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S-Adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-mediated methylation of biomolecules controls their function and regulates numerous vital intracellular processes. Analogs of SAM with a reporter group in place of the S-methyl group are widely used to study these processes. However, many of these analogs are chemically unstable that largely limits their practical application. We have developed a new compound, SAM-PH, which contains an H-phosphinic group (-P(O)(H)OH) instead of the SAM carboxylic group. SAM-PH is significantly more stable than SAM, retains functional activity in catechol-O-methyltransferase and methyltransferase WBSCR27 reactions. The last is associated with Williams–Beuren syndrome. Rac-SAM-PH was synthesized chemically, while (R,S)-SAM-PH and its analogs were prepared enzymatically either from H-phosphinic analogs of methionine (Met-PH) or H-phosphinic analog of S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (SAH-PH) using methionine adenosyltransferase 2A or halide methyltransferases, respectively. SAH-PH undergoes glycoside bond cleavage in the presence of methylthioadenosine nucleosidase like natural SAH. Thus, SAM-PH and its analogs are promising new tools for investigating methyltransferases and incorporating reporter groups into their substrates.

The article summarizes the results of the 7th All-Russian Lower Volga Archaeological Conference. The conference was held in Astrakhan in in October 2023 on the base of Astrakhan State University.

Background and Objectives: This study analyzes the issues of position dislocation of the head of the superior poles and lateral points of the outer edge of the middle divisions of each of the thyroid lobes (TL) changes. The purpose was to provide an intravital position study of the clinical anatomy of the middle and superior poles of the thyroid gland (TG). Materials and Methods: We used data on anthropometry obtained during the study and data from MRI of the neck organs and anatomical formations of 100 healthy individuals, comprising 55 (55%) female and 45 (45%) male participants. To evaluate the data obtained in the examined group, the minimum probability value was 0.95 (95% confidence interval or p < 0.05). Results: Maximum flexion of the neck the distance from the center of the jugular notch to the lateral points of the outer edge of the middle parts of the TL decreases in all groups of but mostly in male ectomorphs; the same distance to the superior poles of the TG changes most in ectomorphic males on the right by 38.9% (p value < 0.001) and mesomorphic females on the left by 37.8% (p value < 0.001); in rotation to the left, the maximum was found in male ectomorphs, which decreased by 9.5% on the left (p value < 0.001) and by 7.3% on the right (p value < 0.001). Conclusions: this study provided new information about the intravital anatomy of the TG position, of the superior poles, and the lateral points of the middle part of its lobes.

Despite the clinical acceptance of ToF-PET, there is still a gap between the technology's performance and the end-user's needs. Core to bridging this gap is the ability to develop radiation detectors combining a short attenuation length and a sub-nanosecond time response. Currently, the detector of choice, Lu2SiO5:Ce3+ single crystal, is not selected for its ability to answer the performance needs, but as a trade-off between requirements and availability. To bypass the current performance limitations, in particular restricted time response, the concept of the heterostructured detector has been proposed. The concept aims at splitting the scintillation mechanisms across two materials, one acting primarily as an absorber and one as an ultra-fast emitter. If the concept has attracted the interest of the medical and material communities, little has been shown in terms of the benefits/limitations of the approach. Based on Monte Carlo simulations, we present a survey of heterostructure performance versus detector design. The data allow for a clear understanding of the design/performance relationship. This, in turn, enables the establishment of design rules toward the development and optimization of heterostructured detectors that could supersede the current detector technology in the medical imaging field but also across multiple sectors (e.g. high-energy physics, security).

A proper and representative monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 herd immunity including a long-term health impact on recovered patients and vaccinated individuals is of great importance. For this, a monitoring campaign should assesses both humoral and T-cell immune arms. Upon that, analyzing antigen specific-cell activation and cellular phenotype are informative. We developed a flow cytometry method for detection of intracellular IFN-producing antigen-reactive T cells after exposure of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to SARS-CoV-2 virus antigens. The method was validated according to the following characteristics: sensitivity, specificity, precision, and robustness. We used positive samples from donors recovered from COVID-19 and negative samples from donors who had no contact with COVID-19 patients and lacking antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. All samples were tested by laboratory methods. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from donor blood by centrifugation in a Ficoll density gradient. Specific T cells were stimulated with S-protein as well as N, M, ORF3a, and ORF7a protein peptides to count IFN-producing T cells by flow cytometer. The data were statistically analyzed. The area limited by ROC-curve and false positive rate (AUC) for CD4 and CD8 cells was from 0.97 to 1.00. Precision was considered acceptable because the coefficient of variation for all PBCM did not exceed 20%. Robustness was confirmed for frozen and freshly prepared PBMC samples. The thresholds levels to recognize immune and non-immune samples were defined for CD4-positive T-cells (0.029%) and CD8-positive T-cells (0.0640.068%). Also, acceptance criteria for positive and negative controls were defined. Based on the validation, the suitability of the method Evaluation of antigen-reactive T cells that produce intracellular IFN in response to SARS-CoV-2 virus antigens by flow cytometry was confirmed. The method allows for reliable data that was used to characterize standard control samples for internal quality control of TigraTest SARS-CoV-2 kits.

Zinc oxide films with different levels of yttrium doping are deposited on glass substrates, using radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. Photocatalytic properties were investigated for such Y-doping weight concentration: 0, 2.4, 3.9, 4.7 wt. %. The studies showed that the Y-doping significantly improves the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO thin films. It was shown that the ZnO:Y 3.9 wt. % presents the highest degradation efficiency of 100 % during 80 minutes and the largest rate constant 9.6 · 10-2 min-1 among all samples.

The roots and rhizomes of Rubia tinctorum L. have been widely used both for industrial and medicinal purposes for centuries. The primary biologically active substances from Rubia tinctorum L. roots and rhizomes are anthraquinone derivatives such as ruberythric acid and lucidin-3-primeveroside. Their identification and quantification are carried out by various analytical methods, requiring a complicated sample preparation as well as special reagents and reference samples. However, NMR spectroscopy has no limitations of this kind. In this work, we have developed and validated a new express and standard-free method for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of ruberythric acid and lucidin-3-primeveroside by 1H NMR spectroscopy in the extracts from the roots and rhizomes of Rubia tinctorum L. In this work, we have optimized the conditions of the sample preparation and registration of 1H NMR spectra, determined the optimal solvent and reference compound and confirmed the obtained results by HPLC-UV-MS.

Inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) is one of the most common procedures in operative dentistry, and a deep understanding of the normal anatomical variation of the pterygomandibular space (PM) is essential for its safe and successful administration. This cadaveric anatomical study aimed to use A-silicone injections to evaluate the volume of the PM. This study was conducted using 46 human cadaver heads (25 males and 21 females). A craniometric analysis was performed using the cadavers’ ages, the number of silicone cartridges (carpules) used to fill the pterygomandibular space, Izard’s Facial Index (FI), and the Cranial Index (CI). A Halstead mandibular block was performed by injecting 1.7 mL A-silicone cartridges (as an equivalent to standard local aesthetic carpules volume) into the PM. The cured silicone was extracted from the dissected mandibles. The volume (length, width, and thickness) of the extracted silicone and the number of silicone cartridges used to fill the space were evaluated. The results showed that there are statistically significant positive correlations between the CI and the width of the right PM, as well as the width and length of the left PM. A statistically significant correlation was found between the width of the left PM and the age of the cadaveric heads; the higher the age, the thicker the space on both sides. The volume of the PM corresponded to 1.5 cartridges on average.

The review presents modern information of domestic and foreign authors about possible pathogenetic mechanisms of the virus effect on the fetus in the case of cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women. Immunosuppressive changes, which are a feature of the physiological course of pregnancy, create favorable conditions for the development of active cytomegalovirus infection. The virus’s ability to infect a wide range of cells in vivo and trigger a set of molecular mechanisms causes changes in placental cell differentiation, which plays a key role in transplant transmission. The processes of formation of chronic placental insufficiency, which leads to hypoxia of the fetus and to delay of intrauterine development, are separately highlighted. The literary data on non-specific metabolic changes of the mother and placental activation of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL2, IL-6 and IL-8), which occur in cytomegalovirus infection and are of significant importance in formation of hypoxia of the fetus have been analyzed.In addition, the role of individual cells in preventing intrauterine infection is examined, namely the deciduous macrophages with antiviral activity, the deciduous natural killers and their activated toll-like receptors. The article also discusses the genetic predisposition to the development of manifest forms of EID, including the relationship of polymorphism of TLR2 and Arg753Gln genes with an increased risk of intrauterine infection of the fetus CMV.Characteristic properties of the virus are pronounced genetic diversity, the ability to life-long persistence in various human organs and tissues (secretory glands, lymphatic cells, kidneys, etc.) and replication without cell damage, as well as suppressing cellular immunity. The article describes the issues of genotyping of virus and the relationship of some genotypes with certain organ pathology in newborns.

Based on the method developed by the authors for quantifying the severity of patients with acute pancreatitis, a method for calculating the duration of therapeutic fasting in a particular patient has been created. We studied the medical histories of 500 patients with acute pancreatitis who were in two medical hospitals from 2010 to 2021. They underwent complex therapy of acute pancreatitis. Based on the dependence found using multivariate regression analysis using the universal statistical software package StatSoft Statistica for OC Windows, the authors previously developed and published a method for calculating the severity of a patient's condition with acute pancreatitis in the enzymatic toxemia phase. This method in the process of practical application was significantly improved by the authors and called the IDAP scale (ACUTE PANCREATITIS HAZARD INDEX). The advantages of this method: the calculation of the severity of the patient's condition can be made at any time of interest, the indicators are included in the Medical and Economic standards of the Russian Federation for acute pancreatitis, it is enough to use the standard office program MS Excel, which is available to any practicing physician. When comparing the results of assessing the severity of patients on the IDAP and APACH II scales, no discrepancies of more than 15% were found in 640 measurements in 50 patients, which allowed us to use the IDAP system in our study on a par with the generally accepted APACH II. At the second stage of the study, as a result of the analysis of 86 clinical observations using the technique of multidimensional regression analysis, a relationship was found between the clinical severity of the patient upon admission to the hospital for treatment, the severity at a given time and the required duration of therapeutic fasting (in days). At the second stage of the study, as a result of the analysis of 86 clinical observations using the technique of multidimensional regression analysis, a relationship was found between the clinical severity of the patient upon admission to the hospital for treatment, the severity at a given time and the required duration of therapeutic fasting (in days). When using this method of calculating the duration of fasting, only 7 (8%) patients had an exacerbation of the process after the start of feeding them through the mouth. Thus, taking into account the coefficient of severity of the patient's condition with acute pancreatitis, it is possible to reliably determine the timing of therapeutic fasting in this disease.

Photochemical activity of thiophene oxime esters and of sulfonium salt tris[4-(4-acetylphenyl)sulfanylphenyl]sulfonium tetrakis(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)boranuide (photoacid generator 290 [PAG 290]) was investigated in a reaction forming a trityl cation. Quantum yields of photoacid phototransformation reactions and of photodetritylation of 5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)thymidine were determined. Then, [(Z)-[(3Z)-3-[cyano(o-tolyl)methylene]-2-thienylidene]amino] 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonate (H 365) and PAG 290 were used as detritylation photoactivators in a procedure of oligonucleotide synthesis on a microchip synthesizer prototype, and several oligonucleotides were synthesized. At the stage of oligonucleotide chain extension, the yield was 94–96%. The tested photoacids can be successfully applied to microchip synthesis of oligonucleotides.

The intensification of industrial production leads to an increase in the technogenic impact on the environment. Minerals containing iron are sensitive to many environmental processes and analysis of the composition of magnetic particles is relevant in the study of environmental pollution. This study focused on urban soils of near-trunk circles and epiphytic mosses on Populus nigra L. in the territory of Motovilikhinsky district of Perm, where a metallurgical plant is located. In this work, using electron probe microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy, we analyzed the magnetic susceptibility (MS), morphology, and chemical composition of magnetic particles isolated from urban soils and epiphytic mosses. The content of heavy metals in the studied soils exceeds the clarkes of chemical elements (CCE) in the upper continental crust: Cr - 286 times, Mn - 15 times, Fe - 11 times, Ti - 4 times, Mg - 4 times. The study of the chemical composition of epiphytes made it possible to assess the contribution of aerial sources to soil pollution. The concentrations of metals in the magnetic particles of epiphytes also exceed the Clarke values: Cr - 3257 times, Fe - 8 times, Ti - 7 times, Mg - 4 times. The similarity of the morphology and chemical composition of the magnetic particles of soils and epiphytes indicate common sources of pollution. A comprehensive assessment of the state of the territory may include magneto-geochemical monitoring of the soil cover and monitoring of the magnetic state of epiphytes on Populus nigra L.

Our study aimed to clarify the anatomical features of the zygomatic, upper masseteric, lower masseteric and mandibular ligaments and their possible contribution to age-related gravitational ptosis. The study was carried out by the method of layered dissection of fresh cadavers. In several observations, the zygomatic ligament is represented by the fibers originating from the zygomaticus major muscle fibers. It is a true ligament with the fibers inserted directly into the skin. The upper and lower masseteric ligaments originate from the parotideomasseteric fascia and weave into the thickness of the SMAS. The mandibular ligament consists of two connective tissue laminae originating from the parotideomasseteric fascia at the lower edge of the mandible and from the inner surface of this fascia, along the anterior edge of the masseter muscle, skirting the facial vein sheath and the facial artery, traveling toward the platysma and the depressor anguli oris muscle, and merging with their fibers. The zygomatic ligament should be considered an osteo-musculocutaneous ligament, emphasizing the role of the associated zygomaticus major muscle in the mechanism of aging. The upper and lower masseteric and mandibular ligaments are false fascio-SMAS ligaments rather than osteo-cutaneous ones, playing the barrier role and fixing the superficial fascia and the platysma muscle.

Background and Objectives: There are many surgical techniques for oroantral communication treatment, one of which is the buccal fat pad. Of particular interest is the high reparative potential of the buccal fat pad, which may be contributed to by the presence of mesenchymal stem cells. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the reparative potential of BFP cells using morphological and immunohistochemical examination. Materials and Methods: 30 BFP samples were provided by the Clinic of Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgery of the Russian University of Medicine (Moscow, Russia) from 28 patients. Morphological examination of 30 BFP samples was performed at the Institute of Clinical Morphology and Digital Pathology of Sechenov University. Hematoxylin–eosin, Masson trichrome staining and immunohistochemical examination were performed to detect MSCs using primary antibodies CD133, CD44 and CD10. Results: During staining with hematoxylin–eosin and Masson’s trichrome, we detected adipocytes of white adipose tissue united into lobules separated by connective tissue layers, a large number of vessels of different calibers, as well as the general capsule of BFP. The thin connective tissue layers contained neurovascular bundles. Statistical processing of the results of the IHC examination of the samples using the Mann–Whitney criterion revealed that the total number of samples in which the expression of CD44, CD10 and CD133 antigens was confirmed was statistically significantly higher than the number of samples where the expression was not detected (p < 0.05). Conclusions: During the morphological study of the BFP samples, we revealed statistically significant signs of MSCs presence (p < 0.05), including in the brown fat tissue, which proves the high reparative potential of this type of tissue and can make the BFP a choice option among other autogenous donor materials when eliminating OAC and other surgical interventions in the maxillofacial region.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) physical cryogels that contained the additives of o-, m-, and p-bis-phenols or phenol were prepared, and their physico-chemical characteristics and macroporous morphology and the solute release dynamics were evaluated. These phenolic additives caused changes in the viscosity of initial PVA solutions before their freeze–thaw processing and facilitated the growth in the rigidity of the resultant cryogels, while their heat endurance decreased. The magnitude of the effects depended on the interposition of phenolic hydroxyls in the molecules of the used additives and was stipulated by their H-bonding with PVA OH-groups. Subsequent rinsing of such “primary” cryogels with pure water led to the lowering of their rigidity. The average size of macropores inside these heterophase gels also depended on the additive type. It was found also that the release of phenolic substances from the additive-containing cryogels occurred via virtually a free diffusion mechanism; therefore, drug delivery systems such as PVA cryogels loaded with either pyrocatechol, resorcinol, hydroquinone, or phenol, upon the in vitro agar diffusion tests, exhibited antibacterial activity typical of these phenols. The promising biomedical potential of the studied nanocomposite gel materials is supposed.

Injuries to humans caused by wild animals, particularly bears, are rarely mentioned in the literature. Such injuries are frequent in Siberia, which is a territory surrounded by dense forests inhabited by brown bears. In the last 4 months alone (September–December 2023), four bear attacks on humans were registered in Khakassia, Russia. This article presents a clinical case of rehabilitating a patient after a bear attack, who suffered multiple fragmentary fractures of the facial skeleton with displaced bone fragments, subcutaneous emphysema of the soft tissues of the face, damage to the parietal and right occipital regions and paranasal sinus hemorrhage on the left side. The nature of the injuries was enhanced by trauma to the upper extremity caused by the patient defending himself against the animal. In addition to the damage to his face, the bear tried to open his cranium, as evidenced by four furrows caused by its canines, including two each on the frontal and occipital bones of the skull. The patient’s complex treatment included both maxillofacial and reconstructive surgeries, and outpatient treatment involved the formation of normotrophic scars using a neodymium laser and injections of a heterogeneous composition consisting of microparticles of “crosslinked” collagen of animal origin placed in a gel identical to the natural extracellular matrix.