[Prognostication of the puncture-draining sanation interventions efficacy performed under ultrasound investigation guidance for severe acute pancreatitis].

The results of treatment of 47 patients, in whom the focal accumulations of liquid (FAL) have appeared in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), were analyzed. The puncture-draining sanation (PDS) was performed in all the patients. In 61.7% patients the PDS under ultrasonographic guidance have appeared the one-staged definite procedure. The staged PDS were conducted in 10.6% patients. In 27.6% patients after conduction of PDS under ultrasonographic guidance there was open necrsequesterectomy performed. There was a scale elaborated for the PDS efficacy estimation under ultrasonographic guidance. Dynamic estimation of the PDS efficacy in presence of FAL in patients, suffering SAP, have had promoted the treatment results improvement. The PDS efficacy depends on the disease duration, the infiltrate spreading, the sequesters presence and the FAL infectioning.

[The influence of beta-adrenoblocking therapy on the markers of systemic inflammation in patients with acute coronary syndrome].

The study was designed to estimate activity of a series of anti-inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin, haptoglobulin, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-8) in the acute phase of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and effect of beta-adrenoblocking therapy on their activity. The patients were divided into 2 groups: one was treated with beta-blocker metoprolol tartrate as a main component of ACS pharmacotherapy (n = 30), the other included the patients with absolute contraindications to bena-adrenoblockers (n = 15). Otherwise, patients of both groups received standard antianginal therapy including nitrates, anticoagulants, ACE inhibitors, and statins. The frequency of prescription of these drugs and coronary angioplasty was comparable in both groups. It was shown that patients with ACS have elevated levels of CRP, haptoglobulin and prooxidant marker ceruloplasmin.

[Intensive care and anesthetic maintenance in intra-abdominal hypertension].

The purpose of this review to show recent advances in the treatment of intraabdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome and to evaluate their clinical implication. To identify relevant publications, the authors have looked through the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for the original papers published since 1980. As search terms, they used "intraabdominal pressure", "intraabdominal hypertension", "abdominal compartment syndrome combined with treatment". The cumulative analysis of recent data indicates that early treatment of intraabdominal hypertension can prevent the development of abdominal compartment syndrome and a need for emergency laparotomy. However, laparotomy and various laparostomic techniques remain the only effective methods in treating intraabdominal hypertension in the presence of the abdominal compartment syndrome. The staf of surgical and general intensive care units should be aware of the prevention and treatment of intraabdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome.

[The influence of some elicitors on growth and morphogenesis of Hypericum perforatum callus cultures].

We studied the effects of elicitors, such as mannan, beta-1,3-glucan, ancymidol, and cork crumbs, on morphogenetic and biosynthetic potencies of shoot cultures of Hypericum perforatum L. In the presence of these elicitors, different morphogenetic structures of H. perforatum callus cultures were formed. A correlation was found between the morphogenetic processes and induction of hypericin and pseudohypericin biosynthesis in the callus cultures.

[On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the accident on the Chernobyl NPP: medical consequences in Armenia].

The aim of this work is the analysis of the indices of the health and of the structure of the sicknesses of the inhabitants of Armenia who took part in the liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. Also it is the determination of possible dependence of the frequency of diseases for the most widespread classes of sicknesses on the received dose of the irradiation, according to the data of the clinical examination and dispensarysation; and also it is the revelation of the role of other factors influenced on the health indexes.

[The species composition of mosquitoes and ticks in Armenia].

Comprehensive epidemiological, entomological, virological, and parasitological studies were conducted to examine the species composition and size of bloodsucking arthropoda (mosquitoes and ticks). A total of 64,567 mosquitoes and 45,180 Ixodes ticks were collected. Among the mosquitoes, Anopheles maculipennis was a prevalent species (81.6%). In all climatic zones, Dermacentor marginatus was the largest in number and most abundant during flag collections from cattle and plants (62.5% and 95.5%, respectively). Virological studies of the collected field material identified 125 strains of arboviruses belonging to 10 viruses: Tyaginya, Sindbis, Batai, Dkhori, tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile fever, Tamdy, KGL, Geta, and Bkhandzha. The identified arboviruses are environmentally associated with both mosquitoes and ticks. The larger number and diversity of bloodsucking artropoda present a potential risk of outbursts of arbovirus infections on the territory of the republic.

[Treatment of a burn stricture of the esophagus complicated with a fistula].

The experience in the treatment of esophageal fistulas is analyzed. Necessity and expediency of bougienage of esophageal burn stricture in patients with fistulas are discussed, indications and contraindications to bougienage of esophageal stricture complicated with a fistula are formulated. Surgical treatment of these patients (disfunction of esophageal fistulas and different variants of esophagoplasty) are considered.

A receptor-like inositol lipid phosphatase is required for the maturation of developing cochlear hair bundles.

A screen for protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) expressed in the chick inner ear yielded a high proportion of clones encoding an avian ortholog of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor Q (Ptprq), a receptor-like PTP. Ptprq was first identified as a transcript upregulated in rat kidney in response to glomerular nephritis and has recently been shown to be active against inositol phospholipids. An antibody to the intracellular domain of Ptprq, anti-Ptprq, stains hair bundles in mice and chicks. In the chick ear, the distribution of Ptprq is almost identical to that of the 275 kDa hair-cell antigen (HCA), a component of hair-bundle shaft connectors recognized by a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that stains inner-ear hair bundles and kidney glomeruli. Furthermore, anti-Ptprq immunoblots a 275 kDa polypeptide immunoprecipitated by the anti-HCA mAb from the avian inner ear, indicating that the HCA and Ptprq are likely to be the same molecule. In two transgenic mouse strains with different mutations in Ptprq, anti-Ptprq immunoreactivity cannot be detected in the ear. Shaft connectors are absent from mutant vestibular hair bundles, but the stereocilia forming the hair bundle are not splayed, indicating that shaft connectors are not necessary to hold the stereocilia together; however, the mice show rapid postnatal deterioration in cochlear hair-bundle structure, associated with smaller than normal transducer currents with otherwise normal adaptation properties, a progressive loss of basal-coil cochlear hair cells, and deafness. These results reveal that Ptprq is required for formation of the shaft connectors of the hair bundle, the normal maturation of cochlear hair bundles, and the long-term survival of high-frequency auditory hair cells.

PTPRQ is a novel phosphatidylinositol phosphatase that can be expressed as a cytoplasmic protein or as a subcellularly localized receptor-like protein.

PTPRQ (rPTP-GMC1) is a member of the type III receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase family. PTPRQ has very low activity against phosphotyrosine but is active against phosphatidylinositol phosphates that are involved in regulation of survival, proliferation, and subcellular architecture. Here, we report that PTPRQ can be expressed as a cytosolic or a receptor-like protein and that the form, subcellular localization, and cell types in which it is expressed are regulated by alternative promoter use and by alternative splicing. The first promoter drives expression of transcripts encoding a transmembrane protein in human podocytes and lung. PTPRQ protein is localized to the basal membrane of human podocytes, beginning when podocyte progenitors can first be identified in the embryonic kidney. A second promoter drives expression of a transcript that can encode a cytoplasmic protein containing the catalytic site. This is the major PTPRQ transcript in rat mesangial cells and human testis and is upregulated in mesangial cells in a rat model of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. Differential regulation of expression of the transmembrane vs cytosolic forms, in different cell types during development or response to injury, may be a mechanism through which PTPRQ, with its activities against membrane phospholipids and against phosphotyrosine, can target specific substrates under different conditions.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase RQ is a phosphatidylinositol phosphatase that can regulate cell survival and proliferation.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase RQ (PTPRQ) was initially identified as a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase)-like protein that is upregulated in a model of renal injury. Here we present evidence that, like PTEN, the biologically important enzymatic activity of PTPRQ is as a phosphatidylinositol phosphatase (PIPase). The PIPase specificity of PTPRQ is broader than that of PTEN and depends on different amino acid residues in the catalytic domain. In vitro, the recombinant catalytic domain of PTPRQ has low PTPase activity against tyrosine-phosphorylated peptide and protein substrates but can dephosphorylate a broad range of phosphatidylinositol phosphates, including phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate and most phosphatidylinositol monophosphates and diphosphates. Phosphate can be hydrolyzed from the D3 and D5 positions in the inositol ring. PTPRQ does not have either of the basic amino acids in the catalytic domain that are important for the PIPase activity of PTEN or the sequence motifs that are characteristic of type II phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphatases. Instead, the PIPase activity depends on the WPE sequence present in the catalytic cleft of PTPRQ, and in the "inactive" D2 domains of many dual-domain PTPases, in place of the WPD motif present in standard active PTPases. Overexpression of PTPRQ in cultured cells inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis. An E2171D mutation that retains or increases PTPase activity but eliminates PIPase activity, eliminates the inhibitory effects on proliferation and apoptosis. These results indicate that PTPRQ represents a subtype of the PTPases whose biological activities result from its PIPase activity rather than its PTPase activity.

Role of FGF9 and FGF receptor 3 in osteochondroma formation.

Osteochondromas are chondro-osseous protuberances that occur in metaphyses of long bones. The cartilaginous cap is assumed to be responsible for the growth of the lesions during childhood and adolescence, but mitotic figures are rarely seen in the cap. Therefore, another cell population, probably mesenchymal cells, is responsible for proliferation and growth. Residual mesenchymal cells capable of rapid proliferation are difficult to detect due to lack of specific histologic features. Two specific markers for mesenchymal cells, FGF receptor 3 (FGFR3) and collagen type IIa, have been described. Osteochondroma mesenchymal cells are found in the soft tissues overlying the cartilage cap. The surrounding areas of typical cartilage are negative for both mesenchymal cell associated antigens. The soft tissues overlying the cartilage do not have cartilaginous features. The undifferentiated cells overlying the exostosis yield in culture a rapidly proliferating homogenous population of fibroblast-like cells. Expression at the mRNA level of FGF9, FGFR3, and collagen type IIa is found in these cells, but not in skin fibroblasts from afflicted or healthy individuals. Exogenous administration of TGFbeta1 to cultures of hereditary multiple exostosis eliminates FGF9 expression. These results indicate fibrous regions contain the mesenchymal cells responsible for osteochondroma growth.

[Membranotropic effects of electromagnetic radiation of extremely high frequency on Escherichia coli]. / Membranotropnye éffekty élektromagnitnogo izlucheniia kraine vysokikh chastot na Escherichia coli.

It was found that "sound" electromagnetic radiations of extremely high frequencies (53.5-68 GHz) or millimeter waves (wavelength range of 4.2-5.6 mm) of low intensity (power density 0.01 mW) have a bactericidal effect on Escherichia coli bacteria. It was shown that exposure to irradiation of extremely high frequencies increases the electrokinetic potential and surface change density of bacteria and decreases of membrane potential. The total secretion of hydrogen ions was suppressed, the H+ flux from the cytoplasm to medium decreased, and the flux of N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-sensitive potassium ions increased, which was accompanied by changes in the stoichiometry of these fluxes and an increase in the sensitivity of H+ ions to N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The effects depended on duration of exposure: as the time of exposure increased, the bactericidal effect increased, whereas the membranotropic effects decreased. The effects also depended on growth phase of bacteria: the irradiation affected the cells in the stationary but not in the logarithmic phase. It is assumed that the H(+)-ATPase complex F0F1 is involved in membranotropic effects of electromagnetic radiation of extremely high frequencies. Presumably, there are some compensatory mechanisms that eliminate the membranotropic effects.

Dietary psoralens induce hepatotoxicity in C57 mice.

The psoralens are secondary plant metabolites found in many fruits and vegetables. Synthetic forms of 5-methoxypsoralen (bergapten) and 8-methoxypsoralen (xanthotoxin) have been used in combination with UV radiation in skin photochemotherapy for decades. However, handling or ingestion of psoralen-containing plants as well as medicinal use of these compounds have been shown to cause human health hazards. We evaluated the subacute toxicity of bergapten and xanthotoxin in a mammalian model by mixing individual chemicals into mouse diet at 0, 250, and 1000 ppm, and in combination at 500 ppm each. Feeding on individual dietary treatments at 1000 ppm significantly reduced total liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) levels in female mice compared with the control diet, but not in males. However, combining the two chemicals resulted in a significant induction of total CYP450 in both males and females. Both the combined diet and bergapten at 250 ppm caused a weak induction of CYP1A1. Weight gain was significantly less in males fed either the combined or 1000 ppm diets, while only the combined diet induced a significant weight reduction in females compared with the control diet. The psoralens also caused hypertrophy of centrolobular hepatocytes in livers of treated animals in a manner consistent with morphological alterations seen in rodent livers exposed to liver CYP-inducing agents. Neither bergapten nor xanthotoxin, however, induced a significant dose-dependent toxicity in either male or female mice, suggesting that mice may not represent a good laboratory animal model for evaluating the toxicological effects of psoralens.

A new model of retinal pigment epithelium transplantation with microspheres.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a 3-dimensional carrier system for subretinal transplantation of human fetal retinal pigment epithelial (HFRPE) cells and to assess their growth pattern in the rabbit subretinal space. METHODS: After a standard 3-port vitrectomy, HFRPE cells grown as microspheres on cross-linked fibrinogen were introduced into the subretinal space of rabbits. The eyes were studied at 7, 14, and 30 days after surgery by ophthalmoscopy and light microscopy. RESULTS: Ophthalmoscopically, at day 7, 11 (61%) of the 18 eyes showed radiating hyperpigmentation around the transplanted HFRPE microspheres. The results of a histological examination revealed a monolayer outgrowth of HFRPE cells, overlying host retinal pigment epithelium. The control eyes revealed a patch of chorioretinal atrophy with lymphocytic infiltration around the microspheres. CONCLUSIONS: Human fetal retinal pigment epithelial cells grown as microspheres on cross-linked fibrinogen can be successfully transplanted into the subretinal space. Cells can survive for at least 1 month and form a monolayer over the host retinal pigment epithelium cells, with a mild local inflammatory response. The difference in inflammatory responses between the eyes that underwent transplantation and the control eyes may suggest a modulating effect of the HFRPE cells on inflammation, immunity, or both. This new xenogenic model may have importance in the study of subretinal transplant cell biology and the associated immune response. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this study may be important for better understanding of the mechanisms of retinal pigment epithelium cell behavior after transplantation. The proposed model may be applicable for future clinical and experimental investigations in the area of retinal pigment epithelium transplantation.

Cellular response in rabbit eyes after human fetal RPE cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to study inflammatory and proliferative cellular responses in the rabbit eye after subretinal transplantation of human fetal retinal pigment epithelial (HFRPE) cells. METHODS: 5-Bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled HFRPE cells were injected subretinally into rabbit eyes at three different concentrations. Macrophage, glial, and proliferative responses of the eye tissues were studied by immunohistochemistry and light microscopy at different times after the surgery. RESULTS: In transplanted eyes, the HFRPE cells were distributed irregularly either as multilayers or monolayers. In eyes receiving high-density cell suspensions, retinal breaks were seen. No retinal breaks were noted in the eyes receiving low-density HFRPE cell suspensions. The highest intensity of inflammatory response was seen at 4-14 days after surgery, with greater expression in transplanted eyes receiving high-density cell suspensions. The host cellular response was characterized initially by local infiltration of the retina and subretinal space by macrophages and glial cells. After day 14, a decline in the number of donor cells was noted in all eyes. At later stages the host cellular response was characterized mainly by local choroidal thickening and infiltration by inflammatory cells. Proliferative response was expressed mainly by retinal cells. CONCLUSION: Initial inflammatory and proliferative responses after the xenogenic human to rabbit HFRPE cell transplantation were expressed by retinal cells with later involvement of the choroid. Our results showed a decline in the number of donor cells starting from day 14 after the transplantation. This may suggest a possibility of rejection. The initial quantity of injected cells may be critical for the intensity of the immune and inflammatory responses.

Potency of dietary indole-3-carbinol as a promoter of aflatoxin B1-initiated hepatocarcinogenesis: results from a 9000 animal tumor study.

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a metabolite of glucobrassicin found in cruciferous vegetables, is documented as acting as a modulator of carcinogenesis and, depending on timing and dose of administration, it may promote hepatocarcinogenesis in some animal models. In this study we demonstrate that, when given post-initiation, dietary I3C promotes aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in the rainbow trout model at levels as low as 500 p.p.m. Trout embryos (approximately 9000) were initiated with 0, 25, 50, 100, 175 or 250 p.p.b. AFB1 by a 30 min immersion. Experimental diets containing 0, 250, 500, 750, 1000 or 1250 p.p.m. I3C were administered starting at 3 months and fish were sampled for liver tumors at 11-13 months. Promotion at the level of tumor incidence was statistically significant for all dietary levels, except 250 p.p.m. Relative potency for promotion markedly increased at dietary levels >750 p.p.m. We propose that more than one mechanism could be involved in promotion and that both estrogenic and Ah receptor-mediated pathways could be active. The estrogenicity of I3C, measured as its ability to induce vitellogenin (an estrogen biomarker in oviparous vertebrates) was evident at the lowest dietary level (250 p.p.m.), whereas CYPIA (a P450 isozyme induced through the Ah receptor pathway) was not induced until dietary levels of 1000 p.p.m. Therefore, at lower dietary levels, promotion by I3C in this model could be explained by estrogenic activities of I3C acid derivatives, as it is known that estrogens promote hepatocarcinogenesis in trout. Much stronger promotion was observed at high dietary I3C levels (1000 and 1250 p.p.m.), at which levels both CYP1A and vitellogenin were induced.

Growth of human fetal retinal pigment epithelium as microspheres.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to develop a three-dimensional cell culture system for human fetal retinal pigment epithelial (HFRPE) cells for in vitro cellular studies and for possible application in subretinal transplantation. METHODS: Pieces of freshly isolated HFRPE monolayer tissue were grown on crosslinked fibrinogen (CLF) films. The growth pattern and morphologic characteristics of the implanted tissue were studied using phase-contrast microscopy, photography, and light and electron microscopy. The cells were screened immunohistochemically for HLA-ABC, HLA-DR, ICAM-1, B7, and Cytokeratin. Cell proliferation was studied using 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation. RESULTS: After attachment to CLF, HFRPE monolayer tissue formed small tumor-like formations, i.e. microspheres. HFRPE microspheres survived and proliferated in a floating state for at least 4 months. After attachment of the microspheres to the culture dish floor, formation of a confluent HFRPE cell monolayer with high proliferative activity was noted around the microspheres. HFRPE cells stained positive for HLA-ABC, ICAM-1, and cytokeratin and negative for B7 and HLA-DR. The microspheres could be easily detached from the dish and they were able to initiate similar growth after reattachment. CONCLUSION: HFRPE grown on CLF resemble a three-dimensional culture system with high yield of pure cells that can be useful for a wide variety of in vitro studies. Because of their adjustable size, spherical shape, and ability to initiate growth of cells with a high proliferative potential, HFRPE microspheres may be successfully utilized as a source of donor cells for subretinal transplantation.