[Efficacy of different chemotherapy programs, indications for surgery and radiotherapy in primary mediastinal B-cell lymphosarcoma].

AIM: To evaluate efficacy of treatment of primary mediastinal B-cell lymphosarcoma (PMBLS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty nine patients with PMBLD were divided into three groups. Group 1 (n = 15) received 8 courses of CHOP, prevention of neuroleukemia and radiotherapy (RT). Group 2 (n = 8)--4 courses of ProMACE-CytaBOM or 1 course of MACOP-B, prevention of neuroleukemia and RT. Group 3 (n = 36)--2 courses of CHOP and 2-3 courses of ESHAP or 3 courses of DexaBEAM, surgical removal of residual mediastinal tumor (RMT), RT. RESULTS: The number of complete remissions in group 1 and 2 was the same (26 and 25%, respectively). Overall 5-year and event-free survivals in groups 1 and 2 were 52 +/- 5 and 13 +/- 5; 62 +/- 5 and 38 +/- 8%, respectively. In group 3 a complete remission was observed in 89% patients (p = 0.01), overall 5-year and event-free survival reached 88 +/- 8 and 85 +/- 7%, respectively. Removal of RMT in time of tumor size stabilization and partial remission (in 12 of 15 cases) led to a complete remission but in progression of the disease (in 3 cases) appeared ineffective. RT resulted in complete remission in 39 of 53 cases, stabilization of tumor growth was in 3 cases, progression--in 10, recurrence--in 1. RT was ineffective in all 4 cases of partial remission. RT use in stabilization of tumor size induced complete remission only in 1 of 7 cases. CONCLUSION: CHOP program is ineffective in PMBLS. Program ProMACE-CytaBOM or MACOP-B is insignificantly more effective than CHOP. Combined therapy is most effective. Surgery is justified in partial remission and tumor growth arrest. RT is indicated in complete remission to achieve its consolidation.

[Invasive pulmonary aspergillesis].

AIM: To evaluate the results of therapy of invasive pulmonary aspergillesis (IPA) in one medical center from 2000 to 2005. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Diagnosis of IPA was made according to the International criteria. Incidence of verified IPA was 2%, probable--84%, possible--14%. RESULTS: IPA was diagnosed in 50 cases in 49 patients aged 16- 78 years, median 35. Most of the patients consisted of acute leukemia cases (54%). Intensive cytostatic therapy was given in 41% cases. In 54% IPA developed in critical neutropenia, median of duration of which being 29 days (3 to 144 days). 29 patients received glucocorticoid drugs. In diagnosis of IPA Aspergillus spp was isolated in 46% cases (A. fumigatus-59%, A. flavus-29%, A. niger-4%, A-versicolor-4%, in 1 (4%) case identification was not made. Positive antigen Aspergillus was detected in 27 cases. All the patients had pulmonary involvement detected at x-ray or computed tomography. Coincidence of pulmonary lesions seen at x-rays and computer tomograms was only in 30% patients. Cure was achieved in 44%, lethality was 56%. Overall survival in IPA for 90 days was 47%. Amphotericine was effective in 29%. Voriconasol--in 3 of 5 patients, kaspofungin--in 3 of 7. Surgical treatment was given to 4 patients. CONCLUSION: Lethality in IPA for 5 years when basic therapy was amfotericin B reached 56%. Reduction of lethality can be achieved due to early diagnosis of the infection and administration of voriconasol at the initial stage of IPA. It is necessary to conduct multicenter studies to ascertain indications for combined antifungal therapy.

[Borderline mental disorders in workers in chemical industry plants]. / Pogranichnye psiknicheskie rasstroistva u rabochikh predpriiatii khimicheskoi promyshlennosti.

A total of 550 workers at a chemical plant have been examined for symptoms of borderline neuromental disturbances. The ratio was as follows: 26.8%, normal subjects; 33.7%, predisease state; 10.3%, neurotic reactions; 1.8%, neuroses; 22.7%, neurosis-like states; 4.7%, chronic alcoholism. A normal person presents 2.7 symptoms, a neurotic one, 29.3. The rate of somatic diseases per subject is 1.6 and 3.6 respectively. Depressive and neurotic reactions in the form of neurocirculatory asthenia are quite frequent, being predominant in individuals with a shorter length of service, and are associated with financial and household difficulties and dissatisfaction with the present job.

[Opportunities of delayed densitometry of "late (fixed) contrast" as a test for tumors in residual mediastinal lesion in primary mediastinal lymphosarcoma after polychemotherapy]. / Vozmozhnosti sposoba otsrochennoi densitometrii "pozdnego (fiksirovannogo) kontrasta", primeniaemogo v kachestve testa opukholi v ostatochnom obrazovanii sredosteniia pri pervichnykh mediastinal'nykh limfosarkomakh posle okonchaniia polikhimioterapii.

AIM: To clarify the potential of delayed densitometry of late (fixed) contrast in differentiation between tumor and fibrosis in residual mediastinal lesion (RML). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Computed tomography (computed tomograph of the third generation COMATOM CR-3 made in Germany, SIEMENS) has examined 12 patients with mediastinal lymphosarcomas after polychemotherapy. All of them had a RML 3 to 6 cm in diameter. RESULTS: CT has detected 8 cases of the tumor and 4 cases of fibrosis. The criteria of the tumor were the following: increased RML density shortly after the contrast medium introduction and 30 min after urographine introduction (p < 0.01); RML density 30 min after introduction of contrast medium was higher than above the aorta (p < 0.01). Fibrosis in RML was stated if RML density before, at the high of concentration and after introduction of the contrast medium was the same (p > 0.01); aortic density was significantly higher of RML density at the height of the contrast (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The above method differentiates the tumor with fibrosis in RML with maximal probability. This facilitates further choice of therapeutic policy in secondary resistant form of primary mediastinal lymphosarcoma.

[Potentialities of high-resolution computed tomography in diagnosis of pulmonary lesions after bone marrow transplantation in blood diseases]. / Vozmozhnosti komp'iuternoi tomografii vysokogo razresheniia v diagnostike porazhenii legkikh posle transplantatsii kostnogo mozga pri zabolevaniiakh sistemy krovi.

AIM: To study characteristics of a skialogical picture of pulmonary parenchyma and roentgenomorphological signs of inflammatory changes before and after bone marrow transplantation (BMT); relationship between the data of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and clinical data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HRCT (computer tomograph of the third generation "Somatom CR-3") was made in fever, changes in physical examination in patients (n = 28) after BMT from November 2001 to January 2003. BMT was made in myelomic disease, lymphogranulomatosis, acute leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, lymphosarcoma, autoimmune hemolytic anemia. RESULTS: Twenty four patients were examined before BMT. Of them, 18 patients had roentgenomorphological changes of the parenchyma, primarily, diffuse. Three patients were examined during conditioning, two cases had signs of toxic pulmonitis. One day after allo-BMT all the patients exhibited lowering of densitometric values of pulmonary tissue by 70 HU vs the baseline. Infectious affection of the lungs was diagnosed in 13 cases during day 0-100. From day 100 after allo-BMT 7 recipients were observed. In 6 cases the changes resulted from transplant against host reaction. Infectious affection of pulmonary tissue was observed in 1 case. Characteristic x-ray picture of pulmonary stroma in secondary disease was determined. CONCLUSION: For early diagnosis of pneumonia in myelotoxic agranulocytosis it is necessary to make examination by HRCT before BMT. HRCT of the chest is indicated in even minor changes in the clinical picture. It is necessary to perform a control over water-electrolyte balance and active respiratory exercise in the course of conditioning. Viral pneumonias show the picture of metainflammatory changes for a long time. Fungal pneumonias tend to recurrence at "previous site". HRCT examination of the pulmonary tissue provides more information about pulmonary tissue in patients with secondary disease.

[Invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients]. / Invazivnyi aspergillez u immunokomprometirovannykh bol'nykh.

AIM: To analyse results of treatment of invasive aspergillesis in immunocompromised patients for 2000-2002. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was made of patients who, when treated with antibiotics, exhibited foci in the lungs typical for invasive aspergillesis. Aspergillas were detected in the sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial wash-ups, aspergilla antigen (galactomannan) was detected in the blood. RESULTS: Invasive aspergillesis was diagnosed in 25 patients. 13 (52%) patients were treated with adjuvant glucocorticoids. 19 (76%) patients had neutropenia. All the patients had fever. Foci in the lungs were in 24 patients. Aspergillas were detected in 15 patients, a positive antigen galactomannan in 7 patients. A. Fumigatus, A flavus, A. Niger occurred in 67, 26.5 and 6.5% patients, respectively. All the patients received amphotericin B (median of the treatment reached 38 days, total dose 880-3500 mg). In 5 patients amphotericin B was replaced for liposomal amphotericin B because of high creatinine. 7 patients continued with itraconasol in a dose 400-600 mg/day. The foci were removed in 3 patients. The cure was achieved in 12 patients, 13 patients, 13 patients died (cause of death--respiratory insufficiency). CONCLUSION: Lethality in invasive aspergillesis in immunocompromised patients remains high--52%. Cultural detection of mycelial fungi was, as a rule, delayed. Early diagnosis of the disease requires monitoring of the aspergilla antigen in the blood and computer tomography of the chest especially in fever persisting in the treatment of wide-spectrum antibiotics.

[Value of contrast arthrography in the diagnosis of hemophilic arthropathy]. / Znachenie kontrastnoi artrografii v diagnostike gemofilicheskoi artropatii.

X-ray semiotics of changes in the roentgen-negative components of the knee joint at different stages of hemophilic arthropathy has been described basing on the study of 46 contrast arthrography ++ of the joint, and their correlation with the results of macroscopic and histological investigations of the tissues removed during surgery. Identification of the character of the damage in the soft-tissue and cartilage components of the joint is particularly important at the early stages of arthropathy, as it enables determining the optimum therapeutic tactics when the data of routine roentgenography give insufficient information, and changes in the bones are limited and, as a rule, reversible.