Short Wavelength Analysis of the Evolution of Perturbations in a Two-component Cosmological Fluid

The equations describing a two-component cosmological fluid with linearized density perturbations are investigated in the small wavelength or large $k$ limit. The equations are formulated to include a baryonic component, as well as either a hot dark matter (HDM) or cold dark matter (CDM) component. Previous work done on such a system in static spacetime is extended to reveal some interesting physical properties, such as the Jeans wavenumber of the mixture, and resonant mode amplitudes. A WKB technique is then developed to study the expanding universe equations in detail, and to see whether such physical properties are also of relevance in this more realistic scenario. The Jeans wavenumber of the mixture is re-interpreted for the case of an expanding background spacetime. The various modes are obtained to leading order, and the amplitudes of the modes are examined in detail to compare to the resonances observed in the static spacetime results. It is found that some conclusions made in the literature about static spacetime results cannot be carried over to an expanding cosmology.Comment: 42 pages, 12 figure

Some Remarks on Combining Forms in English-Japanese Dictionaries

© 2016, Pleiades Publishing, Inc.Previously unknown isononylcalix[8]arene was synthesized from commercially available isononylphenol. The properties of the product (solubility, extraction ability, tendency to aggregation) were compared with those of the known tert-butylcalix[8]arene. The extraction of 137Cs, 99mTc, and 241Am from alkaline carbonate solutions with solutions of p-alkylcalix[8]arenes (alkyl = tert-butyl, isononyl) in tetrachloroethylene was studied. The dependence of the distribution ratios on pH of the aqueous phase in the interval from 11 to 13.9 and on the nature of functional groups in the calixarene core was determined. The composition of extractable solvates of cesium and americium with calix[8]arenes was found. Calix[8]arenes extract cesium from alkaline solutions more efficiently than p-tert-butylphenol, their nonmacrocyclic analog, does. tert-Butylcalix[8]arene exhibits the highest performance, which may be due to formation of aggregates 5.7 ± 0.8 nm in diameter in the organic phase at pH 13.5 of the aqueous phase. The isononyl derivative exists in the monomeric form (particle diameter 1.9 ± 0.5 nm)

Extraction of cesium and americium with p-alkylcalix[8]arenes from alkaline solutions

© 2016, Pleiades Publishing, Inc.Previously unknown isononylcalix[8]arene was synthesized from commercially available isononylphenol. The properties of the product (solubility, extraction ability, tendency to aggregation) were compared with those of the known tert-butylcalix[8]arene. The extraction of 137Cs, 99mTc, and 241Am from alkaline carbonate solutions with solutions of p-alkylcalix[8]arenes (alkyl = tert-butyl, isononyl) in tetrachloroethylene was studied. The dependence of the distribution ratios on pH of the aqueous phase in the interval from 11 to 13.9 and on the nature of functional groups in the calixarene core was determined. The composition of extractable solvates of cesium and americium with calix[8]arenes was found. Calix[8]arenes extract cesium from alkaline solutions more efficiently than p-tert-butylphenol, their nonmacrocyclic analog, does. tert-Butylcalix[8]arene exhibits the highest performance, which may be due to formation of aggregates 5.7 ± 0.8 nm in diameter in the organic phase at pH 13.5 of the aqueous phase. The isononyl derivative exists in the monomeric form (particle diameter 1.9 ± 0.5 nm)

Effect of ionizing radiation on the extraction of Am(III) with p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene from alkaline carbonate solutions

© 2017, Pleiades Publishing, Inc. The effect of γ-irradiation of tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene (TCA) solutions in m-nitrobenzotrifluoride (NBTF) and tetrachloroethylene (TCE) on the extraction of 241 Am from alkaline carbonate solutions was studied. TCA itself remains stable upon γ-irradiation of its solutions in NBTF to a dose of 200 kGy, but the diluent undergoes strong degradation. The radiation resistance of TCA in TCE is considerably lower: A dose of 70 kGy causes complete degradat ion of TCA. In the TCA–TCE–aqueous phase system, sulfate ions appear upon γ-irradiation as the final product of the extractant radiolysis. A large number of γ-radiolysis products of TCE and TCA were detected by HPLC and GCMS. The products of radiolysis of TCA in TCE, compared to the initial extractant, have lower molecular mass and higher polarity. The results show that chlorinated diluents are not promising diluents for thiacalixarene in extraction processing of alkaline high-level waste

РОЛЬ ВРЕМЕНИ ЗАДЕРЖКИ ЛУЧЕВОЙ ТЕРАПИИ В ХИМИОЛУЧЕВОМ ЛЕЧЕНИИ НЕОПЕРАБЕЛЬНОГО НЕМЕЛКОКЛЕТОЧНОГО РАКА ЛЕГКОГО III СТАДИИ

Introduction. One third of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients have locally advanced inoperable Stage III tumors. Increasing number of induction chemotherapy (iCT) cycles may lead to delay of the start of radiotherapy (RT) and decrease survival. Objective. To evaluate a clinical impact of the starting time of RT among Stage III NSCLC patients after iCT on overall survival (OS). Materials and methods. The OS was calculated in patients, receiving radical RT during or later than 150 days after starting of iCT (RT150). Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank for intergroup comparisons was used. Correction for initial factors was made using Cox regression. Results. Overall, 49 patients with stage III NSCLC who received RT after iCT were selected. Twenty-five patients were irradiated during the period less then 150 days after the start of iCT, while other 24 – in more than 150 days. At distribution analysis, in the group RT>150 was higher proportion of patients with T4 (p=0.029) and with B stage (P=0.003), the other initial factors were distributed uniformly. The median (Me) OS was 19.9 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 16.8-23.2) and 21,0 (95 % CI 14.9-27.2) months, c2=0,017, p=0.895 in groups RT>150 and RT≤150, respectively. Me OS was 22.5 (95 % CI 10,2-34.9), 18.9 (95 % CI 16.9-20.9), and 18.4 (95 % CI 15.4-21.4) months, c2=4,42, P=0.110 for patients receiving 2, 3-4, 5 or more courses of induction CT, respectively. Hazard ratio (HR) of death in patients with a longer interval before the end of RT was 1.041 (95 % CI 0,571-1,897) and 1.485 (95 % CI 0,691-3,189) in univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively. Conclusion. In a retrospective analysis the delay of RT start after iCT leads to non-significant decrease of survival. More than two courses of iCT are not appropriate. The results need to be confirmed in a prospective randomized trial

НЕПРОНИКАЮЩАЯ ГЛУБОКАЯ СКЛЕРЭКТОМИЯ И ИМПЛАНТАЦИЯ ДРЕНАЖА EX-PRESS R-50 В ХИРУРГИЧЕСКОМ ЛЕЧЕНИИ ГЛАУКОМЫ

PURPOSE: Analysis of the mediumand long-term results of the mini-shunt Ex-Press implantation in glaucoma surgical treatment.METHODS: Non-penetrating deep sclerectomy with the mini-shunt Ex-PRESS R-50 implantation was performed in 198 eyes of 177 patients with uncontrolled and/or refractory glaucoma between 2011 and 2014. Exclusion criteria for patients: signs of neovascularisation, close-angle or congenital glaucoma, previous ophthalmologic surgeries during the last 6 months, the need for simultaneous combined cataract and glaucoma surgery. The study included 161 patients (176 eyes). A review of the patients’ anamnesis revealed a history of previous glaucoma surgical procedures in 126 (77.6%) patients, cataract phacoemulsification with IOL implantation in 108 (67%) patients and vitrectomy in 43 (26.7%) cases. All surgical interventions were undertaken within a period of more than 6 months before the present study. A standard ophthalmologic examination was performed in all patients prior to surgery and on days 1 and 7, as well as 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months after the drainage implantation. In a number of patients, examinations were also performed 48 (n=44, 27.3%) and 60 (n=21, 13%) months after the operation. In addition, patients were divided into group I («phakic» glaucoma, n=53; 32.9%) and group II (pseudophakic glaucoma, n=108; 78.3%)RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 43.7±2.9 months. The mean age of patients at the time of surgery was 72.4 ± 9.6 years, with 63 (39.1%) male and 98 (60.9%) female patients. IOP decrease compared to preoperative values of 32.3±8.7 mmHg amounted to 6.2±7.7 mm Hg after 1 week, 11.9±5.8 mm Hg after 1 month, 12.5±4.0 mm Hg after 2 months, 12.7±4.8 mm Hg after 3 months, 12.1±4.5 mm Hg after 6 months, 11.7±4.2 mm Hg after 12 months, 12.9±5.1 mm Hg 18 months after surgery. At the follow-up period of 24 months, the IOP decreased to 15.3±6.6 mm Hg, and at follow-ups of 36 months to 17.5±6.8 mm Hg (45.8%). In 44 (27.3%) patients 48 months later, the IOP level exceeded the compensation level with average values of 22.4±8.0 mm Hg. In 60 months after the operation 21 (13%) patients had a mean IOP level of 26.1±8.2 mm Hg. A statistically insignificant change in BCVA from 0.61±0.25 in the preoperative period to 0.57±0.31 during the last examination was observed (p>0.1). There was a significant decrease in the number of glaucoma instillations with the average numbers of 0.55±1.1 and 0.89±1.2 24 and 36 months after the surgery respectively, compared to 2.7±0.9 prior to the surgery (p=0.002 and p=0.01). In all the investigated cases, a daily massage of the filtration zone was performed during the postoperative period. In 94 (58.4%) patients, the IAG laser procedure was performed on the shunt at various postoperative times. Postoperative complications included a transient hypotension in the early (10-14 days) postoperative period, Seidel’s symptom and bleb encapsulation, which required additional intervention. At the maximum follow-up period of 36 months, somewhat better results were obtained in group II (mean IOP 15.9±4.2 mm Hg vs. 17.3±4.4 mm Hg in group I, p>0.1). Similar differences were obtained for the number of glaucoma drugs taken (0.81±0.9 in group II against 0.97±1.1 in group I, p>0.1). Larger differences were obtained for BCVA during the long-term follow-up period (0.62±0.26 in group II versus 0.38±0.21 in group I, 0.05<p<0.1).CONCLUSION: Ex-PRESS mini-shunt implantation is indicated in patients with refractory glaucoma when with previous interventions and maximum antihypertention regimen proved insufficient to compensate intraocular pressure level. Relative simplicity of the implantation technique, a small percentage of complications and a high efficiency in the medium term observation period make it possible to recommend the use of this device for wide ophthalmic surgical practice. Optimal results are possible with the implantation of a mini-shunt under the superficial scleral flap and a special mode of postoperative management of the patient, which allows to maintain the functioning of the shunt and to provide a tolerant intraocular pressure. Implantation of the mini-shunt Ex-PRESS R-50 in patients with pseudophakia results in slightly better but statistically insignificant functional results, however, due to the reduction in the effect in long-term (up to 5 years) follow-up, this surgical intervention is not an operation of first choice for this group of patients.ЦЕЛЬ. Анализ среднеи долгосрочных результатов имплантации мини-шунта Ex-PRESS в лечении глаукомы.МЕТОДЫ. Непроникающая глубокая склерэктомия с имплантацией мини-шунта Ex-PRESS R-50 проведена на 198 глазах 177 пациентов с неконтролируемой и/или рефрактерной к медикаментозной терапии глаукомой в период с 2011 по 2014 гг. Критерии исключения пациентов: наличие неоваскулярной, закрытоугольной или врожденной глаукомы, предшествующие офтальмологические оперативные вмешательства в течение последних 6 месяцев, необходимость одномоментной комбинированной хирургии катаракты и глаукомы. В исследование включен 161 пациент (176 глаз). В анамнезе у 126 (77,6%) пациентов отмечено проведение других антиглаукомных хирургических вмешательств, у 108 (67%) пациентов была выполнена факоэмульсификация катаракты с имплантацией ИОЛ, 43 (26,7%) пациентам проведена витрэктомия, при этом все хирургические вмешательства были выполнены в сроки более 6 месяцев перед настоящим исследованием. Стандартное плановое офтальмологическое обследование всем пациентам выполняли до хирургического вмешательства и в сроки 1 день, 7 дней, 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 и 36 месяцев после имплантации дренажа. У части пациентов осмотры проводили также в 48 (n=44; 27,3%) и 60 (n=21; 13%) месяцев после операции. Дополнительно проведено разделение пациентов на группу 1 («факичная» глаукома; n=53; 32,9%) и группу 2 (артифакичная глаукома; n=108; 78,3%).РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ. Средний период наблюдения составил 43,7±2,9 месяцев. Средний возраст пациентов на момент хирургического вмешательства 72,4±9,6 года, из них 63 (39,1%) мужчины и 98 (60,9%) женщин. Отмечено снижение внутриглазного давления (ВГД) по сравнению с дооперационными значениями 32,3±8,7 до 6,2±7,7 мм рт.ст. через 1 неделю, 11,9±5,8 мм рт.ст. через 1 месяц, 12,5±4,0 — через 2 месяца, 12,7±4,8 — через 3 месяца, 12,1±4,5 — через 6 месяцев, 11,7±4,2 — через 12 месяцев, 12,9±5,1 мм рт.ст. через 18 месяцев после хирургического вмешательства

THE ROLE OF RADIOTHERAPY DELAY IN THE CHEMORADIATION TREATMENT FOR STAGE III INOPERABLE NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Introduction. One third of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients have locally advanced inoperable Stage III tumors. Increasing number of induction chemotherapy (iCT) cycles may lead to delay of the start of radiotherapy (RT) and decrease survival. Objective. To evaluate a clinical impact of the starting time of RT among Stage III NSCLC patients after iCT on overall survival (OS). Materials and methods. The OS was calculated in patients, receiving radical RT during or later than 150 days after starting of iCT (RT150). Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank for intergroup comparisons was used. Correction for initial factors was made using Cox regression. Results. Overall, 49 patients with stage III NSCLC who received RT after iCT were selected. Twenty-five patients were irradiated during the period less then 150 days after the start of iCT, while other 24 – in more than 150 days. At distribution analysis, in the group RT>150 was higher proportion of patients with T4 (p=0.029) and with B stage (P=0.003), the other initial factors were distributed uniformly. The median (Me) OS was 19.9 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 16.8-23.2) and 21,0 (95 % CI 14.9-27.2) months, c2=0,017, p=0.895 in groups RT>150 and RT≤150, respectively. Me OS was 22.5 (95 % CI 10,2-34.9), 18.9 (95 % CI 16.9-20.9), and 18.4 (95 % CI 15.4-21.4) months, c2=4,42, P=0.110 for patients receiving 2, 3-4, 5 or more courses of induction CT, respectively. Hazard ratio (HR) of death in patients with a longer interval before the end of RT was 1.041 (95 % CI 0,571-1,897) and 1.485 (95 % CI 0,691-3,189) in univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively. Conclusion. In a retrospective analysis the delay of RT start after iCT leads to non-significant decrease of survival. More than two courses of iCT are not appropriate. The results need to be confirmed in a prospective randomized trial

METHOTREXATE AND PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS: ARE THERE ANY NEGATIVE PHARMACOLOGIAL EFFECTS?

Methotrexate (MTX) is the first-line medication to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it may have serious adverse effects (AE) on liver, kidneys, hematopoietic system, etc., thus requiring meticulous control over patient’s condition and the dynamics of laboratory indicators. A number of drugs may affect MT pharmacokinetics and increase its toxicity. In theory, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may have this effect. Objective. To assess the relationship between the coadministration of MT and PPIs and the risk for developing drug-induced complications.Material and Methods. A retrospective analysis of clinical symptoms and laboratory indicators in 539 RA patients (median age, 52.5±14.6 years; 86.8% females and 13.2% males) who received MTX in 2009–2011 was carried out. Fifty-two patients who received PPIs on a regular basis were included in the study. The control group consisted of 104 PPI-naive patients comparable in terms of gender, age, and therapy. The numbers of patients with increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP); anemia (hemoglobin level < 110 g/l in females and <120 g/l in males), leukopenia (<4.0•109/l), elevated creatinine level, and proteinurea (qualitative and quantitative values) were compared.Results. No significant intergroup differences were revealed. MTX showed no clinically manifested AE. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for changes in laboratory indicators were as follows: ALT 1.35 (95% CI 0.22–8.32), AST 0.66 (95% CI 0.13–3.38), ALP 0.98 (95% CI 0.955–1.01), anemia 1.19 (95% CI 0.517–2.71), and proteinurea 1.95 (95% CI 0.83–4.59; р=0.17). A small increase in the creatinine level was observed in one case for each group.Conclusions. The results showed no significant increase in toxicity when low doses of MTX and PPIs were coadministered in RA patients. There was a trend towards more frequent proteinurea in patients who received both drugs. This fact requires further research

Extraction of cesium and americium with p-alkylcalix[8]arenes from alkaline solutions

© 2016, Pleiades Publishing, Inc.Previously unknown isononylcalix[8]arene was synthesized from commercially available isononylphenol. The properties of the product (solubility, extraction ability, tendency to aggregation) were compared with those of the known tert-butylcalix[8]arene. The extraction of 137Cs, 99mTc, and 241Am from alkaline carbonate solutions with solutions of p-alkylcalix[8]arenes (alkyl = tert-butyl, isononyl) in tetrachloroethylene was studied. The dependence of the distribution ratios on pH of the aqueous phase in the interval from 11 to 13.9 and on the nature of functional groups in the calixarene core was determined. The composition of extractable solvates of cesium and americium with calix[8]arenes was found. Calix[8]arenes extract cesium from alkaline solutions more efficiently than p-tert-butylphenol, their nonmacrocyclic analog, does. tert-Butylcalix[8]arene exhibits the highest performance, which may be due to formation of aggregates 5.7 ± 0.8 nm in diameter in the organic phase at pH 13.5 of the aqueous phase. The isononyl derivative exists in the monomeric form (particle diameter 1.9 ± 0.5 nm)