Malevolent Creativity and Personal Features of Young People in Different Socio-Political Conditions: Relationship and Interaction

Background. The relevance of the study is associated with the activation of malevolent creativity at the macro level in the form of information wars and isolation of Russia, which create threatening socio-political conditions, against the background of the special military operation in Ukraine. Objectives. Objective of the study was to find out whether there are differences at the micro-level in different socio-political conditions in malevolent creativity as well as to identify its connections with personal characteristics: hostility, the trait of “Agreeableness”, and moral identity. The following hypotheses were formulated: 1. The level of antisocial creativity varies in different contexts and will be higher in threatening socio-political conditions and 2. the relationship between such personal characteristics as hostility, Agreeableness, moral identity, and malevolent creativity will be different in different socio-political conditions. Study Participants. The study is a cross-sectional one. The first stage was carried out in 2019 with the participation of 81 young students from one of Moscow universities (mean age 19.2, SD = 1.2). 152 young students of the same Moscow university took part at the second stage in 2023 (mean age 19.1, SD = 1.29). Methods. Participants filled out forms with the questionnaires “NEO-FFI” (a shortened version of the questionnaire “NEO PI-R”), BRAQ-24, moral identity questionnaire, “Behavioral features of antisocial creativity”. Results. It is shown that there are differences in variables at the microsystem level in different sociopolitical conditions: MC and hostility are significantly lower, and moral identity and cooperation are significantly higher in the sample of 2023. The predictors of MC in the sample of 2023 were the traits of Agreeableness and hostility. In the sample of 2019, the trait of Agreeableness alone predicted MC. Differences in the strength of the relationship between the variables were revealed: in the sample of 2023, the relationship of hostility with antisocial creativity and the trait of Cooperation was significantly stronger than in the sample of 2019. Conclusions. In threatening socio-political conditions, young people with high hostility and low level on the “Agreeableness” trait fall into the risk group, due to the high probability of the realization of creativity in behavior that harms other people, while realization of MC in behavior may be restrained through actualizing moral identity. In a calm and peaceful period, moral identity and hostility are less relevant for the implementation of MC in harmful behavior, since the development of “Agreeableness” is important in this case

Non-hemagglutinating flaviviruses: molecular mechanisms for the emergence of new strains via adaptation to European ticks

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes human epidemics across Eurasia. Clinical manifestations range from inapparent infections and fevers to fatal encephalitis but the factors that determine disease severity are currently undefined. TBEV is characteristically a hemagglutinating (HA) virus; the ability to agglutinate erythrocytes tentatively reflects virion receptor/fusion activity. However, for the past few years many atypical HA-deficient strains have been isolated from patients and also from the natural European host tick, Ixodes persulcatus. By analysing the sequences of HA-deficient strains we have identified 3 unique amino acid substitutions (D67G, E122G or D277A) in the envelope protein, each of which increases the net charge and hydrophobicity of the virion surface. Therefore, we genetically engineered virus mutants each containing one of these 3 substitutions; they all exhibited HA-deficiency. Unexpectedly, each genetically modified non-HA virus demonstrated increased TBEV reproduction in feeding Ixodes ricinus, not the recognised tick host for these strains. Moreover, virus transmission efficiency between infected and uninfected ticks co-feeding on mice was also intensified by each substitution. Retrospectively, the mutation D67G was identified in viruses isolated from patients with encephalitis. We propose that the emergence of atypical Siberian HA-deficient TBEV strains in Europe is linked to their molecular adaptation to local ticks. This process appears to be driven by the selection of single mutations that change the virion surface thus enhancing receptor/fusion function essential for TBEV entry into the unfamiliar tick species. As the consequence of this adaptive mutagenesis, some of these mutations also appear to enhance the ability of TBEV to cross the human blood-brain barrier, a likely explanation for fatal encephalitis. Future research will reveal if these emerging Siberian TBEV strains continue to disperse westwards across Europe by adaptation to the indigenous tick species and if they are associated with severe forms of TBE

Оценка чувствительности и специфичности ASAS-критериев для периферического спондилоартрита у пациентов с ранним псориатическим артритом

Objective: to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of ASAS (Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society) criteria for peripheral spondyloarthritis (SpA) in patients with early psoriatic arthritis (ePsA).Subjects and methods. Examinations was made in 45 patients (17 men and 28 women) with ePsA meeting the CASPAR (ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic ARthritis) criteria (mean age, 37 years; disease duration, 1 year) and in 20 patients (9 men and 11 women) with signs of peripheral SpA meeting the ESSG (European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group) criteria (mean age, 23 years; disease duration, 2.25 years; control group). The investigators estimated 78/76 tender/swollen joints and enthuses using MASES (Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score) and assessed the presence of inflammatory spinal pain according to the ASAS criteria, psoriasis, uveitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, genitourinary and/or enteric infections, and a family history of SpA. They also performed X-ray studies of the hand and distal portions of the foot and pelvis and graded sacroilitis using the Kellgren scores. HLA-B27, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were determined. The sensitivity/specificity, likelihood ratios, and clinical value of criteria were calculated.Results. 41/4 and 31/14 patents with ePsA met/unmet Criteria Sets I and II. The sensitivity/specificity of Sets I and II was 91.1/10% and 68.8/95%, respectively. One patient with ePsA and two patients in the control group did not meet one of the sing sets. The total sensitivity/specificity was 97.8/10%. In the control group, the sensitivity/specificity of Sets I and II was 91.1/100% and 68.8/100%, respectively. For ePsA, the positive likelihood ratio proved to be high for Set II (13.78%) and low for Set I (1.01).Conclusion. ASAS Criteria Set I for peripheral SpA is of low value in identifying ePsA and Sign Set II shows a high value in diagnosing ePsA as it includes the major clinical manifestations of the disease. Both the ASAS for peripheral SpA and CASPAR criteria may be used for the classification of PsA.Цель исследования – определение чувствительности и специфичности критериев ASAS (Assesment of Spondyloarthriitis International Society) для периферического спондилоартрита (СпА) при раннем псориатическом артрите (рПсА).Материал и методы. Обследовано 45 больных (17 мужчин и 28 женщин) с рПсА, соответствующих критериям CASPAR (ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic ARthritis), средний возраст – 37 лет, длительность заболевания – 1 год и 20 больных (9 мужчин и 11 женщин) с признаками периферического СпА, соответствующих критериям ESSG (European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group), средний возраст – 23 года, длительность заболевания – 2,25 года (контрольная группа). Оценивали 78/76 болезненных/припухших суставов, энтезисы по MASES (Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score), наличие воспалительной боли в позвоночнике по критериям ASAS, псориаза, увеита, воспалительных заболеваний кишечника, мочеполовой и/или кишечной инфекции, семейный анамнез по СпА. Выполняли рентгенографию кистей, дистальных отделов стоп и таза, стадию сакроилиита оценивали по Kellgren. Опреде- ляли HLA-B27, СРБ, СОЭ. Рассчитывали чувствительность/специфичность, отношение правдоподобия результатов, клиническую значимость критериев.Результаты. 41/4 и 31/14 пациентов с рПсА соответствовали/не соответствовали I и II сету критериев. Чувствительность/специфичность I сета – 91,1/10%, II сета – 68,8/95%. 1 пациент с рПсА и 2 пациента в контрольной группе не соответствовали ни одному из сетов признаков. Общая чувствительность/специфичность – 97,8/10%. В контрольной группе чувствительность/специфичность I сета составила 91,1/100%, II сета – 68,8/100%. Для рПсА отношение правдоподобия положительного результата оказалось высоким для II (13,78) и низким для I (1,01) сета признаков.Заключение. I сет признаков критериев ASAS для периферического СпА имеет низкое значение для выявления рПсА, II сет показал высокую значимость для диагностики рПсА, так как включает основные клинические проявления заболевания. Для классификации ПсА могут быть использованы как критерии ASAS для периферического СпА, так и CASPAR

The first combined russian experience of using perampanel in children and adolescents with epilepsy in everyday clinical practice

Background. Real world data help to provide more information on the effects and tolerability of therapy. However, data on the use of perampanel in Russian population of children remain limited. aim. To conduct a retrospective analysis of perampanel efficacy and tolerability in children and adolescents with epilepsy in real clinical practice. Materials and methods. A total of 106 children aged 4–18 years receiving perampanel as part of combination therapy for epilepsy were observed at 18 centers. Seizure frequency at 1–3, after 6 and 12 months of treatment, presence and type of adverse events (AEs) were analyzed. The main assessed efficacy parameters were seizure control, significant (≥50 %) decrease in seizure frequency. All other outcomes (<50 % decrease, no change or increased seizure frequency) were considered to be no effect. The assessed safety parameters were the percentage of patients with or without AEs and the percentage of perampanel withdrawals due to AEs. results. We defined 3 age groups for comparison: children 4–6, 7–11 and 12–17 years old. Perampanel efficacy was 69 % (seizure control – 23.6 %, ≥50 % decrease in seizure frequency – 45.3 %). The mean duration of the effect was 7.3 ± 4.1 months. No significant difference in efficacy between age groups was found. However, some greater efficacy of perampanel was noted in adolescents: absence of effect in the form of remission or significant decrease in seizures frequency was noted only in 25.5 %, with 40 % in children 4–11 years old. Among those with inefficacy, 3.8 % reported seizure aggravation. AEs occurred in only 23 % of patients, with the least frequent occurrence in adolescents (11.8 %) and the most frequent in children aged 7–11 years (40 %). The most frequent AEs was sluggishness and/or drowsiness. Discontinuation of perampanel due to AEs was required in 7.6 %. Conclusion. Perampanel has demonstrated high efficacy and good tolerability in real clinical practice among children from 4 years of age and adolescents with partial (focal) and secondary generalized seizures. The AEs that developed were not serious and very rarely led to withdrawal of the therapy. The results are comparable to those of phase III studies and previous real-world data. The usage of perampanel in children with primary generalized seizures should be further investigated. © 2022 ABV-Press Publishing House. All rights reserved.EisaiО.А. Рахманина / O.A. Rakhmanina: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9218-2531 И.В. Волков / I.V. Volkov: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7816-7535 О.К. Волкова / O.K. Volkova: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3314-3895 Ю.А. Александров / Yu.A. Aleksandrov: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3887-5219 М.В. Бархатов / M.V. Barkhatov: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6372-4677 И.С. Бахтин / I.S. Bakhtin: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3600-687X Г.М. Бережная / G.M. Berezhnaya: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3917-422X А.Ю. Карась / A.Yu. Karas: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9089-9627 Д.В. Морозов / D.V. Morozov: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4389-9143 И.С. Бахтин / I.S. Bakhtin: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3600-687X Т.Р. Томенко / T.R. Tomenko: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0652-1996 Ж.М. Цоцонава / Zh.M. Tsotsonava: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3275-5099 Конфликт интересов и финансирование. Публикация подготовлена при финансовой поддержке компании «Эйсай». Авторы несут полную ответственность за содержание статьи и редакционные решения. Conflict of interest and funding. This publication was funded by Eisai. The authors are fully responsible for the content of the article and editorial decisions

ON THE TERMINOLOGY OF SPONDYLOARTHRITIS

By the end of the first decade of the 21st century, spondyloarthritis studies have accumulated a certain number of terms that are obsolete, but used by physicians in their everyday speech, on the one hand, and a great variety of different definitions, on the other hand. In January 2014, the first organizational meeting of the Expert Group on Spondyloarthritis, Association of Rheumatologists of Russia, decided that its primary task should be to order the terminology used in this area. The authors primarily collected the terms, which had been already used in medical vocabulary, and then divided them into two categories: obsolete definitions and terms to be finalized and unified. This publication gives guidelines for using the medical terms relevant to spondyloarthritis and separately discusses how to correctly write the term sacroiliitis

EFFICIENCY OF TRIPLE (METHOTREXATE + SULFASALAZINE + HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE) COMBINATION DISEASE-MODIFYING THERAPY VERSUS METOTREXATE MONOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Objective: to compare the efficiency and tolerability of combination disease-modifying therapy with methotrexate (MT), sulfasalazine (SS), and hydroxychloroquine (HC) with that of MT monotherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Subjects and methods. Sixty patients with RA, who had received no disease-modifying anti-inflammatory drugs, were enrolled in a 24-month open-label study. The patients were randomized into two groups at a 1:1 ratio. Group 1 received combination therapy with MT (its starting dose was 7.5 mg weekly), SS (2.0 g/day), and HC (200 mg/day); Group 2 had MT therapy. If there was no remission, the dose of MT was gradually increased from 7.5 to 17.5 mg weekly. The basic efficiency rate was a 50% improvement according to the American College of Rheumatologists criteria (ACR 50), which persisted at 9 months of therapy to the end of the study in the absence of adverse reactions (AR) requiring the therapy in question to be discontinued. Results. At 24 months of therapy, the effect corresponding to ACR 50 was observed in 16 (59.3%) of the 27 patients in Group 1 and in 11 (40.7%) of the 27 patients in Group 2 (p = 0.174). This effect persisted at 9 to 24 months in 9 (33.3%) patients in Group 1 and in 2 (7.4%) in Group 2 (p = 0.039). These patients had no AR that required treatment correction. By the end of the study, remission (DAS < 1.6) was seen in 6 (22.2%) patients in Group 1 and in 2 (7.4%) in Group 2 (p = 0.259). The groups showed no significant differences in the progression of X-ray signs of joint destruction. The assessment using the Sharp method indicated that the median erosion scores increased by a point in Groups 1 and 2; the median joint-space narrowing score rose by 8 and 7 points and the median total score increased by 10 and 6.5 points, respectively. There was a functional improvement in both groups. The median HAQ dropped from 1.5 to 0.5 scores in Group 1 and from 2.0 to 0.75 scores in Group 2. The tolerability of combination therapy and MT therapy did not differ greatly. Only 4 (13.3%) patients in Group 1 and 7 (23.3%) were withdrawn from the study because of AR. Conclusions. Combination disease-modifying therapy with MT, SS, and HC is more effective than MT monotherapy. Tolerability was comparable for both treatments

RF MEMS packaged switch evaluation tests up to 25 GHz

This article presents the results of the series of experimental tests of a packaged RF MEMS switch manufactured as a chip on a silicon substrate in the Center for Materials and Microsystems of Fondazione Bruno Kessler. Experiments have been performed up to 25 GHz and included S-parameters check in different operation and environmental conditions, including variation of input power, ambient temperature and number of switching cycles. Presented RF MEMS SPST switch is a basic element of more complex reconfigurable networks such as SPxT switches, phase shifters, power attenuators etc

Estimation of the sensitivity and specificity of ASAS criteria for peripheral spondyloarthritis in patients with early psoriatic arthritis

Objective: to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of ASAS (Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society) criteria for peripheral spondyloarthritis (SpA) in patients with early psoriatic arthritis (ePsA).Subjects and methods. Examinations was made in 45 patients (17 men and 28 women) with ePsA meeting the CASPAR (ClASsification criteria for Psoriatic ARthritis) criteria (mean age, 37 years; disease duration, 1 year) and in 20 patients (9 men and 11 women) with signs of peripheral SpA meeting the ESSG (European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group) criteria (mean age, 23 years; disease duration, 2.25 years; control group). The investigators estimated 78/76 tender/swollen joints and enthuses using MASES (Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score) and assessed the presence of inflammatory spinal pain according to the ASAS criteria, psoriasis, uveitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, genitourinary and/or enteric infections, and a family history of SpA. They also performed X-ray studies of the hand and distal portions of the foot and pelvis and graded sacroilitis using the Kellgren scores. HLA-B27, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were determined. The sensitivity/specificity, likelihood ratios, and clinical value of criteria were calculated.Results. 41/4 and 31/14 patents with ePsA met/unmet Criteria Sets I and II. The sensitivity/specificity of Sets I and II was 91.1/10% and 68.8/95%, respectively. One patient with ePsA and two patients in the control group did not meet one of the sing sets. The total sensitivity/specificity was 97.8/10%. In the control group, the sensitivity/specificity of Sets I and II was 91.1/100% and 68.8/100%, respectively. For ePsA, the positive likelihood ratio proved to be high for Set II (13.78%) and low for Set I (1.01).Conclusion. ASAS Criteria Set I for peripheral SpA is of low value in identifying ePsA and Sign Set II shows a high value in diagnosing ePsA as it includes the major clinical manifestations of the disease. Both the ASAS for peripheral SpA and CASPAR criteria may be used for the classification of PsA

Heart damage in ankylosing spondylitis

Objective. To study heart damage in pts with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by ECG and echocardiography (EchoCG). Material and methods. 344 pts with definite AS not older than 60 years without comorbid cardiac diseases examined in the Institute of rheumatology during 2005-2008 were included. ECG with 12 leads was performed in all pts and transthoracic EchoCG – in 101 pts. Results. Rhythm and conductivity disturbances were revealed in 67 from 344 (19,5%) pts: atrioventricular (a/v) heart block was present in 20 (5,8%) pts (16 had 1, 2 – 2 and 3 – 3 stage of a/v heart block). 27 (7,8%) pts had intraventricular heart block. EchoCG signs of aortal valve changes were revealed in 45 from 101 (44,5%) pts: thickness or dilatation of aorta – in 36 (35,6%), aortal valve cusps thickness – in 32 (31,7%), mitral – in 15 (14,8%). Local thickness in the form of a comb beneath aortal valve on the back wall of aorta basis at the site of its junction with basis of mitral anterior cusp – “subaortic bump” was found in 10 (10%) pts. Frequency of a/v heart block among pts with changes of aorta and cardiac valves was significantly higher than in pts without such changes. On the other hand frequency of aorta and cardiac valves changes in pts with a/v heart block was significantly higher than in pts without a/v heart block (p=0,0027) what shows relationship between conductivity disturbances and aorta and cardiac valves damage in AS. Conclusion. Cardiac pathology in AS is characterized by frequent (44,5%) damage of aorta basis and aorta-mitral junction zone in combination with thickness of aortal and mitral valves and conductivity disturbances

Heart damage in ankylosing spondylitis

Objective. To study heart damage in pts with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by ECG and echocardiography (EchoCG). Material and methods. 344 pts with definite AS not older than 60 years without comorbid cardiac diseases examined in the Institute of rheumatology during 2005-2008 were included. ECG with 12 leads was performed in all pts and transthoracic EchoCG – in 101 pts. Results. Rhythm and conductivity disturbances were revealed in 67 from 344 (19,5%) pts: atrioventricular (a/v) heart block was present in 20 (5,8%) pts (16 had 1, 2 – 2 and 3 – 3 stage of a/v heart block). 27 (7,8%) pts had intraventricular heart block. EchoCG signs of aortal valve changes were revealed in 45 from 101 (44,5%) pts: thickness or dilatation of aorta – in 36 (35,6%), aortal valve cusps thickness – in 32 (31,7%), mitral – in 15 (14,8%). Local thickness in the form of a comb beneath aortal valve on the back wall of aorta basis at the site of its junction with basis of mitral anterior cusp – “subaortic bump” was found in 10 (10%) pts. Frequency of a/v heart block among pts with changes of aorta and cardiac valves was significantly higher than in pts without such changes. On the other hand frequency of aorta and cardiac valves changes in pts with a/v heart block was significantly higher than in pts without a/v heart block (p=0,0027) what shows relationship between conductivity disturbances and aorta and cardiac valves damage in AS. Conclusion. Cardiac pathology in AS is characterized by frequent (44,5%) damage of aorta basis and aorta-mitral junction zone in combination with thickness of aortal and mitral valves and conductivity disturbances