Benefits Analysis of Wind-Optimal Operations For Trans-Atlantic Flights

North Atlantic Tracks are trans-Atlantic routes across the busiest oceanic airspace in the world. This study analyzes and compares current flight-plan routes to wind-optimal routes for trans-Atlantic flights in terms of aircraft fuel burn, emissions and the associated climate impact. The historical flight track data recorded by EUROCONTROL's Central Flow Management Unit is merged with data from FAA's Enhanced Traffic Management System to provide an accurate flight movement database containing the highest available flight path resolution in both systems. The combined database is adopted for airspace simulation integrated with aircraft fuel burn and emissions models, contrail models, simplified climate response models, and a common climate metric to assess the climate impact of flight routes within the Organized Track System (OTS). The fuel burn and emissions for the tracks in the OTS are compared with the corresponding quantities for the wind-optimized routes to evaluate the potential environmental benefits of flying wind-optimal routes in North Atlantic Airspace. The potential fuel savings and reduction in emissions depend on existing inefficiencies in current flight plans, atmospheric conditions and location of the city-pairs. The potential benefits are scaled by comparing them with actual flight tests that have been conducted since 2010 between a few city-pairs in the transatlantic and trans-pacific region to improve fuel consumption and reduce the environmental impact of aviation

Star-shaped Magnetic-plasmonic Au@Fe3O4 nano-heterostructures for photothermal therapy

Here, we synthesize a Au@Fe3O4 core@shell system with a highly uniform unprecedented star-like shell morphology with combined plasmonic and magnetic properties. An advanced electron microscopy characterization allows assessing the multifaceted nature of the Au core and its role in the growth of the peculiar epitaxial star-like shell with excellent crystallinity and homogeneity. Magnetometry and magneto-optical spectroscopy revealed a pure magnetite shell, with a superior saturation magnetization compared to similar Au@Fe3O4 heterostructures reported in the literature, which is ascribed to the star-like morphology, as well as to the large thickness of the shell. Of note, Au@Fe3O4 nanostar-loaded cancer cells displayed magneto-mechanical stress under a low frequency external alternating magnetic field (few tens of Hz). On the other hand, such a uniform, homogeneous, and thick magnetite shell enables the shift of the plasmonic resonance of the Au core to 640 nm, which is the largest red shift achievable in Au@Fe3O4 homogeneous core@shell systems, prompting application in photothermal therapy and optical imaging in the first biologically transparent window. Preliminary experiments performing irradiation of a stable water suspension of the nanostar and Au@Fe3O4-loaded cancer cell culture suspension at 658 nm confirmed their optical response and their suitability for photothermal therapy. The outstanding features of the prepared system can be thus potentially exploited as a multifunctional platform for magnetic-plasmonic applications

Аутоиммунные поражения печени у пациентов с болезнью Шёгрена, ассоциированной с антицентромерными антителами

Objective: to determine the frequency, spectrum and severity of liver affection in anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) positive patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS).Patients and methods. 119 ACA-positive patients with pSS were included in the study, 37 (31%) of them had signs of liver damage, 3 of these patients were excluded from the study (2 had cholelithiasis, 1 had viral hepatitis B). Signs of autoimmune liver damage were found in 34 (28.6%) patients, most of them were seropositive for antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA). The diagnosis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) was established according to the recommendations of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the Russian Gastroenterological Association and the Russian Society for the Study of the Liver. In 5 (14.7%) patients the cause of cholestasis remained unspecified.Results and discussion. AMA were found in 73.5% of patients, elevated serum IgM levels – in 57.6%. Clinically liver damage in most cases was characterized by an asymptomatic, slowly progressive course without a dramatic increase of symptoms over time. Liver cirrhosis was found in 14.7% of patients. According to clinical, laboratory and morphological manifestations, PBC was diagnosed in 21 patients, 4 of them also had a cross syndrome with AIH. AMA-negative PBC was found in 3 patients and isolated AIH – in 1. In most cases, histological stage I of PBC was detected. During follow-up, median of 7 years (range from 2 to 15 years), in 7 patients with stage I PBC and in 7 AMA-positive patients without functional liver disorders no clinical, laboratory or instrumental progression of liver damage was noted. In this regard, it was suggested that these patients have epitheliitis of the biliary ducts as manifestation of glandular affection in pSS, and not true PBC.Conclusion. Autoimmune liver lesions are detected in 28.6% of ACA-positive patients with pSS, most (41.2%) of them develop epitheliitis of the biliary ducts as pSS manifestation or a combination of pSS with PBC (with the same frequency), less often PBC / AIH cross syndrome is diagnosed. PBC / pSS-related epitheliitis of the biliary ducts in ACA-positive patients is characterized by a slowly progressive asymptomatic course in most cases and rarely leads to the development of liver cirrhosis.Цель настоящего исследования – определить частоту, спектр и тяжесть течения поражений печени у позитивных по антицентромерным антителам (АЦА) пациентов с болезнью Шёгрена (БШ).Пациенты и методы. У 37 (31%) из 119 включенных в исследование АЦА-позитивных пациентов с БШ при обследовании выявлены признаки поражения печени, 3 из них были исключены из исследования (у 2 имелась желчнокаменная болезнь, у 1 – вирусный гепатит В). Признаки аутоиммунного поражения печени обнаружены у 34 (28,6%) больных, большинство из которых были серопозитивны по антимитохондриальным антителам (АМА). Диагноз первичного билиарного холангита (ПБХ) и аутоиммунного гепатита (АИГ) устанавливался согласно рекомендациям Американской ассоциации по изучению заболеваний печени, Российской гастроэнтерологической ассоциации и Российского общества по изучению печени. Причина холестаза у 5 (14,7%) пациентов осталась неуточненной.Результаты и обсуждение. АМА обнаружены у 73,5% пациентов, повышение уровня IgM – у 57,6%. Клинически поражение печени в большинстве случаев характеризовалось бессимптомным медленно прогрессирующим течением, как правило, без выраженного нарастания симптомов в динамике. Признаки цирроза выявлены у 14,7% пациентов. На основании клинико-лабораторно-морфологических проявлений ПБХ диагностирован у 21 больного, у 4 из которых также имелся перекрестный синдром с АИГ. АМА-негативный ПБХ установлен у 3 пациентов и изолированный АИГ – у 1. В большинстве случаев определялась I гистологическая стадия ПБХ. При динамическом наблюдении, медиана которого составила 7 лет (мин. 2 года, макс. 15 лет), у 7 пациентов с I стадией ПБХ и у 7 АМА-позитивных больных без функциональных нарушений печени в течение всего периода наблюдения клинического и лабораторно-инструментального прогрессирования поражения печени не отмечено. В связи с этим сделано предположение, что у данных пациентов имеется эпителиит билиарных протоков как проявление железистых поражений при БШ, а не истинный ПБХ.Заключение. Аутоиммунные поражения печени выявляются у 28,6% АЦА-позитивных пациентов с БШ, у большинства из них с одинаковой частотой (41,2%) развиваются эпителиит билиарных протоков в рамках БШ либо сочетание БШ с ПБХ, реже диагностируется перекрестный синдром ПБХ/АИГ. ПБХ/эпителиит билиарных протоков в рамках БШ у АЦА-позитивных пациентов в большинстве случаев характеризуется медленно прогрессирующим бессимптомным течением и редко приводит к развитию цирроза печени

IgG4-RELATED DISEASE. CLINICAL NOTES

IgG4-related diseases are a new nosological entity that encompasses a few previously known diseases. IgG4-related systemic disease is diagnosed if two or more affected organs are detected. This group of diseases has two similar signs: serological (elevated serum IgG4 subclass concentrations) and histological (organ and tissue infiltration from plasmo-cytes secreting IgG4, and eosinophils, and the development of fibrosclerosis and phlebitis obliterans). The paper describes two cases. In one case, a multisystemic disease was observed virtually at its onset whereas in the other this lesion was diagnosed several years after the natural course of the disease

Характеристика клинических, лабораторных и иммунологических проявлений у пациентов с болезнью Шёгрена, ассоциированной с антицентромерными антителами

Objective: to study clinical and laboratory features in patients with anticentromere antibody (ACA)-positive SjЪgren's disease (SD), as well as the sensitivity of different methods for determination of ACA, and to elaborate an algorithm for differential diagnosis in ACA-positive patients.Patients and methods. The V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology followed up 136 patients who were highly positive for ACA. The investigators used the 2001 Russian criteria for the diagnosis for SD; the 2013 ACR/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria for that of scleroderma systematica (SDS); the guidelines of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the Russian Gastroenterological Association, and the Russian Society for the Study of the Liver for that of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)/biliary duct epitheliitis in the presence of SD. Lymphomas were diagnosed by biopsies of affected organs according to the WHO classification. SD was diagnosed in 119 patients; SDS in 49 cases (37 with SDS concurrent with SD and 12 with isolated SDS), PBC/biliary duct epitheliitis in 23 (all cases with PBC/biliary duct epitheliitis concurrent with SD and/or SDS); 5 patients were excluded from the investigation. Further analysis included 131 ACA-positive patients. The patients were divided into three groups: SD (n=82 or 62.6%); SD+SDS (n=37 or 28.24%); SDS (n=12 or 9.16%).Results and discussion. Autoantibodies to centromere peptide (CENP) A and CENP-B in the same titers were detected in all ACA-positive patients, regardless of diagnosis. Comparative analysis of three patient groups revealed no statistically significant differences in the frequency of laboratory deviations. The signs characteristic of classical SD (rheumatoid factor (RF)), anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies, leukopenia, higher ESR values, hypergammaglobulinemia, and elevated IgG/IgA levels) were found in a small proportion of patients. The frequency and severity of glandular manifestations did not differ in SD and SD + SDS. PBC/biliary duct epitheliitis was present in 17.5% of ACA-positive patients (in most antimitochondrial antibody-positive cases); no statistically significant differences in its frequency were found between the groups. Other extraglandular manifestations in SD and SD + SDS were identified in a smaller number of patients. All sclerodermic spectrum manifestations were more common in SD and SD + SDS than in BS. Pulmonary arterial hypertension was not diagnosed in any patient from the SD group. MALT lymphomas were detected in 19 ACA-positive patients. Those were present only in BS patients and absent in the SDS group. MALT lymphomas developed in the first 10 years after the onset of SD. The transformation of MALT lymphoma into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was observed in 2 patients. The main signs of lymphomas in SD patients were persistent parotid salivary gland enlargement, decreased levels of complement C4 and peripheral blood CD19+ cells, as well as cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, serum monoclonal secretion, lymphoid infiltration in the minor salivary glands (a focus score of >4), and severe damage to the salivary and lacrimal glands.Conclusion. ACA-associated SD is an independent disease subtype characterized by an increased risk for SDS, PBC, and MALT lymphomas and by a low frequency of the systemic manifestations and laboratory signs characteristic of classical SD. Regardless of the detected type of antibodies and the presence or absence of extraglandular manifestations, damage to the salivary and lacrimal glands progresses in SD, which often leads to lymphomas; therefore, the therapy that may prevent this complication should be initiated as soon as possible after SD diagnosis. The lymphoproliferation signs identified in this investigation should be taken into account in all ACA-positive patients with SD for the early diagnosis of lymphoid tumors before therapy is prescribed. An algorithm for differential diagnosis in seropositivity for ACA is presented. Determination of autoantibodies to CENP-A and CENP-B does not allow the differential diagnosis in ACA-positive patients.Цель исследования – изучение клинических и лабораторных особенностей у пациентов с болезнью Шёгрена (БШ), позитивных по антицентромерным антителам (АЦА), а также чувствительности разных методов определения АЦА, разработка алгоритма дифференциальной диагностики у АЦА-позитивных пациентов.Пациенты и методы. В ФГБНУ «Научно-исследовательский институт ревматологии им. В.А. Насоновой» под наблюдением находилось 136 высокопозитивных по АЦА пациентов. Для диагностики БШ использовались отечественные критерии 2001 г., системной склеродермии (ССД) – критерии ACR/EULAR 2013 г., первичного билиарного холангита (ПБХ)/эпителиита билиарных протоков в рамках БШ – рекомендации Американской ассоциации по изучению заболеваний печени, Российской гастроэнтерологической ассоциации и Российского общества по изучению печени. Диагностика лимфом осуществлялась на основании исследований биоптатов пораженных органов согласно классификации ВОЗ. БШ диагностирована у 119 пациентов, ССД – у 49 (у 37 в сочетании с БШ и у 12 – изолированная ССД), ПБХ/эпителиит билиарных протоков – у 23 (во всех случаях в сочетании с БШ и/или ССД), 5 пациентов были исключены из исследования. В дальнейший анализ вошел 131 АЦА-позитивный пациент. Больные были разделены на три группы: БШ (n=82, или 62,6%); БШ + ССД (n=37, или 28,24%); ССД (n=12, или 9,16%).Результаты и обсуждение. Аутоантитела к центромерному пептиду (CENP) A и CENP-B в одинаковых титрах выявлены у всех АЦА-позитивных пациентов независимо от диагноза. При сравнительном анализе трех групп пациентов статистически значимых различий в частоте лабораторных отклонений не выявлено. Характерные для классической БШ признаки – ревматоидный фактор (РФ), антитела к Ro и La, лейкопения, повышение СОЭ, гипергаммаглобулинемия, увеличение уровня IgG/IgA – обнаружены у незначительной части пациентов. Частота и выраженность железистых проявлений при БШ и БШ + ССД не различались. ПБХ/эпителиит билиарных протоков имелся у 17,5% АЦА-позитивных пациентов (в большинстве случаев позитивных по антимитохондриальным антителам), статистически значимых различий в его частоте между группами не обнаружено. Другие внежелезистые проявления при БШ и БШ + ССД выявлены у меньшего числа пациентов. Все проявления склеродермического спектра при ССД и БШ + ССД встречались чаще, чем при БШ. Легочная артериальная гипертензия не диагностирована ни у одного пациента из группы БШ. MALT-лимфомы обнаружены у 19 АЦА-позитивных пациентов. Они встречались только у пациентов с БШ, в группе ССД лимфом не было. MALT-лимфомы развивались в первые 10 лет после начала БШ. Трансформация MALT-лимфомы в диффузную В-клеточную крупноклеточную лимфому наблюдалась у 2 пациентов. Основными признаками лимфом у пациентов с БШ были: стойкое увеличение околоушных слюнных желез, снижение уровня С4-компонента комплемента, а также CD19+ клеток в периферической крови, криоглобулинемический васкулит, моноклональная секреция в сыворотке крови, лимфоидная инфильтрация малых слюнных желез >4 фокуса, а также тяжелое поражение слюнных и слезных желез.Заключение. БШ, ассоциированная с АЦА, является самостоятельным субтипом заболевания, отличающимся повышенным риском возникновения ССД, ПБХ и MALT-лимфом, низкой частотой характерных для классической БШ системных проявлений и лабораторных признаков. При БШ, независимо от выявляемого типа антител и наличия или отсутствия внежелезистых проявлений, прогрессирует поражение слюнных и слезных желез, что нередко приводит к развитию лимфом, поэтому терапия, способная предотвратить возникновение данного осложнения, должна быть инициирована сразу после установления диагноза БШ. Выявленные в настоящем исследовании признаки лимфопролиферации должны учитываться у всех АЦА-позитивных пациентов с БШ для ранней диагностики лимфоидных опухолей до назначения терапии. Приведен алгоритм дифференциальной диагностики при серопозитивности по АЦА. Определение аутоантител к CENP-A и CENP-B не позволяет осуществлять дифференциальную диагностику у АЦА-позитивных пациентов

Long-term treatment options for postmenopausal osteoporosis: results of recent clinical studies of Denosumab

Modern medications for osteoporosis (bisphosphonates, denosumab, teriparatide) are well-tolerated drugs, which can significantly lower vertebral and non-vertebral fracture risk according to prospective and observational studies in up to 10-year period. Certain drugs (denosumab, teriparatide) are active only during the treatment period and do not prevent bone loss and fracture risk after discontinuation, while such protective effect is observed in bisphosphonates. Despite impressive success of continuous 10-year denosumab treatament of severe osteoporosis, some of the recently published data suggest that vertebral fracture incidence is increased after treatment discontinuation, along with multiple vertebral fracture incidence, especially in patients with previous fractures. Issues of osteoporosis treatment duration, sequential use of osteoporosis drugs and criteria for treatment discontinuation are now in focus of attention. European Medicines Agency (EMA) and European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS) considered these issues in 2017. ЕМА considered fractures after denosumab discontinuation as a natural disease course and did not recommend any changes in product instruction. The main conclusion of ECTS is that the possibility of multiple fractures development after denosumab discontinuation exists, however, there is still not enough firm evidence, as well as effective countermeasures. Clinicians and patients should be aware of potential risk. Both EMA and ECTS suggest considering denosumab treatment or discontinuation after 5-year treatment period or possibly replacing with bisphosphonates. Recent data suggest that prolonged osteoporosis treatment can be done in accordance with the concept of treatment until target goal (for example, achievement of femoral T-score -2.0SD and higher). In our review, we focus on recent data concerning the issues stated above. This topic was also discussed on Russian Osteoporosis Association (ROA) expert meeting in Saint Petersburg on 24 may 2018, chaired by ROA president, professor Olga Lesnyak and Columbia University professor, J.P. Bilezikian. As a result, an Expert Council resolution was written and introduced in the article

Diagnosis of IgG4 - related ophthalmic disease in a group of patients with various lesions of the eye and orbits

Purpose of the study. To provide demographic, clinical, laboratory, ultrasound, radiological, morphological/ immunomorphological phenotype of IgG4-related ophthalmic diseases, which allowsmaking a differential diagnosis with granulomatous, autoimmune, inflammatory, endocrine and hematologic diseases affecting the eye and orbits. Materials and methods. From 2004 to 2016 108 (78.2%) of the 138 patients were diagnosed with non-tumoral lesions of eye and orbits. In 48 patients (35%) at admission and 5 patients in the follow were diagnosed IgG4-related ophthalmic disease. In the analysis of 82 (f-44, m-38) patients with IgG4-related disease, localization of lesions in orbit observed in 53 (f-36, m-17) and it was the most frequent involvement in patients with IgG4-related disease (64.5%). Only 7 patients had isolated IgG4-related ophthalmic disease, whereas 46 patients (87%) had involvement of 2-7 locations, as a manifestation of IgG4-related systemic disease.During the examination, the average age of patients with IgG4-related ophthalmic disease was 47.5 years (19-73 years). Median time to diagnosis was 52.8 months before 2004 and 36 months 2004-2016. Results. We noted the predominance of females in the ratio 2: 1 inthe group of patients with IgG4-related ophthalmic disease. Edema of the eyelids, nasal congestion (55-60%), tumor-like formations of the upper eyelids and increased lacrimation prevailed at the onset of the disease, whereas such functional impairment like limited mobility and pain in eyeballs, exophthalmos, ptosis and diplopia appeared later at 15-38% with a loss visual acuity in one case. Bilateral lesion (86%), mainly affecting the lacrimal glands (93.5%), infiltration of the extraocular muscles (83.5%) and retrobulbar tissue with a thickening of the optic nerve in one third of patients were the main localizations IgG4-related ophthalmic disease. Clinical symptoms were accompanied by the appearance of moderate inflammatory activity (38%), increased levels IgG (44%), IgG4(88%) and IgE (61%). Indicators of autoimmune disorders observed in 6-22% of patients, most often in patients with simultaneous involvement of the salivary glands. Significant lymphoplasmacytic infiltration (94%) with a ratio of plasma cells (IgG4/IgG) secreting IgG4> 40% (90%) with fibrosis formation (94%) and follicle formation (71%) with a moderate amount of eosinophils (34%) were the major morphological / immunomorphological manifestations of IgG4-related ophthalmic disease. Signs of vasculitis and obliterative phlebitis were found in a small amount of patients. Conclusion. Determination of elevated levels of IgG-4 / IgE in patients with edema, pseudotumor of the eyelid, sinusitis and increase of the palpebral lobe of the lacrimal gland suggests the presence of IgG4-related ophthalmic disease. Minimally invasive incisional biopsy of lacrimal glands and salivary glands followed by morphological / immunomorphological research is needed for the correct diagnosis. Diagnostic orbitotomy in ophthalmic hospitals in such cases is inexpedient, since it leads to the development of dry eye. Massive lymphoplasmacytic infiltration with IgG4 / IgG ratio more than 40%, advanced fibrosis in biopsiesof the orbits tissue or salivary glands when combined lesions are required for the making the diagnosis of IgG4-related ophthalmic disease

FOCUS 1: a randomized, double-blinded, multicentre, Phase III trial of the efficacy and safety of ceftaroline fosamil versus ceftriaxone in community-acquired pneumonia

Objectives: Ceftaroline, the active form of the prodrug ceftaroline fosamil, is a novel cephalosporin with bactericidal activity against important pathogens associated with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), including Streptococcus pneumoniae and common Gram-negative pathogens. FOCUS 1 is a randomized, double-blinded, Phase III study that was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ceftaroline fosamil in treating patients with CAP. The primary objective was to determine non-inferiority [lower limit of 95% confidence interval (CI) ≥ 210%] in clinical cure rates achieved with ceftaroline fosamil compared with those achieved with ceftriaxone in the clinically evaluable (CE) and modified intent-to-treat efficacy (MITTE) populations. Methods: Patients hospitalized in a non-intensive care unit setting with CAP of Pneumonia Outcomes Research Team (PORT) risk class III or IV requiring intravenous (iv) therapy were randomized (1:1) to receive 600 mg of ceftaroline fosamil iv every 12 h or 1 g of ceftriaxone iv every 24 h. Patients also received two 500 mg doses of oral clarithromycin every 12 h administered on day 1. Clinical cure, microbiological response, adverse events (AEs) and laboratory tests were assessed. FOCUS 1 registration number NCT00621504 (http://clinicaltrials.gov/ ct2/show/NCT00621504). Results: Of 613 enrolled patients, 298 received ceftaroline fosamil and 308 received ceftriaxone. Baseline characteristics between treatment groups were comparable. Clinical cure rates were as follows: CE population, 86.6% (194/224) for ceftaroline fosamil and 78.2% (183/234) for ceftriaxone [difference (95% CI), 8.4% (1.4, 15.4)]; and MITTE population, 83.8% (244/291) for ceftaroline fosamil and 77.7% (233/300) for ceftriaxone [difference (95% CI), 6.2% (20.2, 12.6)]. Clinical cure rates for CAP caused by S. pneumoniae in the microbiological MITTE population were 88.9% (24/27) and 66.7% (20/30) for ceftaroline fosamil and ceftriaxone, respectively. Both agents were well tolerated, with similar rates of AEs, serious AEs, deaths and discontinuations because of an AE. The most common AEs for ceftaroline fosamil-treated patients were diarrhoea, headache, insomnia and nausea, and the most common AEs for ceftriaxone-treated patients were hypokalaemia, hypertension, nausea and diarrhoea. Conclusions: Ceftaroline fosamil demonstrated high clinical cure and microbiological response rates in hospitalized patients with CAP of PORTrisk class III or IV. Ceftaroline fosamil was well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to that of ceftriaxone and consistent with the cephalosporin class. In this study, ceftaroline fosamil was an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for CAP