The value of the preoperative FISH test in unscreened bladder cancer patients with TUR indications.

Patients with bladder cancer are still requiring close follow up with frequent cystoscopies. This study aims to assess the FISH analysis, as a procedure capable of highlighting the hidden features of a tumor and helping to individualize treatment tactics. The bladder washings of 50 primary bladder cancer patients were taken prior to TURB and analyzed with the commercial FISH assay UroVysion®. All patients were divided into groups according to the maximum stage and grade of the tumor. The sensitivity of the method was 81.5 %, 91.7 % and 100 % for the Ta, T1 and T2 stage groups, respectively. For the G1, G2 and G3 groups the sensitivity was 70 %, 100 % and 100 %, respectively. In addition, the rate of detecting genetically abnormal cells was significantly higher in the T2 stage compared to the Ta and combined Ta+T1 groups, as well as in the G3 group compared to the G1 and G2 groups. The mean signal number from each chromosome insignificantly increased with the stage and grade of the tumor. The detection of <40 % genetically abnormal cells predicted the absence of muscle invasion and a G3 tumor with more then 90 % reliability. The FISH method is highly sensitive in early bladder cancer detection and is able to predict the morphological character of a tumor even before surgery.

[Use of fluorescent in situ hybridization in the cytogenetic diagnosis of urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma].

Our study was concerned with assessing the results of FISH analysis as a procedure to detect occult features of tumor and contribute to individualizing treatment strategies. It included a cohort of 50 patients with primary bladder tumors who had undergone transurethral resection. Washings from all patients were tested using UroVysion protocol immediately prior to surgery. Patients were divided into groups according to stage and grade of tumor. The sensitivities were 81.5%, 91.7% and 100% for Ta, T1 and T2 groups, respectively. In G1, G2 and G3 groups, the sensitivities were 70%, 100% and 100%, respectively. Besides, the rate of detecting genetically abnormal cells was significantly higher at stage T2 as compared with Ta and Ta+T1 groups. It was also higher in G3 group as compared with G1 for Ta and G2. No significant differences in the mean number of signals from each chromosome was reported. Frequency rates of abnormal cells of less than 40% correlated with absence of invasion into the muscular layer and poorly-differentiated cell status. They rose insignificantly in proportion to stage and grade. Detection of less than 40% of genetically abnormal cells correlated with absence of mascular invasion and G3 tumor (90% credibility). FISH diagnostic procedure showed high sensitivity of detecting even at incipient stage of bladder carcinoma and was instrumental in preoperative predicting type of tumor.

[Rifaximin in combined treatment of the Helicobacter pylori infection in childhood].

AIM: To provide a pilot study of empiric rifaximin, bismuth subcitrate, furazolidone/nifuratel triple therapy for H. pylori gastritis in childhood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty one pediatric outpatients (27 females, mean age 14.5 +/- 1.4 ys) with H. pylori-associated chronic gastritis who underwent endoscopy for dyspeptic symptoms received the combination of bismuth subcitrate (8/mg/kg/day, q. d. s.) for 14 days, rifaximin (800 mg/day) for 10 days and furazolidone (10 mg/kg/day, q. d. s.) or nifuratel (15 mg/kg/two times daily) for 10 days. H. pylori status was determined before the treatment by modified Giemsa staining/urease test and after the treatment (in 4-6 weeks) by ammonia breath test. RESULTS: H. pylori was eradicated in 35 children (85.4%; 95% CI: 75.4-96.4 ITT and PP tests). There were no serious adverse reactions and were no withdrawals due to any side effects. CONCLUSION: The combination of rifaximin, bismuth subcitrate and furazolidone/nifuratel was an effective and tolerable regimen for initial H. pylori eradication.

Morphofunctional analysis of experimental model of esophageal achalasia in rats.

We carried out a detailed analysis of rat model of esophageal achalasia previously developed by us. Manifest morphological and functional disorders were observed in experimental achalasia: hyperplasia of the squamous epithelium, reduced number of nerve fibers, excessive growth of fibrous connective tissue in the esophageal wall, high contractile activity of the lower esophageal sphincter, and reduced motility of the longitudinal muscle layer. Changes in rat esophagus observed in experimental achalasia largely correlate with those in esophageal achalasia in humans. Hence, our experimental model can be used for the development of new methods of disease treatment.

[Comparison of efficacy of combined use of liquid cytology and immunohistochemical assay of p16ink4 and standard procedure and high risk evaluation by polymerase chain reaction of human papillomavirus infection in diagnosing cervical dysplasia and carcinoma].

Efficacy of liquid cytology, on the one hand, and those of standard one, appraisal of high risk of cancer by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of human papillomavirus infection and immunohistochemical assay of p16ink4 high risk in cervical carcinoma diagnosis, on the other, was evaluated PCR of high risk of cancer (dysplasia-free) was detected in 73% (n = 73), CIN I-II--78%, CIN II-III--89%, CIN III and carcinoma--100%. p16ink4 was not detected in dysplasia-free cases and it was--(16%) in CIN I-II, (89%) CIN II-III, (90%) CIN III and (100%)--in carcinoma. Hence, unlike p16ink4 expression (p < or = 0.001), a correlation between the increase in the number of those infected with papillomavirus was not significantly higher than that of dysplasia grade (p < or = 0.05). It is suggested that combined use of liquid cytology and immunohistochemical assay of p16ink4 is more effective.

[Comparative immunohistochemical study of invasive duct carcinoma and Paget's disease of the breast with c-erbB-2 overexpression].

Overexpression of c-erbB2 oncogen is observed in 90-100% of cases of Paget's cancer. In all cases, the overexpression is caused by gene amplification. The authors carried out an immun ohistochemrical study of c-erbB2 (HER2/neu)-positive breast tumors: Paget's cancer (and hence with gene amplification) and breast invasive duct cancer without gene amplification. Moreover, the authors identified a case of c-erbB2-negative Paget's cancer, the phenotype of which was compared with the phenotypes of two earlier groups of tumors. The findings suggest that only formation of c-erbB2 heterodimers that cannot cause an increase in proliferation on their own is observed in the study groups of tumors.

A new hypothesis on the role of c-erbB2 oncogene in the progress of breast cancer.

Proliferation and the state of adhesion molecules (E-cadherin, galectin-3) and estrogen and progesterone receptors were immunohistochemically analyzed in breast cancer biopsy specimens under conditions of c-erbB2 overexpression with and without gene amplification. It was hypothesized that c-erbB2 overexpression without gene amplification led to suppression of proliferation and "conservation" of tumor cell.

Helicobacter pylori eradication in childhood after failure of initial treatment: advantage of quadruple therapy with nifuratel to furazolidone.

BACKGROUND: Failures of Helicobacter pylori eradication in children are common. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of amoxicillin, bismuth subcitrate and omeprazole and nifuratel or furazolidone for H. pylori eradication in children who failed initial treatment with a standard triple therapy. METHODS: Seventy-six consecutive H. pylori-positive paediatric out-patients (aged 12-16 years; mean age 13.7 +/- 1.4) with chronic abdominal complaints who had failed one attempt of eradication of H. pylori using metronidazole-containing triple therapy were enrolled. It was an open prospective study. Patients were randomized to receive a 2-week course of bismuth subcitrate (8 mg/kg/day, q.d.s.), amoxicillin (50 mg/kg/day, q.d.s.), with either nifuratel (15 mg/kg/day, q.d.s.) or furazolidone (10 mg/kg/day, q.d.s.), plus omeprazole (0.5 mg/kg, once daily). RESULTS: There were 37 patients in the nifuratel group and 39 in the furazolidone group. Helicobacter pylori was eradicated in 33 of 37 (89%; 95% CI: 74.5-96.9; intention-to-treat) in nifuratel group and in 34 of 39 (87%; 95% CI: 72.5-95.7) in furazolidone group, respectively. Frequency of severe side-effects was greater with furazolidone (21%) than with nifuratel (3%; P = 0.0289). CONCLUSIONS: Nitrofuran-containing therapies consisting of a proton-pump inhibitor, amoxicillin and bismuth citrate plus either nifuratel or furazolidone produced good cure rates even among those who had failed prior therapy. Nifuratel is preferred because of the lower frequency of side-effects.

[Experience with glyciphonic ointment therapy for primary multiple basal cell carcinoma of the skin]. / Opyt lecheniia pervichno-mnozhestvennogo bazal'nokletochnogo raka kozhi glitsifonovoi maz'iu.

The effectiveness of glycifone ointment treatment for primary multiple basal cell carcinoma of the skin was evaluated in 28 patients. 27 cases were cured following one or two courses the duration of which was determined by the number of foci, pattern of tumor and its total surface area.

[Biopsy of non-palpable tumors of the breast]. / Biopsiia nepal'piruemykh obrazovanii molochnoi zhelezy.

14 biopsies were performed in patients with non-palpable tumors of the breast with stereotaxic automated system (ABBI) and disposable "pistol-needle" ("Auto-Suture") whose needle-harpoon penetrates into pathologic focus under local anesthesia (four fold digital stereotaxic control guarantees the precision of biopsy). Non-palpable breast cancer in the tissue areas of 4, 7 and 11 mm in horizontal section was diagnosed in 3 patients. Biopsy was performed outpatiently, there were no complications. The procedure is like a diagnostic sectoral resection of the breast.

[Echography in congenital intestinal obstruction in newborn infants]. / Ekhografiia pri vrozhdennoi neprokhodimosti kishechnika u novorozhdennykh.

The authors used echography in order to reveal typical echographic signs of high and low bowel obstruction in 51 newborns. Although the use of echography often fails to establish the real cause of the bowel obstruction, it allows the determination of its level and in general promotes making the proper diagnosis.