The Atmospheric Chemistry Suite (ACS) of Three Spectrometers for the ExoMars 2016 Trace Gas Orbiter

The Atmospheric Chemistry Suite (ACS) package is an element of the Russian contribution to the ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars 2016 Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) mission. ACS consists of three separate infrared spectrometers, sharing common mechanical, electrical, and thermal interfaces. This ensemble of spectrometers has been designed and developed in response to the Trace Gas Orbiter mission objectives that specifically address the requirement of high sensitivity instruments to enable the unambiguous detection of trace gases of potential geophysical or biological interest. For this reason, ACS embarks a set of instruments achieving simultaneously very high accuracy (ppt level), very high resolving power (>10,000) and large spectral coverage (0.7 to 17 μm—the visible to thermal infrared range). The near-infrared (NIR) channel is a versatile spectrometer covering the 0.7–1.6 μm spectral range with a resolving power of ∼20,000. NIR employs the combination of an echelle grating with an AOTF (Acousto-Optical Tunable Filter) as diffraction order selector. This channel will be mainly operated in solar occultation and nadir, and can also perform limb observations. The scientific goals of NIR are the measurements of water vapor, aerosols, and dayside or night side airglows. The mid-infrared (MIR) channel is a cross-dispersion echelle instrument dedicated to solar occultation measurements in the 2.2–4.4 μm range. MIR achieves a resolving power of >50,000. It has been designed to accomplish the most sensitive measurements ever of the trace gases present in the Martian atmosphere. The thermal-infrared channel (TIRVIM) is a 2-inch double pendulum Fourier-transform spectrometer encompassing the spectral range of 1.7–17 μm with apodized resolution varying from 0.2 to 1.3 cm−1. TIRVIM is primarily dedicated to profiling temperature from the surface up to ∼60 km and to monitor aerosol abundance in nadir. TIRVIM also has a limb and solar occultation capability. The technical concept of the instrument, its accommodation on the spacecraft, the optical designs as well as some of the calibrations, and the expected performances for its three channels are described

Leptin/adiponectin ratio in overweight patients – gender differences

OBJECTIVE: Obesity-related atherosclerosis is a systemic disease with a background connected to multiple metabolic-neurohumoral pathways. The leptin/adiponectin ratio has been suggested as an atherosclerotic marker in obese patients. The aim of this study was to assess (1) the significance of the L/A ratio in overweight subjects, (2) the relation with anthropometric/metabolic parameters and (3) gender difference. ----- METHOD: The study included 80 adult males and females, overweight, non-diabetic patients. Biochemical blood analysis and anthropometric and cardiovascular measurements were performed. Serum leptin levels were measured with a radioimmunoassay test and total adiponectin levels with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Leptin/adiponectin ratios were calculated as ratios between total serum concentrations of leptin and adiponectin. ----- RESULTS: Differences between leptin, adiponectin serum levels and leptin/adiponectin ratios are presented in overweight persons, where females have a significantly higher leptin/adiponectin ratio than men ( p < 0.001). In men, the leptin/adiponectin ratio showed a positive correlation with total cholesterol levels ( p = 0.011), low-density lipoprotein ( p = 0.013) and triglycerides ( p = 0.032). In females, the leptin/adiponectin ratio correlated with anthropometric parameters of visceral obesity: waist circumference ( p = 0.001) and waist-to-hip ratio ( p = 0.025). ----- CONCLUSION: The leptin/adiponectin ratio could represent an atherosclerotic risk marker of the early stage of obesity. Gender plays a significant role in pathophysiological changes, with different clinical manifestations, where sex hormones have a crucial effect on neurohumoral adipose tissue activity

PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF INTERMEDIARY METABOLISM CORRECTION IN PATIENTS WITH VASCULAR COMORBIDITY

Disorders of intermediary metabolism in the glycolysis cycles and fatty acids oxidation play a major role in heart and brain lesions of vascular origin. Features of the free-radical processes in various forms of vascular disease are presented. Differences within the free-radical processes reflecting the severity of tissue energy deficit are shown in stroke patients with concomitant ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes mellitus. Various aspects of the treatment of patients with vascular comorbidity are presented with the focus on correction of intermediary metabolism disorders. Complex energy correcting therapy including beta-oxidation blocker (meldonium) is discussed

PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF INTERMEDIARY METABOLISM CORRECTION IN PATIENTS WITH VASCULAR COMORBIDITY

Disorders of intermediary metabolism in the glycolysis cycles and fatty acids oxidation play a major role in heart and brain lesions of vascular origin. Features of the free-radical processes in various forms of vascular disease are presented. Differences within the free-radical processes reflecting the severity of tissue energy deficit are shown in stroke patients with concomitant ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes mellitus. Various aspects of the treatment of patients with vascular comorbidity are presented with the focus on correction of intermediary metabolism disorders. Complex energy correcting therapy including beta-oxidation blocker (meldonium) is discussed

THE WAYS OF LONG-TERM BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT

The significance of arterial hypertension (AH) is discussed as the main predictor of cardiovascular catastrophes development — myocardial infarction and stroke, and technologies for the solution of blood pressure (BP) control. The most modern world developments are presented for the distant observation of cardiovascular system (CVS) condition, including BP level in high risk patients. The main specifications of abroad invasive BP systems are provided, and Russian developing system with a layout of BP sensor and the method of no wired signal transmission and electrical supply. It is presupposed that such invasive device can in real time mode send the data on BP and its values, that characterize CVS condition. In critical BP changes the signals of alarm are incorporated to send to the emergency care stations and to the physician for proper solutions on the care, including urgencies. Such system might increase the effectiveness of prophylactic and medical care for the patients with cardiovascular pathology, increase the duration of life, and decrease funding, and not need supplementary inclusion of higher qualified specialists for dispensary screening

CARDIOVASCULAR PATHOLOGY IN ACUTE STROKE (ISSUES ON PREVALENCE, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT)

The article concerns on the problems of vascular comorbidity epidemiology and pathophysiological aspects of heart disease, which became a leading etiopathologic factor of cerebral infarctions and hemorrhages. The relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation, hypertension and cerebral infarction types is emphasized.Aim. To analyze the role of comorbidity, attributable to cardio-vascular pathology in the initiation, course, clinical features and outcomes of cerebral infarction.Material and methods. We performed a prospective study, including 1072 patients with stroke, attributable to various cardiovascular pathology, evaluated the influence of vascular comorbidity of variable degree on the course and outcomes at an inpatient stage and at follow-up.Results. We demonstrated a negative influence of CAD, atrial fibrillation and postinfarction cardiosclerosis on the incidence of cerebral infarction, unfavorable course of the disease and functional outcomes at inpatient stage. The combination of vascular comorbidity resulted in an increased mortality in post-stroke period during 6 years of follow-up.Conclusion. Epidemiology of vascular comorbidity, its role in cerebrovascular accidents in patients with cardiac pathology justifies the need of active realization of contemporary multidisciplinary prevention programs, prolonged instrumental monitoring and implementation of energy deficiency correction therapy in comprehensive treatment programs

Modern treatment strategies in patients with vascular comorbidity Part 1. Correcting tissue energy deficiency

The first paper of the series on the treatment of patients with vascular comorbidity (VC) is focused on the role and therapeutic potential of the correction of free radical processes (FRP) as pathogenetic factors of multifocal vascular pathology. Aim. To analyse the effects of VC on the incidence and outcomes of cerebral stroke (S), in order to create therapeutic algorithms of FRP correction. Material and methods. This prospective study included 634 S patients. The following factors were analysed: pre-stroke disability due to various VC variants; VC effects on the clinical course, as well as in-hospital and post-discharge outcomes; and FRP specifics in various VC variants. Results. VC was registered in 97% of S patients; in 45,3%, it resulted in pre-stroke disability. FRP parameters, reflecting the progression of tissue energy deficiency, differed significantly in patients with coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes mellitus. Based on these findings, the therapeutic algorithms for effective energy deficiency correction have been created. Conclusion. The analysis of pre- and post-stroke disability and prevention of repeat events in cardiovascular patients has demonstrated the need for a more active implementation of modern multidisciplinary preventive programs