[Chromoblastomycosis]. / Khromoblastomikoz.

The paper describes a case of chromoblastomycosis, a rare implantation mycosis in the Russian Federation. It gives data on the prevalence, etiology, and clinical presentations of the disease, and the diagnostic possibilities. Emphasis is laid on the leading role of a pathomorphological study in the diagnosis of chromoblastomycosis in non-endemic countries, including Russia. The clinical and pathomorphological presentations are described in detail. Histological examination detected 5-12-µm spherical or polygonal pigmented cells that are fungal elements, which allows chromoblastomycosis to be diagnosed in the cytoplasm of macrophages and extracellularly. A refusal to conduct a pathomorphological study leads to diagnostic errors and an irrational treatment policy.

Efficacy of photodynamic therapy for basal cell carcinoma using photosensitizers of different classes.

The paper presented results of photodynamic therapy for 139 patients with basal cell carcinoma. We conducted a study of the efficacy and safety of four methods of photodynamic therapy. There were used the following photosensitizers: photohem, photosens, photolon and photodithazine. Photodynamic therapy using photosensitizers of chlorine series (photolon and photoditazin) provides a better long-term results improving disease-free 3-year survival rate to 90.4% and 92.3%, respectively compared to 54.7% and 71.1% in groups, in which treatment was restricted by photohem and photosens.

[Clinical and immunological aspects of extracorporeal photochemotherapy for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis].

AIM: To evaluate the clinical efficiency of extracorporeal photochemotherapy (EPCI) in the treatment of psoriasis (Ps) and Ps associated with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ninety-three patients with different forms of psoriasis were examined. A study group (SG) comprised 52 patients who were treated with EPCT; a control group (CG) included 41 patients. All the patients received pharmacotherapy generally accepted for these diseases. The SG patients were given additionally EPCT (the patient took 8-methoxypsoralen in a dose of 0.6 mg/kg 1.5-2 hours before the procedure). Mononuclear cells were isolated from the patients' blood in the intermittent-line mode on a Haemonetics MCS+ cell separator. The cell suspension was irradiated with ultraviolet light A (lambda = 320-400 nm) on a JULIA irradiator at 10-15 mI/mm for 30 mm and reinfused in the patient. The course of therapy consisted of 4 sessions performed on alternate days. RESULTS: A varying positive effect was obtained in 49 (94%) SG patients; the mean PASI scores fell from 19.7 +/- 3.4 to 6.7 +/- 2.1 (p < 0.05). The DAS reflecting the activity of PsA reduced on average from 3.35 +/- 0.7 to 2.16 +/- 0.5 (p < 0.05), which corresponded to the change of PsA activity from moderate to weak. In CG, the positive effect was less pronounced in 27 (66%) patients, the PASI scores dropped on average from 19.2 +/- 3.7 to 12.2 +/- 3.1 (p < 0.05), DAS in patients with PsA decreased from 3.24 +/- 0.8 to 2.95 +/- 0.7 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EPCT showed a high efficiency in patients with psoriasis and Ps associated with PsA; the immunological studies demonstrated the pathogenetic direction of the technique.

[Modern programs of treatment and rehabilitation of patients with basaliomas: their pathogenic substantiation and clinical effectiveness].

With the aim of forming modern programs for immunogenetic therapy of epithelial tumors, such as methatypic and basal cell carcinomas, the authors of the article analyze the basics of their immunopathogenesis. Having considered the latest immunotherapy regimens, the authors present their clinical assessment.

[A new view of approaches to diagnostics and treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma].

The paper contains literature data and the results of author's own observations, devoted to the clinical manifestations, ethiology and pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma. An algorithm of diagnostics of the disease and methods of treatment are offered, which are developed taking into account the type of the disease, its form, the extent of the pathologic process and immunological parameters.

[Matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in basal cell and metatypical cancer of the skin].

10 cases of ulcerative-nodular basal cell carcinoma and 10 cases of metatypical carcinoma of the skin were studied immunohistochemically for immunoexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-9) and their endogenic tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1, TIMP-2) in combination with PCNA, p53 tumor complexes. Some differences are found in these types of tumors.

[Differential diagnosis and treatment of metatypic cancer]. / K probleme differentsial'noi diagnostiki i lecheniia metatipicheskogo raka.

Fifty one patients with metatypic carcinoma (MC), 10 with basalioma, and 10 with squamous cell carcinoma were clinically and immuno-morphologically studied. There were great differences in the localization of basal cell antigen in the epidermis during MC, basalioma, squamous carcinoma of the skin. Expression of fixed immunoglobulins A, M, G in tumor tissues revealed no significant differences. Fifty one patients underwent a complex treatment with prospidin in a total dose of 3,000-3,500 mg (in a daily dose of 100 mg) followed by near-focus X-ray therapy in a total dose of 3,000 Gy (a single dose being 500 Gy). Good immediate and late (the duration of the follow-up was as long as 5 years) results were obtained.

[Antibodies to herpesvirus type 8 in Kaposi's sarcoma patients and controls in Russia]. / Antitela k gerpesvirusu tipa 8 u bol'nykh sarkomoi Kaposhi i lits kontrol'nykh grupp v Rossii.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the HH-8 seroprevalence among patients with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), melanoma and gastric carcinoma (GC) as well as among renal recipients and blood donors. The obtained data revealed a high percentage of seropositive KS patients, which ranged from 83.6% in the classical disease type to 68.8% and to 71.4% in the immunosuppressive and AIDS-associated disease types, respectively. On the whole, the positive humoral response to HHV-8 reliably correlated with the positive findings if the viral genetic information in tumor tissue samplings. An unexpectedly high percentage of seropositive persons was found among the GC patients (41.8%) and among the renal recipients (26%), which is apparently predetermined by the immunosuppressive condition of such patients. Seroprevalence was found only in 4% of blood donors. Thus, the obtained data make it possible to conclude that KS cases, as diagnosed in Russia, are tensely associated with HHV-8 in spite of a low virus spread among the healthy population. Patients with pathology concomitant with a pronounced immunosuppression are characterized by a high prevalence of HHV-8 and belong to the category of persons with a KS risk.

[PCR diagnosis of sequences of a novel human herpes virus type 8 in patients with Kaposi sarcoma in Russia]. / PTsR-diagnostika posledovatel'nostei novogo gerpesvirusa cheloveka 8-go tipa u bol'nykh sarkomoi Kaposhi v Rossii.

Associations of a new human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) with different forms of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in Russia have been studied. Search for this virus genetic information has been carried out in biopsy specimens of benign and malignant tumors other than KS, and probable sites of HHV-8 latency in human body have been checked. HHV-8 sequences were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HHV-8 sequences were most often detected in idiopathic (80.6%), AIDS-associated (80%), and immunosuppressive (100%) KS. The results indicate a selective association of HHV-8 with KS. No probable sites of the virus latency were detected in peripheral blood cells of patients with KS and in the prostate of patients with chronic prostatitis. The only exception was the husband of a patient with KS: HHV-8 sequences were detected in his prostatic secretion by nested PCR.

[Eccrine mucinous adenocarcinoma]. / Ekkrinnaia mutsinoznaia adenokartsinoma.

A case of a rare malignant tumour of the sweat glands is reported. Such tumors are often taken for visceral adenocarcinoma metastasis. The tumor was diagnosed by means of immunohistochemistry.

[Malignant cylindroma]. / Zlokachestvennaia tsilindroma.

A case of malignant eccrine cylindroma of the skin studied immunohistochemically is reported.

[Pagetoid reticulosis]. / Pedzhetoidnyi retikulez.

Pagetoid reticulosis is a rare form of T-cell skin lymphoma. A case of this disease is reported.

[Expression of gene K51 in normal epidermis and various epithelial skin tumors in man]. / Ekspressiia gena K51 v normal'nom épidermise i nekotorykh épitelial'nykh opukholiakh kozhi cheloveka.

The expression of gene K51 in the cells of human normal epidermis and epithelial skin tumors was investigated using in situ hybridization method with radioactive probe. The K51 gene transcripts were detected in the epidermis, sebaceous and sweat glands of human embryo and adult skin. The level of gene expression was higher in the stratum granulosum than in the basal layer of the skin. K51 gene expression was also found in the basal cell and metatypical carcinomas, with the level of expression lower than in the neighbouring epidermis and higher than in the surrounding skin stromal cells. Thus, K51 gene is expressed in the skin epidermis of human embryo and adults but the level of its activity is dramatically decreased in the cells of skin epithelial tumors. This potentially may be important as a diagnostic test.

[Histocompatibility antigens and the solitary keratoacanthoma]. / Antigeny gistosovmestimosti i solitarnaia keratoakantoma.

Standard microlymphocytic cytotoxic test was used in 43 cases of solitary keratoacanthoma. Increased incidence of HLA-B16 and HLA-B18 antigens was established. Presence of HLA-A2 was shown to adversely influence the course of the disease.

[Vilprafene (josamycin) therapy of chronic chlamydial prostatitis]. / Lechenie khronicheskogo khlamidiinogo prostatita vil'prafenom (dzhazamitsin).

Vilprafene was used in multiple-modality (immuno-, enzyme, spa, and local therapy) treatment of 15 patients with chronic chlamydial prostatitis. Clinical and etiological cure was attained in all patients without side effects.

[The photochemotherapy of Hailey-Hailey disease]. / Fotokhimioterapiia bolezni Kheili-Kheili.

The results of photochemotherapy of 5 patients with chronic benign familial pemphigus are described. Standard scheme with puvalen and PUVA-22A chamber (Finland) were employed. A course of inpatient treatment consisted of 10-25 irradiation sessions followed by outpatient maintenance photochemotherapy (once a week or two). Erosions and fissures started epithelializing after 8-12 irradiation sessions. A remission of up to 19 months was achieved in all the patients; it was more manifest and durable than after treatment with other schemes.

[Mental disorders in basaloma]. / Psikhicheskie narusheniia pri bazaliomakh.

There were observed 70 patients (21 men, 49 women) with basaliomas (cancer of the skin). Mental disorders were observed in form of affective disorders (depression, hypothymic colour of the surrounding), syndrome of dismorphophobia-dismorphomania, relatively short cancerophobic feelings, somatogenic asthenia and a development of personality disorders. A forming of the mental disorders were conditioned at basaliomas by a complex influence of both somatogenic and psychogenic factors. An influence of the psychogenic factors was relatively transitory and psychologically comprehending (dysmorphophobia, cancerophobia, depression). An influence of the somatogenic factors predetermined a stability, a duration and a small reversibility of mental disorders (asthenia, irritative weakness, pathological development of the personality).