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Blastocystis spp. - unicellular protozoa, widespread in the human population, the clinical significance of which is being discussed. The aim and objectives of the work: to study the prevalence of Blastocystis spp. in patients with gastrointestinal diseases and individuals with immunodeficiency states (HIV-positive patients), to determine the presence of specific gastrointestinal symptoms in blastocyst invasion (BI). Testing for Blastocystis spp. persons who have not been diagnosed with gastrointestinal tract disease (253) - comparison group (CG); patients who underwent inpatient or outpatient treatment for gastrointestinal diseases - GI-1 (182); people living with HIV (PLHIV) - GI-2 (294). With the consent of the patient, data on the duration of the illness and complaints were obtained. In IG-2 patients, the immune status, the level of HIV viral load, as well as the receipt and duration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) were determined. Detection rate of Blastocystis spp. in the CG was (22.9 ± 3.0)%; in GI-1 - (29.7 ± 4.0)%, in the PLHIV group - (14.3 ± 2.0)%. In the comparison group, invasion was more often detected in people 20-29 years old, in GI-1 - in people 50-60 years old, GI-2 - in 30-39 years old. Statistically significant differences in the detection of Blastocystis spp. those related to sex and age were absent in all groups. BI was most often found in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases - (43.5 ± 8.4)%. In patients with irritable bowel syndrome, the of frequency of detection of Blastocystis spp. practically did not differ from the average indicator in the GI. Identification of Blastocystis spp. in PLHIV was associated with immune status, the level of HIV viral load in the patient, and also receiving ART. The «risk group» was PLHIV with a CD4-lymphocyte count of less than 200 cells / μl, who did not receive ART. Comparison of the patient survey data and the results of the parasitological examination indicates the absence of specific complaints in BI. BI often is а comorbid pathology in inflammatory bowel diseases or immunosuppressive conditions, which should be taken into account in the therapy of such patients. Key words: blastocyst infection; gastrointestinal diseases; HIV infection.

Metabolic syndrome is known to be acombination of metabolic abnormalities, such as abdominal obesity, abnormal glucose metabolism, elevated level of triglycerides, decreased level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and hypertension. The presence of these abnormalities contributes to insulin resistance and increases the risk of diabetes mellitus development. The increase in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome worldwide is aconcern not only in terms of increasing overall and cardiovascular mortality, but also in the fact that it is apotential risk factor for specific types of gastrointestinal cancer. Recent investigations, in particular alarge-scale prospective study of the British Biobank cohort, which included 502.656 adults, showed that metabolic syndrome, independently of diabetes prevalence, directly correlated with an overall risk of gastrointestinal cancer as awhole and its individual components in both men and women. Metabolic syndrome closely correlated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer in women and esophageal adenocarcinoma in men. Possible mechanisms that are likely to affect gastrointestinal neoplasia include chronic inflammation associated with obesity, hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia associated with metabolic syndrome, production by visceral adipose tissue of large numbers of adipokines that inhibit apoptosis and stimulate mitogenesis by promoting proliferation. It is generally concluded that metabolic syndrome and its individual components present the independent factors that increase the risk of gastrointestinal cancer, and various strategies (both surgical and therapeutic), impacting the metabolic syndrome and its individual components, are of great importance in the prevention of various gastrointestinal cancers., Як відомо, метаболічний синдром є сукупністю метаболічних аномалій, таких як абдомінальне ожиріння, аномальний метаболізм глюкози, підвищення рівня тригліцеридів, зниження вмісту холестерину ліпопротеїнів високої густини і артеріальна гіпертензія. Наявність цих відхилень спричиняє резистентність до інсуліну та підвищує ризик розвитку цукрового діабету. Збільшення поширення метаболічного синдрому в світі викликає занепокоєння не лише через підвищення загальної та кардіоваскулярної смертності, а і тому, що він є передбачуваним чинником ризику розвитку специфічних видів раку шлунково-кишкового тракту. Дослідження останніх років, зокрема, масштабне проспективне дослідження британської когорти Biobank (502 656 дорослих) показало, що метаболічний синдром, незалежно від поширеності діабету, був прямо пропорційно пов’язаний із загальним ризиком раку шлунково-кишкового тракту у чоловіків та жінок, так само, як і його компоненти. Метаболічний синдром тісно пов’язаний з підвищеним ризиком колоректального раку, гепатоцелюлярної карциноми, раку підшлункової залози у жінок і аденокарциноми стравоходу у чоловіків. Можливими механізмами, які з високою ймовірністю впливають на виникнення неоплазій шлунково-кишкового тракту, є хронічне запалення, асоційоване з ожирінням, гіперглікемія та гіперінсулінемія, пов’язані з метаболічним синдромом, продукція вісцеральною жировою тканиною великої кількості адипокінів, що інгібують апоптоз і стимулюють мітогенез, що спричиняє проліферацію клітин. Зроблено загальний висновок, що метаболічний синдром та його складові є незалежним чинником, який підвищує ризик виникнення гастроінтестинального раку, а різні стратегії (як хірургічні, так і терапевтичні) впливу на метаболічний синдром і його окремі компоненти, мають важливе значення у профілактиці різних видів раку шлунково-кишкового тракту.

We aim at establishing safe membership and evolutionary status of 11 chemically peculiar (CP) stars that are residing in the domain of the open cluster NGC2516 and are frequently referred to as cluster members. We queried the Gaia EDR3 catalogue in an area with a radius of 1deg and selected 37508 stars brighter than G=19mag. The cluster membership was determined in parallax-proper motion-space and 719 probable and 764 possible members were found. The obtained average astrometric and photometric parameters of the cluster are in good agreement with the most recent literature data. The evolutionary status of the target stars was determined with respect to Padova isochrones. After minor adjustments including the metallicity, the reddening, and the transformation scale variation, a perfect fit of the model to the observations over the whole observed magnitude range was achieved. Only 5 of the 11 considered CP stars could be classified as highly probable cluster members. Among the Ap/Bp stars with previously detected magnetic fields HD65987 and HD65712 have a high membership probability and the magnetic star CPD-60 944B is a possible cluster member. Further we discuss the blue straggler nature of HD66194 and the magnetic star HD65987. To our knowledge, HD65987 is currently the only known blue straggler, with a field of the order of a few hundred Gauss. The most striking result of our study is that the strongly magnetic A0p star HD66318 with previously reported very low fractional age does not belong to the NGC2516 cluster at a high level of confidence., Comment: 12 pages, 4 tables, 5 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

Мета. Аналіз соціально-психологічної реабілітації учасників операції об’єднаних сил. Матеріали і методи дослідження. Обстежено 1043 учасники ООС для визначення стресового розладу за Місісіпським опитувальником. Для узагальнення даних використовувався статистичний метод. Результати. Стаття присвячена психологічній допомозі, що включає в себе психологічну підтримку і психологічну реабілітацію. Психологічна допомога необхідна всім військовослужбовцям, котрі беруть участь у військових діях. Розглядаються види психологічних станів. Доведена орієнтовна тематика бесід із військовослужбовцями в контексті психологічної просвіти: етапи переживання травмуючої події, обставини, що впливають на переживання психотравмівної події, шкідливість вживання алкоголю у стресовій ситуації, способи покращення фізичного та психічного здоров’я військових, профілактика постстресових розладів, особливості адаптації до умов перебування в зоні бойових дій, та ін. Проаналізований розвиток реакції нормальної людини на небезпечну подію. Розглянуті діагностичні критерії дезадаптації особистості. Проаналізована командна робота фахівців, що включає висококваліфікованих психологів, що сертифіковані у різних модальностях психотерапії: гештальттерапія, символдрама, психодрама, психосоматика, сімейна системна психотерапія, які спільно складали сценарій щоденної роботи з учасниками АТО, відповідно до їх запитів. Така різноманітність у підходах до психотерапії дала змогу більш системно підійти до вирішення конкретних психологічних проблем військових, які мають різний ступінь травматизації та особистісної дезінтеграції. Приділена увага психологічній реабілітації, спрямованій на компенсацію втрачених професійних і соціально-адаптивних якостей. Розглянуті види фізичної реабілітації. Фізична реабілітація включає: лікувальну фізичну культуру, лікувальний масаж, фізіотерапію, механотерапію, працетерапію, кінезотерапію, егротерапію, консультування, мануальну терапію, рефлексотерапію, фітотерапію, гомеопатичну терапію, ароматерапію, природні фізичні чинники, загартування. Дано визначення соціальній реабілітації, що означає систему заходів, спрямованих на створення і забезпечення умов для повернення особи до активної участі у житті. Висновки. Після проходження вищеописаних заходів демобілізовані ветерани почували себе краще, при опитуванні, як зазначають респонденти, їх психологічний стан покращився.

Background. The approach to the management of prostate cancer with lymph node metastases has recently moved towards aggressive multimodal treatment with the use of the most rational combinations that are currently available.Objective: to assess the efficacy and tolerability of chemohormonal therapy (CHT) in patients with high-risk and very high-risk prostate cancer.Materials and methods. An open prospective clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and tolerability of neoadjuvant and adjuvant CHT in patients with high-risk and very high-risk prostate cancer was initiated in 2016 at the P.A. Herzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute. Patient recruitment is still ongoing.A total of 64 patients with high-risk and very high-risk prostate cancer (сT3N0–T3N+М0, prostate specific antigen (PSA) ≥20 ng/mL, and Gleason score of 8–10) were recruited since July 2016. All patients were examined prior to treatment initiation and after 3 and 6 courses of therapy. The examination included pelvic magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging of the abdominal cavity and retroperitoneal space, transrectal ultrasound imaging, and chest radiography or computed tomography. Serum PSA level was evaluated before each course of therapy. Bone scintigraphy was performed before treatment and after its completion. Study participants were divided into two groups. Group A included patients that initially underwent surgical treatment and then 6 courses of CHT no later than 6 weeks after surgery: docetaxel 75 mg/m2 given intravenously on day 1 of a 21-day cycle and oral prednisolone 10 mg/day. Patients also received hormonal therapy with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (aLHRH) given in depot injections every 28 days.Group B included patients that initially received 6 courses of CHT: docetaxel 75 mg/m2 given intravenously on day 1 of a 21-day cycle and oral prednisolone 10 mg/day. After that, patients underwent radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy no later than 4 weeks after the completion of chemotherapy. Patients also received hormonal therapy with aLHRH given in depot injections every 28 days. The total treatment duration was 6 months.Results. The group of adjuvant CHT included 24 patients with high-risk prostate cancer (T3b–4N+М0 with at least 5 regional lymph node metastases detected by morphological examination of surgical specimens). All patients had Gleason score 8–10 tumors. Mean age of patients was 63.0 ± 7.7 years (range: 46–72 years). In total, all patients received 142 courses of CHT. By the time of publishing this article, 23 (96 %) of patients completed their treatment.The group of neoadjuvant CHT included 40 patients with very high-risk prostate cancer (T3b–4N+М0 with metastases to pelvic and retroperitoneal lymph nodes detected by instrumental examination). All patients had Gleason score 8–10 tumors. Mean age of patients was 61.0± 6.4 years (range: 43–69 years). In total, all patients received 236 courses of CHT. By the time of publishing this article, 36 (90 %) of patients completed their treatment. Thirty-five patients (87 %) underwent radical prostatectomy with extensive pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy. Routine pathological examination demonstrated that all patients had signs of tumor destruction. Thirty-three participants (94 %) had grade II therapeutic pathomorphosis, whereas 2 patients (6 %) had grade III therapeutic pathomorphosis.Median PSA relapse-free survival (PSA-RFS) rate in the neoadjuvant CHT group was 10 months. Serum PSA of 0.1 ng/mL 1 month postoperatively correlated with longer RFS (р = 0.04). Biochemical relapse (PSA level >0.2 ng/mL) was observed in 6 patients (15 %) from this group. Later these patients received hormonal therapy with aLHRH. Median PSA-RFS in the adjuvant CHT group was 11 months.The main adverse events in the two groups were hematological toxicity, observed in 24 patients (34.29 %), and gastrointestinal toxicity, observed in 9 patients (12.86 %) (diarrhea (n = 6) and stomatitis (n = 3)). Only grade I–II toxicity was registered so far. Two patients (3.1 %) had febrile neutropenia, which required cytostatic dose reduction by 20 %. Relatively good tolerability and acceptable quality of life allowed the vast majority of patients to be treated on an outpatient basis.Conclusion. So far, we can make only a preliminary conclusion that adjuvant and neoadjuvant CHT is a promising treatment strategy for high-risk and very high-risk prostate cancer.

The presence of additional fully formed accessory breast (polymastia), accessory nipples (polythelia) or other options ectopically positioned breast tissue is fairly rare developmental anomalies. Its occurrence frequency is approximately 1% of the general population. This article describes a rare case of localization of additional mammary glands and their surgical correction.

We present a study of complexes of young massive star clusters (YMCs), embedded in extragalactic giant HII regions, based on the coupling of spectroscopic with photometric and spectrophotometric observations of about 100 star forming regions in seven spiral galaxies (NGC 628, NGC 783, NGC 2336, NGC 6217, NGC 6946, NGC 7331, and NGC 7678). The complete observational database has been observed and accumulated within the framework of our comprehensive study of extragalactic star forming regions. The current paper presents the last part of either unpublished or refreshed photometric and spectrophotometric observations of the galaxies NGC 6217, NGC 6946, NGC 7331, and NGC 7678. We derive extinctions, chemical abundances, continuum and line emissions of ionised gas, ages and masses for cluster complexes. We find the young massive cluster complexes to have ages no greater than 10 Myr and masses between 10^4Msol and 10^7Msol, and the extinctions A(V) vary between ~ 0 and 3 mag, while the impact of the nebular emission on integrated broadband photometry mainly is not greater than 40% of the total flux and is comparable with accuracies of dereddened photometric quantities.We also find evidence of differential extinction of stellar and gas emissions in some clusters, which hinders the photometric determination of ages and masses in these cases. Finally, we show that young massive cluster complexes in the studied galaxies and open clusters in the Milky Way form a continuous sequence of luminosities/masses and colour/ages., 23 pages, 22 figures, 5 tables (high resolution jpeg Figure 15 is available in the source format). Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Currently, no molecular biological markers do exist for early diagnosis of breast cancer. One of the possible candidates for the marker of early breast cancer is mammaglobin (MGB1) or SCGB2A2 (secretoglobin, family 2A, member 2), characterized by the maximal expression level in early breast cancer. Using the RT-PCR method MGB1 mRNA expression was examined in 57 tumor tissue samples and 57 samples of morphologically non-malignant tissue (MNT) of breast cancer (BC) patients. Specificity and sensitivity of the MGB1 mRNA assay in peripheral blood of BC patients was evaluated by nested PCR. 169 blood samples (from 95 BC patients, 22 from patients with benign breast tumors, 28 from patients with tumors of other localizations, and 24 samples from healthy donors) have been analyzed. MGB1 expression was significantly higher in BC tissue samples compared to MNT (p=0.0019). The maximal expression level was in the samples T1 (p=0.013), stage I BC (p=0.037), GI (p=0.0019). The MGB1 expression positively correlated with expression of estrogen (p = 0,034) and progesterone (p=0.0004) receptors. Sensitivity and specificity of the MGB1 mRNA assay in peripheral blood were 60.6% and 92.3%, respectively. Expression of MGB1 was higher in BC than MNT and it decreased during BC progression. The sensitivity and specificity of the MGB1 mRNA assay may be used as an additional diagnostic method.V nastoiashchee vremia ne sushchestvuet molekuliarno-biologicheskikh markerov dlia diagnostiki rannego raka molochnoĭ zhelezy (RMZh). V kachestve vozmozhnogo markera rassmatrivaetsia mammaglobin (hMAM), uroven' ékspressii kotorogo maksimalen pri rannem RMZh. C pomoshch'iu metoda OT-PTsR opredelen uroven' ékspressii mRNK mammaglobina v 57 parnykh obraztsakh opukholevoĭ i morfologicheski neizmenennoĭ tkani (MNT) molochnoĭ zhelezy, poluchennykh ot bol'nykh RMZh. Otsenena spetsifichnost' i chuvstvitel'nost' analiza mRNK hMAM v perifericheskoĭ krovi bol'nykh RMZh metodom gnezdnoĭ PTsR. Proanalizirovano 169 obraztsov krovi (95 ot bol'nykh RMZh, 22 ot bol'nykh s dobrokachestvennymi opukholiami molochnoĭ zhelezy, 28 ot bol'nykh s opukholiami drugoĭ lokalizatsii i 24 obraztsa zdorovykh donorov). Ékspressiia hMAM byla znachitel'no vyshe v obraztsakh tkani RMZh po sravneniiu s MNT (r=0,0019). Maksimal'nyĭ uroven' ékspressii otmechen v obraztsakh T1 (r=0,013), stadii I (r=0,037), GI (r=0,0019). Vyiavlena polozhitel'naia korreliatsiia mezhdu ékspressieĭ hMAM i retseptorov éstrogena (p=0,034) i progesterona (r=0,0004). Chuvstvitel'nost' i spetsifichnost' opredeleniia ékspressii hMAM v perifericheskoĭ krovi sostavila 60,6 i 92,3% sootvetstvenno. Ékspressiia hMAM pri RMZh byla vyshe, chem v MNT i snizhalas' pri vysokoĭ rasprostranennosti zabolevaniia. mRNK mammaglobina obnaruzhena v 61% obraztsov krovi bol'nykh RMZh, v 22,7% – pri dobrokachestvennykh obrazovaniiakh molochnoĭ zhelezy i lish' v odnom obraztse krovi pri drugoĭ lokalizatsii opukholevogo protsessa – u bol'noĭ rakom legkogo. V obraztsakh krovi zdorovykh donorov mRNK mammaglobina ne obnaruzhena. Takim obrazom, opredelenie mRNK hMAM v perifericheskoĭ krovi, po-vidimomu, mozhno rassmatrivat' kak dopolnitel'nyĭ metod diagnostiki RMZh.

The possibilities of creating an intellectual bridge between the data of systemic biology and systemic medicine are explored. It is shown that creation of imitation models in silico are required to determine the role of trigger reactions, trigger cascades in the appearance of pathology. It is necessary to structure the accumulated medical knowledge, build ontological models of knowledge of different levels.

We present the Milky Way Star Clusters (MWSC) survey based on 470 million stars extracted from the all-sky catalogues PPMXL and 2mass. The target list comprises 3784 entries and includes all open and globular clusters, as well as all cluster candidates, known at present. By means of a combined photometric/astrometric pipeline process, we determine individual membership probabilities for cluster stars and provide fundamental cluster parameters such as cluster centre coordinates, mean proper motions, radial velocity, distance, reddening, age and tidal radius. This sample includes ~ 700 clusters with fundamental parameters based on optical data and offers a good opportunity for a comparison of the near-infrared (NIR) and optical cluster distance scales. We find that distances and reddening values obtained from the colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs) in the NIR agree well with earlier distance estimates based on optical CMDs. These newly obtained homogeneous distances, together with the other cluster parameters, allow us to study the properties of the open cluster population in the Galactic disk.

(abridged) We describe the discovery of an extremely wide pair of low-mass stars with a common large proper motion and discuss their possible membership in a Galactic halo stream crossing the Solar neighbourhood. (...) The late-type (M7) dwarf SSSPM J2003$-$4433 and the ultracool subdwarf SSSPM J1930$-$4311 (sdM7) sharing the same very large proper motion of about 860 mas/yr were found in the same sky region with an angular separation of about 6\degr. From the comparison with other high proper motion catalogues we have estimated the probability of a chance alignment of the two new large proper motions to be less than 0.3%. From the individually estimated spectroscopic distances of about $38^{+10}_{-7}$ pc and $72^{+21}_{-16}$ pc, respectively for the M7 dwarf and the sdM7 subdwarf, and in view of the accurate agreement in their large proper motions we assume a common distance of about 50 pc and a projected physical separation of about 5 pc. The mean heliocentric space velocity of the pair $(U,V,W)=(-232, -170, +74)$ km/s, based on the correctness of the preliminary radial velocity measurement for only one of the components and on the assumption of a common distance and velocity vector, is typical of the Galactic halo population. The large separation and the different metallicities of dwarfs and subdwarfs make a common formation scenario as a wide binary (later disrupted) improbable, although there remains some uncertainty in the spectroscopic classification scheme of ultracool dwarfs/subdwarfs so that a dissolved binary origin cannot be fully ruled out yet. It seems more likely that this wide pair is part of an old halo stream. (...), 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

We have derived a complete magnitude-limited sample of 440 Galactic open clusters in the solar neighborhood, with integrated V-magnitude brighter than 8 mag. This sample can be used to infer the present-day luminosity and mass functions of open clusters up to a given age; it can even be used to construct the initial mass and luminosity function (IMF, ILF) of clusters (defined as visible clusters with age 4 – 8 Myr). The high-mass end of the cluster IMF is a power-law with a slope of −2 or slightly shallower (−1.7) while the luminous cluster ILF has a power-slope of −1, in agreement with what is found for extragalactic clusters. Both distribution functions show a turnover, starting at 300 M⊙ and integrated magnitude −3 mag, respectively. The overall birthrate of clusters is 0.4 clusters per kpc2 and per Myr. The average present-day cluster mass is 700 M⊙, while the average initial cluster mass is 4500 M⊙. The difference of these two average masses indicates the high infant mortality and/or weight loss of Galactic open clusters (due to dynamical evolution).

We present the 2nd version of the Catalogue of Radial Velocities with Astrometric Data (CRVAD-2). This is the result of the cross-identification of stars from the All-Sky Compiled Catalogue of 2.5 Million Stars (ASCC-2.5) with the General Catalogue of Radial Velocities and with other recently published radial velocity lists and catalogues. The CRVAD-2 includes accurate J2000 equatorial coordinates, proper motions and trigonometric parallaxes in the Hipparcos system, $B, V$ photometry in the Johnson system, spectral types, radial velocities (RVs), multiplicity and variability flags for 54907 ASCC-2.5 stars. We have used the CRVAD-2 for a new determination of mean RVs of 363 open clusters and stellar associations considering their established members from proper motions and photometry in the ASCC-2.5. For 330 clusters and associations we compiled previously published mean RVs from the literature, critically reviewed and partly revised them. The resulting Catalogue of Radial Velocities of Open Clusters and Associations (CRVOCA) contains about 460 open clusters and about 60 stellar associations in the Solar neighbourhood. These numbers still represent less than 30% of the total number of about 1820 objects currently known in the Galaxy. The mean RVs of young clusters are generally better known than those of older ones., 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in AN

У статті розглянуті особливості післядипломної медичної освіти в Австрії, її переваги і недоліки у порівнянні з післядипломною освіти в Україні. Також обґрунтовано можливість використання певних елементів австрійської моделі в нашій країні.

Metallicities and distances have been determined from Vilnius photometry for an in situ sample of nearly 650 stars in eight proper-motion fields at high Galactic latitudes. For half of these stars, radial velocities have been measured with the CORAVEL spectrometer, which allowed us to derive spatial velocities and Galactic orbits. In this contribution we present a status report on our results for the stellar content of the Galactic disk, with emphasis given to specific aspects of distinguishing the thick-disk stars from the old thin-disk population.

The study of a sky area with a 20 degree diameter centered on the nearby association Per OB2 has been carried out on the basis of the \Compiled Catalogue of Astronomical Data in the Per OB2 Field" presented in a previous paper. The catalogue contains about 30 000 stars with accurate proper motions in the Hipparcos system as well as magnitudes supplemented with spectral classes and other relevant data. We applied the reduced proper motion technique to estimate individual distances for almost all catalogue stars. The distributions of reddening and interstellar extinction were determined on the basis of the spectral classication of stars in the area. Proper motions were corrected for dierential rotation of the Galactic disk and parallactic motion eects and used for the evaluation of association membership. The analysis of a uniform subset of main sequence (MS) stars earlier than A7 { which is complete within 500 pc { has clearly revealed the association as an area of enhanced density with an angular size of about 7. In comparison to the previous results on Per OB2, we show that the presently determined area extends the association from its classical position towards the California nebula and the Auriga dark cloud. There are 1025 MS proper motion members residing in this region. The distance to the association centre derived from a kinematic calibration is found to be about 300 pc i.e., in perfect agreement with the Hipparcos data. The shape of the association is almost spherical, and its diameter found from stellar counts is about 40 pc. An examination of internal systematic motions from proper motion data has shown that there is no evidence of an expansion or a rotation of the association around the line of sight. The average tangential and spatial velocity vectors of Per OB2 with respect to the LSR are determined as (Vl ;V b )=( +7:2 0:4; +2:0 0:3) km s 1 and (U; V; W )=( +12:7 1:6; 3:0 0:6; 0:9 0:8) km s 1 .

The complete data set of Mira variables from the 4th edition of the General Catalog of Variable Stars was analyzed and supplemented by the proper motions and radial velocities presently available for Miras. The resulting sample of 724 Miras with periods between 78 and 612 days contains proper motions reduced to the Hipparcos system, radial velocities and V magnitudes. For each of 10 subgroups of Miras divided according to their periods and spectral types, statistical parallaxes were determined by application of five different methods. The mean absolute magnitudes, the spatial velocities and their dispersions as well as the elements of the Galactic orbits were computed as functions of the periods. The (M b o l -log P) relation obtained was found to be considerably steeper than the PLR usually assumed for LMC Miras. For Miras in the period range 145-200 days, no significant net motion radially outwards in the Galaxy as suggested by Feast & Whitelock (2000) was found. The predicted frequency of Miras was computed as a function of the visual magnitude.

The results of complex neurological and neuropsychological study with evaluation of anxiety levels in young and middle-age patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis are presented in the article. Raised anxiety levels with statistically significant difference to control group patients were found. By turn, anxiety levels in patients with chronic hepatitis were lower than in patients with liver cirrhosis. The most of examined patients had middle (with tendency to low level as well as with tendency to high level) and high level of anxiety.

Theories on the origin of magnetic fields in massive stars remain poorly developed, because the properties of their magnetic field as function of stellar parameters could not yet be investigated. To investigate whether magnetic fields in massive stars are ubiquitous or appear only in stars with a specific spectral classification, certain ages, or in a special environment, we acquired 67 new spectropolarimetric observations for 30 massive stars. Among the observed sample, roughly one third of the stars are probable members of clusters at different ages, whereas the remaining stars are field stars not known to belong to any cluster or association. Spectropolarimetric observations were obtained during four different nights using the low-resolution spectropolarimetric mode of FORS2 (FOcal Reducer low dispersion Spectrograph) mounted on the 8-m Antu telescope of the VLT. Furthermore, we present a number of follow-up observations carried out with the high-resolution spectropolarimeters SOFIN mounted at the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) and HARPS mounted at the ESO 3.6m between 2008 and 2011. To assess the membership in open clusters and associations, we used astrometric catalogues with the highest quality kinematic and photometric data currently available. The presence of a magnetic field is confirmed in nine stars previously observed with FORS1/2: HD36879, HD47839, CPD-282561, CPD-472963, HD93843, HD148937, HD149757, HD328856, and HD164794. New magnetic field detections at a significance level of at least 3sigma were achieved in five stars: HD92206c, HD93521, HD93632, CPD-468221, and HD157857. Among the stars with a detected magnetic field, five stars belong to open clusters with high membership probability. According to previous kinematic studies, five magnetic O-type stars in our sample are candidate runaway stars., Comment: 14 pages, nine figures, four tables, accepted for publication in A&A

Context. Recent developments in observational techniques and theories revealed the potential significance of magnetic fields for stellar structure, evolution, and circumstellar environment. At present, the distribution of magnetic field strengths in massive stars from the zero-age main sequence to more evolved stages, which would shed light on the origin of the magnetic field, has not been studied. Aims. We searched for the presence of a magnetic field in the visually brightest early A-type supergiant HD 92207. Methods. Observations were obtained using the low-resolution spectropolarimetric mode of FORS 2 (FOcal Reducer low dispersion Spectrograph) mounted on the 8 m Antu telescope of the VLT. For the mean longitudinal magnetic field measurements, we applied a linear regression analysis in two ways: using only the absorption hydrogen Balmer lines or using the entire spectrum including all available absorption lines. Results. A mean longitudinal magnetic field at a significance level of more than 3σ was detected in two out of three observations distributed over about one year. It is one of the rare cases where a field of about a few hundred Gauss is detected in an early A-type supergiant. All line profiles in the spectra of HD 92207 undergo distinct variations in radial velocities and intensities, probably caused by previously detected non-radial pulsations. Fil: Hubrig, S.. Leibniz Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam ; Alemania Fil: Schöller, M.. European Southern Observatory; Alemania Fil: Kholtygin, A. F.. Saint Petersburg State University; Rusia. Isaac Newton Institute of Chile. Saint Petersburg Branch; Rusia Fil: Gonzalez, Jorge Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Instituto de Ciencias Astronómicas, de la Tierra y del Espacio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Instituto de Ciencias Astronómicas, de la Tierra y del Espacio; Argentina Fil: Kharchenko, N. V.. Main Astronomical Observatory; Ucrania Fil: Steffen, M.. Leibniz Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam ; Alemania

A proper motion study from Tautenburg Schmidt plates is presented for the globular cluster M3 and its vicinity. The plates were scanned with the Automated Photographic Measuring (APM) system in Cambridge (UK). A photographic B,V photometry and star counts on the deepest plates were carried out. With a limiting magnitude of about B = 21.4 proper motions with an accuracy from 2 to 3 mas/yr have been obtained for stars with B 19. The proper motions were determined using a stepwise regression method with 3rd order polynomials in the plate-to-plate solutions with about 2000 reference galaxies. The results which were corrected for systematic errors dependent on position and magnitude of the stars were used for the determination of membership probabilities. We also looked for possible internal motions of M3.

On the basis of the PPMXL catalogue we perform an all-sky census of the Hyades down to masses of about 0.2 m_sun in a region up to 30 pc from the cluster centre. We use the proper motions from PPMXL in the convergent point method to determine probable kinematic members. From 2MASS photometry and CMC14 r'-band photometry, we derive empirical colour-absolute magnitude diagrams and, finally, determine photometric membership for all kinematic candidates. This is the first deep (r' < 17) all-sky survey of the Hyades allowing a full three-dimensional analysis of the cluster. The survey is complete down to at least M_{K_s} = 7.3 or 0.25 m_sun. We find 724 stellar systems co-moving with the bulk Hyades space velocity, which represent a total mass of 435 m_sun. The tidal radius is about 9 pc, and 275 m_sun (364 systems) are gravitationally bound. This is the cluster proper. Its mass density profile is perfectly fitted by a Plummer model with a central density of 2.21 m_sun*pc^-3 and a core radius of r_co = 3.10 pc, while the half-mass radius is r_h = 4.1 pc. There are another 100 m_sun in a volume between one and two tidal radii (halo), and another 60 m_sun up to a distance of 30 pc from the centre. Strong mass segregation is inherent in the cluster. The present-day luminosity and mass functions are noticeably different in various parts of the cluster (core, corona, halo, and co-movers). They are strongly evolved compared to presently favoured initial mass functions. The analysis of the velocity dispersion of the cluster shows that about 20% of its members must be binaries. As a by-product, we find that presently available theoretical isochrones are not able to adequately describe the near-infrared colour-absolute magnitude relation for those cluster stars that are less massive than about 0.6 m_sun., 14 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

In the framework of the programme of studying the meridional section of the Galaxy (MEGA) the catalogue of stellar data (about 26500 stars) had been compiled and investigated. The main part of the catalogue consist of the proper motions of stars with respect to the galaxies. The stellar kinematical characteristics in the direction of the galactic rotation, the parameters of velocity ellipsoid and the relation between kinematical, spatial and chemical properties of stellar populations have been determined.

Aims: We build a catalogue PPM-Extended (PPMX) on the ICRS system which is complete down to a well-defined limiting magnitude and contains the best presently available proper motions to be suited for kinematical studies in the Galaxy. Methods: We perform a rigorous weighted least-squares adjustment of individual observations, spread over more than a century, to determine mean positions and proper motions. The stellar content of PPMX is taken from GSC 1.2 supplemented by catalogues like ARIHIP, PPM and Tycho-2 at the bright end. All observations have been weighted according to their individual accuracy. The catalogue has been screened towards rejecting false entries in the various source catalogues. Results: PPM-Extended (PPMX) is a catalogue of 18,088,920 stars containing astrometric and photometric information. Its limiting magnitude is about 15.2 in the GSC photometric system. PPMX consists of three parts: a) a survey complete down to R_U = 12.8 in the magnitude system of UCAC2; b) additional stars of high-precision proper motions, and c) all other stars from GSC 1.2 identified in 2MASS. The typical accuracy of the proper motions is 2mas/y for 66 percent of the survey stars (a) and the high-precision stars (b), and about 10 mas/y for all other stars. PPMX contains photometric information from ASCC-2.5 and 2MASS., Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Aims: In this paper we derive tidal radii and masses of open clusters in the nearest kiloparsecs around the Sun. Methods: For each cluster, the mass is estimated from tidal radii determined from a fitting of three-parametric King's profiles to the observed integrated density distribution. Different samples of members are investigated. Results: For 236 open clusters, all contained in the catalogue ASCC-2.5, we obtain core and tidal radii, as well as tidal masses. The distributions of the core and tidal radii peak at about 1.5 pc and 7 - 10 pc, respectively. A typical relative error of the core radius lies between 15% and 50%, whereas, for the majority of clusters, the tidal radius was determined with a relative accuracy better than 20%. Most of the clusters have tidal masses between 50 and 1000 $m_\odot$, and for about half of the clusters, the masses were obtained with a relative error better than 50%., 11 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics

Based on the CCD observations of remote young open clusters NGC 2383, NGC 2384, NGC 4103, NGC 4755, NGC 7510 and Hogg 15, we constructed their observed luminosity functions (LFs). The observed LFs are corrected for field star contamination determined with the help of galactic star count model. In the case of Hogg 15 and NGC 2383 we also considered the additional contamination from neighbouring clusters NGC 4609 and NGC 2384 respectively. These corrections provided the realistic pattern of cluster LF in the vicinity of the MS turn on point and at fainter magnitudes, revealed the so called H-feature arising due to transition of the Pre-MS phase to MS, which is dependent on the cluster age. The theoretical LFs were constructed representing a cluster population model with continuous star formation for a short time scale and a power law Initial Mass Function (IMF) and these were fitted to the observed LF. As a result we are able to determine for each cluster a set of parameters, describing cluster population (the age, duration of star formation, IMF slope and percentage of field star contamination). It was found that in spite of the non-monotonic behaviour of observed LFs, cluster IMFs can be described as the power law functions with slopes similar to Salpeter's value. The present MS turn on cluster ages are several times lower than those derived from the fitting of theoretical isochrones to the turn off region of the upper Main Sequences., 17 pages, 5 figures, To appear in MNRAS

Modern definition, classifications, diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are presented together with results of treatment of 30 patients with irritable bowel syndrome with the new selective calcium-channel blocker dicetel.

The chief factors of aggression are discussed together with mechanisms of protection of gastric and duodenal mucosa. Results of treatment of 30 patients with gastritis (Helicobacter pylori negative) with a cytoprotective drug smecta are presented.

Non-steroid antiinflammatory drug (NSAID)-related gastropathy is regarded as the most important NSAID-induced complication. The above term is used to signify erosive and ulcerous injuries to the stomach and duodenum, having a characteristic clinical picture.

Results are submitted of bacteriological investigations in those persons with duodenal peptic ulcer who had been called up. The presence of regional strains of H. pylori is ascertained together with their sensitivity to certain antibacterial drug preparations. A rational antihelocobactertherapy schedule is proposed.

The nosologic and etiopathogenetic structure of the cholestatic syndrome encountered both in surgical and therapeutical practice is described.

A classification is submitted of cholelithiasis, taking account of stages of the illness, its main clinical forms and complications, with the diagnostic criteria and policy of treating it being pointed out. The use of the above classification ensures succession of surgeons' and therapists' work in questions of diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment of patients with cholelithiasis.

Our objective in this study was investigation into the effectiveness of the enzymic preparation Kirshner Pancreal in 27 patients with chronic pancreatitis. It is shown that against the background of treatment with the above drug patients dispelled the pain syndrome and manifestations of the maldigestion syndrome. The described drug made for normalization of the blood serum content of beta-lipoproteins. The drug is well-tolerated by patients, no adverse effects were noted.

Peptic ulcer (PU) is one of the most prevalent medical problems. It is essential for PU patients to undergo gastrofibroscopy, pH-metry, and examination for Helicobacter pylori during the phase of exacerbation. Results of a comprehensive evaluation of patients will, we believe, help in ensuring the chosen treatment schedule compliance for each particular patient. Use of amoxycillin, metronidazole, and bismuth combined with raniberl in treatment of the above category of patients appeared to be an effective therapeutic alternative designed to eradicate Helicobacter pylori.