A Dipole Vortex Model of Obscuring Tori in Active Galaxy Nuclei

The torus concept as an essential structural component of active galactic nuclei (AGN) is generally accepted. Here, the situation is discussed when the torus "twisting" by the radiation or wind transforms it into a dipole toroidal vortex which in turn can be a source of matter replenishing the accretion disk. Thus emerging instability which can be responsible for quasar radiation flares accompanied by matter outbursts is also discussed. The "Matreshka" scheme for an obscuring vortex torus structure capable of explaining the AGN variability and evolution is proposed. The model parameters estimated numerically for the luminosity close to the Eddington limit agree well with the observations.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, version of this paper is published in Astronomy Report

KiDS-SQuaD: The KiDS Strongly lensed Quasar Detection project

New methods have been recently developed to search for strong gravitational lenses, in particular lensed quasars, in wide-field imaging surveys. Here, we compare the performance of three different, morphology- and photometry- based methods to find lens candidates over the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS) DR3 footprint (440 deg$^2$). The three methods are: i) a multiplet detection in KiDS-DR3 and/or Gaia-DR1, ii) direct modeling of KiDS cutouts and iii) positional offsets between different surveys (KiDS-vs-Gaia, Gaia-vs-2MASS), with purpose-built astrometric recalibrations. The first benchmark for the methods has been set by the recovery of known lenses. We are able to recover seven out of ten known lenses and pairs of quasars observed in the KiDS DR3 footprint, or eight out of ten with improved selection criteria and looser colour pre-selection. This success rate reflects the combination of all methods together, which, taken individually, performed significantly worse (four lenses each). One movelty of our analysis is that the comparison of the performances of the different methods has revealed the pros and cons of the approaches and, most of all, the complementarities. We finally provide a list of high-grade candidates found by one or more methods, awaiting spectroscopic follow-up for confirmation. Of these, KiDS 1042+0023 is to our knowledge the first confirmed lensed quasar from KiDS, exhibiting two quasar spectra at the same source redshift at either sides of a red galaxy, with uniform flux-ratio $f\approx1.25$ over the wavelength range $0.45\mu\mathrm{m}<\lambda<0.75\mu\mathrm{m}.$Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

Ревматоидный артрит в реальной клинической практике. Результаты проекта «Компьютерные терминалы самооценки для пациентов с ревматическими заболеваниями» («ТЕРМИНАЛ-I»)

Objective: to describe the portrait of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in real clinical practice, to assess disease activity from the point of view of a physician and a patient, functional status, quality of life (QOL), and the efficiency of the therapy performed.Patients and methods. The investigation enrolled 976 RA patients from a cohort of patients in the TERMINAL-I multicenter study, who, when visiting a rheumatologist, independently assessed the disease activity and QOL using a computer system (the «Computer Terminals of SelfAssessment for Patients with Rheumatic Diseases» project). The mean age of the patients was 52.30±13.3 years; women accounted for 85%; the median disease duration 8.0 [4.0; 14.0] years. Baseline clinical parameters and pharmacotherapy were evaluated for 6 months. The disease activity was determined by the DAS28 and RAPID-3 indices; functional status and quality of life were evaluated by the HAQ and the EQ-5D, respectively.Results. 83% of the RA patients were positive for rheumatoid factor and 60% were for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies. There was a preponderance of patients with high (40.5%) and moderate (46.8%) RA activity; 6.9% were observed to have a low activity; 5.8% had clinical remission. The mean values of DAS28 and RAPID-3 were 4.7±1.3 and 13.7±3.6, respectively. Only 14.3% of patients had a good functional status that was comparable with the population-based control (HAQ≤0.5). The remaining patients were found to have a substantial decrease in joint functional parameters (median HAQ 1.88 [1.0; 2.5]) and EQ-5D QOL (0.60 [0.60; 0.74). Prosthetic joints were present in 7.4% of patients. At visit 1 to a rheumatologist, the therapy was changed in 15% of patients. During 6-month follow-up, conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs were taken by almost all (91.2%) patients. Of them, 70.9% of the patients were treated with methotrexate (MTX): 77.0% received the latter at a dose of 15 mg/week and 23.0% had it at a dose of &gt;15 mg (17.5 to 40 mg/week). Glucocorticoids could be stopped in 20.5% of the patients within six months. Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors and anti-B-cell therapy were used in 6.6 and 16.2% of patients, respectively. At 6-month follow-up (Visit 2), 54% of patients achieved a 20% clinical improvement in the ACR criteria. At the same time, the DAS28 scores decreased substantially from 4.5±1.2 to 3.8±1.1 (p = 0.0001). There was a minimal functional improvement in the HAQ index in 64% of patients and a better EQ-D QOL scores in 16%.Conclusion. The majority of RA patients who came to the rheumatologists showed high to moderate disease activity. This was due to long disease duration, inadequate MTX dose, and insufficient patient monitoring in real clinical practice. Introduction of a computer system for selfassessment of their health status by RA patients in an outpatient setting could improve the interaction of physicians, nurses, and patients, better monitor disease activity, and enhance therapeutic efficiency. Цель исследования – описание «портрета» пациента с ревматоидным артритом (РА) в реальной клинической практике, оценка активности заболевания с точки зрения врача и пациента, функционального состояния, качества жизни (КЖ) и эффективности проводимой терапии.Пациенты и методы. В исследование включено 976 пациентов с РА из когорты больных, входящих в многоцентровое исследование «ТЕРМИНАЛ-I», которые при обращении к ревматологу самостоятельно оценивали активность заболевания и КЖ с помощью компьютерной системы (проект «Компьютерные терминалы самооценки для пациентов с ревматическими заболеваниями»). Средний возраст пациентов составил 52,30±13,3 года, 85% – женщины, медиана длительности заболевания – 8,0 [4,0; 14,0] лет. Проводилась оценка базовых клинических параметров и фармакотерапии в течение 6 мес. Активность заболевания определялась по индексам DAS28 и RAPID-3, функциональный статус – по индексу HAQ, качество жизни – по EQ-5D.Результаты. 83% больных РА были позитивными по ревматоидному фактору и 60% – по антителам к циклическому цитруллинированному пептиду. Преобладали пациенты с высокой (40,5%) и умеренной (46,8%) активностью РА, у 6,9% отмечалась низкая активность, у 5,8% –клиническая ремиссия. Среднее значение индекса DAS28 составило 4,7±1,3, RAPID-3 – 13,7±3,6. Только 14,3% пациентов имели хорошее функциональное состояние, сравнимое с популяционным контролем (HAQ ≤0,5). У остальных больных отмечалось значительное снижение показателей функции суставов (медиана HAQ 1,88 [1,0; 2,5]) и КЖ по индексу EQ-5D (0,60 [0,60; 0,74]). Протезированные суставы имели 7,4% больных. При 1-м визите к ревматологу терапия была изменена у 15% пациентов. В течение 6 мес наблюдения практически все пациенты (91,2%) получали стандартные базисные противовоспалительные препараты. Из них 70,9% пациентов находились на терапии метотрексатом (МТ): 77,0% получали его в дозе 15 мг/нед и 23,0% – &gt;15 мг (от 17,5 до 40 мг/нед). 20,5% пациентам в течение полугода удалось отменить глюкокортикоиды. Ингибиторы фактора некроза опухоли α использовали 6,6% больных, анти-В-клеточную терапию – 16,2%. После 6 мес наблюдения (2-й визит к врачу) 20% клиническое улучшение по критериям ACR достигнуто у 54% больных. При этом отмечалось значительное снижение индекса DAS28 (с 4,5±1,2 до 3,8±1,1 балла; p=0,0001). Минимальное функциональное улучшение по индексу HAQ зафиксировано у 64% пациентов, улучшение КЖ по EQ-5D – у 16%.Выводы. Высокая и умеренная активность заболевания, снижение показателей КЖ были характерны для большинства пациентов с РА, обратившихся к ревматологу. Это было связано с большой длительностью заболевания, неадекватной дозой МТ и недостаточным мониторингом пациентов в реальной клинической практике. Введение компьютерной системы самооценки состояния здоровья пациентов с РА на поликлиническом уровне позволило улучшить взаимодействие врачей, медицинских сестер и пациентов, более качественно контролировать активность заболевания и повысить эффективность терапии.

The recombinant fusion protein CFP10–ESAT6–dIFN has protective effect against tuberculosis in guinea pigs

Development of effective vaccine candidates against tuberculosis (TB) is currently the most important challenge in the prevention of this disease since the BCG vaccine fails to guarantee a lifelong protection, while any other approved vaccine with better efficiency is still absent. The protective effect of the recombinant fusion protein CFP10–ESAT6–dIFN produced in a prokaryotic expression system (Escherichia coli) has been assessed in a guinea pig model of acute TB. The tested antigen comprises the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) proteins ESAT6 and CFP10 as well as modified human γ-interferon (dIFN) for boosting the immune response. Double intradermal immunization of guinea pigs with the tested fusion protein (2 × 0.5 µg) induces a protective effect against subsequent Mtb infection. The immunized guinea pigs do not develop the symptoms of acute TB and their body weight gain was five times more as compared with the non-immunized infected guinea pigs. The animal group immunized with this dose of antigen displays the minimum morphological changes in the internal organs and insignificant inflammatory lesions in the liver tissue, which complies with a decrease in the bacterial load in the spleen and average Mtb counts in macrophages

Differentiated approach to the use of optimal medical therapy in patients with various clinical forms of stable ischemic heart disease

A total of 137 male patients with stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD), average age 62.3 ± 7.46 years, were divided into 3 groups depending on the initial measurements of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Group 1 included patients with elevated blood pressure and/or heart rate (44.5% of patients); Group 2 included patients with normal blood pressure and/or heart rate (38.7%); Group 3 included patients with lowered blood pressure and/or heart rate (16.8%). Patients of Group 1 received beta-adrenergic blockers (BABs) or non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (NDCCBs), in some cases ivabradine-containing BABs (Raenom®, Gedeon Richter) at doses required to achieve target blood pressure and heart rate. The patients of Group 2 received a limited range of drugs above listed due to their blood pressure and heart rate measurements, and the patients of Group 3 did not receive any due to the low levels of such measurements. Effectiveness of the therapy in patients of Group I was the highest. The use of trimetazidine MB (Predizin MB®, Gedeon Richter) has significantly improved the results of treatment in patients of Groups 2 and 3. Trimetazidine MB added to the therapy in patients of Group 1 improved the effectiveness of treatment. Prolongation of trimetazidine MB therapy contributed to improvement of its anti-ischemic effect. Thus, BABs, NDCCBs and ivabradine entered into the foreground, as an optimal medical therapy (OMT) in patients with elevated blood pressure and heart rate measurements. Trimetazidine MB, and ivabradine in some cases prevail in patients with normal and low blood pressure and/or heart rate. It should be stated that patients with various hemodynamic variants of SIHDa require a differentiated approach to the choice of OMT

Rheumatoid arthritis in real clinical practice. Results of the «Computer Terminals of Self-Assessment for Patients with Rheumatic Diseases» («TERMINAL-I») project

Objective: to describe the portrait of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in real clinical practice, to assess disease activity from the point of view of a physician and a patient, functional status, quality of life (QOL), and the efficiency of the therapy performed.Patients and methods. The investigation enrolled 976 RA patients from a cohort of patients in the TERMINAL-I multicenter study, who, when visiting a rheumatologist, independently assessed the disease activity and QOL using a computer system (the «Computer Terminals of SelfAssessment for Patients with Rheumatic Diseases» project). The mean age of the patients was 52.30±13.3 years; women accounted for 85%; the median disease duration 8.0 [4.0; 14.0] years. Baseline clinical parameters and pharmacotherapy were evaluated for 6 months. The disease activity was determined by the DAS28 and RAPID-3 indices; functional status and quality of life were evaluated by the HAQ and the EQ-5D, respectively.Results. 83% of the RA patients were positive for rheumatoid factor and 60% were for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies. There was a preponderance of patients with high (40.5%) and moderate (46.8%) RA activity; 6.9% were observed to have a low activity; 5.8% had clinical remission. The mean values of DAS28 and RAPID-3 were 4.7±1.3 and 13.7±3.6, respectively. Only 14.3% of patients had a good functional status that was comparable with the population-based control (HAQ≤0.5). The remaining patients were found to have a substantial decrease in joint functional parameters (median HAQ 1.88 [1.0; 2.5]) and EQ-5D QOL (0.60 [0.60; 0.74). Prosthetic joints were present in 7.4% of patients. At visit 1 to a rheumatologist, the therapy was changed in 15% of patients. During 6-month follow-up, conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs were taken by almost all (91.2%) patients. Of them, 70.9% of the patients were treated with methotrexate (MTX): 77.0% received the latter at a dose of 15 mg/week and 23.0% had it at a dose of &gt;15 mg (17.5 to 40 mg/week). Glucocorticoids could be stopped in 20.5% of the patients within six months. Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors and anti-B-cell therapy were used in 6.6 and 16.2% of patients, respectively. At 6-month follow-up (Visit 2), 54% of patients achieved a 20% clinical improvement in the ACR criteria. At the same time, the DAS28 scores decreased substantially from 4.5±1.2 to 3.8±1.1 (p = 0.0001). There was a minimal functional improvement in the HAQ index in 64% of patients and a better EQ-D QOL scores in 16%.Conclusion. The majority of RA patients who came to the rheumatologists showed high to moderate disease activity. This was due to long disease duration, inadequate MTX dose, and insufficient patient monitoring in real clinical practice. Introduction of a computer system for selfassessment of their health status by RA patients in an outpatient setting could improve the interaction of physicians, nurses, and patients, better monitor disease activity, and enhance therapeutic efficiency