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Introduction: Measuring an individual's cognitive load and psycho-emotional state in real time while performing various activities still poses a challenge for researchers today. Tracking the individuals' workload, emotional status and stress levels is especially important in the field of aviation, where pilot's error can cause a serious accident with possible catastrophic consequences. Aim: To evaluate the cognitive and emotional state of operators during a flight with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), by objective automatic measurement of eye parameters and the distribution of visual attention by Eye tracking technology combined with EEG recording. Material and methods: The study was conducted in the "Laboratory for training of UAV operators", located in the Space Research and Technologies Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences -- Sofia (SRTI -- BAS), in collaboration with aviation medicine experts from the Military Medical Academy -- Sofia. The study included 9 participants -- an instructor, 2 experienced and 6 inexperienced UAV operators, at an average age of 38 years. There was a total of 90 simulation flights during which data were recorded by an Eye tracking method (registration of eye movements of the operators via a stationary oculograph Gazepoint GP3 HD, with the automatic recording of visual fixations and pupil diameter size), and a parallel EEG recording by means of an innovative EMOTIV wireless EEG system and software processing to calculate the so-called "Performance Metrics". Results: The results show a trend for higher pupil diameter values during the execution of turns, an expression of increased cognitive load for beginning operators, and lowest values during cruise due to a decline in mental effort. The inexperienced operator demonstrated very high levels of engagement and cognitive load throughout the flight, especially during the turns, which reflected significant mental effort. One of the experienced operators had higher stress values even than the inexperienced operator, assuming that effectiveness in critical situations depends not only on knowledge and experience, but also on temperament and innate personality characteristics. Conclusion: Innovative infrared oculographic technology combined with modern EEG methods and software data processing algorithms are a non-invasive, affordable and effective way to successfully study and comprehensively assess the workload and stress levels of the human factor during flight without risk to the flight process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to compare the features of intensive care units (ICUs), their antimicrobial resistance patterns, infection control policies, and distribution of infectious diseases from central Europe to Mid-West Asia., Methods: A cross-sectional point prevalence study was performed in 88 ICUs from 12 countries. Characteristics of ICUs, patient and antibiotic therapy data were collected with a standard form by infectious diseases specialists., Results: Out of 749, 305 patients at least with one infectious disease were assessed and 254 patients were reported to have coexistent medical problems. When primary infectious diseases diagnoses of the patients were evaluated, 69 had community-acquired, 61 had healthcare-associated, and 176 had hospital-acquired infections. Pneumonia was the most frequent ICU infection seen in half of the patients. Distribution of frequent pathogens was as follows: Enteric Gram-negatives (n = 62, 28.8%), Acinetobacter spp. (n = 47, 21.9%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 29, 13.5%). Multidrug resistance profiles of the infecting microorganisms seem to have a uniform pattern throughout Southern Europe and Turkey. On the other hand, active and device-associated infection surveillance was performed in Turkey more than Iran and Southeastern Europe (p < 0.05). However, designing antibiotic treatment according to culture results was highest in Southeastern Europe (p < 0.05). The most frequently used antibiotics were carbapenems (n = 92, 30.2%), followed by anti-gram positive agents (vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, daptomycin, and tigecycline; n = 79, 25.9%), beta-lactam/beta lactamase inhibitors (n = 78, 25.6%), and extended-spectrum cephalosporins (n = 73, 23.9%)., Conclusion: ICU features appears to have similar characteristics from the infectious diseases perspective, although variability seems to exist in this large geographical area., (Copyright © 2013 The British Infection Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Twenty-four patients with ovarian serous papillary carcinoma were enrolled in the present ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the status of proliferation activity with antibodies against Ki67 and BM28, and the status of EGFR family members with antibodies against EGFR, c-erbB-2, and c-erbB-4. Ultrastructurally, poorly differentiated tumors often revealed solid sheets of tumor cells with variable desmosomes, cell connection complexies, and microvilli. No mature cilia, which are often present in benign and borderline ovarian epithelial tumors, were seen in these 24 carcinomas. However, two poorly differentiated tumors demonstrated oligocilia. In addition, numerous secondary lysosomes and bizzare intracytoplasmic pseudocavities were more often present in the poorly differentiated tumors. Immunohistochemically, strong expressions of BM28 and Ki67 in more than 50% of the tumor cells were found in 12/15 (80%) and 11/15 (73%) of the poorly differentiated tumors, respectively, compared with 3/9 (33%) and 1/9 (11%) of the moderately differentiated tumors, respectively. Higher levels of EGFR and c-erbB-2 expressions were more often observed in the poorly differentiated tumors, compared with that in the moderately differentiated tumors. In conclusion, oligocilium, numerous secondary lysosomes, and bizarre intracytoplasmic inclusions are more often seen in poorly differentiated ovarian serous carcinomas. Poorly differentiated ovarian serous carcinomas express higher levels of Ki67, BM28, EGFR, and c-erbB-2 proteins.

The aim of this study was to investigate protein expression of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) in primary and metastatic serous ovarian carcinoma. The expression of beta-catenin and E-cadherin was additionally analyzed. One hundred and thirteen primary (n = 56) and metastatic (n = 57) lesions were immunohistochemically stained for APC, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin. Staining extent was scored. Possible differences in immunoreactivity in primary and metastatic sites and the association between the proteins analyzed were evaluated statistically. Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for APC was found in 67/113 (59%) tumors, most often in the majority (> 50%) of cells. E-cadherin was detected in 102/113 (90%) carcinomas, while beta-catenin was expressed in 109/113 (97%) specimens. Nuclear expression of beta-catenin was seen in 3/113 (3%) specimens, all negative for APC. APC and beta-catenin were often coexpressed, but this finding failed to reach statistical significance (p = 0.11). A significant association was seen between E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression (p = 0.001). APC expression was comparable in primary and metastatic tumors (p > 0.05). In conclusion, APC expression is absent in a considerable number of both primary and metastatic ovarian carcinomas, but this finding is only rarely coupled to nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin. These findings support the role for beta-catenin signaling via the Wingless/Wnt pathway in ovarian carcinoma. The mechanism behind the down-regulated expression of APC in serous ovarian carcinoma and its significance has yet to be elucidated.

The activity of NK cells in 12 healthy male donors was studied after 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 h incubation of killer (mononuclear) cells with K562 target cells; a modification of the standard 3-5 h NK assay was used without preliminary centrifugation of the plates. The results indicated that 4 or 8 h incubation of killer and target cells (ratio 50:1) did not achieve maximum activity of NK cells. A significant increase in activity was found up to 12 h incubation. It was noted that variation in values decreased as the incubation time increased. The optimal incubation period was 16 h at which time maximum 51Cr release and least variation were registered. Longer incubation of K562 cells also contributed to their higher sensitivity to NK cells. The experimental data revealed in vitro factors responsible for fluctuations in the level of lytic NK activity in repeated assays in the same healthy donors.

The treatment of patients with immune nephropthies is discussed: rapidly progressive nephritis, lupus nephropathy, Wegener granulomatosis, Goodpasture syndrome, Schonlein-Henoch nephritis. A combined treatment of plasmapheresis and immunosuppressants is applied. A definite result, specially with the cases of Wegener granulomatosis, is registered for certain number of the patients. Together with the usual tests: CIC, immunoglobulins, complement, etc. a method for controlling of the detoxic efficiency of the treatment is suggested. This is a biologic method- the level of paramecium caudatum in media from patients' plasma is registered in relation to time. After plasmapheresis the life of paramecium caudatum is considerably prolonged.