemorrhages) were found in 75% (95% CI: 44.4–95.8) of cases in the I group and in 66.7% (95% CI: 29.2–94.8) – in the II group. An increased number of syncytial nodules was observed as a manifestation of compensatory mechanisms: in the I group – 83.3% (95%CI: 54.7–98.9), in the II group – 88.9% (95%CI: 56.1–100).All studied cases in the II group were accompanied by obliteration of the lumen of the arterioles of trunk and semi-trunk villi – 100% (95%CI: 80.9–100; p=0.0006), versus the I group – 16.7% (95%CI: 1.1–45.3). At the same time, in 6 cases in the II group the morphological manifestations of restoration of the lumen (revascularization) were detected – the formation of intravascular septa – 66.7% (95% CI: 29.2–94.8), which were not found in the I group (р=0.0093). In 100% (95%CI: 80.9–100) of placentas of the II group and in 66.7% (95%CI: 35.4–91.4) of the I group the stroma fibrosis of stem and semi-stem villi, obliteration intervillous space, and hypoplasia of terminal villi were determined.Conclusions. Statistically significant differences of placentas in antenatal asphyxia of the fetus depended on the length of the postcovid interval: in the postcovid interval of 1–4 weeks (I group) the inflammatory changes prevailed – placentitis: chorioamnionitis – 100% (95%CI: 85.4–100), intervillositis – 91.7% (95% CI: 67.1–100), p=0.006; villositis – 66.7% (95%CI: 35.4–91.4), p=0.034. When the duration of the postcovid interval increased to 5–14 weeks (II group), arteriosclerosis prevailed – 100% (95% CI: 80.9–100); p=0.0006.The cause of antenatal fetal death in the women with COVID-19 in the I group is acute placental insufficiency associated with the exudative phase of inflammation (chorioamnionitis, villositis, intervillositis). In the II group, the cause of antenatal fetal asphyxia is the formation of chronic placental dysfunction caused by the proliferation phase, which was manifested by proliferative changes in the muscular layer of arterioles and their subsequent fibrosis with obliteration of the lumen of arterioles (arteriosclerosis).

Initial growth of tungsten fuzz induced by bubble-driven surface stress layer under helium irradiation

Low-energy, high-flux He exposure to tungsten (W) surface leads to the formation of surface nanostructures and severe morphological changes, which may eventually erode the W divertor and threaten the operation of the reactor. In this study, the response of polycrystalline W under low-energy He+ irradiation at different temperatures has been investigated in order to analyze the early stage of nanostructure formation. It is found that the interactions of high-density over-pressured He bubbles result in the formation of surface stress layers. The significant effect of temperature on the surface stress leads to differences in the incubation dose of W fuzz growth. The interaction between the planar network and the underlying W matrix is weak under surface stress, and the W fuzz grows on the surface once the stress reaches a threshold. Thereafter, tensile stress-driven cracking causes the 3D growth of W nanofibers.

Study of organ-protective effect of blueberry leaves decoction (Vaccinium myrtillus) in experimental application of dexamethasone

IntroductionThe World Health Organization (WHO) recommended dexamethasone as the only effective drug for treatment severe cases of COVID-19.AimTo study the organoprotective effect of blueberry leaves decoction during the experimental use of dexamethasone.Material and methodsExperimental studies were performed on 30 white outbred laboratory rats of white males (initial weight 200 g), which were kept on the standard diet of the vivarium of National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya, Ukraine, which were divided into three groups: (1) intact rats, (2) animals treated intramuscularly with 6 mg of dexamethasone for 10 days, (3) rats which were intramuscular injected with dexamethasone in the recommended dose and simultaneously intragastrically using 2 mL of the decoction, which was prepared as follows: steamed 1 g of dry blueberry leaves (Vaccinium myrtillus) with 5 mL of boiling water, infused for 1 h.Results and discussionIntramuscular administration of dexamethasone at a dose of 6 mg for 10 days (according to WHO recommendations for patients with COVID-19) causes severe degenerative changes in the type of dystrophy and atrophy of rat's liver, heart, kidneys, periodontium and retinas. Prophylactic intragastric administration of a decoction of blueberry leaves prevents the development of dystrophic changes in cells and tissues in studing organs caused by the action of dexamethasone.ConclusionsTherapeutic use of dexamethasone leads to severe morphological changes in the most important organ systems and preventive introduction of a decoction of blueberry leaves protects the development of adverse effects.

Morphology Changes of Cu2O Catalysts During Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia**

AbstractThis manuscript reports the electrosynthesis of ammonia from nitrate catalysed Cu derived from Cu2O materials. Cu2O (111) and (100) preferential grain orientations were prepared through electrodeposition. Cu derived from Cu2O (111) is more active and selective for ammonia formation than Cu2O (100) derived Cu. The highest faradaic efficiency (FE) was achieved for both catalysts at −0.3 V vs RHE, with Cu derived from Cu2O (111) reaching up to 80 %. Additional measurements with quasi‐in situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and in situ Raman spectroscopy revealed that Cu0 is the active phase during the reaction. The stability of the catalysts was examined by ex situ methods such as SEM, XRD and ICP elemental analysis. The catalysts underwent severe morphological changes as a function of the applied potential and the reaction time, most likely due to the dissolution and redeposition of Cu. After 3 hours of reaction, the entire surface of the catalysts was reconstructed into nanoneedles. The FE after 3 hours remained higher for the Cu derived from Cu2O (111), suggesting that the activity is dependent on the initial structure and the different rates of dissolution and re‐deposition.