Neoglycolipids Micelle-like Structures as a Basis for Drug Delivery Systems

Targeted drug delivery is one of the most promising tasks of nanomedicine, as this is a real way to increase the effectiveness of therapeutic effects against many diseases. In this regard, the development of new inexpensive highly effective stimulating and non-immunogenic drug delivery systems (DDS) is of great importance. In this work new molecular candidates were proposed and studied for the creation of such systems based on the use of new compounds, neoglycolipids. It is shown that these compounds are capable of self-association in aqueous solutions and can serve as potential carriers of drug compounds with targeted delivery determined by their terminal groups (in particular, glycans). The processes of their associates formation and features of their structure are investigated. The results show that these selforganizing nanoscale systems can be used as a basis for developing new drug delivery systems. Keywords: neoglycolipids, micelle-like structures, small-angle X-ray scattering, molecular dynamics simulatio

Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction Secondary to Radioactive Iodine-131 Therapy for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Deterministic effects of medical exposure to ionising radiation can be associated with both the effectiveness of treatment and adverse drug reactions to it. The latter may drastically deteriorate the quality of life of a patient after radionuclide therapy. In addition, the regulations of the Russian Federation require indicating the effective dose of radiation as a measure of damage (risk), but the presence of a deterministic effect in individual organs and tissues complicates monitoring and recording patient exposure doses. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of radiopharmaceuticals containing 131I on the development of secondary nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). Materials and methods: the study of secondary NLDO predictors analysed medical history data, post-therapy head-and-neck scintigrams, and methods to prepare patients for treatment. It involved sodium iodide, 131I, formulated as a solution (marketing authorisation number: FS-002065) by the FSUE Federal Center of Nuclear Medicine Projects Design and Development of the FMBA of Russia. Results: the authors unambiguously localised the lacrimal ducts in post-therapy 131I scintigrams of the head and neck and quantified 131I uptake ratios for the lacrimal duct area. Also, they identified a set of NLDO predictors: the age of a patient, the administered activity, the administration of recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone, the 131I uptake ratio, etc. The article describes a method for identifying the groups at risk of NLDO following radioiodine therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer. Conclusions: secondary NLDO is a deterministic effect of 131I exposure. The authors have developed a new method for predicting secondary NLDO by a combination of the patient’s individual parameters and treatment plan; the identified predictors help to personalise radioiodine therapy. The authors suggest the following: to include information on secondary NLDO as a complication of therapy to the SmPC section on undesirable effects; to develop approaches to secondary NLDO prevention; and to improve the algorithms for reporting adverse events in case of delayed manifestation and those for following patients up in the medical organisations having administered the radiopharmaceutical or in other medical organisations being applied to for medical care afterwards

Drug-Induced Atrial Fibrillation / Atrial Flutter

Drug-induced atrial fibrillation / flutter (DIAF) is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication of pharmacotherapy. Purpose of the work: systematization and analysis of scientific literature data on drugs, the use of which can cause the development of DIAF, as well as on epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, risk factors, clinical picture, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, treatment and prevention of DIAF. Analysis of the literature has shown that many groups of drugs can cause the development of DIAF, with a greater frequency while taking anticancer drugs, drugs for the treatment of the cardiovascular, bronchopulmonary and central nervous systems. The mechanisms and main risk factors for the development of DIAF have not been finally established and are known only for certain drugs, therefore, this section requires further study. The main symptoms of DIAF are due to the severity of tachycardia and their influence on the parameters of central hemodynamics. For diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter monitoring of an ECG and echocardiography. Differential diagnosis should be made with AF, which may be caused by other causes, as well as other rhythm and conduction disturbances. Successful treatment of DIAF is based on the principle of rapid recognition and immediate discontinuation of drugs (if possible), the use of which potentially caused the development of adverse drug reactions (ADR). The choice of management strategy: heart rate control or rhythm control, as well as the method of achievement (medication or non-medication), depends on the specific clinical situation. For the prevention of DIAF, it is necessary to instruct patients about possible symptoms and recommend self-monitoring of the pulse. It is important for practitioners to be wary of the risk of DIAF due to the variety of drugs that can potentially cause this ADR

Вторичная облитерация слезоотводящих путей при проведении радиойодтерапии 131I дифференцированного рака щитовидной железы

Deterministic effects of medical exposure to ionising radiation can be associated with both the effectiveness of treatment and adverse drug reactions to it. The latter may drastically deteriorate the quality of life of a patient after radionuclide therapy. In addition, the regulations of the Russian Federation require indicating the effective dose of radiation as a measure of damage (risk), but the presence of a deterministic effect in individual organs and tissues complicates monitoring and recording patient exposure doses. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of radiopharmaceuticals containing 131I on the development of secondary nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). Materials and methods: the study of secondary NLDO predictors analysed medical history data, post-therapy head-and-neck scintigrams, and methods to prepare patients for treatment. It involved sodium iodide, 131I, formulated as a solution (marketing authorisation number: FS-002065) by the FSUE Federal Center of Nuclear Medicine Projects Design and Development of the FMBA of Russia. Results: the authors unambiguously localised the lacrimal ducts in post-therapy 131I scintigrams of the head and neck and quantified 131I uptake ratios for the lacrimal duct area. Also, they identified a set of NLDO predictors: the age of a patient, the administered activity, the administration of recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone, the 131I uptake ratio, etc. The article describes a method for identifying the groups at risk of NLDO following radioiodine therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer. Conclusions: secondary NLDO is a deterministic effect of 131I exposure. The authors have developed a new method for predicting secondary NLDO by a combination of the patient’s individual parameters and treatment plan; the identified predictors help to personalise radioiodine therapy. The authors suggest the following: to include information on secondary NLDO as a complication of therapy to the SmPC section on undesirable effects; to develop approaches to secondary NLDO prevention; and to improve the algorithms for reporting adverse events in case of delayed manifestation and those for following patients up in the medical organisations having administered the radiopharmaceutical or in other medical organisations being applied to for medical care afterwards.Детерминированные эффекты воздействия ионизирующего излучения в ядерной медицине могут быть ассоциированы как с эффективностью терапевтического воздействия, так и с нежелательными реакциями, которые могут резко ухудшить качество жизни пациента после проведения радионуклидной терапии. Согласно требованиям нормативно-правовых актов Российской Федерации необходимо указать эффективную дозу облучения в качестве меры ущерба (риска), однако контроль и учет доз облучения пациента затруднен при наличии детерминированного воздействия излучения в отдельных органах и тканях. Цель работы: изучение влияния радиофармацевтических лекарственных препаратов с содержанием 131I на развитие облитерации слезоотводящих путей. Материалы и методы: при исследовании предикторов возникновения вторичной облитерации были рассмотрены данные из анамнеза пациентов, посттерапевтические сцинтиграфические изображения головы и шеи, проанализирован способ подготовки пациентов к лечению. Лекарственное средство — Натрия йодид, 131I, субстанция-раствор, ФС-002065, производства ФГУП «Федеральный центр по проектированию и развитию объектов ядерной медицины» ФМБА России. Результаты: достоверно определена локализация слезоотводящих путей на посттерапевтических сцинтиграфических изображениях головы и шеи с 131I; количественно определены индексы накопления 131I в области слезоотводящих путей. Выявлен комплекс предикторов облитерации слезоотводящих путей: возраст пациента, введенная активность, введение рекомбинантного аналога тиреотропного гормона гипофиза человека, индекс накопления 131I и другие. Описана методика определения группы риска возникновения облитерации слезоотводящих путей после радиойодтерапии по поводу дифференцированного рака щитовидной железы. Выводы: вторичная облитерация слезоотводящих путей — детерминированный эффект воздействия 131I. Выявленные предикторы позволяют персонализировать проведение радиойодтерапии. Разработан новый способ прогноза развития вторичной облитерации слезоотводящих путей на основе комплекса персональных параметров пациентов и индивидуального плана лечения. Предлагается включить информацию об осложнениях в виде вторичной облитерации слезоотводящих путей в раздел «Побочное действие» инструкции по медицинскому применению лекарственного препарата, разработать подходы к профилактике развития вторичной облитерации слезоотводящих путей, усовершенствовать алгоритмы подачи информации о неблагоприятных событиях в случае отсроченного проявления заболеваний и алгоритмы динамического наблюдения за пациентом непосредственно в медицинских учреждениях, где был применен лекарственный препарат, а также в других учреждениях, в которые пациент обращается за оказанием медицинской помощи

Sliding friction unit of connecting-rod end of high-lift plunger pump using self-lubricated bearing from powder antifriction material

Introduction. The powder antifriction materials applied in the oil and gas industry are considered. Special attention is given to the materials with the effect of self-lubricity. The use of such materials in a frictional unit of one of the most widespread types of the oil and gas well service equipment - a high-lift plunger pump - is offered. The pump construction diagram with the description of the modernized unit is provided; the problems arising under the production and exploitation of the connecting-rod pin bearing group are described. Materials and Methods. Upon the experience in applying bearing bushes from powder antifriction materials in mechanical engineering, the iron graphite porous material is selected. The design change considering the self-lubricating materials behavior and allowing the best usage of their properties is made. The bushing-to-shaft gap, one of the most important parameters of the plain bearer performance, is considered. The fit providing the fullest seating of the bushing to the shaft is selected. That improves the heat removal, promotes the even load distribution over the frictional area, and so enhances the operating capacity of the bearing unit. Research Results. A change option of the frictional unit design of a connecting-rod small power end with the use of the self-lubricated bearing from the powder antifriction iron-based material is offered. The proposed bearing meets the loading conditions of the considered unit. The design is developed due to the condition of self-lubricity that allows simplifying the production of a connecting rod obviating the manufacturing of oilholes in the connecting rod body. The analysis of the offered modernization is carried out with the application of 3D modeling. The constructed models permit to visually estimate the simplification of the entire connecting rod design, the production of its constituent parts, as well as its assembling. Discussion and Conclusions . The obtained models allow drawing a conclusion on the feasibility of the bearing design change for the sliding friction unit of the connecting-rod end of the high-lift plunger pump using the powder antifriction material to replace the existing one. The application of this bearing with the effect of self-lubricity will allow a substantial simplification of the pin bearing unit design

Chemistry for Sustainable Development 17 (2009) 507511 501 Seasonal Dynamics of Riccardin C Accumulation in Primula macrocalyx Bge

Abstract Season al dyn amics has been studied for a metabolite accumulation in Primula macrocalyx Bge. with respect to its major component, bisbibenzyl riccardin C 1, an inhibitor of inducible NO synthase. Seven introduced populations of the plant have been investigated. A wild-growing P. macrocalyx population was used as a reference. It has been demonstrated the harvesting of plant raw material for the purpose of bisbenzyl 1 isolation is appropriate for carrying out after plant flowering, during the fruiting stage. Besides, in the course of the investigation there were 3′, 4′, 5′-trimethoxyflavone 2 and perrottetin Å 3 isolated from the acetone extract of P. macrocalyx

THE WAYS TO OPTIMIZE CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY BY OPTICAL IMAGING TECHNIQUES

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a  modern minimally invasive technique for treatment of a wide range of diseases, including malignancies. One of directions for PDT development is the individualization of exposure modes that can be achieved with effective treatment monitoring. There are a  number of approaches employing imaging techniques, the most promising of them being optical ones. Aim: To analyze factors affecting clinical outcomes of PDT in non-melanoma skin tumors, and to evaluate the prospects of optical imaging techniques for PDT planning and monitoring. Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed various aspects of the results PDT obtained in 855 patients with non-melanoma skin tumors. PDT was performed with systemic chlorine photosensitizers. As a  source of irradiation, the laser at a wavelength of 662 nm was used following exposure modes: mean power density 0.3 W/cm², the laser irradiation dose of 200 J/cm² for basal cancer and 300 J/cm² for squamous cell carcinoma. Clinical evaluation was performed based on tumor response according to RECIST criteria, by the presence or absence of recurrence during long term follow up and by the presence or absence of cosmetic defects. Fluorescence imaging and optical coherence tomography were used as non-invasive imaging techniques. Results: It was found that clinical predictors of treatment failure included tumor recurrence, squamous type of tumor, and advanced exophytic or infiltrative component. Fluorescence imaging showed an association between clinical outcomes of PDT and fluorescence characteristics of the photosensitizer. The best clinical outcomes were achieved in 147 patients with a combination of high contrast fluorescence (FC>1.2) and a high degree of photobleaching of the agent (ΔIt/IN >25%): the number of complete tumor responses was 94% (138 of 147), with recurrence seen in 3 (2%) patients only with the follow up from 6 to 53 month duration. Clinical predictors of PDT cosmetic failures are tumor recurrence and tumor stage above T2. The most vulnerable zones are the outer ear and nose wings; this fact is related to an involvement of the cartilage located directly beneath the thin skin in the photodynamic reaction. This was demonstrated by optical coherence tomography. Conclusion: Presence of clinical predictors of PDT failure justifies correction of light exposure modes that can be optimally implemented with techniques for objective evaluation of the tumor borders, photosensitizer accumulation and photobleaching. Dynamic non-invasive monitoring of PDT procedure with fluorescence imaging and optical coherence tomography seems promising for implementation of an individual approach resulting in optimal oncological and functional outcomes