[Clinical case of angiosarcoma of ethmoidal labyrinth and frontal sinus, issues of morphological verification of diagnosis]. / Klinicheskii sluchai angiosarkomy reshetchatogo labirinta i lobnoi pazukhi, voprosy morfologicheskoi verifikatsii diagnoza.

A clinical case of incorrect verification of the angiosarcoma of the ethmoidal labyrinth and frontal sinus in a 36-year-old man is presented. A feature of this case is the disregard of additional research methods without taking into account the unilateralism of the pathological process, which led to the wrong tactics of surgical treatment and the development of a relapse of the disease complicated by nasal liquorrhea. A thorough examination of the patient and an analysis of a series of computer tomograms of the paranasal sinuses suggested a diagnosis of malignancy. The patient underwent neoplasm removal with fistula plastic, and histological confirmation of the presumptive diagnosis was performed.

Effect of exfoliating agent on rheological behavior of ß-chitin fibrils in aqueous suspensions and on mechanical properties of poly(acrylic acid)/ß-chitin composites.

Chitin whiskers are promising reinforcing filler for composites due to their mechanical properties, renewable nature and low cost. A new method for preparation of ß-chitin fibrils from squid pens in ascorbic acid aqueous solutions (AscA) was developed. Stirring of the solution with 2 g/l AscA for 2 h disperses the swollen chitin to individualized fibrils with an aspect ratio > 250. The optimal conditions of ß-chitin exfoliation in acrylic acid (AcrA) aqueous solution were found (0.75-2 g/l, 3-4 h). TEMPO-oxidized ß-chitin fibrils were chosen as a reference sample for comparison of different methods. 0.1% chitin suspensions exfoliated in AscA and AcrA solutions show similar gel-like behavior with a storage modulus (G') of 98 ±â€¯23 and 34 ±â€¯12 Pa, respectively, whereas G' of 0.1% dispersion of the TEMPO-oxidized ß-chitin fibrils was 0.015 ±â€¯0.005 Pa only. Composites based on poly(acrylic acid) comprising 1-3 wt% of ß-chitin fibrils were fabricated by polymerization filling. Mechanical properties of the composites were investigated in dry state in the temperature range of 25-250 °C and at controlled relative humidity in the range from 53.6% to 100%. It was revealed that the maximum reinforcing effect is achieved at high temperature (>120 °C) and high relative humidity (≥75.3%RH).

The use of fecal calprotectin in monitoring activity of inflammatory bowel diseases.

AIM: To compare fecal calprotectin (FC) concentration with laboratory and diagnostic methods in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The level of FC was measured in 110 patients with established IBD. Crohn diseases (CD) was diagnosed in 50 patients, ileocolitis - in 38 and terminal ileitis in 12 individuals. Ulcerative colitis (UC) was diagnosed in 60 patients, total colitis in 35, left-side colitis in 21 and 4 patients have proctitis. Laboratory data include measurement of FC, leukocytes, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), fecal occult blood. All patients underwent colonoileoscopy (CIS) at the start of disease flare and after 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: We found linear correlation between level of FCP and endoscopic activity of CD, analyzing FCP level and endoscopic activity of CD before (during disease flare) and after 12 weeks treatment (r=0.66, p<0.001). Linear correlation between FCP and SES-CD sustained after 12 weeks of treatment (r=0.77, p<0.001). We revealed correlation between FCP concentration. And CRP level (r=0.59, p<0.05). The linear correlation was detected between FCP and endoscopic activity of UC (r=0.88, p<0.001) before the treatment. After 12 weeks of treatment linear correlation was shown between FCP and Meyo scale (r=0.73, p<0.001). IBD patients with FCP more than 200 mcg/g have high risk of disease reccurence in short-term period of time (HR - 8.33; 95% CI 2.05-33.8; χ2 - 11.85; p<0.001) and (HR - 2.7; 95% CI 1.1-6.6; χ2 - 5.3; p<0.05), accordingly. CONCLUSION: Increased FCP level indicates poor effectiveness of treatment and high risk of reccurence. The level of FCP correlates strongly with recent laboratory and diagnostic indices of activity and enables to determine patients with high risk of reccurence. Thus, thorough monitoring, including additional procedures, contributes to just-in-time treatment modification.

Colloids of detonation nanodiamond particles for advanced applications.

Nanodiamond (ND) is one of the most attractive allotropic modification of carbon due to their unique physical and chemical properties. In the present review the current state of science and technology in the field of NDs is analyzed. ND can be used in various application and in different form e.g. as a dispersion phase in suspension, as a filler in composites, etc., so the sedimentation stability of ND in different media are under scrutiny. Thus, theoretical aspects of ND suspension coagulation mechanisms and the methods avoiding it were considered. The dependence of rheological behavior on particles modification was discussed as well. Various methods for the preparation and modification of NDs to obtain particles of various sizes on a nanometer scale with different physicochemical properties were reviewed. The area of practical application for NDs was considered on the example of polymer composites. The various manufacturing methods, mechanical properties and medical aspects for thermosetting, thermoplastic and elastomer ND composites were summarized.

Levocarnitine normalizes elevated blood level of soluble Fas mRNA in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Fas-induced apoptosis plays an important role in the mechanisms of tissue injury in myocardial infarction. The level of membrane Fas mRNA was elevated during the postinfarction period in the blood of patients and did not change in response to levocarnitine. The mRNA level of soluble Fas, inhibiting Fas-dependent apoptosis, remained normal during the first 7 days, but increased 14 days after myocardial infarction, which corresponded to previously detected increase of serum level of soluble Fas molecules. Addition of levocarnitine, inhibiting Fas-dependent apoptosis, to therapy caused no changes in the level of soluble Fas mRNA, presumably because of similar effects of soluble Fas and levocarnitine on the apoptotic processes in myocardial infarction.

Investigation on F/M material aspects of IRT-Sofia NCT channel.

The filter/moderator area of IRT-Sofia BNCT channel was investigated in this study in order to find a higher radiation resistant material as a suitable substitution for the Teflon(®). Two options - Al2O3 and graphite - were investigated. The results show, that both graphite and the Al2O3 can be successfully used as a filter/moderator material at IRT-Sofia. Initial evaluation of the in-phantom performance of the IRT-Sofia BNCT channel was made and merits similar to the best existing ones were found.

IRT-Sofia BNCT beam tube optimization study.

An optimization study of IRT-Sofia BNCT beam tube is presented. In the study we used the MIT/FCB experience. The enlarging of filter/moderator cross section dimensions and the decreasing of collimator length within the limits of the IRT-Sofia reactor design were analyzed. The influence of beam and reactor core axes non-coincidence on the beam properties was also evaluated. The irradiation resistance of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon(®)) was also evaluated. The results provide information for making decisions on the IRT-Sofia BNCT beam construction.

[Prevalence and structure of anemia in patients with chronic heart failure in a therapeutic hospital].

We carried out retrospective analysis of 219 case histories of patients with chronic heart failure admitted to a general medical hospital. Anemia (hemoglobin level below 130 g/l in men and below 120g/l in women) was found in 23.3% of cases. Anemia was classified as iron deficiency in 23.5% and as B12 deficiency in 3.9% of patients. In 3.9% of patients other definite causes of anemia were found and in 68.6% origin of anemia was not determined. However at least in some of the latter patients disturbed kidney function could play some role in anemia genesis.

Preliminary modeling of BNCT beam tube on IRT in Sofia.

The technical design of the research reactor IRT in Sofia is in progress. It includes an arrangement for a BNCT facility for tumor treatment. Modeling of geometry and material composition of filter/collimator for the BNCT beam tube on IRT has been carried out following the beam tube configuration of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Reactor [Harling et al., 2002. The fission converter-based epithermal neutron irradiation facility at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Reactor. Nucl. Sci. Eng. 140, 223-240.] and taking into account an ability to include the tube into the IRT reactor geometry. The results of neutron and gamma transport calculations performed for the model have shown that the facility will be able to supply an epithermal neutron flux of about 5 x 10(9) n cm(-2)s(-1), with low contamination from fast neutrons and gamma rays that would be among the best facilities currently available. An optimiziation study has been performed for the beam collimator, following similar studies for the TAPIRO research reactor in Italy. [Nava et al., 2005. Monte Carlo optimization of a BNCT facility for treating brain gliomas at the TAPIRO reactor. Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 116 (1-4), 475-481.].

[Plasma levels of cytokines in patients with active infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis].

The levels of interferon-y (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-gamma (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) and their changes during chemotherapy and laser chemotherapy were studied in 97 patients with active infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis, by taking into account Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) sensitivity to chemical agents. The studies have indicated that the levels of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-8 are increased and may be markers of an active process. Chemotherapy causes a reduction in increased cytokinemia. Complex laser chemotherapy affects the cytokine profile in active tuberculosis caused by not only drug-sensitive, but also drug-resistant MBT.

[Immunologic reactions with group-specific antigens of group A Streptococcus in rheumatic fever]. / Immunnye reaktsii s gruppospetsificheskimi antigenami streptokokka gruppy A pri revmatizme.

The levels of Group A streptococcal antigens, characterized by group specificity, incorporated in the immune complexes, were measured by enzyme immunoassay, and antibodies to group-specific polysaccharide were titered in patients with rheumatic fever of the minimal activity, running a protracted course. A statistically significant rise of these parameters was revealed in rheumatic patients as against normal subjects or patients with chronic tonsillitis with tonsillogenic cardiopathy. The diagnostic informativeness of these methods was found higher than that of antistreptolysin-O determination. The authors make a conclusion that signs of streptococcal infection persist in cases with the minimal activity of the rheumatic process and discuss rational antibiotic therapy of such patients. The described methods are recommended for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of rheumatic fever of low activity.

[Group-specific antigens of streptococci in the make-up of circulating immune complexes in rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis]. / Gruppospetsificheskie antigeny streptokokkov v sostave tsirkuliruiushchikh immunnykh kompleksov pri revmatizme i revmatoidnom artrite.

The level of "A" and "B" streptococcal antigens in the circulating immune complexes, structure and the level of antibodies to the group specific streptococcal polysaccharides in the patients with minimal activity and latent course rheumatism and in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis of different duration is studied. It is shown that the concentration of the "A" group streptococcal antigens in the circulating immune complexes is higher in rheumatic patients, than in healthy subjects and tonsillitis patients. The high "B" group streptococcal antigen content is found in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A high titer of antibodies to streptococcal polysaccharides of "B" group, especially in the synovial fluid was revealed. A possibility of streptococcal antigens and their antibodies' participation in the development of pathologic process is discussed. A value of obtained indexes in the diagnosis of small activity rheumatism and early stages of rheumatoid arthritis is shown.