The aim of the study was to investigate the characteristics of convalescents with abdominal obesity (AO) and newly diagnosed impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) in the post-COVID period. Materials and Methods: study subgroup - 12 convalescents with AO and newly diagnosed IGM (from 98 patients with an endocrine phenotype; total sample - 208 patients with post-COVID syndrome (PCS)). Whole-exome sequencing and genotyping of the rs4646994 variant in the ACE gene were performed. Results: the age of the study subgroup was higher compared with other patients with an endocrine phenotype and other PCS manifestations (p = 0.002; p < 0.001). In the study subgroup, higher waist circumference (+15.1%, p = 0.003), systolic blood pressure (+8.2%, p = 0.015), fasting plasma glucose (+27.6%, p < 0.001), triglycerides (+46.2%, p = 0.005), and higher prevalence of pre-existing cardiovascular disease (+41.7%, p = 0.007) were observed. Genotyping did not reveal an association of rs4646994 with the phenotype of the study subgroup. Whole‑exome sequencing analysis identified common variants of the ACE gene: rs4362 (T>C), rs4343 (G>A), rs4342 (A>C), rs4331 (A>G), rs4316 (C>T), rs4309 (C>T), rs4298 (C>T), rs3730025 (A>G), rs4365 (G>A), rs4341 (G>C), rs4319 (A>AG), rs4363 (G>A) and rare variants: rs142947404 (C>A), rs61738840 (G>T), rs146515255 (C>T), rs150234417 (del); additionally, 48 rare variants in genes associated with IGM, dyslipidemia, and obesity were identified. Conclusions: Patients with AO and newly diagnosed IGM (n = 12) exhibit an unfavorable post-COVID cardiometabolic profile not associated with the ACE rs4646994 variant. Whole‑exome sequencing identified common and rare genetic variants as candidate markers for post‑COVID metabolic and cardiovascular changes, requiring further validation.
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 20_Zorina_239-264.pdf | 810.28 KB |
Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown preliminary promise for improving fluency in adults who stutter, but controlled studies in children are lacking. This pilot randomized placebo‐controlled trial evaluated safety and preliminary efficacy of 10 Hz rTMS applied to left pars opercularis (Broca’s area) and left supplementary motor area (SMA) in children aged 6–10 years with developmental stuttering. Methods: Forty‐four children were randomized to Broca rTMS (n = 19), SMA rTMS (n = 9), or placebo (n = 16). The protocol consisted of 10 daily sessions (1000–1500 pulses/session). Stuttering severity was assessed before and after treatment using a standardized clinical tool and a blinded speech‐language pathologist (SLP) rating. Results: In the Broca group, significant pre‐post improvements were observed for physical concomitants (p = 0.0038, r = 0.67), syllable repetitions (p = 0.0072, r = 0.62), raw composite score (p = 0.016, r = 0.55), and rank‐based index (p = 0.0038, r = 0.67). Compared to placebo, the Broca group showed significantly greater improvement in the rank‐based index (p = 0.040, r = 0.35). Younger age correlated with greater improvement (rₛ = 0.55, p = 0.014). The SMA group did not differ from placebo and was associated with fluency deterioration, leading to protocol suspension. Adverse events in the Broca group were mild. Conclusions: Low‐intensity 10 Hz rTMS over Broca’s area appears feasible and may improve stuttering severity in children aged 6–10 years. The SMA protocol was not effective. These preliminary findings require confirmation in larger trials.
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| 19_Zhilyaeva_221-238.pdf | 1.27 MB |
Salmonella bacteria are a major cause of sporadic and clustered acute intestinal infections, with S. Enteritidis being the predominant serovar both in Russia and worldwide. This underscores the need to study and improve surveillance of S. Enteritidis using modern methods. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibiotic resistance phenotype and molecular genetic characteristics of S. Enteritidis circulating in the Nizhny Novgorod region, to perform molecular subtyping of strains using WGS data, and to conduct a comparative analysis with MALDI-TOF MS results. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed using the disk diffusion method. MALDI-TOF MS was applied for analysis of mass spectral similarities and differences, while WGS and whole-genome MLST approaches were used for strain characterization and subtyping. It was found that 11.6% of isolates exhibited reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones, and 4.65% were resistant, which was associated with the presence of plasmid-mediated genes (qnrB5, qnrB10, qnrB19) and point mutations in the gyrA gene (Ser83Tyr and Asp87Asn). The strains were shown to differ in the number of pathogenicity islands, and the presence of eight types of plasmid replicons was identified, indicating the presence of plasmids potentially capable of transferring antibiotic resistance genes. The studied strains were found to belong to the Global and Atlantic phylogenetic lineages. The cgMLST method was identified as the most effective approach for epidemiological investigation of local outbreaks. A comparison of the two methodological approaches demonstrated that MALDI-TOF MS results are comparable to cgMLST-based subtyping. The use of MALDI-TOF MS in epidemiological surveillance of clustered and outbreak-associated salmonellosis cases is therefore justified, cost-effective, and enables rapid epidemiological investigation.
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| 18_Tochilina_206-220.pdf | 1.3 MB |
This study investigated the effects of different sex steroid levels on the spectral characteristics of neocortex EEG in female WAG/Rij rats. The experiment was performed on three groups of animals: control (diestrus), after ovariectomy, and after hormone replacement therapy (17β-estradiol + progesterone). Spectral analysis of EEG from the frontal and parietal regions revealed region-specific changes. In the frontal cortex, ovariectomy caused a significant increase in delta power (from 39.78% to 57.70%) and a decrease in theta and low-frequency beta activity, whereas the parietal cortex showed an increase in theta rhythm and a tendency toward decreased alpha and beta activity. Hormone replacement therapy did not fully restore the spectral parameters to control levels. These data indicate region-specific modulatory effects of estrogens on cortical electrical activity and confirm the high value of EEG spectral analysis for identifying neurophysiological markers of sex hormone deficiency.
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| 17_Sadredinova_201-205.pdf | 375.8 KB |
This paper analyzes eye-gaze dynamics in individuals with autistic traits during an emotion recognition task using partial facial stimuli. A distinct emotion recognition strategy was identified in individuals with elevated autistic traits. Specifically, the target group demonstrated superior efficiency in recognizing neutral and negative emotions compared to the control group, characterized by a smaller scanning area, shorter recognition latency, and higher accuracy. The findings demonstrate that eye-tracking methodology is effective not only for clinical autism diagnostics but also for identifying the broader autism phenotype (BAP). These results suggest that the broader autism phenotype is not characterized by deficits in emotion recognition; rather, it reflects a qualitatively alternative strategy of social cognition.
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| 16_Ronzhin_191-200.pdf | 1.23 MB |
The molecular genetic structure of populations and an assessment of adaptation mechanisms were performed for the marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) inhabiting water bodies differing in the type of environmental stress, defined by the level of environmental pollution (classified as water quality classes 4 and 5). Molecular genetic diagnostics revealed the presence of individuals with introgressive mtDNA of the Anatolian water frog (P. cf. bedriagae) in the marsh frog sample. Species identification was carried out using a multiplex PCR test system. We detected haplotypes and alleles of the invasive Anatolian marsh frog (Pelophylax cf. bedriagae) in marsh frog populations. The samples revealed a high infection intensity with intracellular parasites of the class Conoidasida (representatives of the genus Dactylosoma from the family Dactylosomatidae, and species of the genus Hepatozoon from the family Hepatozoidae) and extracellular parasites (class Nematoda, family Onchocercidae, microfilariae larvae). The dominant hemoparasite was Dactylosoma sp., while microfilariae larvae were extremely rare; representatives of the genera Hepatozoon, Trypanosoma, and Lankesterella showed moderate prevalence. It was found that under extreme environmental pollution (class 5), inhibition of humoral responses occurs (a decrease in the level of large and an increase in the level of small immune complexes), which is interpreted as a compensatory shift of resources towards cellular defense mechanisms in the marsh frog. Against the background of environmental stress, the presence of intraerythrocytic parasites acts as an additional modulator of amphibian cellular immunity.
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| 15_Romanova_178-190.pdf | 955.19 KB |
Over the past fifteen years, nanozymes—artificial nanomaterials with enzyme-like catalytic activity—have evolved from a laboratory phenomenon into one of the most rapidly advancing platforms in nanomedicine. The unique ability of nanozymes to selectively modulate the levels of reactive oxygen species within the tumor microenvironment opens fundamentally new avenues for highly selective therapy of malignant neoplasms. This review systematically presents current advances in the development of "smart" nanozymes for cancer treatment. Catalytic mechanisms are discussed in detail, including peroxidase-like, oxidase-like, catalase-like, superoxide dismutase-like, and hydrolase-like activities, as well as the factors influencing these processes. The main classes of nanozymes are analyzed: metals and metal oxides, carbon-based materials, metal-organic frameworks, single-atom catalysts, bimetallic and biomimetic systems. Strategies for enhancing catalytic efficiency are examined: heterometallic doping, defect engineering, surface modification, control of porosity and dimensionality, and the use of hybrid constructs with natural enzymes. Special attention is given to the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning methods for predicting nanozyme structure and activity, thereby accelerating the search for optimal candidates. Therapeutic modalities are described—chemodynamic, photothermal, photodynamic, and sonodynamic therapy, depletion therapy, immunotherapy, as well as the induction of novel forms of cell death. It is shown that combined approaches, in which nanozymes perform multiple catalytic functions simultaneously, are the most effective. Finally, barriers to clinical translation are critically assessed: long-term biosafety, incomplete in vivo specificity, the challenge of scalable synthesis, and the lack of standardized evaluation protocols. Potential strategies to overcome these limitations are proposed.
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| 14_Nikiforova_163-177.pdf | 546.53 KB |
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial factors in the physiological development of an organism, regulating gene expression by binding to specific proteins, microRNAs, and genomic regions. Consequently, an imbalance in lncRNA activation has global implications and can lead to serious consequences, such as the development of malignancies. In evolution, the most important sources of formation and changes in lncRNA genes were transposable elements (TEs), which play a significant role in the carcinogenesis of one of the most aggressive and incurable brain tumors – glioblastoma. According to numerous studies, increased expression of TEs, which are involved in carcinogenesis, is detected in glioblastoma tissues and cell lines. Since most lncRNA gene regulatory sequences originate from TEs, it has been hypothesized that pathological activation of TEs also contributes to glioblastoma development by altering lncRNA expression. Indeed, lncRNAs involved in glioblastoma development interact with TE-derived microRNAs, supporting this hypothesis. This review describes the mechanisms by which lncRNAs influence glioblastoma pathogenesis, their relationship with TEs involved in this tumor, and with TE-derived microRNAs. The data obtained may form the basis for new methods of glioblastoma diagnosing and treating.
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| 13_Mustafin_144-162.pdf | 989.77 KB |
Photopolymer materials based on methacrylic acid esters are extensively utilized in additive manufacturing; nevertheless, their application in medicine is constrained by the absence of antimicrobial activity, which elevates the risk of infectious complications. The present paper puts forth a methodology for producing composites for stereolithographic 3D printing by introducing metal oxide nanoparticles (TiO2, CuO, ZnO, and Ag2O) into a methacrylate resin. The synthesis of the nanoparticles was accomplished via a laser ablation process in water, followed by their transfer to acetone and subsequent dispersion in the resin at concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 0.1 vol%. The utilization of dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering methodologies has elucidated that the nature of particle agglomeration in acetone is contingent upon the nature of the oxide and exhibits a correlation with the surface charge density, otherwise known as the zeta potential. It has been demonstrated that all composites retain their photopolymerizability, thereby enabling the fabrication of three-dimensional objects (i.e., test models and an orthodontic mouthguard). The antibacterial activity of the modified materials was assessed by measuring the inhibition of Escherichia coli growth over a 24-hour period. The results demonstrated a pronounced bacteriostatic effect for all modified materials. The composite with 0.1% Ag2O exhibited the strongest effect, with a maximum of 58% inhibition. ZnO and CuO, at the same concentration, showed similar results, with 48% and 45% inhibition, respectively. In contrast, TiO2 demonstrated saturation of activity at a lower concentration, with 0.01% resulting in complete inhibition. The study of the cytotoxic effect on human fibroblasts (HSF line) was conducted using fluorescence microscopy. The results indicated that cell viability on all composites exceeded 95% relative to the unmodified polymer. Consequently, the developed composites exhibit a synergistic combination of high antibacterial efficacy and low toxicity, along with technological suitability for 3D printing. This technological aptitude renders the composites promising candidates for utilization in the fabrication of implants, surgical templates, and dental structures that possess enhanced antiseptic properties.
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| 12_Kozlov_134-143.pdf | 782.28 KB |
Myocardial ischemia is a condition of inadequate blood supply to the cardiac muscle, resulting from impaired blood flow through the coronary vessels, as well as from the cessation of cardiac activity during cardiac surgical interventions. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying ischemia and the recovery of myocardial contractile function after ischemia may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic approaches aimed at protecting the myocardium from ischemic and reperfusion injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect varying duration of ischemia on the recovery isolated rat heart of functional parameters. Isolated hearts of 20-week-old rats were perfused using the Langendorff method. We analyzed systolic and diastolic blood pressures, left ventricular developed pressure, heart rate, and coronary flow rate of the isolated heart. In the experimental groups, total ischemia was induced by cessation of perfusion for 20, 30, and 60 minutes, followed by 40 minutes of myocardial reperfusion. The recovery of the cardiac contractility index, left ventricular developed pressure (LVP), demonstrated a direct dependence on the duration of ischemia: the longer the ischemic time, the lower the degree of recovery of this parameter. Cardiac reperfusion following simulated global ischemia is accompanied by elevated left ventricular diastolic pressure. Myocardial ischemia of 60-minute duration causes coronary artery dysfunction and reduces their vasodilatory capacity during reperfusion.
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| 11_Khabibrakhmanov_125-133.pdf | 735.71 KB |
