Pathomorphologic verification of the prenatal diagnosis of developmental defects in trimester II fetuses]

153 foetuses were studied obtained after the artificial abortion for genetical indications. The scheme of the material investigation is given. Isolated, systemic and multiple defects were found in 39.0, 12.1 and 48.9%, respectively, and the contribution of the syndrome forms in the multiple developmental disturbances was 60.9%. The interruption of the pregnancy in 2% of cases was assessed as unfounded: as a consequence of hyperdiagnosis and in cases of treatable defects. The frequency of the discrepancy between prenatal and pathology diagnoses was 31.8% including hyperdiagnosis of the defect (1.3%), nosological disagreement (13.3%), the lack of diagnosis of the additional defects detectable during II trimester by present ultrasound methods (17.2%). The efficacy of the work of the prenatal diagnostic centre is, according to the authors, the number of justified interruptions of pregnancy (98% in this study).     

Synthesis and neurotropic properties of nitrogen derivatives of o-carborane and (3)-1,2-dicarbaundecaborate

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal -     

Gene Therapy of Patient-Derived T Lymphocytes to Target and Eradicate Colorectal Hepatic Metastases

PURPOSE: The overall aim of this study was to develop a novel treatment for colorectal cancer based on the use of gene therapy. Genetic modification of T lymphocytes has been used to specifically target and kill tumor cell lines directly. To test the efficacy of this method with clinically relevant materials, this study investigated the potential of T lymphocytes derived from patients with advanced colorectal disease to target autologous primary tumor material. METHODS: T lymphocytes isolated preoperatively were modified genetically with recombinant retroviruses encoding CD3-based chimeric immune receptors and were tested for functional activity against freshly isolated autologous tumor cells harvested from hepatic colorectal metastases. RESULTS: Patient-derived T cells were successfully transduced, and chimeric immune receptor expression was confirmed. Carcinoembryonic antigen expression on freshly isolated colorectal tumor cells was also demonstrated by molecular and immunohistochemical techniques. T cells expressing the anticarcinoembryonic antigen receptor were specifically activated by coculture with disaggregated or intact, diced tumor, whereas control non-carcinoembryonic antigen-targeted T-cell populations failed to activate. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that gene-targeted primary T lymphocytes depict specific functional activity against autologous colorectal tumor cells. This evidence indicates that chimeric immune receptor-expressing T cells may be able to circumvent the mechanisms used by tumor cells to avoid immune cell activity in vivo. This study emphasizes the potential of this approach as a therapy for carcinoembryonic antigen-expressing primary colorectal tumor and its metastases.     

Structure of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. tuberculosis</Emphasis> population in Mongolia according to the results of genotyping of large-sequence polymorphisms

We performed genotyping of 112 tuberculosis agent isolates from patients suffering from lung tuberculosis in Mongolia using the RD9, RD7, TbD1, RD105, and RD750 loci. Genotypes of all the obtained isolates were characterized by preservation of the RD9, RD7, and RD750 loci and by a deletion in the locus TbD1. A deletion of RD105 was found in 65 (58%) isolates. The isolates were classified into two groups, East Asian and European-American ones, by the results of genotyping.     

Salivary cortisol,personality, and aggressive behavior in adolescent boys: a 5-year longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE: The present investigation tested the hypothesis that low resting salivary cortisol concentration in preadolescent boys would be associated with aggressive behavior later in adolescence. Second, it tested whether personality traits would mediate this relation. METHOD: Resting salivary cortisol concentrations from 314 boys (10-12 years of age) were assayed. When the boys reached 15 to 17 years of age these concentrations were analyzed in the context of personality traits, measured with the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire, and aggressive behavior, measured with the Youth Self-Report inventory. RESULTS: Low cortisol in preadolescence was associated with low harm avoidance, low self-control, and more aggressive behavior 5 years later, during middle adolescence. Cortisol was not related to negative emotionality or any of its factors (including trait aggression). Low self-control was identified as the primary personality mediator of the relation between low cortisol and later aggressive behavior. CONCLUSIONS: In adolescent boys, low resting cortisol concentrations appear predictive of clinically important personality factors. Increased aggressive behavior in adolescents with low resting cortisol may be more strongly associated with lack of self-control than with a specifically "aggressive personality."     

The prospective directions of research in teratology

Unsolved problems of modern teratology are discussed. The monitoring of the congenital malformation incidence is one of the variants of evaluation and control of the mutation pressing in the population. The investigation of human foetuses obtained in artificial abortions may be very helpful in this respect. The investigation of the phenotypical manifestations of malformations in the human prenatal ontogenesis and the use of the results for the creation of notion on the malformation morphogenesis seems to be perspective. The definition of the tissue dysplasias and their classification (dystopia, dyssynchronia, hamartomas) are given. The issue of the tissue malformations during the postnatal development is not similar. They may be asymptomatic, or to disturb the function of the organ concerned, or to predispose to chronic inflammation or neoplastic growth.