[Modified method for the demonstration of argyrophilic proteins in the nucleolar organizer regions in paraffin sections].

The modified method of staining of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) by silver nitrate is presented. This modification eliminates some disadvantages of an original technique. The method accelerates staining and prevents the precipitation of deposits.

[The clinical significance of immunohistochemically detectable Ki-67 protein in renal cell carcinoma].

Great attention is paid to renal cell carcinoma (RCC) due to the growth of its prevalence. This paper is dedicated to the matching of classic clinical and pathological prognostic factors to the character of the expression of proliferation marker Ki-67 in this kind of cancer. The proliferative activity was analyzed in 101 RCC cases by immunohistochemical assays using antibodies to Ki-67. In aggressive RCC and Fuhrman grade 3 to 4 tumors, Ki-67 level was found to be high more often. Besides, time to the appearance of remote metastases was significantly shorter, and total survival rate was significantly lower in RCC with high proliferative activity vs. low.

[Pleural metastases of renal carcinoma].

Metastases in renal carcinoma are diagnosed at initial diagnosis in 25% examinees. Traditional renal carcinoma has higher metastatic potential, is associated with worse survival of the patients compared to papillary cancer. We studied cytological characteristics of renal carcinoma metastases to the pleura in comparison with histological studies of the primary lesion using immunohistochemical findings. We examined cytologically pleural liquid in renal carcinoma metastases to the pleura in 6 patients (2.3% of carcinomatous pleuricies). High efficacy was shown by a cytocentrifuge CYTOSPIN-4. In 3 cases initial cancer was renal cell carcinoma, pleural exudation developed 2 years later, clear cell carcinoma appeared 6 years later and papillary cancer--10 years later. In the other 3 cases malignant cells were detected in new-onset cases. Renal carcinoma was diagnosed in one case. Cytological preparations were studied with identification of cytological signs typical for classic clear cell, granulocell and papillary renal cancer. Immunohistochemical examination of primary tumor lesion in the kidney discovered high proliferative activity of tumor cells by Ki-67 index to 5.28%. The tumors had solitary Bcl-2 positive cells. Expression of mutant p-53 took place in 0.93%. Her-2/neu hyperexpression was not found in the tumors of the above patients. Such immunohistochemical parameters point to poor prognosis. This is confirmed by renal carcinoma metastases to the pleura.

A new focusing ultrasonic transducer and two foci acoustic lens for acoustic microscopy.

The textured piezoelectric film of a new organic-based material produced by vapor deposition was used as an active element of a focusing ultrasonic transducer. The transducer exhibits near theoretical lateral and axial resolution, unipolar pulse response to a step voltage, and 30 dB insertion losses in an octave frequency band. The transducer is acoustically transparent over a wide frequency range and can be fabricated on a concave spherical surface of the standard acoustic lens. The resulting double transducer and two foci acoustic lens are capable of improving the quality of the surface structure imaging or of being used in continuous wave reflection acoustic microscopy.

[Characteristics of staphylococci isolated from newborn infants]. / Kharakteristika stafilokokkov, vydelennykh ot novorozhdennykh.

The microflora of the skin and the nasal mucosa was studied in 14 healthy newborns, 3 newborns with purulent infections and a nurse working in a neonatal ward. To make this study, washings were obtained with the use of 0.1% Triton X-100 solution. The determination of the number of microorganisms, the percentage of staphylococci, the percentage of lecithinase-positive staphylococci and the number of colonies with antagonistic properties revealed that these characteristics differed according to the state of health of the newborns and the time elapsed after their birth, and that changes in the number of antagonistically active bacteria occurred in parallel with changes in the total number of bacteria. Among S. aureus strains isolated from the subjects covered by the survey strains belonging to phagovar 80, as well as untyped strains, and among S. epidermidis strains those belonging to biovars I and II occurred most frequently. Strains belonging to the same biovar or phagovar differed in their plasmid markers.