Long Wavelength VCSELs and VCSEL-Based Processing of Microwave Signals

We address the challenge of decreasing the size, cost and power consumption for practical applications of next generation microwave photonics systems by using long-wavelength vertical cavity surface emitting lasers. Several demonstrations of new concepts of microwave photonics devices are presented and discussed

A Method for the Generation of Ectromelia Virus (ECTV) Recombinants: In Vivo Analysis of ECTV vCD30 Deletion Mutants

Ectromelia virus (ECTV) is the causative agent of mousepox, a lethal disease of mice with similarities to human smallpox. Mousepox progression involves replication at the initial site of infection, usually the skin, followed by a rapid spread to the secondary replicative organs, spleen and liver, and finally a dissemination to the skin, where the typical rash associated with this and other orthopoxviral induced diseases appears. Case fatality rate is genetically determined and reaches up to 100% in susceptible mice strains. Like other poxviruses, ECTV encodes a number of proteins with immunomodulatory potential, whose role in mousepox progression remains largely undescribed. Amongst these is a secreted homologue of the cellular tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily member CD30 which has been proposed to modulate a Th1 immune response in vivo

Application of singular transformations method with regard to nonlinearities in the equations of dynamics and measurements

The possibility of state estimation for a dynamic system with nonlinearities in the equations of dynamics and measurements using the Singular Transformations Method is discussed. The features of the proposed approach application are considered. For a methodological example, the equations for the required estimates are specified and the estimation accuracy analysis is carried out

Comparing underwater vehicle positioning algorithms using single-beacon navigation

Comparative analysis of two algorithms for underwater vehicle positioning using measurements of range to a drifting buoy and radial velocity is carried out. The algorithms based on building location contours and polynomial filtering are considered. Invalid data rate and radial RMS position error are analyzed to compare the algorithms. Based on the analysis made, the polynomial filtering algorithm is accepted as preferable

Re: Comparative Effectiveness of Combined Low- and Standart-Dose Trospium and Solifenacin for Moderate Overactive Bladder Symptoms in Elderly Men and Women

Overactive bladder (OAB) treatment is also a problem in elderly people. Treatment alternatives are limited especially in elderly patients who were resistant to standart antimuscarinic treatments. In this study, the authors examined a group of elderly patients with OAB, who had an episode of incontinence (EI) three or less a day and unsatisfied with the treatment, and low dose (Trospium 15mg/day+Solifenacin 5 mg/day) versus standart dose (Trospium 30mg/day+Solifenacin 10 mg/day) trospium+solifenacin treatments were evaluated. The assignment of patients was random and blind in this placebo-controlled study. Urodynamic study, ICIQ-SF questionnaires and bladder diaries were used. Significant improvement in symptoms and urodynamic parameters were seen in both treatment groups. The frequency of EI in both of the main groups decreased by almost 2-fold compared to the initial data. Side effects were more in standart dose group. They concluded that, as the treatment efficacy of both groups was similiar, combination of these drugs in standart doses for such patients is excessive. Also the authors discussed that synergistic effects of combination of antimuscarinics were more effective than high doses. Search for non-invasive tretment alternatives in antimuscarinic resistant OAB is ongoin

Randomized controlled trial of cyclic and continuous therapy with trospium and solifenacin combination for severe overactive bladder in elderly patients with regard to patient compliance

Objectives: The aim of the study was to increase the efficiency of treatment for severe symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB) with antimuscarinic drugs in elderly men and women. Methods: A total of 341 patients over 65 years of age (average age 69.9; 186 women and 155 men) with severe symptoms of OAB (frequency of incontinence episodes [IEs] ≥ 3/day) underwent examination. Patients were distributed into three main groups: A ( n = 58; trospium 60 mg/day + solifenacin 20): three cycles, each cycle 8 weeks, with an 8-week interval; B ( n = 55; trospium 30 mg/day + solifenacin 10), regimen was the same as in group A; C ( n = 62; trospium 30 mg/day + solifenacin 10) daily during 1 year. Results: The most successful treatment for the clinical and urodynamic symptoms of OAB was observed in group A, without an increase in the quantity or intensity of side effects (IEs = 4.8 (0.9) → 1.4 (0.8); p ≤ 0.01). Groups B and C also demonstrated positive effects for most of the markers for lower urinary tract state with statistical significance p ≤ 0.01. Nonparametric correlation between decrease in IEs and relative number of patients who accurately fulfilled prescriptions was in group A, r = 0.53, p ≤ 0.05; in group B, r = 0.61; p ≤ 0.05; in group C, r = 0.55, p ≤ 0.05. Conclusions: Cyclic therapy with two different spectrum antimuscarinics appears to be effective for controlling severe OAB in elderly patients. One-year cyclic therapy with a trospium and solifenacin combination provides a high compliance level (76–84%). However, continuous therapy with standard doses of trospium and solifenacin results in low adherence and high rates of treatment withdrawals (≥ 66%) despite satisfactory clinical and urodynamic results