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Binase treatment increases interferon sensitivity and apoptosis in SiHa cervical carcinoma cells by downregulating E6 and E7 human papilloma virus oncoproteins
No full textIn this study, we determined whether binase, a ribonuclease from Bacillus pumilus, increases interferon sensitivity and apoptosis in SiHa cervical cancer cells infected with high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) strain 16. Binase treatment increased SiHa cell apoptosis in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, as determined by flow cytometry, WST tests and real time xCelligence cell index analysis. Binase-treated SiHa cells showed reduced expression of E6 and E7 viral oncoproteins and increased expression of their intracellular targets, p53 and pRb. Combined treatment with binase and IFNα2b enhanced the interferon sensitivity of HPV-positive SiHa cells. By contrast, combined treatment with binase and IFNα2b in HPV-negative C33A cervical cancer cells, which do no expess E6 and E7, elicited no changes in interferon sensitivity or p53 and pRb expression. These findings suggest binase enhances interferon sensitivity and apoptosis in HPV-positive SiHa cervical cancer cells by suppressing E6 and E7 viral protein expression. Copyright: Mitkevich et al
The Role of Metals in the Reaction Catalyzed by Metal-Ion-Independent Bacillary RNase
No full textExtracellular enzymes of intestinal microbiota are the key agents that affect functional activity of the body as they directly interact with epithelial and immune cells. Several species of the Bacillus genus, like Bacillus pumilus, a common producer of extracellular RNase binase, can populate the intestinal microbiome as a colonizing organism. Without involving metal ions as cofactors, binase depolymerizes RNA by cleaving the 3′,5′-phosphodiester bond and generates 2′,3′-cyclic guanosine phosphates in the first stage of a catalytic reaction. Maintained in the reaction mixture for more than one hour, such messengers can affect the human intestinal microflora and the human body. In the present study, we found that the rate of 2′,3′-cGMP was growing in the presence of transition metals that stabilized the RNA structure. At the same time, transition metal ions only marginally reduced the amount of 2′,3′-cGMP, blocking binase recognition sites of guanine at N7 of nucleophilic purine bases. © 2016 Yulia Sokurenko et al
The Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN): A new platform to describe the epidemiology of severe influenza
No full textBackground: Influenza is a global public health problem. However, severe influenza only recently has been addressed in routine surveillance. Objectives: The Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN) was established to study the epidemiology of severe influenza in consecutive seasons in different countries. Our objective is to describe the GIHSN approach and methods. Methods: The GIHSN uses prospective active surveillance to identify consecutive influenza admissions in permanent residents of well-defined geographic areas in sites around the world. A core common protocol is followed. After consent, data are collected on patient characteristics and clinical outcomes, respiratory swabs are obtained, and the presence of influenza virus and subtype or lineage is ascertained by polymerase chain reaction. Data are collated and analyzed at the GIHSN coordination center. Results: The GIHSN has run its activities for two consecutive influenza seasons, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, and hospitals in Brazil, China, France, Russian Federation, Turkey, and Spain have been involved in one or both seasons. Consistency on the application of the protocol and heterogeneity for the first season have been addressed in two previous publications. During both seasons, 19 677 eligible admissions were recorded; 11 843 (60%) were included and tested, and 2713 (23%) were positive for influenza: 991 (37%) A(H1N1); 807 (30%) A(H3N2); 583 (21%) B/Yamagata; 56 (2%) B/Victoria and 151 (6%) influenza A; and 125 (5%) influenza B were not characterized. Conclusions: The GIHSN is a platform that provides information on severe influenza worldwide, applying a common core protocol and a consistent case definition. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Serum strain-specific or cross-reactive neuraminidase inhibiting antibodies against pandemic A/California/07/2009(H1N1) influenza in healthy volunteers Infectious Diseases
No full textBackground: Pre-existing antibodies to influenza virus neuraminidase may provide protection against infection influenza viruses containing novel hemagglutinin (HA). The aim of our study was to evaluate serum neuraminidase-inhibiting (NI) antibodies against A/California/07/2009(H1N1) [H1N1/2009pdm] and A/New Caledonia/20/1999(H1N1) [H1N1/1999] influenza viruses in relation with the age of participants and hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody levels. Anti-H1N1/2009pdm neuraminidase and anti-H1N1/1999 neuraminidase antibody levels were measured in total 219 serum samples from Russian healthy peoples of various ages examined before and a year after pandemic strain appearance. We adjusted peroxidase-linked lectin micro-procedure to measure NI antibody titers using the reassortant A/H7N1 influenza viruses based on A/equine/Prague/1/56(H7N7). Also, HI antibody titers were estimated against H1N1/2009pdm, H1N1/1999 and a panel of seasonal A/H1N1 influenza viruses. Results: In sera samples collected during the fall of 2010, mean titers of specific HI and NI antibodies to H1N1/2009pdm were 2-2.1 times lower than antibody levels against H1N1/1999. Of the 163 individuals examined, 58 (35.6%) had NI anti-H1N1/2009pdm antibody titers>1:20, compared to 93 (57.1%) who had NI anti-H1N1/1999 antibody titers>1:20. There were low correlations between HI and NI antibody levels against either H1N1/1999 or H1N1/2009pdm in the same serum samples. The 24 adults born between 1957 and 1977 expressed very low levels of NI antibodies to A/H1N1 influenza viruses. Persons with low HI anti-H1N1/2009pdm titers but positive to seasonal A/H1N1 demonstrated significantly higher NI anti-A/H1N1 antibody titers than unexposed subjects. In 2005 cross-reactive NI anti-H1N1/2009pdm antibody titers>1:20 were detected among 7.1% of young people. Conclusions: Our study confirmed that contact with seasonal influenza viruses may have contributed to generating the cross-reacting anti-H1N1/2009pdm NI antibodies which were detected in the sera of 18-20 years old people examined before the pandemic virus active circulation. The lowest levels of antibodies to the neuraminidase of N1 subtype were in the group of participants born during the circulation of influenza A/H2N2 or A/H3N2 viruses. The low correlation between HI and NI antibody titers suggests that NI antibody detection can be used as an additional test to evaluate the immune response after influenza infections or immunizations. © 2015 Desheva et al.; licensee BioMed Central
Examining Technology and Teaching Gaps in Russian Universities Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
No full textThe current study facilitates an evidence-based discussion on teaching during the period of an abrupt shift to virtual classrooms caused by coronavirus spread. There has been a massive investment to bring technology to universities; however, there are some significant gaps that must be addressed. The first is the availability of university online platforms and the second is the digitalization of the curriculum combined with teachers’ confusion and anxiety around the ability to adjust to the new digital environment. The study is aimed to research the current situation at two Russian universities: RUDN (People’s Friendship University of Russia) and PNRPU (Perm National Research Polytechnic University) and describe what changes have been implemented into teaching by the university administration and professors. The research questions include two groups: 1) Learning management system (LMS): Did the university offer a teaching platform to be used by all teachers? Or was it an individual choice of every teacher? 2) Curriculum: Did teachers have to modify the content of their course? In what way? Our study contributes several meaningful findings regarding understanding the advantages, disadvantages, and challenges in changing the education landscape
Treatment of cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemic
No full textBackground. Cancer patients comprise one of the most vulnerable subpopulations under COVID-19 pandemic, since the incidence of COVID-19 among cancer patients exceeds this value in general population. Risk of severe COVID-19 infection and mortality is higher in patients with cancer. Objective. Searching and retrospective analysis of risk factors of mortality in cancer patients with COVID-19 infection. Material and methods. A retrospective analysis included 31 cancer patients who underwent surgery at the Herzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute. COVID-19 was detected in postoperative period in each patient. We have compared survivors and non-sur-vivors and assessed the risk factors of mortality. Results. COVID-19 in postoperative period occurred in 31 (4.74%) out of 722 patients. Hypertension (74.2%, n=23) and car-diac diseases including coronary artery disease and chronic heart failure (19.35%, n=6) were the most common comorbidi-ties. Incidence of coronavirus infection was the highest among patients with colorectal cancer (16.13%, n=5), kidney cancer (16.13%, n=5) and lung cancer (12.9%, n=4). We found the following risk factors of mortality in cancer patients with COVID-19: CHD (OR 7.0, 95% CI 1.014-48.313,
State support for the russian economy affected by covid-19 consequences (legal aspects)
No full textMeasures aimed at combating the coronavirus have already negatively affected the Russian economy. In the future, macroeconomic indicators will deteriorate. The study considers the analysis of relevant government measures to protect the Russian economy in the new realities of the pandemic. For the first time the team of authors (using the method of economic analysis of law) studied the regulatory and analytical material on supporting the Russian economy in the crisis. As a result of the study, the authors come to the following conclusions: 1) the Russian authorities promptly adopted a package of legislative acts to protect the Russian economy; 2) most government measures can potentially be effective and capable of supporting the Russian economy in the context of the coronavirus epidemic, however, it is too early to talk about the final effectiveness and sufficiency of these measures; 3) some measures, despite the fact that they will accumulate funds in the budget, could potentially have a negative effect on the Russian economy in the future
Depression during the COVID-19 pandemic (analysis of clinical cases)
No full textCurrently, in various world regions, the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders due to the impact of coronavirus infection is repeatedly increased compared to that in previous years. Among the predictors of their development during the pandemic, there are COVID-19 symptoms, a history of mental disorders, as well as restrictive measures, and financial losses. The paper describes three clinical cases of depressive disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the depiction of the anamnesis, somatic and mental status, the patholopsychogical qualification of the condition, and the justification of a therapy regimen. The multifactorial stressor effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has provoked an exacerbation of depression in a male patient with a history of affective disorder; the development of a nosogenic depressive reaction of demoralization in a female patient with coronavirus pneumonia; the worsening of somatization dysthymia in a female patient of involutional age. The timely recognition of depression and its treatment with currently available antidepressants have contributed to the achievement of high-quality remission, the increase of stress resistance, and the improvement of quality of life in the patients
Forcing the Digital Economy: How will the Structure of Digital Markets Change as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textAbstract: Could the forced digitalization of multiple spheres of human life caused by the coronavirus pandemic lead to radical changes in the global and Russian economies? How and to what extent have ubiquitous lockdowns affected the digital transformation? The new model of the digital economy growth, formed during the ongoing crisis, actually contributes to the accelerated development of secondary digital infrastructure (platforms and artificial intelligence technologies) through the creation of mass markets, the noticeably higher consumption in the field of ICT services, and the redistribution of a significant part of resources from other sectors. However, this digital forcing, within the framework of which traditional industries were placed in a deliberately losing situation due to artificially created circumstances, is taking place during a fundamental structural crisis of the global economy. Therefore, unlike the technological revolutions of the past, this one will have serious objective limitations associated with narrowed opportunities for the development of the primary digital infrastructure, without which extensive development of digital services and markets is impossible. In addition, further implementation of the adopted model of building a digital economy, based on the collection and processing of big data, is fundamentally impossible outside globalization processes and implies a significant imbalance between the new “world technological center” (the United States and China, who, however, are in a state of trade war) and the “world technological periphery.” For most other countries, including Russia, it means the need to “fit” into one of the two currently possible peripheral contours of the global digital transformation
Economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic for the cultural organizations in Russia
No full textTo assess the economic impact of COVID-19 and to study the specifics of functioning of cultural institutions in the conditions of the pandemic, the authors analyze the 2019—2020 indicators and conduct an expert survey of the heads of cultural institutions of various types located in both capital and small towns, and rural areas in all federal districts. The analysis of the budget financing of cultural sector in 2020 compared to 2019 in Russia as a whole, and in the Russian Federation regions showed a noticeable slowdown of growth rates of expenses for culture and a decrease in the share of these expenses. The analysis of the dynamics of GDP per capita (in constant prices) and the share of household expenditures on recreation and cultural events in total household expenditures made it possible to predict a further reduction of these expenditures and, as a consequence, revenues of cultural organizations and extra-budgetary revenues of state and municipal cultural institutions. The analysis of the dynamics of the number of employees in cultural organizations by forms of part-time employment showed that in the conditions of coronavirus expansion, cultural organizations sought to keep jobs for their employees, but they also used various forms of part-time employment. The expert survey of cultural executives and managers confirms the deterioration of financial support for cultural institutions, including the emer-gence of difficulties associated with the failure to meet indicators established in the state assignment, and the cultural infrastructure lagging behind modern requirements for online formats. Specific measures are proposed to improve the situation in the cultural sector