The value of SHOX2 methylation test in peripheral blood samples used for the differential diagnosis of lung cancer and other lung disorders.

Methylation of the cytosine residues within the CpG dinucleotides plays an important role in the fundamental cellular processes, human diseases and even cancer. The DNA methylation represents a very stable sign and therefore may be used as a valuable marker for cancer screening. Epigenetic cancer biomarkers are independent of classical morphology and thus show extensive potential to overcome the limitations of cytology. Several epigenetic cancer markers have been reported to be detectable in body fluids such as bronchial aspirate, sputum, plasma and serum.Short stature homeobox gene 2 (SHOX2) encodes a homeo-domain transcription factor, which has been identified as a close homologue of the SHOX gene and both genes are involved in skeletogenesis and heart development. Methylation of SHOX2 gene has been shown to be present at high prevalence in carcinomas of lung, however may also be used to identify other tumour entities.In the presented study, we have compared suitability of two types of material associated with lung cancer for the detection of SHOX2 methylation. We have confirmed that methylation of SHOX2 gene represents reliable marker of lung malignancies. The parallel tests in the blood plasma revealed that it may represent a good alternative material for testing of the SHOX2 methylation, making the test available to patients who are unable to undergo bronchoscopy.

[Blood lipids in renal amyloidosis]. / Lipidy krovi pri amiloidoze pochek.

Serum lipids were estimated in patients with renal amyloidosis (RA): 21 with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and 24 with secondary renal amyloidosis versus FMF patients without renal dysfunction or having chronic glomerular nephritis. All the RA patients had dyslipidemia of atherogenic nature the severity of which correlated with that of renal disorder. Our results showed the presence of dyslipidemia early during RA course. It is renal involvement that results in dyslipidemia observed in FMF patients.

[Arterial hypertension and fatty acids of the blood in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis without the nephrotic syndrome]. / Arterial'naia gipertenziia i zhirnye kisloty krovi u bol'nykh khronicheskim glomerulonefritom bez nefroticheskogo sindroma.

The study involved 33 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis of hypertonic type (CGNHT), in their number 8 with the signs of a moderate renal failure, 25 with a latent form of the disease (CGNLF), 10 ones with hypertension, and 20 healthy age-matched subjects. Patients with CGNHT and hypertension patients were comparatively studies for the blood pressure values. Fatty acid, glycerine, malonic dialdehyde contents were investigated in all the examinees. Some patients were studied for the fraction composition of fatty acids as well. The majority of CGNHT and hypertensive patients demonstrated a significant increase in the levels of fatty acids, glycerine and malonic dialdehyde versus healthy and CGNLF subjects, whereas the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids was found to be decreased (exemplified by linoleic acid) and the content of monounsaturated ones increased (exemplified by myristic acid). The aforementioned changes were mostly pronounced in those CGNHT patients who had higher systolic pressure whereas the signs of renal failure were of no importance for the value variance. No differences were revealed in the parameters of hypertensive and CGNHT patients. Accounting for the role of fatty acids, polyunsaturated ones predominantly, which provide the energy consumption of myocardium (raised in those with higher blood pressure values) the authors suggested that arterial hypertension played a definite role in the aforementioned alterations. The results obtained could be of a certain clinical value for dietetic and medicamentous improvement of the deficiency in the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the patients with CGNHT, possible normalization of fatty acid content and composition during the decrease of the blood pressure.

[Hypotensive therapy and the level of blood lipids in patients with chronic nephritis associated with arterial hypertension]. / Gipotensivnaia terapiia i soderzhanie lipidov v krovi bol'nykh khronicheskim nefritom s arterial'noi gipertoniei.

A study was made of the content of blood lipids in patients with associated chronic nephritis and arterial hypertension (AH). It has been established that the reduction of arterial pressure as a result of hypotensive therapy (administration of central action drugs, vasodilators of direct action, calcium antagonists, blockers of the angiotensin-transforming enzyme) was followed by a decrease in the blood of the concentration of fatty acids, glycerin, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins, total cholesterol, free cholesterol, phospholipids, characteristics of lipid peroxidation and by the rise of cholesterol concentration in high density lipoproteins. The data obtained are of clinical importance in view of the possibility of correcting dyslipidemia in patients with associated chronic nephritis and arterial hypertension during hypotensive treatment.

[Content of basic lipid classes in the blood plasma of patients with the renal hypertensive syndrome]. / Soderzhanie osnovykh klassov lipidov v syvorotke krovi u bol'nykh s pochechnym gipertonicheskim sindromom.

The main classes of serum lipids (fatty acids, phospholipids, triglycerides, cholesterol) were studied and compared in 36 patients aged 20 to 41 years with the renal hypertensive syndrome of different etiology, in 25 patients aged 30 to 51 years with essential hypertension, and in 20 practically healthy subjects aged 20 to 42 years. The mechanism of changes in the content of serum lipids in different diseases associated with the hypertensive renal syndrome and in patients with essential hypertension allows an assumption that these changes are linked to a large degree with arterial hypertension.

[Life cycle, feeding and reproduction of Haemogamasus ambulans mites (Gamasoidea, Haemogamasidae)]. / Zhiznennyi tsikl, pitanie i razmnozhenie kleshchei Haemogamasus ambulans (Gamasoidea, Haemogamasidae).

The mite Haemogamasus ambulans is characterized by a mixed type of feeding such as haematophagy, zoophagy and schizophagy with a prevalence of haematophagy. Maximum fecundity of females took place when they were kept on complex diet (blood and living objects). When fed only with blood mites exhibited pronounced cannibalism that resulted in the reduction of their progeny. In addition to gamogenesis parthenogenesis was noted.

[Complications of subclavian vein punctures and catheterization and the means for their prevention]. / Oslozhneniia punktsii i kateterizatsii podkliuchichnykh ven i puti ikh profilaktiki.

The analysis and systematization of errors and complications of punctures and catheterization of subclavian veins in 406 patients have been performed. Complications due to the technique of punctures and catheterization were recorded in 47 patients (11.6%). Complications appearing during using the catheter were noted in 46 patients (11.3%). In 6 patients (3.8%) examined in the late period there were symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency. In order to reduce the percentage of different complications the authors propose to use the puncture and catheterization only on the left side and on strict indications and by an experienced physician.

[Nutritional pattern of the "Komsomolskaya Pravda" Arctic expedition]. / K voprosu o pitanii poliarnoi ekspeditsii "Komsomol'skoi Pravdy"

Data on the chemical composition, nutritional value and caloricity of food ration used by the "Komsomolskaya Pravda" expedition during ski marches in the Arctics are reported. The rations consisted chiefly of dehydrated products and weighed 800-1000 g. The daily caloricity of the rations amounted to 3400 and 4400 great calories.