Thoracoplasty by pectus carinatum in children

91 children were operated on pectus carinatum. Patients were aged 9-15 years. Thoracoplasty by Ravich was performed in 32 children (the first group) and 59 patients were operated using the method of thoracoplasty, modified by the authors. The major features were: transverse skin incision not longer than 8 sm, mobilization of the skin, subcutaneous fat and pectoral muscles en block, bilateral subperichondral resection of the deformated ribs, resection of the most deformated part of the sternal body (up to 2.0-2.5 sm) and suturing the fragments end-to-end. The long-term follow-up results were studied in term from 6 months to 5 years. The comparative analysis of the results demonstrated obvious advantages of the author's method of thoracoplasty.     

Pathological changes in heart activity of mdx mice and future prospects of mdx model in cardioimmunulogy

Dystrophin is a protein linking the cytoskeleton to a complex of transmembrane proteins that interact with the extracellular matrix. The fragility of the cardiomyocyte cell membrane resulting from the lack of dystrophin is thought to cause an excessive susceptibility to mechanical stress. Based on surface ECC we demonstrate the differences of cardiac phenotype in young (2- to 3-mo-old) and aged (over 1,5 years) dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse and normal mouse with the same genetic background. It was shown that main alterations in the mdx electrocardiogram concern primarily ventricular conduction velocity (QRS complex duration) and time of ventricular repolarization (QT interval) duration).The issue under discussion is whether dystrophin deficient mdx model can be used in research studies in cardioimmunology.     

Are Hamsters a Suitable Model for Evaluating the Immunogenicity of RBD-Based Anti-COVID-19 Subunit Vaccines?

Currently, SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding-domain (RBD)-based vaccines are considered one of the most effective weapons against COVID-19. During the first step of assessing vaccine immunogenicity, a mouse model is often used. In this paper, we tested the use of five experimental animals (mice, hamsters, rabbits, ferrets, and chickens) for RBD immunogenicity assessments. The humoral immune response was evaluated by ELISA and virus-neutralization assays. The data obtained show hamsters to be the least suitable candidates for RBD immunogenicity testing and, hence, assessing the protective efficacy of RBD-based vaccines.     

De Novo and Depot-Specific Androgen Production in Human Adipose Tissue: A Source of Hyperandrogenism in Women with Obesity

IntroductionObesity in women is often associated with hyperandrogenism, but the role of adipose tissue (AT) in androgen synthesis remains unclear. Therefore, we studied whether AT could be a source of androgens promoting hyperandrogenism.MethodsSubcutaneous and visceral (visc) AT was collected from lean and obese women. Androgen levels were evaluated in serum, AT, and cell-culture supernatant. Gene and protein expression of steroidogenic enzymes were determined.ResultsObese subjects had elevated serum androgen levels, which reduced after weight loss. Androgens were measurable in AT and in cell-culture supernatants of adipocytes. Steroids were higher in AT from obese women, with the highest difference for testosterone in visc AT (+7.9-fold, p = 0.032). Steroidogenic enzymes were expressed in human AT with depot-specific differences. Obese women showed a significantly higher expression of genes of the backdoor pathway and of CYP19 in visc AT.ConclusionThe whole steroidogenic machinery of the classical and backdoor pathways of steroidogenesis, and the capacity for androgen biosynthesis, were found in both AT depots and cultured adipocytes. Therefore, we hypothesize that AT is a de novo site of androgen production and the backdoor pathway of steroidogenesis might be a new pathomechanism for hyperandrogenism in women with obesity.     

Role of changes in rheological properties of blood in the pathogenesis of disorders of cardiac rhythm and conductivity]

Changes were induced in the rheological blood properties and hemostasis in 40 albino rats by intracardiac injection of high-molecular dextran, arvin, and ethanol. Ten rats received dipyridamole. Changes caused by these agents in erythrocyte deformability were determined by the rheoscopical method. Their effect on the threshold of ventricular fibrillation induced by electric current was also determined. Dextran and arvin reduced erythrocyte deformability and the threshold of ventricular fibrillation to half the initial values. An increase in the ventricular fibrillation threshold due to the effect of dipyridamole was attended by improvement in erythrocyte deformability. Ethanol reduced the threshold of ventricular fibrillation and caused disorders of cardiac atrioventricular conduction. Intravenous infusion of high-molecular dextran and arvin caused various disorders of cardiac rhythm and atrioventricular conduction in 11 out of 12 rabbits. Preliminary administration of rheopolyglucin in 3 rabbits prevented the development of cardiac arrhythmias on injection of dextran and arvin. The authors believe that deterioration of the blood rheological properties is one of the pathogenetic mechanisms in the development of disorders of cardiac rhythm and conduction.