Continuous copper leaching technology

The parameters of the continuous technological process of leaching copper from fine copper waste using nitric acid as an oxidizer are studied. Optimal conditions for a continuous leaching process were established, in which solutions with a mass concentration of copper ions greater than 25 g/dm3 were obtained

Рецензия на статью «Возможности позитронной эмиссионной томографии, совмещенной с компьютерной томографией, с «18F-ФДГ в диагностике почечно-клеточного рака»

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11C-Choline Pet/Ct in the Detection of Prostate Cancer Relapse in Patients After Radical Treatment With Psa Level < 10 Ng/Ml

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of 11C-Choline PET/CT in the detection of recurrent prostate cancer (PCa) in patients with biochemical relapse after radical treatment. Materials and methods: This retrospective study included 217 PCa patients who underwent 11C-Choline PET/CT in the Department of Nuclear Medicine of Bakoulev Scientific Centre. All patients had biochemical relapse 3±2 years after radical treatment for locally advanced PCa (T1–3 N0–1 M0): radical prostatectomy (n = 159) and radiation therapy (n = 58). The mean PSA value in the group was 2.1±2.5 (0.2–9.7) ng/ml, median – 1.9 ng/ml. Imaging was performed on PET/CT scanner (Biograph-64, Siemens) 10 min after injection of 11C-Choline (400–550 Mbq). Results: Overall, according to 11C-Choline PET/CT results PCa relapse was detected in 56% (121/217) of cases: in 50% (80/159) after radical prostatectomy and in 71% (41/58) after radiation therapy. The mean PSA value in PET-positive cases was 3.1±2.2 (0.2–9.7) ng/ml, while in PETnegative cases – 1.8±1.7 (0.2–4.6) ng/ml. The majority – 68% (65/96) patients with PET-negative scan had low PSA levels (&lt; 2 ng/ml). PET/CT results were positive in 43% (50/115) patients with PSA of &lt; 2 ng/ml, in 63% (45/72) with PSA of 2 to 5 ng/ml, and in 87% (26/30) with PSA of &gt; 5 ng/ml. Local relapse was detected in 51% (62/121) patients, distant metastases – in 28% (34/121) of cases, both local and distant metastases – in 21% (25/121) of cases. Lymph node metastases were detected in 38% (86/217) of all patients included in the analysis, of which 28% (24/86) had lesions in lymph node of normal size (median 7 mm). Of all PET-positive patients bone metastases were detected in 33% (40/121), of which 60% (24/40) had isolated skeletal involvement. Importantly, that 27% (11/40) of PETpositive patients with bone metastases had no structural abnormalities on CT images (CT-negative cases), corresponding to isolated involvement of bone marrow. And half of these CT-negative patients (5/11) had single lesions. The mean PSA value in patients with bone metastases was 5.0±3.7 (0.4–9.1) ng/ml, median – 3.8 ng/ml. According to 11C-Choline PET/CT results oligometastatic PCa recurrence was revealed in 38% (82/217) of all patients, of which 62% (51/82) had local relapse only. Distant oligometastatic lesions were detected in 38% (31/82), of which 13% (4/31) were presented by normal-size lymph nodes and 19% (6/31) – by early bone marrow metastases. 48% (58/121) of PET-positive results were confirmed by data of repeated PET/CT examinations. Conclusion: 11C-Choline PET/CT has been shown to be a single noninvasive accurate technique for detection of recurrent PCa in patients with rising PSA after radical treatment, which allows to differentiate patients with local and distant metastases in one study, as well as identify oligometastatic process, and therefore was useful in determining the further personalized therapeutic approach. Keywords: prostate cancer, PET/CT, 11C-Choline, biochemical recurrence, PSA

Core-shell magnetoactive PHB/gelatin/magnetite composite electrospun scaffolds for biomedical applications

Novel hybrid magnetoactive composite scaffolds based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), gelatin, and magnetite (Fe3O4) were fabricated by electrospinning. The morphology, structure, phase composition, and magnetic properties of composite scaffolds were studied. Fabrication procedures of PHB/gelatin and PHB/gelatin/Fe3O4 scaffolds resulted in the formation of both core-shell and ribbon-shaped structure of the fibers. In case of hybrid PHB/gelatin/Fe3O4 scaffolds submicron-sized Fe3O4 particles were observed in the surface layers of the fibers. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results allowed the presence of gelatin on the fiber surface (N/C ratio–0.11) to be revealed. Incubation of the composite scaffolds in saline for 3 h decreased the amount of gelatin on the surface by more than ~75%. The differential scanning calorimetry results obtained for pure PHB scaffolds revealed a characteristic melting peak at 177.5 °C. The presence of gelatin in PHB/gelatin and PHB/gelatin/Fe3O4 scaffolds resulted in the decrease in melting temperature to 168–169 °C in comparison with pure PHB scaffolds due to the core-shell structure of the fibers. Hybrid scaffolds also demonstrated a decrease in crystallinity from 52.3% (PHB) to 16.9% (PHB/gelatin) and 9.2% (PHB/gelatin/Fe3O4). All the prepared scaffolds were non-toxic and saturation magnetization of the composite scaffolds with magnetite was 3.27 ± 0.22 emu/g, which makes them prospective candidates for usage in biomedical applications

Analysis of factors affecting the accuracy of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography in case of suspected prosthetic valve infective endocarditis

Aim. To analyze the factors affecting the accuracy of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) in case of suspected prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE).Material and methods. The results of PET/CT performed in 66 patients after heart valve replacement were analyzed: 55 patients with suspected PVE (≥3 months after surgery) and 11 comparison groups without PVE (2 months after surgery). In the group with suspected PVE (n=55) at the time of the study, 27% (15/55) had a normal body temperature, 85% (47/55) — no leukocytosis. In 16% (9/55), the examination was performed from 3 to 6 months after surgery and in 67% (37/55)  — against the background of long-term antibiotic therapy (ABT). The final diagnosis of PVE was made on the basis of clinical (including 6±3 followup), laboratory, instrumental, and intraoperative (n=40) data: confirmed  — in 37 patients; ruled out — in 29 patients. In order to determine the influence of factors on obtaining false PET/CT results, the odds ratio was calculated.Results. In the group with suspected PVE (n=55), the PET/CT results made it possible to establish and rule out PVE in 92% (34/37) and 67% (12/18) of patients, respectively. In 16% (9/55) of patients, false positive (n=6) and false negative (n=3) results. Thus, the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT in the diagnosis of PVE were 92%, 67% and 84%, respectively; positive and negative predictive values — 85% and 80%. The analysis of the odds ratio did not reveal the relationship of low inflammatory activity, the interval between surgery and PET/CT from 3 to 6 months, and long-term ABT before PET/CT with false PET/CT results (p&gt;0,05). In the comparison group without PVE (n=11), 91% (10/11) received false positive PET/CT results, and one patient received a true negative result.Conclusion. The data obtained indicate the high informative value of PET/CT in the diagnosis of PVE. Interval &gt;2 months between surgery and PET/CT significantly reduces the accuracy of PET/CT results. Other factors analyzed in the presented group did not affect the accuracy of PET/CT results

Electrospun magnetic composite poly-3-hydroxybutyrate/magnetite scaffolds for biomedical applications: composition, structure, magnetic properties, and biological performance

Magnetically responsive composite polymer scaffolds have good potential for a variety of biomedical applications. In this work, electrospun composite scaffolds made of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and magnetite (Fe3O4) particles (MPs) were studied before and after degradation in either PBS or a lipase solution. MPs of different sizes with high saturation magnetization were synthesized by the coprecipitation method followed by coating with citric acid (CA). Nanosized MPs were prone to magnetite-maghemite phase transformation during scaffold fabrication, as revealed by Raman spectroscopy; however, for CA-functionalized nanoparticles, the main phase was found to be magnetite, with some traces of maghemite. Submicron MPs were resistant to the magnetite-maghemite phase transformation. MPs did not significantly affect the morphology and diameter of PHB fibers. The scaffolds containing CA-coated MPs lost 0.3 or 0.2% of mass in the lipase solution and PBS, respectively, whereas scaffolds doped with unmodified MPs showed no mass changes after 1 month of incubation in either medium. In all electrospun scaffolds, no alterations of the fiber morphology were observed. Possible mechanisms of the crystalline-lamellar-structure changes in hybrid PHB/Fe3O4 scaffolds during hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation are proposed. It was revealed that particle size and particle surface functionalization affect the mechanical properties of the hybrid scaffolds. The addition of unmodified MPs increased scaffolds' ultimate strength but reduced elongation at break after the biodegradation, whereas simultaneous increases in both parameters were observed for composite scaffolds doped with CA-coated MPs. The highest saturation magnetization-higher than that published in the literature-was registered for composite PHB scaffolds doped with submicron MPs. All PHB scaffolds proved to be biocompatible, and the ones doped with nanosized MPs yielded faster proliferation of rat mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, all electrospun scaffolds were able to support angiogenesis in vivo at 30 days after implantation in Wistar rats

Реальная клиническая практика: принципы использования в принятии управленческих решений и оценке технологий здравоохранения

The use of real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) in process of improving public health, their assessment, and use in decision making is a promising area. Discussions are actively underway about the possibility of using RWD and RWE in routine medical practice of doctors and health care organizers, the weaknesses of these matters and ways to overcome them. Taking into account the considerable amount of information, complexity, and inconsistency of issues under consideration, the article presents the basic principles of using RWD and RWE in decision making, classification of health technologies values, classification of RWE sources, position of RWD studies in the hierarchy of clinical study designs, as well as the ways of their use in complex drug assessment.Использование данных и доказательств реальной клинической практики (РКП) при подготовке предложений по совершенствованию системы здравоохранения, их оценке и последующем принятии на их основе управленческих решений является перспективным и актуальным направлением. Активно ведутся дискуссии о возможности применения в практической деятельности врачей и организаторов здравоохранения данных и доказательств РКП, о слабых сторонах этих данных и путях их преодоления. Учитывая значительный объем информации, комплексность и противоречивость рассматриваемого вопроса, в статье приведены основные принципы использования данных и доказательств РКП при принятии управленческих решений в здравоохранении, классификация видов ценности медицинских технологий, классификация источников доказательств, основанных на данных РКП, положение исследований РКП в иерархии дизайнов клинических исследований, а также возможности их применения в комплексной оценке лекарственных препаратов

Высокие значения исходных объемных ПЭТ-биомаркеров как предикторы неблагоприятного прогноза классической лимфомы Ходжкина

Purpose: To analyse the prognostic value of the initial volumetric PET biomarkers – the total metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and the total lesion glycolysis (TLG) – in classic Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL) and determine their optimal threshold values for prognosis.Material and methods. This retrospective study included 62 cHL patients with different stages who underwent staging with 18F-FGD PET/CT. The follow-up period was from 6 to 61 months after the baseline PET/CT, 41 patients remained in remission, 10 patients had refractory course, 11 relapsed. The examinations were processed with automatic (multi-foci segmentation – MFS) method to obtain MTV and TLG using two fixed absolute thresholds (SUVmax ≥ 2.5 and SUVmax ≥ 4.0) and one relative threshold (41% of SUVmax).Results. In subgroups with disease remission (n = 41) and refractory course or relapse (n = 21), statistically significant differences between MTV and TLG with the two thresholds were found – SUVmax ≥ 2.5 and 41% of SUVmax (p &lt; 0.05). When using threshold of SUVmax ≥ 4.0 statistically differences between the mean of MTV and TLG were no detected.Univariate analysis revealed correlation between progression-free survival and volumetric PET biomarkers (MTV and TLG) with three thresholds (SUVmax ≥ 2.5, SUVmax ≥ 4.0, and 41% of SUVmax).Conclusion. In cHL high values of initial volumetric PET biomarkers – MTV and TLG – calculated with three thresholds (SUVmax ≥ 2.5, SUVmax ≥ 4.0, and 41% of SUVmax) are associated with unfavourable prognosis – a high probability of refractory disease course or relapse.The optimal prognostic thresholds values of MTV and TLG in the analysed group were determined respectively: SUVmax ≥ 2.5 – 204 cm3 and 961, at 41% of SUVmax – 105 cm3 and 620.Цель исследования: анализ прогностического значения исходных объемных ПЭТ-биомаркеров – общего метаболического объема опухоли (MTV) и общего уровня гликолиза (TLG) – при классической лимфоме Ходжкина (кЛХ) и определение их оптимальных пороговых прогностических значений.Материал и методы. Ретроспективно проанализированы результаты ПЭТ/КТ-исследований 62 пациентов с впервые выявленной кЛХ. Период наблюдения составил от 6 до 61 мес после исходного ПЭТ/ КТ-исследования. В течение указанного периода у 41 (66%) пациента сохранялась ремиссия заболевания, у 10 (16%) пациентов диагностировано рефрактерное течение, у 11 (18%) – рецидив. Показатели MTV и TLG рассчитывались автоматическим методом с использованием для каждого трех значений отсечки фона: двух абсолютных – SUVmax ≥ 2,5 и SUVmax ≥ 4,0 и одного относительного – 41% от SUVmax.Результаты. Для расчета пороговых прогностических значений MTV и TLG группа была разделена на две подгруппы: 1-я – с ремиссией заболевания в течение периода наблюдения (n = 41); 2-я – с рефрактерным или рецидивирующим течением (n = 21). В указанных подгруппах были выявлены статистически значимые различия между показателями MTV и TLG при двух используемых значениях отсечки фона – SUVmax ≥ 2,5 и 41% от SUVmax (р &lt; 0,05). При использовании отсечки фона – SUVmax ≥ 4,0 – значимых различий между указанными показателями в подгруппах получено не было.При однофакторном анализе параметры MTV и TLG с использованием трех пороговых значений отсечки фона (SUVmax ≥ 2,5, SUVmax ≥ 4,0 и 41% от SUVmax) коррелировали с выживаемостью без прогрессирования.Заключение. При кЛХ высокие значения исходных объемных ПЭТ-биомаркеров MTV и TLG, рассчитанные с использованием различных порогов отсечки фона (SUVmax ≥ 2,5, SUVmax ≥ 4,0 и 41% от SUVmax), ассоциируются с неблагоприятным прогнозом – высокой вероятностью рефрактерного течения заболевания или возникновения рецидива.Оптимальные прогностические пороговые значения MTV и TLG в анализируемой группе составили: при SUVmax ≥ 2,5 – 204 см3 и 961, при 41% от SUVmax – 105 см3 и 620 соответственно

ПЭТ / КТ с 11С-холином в диагностике рецидива рака предстательной железы у пациентов с биохимическим прогрессированием

Objective. To evaluate the diagnostic impact of 11C–Choline PET / CT in the detection of recurrent prostate cancer (PCa) in patients with biochemical relapse after radical prostatectomy and to assess the correlation between PSA levels and PET / CT detection rate of PCa relapse.Subjects and methods. 85 patients with biochemical relapse (mean PSA 3.51 ± 3.87 ng / ml) after radical prostatectomy (n = 64) and radiotherapy (n = 21) underwent 11C–Choline PET / CT. According to PSA level, patients were divided into three groups: 2 ng / ml, 2 to 9 ng / ml and &gt; 9 ng / ml.Results. Overall, 11C–Choline PET / CT detected PCa relapse in 33 of 85 patients (39 %). The mean PSA value in PET-positive patients was 5.78 ± 4.95 (0.22–17.80) ng / ml, while in PET-negative patients – 1.43 ± 1.08 (0.28–4.57) ng / ml. Positive PET / CT results were obtained in 9 of 40 patients (22 %) with PSA of &lt; 2 ng / ml, in 17 of 38 patients (45 %) with PSA of 2 to 9 ng / ml, and in 7 of 7 patients (100 %) with PSA of &gt; 9 ng / ml. Local relapse was detected in 42 % (14 / 33) patients. Both local and distant metastases were diagnosed in 39 % (13 / 33) cases. Distant relapsewas identified in 19 % (6 / 33) cases. PET / CT allowed to assess the efficacy of treatment in 26 % (12 / 47) PET-negative patients under hormone therapy at the scan time. However, PET / CT wasn’t able to localize the site of PCa recurrence in these hormone-ensitive patients what might have affected the overall detection rate.Conclusion. 1) 11C–Choline PET / CT was able to detect and correctly identify the site of PCa relapse in 39 % cases and therefore was useful in determining the further therapeutic approach. 2) Our data confirmed the strong correlation between PSA levels and 11C–Choline PET / CT detection rate of PCa relapse (r = 0.9; p &lt; 0.001). 3) 11C–Choline PET / CT has limited utility in localizing the site of PCa recurrence in some patients under hormone therapy.Цель исследования – изучить возможности позитронно-эмиссионной томографии (ПЭТ), совмещенной с компьютерной томографией (ПЭТ / КТ) с 11С-холином в ранней диагностике прогрессирования рака предстательной железы (РПЖ) у больных после радикального лечения. Определить наличие корреляции между уровнем простатспецифического антигена (ПСА) и частотой выявления рецидива РПЖ при ПЭТ / КТ с 11С-холином.Материалы и методы. Проанализированы результаты 85 ПЭТ / КТ- исследований с 11С-холином у больных с биохимическим рецидивом РПЖ после различных видов лечения: радикальной простатэктомии (n = 64) и лучевой терапии (n = 21). В зависимости от уровня ПСА пациенты были разделены на 3 группы: &lt; 2,0 нг / мл, 2,0–9,0 нг / мл и &gt; 9,0 нг / мл. Среднее значение ПСА на момент исследования составляло 3,51 ± 3,87 (0,22–17,80) нг / мл.Результаты. По результатам ПЭТ / КТ рецидив РПЖ был диагностирован в 39 % (33 / 85) случаев. Средний уровень ПСА у ПЭТ-положительных больных составил 5,78 ± 4,95 (0,22–17,80) нг / мл и был значимо выше, чем у ПЭТ-отрицательных: 1,43 ± 1,08 (0,28–4,57) нг / мл. Выявлена прямая корреляция между частотой диагностики рецидива РПЖ по данным ПЭТ / КТ и уровнем ПСА: у больных с уровнем ПСА &lt; 2 нг / мл ПЭТ-положительные результаты получены в 22 % (9 / 40), при ПСА 2–9 нг / мл – в 45 % (17 / 38) и при ПСА &gt;9 нг / мл – в 100 % (7 / 7) случаев. Локальный и сочетанный рецидивы диагностированы с одинаковой частотой. Местный рецидив выявлен в 42 % (14 / 33) случаях, локальный рецидив в сочетании с отдаленными метастазами – в 39 % (13 / 33), только отдаленные метастазы – в 19 % (6 / 33) случаев. В группе ПЭТ-отрицательных больных 26 % (12 / 47) исследований проводили на фоне гормонотерапии (ГТ) в короткие сроки (в течение 7 дней) после введения лекарственных препаратов, которые в дальнейшем были расценены как ложноотрицательные. Получение ПЭТ-отрицательных результатов у данных больных, вероятнее всего, свидетельствовало о снижении метаболической активности процесса на фоне проводимой ГТ, что не позволяло определить локализацию рецидивного процесса.Выводы. 1) Результаты ПЭТ / КТ подтвердили рецидив заболевания, позволили определить его локализацию и распространенность у 39 % пациентов, что имело принципиальное значение для последующего лечения. 2) Выявлена прямая сильная корреляция между частотой выявления рецидива РПЖ при ПЭТ / КТ с 11С-холином и уровнем ПСА (r = 0,9; р &lt; 0,001). 3) Выполнение ПЭТ / КТ в короткие сроки после введения гормональных препаратов не позволяет определить локализацию рецидива РПЖ

Methodology for generating a global forest management layer

The first ever global map of forest management was generated based on remote sensing data. To collect training data, we launched a series of Geo-Wiki (https://www.geo-wiki.org/) campaigns involving forest experts from different world regions, to explore which information related to forest management could be collected by visual interpretation of very high-resolution images from Google Maps and Microsoft Bing, Sentinel time series and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) profiles derived from Google Earth Engine. A machine learning technique was then used with the visually interpreted sample (280K locations) as a training dataset to classify PROBA-V satellite imagery. Finally, we obtained a global wall-to-wall map of forest management at a 100m resolution for the year 2015. The map includes classes such as intact forests; forests with signs of management, including logging; planted forests; woody plantations with a rotation period up to 15 years; oil palm plantations; and agroforestry. The map can be used to deliver further information about forest ecosystems, protected and observed forest status changes, biodiversity assessments, and other ecosystem-related aspects