Efficiency and safety of various dual antiplatelet therapy strategies in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention due to myocardial infarction

Aim. To compare the efficacy and safety of prasugrel, ticagrelor, or clopidogrel as part of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) due to myocardial infarction (MI).Material and methods. The observational study included 74 patients who underwent PCI due to MI within the first 24 hours after the onset. The patients were devided into 3 groups: group 1 — patients who received ticagrelor as part of DAPT; group 2 — clopidogrel, group 3 — prasugrel. The follow-up period was 28 days. To assess the efficacy and safety of therapy, a composite endpoint was assessed (death + nonfatal recurrent MI (and/or stent rethrombosis) + nonfatal ischemic stroke (IS). Additional secondary endpoints were any moderate and severe (major) bleeding according to the GUSTO and/or TIMI scales. We assessed the incidence of reperfusion arrhythmias, an opening of an infarct-related coronary artery (IRCA), and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (non-STEMI).Results. The analysis showed no significant differences in the cumulative incidence of adverse outcomes in the study groups within 28 days. The prevalence of secondary endpoints over a 28-day follow-up period was 3,1% in the ticagrelor group and 5,9% in the clopidogrel group, while no moderate and life-threatening bleeding was recorded in the prasugrel group during. There were no significant differences in the incidence of reperfusion arrhythmias, opening of an IRCA, and non-STEMI between the groups.Conclusion. The obtained results suggest the comparable efficacy and safety profiles of prasugrel, ticagrelor and clopidogrel as a part of DAPT in patients undergoing PCI due to MI. There were no significant differences in endpoint event rates. In particular, prasugrel has been shown to be as effective and safe as ticagrelor

Biochemical composition of tomato fruits of various colors

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is an economically important and widely cultivated vegetable crop that is consumed both fresh and processed. The nutritional value of tomato fruits is related to the content of carotenoids, polyphenols, sugars, organic acids, minerals and vitamins. Currently, there is a growing interest in the qualitative and quantitative increase in the content of health-promoting compounds in tomato fruits. VIR Lycopersicon (Tourn.) Mill. genetic resources collection includes 7678 accessions of one cultivated and nine wild species, which in turn provides ample opportunities for searching for information on the variability of the content of biologically active substances and searching for sources with a high content of them in the gene pool. Our work presents the results of the study of 70 accessions of cultivated and wild tomato on the main biochemical characteristics: the content of dry matter, ascorbic acid, sugars, carotenoids, chlorophylls and anthocyanins. As the basis for the selection of accessions for the study, accessions with various colors of fruits, including new accessions with varying content of anthocyanin, were taken. As a result of this study, the amplitude of variability in the content of dry matter (3.72–8.88 and 9.62–11.33 %), sugars (1.50–5.65 and 2.20–2.70 %), ascorbic acid (12.40–35.56 and 23.62– 28.14 mg/100 g), titratable acidity (0.14–0.46 and 0.33–0.48 %), chlorophylls (0.14–5.11 and 2.95–4.57 mg/100 g), carotenoids (0.97–99.86 and 1.03–10.06 mg/100 g) and anthocyanins (3.00–588.86 and 84.31–152.71 mg/100 g) in the fruits of cultivated and wild tomatoes, respectively, was determined. We have determined correlations between the content of dry matter and monosaccharides (r = 0.40, p ≤ 0.05), total sugars (r = 0.37, p ≤ 0.05) and ascorbic acid (r = 0.32, p ≤ 0.05); the content of ascorbic acid and carotenoids (r = 0.25, p ≤ 0.05). A high dependence of the content of chlorophyll a and b among themselves (r = 0.89, p ≤ 0.05), as well as between the content of chlorophyll b and anthocyanins (r = 0.47, p ≤ 0.05), the content of β-carotene (r = 0.26, p ≤ 0.05) and the content of monosaccharides (r = –0.29, p ≤ 0.05) has been noted. We have identif ied tomato accessions with a high content of individual chemical substances, as well as with a complex of traits that can be used as sources in breeding for a high content of dry matter, sugars, ascorbic acid, pigments and anthocyanins

On the accretion disc properties in eclipsing dwarf nova EM Cyg

In this paper we analyzed the behavior of the unusual dwarf nova EM Cyg using the data obtained in April-October, 2007 in Vyhorlat observatory (Slovak Republic) and in September, 2006 in Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (Ukraine). During our observations EM Cyg has shown outbursts in every 15-40 days. Because on the light curves of EM Cyg the partial eclipse of an accretion disc is observed we applied the eclipse mapping technique to reconstruct the temperature distribution in eclipsed parts of the disc. Calculations of the accretion rate in the system were made for the quiescent and the outburst states of activity for different distances.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, accepted in Astrophysics and Space Scienc

Ray paths of VLF/LF transmitter radio signals in the seismic Adriatic regions

We analyze the radio wave propagations of VLF/LF transmitter signals along subionospheric paths using two different reception systems localized in the Graz seismo-electromagnetic facility (15.43E,47.06N). Those systems allow the simultaneous detection of more than fifteen transmitter signals emitting in the northern (i.e. France, Germany and United Kingdom) and southern (i.e. Italy and Turkey) parts of Europe. In this work, we investigate the transmitter radio wave propagations associated with two earthquakes (EQs) which occurred, at two occasions, in nearly the same Croatian regions (Geo. Long.=16°E; Geo. Lat.=45°N). The first and second EQs happened, respectively, on March 22 and December 29, 2020, with magnitudes Mw equal to 5.4 and 6.4. The use of two complementary reception systems, i.e. INFREP (Biagi et al., Open Journal of Earthquake Research, 8, 2019) and UltraMSK (Schwingenschuh et al., Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 2011), and the proximity to the epicenters lead us to characterize the behavior of the transmitter signal amplitudes particularly above the Croatian seismic regions. We analyze the amplitude variation for a given transmitter frequency starting few weeks before the earthquakes occurrences. We discuss the observed anomalies in the transmitter signals which may be considered as precursors due to the ionospheric disturbances of the transmitter ray paths above the earthquakes preparation zones

Diagnostic Algorithm for Joint Pain in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disorders

Aim. An algorithm development for joint pain differential diagnosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD) and its validation in clinical practice.Materials and methods. A total of 349 IBD patients hospitalised for gastroenterological complaints at the Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical Hospital during 2017–2020 have been examined.Results. Upon survey, 97 (27.8%) IBD patients complained of joint pain. Ulcerative colitis (UC) predominated (79 patients; 81.4%), Crohn’s disease (CD) had a 18.6% incidence. In survey, 27% UC and 32.1% CD patients reported joint pain (p = 0.26). Among IBD patients, 52.6% had mechanical, and 47.4% — inflammatory pain. The inflammatory back pain (IBP) rate in survey cohort was 23.7%. Use of a diagnostic algorithm allowed concomitant rheumatic disease detection in 7 (7.2%) patients from the IBD–joint pain cohort: 2 patients were diagnosed with psoriatic spondyloarthritis, 2 — rheumatoid arthritis, 1 — gout and 2 — with ankylosing spondylitis. IBD-associated arthritis was diagnosed in 41 (42.3%) cases, osteoarthritis — in 38 (39.2%) IBD patients with joint pain, arthralgia with no objective inflammation, impaired joint function or lesions in X-ray and/or ultrasound — in 13 (13.4%) patients.Conclusion. Joint pain complaints are common in IBD patients and require a multispecialty rheumatologists-involving approach to proceed with differential diagnosis and opting for treatment tactics. A clinically verified algorithm coupled with laboratory tests and instrumental imaging facilitates diagnosis and optimal therapy selection in IBD patients with complaints of joint pain

Сравнительная характеристика биохимического состава образцов баклажана коллекции ВИР в защищенном грунте

Relevance. The presence of valuable biologically active substances, carbohydrates, organic acids and others in the eggplant fruits makes the culture one of the vegetables with the highest antioxidant activity. The VIR collection of eggplant includes 830 accessions from 70 countries of the world. The study of new acquisitions in the VIR collection presupposes a comprehensive assessment of the received material according to morphological, biological and economically valuable characteristics. The main objective of the study was to assess the variability of the biochemical parameters of egg-plant fruits in technical ripeness; as well as determination of the best accessions by the chemical composition of fruits and the content of biologically active substances.Materials and methods. The study of 19 accessions of eggplant accessions was carried out in 2020 in a winter greenhouse in Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories of VIR (St. Petersburg). The morphological description of the accessions and the assessment for biological and economically valuable traits were carried out in accordance with the methodological guidelines and the VIR classifier. Biochemical analysis was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of VIR in the phase of technical ripeness of fruits in terms of: dry matter content, sugars, total acidity, ascorbic acid, pigments and anthocyanins.Results. As a result of this study, the amplitude of variability in the content of dry matter (6.44- 8.68%), sugars (1.78-3.72%), ascorbic acid (5.92-21.08 mg/100 g), titrated acidity (0.10-0.31%), chlorophylls (0.52-15.13 mg/100 g), carotenoids (1.19-6.99 mg/100 g), β-carotene (0.11-0.52 mg/100 g) and anthocyanins (12.94-1031.40 mg/100 g) in eggplant fruits. Accessions with a high content of biologically active substances in fruits in technical ripeness were identified: Russian hybrids Bourgeois F1, Azhur F1; local accessions from Armenia: k-3156, k-3159, k-3161.Актуальность. Наличие в плодах баклажана ценных биологически активных веществ, углеводов, органических кислот и т.д. выводит культуру в число овощей, обладающих наибольшей антиоксидантной активностью. Коллекция баклажана ВИР включает 830 образцов из 70 стран мира. Изучение новых поступлений в коллекцию ВИР предполагает комплексную оценку поступившего материала по морфологическим, биологическим и хозяйственно ценным признакам. Главная задача исследования заключалась в оценке изменчивости биохимических показателей плодов баклажана в технической спелости; а также определение лучших образцов по химическому составу плодов и содержанию биологически активных веществ.Материалы и методы. Изучение 19 образцов баклажана проводили в 2020 году в условиях зимней остекленной стеллажной теплицы научно-производственной базы «Пушкинские и Павловские лаборатории ВИР» (Санкт-Петербург). Морфологическое описание образцов и оценку по биологическим и хозяйственно ценным признакам проводили в соответствии с методическими указаниями и классификатором ВИР. Биохимический анализ проводили в отделе биохимии и молекулярной биологии ВИР в фазе технической спелости плодов по следующим показателям: содержание сухого вещества, сахаров, общей кислотности, аскорбиновой кислоты, пигменты и антоцианы.Результаты и выводы.В результате данного исследования определена амплитуда изменчивости содержания сухих веществ (6,44-8,68%), сахаров (1,78-3,72%), аскорбиновой кислоты (5,92-21,08 мг/100 г), титруемой кислотности (0,10-0,31%), хлорофиллов (0,52-15,13 мг/100 г), каротиноидов (1,19-6,99 мг/100 г), β-каротина (0,11-0,52 мг/100 г) и антоцианов (12,94-1031,40 мг/100 г) в плодах баклажана. Выделены образцы с высоким содержанием биологически активных веществ в плодах в технической спелости: российские гибриды Буржуй F1, Ажур F1; местные образцы из Армении: к-3156, к-3159, к-3161

The Graz seismo-electromagnetic VLF facility

Abstract. In this paper we describe the Graz seismo-electromagnetic very low frequency (VLF) facility, as part of the European VLF receiver network, together with the scientific objectives and results from two years operation. After a brief technical summary of the present system – with heritage from a predecessor facility – i.e. hardware, software, operational modes and environmental influences, we discuss results from statistical data and scientific events related to terrestrial VLF propagation over Europe

Zika virus has an oncolytic activity against human glioblastoma U87 cells

Glioblastoma is a highly lethal brain cancer. Virotherapy with the use of oncolytic viruses has since recently been regarded as a promising approach for the clinic treatment of human glioblastomas. The purpose of this work was to perform a primary evaluation of the Zika virus as a potential oncolytic agent against glioblastomas. In vitro experiments showed that the Zika virus strain MR 766 is able to selectively infect and lyse neoplastic cells of the human glioblastoma cell line U87 MG. The selectivity index (SI, the ratio of infectious titer for tumor cells to titer on normal untransformed cells) was 2·102. The selectivity of the replicative activity of Zika virus in relation to U87 MG glioblastoma cells was additionally confrmed by indirect immunofluorescence. Using the model of immunodefcient SCID mice with subcutaneous xenografts of human glioblastoma U87 MG, a strong antitumor activity of the Zika virus under a course (daily for 4 days) of intratumoral administration of 5·105 TCID50 of Zika virus was shown. Treatment with Zika virus resulted in more than a 10­fold reduction in mean volumes of tumors. The tumor growth inhibition index was 92.63 %. Recurrences (metastases) of tumor re­growth were not registered within 64 days of observation. This result demonstrated the prospect of further in­depth studies of the Zika virus as a potential oncolytic agent against human glioblastomas

NEW HIGHLY EFFICIENT CATALYTIC SYSTEMS BASED ON MULTIDENTATE POLYMER PARTICLES, FORMED BY SELF-ASSEMBLY OF CALIX[4]ARENES

Metal complex catalysis, allowing modification of molecules with atomic precision, leads to a significant saving of resources and by-products decrease and, therefore, completely corresponds to several principles of “green chemistry”. However, it should be worth considering that homogeneous metal complex catalysts can be used only once. Taking into account the high cost of noble metals, the use of homogeneous catalysts becomes a very expensive procedure, especially in industrial scale.The author s gratefully acknowledge of the RSF (19-13-00095) and RFBR (19-03-00519) for the financial support