Scientific Illustration in Biology: Art for Education and Science

Scientific illustration is an important component of biological research. The paper substantiates the importance of supporting a scientific publication, in particular in biology, with original illustrations, considers the features and quality criteria of scientific illustrations. The most accessible techniques of scientific illustration are presented and practical recommendations for making drawings of biological objects are given. The necessity of introducing courses of scientific illustration in the educational programs of Russian universities is noted

Salivary cortisol in longitudinal associations between affective symptoms and midlife cognitive function: A British birth cohort study

Affective disorders are associated with accelerated cognitive ageing. However, current understanding of biological mechanisms which underlie these observed associations is limited. The aim of this study was to test: 1) Whether cortisol acts as a pathway in the association between depressive or anxiety symptoms across adulthood and midlife cognitive function; 2) Whether cortisol is associated with later depressive or anxiety symptoms, and cognitive function. Data were used from the National Child Development Study, a sample of infants born in mainland UK during one week of 1958. A measure of the accumulation of affective symptoms was derived from data collected from age 23 to 42 using the Malaise Inventory Scale. Salivary cortisol measures were available at age 44–45. Cognitive function (memory, fluency, information processing) and affective symptoms were assessed at the age of 50. Path models were run to test whether salivary cortisol explained the longitudinal association between depressive or anxiety disorder symptoms and cognitive function. Direct effects of affective symptoms are shown across early to middle adulthood on cognitive function in midlife (memory and information processing errors). However, there were no effects of affective symptoms on cognitive function through cortisol measures. Additionally, cortisol measures were not significantly associated with subsequent affective symptoms or cognitive function at the age of 50. These results do not provide clear evidence to suggest that cortisol plays a role in the association between affective symptoms and cognitive function over this period of time. These findings contribute to our understanding of how the association between affective symptoms and cognitive function operates over time

Anti-interleukin-21 antibody and liraglutide for the preservation of β-cell function in adults with recent-onset type 1 diabetes : a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier LtdBackground: Type 1 diabetes is characterised by progressive loss of functional β-cell mass, necessitating insulin treatment. We aimed to investigate the hypothesis that combining anti-interleukin (IL)-21 antibody (for low-grade and transient immunomodulation) with liraglutide (to improve β-cell function) could enable β-cell survival with a reduced risk of complications compared with traditional immunomodulation. Methods: This randomised, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, double-dummy, double-blind, phase 2 trial was done at 94 sites (university hospitals and medical centres) in 17 countries. Eligible participants were adults aged 18–45 years with recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes and residual β-cell function. Individuals with unstable type 1 diabetes (defined by an episode of severe diabetic ketoacidosis within 2 weeks of enrolment) or active or latent chronic infections were excluded. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1), with stratification by baseline stimulated peak C-peptide concentration (mixed-meal tolerance test [MMTT]), to the combination of anti-IL-21 and liraglutide, anti-IL-21 alone, liraglutide alone, or placebo, all as an adjunct to insulin. Investigators, participants, and funder personnel were masked throughout the treatment period. The primary outcome was the change in MMTT-stimulated C-peptide concentration at week 54 (end of treatment) relative to baseline, measured via the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) over a 4 h period for the full analysis set (intention-to-treat population consisting of all participants who were randomly assigned). After treatment cessation, participants were followed up for an additional 26-week off-treatment observation period. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02443155. Findings: Between Nov 10, 2015, and Feb 27, 2019, 553 adults were assessed for eligibility, of whom 308 were randomly assigned to receive either anti-IL-21 plus liraglutide, anti-IL-21, liraglutide, or placebo (77 assigned to each group). Compared with placebo (ratio to baseline 0·61, 39% decrease), the decrease in MMTT-stimulated C-peptide concentration from baseline to week 54 was significantly smaller with combination treatment (0·90, 10% decrease; estimated treatment ratio 1·48, 95% CI 1·16–1·89; p=0·0017), but not with anti-IL-21 alone (1·23, 0·97–1·57; p=0·093) or liraglutide alone (1·12, 0·87–1·42; p=0·38). Despite greater insulin use in the placebo group, the decrease in HbA1c (a key secondary outcome) at week 54 was greater with all active treatments (−0·50 percentage points) than with placebo (−0·10 percentage points), although the differences versus placebo were not significant. The effects diminished upon treatment cessation. Changes in immune cell subsets across groups were transient and mild (<10% change over time). The most frequently reported adverse events included gastrointestinal disorders, in keeping with the known side-effect profile of liraglutide. The rate of hypoglycaemic events did not differ significantly between active treatment groups and placebo, with an exception of a lower rate in the liraglutide group than in the placebo group during the treatment period. No events of diabetic ketoacidosis were observed. One participant died while on liraglutide (considered unlikely to be related to trial treatment) in connection with three reported adverse events (hypoglycaemic coma, pneumonia, and brain oedema). Interpretation: The combination of anti-IL-21 and liraglutide could preserve β-cell function in recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes. The efficacy of this combination appears to be similar to that seen in trials of other disease-modifying interventions in type 1 diabetes, but with a seemingly better safety profile. Efficacy and safety should be further evaluated in a phase 3 trial programme. Funding: Novo Nordisk.Peer reviewe

Hygienic «ear drops» and the safe way of dissolution of sulfuric stoppers from external acoustical pass

The hygienic ear drops consisting from 0,3 - 0,5 % of peroxide of hydrogen, 1,7 - 2,3 % of sodium of a hydrocarbonate and water are developed. The safe way of removal of sulfuric stoppers from the external acoustical pass, based on an injection of the specified ear drops is offered at temperature +42°C in a sulfuric stopper up to full medicamentous infiltration.Разработаны гигиенические ушные капли, состоящие из 0,3 - 0,5% перекиси водорода, 1,7 - 2,3% натрия гидрокарбоната и воды. Предложен безопасный способ удаления серных пробок из наружного слухового прохода, основанный на инъекции указанных ушных капель при температуре +42°С в серную пробку вплоть до полной медикаментозной инфильтрации

Salivary cortisol in longitudinal associations between affective symptoms and midlife cognitive function: a British birth cohort study

Affective disorders are associated with accelerated cognitive ageing. However, current understanding of biological mechanisms which underlie these observed associations is limited. The aim of this study was to test: 1) Whether cortisol acts as a pathway in the association between depressive or anxiety symptoms across adulthood and midlife cognitive function; 2) Whether cortisol is associated with later depressive or anxiety symptoms, and cognitive function. Data were used from the National Child Development Study (NCDS), a sample of infants born in mainland UK during one week of 1958. A measure of the accumulation of affective symptoms was derived from data collected from age 23 to 42 using the Malaise Inventory Scale. Salivary cortisol measures were available at age 44–45. Cognitive function (memory, fluency, information processing) and affective symptoms were assessed at the age of 50. Path models were run to test whether salivary cortisol explained the longitudinal association between depressive or anxiety disorder symptoms and cognitive function. Direct effects of affective symptoms are shown across early to middle adulthood on cognitive function in midlife (memory and information processing errors). However, there were no effects of affective symptoms on cognitive function through cortisol measures. Additionally, cortisol measures were not significantly associated with subsequent affective symptoms or cognitive function at the age of 50. These results do not provide clear evidence to suggest that cortisol plays a role in the association between affective symptoms and cognitive function over this period of time. These findings contribute to our understanding of how the association between affective symptoms and cognitive function operates over time

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Эффективность и безопасность кабозантиниба у пациентов с распространенным почечно-клеточным раком: российское многоцентровое наблюдательное исследование

Purpose: an assessment of efficacy and safety of cabozantinib in unselected patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma in the first and subsequent lines of therapy.Materials and methods. Russian multicenter observational study included 92 consecutive patients with morphologically verified metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with cabozantinib (60 mg/d) in 16 Russian centers. Median age of the patients was 56 (19-79) years, a male-to-female ratio - 3:1. At the start of cabozantinib therapy 27.2 % of patients had ECOG PS 2. Most common histological type of kidney cancer was clear-cell RCC (90.2 %). Most patients were diagnosed with synchronous (71.7 %) multiple metastases (60.9 %). Previous nephrectomy was performed in 87.0 % of cases. Prognosis according to International Metastatic Renal Cancer Database Consortium (IMDC) score was assessed as favorable in 5.4 %, intermediate - in 58.7 % and poor - in 35.9 % patients. Cabozantinib as the first-line therapy was administered in 9 (9.8 %), following 1-5 lines of systemic treatment - in 83 (90.2 %) cases. Median follow-up was 11 (2.3-44.5) months.Results. In patients, receiving cabozantinib as the first-line therapy, objective response rate was 66.7 %, tumor control was reached in 100 % of cases. Median time to the objective response was 2.6 (1.9-3.6) months, median objective response duration - 13.2 (6.2-21.5) months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were not reached, 6- and 12-months PFS was 77.8 % and 77.8 %, 6- and 12-months OS - 88.9 % and 88.9 % respectively. Cabozantinib as the second and subsequent lines of therapy provided objective response rate of 34.9 %, tumor control rate - 97.6     %. Median time to the objective response was 2.5 (1.8-4.1) months, median objective response duration - 12.6 (5.5-27.3) months. Median PFS was not reached (6- and 12-months PFS - 92.5 % and 73.1 % respectively), median OS was 32.6      months (6- and 12-months OS - 97.4 % and 80.8 % respectively). Any adverse events (AE) developed in 88.8 %, AE grade III-IV - in 32.6 % of cases. Most frequent AE grade III-IV included arterial hypertension (18.5 %), diarrhea (6.5 %) and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (6.5 %). Unacceptable toxicity demanded treatment cancellation in 2.2 %, therapy interruption - in 16.3 % and dose reduction - in 30.4 % of patients.Conclusion. Cabozantinib as the first and subsequent lines of therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients in the real world practice demonstrated high efficacy and better tolerability comparing with population assigned for cabozantinib monotherapy in the randomized phase II-III trials.Цель исследования - оценка эффективности и безопасности кабозантиниба у неотобранных пациентов с метастатическим почечно-клеточным раком в 1-й и последующих линиях терапии.Материалы и методы. В многоцентровое обсервационное исследование было последовательно включено 92 пациента с морфологически верифицированным метастатическим почечно-клеточным раком, получавшие кабозантиниб (60 мг/сут) в 16 российских центрах. Медиана возраста больных составила 56 (19-79) лет, соотношение мужчин и женщин - 3:1. На момент старта терапии кабозантинибом ECOG PS 2 имел место у 27,2 % пациентов. Наиболее частым гистологическим вариантом рака почки являлся светлоклеточный (90,2 %). У большинства больных диагностированы синхронные (71,7 %) множественные метастазы (60,9 %). Предшествующая нефрэктомия выполнена в 87,0 % случаев. Прогноз по шкале International Metastatic Renal Cancer Database Consortium (IMDC) был расценен как благоприятный у 5,4 %, промежуточный - у 58,7 % и неблагоприятный - у 35,9 % больных. Кабозантиниб в качестве терапии 1-й линии применялся в 9 (9,8 %), после 1-5 линий системной терапии - в 83 (90,2 %) случаях. Медиана наблюдения за всеми пациентами составила 11 (2,3-44,5) мес.Результаты. У больных, получавших кабозантиниб в качестве терапии 1-й линии, частота объективного ответа составила 66,7 %, контроль над опухолью достигнут в 100 % случаев. Медиана времени до объективного ответа равнялась 2,6 (1,9-3,6) мес, медиана продолжительности объективного ответа - 13,2 (6,2-21,5) мес. Медианы беспрогрессивной выживаемости (БПВ) и общей выживаемости (ОВ) не достигнуты, 6- и 12-месячная БПВ составила 77,8 и 77,8 %, 6- и 12-месячная ОВ - 88,9 и 88,9 % соответственно. Кабозантиниб в качестве 2-й и последующих линий терапии обеспечил частоту объективного ответа 34,9 % и частоту контроля над опухолью, достигшую 97,6 %. Медиана времени до объективного ответа составила 2,5 (1,8-4,1) мес, медиана продолжительности объективного ответа - 12,6 (5,5-27,3) мес. Медиана БПВ не достигнута (6- и 12-месячная БПВ - 92,5 и 73,1 % соответственно), медиана ОВ составила 32,6 мес (6- и 12-месячная ОВ - 97,4 и 80,8 % соответственно). Любые нежелательные явления развились в 88,8 %, нежелательные явления III-IV степени - в 32,6 % случаев. Наиболее частыми нежелательными явлениями III-IV степени были артериальная гипертензия (18,5 %), диарея (6,5 %) и ладонно-подошвенная эритродизестезия (6,5 %). Неприемлемая токсичность потребовала отмены лечения у 2,2 %, прерывания терапии - у 16,3 % и снижения дозы - у 30,4 % больных.Заключение. Кабозантиниб в 1-й и последующих линиях терапии метастатического почечно-клеточного рака в реальной мировой практике продемонстрировал высокую эффективность и лучшую переносимость по сравнению с результатами рандомизированных исследований II-III фаз