[Effect of Lurasidone on symptoms of schizophrenia in five-factor dimensional model: pooled analysis of two short-term, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in patients from Russia and Ukraine]. / Ispol'zovanie piatifaktornoi dimensional'noi shkaly simptomov shizofrenii dlia otsenki terapevticheskogo deistviia Lurazidona: ob''edinennyi analiz dannykh dvukh kratkosrochnykh randomizirovannykh dvoinykh slepykh platsebo-kontroliruemykh issledovanii na populiatsii patsientov Rossii i Ukrainy.

AIM: Evaluation of a new five-factor dimensional model of schizophrenia in recent revisions of classifications of mental disorders (DSM-5 and ICD-11) dictates the need to use this approach in conducting a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of new antipsychotic agents, including ethnically homogeneous populations of patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Post-hoc analysis of pooled data from two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week clinical studies (RCTs) of lurasidone (fixed doses, 40, 80, 120 or 160 mg/d) in patients experiencing an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. Changes in PANSS total score, CGI-S score and five established PANSS factors were assessed using mixed-model repeated measures analysis. RESULTS: Lurasidone (n=162, dose groups pooled) compared with placebo (n=68), significantly improved the PANSS total score at Week 6 (-23.0 vs. -10.5; p<0.001; effect size 0.82) as well as all PANSS factor scores: positive symptoms (-8.5 vs. -4.2; p<0.001; effect size 0.88), negative symptoms (-4.4 vs. -2.8; p=0.011, effect size 0.44), disorganized thoughts (-4.4 vs. -2.1; p<0.001; effect size 0.70), hostility/excitement (-2.7 vs. -0.7; p<0.001; effect size 0.66), and depression/anxiety (-3.5 vs. -2.2; p=0.002; effect size 0.53). CONCLUSION: Lurasidone demonstrated significant improvement for both PANSS total score and each of the five PANSS factor scores, indicating effectiveness across the broad spectrum of schizophrenia symptoms. Effect size for both PANSS total score and each of the five PANSS factor scores for the local population was higher than for the wider population, which included patients from various countries.

Efficacy of lurasidone across five symptom dimensions of schizophrenia: pooled analysis of short-term, placebo-controlled studies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of lurasidone for schizophrenia using an established five-factor model of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). METHODS: Patient-level data were pooled from five randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week studies of lurasidone (fixed doses, 40-160mg/d) for patients with an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. Changes in five established PANSS factors were assessed using mixed-model repeated measures analysis. RESULTS: Compared with placebo (n=496), lurasidone (n=1029, dose groups pooled) significantly improved the PANSS total score at Week 6 (-22.6 vs. -12.8; P<0.001; effect size, 0.45), as well as all factor scores (P<0.001 for each): positive symptoms (-8.4 vs. -6.0; effect size, 0.43), negative symptoms (-5.2 vs. -3.3; effect size, 0.33), disorganized thought (-4.9 vs. -2.8; effect size, 0.42), hostility/excitement (-2.7 vs. -1.6; effect size, 0.31), and depression/anxiety (-3.2 vs. -2.3; effect size, 0.31). Separation from placebo occurred at Week 1 for the positive symptoms, disorganized thought, and hostility/excitement factors and at Week 2 for the other factors. CONCLUSIONS: In this pooled analysis of short-term studies in patients with acute schizophrenia, lurasidone demonstrated significant improvement for each of the five PANSS factor scores, indicating effectiveness across the spectrum of schizophrenia symptoms.

Stationary waves in a superfluid exciton gas in quantum Hall bilayers.

Stationary waves in a superfluid magnetoexciton gas in ν = 1 quantum Hall bilayers are considered. The waves are induced by counterpropagating electrical currents that flow in a system with a point obstacle. It is shown that stationary waves can emerge only in imbalanced bilayers in a certain diapason of currents. It is found that the stationary wave pattern is modified qualitatively under a variation of the ratio of the interlayer distance to the magnetic length [Formula: see text]. The advantages of using graphene-dielectric-graphene sandwiches for the observation of stationary waves are discussed. We determine the range of parameters (the dielectric constant of the layer that separates two graphene layers and the ratio d/l) for which the state with superfluid magnetoexcitons can be realized in such sandwiches. Typical stationary wave patterns are presented as density plots.

Analysis of suicidality in pooled data from 2 double-blind, placebo-controlled aripiprazole adjunctive therapy trials in major depressive disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of adjunctive aripiprazole versus adjunctive placebo treatment on suicidality in patients with major depressive disorder. METHOD: Data were pooled from 2 identical aripiprazole augmentation studies. Patients with DSM-IV-TR-diagnosed major depressive disorder with an inadequate response to 8 weeks of prospective antidepressant treatment were randomly assigned to adjunctive placebo or adjunctive aripiprazole (2-20 mg/d) treatment for 6 weeks. Adverse events related to suicidality were identified in the adverse event database using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities-preferred term. Treatment-emergent suicidal ideation was defined using item 10 (suicidality) of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and item 18 (suicidality) of the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS). RESULTS: In total, 737 patients were included in the safety database (aripiprazole n = 371; placebo n = 366). No suicides were reported. There were no treatment-emergent, suicide-related adverse events in the aripiprazole group; 2 patients in the placebo group had ≥ 1 adverse event related to suicide (both suicidal ideation). More placebo than aripiprazole patients > 25 years old experienced a 2-point (P < .01) or 1-point (P < .05) worsening of MADRS item 10 scores. For this age group, 2-point improvement in MADRS item 10 scores and 1-point improvement of IDS item 18 scores were significantly more common in aripiprazole patients than placebo patients (both P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: This post hoc analysis demonstrated that adjunctive aripiprazole treatment in patients with depression with a history of an inadequate response to antidepressant medication is associated with a decreased rate of suicidality in a group of subjects not at significant risk. Prospective trials directly assessing suicidality are needed to further understand the benefits of an adjunctive antipsychotic in an at-risk population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifiers: NCT00095823 and NCT00095758.

Aripiprazole monotherapy in patients with rapid-cycling bipolar I disorder: an analysis from a long-term, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

AIMS: Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder is difficult to treat and associated with greater morbidity than non-rapid-cycling disease. This post hoc analysis evaluated 28 patients with rapid-cycling bipolar I disorder from a 100-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessing long-term efficacy, safety and tolerability of aripiprazole in patients with bipolar I disorder (most recently manic/mixed). METHODS: Following >or= 6 consecutive weeks' stabilisation with open-label aripiprazole, patients were randomised (1 : 1) to aripiprazole or placebo. Patients completing 26 weeks treatment without relapse could continue for a further 74 weeks. Primary end-point was time to relapse for manic, mixed or depressive symptoms, defined as discontinuation due to lack of efficacy. Safety assessments included adverse event (AE) monitoring and changes in weight and lipid, glucose and prolactin levels. RESULTS: Of the 28 patients (aripiprazole, n = 14; placebo, n = 14) with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, 12 (aripiprazole, n = 7; placebo, n = 5) completed the initial 26-week treatment period and three (all aripiprazole treated) completed the 100-week, double-blind period. Time to relapse was significantly longer with aripiprazole vs. placebo at week 26 [log-rank p = 0.033; 26-week hazard ratio = 0.21 (95% CI: 0.04, 1.03)] and week 100 [log-rank p = 0.017; 100-week hazard ratio = 0.18 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.88)]. The most commonly reported AEs with aripiprazole during the 100 weeks (>or= 10% incidence and twice placebo) were anxiety (n = 4), sinusitis (n = 4), depression (n = 3) and upper respiratory infection (n = 3). One aripiprazole-treated patient discontinued due to an AE (akathisia). There were no significant between-group differences in mean changes in weight or metabolic parameters. CONCLUSION: In this small, post hoc subanalysis, aripiprazole maintained efficacy and was generally well tolerated in the long-term treatment of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. Further research with prospectively designed and adequately powered trials is warranted.

Use of spinal manipulative therapy in the treatment of duodenal ulcer: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) in the treatment of an internal organ disorder. DESIGN: Clinical trial. SETTING: Medical hospital. PATIENTS: Eleven adult men and women ranging in age from 18-44 yr with endoscopically confirmed diagnosis of ulcer disease took part in the study as an experimental group. The outcome of 24 cases of uncomplicated ulcerous disease treated by usual medical methods was analyzed as a control. INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group received spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) treatment from 5-22 days with a range of 3-14 procedures. The control group received traditional medical treatment (drug therapy and diet). The dietary regimen was standard for both groups. MEASUREMENTS: The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated using clinical parameters and endoscopic examination performed weekly. MAIN RESULTS: The use of SMT resulted in pain relief after 1-9 (avg. 3.8) days and clinical remission an average of 10 days earlier than traditional care. CONCLUSIONS: Chiropractic practice often includes patients with gastrointestinal problems who report some relief of their symptoms after treatment; however, the physiological basis for these results has yet to be established. The normalization in segmental trophic innervation of the mucosal layer of the intestine, and positive reaction of the whole body, are under discussion as a possible mechanism for the treatment effect.

[The psychophysiological training of the crew members of multiseat aircraft for cooperation in accident situations]. / Psikhofiziologicheskaia podgotovka chlenov épiazhei mnogomestnykh letal'nykh apparatov k vzaimodeistviia v avariinykh situatsiiakh.

The article cites the results of the researching work that analyzes the crew cooperation in the conditions of an aircraft break-downs which were imitated at flight simulator; elaborates psychophysiological recommendations and makes its efficiency estimate. The authors state that psychophysiological recommendations could relieve routine work embarrassing situations, therefore promoting for better professional reliability of flight crews.

[RNA synthesis gradients in the nucleus-free fragments of Acetabularia mediterranea under conditions of local illumination]. / Gradienty sinteza RNK u bez'iadernykh fragmentov Acetabularia meditarranea v usloviiakh lokal'nogo osveshcheniia.

The intensity of RNA synthesis was studied in different regions of anuclear fragments of the Acetabularia mediterranea stem under their local illumination. The local illumination was shown to activate RNA synthesis and formation of distal-medial gradients of this synthesis in the illuminated regions of the fragments to a much greater extent than in their darkened regions. The formation of the gradient in the illuminated region took place even if the growth in this region was insignificant and was not accompanied by the cap formation. The results obtained suggests the absence of obligatory correspondence between the ability of morphogenesis and the gradient of RNA synthesis.

[Study of the stability of morphogenetic substances in Acetabularia]. / Izuchenie stabil'nosti morfogeneticheskikh veshchestv u atsetabuliarii.

It was shown by means of interspecific transplantation that the morphogenetic substances in the A. crenulata cytoplasm kept their ability to determine the species specific morphogenesis in the A. mediterranea fragments during not less than 30 days. The isolation of the A. crenulata cytoplasm from the cell resulted in the complete inactivation of morphogenetic substances within 2--3 hrs. The removal of chloroplasts from the injected cytoplasm did not change its morphogenetic activity. The cytoplasm treatment by exogenous ribonuclease accelerated the inactivation of morphogenetic substances; this suggests its ribonucleic nature.

[Photic induction of polar growth in enucleated fragments of Acetabularia mediterranea]. / Induktsiia svetom poliarnogo rosta u énukleirovannykh fragmentov Acetabularia mediterranea

The process of induction of polarity in enucleated fragments (EF) of Acetabularia mediterranea has been studied by the method of local illumination. A device is described which allows to illuminate one part of EF at 2, 500 lx and another at 5 lx. The local illumination of a part of EF during 10-24 hrs was shown to polarize with a high probability the subsequent growth and formation of caps at the subsequent uniform illumination. Using the method of successive illumination and darkening of apical and basal portions of EF, it was shown that the initial stages of induction were partially reversible and the complete determination of polarity took place after the initiation of the cap anlage. After the short-term induction by light (2500 lx), the darkening of the growth zone inhibits completely the process of cap initiation, but already at 100 lx the EF previously induced at 2 500 lx are initiated and grow. While using the local illumination of grafts of EF from two species, A. crenulata and A. mediterranea, with their subsequent fragmentation and the analysis of cap morphology, it was shown that the induction of polar growth did not provide the directed transport of the factors controlling morphogenesis to the future growth zone.