Discrete spectrum in a critical coupling case of Jacobi matrices with spectral phase transitions by uniform asymptotic analysis

For a two-parameter family of Jacobi matrices exhibiting first-order spectral phase transitions, we prove discreteness of the spectrum in the positive real axis when the parameters are in one of the transition boundaries. To this end we develop a method for obtaining uniform asymptotics, with respect to the spectral parameter, of the generalized eigenvectors. Our technique can be applied to a wide range of Jacobi matrices.Comment: 27 pages, 2 figure

СОСТОЯНИЕ КОАГУЛЯЦИОННОГО ГЕМОСТАЗА ПОСЛЕ РЕЗЕКЦИИ ПЕЧЕНИ С ПРИМЕНЕНИЕМ СВЕРХНИЗКИХ ТЕМПЕРАТУР В ЗАВИСИМОСТИ ОТ ФУНКЦИОНАЛЬНОГО СОСТОЯНИЯ ОРГАНА

The work has evaluated the impact of intraoperative cryotherapy on the coagulation indicators and the risk of hemorrhagic complications development after liver resection, depending on the original (preoperative) functional state of the organ and the resection method. 24 patients with liver lesions, aged 20 –55, have been operated; of them 9 patients had liver disorders prior to the surgery and 15 patients had no disorders. Half of the patients have undergone liver resection with cryotherapy, the remaining part of the patients have been exposed to conventional resection. The material for the research was venous plasma. According to the research findings, the post-operative dynamics of the coagulation indicators in the patients with liver lesions proves the advantage of using cryotherapy for minimizing the risk of hemorrhagic complications emergence. Thus, a tendency towards normalization of factors V, XI and XII content in blood plasma is more prominent after cryoresection of the liver, than after the conventional resection method (without cryotherapy). The international normalized ratio (INR) in the post-operative period exceeds the norm, regardless of the resection method and the functional state of the liver prior to the surgery. However, among the patients who had original liver disorder, INR is more than 2.0 before the surgery, whereas after the operation, despite the decrease, it remains above 1.4, which indicates significant hypocoagulation and high risk of hemorrhagic complications following the deficiency of the extrinsic coagulation pathway. Activated partial thromboplastin time after the surgery goes down, however, like before the surgery, it remains within the range of the commonly accepted reference values, regardless of the functional liver state and the resection method.В работе оценивали влияние интраоперационного холодового воздействия на показатели коагуляционного гемостаза и риск развития геморрагических осложнений после резекции печени в зависимости от исходного (до операции) функционального состояния органа и метода резекции. Было прооперировано 24 пациента в возрасте от 20 до 55 лет по поводу очаговых поражений печени. Нарушение функций печени до операции наблюдалось у 9 больных, у 15 пациентов функциональных нарушений не было. У 50% больных была выполнена резекция печени с применением криовоздействия, у остальной части пациентов – традиционная резекция. Материалом для исследования служила плазма венозной крови. Согласно полученным результатам, динамика показателей коагуляционного гемостаза у больных с очаговой патологией печени после резекции органа доказывает преимущество применения криовоздействия для минимизации риска возникновения геморрагических послеоперационных осложнений. Так, в период после криорезекции печени тенденция к нормализации содержания факторов V, XI и XII в плазме крови является более выраженной, чем при использовании традиционного (без криовоздействия) метода резекции. Международное нормализованное отношение (МНО) в послеоперационном периоде превышает норму вне зависимости от метода резекции и функционального состояния печени до операции, однако у больных с исходно нарушенной функцией печени до операции МНО выше 2,0, а после операции, несмотря на снижение, сохраняется выше 1,4, что свидетельствует о значительной гипокоагуляции и высоком риске геморрагических осложнений вследствие нарушений внешнего (тканевого) пути активации свертывания крови. Активированное частичное тромбопластиновое время после операции снижается, но (как и до операции) сохраняется в пределах общепринятых референсных значений вне зависимости от функционального состояния печени и метода резекции

Chronic Exposure to the Herbicide, Atrazine, Causes Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Insulin Resistance

There is an apparent overlap between areas in the USA where the herbicide, atrazine (ATZ), is heavily used and obesity-prevalence maps of people with a BMI over 30. Given that herbicides act on photosystem II of the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts, which have a functional structure similar to mitochondria, we investigated whether chronic exposure to low concentrations of ATZ might cause obesity or insulin resistance by damaging mitochondrial function. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 48) were treated for 5 months with low concentrations (30 or 300 µg kg−1 day−1) of ATZ provided in drinking water. One group of animals was fed a regular diet for the entire period, and another group of animals was fed a high-fat diet (40% fat) for 2 months after 3 months of regular diet. Various parameters of insulin resistance were measured. Morphology and functional activities of mitochondria were evaluated in tissues of ATZ-exposed animals and in isolated mitochondria. Chronic administration of ATZ decreased basal metabolic rate, and increased body weight, intra-abdominal fat and insulin resistance without changing food intake or physical activity level. A high-fat diet further exacerbated insulin resistance and obesity. Mitochondria in skeletal muscle and liver of ATZ-treated rats were swollen with disrupted cristae. ATZ blocked the activities of oxidative phosphorylation complexes I and III, resulting in decreased oxygen consumption. It also suppressed the insulin-mediated phosphorylation of Akt. These results suggest that long-term exposure to the herbicide ATZ might contribute to the development of insulin resistance and obesity, particularly where a high-fat diet is prevalent

Organic chemistry. History and mutual relations of universities of Russia

© 2017, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd. The review describes the history of development of organic chemistry in higher schools of Russia over a period of 170 years, since the emergence of organic chemistry in our country till now

Safety and tolerability of DIM-based therapy designed as personalized approach to reverse prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN)

Background: It has been shown previously that novel formulation of 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) substance with high bioavailability (Infemin) inhibits tumor development due to the tumor growth rate reduction in the xenograft model of prostate cancer. Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) is considered to be promising as a personalized and preventive treatment strategy of prostate cancer (PC). We assessed the safety of Infemin in men with PIN and discussed the interim results.Materials and methods: A total of 14 patients with PIN were enrolled. They were randomized to 900 mg DIM or placebo daily for 3 months. Safety was evaluated by adverse events (AEs), laboratory tests and physical examinations.Results and conclusion: The trial revealed that Infemin treatment is associated with minimal toxicity and no serious adverse events when administered orally for 3 months. We noted three adverse events including nausea and diarrhea in two patients (14%). Combined 95% confidence interval (CI) was 1.8%-42.8%. Therapy was continued in all cases of adverse events.Good tolerability of DIM-based formulation allows us to recommend it for further clinical trials among men diagnosed with PIN for its efficacy and long-term safety parameters. © 2014 Paltsev et al

Safety and tolerability of DIM-based therapy designed as personalized approach to reverse prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN)

Background: It has been shown previously that novel formulation of 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) substance with high bioavailability (Infemin) inhibits tumor development due to the tumor growth rate reduction in the xenograft model of prostate cancer. Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) is considered to be promising as a personalized and preventive treatment strategy of prostate cancer (PC). We assessed the safety of Infemin in men with PIN and discussed the interim results.Materials and methods: A total of 14 patients with PIN were enrolled. They were randomized to 900 mg DIM or placebo daily for 3 months. Safety was evaluated by adverse events (AEs), laboratory tests and physical examinations.Results and conclusion: The trial revealed that Infemin treatment is associated with minimal toxicity and no serious adverse events when administered orally for 3 months. We noted three adverse events including nausea and diarrhea in two patients (14%). Combined 95% confidence interval (CI) was 1.8%-42.8%. Therapy was continued in all cases of adverse events.Good tolerability of DIM-based formulation allows us to recommend it for further clinical trials among men diagnosed with PIN for its efficacy and long-term safety parameters. © 2014 Paltsev et al

RESULTS OF USTEKINUMAB TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ACCORDING TO THE DATA OF PSUMMIT 1 AND PSUMMIT 2

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints, vertebral column,  and entesises, which is associated with psoriasis. T helper type 17 cells (Th-17)  play a leading role in the development of inflammation in psoriasis and PsA so different biologicals affecting interleukins (IL) 17 and 23 are being intensively investigated. Randomized, placebo-controlled Phase III PSUMMIT 1 (NCT01009086,  EudraCT  2009-012264-14) and PSUMMIT 2 (NCT01077362,  EudraCT  2009-012265-60) studies were undertaken  to evaluate the efficiency and tolerability of  ustekinumab  (UST) treatment in PsA patients.Subjects and methods. The PSUMMIT 1 study covered 152 Russian patients with active PsA (≥5 tender and ≥5 swollen joints; C-reactive protein ≥3 mg/l) who were randomly (using the dynamic centralized randomization method on the basis of an interactive vocal response algorithm) divided into three groups (at a 1:1:1 ratio): 1) subcutaneous UST 45 mg; 2) UST 90 mg; 3) placebo (PL) at baseline, 4 weeks later, and then every 12 weeks). After 16 weeks the patients showing a less than 5% reduction  in the number of tender and swollen joints were given UST 45 mg (if they belonged to the PL group) or 90 mg (if they were in the UST 45-mg group). The PL-receiving patients were given UST 45 mg at weeks 24 and 28 and then every 12 weeks. The treatment duration was 2 years. A therapeutic  response  was estimated by theAmericanCollege of Rheumatology (ACR) response criteria. The PSUMMIT 2 study enrolled 40 Russian patients who had previously received or were currently receiving disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and/or nonsteroidal  anti-inflammatory drugs and tumor necrosis factor-α  inhibitors. The patients were randomized  to the groups of those receiving UST 45 mg or 90 mg or PL at baseline and at week 4, then once every 12 weeks. The last dose of UST was given at week 40. The follow-up lasted until week 60.Results and discussion. In the PSUMMIT 1 study, 24-week administration of UST 45 mg and 90 mg significantly more frequently ensured a 20% improvement according to the ACR criteria than that of PL (39.2; 44.0, and 15.7%, respectively; p < 0.01); the therapeutic response persisted until week52. In the PSUMMIT 2, following 24 weeks, the UST 45-mg and 90-mg groups considerably more often showed a 20% improvement according to the ACR criteria than the PL group (64.3, 57.1, and 16.7%, respectively; p < 0.01); the therapeutic response persisted until week 52. Among 150 Russian patients taking UST, on the average, for 45.1 weeks in the PSUMMIT 1 study, 62 (41.3%) were observed to have adverse events (AE) that were serious in 6 (4.0%). Among 40 PsA patients who participated  in the PSUMMIT 2 study inRussia, AEs were seen in a total of 25 (62.5%) patients, serious AEs being absent.Conclusion. The results of the PSUMMIT 1 and PSUMMIT studies in the Russian population  indicated that UST treatment contributed  to a significant reduction  of PS symptoms and exhibited a good tolerability.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14412/1995-4484-2015-125-13

Perception of multistable images: EEG studies

In the paper we studied the dynamics of the complex patterns in human EEG data during a psychophysiological experiment by stimulating cognitive activity with the perception of ambiguous object. A new method based on the calculation of the maximum energy component for the continuous wavelet transform (skeletons) was proposed. The paper presented the processing results of experimental data for 20 male volunteers. Skeleton analysis allowed us to identify specific patterns in the EEG data set, appearing during the perception of ambiguous objects. Thus, it became possible to diagnose some associated cognitive processes. We found complex dynamics in delta, alpha and beta frequency ranges on EEG during the bistable image perception. We believe that this dynamics could be associated with processes of concentration of attention and recognition of complex visual objects

Anticancer activity of a new pharmaceutical composition of diindolylmethane by inhibiting the cell viability in vitro

We have studied antitumor effects of a new pharmaceutical composition with improved bioavailability containing 3,3’-diindolylmethane (DIM) by in vitro modelling. Cytotoxicity of the test substance was determined by MTT assay. Pharmaceutical composition based on DIM inhibits the growth of tumor cell lines of endometrial cancer CRL-1622 (IC50 = 41,9 µM) and HTB-113 (IC50 = 52,2 µM). Results of the study allow to recommend the further investigation of antitumor activity in vivo

Perspectives of local diclofenacol 1% liniment application in joint diseases

Objective. To assess efficacy and safety diclofenacol 1% liniment application in comparison with diclo- ran plus. Material and methods. An open controlled 2-weeks trial of diclofenacol 1% liniment on 30 pts with active joint syndrome (group 1) compared with dicloran plus 1% gel on 20 pts (group II). Pts age ranged from 16 to 79 years, mean disease duration was 8,2 1,5 years. Most pts had II activity degree. Results. Diclofenacol 1% liniment applications decreased pain at rest and at movement and circle of aim joints. In pts with RA effect was more prominent. Dicloran plus provided equivalent results. Local effect of diclofenacol appeared in average after 31,5 min. (from 10 to 73 min) and lasted during 118,3 min (from 50 to 240 min.). Diclofenacol allowed to decrease dose of oral NSAIDs in 43,3% of pts and dicloran - in 40% of pts. Diclofenacol safety was good without local and systemic adverse events. Conclusion. Diclofenacol 1% liniment manufactured by Hiperion S.A. (Rumania) can be recommended for wide administration in treatment of joint diseases particularly in pts with concomitant gastrointestinal diseases and hypertension