Detection of large-scale X-ray bubbles in the Milky Way halo.

The halo of the Milky Way provides a laboratory to study the properties of the shocked hot gas that is predicted by models of galaxy formation. There is observational evidence of energy injection into the halo from past activity in the nucleus of the Milky Way1-4; however, the origin of this energy (star formation or supermassive-black-hole activity) is uncertain, and the causal connection between nuclear structures and large-scale features has not been established unequivocally. Here we report soft-X-ray-emitting bubbles that extend approximately 14 kiloparsecs above and below the Galactic centre and include a structure in the southern sky analogous to the North Polar Spur. The sharp boundaries of these bubbles trace collisionless and non-radiative shocks, and corroborate the idea that the bubbles are not a remnant of a local supernova5 but part of a vast Galaxy-scale structure closely related to features seen in γ-rays6. Large energy injections from the Galactic centre7 are the most likely cause of both the γ-ray and X-ray bubbles. The latter have an estimated energy of around 1056 erg, which is sufficient to perturb the structure, energy content and chemical enrichment of the circumgalactic medium of the Milky Way.

Two-billion-year-old evaporites capture Earth's great oxidation.

Major changes in atmospheric and ocean chemistry occurred in the Paleoproterozoic era (2.5 to 1.6 billion years ago). Increasing oxidation dramatically changed Earth's surface, but few quantitative constraints exist on this important transition. This study describes the sedimentology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of a 2-billion-year-old, ~800-meter-thick evaporite succession from the Onega Basin in Russian Karelia. The deposit consists of a basal unit dominated by halite (~100 meters) followed by units dominated by anhydrite-magnesite (~500 meters) and dolomite-magnesite (~200 meters). The evaporite minerals robustly constrain marine sulfate concentrations to at least 10 millimoles per kilogram of water, representing an oxidant reservoir equivalent to more than 20% of the modern ocean-atmosphere oxidizing capacity. These results show that substantial amounts of surface oxidant accumulated during this critical transition in Earth's oxygenation.

Vitamin D status and risk for sarcopenia in youth with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Suboptimal vitamin D (vitD) status and reduced lean body mass are highly prevalent in pediatric inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The study objective was to determine sarcopenia prevalence and associations with vitD status in newly diagnosed pediatric IBD. Children with Crohn's disease (CD; n = 58) and ulcerative colitis (UC; n = 27) were included. Primary outcomes included body composition (total/regional/percent fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM)), and vitD status (serum 25(OH)D). Sarcopenia was defined as SMM-z < -2. Additional variables measured included serum CRP, ESR, anthropometric, Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI), and the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Disease Activity index (PUCAI). Sarcopenia and suboptimal 25(OH)D levels (< 50 nmol/l) were found in 23.5% (n = 20) and 52% (n = 44) of children, respectively. Younger children (< 13 years) with CD with suboptimal 25(OH)vitD (< 50 nmol/l) had the greatest frequency of sarcopenia (57.1%) (p = 0.004). Sarcopenia was prevalent in newly diagnosed, young children with CD with vitD deficiency.

[Diagnostic Possibilities of Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography].

The review is devoted to merits and demerits of a new method of assessment of condition of the heart - speckle-tracking echocardiography. Speckle-tracking echocardiography is a perspective method allowing to register disorders of both global and regional contractile motion.

[Application of CAVI Index in Clinical Practice: Calculated Vascular Age as a Tool for Decision on Additional Examination of Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases].

OBJECTIVE: to analyze correspondence between determination of vascular age of patients with cardiovascular diseases by volumetric sphygmography and their chronological age, and to assess the influence of lipid factors and atherosclerotic lesions in carotid arteries (CA) on parameters associated with the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination which included volumetric sphygmography was carried out in 185 patients with various cardiovascular diseases. Calculated vascular age was determined on the basis of graphic conversion of ratio of CAVI and true age of a patient. RESULTS: Calculated vascular age exceeded chronological age in 43 patients (23.4%). Analysis of the data obtained in this subgroup, except natural interrelation between such characteristics as age, ankle-brachial index, CAVI and calculated vascular age revealed statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) between following parameters: R-CAVI and male gender (r = 0.35), calculated vascular age (based on R-CAVI) and TG (r = -0,34), L-CAVI and BMI (r = -0.36), R-ABI and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries (r = -9.34). Comparison of influence of lipid factors and CA atherosclerotic lesions on CAVI associated parameters revealed no significant differences between groups. CONCLUSION: Volumetric sphygmography with calculation of vascular age is an easily reproducible and accessible method of screening of early changes in the vascular wall. Determination of vascular age of patients with cardiovascular diseases by volumetric sphygmography suggests advisability of thorough medical examination at least in a quarter of total number of patients.

Immunogenicity of quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in organ transplant recipients.

Solid organ transplant recipients are at risk of morbidity from human papillomavirus (HPV)-related diseases. Quadrivalent HPV vaccine is recommended for posttransplant patients but there are no data on vaccine immunogenicity. We determined the immunogenicity of HPV vaccine in a cohort of young adult transplant patients. Patients were immunized with three doses of quadrivalent HPV vaccine containing viral types 6, 11, 16 and 18. Immunogenicity was determined by type-specific viral-like protein ELISA. Four weeks after the last dose of vaccine, a vaccine response was seen in 63.2%, 68.4%, 63.2% and 52.6% for HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18, respectively. Factors that led to reduced immunogenicity were vaccination early after transplant (p = 0.019), having a lung transplant (p = 0.007) and having higher tacrolimus levels (p = 0.048). At 12 months, there were significant declines in antibody titer for all HPV types although the number of patients who remained seropositive did not significantly differ. The vaccine was safe and well tolerated. We show suboptimal immunogenicity of HPV vaccine in transplant patients. This is important for counseling patients who choose to receive this vaccine. Further studies are needed to determine an optimal HPV vaccine type and schedule for this population.

[The therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of the liposomal form of daunorubicin (Daunoxome) in lymphosarcoma patients]. / Terapevticheskaia éffektivnost' i toksichnost' liposomal'noi formy daunorubitsina (Daunozoma) u bol'nykh limfosarkomami.

AIM: To evaluate toxicity and efficacy of CDxOP regimen in the treatment of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (PNHL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 8 males and 6 females who had large B-cell lymphoma (n = 11), follicular lymphoma, predominantly large cell (n = 1), mantle cell lymphoma (n = 1) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (n = 1). Seven patients were over 60. PNHL stage IV, III and II was diagnosed in 7, 5 and 2 patients, respectively. Daunoxome dose was 80 mg/m2 with an increase up to 100 mg/m2 in case of slow response and good tolerance. The other drugs were used in standard doses. RESULTS: 6 patients achieved complete remission (43%) and 5 patients--partial response (36%), the overall response was 79%. Three patients did not respond to therapy and died. Six patients are still in complete and two in partial remission, median follow-up being 22 months. The rest 3 patients were treated with other modalities, one of them died of infection. As to complications that might be related to daunoxome, there was myelodepression (6% of profound neutropenia < 1000 microl). No patients had deterioration of the left ventricular ejection fraction (ultrasound measurements) or clinical signs of congestive heart failure (median follow-up for 10 patients was 22 months) including those in whom high cumulative doses were used (640-840 mg/m2). One patient with compromised heart function had frequent ventricular extrasystole immediately after daunoxome infusion. CONCLUSION: Tolerance of CDxOP is acceptable. The results of the treatment are comparable with those of standard chemotherapy. Further comparative studies are needed for determination of efficacy and maximal tolerated dose of daunoxome in combination with other drugs and irradiation, of long-term side effects. This drug may be beneficial for elderly patients.

[The immune system and factors of natural resistance in patients with cancer of the stomach]. / Sistema immuniteta i faktory estestvennoi rezistentnosti u bol'nykh rakom zheludka.

Parameters of T and B systems of immunity as well as factors of natural resistance were evaluated in gastric cancer patients. A correlation was established between the immunologic indexes, on the one hand, and stage and histological pattern of tumor, on the other. Pattern of growth and site of tumor influenced the immunologic status less significantly. A complex immunologic examination should be performed and clinico-morphological peculiarities of tumor considered for evaluating immunologic status in patients with gastric cancer.