N-Terminal Fragment of Brain-Type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) as a Prognostic Marker in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Complicated by Dialysis-Dependent Renal Failure.

Prognostic value of N-terminal fragment of the prohormone brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was analyzed in patients with multiple myeloma complicated by dialysisdependent renal failure. The prospective study included 20 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. The concentrations of NT-proBNP were measured before antimyeloma chemotherapy. The median age of the patients was 67 (63-76) years. The median glomerular filtration rate was 4 (4, 5) ml/min/1.73 m2. For overall survival, the area under ROC curve was 0.75 and the cut-off point was 7000 pg/ml. At median follow-up of 17.3 months, the overall survival was 76.6±14.8 and 27.3±13.4% (p=0.02) for cases with NT-proBNP levels below and above the cut-off point, respectively. There were no cases of death due to cardiovascular causes. We concluded that the increase in serum concentration of NT-proBNP>7400 pg/ml is associated with the severity of kidney damage and the risk of non-cardiac mortality.

[Analysis of VEGF-A/VEGFR1/VEGFR2 gene expression in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome]. / Analiz ékspressii genov VEGF-A/VEGFR1/VEGFR2 u patsientov s mielodisplasticheskim sindromom.

AIM: To assess the significance of gene expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and its interacting receptors VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 as potential diagnostic and prognostic molecular markers in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was used to investigate the gene expression of VEGF-A, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 in the mononuclear cell fractions obtained from 24 patients with MDS. RESULTS: The expression of the 3 genes was identified in all the patients examined. There was the highest expression level of the VEGF-A gene (p<0.0001), whereas the expression of the VEGFR1 gene was higher than that of the VEGFR2 gene (p<0.001). The expression of the VEGF-A gene proved to be higher in patients at a higher risk of acute leukemia and positively correlated with the expression levels of the VEGFR1 gene (p<0.05) rather than that of the VEGFR2 gene. At the same time, patients with higher VEGFR1 gene expression had significantly lower overall survival rates (r=-0.5; p<0.05). Patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk acute leukemia showed an increase in the average expression levels of VEGF-A and VEGFR1 and a reduction in VEGFR2 expression. CONCLUSION: This investigation revealed correlations between the number of blast cells in patients with MDS and the expression levels of the VEGF-A gene and between the overall survival of patients with MDS and the expression levels of the VEGFR1 gene rather than those of the VEGF-A and VEGFR2 genes.

[Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of acute myeloid leukemias in adults according to the data of municipal hematology departments in Moscow].

AIM: To estimate the incidence of acute myeloid leukemias (AML) in Moscow adults and to evaluate the efficiency of their treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data on Moscow residents who were first diagnosed with AML in 2010 were retrospectively collected. The efficiency of their treatment was evaluated from the rates of complete remissions (CR), recurrences, deaths, and 4-year overall (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). The data as of September 1, 2013, were analyzed. RESULTS: According to the 2010 pooled materials of the city's municipal hematology departments, AML (non-M3 types) was diagnosed in 286 patients whose median age at diagnosis was 64.9 years (range, 18.2-92.0 years). The notified incidence rate was 2.9 (3.3 for men and 2.6 for women) cases per 100,000 population. 118 (41%) patients received intensive chemotherapy (ICT); 119 (42%) had chemotherapy with low-dose cytarabine (LDC); 7 (2%) had that with hypomethylating agents (HA); and 42 (15%) had palliative therapy (PT). During first-line therapy, none of the patients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). In the entire group, the early (within the first 60 days) mortality rates were 42% (119 deaths); that of patients with primary refractory disease was 32% (90 deaths). CR was achieved in 77 (27%) patients: 57 (48%) on ICT, 17 (14%) on LDC, and 3 (43%) on HA. Recurrences occurred in 37 (48%) of the 77 patients who had achieved CR at a median follow-up of 43.9 months. Four-year OS in all the patients receiving PT was 9.8±1.9% (18.2±3.9% in the patients on ICT versus 4.5±2% in those of LDC; p=0.028); 4-year RFS was 36.1±5.7% (39.6±6.7% inthe patients on ICT versus 31.3±11 .6% in those on LDC; p=0.8). CONCLUSION: High mortality rates in the induction, which are caused by the limited resources of accompanying therapy, poor sanitary conditions, and no own opportunities to perform allo-HSCT, remain a key problem of AML therapy in adults.

[Russian experts' clinical guidelines for acute myeloid leukemia treatment in patients less than 60 years of age].

The purpose of the paper is to present Russian experts' consolidated opinion about acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment in adult patients aged less than 60 years. The guidelines have been elaborated having regard to foreign publications and Russian experience, on the basis of global and Russian clinical trials to treat AML and to define indications for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in patients during first complete remission.

[POEMS-syndrome: a literature review and case reports].

POEMS-syndrome (Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, M-protein, and Skin Changes) is a rare nosological form occurred in patients with paraproteinemic hemoblastosis. Chronic progressive sensory-motor polyneuropathy is a key syndrome of the disease and it is a common reason for referral to neurologist. The paper presents data about POEMS-syndrome and own case reports with the analysis of disease features and results of examination.

Regulatory effects of Ribotim on functional activity of neutrophils and wound healing during experimental burn trauma.

We studied the effects of ribonucleic immunotropic preparation Ribotim obtained from the thymus on functional activity of peripheral blood neutrophils and wound healing after burn trauma. Immunotherapy normalized immunological parameters, attenuated demarcation inflammation in burn wound, and promoted epithelialization of the wound surface preserving skin structures.