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N. S. Khrushchev's speech of 1954 took the professional architectural society by surprise. It was urgently necessary to absorb the abroad experience of the modern architecture, there were no teachers, no study texts. The Union of Architects appealed to assist the young architects, yesterday alumni. A year after the “historical” decree on architectural excesses appeared. More than half a century has passed but its harmful impact is felt even now.

Background Left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic functions are important cardiovascular risk predictors in patients with hypertension. However, data on segmental, layer-specific strain, and diastolic strain rates in these patients are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate segmental two-dimensional strain rate imaging (SRI)-derived parameters to characterize LV systolic and diastolic function in hypertensive individuals compared with that in normotensive individuals. Methods The study sample comprised 1194 participants from population studies in Arkhangelsk and Novosibirsk, Russia, and 1013 individuals from the Seventh Tromsø Study in Norway. The study population was divided into four subgroups: A. healthy individuals with normal blood pressure (BP), B. individuals on antihypertensive medication with normal BP, C. individuals with systolic BP 140–159 mmHg and/or diastolic BP >90 mm HG, and D. individuals with systolic BP ≥160 mmHg. In addition to conventional echocardiographic parameters, global and segmental layer-specific strains and strain rates in early diastole and atrial contraction (SR E, SR A) were extracted. The strain and SR (S/SR) analysis included only segments without strain curve artifacts. Results With increasing BP, the systolic and diastolic global and segmental S/SR gradually decreased. SR E, a marker of impaired relaxation, showed the most distinctive differences between the groups. In normotensive controls and the three hypertension groups, all segmental parameters displayed apico-basal gradients, with the lowest S/SR in the basal septal and highest in apical segments. Only SR A did not differ between the segmental groups but increased gradually with increasing BP. End-systolic strain showed incremental epi-towards endocardial gradients, irrespective of the study group. Conclusion Arterial hypertension reduces global and segmental systolic and diastolic left ventricular S/SR parameters. Impaired relaxation determined by SR E is the dominant factor of diastolic dysfunction, whereas end-diastolic compliance (by SR A) does not seem to be influenced by different degrees of hypertension. Segmental strain, SR E and SR A provide new insights into the LV cardiomechanics in hypertensive hearts.

The author reviews the history of the birth of the master plan for the socialist city of Magnitogorsk in connection with new publications and new design materials. An attempt is made to expand the boundaries of the version of the competition for Soviet and German specialists, the value of all planning projects created in the 1929-1930s is highlighted, and the need for preservation and development of the quarter No. 1 of the Socialist City as a world famous urban planning monument is again pointed out.

Project Baikal journal publishes the reports of RAACS academicians at the Jubilee General Meeting of members of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences, which was held from 11 to 13 October 2022 in the Central House of the Architect, Moscow. Academician A. Kudryavtsev spoke about the periods of development of the RAACS since its establishment. He focused on acquiring autonomy and self-organisation of the Academy, transforming it into a Russian Academy, developing links with higher schools, improving experimental design, forming an urban planning doctrine. Of particular interest was the description of the most significant figures and changes in architecture, urban planning and design.

Coronamoeba villafranca gen. nov. sp. nov. is a small amoeba isolated from the surface planktonic biotope in the Bay of Villefranche (Mediterranean Sea). It has a confusing set of morphological and molecular characters. Its locomotive form is subcylindrical and monopodial with monoaxial cytoplasmic flow and occasional hyaline bulging at anterior edge (a monotactic morphotype). Based on this set of characters this amoeba is most similar to the members of the genus Nolandella (Tubulinea, Euamoebida). However, molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the single marker small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene and on two concatenated markers (SSU rRNA gene and actin) robustly places this species in the Discosea, specifically, in a clade with Dermamoeba and Paradermamoeba (Dermamoebida) as the closest relatives. A unique glycocalyx of the studied amoeba consisting of complex separate units with pentagonal symmetry may be considered a unifying character of this species with other dermamoebids. The results obtained favor a hypothesis that the monotactic morphotype that primarily occurs in Tubulinea, but was recently confirmed in other clades of Amoebozoa (e.g. Dactylopodida and Variosea) may be the plesiomorphic mode of amoeboid cell organization in this supergroup. It may reflect basic characters of the cytoskeletal structure and functions in Amoebozoa.

Amoebozoan parasites of arrow-worms (Chaetognatha) were isolated from their hosts living in plankton of the Bay of Villefranche (Mediterranean Sea). Based on the light microscopic characters, the amoebae were identified as

Background Obesity is an epidemic of XXI century, as its prevalence doubled during the last forty years. As Russia and Norway are countries with different life expectancy there could be differences in obesity and its correlates. Purpose To investigate and compare prevalence and socio-economic and behavioral factors associated with obesity in Russia and Norway with data from population-based studies. Methods We used multivariable logistic regression to examine associations of obesity (body mass index>30 kg/m2) with socio-economic factors (age, education, marital status, and poor financial situation defined as difficulty to afford clothes) and behavioral characteristics (smoking, alcohol use) in participants aged 40–69 years from the Know Your Heart study (Russia, 2015–2017, N=4 106) and the seventh Study (Norway, 2015–16, N=17 604). All results for covariates are mutually adjusted. Between-study comparisons of the associations of obesity with the same covariates were performed through investigation of their interactions with the “study” variable. Results The age-standardized prevalence of obesity was higher in Russia among women (36.8 vs 22.0%, p Conclusion The prevalence of obesity was higher in Russian compared to Norwegian women, but there was no difference between Russian and Norwegian men. There were different between-country patterns of the associations of obesity with the socio-economic and behavioral characteristics. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): The Know Your Heart study was a component of International Project on Cardiovascular Disease in Russia and funded by Wellcome Trust Strategic Award [100217], UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services. The Tromsø Study was funded by UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Northern Norway Regional Health Authority, Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services, Norwegian Research Council, and various public and charity research funds in Norway. PhD scholarship and operational funds of the first author were provided by Northern State Medical University, Arkhangelsk, Russia and by UiT The Arctic University of Norway

AimsStrain artefacts are known to hamper the correct interpretation of segmental strain and strain-rate (S/SR). Defining the normal ranges of myocardial segmental deformation is important in clinical studies and routine echocardiographic practice. In order to define artefact-free normal ranges for segmental longitudinal S/SR parameters, we investigated the extent to which different types of artefacts and their segmental localisation in the three different myocardial layers created a bias in the results of echocardiographic strain measurements.MethodsThe study included echocardiograms from men and women aged 40–69 years from two population-based studies, namely the Know Your Heart study (Russia) and the Tromsø Study (Norway). Of the 2207 individuals from these studies, 840 had normal results, defined as the absence of hypertension or indicators of any cardiovascular disease. Two-dimensional (2D) global and segmental S/SR of the three myocardial layers were analysed using speckle tracking echocardiography. Artefacts were assessed with two different methods: visual identification of image-artefacts and a novel conceptual approach of ‘curve-artefacts’ or unphysiological strain-curve formation.ResultsSegmental strain values were found to have significantly reduced in the presence of strain-curve artefacts (14.9%±5.8% towards −20.7%±4.9%), and increased with the foreshortening of the 2D image. However, the individual global strain values were not substantially altered by discarding segmental artefacts. Reduction due to artefacts was observed in all segments, layers, systolic and diastolic strain, and SR. Thus, we presented normal ranges for basal-septal, basal, medial and apical segment groups after excluding artefacts.ConclusionStrain-curve artefacts introduce systematic errors, resulting in reduced segmental S/SR values. In terms of artefact-robust global longitudinal strain, the detection of curve-artefacts is crucial for the correct interpretation of segmental S/SR patterns. Intersegmental S/SR gradients and artefacts need to be considered for the correct definition of normalcy and pathology.

In this study, the effect of three promising feed additives (chelated compounds of trace elements, butyric acid, lycopene) on changes in the culturable microbiota and histological parameters of two sections of the intestines of Danio rerio (zebrafish) was studied. The use of these feed additives can help to eliminate the deficiency of trace elements, modulate the composition of the microbiota due to the postbiotic properties of butyric acid, and reduce oxidative stress when using lycopene. Incorporation of the investigated supplements in the feed resulted in a significant change in the relative abundance of certain groups of microorganisms. The taxonomic diversity of cultured microorganisms did not differ in the anterior and posterior intestines, while there were differences in the relative abundance of these microorganisms. The most sensitive groups of microorganisms were the genera Bacillus and Serratia. A significant effect on the composition of the cultured microbiota was caused by lycopene (in all studied concentrations), leading to a significant increase in the relative abundance of Firmicutes in the anterior gut. Studies of the histological structure of the anterior and posterior guts have shown the relationship between the barrier and secretory functions of the gut and the composition of the microbiota while using butyric acid (1 and 2 g kg−1) and trace element chelated compounds (2 mg kg−1). This culture-dependent method of studying the microbiome makes it possible to assess changes in some representatives of the main groups of microorganisms (Firmicutes and Proteobacteria). Despite the incompleteness of the data obtained by the culture-dependent method, its application makes it possible to assess the bioactive properties of feed and feed additives and their impact on the microbiota involved in digestive processes.

The most prominent and rapidly increasing source of electrical power generation, wind energy conversion systems (WECS), can significantly improve the situation with regard to remote communities’ power supply. The main constituting elements of a WECS are a wind turbine, a mechanical transmission system, a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG), a rotor side converter (RSC), a common DC-link capacitor, and a grid-side converter. Vector control is center for RSC and GSC control techniques. Because of direct and quadrature components, the active and reactive power can also be controller precisely. This study tracks the maximum power point (MPP) using a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller strategy. The MPPT technique provides a voltage reference to control the maximum power conversion at the turbine end. The performance and efficiency of the suggested control strategy are validated by WECS simulation under fluctuating wind speed. The MATLAB/Simulink environment using simpower system toolbox is used to simulate the proposed control strategy. The results reveal the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy under fluctuating wind speed and provides good dynamic performance. The total harmonic distortions are also within the IEEE 519 standard’s permissible limits which is also an advantage of the proposed control approach.

Sarah Cook,1– 3 Anne Elise Eggen,1 Laila A Hopstock,1 Sofia Malyutina,4,5 Marina Shapkina,4 Alexander V Kudryavtsev,1,6 Hasse Melbye,1,* Jennifer K Quint3,* 1Department of Community Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; 2Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; 3National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK; 4Research Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine, Branch of Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation; 5Novosibirsk State Medical University, Russian Ministry of Health, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation; 6Northern State Medical University, Arkhangelsk, Russian Federation*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Sarah Cook Email sarah.cook@lshtm.ac.ukBackground: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite a high prevalence of smoking and respiratory symptoms, two recent population-based studies in Russia found a relatively low prevalence of obstructive lung function. Here, we investigated the prevalence of both obstructive lung disease and respiratory symptoms in a population-based study conducted in two Russian cities and compared the findings with a similar study from Norway conducted in the same time period.Methods: The study population was a sub-sample of participants aged 40– 69 years participating in the Know Your Heart (KYH) study in Russia in 2015– 18 (n=1883) and in the 7th survey of the Tromsø Study (n=5271) carried out in Norway in 2015– 16 (Tromsø 7) who participated in spirometry examinations. The main outcome was obstructive lung function (FEV1/FVC ratio< lower limit of normal on pre-bronchodilator spirometry examination) with and without respiratory symptoms (chronic cough and breathlessness). In those with obstructive lung function, awareness (known diagnosis) and management (use of medications, smoking cessation) were compared.Results: The age-standardized prevalence of obstructive lung function was similar among men in both studies (KYH 11.0% vs Tromsø 7 9.8%, p=0.21) and higher in the Norwegian (9.4%) than Russian (6.8%) women (p=0.006). In contrast, the prevalence of obstructive lung function plus respiratory symptoms was higher in Russian men (KYH 8.3% vs Tromsø 7 4.7%, p< 0.001) but similar in women (KYH 5.9% vs Tromsø 7 6.4%, p=0.18). There was a much higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms in Russian than Norwegian participants of both sexes regardless of presence of obstructive lung function.Conclusion: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was strikingly high among Russian participants but this was not explained by a higher burden of obstructive lung function on spirometry testing in comparison with Norwegian participants. Further work is needed to understand the reasons and health implications of this high prevalence of cough and breathlessness.Keywords: COPD, Russian Federation, Norway, respiratory symptoms

ObjectiveThe aim of the study is to assess changes in heart structure and function associated with heavy alcohol use by comparing echocardiographic indices in a population-based sample to those in patients admitted to an inpatient facility with severe alcohol problems.Methods and resultsWe used data from the Know Your Heart study (2015–2017) which is a cross-sectional study that recruited 2479 participants aged 35–69 years from the general population of the city of Arkhangelsk in Northwest Russia and 278 patients from the Arkhangelsk Regional Psychiatric Hospital with a primary diagnosis related to chronic alcohol use (narcology clinic subsample). The drinking patterns of the population-based sample were characterised in detail. We used regression models controlling for age, sex, smoking, education and waist to hip ratio to evaluate the differences in echocardiographic indices in participants with different drinking patterns. The means of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and indexed left atrial systolic diameter were increased among heavy drinkers (narcology clinic subsample), while mean left ventricular ejection fraction was decreased in this group compared with the population-based sample. In contrast, the harmful and hazardous drinkers in the population-based sample did not differ from non-problem drinkers with respect to echocardiographic indices of systolic and diastolic function.ConclusionsExtremely heavy drinking is associated with a specific set of structural and functional abnormalities of the heart that may be regarded as precursors of alcohol-related dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective - To validate a novel artificial-intelligence electrocardiogram algorithm (AI-ECG) to detect left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in an external population. Background - LVSD, even when asymptomatic, confers increased morbidity and mortality. We recently derived AI-ECG to detect LVSD using ECGs based on a large sample of patients treated at the Mayo Clinic. Methods - We performed an external validation study with subjects from the Know Your Heart Study, a cross-sectional study of adults aged 35–69 years residing in two cities in Russia, who had undergone both ECG and transthoracic echocardiography. LVSD was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 35%. We assessed the performance of the AI-ECG to identify LVSD in this distinct patient population. Results - Among 4277 subjects in this external population-based validation study, 0.6% had LVSD (compared to 7.8% of the original clinical derivation study). The overall performance of the AI-ECG to detect LVSD was robust with an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.82. When using the LVSD probability cut-off of 0.256 from the original derivation study, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in this population were 26.9%, 97.4%, 97.0%, respectively. Other probability cut-offs were analysed for different sensitivity values. Conclusions - The AI-ECG detected LVSD with robust test performance in a population that was very different from that used to develop the algorithm. Population-specific cut-offs may be necessary for clinical implementation. Differences in population characteristics, ECG and echocardiographic data quality may affect test performance.

BackgroundLittle is known about the burden of common mental disorders in Russia despite high levels of suicide and alcohol-related mortality. Here we investigated levels of symptoms, self-reports of ever having received a diagnosis and treatment of anxiety and depression in two Russian cities.MethodsThe study population was men and women aged 35–69 years old participating in cross-sectional population-based studies in the cities of Arkhangelsk and Novosibirsk (2015–18). Participants completed an interview which included the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales, questions on whether participants had ever received a diagnosis of depression or anxiety, and health service use in the past year. Participants also reported current medication use and medications were coded in line with the WHO anatomical therapeutic classification (ATC). Depression was defined as PHQ-9 ≥ 10 and Anxiety as GAD-7 ≥ 10.ResultsAge-standardised prevalence of PHQ-9 ≥ 10 was 10.7% in women and 5.4% in men (GAD-7 ≥ 10 6.2% in women; 3.0% in men). Among those with PHQ-9 ≥ 10 17% reported ever having been diagnosed with depression (equivalent finding for anxiety 29%). Only 1.5% of those with PHQ-9 ≥ 10 reported using anti-depressants and 0.6% of those with GAD-7 ≥ 10 reported using anxiolytics. No men with PHQ-9 ≥ 10 and/or GAD-7 ≥ 10 reported use of anti-depressants or anxiolytics. Use of health services increased with increasing severity of both depression and anxiety.ConclusionThere was a large gap between symptoms and reporting of past diagnosis and treatment of common mental disorders in two Russian cities. Interventions aimed at improving mental health literacy and reducing stigma could be of benefit in closing this substantial treatment gap.

ObjectivesLarge differences exist in the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) between Russia and Western European countries including Norway. Obesity prevalence may contribute to the differences. We investigated whether difference in the level of adiposity, assessed using body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio(WHR), could explain intercountry differences in the burden of carotid plaque, a measure of atherosclerosis, in the populations.DesignCross-sectional analysis. Logistic and linear regression models were used.SettingWe used population-based cross-sectional Know Your Heart (KYH) study in Russia and the Tromsø 7 study (Tromsø 7) in Norway.Participants3262 and 1800 men and women aged 40–69 years in KYH and Tromsø 7, respectively.Primary and secondary outcomeThe presence of carotid plaques and plaque score assessed using ultrasound.ResultsThe presence of carotid plaques and plaque score were higher in KYH than Tromsø 7 regardless of age group and sex. A positive association between carotid plaque burden and adiposity was found (OR of having at least one plaque per SD in WHR 1.18 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.31) for men; 1.15 (1.06 to 1.25) for women)) adjusted for age, smoking and education in a pooled analysis of the two studies. There was little evidence of the interaction between study and adiposity. These effects did not differ between the two studies. However, neither adiposity nor CVD risk factors (smoking, systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, glycosylated haemoglobin) explained the higher carotid plaque burden in KYH compared with Tromsø 7.ConclusionAdiposity, especially abdominal adiposity, is a risk factor for carotid plaque in Russia and Norway, although neither adiposity nor established CVD risk factors explained the higher plaque burden in Russia. To reduce the CVD burden in Russia, beyond prevention and treatment of adiposity, further research is required to understand why Russia has a high burden of atherosclerosis.

Background Alcohol drinking is an increasingly recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, there are few studies of the impact of harmful and hazardous drinking on biomarkers of myocardial health. We conducted a study in Russia to investigate the impact of heavy drinking on biomarkers of cardiac damage and inflammation. Methods and Results The Know Your Heart study recruited a random sample of 2479 participants from the population of northwest Russia (general population) plus 278 patients (narcology clinic subsample) with alcohol problems. The general population sample was categorized into harmful drinkers, hazardous drinkers, nonproblem drinkers, and nondrinkers, according to self‐reported level of alcohol consumption, whereas the narcology clinic sample was treated as the separate group in the analysis. Measurements were made of the following: (1) high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T, (2) NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide), and (3) hsCRP (high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein). The narcology clinic subsample had the most extreme drinking pattern and the highest levels of all 3 biomarkers relative to nonproblem drinkers in the general population: high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T was elevated by 10.3% (95% CI , 3.7%–17.4%), NT ‐pro BNP by 46.7% (95% CI , 26.8%–69.8%), and hsCRP by 69.2% (95% CI , 43%–100%). In the general population sample, NT ‐pro BNP was 31.5% (95% CI , 3.4%–67.2%) higher among harmful drinkers compared with nonproblem drinkers. Overall, NT ‐pro BNP and hsCRP increased with increasing intensity of alcohol exposure (test of trend P Conclusions These results support the hypothesis that heavy alcohol drinking has an adverse effect on cardiac structure and function that may not be driven by atherosclerosis.

BackgroundRussia has one of the highest rates of mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD). At age 35–69 years, they are eight times higher than in neighbouring Norway. Comparing profiles of blood-based CVD biomarkers between these two populations can help identify reasons for this substantial difference in risk.MethodsWe compared age-standardised mean levels of CVD biomarkers for men and women aged 40–69 years measured in two cross-sectional population-based studies: Know Your Heart (KYH) (Russia, 2015–2018; n=4046) and the seventh wave of the Tromsø Study (Tromsø 7) (Norway, 2015–2018; n=17 646). A laboratory calibration study was performed to account for inter-laboratory differences.ResultsLevels of total, low-density lipoprotein-, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides were comparable in KYH and Tromsø 7 studies. N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were higher in KYH compared with Tromsø 7 (NT-proBNP was higher by 54.1% (95% CI 41.5% to 67.8%) in men and by 30.8% (95% CI 22.9% to 39.2%) in women; hs-cTnT—by 42.4% (95% CI 36.1% to 49.0%) in men and by 68.1% (95% CI 62.4% to 73.9%) in women; hsCRP—by 33.3% (95% CI 26.1% to 40.8%) in men and by 35.6% (95% CI 29.0% to 42.6%) in women). Exclusion of participants with pre-existing coronary heart disease (279 men and 282 women) had no substantive effect.ConclusionsDifferences in cholesterol fractions cannot explain the difference in CVD mortality rate between Russia and Norway. A non-ischemic pathway to the cardiac damage reflected by raised NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT is likely to contribute to high CVD mortality in Russia.

Surprisingly few attempts have been made to quantify the simultaneous contribution of well-established risk factors to CVD mortality differences between countries. We aimed to develop and critically appraise an approach to doing so, applying it to the substantial CVD mortality gap between Russia and Norway using survey data in three cities and mortality risks from the Emerging Risk Factor Collaboration. We estimated the absolute and relative differences in CVD mortality at ages 40–69 years between countries attributable to the risk factors, under the counterfactual that the age- and sex-specific risk factor profile in Russia was as in Norway, and vice-versa. Under the counterfactual that Russia had the Norwegian risk factor profile, the absolute age-standardized CVD mortality gap would decline by 33.3% (95% CI 25.1–40.1) among men and 22.1% (10.4–31.3) among women. In relative terms, the mortality rate ratio (Russia/Norway) would decline from 9–10 to 7–8. Under the counterfactual that Norway had the Russian risk factor profile, the mortality gap reduced less. Well-established CVD risk factors account for a third of the male and around a quarter of the female CVD mortality gap between Russia and Norway. However, these estimates are based on widely held epidemiological assumptions that deserve further scrutiny.

Amoeboid protists are extremely abundant and diverse in natural systems where they often play outstanding ecological roles. They can be found in almost all major eukaryotic divisions, and genomic approaches are bringing major changes in our perception of their deep evolutionary relationships. At fine taxonomic levels, the generalization of barcoding is revealing a considerable and unsuspected specific diversity that can be appreciated with careful morphometric analyses based on light and electron microscopic observations. We provide examples on the difficulties and advances in amoeboid protists systematics in a selection of groups that were presented at the VIIIth ECOP/ISOP meeting in Rome, 2019. We conclude that, in all studied groups, important taxonomical rearrangements will certainly take place in the next few years, and systematics must be adapted to incorporate these changes. Notably, nomenclature should be flexible enough to integrate many new high level taxa, and a unified policy must be adopted to species description and to the establishment of types.

We isolated and re-investigated Nephrocystidium pickii Weißenberg, 1921 (Myxozoa: Bivalvulida: Variisporina) using light microscopy and phylogenetic analysis of the small-subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA gene. This species is a parasite of the northern pike Esox lucius L. (Actinopterygii: Esocidae) which localizes in the endothelial cells of the glomerular capillary. The results of the phylogenetic analysis including this species clarify its taxonomic status and show that although it is the closest relative to Myxidium lieberkuehni Bütschli, 1882, the two organisms are not conspecific, contrary to the earlier hypotheses. The data obtained highlight the necessity of a profound taxonomic revision of the Myxozoa and the need to clarify species affiliation of extrasporogonic developmental stages of these organisms that occur in different organs of fish.

Two marine members of the genus Vexillifera Schaeffer, 1926 (Amoebozoa, Dactylopodida) are described. Vexillifera abyssalis n. sp. originates from an abyssal sample of the Western Atlantic 4.5 km deep, which is the first unambiguous record of a deep-sea Vexillifera. The second species, V. kereti n. sp. was isolated from the soft bottom sediments of the White Sea (depth 106 m). An analysis of available data on the genus Vexillifera shows that it comprises many different species, yet they are very unevenly studied. The majority of species have only been described using light microscopy, and their phylogenetic relationships with other amoebae are unclear. However, available small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequences of Vexillifera spp. form a robust, yet very heterogeneous clade in the phylogenetic tree. These species demonstrate a wide range of morphological and ultrastructural characters and originate from diverse habitats, suggesting that Vexillifera may need to be subdivided into several genera in the future. In addition to the described species, we sequenced the COI gene of original CCAP strains of Vexillifera bacillipedes, V. minutissima and Pseudoparamoeba pagei, thereby performing a phylogenetic reconstruction of the Dactylopodida based on a decent taxonomic sampling.

Mitochondrial genome sequence of Vannella croatica (Amoebozoa, Discosea, Vannellida) was obtained using pulse-field gel electrophoretic isolation of the circular mitochondrial DNA, followed by the next-generation sequencing. The mitochondrial DNA of this species has the length of 28,933 bp and contains 12 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNAs, and 16 transfer RNAs. Vannella croatica mitochondrial genome is relatively short compared to other known amoebozoan mitochondrial genomes but is rather gene-rich and contains significant number of open reading frames.

Vannella simplex (Amoebozoa, Discosea, Vannellida) is one of the commonest freshwater free-living lobose amoebae, known from many locations worldwide. In the present study, we describe the complete mitochondrial genome of this species. The circular mitochondrial DNA of V. simplex has 34,145obp in length and contains 27 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 16 transfer RNAs and 4 open reading frames. Mitochondiral genome of V. simplex is one of the most gene compact due to overlapping genes and reduced intergenic space. It has much in common with its closest relative, mitochondrial genome of V. croatica GenBank number MF508648. In the same time, both of them show considerable differences in length and in gene order from the next close relative – that of Neoparamoeba pemaquidensis KX611830 (deposited as Paramoeba) and even more – from other sequenced amoebozoan mitochondrial genomes. The present study confirms the opinion that the level of synteny between the mitochondrial genomes across the entire Amoebozoa clade is low. More or less considerable similarity yet was found only between members of the same clade of the genera or family level, but hardly — among more distant lineages.

From 1 January 2015, the first Russian population-based injury register has been routinely used for registration of all traumas requiring medical assistance in the municipality of Shenkursk, Arkhangelsk region. It was built up on the injury registration model that was used in Harstad, Norway. The aims of the injury registry are to monitor injury rates and develop evidence-based preventive measures at the municipal level. The source of information about injures is an injury registration form which includes sections on type, place, time, preceding circumstances, mechanisms of accident, mechanisms of injury, alcohol consumption and socio-demographic characteristics of the injured. Inclusion criteria of the injury register are the ICD-10 codes S00-T78. Data registration is performed using EpiInfo 7 platform. Introduction of the injury register allows to observe, forecast and minimize the harm caused by injuries on a population level as well as to increase knowledge about factors contributing to the burden of injuries Identifying removable and modifiable factors which act as parts of mechanisms of accidents and injuries allows development of targeted preventive measures to decrease the burden of injuries among the population of the Shenkursk district.

Цель - Оценка связи высокочувствительного С-реактивного белка (вчСРБ) с кардиометаболическими и эхокардиографическими (ЭхоКГ) индикаторами сердечной недостаточности (СН) среди взрослого населения Северного региона России. Материал и методы - Поперечное исследование «Узнай свое сердце» проведено в 2015–2017 гг. на случайной выборке общего населения г. Архангельска в возрасте 35–69 лет (n=2381). Критерием исключения для данного анализа был уровень вчСРБ >10 мг / л. В группу с наличием субклинического воспаления вошло 686 участников с вчСРБ ≥2,0 мг / л, а 1158 участников с вчСРБ Результаты - В группе с вчСРБ ≥2,0 мг / л выявлена более высокая частота артериальной гипертензии, сахарного диабета, СН, перенесенного инфаркта миокарда, чем в группе сравнения. Определены независимые ассоциации уровня вчСРБ с окружностью талии (β=0,379, p 3,0 ммоль / л), триглицеридов (>1,7 ммоль / л) и цистатина С (>1,2 мг / л). Определены независимые отрицательные ассоциации вчСРБ с фракцией выброса ЛЖ, индексом объема левого предсердия, отношением скорости раннего и позднего диастолического наполнения ЛЖ (p=0,003, p=0,002, p=0,005 соответственно), отражающие связь повышенного содержания вчСРБ с ухудшением систолической и диастолической функции ЛЖ. Продемонстрирована связь показателей ремоделирования сердца с уровнем NT-proBNP. Заключение - На популяционной выборке взрослого населения Северного региона России выявлены независимые ассоциации вчСРБ с факторами кардиометаболического риска, а также структурными и функциональными изменениями сердца по данным ЭхоКГ, что отражает потенциальное участие воспаления в ремоделировании сердца и развитии СН. Aim - To evaluate the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and echocardiographic (EchoCG) indicators of heart failure (HF) among adult population of the North region of Russia. Material and methods The Know Your Heart transversal study was performed in 2015–2017 on a random sample of adult population of Arkhangelsk aged 35–69 years (n=2381). The exclusion criterion for this study was a concentration of hsCRP >10 mg/l. The group of subclinical inflammation included 686 participants with hsCRP ≥2.0 mg/l; the comparison group consisted of 1158 participants with hsCRP Results - The group with hsCRP ≥2.0 mg/l had higher rates of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, HF, and myocardial infarction in history than the comparison group. The hsCRP level was independently associated with waist circumference (β=0.379, p 3.0 mmol/l), triglycerides (>1.7 mmol/l), and cystatin C (>1.2 mg/l). hsCRP was independently negatively associated with LV ejection fraction, left atrial volume index, ratio of early to late LV diastolic filling velocity (p=0.003, p=0.002, p=0.005, respectively), which reflected the relationship of the increased content of hsCRP with impairment of LV systolic and diastolic function. A relationship between heart remodeling indexes and hsCRP concentration was shown. Conclusion - In a sample of adult population from the North region of Russia, the hsCRP concentration was independently associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and structural and functional changes in the heart detected by EchoCG, which reflects a potential contribution of inflammation to heart remodeling and development of HF.

Background Heavy alcohol drinking is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), although the mechanisms underlying this are not well understood. Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with changes in many blood biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk. There are however few studies of the impact of harmful and hazardous drinking on CVD biomarkers. We conducted a study in Russia to explore the association between levels of heavy alcohol consumption on biomarkers of cardiac damage. Methods The Know Your Heart study recruited and medically examined a random sample of 2354 participants from the general population of Arkhangelsk city (NW Russia) plus 271 participants from the Regional Psychiatric hospital alcohol treatment facility with a primary diagnosis of alcohol problems. Measurements were made of (i) high sensitivity Troponin T (hsTroponinT), a marker of cardiac damage, (ii) N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-Pro-BNP), a marker cardiac wall stretch, and (iii) high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a marker of systemic inflammation. Their concentrations were compared between the patients from the alcohol treatment facility and the general population sample divided according to levels of harmful/hazardous drinking. The associations between heavy alcohol use and log-transformed biomarkers were estimated using multivariate linear regression models adjusted for directed acyclic graphs specified minimal sufficient set of confounders: age, sex, smoking and education. Results Those in the alcohol treatment facility had the highest levels of all three biomarkers relative to non-hazardous drinkers in the general population: hsTroponinT was elevated by 10.3% (95%CI: 3.7%, 17.4%), NT-Pro-BNP - by 46.7% (95%CI: 26.8%, 69.8%), hsCRP - by 69.2% (95%CI: 43%, 100%). NT-Pro-BNP was also elevated, but to a smaller degree, for harmful drinkers in the general population – by 31.5% (95%CI: 3.4, 67.2). A trend test across categories of drinkers was significant for NT-Pro-BNP and hsCRP with concentration of biomarkers going up with higher levels of alcohol exposure (p Conclusion The key finding is that NT-Pro-BNP was raised in both patients in the alcohol treatment facility and among harmful drinkers in the general population. This biomarker of pathological wall stress is a predictor of CVD events. This consistent finding in the two groups supports the hypothesis that heavy alcohol drinking has an adverse effect on cardiac structure and function and may thus lead to increased risk of CVD. However, the importance for CVD of the marked elevation of hsCRP in the alcohol treatment group is less clear.

The genus Cunea Kudryavtsev and Pawlowski, 2015 (Amoebozoa, Dactylopodida) was initially described from the oceanic benthos: C. profundata, from over 5 km depth in the Atlantic Ocean, and C. thuwala from the Red Sea benthos at ca. 60 m depth. Both species are identical to each other in morphology (including cell coat ultrastructure), but differ significantly in the gene sequence data, including barcoding loci of small subunit ribosomal RNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene, as well as actin. This paper describes the third species of Cunea, C. russae n. sp. isolated from a brackish water habitat without a direct connection to the ocean, a small spring of brackish water (19‰) emerging from a 246 m deep hole in the earth. This species is morphologically identical to the previous two amoebae, but differs from them significantly in the gene sequence data and ecological preferences. In particular, this species has the broadest salinity tolerance range, being able to reproduce well already at 2.5‰. It is also capable of resisting cold temperatures, like C. profundata. The data obtained suggest that the genus Cunea may comprise a significant taxonomic diversity represented by morphologically identical, but quickly diverging species with significant ecological plasticity.

The order Himatismenida (Amoebozoa, Discosea) comprises naked amoebae with an organic coat that is located on the dorsal surface of the cell. The phylogenetic relationships among deeply branching genera of the Himatismenida are unclear, as data on the species diversity of the himatismenid genera is largely restricted to the derived genus Cochliopodium. Here, we describe two new amoeba species that branch at the base of the order Himatismenida, evidenced by SSU rRNA gene and multigene analyses. Among them, a freshwater species Planopodium haveli gen. nov., sp. nov. has a dorsal cell coat consisting of flat, oval scales. This species forms a clade at the base of the Himatismenida, and the previously described Ovalopodium desertum, its closest relative, is transferred into the new genus as Planopodium desertum comb. nov. Although the two species are barely distinguishable by their sequence data, they are clearly distinct in morphology. Using this data, we can report the first evidence of a dorsal cell coat consisting of scales outside of the genus Cochliopodium. The other species has a marine origin and branches deeply, close to the root of the phylogenetic tree of Himatismenida. Based on the morphology of this amoeba, it should be described as Ovalopodium rosalinum sp. nov., a new species of the genus Ovalopodium. Analyses of the phylogenetic relationships and the ultrastructure of the deeply branching himatismenids, together with several of the newly obtained gene sequences of Parvamoeba and Cochliopodium, suggest that some elements of the dorsal cell coat of Ovalopodium may be ancestral for Himatismenida and have been partly retained in various more derived species of this clade, in particular, Cochliopodium gallicum. Although actin and Cox1 gene data do not resolve the higher-level relationships in Himatismenida, they correspond to the grouping of species within most genera.

Vannella samoroda n. sp. (Amoebozoa, Vannellida) was isolated from the mouth of the Malaya Samoroda river flowing into Elton, the largest European hypersaline lake (Russia). Among all rivers of the area, it has the highest salt content (ca. 110‰). Amoebae maintained in seawater medium with ca. 77‰ salts concentration had a set of morphological characters typical of Vannella spp.: rounded, fan-shaped, or spatulate locomotive form, floating form with bent, blunt-ended hyaline pseudopodia, and a cell coat consisting of regularly packed palisade elements and scarce simple filaments. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA and cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 genes show that the amoeba is most closely related to Vannella ebro Smirnov, 2001, but represents a distinct species. The clade of V. ebro and V. samoroda branches among marine species of Vannella. The studied species is the first member of the genus Vannella from a continental saline habitat described using molecular data. Interestingly, it has a broad range of salinity tolerance: cells reproduce above 18‰, while survival of a few cells regularly occurs even in highly diluted Prescott and James medium. The normal culture restores itself when PJ medium is substituted with 77‰ seawater medium even after months of experimental incubation.

Marine amebae of the genus Paramoeba (Amoebozoa, Dactylopodida) normally contain a eukaryotic endosymbiont known as Perkinsela-like organism (PLO). This is one of the characters to distinguish the genera Neoparamoeba and Paramoeba from other Dactylopodida. It is known that the PLO may be lost, but PLO-free strains of paramoebians were never available for molecular studies. Recently, we have described the first species of the genus Paramoeba which has no parasome-Paramoeba aparasomata. In this study, we present a mitochondrial genome of this species, compare it with that of Neoparamoeba pemaquidensis, and analyze the evolutionary dynamics of gene sequences and gene order rearrangements between these species. The mitochondrial genome of P. aparasomata is 46,254 bp long and contains a set of 31 protein-coding genes, 19 tRNAs, two rRNA genes, and 7 open reading frames. Our results suggest that these two mitochondrial genomes within the genus Paramoeba have rather similar organization and gene order, base composition, codon usage, the composition and structure of noncoding, and overlapping regions.

Background Social capital has been extensively studied as one of the determinants of population health including mental health over the past 20 years. There is existing evidence linking depressive disorders with CVD mortality and all-cause mortality in many countries including Russia. However, research exploring determinants of mental health in Russia including social capital is limited. Methods We assessed relationships between social capital and mental health in a large cross-sectional study, the International Project on Cardiovascular Disease in Russia (IPCDR), based in two Russian cities: Arkhangelsk and Novosibirsk. The study used a random sample of 5051 people aged 35–69. The collected data included measures of socio-economic status and demographic variables: age, sex, education, perceived financial situation, and marital status. Mental health measures Having any depressive or anxiety disorder were defined as ≥10 score calculated from the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) scales. Social capital measures We used three questions to measure social capital with 11-point scale answer options: 1) Social mistrust, ‘Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted, or that you can’t be too careful in dealing with people?’; 2) Perceived lack of fairness: ‘Do you think that most people would try to take advantage of you if they got the chance, or would they try to be fair?’; and 3) Perceived unhelpfulness: ‘Would you say that most of the time people try to be helpful or that they are mostly looking out for themselves’. The scales were dichotomised 0/6-low social capital and 7/10-high social capital and each was used as a separate dependent variable in analysis. Statistical analysis We employed two logistic regression models to assess associations between social capital and mental health, 1) adjusting for age, sex and city, 2) adjusting for age, sex, city, marital status, education level and self-reported financial situation. Results All three measures of social capital were associated with depression and anxiety after adjusting for socio-economic and demographic variables: ‘Social mistrust’: OR 1.49 (95% CI, 1.14 to 1.94), ‘Perceived lack of fairness’: OR 1.75 (95% CI, 1.39 to 2.20), ‘Perceived unhelpfulness’ OR 1.72 (95% CI, 1.36 to 2.17) for depressive disorder; ‘Social mistrust’: OR 1.40 (95% CI, 0.99 to 1.99), ‘Perceived lack of fairness’: OR 2.37 (95% CI, 1.71 to 3.29), and ‘Perceived unhelpfulness’: OR 2.19 (95% CI, 1.57 to 3.04) for anxiety disorder. Conclusion Our findings from Russia support previous research showing the relationships between social capital and mental health. Further investigations on direction of the effect and pathways explaining these associations are needed.

Background Common mental disorders (anxiety and depression) are important public health concerns worldwide. There is very little evidence about the risk factors for these in Russia despite high rates of associated markers: suicide and alcohol-attributable mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between common mental disorders and socio-demographic factors in the Russian adult population. Methods Data were from two population-based cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2016–17 among men and women aged 35–69 years old resident in the Russian cities of Arkhangelsk and Novosibirsk as part of the International Project on Cardiovascular Disease in Russia (IPCDR). Participants were recruited and interviewed in their homes. Information collected included questions on socio-demographic factors (marital status, education, employment and financial status). Depression was defined as a score of ≥10 on the PHQ-9 instrument and anxiety as a score of ≥10 on the GAD-7 instrument. Financial status was on a 5-point scale from not enough money for food to no financial constraints. Logistic regression was used to estimate effects of socio-demographic factors on anxiety and depression adjusting for age, sex and city and then for all other socio-demographic variables. Volume of alcohol consumed per year and problem drinking defined as CAGE score ≥2 were entered into the models at the last step in order to assess the effect on the associations of interest. Results After adjustment for all socio-demographic variables depression was more prevalent among women (OR 1.93 95% CI 1.53, 2.44),those who were divorced or separated compared to married (OR 1.46 95% CI 1.10, 1.92), and not in regular employment (OR 1.49 95% CI 1.18, 1.88). There was a monotonic increase in risk of depression across the 5 categories of financial status from poorest to most affluent (p-value trend ≤0.001), with an OR >6 from bottom vs top category. Anxiety was more prevalent in women (OR 1.93 95% CI 1.42, 2.62). As with depression financial status also showed a strong inverse trend in risk (p Conclusion Degree of financial hardship was strongly associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression even after adjustment for education, employment status and alcohol use. These findings underline the importance of considering social circumstances in addressing poor mental health.

Amoebozoa is a key phylum for eukaryote phylogeny and evolutionary history, but its phylogenetic validity has been questioned since included species are very diverse: amoebo-flagellate slime-moulds, naked and testate amoebae, and some flagellates. 18S rRNA gene trees have not firmly established its internal topology. To rectify this we sequenced cDNA libraries for seven diverse Amoebozoa and conducted phylogenetic analyses for 109 eukaryotes (17-18 Amoebozoa) using 60-188 genes. We conducted Bayesian inferences with the evolutionarily most realistic site-heterogeneous CAT-GTR-Γ model and maximum likelihood analyses. These unequivocally establish the monophyly of Amoebozoa, showing a primary dichotomy between the previously contested subphyla Lobosa and Conosa. Lobosa, the entirely non-flagellate lobose amoebae, are robustly partitioned into the monophyletic classes Tubulinea, with predominantly tube-shaped pseudopodia, and Discosea with flattened cells and different locomotion. Within Conosa 60/70-gene trees with very little missing data show a primary dichotomy between the aerobic infraphylum Semiconosia (Mycetozoa and Variosea) and secondarily anaerobic Archamoebae. These phylogenetic features are entirely congruent with the most recent major amoebozoan classification emphasising locomotion modes, pseudopodial morphology, and ultrastructure. However, 188-gene trees where proportionally more taxa have sparser gene-representation weakly place Archamoebae as sister to Macromycetozoa instead, possibly a tree reconstruction artefact of differentially missing data.

We isolated and described a brackish-water amoeba, Clydonella sawyeri n. sp. (Amoebozoa, Vannellida), from the littoral habitat in Kandalaksha Bay (The White Sea, northwestern Russia). Morphology of this amoeba corresponds to the initially proposed diagnosis of the genus Clydonella Sawyer, 1975, although it is sufficiently different from other described species of this genus to warrant a distinct species designation. Phylogenetic analysis based on the small-subunit rRNA gene shows that this species is closely related to the two previously studied ATCC strains identified as Clydonella sp., for which only ultrastructural and molecular data were published. Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene sequence of the studied species was for the first time obtained for Clydonella. Analysis of this marker shows that this genus belongs to Vannellida and is separated from the other vannellids sampled to date. Phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated SSU rRNA and COI genes dataset yields the best resolved position of Clydonella compared to both markers when analysed separately. Based on the data presented we finally link light microscopic, ultrastructural and molecular data in a description of a single strain, which allows a refinement of the diagnosis of the genus Clydonella.

Two strains of lobose amoebae have been isolated from the deep-sea bottom sediments of the Sea of Japan (3.6km deep) and Western Atlantic Ocean (5.1km deep). Amoebae of both strains have a dactylopodial mophotype, intracellular kinetoplastid symbiont (Perkinsela-like organism) and have no microscales on the cell surface. The morphology and molecular data of the Sea of Japan strain allow us to unambiguously identify it as Neoparamoeba aestuarina (Page, 1970). At the same time, the Atlantic strain is described as a new species Neoparamoeba longipodia as it differs from other species of the genus Neoparamoeba in morphology and gene sequence data. The data presented expand the range of known habitats for the genus Neoparamoeba and permit further analysis of the phylogenetic relationships within this clade with the expanded set of molecular data.

Two new species, Ripella decalvata and R. tribonemae (Amoebozoa, Vannellida), are described and the diversity of known strains assigned to the genus analyzed. Ripella spp. are closely similar to each other in the light microscopic characters and sequences of small-subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA gene, but differences in the cell coat structure and cytochrome oxidase (COI) gene sequences are more prominent. SSU rRNA in R. platypodia CCAP1589/2, R. decalvata and R. tribonemae demonstrates an unusual pattern of intragenomic variation. Sequencing of multiple molecular clones of this gene produced numerous sequence variants in a number of specific sites. These sites were usually terminal parts of several variable helices in all studied strains. Analysis of all known Ripella strains shows that SSU rRNA sites differing between strains of different origin are mainly restricted to these areas of the gene. There are only two sites, which differ between strains, but not within genomes. This intragenomic variability of the SSU rRNA gene, seemingly characteristic of all Ripella spp., was never reported to be so extensive in Amoebozoa. The data obtained show another example of complex organization of rRNA gene cluster in protists and emphasize caution needed when interpreting the metagenomic data based on this marker.

We present the results of an ultrastructural re-investigation of two amoebae strains that can be identified morphologically as previously described species of the genus Pellita, as well as the first molecular phylogenetic analysis of these amoebae based on SSU rRNA and actin gene sequences. The results obtained show close relationships between the genera Pellita, Gocevia, and Endostelium. These relationships are further supported by the description of Endostelium crystalliferum n. sp., which shares morphological characters simultaneously with Pellita spp. and Endostelium zonatum. The three genera form a robust clade that branches deeply within Amoebozoa, among either Flabellinia, or Longamoebia, depending on taxon sampling. The results suggest that Gocevia and Endostelium should not be included in the Himatismenida; therefore, we transfer the family Goceviidae into Pellitida. The type of cell organisation that was considered to be typical of Himatismenida (a lens-shaped cell covered dorsally with a flexible layer of organic material) has most probably evolved in some of these amoebae independently of Cochliopodiidae and Parvamoebidae. The robustness of the Pellitida clade in the molecular trees is consistent with the fine structure cytoplasmic evidence for these taxa, in particular, the presence of a centrosphere (a dictyosome-associated lamellar MTOC) in all these genera.

Two brackish water amoebae have been isolated and studied from the benthic biotopes of the Chupa Inlet (Kandalaksha Bay, northwestern Russia). Both strains can be identified as new species of the genus Paramoeba (Amoebozoa, Dactylopodida, Paramoebidae) based on light microscopical characters, structure of microscales on the cell surface and molecular evidence based on the analyses of two genes, nuclear SSU rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI). Paramoeba aparasomata n. sp. is of particular interest because this amoeba is permanently lacking a symbiotic Perkinsela-like organism (PLO) present in other species of Paramoeba and Neoparamoeba. The results obtained show that scaly dactylopodial amoebae lacking PLO are not necessarily members of Korotnevella. In particular, we suggest that Korotnevella nivo Smirnov, 1997, with microscales very similar to those of Paramoeba eilhardi and the species studied here in structure, may be in fact a member of Paramoeba. Molecular data on K. nivo have to be obtained and analysed to test this hypothesis. Based on our new results we emend the diagnosis of the genus Paramoeba to make it more fit to the current phylogenetic conception.

The Global Burden of Disease Studies describe and emphasise injury as a major and increasing component in the panorama of global ill health. Russia has the one of the highest injury rates in Europe. When a Master in Public Health programme was planned and started in 2007 in Arkhangelsk, Russia, under the auspices of University of Tromsø, Norway, a course on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion was included. A take-over programme (training-the-trainers) was implemented within the course. The present paper describes the course content, the students and their background, the training-the-trainers programme, the evaluation procedure and its results. So far, 53 students have passed the course, 77% being female. The majority of students were medical doctors (51%), psychologists (11%), pedagogues (9%), dentists (6%) and nurses (6%). The take-over programme has functioned well by gradually using students of excellence as teachers. In 2012, the take-over programme is completed and only Russians teach. Evaluation by students of the course content, organisation and pedagogic approach was useful for improvements.

I have re-investigated the light-microscopic features of Parvamoeba rugata Rogerson, 1993, type strain CCAP 1556/1. The major characters of amoebae correspond to the initial description of this species. However, one peculiarity demonstrated by the cells during adhesion to the substratum, seems to have been partly underestimated previously. At the same time it is crucial for the explanation of this species' position in the molecular phylogenetic trees and the recent system of Amoebozoa. This feature is the formation of a thin sheet of hyaloplasm on the ventral side of the cell that is used for adhesion to the substratum and locomotion, shared between Parvamoeba and members of the order Himatismenida. This explains the position of Parvamoeba as a sister clade to Cochliopodiidae in the molecular phylogenetic trees and justifies the recent inclusion of this genus into the order Himatismenida. In addition I sequenced the small-subunit ribosomal RNA of P. rugata and demonstrated that it was 99.5-99.7% similar to that of P. monoura Cole et al., 2010. This raises a question of the possible identity of these two species, however, several persistent morphological differences do not permit the unification of them, at least until more genes demonstrate identical sequences between these species.

An amoeba isolated from a weakly saline semi-desert pond in Kazakhstan (Central Asia) resembles a small Cochliopodium in the light microscope, but has a dorsal fibrous cell coat without scales. Thus it can be identified morphologically as a new species of Ovalopodium Sawyer, 1980, and it is herein named O. desertum. Phylogenetic analysis of the SSU rRNA gene sequences of the new species and four Cochliopodium spp. sequenced additionally shows that Ovalopodium desertum is a sister clade to a robustly monophyletic Cochliopodium. The close relationship between Ovalopodium and Cochliopodium is also confirmed by the analysis of SSU rRNA secondary structure showing the specific helices in the region V5 in all species of both genera. Analysis of actin gene sequences fails to resolve the position of Ovalopodium but demonstrates that Parvamoeba Rogerson, 1993 is probably related to Cochliopodium. The position of Cochliopodiidae within Amoebozoa remains unresolved, despite our efforts to resolve it using broader taxonomic sampling of Amoebozoa, testing alternative tree topologies and removing the fast-evolving sites. Among sequenced genera, Parvamoeba and Endostelium Olive et al., 1984 are probable relatives to Cochliopodiidae. Molecular trees weakly support an inclusion of the family in Flabellinia (Discosea), but more phylogenomic data are necessary to test this hypothesis.

[version 3; referees: 3 approved]. Source at https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14619.3. Russia has one of the highest rates of cardiovascular disease in the world. The International Project on Cardiovascular Disease in Russia (IPCDR) was set up to understand the reasons for this. A substantial component of this study was the Know Your Heart Study devoted to characterising the nature and causes of cardiovascular disease in Russia by conducting large cross-sectional surveys in two Russian cities Novosibirsk and Arkhangelsk. The study population was 4542 men and women aged 35-69 years recruited from the general population. Fieldwork took place between 2015-18. There were two study components: 1) a baseline interview to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors, usually conducted at home, and 2) a comprehensive health check at a primary care clinic which included detailed examination of the cardiovascular system. In this paper we describe in detail the rationale for, design and conduct of these studies.