AB0155 VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR IN JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS

Background

Vascular changes are preceding the development of fibrosis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Signs of angiogenesis, the process of new vessel formation, cannot be fully detected, especially in childhood. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered to play a crucial role for angiogenesis regulation [1,2].

Objectives

To evaluate serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Methods

104 consecutive JIA patients aged 10 to 18 years (13.3 ± 0.3) were included in this 4-years prospective study. VEGF levels were determined by VEGF ELISA kits. Serum levels of VEGF were analyzed depending on patients’ gender, age, and age of JIA onset, its variant, duration, activity, and presence of methotrexate (MTX) in treatment and its dose.

Results

We evaluated VEGF level for children with JIA (min: 23.68 pg/ml; Me:244.75 pg/ml; max: 2158.91 pg/ml). VEGF in JIA was related to onset of JIA in patients older than 15 years and high disease activity according JADAS-27 pattern (p˂0.05). Levels of circulating immune complex (CIC) and antistreptolysin-o (ASL-O) was associated with VEGF level. Mostly VEGF was correlated with CIC (among: girls r=0.53, patients with oligoarthritis r=0.55, inactive disease activity according to JADAS-27 r=0.47, dose of МТХ, 10–12,5mg/m2/week r=0.67 p ˂ 0.05) and with ASL-O (among: girls r=0.47, inactive disease activity according to JADAS-27 r=0.51, MTX treatment r= 0.36, dose of МТХ, 10–12,5mg/m2/week r=0.90 p ˂ 0.05).

Conclusion

Children with JIA had a higher VEGF level in patients older than 15 years and high disease activity. Also, CIC and ASL-O showed high impact on VEGF level which is the critical factor of angiogenesis.

References

[1]Wu, C. Y., Yang, H. Y., Huang, J. L., & Lai, J. H. (2021). Signals and Mechanisms Regulating Monocyte and Macrophage Activation in the Pathogenesis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(15), 7960. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22157960

[2]Świdrowska-Jaros, J., & Smolewska, E. (2018). A fresh look at angiogenesis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Central-European journal of immunology, 43(3), 325–330. https://doi.org/10.5114/ceji.2018.80052

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Optimisation of conditions for deacetylation of chitin-containing raw materials

The paper describes the differences between chitosan and chitin, and reviews works by foreign scientists on obtaining chitosan from various raw materials. Methods of modifying chitosan and obtaining combined sorbents have been analysed. It has been studied whether chitosan is applicable in the technology of wines and alcoholic beverages as a sorbent. The purpose of the study was determining the optimal conditions of the deacetylation stage to obtain chitosan with the best sorption properties from Aspergillus niger biomass. A three-factor experiment has been carried out. It involved obtaining 27 samples of chitosan using sequential four-step acid-base hydrolysis under various conditions of the deacetylation stage. The deacetylation process was optimised under alkaline conditions depending on the alkali concentration, processing temperature, and exposure. For each of the samples obtained, the adsorption activity, specific surface area, and distribution coefficient in the sorbent–sorbate system have been determined. The degrees of deacetylation of all chitosan samples have been determined by potentiometric titration. The study has resulted in determining the optimal conditions for the deacetylation stage: processing temperature 110–130°C, sodium hydroxide concentration 27–36 g/dm3, exposure 45 to 65 minutes. The sample deacetylated at the temperature 120 °C, alkali concentration 30 g/dm3, and exposure 45 minutes has shown the best adsorption activity values: the adsorption activity for methyl orange 347.96 mg/g, the specific surface area of the sorbent samples 0.52·105 m2/g, the distribution coefficient in the sorbent–sorbate system 3.29·10-3 ml/g. This sample had the highest degree of deacetylation, 43.6%. The sample has been analysed using IR spectroscopy, and its main characteristic frequencies have been studied. It has been concluded that the sample obtained was equivalent to the reference chitosan

Oxa-spirocycles: synthesis, properties and applications

A general approach to a new generation of spirocyclic molecules – oxa-spirocycles – was developed. The key synthetic step was iodocyclization. More than 150 oxa-spirocyclic compounds were prepared. Incorporation of an oxygen atom into the spirocyclic unit dramatically improved water solubility (by up to 40 times) and lowered lipophilicity. More potent oxa-spirocyclic analogues of antihypertensive drug terazosin were synthesized and studied in vivo.

A general practical approach to a new generation of spirocyclic molecules – oxa-spirocycles – is developed.

USING SUMFLOWER PROTEIN AS A COMPONENT OF FORCEMEATS FOR FROZEN SEMI-PROCESSED MINCED MEAT PRODUCTS

The problem of how to remediate protein deficiency in the human diet can be solved by using new raw material sources or by consuming vegetable proteins, in particular, sunflower protein, more efficiently. Sunflower is high in biologically complete proteins with a wide range of functional properties. This makes it practical to use sunflower protein as a component of forcemeats for frozen semi- processed minced meat products. As this task is highly topical and promising, it has determined the direction of further research. The purpose of the research is to establish how sunflower protein affects the qualitative characteristics of forcemeat for frozen semi-processed minced meat products, and to specify the rational norms of using it in their composition. It has been studied how sunflower protein effects on the moisture-holding capacity of forcemeat. The results have shown a sharp increase in this parameter after introducing sunflower protein. It has been established that sunflower protein affects the processes of freezing and defrosting in forcemeat systems. However, it has no pronounced cryoprotective properties independent of  its concentration in a system, and the loss in weight during freezing the samples is but insignificant. Studying the effect of sunflower protein powder on the sensory, functional, and technological properties of forcemeat reveals positive dynamics and direct relationship between these characteristics and the concentration of sunflower protein. The losses in the weight of the semi-processed products during heat treatment have been analysed. The   data   obtained  have  shown  that   this   parameter   decreases   by 1.9 times when sunflower protein is used. Sensory evaluation of the samples has allowed establishing that the rational norm for sunflower protein as a forcemeat component is up to 10%. Thus, the research conducted prove that it is practical to use sunflower proteins as components of forcemeats for frozen semi-processed minced meat products. This will make the products more nutritious, allow controlling their amino acid composition, curtail the expenditure of raw meat, help control the rheological parameters, and expand the range of products.

Healthy diet and telomerase activity in patients with uncomplicated arterial hypertension

Introduction

Telomere length is considered as a novel biomarker indicating the risk of a cell's age, metabolic disturbances and age-related diseases. The available evidence suggests that healthy diet with antioxidant nutrients, fruits and vegetables, Mediterranean diet can influence on telomere length. Telomerase enzyme answers the end replication problem that counters telomere shortening. The effects of the nutrition on telomere length and telomerase activity required further study.

Objective

To evaluate the association of the healthy diet with relative telomere length (RTL) and telomerase activity (TA) in patients (pts) with uncomplicated arterial hypertension (AH).

Material and method

The clinical and genetic examinations were performed in 90 people (42 patients with uncomplicated arterial hypertension (AH) and 48 normotensive individuals). Mean age of hypertensive pts was 51.5±9.3 and of normotensives was 48.5±10.2 years. RTL of peripheral blood leukocytes performed by previously validated real-time PCR. TA was determined by enzyme immunoassay method. Dietary habits, alcohol intake, smoking, level of physical activity, body mass index, waist circumference, presence of obesity, blood pressure (BP), glucose and cholesterol levels, depressive episodes and psychological stress according the international questionnaires were evaluated.

Results

Mean RTL was 0.86±0.14 in group of hypertensive pts and 0.91±0.10 in normotensives, p=0.139. The median TA was higher in normotensives – 5.9 ng/ml (IQR 4.1–9.6) than hypertensive pts – 4.0 ng/ml (IQR 3.3–7.3), p=0.004.The association was found between TA and more frequent consumption per week of vegetable and fish in both groups (r=0.501, p=0.005 and r=0.447, p=0.013 in hypertensive pts; r=0.297, p=0.045 and r=0.316, p=0.036 in normotensives, accordingly). In hypertensive pts also was found relation TA with daily fruit intake (r=0.493; p=0.006) and trend toward to dietary salt consumption (r=−0.316; p=0.08). Among normotensives there was negative trend to relation TA with daily consumption of meat (r=−0.291; p=0.056). There were no association RTL, TA with age, alcohol intake, smoking, levels of glucose and cholesterol, BP, obesity and psychological risk factors in two groups except for the relation TA with waist circumference in normotensives (r=−0.427; p=0.003).

Conclusion

The data suggests that the healthy diet with regular intake of fish, vegetable and fruit can influence on telomerase activity in patients with uncomplicated AH as well as in normotensive individuals.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Budget

To the question of the role of consultation liaison psychiatry in diagnostics of psychosomatic disorders

Background

Relevance of consultation liaison psychiatry is conditioned by trend of steady rise of psychosomatic disorders and insufficient development of supplied forms and methods of medical care to patients with this pathology.

Aim

To study incidence rate of psychosomatic disorders in primary health care, to develop algorithm of medical care.

Material and methods

A total of 2010 patients of the primary health care unit were examined. Methods used: clinical-psychopathological, clinical-dynamic, questionnaire screening, statistical (factor analysis).

Results

Mental disorders, co-morbid with physical pathology, constituted 3.9% of the contingent with predominance of psychosomatic disorders–15.6 per 10,000 of the population. Respective from clinical-dynamic structure of psychosomatic disorders three groups of patients were distinguished: in need for consultation by a psychiatrist (22.9%); for course treatment by psychiatrist and subsequent observation by physicians (28%); and for systematic therapy and observation by psychiatrist (49.1%). Patients with psychosomatic disorders addressed general medicine network 1–2 years after onset of mental disorder and 6.4 ± 1.2 years after diagnostics of somatic pathology. Patients had predominantly cardiovascular (37.7%; P < 0.05), respiratory (20.5%), and gastrointestinal diseases (20.9%). Exacerbation of psychosomatic disorder was reliably interrelated with psychotraumatic situation and exacerbation of physical pathology. Introduced algorithm of psychiatric consultation consisted of:

– evaluation of mental and physical status;

– distinguishing the nosological groups;

– choice of therapy;

– formation of groups of observation (risk groups in need for course therapy, systematic therapy).

Conclusion

Consultation liaison psychiatry in general medical institution allows widening accessibility of psychiatric care and makes its provision more cost-effective.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Influence of diet and sea ice drift on organochlorine bioaccumulation in Arctic ice-associated amphipods

The drifting sea ice has been suggested as important in the transport and concentration of organic matter and pollutants in the Arctic. We collected sea ice-associated amphipods in the marginal ice zone north of Svalbard and in the Fram Strait in September 1998 and 1999 to assess contaminant accumulation in ice-associated organisms. Organochlorine concentrations increased from the more herbivorous Apherusa glacialis to the more carnivorous Gammarus wilkitzkii and the more necrophagous Onisimus spp. The relative contribution of compound classes to the sum of organochlorines differed between the amphipod families, with a higher relative contribution of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) in A. glacialis. The composition of the compound classes HCHs. chlordanes and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) was similar between the amphipod families, whereas the profiles of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) differed. The occurrence of organochlorines differed spatially, with higher alpha-HCH concentrations in amphipods from the Fram Strait in comparison with amphipods collected north of Svalbard. This could be related to the sea ice drift route, since sea ice in the Fram Strait had a drift route across the central Arctic Ocean, while the sea ice north of Svalbard had a western drift route to the sampling stations. Even though marine invertebrates have direct uptake by passive diffusion of contaminants across their gills. our results imply that the species' ecology such as diet is important in the bioaccumulation process of organic pollutants. In addition, the results show that sea ice drift route influences the concentrations of organochlorine pollutants in ice-associated organisms.

Prevalence of blood-borne viral infections (cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus-6, human herpesvirus-7, human herpesvirus-8, human T-cell lymphotropic virus-I/II, human retrovirus-5) among blood donors in Latvia

The identification of blood-borne viral infections is important in transfusion medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of human herpesvirus (HHV) [cytomegalovirus (CMV), HHV-6, HHV-7 HHV-8] and human retrovirus (HRV) (human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I/II, HRV-5) infections among apparently healthy Latvian blood donors. DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of 150 individuals was tested for herpesviruses by sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. None of the blood donors was positive for HHV-8 infection, while the incidence of latent beta-herpesvirus infections was high: single infection by CMV, HHV-6, and HHV-7 was detected in 2.6%, 8.0%, and 43.3% of blood donors, respectively. Simultaneous dual and triple infections of these viruses were observed in 28.0% and 4.7% of individuals, respectively. Active infection by CMV and HHV-6 was not found, but HHV-7 DNA was present in plasma of 10.6% of the blood donors. While all blood donors were HTLV-II and HRV-5 negative, 4.6% of HTLV-I seronegative blood donors were positive for the HTLV-I tax gene, although none of them harbored sequences for structural genes of the provirus. Based on our results, we conclude that monitoring of beta-herpesvirus infections in blood donors can be important in cases of transfusions to immunocompromised persons. HHV-8, as well as the retroviruses HTLV-II and HRV-5, were not found in blood of Latvian blood donors. More investigations are required to explain the presence of the HTLV-I tax sequence in seronegative blood donors.

Radiosynthesis of 5-(2-(4-pyridinyl)vinyl)-6-chloro-3-(1-[(11)C]methyl-2-(S)-pyrrolidinylmethoxy)pyridine, a high affinity ligand for studying nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by positron emission tomography

5-(2-(4-pyridinyl)vinyl)-6-chloro-3-(1-methyl-2-(S)-pyrrolidinylmethoxy)pyridine (1b) exhibited high affinity for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the in vitro competition binding assays, with a K(d) value in the low picomolar range, performed at room temperature and at physiological temperature. An efficient radiochemical synthesis of 5-(2-(4-pyridinyl)vinyl)-6-chloro-3-(1-[(11)C]methyl-2-(S)-pyrrolidinylmethoxy)pyridine (1c), a potential tracer for the study of nAChR by positron emission tomography, has been developed.