[The effect of etiopathogenetic therapy of COVID-19 on the severity of the disease: results of a multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial].

AIM: The search for etiopathogenetic agents to prevent the development of severe and extremely severe COVID-19 remains relevant. A placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the antibody-based biological drug (Raphamin). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 785 outpatients 18-75 y.o. with laboratory confirmed mild COVID-19 were included within 24 hours from the disease onset. 771 patients were randomized to the group Raphamin (n=382) and the Placebo group (n=389). The study drug/placebo was prescribed for 5 days. The rate of progression to a more severe degree of COVID-19 by day 28 as well as the time to sustained clinical recovery and the frequency of hospitalization were evaluated. Safety was assessed taking into account adverse events, vital signs and laboratory parameters. RESULTS: The number of cases of progression to a more severe degree of COVID-19 in participants receiving Raphamin was 59 (15.5%) [52 (14.6%)] versus placebo - 89 (22.9%) [85 (23.7%)], ITT and [PP] analysis data are presented. The odds ratio between groups was OR=0.6157 [OR=0.5494], 95% confidence interval 0.4276-0.8866 [0.3750-0.8048], which meant a reduction in the chance of progression to a more severe degree by 38.4% [45.1%] or 1.48 [1.62] times; p=0.0088 [p=0.0019]. The time to sustained recovery in the Raphamin group was 4.5±2.4 [4.6±2.4] days, versus placebo - 5.8±4.7 [6.0±4.8] days; p=0.0025 [p=0.0036]. No adverse events with a certain relationship were registered. CONCLUSION: Raphamin reduces the risk of progression to a more severe degree of the COVID-19 and significantly shortens the duration of clinical symptoms.

[Optical coherence tomography angiography in diagnosis of changes in macular capillary blood flow in chronic ischemic retinopathy]. / Opticheskaya kogerentnaya tomografiya-angiografiya v diagnostike izmenenii kapillyarnogo krovotoka makuly pri khronicheskoi ishemicheskoi retinopatii.

PURPOSE: Assessment of the indices of macular capillary blood flow and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) using optical coherence tomography angiography in patients with retinal manifestations of ocular ischemic syndrome (RMOIS) associated with atherosclerotic internal carotid artery stenosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 34 patients (68 eyes): 21 men, 13 women with RMOIS in one eye. All patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the severity of atherosclerotic internal carotid artery stenosis and ophthalmoscopic picture of the fundus. To obtain objective information we analyzed the degree of decrease in the main indices characterizing macular microcirculation and SCT depending on the severity of RMOIS. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Analysis of the results showed relationship between the severity of RMOIS and the deficit in macular microcirculation. The macula of the patients with mild RMOIS was characterized by a decrease in the density of superficial vascular plexus (SVP) and the density of deep capillary plexus (DCP) by 13.5% and 10.5% compared to the controls, respectively; in moderate RMOIS - by 19.7% and 14.6%; in severe RMOIS - by 35.9% and 28%, respectively. With an increase in the severity of RMOIS, the area of the foveal avascular zone increased too: in mild degree RMOIS - by 19%, in moderate - by 38.6%, in severe - by 51%. In proportion to the severity of RMOIS, SCT was reduced: in mild degree RMOIS - by only 8%, in moderate - by 22%, and in severe - by 29.8% of the control. CONCLUSION: The conducted research indicates that pathological changes in RMOIS extend to the entire capillary network of the macula and SCT. With increase in the degree of RMOIS, ischemic changes in all capillary layers of the central parts of the retina proportionally increase in comparison with the control group by 1.15 times in mild degree, by 1.24 times in moderate degree, and by 1.5 times in severe RMOIS.

Modeling of Chronic Lung Inflammation in Rats by Repeated Intratracheal Administration of LPS.

A model of a chronic lung inflammation in SPF Sprague-Dawley rats was developed by repeated intratracheal administration of LPS in a dose of 0.4 mg/kg. On day 22 of the study, male rats treated with LPS have relative monocytopenia and reduced mean concentration of hemoglobin in the erythrocyte and the mean platelet volume in comparison with the control animals (saline). Intratracheal administration of LPS induced an inflammatory process in the lungs characterized by focal atelectasis, compensatory emphysematous expansion of subpleural pulmonary acini, focal mononuclear and neutrophilic perivascular and peribronchial infiltration, and minor focal mononuclear and neutrophilic infiltration of the alveolar walls. Against the background of LPS administration, germinal centers appeared in the lymphoid follicles of the white pulp of the spleen, and focal mononuclear infiltration of the tracheal mucosa and/or submucosa was observed in some animals.

Taxifolin Reduces Blood Pressure in Elderly Hypertensive Male Wistar Rats.

Male Wistar rats aged 10 months were assigned to groups according to the initial level of systolic BP: hypertensive (systolic BP >115 mm Hg) and normotensive (systolic BP <115 mm Hg). The animals were injected intraperitoneally with 100 µg/kg taxifolin daily for 7 days. Systolic BP and HR were measured on the next day after single taxifolin administration and on the next day after 7-day injection course. In the group of hypertensive animals, systolic BP markedly decreased on the next day after the first injection; this decrease became even more pronounced (to the level of normotensive animals) at the end of the taxifolin course. In the group of normotensive animals, systolic BP remained unchanged. Hence, we demonstrate the possibility of course administration of taxifolin for BP normalization in hypertensive patients.

Discerning Comparison of 1 and 0.5% Ethylene Glycol in Sprague-Dawley Rats with Modeled Urolithiasis.

A common method of modeling urolithiasis is the use of 1 and 0.75% ethylene glycol, or a combination of ethylene glycol with other lithogens, but too rapid progression of the disease and multiple organ toxicity have been reported. We developed a urolithiasis model in Sprague-Dawley rats, in which the animals received a relatively low concentration of ethylene glycol (0.5%), but for a long-term period (6 weeks) followed by animal observation during the 6-week recovery period. In urine samples, signs of the urolithiasis development were observed starting from the sixth week: the presence of ketones, decrease in diuresis and urine pH; in the blood, urea, protein, and hematocrit were elevated. However, no leukocytes were detected in the urine; in the blood, no shifts in differential leukocyte count and no elevation in ALT, creatinine, cholesterol, and triglycerides were observed, which indicates the absence of multiple organ failure while using 1% ethylene glycol. In addition, the animals receiving 0.5% ethylene glycol were followed up to 12 weeks in contrast to animals receiving 1% ethylene glycol (the experiment in this case was stopped during the third week for ethical reasons).

[Non-specific prevention of COVID-19 during vaccination against a new coronavirus infection: results of a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial].

BACKGROUND: A multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT) of the phase III efficacy and safety of Ergoferon® for the non-specific prevention of COVID-19 during vaccination against a new coronavirus infection was conducted (permission of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation №559 dated 22.09.2021; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05069649). AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the use of Ergoferon for the non-specific prevention of COVID-19 during vaccination against a new coronavirus infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2021 to April 2022, 1,057 patients aged 18 to 92 years who received component I of the "Gam-COVID-Vac" vaccine were included. After screening, 1,050 patients were randomized into 2 groups: 526 people received Ergoferon according to the prophylactic scheme - 1 tablet per administration 2 times a day for 3 weeks, the drug is not allowed during the meal and should be kept in the mouth without swallowing, until completely dissolved; 524 patients received a placebo according to the Ergoferon® scheme. The total duration of participation in the study was 5 weeks + 3 days. The primary endpoint is the number of RT-PCR - confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of the presence of symptoms during participation in the study. An additional criterion of effectiveness is the proportion of those hospitalized with COVID-19. The safety assessment included consideration of the presence and nature of adverse events (AEs), their severity, relationship with the drug intake, and outcome. Statistical data processing was carried out using SAS 9.4 with the calculation of the exact Fisher test, χ2 test, Cochrane-Mantel-Hensel test, Wilcoxon test and other parameters. RESULTS: The ITT (Intention-to-treat) and PP [Per Protocol] efficacy analysis included data from 1,050 [970] patients: 526 [489] people - Ergoferon® group and 524 [481] people - Placebo group. The primary endpoint - the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections was 3 times less compared to placebo - 7 (1.43%) vs 22 (4.57%), respectively (p=0.0046; [p=0.0041]). Taking Ergoferon® reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection by more than 3 times in vaccinated patients during 5 weeks of the vaccination and post-vaccination periods (p=0.0046 [p=0.0041]). Of the COVID-19 patients in the Ergoferon® group (1.33%) nobody was hospitalized. According to the Post hoc analysis, Ergoferon® reduces the risk of COVID-19 disease by 4 times in the period between the components I and II of the "Gam-COVID-Vac" vaccine (p=0.0066 [p=0.006]). The frequency of AEs in both groups did not differ. There were no registered AEs associated with the drug with a reliable degree. There was a high level of patient compliance and good tolerability. CONCLUSION: Ergoferon is an effective and safe drug for the prevention of COVID-19 in people vaccinated against a new coronavirus infection.

[Analysis of the dental care for the contagious patients in the in-patient units]. / Analiz sostoyaniya stomatologicheskoi pomoshchi infektsionnym bol'nym v usloviyakh statsionara.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to assess the status of dental care for contagious patients in hospitals using the example of the Volga Federal District. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The resource allocation of dental care for contagious patients in 313 hospitals of 14 subjects of the Volga Federal District was investigated. RESULTS: It was found that in 86.1% of multidisciplinary hospitals of the Volga Federal District, where infectious beds and dental offices are present, dental care for patients with infectious diseases accompanied by lesions of the oral mucosa is not provided. The bed capacity of 92.9% of infectious hospitals in the Volga Federal District is less than 400 beds, which does not allow to deploy dental offices on their basis. CONCLUSION: An important condition for improving the quality of medical care to patients of infectious hospitals and infectious diseases departments of multidisciplinary hospitals is the availability of dental offices and dental doctors, which will ensure timely diagnosis, treatment and prevention of lesions of the oral mucosa in diseases of infectious genesis.

[Comparative analysis of 2% and 4% articaine solution efficacy and safety for the local anesthesia]. / Sravnitel'nyi analiz primeneniya 2% i 4% rastvora artikaina pri in"ektsionnoi mestnoi anestezii.

AIM: To determine the functional diagnostics criteria for predicting the effectiveness of using 2% and 4% solutions articaine without vasoconstrictor and with epinephrine content of 1:200.000. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 357 patients (193 women and 164 men) aged 20 to 35 years. with the presence of intact single-rooted and multi-rooted teeth without periodontal pathology without pronounced general somatic pathology, and with a low level of situational anxiety according to the Spielberger-Khanin scale. All the patients received injection anesthesia by the infiltration method of 2% and 4% articaine solution without vasoconstrictor or with epinephrine concentration of 1:200.000. The effectiveness of local anesthesia was assessed by recording functional parameters (electrosensitivity threshold test and hemomicrocirculation) of the pulp of intact single-root and multi-root teeth before anesthesia, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after local anesthesia. The safety of the anesthesia was determined by continuous monitoring of the patient's hemodynamic parameters: blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation before anesthesia and within 60 minutes after. RESULTS: Articaine solution 2% with epinephrine concentration of 1:200.000 used for infiltration or modified periodontal anesthesia resulted in pulp electrosensitivity threshold growth by 95.93% and 93.58%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in hemodynamic values between both study groups. CONCLUSION: Analysis of the data obtained showed the effectiveness and safe anesthesia with drugs based on 2% articaine with an epinephrine concentration of 1:200.000.

[CLINICAL EFFICACY OF A REPRESENTATIVE OF A NEW CLASS OF INOTROPIC AGENTS - THE DIRECT ACTIVATOR OF MYOSIN OF CARDIOMYOCYTES OMECAMTIV MECARBIL IN HEART FAILURE WITH A REDUCED EJECTION FRACTION].

Over the past decades, there has been an active scientific search for drugs that can increase myocardial contractility and improve the course of heart failure. Omecamtiv Mecarbil, a drug from the group of cardiac myosin activators, heads the list of applicants for clinical use. The article presents the results of several randomized clinical trials which studied the efficacy and safety of Omecamtiv Mecarbil in heart failure: ATOMIC-AHF, COSMIC-HF and GALACTIC-HF. ATOMIC-AHF showed a tendency to reduce the risk of developing supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias in heart failure. COSMIC-HF has proven the ability of Omecamtiv Mecarbil to improve the quality of life of patients with heart failure. GALACTIC-HF may be a turning point in the medical treatment of heart failure. For the first time, clinical evidence of the ability of the selective cardiac myosin activator Omecamtiv Mecarbil to improve myocardial contractile function, reduce the severity of symptoms of heart failure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular death was obtained.

Effect of Standard and High-Fat Diets during Modeling of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Rats on the Development of Complications.

For evaluation of the effect of high-fat diet on the development of diabetic complications, the rats were maintained on standard or high-fat diet. In 3 weeks, diabetes mellitus was modeled by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Changes in hematological parameters, physical and biochemical parameters of the urine, and in the development of thermal allodynia were different after 15-week standard and high-fat diets.

[Pharmacoepidemiological research of COVID-19 in the Russian Federation EGIDA-2020].

AIM: An analysis of coronavirus infection in Russia and evaluation of different AVT regimens effectiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved a retrospective analysis of 1082 patient records with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in 17 regions of Russia. The number of men and women was equal, mean age 48.718.1 (median 50). Patients with moderate COVID-19 (85%) versus mild COVID-19 (15%) were characterized by higher age (median 54 vs 21 years; p0.001), higher body mass index (27.8 vs 23.4; p0.001), prevalence of chronic diseases (75.3% vs 8.5%; p0.001), including circulatory system diseases (37.8%). Moderate COVID-19 characterized higher intoxication (10.86.1 vs 4.22.7 days; p0.001) and catarrhal symptoms duration (10.25.4 vs 6.14.1 days; p0.001). RESULTS: During hospitalization 92% of the patients received AVT, 77% antibiotics, and 16% corticosteroids. Umifenovir therapy resulted in a significant reduction of intoxication (8.75.5 vs 11.75.5 days; p0.001) and catarrhal symptoms duration (8.85.1 vs 12.04.9 days; p0.001) compared to the group without AVT. The usage of INF reduced intoxication symptoms compared with the group without AVT (8.97.5 vs 11.75.5; p0.05). Therapy with hydroxychloroquine, imidazolylethanamide pentandioic acid, and lopinavir + ritonavir combination did not affect the course of COVID-19. Most of adverse reactions were related to antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Umifenovir therapy and inclusion of interferon in AVT regimens was associated improvement in the clinical manifestation of the disease among patients.

[Oral health as a factor of primary prevention of postinfectious complications]. / Zdorov'e organov rta kak faktor pervichnoi profilaktiki postinfektsionnykh oslozhnenii.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to substantiate the need and importance of early diagnosis and treatment of oral lesions in infectious diseases (ID) by dentists. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the provision of dental care in multi-specialty hospitals to 780 patients with infectious pathology: herpetic infections (HI) - 320 people (41.03%); ARVI - 160 people (20.51%); acute enteric infections (AEI) - 300 people (38.46%). The diagnosis of the disease was established by infectious diseases doctors. The etiology of ID was confirmed using PCR and IFA. RESULTS: The prevalence of caries is 98.5%, the CPEs index is 10.26±0.04. In 84.1% of patient's oral hygiene was unsatisfactory. In the acute period of ID in HI, ARVI and AEI oral mucosa (OM) lesions were detected in 75.89% of cases: stomatitis (81.75%), gingivitis (69.76%), glossitis (35.98%), cheilitis (23.31%). Incidence of OM lesions in ID: catarrhal stomatitis - HI - 52.8%, ARVI - 64.1%, AEI - 67.9%; catarrhal gingivitis: in patients with HI, it is 1.7 times less frequent than in patients with AEI (p<0.001), and in ARVI - 1.6 times more often than in patients with HI (p<0.001). Cheilitis: HI - 25.9%, ARVI - 18.3%, AEI - 23.7%; catarrhal glossitis: AEI - 65.1%, ARVI - 23.2%, HI - 17.0%; candidiasis of the oral mucosal and tongue: HI - 11.1%, ARVI - 27.5%, AEI - 26.9%. A direct relationship between the lesions of OM and the severity of the course of HI, ARVI and AEI was established. CONCLUSION: Thus, dental pathology in infectious patients is pathogenetically determined by combined and interrelated disorders of the functional state of each organ of the oral cavity, the dental system and the body as a whole. Due to the relatively short duration of inpatient treatment for acute ID, priority should be given to the prevention of postinfectious complications of oral mucosal diseases.

[MINIMALLY INVASIVE APPROACH IN THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF THE ASCENDING AORTA PATHOLOGY: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES].

The aim - to improve the results of surgical treatment of ascending aorta pathology in combination with aortic valve disease by minimizing operative trauma for the purpose of rapid physical recovery of patients. In National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery from 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2019 65 patients were operated due to isolated aneurysms of the ascending aorta of small diameter and in combination with lesions of the aortic valve in whom upper J-shaped mininotomy was applied as an access. Comparison group which included 61 patients, where the traditional median sternotomy was used. There were no lethal outcomes. The intervention time was 220-380 minutes (mean 279,8±28,0 min.). Mean crossclamp time was 115,8±15,4 min. Intraoperative blood loss in all cases did not exceed 400 ml. Blood loss in the first postoperative day ranged from 50 to 300 ml (average 201,12±12,9 ml.). Mechanical ventilation on average lasted 4.5±0.5 hours after the intervention. All patients were transferred from the intensive care unit within 36±3.5 hours after surgery. The technique of correction of aortic valve defects in combination with aneurysm of the ascending aorta using minimally invasive access allows to minimize surgical trauma, provides a good cosmetic effect and can be used in clinical practice as an alternative to median sternotomy.

The Influence of Myofibrils on the Proliferation and Differentiation of Myoblasts Cocultured with Macrophages.

We studied the effect of myofibrils on proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts cocultured with macrophages as well as the effect of incubation of macrophages with myofibrils on the expression by macrophages of the compounds that are cytokines for muscle cells. In the cocultures, macrophages stimulated the proliferation of myoblasts. Myofibrils greatly enhanced the stimulating effect of macrophages, whereas lipopolysaccharide (LPS) completely abolished it. The culture medium conditioned by macrophages activated the proliferation of myoblasts that were incubated with myofibrils but inhibited it when myoblasts were incubated with LPS. Possibly, myofibrils and their constituent proteins activate macrophages in an alternative pathway, enriching the population with M2-type macrophages.Z.

Reconstruction of individualized doses of subjects from the Ukrainian State Register - of Persons that Affected due to Chornobyl accident and reside in Korosten raion of Zhytomyr oblast. / REKONSTRUKTsIIa INDYVIDUALIZOVANYKh DOZ SUB'IeKTIV DERZhAVNOGO REIeSTRU UKRAÏNY OSIB, IaKI POSTRAZhDALY VNASLIDOK ChORNOBYL'S'KOÏ KATASTROFY, ShchO PROZhYVAIuT' V KOROSTENS'KOMU RAY̆ONI ZhYTOMYRS'KOÏ OBLASTI.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To elaborate an ecological dosimetric model of reconstruction individualized exposure doses of subjects from the State Register of Ukraine (SRU) - of persons, affected due to Chornobyl accident and reside at the radioactive contaminated territory of Korosten raion of Zhytomyr Oblast, and to calculate exposure doses for those persons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the paper, an ecological dosimetric model is presented which is elaborated in order to individualize exposure doses of people who reside in Korosten raion of Zhytomyr Oblast and are registered in SRU. The model is based on the results of radio ecological and dosimetric monitoring held in the period of 1986-2013 at the territory of northern oblasts of Ukraine. Annual dose over each post accidental year consists of the two compo nents: (a) annual effective dose of external gamma exposure (due to radioactive fallout on the ground), and (b) internal exposure of the whole body (due to consumption of meal contaminated by radioactive isotopes). For 1986, the dose of internal exposure is evaluated out of all main radionuclides of radioactive accidental fallout, and after 1987 only for radioisotopes of caesium (134Cs and 137Cs). The parameterization of the model is based on the pre vious experience in working out a complex of ecological dosimetric models for estimation of referent exposure doses of Ukrainian population. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Individualized doses of external and internal exposure (annual and accumulated) are estimated for the population of various age groups that resides in the settlements of Korosten raion (totally about 100 settlements). Separately the doses are presented for rural settlements of the raion and for the city of Korosten for each year of the post accidental period of 1986-2016. Estimates of doses are given that were accumulated: (a) during 15 years just after the accident, (b) for the period of 2000-2016, and (c) for 30 year period after the acci dent. Mean dose accumulated for 30 years after the Chornobyl accident by residents of rural settlements of Korosten raion is estimated as 19.8 mSv, and for inhabitants of the Korosten city as 20.9 mSv. On condition of permanent res idence in the raion, residents of about 66 % settlements of Korosten raion accumulated the doses in the interval 5 20 mSv during 30 years after the accident. For the residents of about 25 % settlements the accumulated dose is in the interval 20-50 mSv, and for 7 % of settlements it exceeds 50 mSv.

Generalized results of individualized exposure doses reconstruction for the subjects of Ukrainian State Register of persons, affected due to Chernobyl accident. / UZAGAL'NENI REZUL'TATY REKONSTRUKTsIi INDYVIDUALIZOVANYKh DOZ SUB'IeKTIV DERZhAVNOGO REIeSTRU UKRAiNY OSIB, IaKI POSTRAZhDALY VNASLIDOK ChORNOBYL'S'KOi KATASTROFY.

Since 2007, the department of dosimetry of NRCRM has been working for to supply the Ukrainian State Register (SRU) of persons affected due to Chernobyl accident by exposure doses estimations. As of now, the individualization of doses has been performed for nine raions located in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Rivne and Chernihiv oblasts. The structure of raion-specific models used for the reconstruction of individualized doses was described in detail in the previous 19-th issue of this journal (2014). The choice conditions for persons from the SRU using which for each raion there was formed a contingent of persons for whom the dose could be reconstructed. During the period of 2007-2015, the individualized dose was reconstructed for 244226 persons in 9 raions, representing ~ 58% of all registered in the SRU inhabitants of the raions. The calculation results were transferred to the SRU in formats adapted to the common database structure of the SRU. For each person who satisfied the conditions of selection there were estimated: (1) possible absorbed internal exposure dose of the thyroid by radioiodine in 1986 (assuming that the person in 1986 lived in the same village and was enlisted in the SRU); (2) annual doses of external, internal and total exposure of the whole body for a period of observation in the SRU; (3) total exposure dose of whole body accumulated during the period of observation in the SRU; (4) the total cumulative dose of feasible exposure during the period since 1986 till the decision to be registered in the SRU. There are presented the generalized results of the SRU subjects distribution for different raions in dependence on intervals of doses accumulated at different periods after the accident. The raion matrix tables show the dynamics of accumulation of doses by the SRU subjects both for their stay on the account and for the period of their possible residence registration in the settlement since 1986. The directions for further research to be implemented for increasing the number of persons for whom it is possible to calculate individualized dose have been formulated.

[Evaluation of Photo- and Cytotoxicity of Chlorin e6 Ester Derivatives and Their Liposomal Forms].

Photophysical characteristics and photosensitizing activity of the chlorin e6 dimethyl and trimethyl ester derivatives in various solution and their liposomal forms were studied. It was shown that in lipid vesicles chlorin e6 ester derivatives are predominantly in the monomeric state and possess optimal photophysical properties and high photochemical activity. The rate of redistribution of the chlorin e6 dimethyl ester from lipid vesicle to cells was higher as compared with that one of the chlorin e6 trimethyl ester. The increase of the serum concentration in the incubation medium has a different effect on processes of accumulation of the liposomal forms of the chlorin e6 dimethyl and trimethyl ester derivatives by the cells. Cell culture studies showed that application of liposomal forms of the chlorin e6 dimethyl and trimethyl ester derivatives significantly decreases their cytotoxicity but keeps high cytotoxic effect of photodynamic activity of the chlorin e6 ester derivatives.

Direct Measurement of Optical Force Induced by Near-Field Plasmonic Cavity Using Dynamic Mode AFM.

Plasmonic nanostructures have attracted much attention in recent years because of their potential applications in optical manipulation through near-field enhancement. Continuing experimental efforts have been made to develop accurate techniques to directly measure the near-field optical force induced by the plasmonic nanostructures in the visible frequency range. In this work, we report a new application of dynamic mode atomic force microscopy (DM-AFM) in the measurement of the enhanced optical force acting on a nano-structured plasmonic resonant cavity. The plasmonic cavity is made of an upper gold-coated glass sphere and a lower quartz substrate patterned with an array of subwavelength gold disks. In the near-field when the sphere is positioned close to the disk array, plasmonic resonance is excited in the cavity and the induced force by a 1550 nm infrared laser is found to be increased by an order of magnitude compared with the photon pressure generated by the same laser light. The experiment demonstrates that DM-AFM is a powerful tool for the study of light induced forces and their enhancement in plasmonic nanostructures.

[Pathological fantasies in children]. / Patologicheskoe fantazirovanie u deteĭ.

AIM: To develop a clinical classification of pathological fantasies (fantasy syndrome) in children and adolescents regardless of nosological attribution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 109 patients, aged 3-16 years, using psychopathological and instrumental (EEG and MRI) methods. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Authors developed the clinical typology of pathological fantasies in children with different mental diseases and disorders. The following variants of fantasy syndromes were singled out: 1. fantasizing with sensorealization of mental images; 2. fantastic stories (subdivided into 5 different variants): 2.1 easily provoked fantasies with situation-conditioned content; 2.2. fantasizing with increased falsehood; 2.3. sexual allegations and self-accusations; 2.4. fantasizing about imaginary worlds; 2.5. fantasies about a fictional friend); 3. playing transformation; 4. fantasies with a predominance of specific hobbies.

Bias assisted scanning probe microscopy direct write lithography enables local oxygen enrichment of lanthanum cuprates thin films.

Scanning probe bias techniques have been used as a method to locally dope thin epitaxial films of La(2)CuO(4) (LCO) fabricated by pulsed laser deposition. The local electrochemical oxidation of LCO very efficiently introduces interstitial oxygen defects in the thin film. Details on the influence of the tip voltage bias and environmental conditions on the surface morphology have been investigated. The results show that a local uptake of oxygen occurs in the oxidized films.