Tailoring postoperative management through sentinel lymph node biopsy in low- and intermediate-risk endometrial cancer - the SENTRY clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: While total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without lymph node staging are standard for low- and intermediate-risk endometrial cancer, certain histopathologic factors revealed after surgery can necessitate additional interventions. Our study assessed the influence of sentinel lymph node biopsy on postoperative decision-making. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the SENTRY trial (July 2021 - February 2023), we enrolled patients with International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IA-IB low-grade endometrioid endometrial cancer. Laparoscopic sentinel lymph node mapping using indocyanine green was performed alongside total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Subsequent management changes based on sentinel lymph node biopsy results were evaluated. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04972682). RESULTS: Of the 100 enrolled participants, a bilateral detection rate of 91% was observed with a median detection time of 10 min (interquartile range 8-13 min). Sentinel lymph node metastases were found in 8% (N = 8) of participants. Postoperative FIGO staging increased in 15% (N = 15) and decreased in 5% (N = 5) of patients. Sentinel lymph node biopsy results altered the adjuvant treatment plan for 20% (N = 20): external beam radiotherapy was omitted in 12% (N = 12) while 6% (N = 6) had external beam radiotherapy +/- systemic chemotherapy added due to sentinel lymph node metastases. In 2% (N = 2), the external beam radiotherapy field was expanded with the paraaortic region. No intraoperative complications were reported and no 30-day major morbidity and mortality occurred. Throughout a median follow-up of 14 (95% CI 12-15 months, neither patient-reported lymphedema nor pelvic recurrence surfaced in the cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node biopsy using indocyanine green is a safe procedure and allows tailoring adjuvant therapy in presumed low- and intermediate-risk endometrial cancer. It assists in avoiding external beam radiotherapy overtreatment and introducing additional modalities when necessary.

[Results of a randomized double-blind multicenter clinical trial of the efficacy and safety of the drug riamilovir for the prevention of COVID-19].

AIM: Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of riamilovir as a drug for the prevention of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in adults who have constant contact with COVID-19 patients as a result of living together. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 750 adult participants living with patients with confirmed polymerase chain reaction method COVID-19, who had a negative polymerase chain reaction result for the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the initial level, met the criteria for inclusion, non-inclusion and exclusion, and signed a voluntary informed consent to participate in a clinical trial. RESULTS: The efficacy, good tolerability and safety of the drug riamilovir for the prevention of COVID-19 infection among people who have come into contact with COVID-19 patients in a family focus of infection have been established. CONCLUSION: As a result of a multicenter randomized double-blind clinical trial, the effectiveness of the drug riamilovir for the prevention of COVID-19 infection was established. It was shown that the relative risk of disease in the group taking riamilovir for prophylaxis was 88.96% lower than in the control group. Based on the results of a clinical trial, in October 2023 Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation approved the inclusion of a new indication (prophylaxis of COVID-19 infection) in the instructions for the medical use of the drug riamilovir (trade name - Triazavirin®).

Genetic Diversity of the Amur Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica): Are There Differences between the 20th and the Early 21st Centuries?

Polymorphism of nine microsatellite loci in the Sikhote-Alin tiger population was analyzed in the modern and recent historical periods, using blood, excrement, and museum bone samples. Tests for excess heterozygosity to determine whether the population went through a period of low abundance and a low value of the Garza-Williamson coefficient indicated that such events were highly probable to occur in both recent and earlier history. The mean effective population size Ne of a current sample was 34.4 (95% confidence interval 17-106.8). This fact is of great interest in the contest of conservation and restoration of endangered large cat species.

[A new approach to etiotropic therapy ARVI in children].

AIM: Confirmation of the efficacy and safety of the drug riamilovir (Triazavirin®), 100 mg capsules, in children aged 12-17 years with the diagnosis of acute viral respiratory infection (ARVI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The multicenter study included 269 patients diagnosed with acute viral respiratory infection (ICD-10 code: J00, J02, J02.9, J04, J04.0, J04.1, J04.2, J06, J06.0, J06.9) in the presence of clinical manifestations and confirmation of the etiology of the disease by laboratory tests (PCR method). Patients were included in the study after one of the patient's parents/adoptive parents and the patient signed an informed consent to participate in the study. The interval between the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease and the inclusion of the patient in the study did not exceed 36 hours. RESULTS: As a result of a clinical study, the efficacy and safety of treatment with riamilovir (Triazavirin®) in sick children aged 12-17 years with a diagnosis of ARVI was shown. A decrease in the duration of the disease was shown when using the drug riamilovir (Triazavirin®) compared with the control group. No serious adverse events were detected during the study. CONCLUSION: As a result of the conducted clinical study, the high efficacy, safety and good tolerability of the drug riamilovir in the treatment of children aged 12-17 years with a diagnosis of ARVI was established. It is recommended to use the drug riamilovir in clinical practice as an etiotropic therapy in children aged 12-17 years with a diagnosis of ARVI due to its high efficacy and safety.

On the Support of the Oilfield Service in the Russian Federation.

This article makes use of financial-economic modeling to study the measures of providing necessary support to Russian oilfield service companies due to a reduction in the amount of orders on the part of oil and gas companies because of the slowdown in the demand for energy inputs as a result of restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The global practices of drilling uncompleted wells are analyzed; a brief review of the current market situation is provided. The need for taking system-level steps to support the industry and maintaining the key competences and share of Russian companies in the market is shown.

[Evaluation of the effectiveness of Riamilovir in the complex therapy of patients with COVID-19].

AIM: In this study we evaluated the effects of Riamilovir on SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding and on admission duration in patients with moderate COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have used data from 69 health records of patients with moderate severe PCR confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Control group included 34 patients treated with off-label riamilovir 1250 mg per day for 5 days (250 mg 5 times a day), comparison groups 35 patients, who received ribavirin and umifenovir 800 mg a day for 5 days. The antiviral therapy was administered within 72 hours from the onset of the disease. The primary endpoints were elimination of virus in oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs on 7 day of admission and discharge from the hospital by 14 day. RESULTS: Patients assigned to riamilovir had significantly shorter time to clinical improvement as well as increased PCR negative rate by day 7. CONCLUSION: Yearly administration of riamilovir as opposed to the umifenovir and ribavirin in therapy of moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with significant shorter time to clinical improvement by 14 day of hospitalization. PCR negative rate by 7 days of hospitalization is significantly more likely in riamilovir group.

[Experience of the preventive use of the drug Riamilovir in the foci of coronavirus infection (COVID-19)].

AIM: The assessment of the effectiveness, safety and tolerance of the drug Riamilovir for emergency drug prevention in the foci of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The trial included 113 persons aged 18 years and older who had level 1 contacts with patients with a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), who had not previously been ill, with negative PCR results for COVID-19. RESULTS: The high effectiveness, safety and good tolerance of the preventive use of the drug Riamilovir for the period of 20 days of taking a prophylactic dose of 1 capsule (250 mg) per day in the foci of COVID-19 has been established. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness and safety of the preventive use of the drug Riamilovir allow to recommend it for emergency drug prophylaxis in contact persons in the foci of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Insights into the regularity of the formation of 2D 3d transition metal monocarbides.

Recently, several theoretical predictions have been made about 2D planar FeC, CoC, NiC, and CuC, while their bulk phases still remain unknown. Here, we present a generalization of the 2D family of 3d transition metal monocarbides (TMC) by searching for their stable configurations with DFT methods and an evolutionary algorithm. It is found that in the TMC row (TM = Sc-Cu) the tendency of 3D rocksalt phase formation is monotonously interchanged with 2D phase appearance, namely, planar orthorhombic TMC characterized by carbon dimers inside metal hexagons. Among them, orthorhombic CoC and FeC monocarbides would likely be formed rather than any other 2D metal carbide phase or metal/graphene interface.

[The practice of using a domestic antiviral drug in the etiotropic therapy of acute respiratory viral infection].

AIM: Evaluation of efficacy, safety, tolerability, and determination of the optimal dose of riamilovir in patients diagnosed with acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 270 patients with uncomplicated ARVI of mild and moderate severity (with a laboratory-confirmed PCR method for the presence of ARVI antigens, absence of influenza virus antigens). Patients were included in the study after signing an informed consent. Patients were randomized into 3 groups in a 1:1:1 ratio of 90 patients in each group. Completed the study in accordance with the Protocol: 267 patients. The study involved patients diagnosed with ARVI. RESULTS: Confirmed the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the drug riamilovir. Adverse drug reactions associated, in the opinion of the doctor, with taking the drug and resulting in discontinuation of the drug, were not noted in this study. CONCLUSION: As a result of clinical study, the effectiveness of both ARVI treatment regimens with drug riamilovir has been shown. There were no differences in the effectiveness and safety of the proposed treatment regimens. Practical use of both treatment regimens is recommended. However, according to the authors, taking the drug 3 times a day is much more convenient for patients, improves the quality of life and adherence to therapy.

Nonstoichiometric Phases of Two-Dimensional Transition-Metal Dichalcogenides: From Chalcogen Vacancies to Pure Metal Membranes.

Two-dimensional (2D) membranes consisting of a single layer of Mo atoms were recently manufactured [ Adv. Mater. 2018 , 30 , 1707281 ] from MoSe2 sheets by sputtering Se atoms using an electron beam in a transmission electron microscope. This is an unexpected result as formation of Mo clusters should energetically be more favorable. To get microscopic insights into the energetics of realistic Mo membranes and nonstoichiometric phases of transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) MaXb, where M = Mo and W and X = S, Se, and Te, we carry out first-principles calculations and demonstrate that the membranes, which can be referred to as metallic quantum dots embedded into a semiconducting matrix, can be stabilized by charge transfer. We also show that an ideal neutral 2D Mo or W sheet is not flat but a corrugated structure, with a square lattice being the lowest-energy configuration. We further demonstrate that several intermediate nonstoichiometric phases of TMDs are possible as they have lower formation energies than pure metal membranes. Among them, the orthorhombic metallic 2D M4X4 phase is particularly stable. Finally, we study the properties of this phase in detail and discuss how it can be manufactured by the top-down approaches.

Ultrasharp h-BN Nanocones and the Origin of Their High Mechanical Stiffness and Large Dipole Moment.

We report on experimental synthesis and theoretical studies of ultrasharp BN-nanocones. Using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, the cone-like morphology of synthesized products was confirmed. Theoretical analysis of the dipole moment nature in h-BN nanocones reveals that the moment has contributions from the polarity of B-N bonds and electronic flexoelectric effect associated with a curved h-BN lattice. The latter phenomenon is predicted on the basis of the extension of the theory of flexoelectric effects in the h-BN lattice through establishing universality of the linear dependence of flexoelectric dipole moments on local curvature in various nano- h-BN networks (nanotubes and fullerenes). Our study of the atomic structure response and its polarization under deformation of nanocones with different apex angles shows the advantageous properties of cones with the smallest angles.

Nanostructuring few-layer graphene films with swift heavy ions for electronic application: tuning of electronic and transport properties.

The morphology and electronic properties of single and few-layer graphene films nanostructured by the impact of heavy high-energy ions have been studied. It is found that ion irradiation leads to the formation of nano-sized pores, or antidots, with sizes ranging from 20 to 60 nm, in the upper one or two layers. The sizes of the pores proved to be roughly independent of the energy of the ions, whereas the areal density of the pores increased with the ion dose. With increasing ion energy (>70 MeV), a profound reduction in the concentration of structural defects (by a factor of 2-5), relatively high mobility values of charge carriers (700-1200 cm2 V-1 s-1) and a transport band gap of about 50 meV were observed in the nanostructured films. The experimental data were rationalized through atomistic simulations of ion impact onto few-layer graphene structures with a thickness matching the experimental samples. We showed that even a single Xe atom with energy in the experimental range produces a considerable amount of damage in the graphene lattice, whereas high dose ion irradiation allows one to propose a high probability of consecutive impacts of several ions onto an area already amorphized by the previous ions, which increases the average radius of the pore to match the experimental results. We also found that the formation of "welded" sheets due to interlayer covalent bonds at the edges and, hence, defect-free antidot arrays is likely at high ion energies (above 70 MeV).

[Anti-VEGF therapy resistance in neovascular age-related macular degeneration]. / Rezistentnost' k anti-VEGF-terapii pri ékssudativnoi vozrastnoi makuliarnoi degeneratsii.

With account to the increase in the elderly population in most of the developed countries, the WHO defines age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as one of the main causes of blindness in the world. A large percentage of disability is accounted for by exudative, or neovascular, form of AMD. Today, a total of 5 anti-VEGF drugs exist that are recommended for treatment of exudative AMD: pegaptanib, ranibizumab, bevacizumab, aflibercept, and conbercept. Despite significant progress in the treatment of neovascular AMD yielded by the introduction into clinical practice of anti-VEGF drugs, some patients report a lack (down to complete lack) of response with standard treatment patterns and even a decrease in treatment efficacy after repeated intravitreal injections.

The electronic structure and spin states of 2D graphene/VX2 (X = S, Se) heterostructures.

The structural, magnetic and electronic properties of 2D VX2 (X = S, Se) monolayers and graphene/VX2 heterostructures were studied using a DFT+U approach. It was found that the stability of the 1T phases of VX2 monolayers is linked to strong electron correlation effects. The study of vertical junctions comprising of graphene and VX2 monolayers demonstrated that interlayer interactions lead to the formation of strong spin polarization of both graphene and VX2 fragments while preserving the linear dispersion of graphene-originated bands. It was found that the insertion of Mo atoms between the layers leads to n-doping of graphene with a selective transformation of graphene bands keeping the spin-down Dirac cone intact.

Mechanical properties and current-carrying capacity of Al reinforced with graphene/BN nanoribbons: a computational study.

Record high values of Young's modulus and tensile strength of graphene and BN nanoribbons as well as their chemically active edges make them promising candidates for serving as fillers in metal-based composite materials. Herein, using ab initio and analytical potential calculations we carry out a systematic study of the mechanical properties of nanocomposites constructed by reinforcing an Al matrix with BN and graphene nanoribbons. We consider a simple case of uniform distribution of nanoribbons in an Al matrix under the assumption that such configuration will lead to the maximum enhancement of mechanical characteristics. We estimate the bonding energy and the interfacial critical shear stress at the ribbon/metal interface as functions of ribbon width and show that the introduction of nanoribbons into the metal leads to a substantial increase in the mechanical characteristics of the composite material, as strong covalent bonding between the ribbon edges and Al matrix provides efficient load transfer from the metal to the ribbons. Using the obtained data, we apply the rule of mixtures in order to analytically assess the relationship between the composite strength and concentration of nanoribbons. Finally, we study carbon chains, which can be referred to as the ultimately narrow ribbons, and find that they are not the best fillers due to their weak interaction with the Al matrix. Simulations of the electronic transport properties of the composites with graphene nanoribbons and carbyne chains embedded into Al show that the inclusion of the C phase gives rise to deterioration in the current carrying capacity of the material, but the drop is relatively small, so that the composite material can still transmit current well, if required.

The possible formation of a magnetic FeS2 phase in the two-dimensional MoS2 matrix.

The possibility of a FeS2 phase formation in the 2D MoS2 structure was investigated by an ab initio DFT approach. Various concentrations of FeS2 in MoS2 have been analyzed, and it is shown that the energy favorable structures of the Mo1-xFexS2 composition are in-plane hybrid phases, FeS2 and MoS2 domains. After increasing the Fe/Mo concentration ratio up to 0.68, a complete transformation of the whole structure is predicted. We have found that the introduction of only a small amount of Fe atoms leads to a change in the electronic and magnetic properties of the film. An increase of the FeS2 nucleus size leads to the nearly monotonous increase of the magnetic moment governed by the exponential law.

Ionic Graphitization of Ultrathin Films of Ionic Compounds.

On the basis of ab initio density functional calculations, we performed a comprehensive investigation of the general graphitization tendency in rocksalt-type structures. In this paper, we determine the critical slab thickness for a range of ionic cubic crystal systems, below which a spontaneous conversion from a cubic to a layered graphitic-like structure occurs. This conversion is driven by surface energy reduction. Using only fundamental parameters of the compounds such as the Allen electronegativity and ionic radius of the metal atom, we also develop an analytical relation to estimate the critical number of layers.

[Spatial Genetic Structure of the Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella Pallas, 1769) Colony as Inferred from Data on the Mitochondrial DNA Control Region and Microsatellite Loci].

The effect of philopatry on the formation of the intrapopulation structure in the crested auklet colony of the Talan Island, Taui Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk, was examined. The nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial DNA control region fragment (408 bp) and five microsatellite loci (Apy03, Apy04, Apy06, Apy07, Apy10) in individuals from two study plots of the colony were examined. A high genetic diversity (h = 0.999 ± 0.003) and the absence of intrapopulation genetic differentiation was observed at both types of markers. Thus, despite the high level of nest-area fidelity in breeding adults, no genetic isolation was revealed for crested auklets from different parts of the Talan Island colony.

MoS2 decoration by Mo-atoms and the MoS2-Mo-graphene heterostructure: a theoretical study.

Here we propose a completely new covalent heterostructure based on graphene and self-decorated MoS2 monolayers. Detailed investigation of the decoration process of the MoS2 surface by Mo adatoms was performed using first principles DFT methods. Comparison between valence-only and semicore pseudopotentials was performed to correctly describe the interaction between Mo adatoms and the MoS2 surface. It was found that self-decoration by Mo atoms is favorable from an energetic point of view. We studied in detail various decoration paths of Mo atoms on the MoS2 surface. The strong variation of electronic properties after the decoration of MoS2 was found. The impact of the presence of Mo adatoms on the electronic properties of the graphene/MoS2 heterostructure was shown.

Toward the Ultra-incompressible Carbon Materials. Computational Simulation and Experimental Observation.

The common opinion that diamond is the stiffest material is disproved by a number of experimental studies where the fabrication of carbon materials based on polymerized fullerenes with outstanding mechanical stiffness was reported. Here we investigated the nature of this unusual effect. We present a model constituted of compressed polymerized fullerite clusters implemented in a diamond matrix with bulk modulus B0 much higher than that of diamond. The calculated B0 value depends on the sizes of both fullerite grain and diamond environment and shows close correspondence with measured data. Additionally, we provide results of experimental study of atomic structure and mechanical properties of ultrahard carbon material supported the presented model.