A Key Role of CD8+ T Cells in Controlling of Tuberculosis Infection

The main role in the control of tuberculosis infection is played by macrophages and Th1 and CD8+ T cells. The study aimed to identify the most diagnostically significant CD8+ T cell subsets in tuberculosis patients.

METHODS

Peripheral blood samples from patients with clinical, radiological, and bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (TB, n = 32) and healthy subjects (HC, n = 31) were collected and analyzed using 10-color flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The frequency of the EM4 CD3+CD8+ cells was reduced in the peripheral blood of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, while the relative and absolute number of EM1 CD3+CD8+ cells increased compared to the control group. CD57 expression was reduced in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis on EM1, EM2, and pE1 CD3+CD8+ cells, whereas the EM3 cells had a high level of CD57 expression. The relative and absolute number of Tc2 (CCR6-CXCR3-) cells in peripheral blood in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was increased, while the frequency of Tc1 (CCR6-CXCR3+) was decreased, compared to healthy donors.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis have an abnormal CD3+CD8+ cell profile and demonstrate their impaired maturation and functional activity.

Molecular Markers of Early Immune Response in Tuberculosis: Prospects of Application in Predictive Medicine

Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important public health problem and one of the leading causes of death. Individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) have an increased risk of developing active TB. The problem of the diagnosis of the various stages of TB and the identification of infected patients in the early stages has not yet been solved. The existing tests (the tuberculin skin test and the interferon-gamma release assay) are useful to distinguish between active and latent infections. But these tests cannot be used to predict the development of active TB in individuals with LTBI. The purpose of this review was to analyze the extant data of the interaction of M. tuberculosis with immune cells and identify molecular predictive markers and markers of the early stages of TB. An analysis of more than 90 sources from the literature allowed us to determine various subpopulations of immune cells involved in the pathogenesis of TB, namely, macrophages, dendritic cells, B lymphocytes, T helper cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and NK cells. The key molecular markers of the immune response to M. tuberculosis are cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, IL-22b, IFNɣ, TNFa, and TGFß), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9), and their inhibitors (TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3, and TIMP-4). It is supposed that these molecules could be used as biomarkers to characterize different stages of TB infection, to evaluate the effectiveness of its treatment, and as targets of pharmacotherapy.

Pulmonary Sarcoidosis: Experimental Models and Perspectives of Molecular Diagnostics Using Quantum Dots

Sarcoidosis is a complex inflammatory multisystem disease of unknown etiology that is characterised by epithelioid cell granulomatous lesions affecting various organs, mainly the lungs. In general, sarcoidosis is asymptomatic, but some cases result in severe complications and organ failure. So far, no accurate and validated modelling for clinical and pathohistological manifestations of sarcoidosis is suggested. Moreover, knowledge about disease-specific diagnostic markers for sarcoidosis is scarce. For instance, pulmonary granulomatosis is associated with the upregulated production of proinflammatory molecules: TNF-α, IL-6, CXCL1, CCL2, CCL18, CD163, serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (sACE), lysozyme, neopterin, and serum amyloid A (SAA). Quantum dots (QDs) are widely applied for molecular diagnostics of various diseases. QDs are semiconductor nanoparticles of a few nanometres in size, made from ZnS, CdS, ZnSe, etc., with unique physical and chemical properties that are useful for the labelling and detection in biological experiments. QDs can conjugate with various antibodies or oligonucleotides, allowing for high-sensitivity detection of various targets in organs and cells. Our review describes existing experimental models for sarcoidosis (in vitro, in vivo, and in silico), their advantages and restrictions, as well as the physical properties of quantum dots and their potential applications in the molecular diagnostics of sarcoidosis. The most promising experimental models include mice with TSC2 deletion and an in silico multiscale computational model of sarcoidosis (SarcoidSim), developed using transcriptomics and flow cytometry of human sarcoid biopsies. Both models are most efficient to test different candidate drugs for sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis and Autoimmune Inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants

Currently, sarcoidosis remains one of the diseases with unknown etiology, which significantly complicates its diagnosis and treatment. Various causes of sarcoidosis have been studied for many years. Both organic and inorganic trigger factors, provoking the development of granulomatous inflammation are considered. However, the most promising and evidence-based hypothesis is the development of sarcoidosis as an autoimmune disease, provoked by various adjuvants in genetic predisposed individuals. This concept fits into the structure of the autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome, induced by adjuvants (ASIA) that was proposed in 2011 by Professor Shoenfeld Y. In this paper, the authors reveal the presence of major and minor ASIA criteria for sarcoidosis, propose a new concept of the course of sarcoidosis within the framework of ASIA, and point out the difficulties in creating a model of the disease and the selection of therapy. It is obvious that the data obtained not only bring us closer to understanding the nature of sarcoidosis, but also potentiate new studies confirming this hypothesis by obtaining a model of the disease.

Circulating Regulatory T Cell Subsets in Patients with Sarcoidosis

Over recent years, many researchers have supported the autoimmune theory of sarcoidosis. The presence of uncontrolled inflammatory response on local and system levels in patients with sarcoidosis did not define that the immunoregulatory mechanisms could be affected. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution and the disturbance circulating Treg cell subsets in the peripheral blood in patients with sarcoidosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective comparative study was performed in 2016-2018 (34 patients with sarcoidosis (men (67.6%), women (32.3%)) were examined). Healthy subjects-the control group (n = 40). The diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis was performed according to the standard criteria. We used two ten-color combinations of antibodies for Treg immunophenotyping. The first one contained CD39-FITC, CD127-PE, CCR4-PE/Dazzle™ 594, CD25-PC5.5, CD161-PC7, CD4-APC, CD8-APC-AF700, CD3-APC/Cy7, HLA-DR-PacBlue, and CD45 RA-BV 510™, while the second consisted of CXCR3-Alexa Fluor 488, CD25-РЕ, CXCR5-РЕ/Dazzle™ 594, CCR4-PerСP/Сy5.5, CCR6-РЕ/Cy7, CD4-АPC, CD8 АPC-AF700, CD3-АPC/Cy7, CCR7-BV 421, and CD45 RA-BV 510. The flow cytometry data were analyzed by using Kaluza software v2.3. A statistical analysis was performed with Statistica 7.0 and GraphPad Prism 8 software packages.

RESULTS OF THE STUDY

Primarily, we found that patients with sarcoidosis had decreased absolute numbers of Treg cells in circulation. We noted that the level of CCR7-expressing Tregs decreased in patients with sarcoidosis vs. the control group (65.55% (60.08; 70.60) vs. 76.93% (69.59; 79.86) with p < 0.001). We noticed that the relative numbers of CD45RA-CCR7+ Tregs decreased in patients with sarcoidosis (27.11% vs. 35.43%, p < 0.001), while the frequency of CD45 RA-CCR7- and CD45RA+ CCR7- Tregs increased compared to the control group (33.3% vs. 22.73% and 0.76% vs. 0.51% with p < 0.001 and p = 0.028, respectively). CXCR3-expressing Treg cell subsets-Th1-like CCR60078CXCR3+ Tregs and Th17.1-like CCR6+ CXCR3+ Tregs-significantly increased in patients with sarcoidosis vs. the control group (14.4% vs. 10.5% with p < 0.01 and 27.9% vs. 22.8% with p < 0.01, respectively). Furthermore, the levels of peripheral blood EM Th17-like Tregs significantly decreased in the sarcoidosis group vs. the control group (36.38% vs. 46.70% with p < 0.001). Finally, we found that CXCR5 expression was increased in CM Tregs cell subsets in patients with sarcoidosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicated a decrease in circulating Tregs absolute numbers and several alterations in Treg cell subsets. Moreover, our results highlight the presence of increased levels of CM CXCR5+ follicular Tregs in the periphery that could be linked with the imbalance of follicular Th cell subsets and alterations in B cell, based on the immune response. The balance between the two functionally distinct Treg cell populations-Th1-like and Th17-like Tregs-could be used in sarcoidosis diagnosis and the determination of prognosis and disease outcomes. Furthermore, we want to declare that analysis of Treg numbers of phenotypes could fully characterize their functional activity in peripherally inflamed tissues.

Identification of autoimmune markers in pulmonary tuberculosis

Introduction

Pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases is mainly promoted by poorly regulated and/or wrong targeted immune response to pathogens including M. tuberculosis. Autoimmunity is one of the processes with are characteristics of tuberculosis (Tbc). The aim was to determine the autoimmune clinical and immunological features in patients with pulmonary Tbc.

Materials and methods

A prospective comparative study was performed in 2017 - 2019 with the inclusion of 46 patients with Tbc. The trigger factors and clinical manifestations, autoantibodies, peripheral blood B cell subsets were stained with fluorochrome-conjugated monoclonal antibodies. 40 healthy volunteers in the control group, were matched for age with no chronic diseases, contacts with TB patients and changes in their laboratory parameters. A statistical analysis was done with GraphPad Prism 6, Statistica 10 (Statsoft) and MedCalc - version 18.2.1 values.

Results

There were no significant ASIA triggers in Tbc patients and control group. 21.1% of Tbc patients had a high level of a rheumatoid factor and in 47.4% complement system factor C3 was high; anti-MCV was detected in 60.7% of Tbc patients. Relative and absolute frequencies of "naïve" Bm1 cells and eBm5 were significantly decreased and activated pre-germinal-center Bm2' cells were significantly increased in Tbc patients. The CD24++CD38++ B cells were increased in Tbc vs control group (10.25% vs 5.42%), p < 0.001, and 19 cell/1μL (10; 290 vs 11 cell/1μL (6; 20), p = 0.029, respectively). The frequency of CXCR3+CCR4- Tfh1 cells was significantly lower in Tbc vs control one (26.52% vs. 31.00%, p = 0.004), while CXCR3-CCR4+ Tfh2 cells were increased in Tbc (20.31% vs. controls (16.56%, p = 0.030). The absolute numbers of Tfh1 cells were decreased in the Tbc vs. control (24 cell/1μL vs. 37 cell/1μL p = 0.005).

Conclusion

The results of our study showed that the detection of a rheumatoid factor, the components of complement system and anti-MCV in complex with alterations in B cells and follicular Th cell subsets may indicate a presence of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis, but they are not specific. The indicators of autoimmune-related provide new opportunities in the Tbc treatment.

Sarcoidosis: Progression to the chronic stage and pathogenic based treatment (narrative review)

Many factors confirm the autoimmune nature of sarcoidosis and help in determining the strategy of patient management and treatment initiation. However, the causes and the mechanisms of disease progression that result in fibrosis and insufficiency of the affected organ remain unclear. This narrative review aims to analyse the mechanisms and biomarkers of sarcoidosis progression, as well as the pathogenetic basis of sarcoidosis therapy. The following characteristics of progressive chronic sarcoidosis were revealed: the disease develops in patients with a genetic predisposition (SNP in genes GREM1, CARD15, TGF-β3, HLA-DQB1^*06:02, HLA-DRB1^*07/14/15), which contributes either the decreased ability of antigen elimination or autoimmune inflammation. Various prognostic biomarkers of disease progression (decreased levels of neopterin, elastase, sIL-2R, chitotriosidase, glycoprotein Krebs von den Lungen, Th17 cell count, reduced quantity of TNF-α in peripheral blood or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) have been described and can potentially be used to determine the group of patients who will benefit from the use of corticosteroids/cytostatic drugs/biologics.

The image of a healthcare specialist on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic as a factor in the psychological stability of Internet users

Introduction

As publications on social media have become an important regulator of group opinions, moods and psychological well-being during the spread of COVID-19, it seems necessary to study the contribution of various information as a source of preserving the psychological resources of the population.

Objectives

To analyze the content in communities created during the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to assess the image of health professionals on social media.

Methods

Using datamining methods, we analyzed publications about medical staff in a large community ‘StopCoronavirus.RF’ which unites more than 400 thousand users.

Results

More than 700 thousand entries were ‘liked’ in the community from March 2020 to March 2021; more than 125000 thousand posts were shared, about 290 thousand comments were written, and all community publications were viewed more than 3 billion times. Publications about medical staff working in the ‘red zones’ in Russia are distinguished by the largest number of ‘likes’ (more than 5000) and comments (more than 300). In the publications and comments, the model of modern heroes saving human lives is emphasized. This type of information contributes to the reduction of anxiety and promotion of psychological safety in case of COVID-19 contraction through establishing confidence in the competence of medical staff and their involvement in the fight against the pandemic.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the image of a doctor on social media during the pandemic has acquired special value for the population. Publications on the work of medical staff in the ‘red zones’ help to cope with anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was funded by RFBR, project number 20-04-60174.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Positive education for students’ mental health support

Introduction

There has been obvious in university education the importance of mental health and psychological well-being of students along with academic achievements (Lambert et al., 2019). M. Seligman, one of the founders of positive psychology, characterizes positive education as education aimed at acquiring happiness along with knowledge and skills (Seligman et al., 2009).

Objectives

The current study aims to overview the positive education impact on mental health and psychological well-being.

Methods

Systematic analysis of research publications concerning positive education and its role for maintenance of mental health and psychological well-being.

Results

While university administration collects student’s feedback on various aspects of the educational process, it almost never asks students for their opinion on what can be done for their psychological well-being. The promotion of psychological well-being among young people is becoming an increasingly popular topic, and positive education is increasingly emerging within education. Positive education can be seen as a general sphere of positive psychology and advanced practice in education that aims the development of students for both academic achievement and psychological well-being. Special attention in positive education is paid to the use of empirically proven methods and programs aimed at improving well-being, engagement in educational activities, optimism, positive emotions, life satisfaction and other positive experience.

Conclusions

A particularly promising direction for the development of positive education can be the use of information and communication technologies to improve mental health and psychological well-being. The reported study was funded by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project number 18-29-22049.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Dynamics of indicators of mental health and mental wellbeing among university students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

University students’ lifestyle has changed dramatically due to the spread of COVID-19. They had to face adaptation to the online learning format, as well as strict and long-term restriction of social contacts.

Objectives

To trace the dynamics in the main indicators of mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress) and mental wellbeing among students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

DASS (Lovibond, Lovibond, 1995) and WEMWBS (Tennant et al., 2007) were applied in the research. The study involved 733 students at Russian universities aged from 18 to 23 years (M=20.0; SD=3.23), of which 88.1% were girls. The same design was used in the spring (N=245), in the autumn of 2020 (N=270) and in the winter of 2021 (N=218).

Results

It was found that the indicators for all DASS scales significantly differ (p<0.05) across the three periods. With Post Hoc Scheffe, it was shown that the levels of depression, anxiety and stress in autumn 2020 and winter 2021 were significantly higher than in spring 2020 (p<0.05). The WEMWBS values differ significantly (p<0.05) throughout the periods. The level of mental wellbeing among students in spring 2020 was significantly higher than in autumn 2020 and in winter 2021 (p<0.05).

Conclusions

It was revealed that despite the rather severe restrictions in Russia at the beginning of the pandemic, and relatively mild measures taken afterwards (compared to many countries), the indicators of students’ mental health as well as the level of their mental well-being continued to decline. The reported study was funded by RFBR, project number 20-04-60174.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Spatial Distribution of Polyphenolic Compounds in Corn Grains (Zea mays L. var. Pioneer) Studied by Laser Confocal Microscopy and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Desirable changes in the biochemical composition of food plants is a key outcome of breeding strategies. The subsequent localization of nutritional phytochemicals in plant tissues gives important information regarding the extent of their synthesis across a tissue. We performed a detailed metabolomic analysis of phytochemical substances of grains from Zea mays L. (var. Pioneer) by tandem mass spectrometry and localization by confocal microscopy. We found that anthocyanins are located mainly in the aleurone layer of the grain. High-performance liquid chromatography in combination with ion trap tandem mass spectrometry revealed the presence of 56 compounds, including 30 polyphenols. This method allows for effective and rapid analysis of anthocyanins by plotting their distribution in seeds and grains of different plants. This approach will permit a more efficient screening of phenotypic varieties during food plant breeding.

Post COVID-19 Syndrome in Patients with Asymptomatic/Mild Form

Post COVID-19 Syndrome (PCS) is a complex of various symptoms developing a month or more after the acute phase of the disease. The cases of PCS development among patients with asymptomatic/mild forms are frequently reported; however, the pathogenesis of PCS in this group of patients is still not completely clear. The publications about COVID-19 which were published in online databases from December 2019 to September 2021 are analyzed in this review. According to the analysis, PCS develops on average in 30-60% of patients, mainly among women. Fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, and anosmia were reported as the most common symptoms. The possible association between the described PCS symptoms and brain damage was revealed. We assume the possibility of an alternative course of COVID-19, which develops in genetically predisposed individuals with a stronger immune response, in which it predominantly affects the cells of the nervous system, possibly with the presence of an autoimmune component, which might have similarity with chronic fatigue syndrome or autoimmune disautonomia. Thus, the gender (female) and the presence of anosmia during an asymptomatic or mild course of the disease can be predictive factors for the development of PCS, which can be caused by autoimmune damage to neurons, glia, and cerebral vessels.

Non-valvular atrial fibrillation recurrence after sinus rhythm restoring at different follow-up periods: phenotype-genotype high-risk groups, considering rs10465885 polymorphism in connexin-40 gene

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Purpose

to provide risk stratification of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after sinus rhythm restoring (SRR) in patients (pts) with AF at different follow-up periods (3 months (AFr3m), 12 months (AFr12m) and 18 months [AFr18m]), based on phenotype-genotype high-risk groups, considering rs10465885 polymorphism in connexin-40 gene (SNP-Cx40).

Methods. We enrolled 186 pts (mean age (55 ± 10) years; males 123 [66,1%]) with AF (paroxysmal – 86, persistent – 72, stable – 28 pts; first onset (FO) AF – 48 pts). Clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic data were analyzed. SNP-Cx40 was genotyped by real time PCR (T – reference, C – minor allele) in 112 pts. The genotypes were distributed as follows: TT – 25,9% (n = 29); CT – 49,1% (n = 55); CC – 25,0% (n = 28). SRR was performed in 112 cases (102 pts) with non-permanent AF: 30 – pharmacological cardioversion (PCV), 62 – direct-current cardioversion (DCV), 20 cases – radiofrequency ablation (RFA). AFr3m occurred in 53 (43,4%) of 122 available cases; AFr12m – 65,5% (76/116); AFr18m – 75,2% (79/105). The Artificial Neural networks (ANNs) analysis was performed to select the AF recurrence predictors. We considered the ANN activation function value (Y) and its relation to Y cut-off value (Ycrit). In case of Y &gt; Ycrit, the AF recurrence risk was considered as «high».

Results. We built three nonlinear ANN models (multilayer perceptrons) for AFr3m (Ycrit = 0,496), AFr12m (Ycrit = 0,503) and AFr18m (Ycrit = 0,720) risk prediction.

In case of SNP-Cx40 CC genotype carriage, we determined the additional increase of AFr3m risk after PCV in pts with CHA2DS2-VASc score «0» and normal (Y = 0,629) or mildly decreased (Y = 0,616) left ventricular mid-wall fractional shortening, and in the case of its moderate decrease – both after PCV (Y = 0,585) and DCV (Y = 0,627).

The CC genotype was associated with AFr12m high risk in pts without heart failure (HF) and mildly increased left atrial dimension (LAD) – both after PCV (FO AF with known precise event duration (PED); Y = 0,906) or DCV (FO AF with unknown PED; Y = 0,911). Additionally, CC genotype was associated with AFr12m high risk after RFA in pts without HF and normal or mildly increased LAD (Y = 0,912), and in pts with HF B or C1 stage (according to modified AHA/ACC classification) with moderately increased LAD (Y = 0,912).

The high-risk groups of AFr18m in pts with CC genotype were as follows (Y = 0,913): after RFA in pts with recurrent AF and presence of episodes lasting ≥7 days; after PCA in case of FO AF with unknown PED and index episode lasting ≥1 month; after DCV in case of FO AF with unknown PED and index episode lasting ≥12 months.

Conclusion. AFr3m, AFr12m and AFr18m, besides SNP-Cx40, were non-linearly associated with SRR type, and certain clinical and echocardiographic phenotypic parameters, which could be used for AF recurrence risk stratification, with the selection of phenotype-genotype high-risk groups, considering SNP-Cx40.

Subjective perception of treatment in patients first referred to radiotherapy and its relationship to their well-being

Introduction

There are wide-spread fears and expectations about radiotherapy in people referred to it that are not only unrealistic (Shaverdian et al., 2018) but also lead to poorer compliance with doctors and poorer satisfaction with treatment (Dong et al., 2014).

Objectives

The aim was to reveal relationship between different aspects of subjective perception of radiotherapy in patients and their well-being.

Methods

34 patients first referred to radiotherapy, 23-70 years old (mostly females with breast cancer) filled modified version of Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire including items about radiotherapy (Horne et al., 1996), Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985), Scale of Positive And Negative Experience (Diener et al., 2009).

Results

Six scales were revealed by factor analysis in the structure of beliefs about radiotherapy (Cronbach’s alphas .74-.85): confidence in the effectiveness of radiation therapy, subjective need for it, lack of understanding of it, concern and general negative attitudes towards radiotherapy, doubts about the effectiveness of radiation therapy. Elder patients reported higher need for radiotherapy but also higher concerns about it (r=.35-.37). Concerns about radiotherapy were related to lower satisfaction with life and positive emotions (r=-.44 - -.34) while subjective need of radiotherapy was related to higher health anxiety (r=.71) and lower positive emotions (r=-.41).

Conclusions

Subjective concerns of patients regarding radiotherapy are related to poorer well-being and could be addressed in psychotherapy.

Digitalization of education and mental health

Introduction

Various social problems, financial difficulties and academic factors contribute to the fact that more and more students around the world experience mental health problems (Chen et al., 2013; Gotlib et al., 2019). On the other hand, all the sides of students’ lives – from education to family relationships – are mediated by information communication technologies, that may have broad and ambiguous influence on students mental health. What is undoubtedly that youth mental health can no longer be considered without touching on the digitalization, including in education.

Objectives

The current study aims to point up positive and negative examples of intersection of education digitalization and mental health of modern youth.

Methods

Theoretical analysis of research publications and conceptualization of practical applications in education mediated by digital technologies.

Results

A striking example of the negative impact of total digitalization of education was the sharp deterioration in mental health in the context of the transition to fully distant learning in conditions of the spread of coronavirus infection. Positive education as teaching form for both traditional skills and positive functioning and happiness provides a broad opportunities to combine the concepts of positive psychology with cutting-edge high-tech education approaches.

Conclusions

Digitalization of modern education can be accompanied by both mental health risks and new opportunities. Mental health support can be based on finding information about good functioning, learning and participating in community activities that are provided through websites and mobile applications. The reported study was funded by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project number 18-29-22049.

Psychological well-being of students living in russia and azerbaijan, depending on their native language

Introduction

Since the post-Soviet space is distinguished by a wide ethnolinguistic diversity with Russian language being the basis of identity for a significant part of the population, the role of ethnolinguistic identity in psychological well-being needs deep analysis.

Objectives

The study explores the relationship between mental well-being and belonging to different ethnolinguistic categories in Russia and Azerbaijan.

Methods

The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (Tennant et al., 2007) was used as a measuring tool. The study involved 90 students, 45 participants from multilingual regions of Russia and 45 Russian-speaking students from Azerbaijan. Both samples included three categories of subjects: indicating Russian (1); one or more regional languages in the Russian sample or Azerbaijani in the sample from Baku (2); two native languages - Russian and one of regional languages or Russian and Azerbaijani (3) - as their native language.

Results

No significant differences were observed in the level of psychological well-being in both Russian (KW = 0.594; p = 0.743) and Azerbaijanian students (KW = 1.535; p = 0.464). However, the level of psychological well-being in Russian students from multilingual regions, who indicate the regional language as their native language, is significantly higher than in Azerbaijani students, whose native language is Russian (U = 55,000; p = 0.045).

Conclusions

The sociocultural context is reflected in mental well-being of the individual, depending on his native language and ethnocultural identity. The reported study was funded by RFBR, project number 17-29-09167.

Native language and its connection with mental well-being, emotional state and life satisfaction in a multilingual society

Introduction

Ethnolinguistic diversity provides the opportunity to study the relation between the native language, the emotional state, and the well-being of a person. Representatives of different linguistic groups may have psychological advantages in specific socio-cultural situations.

Objectives

We investigated the interrelation between mental well-being, emotional state, life satisfaction, and belonging to different ethnolinguistic categories in the Russian society.

Methods

The measuring instruments included the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (Tennant et al., 2007), the Scale ofPositive and Negative Experience (SPANE) (Diener et al., 2009), the questionary on life satisfaction. The research project included 894 respondents aged from 14 to 80 (M=24.0; SD=11.7), residents of eight regions, where there are one or several official languages along with Russian.

Results

The results indicate that mental well-being (F = 1.167; p = 0.312) is independent of the respondents’ native language, while the ratio of positive and negative affect is significantly higher (F = 3.164; p = 0.008) among people who indicated the regional language as the native one, compared to those who have two native languages - Russian and regional (MD = -1.529; p = 0.039). Moreover, the general life satisfaction is higher (F = 7.427; p = 0.001) among native speakers of the regional language as compared to those who indicate both Russian and regional languages as their native languages (MD = 0.638; p <0.001).

Conclusions

Differences in the emotional state and life satisfaction along with the absence of differences in mental well-being were revealed in respondents of different ethnolinguistic categories. The reported study was funded by RFBR, project number 17-29-09167.

Recombinant tuberculosis allergen (Diaskintest®) in tuberculosis diagnostic in Russia (meta-analysis)

Immunological testing for tuberculosis has been one of the most rapidly developing areas in the last decade. A new-generation immunological skin test, Diaskintest (DST), has been developed in the Russian Federation and successfully implemented into clinical practice since 2009. This article presents the results of a meta-analysis of publications reporting data on the use of the recombinant tuberculosis allergen DST (n = 121) from 2009 to 2019 included in Russian and international databases. The analysis included a total of 61 papers consistent with the study design, which cumulatively presented the results of 3,777,083 patients tested with DST (83.0%). The obtained data showed that the overall diagnostic sensitivity of the test in this population, regardless of age, was 86.0%, with 98.0% negative results. It was found that the intensity of the immune response of tuberculosis patients to specific ESAT-6 and CFP-10 antigens of DST may depend on the biological properties of the pathogen characteristic to various Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotypes, tuberculosis severity, and the presence of concomitant diseases. These factors are more prevalent in the adult population. In children, however, the test sensitivity reaches 100%. The proportion of positive DST results in HIV-positive patients tested for tuberculosis was 60.0%. The analysis showed that the accuracy (overall validity) of DST was 95.1% in the total studied population (95% confidence interval [CI]: 95.06-95.1) and 92.4% in HIV-positive patients (95% CI: 91.9-92.7).

The opposite effect of human leukocyte antigen genotypes in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis: a narrative review of the literature

Sarcoidosis and tuberculosis share several similar clinical and pathogenic characteristics that make some researchers consider a common pathogenesis for these diseases. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes are studied both in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis patients, but to our knowledge, there are no comparative studies of genetic predisposition for sarcoidosis and tuberculosis development.

The aim of this review was to analyse the relationship between HLA genotypes and the development of sarcoidosis and tuberculosis. Original and review articles published in various online databases from 1960 to 2019 were studied.

The search results showed opposite effects of the HLA genotypes on predisposition to sarcoidosis or tuberculosis. It was revealed that the genotypes predisposing to the development of sarcoidosis (HLA-DRB1*03/07/15) have protective properties against the development of tuberculosis. Moreover, genotypes causing the development of tuberculosis (HLA-DRB1*04) have a protective effect on the development of sarcoidosis.

The results of this narrative review of the literature may allude to the existence of genetic predispositions that lead to the development of an antibacterial or autoimmune response to mycobacteria.

The HLA-DRB1*03/07/15 genotypes predispose to the development of sarcoidosis and have protective properties against the development of tuberculosis, while the HLA-DRB1*04 genotype has an opposite effect on the development of these diseaseshttps://bit.ly/2Tl2rj1

P1079Non-valvular atrial fibrillation recurrence after sinus rhythm restoring at 1-year follow-up: predictors and risk stratification considering rs10465885 polymorphism in connexin-40 gene

Purpose

to establish the predictors of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after sinus rhythm restoring (SRR) in patients (pts) with AF at 1-year follow-up (AFr1y), and provide AFr1y risk stratification, considering single nucleotide polymorphism rs10465885 in connexin-40 gene (SNP-Cx40).

Methods. We enrolled 186 pts before the age of 65 years (mean age (55 ± 10) years; males 123 [66,1%]) with AF (paroxysmal – 86, persistent – 72, stable – 28 pts; first onset (FO) AF – 48 pts). Clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic data were analyzed. SNP-Cx40 was genotyped by real time polymerase chain reaction (T – reference, C – minor allele) in 112 pts. Genotype distribution of SNP-Cx40 was as follows: TT – 25,9% (n = 29); CT – 49,1% (n = 55); CC – 25,0% (n = 28). SRR was performed in 112 cases (102 pts) with non-permanent AF: 30 – pharmacological cardioversion (PCV), 62 – direct-current cardioversion (DCV), 20 cases – radiofrequency ablation (RFA). AFr1y occurred in 74 (66,1%) of 112 cases. We performed Artificial Neural networks (ANNs) analysis to select the AFr1y predictors. While AFr1y risk stratification, we considered the activation function value (Y) of the certain ANN model and its relation to Y cut-off value (Ycrit). In case of Y &gt; Ycrit, the AFr1y risk was considered as «high».

Results. Genetic algorithm Input Selection revealed the set of parameters, associated with AFr1y, included SRR type, SNP-Cx40, and baseline clinical (body mass index, global cardiovascular risk, heart failure (HF) stage, CHA2DS2-VASc score, AF anamnesis duration, average AF event duration, FO AF), laboratory (fasting glucose level, estimated glomerular filtration rate, red cell distribution width, total serum cholesterol level) and echocardiographic (left atrial dimension (LAD), left ventricular (LV) mid-wall fractional shortening degree, LV hypertrophy degree) characteristics.

In order to obtain the maximal reduction of predictors, we built non-linear multilayer perceptron model (MLP5) on the basis of set of 5 the most sensitive parameters, included SRR type, SNP-Cx40, HF stage, LAD and FO AF. The area under curve for MLP5 (0,808 [CI 0,723-0,876]) was higher than 0,5 (p &lt; 0,001), with Ycrit = 0,503.

The rs10465885 CC genotype was associated with AFr1y high risk in pts without HF and mildly increased LAD – both after PCV (FO AF with known precise event duration (PED); Y = 0,906) or DCV (FO AF with unknown PED; Y = 0,911). Additionally, rs10465885 CC genotype was associated with AFr1y high risk after RFA in pts without HF and normal or mildly increased LAD (Y = 0,912), and in pts with HF B or C1 stage (according to modified AHA/ACC classification) with moderately increased LAD (Y = 0,912).

Conclusions. AFr1y was non-linearly associated with SRR type, SNP-Cx40 and certain phenotypic parameters, including HF stage, FO AF and LAD. These parameters could be used for AFr1y risk stratification, with the selection of phenotype-genotype high risk groups, considering SNP-Cx40.

Development of new catalytic processes for processing petroleum feedstock

Currently such factors as the use of heavier feedstocks, permanent strengthening of requirements to oil and gas product quality, introduction of technical regulations for oil products, which, in turn, necessitate the development of new technologies and catalysts, have a great influence on the global oil-refining and petrochemical industry development. Recently, a special attention is given to the development of new catalysts and processes for producing middle distillate fuels suitable for cold and arctic climatic conditions. Catalytic hydrodewaxing and isodewaxing processes are the most efficient in this field. Research into controlling a functional structure of catalysts and creation of catalytic systems based on zirconium dioxide modified by tungstate anions are of outstanding interest. The trend of the use of heavier petroleum feedstocks and the need to improve the oil conversion level demand will be based on destruction of high-molecular-weight compound structures with producing light and middle cuts. So, the most important processes for heavy oil residue conversion are those enabling to control transformations of resinous-asphaltenic materials by using nanoscale catalytic systems. One of the examples of the industrial implementation of technologies using suspended catalysts is the hydroconversion process implemented currently at AO TANECO (lisencer: TIPS RAS; general designer: OAO VNIPIneft).

Glucocorticoid activeness in patients with mitral valve prolapse and autonomic dysfunction

Background

Urgency of psychophysiological examination of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) patients is suggested by a high incidence of anxiety disorders among these patients.

Objectives

To study glucocorticoid function activity and emotional stress resistance in MVP patients with autonomic dysfunction (AD).

Methods

The trait anxiety level (TA) was assessed with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger). Emotional stress resistance was undertaken with our modified version of Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test (Zinchenko, Pervichko). The cortisol level in blood plasma was measured by radioimmunoassay technique with radioimmune assay kit of cortisol in human blood plasma ‘KORT-3N’ (Belarus). There were 32 MVP patients (mean age was 28.5 ± 1.6 years) and 15 healthy people (mean age was 27.5 ± 1.3 years) who took part in the study.

Results

Among reactions to frustration revealed by MVP patients the following categories are dominating: extrapunitive (Е), ego-defensive (ED), and obstacle-dominance (OD). There was revealed a direct correlations: TA and Е (r = 0.49, Р < 0.001); TA and ED (r = 0.46, Р < 0.01); TA and indexes of AD (r = 0.43, Р < 0.01).

There was displayed a higher level of cortisol in MVP patients with severe grade of AD, against the level revealed by patients with average grade of AD (433.9 ± 78.0 mmol/L vs. 299.3 ± 42.9 mmol/L; Р < 0.05). Direct correlations were established between the cortisol level and the level of TA (r = 0.45; Р < 0.01); between the frequency of E-reactions in Modified Rosenzweig Test and cortisol level (r = 0.42; Р < 0.01).

Conclusion

Along with low stress resistance, registered AD and high level of TA, MVP patients reveal higher indexes of cortisol in blood plasma.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

A violation of emotion regulation as a central link in pathogenesis of stress-induced hypertension

Introduction

Essential hypertension (EH) is one of the most common diseases of the cardiovascular system. Today, scientists discover more and more patients whose BP values during work appear to be higher than those values during free time. This form of EH is called “hypertension at work”.

Objective

To study the role emotion dysregulation in the pathogenesis of EH.

Materials and methods

A projective study of emotion regulation was undertaken with our modified version of Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test (Zinchernko, Pervichko). At the second stage of the study, the simulation of emotional stress with the aspiration level modelling was carried out. The level of state anxiety, BP values and levels of catecholamines, renin and angiotonin I were taken before and after the experiment. Eighty-five patients with “hypertension at work” (mean age: 45.9 ± 2.8), 85 patients with “classical” EH (mean age: 47.4 ± 4.5 years) and 82 healthy subjects (mean age: 44.9 ± 3.1) took part in the study.

Results

“Hypertension at work” patients significantly more frequently than patients from the second group and healthy subjects are more prone to rumination, disasterization and repression of their emotions. They will seldom employ the strategy of subjective-objective interactive transformations; their edibility to actualize new meanings in traumatic situations is diminished. We showed that emotion regulation strategies in “hypertension in the work” patients were ineffective in overcoming the emotional tension and created the conditions for chronization of high blood pressure, and could be considerded as the central link in pathogenesis of stress-induced hypertension.

Conclusion

The results contributes to enrich our understanding of etiology and pathogenesis of EH.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Psychological and Psychophysiological Mechanisms of Mental Stress Reaction in Patients with ‘Hypertension at Work’, as Compared with ‘Classical’ Version of Essential Hypertension

Introduction

‘Hypertension at work’ today is found one of the most frequent forms of stress-induced hypertension.

Objectives

To inquire into the specifics of psychological and psychophysiological mechanisms of stress reaction in patients with ‘hypertension at work’, as compared with ‘classical’ essential hypertension (EH).

Materials and methods

The study developed simulation of emotional stress with the aspiration level (AL) modeling. The level of state anxiety (SA), BP values, urine catecholamine levels and levels of renin and angiotonin I in blood plasma were taken before and after the experiment. Eighty-five patients with ‘hypertension at work’ (mean age was 45.9 ± 2.8) and 85 patients with ‘classical’ EH (mean age was 47.4 ± 4.5 years) took part in the study.

Results

Rates of ‘hypertension at work’ patients, when compared with second group patients, revealed a significant increase (Р < 0.001) of systolic BP in response to stress loads (on average, for 16.1 ± 1.9 mmHg and 4.1 ± 0.7 mmHg, respectively). Initially ‘hypertension at work’ patients had significantly lower levels of catecholamines, than the second group, while the levels of renin and angiotensin I were comparable. During the experiment, the patients in the first group showed a significant decrease in all parameters. After the experiment, the patients with ‘HTN at work’ did not show increase of SA, but revealed more frequent inadequacy (69.4%) and instability (56.5%) on the AL. Patients with ‘classical’ EH more often demonstrate adequate AL and lower growth of BP after the experiment.

Conclusions

Patients with ‘hypertension at work’ are more prone to repress their emotions. They reveal physiological features of chronic stress and psychophysiological exhaustion, if compared with second group patients.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The Neuropsychological Approach to the Consciousness in L.S. Vygotsky – A.N. Leontiev – A.R. Luria school

Introduction

Existing polysemy in definitions of human consciousness creates the major difficulty in its understanding. With the development of intensive care modern methods, the number of patients survived after coma and dwelling in disorders consciousness conditions rises.

Aims

Among, the most important practical questions of neuropsychology is estimation of the patient's consciousness current condition. The solvation of these problems requires precise denotation of consciousness neuropsychological criteria.

Methods

All of definitions of consciousness in Russian psychological school, have the binarity as a common feature: in one hand, in view of the world, yourself, and another hand–extraction and differentiation of yourself from the ambient world (self-consciousness).

Results

Neuropsychological model of consciousness (in particular, self-consciousness) includes all higher psychological functions (HPF). However, condition of none of them cannot be sufficient criterion of consciousness estimation. In Russian psychology it is suggested to study the consciousness through its own characteristic, among which one can designate reflexivity, which includes cognitions and personal meanings.

Conclusions

It is possible to determine the quality of consciousness at a specific instant of time, through the system of human relations, as activity is motivated the knowledge is acquired, the affective side of the activity is determined, the self-consciousness is formed exactly through the personal meaning. Personal meaning can act as that quantity of consciousness (self-consciousness) analyses where the external reality and human attitude to this reality are differentiated. One can judge about a degree of contact between a human and a real world by indirect difference between them.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Rosenzweig picture-frustration test modification for a study of emotion regulation strategies among the patients with stress-induced hypertension

Introduction

Emotion regulation (ER) efficiency dwells among the most pressing issues of contemporary psychology and psychiatry. Further development of the methods of reliable assessments for ER makes it the task of current importance.

Objective

To modify Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test for the study of ER in health and in disease.

Methods

In the initial stage of testing participants had to look through a succession of Rosenzweig's pictures, and select potentially traumatizing situations.

In the second stage they answered the following questions:

A total of 85 patients with stress-induced hypertension (mean age was 45.9 ± 2.8) and 82 healthy subjects (mean age was 44.9 ± 3.1) took part in the study.

Results

We came to distinguish among four classes of ER strategies: internal, cognitively non-mediated; internal, cognitively transforming; external, cognitively non-mediated; and external, cognitively transforming (Pervichko, 2015). Hypertensive patients significantly more frequently than healthy subjects reveal wider set of emotionally grave events (19.8% vs 11.2%, P < 0.001), they are more prone to rumination, disasterization (19.0% vs 11.1%, P < 0.001) and suppression in display of their emotions (31.9% vs 20.2%, P < 0.001). The patients will seldom employ the strategy of interactive subject–subject transformations; their capability to actualize new meanings in traumatic situations is diminished.

Conclusions

Application of the described modification of Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test allows to distinguish and classify various ER strategies, and to demonstrate peculiarities in ER related behaviour of hypertensive patients as opposed to healthy subjects.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Psychosemantics of Pain in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Introduction

It is known for a fact that a number of psychological factors may affect heart pain perception in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, psychosemantics of pain in CAD patients was hardly ever explored.

Objective

To study the features of pain psychosemantics in CAD patients.

Methods

There were applied McGill Pain Questionnaire (Melzack, 1975); the psychosemantic technique “Classification of sensations” (Tkhostov, Efremova, 1989); the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (Bagby, Taylor, Parker, 1994); and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger et al., 1983). Fifty-four CAD patients took part in the study, the mean age was 55.9 ± 7.6 years. CAD duration was 5.8 ± 2.6 years.

Results

CAD patients with the high level of trait anxiety (28%) choose greater variety of descriptors for pain definition, revealing an impaired ability to differentiate between emotional states and physical sensations. They show higher scale values for McGill Pain Questionnaire. Patients with high indices of alexithymia (31%) require significantly fewer words for description of painful and dangerous perceptions within the “Classification of sensations”. This may testify to a certain bafflement in verbal description of the pain. With that, intensity of alexithymia does not correlate significantly with the high level of state and trait anxiety (P > 0.05). The method of “Classification of sensations” revealed that patients with trait anxiety, as well as those with alexithymia, define the pain with significantly more numerous metaphorical and affective descriptors (Pervichko, Zinchenko, 2013).

Conclusions

Received results prove an important role of psychological factors in etiology of chest pain in CAD patients with the high level of trait anxiety and alexithymia, which supports the urgency of psychotherapy for them.

References not available.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Interdisciplinary rehabilitation of a patient with right brain injury and recurrent depression

Introduction

Rehabilitaton of concurrent psychiatric disorder and brain injury is a major challenge. E. underwent neurosurgery for right fronto-parietal astrocytoma. Before illness he was managing automatization of big companies, but was fired after the operation. E. felt into severe depression and anxiety with catastrofization of his illness, suicidal ideation. He resisted multiple prescriptions for SSRI, admitting a sect pretending to “treat” oncology by “psychological” methods. Half a year after operation he attended our center.

Objectives and aim

To help E. return to paid employment.

Methods

E. was evaluated by neurologists, psychiatrist, neuropsychologists. Current depressive episode appeared to be the second one with underlying schizoid and perfectionist characteristics. He had moderate text comprehension difficulties, confabulations, slight executive dysfunction. Neuropsychologist educated patient on his difficulties and developed compensatory strategies – an alternative to catastrofisation. After psychoeducational session E. agreed to receive fluvoxamine. However, he deformed the received information due to brain injury, so psychotherapy had only minor effects. Infra-low frequency neurofeedback at T4P4 and T4Fp2 sites was started to promote restoration of right brain functions. E. gradually did better, and 3 months later was able to complete CBT course along with relaxation training.

Results

Improvements in emotional status along with ability to cope with cognitive difficulties allowed E. to return to a job similar to the previous. Six month after the start of treatment medications are tapered off, E. has no signs of depression and only slight anxiety.

Conclusions

Interdisciplinary holistic rehabilitation may be effective in concurrent psychiatric disorder and brain injury.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Psychological syndrome analysis (Vygotsky – Luria School) in psychosomatics: Clinical and psychological study of patients with mitral valve prolapse

Introduction

One of the dominant methodological principles of Russian clinical psychology (the Vygotsky-Luria School) is the principle of Psychological syndrome analysis (PSA). It can also be heuristically applied to psychosomatics.

Objective

To identify a psychosomatic syndrome in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP).

Materials and methods

We applied various techniques for a qualitative and statistical data analysis of clinical and psychological study. We explored our patients’ individual personality profiles, anxiety level (Spielberger et al., 1983), features of achievement motivation (Heckhausen, 1963), emotion regulation strategies (ERS) (Zinchenko, Pervichko, 2014; Pervichko, 2015), dynamics of the patient's emotional state in stress conditions, and degrees of manifestation of MVP clinical symptoms. The study comprised 134 MVP patients, mean age was 24.8 ± 1.2 years, and 73 healthy subjects, mean age was 27.5 ± 1.3 years.

Results

MVP patients proved to be more prone to emotional stress; they were also inclined to choose less effective ERS as compared to healthy subjects. ANOVA data revealed dependence of intensity of such clinical symptoms as cardialgia, tension headaches and psychogenic dyspnea on the degree of anxiety level and the presence of dysfunctional ERS in MVP patients. The interpretation of the study results with PSA method suggested that the patients’ psychological and clinical characteristics form into a psychosomatic syndrome. The first syndrome-generating factor is the presence of the approach – avoidance motivational conflict in achievement settings. Dysfunctions of emotion regulation appear as a second syndrome-generating factor in psychosomatic syndrome in MVP patients.

Conclusions

PSA (the Vygotsky-Luria School) can be used as a means to approach diagnostic and prognostic tasks in Clinical psychology and Psychosomatic medicine.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Neuropsychological and Motivational Factors of Cognitive Efficiency in Elderly Patients with Essential Arterial Hypertension

Introduction

The diagnostics of cognitive disorders (CD) in patients with essential arterial hypertension (EAH) is often necessary for the choice of treatment strategy.

Objective

To assess the role of neuropsychological and motivational factors in cognitive efficiency of elderly EAH patients.

Materials and methods

Twenty-five patients with EAH took part in the study, stage 1–2, mean age was 67.6 ± 6.1. The assessment of cognitive functions embraced a quantitative measurement of intelligence quotient (IQ) with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (Wechsler, 1955), and investigation into qualitative features of cognitive processes with Luria's neuropsychological assessment scheme (Luria, 1980) and Zeigarnik's procedure of pathopsychological study (Zeigarnik, 1972).

Results

Within the psychological syndrome structure of CD in EAH patients the leading part is played by the neuro-dynamic factor, manifested in general lability, slowing down, and sudden exhaustion caused by reduction in energy of mental activity. The conclusion is supported by the high frequency of described symptoms among EAH patients and low dynamics of their reduction against the antihypertensive therapy (Pervichko et al., 2014, 2015). However, performance of experimental tasks makes 30% of EAH patients reveal reduced motivation. They would achieve poor results in general scoring, if compared with the group of highly motivated participants. Correlation analysis data show the interconnection between frequency disturbances in motivation and frequency in occurrence of various signs of cognitive decline, such as low efficiency in memorization and delayed recall, as well as low IQ indices.

Conclusions

The data provide a strong argument to support the hypothesis of particular importance of motivational factor of cognitive efficiency in elderly EAH patients.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.