Mechanical properties of soft hydrogels: assessment by scanning ion-conductance microscopy and atomic force microscopy.

The growing interest in biomimetic hydrogels is due to their successful applications in tissue engineering, 3D cell culturing and drug delivery. The major characteristics of hydrogels include swelling, porosity, degradation rate, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties. Poor mechanical properties can be regarded as the main limitation for the use of hydrogels in tissue engineering, and advanced techniques for its precise evaluation are of interest.

What is the basis of ensemble subset selection?

The visual system can rapidly calculate the ensemble statistics of a set of objects; for example, people can easily estimate an average size of apples on a tree. To accomplish this, it is not always useful to summarize all the visual information. If there are various types of objects, the visual system should select a relevant subset: only apples, not leaves and branches.

Ensemble averaging: What can we learn from skewed feature distributions?

Many studies have shown that observers can accurately estimate the average feature of a group of objects. However, the way the visual system relies on the information from each individual item is still under debate. Some models suggest some or all items sampled and averaged arithmetically.

Novel Pumping Methods for Microfluidic Devices: A Comprehensive Review.

This review is an account of methods that use various strategies to control microfluidic flow control with high accuracy. The reviewed systems are divided into two large groups based on the way they create flow: passive systems (non-mechanical systems) and active (mechanical) systems. Each group is presented by a number of device fabrications.

Mapping mechanical properties of living cells at nanoscale using intrinsic nanopipette-sample force interactions.

Mechanical properties of living cells determined by cytoskeletal elements play a crucial role in a wide range of biological functions. However, low-stress mapping of mechanical properties with nanoscale resolution but with a minimal effect on the fragile structure of cells remains difficult. Scanning Ion-Conductance Microscopy (SICM) for quantitative nanomechanical mapping (QNM) is based on intrinsic force interactions between nanopipettes and samples and has been previously suggested as a promising alternative to conventional techniques.

[Surgical policy of managing patients with concomitant atherosclerotic lesions of the internal and common carotid arteries].

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the natural course of stenosis of the common carotid artery (CCA) after carotid endarterectomy, as well as the long-term outcomes of various methods of reconstruction of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in patients with extended atherosclerotic lesions.

Patients And Methods: Presented herein are the remote retrospective and prospective results of carotid endarterectomy in a total of 78 patients with concomitant atherosclerotic lesions of carotid arteries. Depending on the degree of CCA stenosis, the patients were divided into 2 groups.

[Remote results of carotid endarterectomy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

The authors comparatively analysed the remote results of carotid endarterectomy and risk factors for unfavourable outcomes in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The outcomes of carotid endarterectomy were studied in a total of 168 patients, with the follow-up terms up to 8 years. Depending on the presence or absence of DM, the patients were divided into two groups.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Alkylthiol Self-Assembled Monolayers on Liquid Mercury.

We report computer simulation of the self-assembly of alkylthiols on the surface of liquid mercury. Here we focus mainly on the alkylthiol behavior on mercury as a function of the surfactant surface coverage, which we study by means of large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of the equilibrium structure at room temperature. The majority of the presented results are obtained for octa- and dodecanethiol surfactants.

Alkyl-Based Surfactants at a Liquid Mercury Surface: Computer Simulation of Structure, Self-Assembly, and Phase Behavior.

Self-assembled organic films on liquid metals feature a very rich phase behavior, which qualitatively differs from the one on crystalline metals. In contrast to conventional crystalline supports, self-assembled alkylthiol monolayers on liquid metals possess a considerably higher degree of molecular order, thus enabling much more robust metal-molecule-semiconductor couplings for organic electronics applications. Yet, compared to crystalline substrates, the self-assembly of organic surfactants on liquid metals has been studied to a much lesser extent.

Kinetics of Nanoscale Self-Assembly Measured on Liquid Drops by Macroscopic Optical Tensiometry: From Mercury to Water and Fluorocarbons.

Various molecules are known to form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on the surface of liquids. We present a simple method of investigating the kinetics of such SAM formation on sessile drops of various liquids such as mercury, water and fluorocarbon. To measure the surface tension of the drops we used an optical tensiometer that calculates the surface tension from the axisymmetric drop shape and the Young-Laplace relation.

[THE TEST OF GENERATION OF THROMBIN IN DYNAMICS IN PATIENTS AFTER TRANSCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION].

The article presents results of observation of generation of thrombin in patients with ischemic heart disease in different terms after transcutaneous coronary intervention. The sampling included 37 patients with stable ischemic heart disease. The control group included 30 healthy individuals.

[SPECIFICS OF INHALED ILOPROST PHARMACODYNAMICS IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE LEFT VENTRICULAR SYSTOLIC DYSFUNCTION].

Purpose: To determine the specifics of inhaled iloprost effect on pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Materials And Methods: 47 vasore- activity tests (VRT) with 20 micrograms inhaled iloprost (Ventavis, Bayer) were performed in 39 candidates on heart transplantation. All patients had heart failure III-IV NYHA and PH with pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) more than 2.

[Recombinant granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (filgrastim): optimization of conditions of isolation and purification from inclusion body].

We developed a unified process platform for two recombinant human GCSF medicines--one with the non-prolonged and the other with prolonged action. This unified technology led to a simpler and cheaper production while introduction of the additional pegylation stage to the technological line eased obtaining of the medicines with different action and allowed to standardize technological process documenting according to GMP requirements.

[Application of hyperosmotic iso-oncotic solutions for prolonged veno-venous haemofiltration in patients with gramm negative sepsis].

Dynamics of circulation and elimination of low and medium molecular weight substances and lipopolysaccharides of Gramm negative bacteria were studied during prolonged veno-venous haemofiltration in patients with Gramm negative sepsis. Positive effect of HyperHAES solution for endotoxicosis compensation has been defined in the study. HyperHAES can be used repeatedly during prolonged veno-venous haemofiltration.

[Successful treatment of bradyarrhythmia associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome by continuous positive airway pressure].

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is an additional independent factor of growth of cardiovascular mortality. Special role disturbances of respiration during sleep play in development of nocturnal cardiac arrhythmias. Approaches to correction of OSAS associated nocturnal bradyarrhythmias have substantially changed during recent years.

[Comparative analysis of occupational health services practice of international companies of oil and gas industry and ILO Convention "Occupational Health Services"].

A comparative analysis of current work practices of occupational health services of international companies of Russian oil & gas industry and provisions of ILO Convention 161 and Recommendation 171 "Occupational Health Services" has been carried out. Proposals for improvement and harmonization of labor legislation related to this problem have been formulated.

[Chronic viral hepatitis in St.Petersburg].

Morbidity data on chronic viral hepatitis including cirrhotic stages of disease and lethality indexes in St. Petersburg are provided. The necessity of isolation in ICD- 10 and statistical accounting of chronic viral hepatitis diagnosis with outcome into cirrhosis (cirrhotic stage) is shown.

[Sporadic and group imported cases of hepatitis E in St. Petersburg].

Aim: Carry out retrospective clinical-epidemiological analysis of sporadic and group cases of acute HE morbidity in St. Petersburg (2000 - 2012). MATERIALS AND METHODS; Medical histories of 11 patients with sporadic morbidity (9 males and 2 females, average age 36 +/- 18) and 13 patients involved in group HE morbidity were analyzed.

[Effect of antihypoxant infusion on microbial endotoxin circulation in obstructive jaundice patients].

The dynamics of microbial endotoxemia in group of 149 patients with cholelithiasis complicated by obstructive jaundice has been studied as dependent on the perioperative tactics of infusion therapy. The perioperative period in obstructive jaundice patients is complicated by a significant increase in lipopolysaccharidemia caused by translocation mechanisms and disorders of the liver detoxification function. In Group 1, 47 patients received infusion therapy including Ringer's solution and 10% glucose solution at a 1:1 ratio.

[Evaluation of safety of prophylactic use of immunoglobulins against viral hemorrhagic fevers from horse blood sera].

Aim: Evaluate safety of prophylaxis of viral hemorrhagic fevers by specific heterologous immunoglobulins.

Materials And Methods: Clinical-laboratory examination of 24 individuals after intramuscular administration of heterologous Ebola immunoglobulin was carried out. Anaphylactogenicity of the immunoglobulins was studied by WD 42-28-8-89 in guinea pigs compared with commercial preparations.

[Metabolic correction of bile outflow in patients with obstructive jaundice].

Unlabelled: The purpose of research is to study the influence of infusion therapy structure on the of metabolic disorders and biliary excretion correction in patients with obstructive jaundice.

Materials And Methods: The study was carried out in 139 patients divided into 3 groups with the same volume of infusion therapy (1600 ml/day). In 1-St group (54 patients) infusion therapy included ringer's lactate and 10% glucose solution in the ratio of 1:1.

[Tactics of preoperative infusion therapy in obturation jaundice].

The influence of the infusion therapy content on a hepatic function of bile outflow (HFBO), a bilirubin content and the enzymes activity in obturation jaundice in 139 patients was studied up. In 54 patients (the first group) a Ringer solution and 10% solution of glucose in 1:1 ratio were applied; in 37 patients (the second group) - a sterofundin-G-5 solution; in 48 patients (the third group) - remaxol in a dose of 800 ml/day. Application of sterofundin-G-5 and remaxol as a component of infusion therapy have promoted a bile outflow intensity enhancement in early postoperative period in comparison with such while Ringer solution and 10% solution of glucose application.

[Induction of antimicrobial peptide synthesis by fat body cells in Calliphora vicina R.-D. (diptera, calliphoridae) larvae].

The fat body is the main place of synthesis if peptide antibiotics in insects. The goal of the present study was the search in the body of the larva Calliphora vicina for humoral factors inducing synthesis of antimicrobial peptides by fat body cells during trauma. The preliminary analysis has shown that the activation factor revealed in hemolymph is the thermostable hydrophilic compound with molecular mass less than 3 kDa.

[Correction of hepatic dysfunction as pre-treatment before systemic chemotherapy in patients with bile duct neoplasms].

This prospective randomized study incorporates 141 surgical department patients with hepatobiliary tumors. The 1st group patients received 800 ml/day of remaxol. The 2nd1 group patients received Ringer solution and 10% glucose at 1:1 ratio.