Phase Structure of Electroweak Vacuum in a Strong Magnetic Field: The Lattice Results

Using first-principle lattice simulations, we demonstrate that in the background of a strong magnetic field (around 10^{20}  T), the electroweak sector of the vacuum experiences two consecutive crossover transitions associated with dramatic changes in the zero-temperature dynamics of the vector W bosons and the scalar Higgs particles, respectively. Above the first crossover, we observe the appearance of large, inhomogeneous structures consistent with a classical picture of the formation of W and Z condensates pierced by vortices. The presence of the W and Z condensates supports the emergence of the exotic superconducting and superfluid properties induced by a strong magnetic field in the vacuum. We find evidence that the vortices form a disordered solid or a liquid rather than a crystal. The second transition restores the electroweak symmetry. Such conditions can be realized in the near-horizon region of the magnetized black holes.

[The use of oscillatory respiratory therapy with positive expiratory pressure (PEP-therapy) to restore the functional state of the lungs in patients after cardiac surgery]

Postoperative pulmonary complications in cardiac surgery patients occur in 10-35% of cases, depending on differences in their definition, patient characteristics and type of surgical intervention, most of them are associated with ineffective coughing and evacuation of bronchial secretions.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness of stimulating the evacuation of bronchial secretions with the help of oscillating PEP therapy carried out during the first three days.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A randomized prospective study of 60 adult patients after elective cardiac surgery was performed (Clinical Trials.gov. protocol number NCT05159401). Oscillatory PEP-therapy was performed in 30 patients using Acapella DHGreen device (SmithMedicalASD, USA) 10-12 hours after tracheal extubation 3 times a day for 3 days after surgery. The control group (30 patients). The inclusion criteria: age over 18 years, spontaneous breathing after tracheal extubation, clear consciousness and productive contact with the patient, the ability to maintain adequate gas exchange on the low-flow oxygen inhalation, adequate analgesia (<2 points of VAS). Exclusion criteria: the need for re-intubation and mechanical ventilation, non-invasive mask ventilation, high-flow oxygen therapy, acute cerebrovascular accident, ongoing bleeding, cardiac insufficiency (inotropic index >10), shocks syndrome of various etiologies, the use of any extracorporeal support, any neuromuscular disorders, pneumothorax, hydro-or hemothorax. Before each session and 20 minutes after its end, when breathing air, blood oxygen saturation was recorded using a pulse oximeter (SpO2), the maximum inspiratory capacity (MIC) was measured using a Coach-2 incentive spirometer from SmithsMedical and spirometry with a portable ultrasonic spirometer Spiro Scout (Schiller, Switzerland). For the purposes of this work, the total index of the spirometry maximum inspiratory capacity (SMIC) was used - the sum of the respiratory volume and the reserve volume of inspiration in ml.

RESULTS

Difficulties in evacuation of sputum were noted in 90% of patients. Three-day sessions of oscillating PEP- therapy are accompanied by a significant improvement in the passage of sputum, as evidenced by a 3-fold increase in the number of patients with productive cough. The increase in MIC in the main group was 46.9% and 21.3%, respectively (p=0.042), and the number of patients with values greater than MICo. 1500 ml increased from 23.3% to 7.6% (p<0.001). The effectiveness of oscillatory PEP-therapy is confirmed by a 7-fold decrease in the frequency of radiological changes in the lungs at the end of sessions (p<0.001), while in the control group the frequency of their occurrence practically did not change and remained at a high level. The total number of patients with respiratory insufficiency (SpO2≤92%) decreased by 8.6 times after completion of all PEP- therapy sessions (p=0.001), however, without statistically significant difference with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Oscillatory PEP- therapy in cardiac surgery patients has a positive effect on sputum passage, ventilation parameters and oxygenating lung function. The procedure was well tolerated and there were no complications associated with it.

[Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Risk Factors, Prevention and Treatment]

This review focuses on the issue of atrial fibrillation (AF) following coronary bypass surgery in patients with ischemic heart disease. Risk factors of this complication are discussed in detail. The authors addressed the effect of diabetes mellitus on development of postoperative AF. Data on current methods for prevention and treatment of AF are provided.

Fibroin-Gelatin Composite Stimulates the Regeneration of a Splinted Full-Thickness Skin Wound in Mice

The effects of composite fibroin-gelatin microparticles (100-250 μ) on the rate of wound healing and regeneration under conditions of contraction prevention were studied on the model of splinted full-thickness skin wound in a mouse. Subcutaneous injection of these particles into the defect area accelerated wound healing and promoted re-epithelialization and recovery of normal structure of the epidermis. In addition, the composite microparticles promoted the formation of connective tissue of characteristic structure, replacing the derma over the entire defect, and stimulated regeneration of subcutaneous muscle (panniculus carnosus) and skin appendages (sebaceous glands and hair follicles).

Casimir Effect in Yang-Mills Theory in D=2+1

We study, for the first time, the Casimir effect in non-Abelian gauge theory using first-principles numerical simulations. Working in two spatial dimensions at zero temperature, we find that closely spaced perfect chromoelectric conductors attract each other with a small anomalous scaling dimension. At large separation between the conductors, the attraction is exponentially suppressed by a new massive quantity, the Casimir mass, which is surprisingly different from the lowest glueball mass. The apparent emergence of the new massive scale may be a result of the backreaction of the vacuum to the presence of the plates as sufficiently close chromoelectric conductors induce, in a space between them, a smooth crossover transition to a color deconfinement phase.

Comparative study of Ki67 protein expression in oral lichen planus and leukoplakia

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is included in the category of potentially malignant diseases. Benign processes are differentiated from malignant ones by the nature of cell proliferative activity. The aim of the present study was the comparative study of proliferative activity in OLP and leuk oplakia cells, as well as the cells of oral squamous cell carcinoma.Materials and methods. Biopsy specimens from 16 patients with OPL, 13 with leukoplakia, and 7 with oral squamous cell carcinoma were investigated. Immunohistochemical studies were performed using Ki67 monoclonal antibodies.Results. The average Ki67 index in OPL cells was 9.3 ± 2.3 %. Proliferating cells were located exclusively in the basal epidermis layer. In leukoplakia cells, the average Ki67 index was 20.5 ± 6.1 %; the proliferating cells were located in the basal layer and lower parts of the spinous (suprabasal) layer of the epidermis. In squamous cell carcinoma, the average Ki67 index was 57.4 ± 2.04 %. Proliferating cells were located diffusely over all cell complexes from the lower to the highest layers of the epidermis. Differences in the proliferation level were significant for the leukoplakia/OPL pair (p = 0.003) and squamous cell carcinoma/OPL pair (p 0.001), while for squamous cell carcinoma/leukoplakia pair the difference was not significant (p = 0.211).Conclusion. The differences in the proliferation level and in the nature of the proliferating cell distributionin through the epidermis can be applied in the differential diagnosis of OPL and leuk oplakia.

Confinement-deconfinement transition in dense SU(2) QCD

In this report we study the properties of the dense SU(2) QCD. The lattice simulations are carried out with improved gauge action and smaller lattice spacing as compared to our previous work. This allowed us to approach closer to the continuum limit and reach larger densities without lattice artifacts. We measured string tension and Polyakov loop as functions of chemical potential and temperature. At suffciently large baryon density and zero temperature we observe confinement/deconfinement transition which manifests itself as a vanishing of the string tension and rising of the Polyakov loop.

[A case of cutaneous protothecosis]

The paper describes a case of a rare opportunistic infection, such as skin lesion caused by achlorophyllic unicellular algae of the genus Prototheca. It provides a detailed pathologic description of the foci of cutaneous protothecosis, such as pandermal inflammatory infiltrate, granulomas, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, and intraepidermal abscesses. Criteria for pathogen detection in histological sections are given.

[Efficacy of photodynamic therapy for basal cell carcinoma using photosensitizers of different classes]

The paper presented results of photodynamic therapy for 139 patients with basal cell carcinoma. We conducted a study of the efficacy and safety of four methods of photodynamic therapy. There were used the following photosensitizers: photohem, photosens, photolon and photodithazine. Photodynamic therapy using photosensitizers of chlorine series (photolon and photoditazin) provides a better long-term results improving disease-free 3-year survival rate to 90.4% and 92.3%, respectively compared to 54.7% and 71.1% in groups, in which treatment was restricted by photohem and photosens.

[Postoperative period pecularities in patients of 70 years and older with ischemic heart disease after myocardial revasculization]

A comparative analysis of preoperative risk factors and postoperative period flow in patients older than 70 years (58 people) in comparison with control group aged 40-63 years (62 patients), undergoing myocardial revasculization was conducted. . Significantly higher rates of rhythm disturbances, arterial hypertension, lung diseases, chronic renal insufficiency, atherosclerotic carotid artery disease, lower limb atherosclerotic disease were found in patients older than 70 years preoperatively. It leads to postoperative complications and requires special preoperative correction. Complications incidence after CABG was higher by 1.7 times in patients older than 70 versus control group. The most frequent complications were: rhythm disturbances (in 5 times more often, than control group), respiratory failure (which in 70% of cases was caused by COPD), cerebral complications (in 2,5 times more often, than in control group). Myocardial revasculization surgery in elderly patients is effective treatment method and can be performed with good immediate results.

[Surgical treatment of postinfarctial ruptures of interventricular septum]

21 patients were operated on the reason of postinfarctial ruptures of interventricular septum within 1989-2009 years. The mean age was 61.3 ± 7.8 years. The preoperative diagnostic means were echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging. All patients were in critical condition, demonstrated postinfarctial left ventriculum remodeling and significant decrease of its functional reserves. Myocardial revascularization together with septal reconstruction, mitral valve and ventricular cavity reconstruction were performed. The analysis of the results proves that the active-expectant treatment tactics leads to the significant decrease of perioperative lethality. The optimal volume of surgical treatment is a liquidation of the interventricular defect together with geomentrical reconstruction of the ventricular cavity, wich is indepentant from the stage of infarction.

[Clinical and immunological aspects of extracorporeal photochemotherapy for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis]

AIM

To evaluate the clinical efficiency of extracorporeal photochemotherapy (EPCI) in the treatment of psoriasis (Ps) and Ps associated with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Ninety-three patients with different forms of psoriasis were examined. A study group (SG) comprised 52 patients who were treated with EPCT; a control group (CG) included 41 patients. All the patients received pharmacotherapy generally accepted for these diseases. The SG patients were given additionally EPCT (the patient took 8-methoxypsoralen in a dose of 0.6 mg/kg 1.5-2 hours before the procedure). Mononuclear cells were isolated from the patients' blood in the intermittent-line mode on a Haemonetics MCS+ cell separator. The cell suspension was irradiated with ultraviolet light A (lambda = 320-400 nm) on a JULIA irradiator at 10-15 mI/mm for 30 mm and reinfused in the patient. The course of therapy consisted of 4 sessions performed on alternate days.

RESULTS

A varying positive effect was obtained in 49 (94%) SG patients; the mean PASI scores fell from 19.7 +/- 3.4 to 6.7 +/- 2.1 (p < 0.05). The DAS reflecting the activity of PsA reduced on average from 3.35 +/- 0.7 to 2.16 +/- 0.5 (p < 0.05), which corresponded to the change of PsA activity from moderate to weak. In CG, the positive effect was less pronounced in 27 (66%) patients, the PASI scores dropped on average from 19.2 +/- 3.7 to 12.2 +/- 3.1 (p < 0.05), DAS in patients with PsA decreased from 3.24 +/- 0.8 to 2.95 +/- 0.7 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

EPCT showed a high efficiency in patients with psoriasis and Ps associated with PsA; the immunological studies demonstrated the pathogenetic direction of the technique.

The role of molecular and genetic methods to determine theТ-cell and В-cell clonality in diagnosing malignant cutaneouslymphomas

The article presents the data on the studies contributing to improving the differential diagnostics of T-cell and B-cell cutaneous lymphomas including large-plaque parapsoriasis and T-cell and B-cell cutaneous pseudolymphomas as well as frequency of their transformation into malignant cutaneous lymphomas. There was a study of 101 patients using the polymerase chain reaction method to determine the T-cell and B-cell lymphocyte clonality by genes of g and ƒ chains in the T-cell receptor and immunoglobulin heavy chain genes. Monoclonality was determined in 40 of 46 cases in patients with T-cell cutaneous lymphomas and in three of four cases in patients with B-cell cutaneous lymphomas. Monoclonality was revealed in one of 14 cases of large-plaque parapsoriasis and one of two cases of T-cell cutaneous pseudolymphoma. In all of the 24 cases of chronic benign dermatoses, five cases of small-plaque parapsoriasis and ten skin tissue samples obtained from healthy donors, polyclonal lymphocytes were revealed. So, the obtained results make it possible to consider the method to be an important addition in the field of diagnosing lymphoproliferative skin diseases.

A case of successful application of the photodynamic therapy for a patientwith kaposis sarcoma of the penis

The article describes a case of successful application of the photodynamic therapy for treatment of the classic type of Kaposis sarcoma in the area of the glans of a 60-year-old patient.

[A new view of approaches to diagnostics and treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma]

The paper contains literature data and the results of author's own observations, devoted to the clinical manifestations, ethiology and pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma. An algorithm of diagnostics of the disease and methods of treatment are offered, which are developed taking into account the type of the disease, its form, the extent of the pathologic process and immunological parameters.

[Clinicomorphological correlations in idiopathic and immunosuppressive forms of Kaposi's sarcoma]

Clinicomorphological correlations are presented for 136 patients with idiopathic and immunosuppressive types of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) with spot, plaque and tumour manifestations. Early symptoms of KS (spot stage) as well as regressed and angiomatous elements are difficult for pathomorphological diagnosis which should be performed regarding clinico-anamnestic data. The help in the diagnosis may be observation of DNA HHV-8 sequenses in PCR from tissue biopsies and positive immunohistochemical reaction of endotheliocytes and fusiform tumour cell to CD34.

[Minimally invasive coronary grafting without using the artificial bypass blood circulation]

An analysis, the shaping-up and perfection of the surgical treatment of ischemic heart disease (IHD) by using the method of small-invasion grafting of coronary arteries without applying the artificial bypass blood circulation is described. Indications and contraindications for the surgery of coronary grafting on the working heart and with minimal approach are discussed. Advantages of such surgeries boil down to a smaller trauma, a better cosmetic effect, milder pain, a quicker rehabilitation (with a shorter stay in hospital) and cost-efficiency.

[Antibodies to herpesvirus type 8 in Kaposi's sarcoma patients and controls in Russia]

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the HH-8 seroprevalence among patients with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), melanoma and gastric carcinoma (GC) as well as among renal recipients and blood donors. The obtained data revealed a high percentage of seropositive KS patients, which ranged from 83.6% in the classical disease type to 68.8% and to 71.4% in the immunosuppressive and AIDS-associated disease types, respectively. On the whole, the positive humoral response to HHV-8 reliably correlated with the positive findings if the viral genetic information in tumor tissue samplings. An unexpectedly high percentage of seropositive persons was found among the GC patients (41.8%) and among the renal recipients (26%), which is apparently predetermined by the immunosuppressive condition of such patients. Seroprevalence was found only in 4% of blood donors. Thus, the obtained data make it possible to conclude that KS cases, as diagnosed in Russia, are tensely associated with HHV-8 in spite of a low virus spread among the healthy population. Patients with pathology concomitant with a pronounced immunosuppression are characterized by a high prevalence of HHV-8 and belong to the category of persons with a KS risk.

[PCR diagnosis of sequences of a novel human herpes virus type 8 in patients with Kaposi sarcoma in Russia]

Associations of a new human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) with different forms of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in Russia have been studied. Search for this virus genetic information has been carried out in biopsy specimens of benign and malignant tumors other than KS, and probable sites of HHV-8 latency in human body have been checked. HHV-8 sequences were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HHV-8 sequences were most often detected in idiopathic (80.6%), AIDS-associated (80%), and immunosuppressive (100%) KS. The results indicate a selective association of HHV-8 with KS. No probable sites of the virus latency were detected in peripheral blood cells of patients with KS and in the prostate of patients with chronic prostatitis. The only exception was the husband of a patient with KS: HHV-8 sequences were detected in his prostatic secretion by nested PCR.