[Multi-center open comparative randomized study of efficacy and safety of Akatinol Memantine 20 mg (single-doses) vs Akatinol Memantine 10 mg (double-doses) in patients with vascular dementia]. / Mnogotsentrovoe otkrytoe sravnitel'noe randomizirovannoe issledovanie effektivnosti i bezopasnosti primeneniya preparata Akatinol Memantin, 20 mg (odnokratnyi priem) v sravnenii s preparatom Akatinol Memantin, 10 mg (dvukratnyi priem) u patsientov s sosudistoi dementsiei.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of the drug Acatinol Memantine, 20 mg (once daily) in comparison with the drug Acatinol Memantine, 10 mg (twice daily) in patients with moderate to moderate severe vascular dementia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 130 patients aged 50-85 years of both sexes with instrumentally and clinically confirmed vascular dementia. The patients were randomized into 2 groups. Group I consisted of 65 patients receiving Akatinol Memantine, 20 mg once daily, group II - 65 patients receiving Akatinol Memantine, 10 mg twice daily for 24 weeks. Clinical, parametric and statistical research methods were used. The Alzheimer's disease assessment scale, the cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog), the short mental Status Assessment Scale (MMSE) and the general clinical impression scale for patients condition and illness severity (CGI-C and CGI-S) and the Hamilton Depression Rating scale (HAM-D) were used. Adverse events were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: At week 24, both groups showed statistically significant positive change in ADAS-cog total score: in group I the total score was 27.2±8.76 points (absolute difference from baseline 3.5 points; p<0.01), and in group II - 26.1±7.86 points (absolute difference from baseline 2.5 points; p<0.01) with no statistically significant differences between groups. Evaluation of secondary efficacy criteria (change in ADAS-cog total score at week 12 and MMSE at weeks 4, 12, and 24) also revealed statistically significant benefit in both groups compared to baseline with no significant differences between groups. Statistically significant improvement was noticed on CGI-S and CGI-C scales in both groups. Akatinol Memantine was safe and well tolerated in both groups. CONCLUSION: The study showed no lesser efficacy and safety of Akatinol Memantine, 20 mg (once daily) compared to Akatinol Memantine, 10 mg (twice daily) in patients with moderate and moderately severe vascular dementia.

[Features of Clonal Micropropagation of Silene cretacea (Caryophyllaceae) in in vitro Culture].

The features of the formation of microshoots in in vitro culture of Silene cretacea­endangered species with narrow ecological amplitude, which is a promising source of medicinal raw materials­were studied. It was demonstrated that, at the micropropagation step, basic Woody Plant Medium containing vitamins according to Murashige and Skoog and supplemented with 0.2 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine, 1.0 mg/L kinetin, 1.0 mg/L gibberellic acid, and 0.5 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid is the most effective. The combination and concentration of these growth regulators, selected using mathematical combinatorial analysis, activated axillary buds and provided a high multiplication factor (9.3 ± 1.3 microshoots per explant). Morpho-histological analysis revealed the main stages of the formation of microshoots and proved the absence of callus formation during the whole time of the cultivation of explants. The features of the dynamics of the culture during the year of continuous cultivation are presented.

[Genetic polymorphism of Tulipa gesneriana L. evaluated on the basis of the ISSR marking data].

Using the method of ISSR analysis, the genetic diversity of 18 natural populations of Tulipa gesneriana L. from the north of the Lower Volga region was examined. The ten ISSR primers used in the study provided identification of 102 PCR fragments, of which 50 were polymorphic (49.0%). According to the proportion of polymorphic markers, two population groups were distinguished: (1) the populations in which the proportion of polymorphic markers ranged from 0.35 to 0.41; (2) the populations in which the proportion of polymorphic markers ranged from 0.64 to 0.85. UPGMA clustering analysis provided subdivision of the sample into two large clusters. The unrooted tree constructed using the Neighbor Joining algorithm had similar topology. The first cluster included slightly variable populations and the second cluster included highly variable populations. The AMOVA analysis showed statistically significant differences (F CT = 0.430; p = 0.000) between the two groups. Local populations are considerably genetically differentiated from each other (F ST = 0.632) and have almost no links via modern gene flow, as evidenced by the results of the Mantel test (r =­0.118; p = 0.819). It is suggested that the degree of genetic similarities and differences between the populations depends on the time and the species dispersal patterns on these territories.

Detecting somatic mutations in genomic sequences by means of Kolmogorov-Arnold analysis.

The Kolmogorov-Arnold stochasticity parameter technique is applied for the first time to the study of cancer genome sequencing, to reveal mutations. Using data generated by next-generation sequencing technologies, we have analysed the exome sequences of brain tumour patients with matched tumour and normal blood. We show that mutations contained in sequencing data can be revealed using this technique, thus providing a new methodology for determining subsequences of given length containing mutations, i.e. its value differs from those of subsequences without mutations. A potential application for this technique involves simplifying the procedure of finding segments with mutations, speeding up genomic research and accelerating its implementation in clinical diagnostics. Moreover, the prediction of a mutation associated with a family of frequent mutations in numerous types of cancers based purely on the value of the Kolmogorov function indicates that this applied marker may recognize genomic sequences that are in extremely low abundance and can be used in revealing new types of mutations.

Spatial imaging of carbon reactivity centers in Pd/C catalytic systems.

Gaining insight into Pd/C catalytic systems aimed at locating reactive centers on carbon surfaces, revealing their properties and estimating the number of reactive centers presents a challenging problem. In the present study state-of-the-art experimental techniques involving ultra high resolution SEM/STEM microscopy (1 Å resolution), high brilliance X-ray absorption spectroscopy and theoretical calculations on truly nanoscale systems were utilized to reveal the role of carbon centers in the formation and nature of Pd/C catalytic materials. Generation of Pd clusters in solution from the easily available Pd2dba3 precursor and the unique reactivity of the Pd clusters opened an excellent opportunity to develop an efficient procedure for the imaging of a carbon surface. Defect sites and reactivity centers of a carbon surface were mapped in three-dimensional space with high resolution and excellent contrast using a user-friendly nanoscale imaging procedure. The proposed imaging approach takes advantage of the specific interactions of reactive carbon centers with Pd clusters, which allows spatial information about chemical reactivity across the Pd/C system to be obtained using a microscopy technique. Mapping the reactivity centers with Pd markers provided unique information about the reactivity of the graphene layers and showed that >2000 reactive centers can be located per 1 µm2 of the surface area of the carbon material. A computational study at a PBE-D3-GPW level differentiated the relative affinity of the Pd2 species to the reactive centers of graphene. These findings emphasized the spatial complexity of the carbon material at the nanoscale and indicated the importance of the surface defect nature, which exhibited substantial gradients and variations across the surface area. The findings show the crucial role of the structure of the carbon support, which governs the formation of Pd/C systems and their catalytic activity.

[Therapeutic correction of mild cognitive impairment in patients with chronic cerebral ischemia].

Neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases are the most significant among the main reasons leading to the cognitive impairment of the elderly. Vascular cognitive impairment is not limited to only dementia, representing a heterogeneous group both in pathogenic and clinical terms. The article dwells upon new principles of vascular cognitive impairment's classification and the review of their possible therapeutic correction that was conducted. The article includes the results of the 12-week open therapeutic (randomized with the control group) study of efficiency and safety of vitrum memory for patients with mild vascular cognitive impairment. It is shown that the therapy significantly improved the state of neurodynamic and regulatory functions of the patients with I--II stage dyscirculatory encephalopathy.

[Genesis of cells of apical meristems and realization of gametophytic apomixis in flowering plants].

Based on our own and literature data on peculiarities of caryotypical variability, we concluded that gametophytic apomixis is naturally accompanied with phenomena of poly-, aneu-, and mixoploidy and that apomicts have genome instability manifesting at the level of meristematic somatic cells. In this connection, a hypothesis is substantiated that realization of this mode of seed reproduction in flowering plants is caused by modification of systems of cell cycle control, following after acts of hybridogenesis and/or polyploidization. It is concluded that instability of the seed reproduction system by gametophytic apomixis manifests not only at the stage of choice of a seed reproduction pathway (apomeiosis-euspory; apozygosis-zygosis) but also in all the cycles of reproduction of the cells of a germ line in plant ontogenesis.

[Comparative characteristics of the physiometric parameters of schoolchildren' physical development].

The physiometric parameters (exercise performance, muscle strength, and lung capacity) were monitored in schoolchildren over the 15-year period. There has been a reduction in exercise performance, muscle strength and an increase in lung capacity in the past 15 years, which the pediatricians should take into account to detect physical development abnormalities in schoolchildren.

[Cytogenetic peculiarities of cell genesis in apical meristems under gametophytic apomixis (using autonomous apomicts of the Asteraceae as an example)].

Cytogenetic peculiarities of cell genesis in apical meristems of apomicts has been analyzed using a series of the Asteraceae species as an example. The extent to which aneu- and mixoploids are spread among plants in the investigated populations of the Asteraceae species is so high (up to 30-60% of the studied plants and their offspring), that it seems reasonable to suppose that their rise is a natural phenomenon. It has been shown that in the aposporous facultative apomict Pilosella officinarum microgametophyte is a relatively stable element of the seed reproduction system from the point of view of caryotypical variation.

Limits on light-speed anisotropies from Compton scattering of high-energy electrons.

The possibility of anisotropies in the speed of light relative to the limiting speed of electrons is considered. The absence of sidereal variations in the energy of Compton-edge photons at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility's GRAAL facility constrains such anisotropies representing the first nonthreshold collision-kinematics study of Lorentz violation. When interpreted within the minimal standard-model extension, this result yields the two-sided limit of 1.6×10(-14) at 95% confidence level on a combination of the parity-violating photon and electron coefficients (κ(o+))(YZ), (κ(o+))(ZX), c(TX), and c(TY). This new constraint provides an improvement over previous bounds by 1 order of magnitude.

[Possibilities of preventive treatment of Alzheimer's disease: results of the 3-year open prospective comparative study on efficacy and safety of the course therapy with cerebrolysin and cavinton in elderly patients with the syndrome of mild cognitive impairment].

The study was conducted in 3 Russian centers (Moscow, St. Petersburg and Nizhniy Novgorod). The total sample included 110 patients whose mental state met the definition of <> (MCI). Patient's status was assessed with widely used scales (MMSE, GDS, CDR etc) and a battery of neuropsychological tests. Genotyping for the APOE polymorphism was performed as well. Patients were stratified into 2 comparable groups in compliance with the specifics of therapy: 55 patients were treated with cerebrolysin and 55 - with cavinton. The superiority of cerebrolysin over cavinton in slowing down of the cognitive deficit progression and delaying the time or transition of patients to the diagnostic category of Alzheimer's disease was demonstrated. Cerebrolysin was particularly effective in MCI patients with the ApoE(+) genotype, i.e. in those with higher risk for Alzheimer's disease. Adverse effects during the treatment were rare in both groups.

[Diagnostics and thoracoscopic treatment of pleural empyema in younger children].

174 children of all ages with acute destructive pneumonia complicated with pleural empyema were treated during 10 ten years using videothoracoscopic method; among them 74 children were of younger age (43%). General principles of modern diagnostics and videothoracoscopic pleural cavity sanations were formulated. Ultrasonography and computer tomography of the chest carried out in younger children give possibilities for clear differential diagnostics with other diseases. Advantages of endosurgical treatment are proved. Indications for planned recurrent pleural cavity sanations were worked out.

[Cymbalta in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes].

An open comparison study included 29 patients, aged 33-62 years, with chronic pain syndromes of the spine during at least 6 months. A main group (14 patients) received antidepressant cymbalta, an inhibitor of serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake, as an add-on drug. Data of general somatic and neurologic examination, depression level on the Beck Depression Inventory, pain intensity on the Visual Analogous Scale (VAS) were assessed on days 1, 7 and 42. Dynamics of patient's state and tolerability of the drug were assessed separately by a physician and a patient using a special questionnaire. The level of depression was significantly decreased (p<0,01) in the main group to the 42nd day. The intensity of pain syndrome on VAS was significantly lower compare to the control group to the 7th (p<0,05) and 42nd (p<0,01) days. The physician reported the marked improvement in 58% of patients of main group and in 14% of the control one. The improvement assessed by patients was found in 36% of patients of main group and in 7% of patients of control group. Side effects: nausea (28%), dry mouth (21%), constipations (14%), vertigo (21%), sleepiness (14%) were assessed by all but one patient as mild.

[The therapeutic potential of cerebrolysin in the preventive therapy of Alzheimer's disease].

A potential of prolonged 2-years course of cerebrolysin therapy with courses repeated every 6 months to slow down or prevent the transition of the syndrome of mild cognitive impairment, amnestic type, to clinically relevant dementia has been studied in the open comparative study of 73 patients divided into 2 groups, one of which included patients treated with cerebrolysin and another one those who did not receive this drug. The effect of the 2-years course therapy with cerebrolysin suggested by the authors has been proven. Such therapy allows to prevent the progression of cognitive deficit and development of dementia of Alzheimer's type. The results obtained give grounds to recommend this course therapy for prevention of dementia in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment.

[Comparative analysis of childhood morbidity depending on the type of feeding].

Retrospective and prospective studies were made in 1248 infants of the first year of life and in 642 children aged 7 to 14 years who lived in Kirov and its region. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of different types of feeding on their morbidity. The children who had received an artificial feeding were ascertained to be more frequently ill both in their first year of life and at an older age.

[Allozyme variation in sexual and apomictic Taraxacum and Pilosella (Asteraceae) populations].

Allozyme spectra of peroxidase, esterase, superoxid dismutase, tyrosinase, alcohol dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, and acid phosphatase were examined in populations of sexual (Taraxacum serotinum and Pilosella echioides) and apomictic (T. officinalis and P. officinarum) plant species. The heterozygosity in these populations (0.455-0.620) proved to be considerably higher than the average level characteristic of plant populations (0.058-0.185). The populations examined did not differ in the mean phenotype number mu, i.e., they exhibited the same diversity (3.213-3.380). The proportion of rare phenotypes h also did not differ between the sexual and apomictic species of the same genus, whereas this parameter in the Pilosella populations (0.150-0.174) was significantly higher than in the Taraxacum ones (0.093-0.114). The populations were characterized by numerous isozyme spectra (more than 11 per populations) and displayed multiple allelism (the mean allele frequency was 3.63-4.38 per locus). They exhibited a high percentage of rare (occurring at a frequency lower than 5%) spectra (35-80%). This indicates that agamic complexes, to which these populations belong, may have a more complicated genetic structure of both apomictic and sexual populations than the species that do not belong to agamic complexes.

[Impact of the type of feeding on children's physical development]. / Vliianie vida vskarmlivaniia na fizicheskoe razvitie detei.

Physical development was comparatively assessed in 1238 children of the first year of life who were differently fed. The children living in both the town of Kirov and rural areas of the Kirov Region who were on artificial feeding showed higher weight and height values, but they developed less harmonically than those of the same age who were fed with breast milk.