[Testicular germ cell tumors, the state of diagnostics and staging in Saint-Petersburg].

In the last 25 years germ cell tumors have become one of the few cancers with high cure rate. However, there is a lack of information on testicular germ cell tumors in the male population and even among general practitioners leading to late or false diagnoses. The shortening of timespan between the first clinical signs appearance and diagnoses can result in earlier diagnosis, fewer therapy interventions and better overall survival rates.

[Efficacy of standard docetaxel and metronomic cyclophosphamide chemotherapy in patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer: comparative analysis].

Fifty five patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer were included in this retrospective controlled study. Chemotherapy with intravenous docetaxel (75 mg/m2 for 21 days) was performed in 30 patients, 25 patients received metronomic oral therapy with cyclophosphamide (50 mg/day). The central objective of this study was the comparison of overall survival in these groups. Pain management effectiveness, quality of life and PSA level were also compared. In docetaxel group the median overall survival was 15.9 +/- 1.7 months, in cyclophosphamide group 15.4 +/- 2.2 months (p = 0.5). Frequency of PSA level decrease was 76.7% and 44%, PSA response to therapy was observed in 46.7% and 12% of patients (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02). In docetaxel group pain reduction was achieved in 42.9% and in cyclophosphamide group in 31.3% of cases (p = 0.60). Grade III-IV hematological toxicity was observed only in docetaxel group (33% of patients), in 16.7% of patients receiving docetaxel the therapy had to be ceased due to adverse effect. Quality of live was improved in 26.7% of patients receiving docetaxel and in 16% of patients receiving cyclophosphamide.

[Kinesitherapy in the early postoperative period following intramedullary osteosynthesis of tibial fractures].

A program of postoperative kinesitherapy oriented to normalize the muscular force of the shin, reduce the time needed to restore the weight-bearing function of the affected leg, and treat pain syndrome has been developed for the patients presenting with fractures, nonunions, and pseudoarthrosis of the tibia that were treated using intramedullary osteosynthesis. The efficacy of the program was evaluated in terms of restoration of the muscular force in the shin and improvement of microcirculation in the affected region.

[Specific features with of intramedullary osteosynthesis with blocking in fractures of the shin bones at different levels].

The results of closed intramedullary osteosynthesis with blocking were analyzed in 180 patients with open (in 22) and closed (in 158 patients) fractures of shin bones fulfilled within the period from 3 days to 3.5 months after trauma. In 16 patients the intramedullary canal was drilled out. The exact reposition of the shin-bone in closed intramedullary osteosynthesis was obtained in 142 patients: the terms of consolidation in this case were (6.4+/-1.3) months. The examination of all the patients in the period from 6 months to 2 years after operation has shown consolidation of the shin-bone fracture in 176 (97.7%) of them.

[The composition of the chitinolytic microbial complex and its effect on chitin decomposition at various humidity levels].

The dynamics of assimilation of chitin by soil microorganisms (primarily prokaryotes) as a source of carbon and nitrogen has been determined by gas chromatography and fluorescence microscopy. The highest rates of chitin decomposition in chernozem were detected at humidity levels corresponding to the pressure of soil moisture (P) of -1.4 atm. The rate of microbial consumption of chitin is three times higher than that of the carbon of soil organic matter. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that an increase in the pressure of soil moisture from P = -10 atm to P = -0.7 atm resulted in a considerable increase in the proportion of the specific surface of mycelial bacteria (actinomycetes).

[Towards the computational three-dimensional histology. Application of computer models to the reconstruction of the three-dimensional structure of the biological tissue with the sensory cochlear acoustic epithelium in birds as an example].

This article presents new efficient method of 3-D structure reconstruction of epithelia. In contrast to existing empirical approaches, this method is based on the use of the families of topological and geometrical models of tissue structure, obtained from the axiomatic theory of biological tissue structure, with the database of model sections obtained by computer simulation. This methodology involves comparison of tissue sections obtained with those taken from the database of theoretically predicted models and the selection of the model, the sections of which best fit the real ones. This approach significantly reduces the amount of necessary tissue sections and eliminates the need for their precise superposition. As a result, new method improves resolution and and the efficiency of the studies of the spatial organization of epithelia, at the same time simplifying them. This approach is oriented primarily on examination of tissue topology as the most important aspect of its histoarchitectonics. Application of the models also facilitates the evaluation of geometrical properties of the tissue and even allows to predict their transformations, thus creating the real prerequisite for transition to the 3-D histology.

[Succession of chitinolytic microorganisms in chernozem soil].

The chitinolytic prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial complex of chernozem soil has been investigated in the course of a succession initiated by the introduction of chitin and humidification. The dynamics of the cell numbers of chitinolytic microorganisms and of their biomass was assessed by fluorescent microscopy and by inoculation of selective media. Emission of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, as well as dinitrogen fixation, was assessed by gas chromatography. It was found that, when the succession was initiated by the introduction of both chitin and humidification, it resulted in greater cell numbers and biomass of chitinolytic microorganisms and higher levels of CO2 and N2O emission and of nitrogen fixation than when the succession was initiated by humidification alone. As compared to the control samples, a significant (twofold) increase in the prokaryote cell number and biomass was found on the fourth day of the succession initiated by humidification and introduction of chitin. One week after the initiation of succession, the fungal biomass and length of mycelium were twice as high as those in the control samples. These results led to the conclusion that chitin utilization in chernozem soil starts during the initial stages of succession and is performed by both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms.

[The comprehensive surgical treatment of patients with degenerative lesions of the lumbosacral spine]. / Kompleksnoe khirurgicheskoe lechenie bol'nykh s degenerativnymi porazheniiami poiasnichno-kresttsovogo otdela pozvonochnika.

On the basis of a complex analysis of surgical treatment of 52 patients with degenerative diseases of the lumbosacral part of the spine complicated by the formation of compressive reticulopathies main states were established responsible for the worse quality of life of this category of patients. Different forms of vertebrogenic radiculopathies were determined according to the morphological substrate of compression. The methods of diagnosing the spinal diseases at the lumbosacral level were estimated and the diagnostic algorithms for different variants of degenerative lesions were developed. Rational schemes of surgical correction are proposed according to the established groups of vertebrogenic lumbosacral radiculopathies. Special attention is given to prophylactics of recurrences of the pain syndrome and postoperative instability of the spine.

[Results of endovascular interventions (embolization and chemoembolization) in the treatment of operable and extensive kidney cancer]. / Resul'taty primeneniia éndovaskuliarnykh vmeshatel'stv (émbolizatsii i khimioèmbolizatsii) v lechenii operabel'nogo i rasprostranennogo raka pochki.

The results of an all-round examination and complex treatment of 323 patients with renal cell carcinoma were evaluated. Locally advanced tumors were diagnosed in 143 (44.3%) and extended ones--in 180 (66.7%). In patients with locally advanced tumor who had undergone nephrectomy after embolization or chemoembolization, 12-, 24- and 36-month survival rates showed no significant difference. In patients with extended renal carcinoma, 2- and 3-year survival was significantly higher after chemoembolization than after standard embolization of the renal artery.

[Angiolipoma of the kidney (clinical course and radiodiagnosis)]. / Angiomiolipoma pochki (klinika and luchevaia diagnostika)

The clinico-echographic data on 91 cases of angiomyolipoma of the kidney are presented. This pathology appears to be the most frequent renal tumor in women. It usually has no clinical signs. Echographic examination typically produces images of formations having distinct contours; image quality is basically determined by fat level. More often than not, the image densitometric characteristics are rather low. The signs of a spontaneous rupture of tumor are discussed. Angiomyolipoma grows slowly--0-5 mm within 3 years. Check-ups (chiefly, echography) should be carried out every 12 or 24 months.

[Hormone therapy of advanced renal cancer with high-dose toremifene (Fareston)]. / Gormonoterapiia rasprostranennogo raka pochki vysokimi dozami antièstrogena toremifena (Farestona).

Toremifene (Fareston)-a novel antiestrogenic drug with a triphenylethylene structure-has been effective in the treatment of postmenopausal breast cancer patients. It is safely administered even in high doses up to 300 mg/day. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect and tolerability of high dose toremifene in the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Thirty six patients started the treatment with toremifene 300 mg/day. There were 26 males and 10 females. Mean age was 56.0 years, range 35-75 years. Nineteen patients were nephrectomized. One patient was not evaluable for response because of too short treatment time. The response rate was 17.1%, including 1 CR (2.9%) lasting for 121 + weeks and 5 PR (14.3%) with the mean duration of 39.8 + weeks. Ten cases of NC (28.6%) had the mean duration of 23.7 weeks. There were no significant differences in response rate when patients with lung metastases only were compared to patients with metastases of other sites with or without lung metastases. Total pain control was achieved in 45% and partial control in 20% of those patients who had pains in the beginning of the treatment. Ten patients (27.8%) had adverse reactions which led to discontinuation of the treatment in one case. It can be concluded that high-dose toremifene is an effective and safe means of palliative treatment in advanced RCC.

[The membranogenous action of occupational hazards from the manufacture of black copper on older individuals]. / Membranogennoe deistvie professional'nykh vrednostei proizvodstva chernovoi medi na lits pozhilogo vozrasta.

Many-year investigations of health status, aging process and occupational diseases in rough copper production workers, including elderly individuals, revealed the occupational factors (sulphur dioxide, industrial dust, etc.) harmful for membranes. Lowered share of phospholipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids, that changes the physical and chemical properties of membranes and cellular receptors and enzymes, was found harmful for membranes. The most severe changes were seen in the workers exposed to sulphur dioxide.