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Real world clinical practice frequently poses the question on the advisability of diagnostic and/or treatment interventions for increased prolactin levels of below 2500 mU/mL (100 ng/mL), which is commonly considered as mild and not unequivocally indicating a prolactinoma. The aim of the review is to critically analyze the body of literature within the last 10 years on clinical and biochemical particulars of patients with mildly increased prolactin levels. We performed the search in Pubmed and RISC (Russian Index of Science Citation) databases with the keywords of “mild hyperprolactinemia” and “women” (or their Russian equivalents). After exclusion of the studies in patients with primary hypothyroidism or treatment with agents inducing prolactin secretion, as well as of clinical case descriptions, we selected 21 original papers with clinical and biochemical data of female patients with mild hyperprolactinemia (prolactin levels of less than 2500 mU/mL or less than 100 ng/mL). Symptoms of mild hyperprolactinemia include menstrual cycle disorders, anovulatory infertility and/or early pregnancy losses, breast disorders, psychoemotional and sexual disorders, and metabolic abnormalities. Repeated testing of prolactin levels to exclude potential stress related to the vein puncture allows for exclusion of 27% to 28% of the patients from further diagnostic work up. Confirmation of persistently increased prolactin levels warrants a magnetic resonance imaging study of the pituitary. Most patients with persistently increased prolactin levels by repeated tests would have pituitary abnormalities (in most cases, pituitary microadenoma). Taking into account the data on negative effects of even mildly increased prolactin levels on reproductive and metabolic health, it is reasonable to administer a first line agent cabergoline at doses ensuring normoprolactinemia. The results of studies indicate that treatment with cabergoline at doses necessary to normalize prolactin levels would lead to regression of menstrual dysfunction, decrease the probability of early pregnancy losses, improve metabolic parameters, promotes restoration of the sexual function, and diminishes the level of depression. This is especially important when planning pregnancy in patients with menstrual cycle disorders, infertility and/or early pregnancy losses.

Introduction. Coatings on hard materials are widely used in many industries. Coating technologies help prevent or reduce corrosion, contamination and biofouling, chemical and structural degradation, and wear and tear of external surfaces due to exposure to the elements and natural environments. The range of materials used for functional coatings is wide enough: from organic polymers to hybrid composites and inorganic nanoparticles, depending on the desired properties and functionality of the final product. Despite the excellent anti-corrosion characteristics of non-polymer coatings, their usage causes environmental damage. Organic coatings are among the most widely used. Such compositions are applied in liquid form; organic solvents are one of the major components. Environmental concerns have encouraged the development of alternative technologies. The main areas for development are availability of raw materials and the cost of environmentally friendly coatings. Results and discussion. The review substantiates the relevance of research on the development of multifunctional polymer-based coatings. The market for polymer coatings is presented. Methods of surface protection, types of coatings formed, their main components, features of the formation of coatings, the influence of various factors on the formation of polymer coatings, including methods of preparation and pre-treatment of the protected surface are presented. Methods for preventing corrosion are discussed in detail, as well as the primary lines in the development of anti-corrosion coatings based on various protective mechanisms. The characteristics of the main components of protective coatings are given. The issue of destruction of polymer coatings depending on the operating environment is considered in detail. The types of media, their influence and mechanisms of action on protected objects are considered. Factors and mechanisms of destruction of polymer coatings, methods for preventing degradation of coatings are listed. The latest technologies for the formation of protective polymer coatings are highlighted. Conclusion. Currently, coatings provide a wide range of quality indicators. An important characteristic of modern coatings is minimal negative impact on the environment, which requires an integrated approach to the design and production of coatings

Aim. To study changes in the electrical and viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes using the method of dielectrophoresis in patients with manifestations of the metabolic syndrome who underwent COVID-19, when exposed to the drug citicoline in an in vitro experiment to reduce the severity of microcirculatory disorders. Materials and methods. 31 men were examined with manifestations of metabolic syndrome (50.6±9.9 years), COVID-19 convalescences, within 8 to 12 months after the disease, the diagnosis was confirmed by PCR, ELISA. The electrical and viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes were studied by dielectrophoresis twice: the initial levels of indicators were determined and after 30 minutes of exposure with after 30 minutes of exposure to a solution of the drug Ronocyte (oral solution with the active substance citicoline sodium – 104.50 mg., which is equivalent to 100.00 mg citicoline at a concentration of 0.01 µl per 0.3 µl of red blood cell suspension in 0.3M sucrose solution (pH 7.36). Results. Exposure of erythrocyte suspension of patients with Ronocyte solution led to change in the levels of electrical, viscoelastic parameters: an increase in the average cell diameter (p=0.0003), the proportion of discocytes (p=0.0004), the amplitude of cell deformation at high frequencies of the electric field (p=0.000002), cell capacity (p=0.000007), the velocity of erythrocytes to the electrodes (p=0.003), dipole moment (p=0.002), polarizability at 106 and 0.5×106 Hz (p=0.000019 and p=0.0015, respectively), relative polarizability (p0.05) and, conversely, to reduce summarized rigidity (p=0.000003), viscosity (p=0.000002), electrical conductivity (p0.000001), aggregation indices (p=0.00003), destruction at frequencies of 106 Hz (p=0.003), 0.5x106 Hz (p=0.00002), 0.1×106 Hz (p0.00001), polarizability at low frequencies of the electric field (p=0.02). Under the influence of the drug, the equilibrium frequency of erythrocytes shifted to the low-frequency range compared to the initial values (p0.0000001). The revealed changes indicate an increase in the surface charge of erythrocytes, their ability to deform, and cell resistance under the action of citicoline. Conclusion. For the first time, the effect of the drug with the active substance citicoline, improving the rheological properties of erythrocytes, was discovered. Preparations with the active substance - citicoline should be considered promising for conducting a full-fledged clinical study to study the reduction of circulatory disorders at the microcirculatory level in patients with manifestations of metabolic syndrome who have undergone COVID-19 coronavirus infection.

Leucoxene-quartz concentrate is a large-tonnage by-product of development of the Timan oil-titanium field (oil-saturated sandstones) which is not commercially used at present. High content of titanium compounds (to 50 % by weight) and lack of industrial, cost-effective, and safe technologies for its processing determine a high relevance of the work. Conventional processing technologies allow increasing the concentration of TiO2, but they are only a preparation for complex and hazardous selective chlorination. The process of pyrometallurgical conversion of leucoxene-quartz concentrate into aluminium and magnesium titanates was investigated. It was ascertained that the temperature of solid-phase reaction in Al2O3-TiO2-SiO2 system necessary for the synthesis of aluminium titanate (Al2TiO5) is 1,558 °С, and for MgO-TiO2-SiO2 system – 1,372 °С. Scaling up the process made it possible to synthesize a significant number of samples of titanate-containing products, the phase composition of which was studied by X-ray phase analysis. Two main phases were identified in the products: 30 % aluminium/magnesium titanate and 40 % silicon dioxide. In products of pyrometallurgical processing in the presence of aluminium, phases of pseudobrookite (3.5 %) and titanite (0.5 %) were also found. It was ascertained that in magnesium-containing system the formation of three magnesium titanates is possible: MgTiO3 – 25, Mg2TiO4 – 35, MgTi2O5 – 40 %. Experiments on sulphuric acid leaching of samples demonstrated a higher degree of titanium compounds extraction during sulphuric acid processing. An integrated conceptual scheme for processing leucoxene-quartz concentrate to produce a wide range of potential products (coagulants, catalysts, materials for ceramic industry) was proposed.

Urinary incontinence is a complex medical and social problem. Surgical methods designed to treat stress urinary incontinence are expensive and have a number of complications, and existing alternative surgical methods have been ineffective and caused complications due to the very nature of the fillers used. Today, a gel based on hyaluronic acid, DELIGHT® G®, has appeared on the pharmaceutical market, which is injected into the paraurethral area for the purpose of co-opting the urethra. Aim. To develop indications for paraurethral administration of DELIGHT® G® hyaluronic acid-based gel for stress urinary incontinence and to evaluate its effectiveness and safety. Materials and methods. The study involved 35 patients aged 45–55 with mild stress incontinence. Results. The effectiveness of urinary incontinence therapy was 97.1% (n=34). All patients underwent functional tests, uroflowmetry, profilome-try and ultrasound examination of the paraurethral area before and after paraurethral injection of hyaluronic acid-based gel. Uroflowmetry data: before the introduction of the gel, the average value of Qmax 27±1.5 ml/sec and Q average 13.5±2.7 ml/sec, immediately after the paraurethral in-jection of the gel, Qmax 19±2.1 ml/sec and Q average 12.6±1.6 ml/sec and after month Qmax 20±2.3 ml/sec and Q average 11.9±1.9 ml/sec. Profilom-etry data: the average length and functional length of the urethra were 34±0.9 mm and 31±0.8 mm, respectively, which indicates that this study is not informative. According to ultrasound examination of the paraurethral area, after the introduction of a gel based on hyaluronic acid into the paraurethral area, signs of urethral hypermobility and sphincter insufficiency are leveled. Conclusions. Paraurethral injection of hyaluronic acid-based gel can be considered as first-line therapy stress urinary incontinence for patients with initial manifestations of stress urinary incontinence.

Finely dispersed (CeO2)1−x(Sm2O3)x (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.20) and (CeO2)1−x(Nd2O3)x (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) powders were synthesized via liquid-phase techniques based on the co-precipitation of hydroxides and were used to obtain ceramic materials comprising fluorite-like solid solutions with CSR in the range 69–88 nm (upon annealing at 1300 °C) and open porosity in the range 0.6–6.2%. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized materials were comparatively characterized. In general, the prepared materials were found to possess a mixed type of electrical conductivity, but in the medium-temperature range, the ionic component was predominant (ion transfer numbers ti = 0.93–0.73 at 300–700 °C). The highest ionic conductivity was observed for CeO2-based samples containing 20 mol.% Sm2O3 (σ700°C = 3.3 × 10−2 S/cm) and 15 mol.% Nd2O3 (σ700°C = 0.48 × 10−2 S/cm) was in the temperature range 500–700 °C. The physicochemical properties (density, open porosity, type and mechanism of electrical conductivity) of the obtained ceramic materials make them promising as solid oxide electrolytes for medium temperature fuel cells.

Finely dispersed (CeO2)1−x(Nd2O3)x (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) powders are synthesized via liquid-phase techniques based on the co-precipitation of hydroxides and co-crystallization of nitrates. The prepared powders are used to obtain ceramic materials comprising fluorite-like solid solutions with the coherent scattering region (CSR) of about 88 nm (upon annealing at 1300 °C) and open porosity in the range of 1–15%. The effect of the synthesis procedure and sintering additives (SiO2, ZnO) on physicochemical and electrophysical properties of the resulting ceramics is studied. The prepared materials are found to possess a predominantly ionic type of electric conductivity with ion transfer numbers ti = 0.96–0.71 in the temperature range of 300–700 °C. The conductivity in solid solutions follows a vacancy mechanism with σ700 °C = 0.48 × 10−2 S/cm. Physicochemical properties (density, open porosity, type and mechanism of electrical conductivity) of the obtained ceramic materials make them promising as solid oxide electrolytes for medium temperature fuel cells.

IntroductionPubescence is an important phenotypic trait observed in both vegetative and generative plant organs. Pubescent plants demonstrate increased resistance to various environmental stresses such as drought, low temperatures, and pests. It serves as a significant morphological marker and aids in selecting stress-resistant cultivars, particularly in wheat. In wheat, pubescence is visible on leaves, leaf sheath, glumes and nodes. Regarding glumes, the presence of pubescence plays a pivotal role in its classification. It supplements other spike characteristics, aiding in distinguishing between different varieties within the wheat species. The determination of pubescence typically involves visual analysis by an expert. However, methods without the use of binocular loupe tend to be subjective, while employing additional equipment is labor-intensive. This paper proposes an integrated approach to determine glume pubescence presence in spike images captured under laboratory conditions using a digital camera and convolutional neural networks.MethodsInitially, image segmentation is conducted to extract the contour of the spike body, followed by cropping of the spike images to an equal size. These images are then classified based on glume pubescence (pubescent/glabrous) using various convolutional neural network architectures (Resnet-18, EfficientNet-B0, and EfficientNet-B1). The networks were trained and tested on a dataset comprising 9,719 spike images.ResultsFor segmentation, the U-Net model with EfficientNet-B1 encoder was chosen, achieving the segmentation accuracy IoU = 0.947 for the spike body and 0.777 for awns. The classification model for glume pubescence with the highest performance utilized the EfficientNet-B1 architecture. On the test sample, the model exhibited prediction accuracy parameters of F1 = 0.85 and AUC = 0.96, while on the holdout sample it showed F1 = 0.84 and AUC = 0.89. Additionally, the study investigated the relationship between image scale, artificial distortions, and model prediction performance, revealing that higher magnification and smaller distortions yielded a more accurate prediction of glume pubescence.

Background. Improving the quality of early cardiovascular disease diagnostics can be provided, among other things, by the introduction of medical information systems (MIS), which allow to collect and analyze information and to reduce the number of errors and improve the quality of diagnostics especially at early stages in the conditions of time deficit and available technical means of examination. According to the authors, such MIS should contain an extended base of ionic current models. Materials and methods. The article considers the Noble model, which can be used as a part of MIS for quantitative description of heart work processes in norm and at different pathologies and comparison of calculated values with the data of natural experiments. Results. The database of ionic currents containing the results of modeling of potassium, sodium, calcium currents, currents through sodium-potassium and sodium-calcium pumps, leakage currents, plateau and background currents was created. Conclusions. The availability the models of all components in the Noble equation will improve the accuracy of the MIS. If necessary, in the base of models it is possible to disable some sources to estimate the contribution of the corresponding components to the final sum of currents, as well as the methodological error arising if one or another component is neglected.

Background. Currently, there is an extremely high need not only for the development of new methods of treatment and diagnosis, but also for their wider application in practice due to the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. Improving the effectiveness of non-invasive diagnostic methods is one of the key tasks, the solution of which will significantly help in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The achievements of modern science, in particular biology, biophysics and cybernetics, open up wide opportunities for solving this problem by developing mathematical models of the electrical activity of the heart. Materials and methods. The study is based on the analysis of known detailed models of ion currents. Results. A system of noninvasive cardiodiagnostics using detailed models of ion currents to determine the electrophysiological characteristics of the heart is proposed. Conclusions. The results obtained increase the effectiveness of existing methods and means for determining the electrophysiological characteristics of the heart.

The data of clinical and experimental studies of the last decade force us to reconsider the role of red blood cells in the development of thrombosis and disorders of the hemostasis system. This area is of particular relevance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the review is to present data on the structural and functional changes in erythrocytes, on changes in their number associated with the development of thrombosis and hemostasis disorders, including in patients with coronavirus infection. The article presents the results of scientific research devoted to the study of morphological and functional changes in red blood cells that affect hemostasis and thrombosis. These changes include erythrocyte number or hematocrit (which modulates blood rheology through blood viscosity) and qualitative changes such as deformability, erythrocyte aggregation, expression of adhesive proteins and phosphatidylserine, release of extracellular microvesicles, hemolysis, piezo receptor status, modulation of nitric oxide bioavailability. Changes in the parameters of erythrocytes that occur during blood storage are shown, with possible thrombotic consequences during blood transfusion. The most recent research concerns changes in red blood parameters during SARS-CoV-2 infection that are associated with the development of thrombosis: virus attachment and amplification of viral proteins in erythropoiesis progenitor cells; activation of stress erythropoiesis with an increase in nuclear erythrocyte cell percentage up to 42 %; activation of the processes of oxidation of the protein band 3 with its excessive cleavage, oxidation and cleavage of the alpha-chain of spectrin, ankyrin; changes in the lipid architecture of the membrane and a decrease in the activity of erythrocyte antioxidants, which mediate disturbances in cell deformability and impaired ATP release; reducing the ability of red blood cells to secrete nitric oxide; decrease in the level of sphingolipids of the erythrocyte membrane; excessive production of microvesicles with tissue factor; an increase in erythrocyte rigidity with impaired release of intraerythrocyte nitric oxide due to SARS-CoV-2 virus attacking the hemoglobin 1-beta chain and porphyrin capture with potential heme inhibition; an increase on the surface of erythrocytes expression of activated complement components C3b and C4d, immunoglobulin IgG, which worsens cell deformability; attachment of erythrocytes through the Toll-like receptor 9 to neutrophil extracellular traps, which contributes to thrombosis; increased presentation of phosphatidylcholine on erythrocyte membranes, which facilitates the assembly of the tenase and prothrombinase complexes, contributing to the production of thrombin, an increase in intracellular calcium levels with stimulation of the formation of microvesicles with prothrombotic potential. The presented data indicate a significant role of changes in erythrocyte parameters in the development of hemostasis disorders, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which makes red blood cells a target for therapy and suggests a change in the emphasis of management tactics for patients with thrombosis.

Patients with autoimmune gastritis (AIG) often have anemia of various origins. Hematological disorders usually portend severe atrophy, and in many cases, are the only indicators of the disease. Aim of the study was to investigate the electrical and viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes in patients with AIG for their possible use in diagnostics. Material and methods. 73 patients with AIG (mean age 55.3 ± 12.54 years) and 38 people of the control group were examined. Electrical and viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes were studied by dielectrophoresis. Results. Statistically significant decrease in the average cell diameter, the proportion of discocytes cells and an increase in the proportion of spherocytes, deformed forms were found in the group of patients with AIG in combination with Helicobaсter рylori (H. pylori, H.p.) infection compared with healthy individuals. Patients with AIG had significantly lower levels of amplitude of deformation, membrane capacity, dipole moment, speed of cell movement to the electrodes, polarizability at high frequencies of the electric field (106 , 0.5×106 Hz), relative polarizability, and, conversely, higher values of membrane conductivity, aggregation, destruction indexes, summarized viscosity, rigidity, than those in the comparison group. Between groups of patients with and without H. pylori infection, differences were found in indicators reflecting the surface charge of erythrocytes – the speed of movement to the electrodes (p = 0.019), the dipole moment (p < 0.001) and the state of the membranes – its capacity (p = 0.004). The diagnostic model, which includes three parameters of erythrocytes – the dipole moment, the speed of movement to the electrodes, the capacity of the cell membrane, provided high diagnostic accuracy of distinguishing AIG H.p. (+) and H.p. (–) – area under ROC curve AUC 0.925, sensitivity 92.4 %, specificity 89.7 %. Conclusions: Electrical and viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes are promising in the diagnosis of AIG, including on the background of H. pylori infection.

Aim: to study fatty acid levels in erythrocyte membranes (RBC) and blood serum (BS) in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) to develop differential diagnostic models including fatty acids as biomarkers to distinguish between nosological entities of IBDs (ulcerative colitis — UC, Crohn's disease — CD, unclassified colitis — UCC).Materials and methods. We examined 110 patients (mean age 37,7 ± 12,1 years) with IBDs and 53 healthy patients in control group (43,3 ± 11,7 years). The IBDs group included 50 patients with UC, 41 patients with CD, 19 patients with UCC. An exacerbation of the disease was revealed in 42 patients (84 %) with UC, 34 patients with CD (82.9 %) and 11 people with UCC (57.9 %). The study of fatty acids (FA) composition of RBC membranes and BS was carried out using GC/MS system based on three Agilent 7000B quadrupoles (USA).Results. The most significant for distinguishing active UC from CD exacerbation were serum levels of elaidin (p = 0.0006); docosatetraenoic (n-6) (p = 0.004); docodienic (n-6) (p = 0.009); omega-3/omega-6 ratio (p = 0.02); docosapentaenoic (n-3) (p = 0.03); the sum of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic (p = 0.03), as well as the content of RBC lauric FA (p = 0.04) (AUC — 0.89, sensitivity — 0.91, specificity — 0.89, diagnostic accuracy — 0.91). To distinguish active UC from the same of UCC, the following serum FA were found to be significant: alpha-linolenic; saturated (pentadecanoic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic); monounsaturated (palmitoleic, oleic); omega-6 (hexadecadienic, arachidonic) (p = 0.00000011—0.03300000) (AUC — 0.995, sensitivity — 0.98, specificity — 0.96, diagnostic accuracy — 0.97). The most significant in distinguishing patients with active CD from UCC exacerbation were levels of the following FA: alpha-linolenic; palmitoleic; oleic; the amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA); total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA); stearic; monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) amount; SFA/UFA; SFA/PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids); linoleic; total PUFA n6; lauric; arachidic acid (p = 0.0000000017–0.030000000) (AUC — 0.914, sensitivity — 0.90, specificity — 0.87, diagnostic accuracy — 0.91).Conclusion. The study of FA levels in groups with different nosological forms of IBDs using complex statistical analysis, including machine learning methods, made it possible to create diagnostic models that differentiate CD, UC and UCC in the acute stage with high accuracy. The proposed approach is promising for the purposes of differential diagnosis of nosological forms of IBDs.

The global and local climate changes determine the producing of highly-adaptive common (bread) wheat commercial cultivars of a new generation whose optimal earliness matches the climatic features of the territory where the cultivars are farmed. Principal component analysis involving our own and published data has been applied to investigate 98 commercial common wheat cultivars from Western and Eastern Siberia comparing their morphotypes; cultivar zoning time; length of the vegetation period; 1000-grain weight, and inheritance of spring growth habit. It demonstrated that the dominant Vrn gene polymorphism determining the spring growth habit of the Siberian cultivars was minimally polymorphic. In 75 % of the tested cultivars, the spring growth habit was controlled by digenic, namely dominant Vrn-A1 and Vrn-B1 genes. In 25 % of them (24 cultivars), spring growth habit is controlled by a single gene. In 19 and 5 of these cultivars spring growth habit is controlled by only one dominant gene, Vrn-B1 or Vrn-A1, respectively. In cv. Tulun 15, a trigenic control was identified. A conclusion about the optimality of the digenic control for the climatic conditions of both Western and Eastern Siberia has been confirmed. However, since none of the tested cultivars had the dominant Vrn-D1 gene typical of the regions of China and Central Asia bordering Siberia, it can be considered as an additional argument in favor of the European origin of Siberian common wheat cultivars. The revealed high frequency of the Vrn-B1c allele in the Western Siberian cultivars and the Vrn-B1a allele in the Eastern Siberian cultivars suggests their selectivity. The analysis also confirmed the dominance of red glume (ferrugineum, milturum) and awned spike (ferrugineum, erythrospermum) varieties in the Eastern Siberian cultivars, and white glume and awnedless spike (lutescens and albidum) ones in the Western Siberian cultivars. Small grain size cultivars are more typical of Eastern than Western Siberia. The retrospective analysis based on the cultivars’ zoning time included in the “State Register for Selection Achievements Admitted for Usage” brought us to the conclusion that the earliness/lateness of modern Siberian commercial cultivars was not regionally but rather zonally-associated (taiga, subtaiga, forest-steppe and steppe zones).

Purpose. To develop a classification of meibomitis accounting for the diverse course and stages of progression and offer guidelines for treatment based on the algorithm proposed.Materials and methods. We observed 56 patients aged 4 to 68 (average age 33 years), of which 42 patients (75 %) were followed up for periods from 3 to 60 days. The patients received basic complex conservative treatment, probing the meibomian gland with an eyelash during the acute inflammation and microabscess stage, in the presence of the chalazion with and without inflammation manifestations, and underwent drainage of the microabscess or the chalazion according to the classification.Results. The proposed algorithm reduced the duration of meibomitis treatment. Relapses were only noted in 2 cases; one case was complicated by corneal erosion caused by hardened oil. No complications associated with the treatment have been noted and nobody was prescribed surgical removal of the chalazion.Conclusion. A meibomitis classification with effective combined treatment has been proposed, which is convenient for practitioners, cost-effective and not requiring special instruments or materials.

The authors have assessed the possibility of electrochemical synthesis of a wide range of reagents based on titanium trichloride as part of the work. Despite the growing demand for titanium trichloride and its derivatives, the production technology of this reagent has not been improved for a long period. Traditional technologies feature high environmental and industrial hazards, and the process itself has high energy consumption and a complex hardware scheme. As part of preliminary work, the possibility of obtaining titanium trichloride from aqueous solutions of titanium tetrachloride is established, while the proposed technology is distinguished by reduced energy consumption and safety. At the first stage of experiments in the anodic dissolution of aluminum, binary solutions of titanium trichloride and aluminum chloride are obtained. The degree of conversion TiCl4 → -TiCl3 is 65%–35% for a current density of 10–30 A/dm2, respectively. In the process of reducing an aqueous solution of titanium tetrachloride with iron electrodes, the yield of titanium trichloride is approximately 76%–66% for a current density of 10–30 A/dm2, respectively. The resulting solution is heavily contaminated with iron (II) compounds. The results of the experiments show the high efficiency of this solution in the processes of purification of wastewater from galvanic production from chromium (VI) compounds. For the production of high-purity titanium trichloride, titanium electrodes are used, while the yield of titanium trichloride is 59%–3% for a current density of 10–30 A/dm2, respectively. Depending on the production technology and electrode material, solutions are obtained that can be used to produce high-purity titanium dioxide for the production of dye-sensitized solar cells, reagents for water purification, and a Ziegler-Natta catalyst and a reagent for organic synthesis.

The aim of the study was to identify fatty acids (FA) of erythrocyte membranes and blood serum, which can serve as potential biomarkers for early detection of colorectal cancer.Material and methods. the study involved 65 patients with stage I-II CRC (mean age 63,3 ± 9,6 years (30 men, 35 women) and 35 people in the comparison group, matched by age and sex. the composition of fatty acids of erythrocyte membranes and blood serum was studied using a gc/ms system based on three agilent 7000B quadrupoles (USA). methods of the MATLAB software (R2019a, MathWorks) and the R programming language were used for statistical processing: t-test, unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA), Fold change, Volcano plot, machine learning method (Random Forest), Roc analysis, Heatmaps.Results. patients with stage I-II CRC showed a decrease in the level of saturated, individual monounsaturated fatty acids and a highly significant increase in the most of the polyunsaturated fatty acids with a predominance of omega-3. For most of the fatty acid levels, significant differences in erythrocyte membranes and serum between the groups were found. the levels of erythrocyte myristic, pentadecanoic, 7-palmitoleic, saturated/polyunsaturated Fa ratios (the content of which was significantly lower at stages I-II CRC than those in the control) and the levels of α-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, the amount of omega-3 Fa, EPA + DHA, docodienic, dihomo-γ-linolenic, docatetraenoic fatty acids (the content of which was significantly higher in colorectal cancer than those in healthy subjects) were the most discriminating parameters in distinguishing patients with I-II stage CRC and healthy individuals. in the blood serum, the level of biomarkers had the following fatty acids: arachidonic, myristic, docosahexaenoic, the amount of omega 3 puFa, the ratio of omega 6/omega 3 puFa, pentadecanoic, docosapentaenoic, and docodiene. a model that included a list of fatty acids, such as С14:0, С15:0, С16:1;7, С18:3 n-3, C20:2 n-6, C20:3 n-6, C20:5 n-3, C22:4 n-6, C22:5 n-3, C22:6 n-3, sum of omega-3, omega-3 (EPA + DHA), and saturated / polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio provided auc 0,916 with a specificity of 0,90 and sensitivity of 0,95 in distinguishing patients with stage I-II CRC from healthy individuals.Conclusion. the study of the levels and ratios of fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes and blood serum should be considered a promising trend in the search for biomarkers for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Introduction. Diverticular disease of the colon is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases. During the last 30–40 years, there has been a “rejuvenation” of the disease. Today, the prevalence of the disease in people under 40 years of age is 5–10%, and therefore the costs of diagnostic testing and treatment are gradually increasing, which makes the disease socially significant.Aim. To study the clinical features of diverticular disease, the features of diagnosis and treatment, and prophylactic approaches. The specific objectives of the analysis were to study epidemiology; study the role and a necessary minimum set of laboratory diagnostic test methods for the diagnosis of diverticular disease; study the incidence rate of SIBO and its impact on the clinic presentation and treatment; develop an algorithm for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and management of patients with diverticular disease.Materials and methods. A total of 195 patients with different forms of diverticular disease were examined. As diagnostic tests, we used blood tests, stool tests, biochemical tests; inflammatory tests: calprotectin, CRP, fibrinogen, ferritin; ultrasound imaging, irrigoscopy, CT, NMR, colonoscopy (if medically required); clinical manifestations at different stages of the course of diverticular disease. 5-aminosalicylates were used to treat exacerbation with inflammation; alpha-normix and motility regulators were used to treat exacerbation without signs of inflammation.Results. On the basis of the study results, we suggested an algorithm for the diagnosis, management and treatment of patients with diverticular disease. According to the particulars of the management, it is reasonable to divide all patients with diverticular disease into three groups: 1) patients who underwent acute diverticulitis; 2) patients with uncomplicated diverticular disease; 3) patients with complicated diverticular disease.Conclusions. The first two groups should be followed up by a gastroenterologist/general practitioner, the third group should be followed up by a surgeon. The patient tested positive for SIBO should receive drugs to eradicate SIBO. The treatment regimens for exacerbation of diverticular disease are proposed.

The SOI-FET biosensor (silicon-on-insulator field-effect transistor) for virus detection is a promising device in the fields of medicine, virology, biotechnology, and the environment. However, the applications of modern biosensors face numerous problems and require improvement. Some of these problems can be attributed to sensor design, while others can be attributed to technological limitations. The aim of this work is to conduct a theoretical investigation of the “antibody + antigen” complex (AB + AG) detection processes of a SOI-FET biosensor, which may also solve some of the aforementioned problems. Our investigation concentrates on the analysis of the probability of AB + AG complex detection and evaluation. Poisson probability density distribution was used to estimate the probability of the adsorption of the target molecules on the biosensor’s surface and, consequently, to obtain correct detection results. Many implicit and unexpected causes of error detection have been identified for AB + AG complexes using SOI-FET biosensors. We showed that accuracy and time of detection depend on the number of SOI-FET biosensors on a crystal.

The structural features and thermophysical and transport properties of dense nonporous membranes of the casting type from (co)polyamide-imides synthesized by the polycondensation of the diacid chloride of 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-1,3-dioxoisoindoline-5-carboxylic acid and diamines 5,5′-methylene-bis (2-aminophenol) (DADHyDPhM) and 4,4′-methylenebis(benzeneamine) (DADPhM), taken in molar ratios of 7:3, 1:1, and 3:7, have been studied. The effect of hydroxyl-containing modifying fragments of dihydroxy diphenylmethane introduced in various amounts into the main polymer chain on the pervaporation properties of the formed films is discussed. It has been shown that the presence of the residual solvent N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone in the films not only has a plasticizing effect on the characteristics of film membranes but also promotes the preferential transmembrane transport of polar liquids, primarily methanol (permeation rate over 2 kg for a copolymer with a ratio of DADHyDPhM:DADPhM = 7:3). The removal of the residual solvent from the polymer film, both thermally (heating to 200 °C) and by displacement with another solvent as a result of sequential pervaporation, led to a significant decrease in the rate of transfer of polar liquids and a decrease in the selectivity of the membrane. However, the dehydrocyclization reaction resulted in more brittle films with low permeability to penetrants of different polarities. The results of our comprehensive study made it possible to assume the decisive influence of structural changes in membranes occurring in connection with the competitive formation of intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds.

Background. Today, antibiotic resistance is becoming more and more important as a factor in the use of one or another antibacterial drug in clinical practice. The widespread use of antibiotics in agriculture and the unreasonable use of these drugs for the treatment of patients increases the rate of acquisition of resistance to popular types of antibiotics among pathogenic and opportunistic strains of microorganisms, which makes it urgent to search for new molecules that have an antibacterial effect. One of the promising candidates for the role of a substitute for antibiotics, which have less pronounced side effects and have a systemic effect on the infection, are antimicrobial peptides. The aim of this research is to study the antibacterial effect of peptide fractions up to 5 kDa obtained from royal jelly and drone brood, popular products of traditional medicine. Materials and methods. The studied peptide fractions of royal jelly and drone brood were obtained using ultrafiltration, ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration methods. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the disk diffusion method against strains of S. aureus, E. coli, S. pyogenes, K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis and E. cloacae and by studying the effect on the total dehydrogenase and catalase activity of strains of E. coli and S. aureus. Results and conclusions. It was shown that the studied peptide fractions do not demonstrate direct antibacterial activity at the studied concentrations, however, they affect the enzymatic activity of bacteria, which proves that the peptides of royal jelly and drone brood up to 5 kDa contain molecules that affect the intracellular processes of microorganisms.

Background. The second half of the XX and XXI centuries are characterized by various types of man-made, social, anthropogenic and natural disasters. The most significant side of all disasters is the loss of life. An analysis of all disasters leads to the conclusion that medical systems are not sufficiently prepared to provide assistance in emergency situations. The article discusses the features of the functioning of the medical information system in an emergency situation, and also suggests a way to provide emergency cardiological care. Materials and methods. Methods of building information and measurement systems, theoretical foundations of disaster medicine and electrocardiography, methods of statistical signal processing, digital signal processing, as well as methods of mathematical modeling were used. Results. An approach for creating a dual-use medical information system is proposed. This approach allows the medical information system to function in two modes of operation: under normal conditions and in an emergency situation. Under normal conditions, to assess the functional state of the body, it is proposed to use the technology of the digital double of the heart as a virtual personalized model of the cardiovascular system, created to simulate its functioning, taking into account the processes of regulation and two-way information links with the patient. For emergency medical care in an emergency situation, the authors proposed the use of portable cardiac analyzers. A method of providing emergency cardiological care has been developed. Conclusions. The use of the proposed medical information system will improve the efficiency of the healthcare system by unifying methods and means of providing cardiological care.

The aim of this work is to study the electrical and viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), examined in dynamics, as possible predictors of exacerbation of the disease. Material and methods. In dynamics, 23 patients with IBD (37.9 ± 4.3 years) were examined. The first examination was carried out in the stage of exacerbation, the second – after 6–12 months – in the stage of remission of IBD. Additionally, 36 patients with IBD in remission were examined to assess the predictive capabilities of erythrocyte parameters with subsequent monitoring of their condition for 6–12 months. The electrical and viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes were investigated by dielectrophoresis. Statistical processing was carried out using a system of machine learning methods – Random Forest, MATLAB (R2019a, MathWorks). Results and discussion. The parameters of erythrocytes, which are predictors of exacerbation of IBD, were revealed: an increase in the proportion of deformed cells (p = 0.0001); altered nature of the erythrocyte surface (p = 0.011); increased electrical conductivity of membranes (p = 0.0019); reduced dipole moment (p = 0.0015), the rate of directional movement of erythrocytes to the electrodes (p = 0.005) (paired and unpaired Volcano plot methods), reduced deformation amplitude at a frequency of 5×105 Hz (p = 0.009), capacity of erythrocyte membranes (p = 0.029 ) (unpaired Volcano plot method). Indicators associated with changes in the charge of cells, the structure of erythrocyte membranes and the level of energy metabolism of the cell turned out to be significant. A high diagnostic accuracy of these indicators was established as predictors: the proportion of deformed cells (AUC 0.939), a summarized viscosity index (AUC 0.932). Cluster analysis of the values of erythrocyte parameters – predictors of exacerbation made it possible to stratify the risk of exacerbation: at the most altered levels of parameters – the development of exacerbation after 2.5–4.5 months, intermediate levels – after 4–6 months, minimally changed – after 8–12 months (predictive accuracy – 92 %). Conclusions. The revealed electrical and viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes should be considered as promising predictors of exacerbation in patients with IBD.

This article covers the concepts of social policy in the official programme documents of the British Labour Party and in journalistic works of its leaders and key theorists of the interwar period. From the early twentieth century, Labourists put the focus not on social reforms, but on transformations in the management of the economy and property. They believed that a fair and effective organisation of economy could at the same time solve social problems. After World War I and in the first half of the 1920s, Labourists did not propose large-scale and high-priced social programmes for fear of alienating their potential electorate. However, the social and economic problems of the 1920s, the General Strike, and the Great Depression forced them to take a more left stand. From the late 1920s, social policy became for Labourists an important part of fundamental change of the country’s economy based on the principles of planning and public control. These ideas were in the programmes of the Labour party of 1928 and 1934, in the works of G. D. H. Cole and Clement Attlee, and in the articles of members of the Socialist League. Labourists started proposing not only large-scale plans of the improvement of education, public health, accommodation, and well-being, they made some demands, including State Health Service, accessibility of higher education, and help for disabled persons, unique for their times, thereby anticipating some important components of the Welfare State of the second half of the twentieth century.

The aim of the work is to investigate the parameters of hemostasis, electrical and viscoelastic parameters of red blood cells and markers of inflammation in persons suffering from arterial hypertension to determine the possibility of assessing the severity of hemorheological disorders. Material and methods. The study included 203 patients (156 patients with arterial hypertension and 47 patients without hypertension). The parameters of hemostasis, markers of inflammation and red blood cells were studied. Results. The possibilities of assessing the severity of hemorheological disorders in patients with arterial hypertension, based on the study of parameters: hemostasis, erythrocytes (by dielectrophoresis). In patients with hypertension, as the risk of venous thromboembolic complications increased, acceleration of leukocyte-platelet aggregation, increased fibrinogen level and decreased activity of XII-dependent fibrinolysis, which creates prerequisites for rheological disturbances, were revealed. The most accurate prediction of result according to severity of hemorheological disorders (differentiation moderate and expressed disorders from the lungs) is provided by such indicators of electric and viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes, as the polarizability of red blood cells at a frequency of 106 Hz (AUC = 0,750 in), the speed of movement of cells to the electrodes (AUC = 0,746), deformation degree at a frequency of 5 × 105 Hz (AUC = 0,733), conductivity cell (AUC = 0,730), the generalized viscosity (AUC = 0,729), the index of aggregation of erythrocytes (AUC = 0,716), graduation according to the degree of strain at all frequencies (AUC = 0,716), generalized stiffness (AUC = 0,714), the deformation amplitude at frequency of 106 Hz (AUC = 0,711), the capacity of the cells (AUC = 0,693). The measure of specificity for different indices of erythrocytes is 75.4–99,3 % and a sensitivity of 84.1–98.6 %. Conclusions. The study of the parameters of hemostasis, markers of inflammation, red blood cells allowed us to determine the key indicators for assessing the severity of hemorheological disorders in patients with arterial hypertension. The work was carried out within the framework of the budgetary theme under the State Assignment No. 121090800102-4.