Dietary polyamines promote the growth of azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci in rat colon

We have examined whether dietary polyamines influence the formation and initial growth of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rat colon. Effects of a combination of dietary polyamines at three dose levels (putrescine: 50, 280, 740 nmol/g; spermidine: 10, 261, 763 nmol/g; spermine: 1, 31, 91 nmol/g) in the polyamine-poor AIN-76A diet were studied in animals in two different experimental situations: animals treated with AOM alone and animals treated with AOM + difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific inhibitor of endogenous polyamine synthesis. In both experimental situations, dietary polyamines enhanced the growth of ACF, expressed as the number of large ACF (foci with three or more aberrant crypts, ACF > or = 3), whereas the formation of ACF, expressed as the number of ACF, was apparently not altered. In animals treated with AOM alone, maximal growth enhancing effect on ACF was nearly obtained with the median level of dietary polyamine. In rats fed a low polyamine diet, basic AIN-76A, DFMO reduced the growth of AOM-induced ACF by 83%. This inhibitory effect of DFMO was counteracted by dietary polyamines in a dose- dependent manner, and it was abolished at the highest level of polyamines. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that dietary polyamines are able to enhance the growth of AOM-induced ACF. Further, dietary polyamines reversed the DFMO-caused inhibition of ACF growth, probably by compensating for the DFMO-reduced endogenous polyamine synthesis.      

A method of surgical treatment of diastasis recti abdominis

The author describes her original method of operative treatment of patients with diastasis of the rectal muscles of the abdomen intended for liquidation of divarication of recti, formation of the new white line and strengthening of incompetent aponeurotic formations of the abdominal wall with the help of lavsan explants. The method was successfully used in 73 patients with long-standing complex diastasis of the rectal muscles of the abdomen. The average age of the patients was 45.9 years. The long-term results were followed up during the period from 1 to 11 years. No recurrences were noted. Three patients had mild relaxation of the lateral muscles of the abdomen, so they have to use elastic bandages and to fulfill feasible work.     

On rhinophyma and its cytological characteristics]

Two cases of rhinophyma are described. Clinical and cytological features are specified. Rhinophyma can be diagnosed cytologically by hyperplastic cells of sebaceous glands. However, cytological diagnosis should also take into consideration clinical picture of the disease as the above cells can be encounted also in hyperplasia and/or adenoma of the sebaceous gland as well as basalioma with sebaceous differentiation.     

Evasin‐3‐like anti‐chemokine activity in salivary gland extracts of ixodid ticks during blood‐feeding: a new target for tick control

Ticks exploit many evasion mechanisms to circumvent the immune control of their hosts including subversion of the communication language between cells of the immune system provided by chemokines and other cytokines. One subversive molecule secreted in the saliva of Rhipicephalus sanguineus is Evasin‐3, a structurally unique 7 kDa protein that selectively binds the neutrophil chemoattractants, CXCL8 and (with lower affinity) CXCL1. We compared anti‐human CXCL8 and anti‐mouse CXCL1/KC activities in salivary gland extracts prepared from adult Amblyomma variegatum, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Dermacentor reticulatus ticks during blood‐feeding. Both anti‐CXCL8 activity and anti‐CXCL1 activity were detected in all species and in both adult females and males, with consistently higher activity levels against CXCL8. These results suggest that Evasin‐3‐like activity is common amongst metastriate ixodid tick species, and provide further evidence of the importance to ticks in controlling neutrophils during blood‐feeding. As such, Evasin‐3 offers a new target for anti‐tick vaccine development.     

Method of inguinal hernias treatment

New pathogenetically substantiated method of operative treatment for complicated inguinal hernias has been developed by the author (patent R.F. No 2007128) and used in clinical practice. It provides to restore anatomo-topographic and functional parameters of the inguinal channel, to eliminate traumatic effect of the operation and to decrease the risk of recurrence of the disease. The method consists in correction of the walls of the inguinal channel by (-shaped goffered sutures from polymerous monothreads, on which frame a reliable regenerate connective tissue is being developed. This method was used in 97 patients with large complicated inguinal hernias. 1-5 year follow-up results has been studied. There were no relapses of the disease. By virtue of the simplicity of this method and its efficacy it is accessible for great majority of surgeons.