[Bacterial contamination of autologous blood in reinfusion in neurosurgery: a phenomenon or a problem?] / Bakterial'naya kontaminatsiya autologichnoi krovi pri provedenii apparatnoi reinfuzii v neirokhirurgii: fenomen ili problema?

There is a problem of bacterial contamination of autologous blood despite long-term experience of intraoperative blood salvage and reinfusion. OBJECTIVE: To analyze safety of blood reinfusion with white blood cell filtration and X-ray irradiation for blood decontamination in neurosurgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 57 patients with various neurosurgical diseases. We used intraoperative blood reinfusion in all patients considering high predictable risk of major blood loss due to neurosurgical diseases, features of neoplasm topography, anamnesis and examination data. Microbiological examination of autologous blood was carried out at different stages before reinfusion. RESULTS: Bacterial contamination of autologous blood samples was observed in 42% of patients. Enlargement of surgical access to paranasal sinuses in patients with craniofacial lesions poses a potential risk of bacterial contamination of autologous blood. Additional methods of decontamination including white blood cell filtration and X-ray irradiation reduced bacterial load. The above-mentioned methods were less effective for decontamination of microflora not typical for human skin compared to saprophytic ones. There were no postoperative infectious complications. CONCLUSION: Combination of white blood cell filtration and X-ray irradiation reduces bacterial contamination and increases safety of reinfusion although these methods do not completely free autologous blood from opportunistic microorganisms. Decontamination quality significantly depended on microflora and surgical approach.

[Delta-He a new biomarker for a surgical clinic]. / Del'ta gemoglobina ­ novyi biomarker dlya khirurgicheskogo statsionara.

BACKGROUND: Delta-He the difference between hemoglobin content in reticulocytes and erytrocytes is a relatively new laboratory indicator that is easily measured in everyday practice. This parameter is directly related to iron bioavailability for hemoglobin synthesis and can reflect various conditions accompanied by cytokine expression including systemic inflammation. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prospects for practical application of hemoglobin delta in assessment of neurosurgical patients throughout in-hospital treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed complete blood counts (Sysmex XN-1000 analyzer) with optical determination of reticulocyte hemoglobin and automatic calculation of Delta-He in 82 neurosurgical patients. Exclusion criteria were severe decompensated comorbidities, exacerbation of chronic infectious processes, cancer of other organs. Blood sampling for analysis of delta-hemoglobin was carried out before all diagnostic and therapeutic measures. Reference interval is indicated by the analyzer manufacturer as 1.7-4.4 pg. RESULTS: Delta-He values at admission ranged from -1.8 to 6.1 pg. There was a consistent decrease of these values throughout 3-4 postoperative days. Then, the values could increase or continued to decrease. Increment of the index was noted in 76 patients (92.7%). Such dynamics was observed in case of uncomplicated postoperative period. Further decrease of Delta-He was observed in 6 patients (7.3%). These ones were characterized by a longer recovery after surgery, and the events required additional medical or surgical correction were recorded. Negative dynamics of Delta-He values could precede clinical manifestations of certain complication. Clarification of diagnosis and correction of therapy were accompanied by gradual increase of Delta-He values. CONCLUSION: Estimation of Delta-He values over time can be used for monitoring of patients and effectiveness of therapy. From a practical point of view, it is important that examination can be performed at any time of the day.

[Comparative analysis of post-translational modifications in plasma proteome of patients with cerebral ischemia based on HPLC-MS/MS method]. / Sravnitel'nyi analiz modifikatsii proteoma plazmy krovi bol'nykh tserebral'noi ishemiei na osnove metoda VÉZhKh-MS/MS.

The relative differences between post-translational modifications (PTM) of proteins in blood plasma samples of patients with cerebral ischemia (CI) and healthy people were investigated using of the method of label-free comparative proteomic analysis based on the technology of tandem HPLC-MS/MS. For PTM detection we used multiple MS/MS search in the database Mascot for variable PTM and Progenesis LS-MS software. In the CI plasma samples, we observed an increase in the proportion of peptides with such PTM as phosphorylation of serine, threonine, and tyrosine, acetylation of lysine and protein N-term, ubiquitination of lysine and deamidation of glutamine related to clinically significant processes were revealed.

[The glucagon test in diagnosis of secondary adrenal insufficiency after craniospinal irradiation: the feasibility of application, the features of performing the test, and its diagnostic informativity].

BACKGROUND: The glucagon test (GT) is a promising alternative to the insulin hypoglycemia test (IHT) in diagnosis of secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI). AIM: To study the feasibility of using the GT in patients after craniospinal irradiation and to determine the cut-off value to rule out SAI. METHODS: A total of 28 patients (14 males and 14 females) with the median age of 19 years (17; 23) who had undergone combination treatment (surgery, craniospinal irradiation (35 Gy) with boost to the tumor bed, and polychemotherapy) of extrapituitary brain tumors no later than 2 years before study initiation and 10 healthy volunteers of matching sex and age were examined. All the subjects underwent the GT and IHT with an interval of at least 57 days. The cortisol, ACTH, and glucose levels were measured. RESULTS: Twelve out of 28 patients were diagnosed with SAI according to the IHT results. ROC analysis revealed that cortisol release during the GT 499 nmol/L ruled out SAI [100% sensitivity (Se); 62% specificity (Sp)], while the absence of a rise 340 nmol/l verified SAI (Sp 100%; 55% Se). For GT, the area under a curve (AUC) was 93.6%, which corresponds to a very good diagnostic informativity. In 19 patients, the IHT and GT results were concordant (in ten patients, the release of cortisol occurred above the cut-off value in both tests; no release was detected in nine patients). In nine cases, the results were discordant: the maximum cortisol level detected in the GT was 500 nmol/l, but the IHT results ruled out SAI (the GT yielded a false positive outcome). Contrariwise, in three (10.7%) patients the release of cortisol detected in the GT was adequate, while being insufficient in the IHT test. Adverse events (nausea) were reported during the GT test in 9 (25%) subjects; one patient had hypoglycemia (1.8 mmol/l). CONCLUSION: GT is highly informative and can be used as a first-level stimulation test for ruling out SAI in patients exposed to craniospinal irradiation performed to manage brain tumors. The cortisol level of 500 nmol/L is the best cut-off value for ruling out SAI according to the GT results. The insulin hypoglycemia test is used as the second-level supporting test in patients with positive GT results.

[Clinical features and diagnosis of secondary adrenal insufficiency followed complex treatment nonpituitary brain tumors].

BACKGROUND: The most of the current studies include patients who are different by the etiology of secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI), or investigate SAI among other late effects of the radiation therapy. AIMS: To describe the features of SAI and to select the best method of screening SAI in adult patients followed complex treatment of nonpituitary brain tumors in childhood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was the retrospective cross-sectional study. 31 patients after the complex treatment of nonpituitary brain tumors in childhood and 20 healthy volunteers were examined. Age and sex ratio were comparable between the groups. Biochemical and clinical blood tests, levels of cortisol, ACTH, DHEA-C were evaluated. The insulin tolerance test (ITT) was performed for all patients and 11 volunteers. RESULTS: The prevalence of SAI by ITT was 45.2%. The levels of basal cortisol (BC) were significantly higher in patients without SAI in comparison with the SAI group and volunteers (505 [340; 650] vs 323 [233; 382] and 372 [263; 489] nmol / l; pSAI- without_SAI=0.001; pwihtout_SAI-healthy = 0.04). The SAI group had DHEA-C significantly lower than in other groups one (3.1 [1.8; 3.4] vs 5.1 [2.5; 6.4] and 6.8 [4.1; 8.9]; рSAI- without_SAI = 0.036; pSAI-healthy = 0.001). ROC analysis showed that BC and DHEA-S can be used as high-quality screening tests for SAI (AUC = 89.3% and 88.3%). The maximum level of cortisol (656 [608-686] vs 634 [548-677]; p = 1) and the time of its increase (45 and 60 min) did not differ during ITT in patients without SAI and volunteers. Side effects: delayed hypoglycemia occurred in 4/14 patients of the SAI group 4090 minutes late of injection 60-80 ml of 40% glucose solution for stopping hypoglycemia in the test. CONCLUSIONS: 45.2% of patients followed craniospinal irradiation had SAI that is characterized by a decrease in DHEA-C levels. A highly normal level of basal cortisol was observed in 45% of patients without SAI. DHEA-C and blood cortisol can be used for SAI screening.

Analysis of Blood Plasma Protein Composition in Patients with Cerebral Ischemia.

Blood plasma proteome in patients with cerebral ischemia and healthy individuals was studied using comparative proteomic analysis based on tandem HPLC-MS/MS. Mass spectra were analysed in an automated mode using Progenesis LS-MS software and 256 proteins were identified. Significant quantitative differences were revealed for 20 proteins. It was found that changes in the blood plasma proteome in subjects with cerebral ischemia involved a wide range of proteins: molecular chaperones, fibrinolysis, angiogenesis, and immune system proteins, proteins involved in homeostasis maintenance, cell differentiation and proliferation, regulators of apoptosis, and cytoskeleton proteins.

[Comparative proteome analysis of blood plasma of patients with early-stage chronic cerebral ischemia]. / Sravnitel'nyi analiz proteoma plazmy krovi bol'nykh na rannei stadii khronicheskoi tserebral'noi ishemii.

In the present study, we explored the technology of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) for the proteome analysis of blood plasma of patients with early chronic cerebral ischemia. Analysis of mass-spectrometer data carried out in automatic mode using the software Progenesis LS-MS. As a result of this study identified 43 proteins. The differences identified in the study group compared with the control in 7 proteins. It was found that in the early stages of chronic cerebral ischemia proteome changes in blood plasma affect proteins related to the immune system, the system for the maintenance of hemostasis and lipid metabolism.

[Stress adaptive effects after traumatic brain injury]. / Vozmozhnosti realizatsii adaptivnykh éffektov stressa posle cherepno-mozgovoi travmy.

Neuroendocrine dysfunction, in particular impaired synthesis of anterior pituitary hormones, is a common complication of traumatic brain injury. Deficiency of tropic pituitary hormones entails a hypofunction of the related peripheral endocrine glands and can be accompanied by persistent endocrine and metabolic disorders. In particular, the hypophyseal mechanisms are the key ones in implementation of most stress effects. Adequate implementation of these mechanisms largely determines a favorable outcome in the acute stage of disease. Traumatic brain injury (as well as any significant injury) initiates a stress response that can not develop in full in the case of pituitary gland failure. It is logical to suppose that the course of the acute phase of stress in the presence of hypopituitarism is different to a certain extent from the typical course, which inevitably affects certain adaptation elements. In this review, we analyzed the adaptive effects of stress after traumatic brain injury.

[The limit of reference range of TSH: long-term discussion and possibilities of modern diagnostic.]

The review considers problem of upper limit of reference interval of TSH that is discussed predominantly by endocrinologists out of laboratory community. The common values of 0.4-4.0 mE/l combine as a matter of fact two ranges: zone of practically full wellbeing (0.4-2.5 mE/l) and zone of latent pathology and/or high possibility of development of clinically significant hypothyroidism (2.5-4.0 mE/l). At one time, the proposal to diminish upper limit of reference interval provoked many discussions and on balance received no approval. However, no unanimity concerning this issue is still to be achieved. The article discusses data forcing medical specialists to be wary of values of TSH in the range of 2.5-4.0 mE/l. At the same time, the question is putted concerning suitability of using population reference intervals in the case of both of TSH and number of other indices of laboratory diagnostic.

Identification of Central Nervous System Proteins in Human Blood Serum and Plasma.

Mass-spectrometric identification of proteins in human blood plasma and serum was performed by comparing mass-spectra of fragmented peptides using Swiss-Prot and UniProtKB databases of amino acid sequences. After choosing the appropriate identification conditions we found that combination of spectrum search parameters are optimal for identification of CNS proteins. In the studied plasma and serum samples, 9 proteins involved into pathological processes in the nervous tissue were identified; 7 of them were identified in both plasma and serum.

[The possibility of using PlasmaDeepDive™ MRM panel in clinical diagnostics].

Concentrations of 46 proteins have been determined in human blood plasma using PlasmaDeepDive™ MRM Panel ("Biognosys AG", Switzerland). 18 of them were included into the group of proteins with higher concentrations, also identified by the shotgun proteomic analysis. Based on literature data it is concluded that the PlasmaDeepDive™ MRM Panel is applicable for studies of human plasma samples for potential biomarkers of various nervous system disorders.

[Leptin as a neuroprotector and functional stability factor in the central neural system].

Adipokines secreted by adipose tissue are recognized to be crucial for the regulation and maintenance of energy homeostasis. Leptin is the best characterized adipokine involved in energy metabolism and inflammatory status, being associated with the development of a number of diseases, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, certain cancers and immune-mediated processes. Recently leptin was found to exert neurotrophic effects and neuroprotective activity slowing down neuronal damage after acute brain injuries as well as during long-term neurodegenerative processes. Moreover there are the evidences that leptin influences receptor signalling as well as the synthesis and releasing of several neurotransmitters. The aim of this review is to discuss the role of leptin in the neuroprotection and the regulation of diverse neuronal functions in the health and disease.

Cholinergic synapses of the associative temporal area of the neocortex in the realization of cognitive functions.

The activity of choline acetyltransferase in the subsynaptic fractions of light and heavy synaptosomes of the associative temporal areas of the neocortex of cats with varying capacities for the formation of preverbal concepts was investigated. With respect to the majority of the subfractions, differences were detected between animals with normal and decreased intellect. Some theoretical conclusions were drawn relative to the origin of the individual subfractions; the role of cholinergic synapses of the area in question in the realization of the function of generalization and abstraction is discussed.