[Role of ultrasonography in the primary diagnosis of lymphomas].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic value of ultrasonography and its capabilities in evaluating the involvement of abdominal organs and peripheral lymph nodes, in analyzing the morphological subtypes in lymphomas, in choose the lymph node that is most informative for a histological study. SUBJECT AND METHODS: 193 patients with lymphomas, including 85 (44%) with lymphogranulomatosis and 108 (56%) with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas who had been treated at the clinical units of the Prof. R.O. Eolyan Hematology Center, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, in 2006-2009 were examined. Their ultrasound examination was made using Aloka SSD500 apparatuses with 3.5--and 5.0 MHz convex transducers, a Medison SA6000 probe with a 7.0 MHz C3-7ED linear transducer and a 3.5 MHz HL5-9ED convex transducer, an Acuson probe with a 7.0 MHz linear transducer and a 3.5 MHz convex transducer, by applying polyposition gray-scale scanning (B mode) and real-time color Doppler flow mapping. RESULTS: The patients with lymphomas were clinically characterized; data on the nature and extent of the involvements of different anatomic groups of lymph nodes, organs, and systems (spleen, liver, thyroid, etc.) are given. CONCLUSION: B-mode ultrasonography is an essential component of a comprehensive diagnostic examination in patients with lymphomas. It is important to detect primary lesion foci and to estimate their distribution and extent in the nodal and extranodal organs and systems, mediastinum in the ultrasound diagnosis of lymphomas.

Age as only predictive factor for successful sperm recovery in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome.

The study was performed to determine factors affecting successful sperm retrieval by testicular sperm extraction in patients with nonmosaic Klinefelter's syndrome (KS). From May 2001 to February 2007, 27 azoospermic patients were diagnosed as having nonmosaic KS. All patients underwent sperm testicular extraction. Patient's age, testicular volume, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B were assessed as predictive factors for successful sperm recovery. Of the 27 Klinefelter's patients examined, eight (29.6%) had successful sperm recovery. The comparisons of serum FSH, inhibin B and testicular volume between patients with and without successful sperm retrieval did not show any statistical significance. The patients with successful sperm recovery were significantly younger (28.6 +/- 3.11 years) than those with failed attempts (33.9 +/- 4.5 years, P = 0.002). The rate of positive sperm retrieval was significantly higher in patients younger than 32 years compared with patients older than 32 years (P = 0.01, chi-squared test). The study showed that clinical parameters such as FSH, inhibin B and testicular volume do not have predictive value for sperm recovery in patients with KS. The mean age of our patients with successful sperm recovery was significantly lower than that of men with unsuccessful results. Testicular sperm extraction or testicular sperm aspiration should be performed before the critical age of 32 years.

[Combined liver-kidney transplantation: indications and results]. / Transplantation foie-rein combinée: indications et résultats.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to report our experience concerning the indications and results for combined liver-kidney transplantation in our centre. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From July 1991 to October 2006, 26 patients underwent combined liver-kidney transplantation in our establishment. This group comprised 16 men and 10 women with a mean age of 50.1 years (range: 19 to 68 years). The main indications were as follows: hepatorenal polycystic disease, type I hyperoxaluria, cirrhosis associated with end-stage renal failure. RESULT: The median follow-up was 62.73 (+/-50.9) months. Only two patients of this series died, one at 70 months from gastric cancer, and the other at 89 months from cerebral metastases. Nine patients developed surgical complications (29%). Liver function was normal in the 24 surviving patients. Only one case of loss of renal graft was observed at 12 years and this patient is currently on dialysis. The mean creatinine level in these patients (apart from the dialysed patient) at the last follow-up visit was 120.3 (+/-30.43)micromol/l. CONCLUSION: Combined liver-kidney transplantation can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality and excellent long-term results.

Double-hadron leptoproduction in the nuclear medium.

The first measurements of double-hadron production in deep-inelastic scattering within the nuclear medium were made with the HERMES spectrometer at DESY HERA using a 27.6 GeV positron beam. By comparing data for deuterium, nitrogen, krypton, and xenon nuclei, the influence of the nuclear medium on the ratio of double-hadron to single-hadron yields was investigated. Nuclear effects on the additional hadron are clearly observed, but with little or no difference among nitrogen, krypton, or xenon, and with smaller magnitude than effects seen on previously measured single-hadron multiplicities. The data are compared with models based on partonic energy loss or prehadronic scattering and with a model based on a purely absorptive treatment of the final-state interactions. Thus, the double-hadron ratio provides an additional tool for studying modifications of hadronization in nuclear matter.

Measurement of the tensor structure function b1 of the deuteron.

The Hermes experiment has investigated the tensor spin structure of the deuteron using the 27.6 GeV/c positron beam of DESY HERA. The use of a tensor-polarized deuteron gas target with only a negligible residual vector polarization enabled the first measurement of the tensor asymmetry A(d)zz and the tensor structure function b(d)1 for average values of the Bjorken variable 0.01< <0.45 and of the negative of the squared four-momentum transfer 0.5 GeV2 < <5 GeV2. The quantities A(d)zz and b(d)1 are found to be nonzero. The rise of b(d)1 for decreasing values of x can be interpreted to originate from the same mechanism that leads to nuclear shadowing in unpolarized scattering.

Single-spin asymmetries in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering on a transversely polarized hydrogen target.

Single-spin asymmetries for semi-inclusive electroproduction of charged pions in deep-inelastic scattering of positrons are measured for the first time with transverse target polarization. The asymmetry depends on the azimuthal angles of both the pion (phi) and the target spin axis (phi(S)) about the virtual-photon direction and relative to the lepton scattering plane. The extracted Fourier component sin((phi+phi(S))(pi)(UT) is a signal of the previously unmeasured quark transversity distribution, in conjunction with the Collins fragmentation function, also unknown. The component sin((phi-phi(S)(pi)(UT) arises from a correlation between the transverse polarization of the target nucleon and the intrinsic transverse momentum of quarks, as represented by the previously unmeasured Sivers distribution function. Evidence for both signals is observed, but the Sivers asymmetry may be affected by exclusive vector meson production.

Flavor decomposition of the sea-quark helicity distributions in the nucleon from semiinclusive deep inelastic scattering.

Double-spin asymmetries of semiinclusive cross sections for the production of identified pions and kaons have been measured in deep inelastic scattering of polarized positrons on a polarized deuterium target. Five helicity distributions including those for three sea quark flavors were extracted from these data together with reanalyzed previous data for identified pions from a hydrogen target. These distributions are consistent with zero for all three sea flavors. A recently predicted flavor asymmetry in the polarization of the light quark sea appears to be disfavored by the data.

Evidence for quark-hadron duality in the proton spin asymmetry A1.

Spin-dependent lepton-nucleon scattering data have been used to investigate the validity of the concept of quark-hadron duality for the spin asymmetry A1. Longitudinally polarized positrons were scattered off a longitudinally polarized hydrogen target for values of Q2 between 1.2 and 12 GeV2 and values of W2 between 1 and 4 GeV2. The average double-spin asymmetry in the nucleon resonance region is found to agree with that measured in deep-inelastic scattering at the same values of the Bjorken scaling variable x. This finding implies that the description of A1 in terms of quark degrees of freedom is valid also in the nucleon resonance region for values of Q2 above 1.6 GeV2.

Q2 dependence of nuclear transparency for exclusive rho0 production.

Exclusive coherent and incoherent electroproduction of the rho(0) meson from 1H and 14N targets has been studied at the HERMES experiment as a function of coherence length (l(c)), corresponding to the lifetime of hadronic fluctuations of the virtual photon, and squared four-momentum of the virtual photon (-Q2). The ratio of 14N to 1H cross sections per nucleon, called nuclear transparency, was found to increase (decrease) with increasing l(c) for coherent (incoherent) rho(0) electroproduction. For fixed l(c), a rise of nuclear transparency with Q2 is observed for both coherent and incoherent rho(0) production, which is in agreement with theoretical calculations of color transparency.

Timing algorithm for bolus chase MR digital subtraction angiography.

To acquire multiple longitudinal locations in the lower extremity after a single contrast injection, appropriate table translation and contrast injection are required. An approximate model based on constant bolus velocity was developed to describe the space-time course of a contrast bolus in the lower extremity. This model was verified in dynamic MR angiograms acquired in a group of patients using time-resolved 2D MR digital subtraction angiography (MRDSA). From this contrast bolus passage model, a timing algorithm for table translation and contrast injection was developed for bolus chase MRDSA, subsequently validated in bolus chase 2D MRDSA experiments. All targeted major peripheral arteries were well depicted in bolus chase 2D MRDSA using this timing algorithm and a single 15-ml contrast dose.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis: a review.

This article reviews the many facets of toxic epidermal necrolysis. Emphasis is placed on the importance of early diagnosis, burn unit placement, supportive care, and avoidance of systemic steroids. Discussion also includes other therapeutic options and the pathophysiology of the disease.

[Role of the catecholaminergic mechanisms and of the caudate nucleus in the development of generalized convulsions caused by the parenteral administration of penicillin]. / Rol' katekholaminergicheskikh mekhanizmov i khvostatogo iadra v razvitii generalizovannykh sudorog, vyzyvaemykh parenetral'nym vvedeniem penitsilina.

In freely moving cats the behavioral and EEG-shifts, accompanied by myoclonic jerks with slow negative waves and spike-wave complexes in the cortexand caudate nucleus, were recorded following a single intramuscular injection of high penicillin doses. The stimulants of catecholaminergic transmission (L-DOPA and apomorphine) inhibited the development of such phenomena but facilitated origination of tonicoclonic cramps. The inhibitors of catecholaminergic synapses (aminazin and haloperidol) exerted reverse effects. The electrolytic injury to the caudate nucleus head also prevented formation of petit mal-like seizures while the threshold low-frequency stimulation of the nucleus increased penicillin effect.

[Electrophysiologic study of hippocampo-hypothalamic connections in rabbits]. / Elektrofiziologicheskoe issledovanie gippokampo-gipotalamicheskikh sviazei u krolikov.

Using the evoked potentials (EP) studies have been made on functional connections of different fields (CA1, CA3) of the dorsal hippocamp with phylogenetically different parts of the hypothalamus in rabbits. It was shown that during stimulation of both the field CA1 and the field CA3 of the hippocamp, the EP are widely present in nuclear structures of the posterior hypothalamus (supramammilary area, the posterior hypothalamic area, mammilary bodies). In the anterior hypothalamus (area preoptic medialis), the EP were recorded only during stimulation of the field CA1 in the dorsal hippocamp.

Metrazol-induced petit mal: the role played by monoaminergic mechanisms and striatum.

Gradually accumulating subconvulsive doses of metrazol give rise to behavioral and electrographic effects close to petit mal epilepsy: slow negative waves and spike-wave complexes on EEG, frozen and myoclonic jerks. Intensification of monoaminergic transmission with apomorphine, DOPA or 5-hydroxytryptophan attenuates, but inhibition (chlorpromazine, haloperidol and p-chlorphenylalanine), on the contrary, increases the subconvulsive effect of the metrazol. Low frequency stimulation of the striatum potentiates, and lesion limits expressiveness of metrazol-induced petit mal. Bilateral electrolytic lesion of the striatum eliminates apomorphine, DOPA and haloperidol action, but slight changes the effects of chlorpromazine, 5-hydroxytryptophan and p-chlorphenylalanine.

[Participation of monoaminergic mechanisms and the striatum in the development of "petit mal" induced by corazole]. / Uchasti monoaminergicheskikh mekhanizmov I striatuma v razvitii "malogo épilepticheskogo pripadka" vyzyvaemogo korazolom.

In gradual cumulation of subconvulsive doses of corasole in mice there are certain changes of behaviour and electrographical signs which are close to "petit mal": slow negative waves and peak-wave complexes on the EEG, myoclonic jerks. An increase of monoaminergic transmission of apomorphine, DOPA, or 5--hydroxyhyptophane weakens the preconvulsive effect of corasol, while its inhibition by aminasine, haloperidol and p-chlorphenylalanine on the contrary increases it. A low frequency electric stimulation of the striatum potentiates the expressiveness of corasole "petit mal", while its destruction limits it. A bilateral destruction of the striatum eliminates the action of apomorphine, DOPA and haloperidol but only slightly changes the effect of aminazine, 5-hydroxytryptophane and p-chlorphenylalanine.

[Effect of corazole on the functional activity of the caudate nucleus]. / Vliianie korazola na funktsional'nuiu aktivnost' khvostatogo iadra

In chronic experiments with freely moving cats the action of diverse metrazol doses on the d,1-amphetamine-induced stereotype behaviour and the arrest reaction following low frequency stimulation of the caudate nucleus was studied. After injections of metrazol (20--30 mg/kg, i.c.) myoclonic seizure jerks and decreased locomotion occurred. This state was accompanied by depression of the stereotype behaviour and lowered arrest reaction threshold. It is suggested that some behavioural and the EEG metrazol-induced changes may come as a result of the caudate nucleus activation.