Background Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition that predominantly affects the skin and is associated with extracutaneous disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. Changes in gut immunology and microbiota are important drivers of proinflammatory disorders and could play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Therefore, we explored whether psoriasis in a Central Asian cohort is associated with alterations in select immunological markers and/or microbiota of the gut. Methods We undertook a case-control study of stool samples collected from outpatients, aged 30–45 years, of a dermatology clinic in Kazakhstan presenting with plaque, guttate, or palmoplantar psoriasis ( n = 20), and age-sex matched subjects without psoriasis ( n = 20). Stool supernatant was subjected to multiplex ELISA to assess the concentration of 47 cytokines and immunoglobulins and to 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize microbial diversity in both psoriasis participants and controls. Results The psoriasis group tended to have higher concentrations of most analytes in stool (29/47 = 61.7%) and gut IL-1α was significantly elevated (4.19-fold, p = 0.007) compared to controls. Levels of gut IL-1α in the psoriasis participants remained significantly unaltered up to 3 months after the first sampling ( p = 0.430). Psoriasis was associated with alterations in gut Firmicutes , including elevated Faecalibacterium and decreased Oscillibacter and Roseburia abundance, but no association was observed between gut microbial diversity or Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios and disease status. Conclusions Psoriasis may be associated with gut inflammation and dysbiosis. Studies are warranted to explore the use of gut microbiome-focused therapies in the management of psoriasis in this under-studied population.

The article is devoted to influence of the clay thixotropic solutions on the strength of resistance to movement of the earthmoving machines' working elements. The forces of resistance to the movement of a flat plate, a smooth cylinder and real working bodies in a clay solution for various modes of solution flow (bingamian, pseudo-laminar and turbulent) are established. Mathematical models of movement of the earthmoving machines working elements in clay solution are developed and investigated. Dynamics of the working element of an earthmoving machine movement in a clay solution is studied. Dependence of the feed force, torque and dynamic coefficient on the resistance forces, acting on the working body from the clay solution, is established.

Sputnik-V (Gam-COVID-Vac) is a heterologous, recombinant adenoviral (rAdv) vector-based, COVID-19 vaccine now used in > 70 countries. Yet there is a shortage of data on this vaccine's performance in diverse populations. Here, we performed a prospective cohort study to assess the reactogenicity and immunologic outcomes of Sputnik-V vaccination in Kazakhstan. COVID-19-free participants (n = 82 at baseline) were followed at day 21 after Sputnik-V dose 1 (rAd5) and dose 2 (rAd26). Self-reported local and systemic adverse events were captured using questionnaires. Blood and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected to perform SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic and immunologic assays. We observed that most of the reported adverse events were mild-to-moderate injection site or systemic reactions, no severe or potentially life-threatening conditions were reported, and dose 1 appeared to be more reactogenic than dose 2. The seroconversion rate was 97% post-dose 1, remaining the same post-dose 2. The proportion of participants with detectable virus neutralization was 83% post-dose 1, increasing to 98% post-dose 2, with the largest relative increase observed in participants without prior COVID-19 exposure. Dose 1 boosted nasal S-IgG and S-IgA, while the boosting effect of dose 2 on mucosal S-IgG, but not S-IgA, was only observed in subjects without prior COVID-19. Systemically, vaccination reduced serum levels of growth regulated oncogene (GRO), which correlated with an elevation in blood platelet count. Overall, Sputnik-V dose 1 elicited both blood and mucosal SARS-CoV-2 immunity, while the immune boosting effect of dose 2 was minimal. Thus, adjustments to the current vaccine dosing regimen are necessary to optimize immunization efficacy and cost-effectiveness. While Sputnik-V reactogenicity is similar to that of other COVID-19 vaccines, the induced alterations to the GRO/platelet axis warrant investigation of the vaccine’s effects on systemic immunology.

Colorectal cancer is a type of oncopathology widespread in Kazakhstan. The genetic component, as well as the possible etiopathogenetic mechanisms, is widely studied. One of the most promising areas is the study of diagnostic and prognostic possibilities of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with different degrees of tumor differentiation. The following biomarkers were included in the study panel: stem cell factor (SCF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), interleukin 6 (IL6), interleukin 8 (IL8), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), soluble Fas (SFAS), soluble Fas ligand (sFASL), transforming growth factor β (TGF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). The data of our study show that most of the basic proinflammatory cytokines are involved in the systemic process and their levels do not depend on the level of tissue differentiation. Serum PD-L1 has shown itself to be a promising marker for tumor growth, which depends on the degree of differentiation.

Background: Sputnik-V (Gam-COVID-Vac) is a heterologous, recombinant adenoviral (rAdv) vector-based, COVID-19 vaccine now used in >70 countries. Yet there is a shortage of data on this vaccine's performance in diverse populations. Here, we performed a prospective cohort study to assess the reactogenicity and immunologic outcomes of Sputnik-V vaccination in a multi-ethnic cohort from Kazakhstan. Methods: COVID-19-free participants (n=82 at baseline) were followed at day 21 after Sputnik-V dose 1 (rAd5) and dose 2 (rAd26). Self-reported local and systemic adverse events were captured using questionnaires. Blood and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected to perform SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic and immunologic assays. Findings: Of the 73 and 70 participants retained post-dose 1 and 2, respectively, most (>50%) reported mild-to-moderate injection site or systemic reactions to vaccination; no severe or potentially life-threatening conditions were reported. dose 1 appeared to be more reactogenic than dose 2, with fatigue and headache more frequent in participants with prior COVID-19 exposure. After dose 2 nausea was more common in subjects without prior COVID-19. The combined S-IgG and S-IgA seroconversion rate was 97% post-dose 1, remaining the same post-dose 2. The proportion of participants with detectable virus neutralization titers was 83% post-dose 1', and increased to 98% post-dose 2', with the largest relative increase observed in participants without prior COVID-19 exposure. Nasal S-IgG and S-IgA increased post-dose 1, while the boosting effect of dose 2 on mucosal S-IgG, but not S-IgA, was only observed in subjects without prior COVID-19. Systemically, vaccination reduced serum levels of growth regulated oncogene (GRO), which correlated with an elevation in blood platelet count. Interpretation: Sputnik-V dose 1 elicited both blood and mucosal SARS-CoV-2 immunity, while the immune boosting effect of dose 2 was minimal, suggesting that adjustments to the current vaccine dosing regimen may be necessary to optimize immunization efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Although Sputnik-V appears to have a reactogenicity profile similar to that of other COVID-19 vaccines, the observed alterations to the GRO/platelet axis call for further investigation of Sputnik V effects on systemic immunology. Funding: Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most often diagnosed malignant tumors. In Kazakhstan, high incidence of CC is registered along with other oncology diseases. Despite a significant progress in the disease treatment achieved lately, CC is still one of the major reasons of mortality due to oncologic pathologies.To study the samples MilliplexMap HumanCirculationBiomarker panel in blood serum was used. XMap-based Fluorescence immunoassay was implemented, which comprised magnetic-bead-based simultaneous fluorescence detection of IL-6, IL-8, MIF, FGF-2, SCF, TGF, TNF, TRAIL analytes. Proinflammatory biomarker concentration detection at different CC stages allows to reveal the dynamics of inflammatory response of the organism to tumor and to use them (biomarkers) in further diagnostic and forecast in particular in CC. As a result of our study, it was found that IL-6, which showed the brightest reaction, due to its range of change and considerable shift already in the I stage can be recommended as a component of a complex diagnostic panel. Such markers as FGF2 and MIF also have a role in CC early stage detection.

Our study was carried out to characterize respiratory tract microbiota in patients with “COVID-like pneumonia” in Kazakhstan and analyze differences between COVID-19 positive and negative groups. Sputum samples were collected from hospitalized patients, ≥18 years old, in the three cities in Kazakhstan with the highest COVID-19 burden in July 2020. Isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion. We used SPSS 26 and MedCalc 19 for statistical analysis. Among 209 patients with pneumonia, the median age was 62 years and 55% were male. RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases were found in 40% of patients, and 46% had a bacterial co-infection. Co-infection was not associated with SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results, but antibiotic use was. The most frequent bacteria were Klebsiella pneumoniae (23%), Escherichia coli (12%), and Acinetobacter baumannii (11%). Notably, 68% of Klebsiella pneumoniae had phenotypic evidence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in disk diffusion assays, 87% of Acinetobacter baumannii exhibited resistance to beta-lactams, and >50% of E. coli strains had evidence of ESBL production and 64% were resistant to fluoroquinolones. Patients with a bacterial co-infection had a higher proportion of severe disease than those without a co-infection. The results reinforce the importance of using appropriate targeted antibiotics and effective infection control practices to prevent the spread of resistant nosocomial infections.

COVID-19 exposure in Central Asia appears underestimated and SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence data are urgently needed to inform ongoing vaccination efforts and other strategies to mitigate the regional pandemic. Here, in a pilot serologic study we assessed the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody-mediated immunity in a multi-ethnic cohort of public university employees in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. Asymptomatic subjects (n = 100) were recruited prior to their first COVID-19 vaccination. Questionnaires were administered to capture a range of demographic and clinical characteristics. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected for SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR testing. Serological assays were performed to detect spike (S)-reactive IgG and IgA and to assess virus neutralization. Pre-pandemic samples were used to validate the assay positivity thresholds. S-IgG and -IgA seropositivity rates among SARS-CoV-2 PCR-negative participants (n = 100) were 42% (95% CI [32.2–52.3]) and 59% (95% CI [48.8–69.0]), respectively, and 64% (95% CI [53.4–73.1]) of the cohort tested positive for at least one of the antibodies. S-IgG titres correlated with virus neutralization activity, detectable in 49% of the tested subset with prior COVID-19 history. Serologically confirmed history of COVID-19 was associated with Kazakh ethnicity, but not with other ethnic minorities present in the cohort, and self-reported history of respiratory illness since March 2020. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 exposure in this cohort was ~15-fold higher compared to the reported all-time national and regional COVID-19 prevalence, consistent with recent studies of excess infection and death in Kazakhstan. Continuous serological surveillance provides important insights into COVID-19 transmission dynamics and may be used to better inform the regional public health response.