Aim. Investigation of infection rate and species composition of ticks responsible for tick-borne infections in Kemerovo Region. Materials and Methods. We investigated morphological properties of 1295 Ixodes and 1867 Dermacentor ticks collected from the ora of Kemerovo Region. Genotyping of 186 ticks collected from infected humans was performed using Multiprime Real-Time PCR kit. Infection rate (tick-borne encephalitis, borreliosis, rickettsiosis, granulocytic anaplasmosis, monocytic ehrlichiosis, and Kemerovo virus infection) of 409 ticks collected from the ora and 186 ticks collected from infected humans was also dened by polymerase chain reaction. Results. During the recent decades, Ixodes persulcatus was a predominant tick species in Kemerovo Region, with a prevalence of 96.71%. However, we revealed a trend to increasing prevalence of Ixodes pavlovskyi from 2015 (41.62% of all Ixodes ticks). Dermacentor ticks were endemic, with Dermacentor reticulatus as a predominant species and prevalence of 12.75% from all ticks of Kemerovo Region. Borrelia spp. DNA was identied in 35.60% of I.persulcatus, 25.27% of I.pavlovskyi and 1.96% of D.reticulatus ticks. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia spp. were found only in Ixodes ticks. RNA of tick-borne encephalitis virus was rarely detected in D.reticulatus and I.persulcatus. R.raoultii (DnS14) and Kemerovo virus were found only in D.reticulatus and I.persulcatus, respectively.Conclusions. Ixodes and Dermacentor ticks are frequently infected by Borrelia spp. but rarely in-fected by tick-borne encephalitis virus. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp., and Kemerovo vi-rus were detected only in Ixodes ticks while R.raoul-tii (DnS14) were found only in D.reticulatus

Aim. To investigate the homeostasis of uncomplicated pregnancy in the third trimester.Materials and Methods. We recruited 136 consecutive pregnant women. at 37-41 weeks of gestation. Other criteria of inclusion were normal vaginal microbiota during the pregnancy and absence of placental inflammation. Exclusion criteria were past medical history of obstetric or gynecological complications, vaginal dysbiosis, addictions (smoking, drug addiction, alcoholism), and placental inflammation.Results. In the third trimester, both mother and fetus frequently showed the normal adaptation, adequate reactions to the load tests, recovery capabilities, and sufficient heart rhythm variability. In addition, we found a strong correlation between maternal and fetal heart rhythm variability. Conclusions. Maternal and fetal heart rhythm variability can be considered as a marker of the homeostasis during the third trimester.

Aim. To compare the rate of cholestasis resolution after either percutaneous cholangiostomy or percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy. Materials and Methods. We recruited 125 consecutive patients with mechanical jaundice due to pancreatic cancer and divided them into two groups: 1) those who underwent percutaneous cholangiostomy (n = 65); 2) those who underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy 60 patients, following daily measurements of serum bilirubin level during two weeks. Results. We did not find any significant differences in patients with mild jaundice. However, percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy led to the faster rate of jaundice resolution in patients with serum bilirubin > 100 μmol/L. Conclusions. Percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy has an edge over percutaneous cholangiostomy as a method of endobiliary decompression surgery in the patients with moderate to severe cancer-induced obstructive jaundice.

Aim. To investigate how 6-month atorvastatin treatment affects serum lipid profile, pulmonary function, cytokine profile, and endothelial function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but without cardiovascular disease (CVD). Materials and Methods. We recruited 83 consecutive male smokers with COPD but without CVD who was prescribed with bronchodilator therapy. Patients were stratified into the two groups: with (n = 42) and without (n = 41) atorvastatin treatment. At the baseline and upon 6 months of atorvastatin (20 mg/day) treatment, we performed spirometry, body plethysmography, brachial artery reactive hyperemia test, lipid profiling, and measurements of serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and endothelin-1 (ET-1). Cardiovascular risk was evaluated in accordance with the SCORE scale. Results. Upon 6-month treatment with atorvastatin, all patients achieved the target level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Furthermore, treatment significantly decreased cardiovascular risk, improved lung diffusion capacity, increased forced expiration volume in 1 second, enhanced endothelium-dependent dilation, and reduced the level of ET-1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions. 6-month administration of atorvastatin in patients with COPD but without CVD improves serum lipid profile, reduces concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhances both pulmonary and endothelial function.

Aim. To study the incidence of lung cancer (LC) and gastric cancer (GC) in Kemerovo Region from 1996 to 2015. Materials and Methods. We collected standardized epidemiological data on incidence of LC and GC following comparison of the trends between 1996-2005 and 2006-2015. Results. Incidence of lung cancer and gastric cancer in Kemerovo Region reduced from 49.0 to 36.7 and from 36.4 to 20.5 cases per 100,000 population, respectively, from 1996 to 2015. The proportion of inhabitants living within the territories with the high level of LC and GC incidence decreased from 58.8% to 7.2% and from 52.4 to 7.6%, respectively, in 2006-2015 compared to 1996-2005. Local administrative units of Kemerovo Region had the local features in incidence of LC and GC. Conclusions. Decrease in incidence of LC and GC is evident and is possibly caused by the decrease in exposure to chemical carcinogens.

Here we analyze the recent data on the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the efficacy of conservative therapy, and main indications for surgery. We further discuss the clinicopathological features, extraesophageal signs and symptoms, and refractory GERD. To consider the efficacy of the personalized approach and longterm administration of proton pump inhibitors, we describe the case report of the patient suffering from refractory GERD with extraesophageal symptoms who underwent anti-reflux surgery.

Rodents are widely used for the evaluation of the spatial memory due to inherited predisposition and relatively easy training. A number of mazes have been successfully developed and used, with Morris water maze and eight-arm radial maze being two the most appropriate. In this review, we compare advantages and shortcomings of these two tests.

This review describes the recent advances in X-ray techniques, in particular dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT), for the imaging of postmenopausal osteoporosis. DXA is non-invasive, low-exposure, low-cost, and high-resolution method, therefore being widely applied for the measurement of bone mineral density. However, scoliosis, fractures, intervertebral disc calcification, and aortic calcification considerably reduce diagnostic accuracy of DXA. Another broadly used X-ray technique is QCT, which permits three-dimensional, separate imaging of cancellous and cortical bones. Alternatively, screening of peripheral osteoporosis can be performed employing quantitative ultrasound (QUS), which does not require exposure to ionizing radiation and expensive equipment but has lower sensitivity and specificity in detecting osteoporosis compared to DXA and QCT. Finally, we focus on radiopharmaceuticals as the promising agents for diagnosis of osteoporosis, despite high cost and low availability of the appropriate equipment limit their implementation.

Here we describe recent trends in statistical analysis and data presentation in candidate genetic association studies. We first discuss methods of genetic epidemiology following talking about the three key steps in candidate genetic association studies: 1) study design; 2) isolation of biomaterial, DNA extraction and genotyping; 3) statistical analysis and data presentation. In addition, we consider the crucial issues of these studies from the reviewer’s point of view.

Here we present the case of 47-year-old male patient with a favorable outcome of acute myocarditis/severe heart failure, which was first erroneously diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. We examine the causes of improper diagnosis, the possibilities to verify the correct diagnosis, treatment algorithm, and the prospects for improving the diagnosis and treatment of such patients.

Here we performed the successful treatment of a 72-year-old male patient with an implanted mechanical aortic valve who suffered from DeBakey type I aortic dissection involving renal and iliac arteries, a life-threatening emergency requiring rapid surgical intervention. This combination of thrombotic condition and bleeding-prone lesion significantly complicated anticoagulant therapy. To conduct the aortic reconstruction, we carried out aortobifemoral bypass graft surgery combined with graft-birenal bypass surgery. Using this approach, we achieved a favorable outcome, prevented ischemic complications, and decreased the risk of renal dysfunction.

Here we describe an original surgical approach performed in a 30-year-old male patient with multiple intracranial aneurysms. To access and excise the aneurysms, we carried out skull trepanation following clipping of four aneurysms: 1) at the crossing of anterior communicating artery and anterior cerebral artery; 2) at the branching point of the internal carotid artery; 3) at the communicating segment of the internal carotid artery; 4) at the branching point of the middle cerebral artery. Using this surgery, we successfully prevented cerebral edema, brain compression, recurrent subarachnoid hemorrhage, and aneurysm rupture.