ATM heterozygosity and breast cancer: screening of 37 breast cancer patients for ATM mutations using a non-isotopic RNase cleavage-based assay.

Based upon the results of several epidemiologic studies, it has been suggested that women who are carriers for a mutation in the ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) gene are susceptible for the development of breast cancer. Therefore, 37 consecutive breast cancer patients were screened for the presence of a germline ATM mutation using a non-isotopic RNase cleavage-based assay (NIRCA). This paper reports the first use of NIRCA for detection of ATM mutations in breast cancer patients. Using this assay, no ATM mutations were found in our patient population. This result is similar to the findings of other studies that have employed approaches complementary to NIRCA.

[Immunomorphologic evaluation of the reserves of endotoxin binding by polymorphonuclear leukocytes]. / Immunomorfologicheskaia otsenka rezervov sviazyvaniia éndotoksina polimorfnoiadernymi leikotsitami.

It is shown that leukocytes binding endotoxin of gram-negative bacteria via Fe-receptor mediated mechanism can be detected in blood smears after the treatment with antibodies to Re chemotype glycolipid conjugated with horse-radish peroxydase. After pretreatment of blood smears by a solution of endotoxin and then by conjugated antibodies to Re glycolipid some leukocytes binding endotoxin in vitro can be detected. It means that some reserves of endotoxin binding by leukocytes can be estimated by this immunomorphological method. The presence of such reserves is characteristic for healthy people and animals. Such reserves were enhanced in animals immunized with heated vaccine from Re Salmonella mutant. The reserves of endotoxin binding by leukocytes are absent in patients with salmonellosis, dysentery, meningitis, viral hepatitis A and B, peritonitis.

[Alveolar macrophages in lung physiology and pathology]. / Al'veoliarnye makrofagi v fiziologii i patologii legkikh.

Alveolar macrophages (AM) represent a lung border system bringing about the protection of the organ from the environmental hazards, regulating cell and humoral response in the lungs, and eliminating endogenous toxic substances. However, in some situations AM are involved in the pathologic processes and even may serve as an initiating factor in the development of lung pathology. They realize their pathogenic effect in the bronchial asthma, acute respiratory distress-syndrome, pneumoconiosis releasing various biologically active compounds which take part in the formation of bronchial hyperreactivity, chemotaxis disturbances, haemostasis pathology. Particularly interesting is the possibility of lung tissue damage by AM when they interact with endotoxin-positive granulocytes.

[The eosinophil--the human blood cell superaffined to endotoxin]. / Eozinofil--superaffinnaia kletka krovi cheloveka k éndotoksinu.

With the help of immunofluorescent diagnostic system (specific immunoglobulins against glycolipid of S. minnesota Re-595) has been shown to permit the detection of endotoxin into eosinophil. Statistically significant differences in the occurrence of endotoxin in eosinophils of patients and healthy persons have been revealed. These data allow us to suppose that eosinophils are superaffined endotoxin-interaction cells of the human blood. Eosinopenia may be taken into account as an indirect marker of systemic LPS O-antigen mediated endotoxinemia.

[Iatrogenesis in urology]. / Iatrogeniia v urologii.

The proportion of misdiagnosis and errors in the treatment of urological diseases holds high, this being particularly true for iatrogenic pathology of the ureter and urinary bladder. The disturbances used to arise in response to traumatic gynecological and proctological surgical interventions and often remained undetected. The traumas are mainly induced by inaccurate use of the instruments and defects in surgical techniques. One of the serious iatrogenic complications is microcystic involvement of the urinary bladder as a result of radiotherapy for cancer. The method proposed by the authors for medical and social rehabilitation of such patients implies the replacement of the affected urinary bladder with isolated intestinal segment providing the recovery of natural uresis. Systemic endotoxinemia, another variant of urologic iatrogenesis, is associated with massive-dose antibiotics and extensive intracavitary operations. Early diagnosis and management of the conditions are supposed an effective protection against endotoxin shock.