First results of the Kourovka Planet Search: discovery of transiting exoplanet candidates in the first three target fields

We present the first results of our search for transiting exoplanet candidates as part of the Kourovka Planet Search (KPS) project. The primary objective of the project is to search for new hot Jupiters which transit their host stars, mainly in the Galactic plane, in the $R_c$ magnitude range of 11 to 14 mag. Our observations were performed with the telescope of the MASTER robotic network, installed at the Kourovka astronomical observatory of the Ural Federal University (Russia), and the Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph, installed at the private Acton Sky Portal Observatory (USA). As test observations, we observed three celestial fields of size $2\times2$ deg$^2$ during the period from 2012 to 2015. As a result, we discovered four transiting exoplanet candidates among the 39000 stars of the input catalogue. In this paper, we provide the description of the project and analyse additional photometric, spectral, and speckle interferometric observations of the discovered transiting exoplanet candidates. Three of the four transiting exoplanet candidates are most likely astrophysical false positives, while the nature of the fourth (most promising) candidate remains to be ascertained. Also, we propose an alternative observing strategy that could increase the project's exoplanet haul.Comment: 11 pages, 16 figures; Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 201

Risk Factors and Characteristics of Adverse Reactions Associated with the Use of Beta-Lactam Antibiotics in Older Patients

The frequency of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in older patients is approximately 11.0%, according to scientific literature. Antibiotics are the third largest group (19.5%) of medicinal products in terms of ADR frequency in geriatric patients. Beta-lactam antibiotics are the empiric treatment of choice for older outpatients and inpatients with community-acquired pneumonia. The mortality in this group of patients accounts for 85% of the overall mortality from community-acquired pneumonia. The aim of the study was to analyse scientific data on risk factors and characteristics of adverse drug reactions associated with the use of beta-lactam antibiotics in older patients. Specificity of ADRs to beta-lactam antibiotics in this group of patients is due to age-related changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics as well as polymorbidity and polypharmacy. The analysis of scientific literature demonstrated that there have not been so many pharmacoepidemiological studies in this group of patients, and their results have been inconsistent. The frequency, causes, and clinical manifestations of ADRs in geriatric patients are diverse and differ considerably from those in younger patients. Of the most widely used antibiotics, ceftriaxone and cefaclor exhibited a statistically lower risk of ADRs in older patients than in younger patients. At the same time, ceftriaxone was associated with a relatively higher frequency of serious ADRs in older patients as compared to younger patients, whereas the frequency of serious ADRs was lower with cefaclor. The likelihood of nephrotoxic, neurotoxic, and hepatotoxic ADRs associated with the use of beta-lactam antibiotics is becoming more and more obvious but it is still underestimated in clinical and geriatric practice. Safety monitoring, therapeutic drug monitoring with due consideration of ADR risk factors in older patients, and inclusion of older patients in clinical trials of antimicrobial drugs, would improve efficacy and safety of antibiotic treatment

Nephrotoxicity Biomarkers: Role and Significance in the Diagnosis of Drug-Induced Kidney Injury

Drug-induced kidney injury (DIKI) accounts for 8 to 60% of episodes of acute kidney injury (AKI) among hospital patients. Early DIKI detection and timely adjustment of therapy will help reduce the kidney injury incidence and mortality. The aim of the study was to analyse scientific literature on the biomarkers used in DIKI diagnosis. The study revealed that the use of such kidney damage markers as serum creatinine, urinary output, urea nitrogen, sodium excretion, urinary sediment microscopy is limited because they do not give a full picture of the kidney injury degree and progression and do not allow for early AKI diagnosis. It was demonstrated that some of the most promising biomarkers are KIM-1, L-FABP, NAG, NGAL, cystatin C, clusterin, β2-microglobulin, МСР-1, IGFBP7, and TIMP-2. However, recommendations for determination of these biomarkers’ urine or blood concentrations for AKI diagnosis are somewhat preliminary, because there have been insufficient clinical and preclinical studies to establish validity of such tests. No precise algorithms based on determination of the biomarkers levels in urea and/or blood serum have been developed for AKI risk assessment, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. Thus, further research is necessary to investigate different AKI biomarkers and improve experimental models (both in vivo and in vitro), which will support assessment of potential nephrotoxic properties of existing and new medicinal products

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Initial Empirical Antibiotic Therapy for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Middle-Aged People

β-lactam antibiotics, including cephalosporins, are the drugs of choice for empirical antibiotic therapy (ABT) in patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Unreasonable and irrational use of antibiotics leads to an increased risk of adverse reactions, contributes to the growth of antibiotic resistance.The aim of the study was to analyse data on the efficacy and safety of initial empirical ABT using cephalosporins for community-acquired pneumonia in middle-aged patients of multidisciplinary hospitals in Moscow.Materials and methods: the authors analysed 177 archived medical records of the patients admitted to three multidisciplinary hospitals (I.V. Davydovsky City Clinical Hospital, City Clinical Hospital 52 and City Clinical Hospital 4) in Moscow from 2017 to 2019 and prescribed mono- and/or combination therapy including a cephalosporin antibiotic as a starting therapy for community-acquired pneumonia. The initial ABT was considered effective if a patient’s body temperature normalised within 48–72 h following initiation of treatment and safe if no adverse reactions developed during the period of inpatient treatment.Results: the combination of ceftriaxone and azithromycin was the most frequently prescribed ABT regimen; its effectiveness was 71.9%. Ceftriaxone monotherapy was the second in frequency of prescription; its effectiveness amounted to 77.2%. The third regimen included cefotaxime and azithromycin and was effective in 70% of cases. The patients who needed a change in initial ABT had a significantly higher incidence of developing severe community-acquired pneumonia and complications. The study results indicate that the structure of comorbidity did not affect the effectiveness of initial empirical ABT. Streptococcus pneumoniae was found to be the most common causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia in the studied population (44.8% of cases). Only 13% of the patients faced adverse reactions associated with the use of antibiotics as part of the initial empirical ABT; the most common were leukopenia and diarrhoea.Сonclusions: the results of the study indicate the feasibility of mono- and/or combination ABT including a cephalosporin antibiotic as a starting empirical therapy for community-acquired pneumonia due to its effectiveness and favourable safety profile

Retrospective Analysis of the Safety of Antibacterial Medicinal Products for Elderly Patients with Community-Acquired Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

Cephalosporins are the empirical antibiotic therapy (ABT) of choice for patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). When treated with antibiotics, elderly patients, especially those with comorbidities, are at higher risk of developing adverse drug reactions (ADRs).The aim of the study was to analyse data on the safety and efficacy of initial empirical ABT with cephalosporins in elderly patients over 75 years old with CAP admitted to multidisciplinary hospitals in Moscow.Materials and methods. The retrospective study included 305 medical records of patients with CAP admitted to three multidisciplinary hospitals in Moscow in 2017–2019 and prescribed initial mono- and/or combination ABT including a cephalosporin. Initial ABT was considered effective if the body temperature normalised within 48–72 h from the start of treatment. It was considered safe if there were no ADRs during hospital stay.Results. Mostly, patients were prescribed ceftriaxone monotherapy or ceftriaxone and azithromycin combination therapy. These ABT regimens were effective in 69.07% and 78.10% of the cases, respectively. Patients with severe CAP needed their initial ABT adjusted significantly more often than those with non-severe CAP. The initial ABT was changed for a number of reasons, including ineffectiveness, ADRs, abscesses formed as a complication of CAP, sputum culture results enabling causal ABT, secondary hospital-acquired infections, and exacerbated chronic infections. All patients had comorbidities, and the most prevalent were arterial hypertension (83.9%), coronary heart disease (45.6%), chronic heart failure (44.9%), cerebrovascular disease (40.9%), atrial fibrillation (26.9%), diabetes mellitus (21.3%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (19.0%). Initial ABT was significantly more often considered ineffective in patients with chronic heart failure and cerebrovascular disease. The most common causative agent of CAP in the study population was Streptococcus pneumoniae (31.9%). In 16% of patients, the authors identified ADRs associated with the antibiotics used as initial therapy. The most common were diarrhoea, anaemia, leucopenia, and hepatopathy. Ceftriaxone was associated with ADRs in 11% of patients.Conclusions. The study results suggest that initial mono- and/or combination ABT including a cephalosporin is effective and relatively safe; therefore, this treatment option is expedient for elderly patients with CAP. For this population, the safety of ABT may be improved through the wider use of existing markers of ADRs and the identification of new ones

Antibiotic Dosing in Chronic Kidney Disease

Infectious process is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease. Prescription of antibacterial drugs should take into account the pharmacokinetic parameters of the medicine and the individual characteristics of the patient. Adequate antibiotic dosing is crucial for positive treatment outcome and minimisation of side effects. The aim of the study was to analyse scientific literature on factors affecting the dosing of antibacterials in patients with chronic kidney disease. Since most antibacterial medicines are eliminated by the kidneys, a decrease in glomerular filtration rate or kidney function should be followed by the dose adjustment in order to prevent the medicine accumulation and reduce the risk of side effects. Antibiotic dosing in such patients should be accompanied by kidney function assessment and be adjusted to ensure effective and safe treatment, as well as prevention of bacterial resistance. The review provides data on the dosing of some antibiotic groups (beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones) at different creatinine clearance rates. Extrarenal excretion of medicines does not usually require the dose adjustment in patients with chronic kidney disease

WASP-12 b and WASP-4 b: Planets Falling onto the Host Star?

We present results of a homogeneous analysis of more than thousand transit lightcurves of 17 exoplanets.Представлены результаты однородной обработки более тысячи кривых блеска экзопланетных прохождений для 17 экзопланет.Работа выполнена при поддержке гранта РНФ 19-72-10023

Клинические исследования лекарственных средств у беременных: отношение ожидаемой пользы к возможному риску?

In terms of pharmacotherapy, pregnancy is a specific phase of life that is different from all the other phases of the life of medical, ethical and legal framework. The article examines the scientific, ethical and regulatory principles of inclusion of pregnant women in the clinical trials of drugs, the necessity for them is justified from the point of clinical pharmacology. The clinical value assessment studies regarding the expected benefits to the possible risks during the pharmacotherapy in pregnancy necessitates the development of this scientific direction.С точки зрения фармакотерапии беременность представляет собой специфическую фазу жизни, которая отличается от всех других фаз жизни по медицинским, этическим и правовым основам. В статье рассматриваются научные, этические и некоторые регуляторные принципы включения беременных женщин в клинические исследования лекарственных средств, обосновывается необходимость их проведения с позиции клинической фармакологии. Клиническая ценность исследований по оценке отношения ожидаемой пользы к возможному риску при проведении фармакотерапии у беременных диктует необходимость развития данного научного направления