Quantitative assessment of the level of the causative agent of tick-borne rickettsiosis in a population of the main vector

It was first demonstrated that the method of individual titration of ticks from natural population, using animals sensitive to tick rickettsiosis agent, helps accurately estimate their infection level and define the level of infection of individual samples. It is shown that in natural focus of tick rickettsiosis infected hungry adult ixodes specimens differ in the quantity of rickettsia contained in them in different years. Possibility to estimate the size of the agent population connected with the imago of the major carrier is demonstrated.     

Dynamics of formation of primary and secondary lipid peroxidation products upon copper-dependent oxidation of low-density lipoproteins isolated from blood serum of patients with ischemic heart disease

The kinetics of copper-induced oxidation of lipids in serum low-density lipoproteins from healthy subjects and patients with ischemic heart disease and documented coronary atherosclerosis is studied. After a 4-h incubation with 40 μM CuSO₄, the oxidizability of patients' lipoproteins is higher, judging from the contents of diene conjugates and oxidation products reacting with thiobarbituric acid. Intergroup differences in the kinetics of the diene conjugate formation are revealed. Statistical analysis shows that in all studied individuals there is no relationship between the oxidizability of low-density lipoproteins and the cholesterol content in lipoproteins and serum. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 7, pp. 32–36, July, 1996     

肿瘤相关基因Cap43在胰腺癌中的表达及意义

目的研究肿瘤相关基因Cap43在胰腺癌组织中的表达情况,探讨其对胰腺癌的诊断价值。方法收集1999年4月～2002年8月长海医院外科手术切除胰腺癌标本和癌旁正常组织33例,诊断均由病理证实。男性22例,女性11例,年龄30～73岁,平均58．1岁。所有组织标本按肿瘤、癌旁(正常)配对。采用RT-PCR和Northern杂交方法研究Cap43 mRNA表达情况。结果 RT-PCR结果显示,Cap43在肿瘤组织中表达显著上调,其在肿瘤组织和癌旁正常组织的扫描值分别为4 033±1 986和2 244±1 145,有显著差异(P<0．001)。Northern杂交亦显示Cap43在肿瘤组织中表达显著上调,相同病例的RT-PCR结果与Northern杂交的结果有较好的一致性,经回归分析,没有显著性差异(P>0．1)。结论 Cap43在胰腺癌组织中呈显著高表达,其有可能成为胰腺癌早期诊断的重要标志物。     

The use of flannel flags for collecting fleas at the entrances of rodent holes in the steppes

Flannel flags (100 X 200 mm) were tested for fleas collection directly at the entrances of rodents' holes in the steppe region. The method proved to be most effective compared to some other wide-spread techniques. Flannel flags assured the highest number of insects collected during quantitative assessment of fleas' populations. Some insects belonging to other systematic groups can be also collected using the flags. Various number of fleas at the holes' entrances was revealed by this method of collection.     

State of insulin receptors and carbohydrate metabolism in children with diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus children demonstrate the lowering of insulin binding by lymphocytes on appearance of the signs of insulin overdosage. After standard breakfast preceded by insulin injection such patients show a lower blood content of ATP as compared to children without metabolic signs of insulin overdosage, which may be of importance in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance development. Patients with type I diabetes mellitus and hyperlactatemia manifested the lowering of glucose assimilation by lymphocytes whatever the presence of the signs of insulin overdosage, pointing to insulin resistance.     

Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy for Ileocolic Intussusception Secondary to Caecal Neoplasm

Intussusception in adults is a rare cause of abdominal pain. Unlike its paediatric counterpart, intussusception in adults is associated with obvious pathology. We describe a case of ileocolic intussusception extending to the splenic flexure. We were able to reduce the intussusception partially and pedicle was stapled carefully. The specimen was delivered through a small incision and right hemicolectomy was performed adhering to oncological principles. We recommend laparoscopic-assisted surgery is considered for adult intussusceptions.     

Long-term experience with implanted intrathecal drug administration systems for failed back syndrome and chronic mechanical low back pain

Background  

Continuous intrathecal drug delivery has been shown in open studies to improve pain and quality of life in those with intractable back pain who have had spinal surgery. There is limited data on long term effects and and even less for patients with mechanical back pain without prior spinal surgery.     

PAQR3: a novel tumor suppressor gene

PAQR3, also known as RKTG (Raf kinase trapping to Golgi), is a member of the progestin and adipoQ receptor (PAQR) family. The role of PAQR3 as a tumor suppressor has recently been established in different types of human cancer in which PAQR3 exerts its biological function through negative regulation of the oncogenic Raf/MEK/ERK signaling. Multiple studies have found that PAQR3 downregulation frequently occurs in human cancers and is very often associated with tumor progression and shortened patients’ survival. Moreover, restoring the expression of PAQR3 could induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation and invasiveness of cancer cells. Downregulation of PAQR3 by oncogenic microRNAs has also been reported. In this review, we summarized current knowledge concerning the role of PAQR3 in tumor development. To our knowledge, this is the first review on the role of this novel tumor suppressor.