[Sensitivity and specificity of urinary and serum neurotrophins in the diagnosis of neurogenic detrusor overactivity in multiple sclerosis].

Lower urinary tract dysfunction is common among neurological patients. Traditionally, the basic method of diagnosis is a complex urodynamic study. In recent years, many studies have focused on the search for new non-invasive diagnostic modalities. In particular, neurotrophins are considered as potential biological markers of a neurogenic bladder. AIM: To estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the serum and urinary nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in MS patients as markers of detrusor overactivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 20 patients with multiple sclerosis, who complained of voiding problems. The control group consisted of 20 people without neurological diseases, lower urinary tract symptoms and detrusor overactivity estimated by filling cystometry. Apart from standard laboratory tests, diagnostic evaluation included a complex urodynamic study, ultrasound of the urinary tract, cystoscopy, testing serum and urinary NGF and BDNF using the enzyme immunoassay. The diagnostic significance of neurotrophins was evaluated using ROC analysis. RESULTS: According to the ROC analysis, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of serum NGF as a marker of detrusor hyperactivity was 57% and 93%, respectively (for serum NGF more or equal 26 pg/ml). The quality of the test according to the expert scale of AUC values was "very good" (AUC=0.806). Detecting NGF in patients urine was less effective. The sensitivity and specificity were 52% and 40%, respectively (for NGF more or equal 6 pg/ml). The quality of the test according to the expert scale of AUC values was "average" (AUC=0.64). The serum BDNF demonstrated high sensitivity (90%) and low specificity (23%), AUC=0.56. The urinary BDNF was more informative, (AUC=0.65). The combination of all four markers provides a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 66.7% (AUC=0.824). CONCLUSIONS: Testing serum and urinary neurotrophins in patients with multiple sclerosis can be used to diagnose detrusor overactivity. The NGF is a highly specific biomarker, while the BDNF is highly sensitive. Combined testing for serum NGF and BDNF is most informative.

[On the problem of pathomorphosis of modern tick-borne encephalitis in Ural]. / K probleme patomorfoza sovremennogo kleshchevogo éntsefalita na Urale.

Pathology study of 32 patients who died of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the Ural Region in 1990s revealed differences with this infection registered in 1940-1950s. Pathological changes in the central nervous system by their severity and location are like those observed in the Far East TBE. Apart from grave alterative changes in the nerve cells of motor nuclei of the spinal cord and brain, three types of pathological changes are observed: productive inflammation, exudative inflammation without pronounced inflammatory reaction. Differences in the organism reactions to the infectious process are explained by differences in the virus virulence and organism immunological status.

[Opisthorchiasis in Tobolsk based on 1950-1987 autopsy data]. / Opistorkhoz v Tobol'ske po dannym autopsii za 1950-1987 gg.

Retrospective analysis of medical documentation of the Tobolsk integrated prosectorium in 1950-1987 was made. Uncomplicated opisthorchiasis as the major and direct cause of death was not encountered. In thanatogenesis the complicated opisthorchiasis generally appeared as a mixed abnormality. No evolving opisthorchiasis-induced pathology was found. Positive pathomorphism of opisthorchiasis developed.

[Detection of factors of differentiation in human malignant melanoma]. / Vyiavlenie faktorov differentsirovki v zlokachestvennykh melanomakh cheloveka.

Factors of differentiation (FD) have been detected and isolated from human melanomas cloned in nude mice as well as from amphibian embryos from neurula--early tail bud stage. It has been shown that each source contains two factors of differentiation--mesodermalizing (MF) and melanogenic (MgF). Biological activity of MF has been determined by its capacity to initiate in early embryonic multipotent cells the appearance of various cell types, normally arising from mesoderm. Biological activity of MgF have been determined by its capacity to initiate melanogenesis both in epithelial cells and in dermal melanophores of clawed toad. It has been shown that both factors, isolated from both sources are heterogeneous by their molecular weights. Mr values determined for MgF, isolated from both sources, are nearly identical whereas Mr values of MF from sources coincide partially. Resemblance of FD detected in remote representatives of animal kingdom suggest the high evolutionary conservatism of factors, which switch on cell differentiation.