The Provision of Complementary,Alternative, and Integrative Medicine Information and Services: a Review of World Leading Oncology Hospital Websites

Current Oncology Reports - Many cancer patients use complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) to improve their psychological and functional health. However, there is little known...     

Fat tissue histological study at indocyanine green-mediated photothermal/photodynamic treatment of the skin in vivo

Histological slices of skin samples with the subcutaneous adipose tissue after photothermal/photodynamic treatment are analyzed. In the case of subcutaneous indocyanine green injection and 808-nm diode laser exposure of the rat skin site in vivo, the greatest changes in tissue condition were observed. Processes were characterized by dystrophy, necrosis, and desquamation of the epithelial cells, swelling and necrosis of the connective tissue, and widespread necrosis of the subcutaneous adipose tissue. The obtained data are useful for safe layer-by-layer dosimetry of laser illumination of ICG-stained adipose tissue for treatment of obesity and cellulite.     

Retinal ganglion cell layer of the Caspian seal Pusa caspica: topography and localization of the high-resolution area

Retinal topography, cell density and sizes of ganglion cells in the Caspian seal (Pusa caspica) were analyzed in retinal whole mounts stained with cresyl-violet. The topographic distribution of ganglion cells displayed an area of high cell density located in the temporal quadrant of the retina and was similar to the area centralis of terrestrial carnivores. It extended nasally, above the optic disk, as a streak of increased cell density. In different whole mounts, the peak cell density in the high-density area ranged from 1,684 to 1,844 cells/mm2 (mean 1,773 cells/mm2). The cell density data predict a retinal resolution of around 8.5 cycles/degree in water. A distinctive feature of the Caspian seal's retina is the large size of ganglion cells and the low cell density compared to terrestrial mammals. The ganglion cell diameter ranged from 10 to 58 μm. Cell size histograms featured bimodal patterns with groups of small and large ganglion cells. The large cells appeared similar to α-cells of terrestrial mammals and constituted 7% of the total ganglion cell population.     

The epidemiology of epilepsy in the Russian Federation

This study is the first analysis of the epidemiology of epilepsy in the Russian Federation (RF), in the English medical literature. The RF is geographically the largest territory in the world with a population of 142 million. The study evaluated prevalence of epilepsy in older teenagers and adults in 14 regions of the RF with total population of 517,624 persons (about 0.34% of all the population of the RF). Study sites were located in both European (Western population) and Siberian (Eastern population) regions of Russia. We identified 1753 patients with established epilepsy (1033 men, 720 women) from available medical information sources. Epilepsy cases were evaluated by study neurologists or epileptologists; all the patients underwent EEG, one third - neuroimaging. The age adjusted prevalence of epilepsy, standardized to the European Standard Million was 3.40 (95%CI: 3.26-3.55) per 1000. Prevalence was higher among men-4.50 (95%CI: 4.25-4.76) than among women-2.52 (95%CI: 2.35-2.69) (p < 0.0001). Prevalence in the Eastern population was significantly higher than in the Western population. The highest prevalence was found in the age group 50-59 years. Localization-related (focal) epilepsies/epilepsy syndromes were diagnosed in the majority (81.6%). In about one-third of those with localization-related epilepsies etiology remained undetermined. Head injury was the main identified cause of epilepsy, followed by cerebrovascular disorders. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of epilepsy in the population ≥ 14 y.o. in Russia is consistent with results of the studies in adults in other European countries, although at lower end of the range. Age and gender trends are similar.