Hormonal mechanisms of morphofunctional changes in the gastric mucosa in chronic gastritis

The authors gave morphometric assessment of the mucous membrane of the stomach (MMS), investigated the proliferative activity of its cells and the levels of cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) in 60 patients with different types of chronic gastritis. A parallel study was made of the blood levels of cortisol, thyroxine, insulin, STH, and gastrin. 10 healthy persons were investigated for control. A decrease in MMS thickness, redistribution of the sizable lobes of the glandular epithelium and stroma in favor of the latter were shown in atrophic (but not superficial) gastritis. In patients with atrophic gastritis the proliferative activity of MMS cells was significantly raised, the blood levels of cortisol and gastrin were elevated, the level of thyroxine was lowered, and insulin and STH levels were normal. Marked MMS atrophy was accompanied by cAMP and cGMP insufficiency. The relationships between the morphofunctional status and the proliferative activity of MMS cells, on the one hand, and the activity of the hormonal-cyclase systems, on the other hand, were followed. The mechanisms of pathological regeneration of MMS cell elements was specified, and its importance in the morphogenesis of atrophic gastritis was confirmed.     

Magnetic resonance imaging pattern variability in dysferlinopathy

The widespread use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of myopathies has made it possible to clarify the typical MRI pattern of dysferlinopathy. However, sufficient attention has not been given to the variability of MRI patterns in dysferlinopathy.Materials and methodsTwenty-five patients with the clinical manifestations of dysferlinopathy were examined. For all patients, creatine phosphokinase levels were measured and molecular genetics were examined. In two patients, immunohistochemical examinations of muscle biopsies were performed. MRI scanning was included T2 multi-slice multi-echo, T1 weighted, T2 weighted and Short Tau Inversion Recovery T2 weighted sequences. Quantitative and semi-quantitative evaluations of fatty replacement and swelling of the muscles were undertaken.ResultsVariability in the MRI patterns was lowest in the pelvis and leg muscles and highest in the thigh muscles. Three main types of MRI patterns were distinguished: posterior-dominant (80%), anterior-dominant (16%), and diffuse (4%). Among patients with the anterior-dominant pattern, the collagen-like variant (4%), proximal variant (4%) and pseudo-myositis (8%) were separately distinguished.ConclusionsAwareness of atypical MRI patterns in dysferlinopathy is important for increasing the efficiency of routine diagnostics and optimizing the search for causative gene mutations.Key words: dysferlinopathy, LGMDR2, LGMD2B, Miyoshi myopathy, MRI pattern, T2-MSME     

Synthesis and antioxidant activity of azomethines

Four new azomethines have been synthesized. Quantum-chemical calculations of the atomic electron density distribution in the synthesized and known azomethines have been carried out. Their antioxidant activity has been studied in a model system with linolenic acid as the substrate. It is established that the electron density on the carbon atom of azomethine group is correlated with the antioxidant activity in the series of azomethines containing NO₂ groups in their structures. __________ Translated from Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 41, No. 9, pp. 20–21, September, 2007.     

Relationship between glucose utilization by tissues and residual insulin secretion and their role in the genesis of hyperglycemia in type I diabetes mellitus]

Altogether 67 patients aged 16 to 50 suffering from insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) of various duration were investigated to study the effect of peripheral sensitivity to insulin on genesis to hyperglycemia in type I diabetes mellitus. Residual beta-cell insulin secretory function was assessed by the level of C-peptide in a standard food test, and the rate of glucose utilization by tissues was studied by the clamp-method under the conditions of normoglycemia. The results obtained indicate the role of a decrease in peripheral sensitivity to insulin in genesis of hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus, type I, and the presence of reciprocal interactions between glucose utilization and insulin secretion in IDDM patients and in controls.     

Treatment of adult Berkitt-like lymphoma

AIM: To compare programs of chemotherapy used in adult Berkitt-like lymphoma (ABLL); to assess efficacy and toxicity of the protocol AblL-M-04. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 31 ABLL patients (23 males, 8 females, mean age 27 years) participated in the study performed in Hematological Research Center in 1995-2004. ABLL stage I, II, III and IV was diagnosed in 3, 5, 8 and 15 patients, respectively. 10 patients had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. 9 patients received 2 to 6 courses of CHOP, 1 patient--6 courses of Pro-Mace-Cytabom, 11 patients with newly diagnosed ABLL and 5 pretreated with CHOP--NHL-BFM-90. The modified protocol ABLL-M-04 of intensive short-term therapy included 10 patients, 2 of them pretreated. RESULTS: Of 10 patients given CHOP or CHOP-like courses 9 were resistant to therapy, 2 died of rapid progression, 7 were converted to the program therapy. 5 patients on the protocol NHL-BFM-90 died after short-term improvement. None of them achieved remission. Of 10 patients with newly diagnosed ABLL treated according to NHL-BFM-90 protocol, remission was achieved in 4 patients, follow-up median--34 months (2-56). Six patients died: 4 of progression, 2 of chemotherapy complications. BLL-M-04 therapy was made in 9 patients: 7 patients persisted on the first remission, 2 patients died of chemotherapy complications. Overall duration of the treatment was 3-3.5 months. CONCLUSION: The protocol ABLL-M-04 seems to be more effective than a classic NHL-BFM-90, but this must be supported by more cases. CHOP therapy cannot be recommended for patients with ABLL because of poor efficacy (all the CHOP patients died).