Spectral variability of planetary nebulae and related objects

The results of long-term spectral observations were used to search for changes in planetary nebulae and emission-line stars. Significant increase of excitation degree is found in two objects: M1-6 and M1-11

Spectral variations of AeBe Herbig stars in the Mon R1 association

We present the change in the Halpha emission-line profile of the spectra of some AeBe Herbig stars. In the spectrum of VY Mon, Halpha may have one of three profile types: P Cyg, P Cyg III or single line in accordance with the brightness variations of the star. HD259431 now shows a double Halpha profile with the red component stronger than the blue component, while in the earlier observations the blue peak was higher than the red peak. Finally, the last Halpha profile of LkHalpha215 is very similar to that obtained by Finkenzeller et al.Comment: 4pages, 3figure

Evidence for Trapped Anomalous Cosmic Ray Oxygen Ions in the Inner Magnetosphere

A series of measurements of 5–30 MeV/nucleon oxygen ions made with track detector stacks on Cosmos satellites show isotropic angular distributions during solar energetic particle events. Solar-quiet times, on the other hand, have highly anisotropic distributions suggestive of a trapped-particle component. Detailed Monte Carlo simulations confirm this interpretation and allow us to measure the trapped and cosmic-ray contributions to the observed fluxes. Our data are fully consistent with anomalous cosmic-ray ions, rather than radial diffusion from the outer zone, as the source of the trapped particles

Observation of Energetic Trapped Oxygen Ions in the Inner Magnetosphere

We report on a series of measurements of 5-30 Me V /nuc oxygen ions made with trackdetector stacks on Cosmos satellites. We find that the angular distributions during solar energetic particle events are isotropic, while solar-quiet times show highly anisotropic distributions suggestive of a trapped particle component. Detailed Monte Carlo simulations confirm this interpretation and allow us to separate the trapped and cosmic ray contributions to the quiet-time fluxes. Our data appear fully consistent with trapping of anomalous cosmic ray ions as the source of the trapped particles but inconsistent with radial diffusion from the outer radiation zone

Клиническое значение лептина при системной красной волчанке

Objective: to study the frequency of hyperleptinemia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), its relationship with clinical and laboratory manifestations of the disease, drug therapy, and other metabolic disorders.Patients and methods. The cross-sectional study included 46 women with a definite diagnosis of SLE (median age 40 [31; 48] years) and disease duration 3.0 [0.9; 9.0] years. Glucocorticoids (GC) were received by 38 (83%) patients, hydroxychloroquine – by 35 (76%), immunosuppressants – by 10 (22%), biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs – by 5 (11%). In all patients, fasting levels of glucose, leptin, apoliproprotein B (ApoB) and immunoreactive insulin were determined, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Concentration of leptin ≥11.1 ng/ml, ApoB – >1.6 mg/ml were considered an elevated level. HOMA-IR index ≥2.77 corresponded to the presence of insulin resistance (IR).Results and discussion. Hyperleptinemia was found in 34 (74%) patients with SLE, an increased level of ApoB – in 19 (41%), IR – in 10 (22%). In patients with hyperleptinemia, serositis, positivity for anti-double-stranded DNA (aDNA) and hypocomplementemia were less common, overweight and obesity were more frequent, the SLEDAI-2K index was lower, the aDNA level was lower, and the concentration of the C3 component of complement, insulin, HOMA-IR index, body mass index (BMI) and disease duration were higher (p<0.05 for all cases). BMI <25 kg / m2 had 26 (57%) women, 14 (54%) of whom had hyperleptinemia. In patients with BMI <25 kg / m2, we found a relationship between leptin concentration and disease duration (r=0.4, p=0.04), SLE activity according to SLEDAI-2K (r=-0.6, p=0.003), levels of aDNA (r=-0.6, p<0.001), C3 component of complement (r=0.5, p=0.01), maximum (r=0.7, p<0.001) and supporting (r=0,5, p=0.023) GC doses.In patients with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 (n=20), no such relationship was observed.Conclusion. Hyperleptinemia was found in the majority of women with SLE; elevated levels of ApoB and IR were much less common. Patients with hyperleptinemia are characterized by a longer duration and less activity of the disease, as well as the presence of overweight and obesity and an increase in the HOMA-IR index. In SLE patients with normal body weight, the concentration of leptin increased along with GC dose elevation.Цель исследования – изучение частоты гиперлептинемии у пациентов с системной красной волчанкой (СКВ), ее взаимосвязи с клинико-лабораторными проявлениями заболевания, лекарственной терапией, а также другими метаболическими нарушениями.Пациенты и методы. В поперечное исследование включено 46 женщин с достоверным диагнозом СКВ (медиана возраста 40 [31; 48] лет) и длительностью заболевания 3,0 [0,9; 9,0] года. Глюкокортикоиды (ГК) получали 38 (83%) больных, гидроксихлорохин – 35 (76%), иммуносупрессанты – 10 (22%), генно-инженерные биологические препараты – 5 (11%). У всех больных определены натощак уровни глюкозы, лептина, аполипропротеина В (АпоВ) и иммунореактивного инсулина, рассчитан индекс оценки гомеостатической модели резистентности к инсулину (HOMA-IR). Повышенной считали концентрацию лептина ≥11,1 нг/мл, АпоВ – >1,6 мг/мл.Индекс HOMA-IR ≥2,77 соответствовал наличию инсулинорезистентности (ИР).Результаты и обсуждение. Гиперлептинемия обнаружена у 34 (74%) больных СКВ, повышенный уровень АпоВ – у 19 (41%), ИР – у 10 (22%). При гиперлептинемии реже встречались серозит, позитивность по антителам к двуспиральной ДНК (аДНК) и гипокомплементемия, чаще – избыточная масса тела и ожирение, были ниже индекс SLEDAI-2K, уровень аДНК, выше – концентрация С3-компонента комплемента, инсулина, индекс HOMA-IR, индекс массы тела (ИМТ) и длительность заболевания (р<0,05 для всех случаев). ИМТ<25 кг/м2 имели 26 (57%) женщин, у 14 (54%) из которых обнаружена гиперлептинемия. У пациенток с ИМТ <25 кг/м2 выявлена взаимосвязь концентрации лептина с длительностью заболевания (r=0,4, p=0,04), активностью СКВ по SLEDAI-2K (r=-0,6, p=0,003), уровнем аДНК (r=-0,6, p<0,001), С3-компонента комплемента (r=0,5, p=0,01), максимальной (r=0,7, p<0,001) и поддерживающей (r=0,5, p=0,023) дозами ГК. У больных с ИМТ ≥25 кг/м2 (n=20) подобной взаимосвязи не отмечено.Заключение. Гиперлептинемия выявлена у большинства женщин с СКВ, повышенный уровень АпоВ и ИР встречались гораздо реже.Для пациенток с гиперлептинемией характерны большая длительность и меньшая активность заболевания, а также наличие избыточной массы тела и ожирения, увеличение индекса HOMA-IR. У больных СКВ с нормальной массой тела концентрация лептина нарастала по мере увеличения дозы ГК

Metabolic syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis: role of adiponectin (preliminary results)

The clinical value of the disorders and diseases integrated within the metabolic syndrome (MS) is in the combination of traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which significantly accelerates the development of cardiovascular events (CVEs). The detection rate for MS in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is shown to be higher than in the controls regardless of the diagnostic criteria for MS. At present, there are confusing data on the role of adipokins in RA. Objective: to determine the rate of MS and its components in RA patients and the association of the level of adipokin (adiponectin) with the components of MS in relation to the duration of RA. Subjects and methods: The investigation enrolled 69 RA patients divided into two groups: 1) 34 patients with early-stage (<2-year) RA and 2) 35 patients with end-stage (>2-year) RA. Results. MS occurred in 12 (17.4%) of the 69 patients with RA. There was central (abdominal) obesity in 37 (53.6%) patients with RA, hypertension in 29 (42%), low high-density cholesterol levels in 20 (29%), hyperglycemia in 11 (15.9%), and hypertriglyceridemia in 10 (14.5%). According to the presence or absence of MS, the patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) 12 patients with MS; 2) 57 without MS. In the patients with RA and MS, the duration of the disease was shorter; DAS28 and CDAI were higher than in those without MS: 15.4 [7; 24] months versus 51.8 [6; 72] months; DAS28 was 5.8 [4.9; 6.7] scores versus 5.1 [4.5; 5.8] scores; CDAI: 34.8 [21.8; 41.4] scores versus 24.2 [18; 31] scores, respectively (p < 0.05 in all cases). The serum level of adiponectin was lower: 13.1 [5.7; 10.7] ng/ml versus 20.6 [6.9; 30.9] ng/ml in the patients with RA and MS as compared to those without MS; but there were no significant differences. In the patients with early-end RA, the rate of MS was twice higher than that in those with end-stage RA; however, the differences were statistically insignificant (p = 0.1). The components of MS were encountered with the same frequency in early- and end-stage RA. The early RA group showed a correlation between SDAI (r = -0.34), body mass index (r = -0.41), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.33), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r =-0.35), and adiponectin. The >2-year RA group displayed no relationship between adipokins, activity markers, and metabolic disturbances. Conclusion. The preliminary results suggest the high rate of MS in patients with a high level of early RA disease activity untreated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, thus determining the high risk of CVEs just at disease onset. The role of adiponectin in the development of MS, CVEs in rheumatic diseases remains to be solved, which is the subject of further investigations. It is possible that normalization of adiponectin concentrations may promote reductions in the incidence of CVD, mortality rates due to atherosclerosis-induced CVEs, and the prevalence of MS and insulin resistance

Наследственные заболевания легких и современные возможности генетической диагностики

The European Respiratory Society website gives the following criterion for the disease to be classified as rare (orphan) - the disease occurs in 1 person per 2 000. One of the well-studied rare lung diseases is cystic fibrosis (CF), which is often considered a medical care model for patients with other orphan diseases. However, effective diagnostics and therapies have not yet been developed for many other rare diseases. Moreover, their true prevalence remains unknown because these diseases often go undiagnosed. One of the problems in diagnosing rare diseases is the lack of knowledge among physicians.The aim of this review is to provide a brief clinical and genetic description of rare hereditary lung diseases and to show modern genetic diagnostics to raise awareness among physicians. Data from 95 articles on hereditary lung diseases were used.Results. The results of the analysis of lung diseases associated with bronchiectasis, fibrosis, pneumothorax, and hereditary storage diseases are presented. Genetics and diagnostics, including the three-step molecular genetic testing for cystic fibrosis, are considered in detail. The diagnosis has been developed for both neonatal screening and clinical manifestations. The emergence of targeted therapy based on genetic diagnosis makes neonatal screening even more relevant and leads to an increase in life expectancy. A patient registry was established within 10 years. A detailed analysis of the diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is given, taking into account the absence of a single “golden” standard for the diagnosis of PCD. The genetic basis of the most common hereditary diseases and modern possibilities of their diagnosis are discussed, including sequencing of genes responsible for the development of orphan diseases using standard Sanger sequencing methods and next-generation sequencing, and creating multigene panels.Conclusion. New molecular diagnostic methods will help to understand the nature of orphan lung diseases, study their epidemiology, and develop new diagnostic algorithms. The study of the genetic causes of rare diseases may serve as a basis for the development of targeted therapy.На сайте Европейского респираторного общества (https://europeanlung.org/en/information-hub/factsheets/rare-and-orphan-lung-diseases/) приводится принятый в Европейском Союзе следующий критерий отнесения заболевания к редкому (орфанному): заболевание должно встречаться в популяции с частотой < 1 человека на 2 000 населения. Одним из хорошо изученных редких заболеваний легких является муковисцидоз (МВ) (кистозный фиброз), зачастую рассматриваемый как модель оказания медицинской помощи пациентам с другими орфанными заболеваниями. Однако в отличие от МВ, для многих других редких заболеваний действенные подходы к их раннему выявлению и эффективной терапии не разработаны. Более того, их истинная частота в популяции остается неизвестной, т. к. эти заболевания часто вообще не диагностируются. Одной из проблем диагностики редких заболеваний является недостаточная информированность врачей об этих болезнях.Целью обзора явилось описание краткой клинико-генетической характеристики редких наследственных заболеваний легких, оценка современных возможностей их генетической диагностики, а также повышение осведомленности врачей. Использовались данные 95 статей по наследственным заболеваниям легких.Результаты. Приведены результаты анализа заболеваний легких, сопровождающихся бронхоэктазами, фиброзом, пневмотораксом и наследственными болезнями накопления. Подробно рассмотрены генетика, диагностика, в т. ч. трехэтапное молекулярно-генетическое тестирование при МВ. Диагностика заболевания разработана как при неонатальном скрининге, так и по клиническим проявлениям. Появление таргетной терапии, основанной на генетическом диагнозе, делает неонатальный скрининг еще более актуальным, при этом продолжительность жизни пациентов увеличивается. Регистр пациентов создается в течение 10 лет. Приводится подробный анализ диагностики первичной цилиарной дискинезии (ПЦД) с учетом отсутствия единого метода — «золотого стандарта» диагностики ПЦД, как при МВ. Обсуждаются генетические основы наиболее частых наследственных заболеваний и современные возможности их диагностики (секвенирование генов, ответственных за развитие орфанных заболеваний, с использованием стандартных методов секвенирования по Сэнгеру и секвенирование нового поколения, создание мультигенных панелей).Заключение. Новые молекулярно-диагностические методы помогут не только понять природу орфанных заболеваний легких, но и позволят изучить их эпидемиологию и создать новые диагностические алгоритмы. Исследование генетических причин редких заболеваний имеет фундаментальное значение, т. к. может служить основой для разработки таргетной терапии

Anomalous Cosmic Ray Measurements in and outside the Magnetosphere: Implications for the Charge State

We report preliminary results from the Joint Study of the Charge State of the Anomalous Component, a cooperative project of the space agencies of the US and the USSR. The so-called "anomalous" cosmic ray component, including the elements He, N, 0, and Ne, as well as rarer species, is believed to represent a sample of neutral interstellar atoms that has been swept into the heliosphere, singly ionized, and then accelerated to energies as high as 60 MeV /nucleon. A key test of this theory is a direct verification that these energetic nuclei are indeed singly ionized. This prediction can be tested by comparing simultaneous measurements of the flux of anomalous cosmic rays made inside and outside the magnetosphere, using the geomagnetic field as a rigidity-dependent filter. Grigorov et al. have recently reported measurements of the flux of 10 MeV /nucleon C, N, and 0 nuclei made during 1986 to 1988 by a series of KOSMOS satellites flown in low Earth orbit. We have analyzed data from the same time periods from several instruments on IMP-8 and ICE, which were located outside the magnetosphere. We compare the 0 fluxes inside and outside the magnetosphere over this time period and examine the implications of these measurements for the charge state of anomalous cosmic rays

Charge separation relative to the reaction plane in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}= 2.76 TeV

Measurements of charge dependent azimuthal correlations with the ALICE detector at the LHC are reported for Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 2.76$ TeV. Two- and three-particle charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in the pseudo-rapidity range $|\eta| < 0.8$ are presented as a function of the collision centrality, particle separation in pseudo-rapidity, and transverse momentum. A clear signal compatible with a charge-dependent separation relative to the reaction plane is observed, which shows little or no collision energy dependence when compared to measurements at RHIC energies. This provides a new insight for understanding the nature of the charge dependent azimuthal correlations observed at RHIC and LHC energies.Comment: 12 pages, 3 captioned figures, authors from page 2 to 6, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/286