Anatomical basis for pancreas transplantation via isolated splenic artery perfusion: A literature review

The variability of vascular anatomy of the pancreas underlines the difficulty of its transplantation. Research regarding the consistency of anatomical variations shows splenic arterial dominance in most cases. This can significantly improve transplantation success. A systematic literature review was performed according to the quality standards described in the AMSTAR measurement tool and the PRISMA guidelines. We valuated existing literature regarding the vascularization and blood perfusion patterns of the pancreas in terms of dominance and variability. The collected data was independently analyzed by two researchers. Variance of vascular anatomy was seen to be underreported in literature, though significant findings have been included and discussed in this study, providing valuable insight into the dynamics of pancreatic perfusion and feasibility of transplantation on several different supplying arteries. The splenic artery (SA) has a high percentage of consistency in all found studies (over 90%). High frequency of anastomoses between arterial pools supplying the pancreas can mediate sufficient blood supply through a dominant vessel, such as the SA, which is present in most cases. Pancreatic transplantation with isolated SA blood supply can provide sufficient arterial perfusion of the pancreas for stable transplant viability due to high anatomical consistency of the SA and vast communications with other arterial systems.

Preliminary Study and Assessment of Drinking Water from Almaty, Kazakhstan

 Drinking water samples from eight districts of Almaty, Kazakhstan was collected and physical and chemical analysis of the samples was carried out. Quality indicators of drinking water, such as organoleptic characteristics of water (smell, taste, color, and turbidity), general characteristics (pH, total hardness, permanganate demand, and dry residue), inorganic substances (cations and anions) and contaminants (heavy metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons) were determined, except pesticide residues which will be analyzed for further analysis with a wide range of pollutants. According to all indicators obtained for all districts of Almaty, the anthropogenic impact on drinking water in Almaty districts is assessed as low, not exceeding the permissible maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) values, and drinking water in Almaty corresponds to the approved standards and rules for drinking water of Kazakhstan. Despite of the fact that studied pollutants are below their MAC values, they still pose threat to public health due to their accumulative properties. The study of drinking water in the districts of Almaty made it possible to assess the ecological state in the studied districts of Almaty, as well as to propose recommendations for improving the quality of drinking water in areas where water quality indicators are closer to their MAC values.

Meteorological data, biometry and sensory evaluation of late season peach and nectarine varieties

Peaches are some of the most preferred fruit worldwide. With the vast palette of varieties, they provide an excellent healthy dietary choice. Unfortunately, the peach tree is very dependent on the weather variations during its vegetation in the early spring period. Thus, it is important to link the simple meteorological data to the physical properties of the fruit (width, length, and thickness). Consumers are most likely drawn by-products that have outstanding physical properties. The present study provided information about the sensory attributes of three late-season peach varieties evaluated in five categories with a total of twenty-five attributes. The fruit attributes were evaluated by a 15-point ascending scale. The object of analysis were the “Flat Queen”, “Evmolpiya”, and “Morsiani 90” varieties. The panellists detected differences between varieties in each of the categories (aroma, texture, taste, internal and external appearance), and a relationship to the physical properties was made. The results emphasized the new data in terms of late-ripening peach variety properties.

Depressive disorders and quality of life in patients with acute coronary syndrome in real clinical practice

Background

The prevalence of depressive disorders has become more significant in recent years.

Objective

To study the prevalence of depressive disorders using Zung Anxiety Rating Scale (ZARS) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the daily work of the Regional Vascular Center (RVC) in various gender and social subgroups and to compare their severity with the life quality level.

Materials and methods

The survey included 116 (57 female and 59 male) patients, admitted to RVC with ACS from March to November 2020 (Group I), and 49 patients without ACS, comparable with demographic parameters (Group II). Patients were interviewed with the use of ZARS and the life quality assessment questionnaire (SF-36). Statistical data processing was carried out using Statistica v.13.3, Mann–Whitney U-test, Pearson's chi-squared test, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

In Group I the score on ZARS was higher or equal to 50 (depression) in 18% of cases: 15% female and 3% male patients (p<0.05). The average score on ZARS was notably higher in women than in men (p<0.05). In Group II depression was detected in 27% of cases, without gender differences. A negative correlation was established for the indicators of ZARS and SF-36: in Group I r=−0.62, p<0.05, in Group II r=−0.76, p<0.05. In Group I indicators of health physical component (SF-36) among women were: physical functioning 50, role functioning 34, general health 51, in men: 80, 58 and 63 respectively (p<0.05). In Group II these indicators significantly differed only in physical functioning: 60 female and 72 male. In Group I depression was observed in 2% of working and in 30% of non-working patients (p<0.05); in Group II: 0% and 34% respectively. In Groups I and II depression was found in 10% and 5% among married, in 31% and 43% among unmarried patients (p<0.05). In Group I depression was detected in 31% among patients with diabetes, in 12% - without diabetes (p<0.05). The other analyzed diseases did not have a significant effect on the depression score.

Conclusions

The presence of ACS did not effect on the severity of depressive disorders in comparison with patients with other cardiac pathology, but among women with ACS their severity and prevalence was significantly higher. The severity of depressive disorders was inversely associated with life quality. Among patients with ACS, the health physical component according to SF-36 was significantly lower in women than in men; without ACS - no gender differences. Lack of work and marriage negatively affected on the prevalence of depression among all examined patients. Patients with ACS and diabetes had more elevated level of depression; the presence of depressive disorders was in close relationship with the health physical component among women (according to SF-36). It is necessary to develop and implement specialized rehabilitation programs for this subgroup of patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Compulsory admissions of patients with mental disorders: State of the art on ethical and legislative aspects in 40 European countries

Background.

Compulsory admission procedures of patients with mental disorders vary between countries in Europe. The Ethics Committee of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) launched a survey on involuntary admission procedures of patients with mental disorders in 40 countries to gather information from all National Psychiatric Associations that are members of the EPA to develop recommendations for improving involuntary admission processes and promote voluntary care.

Methods.

The survey focused on legislation of involuntary admissions and key actors involved in the admission procedure as well as most common reasons for involuntary admissions.

Results.

We analyzed the survey categorical data in themes, which highlight that both medical and legal actors are involved in involuntary admission procedures.

Conclusions.

We conclude that legal reasons for compulsory admission should be reworded in order to remove stigmatization of the patient, that raising awareness about involuntary admission procedures and patient rights with both patients and family advocacy groups is paramount, that communication about procedures should be widely available in lay-language for the general population, and that training sessions and guidance should be available for legal and medical practitioners. Finally, people working in the field need to be constantly aware about the ethical challenges surrounding compulsory admissions.

Dynamics of storage reserve deposition during Brassica rapa L. pollen and seed development in microgravity

Pollen and seeds share a developmental sequence characterized by intense metabolic activity during reserve deposition before drying to a cryptobiotic form. Neither pollen nor seed development has been well studied in the absence of gravity, despite the importance of these structures in supporting future long-duration manned habitation away from Earth. Using immature seeds (3-15 d postpollination) of Brassica rapa L. cv. Astroplants produced on the STS-87 flight of the space shuttle Columbia, we compared the progress of storage reserve deposition in cotyledon cells during early stages of seed development. Brassica pollen development was studied in flowers produced on plants grown entirely in microgravity on the Mir space station and fixed while on orbit. Cytochemical localization of storage reserves showed differences in starch accumulation between spaceflight and ground control plants in interior layers of the developing seed coat as early as 9 d after pollination. At this age, the embryo is in the cotyledon elongation stage, and there are numerous starch grains in the cotyledon cells in both flight and ground control seeds. In the spaceflight seeds, starch was retained after this stage, while starch grains decreased in size in the ground control seeds. Large and well-developed protein bodies were observed in cotyledon cells of ground control seeds at 15 d postpollination, but their development was delayed in the seeds produced during spaceflight. Like the developing cotyledonary tissues, cells of the anther wall and filaments from the spaceflight plants contained numerous large starch grains, while these were rarely seen in the ground controls. The tapetum remained swollen and persisted to a later developmental stage in the spaceflight plants than in the ground controls, even though most pollen grains appeared normal. These developmental markers indicate that Brassica seeds and pollen produced in microgravity were physiologically younger than those produced in 1 g. We hypothesize that microgravity limits mixing of the gaseous microenvironments inside the closed tissues and that the resulting gas composition surrounding the seeds and pollen retards their development.

Protein patterns of the Brassica rapa ovules and seeds under altered gravity

Electrophoretic investigation of protein patterns of Brassica rapa L. ovules and seeds from plants grown under clinorotation and in the laboratory control was carried out. Ovules at different stages (7 and 18 days after pollination) and mature seeds were analyzed. Polymorphism of seed storage proteins of B. rapa was taken into consideration in analysis of changes in ovule protein patterns under clinorotation. The appearance of a protein component in the region of about 43 kDa was detected in protein patterns of 7-day-old and 18-day-old ovules in the clinostat variants. Under altered gravity, in 18-day-old ovules, the appearance of a protein in the region of about 70 kDa was also revealed. The appearance of the protein component with the similar mobility (about 43 kDa) in ovules of different age from plants grown at clinorotation suggests that synthesis of this protein may be associated with the plant response to altered gravity. However, the investigation of the nature of this protein and its role requires further research to rule out its appearance because of genotypic differences between ovules of the control and experimental variants.

Peculiarities [correction of Pfculiarities] of lipid accumulation in Brassica rapa L. embryos on different stages development under altered gravity

Accumulation of lipid inclusions in Brassica rapa embryos generated under slow horizontal clinorotation and in the laboratory control were analyzed by histochemical methods. The research of lipid accumulation was carried out on consecutive stages of the embryo development, from the moment of two-cellular proembryo formation up to the stages of their full differentiation (21-22-day-old embryos). Accumulation of lipid drops was revealed for the first time at early stages of embryogenesis in this species, beginning from 3-day-old embryos (ball-like stage of embryo development) under clinorotation and in the laboratory control. The quantity of lipid inclusion was estimated by morphometrical analysis. Statistically significant differences between the clinorotation and laboratory control variants in quantity of lipid drops per cell were revealed from 6-day-old embryos (heart-shaped stage). Especially pronounced differences were noted in differentiated embryos (beginning from 12-day-old embryos) under horizontal clinorotation in comparison with the laboratory control. The registered differences testify about influence of altered gravity conditions on lipid accumulation in Brassica rapa embryos.

Mesomelic form of chondrodysplasia and congenital glaucoma associated with de novo translocation (13;18)(q14;q23)

Mesomelic form of chondrodysplasia and congenital glaucoma associated with de novo translocation (13;18)(q14:q23): Mesomelic dysplasias are characterized by limb shortening most prominent of the middle segment of the extremities (forearm and lower leg). In addition to several syndromic forms a few patients with sporadic or familial forms and without precise nosological classification have been reported so far. In this report we present a young female with disproportionate mesomelic dwarfism, dysmorphic facial features, bilateral glaucoma, patent ductus arteriosus, low and hoarse voice, and generalized muscular hypotonia. At the age of 2.5 years mental development is normal. High resolution G-banded chromosome studies revealed a de novo reciprocal translocation with karyotype 46,XX t (13;18)(q14;q23). The concurrence of this de novo autosomal translocation with this distinct phenotype supports the hypothesis that disruption of (a) gene(s) at the translocation breakpoints causes this unusual, apparently new form of skeletal chondrodysplasia.

[Association between Mycoplasma genitalium and preterm labor]

M. genitalium was identified by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The samples were obtained from the posterior vaginal fornix between 21-25 gestation weeks and investigated for PH, Gram Stain for bacterial vaginosis; Chlamidia trachomartis; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Trichomonas vaginalis. Of 102 pregnant women, only five had a PCR-positive for M. genitalium. The occurrence of M. genitalium in posterior vaginal fornix at midtrimester is infrequent in pregnant women and unlikely to be a contributing factor for spontaneous preterm birth.

[Is there a correlation between the vaginal colonization with group B streptococci and premature deliveries?]

The study covered 110 pregnant females during the period from January 1, 2002 till April 30, 2003. Nine females (8.18%) delivered premature newborns. Samples were taken from the posterior vaginal fornix and canalis cervicalis in the 18th and 24th gestational week. The preparations stained after Gram were examined under light microscope. Microbial cultures on blood agar were examined, too. It was established that 18 or 16.36% of all the cases presented with cultures positive for group B streptococci (Str. agalactiae) and Ureaplasma urealythicum. Some other microbial flora representatives such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoea and Trichomonas vaginalis were additionally identified. The independent colonization with Str. agalactiae prior to the 18th gestational week does not relate to the spontaneous abortions and premature deliveries at all. On the other hand, the colonization with Group B streptococci or their symbiosis with other microorganisms after the 23rd-24th gestational week displays a certain correlation with the premature births.

Congenital toxoplasmosis: eye manifestations in infants and children

The eye manifestations of congenital toxoplasmosis were investigated in 38 infants and children. Diagnosis of the congenital ocular lesions was established clinically, using also X-ray, computed tomography and ultrasonography, and confirmed by two immunodiagnostic techniques. Infants and children were examined when one or more characteristic manifestations of ophthalmic disorders were present. Typical symptoms and signs can present at birth or appear later in life. The multiplicity of clinical manifestations is characteristic of the disease. The most common symptom was chorioretinitis (92%), associated in 71% of the cases with other ocular lesions, and the second most common symptom was microphthalmia and strabismus. The inflammatory process also involved the anterior segment of the eye: iridocyclitis, cataract, glaucoma. Other rare findings were hydrocephalus, calcification in the brain, paresis, epilepsy and diminished visual acuity. The study showed that transplacental transmission of Toxoplasma to the fetus can have severe clinical consequences and terminate in fatal ocular impairment.

Reserve nutrient substance accumulation in Brassica rapa L. seeds in microgravity conditions (STS-87)

The results of study of Brassica embryo differentiation and reserve nutrient substance accumulation in the seeds were represented. Near resemblance of the spaceflight and around control embryo development was revealed. Different character of the reserve substance accumulation was noted, despite of the morphologic similarity in seeds produced in spaceflight and on the ground. It allows to consider spaceflight embryos morphologically more younger compared to the ground control.

Effect of membrane fluidity on photoinhibition of isolated thylakoids membranes at room and low temperature

The relationship between thylakoid membrane fluidity and the process of photoinhibition at room and low (4 degrees C) temperature was investigated. Two different membrane perturbing agents--cholesterol and benzylalcohol were applied to manipulate the fluidity of isolated pea thylakoids. The photochemical activity of photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII), polarographically determined, were measured at high light intensity for different time of illumination at both temperatures. The exposure of cholesterol- and benzylalcohol-treated thylakoid membranes to high light intensities resulted in inhibition of both studied photochemical activities, being more pronounced for PSII compared to PSI. Time dependencies of inhibition of PSI and PSII electron transport rates for untreated and membranes with altered fluidity were determined at 20 degrees C and 4 degrees C. The effect is more pronounced for PSII activity during low-temperature photoinhibition. The data are discussed in terms of the determining role of physico-chemical properties of thylakoid membranes for the response of photosynthetic apparatus to light stress.

Pollination and embryo development in Brassica rapa L. in microgravity

Plant reproduction under spaceflight conditions has been problematic in the past. In order to determine what aspect of reproductive development is affected by microgravity, we studied pollination and embryo development in Brassica rapa L. during 16 d in microgravity on the space shuttle (STS-87). Brassica is self-incompatible and requires mechanical transfer of pollen. Short-duration access to microgravity during parabolic flights on the KC-135A aircraft was used initially to confirm that equal numbers of pollen grains could be collected and transferred in the absence of gravity. Brassica was grown in the Plant Growth Facility flight hardware as follows. Three chambers each contained six plants that were 13 d old at launch. As these plants flowered, thin colored tape was used to indicate the date of hand pollination, resulting in silique populations aged 8-15 d postpollination at the end of the 16-d mission. The remaining three chambers contained dry seeds that germinated on orbit to produce 14-d-old plants just beginning to flower at the time of landing. Pollen produced by these plants had comparable viability (93%) with that produced in the 2-d-delayed ground control. Matched-age siliques yielded embryos of equivalent developmental stage in the spaceflight and ground control treatments. Carbohydrate and protein storage reserves in the embryos, assessed by cytochemical localization, were also comparable. In the spaceflight material, growth and development by embryos rescued from siliques 15 d after pollination lagged behind the ground controls by 12 d; however, in the subsequent generation, no differences between the two treatments were found. The results demonstrate that while no stage of reproductive development in Brassica is absolutely dependent upon gravity, lower embryo quality may result following development in microgravity.