[Experience of using genfaxon for treating patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in the Russian Federation].

UNLABELLED: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Nowadays some disease-modifying drugs (DMD) in the Russian Federation (RF) are biosimilars. Their full spectrum of tolerability and efficacy is to be determined. Here we present results of two retrospective-prospective studies on efficacy and safety of a biosimilar interferon beta-1a (genfaxon) in treatment of MS in the RF. AIMS: determination of safety and efficacy profile of genfaxon in a routine neurological practice in the RF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Trials were performed in 18 MS centers in the RF. A total of 649 patients aged from 18 to 68 years with the EDSS score no more than 6.0 were treated with genfaxon for 12 months. The first group was comprised of 'naïve' patients without previous history of DMD administration. There were patients in the second group which have already received some of DMD. Statistical analysis was performed with the help of significance criteria (χ-square), t-criteria of Student for analysis of independent samplings. RESULTS: There were no serious adverse events during the period of the study. "Naïve" patients had significantly lower number of adverse events, than patients with previous history of DMD usage. Efficacy results were comparable with results published for the Rebif. CONCLUSIONS: Data, received from the studies show equal efficacy and tolerability of genfaxon compared with original DMD Rebif.

[Episodic electric discharges in the course of social interactions: an example of Asian clariid catfish].

Function of weak electric discharges is conclusively proved only for two fish orders - Mormyriformes and Gymnotiformes. Every specimen of the two groups emits electric discharges continuously or quite regularly for location, orientation and communication. The function of weak episodic electric discharges in other groups of weakly electric fish - Rajiformes, Uranoscopidae and Siluriformes, remains the puzzle since Darwin. Recent experiments made it possible to expand the list of weakly electric fish with episodic discharges. The range of behavioral situations accompanied with electric emission has been expanded as well. For instance, Asian catfish, Clarias macrocephalus, emit episodic discharges while in aggressive and spawning behavior. Asian catfish females emit the special burst of electrical discharges as a part of mating ritual. This burst cannot serve as an invitation to spawning or synchronization of reproductive products release, because females emit it after the sperm ejection. If females would need males' help for eggs release, it could be suggested that discharges assist in their mutual efforts. Since the electric field strength near fish is higher than fish's non-specialized electrical sensitivity thresholds, other hypotheses are possible. For example, it could be suggested that electric fields would make sperm or eggs more active. To proceed in our conception about episodic discharges function, new hardware and software are needed.