[Evidence-based medicine: opportunities of the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method in eliminating selection bias in retrospective neurosurgical studies]. / Dokazatel'naia meditsina: vozmozhnost' ispol'zovaniia metoda podbora bol'nykh po indeksu sootvetstviia (PSM) dlia ustraneniia sistematicheskoi oshibki otbora v retrospektivnykh neirokhirurgicheskikh issledovaniiakh.

To date, a large amount of retrospectively collected data about treatment of neurosurgical pathology have been accumulated. Modern methods of medical statistics are necessary for correct interpretation of the data. The article purpose is to demonstrate application of one of the modern methods, Propensity Score Matching (PSM), in neurosurgery. The use of PSM avoids misinterpretation of retrospectively collected data and obviates errors in planning further prospective studies. For the past 10 years, the number of published international PSM-based studies has increased more than 10-fold, with the number of articles by Russian authors accounting for less than 0.2%. In line with the tendencies of international studies, application of PSM in analysis of retrospectively collected data will enable testing of a number of hypotheses and correct planning of prospective randomized studies.

[THE ROLE OF TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-B IN IMMUNOPATHOGENESIS OF DISEASES OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE].

The recent studies of molecular physiology of fibrillin and pathophysiology of inherent disorders of structure and function of connective tissue such as dissection and aneurysm of aorta, myxomatously altered cusps and prolapses of mitral valve, syndrome of hyper-mobility of joints, demonstrated that important role in development of these malformations play alterations of transfer of signals by growth factors and matrix cellular interaction. These conditions under manifesting Marfan's syndrome can be a consequence of anomalies of fibrillin-1 which deficiency unbrakes process of activation of transforming growth factor-ß (TGFß). The involvement of TGFß in pathogenesis of Marfan's syndrome permits consider antagonists of angiotensin-transforming enzymes as potential pharmaceuticals in therapy of this disease. The article presents analysis of publications' data related to this problem.

[Inversion polymorphism and ecological specialization of malaria mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) in Karelia].

The species composition and inversion polymorphism were studied in malaria mosquito larva hemipopulations of Karelia. Three malaria mosquito species--Anopheles messeae, A. beklemishevi, and A. maculipennis--were found in the region. The northern boundary of their range is at 65 degrees NL. The greatest species diversity was observed in biotopes of the central region. Within-species chromosome polymorphism was observed in larva populations of all three species. For A. messeae, maximum karyotype diversity indices were established for the southern and northern regions of Karelia.

[Methodic approaches to treatment of the chronic generalized parodontitis in elderly and senile patients].

A comprehensive treatment with Likopid of chronic generalized parodontitis in 114 elderly and senile patients was carried out. The state of mechanisms of innate immunity (phagocytosis mechanisms) as well as the profile of proinflammatory cytokines was assessed. The effect of antibiotic-resistant strains of prior microflora on the combined therapy of patients of different age with chronic generalized parodontitis was studied. It is established that due to presence of various types of opportunistic pathogens in patients of different age with parodontitis using the prophylactic antibiotics for the empirical (to determine the antibiotic resistance), a combination of Metronidazole and Lincomycin with the mandatory appointment of immunomodulatory drugs for activation of monocyte-phagocytic system of the patient elderly is most advisable. Use of the drug , "Likopid" significantly improves the results of treatment the elderly and old patients with chronic generalized parodonthitis.

[Characteristics of paradontal recesses microbiocenosis and immune homeostasis in patients of elderly and senile age with chronic generalized periodontitis].

The microbiocenosis of periodontal recesses was studied and an assessment of the innate immunity mechanisms, as well as profiles of inflammatory cytokines were carried out in 114 people of middle, elderly and senile age with chronic generalized periodontitis (CGP). It was found that periodontal recesses mikrobiocenosis of patients with CGP of various ages was mainly presented by conditionally pathogenic bacterial and fungal microflora. There were identified the inefficient mechanisms of immune inflammation in case of conditionally pathogenic microflora, the reduction of neutrophils functional properties, and the increasing part of destructed phagocytazing neutrophils in patients of elderly and senile age. The immunosuppression in patients of elderly and senile age appears in insufficient production of IL-1beta, IL-8, resulting in reduced activity of phagocytosis mechanisms and lymphoid cells functional activity. Thus, the differences in etiopatogenetic microflora, immune homeostasis status in patients with CGP in middle, elderly and senile age, complexity in the application of antibacterial drugs require the development of new criteria for the selection of antibacterial drugs.

[Food sensitization and recurrence frequency in patients with chronic gastric erosions]. / Pishchevaia sensibilizatsiia i chastota retsidivov u bol'nykh s khronicheskimi éroziiami zheludka.

Besides well-known pathogenetic factors of chronic gastric erosions (CGE), sensitization to alimentary, communal, and infectious allergens and antigens contributes to development of relapses of this condition. Moderately high and high levels of specific IgE and significant increases in the total IgE level were detected in patients with CGE relapses in comparison with the controls. Patients with CGE develop secondary immunodeficiency, which was confirmed by insufficient production of serum IgA during disease exacerbations. The sensitization status in CGE patients persists during remissions It is characterized by moderate levels of specific IgE, indicating chronic transformation of the process.

[Contemporary immuno-allergic aspects in the course of chronic gastric erosion]. / Sovremennye immunoallergicheskie aspekty techeniia khronicheskikh érozii zheludka.

Among significant factors in pathogenesis of chronic gastric erosions (CGE), the infectious-allergic factor is essential. At the height of CGE recurrence there were high titers of specific IgE antibodies to infectious, home, food and plant allergens associated with high levels of serum immunoglobulins A and G. Persistence in remission of high and moderate titers of specific IgE indicated chronicity of the disease and expected recurrence.

[Gas chromatographic analysis of the metabolic products of anaerobic bacteria. 2. Clostridia]. / Gazokhromatograficheskii analiz produktov metabolizma anaérobnykh bakterii. Soobshchenie 2. Issledovanie klostridii.

Qualitative and quantitative characteristics of clostridial metabolites (short-chain carbonic acids and alcohols) were analyzed in associations of these bacteria with facultative anaerobes. Various bacterial groups were found to vary as regarded the composition and quantitative ratio of the major bacterial metabolites. These data may become the criteria for the indication of pathogenic clostridia in mixed cultures after anaerobic passages for 24-48 h at 37 degrees in a medium with 1% glucose.