[The mobile applications developed for self-control arterial pressure: systematic review and content-analysis].

The high prevalence of arterial hypertension and necessity for permanent monitoring of blood pressure requires implementation of new methods of interaction between patient and physician in order to optimize medical care. The purpose of the study was to describe and to evaluate functional possibilities of Russian-speaking mobile applications utilized in collecting blood pressure readings to monitor efficiency of arterial hypertension treatment. The study was carried out in June 2023 in three mobile application stores: Apple Store, Google Play and RuStore. The Russian-speaking applications applied to hypertension self-controlling were considered. For final analysis 45 mobile applications were selected out of 380 applications tested. The most common functions, besides fixing blood pressure levels, were ability of fixing pulse rate (n=41), weight (n=21), sugar level (n=10), blood oxygen saturation (n=8), cholesterol (n=6), rhythm disturbances (n=6) and body temperature (n=5). Additionally, applications made it possible to add tags (n=33), to view statistics (n=41) (including average blood pressure (n=8), pulse pressure (n=9), average daily blood pressure (n=6) and to compare data for different periods of time (n=6), to filter data by tags (n=17), to export statistics (n=32). The 6 applications also supported technology of wireless reception of blood pressure and emergency data. The educational information about blood pressure was enclosed in 17 applications and dietary advice in 12 applications. The content included basic information about blood pressure, treatment, diet, and physical activity. No clinical studies that proved efficiency or inefficiency of analyzed applications were found. None of descriptions comprised both involvement of physicians in development of application and use of clinical recommendations. The results demonstrated large choice of applications used in recording blood pressure with purpose of hypertension self-control. Besides, mobile applications contain various functions and their combinations that can help patient to control blood pressure more effectively. The physicians are to be aware of capabilities of mobile applications developed with purpose of monitoring health of patients.

[Current approaches to the use of robotic devices in rehabilitation complex of children with cerebral palsy]. / Sovremennye podkhody k primeneniyu robotizirovannykh ustroistv v komplekse reabilitatsii detei s tserebral'nym paralichom.

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disease that is associated with multiple motor impairments and dysfunctions in children. The effective recovery of motor activity in both the upper and lower limbs is an important condition for the patient's social independence throughout his life. Robotic systems are new devices which are becoming increasingly popular as a part of the treatment of cerebral palsy. They have become a good addition to comprehensive rehabilitation therapy, including conducted at the sanatorium-resort stage. Further research is needed to clarify and prove the extent to which these devices help in treatment of children with cerebral palsy.

[Comorbid status of patients with hypertension].

AIM: To establish age and gender characteristics, nosological structure of comorbidity among persons 20-99 years with hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is based on data from 21 514 electronic health records of the population (20-99 years old) with hypertension, mean age 63.0 years, 68.2% women. Diseases associated with hypertension with a frequency above 10% were analyzed. RESULTS: In the sample of people with hypertension, concomitant diseases were detected in 82.7% of cases, 1 disease accompanies 21.0% of the sample with hypertension, 2 diseases 17.9%, 3 diseases 14.0%, 4+ diseases 29.8%. The frequency of association of hypertension with ≥1 concomitant disease at the 20-29 years is 60.8% of cases, at 30-39 years - 65.1%, at 40-49 years - 73.9%, at 50-59 years - 81.1%, 60-69 years - 85.8%, 70-79 years - 87.3%, 80+ years - 86.2% of cases. Among women with hypertension, the average number of concomitant diseases is higher compared to men (3.47 vs 2.4 cases; p<0.001). Among young and middle-aged people, hypertension in most cases is associated with osteochondrosis, osteoarthritis, chronic pancreatitis, gastritis and duodenitis, retinal diseases, thyroid diseases, the female with hypertension accompanied by benign breast disease and menopausal disorders. Hypertension in the elderly is most often associated with cerebrovascular disease, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, senile cataract, but osteochondrosis and osteoarthritis also do not lose their relevance. CONCLUSION: The existing system of organization of medical care cannot meet the needs of patients with comorbidity, which indicates the need to reorient medical care towards patient-centered care.

[GENDER AND AGE FEATURES OF THE PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION IN THE POPULATION OF A MEDIUM-URBANIZED CITY OF CENTRAL RUSSIA].

THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: to establish gender and age characteristics of the prevalence and risk of developing hypertension (AH) among outpatients living in the city of Tambov, according to electronic medical records (EMR). The information from the EMC of 47,113 people aged 20-99 living in Tambov was used. The prevalence rate (per 100 people) and the relative risk of developing (RR) hypertension in different sex and age groups were calculated. The prevalence of hypertension among people aged 20-99 was 45.7 cases, in women it is higher than in men by 23% (50.1 vs 38.4 cases). With age, there is an increase in the prevalence of hypertension from 1.7% in 20-24 to 86.8% in 70-74 years old people. In the transition from a smaller age group to a larger one, the increase in the prevalence of hypertension among the female cohort averaged 22.5%, among the male cohort - an average of 17.2%. The RR for the development of hypertension among the female cohort aged 20-99 years is 1.2 times higher compared to the male cohort of the same age. At the age of 25-34, the OR for the development of hypertension prevails among the male cohort, at 45-89 years old - among the female cohort. The high level and established differences in the prevalence and risk of developing hypertension determine the need to develop recommendations for hypertension screening among the population, stratification into risk groups, prevention and treatment, focused on different age and gender groups.

Biochemical profile of Bence-Jones type multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant tumor occurring from plasma cells that produce an abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulin - a paraprotein. A distinctive feature of Bence-Jones myeloma is the excretion of monoclonal free light chains of immunoglobulins with 24h urine, and the absence of monoclonal intact immunoglobulins secretion. Comprehensive analysis of biochemical parameters in blood serum and 24h urine in patients with Bence-Jones multiple myeloma using electrophoretic and immunoturbidimetric methods to assess their sensitivity as biomarkers. 50 patients with a morphologically confirmed diagnosis of MM of the Bence-Jones immunochemical type were examined. 28 people without oncological diseases were examinedas a control. Detection of monoclonal secretion in blood serum and daily urine was performed by immunofixation electrophoresis on the Hydrasys 2 electrophoretic system (Sebia). The determination of free light chains of immunoglobulins (FLC) was performed by the immunoturbidimetric method (Binding Site) on an Advia 1800 analyzer (Siemens). Analysis of IgG, IgA, IgM, ß2-microglobulin and C-reactive protein was performed on Cobas 6000 analyzer (Roche). The median excretion of Bence-Jones protein in 24h urine of MM patients was 0.49 g/24h (0.06-2.45 g/24h). In the blood serum, in 86% of cases, the presence of paraproteinemia, represented by κ and λ type light chains of immunogloublins was detected. At the same time, the frequency of detection of monoclonal secretion in blood serum in Bence-Jones type λ myeloma was 95.7%, which was statistically significantly higher than the frequency of detection of monoclonal secretion of type κ - 77.8%. In patients with identified paraproteinemia, Bence-Jones protein excretion in daily urine (median 0.82 g/day) was statistically significantly higher than in patients without a monoclonal component detected in blood serum (median 0.04 g/24h). The levels of FLC in blood serum obtained by immunoturbidimetry in Bence-Jones myeloma of the corresponding type were higher than the reference levels in 100% of cases. The median level of κ-FLC reached 4358 mg/l, λ-FLC - 2225 mg/l, which was statistically significantly higher than the control levels. The median concentrations of IgG, IgA and IgM in patients with Bence-Jones myeloma were statistically significantly lower than in the control group, while the medians of ß2-microglobulin and C-reactive protein were significantly higher than in the control. Our investigation showed high diagnostic efficiency of electrophoretic and immunoturbidimetric analysis of monoclonal secretion in patients with Bence-Jones MM, while FLC analysis demonstrated maximum sensitivity. Bence-Jones MM revealed biochemical signs of secondary immunodeficiency and general inflammatory syndrome.

[Prevalence and detection rate of senile cataract in individuals with cardiovascular diseases]. / Rasprostranennost' i vyyavlyaemost' vozrastnoi katarakty pri zabolevaniyakh serdechno-sosudistoi sistemy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of senile cataracts and its detection rate among the population at the age of 40 and older with diseases of the cardiovascular system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This observational cross-sectional study was based on the information extracted from electronic health records (EHR) of patients aged 40-99 years assigned for medical services to a city polyclinic. RESULTS: Among the population with essential hypertension (EH) senile cataract occurs with the frequency of 10.4±0.3% (95% CI 9.8-10.9%) of cases, in patients with cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) - 17.1±0.2% (95% CI 16.6-17.5%) of cases, with varicose veins of the lower extremities - 19.9±0.2% (95% CI 19.4-20.3%) of cases, with ischemic heart disease (IHD) - 15.8±0.2% (95% CI 15.4-16.2%) of cases. At the same time, senile cataract is associated with an increase in the likelihood of its detection in patients with hypertension by 6.8 times (OR 6.57; 95% CI 5.89-7.74), with CVD by 5 times (OR 5.02; 95% CI 4.64-5.44), with varicose veins by 3.7 times (OR 3.70; 95% CI 3.34-4.10), with IHD by 3.5 times (OR 3.53; 95% CI 3.20-3.90). Female gender is associated with an increased likelihood of developing senile cataracts in the presence of EH by 1.4 times (OR 1.420; 95% CI 1.299-1.553), in the presence of CVD by 1.2 times (OR 1.199; 95% CI 1.066-1.348), in the presence of varicose veins by 1.4 times (OR 1.355; 95% CI 1.064-1.725), in the presence of IHD by 1.5 times (OR 1.476; 95% CI 1.298-1.679). The detection rate of senile cataract is highest at the ages of 70-79 years, amounting to 18.1% of cases with hypertension, 24.0% of cases with CVD, 29.2% of cases with varicose veins, and 33.7% of cases with ischemic heart disease. CONCLUSION: Target population groups have been identified for more effective screening studies in order to detect senile cataracts among them.

[THE COMBINATION OF HIGH-FREQUENCY ELECTRICAL STIMULATION AND FIBRIN GLUE IN THE TREATMENT OF DECUBITAL ULCERS IN PATIENTS AFTER BRAIN DAMAGE: A PILOT STUDY].

Aim - to improve the results of treatment of decubital ulcers (DU) in combination therapy of high-frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) and fibrin glue (FG). The authors carried out a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of the combined method of treatment of decubital ulcers using high-frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) and fibrin glue (FG). All patients included in the pilot project, 22 people with a stage III pressure ulcer and who are in chronic critical condition after various brain damage. During the dressings, high-frequency stimulation was carried out with an EHVCh-250 "KiK Medimaster" electrosurgical apparatus, which generates alternating currents of the radio frequency (RF) range (0.3-3.0 MHz) for 28 days, and then (the main group), cryoprecipitate (fibrin glue) within 21 days. For comparison, the results obtained were compared with those in 25 people with DU treated according to the generally accepted method with the use of standard drugs (levomekol, levosin). HFS has a beneficial effect on all stages of a complicated wound process, promotes wound cleansing, activation of early granulation growth and marginal epithelialization. And the subsequent use of fibrin glue causes an even greater prevalence of proliferative processes over inflammatory processes in the tissues, which also contributes to a decrease in exudation, further growth of granulation tissue and an increase in epithelization processes. The use of this combination in the treatment of decubital ulcers can be used in complex conservative therapy in the treatment of pressure ulcers.

[Integrated indicator of the current assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic process in the subjects of the Russian Federation].

Information on the main indicators of the Pandemic COVID-19 is published daily for each subject of the Russian Federation. Of interest is the comparative ranking of regions in terms of new cases, active cases that have recovered from COVID-19, the allocation of homogeneous groups of regions in terms of the distribution of COVID-19. Since several indicators, respectively, the ranking of regions can be several options: the same regions with a high level of morbidity can be characterized by lower mortality from COVID-19 and vice versa, which will shift their position in the overall rating assessment. Such a state complicates the perception of the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic in the spatial-territorial context. In this regard, it makes sense to develop a certain latent integral indicator for assessing the COVID-19 pandemic process, which will allow comparing the subjects of the Russian Federation with each other in order to develop practical recommendations.

[Gender and age features frequencies of COVID-19].

The incidence of COVID-19, both complicated and uncomplicated pneumonia, among men is 40% higher than in women and increases at the age of 35-49 years, with a subsequent decrease in the rate. Pneumonia complicates the course of COVID-19 in older persons, due to the greater burden of comorbidity. Among men, the probability of contracting COVID-19 complicated by pneumonia is 1.4 times higher than among women. At the same time, the average duration of outpatient treatment among women is significantly higher both in the group of patients with COVID-19 with complicated and uncomplicated pneumonia. The data obtained indicate the need to develop additional measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection among the male population and the middle-aged population, the incidence of the disease among which is the highest.

[The medical demographic and social characteristics of women that discontinued observation and infertility treatment].

The recovering of reproductive health of women is one of prospective means to stabilize fertility. The purpose of the study is to investigate medical, demographic and social risk factors of discontinuing screening and treatment of infertility in women of the Tambov Oblast. The materials and methods. The comparative data analysis of women who discontinued infertility screening and treatment prior to referral to auxiliary reproductive technologies (n = 239) and women who were factually referred to these technologies (n = 206). The results of the study. The risk factors for women of discontinuing screening and treatment of infertility included age (OR = 1.070; 95% CI 1,035-1,105; p<0.001), residence in rural areas (OR = 2.059; 95% CI 1.592-2.663; p<0.001), secondary education (OR = 2.593; 95% CI 1.767-3.805; p<0.01), low level of financial security (OR = 2.524; 95% CI 1,720-3,703; p<0.01), secondary nature of infertility (OR = 1.587; 95% CI 1.065-2.364; p=0.023), occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases in anamnesis (OR = 2.736; 95% CI 1,722-4,346; p<0.01). Discussion. The study results demonstrate that the most effective measures improving compliance of women to screening and treatment of infertility are the reorientation of medical care to the second-level regional centers from the regional center that will bring medical care, including active detection of infertility at younger age, more comprehensive regular preventive examinations and health education to preserve reproductive health, closer to remote areas. The conclusions. The medical, demographic and social risk factors of discontinuing testing and treatment of infertility in women are established to be applied in improving the organization of medical care for this category of patients.

[The experience of reforming primary health care in conditions of increasing of population average age].

The article presents the experience of reforming primary health care in Belgorod Oblast in 2016-2019. In the process of reforming, the original organizational model of new interaction pattern "family doctor - patient - family members", was developed and implemented. The measures were taken to strengthen material-technical base and manpower potential of primary medical care. The general practitioners offices were positioned within "step accessibility" for patients. The continuous training of family doctors was organized at the workplace. The unified regional medical information system was developed and implemented enabling corporate conference communications, remote consultations, public feedback and remote arrangement of visits of patients to physician. The differentiated approach to remuneration of medical personnel was implemented using key performance indices that permitted to increase salaries and work quality. As a result of the reforms, the percentage of patients under supervision of family doctors increased up to 13%, the number of medical emergency calls decreased up to 3.3% and the number of calls because of illness decreased up to 17%. The mortality of population older than able-bodied age began to decrease and life expectancy reached relevant 74 years in 2019.

[The analysis of concomitant pathology in ophthalmologic practice based on electronic medical records data].

The study substantiates possibility of using data retrieved from electronic medical records (EMR) for analyzing comorbidity under diseases of the eye and its adnexa. The purpose of the study is to analyze prevalence and evaluate risk of development of comorbidity in patients with ophthalmologic pathology, based on the data presented in EMR. The total number of patients included into comprised 12 120 individuals. The 653 diagnoses were established and 122 703 requests for medical care were registered. The calculation was applied concerning prevalence, comorbidity index, relative risk of comorbidity. The study established prevalence and level of relative risk of development of opportunistic diseases characteristic for senile cataract and glaucoma. The obtained data on comorbidity may testify in-depth mechanisms of interaction of diseases at cellular, protein or genetic levels. The understanding of mechanisms of interaction of main and concomitant diseases can result in development of new methods of diagnostic, treatment and prevention of diseases. Thus, establishment of glaucoma diagnosis can induce physician to look for possible presence or high probability of development of prostate neoplasm that implies periodic control of prostate-specific antigen. The presented results demonstrate how EMR data can be used to identify, estimate prevalence and risk of comorbidity and also reveals pathogenic mechanisms of interaction between primary and recurrent diseases that can be applied in clinical practice.

[LOW-ENERGY LASER TECHNOLOGY IN THE COMPLEX TREATMENT OF PRESSURE SORES IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE BRAIN DAMAGE].

Aim - to improve the results of treatment of pressure sores using low-energy laser technology. The authors performed a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of the use of low-energy laser irradiation in the complex treatment of pressure ulcers of 2-3 degrees in 35 patients with severe brain damage for the period from 2017-2019. The contact laser was used with the following parameters: wave length - 904 nm, frequency - 5000 Hz, irradiation mode - pulsed, power - 13.5mWt/cm2, exposure - on average 2 minutes per zone. The results were compared with those in 41 people treated according to the traditional methodology. The demographic criteria, localization and length of the process did not have significant intergroup differences. The use of low-energy laser technology in combination with other conservative methods made it possible to accelerate the healing of pressure sores by 1.3-1.4 times, and to reduce the degree of microbial contamination of the focus in earlier periods (p<0.05). At the same time, both the duration of the inpatient rehabilitation phase and the overall treatment costs are reduced. An integrated approach using low-energy laser technology as an additional physical factor can significantly improve the results of the treatment of pressure sores in people with severe brain damage.

[EXPERIENCE OF TREATMENT OF THE SEPTIC PHLEGMONS OF THE LOWER LIMBS AFTER THE COMBINED PHLEBECTOMY].

The aim of the study - to identify the causes and develop methods of treatment and prevention of septic phlegmons of the lower extremities after combined phlebectomy. The article presents the experience of treating 6 patients between the ages of 21 and 69 years with severe pyo-inflammatory complications (septic phlegmons) of the lower extremities after combined phlebectomy between 2012 and 2019. All patients had signs of a expressed systemic inflammatory response (SIRS3 and SIRS4) when they received admission. Against the background of intensive detoxification therapy in intensive care department, all patients were operated on emergency indications. Under anesthesia, they were performed an opening the subcutaneous phlegmons of the lower extremities using wide stripes incisions. Comprehensive therapy included the prescribing of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, stage necrectomy, the treatment of purulent wounds with various variants of surgical energy (plasma flows and NO-therapy) in various modes. The results of the treatment were estimated in the near and distant periods. Timely diagnosis, surgical treatment with the opening of purulent cavities with a wide excision of necrotized subcutaneous fat and fascia, as well as the subsequent plasmadynamic stage wound purification in therapeutic mode allowed in all cases to stop systemic inflammatory syndrome, to achieve rapid cleansing and healing of wounds. All patients were discharged for outpatient treatment. There were no fatalities. The long-term results of treatment were found to be satisfactory, and no patients were found to be disabled. The careful compliance to the main stages of the combined phlebectomy, especially the quality control of postoperative hemostasis, can minimize the development of septic complications. The comprehensive treatment with active surgical tactics and the use of air-plasma technologies allow to achieve a rapid cleansing of wounds and a speedy recovery of patients.

[Extensive purulent processes after combined phlebectomy]. / Obshirnye nagnoitel'nye protsessy posle kombinirovannoi flebéktomii.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the causes and develop methods for the treatment of extensive purulent processes after combined phlebectomy in patients with lower limb varicose veins. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors reported 3 cases of extensive phlegmon after phlebectomy for the period from 2014 to 2018. It is shown that comprehensive debridement of purulent-inflammatory lesion with application of additional methods including high-energy exposure by the air-plasma flow is essential for effective treatment of this complication. In addition, literature review showed only few observations of severe septic complications after traditional varicose vein surgery. RESULTS: Radical debridement of purulent wounds with wide excision of necrotic subcutaneous tissue and fascia, combination of standard surgical technique and plasma scalpel, as well as subsequent plasmodynamic staged wound repair in a therapeutic mode prevented severe purulent-inflammatory process, stopped systemic inflammatory syndrome and resulted fast wound healing. CONCLUSION: Active surgical approach combined with air-plasma technology was followed by high-quality correction of extensive suppurative process. Minimally invasive management of varicose disease with improvement of surgical techniques will minimize the likelihood of these complications.

[Specifics of spa-based rehabilitation of severe forms of spastic mobility loss of patients with cerebral palsy]. / Osobennosti sanatorno-kurortnoi reabilitatsii tiazhelykh form spasticheskikh dvigatel'nykh rasstroistv u bol'nykh detskim tserebral'nym paralichom.

AIM: To study the efficacy of the developed approach to the specialized Spa-rehabilitation of motor disorders in patients with cerebral palsy (spastic diplegia). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 86 patients (45 (52,33%) women and 41 (47.67%) men), aged from 10 to 16-years, mean 13,02±2,13. All patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the method of treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Administration of minimally invasive procedures during the course of rehabilitation can effectively restore the volume of movements in the limbs, stimulate motor development in children and form a new stereotype of walking. An analysis of the follow-up data one year after the treatment confirms the efficacy of the proposed approach to rehabilitation.

[Ultrasound assessment of vocal cords function after thyroid surgery]. / Pervyi opyt otsenki funktsii golosovykh sviazok ul'trazvukovym metodom issledovaniia u bol'nykh posle operatsii na shchitovidnoi zheleze.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze vocal cords function after thyroid surgery by using of ultrasound examination. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Assessment of voice quality according to GRBAS scale, ultrasound examination of vocal cords and indirect laryngoscopy were performed in 57 patients after thyroid surgery. RESULTS: Postoperative indirect laryngoscopy and ultrasound revealed normal mobility of vocal cords in all patients. However, 98.3% of patients subjectively noted deterioration of voice quality due to hoarseness and fatiguein early and long-term period, respectively. Complete restoration of vocal function occurred after 6 months postoperatively. Impaired voice quality is probably due to edema of vocal cords after intubation that is manifested by unclear contours during ultrasound. Ultrasound is useful to diagnose shortening and displacement of paretic vocal cords. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound of vocal cords could be alternative to indirect laryngoscopy for postoperative assessment of vocal cords function in patients after thyroid surgery.

[AIR-PLASMA TECHNOLOGY IN COMPLEX TREATMENT OF WOUND INFECTION].

THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: optimization of the results of treatment of wound infection. The authors analyze the results of treatment of 589 patients with wound infection for the period from 2004 to 2017. During the surgical treatment and further local therapy, air-plasma technology was used. The results were compared with those in 280 people, treated according to the standard method (control group). It was found, that air-plasma treatment of the suppurative inflammation of soft tissue in the cutting-coagulation regime significantly accelerates the necrolysis of the wound surface and the subsequent repair of postnecretomic wounds (in 1.5-1.8 times), regardless of the level and extent of the lesion of the integumentary tissues. Plasmodynamic sanation in the NO-therapy regimen stimulates the growth of granulation tissue and processes of epithelialization, allows to significantly reduce the degree of microbial contamination of the focus, and also to shorten the period of inpatient treatment. Similar trends relate to other important indicators. In patients with wound infection of soft tissue, air-plasma technology must be included in the complex of local therapeutic measures.

[Plasma management in complex treatment of late inflammatory complications after injection contour plasty with polyacrylamide gel]. / Plazmennaia obrabotka pri lechenii pozdnikh vospalitel'no-gnoinykh oslozhnenii in''ektsionnoi konturnoi plastiki poliakrilamidnym gelem.

AIM: To improve the results of treatment of late inflammatory complications after injection contour plasty with polyacrylamide gel. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors analyze treatment of 21 patients with late septic complications of body contour plasty with polyacrylamide gel (PAGE) for the period 2010-2015. Mean age of women was 47.4 years. Time after primary intervention was 10-22 years. The depth of soft tissue lesion corresponded to II-III grade by D. Ahrenholz classification (1991), length - from 67 to 180 cm2. Mammary glands were the most common area of augmentation (18 cases). Besides antibiotic therapy and surgery complex treatment included exposure with plasma flows in various modes. RESULTS: Plasma technology significantly accelerated regenerative processes and provided stable microbial decontamination in 100% patients. High-energy vaporization was associated with maximum possible removal of PAGE from the tissues that was confirmed by histological examination.

[Evaluation of tumor vascularization and microenvironment in follicular lymphoma].

AIM: To characterize the degree of follicular lymphoma (FL) vascularization and microenvironment by immunohistochemical studies (IHCS) of lymph node biopsy paraffin-embedded sections in 2 different disease pattern groups. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The investigation included 59 patients: 39 (67%) women and 20 (33%) men whose age was 27 to 83 years (median age 53 years) treated at the Hematology Research Center, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (n=49), and the N.N. Blokhin Russian Cancer Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (n=10), in April 2001 to May 2011. In accordance with the clinical features of the disease, the authors identified 2 patient groups: 1) 31 patients with the good results of FL treatment and 2) 28 patients with its poor results. IHCS was performed on lymph node tumor biopsy paraffin-embedded sections prior to treatment using antibodies to CD34, D2-40, CD68, and granzyme B. Morphometric analysis was made applying microscopy and a Leica x400 digital camera. The images of histological specimens were processed by the computer program VideoTesT-Morphology 5.2: the specific vessel area (%) in relation with tumor tissue was estimated under visual guidance of an investigator. Cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) and macrophages were quantitatively characterized using 1 mm2 of tumor tissue (12 fields of vision with the objective lens magnifying x400). Immunohistochemical specimens to be examined were chosen randomly, by using the random number table. RESULTS: In Group 2, the specific area of blood vessels was statistically significantly higher than in Group 1: 0.04% (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.03 to 0.05%) versus 0.02% (95% CI, 0.01 to 0.03%; p=0.05). In Group 2, that of lymphatic vessels was significantly higher than in Group 1: 0.06% (95% CI, 0.04 to 0.07%) versus 0.03% (95% CI, 0.01 to 4%; p=0.03). With a nodular diffuse growth, Group 2 showed a significantly more CD68-positive macrophages than did Group 1: 800 (95% CI, 380 to 1222) versus 79 (95% CI, 10 to 566; p=0.01). In Group 1, the count of CTL was statistically significantly (p=0.05) higher than in Group 2 in both the nodule (with a nodular growth pattern: 14 (5-27) versus 5 (1-11)) and the internodular space (with a nodular growth pattern: 158 (118-410) versus 35 (5-287) and with a nodular diffuse growth pattern: 126 (102-360) versus 35 (3-120)). CONCLUSION: Increased tumor vascularization (estimated by the specific density of tumor vasculature) and a pronounced macrophageal reaction are associated with the poor outcomes of FL; the marked cytotoxic component in tumor tissue is linked to the favorable outcomes of the disease.