Experimental Determination of the Characteristics of a Positron Source Using Channeling

Numerical simulations and `proof of principle' experiments showed clearly the interest of using crystals as photon generators dedicated to intense positron sources for linear colliders. An experimental investigation, using a 10 GeV secondary electron beam, of the SPS-CERN, impinging on an axially oriented thick tungsten crystal, has been prepared and operated between May and August 2000. After a short recall on the main features of positron sources using channeling in oriented crystals, the experimental set-up is described. A particular emphasis is put on the positron detector made of a drift chamber, partially immersed in a magnetic field. The enhancement in photon and positron production in the aligned crystal have been observed in the energy range 5 to 40 GeV, for the incident electrons, in crystals of 4 and 8 mm as in an hybrid target. The first results concerning this experiment are presented hereafter.Comment: 3 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Linac200

Behavioral risk factors and clinical course of cardiovascular diseases and other noncommunicable diseases during quarantine in various regions of Russia

Aim. To assess the behavioral risk factors and the clinical course of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) during quarantine in various regions of Russia.Material and methods. This multicenter cohort cross-sectional study included 205 men and women from 6 Russian cities. Further, 4 of them (Saransk, Nizhny Novgorod, Penza, Ulyanovsk) were combined into one group — the Volga region. The study included men and women aged 30-69 years with one or more NCDs (hypertension, coronary artery disease with or without myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/asthma and cancer in patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy) who were self-isolated during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. For all patients, a questionnaire was used, which included socio-demographic parameters, behavioral risk factors, status of the underlying disease, incidence of COVID-19 and its complications. Self-assessment of the state of health was carried out using the European Quality of Life Questionnaire.Results. In every third Muscovite, the intensity of physical activity decreased, and in the groups of patients from Omsk and the Volga region, it was 45% and 43%, respectively. An increase in meal frequency and an impairment of eating habits in Moscow and Omsk was noted in 18,2% and 18,7% of participants, while in Volga region subjects, these parameters were 2 times higher (42,4%). At the same time, no significant changes of alcohol consumption and smoking was revealed in the cohorts. Hypertensive crises during a pandemic were noted in all three subgroups, but more of them were recorded in the Volga region — in every third patient (p< 0,05 compared to Moscow), in the Omsk group — in every fourth patient, and among Muscovites — no more than 5%. Clinical deterioration in patients with angina was noted in 15% of cases, while the smallest number was noted in Omsk subjects (5,3%), three times less than in other subgroups. Changes in intensity and regimen of hypoglycemic therapy were noted in patients from Omsk, while 30% of them (p< 0,05 compared with the Volga region) increased the doses of medications taken. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was registered in the group with the largest number of Volga region patients — 14,1% (p< 0,05 compared to Omsk), while 17% of patients in this group increased the dose of drugs. Any cancer was recorded in 13,6% of Muscovites, while in the other two groups — about 5%. The largest number of patients from the Volga region noted a health decline over the past year (30,8%), while every fifth patient from Omsk (19,6%) and 13,6% of Muscovites reported health changes.Conclusion. During quarantine and self-isolation, changes in dietary habits and physical activity decline were noted among patients with NCDs, while alcohol consumption and smoking remained practically unchanged. The change in clinical status was characterized by an increase in hypertensive crisis incidence, an increase in doses of antihypertensive and hypoglycemic medication. Depending on the region, the health decline was noted by 13-31% of patients with NCDs

STUDY OF THE PARAMETERS OF TOLERABILITY AND ADHERENCE TO THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE AND ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION ON THE BACKGROUND OF TREATMENT WITH FIXED COMBINATION OF RAMIPRIL AND AMLODIPINE (ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF OBSERVATIONAL STUDY "GRANAT-2")

Working group of the “GRANAT-2” study: Tula - Trubitsyn G.I., Ivanov Yu.V., Mirenkova O.K., Eskova R.A., Simonova R.P., Milon M.E., Telegina E.V., Kuznetsov A.M., Zhukova N.A., Zainullina I.K.; Rostov-on-Don - Budanov O.V., London E.M., Minosyan L.V., Nedashkovskaya N.G., Ter-Ananyants Ye.A.; Tomsk - Proskokova I.Yu., Permyakova O.V., Politova L.V., Maneeva I.D., Ivanova S.Yu.; Nizhny Novgorod - Larina O.V., Pokrovskaya I.N., Patselt E.A.; Moscow - Sladkova T.A., Zelenova Т.V. Aim. To study the tolerability and adherence to antihypertensive therapy in patients with hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using the fixed combination of ramipril and amlodipine in the observational program for patients with arterial hypertension and COPD (GRANAT-2). Material and methods. Patients with hypertension and COPD (n=52) with all inclusion criteria and without exclusion criteria who signed informed consent to participate in the GRANAT-2 program were included into the study. The use of a fixed combination of ramipril and amlodipine was recommended in all patients. The doses were determined by the treating physicians in accordance with the official drug instruction. The patients had 4 visits, and the duration of the study was 5 months. The Morisky-Green test was used to assess an adherence of patients to treatment. Assessments of blood pressure, adverse events were performed at all visits. Results. 50 of 52 patients completed the study: 45 patients used the studied fixed combination in the recommended doses, and 5 patients used other antihypertensive drugs, 2 patients withdrew from the study. Systolic blood pressure after 1 month of treatment decreased by an average of 20 mm Hg from the baseline, and diastolic blood pressure – by 10 mmHg. These rates after 5 months of therapy were 29 mm Hg and 15 mm Hg, respectively. Target blood pressure level was achieved in all patients. Increase in adherence of patients to treatment (according to the Morisky-Green test from 21.1% to 65.1%) was found. 2 cases of adverse events (dry cough) were registered. The discrepancy in adherence assessment was revealed between the results from the Morisky-Green test and the data from program case report forms. Conclusion. Regular patient visits to the doctor and the rapid achievement of an antihypertensive effect with good tolerability of a fixed combination of ramipril and amlodipine contributed to the increase in adherence of patients to treatment. Undesirable effects of the drug therapy are significant, but not leading factors that have a negative impact on the patient adherence to treatment

Workplace arterial hypertension: potential of rilmenidine-based combination therapy

Aim. To assess effectiveness and tolerability of morning / evening-administered rilmenidine in patients with work-place arterial hypertension (WpAH), during combination therapy. Material and methods. This randomized, short-term (8 weeks), pilot study included 20 males (mean age 48,5 years) with Stage I (n = 5) or Stage II (n = 15) AH, risk II (n = 4) or III (n = 16). Rilmenidine was administered in the morning (n = 10) or in the evening (n = 10). If needed, beta-adrenoblockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, nitrates, and digoxin were administered. The end-points included: blood pressure (BP) normalization - for mean daily ВР, according to 24-hour BP monitoring (BPM), and office BP (oBP); therapy response; circadian BP profile dynamics; temporary index (TI); circadian rhythm; quality of life (QoL); laboratory and instrumental parameters dynamics. Results. After 8 weeks of rilmenidine-based therapy, systolic oBP (SoBP) was normalized in 95% of the participants, diastolic oBP (DoBP) - in 100%. Mean daily DBP normalization, according to 24-hour BPM, was registered in all patients, and nighttime SBP response to treatment - in 90%. In the morning administration group, DBP was reduced by 22,1%, in the evening one - by 22,7%. For all time periods, pressure load on target organs substantially lowered. In the morning administration group, TI for daily SBP decreased by 53%, in the evening administration group - by 61,5%, TI for DBP - by 44,4% and 66,6%, respectively. Initially disturbed circadian rhythm normalized in 40% of the patients. The combination of rilmenidine with beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors was the most effective for BP reduction. Conclusion. Antihypertensive effect of rilmenidine-based therapy was combined with reduction in pressure load on target organs, as well as circadian BP rhythm improvement, and perfect tolerabilit