The effect of a finite number of monomers available for aggregation at nucleation and micellization in a fixed volume.

The expressions for the minimal work of aggregate formation as a function of the aggregation number and monomer concentration for a system with a limited number of monomers and a fixed volume have additional terms in comparison with a bulk metastable phase. The role of these terms has been analyzed in the case of droplet homogeneous nucleation and micellization in a nonionic surfactant solution. The appearance of the potential well and direct and reversal aggregation barriers in such systems and their dependence on the system parameters and monomer concentration have been considered and compared.

[Current possibilities of clinical applications of breast tumors typing expression].

Whole-genome expression analysis methods significantly clarified contemporary breast cancer classification. Besides today clinical practice lacks the use of expression methods due to complexity of conduction, analysis and lack of clinical application. Further studies of breast cancer expression characteristics and clinical trials with stratification based of phonotypical features may improve the results of existing anticancer agents. Creation of limited clinically applicable test system, which incorporates all the specific breast cancer subtypes is currently needed.

[Analysis of results of Gamma Knife radiosurgery for patients with melanoma brain metastases].

The outcomes of Gamma Knife radiosurgery for 95 patients with melanoma brain metastases were studied. The majority of the patients (82%) presented multiple metastatic brain lesions. Local control was achieved in 94% of cases. The Kaplan-Maier analyses of life expectancy revealed that median survival after radiosurgical treatment was 6.9 months. The median survival by RTOG RPA class was 18,3 months for class I; 6.9 months for class II and 3.9 months for class III. These results demonstrate that Gamma Knife radiosurgery provides a high level of local control for melanoma brain metastases and may increase the life expectancy.

[Rates of breathing values and kinetics of respiration response in critical patterns of muscular activity in middle and long distance running].

Parameters of ventilation influx, ventilation debt and ventilation demand of exercise were calculated on the basis of heart rate dynamics and parameters of external breathing during the testing procedure and recovery of elite runners during of the maximum workout. It was established that all of external breathing values closely reproduce changes of basic parameters of oxygen demand during the exercises at high intensity and duration and can be used for quantification and valuation of exercise loads in sport. During the conducted at the research it was experimentally proved that high level of sporting achievements in middle and long distance running is defined by three major factors of an aerobic exchange in an organism: 1. General ratio of increase in level of pulmonary ventilation (VE), consumption of oxygen (VO2) and allocation of carbon dioxide (CO2); 2. During the expiration--rate and of supply speed of oxygen (O2) from lungs to working muscles; 3. Rate of oxygenation (StO2) and total speed of the blood-groove.

[Assessment of parameters of human outside respiration by portative volumeter under field and laboratory conditions].

The assessment of spirometric possibilities of lung usually happens possible only in laboratory to use of expensive equipment, besides thus it is necessary to use cycle ergometer or racetracks which make the contribution to violation of natural coordination of movements of the person. Thereof there is a desire to develop the portable device, which would measure key parameters of external breath of the person in field conditions with data recording possibility in the memory in a mode of breath-by-breath then to transfer them to the computer for the further analysis. We developed the portable device consisting of the easy and tiny sensor, fastening to a respiratory mask. The sensor incorporates by means of a cable to the tiny device to the liquid crystal screen on which serially at the choice of the operator values of pulmonary ventilation (Ve), volume of an exhalation (Vt) and frequency of breath in a mode of breath-by-breath are deduced. Metrological researches showed that the device error generally didn't exceed 5%.

[Phase II clinical trial of autologous dendritic cell vaccine with immunologic adjuvant in cutaneous melanoma patients].

This paper describes the clinical results and immunologic changes in cutaneous melanoma patients receiving active specific immunotherapy with autologous dendritic cell vaccine (DCV) in combination with cyclophosphamide used as immunologic adjuvant. Twenty eight patients with morphologically verified stage III-IV cutaneous melanoma receiving therapy in N. N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology between 2008 and 2011 were included in the study. All patients signed an informed consent form. Nineteen patients (67,9%) received DCV in therapeutic setting, 9 (32,1%) received it in adjuvant setting. DCV therapy was well tolerated. No serious adverse events were registered. Frequent adverse events included Grade 1-2 unspecific symptoms (fever, fatigue, flu-like symptoms) observed in 22% patients after 3,5% of vaccinations. In therapeutic settings the use DCV lead to clinical effect (PR+SD) in 36,6% of patients. PR was observed in 5% of (95% CI 0-15%) patients, SD in 31,6% (95% CI 13-56%). Duration of the objective responses was 168-965+days. Addition of immunologic adjuvant (cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m2 IV 2 hours) 3 days before vaccination increased its efficacy. In this patients group (n=12) the therapy lead to clinical benefit in 42% (95% CI 17-69%) of cases, median time to progression was 91 (95% CI 55-126) days. This regimen was selected for adjuvant therapy. In the adjuvant therapy group (n=9) the median time to progression was 112 (95% CI 58-166) days. Immunologic monitoring showed correlation ofT- and B-cell immune response with DCV clinical efficacy (p<0,05), no correlation with delayed hypersensivity reaction was observed (p>0,1). DCV is well tolerated and shows immunological and clinical response in stage III-IV skin melanoma patients.

[Metabolic states at athletes in the strenuous muscular activity of variable character].

Investigated dynamics of metabolic conditions at athletes in strenuous muscular activity of variable character. The sportsmen of high qualification specializing in bicycle and skating sports, performed in vitro work on a bicycle ergometer at level of critical power at the maximum consumption of oxygen. In two additional series of experiences each of examinees has performed work on critical power by the initial accelerations making 28% from limiting duration of exercise of 45 and 108 seconds. At work on critical power on a course of performance of exercise consecutive change of metabolic conditions with a phase initial a log-period, fast exponential increase to level of the critical power, the subsequent maintenance of critical power and final dissociation of functions of an aerobic metabolism at increase of local exhaustion was traced. It is established that the most effective concerning work maintenance at level of critical power are short-term (no more than 10 s) initial accelerations on the power corresponding to 45-second limiting exercises: these accelerations stimulate development of functions of an aerobic metabolism and don't lead to exhaustion anaerobic resources and to development of the expressed local exhaustion in the end of work.

Monitoring of the presence of EGFR-mutated DNA during EGFR-targeted therapy may assist in the prediction of treatment outcome.

The aim of our trial was to evaluate the prognostic significance of qualitative ctDNA analysis on different stages of EGFR mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. We included 99 patients amendable for the first line treatment with either gefitinib/erlotinib (n = 87), afatinib (n = 10) or osimertinib (n = 2). Sequential qualitative analysis of ctDNA with cobas® EGFR Mutation Test v2 were performed before first dose, after 2 and 4 months of treatment, and on progression. Our analysis showed clinically significant heterogeneity of EGFR-mutated NSCLC treated with 1st line tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in terms of progression-free and overall survival. When treated with conventional approach, i.e. monotherapy with TKIs, the patients falls into three subgroups based on ctDNA analysis before and after 2 months of treatment. Patients without detectable ctDNA at baseline (N = 32) possess the best prognosis on duration of treatment (PFS: 24.07 [16.8-31.3] and OS: 56.2 [21.8-90.7] months). Those who achieve clearance after two months of TKI (N = 42) have indistinguishably good PFS (19.0 [13.7 - 24.2]). Individuals who retain ctDNA after 2 months (N = 25) have the worst prognosis (PFS: 10.3 [7.0 - 13.5], p = 0.000). 9/25 patients did not develop ctDNA clearance at 4 months with no statistical difference in PFS from those without clearance at 2 months. Prognostic heterogeneity of EGFR-mutated NSCLC should be taken into consideration in planning further clinical trials and optimizing the outcome of patients.

Entropic sampling of flexible polyelectrolytes within the Wang-Landau algorithm.

We extend the Monte Carlo methods developed in our previous papers [J. Phys. A 37, 1573 (2004); Macromol. Theory-Simul. 14, 491 (2005)] and based on entropic sampling within the Wang-Landau algorithm to simulation of a lattice model of flexible polyelectrolytes. We consider a strongly charged polyelectrolyte chain accompanied by neutralizing counterions on a simple cubic lattice with periodic boundary conditions. The Coulomb potential and the excluded volume condition between different ions or beads are taken into account. The obtained energy distributions make possible the calculation of canonical properties such as conformational energy, heat capacity, entropy, free energy, and mean-square end-to-end distance over a wide temperature range in a single simulation.

[Clinical significance of carriage of rare variants of connexin-26 genetic polymorphism in gastric cancer].

The authors present first results of investigations of the connexin-26 gene in DNA obtained from peripheral blood of 55 patients operated on for gastric cancer. Gastric cancer patients were found to have carriage of the Cx 26 gene that was reliably associated with the invasive ability of the tumor. Change of the connexin-26 gene in gastric cancer is evidence of an important role of intercellular gap junctions in the arising and development of gastric cancer.

Carboxyatractylate inhibits the uncoupling effect of free fatty acids.

The ATP/ADP-antiporter inhibitors and ADP decrease the palmitate-induced stimulation of the mitochondrial respiration in the controlled state. The degree of inhibition decreases in the order: carboxyatractylate greater than bongkrekic acid, palmitoyl-CoA, ADP greater than atractylate. GDP is ineffective. The inhibiting concentration of carboxyatractylate coincides with this arresting the state 3 respiration. Carboxyatractylate inhibition decreases when the palmitate concentration increases. Stimulation of controlled respiration by FCCP or gramicidin D at any concentration of these uncouplers is carboxyatractylate-resistant, whereas that by low concentrations of DNP is partially suppressed by carboxyatractylate. These data together with observations that palmitate does not increase H+ conductance in bilayer phospholipid membranes and in cytochrome oxidase-asolectin proteoliposomes indicate that the ATP/ADP-antiporter is somehow involved in the uncoupling by low concentrations of fatty acids (or DNP), whereas that by FCCP and gramicidin D is due to their effect on the phospholipid bilayer. It is suggested that the antiporter facilitates translocation of palmitate anion across the mitochondrial membrane.

Proliferative activity of the endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle in infertile women with and without endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether changes in endometrial proliferation in patients with endometriosis contribute to ectopic endometrial implantation. DESIGN: Endometrial biopsies from patients with endometriosis were stained immunohistochemically and compared with endometrium of a control group (n = 111). The newly developed monoclonal antibody Ki-S3 was used as a marker of cellular proliferation in surface and glandular epithelia and in stromal cells. SETTING: Female Infertility Clinic, Research Centre of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Moscow, Russia, and Institute of Pathology, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany. PATIENTS: One hundred thirty-nine women with endometriosis and 111 women without endometriosis, all being infertile. INTERVENTION: Collecting endometrial samples during diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Number of proliferating cells in endometrial stroma, glandular, and surface epithelia. RESULTS: Endometrial proliferation showed a characteristic cyclic dependency with greatest activity in the follicular phase. Although epithelial proliferation ceased completely during the luteal phase, the number of proliferating cells in the stroma increased again toward the end of the menstrual cycle after its maximum at ovulation. No significant differences could be found between both investigated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Endometriosis is not due to an altered proliferative activity in eutopic endometrium. Proliferating stromal cells at the end of the menstrual cycle may reflect increasing numbers of immunocompetent cells. Endometrium of patients with endometriosis reveals almost the same cyclical changes as endometrium of patients without endometriosis does. Further attention to cells and cell-mediated reactions in the extrauterine milieu is required to elucidate the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

The large-scale vortex structures in plasma-like media and the electric explosion of conductors.

Formation of large-scale hydrodynamic convective patterns in plasma-like current-carrying media is considered. This process is shown to be described by the same equations, as Benard rolls, except that a temperature field must be replaced by a magnetic field. A simple low-mode model of spatial pattern formation for a case of cylindrical liquid-metal conductor with current is proposed and investigated. Nonlinear interaction of perturbations of the magnetic field and the velocity field results in an increase of effective conductor resistance even when transport coefficients are constant. In our opinion, it is this instability, that is of first importance at the initial stages of the electric explosion of conductors. In particular, it leads to conductor stratification and electric current interruption. (c) 1996 American Institute of Physics.

Forensic identification of a rapist using unusual evidence.

This case report demonstrates a rape case, where no semen, hair, or fingerprints were left by the perpetrator at the crime scene, but rather uncharacteristic biological and physical evidence in the form of a lollipop and a pair of glasses. Three separate forensic laboratories collaborated using conventional forensic methods of PCR DNA typing, photography, and toolmark comparisons to provide investigators with scientific evidence which in turn was instrumental in bringing a violent criminal to justice. The importance of evaluating each item of evidence and realizing its forensic value is stressed in this case report.

Determining the time and day of photography.

Photographs taken by crime victims and perpetrators are at times important evidence. Their time of photography may also affect their value as such. Three methods of determining when a picture was taken by using the content of the picture are presented. The methods utilize solar direction-measured from shadows in the photograph, identifying flowering wild plants and correlating cloudiness with meteorological observations. Solar direction is the most accurate and involved method and therefore is the main part of this paper. A case using all three methods is described.

[Pharmacokinetics of mifepristone and kinetics of chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit (beta-HCG) and progesterone in plasma of pregnant women during pharmacological interruption of early pregnancy]. / Farmakinetika mifepristona i kinetika beta-sub''edinitsy khorionicheskogo gonadotropina (beta-KhG) i progesterona v plazme krovi beremennykh zhenshchin pri medikamentoznom preryvanii rannei beremennosti.

Reliable correlations between the parameters of mifepriston pharmacokinetics describing the rate of drug elimination from the blood plasma and the levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) and progesterone reflecting the state of gestation in females have been established fore the first time. According to these relationships, the half elimination time, the mean retention time, and the plasma clearance of mifepriston can be considered as predictors of the clinical efficacy of this drug for the early pregnancy interruption.

[The use of extraperitoneal colorectal anastomoses in complicated cancer of the rectum and sigmoid]. / Ispol'zovanie vnebriushinnykh kolorektal'nykh anastomozov pri oslozhnennom rake priamoi i sigmoidnoi kishki.

The paper deals with the issue of primary restoration of intestinal continuity in complicated colorectal cancer using extraperitoneal colorectal anastomoses. The study is based on the experience of treatment of 35 cases of complicated colorectal cancer. It was concluded that, to assure primary restoration of intestinal continuity, the risk of surgery must be weighed with respect to extent of disease, and adequate anesthesiologic and postoperative intensive care is required. The procedure should be performed at a specialized surgical institution.

[Experience with the work of the inpatient department of a polyclinic]. / Opyt raboty statsionarnogo otdeleniia polikliniki.

Analysis is done of the work of the inpatient department of a polyclinic belonging to the VPO "Orenburggazprom". In that department, the treatment is mainly given to the persons of a capable age with different visceral diseases. The authors have worded indications for referral of the patients to the indicated department, evaluated the social and economic advantages of that form of rendering medical services.

[The hemodynamic action of effective doses of sustak in patients with stenocardia of effort]. / Gemodinamicheskoe deistvie éffektivnykh doz sustaka u bol'nykh stenokardiei napriazheniia.

Forty patients with associated coronary disease and angina pectoris of effort were examined for the action on the central hemodynamics and circulation of the effective doses of sustac chosen by means of paired bicycle ergometries. Sustac produced a decrease of the cardiac index, systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery and in the aorta, reduction of the blood flow time along pulmonary circulation veins, aorta Sustac was discovered to have an antianginal effect under the conditions of pre- and afterload lowering.

[The diagnosis of mycotoxin hepatitis in swine]. / Diagnostika mikotoksicheskogo gepatita svinei.

Mycotoxin hepatitis which develops in pigs when they eat fodder contaminated by mycotoxin (sterigmatocystin) is registered at large pig breeding farms of Ukraine. Diagnostics of mycotoxin hepatitis of pigs induced by sterigmatocystin is based on clinical-epizootiological studies and mycotoxin analysis of the fodder including detection of fungi, producers of sterigmatocystin and determination of the content of mycotoxin itself. The authors have suggested a method based on extraction of mycotoxin from the fodder by means of the mixture of chloroform and 4% water solution of potassium chloride, on concentration of the chloroform residue, its separation in a thin layer of silicagel, and UV examination of chromatograms. The method sensitivity is 30 micrograms per 1 kg of the product. This method will permit diagnosis of mycotoxin hepatitis in animals and will promote timely prophylactic measures. The method is easy to be applied in veterinary laboratories.