Study of doubly strange systems using stored antiprotons

Bound nuclear systems with two units of strangeness are still poorly known despite their importance for many strong interaction phenomena. Stored antiprotons beams in the GeV range represent an unparalleled factory for various hyperon-antihyperon pairs. Their outstanding large production probability in antiproton collisions will open the floodgates for a series of new studies of systems which contain two or even more units of strangeness at the P‾ANDA experiment at FAIR. For the first time, high resolution γ-spectroscopy of doubly strange ΛΛ-hypernuclei will be performed, thus complementing measurements of ground state decays of ΛΛ-hypernuclei at J-PARC or possible decays of particle unstable hypernuclei in heavy ion reactions. High resolution spectroscopy of multistrange Ξ−-atoms will be feasible and even the production of Ω−-atoms will be within reach. The latter might open the door to the |S|=3 world in strangeness nuclear physics, by the study of the hadronic Ω−-nucleus interaction. For the first time it will be possible to study the behavior of Ξ‾+ in nuclear systems under well controlled conditions

Safety and Effectiveness of Intraarticular Administration of Adipose-Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction for Treatment of Knee Articular Cartilage Degenerative Damage: Preliminary Results of a Clinical Trial

The incidence of knee osteoarthritis tends to increase every year and constitutes more than 83% of overall OA morbidity. Moreover, the OA morbidity among younger patients is also increasing. However, currently available treatment methods do not provide quite satisfactory outcomes. Purpose of the study - to evaluate safety and efficacy of intraarticular introduction of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction for treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Material and methods. By the moment of writing the present report, 28 patients were included into the study. All patients underwent tumescent liposuction under local anesthesia. The stromal vascular fraction was isolated from lipoaspirate within 1,5 hours after harvesting and subsequently injected into the articular cavity. Follow-up period was 6 months after injections. The authors report on efficacy data of 10 patients who completed the study according to protocol and safety data of all 28 patients. Efficacy was evaluated basing on laboratory assessments and patient's subjective assessment by validated questionnaires. Results. Neither adverse reactions no adverse events were observed. Significant decrease of pain severity by VAS was noted in one week after injection and pain score continued decreasing during the whole follow up period. The increase of KOOS score was noted starting on the fifth week after injection. KSS part 1 score increased in 8 weeks, KSS part 2 score - in 6 months after injection. Physical health, assessed with SF-36 questionnaire significantly improved in 2 and 6 months after the procedure. There was a clear trend towards improvement of mental health. Conclusion. Preliminary results of clinical study suggest intraarticular injection of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction to be a safe and efficient method of the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Intrafamilial Phenotypic Variability of Collagen VI-Related Myopathy Due to a New Mutation in the COL6A1 Gene

A family of five male siblings (three survivors at 48, 53 and 58 years old; two deceased at 8 months old and 2.5 years old) demonstrating significant phenotypic variability ranging from intermediate to the myosclerotic like Bethlem myopathy is presented. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) identified a new homozygous missense mutation chr21:47402679 T > C in the canonical splice donor site of the second intron (c.227 + 2T>C) in the COL6A1 gene. mRNA analysis confirmed skipping of exon 2 encoding 925 amino-acids in 94-95% of resulting transcripts. Three sibs presented with intermediate phenotype of collagen VI-related dystrophies (48, 53 and 2.5 years old) while the fourth sibling (58 years old) was classified as Bethlem myopathy with spine rigidity. The two older siblings with the moderate progressive phenotype (48 and 53 years old) lost their ability to maintain a vertical posture caused by pronounced contractures of large joints, but continued to ambulate throughout life on fully bent legs without auxiliary means of support. Immunofluorescence analysis of dermal fibroblasts demonstrated that no type VI collagen was secreted in any of the siblings' cells, regardless of clinical manifestations severity while fibroblast proliferation and colony formation ability was decreased. The detailed genetic and long term clinical data contribute to broadening the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of COL6A1 related disease

ОЦЕНКА БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ И ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ВНУТРИСУСТАВНОГО ВВЕДЕНИЯ СТРОМАЛЬНОВАСКУЛЯРНОЙ ФРАКЦИИ ЖИРОВОЙ ТКАНИ ДЛЯ ЛЕЧЕНИЯ ГОНАРТРОЗА: ПРОМЕЖУТОЧНЫЕ РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ КЛИНИЧЕСКОГО ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ

The incidence of knee osteoarthritis tends to increase every year and constitutes more than 83% of overall OA morbidity. Moreover, the OA morbidity among younger patients is also increasing. However, currently available treatment methods do not provide quite satisfactory outcomes. Purpose of the study - to evaluate safety and efficacy of intraarticular introduction of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction for treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Material and methods. By the moment of writing the present report, 28 patients were included into the study. All patients underwent tumescent liposuction under local anesthesia. The stromal vascular fraction was isolated from lipoaspirate within 1,5 hours after harvesting and subsequently injected into the articular cavity. Follow-up period was 6 months after injections. The authors report on efficacy data of 10 patients who completed the study according to protocol and safety data of all 28 patients. Efficacy was evaluated basing on laboratory assessments and patient's subjective assessment by validated questionnaires. Results. Neither adverse reactions no adverse events were observed. Significant decrease of pain severity by VAS was noted in one week after injection and pain score continued decreasing during the whole follow up period. The increase of KOOS score was noted starting on the fifth week after injection. KSS part 1 score increased in 8 weeks, KSS part 2 score - in 6 months after injection. Physical health, assessed with SF-36 questionnaire significantly improved in 2 and 6 months after the procedure. There was a clear trend towards improvement of mental health. Conclusion. Preliminary results of clinical study suggest intraarticular injection of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction to be a safe and efficient method of the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.В последние годы отмечается неуклонный рост заболеваемости остеоартрозом коленного сустава. Доля данной патологии составляет 83% от общей заболеваемости остеоартрозом. Результаты лечения существующими методами не вполне удовлетворительные. Цель исследования - оценить безопасность и эффективность внутрисуставного введения аутологичной стромально-васкулярной фракции клеток жировой ткани для лечения остеоартроза коленного сустава. Материал и методы. В исследование включено 28 пациентов. В условиях дневного стационара у каждого пациента забирали жировую ткань (шприцевая липосакция под местной анестезией), из которой в течение 1,5 ч выделяли стромально-васкулярную фракцию клеток и вводили в полость сустава. Наблюдение за пациентами осуществляли в течение 6 мес. после введения клеточного продукта. Нами представлены данные об эффективности, полученные при анализе индивидуальных регистрационных карт 10 больных, которые в соответствии с протоколом завершили участие в исследовании, и данные о безопасности, полученные для всех 28 пациентов. эффективность оценивали при помощи инструментальных методов обследования, а также валидированных вопросников. Результаты. Ни у одного больного не было выявлено нежелательных явлений или реакций. Через неделю после введения стромально-васкулярной фракции клеток жировой ткани отмечалось снижение болевого синдрома, которое продолжалось на протяжении всего периода наблюдения. Оценка качества жизни пациентов по шкале KOOS выявила улучшение качества жизни начиная с четвертой недели после внутрисуставного введения клеток. при клинической оценке функции коленного сустава с использованием части 1 вопросника KSS установлено повышение суммы баллов через 8 нед., а по части 2 вопросника KSS - через 6 мес. после введения клеточного продукта. при оценке качества жизни с помощью вопросника SF-36 выявлено улучшение физического компонента здоровья, статистически значимое на 2-м и 6-м мес. исследования. Не выявлено статистически значимого улучшения психологического компонента здоровья, однако наблюдается отчетливая тенденция к улучшению данного показателя. Выводы. предварительные результаты клинического исследования свидетельствуют о безопасности и эффективности внутрисуставного введения аутологичной стромально-васкулярной фракции клеток жировой ткани для лечения остеоартроза коленного сустава