The Use of Biological Feedback in Complex Treatment of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Sclerosis

There are significant emotional problems in patients with systemic sclerosis (SS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including most expressed symptoms of anxiety and depression that complicate the process of social and psychological adaptation of patients, reduce the level of subjective control as an attribute of personal responsibility for controlling their disease. The effectiveness of the biofeedback (BFB) training inthe treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis is analyzed. Analysis of the effectiveness of treatment was conducted by studying the dynamics of a number of psychological indices (the level of subjective control, reactive and personal anxiety, depression) and their comparison in patients of the main and control groups before and after the treatment. Correction of the psycho-emotional state of patients with SS and RA was carried out using biofeedback (BFB), based on the principle of self-regulation of body functions using external feedback systems. There was a significant reduction in anxiety and depressive reactions in patients, during the process of BFB therapy, accompanied by a significant decrease of scoresby Spielberger–Khanin and Beck psychological tests, noted a significant effect of increasing the level of subjective control that can improve the effectiveness of therapy and long-term disease prognosis. Thus, the additional application of BFB training in complex treatment of SS and RA patients promoted the improvement of the efficiency of the treatment and rehabilitation carried out and the improvement of the patients’ quality of life. Keywords: BFB training, systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic diseases, reactive anxiety, personality anxiety, depression, level of subjective contro

Pulsar "Drifting"-Subpulse Polarization: No Evidence for Systematic Polarization-Angle Rotations

Polarization-angle density displays are given for pulsars B0809+74 and B2303+30, which exhibit no evidence of the systematic polarization-angle rotation within individual subpulses previously reported for these two stars. The ``drifting'' subpulses of both pulsars exhibit strikingly linear and circular polarization which appears to reflect the characteristics of two nearly orthogonally polarized emission ``modes''--along which the severe average-profile depolarization that is characteristic of their admixture at comparable overall intensities.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Minimally Invasive Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules

Background. Nodular goitre is the commonest pathology of thyroid gland. According to published evidence, the endemic prevalence of iodine deficiency varies within 19–76 % population. The high rates and lack of symptoms at progressive nodules growth warrant the development of effective organ-preserving treatments. Imaging techniques for local precision targeting of individual lesions enable maximum-preserving interventions at thyroid tissue. Today’s world experience of percutaneous ethanol sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation is adequate. However, there exist no clear indications for sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation, and their consecutive use has not been assessed.Materials and methods. We analyse minimally invasive organ-preserving treatments of benign thyroid nodules (ethanol sclerotherapy, RFA) in 63 patients at the outpatient and general surgery units of BSMU Clinic and MEGI Medical Centre, Ufa, during February 2019 — December 2020.Results and discussion. Ethanol sclerotherapy was highly effective in 46.5 % patients, as evident from discontinued nodule’s blood supply in CDI and B-mode ultrasound, which remained stable in 10.5 % and restored after 3–4 weeks in 25 % patients. Sclerotherapy in colloid goitre was efficient only in 37.5 % patients. Ethanol sclerotherapy was RFA-followed in 25.4 % patients. RFA was favoured at a low-effective sclerotherapy providing for a weak positive dynamics of nodule size, local parietal blood flow preservation and intranodular vessels recanalisation at re-examination.Conclusion. Sclerotherapy was high-effective in cystic nodules. Radiofrequency ablation can be considered most adequate for treating solid nodules. RFA-followed sclerotherapy is a rational choice in treatment of large cystic nodules (>5 cm3 )

Morphine-3-glucuronide causes antinociceptive cross-tolerance to morphine and increases spinal substance P expression

Morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), the main metabolite of morphine, has been implicated in the development of tolerance and of opioid-induced hyperalgesia, both limiting the analgesic use of morphine. We evaluated the acute and chronic effects of M3G and morphine as well as development of antinociceptive cross-tolerance between morphine and M3G after intrathecal administration and assessed the expression of pain-associated neurotransmitter substance P in the spinal cord. Sprague-Dawley rats received intrathecal M3G or morphine twice daily for 6 days. Nociception and tactile allodynia were measured with von Frey filaments after acute and chronic treatments. Substance P levels in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord were determined by immunohistochemistry after 4-day treatments. Acute morphine caused antinociception as expected, whereas acute M3G caused tactile allodynia, as did both chronic M3G and morphine. Chronic M3G also induced antinociceptive cross-tolerance to morphine. M3G and morphine increased substance P levels similarly in the nociceptive laminae of the spinal cord. This study shows that chronic intrathecal M3G sensitises animals to mechanical stimulation and elevates substance P levels in the nociceptive laminae of the spinal cord. Chronic M3G also induces antinociceptive cross-tolerance to morphine. Thus, chronic M3G exposure might contribute to morphine-induced tolerance and opioid-induced hyperalgesia.Peer reviewe

Observations of Non-radial Pulsations in Radio Pulsars

We introduce a model for pulsars in which non-radial oscillations of high spherical degree (l) aligned to the magnetic axis of a spinning neutron star reproduce the morphological features of pulsar beams. In our model, rotation of the pulsar carries a pattern of pulsation nodes underneath our sightline, reproducing the longitude stationary structure seen in average pulse profiles, while the associated time-like oscillations reproduce "drifting subpulses"--features that change their longitude between successive pulsar spins. We will show that the presence of nodal lines can account for observed 180 degree phase jumps in drifting subpulses and their otherwise poor phase stability, even if the time-like oscillations are strictly periodic. Our model can also account for the "mode changes" and "nulls" observed in some pulsars as quasiperiodic changes between pulsation modes of different l or radial overtone n, analogous to pulsation mode changes observed in oscillating white dwarf stars. We will discuss other definitive and testable requirements of our model and show that they are qualitatively supported by existing data. While reserving judgment until the completion of quantitative tests, we are inspired enough by the existing observational support for our model to speculate about the excitation mechanism of the non-radial pulsations, the physics we can learn from them, and their relationship to the period evolution of pulsars.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures (as separate png files), Astrophysical Journal, in pres

An Empirical Model for the Radio Emission from Pulsars

A model for slow radio pulsars is proposed which involves the entire magnetosphere in the production of the observed radio emission. It is argued that observations of pulsar profiles suggest that a feedback mechanism exists between the star surface and the null charge surface, requiring particle flow in both directions. In their flow to and from the surface the particles execute an azimuthal drift around the magnetic pole, thereby creating a ring of discrete `emission nodes' close to the surface. Motion of the nodes is observed as the well-known subpulse `drift', but is interpreted here as a small residual component of the real particle drift. The nodes can therefore move in either direction, or even remain stationary. A precise fit is found for the pulsar PSR0943+10. Azimuthal interactions between different regions of the magnetosphere depend on the angle between the magnetic and rotation axes and influence the conal type, as observed. The requirement of intermittent weak pair-production in an outergap suggests a natural evolutionary link between radio and gamma-ray pulsars.Comment: 17 pages 8 figure

Causes of ecological disaster in the Armyansk and possible measures to prevent such accident

This article analyzes the data sources on the environmental disaster that occurred in the city of Armyansk, located on the Perekop isthmus, which connects the Crimean Peninsula with the continent, analyzes violations of the requirements for the use, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals, the circumstances of the release of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere and the reasons that led to this, moreover this article analyzes creation of measures to prevent such accidents.В данной статье проведен анализ данных источников об экологической катастрофе, произошедшей в г. Армянск, расположенном на Перекопском перешейке, который соединяет Крымский полуостров с континентом, разбор нарушений требований к использованию, хранению и утилизации опасных химических веществ, обстоятельствах выброса сернистого ангидрида в атмосферу и причины, приведшие к этому, а также произведена разработка мер по предупреждению аналогичных аварий

Performance of a plastic scintillator developed using styrene monomer polymerization

This paper presents a newly developed plastic scintillator produced in collaboration with Turkiye Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency (TENMAK). The scintillator is manufactured using thermal polymerization of commercially available styrene monomer. The absorption spectrum of the scintillator exhibited two absorption bands at 225 nm and 340 nm, with an absorption edge observed at 410 nm. The wavelength of the emitted light was measured in the range of 400-800 nm, with a maximum intensity at 427 nm. Monoenergetic electrons from the 137Cs source were used to evaluate the characteristics of the new scintillator, particularly its light yield. As the light readout the MAPD-3NM type silicon photomultiplier array (4 x 4) with an active area of 15 x 15 mm2, assembled using single MAPDs with an active area of 3.7 x 3.7 mm2, was used. The light yield of the scintillator was determined to be 6134 photons/MeV. In addition, the efficiency of the scintillator for gamma rays with an energy of 662 keV was found to be approximately 1.8 %. A CmBe neutron source was employed to evaluate its fast neutron detection performance. However, neutron/gamma discrimination using pulse shape discrimination (charge integration) method was not observed. The results demonstrate the potential of a newly produced plastic scintillator for various applications, particularly in radiation monitoring and detection systems.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Мини-инвазивные способы лечения доброкачественных узлов щитовидной железы

Background. Nodular goitre is the commonest pathology of thyroid gland. According to published evidence, the endemic prevalence of iodine deficiency varies within 19–76 % population. The high rates and lack of symptoms at progressive nodules growth warrant the development of effective organ-preserving treatments. Imaging techniques for local precision targeting of individual lesions enable maximum-preserving interventions at thyroid tissue. Today’s world experience of percutaneous ethanol sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation is adequate. However, there exist no clear indications for sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation, and their consecutive use has not been assessed.Materials and methods. We analyse minimally invasive organ-preserving treatments of benign thyroid nodules (ethanol sclerotherapy, RFA) in 63 patients at the outpatient and general surgery units of BSMU Clinic and MEGI Medical Centre, Ufa, during February 2019 — December 2020.Results and discussion. Ethanol sclerotherapy was highly effective in 46.5 % patients, as evident from discontinued nodule’s blood supply in CDI and B-mode ultrasound, which remained stable in 10.5 % and restored after 3–4 weeks in 25 % patients. Sclerotherapy in colloid goitre was efficient only in 37.5 % patients. Ethanol sclerotherapy was RFA-followed in 25.4 % patients. RFA was favoured at a low-effective sclerotherapy providing for a weak positive dynamics of nodule size, local parietal blood flow preservation and intranodular vessels recanalisation at re-examination.Conclusion. Sclerotherapy was high-effective in cystic nodules. Radiofrequency ablation can be considered most adequate for treating solid nodules. RFA-followed sclerotherapy is a rational choice in treatment of large cystic nodules (>5 cm3 ). Введение. Самой распространенной патологией щитовидной железы является узловой зоб. Встречаемость йододефицита в  эндемических регионах варьирует, по литературным данным, от 19  до 76  % населения. Высокая распространенность, бессимптомное течение с прогрессирующим ростом узлов диктуют необходимость выработки эффективных органосохраняющих методов лечения. Имея визуализирующие способы локального прецизионного воздействия на отдельные патологически измененные структуры, можно выполнять вмешательства с максимальным сохранением неизмененной ткани щитовидной железы. На сегодня в мире уже накоплен достаточный опыт применения чрескожной склеротерапии этанолом и радиочастотной абляции (РЧА). Однако не разработаны четкие показания к применению склеротерапии и радиочастотной абляции и не оценена возможность последовательного их применения.Материалы и методы. В работе представлен анализ лечения доброкачественных узлов щитовидной железы мини-инвазивными органосохраняющими методами (этаноловая склеротерапия, РЧА) у 63 пациентов, проведенными на базе амбулаторного отделения и отделения общей хирургии Клиники Башкирского государственного медицинского института и медицинского центра «МЕГИ», г. Уфа, в период с февраля 2019 до декабря 2020 г.Результаты и обсуждение. Применение этаноловой склеротерапии было высокоэффективным у  46,5  % пациентов, оценку проводили по нарушению питания узла в виде исчезновения кровотока при УЗД исследовании в режиме ЦДК и B-flow, которое отмечалось в 10,5 % случаев — стабильное и в 25 % отмечено восстановление кровотока спустя 3–4 недели. При склеротерапии узлов с признаками организации коллоида эффективность отмечена только у 37,5 % пациентов. У 25,4 % исследуемых после этаноловой склеротерапии была проведена последующая РЧА. Решение в пользу РЧА было принято при малоэффективном курсе склеротерапии в виде слабой положительной динамики размеров узла, сохранения пристеночных локусов кровотока и реканализации внутринодулярных сосудов при повторном осмотре.Заключение. Высокая эффективность склерозирующей терапии отмечалась при кистозном характере узла. В лечении узлов, имеющих солидный характер, лучшим методом следует признать радиочастотную деструкцию. При лечении кистозно-трансформированных узлов больших размеров (более 5 см3 ) рационально проведение сеансов склеротерапии перед РЧА.

Effect of new cycloplatinated complexes on the viability of cultured human glioblastoma and osteosarcoma cells

The article presents the results of studies conducted on cell cultures of glioblastoma and osteosarcoma (lines A-172 and HOS). The effect of new platinum compounds on the viability of cultured cells was studied. As a result, a visible cytotoxic effect was observed.В статье представлены результаты исследований, которые были проведены на клеточных культурах глиобластомы и остеосаркомы (линии А-172 и HOS). Исследовалось влияние новых соединений платины на жизнеспособность культивируемых клеток. В результате был отмечен видимый цитотоксический эффек