[Complications of retrograde intrarenal sugery in patients with low pole kidney stones].

A lot of patients with nephrolithiasis have calculi at low pole calyces. One of the best and safety operative options of such category is retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). RIRS is wide spread in current clinical practice. But not rarely it corresponded with different grade complications. Current literature review is dedicated to predictors of complications due to RIRS in patients with low pole calculi.

[Prophylaxis and correction of inflammatory complications in peritonitis, depending on severity of enteral insufficiency].

There were examined 54 patients, in whom peritonitis of various etiology was diagnosed. Clinical, biochemical, immunological and other investigations were conducted for estimation of the enteral insufficiency syndrome severity. Basing on the analysis of the data obtained and criterions of the patient common state there was determined the occurrence risk for inflammatory complications (IC). Complex of prophylactic and therapeutic measures for reduction of the IC rate was proposed.

Genotoxicity and oxidative stress biomarkers in Carassius gibelio as endpoints for toxicity testing of Ukrainian polluted river waters.

This study aimed to assess oxidative stress and genotoxicity biomarkers in Prussian carp Carassius gibelio laboratory-exposed to water from polluted Ukrainian rivers in order to evaluate their usefulness as endpoints in a short-term bioassay for toxicity testing of freshwaters. The micronucleus (MN) test and the frequency of cells with double nuclei (DN) in erythrocytes and gill cells were used as indicators of chromosome aberrations and abnormalities in cell divisions, respectively. Cellular antioxidant defenses i.e. antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase, total glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase) and oxidative damage, i.e. lipid peroxidation (measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) in the fish liver were used as biomarkers of oxidative stress. Exposure to the polluted river water samples for 96 h resulted in significantly increased MN and DN frequencies, limited increases in antioxidant enzyme activities and no changes in lipid peroxidation. Results suggest that MN and DN frequencies in C gibelio are useful endpoints in a short-term bioassay for genotoxicity testing of environmental water samples in contrast to the oxidative stress biomarkers applied that showed low potential for assessing sublethal effects after a 96 h exposure.

Theoretical analysis of physicochemical processes occurring during water treatment by ozone and ultraviolet radiation.

The paper presents a kinetic model developed for ozone dissolution in water and taking into account convective and diffusion processes occurring in the vicinity of floating bubbles that contain an ozone-air mixture. It was shown that the gradient of ozone concentration in a convective-diffusion layer and consequently the rate of ozone transfer from bubbles to the solution depended on the rate of ozone decomposition both in its reaction with organic admixtures and in the conditions of exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The obtained kinetic curves of destruction of organic compounds and changes of ozone concentration in water and ozone-air mixture are compared with experimental data for humic acids. The paper also analyzes additional factors affecting the kinetics of ozone dissolution and the rate of resultant reactions.

The effect of the deuterium depleted water on the biological activity of the eukaryotic cells.

Here we show the dependence of the unicellular biosensor S.ambigua lifespan on the water D/H isotopic composition. This dependence is bell-shaped with descents both in case of deficiency or excess of deuterium in water. The influence of the water D/H isotopic composition on the cell culture proliferative potential and colony forming efficiency in vitro was tested on the human dermal fibroblasts. We observed that the deuterium depleted water stimulates cell colony formation at the early passages. The dynamics of the cell doubling index in the deuterium depleted water-based growth medium showed higher proliferation potential compared to the water with normal isotopic composition. Using scratch assay, we have also studied the impact of the growth medium D/H isotopic composition on the cell motility of human cancer cell lines A549 and HT29. We have shown that the deuterium depleted water considerably suppressed cancer cell lines amoeboid movement in vitro.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases 3, 10 and 11 (stromelysins 1, 2 and 3) and matrix metalloproteinase 7 (matrilysin) by cancer cells in non-small cell lung neoplasms. Clinicopathologic studies.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP's) 3, 10 and 11 (also known as stromelysins 1, 2 and 3, respectively), and matrix metalloproteinase 7 (also known as matrilysin), produced by stromal fibroblast-like cells in the vicinity of various malignancies, are suspected to have an ability to degrade components of extracellular matrix, thus promoting spread of the tumor. MMP's also have been found in epithelial tumor cells in various cancers. Tissue sections from 95 cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were immunostained with antibodies against MMP 3, MMP 10 and MMP 11 and sections from 99 cases of NSCLC were immunostained with an antibody against MMP 7. Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity in the tumor cells was semiquantitatively scored for intensity and distribution and correlated with tumor type, tumor grade, stage, tumor size, lymph node positivity, metastasis and survival. Overexpression of MMP 10 and MMP 11 correlated with higher grade for NSCLC (p = 0.029 and p = 0.016, respectively), and also in a subset of adenocarcinomas (AC) (p = 0.015 and p = 0.009, respectively). Also, MMP 10 and MMP 11 correlated with lymph node involvement in NSCLC (p = 0.025 and p = 0.027 respectively). No correlation was found for MMP 3. Overexpression of MMP-7 correlated with tumor stage (p = 0.0001) and was associated with adverse clinical outcome (p = 0.0001) in NSCLC and also in separate squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (p = 0.003) and AC (p = 0.004) tumor groups.

Neuropeptide changes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus in primary hypertension indicate functional impairment of the biological clock.

Abnormalities in autonomic activity resulting in disturbances of the diurnal rhythm of many physiologic processes were recently revealed in hypertensive patients. These findings suggest deteriorations in the functioning of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is known to be the biological clock of mammals. To test this hypothesis, we carried out an immunocytochemical study of the SCN of primary hypertension patients who had died due to myocardial infarction or brain hemorrhage, and compared them with those of individuals with a normal blood pressure who had never had any autonomic disturbances and died from myocardial infarction after chest trauma or from hypothermia. We found that the staining for the three main neuronal populations of the SCN; i.e., vasopressin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and neurotensin, reduced by more than 50% in the hypertensives compared with controls. The present data indicate a serious dysregulation of the biological clock in hypertensive patients. Such a disturbance may cause a harmful hemodynamic imbalance with a negative effect on circulation, especially in the morning, when the inactivity-activity balance changes. The difficulty in adjusting from inactivity to activity might be involved in the morning clustering of cardiovascular events.

The biological clock tunes the organs of the body: timing by hormones and the autonomic nervous system.

The biological clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), is essential for our daily well-being. It prepares us for the upcoming period of activity by an anticipatory rise in heart rate, glucose and cortisol. At the same time the 'hormone of the darkness', melatonin, decreases. Thus, the time-of-day message penetrates into all tissues, interestingly not only by means of hormones but also by a direct neuronal influence of the SCN on the organs of the body. The axis between the SCN and the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) is crucial for the organization/synchronization of the neuroendocrine and autonomic nervous system with the time of day. This SCN-neuroendocrine PVN axis takes care of a timely hormonal secretion. At the same time, the SCN-autonomic PVN axis fine-tunes the organs by means of the autonomic nervous system for the reception of these hormones. Finally, the similar organization of the projections of the human SCN as compared with that in the rodent brain suggests that these basic principles of neuroendocrine autonomic interaction may also be true in the human. The physiological data collected in humans thus far seem to support this hypothesis, while pathological changes in the SCN of humans suffering from depression or hypertension indicate a role for the SCN in the etiology of these diseases.

Colocalization of VIP with AVP in neurons of the human paraventricular, supraoptic and suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Aim of this study was to investigate, with the aid of a recently developed immunofluorescence technique, cellular colocalization of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) with arginine-vasopressin (AVP) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the human hypothalamus. To this end, six hypothalami resected from patients who had died suddenly served as material of research. After formaldehyde fixation and subsequent storage in 30% sucrose, 25-microm thick cryosections were cut of one half of each hypothalamus. These sections were double-immunolabeled with primary antibodies against AVP and VIP followed by fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies. Autofluorescence, mainly caused by lipofuscin granules in neurons and glial cells, was blocked by a specially developed procedure consisting of incubating the immunolabeled sections in a Sudan Black B solution. Quantitative analysis with a confocal laser scanning microscope showed that of all stained cellular profiles the percentages of profiles immunoreactive exclusively for AVP or VIP or for both neuropeptides (colocalization) were for the SCN approximately 76.5%, 19.6% and 3.9%, for the SON 97.7%, 0.2% and 2. 1% and for the PVN 93.2%, 1.6% and 5.2%, respectively. These data illustrate that colocalization between AVP and VIP is not only present in neurons of the PVN and SON, but also in neurons of the SCN. This unexpected finding illustrates that the human SCN may also use a highly differentiated language to transmit its circadian signal to the rest of the brain.

Concordant p53 and mdm-2 protein expression in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma and adjacent lichen sclerosus.

To determine if carcinogenic events in vulvar skin precede the onset of morphologic atypia, the authors investigated for derangements in DNA content, cell proliferation, and cell death in vulvar carcinomas and surrounding skin in 140 samples of tumor and surrounding skin collected from 35 consecutive vulvectomy specimen for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) 3. Vulvar non-cancer excisions were used as controls. Investigations consisted of histologic classification and measurement of 9 variables--epidermal thickness (acanthosis and rete ridge length), immunolabeling index (LI) for 3 proteins (p53 protein, Ki-67, and mdm-2), pattern of p53 expression (dispersed vs. compact), DNA content index, and presence of aneuploidy by image analysis and apoptotic rate by Apotag labeling. Significant positive correlations were found for all nine variables studied versus increasing histologic severity in two proposed histologic stepwise models of vulvar carcinogenesis (lichen sclerosus (LS) and VIN 3 undifferentiated associated SCC groups). High p53 LI (>25) and the compact pattern of p53 expression (suspected oncoprotein) significantly correlated with LS and its associated vulvar samples compared with samples not associated with LS (P < or = 0.001). Furthermore, p53 LI, mdm-2 LI, and pattern of p53 expression were concordant between patient matched samples of LS and SCC. In addition, mdm-2 LI significantly correlated with dispersed pattern p53 LI suggesting a response to wild-type p53 protein accumulation. These findings support the hypothesis that neoplastic transformation occurs in sequential steps and compromises proteins involved in the cell cycle control. Concordance of p53 and mdm-2 protein expression in LS and adjacent SCC provides evidence that LS can act as a precursor lesion in the absence of morphologic atypia. Overexpression of mdm-2 with stabilization and inactivation of p53 protein may provide an alternate pathway for vulvar carcinogenesis.

Changes in ganglion nodosum neurons associated with stress-related cardiac deficiency.

Cell bodies of cardio-vascular receptors localized in the ganglion nodosum of rabbits exposed to experimental emotional stress were studied with the light and electron microscope and histochemically. Under emotional stress some rabbits demonstrated almost unchanged arterial pressure and only a small increase in heart rate, while other animals displayed strongly marked disturbances of their blood circulation leading to the acute heart deficiency at the end of the experiment. In the stress-resistant rabbits, microscopic anatomy and ultrastructure of neurons indicated their increased activity. Activities of lysosomal enzymes--acid phosphatase and aminopeptidase--were found to be at the control level, while the activity of mitochondrial enzyme--glutamate dehydrogenase--was slightly increased. On the other hand morphological evidence of severe hyperactivity and exhaustion was revealed in neurons of the stress-predisposed rabbits. Moreover the activities of all three enzymes studied were significantly increased. These results indicate correlation between the structural and metabolic changes occurring under experimental emotional stress in nodosal neurons and the extent of hemodynamic changes.

[Light optical and electron microscopic study of the nodose ganglion neurons in emotional stress]. / Svetoopticheskoe i élektronno-mikroskopicheskoe issledovanie uzlovatogo gangliia pri émotsional'nom stresse,

Cell bodies of cardiovascular receptors localized in the ganglion nodosum of rabbits exposed to experimental emotional stress were studied with the light and electron microscope. Two groups of animals were selected for investigation. Under emotional stress rabbits of one group demonstrated almost unchanged arterial pressure and only a small increase in heart rate, while animals of the other group displayed strongly marked disturbances of their blood circulation leading to the lethal outcome at the end of experiment. In the first group rabbits, the microscopic anatomy and ultrastructure of the nodose ganglion neurons indicated an increased activity in the nerve cell. At the same time, morphological evidences of exhaustion were revealed in neurons of the nodose ganglion of the second group rabbits. A possible role of the distortion of the afferent information in pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders under emotional stress is discussed.

[The acid phosphatase, aminopeptidase and glutamate dehydrogenase activity in the nodose ganglion neurons in emotional stress]. / Aktivnost' kisloi fosfatazy, aminopeptidazy i glutamatdegidrogenazy v neironakh uzlovatogo gangliia pri émotsional'nom stresse.

Cell bodies of cardiovascular receptors localized in the rabbit ganglion nodosum exposed to experimental emotional stress were studied histochemically. Two groups of animals were selected for investigation. Rabbits of one group had almost unchanged arterial pressure and small increase in heart rate under emotional stress, while animals of the other group were characterized by strongly marked disturbances of blood circulation leading to the lethal exit at the end of experiment. Activities of lysosomal enzymes--acid phosphatase and aminopeptidase--in the nodose ganglion neurons of the first group rabbits were found to be on the control level, the activity of mitochondrial enzyme, a glutamate-dehydrogenase, was slightly increased, whereas in the second group rabbits all the enzymes studied were significantly activated. A possible correlation between the metabolic changes found in the neurons and the type of hemodynamic changes is discussed.

[Aminopeptidase activity in the neurons of the nodose ganglion of the vagus nerve in acute experimental emotional stress]. / Aktivnost' aminopeptidazy v neironakh uzlovatogo gangliia bluzhdaiushchego nerva pri ostrom éksperimental'nom émotsional'nom stresse.

Histological investigation was carried out to study the activity of aminopeptidase (AMP) in neurons of the nodose ganglion of immobilized rabbits with acute experimental emotional stress induced by electrical stimulation of ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei and skin. On the basis of the pattern of cardiovascular reactions, two groups of animals were distinguished: resistant and susceptible to the stress effects. In control animals, AMP activity was found to vary in neurons of different size. The highest activity was recorded in large cells, whereas small cells showed the minimum activity. In resistant animals AMP activity was found to be on control level in all groups of nerve cells. In susceptible rabbits AMP activity rose significantly, with maximum increase of AMP activity being observed in the large and medium-sized neurons.

Downregulation of plasma membrane expression/cytoplasmic accumulation of beta-catenin predicts shortened survival in non-small cell lung cancer. A clinicopathologic study of 100 cases.

The E-cadherin-catenin complex proteins function in cell-cell adhesion and have been reported to be dysregulated in various human malignancies. Beta catenin is a cytoplasmic protein that associates with tyrosine kinase receptors and modulates cytoskeletal dynamics. It also plays a role in the Wnt signaling pathway. During neoplastic transformation, the phosphorylation of beta-catenin causes a loss of intercellular adhesions resulting in increased tumor cell motility and invasiveness. Tissue sections from 100 cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were immunostained with a monoclonal beta-catenin antibody. There were 47 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and 53 adenocarcinomas (AC) in the study group. Plasma membrane/cytoplasmic beta-catenin immunoreactivity was scored for intensity and distribution and correlated with tumor stage, grade and survival. Plasma membrane/cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for beta-catenin protein was observed in 71 (71%) of 100 NSCLC. 44 (94%) of 47 SCC and 27 (51%) of 53 AC expressed beta catenin. On univariate analysis, loss of beta catenin expression correlated with high tumor stage (p = 0.025), large tumor size (p = 0.02) and decreased patient survival (p = 0.04). The loss of beta catenin expression associated with high grade NSCLC reached near significance (p = 0.07). On multivariate analysis, the loss of beta catenin expression independently predicted shortened overall patient survival in NSCLC (p = 0.05). Beta catenin expression loss is associated with advanced tumor stage and is an independent predictor of shortened patient survival in NSCLC.

Botryoid-type of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of renal pelvis in an adult. A case report and review of the literature.

A case of botryoid-type embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the renal pelvis in a 49-year-old woman is reported. The tumor led to hydronephrosis. The surgical resection specimen disclosed a translucent, polypoid mass attached to the wall of the renal pelvis by thin stalk. Light-microscopic examination revealed a large exophytic polypoid tumor with intact surface epithelium, which was negative for dysplasia or carcinoma in situ. There was a condensation of epithelioid to spindle cells underneath the basement membrane, forming a cambium layer. The core of the lesion contained interspersed epithelioid to spindle cells with myxoid change and edema. Cells of the cambium layer as well as interspersed cells in the core exhibited marked cytologic atypia with mitotic figures. Immunohistochemical stains for cytokeratin, S-100 and myoglobin were negative, stains for desmin and actin were positive. Although botryoid-type embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas have been reported to occur at various sites in the genital tract and lower urinary tract, to our knowledge, this is the first reported case of the tumor within the renal pelvis. Also, the occurrence of these tumors in adults is quite rare.

[The principle of the spiral-like structure of skeletal muscles--the basis for motor optimal performance of the active lower extremity]. / Printsip spiralevidnogo stroeniia skeletnykh myshts--osnova dvigatel'noi optimal'nosti aktivnosti nizhnei konechnosti.

Searching for the new skeletal muscles characteristics makes a complicated problem of the objective analysis of structural and functional evaluations. Spiral-like structure of lower extremity skeletal muscles demonstrated is a part of spirals of the organism level, reflecting the systematic biomechanical integrity of muscles. New patterns of skeletal muscles orientation directly deal with mechanism of the internal twisting of lower extremity long segments and are pathogenic in mechanism of correction of the acquired and congenital pathologies.

[Changes in suprachiasmatic and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei in essential hypertension]. / Izmeneniia v suprakhiazmatichesom i paraventrikuliarnom iadrakh gipotalamusa pri éssentsial'noi gipertenzii.

Suprachiasmatic and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei (SCN and PVN, respectively) were studied in humans with essential hypertension (EH) and in healthy individuals who had normal blood pressure and died by accident (control group). Immunohistochemistry, hybridization in situ using computer image analysis have shown that EH patients have decreased number of vasopressin (VP) positive cells in SCN, high number of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) producing neurones in PVN and increased amount of mRNA for CRH in them. A negative linear correlation was found between the number of CRH-producing cells in PVN, amount of mRNA for CRH in them and the number of VP-synthesizing cells in SCN. The presence of GABA in VP-producing cells in SCN together with the data obtained suggest the presence of certain "disinhibition" of CRH-producing cells in PVN in EH which could cause enhanced synthesis of ACTH in anterior hypophysis and increased secretion of corticosteroids by the adrenal gland.

[Changes in the glutamate dehydrogenase activity of nodose ganglion neurons in rabbits in acute experimental emotional stress]. / Izmenenie aktivnosti glutamatdegidrogenazy v neironakh uzlovatogo gangliia u krolikov pri ostrom éksperimental'nom émotsional'nom stresse.

Histochemistry was used to study the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in neurons of g. nodosum of immobilized rabbits with acute experimental emotional stress induced by electrical stimulation of ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei and hind limbs. In control animals, GDH activity was found to vary in neurons of different size. The highest activity was recorded in large cells, whereas small cells showed the minimum activity. In experimental animals, GDH activity rose, the level of activity being almost equal in all the neurons.