A Revised Checklist of Mongolian Mammal Species

A revised annotated checklist of Mongolian mammals is presented, supplemented with comments on modifications in species- and genus-level taxonomy introduced over the last 30 years. The checklist includes 140 species compared to 124 species recognized three decades ago by SOKOLOV & ORLOV (1980). Since then, four species were newly described; seven species were registered for the first time on Mongolian territory. Names for more than 20 taxa have changed, on most occasions this change occurred not for purely nomenclatural reasons but rather as a result of taxonomic revisions at the species level which have elevated the rank of many nominal taxa treated previously as subspecies. Recent molecular studies have shown that many widespread Central Asian species, in fact, consist of several highly divergent phylogenetic lineages the taxonomic status of which is yet unclear. Therefore, further updates to our knowledge of mammal biodiversity in Mongolia are expected

Epidemiology and natural history of central venous access device use and infusion pump function in the NO16966 trial

Background: Central venous access devices in fluoropyrimidine therapy are associated with complications; however, reliable data are lacking regarding their natural history, associated complications and infusion pump performance in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.<p></p> Methods: We assessed device placement, use during treatment, associated clinical outcomes and infusion pump perfomance in the NO16966 trial.<p></p> Results: Device replacement was more common with FOLFOX-4 (5-fluorouracil (5-FU)+oxaliplatin) than XELOX (capecitabine+oxaliplatin) (14.1% vs 5.1%). Baseline device-associated events and post-baseline removal-/placement-related events occurred more frequently with FOLFOX-4 than XELOX (11.5% vs 2.4% and 8.5% vs 2.1%). Pump malfunctions, primarily infusion accelerations in 16% of patients, occurred within 1.6–4.3% of cycles. Fluoropyrimidine-associated grade 3/4 toxicity was increased in FOLFOX-4-treated patients experiencing a malfunction compared with those who did not (97 out of 155 vs 452 out of 825 patients), predominantly with increased grade 3/4 neutropenia (53.5% vs 39.8%). Febrile neutropenia rates were comparable between patient cohorts±malfunction. Efficacy outcomes were similar in patient cohorts±malfunction.<p></p> Conclusions: Central venous access device removal or replacement was common and more frequent in patients receiving FOLFOX-4. Pump malfunctions were also common and were associated with increased rates of grade 3/4 haematological adverse events. Oral fluoropyrimidine-based regimens may be preferable to infusional 5-FU based on these findings

Kayexalate Intake (in Sorbitol) and Jejunal Diverticulitis, a Causative Role or an Innocent Bystander?

Small intestine diverticulosis is a rare entity that is asymptomatic in the majority of cases. However, it may cause serious complications, such as infection, hemorrhage, intestinal obstruction and diverticulitis. Kayexalate (sodium polystyrene sulfonate) in sorbitol has been associated with colonic necrosis and less frequently with upper gastrointestinal injuries in a subset of uremic patients treated for hyperkalemia. We report a case of jejunal diverticulosis with mucosal injury and diverticulitis in a uremic patient treated with Kayexalate and discuss the potential role of Kayexalate in the pathogenesis of diverticulitis

HIGH VOLTAGE AC PLASMA TORCH OPERATING ON VAPORS OF ORGANIC SUBSTANCES

The report deals with a three-phase high-voltage plasma torch with separate supply of gases and vapors during its operation on a mixture of steam, carbon dioxide, methane and chlorobenzene vapors. Increase in the chlorobenzene flow rate leads to increase in the arc voltage drop and electric power from 100 to 140 kW.99-9

Вторичная неоваскулярная глаукома как первое проявление ВИЧ-инфекции: клинический случай

Secondary neovascular glaucoma can be the first sign of HIV infection. The main pathogenesis of proliferative processes in the iris and anterior chamber angle are HIVassociated angiopathy, which initiates hypoxia, and an imbalance of endothelial factors. Secondary neovascular glaucoma often occurs as a complication of central retinal vein thrombosis in the older age group or a consequence of previous uveitis. Neovascular glaucoma occurring in a young patient may indicate HIV infection. The publication describes a clinical case of secondary neovascular glaucoma in a young patient as the first sign of manifestation of the HIV infection. A 40-year-old patient with laboratory-confirmed HIV infection complained of decreased vision, pain, redness and lacrimation in the left eye. No other systemic signs of HIV infection were detected. Ophthalmological examination revealed a weak uveal reaction and single vessels along the pupillary edge of the iris. The reason of vision decrease was glaucomatous atrophy of the optic nerve due to neovascular glaucoma. One of the methods of surgical treatment of patients with neovascular glaucoma is modified direct cyclocryopexy, its advantage is a low risk of hemorrhagic complications, suppression of neovascularization, adequate hypotensive and analgesic effects. This clinical case illustrates a good hypotensive result in a 4-year follow-up.Вторичная неоваскулярная глаукома может быть первым признаком ВИЧ-инфицирования. ВИЧ-ассоциированная ангиопатия, инициирующая гипоксию, в сочетании с дисбалансом эндотелиальных факторов являются основными патогенетическими звеньями развития пролиферативных процессов радужки и угла передней камеры. Вторичная неоваскулярная глаукома часто возникает как осложнение тромбоза центральной вены сетчатки в старшей возрастной группе или как следствие перенесенного увеита. Возникновение неоваскулярной глаукомы у молодого пациента может свидетельствовать о ВИЧ-инфицировании. Публикация описывает клинический случай вторичной неоваскулярной глаукомы у молодого пациента как первого признака манифестации ВИЧ-инфекции. Пациент 40 лет обратился с жалобами на снижение зрения, боль, покраснение и слезотечение на левом глазу на фоне лабораторно подтвержденной ВИЧ-инфекции. Системно других признаков ВИЧ-инфекции выявлено не было. По данным офтальмологического обследования выявлена слабая увеальная реакция и единичные сосуды по зрачковому краю радужки. Установлено, что причиной снижения зрения являлась глаукоматозная атрофия зрительного нерва вследствие неоваскулярной глаукомы. Одним из методов хирургического лечения пациентов с неоваскулярной глаукомой является прямая циклокриопексия (ПЦКП) в модификации, преимуществом которой является низкий риск геморрагических осложнений, подавление неоваскуляризации, адекватные гипотензивный и болеутоляющий эффекты. Клинический случай иллюстрирует хороший гипотензивный результат за 4 года наблюдения

New Synthetic Thrombin Inhibitors: Molecular Design and Experimental Verification

BACKGROUND: The development of new anticoagulants is an important goal for the improvement of thromboses treatments. OBJECTIVES: The design, synthesis and experimental testing of new safe and effective small molecule direct thrombin inhibitors for intravenous administration. METHODS: Computer-aided molecular design of new thrombin inhibitors was performed using our original docking program SOL, which is based on the genetic algorithm of global energy minimization in the framework of a Merck Molecular Force Field. This program takes into account the effects of solvent. The designed molecules with the best scoring functions (calculated binding energies) were synthesized and their thrombin inhibitory activity evaluated experimentally in vitro using a chromogenic substrate in a buffer system and using a thrombin generation test in isolated plasma and in vivo using the newly developed model of hemodilution-induced hypercoagulation in rats. The acute toxicities of the most promising new thrombin inhibitors were evaluated in mice, and their stabilities in aqueous solutions were measured. RESULTS: New compounds that are both effective direct thrombin inhibitors (the best K(I) was <1 nM) and strong anticoagulants in plasma (an IC(50) in the thrombin generation assay of approximately 100 nM) were discovered. These compounds contain one of the following new residues as the basic fragment: isothiuronium, 4-aminopyridinium, or 2-aminothiazolinium. LD(50) values for the best new inhibitors ranged from 166.7 to >1111.1 mg/kg. A plasma-substituting solution supplemented with one of the new inhibitors prevented hypercoagulation in the rat model of hemodilution-induced hypercoagulation. Activities of the best new inhibitors in physiological saline (1 µM solutions) were stable after sterilization by autoclaving, and the inhibitors remained stable at long-term storage over more than 1.5 years at room temperature and at 4°C. CONCLUSIONS: The high efficacy, stability and low acute toxicity reveal that the inhibitors that were developed may be promising for potential medical applications

Typology and distribution of small farms in Europe: Towards a better picture

The contribution of small farms to local food supply, food security and food sovereignty is widely acknowledged at a global level. In the particular case of Europe, they often are seen as an alternative to large and specialised farms. Assessing the real role of small farms has been limited by a lack of information, as small farms are frequently omitted from agricultural censuses and national statistics. It is also well acknowledged that small farms differ widely, and are distributed according to different spatial patterns across Europe, fulfilling different roles according to the agriculture and territorial characteristics of each region. This paper presents the result of a novel classification of small farms at NUTS-3 level in Europe, according to the relevance of small farms in the agricultural and territorial context of each region, and based on a typology of small farms considering different dimensions of farm size. The maps presented result from an extensive data collection and variables selected according to European wide expert judgement, analysed with advanced cluster procedures. The results provide a fine grained picture of the role of small farms at the regional level in Europe today, and are expected to support further data analysis and targeted policy intervention