An early Emsian (Zlichovian) ammonoid assemblage from Sangibaland Mountain (Shakhimardan River Basin) (South Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan)

© 2017, The Author(s). Early Emsian (Zlichovian) ammonoids are recorded from a section of neritic deposits on the western and northwestern slopes of Sangibaland Mountain (right bank of the Shakhimardan River, near the village of Jiydelik, South Fergana, South Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan) including other faunas such as conodonts, dacryoconarids, brachiopods, trilobites, and corals. The ammonoid fauna includes Erbenoceras cf. solitarium (Barrande, 1865), E. kimi Bogoslovsky, 1980 and new species of teicherticeratids. This combination of taxa allows the host beds to be correlated with the Zlichovian LDIII Zone. Ammonoids come from the Katran Formation, from beds previously recognised as the Sandal Formation, which is well–known for its neritic assemblages, interpreted as inhabitants of shallow shelf zones in the northern regions of the Paleozoic Alai–Tarim Terrane. Near the end of the Zlichovian, when the Dalejan transgression spread to the Sangibaland Region, ammonoids colonised the neritic basin near a carbonate platform, already inhabited by abundant benthic fauna. The co-occurrence of neritic and pelagic organisms is a useful feature providing a basis for the correlation between the pelagic and neritic successions of the lower Emsian (Zlichovian)

Palliative Surgery for Biliary Drainage in an Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer, known for its rapid progression and poor prognosis, usually presents with obstructive jaundice. Biliary drainage can be achieved by various techniques and approaches, with endoscopic drainage as the preferred method. However, open drainage of the biliary tree is indicated when unresectable tumor is found during resection surgery. This is a case of biliary drainage with a double bypass biliodigestive construction, which could be performed in patients with unresectable cancer in the head of the pancreas presenting with obstructive jaundice and gastric outlet obstruction

Modification of the Method for the Determination of Zinc Content in Insulins by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Scientific relevance. Zinc quantification in insulin active substances and preparations by atomic absorption spectrometry requires a sample preparation procedure using hydrochloric acid, a narcotic and psychotropic precursor. The exclusion of precursors from laboratory practice significantly reduces labour costs during analysis.Aim. This study aimed to modify the pharmacopoeial method for quantifying zinc in insulins with a view to eliminating drug precursors and to evaluate the applicability of the modified method across different insulin preparations.Materials and methods. The study considered insulin active substances and preparations of various types, dosage forms, and strengths. Zinc content determination involved using an Agilent 240FS atomic absorption spectrometer at a characteristic wavelength of 213.86 nm.Results. The authors selected the conditions for elemental analysis (nitric acid concentration, monochromator slit width, and flame stabilisation time) corresponding to the pharmacopoeial requirements for quantifying zinc in insulins (RSD ≤1.4%, standard zinc solution with a concentration of 0.8 mg/dm3, and calibration curve correlation coefficient ≥0.99). The study compared zinc content measurements in the studied insulin samples with hydrochloric acid or nitric acid as a solvent; it did not reveal any significant differences between the results obtained by the pharmacopoeial method and the modified method.Conclusions. The modified method enables analysts to quantify zinc in insulin preparations in various dosage forms without drug precursors

Optimal Location of Two Laser-interferometric Detectors for Gravitational Wave Backgrounds at 100 MHz

Recently, observational searches for gravitational wave background (GWB) have been developed and given constraints on the energy density of GWB in a broad range of frequencies. These constraints have already resulted in the rejection of some theoretical models of relatively large GWB spectra. However, at 100 MHz, there is no strict upper limit from direct observation, though an indirect limit exists due to He4 abundance due to big-bang nucleosynthesis. In our previous paper, we investigated the detector designs that can effectively respond to GW at high frequencies, where the wavelength of GW is comparable to the size of a detector, and found that the configuration, a so-called synchronous-recycling interferometer is best at these sensitivity. In this paper, we investigated the optimal location of two synchronous-recycling interferometers and derived their cross-correlation sensitivity to GWB. We found that the sensitivity is nearly optimized and hardly changed if two coaligned detectors are located within a range 0.2 m, and that the sensitivity achievable in an experiment is far below compared with the constraint previously obtained in experiments.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure

Selective Quantification of Organic and Inorganic Arsenic in Kelp Thalli and Kelp-Based Products

Kelp can accumulate large quantities of arsenic compounds even in the absence of considerable environmental pollution. A substantial difference in toxicity between organic and inorganic arsenic compounds makes the form of arsenic relevant for the risk assessment of consuming kelp thalli and kelp-based products.The aim of the study was to develop an analytical procedure for the selective quantification of organic and inorganic arsenic in kelp thalli by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and solid-phase extraction without scheduled precursors.Materials and methods. The authors studied samples of Laminaria saccharina and Laminaria japonica, spiking mixtures of chemical compounds containing arsenic in different oxidation states, and bioactive dietary supplements based on kelp thalli. Solid-phase extraction was performed using Maxi-Clean SAX cartridges. The arsenic content was determined using an Agilent 7900 inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.Results. Microwave-assisted extraction with deionised water ensures 91% recovery of arsenic-containing compounds from kelp thalli, and the addition of hydrogen peroxide to the extractant provides complete extraction. Solid-phase extraction with an eluent based on 3% H2O2 can extract the organic fraction from a mixture of organic and inorganic arsenic compounds without washing the inorganic fraction off the cartridge.Conclusions. The authors offer an effective analytical procedure for the selective quantification of organic and inorganic arsenic in kelp thalli and kelp-based products. This procedure allows for the isolation of arsenic-containing compounds from the organic matrix of kelp with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Solid-phase extraction with this extractant can effectively separate organic and inorganic fractions without prior neutralisation of the test solution

ASSOCIATION OF THE METABOLIC SYNDROME CONSTITUENTS WITH MARKERS OF SUBCLINICAL TARGET ORGAN DAMAGE DURING FOLLOW-UP OF INTELLECTUAL LABORERS

Aim. To evaluate the relation of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its constituents with markers of subclinical damage of target organs (TOD) in follow-up of almost healthy intellectual laborers.Material and methods. From the selection of 1600 employees of a bank we randomly selected 383 with at least one component of MS without cardiovascular disorders, of those by the end of 2 years period 331 came to final visit (response 86%). Mean age 46,6±9,0 y., mostly women (214 (64,6%)). All patients underwent anthropometry, blood pressure measurement (BP), lipids investigation, creatinine and fasting glucose, echocardiography with the assessment of the left ventricle hypertrophy (LVH), ultrasound study of carotid arteries (intima-media complex thickness — CIM, and atherosclerotic plaques), vascular rigidity assessment, anklebrachial index, albumin concentration in single portion of urine at both stages of observation.Results. While performing multiple logistic regression, presence of arterial hypertension (AH) associated with increased probability of LVH, thickening of CIM and higher vessel rigidity in standardization by gender and age. Relation of MS with the markers of TOD has not been found. In 2 years of follow-up there was a significant increase of patients with thickening of CIM (from 81 (24,5%) to 146 (44,1%), p<0,001) and decrease of LVH prevalence (from 154 (46,7%) to 109 (32,9%), p=0,003) together with significant decrease of BP and total cholesterol.Conclusion. Presence of AH is associated with higher probability of LVH and increased vessel rigidity, as atherosclerotic changes in carotid arteries. MS was not related with an increased prevalence of TOD, and the main predetermining factors for structural heart abnormalities, the vessels and kidneys, were gender and age. In 2 years of observation there was markedly decreased number of patients with LVH and kidney dysfunction at the background of BP pattern improvement, and increase of the number of patients with thicker CIM, regardless of a decrease of the hypercholesterolemia patients. In MS patients there was more common to use antihypertension treatments, that led to more prominent LVH regression

Проблемы нормирования мышьяка в бурых водорослях и лекарственных препаратах на их основе

Algae tend to accumulate elemental toxic substances in high concentrations. Algae are widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries, and this dictates the need to establish limits for the content of toxic substances that they may contain. The aim of the study was to analyse the requirements of the Russian and foreign pharmacopoeias and other regulatory documents concerning the limits for the content of arsenic in brown algae. The paper presents the results of analysis of monographs from the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation, XIII and XIV editions, draft version of the Pharmacopoeia of the Eurasian Economic Union, United States Pharmacopoeia, Japanese Pharmacopoeia, European Pharmacopoeia, and Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India containing limits for the content of arsenic in herbal medicinal products (HMPs). In addition, the authors analysed Russian, international and foreign food industry and dietary supplements regulations, as well as scientific publications on arsenic content in brown algae. They also considered the nomenclature of arsenic compounds to be determined and controlled in medicinal products, highlighted the main approaches to and identified global trends in establishing the limits for their content in HMPs. The paper summarises specific aspects of inorganic arsenic compounds accumulation by brown algae. It was demonstrated that the majority of foreign pharmacopoeias either have specific norms for arsenic content in brown algae, which differ from the norms for HMPs, or have general norms that take into account different toxicity levels of organic and inorganic arsenic compounds. There is a tendency to control the content of elemental toxic substances based on their maximum allowable daily intake. The paper substantiates the need for separate determination of toxic inorganic arsenic compounds and potentially toxic methyl arsonate and dimethyl arsinate in HMPs.Морские водоросли обладают свойством концентрировать в своих тканях элементные токсиканты в высоких концентрациях. Водоросли являются широко используемым сырьем в пищевой и фармацевтической промышленности, поэтому возникает вопрос о необходимости нормирования содержания в них токсикантов. Цель работы — анализ требований российской и зарубежных фармакопей и других нормативных документов к нормированию содержания мышьяка в бурых водорослях. В работе представлены результаты анализа статей Государственной фармакопеи Российской Федерации XIII и XIV изданий, проекта фармакопеи Евразийского экономического союза, Фармакопеи США, Японской фармакопеи, Европейской фармакопеи, Аюрведической фармакопеи Индии, касающихся нормирования содержания мышьяка в лекарственных растительных препаратах (ЛРП). Проанализированы отечественная, международная и зарубежная нормативная документация пищевой промышленности, а также нормативные акты, регулирующие оборот биодобавок, и научные публикации, посвященные вопросам содержания мышьяка в бурых водорослях. Рассмотрена номенклатура определяемых и нормируемых соединений мышьяка, выделены основные подходы и обозначены тенденции в области установления пределов их содержания в ЛРП. Отмечены особенности накопления неорганических соединений мышьяка бурыми водорослями. Показано, что в большинстве зарубежных фармакопей либо установлены отдельные нормы по содержанию мышьяка в бурых водорослях, отличающиеся от общих норм для ЛРП, либо существующие нормы учитывают различную токсичность органических и неорганических соединений мышьяка. Установлена тенденция нормирования содержания элементных токсикантов, основанная на их максимальной допустимой суточной дозе потребления. Показана необходимость раздельного определения содержания токсичных неорганических соединений мышьяка и потенциально токсичных метиларсоната и диметиларсината в лекарственных растительных препаратах

Модификация методики определения цинка в инсулинах методом атомно-абсорбционной спектрометрии

Scientific relevance. Zinc quantification in insulin active substances and preparations by atomic absorption spectrometry requires a sample preparation procedure using hydrochloric acid, a narcotic and psychotropic precursor. The exclusion of precursors from laboratory practice significantly reduces labour costs during analysis.Aim. This study aimed to modify the pharmacopoeial method for quantifying zinc in insulins with a view to eliminating drug precursors and to evaluate the applicability of the modified method across different insulin preparations.Materials and methods. The study considered insulin active substances and preparations of various types, dosage forms, and strengths. Zinc content determination involved using an Agilent 240FS atomic absorption spectrometer at a characteristic wavelength of 213.86 nm.Results. The authors selected the conditions for elemental analysis (nitric acid concentration, monochromator slit width, and flame stabilisation time) corresponding to the pharmacopoeial requirements for quantifying zinc in insulins (RSD ≤1.4%, standard zinc solution with a concentration of 0.8 mg/dm3, and calibration curve correlation coefficient ≥0.99). The study compared zinc content measurements in the studied insulin samples with hydrochloric acid or nitric acid as a solvent; it did not reveal any significant differences between the results obtained by the pharmacopoeial method and the modified method.Conclusions. The modified method enables analysts to quantify zinc in insulin preparations in various dosage forms without drug precursors.Актуальность. Хлороводородная кислота, используемая на стадии пробоподготовки при определении содержания цинка в субстанциях и препаратах инсулина методом атомно-абсорбционной спектрометрии, является прекурсором наркотических веществ и психотропных препаратов. Исключение прекурсоров из лабораторной практики заметно снижает трудозатраты при проведении анализа.Цель. Модификация фармакопейной методики определения цинка в инсулинах, направленная на исключение прекурсоров наркотических веществ, и оценка применимости модифицированной методики для анализа препаратов инсулина.Материалы и методы. Фармацевтические субстанции и препараты инсулина различных лекарственных форм и дозировок. Определение содержания цинка проводили на атомно-абсорбционном спектрометре Agilent 240FS при характеристической длине волны 213,86 нм.Результаты. Подобраны условия проведения элементного анализа (концентрация азотной кислоты, ширина щели монохроматора, время стабилизации пламени), обеспечивающие соответствие фармакопейным требованиям к определению цинка в инсулинах (RSD≤1,4% для стандартного раствора цинка с концентрацией 0,8 мг/дм3, коэффициент корреляции калибровочного графика не менее 0,99). Проведено сравнение результатов измерения содержания цинка в исследуемых образцах при использовании в качестве растворителя хлороводородной или азотной кислоты. Сравнение модифицированной методики с фармакопейной не выявило существенного расхождения в результатах определения цинка при замене хлороводородной кислоты на азотную.Выводы. Модифицированная методика позволяет проводить анализ содержания цинка в различных лекарственных формах инсулина без использования прекурсоров наркотических веществ