First results of the Kourovka Planet Search: discovery of transiting exoplanet candidates in the first three target fields

We present the first results of our search for transiting exoplanet candidates as part of the Kourovka Planet Search (KPS) project. The primary objective of the project is to search for new hot Jupiters which transit their host stars, mainly in the Galactic plane, in the $R_c$ magnitude range of 11 to 14 mag. Our observations were performed with the telescope of the MASTER robotic network, installed at the Kourovka astronomical observatory of the Ural Federal University (Russia), and the Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph, installed at the private Acton Sky Portal Observatory (USA). As test observations, we observed three celestial fields of size $2\times2$ deg$^2$ during the period from 2012 to 2015. As a result, we discovered four transiting exoplanet candidates among the 39000 stars of the input catalogue. In this paper, we provide the description of the project and analyse additional photometric, spectral, and speckle interferometric observations of the discovered transiting exoplanet candidates. Three of the four transiting exoplanet candidates are most likely astrophysical false positives, while the nature of the fourth (most promising) candidate remains to be ascertained. Also, we propose an alternative observing strategy that could increase the project's exoplanet haul.Comment: 11 pages, 16 figures; Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 201

Assessment of Safety Signals for Aztreonam in Different Age Groups: National and International Drug Safety Monitoring

Aztreonam is the only approved monocyclic β-lactam antibiotic for human use that is active against Gram-negative aerobes, primarily Pseudomonas аeruginosa. Aztreonam has been used for more than 35 years, and aztreonam lysine has been on the market for 15 years. Although the medicinal products show clinical and microbiological efficacy in severe infections and are significant for cystic fibrosis patients, little information is published on their safety. In the meantime, new data have accumulated.The aim of the study was to analyse the data on adverse reactions in patients of different age groups receiving aztreonam, collected in the safety monitoring databases VigiBase and Pharmacovigilance.Materials and methods: the data on adverse reactions associated with aztreonam, in any dosage form, from the individual case reports submitted to VigiBase (the database of the Uppsala Monitoring Centre) before 15.09.2021 and to Pharmacovigilance (the database for spontaneous reports in the Automated Information System of the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare of the Russian Federation) before 05.10.2021.Results: the analysis of adverse reactions during the use of aztreonam for approved indications showed differences in frequency, types and severity of the adverse reactions amongst the age groups. The most common adverse reaction with aztreonam was cystic fibrosis referred to in 1828 reports (12.0%). It was recorded more often in patients aged 18–44 years (39.2%).Conclusions: the data obtained allowed the authors to identify a new safety signal for aztreonam, namely an increased risk of inefficacy or insufficient efficacy in cystic fibrosis considered an adverse reaction in the individual reports from the databases of spontaneous reports. Confirmation of the signal requires further monitoring

Взаимозаменяемость лекарственных препаратов флуконазола

Fluconazole – an antifungal agent belonging to the chemical class of triazole derivatives – is represented in the Russian pharmaceutical market by a large number of generic drugs. An important issue of rational pharmacotherapy is the demonstration of the reference and generic drugs’ equivalence with the aim of assessing their interchangeability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse fluconazole drug dosage forms and routes of administration, as well as qualitative and quantitative composition of active substances and excipients in order to identify characteristics that may affect interchangeability. The analysis of the nomenclature and composition of fluconazole drugs was carried out based on the data contained in the National Register of Medicinal Products of the Russian Federation and the Reference Book of Medicines®. It was shown that the current nomenclature of fluconazole drugs includes the following types of products: for parenteral use, internal use, and topical use. The generic fluconazole drugs in the form of capsules differ from the reference Diflucan® in excipients, shelf life, and packaging. The fluconazole substance has a number of specific features, i.e. the presence of polymorphic modifications, their specific characteristics, and the influence of the process parameters and storage on their stability. It was revealed that in many cases the production of fluconazole capsules involved the use of substances purchased from two or more suppliers, which may lead to changes in quality and bioavailability during storage. The obtained data can be used in the future for optimisation of pharmaceutical development and evaluation of interchangeability of fluconazole drugs.В настоящее время препарат флуконазол, противогрибковое средство из группы производных триазола, представлен на российском фармацевтическом рынке большим количеством воспроизведенных препаратов. Важным вопросом рациональной фармакотерапии является доказательство идентичности референтного лекарственного препарата и воспроизведенного, с целью оценки взаимозаменяемости. Исходя из этого, целью работы являлся анализ лекарственных препаратов флуконазола в отношении лекарственных форм и способов введения, а также качественного и количественный состава действующих веществ, вспомогательных веществ для выявления возможных показателей, влияющих на взаимозаменяемость. Анализ номенклатуры и состава лекарственных препаратов флуконазола проведен в соответствии с данными Государственного реестра лекарственных средств Российской Федерации и Справочника лекарств РЛС®. Выявлено, что современная номенклатура лекарственных препаратов флуконазола представлена следующими формами выпуска: для парентерального применения, внутреннего применения, местного применения. Воспроизведенные препараты флуконазола в форме капсул отличаются от референтного препарата Дифлюкан® по составу вспомогательных веществ, по сроку хранения, упаковке. Обращает на себя внимание специфика субстанции флуконазола – наличие полиморфных модификаций, их особенностей, влияния параметров технологического процесса и хранения на их стабильность. Выявлено, что во многих случаях при производстве капсул флуконазола используется субстанция двух или более поставщиков, что может приводить к изменению показателей качества и биодоступности в процессе хранения. Полученные данные в дальнейшем могут быть использованы для оптимизации фармацевтической разработки и оценки взаимозаменяемости лекарственных препаратов флуконазола

Antibiotic Dosing in Chronic Kidney Disease

Infectious process is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease. Prescription of antibacterial drugs should take into account the pharmacokinetic parameters of the medicine and the individual characteristics of the patient. Adequate antibiotic dosing is crucial for positive treatment outcome and minimisation of side effects. The aim of the study was to analyse scientific literature on factors affecting the dosing of antibacterials in patients with chronic kidney disease. Since most antibacterial medicines are eliminated by the kidneys, a decrease in glomerular filtration rate or kidney function should be followed by the dose adjustment in order to prevent the medicine accumulation and reduce the risk of side effects. Antibiotic dosing in such patients should be accompanied by kidney function assessment and be adjusted to ensure effective and safe treatment, as well as prevention of bacterial resistance. The review provides data on the dosing of some antibiotic groups (beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones) at different creatinine clearance rates. Extrarenal excretion of medicines does not usually require the dose adjustment in patients with chronic kidney disease

Benchmarking the power of amateur observatories for TTV exoplanets detection

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: Roman v. Baluev, et al, ‘Benchmarking the power of amateur observatories for TTV exoplanets detection’, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 450(3): 3101-3113, first published online 9 May 2015. The version of record is available at doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv788 © 2015 The Authors. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.We perform an analysis of ~80000 photometric measurements for the following 10 stars hosting transiting planets: WASP-2, -4, -5, -52, Kelt-1, CoRoT-2, XO-2, TrES-1, HD 189733, GJ 436. Our analysis includes mainly transit lightcurves from the Exoplanet Transit Database, public photometry from the literature, and some proprietary photometry privately supplied by other authors. Half of these lightcurves were obtained by amateurs. From this photometry we derive 306 transit timing measurements, as well as improved planetary transit parameters. Additionally, for 6 of these 10 stars we present a set of radial velocity measurements obtained from the spectra stored in the HARPS, HARPS-N, and SOPHIE archives using the HARPS-TERRA pipeline. Our analysis of these TTV and RV data did not reveal significant hints of additional orbiting bodies in almost all of the cases. In the WASP-4 case, we found hints of marginally significant TTV signals having amplitude 10-20 sec, although their parameters are model-dependent and uncertain, while radial velocities did not reveal statistically significant Doppler signals.Peer reviewe

Benchmarking the power of amateur observatories for TTV exoplanets detection

We perform an analysis of ~80 000 photometric measurements for the following 10 stars hosting transiting planets:WASP-2, -4, -5, -52, Kelt-1, CoRoT-2, XO-2, TrES-1, HD 189733, GJ 436. Our analysis includes mainly transit light curves from the Exoplanet Transit Database, public photometry from the literature, and some proprietary photometry privately supplied by other authors. Half of these light curves were obtained by amateurs. From this photometry we derive 306 transit timing measurements, as well as improved planetary transit parameters. Additionally, for 6 of these 10 stars we present a set of radial velocity measurements obtained from the spectra stored in the HARPS, HARPS-N and SOPHIE archives using the HARPS- TERRA pipeline. Our analysis of these transit timing and radial velocity data did not reveal significant hints of additional orbiting bodies in almost all of the cases. In the WASP-4 case, we found hints of marginally significant TTV signals having amplitude 10-20 s, although their parameters are model dependent and uncertain, while radial velocities did not reveal statistically significant Doppler signals.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y GeofísicasInstituto de Astrofísica de La Plat

Клинические исследования лекарственных средств у беременных: отношение ожидаемой пользы к возможному риску?

In terms of pharmacotherapy, pregnancy is a specific phase of life that is different from all the other phases of the life of medical, ethical and legal framework. The article examines the scientific, ethical and regulatory principles of inclusion of pregnant women in the clinical trials of drugs, the necessity for them is justified from the point of clinical pharmacology. The clinical value assessment studies regarding the expected benefits to the possible risks during the pharmacotherapy in pregnancy necessitates the development of this scientific direction.С точки зрения фармакотерапии беременность представляет собой специфическую фазу жизни, которая отличается от всех других фаз жизни по медицинским, этическим и правовым основам. В статье рассматриваются научные, этические и некоторые регуляторные принципы включения беременных женщин в клинические исследования лекарственных средств, обосновывается необходимость их проведения с позиции клинической фармакологии. Клиническая ценность исследований по оценке отношения ожидаемой пользы к возможному риску при проведении фармакотерапии у беременных диктует необходимость развития данного научного направления

WASP-12 b and WASP-4 b: Planets Falling onto the Host Star?

We present results of a homogeneous analysis of more than thousand transit lightcurves of 17 exoplanets.Представлены результаты однородной обработки более тысячи кривых блеска экзопланетных прохождений для 17 экзопланет.Работа выполнена при поддержке гранта РНФ 19-72-10023