New atlas of open star clusters

Due to numerous new discoveries of open star clusters in the last two decades, astronomers need an easy-to-use resource to get visual information on the relative position of clusters in the sky. Therefore we propose a new atlas of open star clusters. It is based on a table compiled from the largest modern cluster catalogues. The atlas shows the positions and sizes of 3291 clusters and associations, and consists of two parts. The first contains 108 maps of 12 by 12 degrees with an overlapping of 2 degrees in three strips along the Galactic equator. The second one is an online web application, which shows a square field of an arbitrary size, either in equatorial coordinates or in galactic coordinates by request. The atlas is proposed for the sampling of clusters and cluster stars for further investigation. Another use is the identification of clusters among overdensities in stellar density maps or among stellar groups in images of the sky. © 2017 A. F. Seleznev et al.Acknowledgment: The work of Anton F. Seleznev was partly supported by the Ministry of Education and Science (the basic part of the State assignment, RK no. AAAA-A17-117030310283-7). The work of Anton F. Seleznev and of Eka-terina Avvakumova was supported also by the Act no. 211 of the Government of the Russian Federation, agreement no. 02.A03.21.0006. Authors are very grateful to Tatiana Selezneva for the graphic design of the web application

Associations between viral infection history symptoms, granulocyte reactive oxygen species activity, and active rheumatoid arthritis disease in untreated women at Onset: Results from a longitudinal cohort study of tatarstan women

© 2017 Arleevskaya, Shafigullina, Filina, Lemerle and Renaudineau. To evaluate the effects of infectious episodes at early stages of rheumatoid arthritis (eRA) development, 59 untreated eRA patients, 77 first-degree relatives, from a longitudinal Tatarstan women cohort, were included, and compared to 67 healthy women without rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in their family history. At inclusion, informations were collected regarding both the type and incidence of infectious symptom episodes in the preceding year, and granulocyte reactive oxygen species (ROS) we re studied at the basal level and after stimulation with serum-treated zymosan (STZ). In the eRA group, clinical [disease activity score (DAS28), health assessment questionnaire] and biological parameters associated with inflammation (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein) or with RA [rheumatoid factor, anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP2) antibodies] were evaluated. An elevated incidence of infection events in the previous year characterized the eRA and relative groups. In addition, a history of herpes simplex virus (HSV) episodes was associated with disease activity, while an elevated incidence of anti-CCP2 autoantibody characterized eRA patients with a history of viral upper respiratory tract infection symptoms (V-URI). Granulocyte ROS activity in eRA patients was quantitatively [STZ peak and its area under the curve (AUC)] and qualitatively (STZ time of peak) altered, positively correlated with disease activity, and parameters were associated with viral symptoms including HSV exacerbation/recurrence, and V-URI. In conclusion, our study provides arguments to consider a history of increased viral infection symptoms in RA at the early stage and such involvement needs to be studied further

Expression and function of receptors for the formylated peptides in granulocytes of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) are an important part of innate immunity involved in antimicrobial phagocyte functions such as chemotaxis, secretory degranulation, and respiratory burst. These phagocyte responses are observed in both acute and systemic chronic inflammation. Abundant or constant release of pro-inflammatory ligands leads to the pre-activation of phagocytes when subsequent stimulation induces more intense cellular response. Binding of the formyl peptide receptor with its agonist activates production of reactive oxygen species, due to triggering phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic subunits p47phox and p67phox followed by their translocation to the plasma membrane and assembly into the NADPH oxidase complex. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by an imbalance of immune processes and autoimmune responses against the own joint tissues. It is known that, granulocytes produce increased amounts of oxygen radicals in various pathologies, including rheumatoid arthritis. We suggest that such enhancement may be due to increased expression of formyl peptide receptors or components of the FPR/PKC/NOX2 signaling pathway. Our aim was to study the mRNA expression of fpr1/fpr2 genes and the FPR-dependent production of reactive oxygen species by isolated peripheral blood granulocytes from the patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and methods. The objects of the study were isolated peripheral blood granulocytes. We analyzed, respectively, 166 and 85 samples from the patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy donors. The production of reactive oxygen species was assessed using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. For FPR1 activation we used a distinct concentration of the formyl peptide fMLF: the response to it was completely inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with FPR1 antagonist N-t-boc-MLF. FPR2 activation was performed by synthetic peptide WKYMVM, a specific receptor agonist. In the patients with rheumatoid arthritis, we have revealed an increased level of spontaneous and phorbol ester-induced production of reactive oxygen species by isolated peripheral blood granulocytes, thus reflecting a pre-activated state of the phagocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. We have found the increased FPR1-mediated production of oxygen radicals and expression of mRNA of fpr1 gene in blood granulocytes of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Furthermore, the enhancement of oxidase function may be associated with constitutive activation of the FPR1/PKC/NOX2 pathway as shown by positive correlation between the processes. The production of reactive oxygen species induced by stimulation of the FPR2 receptor is also increased, but it cannot be directly attributed to overexpression of the receptor mRNA or PKC/NOX2 activation, and requires further study. Understanding the mechanisms of regulation of the FPR1 and FPR2 signaling cascades may reveal new targets for anti-rheumatoid therapy

Application of optical non-invasive methods to diagnose the state of the lower limb tissues in patients with diabetes mellitus

The paper shows the possibility of assessing the functional state of microcirculatory-tissue systems of patients with diabetes mellitus by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) methods. A review of the existing non-invasive optical technologies used to assess the state of microcirculation and oxygen metabolism in tissues of patients with diabetes is conducted. A series of experimental studies involving 76 patients with diabetes and 46 healthy volunteers was carried out. A wavelet analysis of LDF-grams was used to evaluate the adaptive changes of microcirculation during the temperature tests. The obtained data revealed that the proposed methodology in the form of combined use of several diagnostic technologies (LDF, FS and DRS) allows us to detect the presence or absence of trophic disorders and to evaluate adaptation processes during thermal tests

Evidence for Low‐Pressure Crustal Anatexis During the Northeast Atlantic Break‐Up

While basaltic volcanism is dominant during rifting and continental breakup, felsic magmatism may be a significant component of some rift margins. During International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 396 on the continental margin of Norway, a graphite‐garnet‐cordierite bearing dacitic unit (the Mimir dacite) was recovered in two holes within early Eocene sediments on Mimir High (Site U1570), a marginal high on the Vøring Transform Margin. Here, we present a comprehensive textural, petrological, and geochemical study of the Mimir dacite in order to assess its origin and discuss the geodynamic implications. The major mineral phases (garnet, cordierite, quartz, plagioclase, alkali feldspar) are hosted in a fresh rhyolitic, vesicular, glassy matrix that is locally mingled with sediments. The major element chemistry of garnet and cordierite, the presence of zircon inclusions with inherited cores, and thermobarometric calculations all support an upper crustal metapelitic origin. While most magma‐rich margin models favor crustal anatexis in the lower crust, thermobarometric calculations performed here show that the Mimir dacite was produced at upper‐crustal depths (<5 kbar, 18 km depth) and high temperature (750–800°C) with up to 3 wt% water content. In situ U‐Pb analyses on zircon inclusions give a magmatic crystallization age of 54.6 ± 1.1 Ma, consistent with emplacement that post‐dates the Paleocene‐Eocene Thermal Maximum. Our results suggest that the opening of the Northeast Atlantic was associated with a phase of low‐pressure, high‐temperature crustal anatexis preceding the main phase of magmatism

The structure of the oropharyngeal genus Candida fungi community in HIVinfected patients

At the present time virtually no data are available about the structure of the genus Candida fungus able to target HIV-infected patients and serve as an etiological factor of candidiasis. The aforementioned shaped the aim of the study: to examine structure of the Candida genus community colonizing the oropharynx in HIV-infected patients with clinical manifestations of oropharyngeal candidiasis. There was conducted a microbiological study of the oropharynx in 31 HIV-infected patients (51.6% males and 48.4% females) with clinical manifestations of oropharyngeal candidiasis treated at Moscow Infectious Clinic No. 2 inpatient department in the years 2015–2017. We confirmed the diversity of the oropharyngeal Candida spp. community found in HIV-infected patients. Total 52 isolates of the genus Candida were isolated. C. albicans dominated in 57.7% cases, whereas C. glabrata prevailed (21.1%) among non-albicans species. Minor components were represented by C. tropicalis (11.5%) and C. krusei (9.6%). C. albicans and C. glabrata were sensitive to polyenes, whereas minor community components — to itroconazole and clotrimazole. The vast majority of fungal strains were resistant to fluconazole. The genus Candida community reveals a unique architecture so that any member may exist in the oropharyngeal biotope of HIV-infected patients as a monoculture or in association: homogeneous, consisting of a single species strains, or heterogeneous, formed by several species. Candida fungi in 18 patients (58.1%) were isolated as a monoculture, whereas in 13 (41.9%) subjects — in association consisting of 34 isolates (65.4% of total number), of which 16 (30.8%) and 18 (34.6%) were isolated from homogeneous and heterogeneous associations, respectively. There were identified 9 two-component associations (69.2%), and 4 (30.8%) consisting of three or more components. It turned out that pattern of the examined community was mainly determined by species composition that agrees with previous data. Most common associations were presented by C. krusei (100%) and C. albicans (73.3%). Upon that, most often C. albicans (72.7%) formed a homogeneous type of associations. Sensitivity of Candida fungi to antimycotic drugs also depended on the architecture of related community. C. albicans isolates in heterogeneous associations revealed a wide range of resistance acquired by contact with non-albicans species

Shallow-water hydrothermal venting linked to the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum

The Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was a global warming event of 5–6 °C around 56 million years ago caused by input of carbon into the ocean and atmosphere. Hydrothermal venting of greenhouse gases produced in contact aureoles surrounding magmatic intrusions in the North Atlantic Igneous Province have been proposed to play a key role in the PETM carbon-cycle perturbation, but the precise timing, magnitude and climatic impact of such venting remains uncertain. Here we present seismic data and the results of a five-borehole transect sampling the crater of a hydrothermal vent complex in the Northeast Atlantic. Stable carbon isotope stratigraphy and dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy reveal a negative carbon isotope excursion coincident with the appearance of the index taxon Apectodinium augustum in the vent crater, firmly tying the infill to the PETM. The shape of the crater and stratified sediments suggests large-scale explosive gas release during the initial phase of vent formation followed by rapid, but largely undisturbed, diatomite-rich infill. Moreover, we show that these vents erupted in very shallow water across the North Atlantic Igneous Province, such that volatile emissions would have entered the atmosphere almost directly without oxidation to CO2 and at the onset of the PETM

Shallow-water hydrothermal venting linked to the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum

The Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was a global warming event of 5–6 °C around 56 million years ago caused by input of carbon into the ocean and atmosphere. Hydrothermal venting of greenhouse gases produced in contact aureoles surrounding magmatic intrusions in the North Atlantic Igneous Province have been proposed to play a key role in the PETM carbon-cycle perturbation, but the precise timing, magnitude and climatic impact of such venting remains uncertain. Here we present seismic data and the results of a five-borehole transect sampling the crater of a hydrothermal vent complex in the Northeast Atlantic. Stable carbon isotope stratigraphy and dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy reveal a negative carbon isotope excursion coincident with the appearance of the index taxon Apectodinium augustum in the vent crater, firmly tying the infill to the PETM. The shape of the crater and stratified sediments suggests large-scale explosive gas release during the initial phase of vent formation followed by rapid, but largely undisturbed, diatomite-rich infill. Moreover, we show that these vents erupted in very shallow water across the North Atlantic Igneous Province, such that volatile emissions would have entered the atmosphere almost directly without oxidation to CO2 and at the onset of the PETM

Clinical forms of allergic eye manifestations: prospects of therapy

The review presents the main clinical forms of eye allergy. The modern classification of conjunctival allergic diseases (CAD) divides them into several types according to the presence or absence of proliferative changes complicated by atopic dermatitis or mechanical artifactual irritation. These include: 1) allergic conjunctivitis (AC) without proliferative changes, including seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and chronic allergic conjunctivitis, in which the symptoms persist the whole year; 2) atopic keratoconjunctivitis, a chronic allergic conjunctival disease affecting patients with atopic dermatitis, 3) spring keratoconjunctivitis with conjunctival and proliferative changes — papillary conjunctival hyperplasia with the involvement of the cornea (superficial punctate keratitis, erosion, persistent epithelial defect, sterile corneal ulceration), 4) giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) accompanied by proliferative changes in the upper lid and the arch of the conjunctiva of the eyeball, caused by mechanical irritation factors (contact lenses, eye prostheses, or surgical sutures). To treat these conditions, the following groups of medications are used: artificial tears; topical antihistamine drugs; mast cell membrane stabilizers; dualaction drugs, preferably without preservatives, nonsteroid anti-inflammatory medications and vasoconstrictors having side effects. Olopatadin 1 mg/1 ml, preservative free (Olofadin -ECO), has certain advantages due to the fact that it combines antihistamine and membrane stabilizing action. Due to the presence of an antihistamine component in the composition, an acute reaction is stopped, while the effect of the drug is accumulated due to the presence of a membrane-stabilizing component. It is safe for long-term therapy