Liposomes loaded with hydrophilic magnetite nanoparticles: Preparation and application as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic fluid-loaded liposomes (MFLs) were fabricated using magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) and natural phospholipids via the thin film hydration method followed by extrusion. The size distribution and composition of MFLs were studied using dynamic light scattering and spectrophotometry. The effective ranges of magnetite concentration in MNPs hydrosol and MFLs for contrasting at both T2 and T1 relaxation were determined. On T2 weighted images, the MFLs effectively increased the contrast if compared with MNPs hydrosol, while on T1 weighted images, MNPs hydrosol contrasting was more efficient than that of MFLs. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrasting properties of MFLs and their effects on tumor and normal tissues morphology, were investigated in rats with transplanted renal cell carcinoma upon intratumoral administration of MFLs. No significant morphological changes in rat internal organs upon intratumoral injection of MFLs were detected, suggesting that the liposomes are relatively safe and can be used as the potential contrasting agents for MRI.

[Palivizumab: four seasons in Russia].

In 2010, the Russian Federation (RF) registered palivizumab--innovative drug, based on monoclonal antibodies for passive immunization of seasonal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children of disease severe progress risk group, which include primarily premature infants, children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease. Currently, palivizumab is included in the list of recommended medicines and medical care standards of different countries, including Russia. In the review the results of Russian research on the progress of RSV infection, its epidemiology and immunization experience gained over the 2010-2014 period are summarized in relation to the foreign data. During the four epidemic seasons palivizumab immunization covered more than 3,200 children of severe RSV infection risk group with a progressive annual increase in the number of patients who received the drug. Geography of palivizumab immunization is also greatly expanded in our country during this time. If during the first two seasons measures of immunization were taken mainly in Moscow and St. Petersburg, at the present time, thirty one territorial entities of the Russian Federation have the experience in the drug application. Analysis of the results of RSV infection immunization (made in several regions) confirms the high clinical efficacy and palivizumab safety already demonstrated in international studies. In addition, the analysis presents the potential to improve the efficiency of the integrated RSV infection immunization programs, realizing in the establishment of high-risk child group register, adequate counseling for parents, as well as the development of the routing of patients and coordination of interaction between different health institutions during the immunization.

[Syphilitic cerebral vasculitis: diagnostic possibilities].

We studied 1387 patients with different forms of syphilis for neurological deficiency. Thirty patients had vascular neurosyphilis. Two cases are described in detail. A 40-year-old man had recurring episodes of acute disturbance of the cerebral blood flow and progressive cognitive disorders. A 32-year-old patient presented with progressive dementia, hallucinatory symptoms and minor multifocal neurological changes. The diagnosis of neurosyphilis was verified by CSF-test results. The diagnosis of cerebral vasculitis was proved by the data of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance (MR) angiography, ophthalmological methods, and duplex scanning of brachiocephalic arteries, transcranial duplex scanning. Diagnostic criteria of syphilitic cerebral vasculitis were defined and presented.

Source of tunable radiation based on Ti(3+):Al(2)O(3) crystals pumped by a copper-vapor laser.

A source of tunable coherent radiation based on the use of Ti(3+):Al(2)O(3) crystals pumped by Cu-vapor laser radiation is studied experimentally. This source is promising for applications to atmospheric sensing as well as for use in applied optics and spectroscopy studies. Energy, kinetic, spectral, and spatial characteristics of lasing in nonselective and selective cavities and in the master oscillator power amplifier system are measured. Based on the latter scheme an experimental model of the source is developed. It permits continuously tunable radiation to be obtained in two spectral regions, i.e., within the fundamental band from 680 to 980 nm with a maximum average output power of ~2.6 W and in its second harmonic range from 340 to 490 nm with a maximum average output power of 450 mW. The linewidth of the emission is ~2 pm everywhere in the operating wavelength ranges, and the beam divergence is close to that of the diffraction. The pulse repetition rate is 5 kHz. A further increase in the output power is possible.

Influence of the shift H2O absorption lines with air pressure on the accuracy of the atmospheric humidity profiles measured by the differential-absorption method.

The variation with pressure of the centers of absorption lines of atmospheric H(2)O has been investigated experimentally using ruby and neodymium lasers. A numerical analysis of possible errors resulting from pressure shifts in the solutions of the inverse problem in remote laser sensing of vertical humidity profiles has been made.

Lidar differential absorption and scattering technique: theory.

The results of theoretical investigations of the differential absorption technique for sounding atmospheric water vapor are described in this paper. The sources of errors and their effect on the results of interpreting the sounding data are analyzed. The mathematical problems for inverting the lidar returns are considered.

Laser sounding of atmospheric humidity: experiment.

This paper presents the results of investigations of atmospheric humidity profiles by a lidar on the basis of a tunable ruby laser. The lidar parameters are given, and the technique of lidar measurements of water vapor content in the atmosphere using the differential absorption technique is described. The results of reconstitution of humidity profiles up to 17-km altitudes are given based on results of laser sounding.

[Role of glycosaminoglycans in altering vascular wall permeability for atherogenic lipoproteins]. / O roli glikozaminoglikanov v izmenenii pronitsaemosti sosudistoi stenki dlia aterogennykh lipoproteidov.

The relationship between the pattern of distribution of lipoproteins and morphological features of atherosclerotic lesions was demonstrated by histoautoradiographic and histochemical methods in experiments using perfusion in vitro of aortas from atherosclerotic rabbits with atherogenic lipoproteins (LP) labeled in various positions. Accumulation of glycosaminoglycanes (GAG) in the time course of the atherosclerotic process was shown to be the factor contributing to the retention of LP in the vessel wall. At the same time, no GAG accumulation was found in sites of the greatest permeability. Irrespective of the stage of the process, formation of foci of increased permeability was, as a rule, associated with accumulation of poorly differentiated cells. The evidence of primary increase of permeability of the endothelial barrier in the form of activation of the proliferative processes and GAG accumulation was obtained.