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Background: The problem of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) after incisional hernia repair remains relevant. According to the literature the frequency of VTE ranges from 0.2 to 4.2%. The data on risk factors of VTE in this cohort of patients are scarce. Aim of our study is to find frequency and risk factors for VTE development in patients who underwent surgery for incisional ventral hernia. Materials and methods: There were 240 patients enrolled in our retrospective study. We included patients, who were operated for incisional hernia in Saveljev University Surgery Clinic from January 2018 to December 2019. Compression duplex ultrasound of lower extremity veins was performed within median 3 days (min 1 day, max 7 days) after surgery for all participants. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of the VTE event, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Results: VTE was detected in 19 patients, which accounted for 7.9% in analyzed cohort. All patients received standard pharmacological prophylaxis. There were 3 (1.3%) proximal, 16 (6.7%) distal DVT, in one patient (0.4%) distal thrombosis was complicated by symptomatic pulmonary embolism. In multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was found that component separation (HR 3.99, 95% CI 1.14–14.0, p = 0.03), duration of operation in hours (HR 1.67. 95% CI 1.13–2.5, p = 0.011) and body mass index (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.02–1.2, p = 0.02) were statistically significant risk factors. Conclusion: The incidence of postoperative VTE in patients after incisional hernia repair is high with a predominant distal DVT as a thrombotic event. Component separation, duration of operation and body mass index are statistically significant factors of VTE in patients undergoing surgery for incisional hernia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several years ago a series of powerful millisecond radio bursts with close dispersion measures was detected toward the galaxy M31. Taking the hypothesis about the possible association of these radio bursts with a magnetar in M31 as a starting point, we have searched for periodic X-ray signal sources using data from the XMM-Newton X-ray telescope. As a result of our data analysis, we have identified a signal from the already known periodic X-ray source 3XMM J004301.4+413017, an accreting pulsar in a binary system. However, we have failed to detect new candidates. In particular, we have revealed no object that could be associated with the hypothetical magnetar responsible for the observed radio bursts that could have a luminosity erg s . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To find out the prevalence and risk factors for abdominal wall hernias in the general Russian population.Methods: 783 residents of Kryukovo rural community (Central Russia) of 10 > years were enrolled. Medical history was taken and clinical examination was performed documenting hernia presence. Ultrasound examination was performed in inconclusive situations. We considered residents with hernias at the time of examination, as well as those who had previously undergone hernia repair, to be hernia positive.Results: There were 298 (38%) men and 485 (62%) women (mean age 49.3). Abdominal wall hernias have been found in 20.9% of population. 31.2% of men and 14.6% of women were affected (p < 0.0001). Umbilical hernias was found in 10.2%, groin hernias in 8.3%, incisional in 2.4% of residents. 72% of individuals with hernia reported local pain. 70% had never asked for medical advice before, 30% had undergone hernia repair before. Male gender, age, family history were confirmed as risk factors for any hernia with OR 3.9, 1.03 and 2.7, respectively (p < 0.01). For groin hernias male gender, age, family history and rough labour were confirmed with ORs 9.2, 1.03, 2.9 (p < 0.01) and 2.1 (p < 0.05). Risk factors for umbilical hernias were male gender with OR 2.2 (p < 0.01), age, family history and BMI with ORs 1.02, 1.8 and 1.08 (p < 0.05).Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate prevalence of abdominal wall hernias and its risk factors in Russia. The results confirm that hernias are common in a general population pointing the need for improvement of surgical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter regions of matrix metalloproteinase genes rs1799750 (-1607dupG) MMP1, rs243865 ( C-1306T) MMP2, rs3025058 ( -1171dupA) MMP3, and rs11568818 ( A-181G) MMP7 on the risk of varicose vein of the lower extremities in ethnical Russians, residents of the Russian Federation. We genotyped 536 patients with this pathology and 273 healthy participants without history of chronic venous disease. Association was examined using logistic regression analysis. None of the studied polymorphisms showed statistically significant association with the risk of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Our results provide evidence that these polymorphisms are not involved in the pathogenesis of varicose veins and cannot serve as markers of predisposition to this pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs13155212 and rs7704267 in the AGGF1 gene (angiogenic factor with G patch and FHA domains 1) and the risk of risk of varicose veins of the legs in ethnic Russians. Frequencies of alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes were estimated in the sample of patients with this disease (474 patients) and in the control group of participants (478 volunteers) without a history of chronic venous disease. None of the studied polymorphisms was associated with the risk of this pathology. The whole AGGF1 gene sequence lies in a single block of high linkage disequilibrium, and both studied polymorphic variants are representative of all other SNP within this region. From these results, a conclusion was made that AGGF1 gene polymorphism does not affect the risk of varicose veins of the legs in ethnic Russians, or its contribution is low and can be revealed only after analysis of larger cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure and properties of graphene, which is a two-dimensional layer of carbon atoms with a hexagonal crystal lattice, are considered. Graphene is a zero bandgap semiconductor with a nondissipative motion of Dirac electron-hole pairs, which provides a charge mobility of μ ∼ 10 cm V s. Methods of their production are considered. It is shown that graphenes are the most promising materials for application as nanoelectromechanical transducers and ultracapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated search for star clusters in J, H, K s data from 2MASS catalog has been performed using the method developed by Koposov et al. (2008). We have found and verified 153 new clusters in the interval of the galactic latitude −24° < b < 24°. Color excesses E( B − V), distance moduli and ages were determined for 130 new and 14 yet-unstudied known clusters. In this paper, we publish a catalog of coordinates, diameters, and main parameters of all the clusters under study. A special web-site available at has been developed to facilitate dissemination and scientific usage of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycogen storage disease type II (GSDII) is caused by a lack of functional lysosomal acid α-glucosidase (GAA). Affected individuals store glycogen in lysosomes beginning during gestation, ultimately resulting in fatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and respiratory failure. We have assessed the utility of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors to restore GAA activity in vivo in a mouse model of GSDII (Gaa−/−). A single systemic administration of a rAAV serotype 1 (rAAV1) vector to neonate animals resulted in restored cardiac GAA activity to 6.4 times the normal level (mean=641±190% of normal (Gaa+/+) levels with concomitant glycogen clearance) at 11 months postinjection. Greater than 20% of normal levels of GAA activity were also observed in the diaphragm and quadriceps muscles. Furthermore, functional correction of the soleus skeletal muscle was also observed compared to age-matched untreated Gaa−/− control animals. These results demonstrate that rAAV1 vectors can mediate sustained therapeutic levels of correction of both skeletal and cardiac muscles in a model of fatal cardiomyopathy and muscular dystrophy.Gene Therapy (2005) 12, 1405–1409. doi:10.1038/sj.gt.3302550; published online 26 May 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recombinant adeno-associated virus type 2 (rAAV) vectors have recently been used to achieve long-term, high level transduction in vivo. Further development of rAAV vectors for clinical use requires significant technological improvements in large-scale vector production. In order to facilitate the production of rAAV vectors, a recombinant herpes simplex virus type I vector (rHSV-1) which does not produce ICP27, has been engineered to express the AAV-2 rep and cap genes. The optimal dose of this vector, d27.1-rc, for AAV production has been determined and results in a yield of 380 expression units (EU) of AAV-GFP produced from 293 cells following transfection with AAV-GFP plasmid DNA. In addition, d27.1-rc was also efficient at producing rAAV from cell lines that have an integrated AAV-GFP provirus. Up to 480 EU/cell of AAV-GFP could be produced from the cell line GFP-92, a proviral, 293 derived cell line. Effective amplification of rAAV vectors introduced into 293 cells by infection was also demonstrated. Passage of rAAV with d27.1-rc results in up to 200-fold amplification of AAV-GFP with each passage after coinfection of the vectors. Efficient, large-scale production (>109 cells) of AAV-GFP from a proviral cell line was also achieved and these stocks were free of replication-competent AAV. The described rHSV-1 vector provides a novel, simple and flexible way to introduce the AAV-2 rep and cap genes and helper virus functions required to produce high-titer rAAV preparations from any rAAV proviral construct. The efficiency and potential for scalable delivery of d27.1-rc to producer cell cultures should facilitate the production of sufficient quantities of rAAV vectors for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional methods for rAAV purification that are based on cesium chloride ultracentrifugation have often produced vector preparations of variable quality and resulted in significant loss of particle infectivity. We report here several novel purification strategies that involve the use of non-ionic iodixanol gradients followed by ion exchange or heparin affinity chromatography by either conventional or HPLC columns. These methods result in more than 50% recovery of rAAV from a crude lysate and routinely produce vector that is more than 99% pure. More importantly, the new purification procedures consistently produce rAAV stocks with particle-to-infectivity ratios of less than 100, which is significantly better than conventional methods. The new protocol increases the overall yield of infectious rAAV by at least 10-fold and allows for the complete purification of rAAV in 1 working day. Several of these methods should also be useful for large-scale production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroscopic fractal aggregates of cobalt are obtained by thermal evaporation of cobalt metal in an argon atmosphere and subsequent deposition on a silicon substrate heated to 1000 K. It is established that the fractal structure is formed by diffusion-limited aggregation of cobalt particles. The macroscopic fractal cobalt aggregates are ferromagnetic. © 1997 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have obtained macroscopic fractal aggregates of fullerite ranging in size from 100 to 400 μm. The fractal structure of fullerite is formed by microscopic (30–100 nm) fullerite crystals in the presence of a temperature gradient under conditions of diffusion-limited aggregation. © 1998 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental data on the self-organization of massive fractal granules with a total volume of up to 1.1 cm3 consisting of carbon nanofibers with transverse dimensions within 50–70 nm and a length of up to 1000 nm are presented. The fractal granules have a density of 1.3 g/cm3, an elastic modulus of 37.4 MPa, and a fractal dimension of D = 2.95. The resistivity of this material is about three orders of magnitude greater than the values typical of pyrolytic graphite. The surface layers in the fractal granule are characterized by a Seebeck coefficient of about S ∼ 24 μV/K, whereas the bulk regions have S ∼ 11 μV/K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the effective density, electric conductivity, and thermo emf of compacted carbon nanotubes (NTs) and nanowhiskers (NWs). The effective densities of NTs and NWs are 1.6 and 2.8g/cm3 respectively. The thermo emf of compacted NWs (33μV/K) and NTs (7–8μV/K) make it possible to use these materials in sensors of molecular gases and biological objects. It is also recommended to introduce NWs and NTs as fillers into glue compositions possessing increased strength and electric conductivity, which are necessary for gluing metals. © 2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure and thermo emf of nanotubular and fractal carbon layers deposited from an electric discharge plasma were studied. The thermo emf of such nanotubular and fractal deposits is almost tenfold higher as compared to that of polycrystalline carbon, which is explained by the nanostructural state of carbon in the deposits studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silicon carbide particles with solid fractal formed in an electric arc discharge plasma exhibit anomalous optical properties. In the 360-475 nm wavelength range, the level of light absorption in the fractal structures of silicon carbide is 15-30 times that in single-crystalline SiC samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New experimental results are presented to show that when graphite is sputtered in an electric arc, a carbon deposit having a fractal structure is formed on the cathode. The superior microhardness and high microporosity indicate that this fractal carbon deposit may have applications in engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]