Spin pseudogap in Ni-doped SrCuO2

The S=1/2 spin chain material SrCuO2 doped with 1% S=1 Ni-impurities is studied by inelastic neutron scattering. At low temperatures, the spectrum shows a pseudogap \Delta ~ 8 meV, absent in the parent compound, and not related to any structural phase transition. The pseudogap is shown to be a generic feature of quantum spin chains with dilute defects. A simple model based on this idea quantitatively accounts for the exprimental data measured in the temperature range 2-300 K, and allows to represent the momentum-integrated dynamic structure factor in a universal scaling form.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Meglumine Sodium Succinate to Correct COVID-19-Associated Coagulopathy: the Feasibility Study

Aim of the study: to evaluate the effect of meglumine sodium succinate (MSS) on the efficacy of anticoagulant therapy in patients with severe COVID-19 infection complicated by bilateral community-acquired pneumonia.Materials and methods. Overall efficacy of treatment was analyzed in 12 patients hospitalized to ICU with the diagnosis of severe confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus infection (U07.1) complicated by bilateral multisegmental pneumonia. All patients received prophylactic anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin. The patients were divided into two groups: 7 of them received a multi-electrolyte solution containing MSS 5 ml/kg daily for the entire ICU stay (3-10 days) as a part of therapy; 5 patients received a similar volume of a conventional multi-electrolyte solution containing no metabolically active substrates and comprised a control group. Coagulation parameters were measured in arterial and venous blood of all patients at the following stages: 1) upon admission to the ICU; 2) 2-4 hours after the first dose of heparin; 3) 8-12 hours after the second dose of heparin; 4) 24 hours after the beginning of intensive therapy. On the 28th day of follow-up, mortality, duration of ICU stay, and incidence of thrombotic complications in the groups were evaluated. Nonparametric methods of statistical analysis were used to assess intragroup changes and intergroup differences.Results. The group of patients administered with MSS had significantly fewer thromboembolic events during 28 days of treatment and shorter ICU stay. These patients responded faster to anticoagulant therapy, which was suggested by more distinct changes in coagulation parameters, i.e. increased APTT, persisting viable thrombocyte population, reduced D-dimer and fibrinogen levels.Conclusion. The metabolic action of succinate possibly increases endothelial resistance to damaging factors and reduces its procoagulant activity. The hypothesis requires testing in a larger clinical study with a design including laboratory evaluation of the efficacy of varying doses of the studied drug as well as aiming at elucidation of the mechanisms of its effect on specific pro- and anticoagulation system components

Predictors of Clinical Efficacy of Cytokine Hemoadsorption in COVID-19 (Clinical Trial)

Materials and methods. This study analyzed the results of treatment of 62 patients with severe COVID-19 in the intensive care unit using selective hemoadsorption of cytokines. All patients with severe COVID-19 were admitted to the intensive care unit within 14 days from the disease onset were subdivided into two groups. Group 1 patients (n=32) received on a top of standard treatment the hemoperfusion (HP) procedure for 4 hours, for 2–3 days in a row, using a cytokine sorption column composed of mesoporous styrene-divinilbenzen copolymer matrix. Group 2 patients were not subjected to extracorporeal blood purification. All patients received IL-6 inhibitors at a baseline in accordance to the temporary guidelines. We evaluated factors of unfavorable outcomes by analyzing changes in biochemical markers of systemic inflammatory response and mortality rates in patients of both groups.Results. Initiation of HP later than 10 days from NCI onset (P < 0.001), length of stay in the ICU, extent of lung damage (P = 0.036) and the SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) score (P = 0.009) were the most powerful predictors of unfavorable outcome. Levels of systemic inflammatory response markers (interleukin- 6, CRP, D-dimer) in both groups did not significantly affect the survival rates and length of hospital stay (P > 0.05). HP group demonstrated better survival (P < 0.05). Mean hospital stay was 31 and 27 days, ICU stay — 11 and 8 days for Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P < 0.05).Conclusion. Treatment of severe COVID-19 patients with HP using novel domestic hemosorbent composed of styrene-divinilbenzen copolymer matrix resulted in decrease in CRP levels on the first day after application and, with early onset, contributed to a significant increase in survival and decreased hospital and ICU stay. Additional studies are warranted to clarify the optimal timing of the initiation of HP in severe COVID-19 patients

ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ ТЕРАПИИ ГЕМОРРАГИЧЕСКОГО ШОКА У БОЛЬНЫХ С ЖЕЛУДОЧНО-КИШЕЧНЫМ КРОВОТЕЧЕНИЕМ

Objective: to evaluate the antihypoxic effect of Mexicor in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding of ulcerative etiology. Materials and methods. The paper presents the materials obtained during the treatment of 53 patients with nonvaricose gastrointestinal bleeding who were hospitalized with grades II—III hemorrhagic shock. Results. Incorporation of Mexicor into the comprehensive program for the intensive therapy of acute gastrointestinal bleeding was ascertained to reduce the activity of prooxidant processes, and the manifestations of tissue hypoxia and systemic inflammation and to improve systemic hemodynamic parameters and the clinical course of an early posthemorrhagic period. Conclusion. The use of Mexicor in patients with gastric bleeding reduces the number of complications and the duration of treatment in the intensive care unit.  Цель исследования — оценить противогипоксическое и антиоксидантное действие Мексикора у больных с желудочно-кишечными кровотечениями язвенной этиологии. Материалы и методы. В статье представлены материалы, полученные в процессе лечения 53 больных язвенной болезнью с неварикозными желудочно-кишечными кровотечениями, госпитализированными в состоянии геморрагического шока II—III ст. Результаты. Установлено, что включение Мексикора в комплексную программу интенсивной терапии острых желудочно-кишечных кровотечений снижает в организме больных активность прооксидантных процессов, выраженность проявлений тканевой гипоксии и системного воспаления, улучшает показатели системной гемодинамики и клиническое течение раннего постгеморрагического периода. Заключение. Применение Мексикора у пациентов с желудочными кровотечениями снижает число осложнений, сокращает длительность лечения больных в отделении реанимации.

Engineering phase competition between stripe order and superconductivity in La1.88_{1.88}Sr0.12_{0.12}CuO4_4

Unconventional superconductivity often couples to other electronic orders in a cooperative or competing fashion. Identifying external stimuli that tune between these two limits is of fundamental interest. Here, we show that strain perpendicular to the copper-oxide planes couples directly to the competing interaction between charge stripe order and superconductivity in La$_{1.88}$Sr$_{0.12}$CuO$_{4}$ (LSCO). Compressive c-axis pressure amplifies stripe order within the superconducting state, while having no impact on the normal state. By contrast, strain dramatically diminishes the magnetic field enhancement of stripe order in the superconducting state. These results suggest that c-axis strain acts as tuning parameter of the competing interaction between charge stripe order and superconductivity. This interpretation implies a uniaxial pressure-induced ground state in which the competition between charge order and superconductivity is reduced

Preemptive Analgesia with Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in the Perioperative Period

Objective. A comparative assessment of the efficacy and safety of the preemptive use of ibuprofen and ketoprofen in patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia.Material and methods. A multicenter randomized prospective study included 58 patients grouped into 2 arms. Ibuprofen 800 mg in Group 1 (N=32), and ketoprofen 100 mg in Group 2 (N=26) were administered intravenously 30 minutes prior to surgical procedure, and afterwards every 12 hours during patient’s stay in the intensive care unit. Efficacy and safety were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS), patient’s need in opioid analgesics, laboratory parameters (serum levels of cortisol, cystatin C, CBC, coagulogram, TEG) and instrumental methods (algesimetry — qNOX).Results. VAS values were 32.4% lower in Group 1 vs Group 2 in the immediate postoperative period, P=0.003. By the end of Day 1 this difference was no longer visible following the use of promedol. There was a correlation between qNOX values at the end of surgery and VAS values at patient’s waking up from anesthesia (P=0.0007). Cortisol plasma concentrations in groups 1 and 2 did not differ significantly, P=0.105. The average daily promedol consumption in Groups 1 and 2 was 42±17.5 mg/day and 50±19.7 mg/day, respectively, P=0.022. Cystatin C concentrations in the first morning after surgery was 0.95±0.29 mg/l in the ibuprofen group, and 1.19±0.43 mg/l — in the ketoprofen group, P=0.027. Signs of renal dysfunction were documented in 4 out of 32 patients (12, 5%) from Group 1, and in 10 of 26 (38.5%) patients from Group 2 since the end of surgery and up to the first postop morning, the Chi-squared value was 0.031. Hemostasis was not affected by NSAIDs use in both groups.Conclusion. Ibuprofen provided more powerful analgesia, than ketoprofen in the postoperative period, while during surgical procedure both drugs showed similar anlgesic efficacy. Patients on ibuprofen required significantly fewer additional boluses of opioid analgesics. Both drugs showed no clinically significant effect on hemostasis and hematopoiesis. More rare occurrence of renal dysfunction in Group 1 patients is indicative of lower nephrotoxicity of ibuprofen

Предварительные результаты включения меглюмина натрия сукцината в лечение пациентов с острым панкреатитом средней и тяжелой степени

Objective: to develop criteria of inclusion/noninclusion of patients for further randomized clinical trial of meglumine sodium succinate in patients with acute pancreatitis based on analysis of individual outcomes.Material and methods. The efficacy of treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe and severe acute pancreatitis (n=100, 23–65 years old) with meglumine sodium succinate (intravenous drip infusions, 10 ml/kg daily, for 11 days) was assessed. Data were collected by 10 medical centers as a part of an observational program developed in accordance with the requirements of the Guidelines and Clinical Trial Committee of the AllRussia Public Organization «Federation of Anesthesiologists and Reanimatologists» (FAR) and approved by local ethical committees of the institutions. Treatment was prescribed in accordance with national and international standards. The patients were divided into two groups based on the outcome: group 1 (n=81) included patients who survived, while the patients of group 2 (n=19) died. We analyzed demographic characteristics of the groups, life and illness history, physical examination, routine laboratory and instrumental investigation data. The obtained results were statistically analyzed.Results. We identified several factors occurring during hospitalization and/or transfer to intensive care unit (ICU), which could be predictors of adverse outcome and had varying impact on the risk of death in patients treated with the study drug. High-risk factors included stupor, platelet count below 248.5×109/l, base excess (BE) less than -2.9 mmol/l, and urea above 11.85 mmol/l. Risk factors included body temperature below 37.1°C, plasma creatinine above 237 µmol/l, and glucose above 9.45 mmol/l. Mottled skin and plasma ionized calcium levels below 1.13 mmol/l were considered probable risk factors.Conclusion. Determined prognostically significant predictors of adverse outcome in patients with acute pancreatitis receiving Reamberin should be considered when selecting inclusion/exclusion criteria for the randomized controlled comparative clinical study of the efficacy of meglumine sodium succinate in patients with acute pancreatitis.Цель. На основе анализа индивидуальных исходов заболевания выявить критерии включения/невключения пациентов для последующего проведения рандомизированного клинического исследования эффективности меглюмина натрия сукцината у больных с острым панкреатитом.Материал и методы. Провели анализ эффективности лечения 100 пациентов в возрасте 23–65 лет с острым панкреатитом среднетяжелого и тяжелого течения, получавших меглюмина натрия сукцинат в составе инфузий внутривенно капельно в средней суточной дозе 10 мл/кг продолжительностью до 11 дней. Сбор данных проводили десять медицинских центров в рамках наблюдательной программы по протоколу, одобренному Комитетом по рекомендациям и организации исследований Общероссийской общественной организации «Федерация анестезиологов и реаниматологов» и локальными этическими комитетами учреждений. Лечение проводили в соответствии с национальными и международными стандартами. С учетом исхода заболевания больных разделили на две группы: группа 1 (n=81) — выжили, группа 2 (n=19) — летальный исход. Проанализировали демографическую характеристику групп, анамнез жизни, болезни, данные объективного осмотра, стандартных лабораторных и инструментальных исследований. Полученные результаты статистически обработали.Результаты и обсуждение. Выделили ряд факторов при госпитализации и/или при переводе в отделение реанимации и интенсивной терапии (ОРИТ), которые могут быть предикторами неблагоприятного исхода и в разной степени влиять на риск смерти пациентов, получавших при данном заболевании инфузию и изучаемый препарат. К факторам высокого риска отнесли наличие сопора, содержание тромбоцитов ниже 248,5×109/л, Base Excess менее -2,9 ммоль/л, содержание мочевины выше 11,85 ммоль/л. К факторам риска отнесли температуру тела ниже 37,1°С, содержание в плазме креатинина выше 237 мкмоль/л и глюкозы — выше 9,45 ммоль/л. К вероятным факторам риска отнесли мраморность кожных покровов и содержание ионизированного кальция в плазме крови ниже 1,13 ммоль/л.Заключение. Получили предварительные данные для формирования критериев включения/невключения рандомизированного контрольно-сравнительного клинического исследования эффективности меглюмина натрия сукцината у больных острым панкреатитом