Clinico-anatomical basis for using the variants of proximal gastric vagotomy in the treatment of gastroduodenal ulcers

Anatomical examinations (33 cadavers) for studying parasympathetic innervation of the upper abdominal organs formed the basis for developing a new variant of proximal gastric vagotomy--anterior seromyotomy of the body and fundus of the stomach in combination with posterior truncal or posterior selective vagotomy. This variant excludes mobilization of the esophagus and makes it possible to preserve the ligament apparatus of the esophago-gastric junction as well as the parasympathetic innervation of the pancreas, small and large intestine, kidneys, and adrenals, which may be a measure for the prevention of some ++post-vagotomy complications.     

Oxidative phosphorylation in different regions of the rat brain following morphine administration]

The influence exercised by morphine in a dose of 20 mg/kg, introduced intraperitoneally, and also in concentrations of 10(-3) and 10(-5) "in vitro" on the parameters of oxidative phosphorylation of the brain cortex and stem of rats was studied. Morphine, used in a concentration of 10(-3), is shown to speed up the substrates oxidation rate. During the first days of its administration the narcotic analgetic inhibited oxidation of mitochondia released from the brain stem, and, once habituation to the narcotic had developed, the inhibition ceased to be effective. In "in vivo" experiments and in vitro tests the effect of phosphorylation remained unchanged. The data obtained suggest that with developing habituation in regard to morphine the functions of the brain stem and cortex mitochondria do not undergo any substantial changes.     

New surgical tactics in the treatment of patients with complicated tuberculosis of the lungs and pleura]

Stepwise surgical tactics by using transsternal transepicardial preocclusion of the main bronchus and lung root vessels, opening of the empyema cavity and pneumotomy has been proposed to treat patients with progressive fibrocavernous tuberculosis complicated by pneumothorax and pleural empyema and extended into the thoracic wall. After 1.5-2 months the main stage of the operation, pleuropulmonectomy, is performed. Among the 25 patients operated on, the clinical effect was achieved in 15, 5 patients continued to take treatment, 5 patients died. The first results show that active care may be delivered to patients with complicated pulmonary and pleural tuberculosis who have recently had no hope to be recovered and the process be steady.     

Theranostic system for ratiometric fluorescence monitoring of peptide-guided targeted drug delivery

Conjugation of an anticancer drug with a cancer-specific carrier and a fluorescent dye to form a theranostic system enables real time monitoring of targeted drug delivery (TDD). However, the fluorescence signal from the dye is affected by the light absorption and scattering in the body, photobleaching, and instrumental parameters. Ratiometric measurements utilizing two fluorescence signals of different wavelengths are known to improve sensitivity, reliability and quantitation of fluorescence measurements in biological media. Herein, a novel theranostic system comprising the anticancer drug chlorambucil (CLB), cancer-specific peptide octreotide amide (OctA), and a long-wavelength dual fluorescent cyanine dye IRD enabling ratiometric monitoring of drug delivery was developed and evaluated on the cancer cell line PANC-1.

Novel theranostic system that first combines a cancer-targeting peptide with a long-wavelength dual fluorescent dye IRD in order to provide ratiometric monitoring of anticancer drug delivery is developed and evaluated in pancreatic cancer cell line.     

Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. length and its variability

The length of 469 Borreliae burgdorferi s.I. from the Ixodes ricinus and I. persulcatus images collected in the Moscow Region, that of 5433 B. burgdorferi s.s from the I. persulcatus nymphs and images cultured at a laboratory, and B. burdorferi s.s. grown on the BSK-II (1 and 10 passages) were measured. There was a wide range of variations in the length of specimens (3-74 microns) and in those of this group average sizes (10.7-24.8 microns). The lengths of Borelliae from natural and laboratory ticks after their molt were 17-18 microns. When the ticks were kept in the refrigerator as long as 1-2 years, the length of Borreliae decreased to 10.7-10.9 microns, upon multiple (10) passages on the BSK-II medium, their lengths increased to 24.8 microns (the differences being significant). When the length of Borreliae reduced due to their keeping in the refrigerator, their pathogenicity for albino mice diminished. This disappeared after multiple BSK-II medium passages. It is suggested that the length of Borreliae may serve as a marker of their pathogenicity.     

Acid-Sensing Ion Channels: Focus on Physiological and Some Pathological Roles in the Brain

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are Na⁺-permeable ion channels activated by protons and predominantly expressed in the nervous system. ASICs act as pH sensors leading to neuronal excitation. At least eight different ASIC subunits (including ASIC1a, ASIC1b, ASIC2a, ASIC2b, ASIC3, ASIC4, ASIC5) are encoded by five genes (ASIC1-ASIC5). Functional ASICs assembled in the plasma membrane are homo- or heteromeric trimers. ASIC1a-containing trimers are of particular interest as, in addition to sodium ions, they also conduct calcium ions and thus can trigger or regulate multiple cellular processes. ASICs are widely but differentially expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems. In the mammalian brain, a majority of neurons express at least one ASIC subunit. Several recent reviews have summarized findings of the role of ASICs in the peripheral nervous system, particularly in nociception and proprioception, and the structure-function relationship of ASICs. However, there is little coverage on recent findings regarding the role of ASICs in the brain. Here we review and discuss evidence regarding the roles of ASICs: (i) as postsynaptic receptors activated by protons co-released with glutamate at glutamatergic synapses; (ii) as modulators of synaptic transmission at glutamatergic synapses and GABAergic synapses; (iii) in synaptic plasticity, memory and learning; (iv) in some pathologies such as epilepsy, mood disorders and Alzheimer''s disease.     

An alternative diagnostic method of eruptive vellus hair cysts: Report of a familial case with pruritus

Eruptive vellus hair cysts (EVHC) represent a developmental abnormality of vellus hair follicles. Up till now more than 150 cases of EVHC have been published in the literature, but it appears to be more common than recognized. The diagnostic hallmark is the presence of vellus hair shafts within the cystic space. Firstly to evaluate the potential benefit of new diagnostic method of EVHC using a dermatoscope and secondly to report a familial case of EVHC where females were only affected. Five women from the same family with a clinical diagnosis of EVHC were included in the study. The diagnosis of EVHC was confirmed by skin biopsy with histologic examination in four patients. New diagnostic approach of the cyst contents examination with using a handheld dermatoscope was performed in all patients. Numerous vellus hair shafts were detected on the images of the cysts content taken with dermatoscope and applying the above‐mentioned method in all patients. We suggest that it seems possible to differentiate EVHC by using the dermatoscope, which appears to be simple, quick, and less time consuming.