Towards surface quantum optics with Bose-Einstein condensates in evanescent waves

We present a surface trap which allows for studying the coherent interaction of ultracold atoms with evanescent waves. The trap combines a magnetic Joffe trap with a repulsive evanescent dipole potential. The position of the magnetic trap can be controlled with high precision which makes it possible to move ultracold atoms to the surface of a glass prism in a controlled way. The optical potential of the evanescent wave compensates for the strong attractive van der Waals forces and generates a potential barrier at only a few hundred nanometers from the surface. The trap is tested with Rb Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC), which are stably positioned at distances from the surfaces below one micrometer

Species diversity of Trichoderma in Poland

In the present study, we reinvestigate the diversity of Trichoderma in Poland utilizing a combination of morphological and molecular/phylogenetic methods. A total of 170 isolates were collected from six different substrata at 49 sites in Poland. These were divided among 14 taxa as follows: 110 of 170 Trichoderma isolates were identified to the species level by the analysis of their ITS1, ITS2 rDNA sequences as: T. harzianum (43 isolates), T. aggressivum (35), T. citrinoviride (11), T. hamatum (9), T. virens (6), T. longibrachiatum (4), T. polysporum (1), and T. tomentosum (1); 60 isolates belonging to the Viride clade were identified based on a fragment of the translation-elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) gene as: T. atroviride (20 isolates), T. gamsii (2), T. koningii (17), T. viridescens (13), T. viride (7), and T. koningiopsis (1). Identifications were made using the BLAST interface in TrichOKEY and TrichoBLAST (http://www.isth.info). The most diverse substrata were soil (nine species per 22 isolates) and decaying wood (nine species per 75 isolates). The most abundant species (25%) isolated from all substrata was T. harzianum

Arterial Hypertension and Severe COVID-19 in Hospitalized Patients: Data from a Cohort Study

Aim. To assess the association  of hypertension  with the severe forms and fatal outcomes of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Material and Methods. This retrospective  cohort study involved adult patients (≥18 years old),  admitted to the University  hospital №4 of Sechenov University (Moscow, Russia) between 08 April 2020 and 19 November 2020 with clinically diagnosed or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. The cohort included 1637 patients. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcomes included intensive care unit admission (ICU) and invasive ventilation. Multiple logistic regression was performed to assess the independent association  between risk factors and endpoints.Results. A total of 1637 patients were included in the study. 51.80% (n=848) of the subjects were males. The median age was 59.0 (48.0; 70.0) years and 55.90% (n=915) had pre-existing diagnosis of hypertension. Patients with hypertension  had significantly more severe lung injury based on chest CT scan findings  as well as lower oxygen saturation  (SрO2). More of them were admitted to ICU  and  placed  on invasive  ventilation.  The hypertension  group  also  had  higher  mortality.  Age,  hypertension, glucose, C-reactive protein and decreased platelet count were independently associated with mortality, hypertension  having the strongest association (OR 1.827, 95% CI 1.174-2.846, p=0.008). Age,  hypertension, neutrophil count, platelet count, glucose, and CRP were independently associated  with ICU  admission, with hypertension  having  the strongest  association  (OR  1.595, 95% CI 1.178-2.158, p=0.002). Age, hypertension, glucose, CRP and decreased platelet count were independently associated with invasive ventilation, with hypertension having the strongest association  (OR  1.703, 95% CI 1.151-2.519, p=0.008).Based on the multiple logistic regression models, odds of death, ICU admission, and invasive ventilation were higher in the hypertension  group as compared  to the group without hypertension.Conclusion. Hypertension can be an independent predictor of severe COVID-19 and adverse outcomes, namely death, ICU admission, and invasive ventilation in hospitalized  patients

Algorithm for determining the authenticity of biomedical cell preparations containing mesenchymal stem cells

The use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which have a pronounced immunomodulatory activity, is a promising direction in the development of biomedical cell preparations (BMCPs). In oncohematology, the use of BMCPs containing MSCs is aimed at supporting hematopoiesis during cotransplantation with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and suppressing immune conflicts during allogeneic unrelated transplantation and severe autoimmune processes. An obligatory stage of registration of BMCPs is confirmation of the identity of the MSC cell line (CL), which includes the establishment of morphological characteristics, evaluation of the expression of specific markers and proteins, and confirmation of the genetic stability of CL during cultivation. Determination of markers of genetic stability is possible using various methods, however, according to the recommendations of the American National Standardization Institute, the standard is the analysis of short tandem repeats (STR analysis). The purpose of the study is to develop an algorithm for determining the authenticity of BMCPs containing MSCs, including STR analysis. Material and methods. Identification of MSC cells in BMCP was performed according to the criteria of the International Society for Cell Therapy. Viable cells were counted in a Goryaev chamber. Immunophenotypic characteristics of MSCs were determined by flow cytometry. The level of production of specific proteins was assessed using enzyme immunoassay. Genetic stability markers were identified by STR analysis. Results and discussion. The methods were tested in triplicate for ten BMCP samples to confirm the reproducibility and reliability of the results. The developed algorithm for determining the authenticity of BMCP has a high accuracy, as it includes the STR analysis technique, which makes it possible to identify 19 polymorphic STR markers located on different alleles. Using the method will allow BMCP manufacturers to go through the procedure of state registration of drugs

System Approach to the Development of Intelligent Complexes of Oncological Diagnostics

The system approach to the development of intellectual complexes in cancer diagnosis are discussed in the article. Distinctive features of this approach: the participation of pathologist at the stage of description of recognizable images (the description is based on traditional assessments of quality informative features of tumors); the set of the most similar probabilistic diagnoses is forming on the classification stage of recognition; final histological diagnosis is made by pathologist. The proposed approach has been successfully tested in clinical practice. Keywords: image processing, image description, image classification, pattern recognition, qualitative attributes of tumor images, interactive recognition, cancer diagnosis, decision support syste

Предложения по совершенствованию системы радиационной безопасности при медицинском облучении. Часть 1. Анализ информации, содержащейся в государственных отчетных формах и информационных базах данных, на примере города Москвы

The aim of the search was to compare the sources of information and evaluate dynamics of changes of the patients doses during x-ray and radionuclide examinations in medical organizations in Moscow from 2017 to 2020. Material and methods: Reporting forms № 3-DOZ, № 30 and Radiation-Hygienic Passport for 2017–2020 from Moscow organizations of different forms of ownership were collected and analyzed. The analysis was performed of the main indicators that determine the radiation safety in medical exposure: the number of medical organizations operating sources of ionizing radiation, the equipment of radiation diagnostics, the structure of radiation diagnostics and collective doses from medical exposure. Results: The analysis of trends of the development of radiation diagnostics in Moscow presented in the paper shows that the number of organizations operating ionizing radiation sources is increasing every year; the number of computed tomography scanners is growing by an average of 10% per year, and there is approximately the same increase in the number of computed tomography examinations. Therefore, in 2017-2019 the annual increase in the number of examinations was 10%; it was 30% in 2019–2020, which is associated with the epidemic of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19. The increase in the collective dose from medical exposure corresponds to the increase in the number of X-ray examinations. Comparison of the considered reporting forms and data from the unified X-ray information system shows that all reporting forms have their advantages and disadvantages, which are discussed in detail in the paper. For a comprehensive assessment of the condition of radiation diagnostics, it is necessary to compile data from different statistical reporting forms, which negatively affects the reliability and representativeness of the data. It should be noted that all the considered statistical reporting forms provide no data on individual and accumulated patients doses, as well as standard (typical) doses for the equipment of X-ray and radionuclide diagnostics. The existing procedure of data collection does not allow to receive and analyze the data online. Conclusion: Among the analyzed statistical reporting forms, there is no one that fully provides the tasks of the current assessment of the situation and operational management of public radiation doses. Some of the data in fact duplicate each other, and the existing discrepancies are more likely express difficulties in collecting and summarizing information than differences in reporting forms. Current statistical reporting forms require revision, consolidation, clarification and automation of data collection processes. Further implementation of electronic systems for recording and controlling patients doses, and generation monitoring and reporting systems, as well as interdepartmental interaction systems and the creation of an electronic office of organizations will reduce the rate of non-submission of reporting documentation. That makes it more objective and provides all the data necessary to optimize radiation protection of patients.Цель: сравнить источники информации и оценить динамику изменений уровня дозовых нагрузок на пациентов при проведении рентгенологических и радионуклидных исследований в медицинских организациях г. Москвы за период с 2017 по 2020 г. Материал и методы: собраны и проанализированы отчетные формы № 3-ДОЗ, радиационно-гигиенический паспорт и форма № 30 за 2017–2020 гг., полученные от медицинских организаций города Москвы различных форм собственности. Проведен анализ основных показателей, определяющих состояние радиационной безопасности при медицинском облучении: числа медицинских организаций, использующих источники ионизирующего излучения, аппаратного парка лучевой диагностики, структуру лучевой диагностики и коллективных доз от медицинского облучения. Результаты: представленный в статье анализ трендов развития лучевой диагностики в Москве показывает, что с каждым годом увеличивается число организаций, использующих источники ионизирующего излучения; в среднем на 10% в год растет число компьютерных томографов, наблюдается примерно такой же рост числа компьютерно-томографических исследований. Так, за период 2017–2019 гг. ежегодный прирост числа исследований составил 10%; в период 2019–2020 гг. – 30%, что связано с эпидемией новой коронавирусной инфекции COVID-19. Рост коллективной дозы от медицинского облучения соответствует росту числа рентгенорадиологических исследований. Сравнение рассмотренных отчетных форм и данных из единой рентгеновской информационной системы показывает, что все формы обладают своими достоинствами и недостатками, которые подробно рассмотрены в статье. Для комплексной оценки состояния лучевой диагностики необходима компиляция данных из различных форм статистической отчетности, что негативным образом влияет на достоверность и репрезентативность данных. Следует отметить, что во всех рассмотренных формах отсутствуют данные по индивидуальным и накопленным дозам пациентов, а также стандартным (типичным) дозам для аппаратов для рентгеновской и радионуклидной диагностики. Существующий формат сбора данных не позволяет получать данные и анализировать информацию в оперативном режиме. Заключение: среди проанализированных отчетных форм нет полностью отвечающей задачам текущей оценки ситуации и оперативного управления дозами облучения населения. Часть данных фактически дублируют друг друга, а имеющиеся расхождения скорее свидетельствуют о сложностях при сборе и обобщении информации, чем об отличиях в отчетных формах. Действующие формы требуют пересмотра, объединения, уточнения и автоматизации процессов сбора данных. Дальнейшее внедрение электронных систем учета и контроля доз облучения пациентов и систем мониторинга и отчётности следующего поколения, а также систем межведомственного взаимодействия и создание электронного кабинета организаций позволят снизить вероятность непредставления отчетной документации, сделать ее более объективной и представить все данные, необходимые для оптимизации радиационной защиты пациентов

Vitamin D (steroid hormone) and the nervous system diseases (literature review)

The present review aims to summarize the activities of vitamin D effects on the nervous system and to clarify a vitamin D role in brain diseases, in the pathogenesis or as a serum biomarker for the disease development and severity. Objective: correlation between chronic nervous system diseases and vitamin D level. Methods: a literature research in PubMed and in Russian electronic resources by keywords: vitamin D, brain diseases, chronic nervous system diseases. Results. Vitamin D as a neurosteroid hormone stimulates cerebral activity in both adult and embryonic brain regulates the activity of neural circuits which are responsible for locomotor, reward-dependent and emotional behavior. Patients with autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, Alzheimer disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease and sleep disorders have been shown to have low level of vitamin D. Discussion. Data are controversial, a further study of vitamin D hypovitaminosis significance is essential for the nervous system chronic diseases manifestation and evaluation of the vitamin D dietary supplement efficiency in patients with the nervous system pathology

Frequency of undesirable situations and critical incidents during intrahospital transportation of patients

The article considers the results of 221 Intrahospital transport of critically ill patients. The study found that hemodynamic monitoring performed during the transfer process in only 28.5% of patients and the use of manual Ambu ventilation in more than half of patients are factors that contribute to a decrease in the quality of transportation. Insufficient data on statistics of undesirable situations and critical incidents during intrahospital transport of patients can serve as an occasion for in-depth study of this problem and the creation of a database for the purpose of recording and analyzing the quality and risks of intrahospital transfer.В статье рассмотрены результаты 221 внутригоспитальной транспортировки пациентов, находящихся на лечение в отделении реанимации и интенсивной терапии. В ходе исследования было установлено, что гемодинамический мониторинг, проводимый в процессе трансфера лишь у 28,5% пациентов и применение у большей половины пациентов ручной искусственной вентиляции легких является факторами, способствующими снижению качества транспортировки. Недостаточное количество данных о статистике нежелательных ситуаций и критических инцидентах при проведении внутригоспитальной транспортировки пациентов может служить поводом для углубленного изучения данной проблемы и создания базы данных с целью регистрации и анализа качества и рисков при проведении внутригоспитального трансфера

Влияние пандемии COVID-19 на структуру лучевой диагностики и коллективные дозы населения Российской Федерации при медицинском облучении в 2020 г.

Computed tomography has become the main method of early diagnostics of COVID-19 during the pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection. Based on results of computed tomography of the chest it is possible to diagnose viral pneumonia associated with COVIS-19, to quickly assess the lung damage volume and severity of changes, to perform quick routing of patients and to start antiviral treatment. Hence, 2020 was associated with a rapid increase in the number of computed tomography examinations with corresponding changes in the structure of X-ray diagnostics. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of the pandemic of the novel coronavirus infection on the structure of X-ray diagnostics and collective doses from medical exposure in the Russian Federation in 2019-2020. The study was based on the results of analysis of the federal state statistical surveillance forms №3-DOZ and №30 as well as on the data on Covid-19 morbidity in the regions of the Russian Federation. The results of the study indicate that there were no significant changes in the structure of X-ray diagnostics in 2020 compared to 2019 except for the increase in the number of computed tomography examinations. Their contribution to the total number of X-ray examinations has increased to 8,2% in 2020 compared to 4,6% in 2019. Contribution of other imaging modalities to the total number of X-ray examinations has not changed significantly. In 2020 the number of X-ray examinations decreased by 20% in average, varying from 6% for diagnostic nuclear medicine to 42% for interventional examinations. At the same time, the number of computed tomography examinations has rapidly increased by 60%. The structure of collective dose from medical exposure has significantly changed in 2020. Contribution of computed tomography to the collective dose in 2020 accounted for to 74% compared to 57% in 2019. Contribution of other imaging modalities has decreased by the factor of 1,5-2. Contribution of radiography examinations has decreased to 10,5% compared to 19% in 2019. Collective doses have correspondingly decreased by 20-30% for all imaging modalities except for computed tomography. Collective dose from computed tomography has increased by 71% compared to 2019. The number of all X-ray examinations in the Russian Federation has decreased by 12%: from 294 million in 2019 to 258 million in 2020. Collective dose from medical exposure has rapidly increased in 2020 by 30% to 115 thousand man. -Sv compared to 88 thousand man. -Sv in 2019. In average, in regions of the Russian Federation in 2020 each second computed tomography examination has been performed as a part of COVID-19 diagnostics with 2,3 computed tomography examinations per person infected with COVID.Компьютерная томография в период пандемии новой коронавирусной инфекции COVID-19 стала основным методом ранней первичной диагностики COVID-19. По результатам компьютерной томографии органов грудной клетки возможно предположить диагноз вирусной пневмонии, вызванной COVID-19, быстро оценить объем поражения легочной ткани и степень тяжести изменений, проводить быструю маршрутизацию пациентов и начинать противовирусную терапию. Таким образом, 2020 г. охарактеризовался резким ростом числа компьютерных томографий на фоне изменения структуры лучевой диагностики. Целью данной работы являлась оценка степени влияния эпидемии новой корона- вирусной инфекции COVID-19 на структуру лучевой диагностики и коллективные дозы населения Российской Федерации от медицинского облучения в период 2019–2020 гг. Для этого были проанализированы формы федеральной государственной статистической отчетности № 3-ДОЗ и № 30, а также статистические данные о заболеваемости COVID-19 в субъектах Российской Федерации. Результаты исследования показали, что структура лучевой диагностики в 2020 г. существенно не изменилась по сравнению с 2019 г., за исключением роста числа выполненных компьютерных томографий, вклад которых в число рентгенорадиологических исследований вырос с 4,6% в 2019 г. до 8,2% в 2020 г. Вклад всех остальных методов лучевой диагностики в общее число рентгенорадиологических исследований значимо не менялся. В 2020 г. число всех рентгенологических исследований сократилось в среднем на 20%: от 6% для радионуклидной диагностики до 42% для интервенционных исследований. На фоне этого выделяется резкий рост числа компьютерно-томографических исследований на 60%. Структура коллективной дозы от медицинского облучения в 2020 г. значительно изменилась. Вклад компьютерной томографии в коллективную дозу в 2020 г. составил 74% (57% в 2019 г.) на фоне сокращения вклада всех остальных рентгенорадиологических исследований в 1,5–2 раза, в первую очередь рентгенографических (10,5% в 2020 г. по сравнению с 19% в 2019 г.). Коллективные дозы также снизились на 20–30% для всех видов лучевой диагностики, за исключением компьютерной томографии. Коллективная доза от компьютерной томографии выросла на 71% по сравнению с 2019 г. В целом, в Российской Федерации число всех диагностических рентгенорадиологических процедур сократилось на 12%: с 294 млн в 2019 г. до 258 млн в 2020 г. Коллективная доза от медицинского облучения в 2020 г. резко увеличилась на 30% до 115 тыс. чел.-Зв (в 2019 г. – 88 тыс. чел.-Зв.). В среднем по субъектам Российской Федерации в 2020 г. каждая вторая компьютерная томография органов грудной клетки была выполнена в связи с COVID-19. При этом в среднем на 1 заболевшего COVID-19 приходилось 2,3 КТ органов грудной клетки

The CRE1 carbon catabolite repressor of the fungus Trichoderma reesei: a master regulator of carbon assimilation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The identification and characterization of the transcriptional regulatory networks governing the physiology and adaptation of microbial cells is a key step in understanding their behaviour. One such wide-domain regulatory circuit, essential to all cells, is carbon catabolite repression (CCR): it allows the cell to prefer some carbon sources, whose assimilation is of high nutritional value, over less profitable ones. In lower multicellular fungi, the C2H2 zinc finger CreA/CRE1 protein has been shown to act as the transcriptional repressor in this process. However, the complete list of its gene targets is not known.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we deciphered the CRE1 regulatory range in the model cellulose and hemicellulose-degrading fungus <it>Trichoderma reesei </it>(anamorph of <it>Hypocrea jecorina</it>) by profiling transcription in a wild-type and a delta-<it>cre1 </it>mutant strain on glucose at constant growth rates known to repress and de-repress CCR-affected genes. Analysis of genome-wide microarrays reveals 2.8% of transcripts whose expression was regulated in at least one of the four experimental conditions: 47.3% of which were repressed by CRE1, whereas 29.0% were actually induced by CRE1, and 17.2% only affected by the growth rate but CRE1 independent. Among CRE1 repressed transcripts, genes encoding unknown proteins and transport proteins were overrepresented. In addition, we found CRE1-repression of nitrogenous substances uptake, components of chromatin remodeling and the transcriptional mediator complex, as well as developmental processes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study provides the first global insight into the molecular physiological response of a multicellular fungus to carbon catabolite regulation and identifies several not yet known targets in a growth-controlled environment.</p