Prevalence, Structure and Clinical and Functional Characteristics of Risk Factors for the Development of Cardiovascular Diseases in Adults in Children of School Age

Relevance. Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Known modifiable and unmodifiable risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease in adults are found already in childhood, are relatively persistent, leading not only to the formation of cardiovascular disease, but also to disability and death at a young age. Objective. Study of the prevalence, structure and clinical and functional characteristics of risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease in adults in school-age children in Bishkek. Research methods. The material for the study was the analysis of survey data of 2856 schoolchildren aged 10 to 17 years, selected as a result of a one-step cross-sectional study of students from 5 educational institutions in Bishkek. To study cardiovascular disease RF in children, a specially developed questionnaire and survey card were used. Results of work. As a result of the questionnaire, the presence of hereditary cardiovascular disease burden was revealed in 26.5% (771) schoolchildren and 2.4% (72) of them confirmed heart disease in their parents. The smoking factor was detected in 8.5% (245) schoolchildren, and 40.6% (1160) schoolchildren indicated low physical activity. An increased body mass index as one of the main risk factors was found in 7.4% (211) schoolchildren. Daily consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits was revealed only in 41.3% of schoolchildren, which indicates an insufficiently balanced diet of the surveyed children. Scope of the results. The results of the study will make it possible to take certain measures to predict morbidity, develop preventive measures among children and adolescents for the development of serious diseases of the heart and blood vessels in the future.

Immune Dysfunctions of CD56neg NK Cells Are Associated With HIV-1 Disease Progression

BackgroundPopulations of natural killer cells lacking CD56 expression [CD56neg natural killer (NK) cells] have been demonstrated to expand during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection. However, their phenotypic and functional characteristics have not been systematically analyzed, and their roles during disease progression remain poorly understood.MethodsIn this study, 84 donors, namely 34 treatment-naïve HIV-1-infected patients (TNs), 29 HIV-1-infected patients with successful antiretroviral therapy (ARTs), and 21 healthy controls (HCs), were enrolled. The phenotypic and functional characteristics of CD56neg NK cells were analyzed using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and flow cytometry. A potential link between the characteristics of CD56neg NK cells and the clinical parameters associated with HIV-1 disease progression was examined.ResultsThe frequency of the CD56neg NK cell population was significantly increased in TNs, which could be partially rescued by ART. Flow cytometry analyses revealed that CD56neg NK cells were characterized by high expression of CD39, TIGIT, CD95, and Ki67 compared to CD56dim NK cells. In vitro assays revealed reduced IFN-γ and TNF-α secretion, as well as decreased expression of granzyme B and perforin in CD56neg NK cells. In line with the data obtained by flow cytometry, scRNA-seq analysis further demonstrated impaired cytotoxic activities of CD56neg NK cells. Notably, a negative correlation was observed between CD39, CD95, and Ki67 expression levels in CD56neg NK cells and CD4+ T cell counts.ConclusionsThe results presented in this study indicate that the CD56neg NK cell population expanded in HIV-1-infected individuals is dysfunctional and closely correlates with HIV-1 disease progression.

Development of the ELISA Test System for Quantitative Determination of IgG to the Varizella zoster virus in Human Serum and Assessment of its Diagnostic Efficiency

Relevance. The introduction of Varicella vaccine prophylaxis explains the need to develop a methodology for monitoring the vaccination effectiveness and the intensity of population immunity. This problem can be solved using quantitative immunoassay methods. Aim. Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the concentration of class G immunoglobulins (AB) to Varicella zoster virus (VZV) determining and assessing its functional characteristics and diagnostic efficiency. Materials and methods. Recombinant antigen GE VZV. WHO International Standard for Antibodies to VZV W1044. Blood serum samples from healthy people and patients with Chickenpox and Herpes zoster, blood serum samples containing IgG antibodies to herpes simplex viruses of the first and second types, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus. Anti-VZV ELISA (IgG) reagent kit (Euroimmun, Germany). Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunization of animals with recombinant antigen GE, isolation, and purification of specific antibodies. Conjugation of monoclonal antibodies to human IgG with antibodies to antigen GE and with horseradish peroxidase. Results. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in «an indirect» format has been developed to determine the specific antibodies to VZV concentration (IU/ml) in human serum/plasma. An artificial calibrator for determining the concentration of AB-VZV had been synthesized and standardized according to the International WHO-standard W1044. The main functional characteristics of the developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay are determined in accordance with GOST 51352-2013. The diagnostic kit was tested on blood serum samples from children with chickenpox (n = 43), adults with Herpes zoster (n = 158), healthy individuals (n = 781). The diagnostic sensitivity of the test system was 85%, the diagnostic specificity was 87% according to the ROC analysis. The absence of cross-reactivity of the test system was shown on samples with serological markers of other herpesvirus infections (n = 94). Comparative trials of the developed test system and its commercial analog, the Anti-VZV ELISA (IgG) reagent kit, did not reveal statistically significant differences between their functional characteristics. Conclusions. The developed test system for determining of the AB-VZV concentration in human serum/plasma in terms of its functional characteristics meets the GOST requirements, is characterized by high diagnostic efficiency, can be used to monitor the effectiveness of vaccine prophylaxis and strength of population immunity, as well as to assess the immune response in chickenpox and Herpes zoster.

Nachtigall in the battle for Lviv Ledge. Structure, tasks, actions

Thea article discusses the Nachtigall unit, its command structure, and functional characteristics in the advancing Wehrmacht. It also covers Nachtigall’s purpose and tasks during the battles for Lviv. The unit is studied in the context of the German military structure as of 1941.

Research Progress in Preparation, Stability and Application of Nanoemulsion

Nanoemulsion has excellent functional characteristics, it is widely applied in medicine, food, cosmetics, agriculture and other fields, thus gradually becoming hit issue in scientific research. This article combines various literature reports around the world. In order to provide reference for further research and development of nanoemulsion, we thoroughly analyze the preparation technology, composition, stability mechanism and the factors affecting its stability, and summarize the application of nanoemulsion in the food field.