Ultrasound diagnosis of iliac lymph node metastases in cancer of the cervix uteri

The Outpatient Ultrasound Diagnosis Group, Research Consulting Department, N. N. Blokhin Russian Cancer Research Center, studied the results of an examination in 93 patients with the verified diagnosis of cancer of the cervix uteri (CCU). To specify the extent of a tumor process, a comprehensive ultrasound examination was made in all the patients with verified CCU during their first visit. Our findings were statistically processed. According to our findings, ultrasound computed tomography is a highly informative method to diagnose retroperitoneal lymph node (LN) metastases, which defines the shape, sizes, structure, location, and number of metastatic LNs. Iliac LNs with reactive changes were detected in 24.7 % of CCU cases. No ultrasound signs of iliac LN metastatic involvement were found in 4.3 % of cases in the presence of CCU micrometastases. The number of metastatic regional LNs was validly proven to increase with larger tumor sizes. The threshold values of cervicaltumors were determined, which may presume the presence or absence of iliac LN metastases to have a rather high sensitivity and specificity. The risk of LN metastatic involvement was validly proven to be 4.1-fold higher with greater two or more threshold values of a cervical tumor

The influence of Losartanum and Amlodipinum fixed combination use on cardiovascular complications risk factors seasonal variability in patients with arterial hypertension

Rationale: The influence of drugs on adaptation to high temperatures and seasonal variability of cardiovascular disease factors is one of the most important issues of treatment raised during re-cent heat waves. The safety of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) use during heat waves is quite controversial. Aim: To assess the seasonal variability of hemodynamic parameters, vessel wall stiffness, lipid, carbohydrate and electrolyte metabolism in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and to as-sess safety and effectiveness of fixed combination of Losartanum and Amlodipinum (Lortenza® KRKA) use according to one-year follow-up results. Materials and methods. The study included 26 patients with stage 1 and 2 AH aged from 42 to 81 years. Office blood pressure measurement, electrocardiography, volumetric sphygmography (pulse-wave velocity, cardio-ankle vascular index), serum chemistry, blood osmolarity tests were performed. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Heat Questionnaries and self-control diaries were also assessed. The baseline visit took place in spring of 2016, the first visit - in May-June 2016, the second - during the heat wave, the third - in September-October 2016, the fourth - in January-February 2017, and the fifth - in April-May 2017. Results. The treatment resulted in systolic and diastolic blood pressure decrease (р=0.000) to target value which persisted during the follow-up period. According to the self-control diaries 81% of patients did really control BP. During the heat wave only 58% of patients succeeded in BP control, in autumn - 63%, in winter and spring - 81% and 86%, respectively. By the third visit the heart rate decreased on -6.0 (-11.1; -2.8) beats per minute, p=0.007. The decrease in pulse-wave velocity from 15.2±3.4 m/s to 13.6±2.7 m/s, p=0.01 and CAVI on -2.1 (-2.9; -0.65), p=0.01 was observed on the third visit. Decrease in uric acid level (

Development of a Li2MoO4 scintillating bolometer for low background physics

We present the performance of a 33 g Li2MoO4 crystal working as a scintillating bolometer. The crystal was tested for more than 400 h in a dilution refrigerator installed in the underground laboratory of Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (Italy). This compound shows promising features in the frame of neutron detection, dark matter search (solar axions) and neutrinoless double-beta decay physics. Low temperature scintillating properties were investigated by means of different alpha, beta/gamma and neutron sources, and for the first time the Light Yield for different types of interacting particle is estimated. The detector shows great ability of tagging fast neutron interactions and high intrinsic radiopurity levels (< 90 \muBq/kg for 238-U and < 110 \muBq/kg for 232-Th).Comment: revised versio

Interleukin-18 gene polymorphism in pregnancy With premature rupture of membranes: A case-control study

Background. Imbalanced pro- and anti-inflammatory systems can unfavourably condition carrying of pregnancy and provoke gestation complications, such as premature rupture of membranes.Objectives. Assessing the contribution of SNP variants -137G&gt;C (rs187238), -607G&gt;T (rs1946518) and -656A&gt;C (rs5744228) of the IL-18 gene promoter to the incidence of extremely preterm premature rupture of membranes.Methods. A case-control study enrolled 120 pregnant women managed at the Perinatal Centre. The women were divided in two cohorts. The study cohort comprised 80 women with premature rupture of membranes at 22–27 weeks 6 days’ gestation hospitalised in a high-risk pregnancy unit, a control cohort consisted of 40 women with physiological pregnancy at 22–27 weeks 6 days’ gestation following outpatient counselling. The cohorts had comparable obstetric and gynaecological histories. The study exclusion criteria were: multiple gestation, foetal chromosomal anomalies, congenital foetal malformations, pregnancy due to assisted reproduction. Genotyping was performed at positions -137G&gt;C, -607G&gt;T and -656A&gt;C of the IL-18 gene promoter with determining a peripheral blood IL-18 level in cohorts.Results. The premature rupture of membranes cohort had a statistically higher serum interleukin-18 concentration compared to control (p = 0.001). Genotyping of the IL-18 gene promoter revealed a statistically higher rate of homozygous -137G&gt;C mutation (CC genotype) in the premature rupture of membranes cohort at 22–27 weeks 6 days’ term (p &lt;0.001), 67 vs. 27% in control.Conclusion. A homozygous IL-18 -137G&gt;C polymorphic variant associated with elevated blood IL-18 levels is statistically more common in pregnant women having premature rupture of membranes at 22–27 weeks 6 days’ gestation

Observation of Cosmic Gamma Ray Bursts in the Experiments Onboard Lomonosov and Vernov Satellites

Abstract: The study of cosmic gamma ray bursts (GRBs) is one of the main goals of the Lomonosov space mission. The main advantage of this mission is simultaneous multiwavelength observations of GRBs covering the optical, X-ray and gamma-ray ranges. The mission payload includes the GRB monitor BDRG, wide-field optical cameras SHOK, and the UFFO instrument. Data are recorded mainly by the event trigger provided by the BDRG instrument, which measures the spectral and temporal properties of the burst in the energy range 10–3000 keV. The BDRG instrument also provides estimation of the source coordinates by comparing the readings of three differently directed detectors with an accuracy of several degrees. Wide-field SHOK optical cameras have a field of view of ~20° × 40°. They fix a set of images with a frequency of about five frames per second prior to the trigger and another set immediately after the trigger. The UFFO instrument includes the UBAT telescope with a coded mask for measurements in hard X-ray and soft gamma-ray ranges and an optical telescope with a slewing mirror (SMT) that can be directed on the GRB source for a time ~1 s for measuring GRB prompt emission in the early stages. In response to an BDRG trigger signal, the real-time data on a detected GRB are transmitted to the Earth via Globalstar network to the Gamma-ray Coordinates Network (GCN) and ground-based observatories. During observations on the Lomonosov satellite, 20 gamma-ray bursts were detected and catalogued. Several gamma-ray bursts were also detected in the Vernov satellite experiment. An example of such an event is given.Financial support for this work was provided by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, project no RFMEFI60717X0175