Humoral immune response of BALB/c mice immunized with chimer HBcAg proteins carrying the epitopes of surface hepatic B virus protein

Chimeric HBcAg proteins carrying epitopes from surface hepatitis B virus (HBV) protein (regions 137-147 a.o. HBsAg, 27-37 a.a. region preS1 and 131-145 a.a. region preS2) have been early constructed. This paper presents the data of an investigation of a humoral immune response in mice immunized with obtained by chimeric HBcAg proteins. The findings suggest that the chimeric HBcAg proteins carrying the epitopes of surface HBV protein are able to induce an immune response to both inserted epitopes and carrying protein (HBcAg). Immunization with a mixture of chimeric proteins taken in equivalent quantities induces the synthesis of antibodies to hybrid proteins. The use of aluminum hydroxide considerably enhances a humoral immune response during immunization with chimeric bovine proteins.     

Age-related characteristics of breast invasive ductal carcinoma

377 patients aged 30 to 79 years who had breast carcinoma were examined to study the age-related features of tumor anaplasia. The degree of tumor anaplasia was studied, in primary nodules, less and more than 2.5 cm in diameter in patients of different ages. This index decreased with age. This may explain more a malignant course of the disease in young patients.     

Mast cells and innervation of the wall of the hyperactive urinary bladder

Anterior urinary bladder wall biopsy specimens were examined in 24 males and 4 females, aged 52 to 76 years, who had been suffering from the hyperactive urinary bladder for 1-10 years. Increases in the number and activity of interstitial mast cells and their degranulation and the symptoms of chronic immune inflammation were revealed. Neuromuscular spastic dysfunction of the detrusor is considered to result from the activation of mast cells.     

Clinical morphology of acute coronary syndrome

The paper describes acute coronary syndrome and gives its definition, classification and current possibilities of its clinical and morphological diagnosis. Emphasis is laid on the troponine test and clinicoinstrumental imaging of coronary arterial obstruction and myocardial ischemia. Data on the morphological criteria for vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, different stages of ischemia and early myocardial necrosis are presented. Recommendations on establishing the postmortem diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome are given.     

Hyperhomocysteinemia in coronary artery disease and hemostasis disorders in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHC) on vascular-thrombocyte and coagulation hemostasis and the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). DM 2 patients with or without CAD were examined; high incidence of HHC (40.3%) was revealed. The level of homocysteine was significantly higher in DM2 patients with CAD vs. non-CAD subjects. Among patients with DM2 and CAD the level of the amino acid was elevated in 77.1% of cases with a history of myocardial infarction. In patients with DM2, CAD, and HHC, vascular-thrombocyte hemostasis factors were found to be hyperactive, while anticoagulatory ones were suppressed. These changes in the hemostatic system in HHC increase the probability of thrombus formation and CAD progress.     

Long QT syndrome induced by cordaron and quinidine

The article presents an observation of a 63-year-old female patient suffering from arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease complicated by a persistent form of atrial fibrillation during 1.5 months, and hereditary Minkowski-Chauffard hemolytic anemia. Treatment with cordaron proved to be ineffective, while oral administration of quinidin in a dose of 1 gr (0.2 gr five times a day) led to restoration of sinus rhythm. However, long QT interval syndrome complicated by ventricular tachycardic paroxysms of torsade de pointes type developed; later it transformed into ventricular fibrillation.     

Irritated bowel syndrome: clinico-morphological types

One hundred twenty eight patients with irritated bowel syndrome (IBS) were included in the study and divided into two equal groups. Group one consisted of patients with type II IBS (without atrophic changes in the colon mucosa, CM); group II consisted of patients with type II IBS (with atrophic changes in the CM); the control group consisted of 24 practically healthy individuals. All the subjects, including the healthy ones, were examined using clinical, endoscopic, immunohistochemical methods, and electron microscopy. The study found that the development of type IIBS was connected with hyperplasia and hyperfunction of serotonin-producing cells with intensification of apoptosis. The number of colonocytes with nuclei that are immunopositive to D1 cycline increases, and the number of colonocyte nuclei that are immunopositive to proliferating cell nuclear antigen decreases. The onset of type II IBS is associated with hyperplasia and hyperfunction of all apudocyte populations, including those producing melatonin and serotonin, and simultaneous reduction of the number and functional exhaustion of VIP-producing and mast cells. Colonocyte apoptosis intensifies; their proliferative potential decreases.     

The clinical course of portal hypertensive gastropathy after ligation of esophageal varicose veins

Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is a pathological process in the gastric mucosa (GM) that develops due to portal hypertension (PH) and bears a high risk of hemorrhage. Eradication of esophageal varicose veins (EVV) is one of important factors influencing the course of PHG. The purpose of this study was to investigate the course of PHG after eradication of EVV in patients with hepatic cirrhosis (HC). Fifty-two HC patients (39 men, 13 women, mean age: 56.5 years), who underwent EVV ligation, were included in the study. The number of patients with PHG increased three months after EVV ligation; the severity of EVV also increased. The course of PHG differed depending on the time of its onset after surgery. Patients who had not had PHG before EVV ligation developed its signs in 75% of cases. In 31.3% of these patients PHG was resolved, while in 43.6% it did not change during the whole term of observation. In patients who had had PHG before EVV ligation, the latter resolved in 8.3% of cases, became more severe in 33.3% of cases, and remained at the same level in 58.3%. The authors distinguish four types of PHG course. Newly-developed PHG that occurred after EVV eradication, the signs of which remained during the whole period of observation (type I), took place in 13.5% of patients; transient PHG, the signs of which disappeared within three months of observation (type II), was seen in 15.4% of patients; persisting PHG, which was observed before EVV ligation and did not change during the whole study period (type III), was found in 40.3% of patients; progressing PHG, observed before or after EVV ligation and the severity of which grew during the observation period (type IV), was revealed in 23.1% of patients. In 4 (7.7%) of patients PHG signs were absent during the whole time of the study. PHG hemorrhage was observed in 11.5% of the patients. Thus, EVV ligation presents a risk factor of the onset and progression of pre-existing PHG in patients with HC.