[Abnormal development of the hard palate revealed during the forensic examination of bone remains]. / Anomal'noe razvitie tverdogo neba, vyyavlennoe pri sudebno-meditsinskoi ekspertize kostnykh ostankov.

In the forensic practice of examining bone remains there are cases of anomalies' detection of the skeleton development which have a high identification value for the search for a missing person. The most valuable ones are the features of the facial skull anatomical structure since they are usually well visible and recorded in photographic and medical documents. In the presented case an anomaly in the hard palate development was revealed on the skull of an unknown person found in the Leningrad region - a cleft caused by its underdevelopment.

[Acute complications of gastrointestinal stromal tumors]. / Ostrye oslozhneniia stromal'nykh opukholei zheludochno-kishechnogo trakta.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze acute complications of stromal gastrointestinal tumors and determine diagnosis and optimal treatment of these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 33 patients with acute complications of GIST aged 40-74 years. RESULTS: Acute complications were presented by gastrointestinal and (or) intratumoral (interstitial) bleeding (n=31). Hemorrhage was combined with stomach perforation in 1 case, intussusception and obstruction of the duodenum in 1 patient, small bowel obstruction in 2 patients. All findings were confirmed by the marker CD 117 (+). One patient died in long-term period after R0-resection and chemotherapy. Targeted therapy was used in 2 patients. CONCLUSION: Clinical examples indicate the progress in diagnosis and treatment of GIST due to development of instrumental imaging techniques, histological and histochemical verification of the process.

[Death of Pyotr Stolypin: forensic medical aspects]. / Smert' Petra Stolypina ­ sudebno-meditsinskie aspekty.

The article continues the cycle of scientific research devoted to the reconstruction of the tragic events of Russian history by the methods of forensic medical examination. The archival data of the criminal case on the murder in Kiev in 1911 of the Prime Minister of Russia P.A. Stolypin has been published in the scientific literature first time. Formulation a forensic diagnosis and reconstruction of the posture of the victim were done based on comparison of the data from the inspection of the scene, the characteristics of the firearms and the results of the examination of the body. The obtained data arguably disprove the positions of the victim and the killer, which are generally accepted in journalism and artworks.

[DIRECT EFFECT OF IL-7 ON THE GROWTH AND FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY OF T-LYMPHOCYTES IN THE ABSENCE OF ANTIGENIC STIMULUS].

It is shown that in the absence of antigenic stimulus interleukin-7 (IL-7) is capable of increasing the content of cells expressing the CD25 molecule among both CD4-positive and CD4-negative effector memory T-cells (CD45RA-CD197-), as well as terminally differentiated T cells (CD45RA+CD197-) without causing a significant impact on the status of the activation of naive T cells (CD45RA+CD197+) and central memory T cells (CD45RA-CD197+). IL-7 was also able to enhance T-cell production of IL-2, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and IL-10, but not IL-4. These data indicate the involvement of IL-7 into a direct upregulation of growth and functional activity of human T cells in the absence of antigenic stimulus and the relative scarcity of costimulatory effects.

Erythropoietin exerts direct immunomodulatory effects on the cytokine production by activated human T-lymphocytes.

The effect of erythropoietin-ß (Epo-ß) on the functional profile of activated human T-lymphocytes remains largely unknown, which hinders clinical application of Epo as an immunomodulatory agent. We studied the direct impact of Epo on the activation status of human T lymphocytes following activation by particles loaded with antibodies (Abs) against human CD2, CD3, and CD28. T cell activation was assessed by the surface expression of CD38 activation marker. Epo did not significantly affect activation status of both CD4(+) and CD4(-) T cells, as well as of naive (CD45RA(+)CD197(+)), central memory (CD45RA(-)CD197(+)), effector memory (CD45RA(-)CD197(-)), and terminally-differentiated (CD45RA(+)CD197(-)) T cells. However, Epo markedly augmented production of IL-2, IL-4 and IL10 by activated T cells with concomitant reduction in IFN-γ secretion. Taken together, our data showed that Epo could directly down-regulate pro-inflammatory T cell responses without affecting T cell activation status.

Multiple-purpose immunotherapy for cancer.

Anti-cancer vaccination is a useful strategy to elicit antitumor immune responses, while overcoming immunosuppressive mechanisms. Whole tumor cells or lysates derived thereof hold more promise as cancer vaccines than individual tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), because vaccinal cells can elicit immune responses to multiple TAAs. Cancer cell-based vaccines can be autologous, allogeneic or xenogeneic. Clinical use of xenogeneic vaccines is advantageous in that they can be most effective in breaking the preexisting immune tolerance to TAAs. An attractive protocol would be to combine vaccinations with immunostimulating and/or immunosuppression-blocking modalities. It is reasonable to anticipate that combined immunotherapeutic strategies will allow for substantial improvements in clinical outcomes in the near future.

Clinically feasible approaches to potentiating cancer cell-based immunotherapies.

The immune system exerts both tumor-destructive and tumor-protective functions. Mature dendritic cells (DCs), classically activated macrophages (M1), granulocytes, B lymphocytes, aß and ɣδ T lymphocytes, natural killer T (NKT) cells, and natural killer (NK) cells may be implicated in antitumor immunoprotection. Conversely, tolerogenic DCs, alternatively activated macrophages (M2), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and regulatory T (Tregs) and B cells (Bregs) are capable of suppressing antitumor immune responses. Anti-cancer vaccination is a useful strategy to elicit antitumor immune responses, while overcoming immunosuppressive mechanisms. Whole tumor cells or lysates derived thereof hold more promise as cancer vaccines than individual tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), because vaccinal cells can elicit immune responses to multiple TAAs. Cancer cell-based vaccines can be autologous, allogeneic or xenogeneic. Clinical use of xenogeneic vaccines is advantageous in that they can be most effective in breaking the preexisting immune tolerance to TAAs. To potentiate immunotherapy, vaccinations can be combined with other modalities that target different immune pathways. These modalities include 1) genetic or chemical modification of cell-based vaccines; 2) cross-priming TAAs to T cells by engaging dendritic cells; 3) T-cell adoptive therapy; 4) stimulation of cytotoxic inflammation by non-specific immunomodulators, toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, cytokines, chemokines or hormones; 5) reduction of immunosuppression and/or stimulation of antitumor effector cells using antibodies, small molecules; and 6) various cytoreductive modalities. The authors envisage that combined immunotherapeutic strategies will allow for substantial improvements in clinical outcomes in the near future.

[The effect of intravenous novocaine administration on the outcome of hemorrhagic reactions]. / Vliianie vnutrivennykh vvedenii novokaina na iskhody postgemorragicheskoi reaktsii

Experiments conducted on 48 dogs and 50 rabbits showed that intravenous injection of novocain at various periods of the organism reaction to acute massive hemorrhage promoted an increase of survival and of the life span of the animals. Administration of the preparation increase the rate of flow, cardiac stroke and minute volume, and, on the whole, prevented the occurrence of late period of hemorrhagic shock. A conclusion was drawn that intravenous injections of novocain delayed the rate of development of the pathological process, and thus promoted more complete mobilization of the compensatory reactions.

[Mechanism of action of Novocain administered intravenously to animals]. / K mekhanizmu deistviia novokaina pri vnutrivennom vvedenii ego zhivotnym.

Tests conducted with 48 dogs and 100 rabbits demonstrated that intravenous administration of novocain has a well-marked positive influence in extreme conditions, such as massive blood losses and traumatic shocks. It is shown that in the mechanism of the drug's action particularly important is its capability to increase the cardiac performance, to eliminate spasms of resistive vessels and to contract the blood-carrying vessels of the microcirculatory stream. The final effect, however, is in a great measure dependent upon the initial functional state of the organism (the period of hemorrhagic or traumatic shock) and an early introduction of the drug.

[Response of the body to a combination of severe cranio-cerebral trauma and acute massive blood loss]. / Osobennosti reaktsii organizma na sochetanie tiazheloi cherepno-mozgovoi travmy s ostroi massivnoi krovopoterei

It was shown in acute experiments on 54 dogs that peculiarities of body reaction to the combination of a severe craniocerebral trauma with acute blood loss depended on the sequency of the extreme influences inflication. The craniocerebal trauma inflicted at the early period of hemorrhagic shock failed to influence significantly the dynamics and results of the main pathological process. Against the background of the craniocerebral trauma hemorrhagic shock appeared with a much less blood loss and its course was more severe.