In vivo tracking of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) migration and homing is vital for understanding the mechanisms of beneficial effects of MSCs transplantation in animal models of diseases and in clinical trials. Transplanted cells can be labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) particles and visualized in vivo using a number of iron sensitive MRI techniques. However, the applicability of those techniques for SPIO-labeled MSCs tracking in live brain has not been sufficiently investigated. The goal of this study was to estimate the efficiency of various MRI techniques of SPIO-labeled cell tracing in the brain. To achieve that goal, the precision and specificity of T2WI, T2*WI and SWI (Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging) techniques of SPIO-labeled MSCs tracing in vitro and in live rat brain were for the first time compared in the same experiment. We have shown that SWI presents the most sensitive pulse sequence for SPIO-labeled MSCs MR visualization. After intracerebral administration due to limitations caused by local micro-hemorrhages the visualization threshold was 102 cells, while after intra-arterial transplantation SWI permitted detection of several cells or even single cells. There is just one publication claiming detection of individual SPIO-labeled MSCs in live brain, while the other state much lower sensitivity, describe detection of different cell types or high resolution tracing of MSCs in other tissues. This study confirms the possibility of single cell tracing in live brain and outlines the necessary conditions. SWI is a method convenient for the detection of single SPIO labeled MSCs and small groups of SPIO labeled MSCs in brain tissue and can be appropriate for monitoring migration and homing of transplanted cells in basic and translational neuroscience.

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Storage diseases (thesaurismosis, storage reticuloses) are the complex and extensive group of diseases in which differential diagnosis of pathological changes from the internal organs is difficult. For diagnosis and dynamic observation of liver and spleen lesions, ultrasound and X-ray computed tomography are used among imaging techniques. Among the imaging techniques for diffuse liver diseases, ultrasonography and X-ray computed tomography are most commonly used for their diagnosis and follow-up. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the highest sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing liver diseases.The article considers the current MRI procedures that are used to diagnose storage diseases and to quantify found changes. For Gaucher disease, the potentials of such novel technique as magnetic resonance spectroscopy are described. Incorporation of MRI into the examination algorithm for patients with storage diseases will be able to improve the detection of these rare diseases and to monitor the efficiency of performed therapy.

A review article, containing information on the options, possibilities, and prospects for the development of antibacterial finishing of textile materials, is presented. A wide range of products designed to impart antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties to textile materials is considered. The main factors determining the appropriate decision on the technological and functional choice of the protective composition are presented, including the nature of the fiber-forming polymer, the tasks that the resulting material is designed to solve, and its application options. Compositions providing the required effect of destruction of the pathogenic flora and their application technologies are described. Special attention is paid to antimicrobial agents based on silver nanoparticles. Nanoparticles of this metal have a detrimental effect on antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria; their effectiveness is higher as compared to a number of well-known antibiotics, for example, penicillin and its analogues. Silver nanoparticles are harmless to the human body. Acting as an inhibitor, they limit the activity of the enzyme responsible for oxygen consumption by single-cell bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In this case, silver ions bind to the outer and inner proteins of the bacterial cell membranes, blocking cellular respiration and reproduction. Various options to apply microencapsulation methods for the implementation of antibacterial finishing are considered, including: phase separation, suspension crosslinking, simple and complex coacervation, spray drying, crystallization from the melt, evaporation of the solvent, co-extrusion, layering, fluidized bed spraying, deposition, emulsion and interphase polymerization, layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly etc. All presented technologies are at various development stages—from the laboratory stage to production tests, they all have certain advantages and disadvantages. The accelerated development and implementation of the described methods in production of textile materials is relevant and is related to the existing complex epidemiological situation in the world.

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Introduction. Gaucher disease (GD) belongs to the group of lysosomal storage diseases. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is considered to be the current standard in GD treatment. No reduced ERT regimen has thus far been developed. Aim. To develop an optimal reduced ERT regimen for adult patients with type I GD, which is scientifically and economically viable.Materials and methods. The study included 100 adult patients with type I GD who achieved treatment goals following at least two years of the standard ERT regimen. Patients were prescribed a reduced ERT regimen, which consisted in increasing the interval between the infusions of the recombinant enzyme up to 4 weeks, at a dose of 15–20 units/kg of body weight. The efficacy of the reduced ERT regimen was assessed once every 12 months according to main GD parameters. The follow-up period in the study ranged from 12 to 36 months.Results. The patients with type I GD who achieved treatment goals following the standard ERT regimen and were then prescribed a reduced ERT regimen retained a stable therapeutic effect of the initial treatment according to all parameters: no clinically significant differences found in haemoglobin and platelet levels, spleen size and specific infiltration of femur bone marrow.Conclusion. An increase in the intervals between infusions of the recombinant glucocerebrosidase up to 4 weeks for 12, 24 and 36 months did not lead to worsening of the laboratory and instrumental parameters associated with GD.