Influence of doxorubicin inclusion into phospholipid nanoformulation on its antitumor activity in mice: increased efficiency for resistant tumor model

Aim: The new formulation of doxorubicin on the base of phospholipid nanoparticles (particle size <30 nm) is elaborated in the Institute of Biomedical Chemistry (Russian Academy of Medical Sciences) on the base of plant phospholipids. The aim of study is to investigate an antitumor effect of this nanoformulation in mice with two cancer models with various sensitivity to chemotherapy — lymphoid malignancy P-388 and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC). Methods: Nanophospholipid (NPh) formulation of doxorubicin was prepared by homogenization of soybean phosphatidylcholine and doxorubicin hydrochloride. The effect of this formulation was studied in experiments with single or threefold drug administration. Percents of tumor growth inhibition in mice under influence of free or NPh doxorubicin forms were compared. Results: Single administration of both free and NPh doxorubicin in mice with P-388 resulted in the same quick severe inhibition of tumor growth (60–90% depending from dose), with further gradual decrease of inhibition degree. However for more resistant tumor, LLC, the obvious advantage of NPh doxorubicin form was shown. The little effect of free doxorubicin began to reveal only after 11 days, but NPh formulation induced significant inhibition of tumor growth (40%) from the first experimental point (6 days after administration). The advantages of NPh doxorubicin was manifested particularly in low drug doses, 2 and 4 mg/kg. In other experiment design in mice with LLC, with threefold weekly drug administration, NPh doxorubicin appeared to be 2.5 times more active than free drug. The reason of the same actions of free and NPh doxorubicin form in P-388 is suggested the high drug sensitivity of this model, that gives quick high drug response for any doxorubicin form. Conclusion: Doxorubicin in phospholipids nanoformulation revealed higher antitumor efficiency as compared with free doxorubicin in mice with LLC carcinoma. The mechanism of such changes is supposed to be caused by increase of doxorubicin availability for cancer cells

Recommendations for interviewers conducting sociological surveys: The use of the psychotypes theory and analysis of respondents’ nonverbal reactions

The quality of sociological data is the problem that cannot lose relevance in the works of methodologists and practicing sociologists for decades. Procedures and techniques for the improvement of the quality of information for all type of survey methods are developing. The purpose of the article is to inform the interviewers conducting semi-structured or unstructured interviews of the recommendations developed on the basis of the theory of psychotypes (by V.V. Ponomarenko). This technology will allow to improve the quality of sociological data. Identification of the psychotype of the respondent and his emotional reactions to different sensitive topics during the interview are the basis of this technology. Emotional reactions can be traced by nonverbal cues (facial expressions, gestures and poses) and interpreted by the technology of the analysis of nonverbal reactions developed and approved earlier. During the multistage experiment, the reactions significant in the course of interview were traced and analyzed — irritation, surprise, sadness, contempt, joy, fear, disgust, stress/discomfort, doubt/indecision, manifestations of mental processes. At the first phase, representatives of ‘ideal types’ of each psychotype were selected by an abridged psychological test and external diagnostics based on sensitive topics. As a result, the recommendations for a semi-structured interview were formulated. To use this technique, it is necessary to test an interviewee before the interview by the abridged psychological technique (in case there are doubts after the visual diagnostics). According to the psychotype the interviewer pays attention to the sensitive topics of the interview, and during the interview can reformulate the open-ended questions to reduce the sensitivity of significant topics for each respondent. © Zh.V. Puzanova, T.I. Larina, S.V. Zakharova, 2017

РЕКОМЕНДАЦИИ ИНТЕРВЬЮЕРАМ ПРИ ПРОВЕДЕНИИ СОЦИОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ОПРОСОВ: ПРАКТИЧЕСКОЕ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ ТЕОРИИ ПСИХОТИПОВ И АНАЛИЗА НЕВЕРБАЛЬНЫХ РЕАКЦИЙ РЕСПОНДЕНТОВ

The quality of sociological data is the problem that cannot lose relevance in the works of methodologists and practicing sociologists for decades. Procedures and techniques for the improvement of the quality of information for all type of survey methods are developing. The purpose of the article is to inform the interviewers conducting semi-structured or unstructured interviews of the recommendations developed on the basis of the theory of psychotypes (by V.V. Ponomarenko). This technology will allow to improve the quality of sociological data. Identification of the psychotype of the respondent and his emotional reactions to different sensitive topics during the interview are the basis of this technology. Emotional reactions can be traced by nonverbal cues (facial expressions, gestures and poses) and interpreted by the technology of the analysis of nonverbal reactions developed and approved earlier. During the multistage experiment, the reactions significant in the course of interview were traced and analyzed — irritation, surprise, sadness, contempt, joy, fear, disgust, stress/discomfort, doubt/indecision, manifestations of mental processes. At the first phase, representatives of ‘ideal types’ of each psychotype were selected by an abridged psychological test and external diagnostics based on sensitive topics. As a result, the recommendations for a semi-structured interview were formulated. To use this technique, it is necessary to test an interviewee before the interview by the abridged psychological technique (in case there are doubts after the visual diagnostics). According to the psychotype the interviewer pays attention to the sensitive topics of the interview, and during the interview can reformulate the open-ended questions to reduce the sensitivity of significant topics for each respondent. © Zh.V. Puzanova, T.I. Larina, S.V. Zakharova, 2017.Качество социологических данных - проблема, не теряющая актуальности в работах методологов и практикующих социологов на протяжении многих десятилетий. Для каждого вида социологического опроса разработаны и продолжают создаваться методики повышения качества данных. Цель статьи - ознакомить с рекомендациями для интервьюеров, использующих полуформализованное или свободное интервью, разработанное на основе теории психотипов (В.В. Пономаренко). Представленная технология работы с использованием этой методики будет способствовать повы-шению качества социологической информации. В ее основу положены знания о психотипе респондента и его эмоциональных реакциях на сенситивные тематики, демонстрируемые во время интервью. Эмоциональные реакции хорошо прослеживаются на основе невербальных проявлений (мимических, пластических и поз), для анализа которых использована технология анализа невербальных реакций, разработанная и апробированная ранее. В ходе многоэтапного эксперимента отслеживались и анализировались реакции, которые значимы в процессе интервьюирования - раздражение, удивление, печаль, презрение, радость, страх, отвращение, стресс/дискомфорт, сомнение/нерешительность, проявления мыслительных процессов. На первом этапе при помощи сокращенного психологического теста и внешней диагностики были отобраны представители «идеальных типов» каждого психотипа, с которыми было проведено интервью на сензитивные темы. На заключительном этапе была реализован анализ доминирующих реакций, в том числе в зависимости психотипа респондента, и сделаны соответствующие выводы - рекомендации по проведению полуформализованного интервью. Для реализации предложенной техники необходимо перед началом интервью протестировать интервьюируемого по сокращенной психологической методике (если возникли сомнения в ходе визуальной диагностики). В зависимости от психотипа нужно обратить внимание на вопросы по сензитивной тематике, и в случае необходимости по ходу интервью пере-формулировать вопросы открытого типа так, чтобы снизить сензитивность значимых тем для каж-дого интервьюируемого

Personal characteristics of the focus group participants as a factor of the data quality

The article presents the results of the search for methodological ways to improve the quality of sociological information obtained in the focus group discussion. Today the scientific sphere is changing, and, in addition to the development of new methods, the existing interdisciplinary ones are being adapted to the specific research goals. An important way for improving sociological methods is the study of psychological aspects of respondents’ behavior during focus groups, since unconscious reactions can indicate the potential information bias and affect the quality of the project results. In the RUDN University, a three-stage methodological experiment was conducted based on the psychological technique “7 radicals”, the Specific Affect Coding System (SPAFF) and the personal differential method. At the first stage, the experiment aimed at examining the ability of respondents without special knowledge in the field of psychotyping to identify the dominant radicals. At the second stage, representatives of different psychotypes assessed each other so that the researchers would develop recommendations for the seating of focus group participants. At the third stage, the quality of the data obtained in focus groups was assessed depending on the moderator’s special skills (knowledge of psycho-types, FACS and SPAFF). Thus, the recommendations for moderators were developed — to increase the efficiency of work with focus group participants and to improve the quality of sociological data. The moderator needs knowledge in three areas: respondents’ psycho-types, affects in SPAFF, and the proxemic component (seating of respondents). The authors assess the prospects for introducing psychological techniques into the training system for focus group moderators and provide recommendations for moderators based on the results of the multi-stage experiment. Its results partially solve the problem of the quality of the focus group data by explaining the need to teach moderators interdisciplinary techniques (SPAFF and psycho-typing of the focus-group participants).

Prostate cancer clinical recommendations [Рак предстательной железы Клинические рекомендации]

[No abstract available

Palivizumab: Four seasons in Russia

In 2010, the Russian Federation (RF) registered palivizumab - innovative drug, based on monoclonal antibodies for passive immunization of seasonal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children of disease severe progress risk group, which include primarily premature infants, children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease. Currently, palivizumab is included in the list of recommended medicines and medical care standards of different countries, including Russia. In the review the results of Russian research on the progress of RSV infection, its epidemiology and immunization experience gained over the 2010-2014 period are summarized in relation to the foreign data. During the four epidemic seasons palivizumab immunization covered more than 3,200 children of severe RSV infection risk group with a progressive annual increase in the number of patients who received the drug. Geography of palivizumab immunization is also greatly expanded in our country during this time. If during the first two seasons measures of immunization were taken mainly in Moscow and St. Petersburg, at the present time, thirty one territorial entities of the Russian Federation have the experience in the drug application. Analysis of the results of RSV infection immunization (made in several regions) confirms the high clinical efficacy and palivizumab safety already demonstrated in international studies. In addition, the analysis presents the potential to improve the efficiency of the integrated RSV infection immunization programs, realizing in the establishment of high-risk child group register, adequate counseling for parents, as well as the development of the routing of patients and coordination of interaction between different health institutions during the immunization. © 2014, Izdatel'stvo Meditsina. All rights reserved

Palivizumab: Four seasons in Russia

In 2010, the Russian Federation (RF) registered palivizumab - innovative drug, based on monoclonal antibodies for passive immunization of seasonal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children of disease severe progress risk group, which include primarily premature infants, children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease. Currently, palivizumab is included in the list of recommended medicines and medical care standards of different countries, including Russia. In the review the results of Russian research on the progress of RSV infection, its epidemiology and immunization experience gained over the 2010-2014 period are summarized in relation to the foreign data. During the four epidemic seasons palivizumab immunization covered more than 3,200 children of severe RSV infection risk group with a progressive annual increase in the number of patients who received the drug. Geography of palivizumab immunization is also greatly expanded in our country during this time. If during the first two seasons measures of immunization were taken mainly in Moscow and St. Petersburg, at the present time, thirty one territorial entities of the Russian Federation have the experience in the drug application. Analysis of the results of RSV infection immunization (made in several regions) confirms the high clinical efficacy and palivizumab safety already demonstrated in international studies. In addition, the analysis presents the potential to improve the efficiency of the integrated RSV infection immunization programs, realizing in the establishment of high-risk child group register, adequate counseling for parents, as well as the development of the routing of patients and coordination of interaction between different health institutions during the immunization. © 2014, Izdatel'stvo Meditsina. All rights reserved

Modern Trends of Organic Chemistry in Russian Universities

This review is devoted to the scientific achievements of the departments of organic chemistry in higher schools of Russia within the past decade. © 2018, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd