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The COVID-19 pandemic forced the governments of almost all countries to introduce lockdowns in 2020, which sharply reduced the supply in a number of large service sectors: transport, recreation, catering, tourism. The recession began without a crisis, and the unique supply of cheap money and fiscal incentives prevented the development of a “liquidity crunch”. On the contrary, it led to an increase in stock prices, real estate prices, and a reduction in bankruptcies. There was no drop in the value of pension and investment funds. The working population has faced a reduction in employment in labor-intensive service industries, a violation of traditional lifestyle models. The course of the recession in these conditions has changed the structure of personal consumption in developed countries, with its severe adaptation in medium-developed and less developed countries. The pandemic and the recession have caused an uneven compression of activity and consumption across social strata that leads to an increase in social disparities on exiting the recession. The drivers of the demand-side recovery in developed countries are the growth of investments in housing and durable goods, and developing countries are gradually restoring normal consumption of non-durable goods and exports.

Lower urinary tract dysfunction is common among neurological patients. Traditionally, the basic method of diagnosis is a complex urodynamic study. In recent years, many studies have focused on the search for new non-invasive diagnostic modalities. In particular, neurotrophins are considered as potential biological markers of a neurogenic bladder. Aim To estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the serum and urinary nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in MS patients as markers of detrusor overactivity. Materials and methods The study comprised 20 patients with multiple sclerosis, who complained of voiding problems. The control group consisted of 20 people without neurological diseases, lower urinary tract symptoms and detrusor overactivity estimated by filling cystometry. Apart from standard laboratory tests, diagnostic evaluation included a complex urodynamic study, ultrasound of the urinary tract, cystoscopy, testing serum and urinary NGF and BDNF using the enzyme immunoassay. The diagnostic significance of neurotrophins was evaluated using ROC analysis. Results According to the ROC analysis, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of serum NGF as a marker of detrusor hyperactivity was 57% and 93%, respectively (for serum NGF more or equal 26 pg/ml). The quality of the test according to the expert scale of AUC values was "very good" (AUC=0.806). Detecting NGF in patients urine was less effective. The sensitivity and specificity were 52% and 40%, respectively (for NGF more or equal 6 pg/ml). The quality of the test according to the expert scale of AUC values was "average" (AUC=0.64). The serum BDNF demonstrated high sensitivity (90%) and low specificity (23%), AUC=0.56. The urinary BDNF was more informative, (AUC=0.65). The combination of all four markers provides a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 66.7% (AUC=0.824). Conclusions Testing serum and urinary neurotrophins in patients with multiple sclerosis can be used to diagnose detrusor overactivity. The NGF is a highly specific biomarker, while the BDNF is highly sensitive. Combined testing for serum NGF and BDNF is most informative.

Study Objective To identify the expression of PIWI associated RNA (piRNA) in tissues of endometrium and endometrioid ovarian cysts and to evaluate differences in the expression of piRNA between eutopic and ectopic endometrium. Design Prospective observational cohort study; Level II-1. Setting Federal State Budget Institution «The National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology», Moscow. Patients or Participants The study included 21 patients of reproductive age (30.27 ± 3.78 years) with endometrioid ovarian cysts. Paired samples of endometrial tissues were collected during surgery in the proliferative phase of menstrual cycle. Tissue samples for further analysis were selected after histological examination. The analysis of piRNA expression was carried out by the new generation sequencing on the Illumina platform, followed by processing of the data by bioinformatics analysis. Interventions Laparoscopic surgery for endometriod ovarian cysts and endometrial biopsy followed by histopathologic and piRNA expression analysis of obtained tissue. Measurements and Main Results According to the sequencing data, 197 piRNA were identified in the tissues of the eutopic endometrium and endometrioid ovarian cysts. The analysis of differential expression revealed predominantly reduced expression of piRNA in the ectopic endometrium relative to the eutopic endometrium. In total 30 differentially expressed piRNA were identified, including 4 with increased and 26 with reduced expression. Using bioinformatic methods, possible gene targets of differentially expressed piRNA were found. Functional analysis of potential targets of differentially expressed piRNA revealed signaling pathways and cellular processes that may contribute to the development of endometriosis. Conclusion The data obtained suggest that alterations in piRNA expression of ectopic endometrium and subsequent disturbances in the expression of their target genes may be significant link in our search for the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Study Objective Profiling of miRNA and mRNA in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues in patients with endometrioma. Design A prospective cohort study. Setting This study was conducted at the Department of Operative Gynecology of V.I. Kulakov National Medical Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology. Patients or Participants This study included 136 women of reproductive age from 18 to 38 years with endometriomas (OE). Interventions Determination of the differences in the expression of miRNA and mRNA in the tissues of OE (EcE) and eutopic endometrium (EuE); bioinformatic analysis to evaluate the role of differentially expressed RNA in the pathogenesis of OE; analysis of microRNA transcriptome (TRA) performed by the sequencing method. Measurements and Main Results TRA revealed significant differences in the expression of miRNA and mRNA in EcE and EuE. It was found that the expression of miRNA and mRNA depends on the type of ovarian reserve (OVR). Lists of target genes were obtained for identified miRNAs were involvement of regulated target genes in the processes of proliferation, in migration and invasion, and in the key cascades of intracellular signaling and inflammatory processes and in the processes of DNA repair and regulation of the mitotic cycle, which indicates the genotoxic effect of pathogenetic factors acting in the tissues of OE and on adjacent ovarian tissues. Conclusion The data obtained suggest that the change in the expression of microRNA in the tissues of the ectopic endometrium can make a significant contribution to the development of endometriosis and the associated reduction of the OVR.