[Electron microscopic characterization of the mucous membrane of the bladder with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome in the experiment].

OBJECTIVES: the study of the nature and severity of the reorganization of the structural elements of the bladder wall on experimental models of IC / BPS at the optical and ultrastructural levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experimental model of IC / SBMP was created on 22 white New Zealand female rabbits weighing 1500-2000 g. The animals were divided into 2 groups: group 1 - 15 rabbits, which were introduced into the bladder wall urine taken from the animals bladder; Group 2 (control) - 7 animals that were injected into the bladder wall with a 0.9% NaCl solution. The biomaterial was examined by electron microscopy. The structural elements of the lamina propria of the bladder mucosa were evaluated. RESULTS: In the bladder mucosa of the experimental model, perivascular infiltration by inflammatory cells, pronounced edema of the lamina propria of the bladder mucosa, and the presence of numerous plasma cells having close contacts with macrophages, fibroblasts, and lymphocytes were revealed. In the nucleus of lymphocytes of a peripherally located supercondensed heterochromatin showed their apoptotic state. Edematous fluid was determined, penetrating mainly through the fenestra, located in the peripheral parts of the endothelial cells of capillaries and postcapillary venules. CONCLUSION: The study of the structural elements of the lamina propria of the bladder mucosa in the experiment by the method of electron microscopy made it possible to identify changes caused by the inflammatory process, both of an acute and productive nature. The results obtained showed that toxic damage to the lamina propria of the bladder mucosa causes apoptosis of fibroblasts of the lamina propria, leads to loosening of collagen fibers and, ultimately, to a decrease in the protective factors of the mucous membrane.

Effect of Chemotherapeutic Agents on the Expression of Retinoid Receptors and Markers of Cancer Stem Cells and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition.

A large body of evidence suggests that cancer stem cells (CSCs) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as well as expression and function of retinoid receptors, are pivotal features of tumor initiation, progression, and chemoresistance. This is also true for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which represents a clinical challenge due to poor prognosis and increasing incidence. Understanding the above features of cancer cells could open new avenues for PDAC treatment strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between CSCs, EMT, and retinoid receptors in PDAC after treatment with the chemotherapeutic agents - gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil. First, we demonstrated the difference in the expression levels of CSC and EMT markers and retinoid receptors in the untreated Mia PaCa-2 and Panc1 cells that also differed in the frequency of spontaneous apoptosis and distribution between the cell cycle phases. Chemotherapy reduced the number of cancer cells in the S phase. Gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil modulated expression of CSC markers, E-cadherin, and RXRß in Panc1 but not in Mia PaCa-2 cells. We suggest that these effects could be attributed to the difference in the basal levels of expression of the investigated genes. The obtained data could be interesting in the context of future preclinical research.

[Prospects for malaria elimination in Azerbaijan].

Epidemiological analysis of the malaria in the Republic of Azerbaijan has revealed that: 1. In the past year, malaria problem has considerably improved in reducing morbidity and the number of active foci of malaria in the republic. 2. All active foci of malaria have been in its endemic area. 3. Despite the presence of favorable climatic preconditions for malaria in a large part of the republic, socioeconomic preconditions are considerably decreased, causing the malariogenic potential to substantially reduce. 4. All sets a favorable stage for possible interruption of local malaria transmission on the whole territory of the republic provided that financial support for the national malaria elimination program will be increased from the country's government and other sources in conjunction with the implementation of revised malaria control strategy and with the use of current methods for the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of malaria.

Two clusters of human infection with influenza A/H5N1 virus in the Republic of Azerbaijan, February-March 2006.

Following the appearance of influenza A/H5 virus infection in several wild and domestic bird species in the Republic of Azerbaijan in February 2006, two clusters of potential human avian influenza due to A/H5N1 (HAI) cases were detected and reported by the Ministry of Health (MoH) to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe during the first two weeks of March 2006. On 15 March 2006, WHO led an international team, including infection control, clinical management, epidemiology, laboratory, and communications experts, to support the MoH in investigation and response activities. As a result of active surveillance, 22 individuals, including six deaths, were evaluated for HAI and associated risk infections in six districts. The investigations revealed eight cases with influenza A/H5N1 virus infection confirmed by a WHO Collaborating Centre for Influenza and one probable case for which samples were not available. The cases were in two unrelated clusters in Salyan (seven laboratory confirmed cases, including four deaths) and Tarter districts (one confirmed case and one probable case, both fatal). Close contact with and de-feathering of infected wild swans was considered to be the most plausible source of exposure to influenza A/H5N1 virus in the Salyan cluster, although difficulties in eliciting information were encountered during the investigation, because of the illegality of some of the activities that might have led to the exposures (hunting and trading in wild birds and their products). These cases constitute the first outbreak worldwide where wild birds were the most likely source of influenza A/H5N1 virus infection in humans. The rapid mobilisation of resources to contain the spread of influenza A/H5 in the two districts was achieved through collaboration between the MoH, WHO and its international partners. Control activities were supported by the establishment of a field laboratory with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) capacity to detect influenza A/H5 virus. Daily door-to-door surveillance undertaken in the two affected districts made it unlikely that human cases of influenza A/H5N1 virus infection remained undetected.

Two clusters of human infection with influenza A/H5N1 virus in the Republic of Azerbaijan, February-March 2006.

Following the appearance of influenza A/H5 virus infection in several wild and domestic bird species in the Republic of Azerbaijan in February 2006, two clusters of potential human avian influenza due to A/H5N1 (HAI) cases were detected and reported by the Ministry of Health (MoH) to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe during the first two weeks of March 2006. On 15 March 2006, WHO led an international team, including infection control, clinical management, epidemiology, laboratory, and communications experts, to support the MoH in investigation and response activities. As a result of active surveillance, 22 individuals, including six deaths, were evaluated for HAI and associated risk infections in six districts. The investigations revealed eight cases with influenza A/H5N1 virus infection confirmed by a WHO Collaborating Centre for Influenza and one probable case for which samples were not available. The cases were in two unrelated clusters in Salyan (seven laboratory confirmed cases, including four deaths) and Tarter districts (one confirmed case and one probable case, both fatal). Close contact with and de-feathering of infected wild swans was considered to be the most plausible source of exposure to influenza A/H5N1 virus in the Salyan cluster, although difficulties in eliciting information were encountered during the investigation, because of the illegality of some of the activities that might have led to the exposures (hunting and trading in wild birds and their products). These cases constitute the first outbreak worldwide where wild birds were the most likely source of influenza A/H5N1 virus infection in humans. The rapid mobilisation of resources to contain the spread of influenza A/H5 in the two districts was achieved through collaboration between the MoH, WHO and its international partners. Control activities were supported by the establishment of a field laboratory with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) capacity to detect influenza A/H5 virus. Daily door-to-door surveillance undertaken in the two affected districts made it unlikely that human cases of influenza A/H5N1 virus infection remained undetected.