Electromagnetically induced switching of ferroelectric thin films

We analyze the interaction of an electromagnetic spike (one cycle) with a thin layer of ferroelectric medium with two equilibrium states. The model is the set of Maxwell equations coupled to the undamped Landau-Khalatnikov equation, where we do not assume slowly varying envelopes. From linear scattering theory, we show that low amplitude pulses can be completely reflected by the medium. Large amplitude pulses can switch the ferroelectric. Using numerical simulations and analysis, we study this switching for long and short pulses, estimate the switching times and provide useful information for experiments

Extreme ultraviolet emission from non-relativistic electrons penetrating a multilayer nanostructure

The spectral and angular distributions from parametric X-radiation (PXR) from non-relativistic electrons penetrating a multilayer nanostructure are calculated while accounting for contributions of ordinary and diffracted transition radiationyesBelgorod State Universit

Metabolic and crystal arthropathies: 112. Rapid Improvement in Health-Related Quality of Life in Gouty Arthritis Patients Treated with Canakinumab (ACZ885) Compared to Triamcinolone Acetonide

Background: Canakinumab, a fully human anti-IL-1β antibody has been shown to control inflammation in gouty arthritis. This study evaluated changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients treated with canakinumab or triamcinolone acetonide (TA). Methods: An 8-wk, dose-ranging, active controlled, single-blind study in patients (≥18 to ≤80 years) with acute gouty arthritis flare, refractory to or contraindicated to NSAlDs and/or colchicine, were randomized to canakinumab 10, 25, 50, 90, 150 mg sc or TA 40 mg im. HRQoL was assessed using patient reported outcomes evaluating PCS and MCS, and subscale scores of SF-36® [acute version 2]) and functional disability (HAQ-DI©). Results: In canakinumab 150 mg group, the most severe impairment at baseline was reported for physical functioning and bodily pain; levels of 41.5 and 36.0, respectively, which improved in 7 days to 80.0 and 72.2 (mean increases of 39.0 and 35.6) and at 8 wks improved to 86.1 and 86.6 (mean increases of 44.6 and 50.6); these were higher than levels seen in the general US population. TA group, showed less improvement in 7 days (mean increases of 23.3 and 21.3 for physical function and bodily pain). Functional disability scores, measured by the HAQ-DI© decreased in both treatment groups (Table 1). Conclusions: Gouty arthritis patients treated with canakinumab showed a rapid improvement in physical and mental well-being based on SF-36® scores. In contrast to the TA group, patients treated with canakinumab showed improvement in 7 days in physical function and bodily pain approaching levels of the general population. Disclosure statement: U.A., A.F., V.M., D.R., P.S. and K.S. are employees and shareholders of Novartis Pharma AG. A.P. has received research support from Novartis Pharma AG. N.S. has received research support and consultancy fees from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, has served on advisory boards for Novartis, Takeda, Savient, URL Pharma and EnzymeRx, and is/has been a member of a speakers' bureau for Takeda. A.S. has received consultation fees from Novartis Pharma AG, Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Essex, Pfizer, MSD, Roche, UCB and Wyeth. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Efficacy and safety of the anti-IL-12/23 p40 monoclonal antibody, ustekinumab, in patients with active psoriatic arthritis despite conventional non-biological and biological anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy: 6-month and 1-year results of the phase 3, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised PSUMMIT 2 trial

Objective: Assess ustekinumab efficacy (week 24/week 52) and safety (week 16/week 24/week 60) in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) despite treatment with conventional and/or biological anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents. Methods: In this phase 3, multicentre, placebo-controlled trial, 312 adults with active PsA were randomised (stratified by site, weight (≤100 kg/>100 kg), methotrexate use) to ustekinumab 45 mg or 90 mg at week 0, week 4, q12 weeks or placebo at week 0, week 4, week 16 and crossover to ustekinumab 45 mg at week 24, week 28 and week 40. At week 16, patients with <5% improvement in tender/swollen joint counts entered blinded early escape (placebo→45 mg, 45 mg→90 mg, 90 mg→90 mg). The primary endpoint was ≥20% improvement in American College of Rheumatology (ACR20) criteria at week 24. Secondary endpoints included week 24 Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) improvement, ACR50, ACR70 and ≥75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI75). Efficacy was assessed in all patients, anti-TNF-naïve (n=132) patients and anti-TNF-experienced (n=180) patients. Results: More ustekinumab-treated (43.8% combined) than placebo-treated (20.2%) patients achieved ACR20 at week 24 (p<0.001). Significant treatment differences were observed for week 24 HAQ-DI improvement (p<0.001), ACR50 (p≤0.05) and PASI75 (p<0.001); all benefits were sustained through week 52. Among patients previously treated with ≥1 TNF inhibitor, sustained ustekinumab efficacy was also observed (week 24 combined vs placebo: ACR20 35.6% vs 14.5%, PASI75 47.1% vs 2.0%, median HAQ-DI change −0.13 vs 0.0; week 52 ustekinumab-treated: ACR20 38.9%, PASI75 43.4%, median HAQ-DI change −0.13). No unexpected adverse events were observed through week 60. Conclusions: The interleukin-12/23 inhibitor ustekinumab (45/90 mg q12 weeks) yielded significant and sustained improvements in PsA signs/symptoms in a diverse population of patients with active PsA, including anti-TNF-experienced PsA patients

IMAGE SHARPENING WITH BLUR MAP ESTIMATION USING CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORK

We propose a method for choosing optimal values of the parameters of image sharpening algorithm for out-of-focus blur based on grid warping approach. The idea of the considered sharpening algorithm is to move pixels from the edge neighborhood towards the edge centerlines. Compared to traditional deblurring algorithms, this approach requires only scalar blur level value rather than a blur kernel. We propose a convolutional neural network based algorithm for estimating the blur level value

Stressors and depressive disorders in rheumatic diseases

The paper discusses the common comorbidity of immune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (RD) and depression. It considers the causes and mechanisms, which are common to these diseases, namely, the provocative role of chronic psychosocial stress; neuroendocrine dysregulations of an immune response, which give rise to the hyperproduction of the proinflammatory cytokines determining the magnitude of the major clinical syndromes of RD and depression — chronic pain, fatigue, sleep disorders, functional insufficiency. The impact of depression on patient treatment adherence and efficiency and the course and outcome of RD is discussed. Particular attention is given to the timely therapy of depression in RD, to the effect of genetically engineered biological agents on depressive symptomatology, to the need for a personified approach to prescribing antidepressants. By taking into account the importance of detection and treatment of depressive disorders in rheumatologic practice from the clinical standpoint and in terms of medical, social, and economic consequences, the author propose an interdisciplinary approach to managing the patients with RD with the participation of rheumatologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, and medical psychologists

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of the original rituximab and its biosimilar in routine clinical practice

Currently, a biosimilar (BS) of rituximab (RTM) Acellbia® is widely used in Russia for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), however, a systematic study of this drug in routine clinical practice has not been conducted.Objective: to compare the results of the use of RTM BS (Acellbia®) and the original rituximab (oRTM) in the daily clinical practice of a large rheumatology center.Patients and methods. The study involved 127 patients predominantly with seropositive RA, who were divided into four groups. Groups 1 and 2 included 66 bionaive patients with active RA and ineffectiveness of previous therapy. 31 patients of the 1st group received 2 infusions of oRTM at a dose of 500 mg intravenously (IV) 2 weeks apart; 35 patients of the 2nd group – 2 infusions of RTM BS at a dose of 500 mg IV 2 weeks apart. Groups 3 and 4 included 61 patients who had previously received oRTM therapy. These patients received 4 courses of oRTM treatment on average before being included in the study. 30 patients of the 3rd group continued oRTM therapy: they received 2 infusions at a dose of 500 mg IV 2 weeks apart; 31 patients of the 4th group received 2 infusions of RTM BS at a dose of 500 mg IV 2 weeks apart.Results and discussion. During the observation period, the dynamics of the main indicators of RA activity in the 1st and 2nd groups did not differ significantly. Although the indication for rehospitalization was an exacerbation of the disease, 64.5% of patients in the 1st and 77.1% of patients in the 2nd group, preserved a 20% improvement according to the ACR criteria on re-examination. The condition of patients of the 3rd and 4th groups remained generally stable during the observation period. The change in the DAS28 index in most cases was clinically insignificant. There were no significant differences in the dynamics of inflammatory activity among patients who continued oRTM treatment and who received RTM BS.Conclusion. The results of the study show that both the prescription of RTM to bionaive RA patients and repeated courses of treatment with RTM BS and oRTM are comparable in terms of efficacy and tolerability

A STUDY OF SOME PARAMETERS OF THE EXTERNAL RESPIRATORY FUNCTION AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE CLINICAL ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Pulmonary pathology is diagnosed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The external respiratory function (ERF) examination is widely used to assess the functional capacity of the lungs. Objective. To evaluate ERF in patients with RA. Material and methods. The study included 155 patients with RA. A MasterScreen Body plethysmograph (Erich Jaeger) was used to determine the ERF parameters (diffusing lung capacity, DLC; forced inspiratory vital capacity, FIVC; forced expiratory volume in 1 second, FEV1; total lung capacity, TLC; the FEV1/FIVC ratio, and the modified Tiffeneau index). DLC was measured by the single-breath method. ERF parameters were represented as a percentage of the appropriate value for a given gender, age, and height of the patient. Results. Of the 155 examined patients with RA, a decrease in the DLC parameter was detected in 107 (69%), while in 87 (81%) patients, the decrease was less than 10% of the proper values. An analysis of the state of the ERF parameters revealed a decrease in FEV1 in 48 (31%) patients, FIVC in 41 (27%) patients, and TLC in 36 (23%) patients. The restrictive type of lung ventilation was determined in 27% of patients, bronchial obstruction in 31% of patients, an iso- lated decrease in DLC in 12% of patients with RA. In 31% of cases, no deviations of the ERF parameters from normal values were found. A statistically significant negative correlation between the clinical activity of RA and the DLC level (r = -0.59; p<0.05) was found. Conclusion. The study revealed a high frequency of variation in the ERF parameters in patients with RA. In most cases, the variation was demonstrated by DLC. The obstructive changes were prevalent among RA patients. The high percentage of smokers among RA patients with the obstructive type of ventilation may indicate the influence of smok- ing on the development of bronchial obstruction. Our work revealed the significant relationship between the degree of RA activity and the DLC value

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH USTEKINUMAB IN THE TREATMENT OF EARLY PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS USING TREAT-TO-TARGET STRATEGY

The new Treat-to-Target (T2T) strategy in the treatment of early psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is aimed at achieving remission or low disease activity. As of now, the new biological agent ustekinumb (UST), anti-interleukin (IL) 12/23 monoclonal antibodies, was used to treat psoriasis and PsA. The paper presents clinical observations of the efficacy of UST in early PsA treated according T2T strategy. The described clinical cases demonstrate that use of UST 45 mg both alone and in combination with methotrexate for early PsA with moderate and high activity reduced manifestations of peripheral arthritis and psoriasis, promoting rapid achievement of remission or minimal disease activity. Overall, UST is well tolerated by the patients