[Outcomes of hemi-Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty and phacoemulsification for the treatment of primary Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy combined with cataract]. / Rezul'taty transplantatsii destsemetovoi membrany s endoteliem i fakoemul'sifikatsii pri pervichnoi endotelial'noi distrofii rogovitsy Fuksa, sochetannoi s kataraktoi.

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the long-term results of surgical treatment of patients with Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy and cataract. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 24 patients (24 eyes) with primary Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy and cataract, who underwent cataract phacoemulsification with IOL implantation and of Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty with a semicircular graft (hemi-DMEK). The effect of treatment was assessed by best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central corneal thickness (CCT) and endothelial cell density (ECD). RESULTS: In total, surgical treatment involved 14 donor corneas that were divided in half during the preparation and isolation of the Descemet's membrane (DM). By month 12 after the surgery an increase in visual functions and graft transparency were observed in 23 patients (23 eyes) out of 24. Repeated keratoplasty was required in one case due to fibrosis of the posterior layers of recipient's corneal stroma. At 12 months postoperatively, the study group showed an increase in BCVA from 0.16±0.1 to 0.75±20, a decrease in CCT from 650.9±4.5 µm to 519.6±43.9, and a decreased in ECD from 2850.5±84.7 cells/mm2 up to 1285.5±277.2 cells/mm2. Thus, the loss of endothelial cells at one year after surgery amounted to 54.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The developed method for transplantation of a semicircular DM fragment provides a tissue-saving approach to endothelial keratoplasty, and considering the high percentage of transparent engraftment of grafts and complete visual rehabilitation, it can be recommended in the treatment of patients with cataract and Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy.

[Comparative study of results of serological diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoenzyme analysis]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie rezul'tatov serologicheskoi diagnostiki Laim-Borrelioza v reaktsii nepriamoi immunofliuorestsentsii i immunofermentnom analize.

A total of 176 sera from 73 patients with verified Lyme borreliosis at different stages of the disease are examined. Serological diagnosis was carried out by 2 methods: indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) with corpuscular B. burgdorferi antigen and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with purified flagellar B. burgdorferi antigen (Dako). EIA with Dako antigen is more sensitive for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis at any period of the disease than IIF. Analysis of correlations between the results of IIF and EIA showed correlation in the levels of IgG but not IgM antibodies. The findings confirmed a previous hypothesis that inadequate antibacterial therapy before investigation decreases the level of antibodies to Borrelia. In patients with a history of Lyme borreliosis, antibodies to B. burgdorferi are detected less frequently by both IIF and EIA. Patients with persistent levels of antibodies to B. burgdorferi, even without clinical signs of infection, are in need of regular check-ups, because the prognostic significance of antibodies to B. burgdorferi is unknown and relapses may occur after months and years.

[Myelotoxicity of epirubicin]. / O mielotoksichnosti épirubitsina.

Epirubicin (pharmorubicin, India), an antitumor antibiotic of the anthracycline group, was studied in regard to its effect on peripheral blood, bone marrow and lymphoid organs (the thymus and spleen) of CBA mice after its intraperitoneal administration in a single dose equal to the MIC (7.8 mg/kg) and in a course dose (1/5 of the MIC 5 times a day). The cytogenetic impairments induced by the cytostatic were estimated on metaphase plates with the bone marrow specimens and by counting the peripheral blood erythrocytes with micronuclei (the micronuclear test). It was shown that epirubicin induced cytogenetic disturbances in the hemopoietic cells within the first 72 hours. The antibiotic had a marked reversible effect on the erythroid population and lymphoid tissues and a moderate toxic action on the granulocyte population. The antibiotic did not affect thrombocytopoiesis. The single administrations had a more pronounced and prolonged myelotoxic and lymphotropic effect.

[Effect of pH on the properties of the chemostatic culture of Canida utilis]. / Vliianie velichiny rn na svoistva khemostatnoi kul'tury sandida utilis

The effect of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions on the physiological features of the yeast C. utilis VKMU-1668 was studied. High acidity inhibited yeast growth and uncoupled pathways of the energy and constructive metabolism: normal respiration was disturbed and the electron transport chain was damaged in the site of cytochromes and not flavins. Hydroxyl ions also inhibited yeast growth and uncoupled pathways of the energy and constructive metabolism: oxygen uptake and the content of flavin adenone dinucleotide increased, dehydrogenase activity upon the use of glycerol decreased significantly, and the absolute amount of all cytochromes declined slightly. The chemical composition of cellular polymers at all pH values tested was stable enough. The amount of major metabolites--volatile oils and ketoacids--was insignificant.