[Herpes viruses and human papillomavirus in prostate cancer: first results].

INTRODUCTION: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa) are among the most common urological diseases in men. It has been repeatedly suggested that viral infection plays an important role in prostate carcinogenesis. AIM: To assess the relationship between viral infection and PCa, as well as the clinical and morphological features of BPH and PCa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 98 patients undergoing treatment for BPH (n=48) or PCa (n=50) between 2019 and 2021 were included in the study. Real-time PCR on the surgical specimens for human papillomaviruses (HPV), herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes virus type 6 (HSV-6) was performed. RESULTS: In patients with PCa, viruses in prostate tissue were found more often compared to those with BPH (50.0 vs. 31.3%, respectively, p=0.046.) The most common virus in both PCa and BPH was EBV (22.0 vs. 16.7%, respectively). The second most common virus in patients with PCa was HSV-6 (20.0%), which was not detected in any men with BPH (p=0.003). There was a trend toward higher prevalence of CMV among patients with PCa (16.0% vs. 4.2%), but the difference was not significant (p=0.09). There was no association of viral infection with clinical and morphological features. CONCLUSIONS: The resulting trend toward a higher prevalence of HSV-6 and CMV in patients with PCa compared to those with BPH creates the prerequisites for further study of viruses in prostate diseases involving a larger cohort, which will provide an idea of the multi-stage process of malignant transformation and, possibly, open new therapeutic options for prevention and treatment.

[Comparative assessment of the expression of Muc 2, Muc 5AC, and Muc 6 in serrated neoplasms of the colon]. / Sravnitel'naia otsenka ékspressii Muc 2, Muc 5AC i Muc 6 v zubchatykh novoobrazovaniiakh tolstoi kishki.

In the course of the serrated pathway of carcinogenesis, there are changes in the expression of mucins with a characteristic immunophenotypic sign, such as a late loss of intestinal differentiation and an increase in gastric differentiation. OBJECTIVE: To comparatively assess the expression of Muc 2, Muc 5AC, and Muc 6 in hyperplastic polyps (HPs), sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) and traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs) of the colon for determination of their role in differential diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-five serrated masses from 52 patients were examined. Among them, there were 26 SSAs, 26 HPs, and 13 TSAs. A histological examination was done using hematoxylin and eosin staining; periodic acid-Schiff reaction in combination with alcian blue, as well as immunohistochemistry with anti-Muc 2, anti-Muc 5AC, and anti-Muc 6 antibodies were used. Genetic testing of the specimens for KRAS and BRAF mutations was also carried out. RESULTS: All the serrated neoplasms of the colon exhibited a pronounced expression of Muc 2. A marked Muc 6 expression in the dilated crypt bases was found in 76.9% of SSAs, while no reaction was seen in 92.3% of HPs and in 100% of TSAs. SSAs were characterized by an intense Muc 5AC expression in the whole length of the crypts and in the surface epithelium in contrast with HPs and TSAs, where the expression of the marker was focal. Comparison of the response of the markers and the presence of gene mutations identified that the SSAs with BRAF mutation intensely expressed along the length of the crypt for Muc 5AC and Muc 6; and the TSAs with KRAS mutation had a moderate focal Muc 5AC expression in the crypt bases in 100% of cases. CONCLUSION: For differential diagnosis of the types of serrated adenomas of the colon, it is useful for a pathologist to apply the immunohistochemical markers Muc 2, Muc 5AC, and Muc 6 in his/her practice.

[Serrated adenomas of the colon: Clinical, morphological, and molecular genetic characteristics]. / Zubchatye adenomy tolstoi kishki: kliniko-morfologicheskaya i molekulyarno-geneticheskaya kharakteristika.

AIM: to investigate the clinical, morphological, and molecular genetic characteristics of serrated adenomas of the colon. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 82 colon adenomas from 63 patients aged 29 to 81 years, who underwent colonoscopy with biopsy or polypectomy. The mean age of men was 63.3 years; that of women was 56.8 years. Comprehensive clinical, morphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular genetic examinations were made. RESULTS: The histological examination showed that sessile serrated adenomas (SSA) of the colon were most common (46.4%), while hyperplastic polyp (HP) and traditional serrated adenoma (TSA) were found less often and with the same frequency (26.8%). The most typical location of SSA was the right colon; that of TSA was the left one. HP was detected equally on both sides of the colon. The immunohistochemical examination of the subtypes revealed no significant differences in the expression of markers. An analytical panel of antibodies against Desmin, Podoplanin (D2-40), CK20, CD34, Ki-67, Muc2, CEA, and CDX2 was used when identifying dysplasia areas, suspecting malignancy with invasion into the muscular layer of the mucous membrane and when determining the possible presence of emboli in blood and lymph vessels. BRAF gene mutation was identified in half of SSA cases; genetic BRAF mutation was observed in 41.7% of HP cases; genetic KRAS mutation was seen in 16.6%. The patients with TSA showed KRAS and BRAF mutations in 58.4 and 8.3% of cases, respectively. Mutations of these genes were absent. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the subtypes of serrated adenomas substantially differ by sex, age, localization, and molecular genetic characteristics.

[Long-term infliximab therapy for ulcerative colitis in real clinical practice]. / Dlitel'naya terapiya yazvennogo kolita infliksimabom v real'noi klinicheskoi praktike.

AIM: to retrospectively evaluate the efficiency of long-term infliximab (INF) therapy in patients with refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The investigation enrolled 48 patients with refractory UC who had taken IFL in 2008 to 2014. Steroid-dependent or steroid-refractory UC was established in 40 (83.3%) patients; 8 (16.7%) were noted to be refractory to therapy with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine. Cytomegalovirus DNA was identified in the biopsy specimens of the large intestinal mucosa (LIM) from 7 patients. One patient received antiviral therapy. Induction therapy with IFL was in its administration in a dose of 5 mg/kg at 0, 2, and 6 weeks, then maintenance therapy was continued every 8 weeks. RESULTS: After an IFL induction cycle, 3 (6.3%) patients were unresponsive to therapy and were excluded from the investigation. At present, 25 (55.5%) of the 45 patients who have responded to the therapy continue to take IFL 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks and are in clinical remission; 4 (8.8%) patients receive intensified IFL therapy. Initially 23 patients received combined therapy with IFL + an immunosuppressive drug; 22 had IFL monotherapy. Escape from the effect of the performed therapy was observed in 5 (11.1%) patients, which required its intensification. The intensified therapy resulted in sustained remission in 4 (8.8%) patients; colectomy was carried out in one (2.2%) case. Secondary loss of response to IFL, its intolerance, development of severe infectious complications, which did not allow for further maintenance therapy with IFL, were seen in 11 (24.4%) patients; 5 (11.1%) stopped the therapy because they had been excluded from the additional drug subsidy list. Maintenance therapy with IFL proved successful during 64 months in 29 (64.4%) of the 45 patients and during 64 months if its intensity, when the occasion required, was enhanced. CONCLUSION: The long-term use of IFL in UC confirmed its high efficacy in achieving clinical response, in inducing a clinical remission and its capacity to heal LIM, and in sustaining remission.