Femtosecond Er-Doped All-Fiber Laser with High-Density Well-Aligned Carbon-Nanotube-Based Thin-Film Saturable Absorber.

We have studied the ultrafast saturation behavior of a high-density well-aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes saturable absorber (HDWA-SWCNT SA), obtained by a high-pressure and high-temperature treatment of commercially available single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and related it to femtosecond erbium-doped fiber laser performance. We have observed the polarization dependence of a nonlinear optical saturation, along with a low saturation energy level of <1 fJ, limited to the detector threshold used, and the ultrafast response time of <250 fs, while the modulation depth was approximately 12%. We have obtained the generation of ultrashort stretched pulses with a low mode-locking launching threshold of ~100 mW and an average output power of 12.

A phase III study of BCD-055 compared with innovator infliximab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: 54-week results from the LIRA study.

BCD-055 is a biosimilar of innovator infliximab (IFX). Here we present the 54-week results from phase 3 clinical study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to demonstrate the equivalent efficacy and safety of BCD-055 and IFX in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.

The challenge of the definition of early symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a proposal of criteria and red flags from an international initiative promoted by the Italian Society for Rheumatology.

The aim of this study was to establish consensus for potential early symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (ESKOA) clinical definition and referral criteria from primary care to rheumatologists, based on available data from literature and a qualitative approach, in order to perform studies on patients fulfilling such criteria and to validate the obtained ESKOA definition. A complex methodological approach was followed including: (1) three focus groups (FG), including expert clinicians, researchers and patients; (2) a systematic literature review (SLR); (3) two discussion groups followed by a Delphi survey. FG and SLR were performed in parallel to inform discussion groups in order to identify relevant constructs to be included in the modified Delphi survey.

Single center study on ethnic and clinical features of Behcet's disease in Moscow, Russia.

For the purpose of investigating Behcet's disease (BD) in Russia, 250 consecutive patients (177 men and 73 women) diagnosed with BD between 1990 and 2010 at the Research Institute of Rheumatology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in Moscow were enrolled in this study. The ethnic backgrounds of the patients were reported as follows: 23.2% (58 cases) from Russia, 12.

Nailfold capillary abnormalities in erectile dysfunction of systemic sclerosis: a EUSTAR group analysis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyse an association between nailfold capillary abnormalities and the presence and severity of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men with SSc.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of the prospective European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Scleroderma Trial and Research database was performed. Men with SSc were included if they had undergone nailfold capillaroscopy and simultaneous ED assessment with the 5-item International Index for Erectile Function (IIEF-5).

[Combined step-by-step rehabilitation of the patients presenting with early-onset rheumatoid arthritis].

The objective of the present study was to develop the program for combined step-by-step rehabilitation of the patients presenting with early-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA); the secondary objective was to estimate the effectiveness of this program. A total of 34 patients were recruited for the participation in the study. They received medicamental therapy in combination with the rehabilitative treatment during 6 months.

[Role of obesity in the development of osteoarthrosis and concomitant diseases].

Aim: To specify the association between obesity and the frequency of concomitant states, fat metabolic disturbances, and progressive osteoarthrosis (OA) at various sites.

Subjects And Methods: The study included 298 patients with manifest knee and hip osteoarthrosis in whom the body mass index (BMI) and waist and hip circumferences were measured calculating the waist-hip index. The association of these indices with the severity of OA and the development of concomitant states was analyzed.

[Prenosological approach to assessing morbidity and mortality].

The paper deals with the morbidity- and mortality-associated problem arising from the processes occurring in the transition period of development of new Russia. It points to the leading role of health care service in this process. The authors show the real health status of the working population, the actual state of affairs with the rendering primary medical care at industrial institutions.

[Diagnostic value of antibodies to modified citrullinized vimentin in early rheumatoid arthritis].

A hundred and two patients (18 males, 84 females; mean age, 50.3 +/- 12.3 years) diagnosed as having early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined.

[Clinical significance of heart rate variability in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

Aim: To evaluate clinical significance of heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Material And Methods: HRV was investigated by means of time-domain analysis of 24 hour ambulatory ECG of 122 SLE patients under 55 years of age and 32 age-matched healthy controls. In addition to clinical manifestations and activity of SLE, we assessed the presence of basic conventional cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, smoking, body mass index, dyslipidemia), performed common carotid duplex scanning with measurement of intima-medial thickness (IMT).

[Results of leflunomide treatment of psoriatic arthritis].

Aim: To study efficacy and tolerance of leflunomide (LF) in patients with polyarticular psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Material And Methods: The analysis was made in 58 patients: 35 (60%) females, 23 (40%) males. Mean age of the patients was 44.

[Concentration and antiviral activity of interferon-alpha in the sera of patient with hepatic pathology].

The normalization of the antiviral activity of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in the process of the treatment of patients with acute viral hepatitis (VH), simultaneously with the results of other clinico-laboratory tests, reflects the positive dynamics of the process. The prolonged preservation of the elevated level of the antiviral activity of IFN-alpha (up to 6 months and longer) is a prognostically unfavorable sign. In patients with chronic VH the growth of both the average concentration of IFN-alpha in the blood serum and its average antiviral activity can be observed.

[Characteristics of rehabilitation in patients with rheumatic diseases].

The paper deals with problems of rehabilitation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthrosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. These problems are rather topical in view of high prevalence of rheumatic diseases, their severe course and a high rate of invalidization at the most productive age. Relevant multifactorial therapeutic measures should be staged, aimed at lowering and stabilization of the disease activity.

[Diagnostic and prognostic significance of characteristics of serum interferon antiviral activity in chronic and acute diffuse liver diseases].

The interferon (IFN-alpha) level and its antiviral activity were investigated in 236 patients, suffered from the chronic diffuse liver disease (CDLD), including 121 patient with chronic hepatitis (CH), 115 patients with hepatocirrhosis (HC) and 26 patients with acute viral hepatitis (AVH). This permitted to elaborate the pathogenetic and prognostic value of these indices in CH, AVH and HC. The analysis of the variations of IFN-alpha antiviral activity in patients with CDLD in dependence on the etiology, activity of the pathologic process, CH stages by CHild-Pugh graduation, the presence of the portal hypertension and its complications was carried out for the first time.

[Significance of social-hygienic monitoring in the control of environmental quality and population's health].

The paper deals with control of the population's environment and health. It shows the leading role of public health services in this activity. A standard approach to controlling environmental quality is presented.

[Organization of social-hygienic monitoring in Zelenograd].

The paper deals with the experience of the Zelenograd Town Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance Center with sociohygienic monitoring. Its work on the recording and analysis of infectious and non-infectious diseases by using the present-day computers and local electronic networks is outlined. The paper shows it necessary to develop a unified approach to sociohygienic monitoring and standardization of databases in the corporative system of sanitary service.

[Hygienic significance of geohydrochemical features of the Moscow region].

The biochemical features of the Moscow artesian pool and the influence of water on the population's health are shown. The paper present information on the sources of the water-supply system in the town of Zelenograd whose population uses river and artesian waters. The drinking water in Zelenograd and in the populated areas of the Moscow Region contains toxic elements, such lithium, born, strontium, fluorine, barium in the quantities greater than the adopted specifications.

[Endogenous regulatory peptides, interferons and cytokines as adaptogens in exposure of the body to adverse environmental factors].

The authors summarize data on the efficacy of various prefabricated recombinant interferons against virus, bacterial, and chlamydial infections, and in unfavorable environments. The spaceflight factors were shown to have a negative influence on natural killers in the human body providing the immunological resistance and defence not only from foreign microorganisms but also the body cells transformed because of a virus infection or malignancy. Entalferon awakes a particular interest for its convenience in extreme conditions, space flight included.

[Garlic effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis].

Aim: To perform of clinical trial of alisate--a garlic preparation produced in Russia.

Materials And Methods: An open controlled trial of alisate enrolled 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 15 patients with RA of varying clinical form, stage and activity were given alisate in a dose 300 mg (1 tablet) twice a day for 4-6 weeks.

[Stewart-Treves syndrome--lymphangiosarcoma in sever lymphostasis of arm after mastectomy].

Stewart-Treves Syndrome ('STS) is a rare, extremely malignant and quickly progressing tumor. It is angiosarcoma developing in lymphostasis of an arm after radical mastectomy for cancer. The patient aged 80 years was followed-up, in whom STS had developed 19 years after radical mastectomy.

[Cytokines in the immunorehabilitation of infectious patients].

For the first time in Russia the authors have defined an infectious process of Astrakhan rickettsiosis hemorrhagic fever attended by hyper- and hypoproduction of interferon g and its aftereffects. Reaferon and gammaferon therapy have proved to be very effective in fast normalisation of the immunology index. Enthalferon pills greatly reduced the morbidity rate in servicemen in rotaviral infections.

[Analysis of stage IV stomach cancer diagnostic and treatment results in permanently followed-up group of population].

982 case records of the patients with cancer of the stomach (CS) were analyzed for the period from 1980 to 1997. Among them tumor of stage IV made up 21.1% (autopsy data were not taken into account).