Surface modification of the laser powder bed-fused Ti-Zr-Nb scaffolds by dynamic chemical etching and Ag nanoparticles decoration.

Metallic lattice scaffolds are designed to mimic the architecture and mechanical properties of bone tissue and their surface compatibility is of primary importance. This study presents a novel surface modification protocol for metallic lattice scaffolds printed from a superelastic Ti-Zr-Nb alloy. This protocol consists of dynamic chemical etching (DCE) followed by silver nanoparticles (AgNP) decoration. DCE, using an 1HF + 3HNO3 + 12H2O23% based solution, was used to remove partially-fused particles from the surfaces of different as-built lattice structures (rhombic dodecahedron, sheet gyroid, and Voronoi polyhedra). Subsequently, an antibacterial coating was synthesized on the surface of the scaffolds by a controlled (20 min at a fixed volume flowrate of 500 mL/min) pumping of the functionalization solutions (NaBH4 (2 mg/mL) and AgNO3 (1 mg/mL)) through the porous structures. Following these treatments, the scaffolds' surfaces were found to be densely populated with Ag nanoparticles and their agglomerates, and manifested an excellent antibacterial effect (Ag ion release rate of 4-8 ppm) suppressing the growth of both E. coli and B. subtilis bacteria up to 99 %. The scaffold extracts showed no cytotoxicity and did not affect cell proliferation, indicating their safety for subsequent use as implants. A cytocompatibility assessment using MG-63 spheroids demonstrated good attachment, spreading, and active migration of cells on the scaffold surface (over 96 % of living cells), confirming their biotolerance. These findings suggest the promise of this surface modification approach for developing superelastic Ti-Zr-Nb scaffolds with superior antibacterial properties and biocompatibility, making them highly suitable for bone implant applications.

[Structural and functional features of the ovaries as a risk factor for ovarian cancer in infertile women]. / Strukturno-funktsional'nye osobennosti iaichnikov kak faktor riska raka iaichnikov u zhenshchin s besplodiem.

In examining 502 female patients with cancer of the ovaries (OC) infertility was identified in 21.9 percent of cases. The prevalent form of infertility was tubal infertility (92.7%), there were but a few instances of the endocrine form (1.8%). The infertile women were studied for their hormonal and receptorial status (receptors of estradiol and progesterone). It has been established that women with the endocrine variant of infertility present with more prominent hormonal inadequacies in the hypophysis-ovaries system and manifest changes in the receptorial status of the ovaries than those with tubal infertility; the findings in the latter have not been shown to be different from controls. In endocrine infertility OC is in fact not encountered, which fact can be related to morphological features of the ovaries giving origin to endocrine disturbances, and to a decline in the receptorial status and absence of ovulation.

[Enhancement of efficiency in the chemotherapy of ovarian cancer]. / Puti povysheniia éffektivnosti khimioterapii raka iaichnikov.

As many as 308 patients with stage IV ovarian carcinoma (OC) were examined to assess effectiveness of employing platinum drugs (CP and CAP)-based chemotherapy regimens depending on the degree of differentiation of tumor cells, on the extent to which the process has been disseminated, and on the cytostatics regimens adopted. Standard chemotherapy regimens permitting maintaining the standard "intensity" of the cytostatic dose have been shown to improve OC treatment results, especially in those patients presenting with medium and high-grade (poorly differentiated) tumors. Patients with low-grade tumors derive benefit when placed on the above chemotherapy at 4 weeks intervals whereas those with medium- and high-grade tumors benefit from treatments on a 3-week interval schedule.

[A cytogenetic examination of persons subjected to radiation exposure in certain regions of Ukraine]. / Tsitogeneticheskoe obsledovanie lits, podvergshikhsia radiatsionnomu vozdeistviiu v nekotorykh regionakh Ukrainy.

We have summarized the results of cytogenetic studies of peripheral blood lymphocytes conducted in the institutions of Kiev and Kharkov in persons irradiated after the accident of the Chernobyl NPP. The average level of chromosomal aberrations and the appearance of cytogenetic markers characteristic of their irradiation effect was higher in the examinees in comparison with the control. The increase in the number of aberrations in certain Kiev residents as well as the development of lymphogranulomatosis in some liquidators of the accident were detected. The increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in liquidators of the accident was accompanied by the reduction in the level of reparative DNA synthesis of blood lymphocytes. The necessity to expand cytogenetic examination in persons that participated in the liquidation of the accident on the ChNPP and Kiev inhabitants is discussed.

[Incidence of pulmonary lesions and the role of pulmonary pathology in mortality among cancer patients]. / Chastota porazhenii legkikh i rol' legochnoi patologii v tanatogeneze onkologicheskikh bol'nykh.

The majority of cancer patients (95%) whatever the malignancy location are shown to develop various pathological process in the lungs. 20% of lethal outcomes occur due to acute and protracted croup and focal pneumonias. Such pneumonias are often found after the patients death because of a symptomless and atypical course. These findings dictate a necessity of comprehensive pulmonological studies in cancer patients and administration of detoxication therapy to manage the bronchial obstruction syndrome registered in 39% of cancer patients probably as an early stage of further pulmonary impairment.

[Carcinoembryonic antigen and immunity in breast cancer]. / Rakovoémbrional'nyi antigen i immunitet pri rake molochnoi zhelezy.

Three groups of breast cancer patients were investigated: with a high level of CEA, with a lowered level of CEA, and those in whom CEA was undetectable either before or after therapy. The relationship of the time course of blood CEA, nonspecific body reactivity, and radiotherapeutic efficacy was established. Ineffective radiotherapy resulted in inhibition of phagocytic activity of blood neutrophils and cell stromal reactions at a tumor bed against a decrease in CEA concentration as compared to the basal levels in patients. Effective radiotherapy led to increased CEA levels, phagocytic activity was unihibited and slightly on the decrease. A considerable effect of the a CEA level on the T-system of immunity was unnoticed. In the group with the absence of blood CEA, there was an increase in the phagocytic activity of blood neutrophils and cell stromal reactions in a tumor against a background of a higher ability of lymphocytes to a spontaneous blast transformation reaction and a lesser decrease in the T-lymphocyte count that in the other groups.

[Histological and immuno-morphological characteristics of differentiated cancer of the thyroid gland]. / Gistologicheskie i immunomorfologicheskie kharakteristiki differentiated cancer of the thyroid gland.

Histological and immunomorphological study of the removed tumor and tissue of the thyroid was performed in 80 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Activation of immune reactions and immunocompetent cells was reported at the border with blastomatous process. The latter seems a factor contributing to a favorable run of differentiated thyroid cancer. The capacity of papillary and follicular cancer for multifocal growth limits indications for preserving surgery in such lesions.

[The results of the radiation treatment of cervical cancer using low, sensitizing doses of radiation]. / Rezul'taty luchevogo lecheniia raka sheiki matki s ispol'zovaniem malykh sensibiliziruiushchikh doz radiatsii.

Combined radiation treatment for cervical cancer is associated with radiation injury to the intestine, bladder, hemopoietic system and suppression of T-system, nonspecific immunity and thyroid function. Modified gamma-ray teletherapy was suggested which included low-dose (0.1 Gy) sensitizing irradiation of tumor and zones of regional dissemination prior to delivering therapeutic dose (1.9 Gy). The procedure assured lower incidence of radiation-induced reactions and complications, leukopenia and T-lymphocyte function suppression, stimulated nonspecific resistance and thyrotropic function of the pituitary, and provided normal function of the thyroid. As a result, five-year survival rate in patients with stage III cancer increased by 14%.

[A dynamic cytologic study during the chemotherapy of cancer of the ovaries]. / Dinamicheskoe tsitologicheskoe issledovanie pri khimioterapii raka iachnikov.

Dynamic cytologic examinations of puncture biopsy specimens of ovarian carcinoma and of serous cavity fluid in metastases of the carcinoma over the course of chemotherapy help assess the treatment efficacy and timely correct it. Carcinoma metastases to the pleural and abdominal cavity are more sensitive to chemotherapy than the primary tumor. Chemotherapy efficacy improves if a greater number of courses of therapy are administered.

[Quantitative immunomorphological criteria in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases]. / Kolichestvennye immunomorfologicheskie kriterii diagnostiki zabolevanii shchitovidnoi zhelezy.

Quantitative assessment of the degree of pronouncement of lymphoid infiltration in the micropreparations of the thyroid gland (TG) allows to define the index of lymphoid infiltration according to which autoimmune reactions and autoimmune diseases can be differentiated. Similar reaction of stroma in cancer, nodular and mixed euthyroid, goiter and TG adenoma permits to consider the patients with nodular goiter as a group of risk for the development of cancer.

[Isothiobarbamine prevention of disorders of carbohydrate and oxygen metabolism and of the development of brain edema in the early period after an intracerebral hemorrhage]. / Preduprezhdenie izotiobarbaminom narushenii uglevodnogo, kislorodnogo obmena i razvitiia oteka mozga v rannie sroki posle vnutrimozgovogo krovoizliianiia.

In experiments on cats after injection of isothiobarbamine intravenously (50 mg/kg) at 30 min, intracerebral hemorrhage prevented activation of brain glucose utilization, depression of brain oxygen utilization, surplus lactate accumulation in brain, early development of brain edema and death of cats.

[Use of isothiobarbamin in the correction of disorders of the vital activities of the brain in intracerebral hemorrhage]. / Korrektsiia izotiobarbaminom narushenii zhiznedeiatel'nosti mozga pri vnutrimozgovom krovoizliianii.

Isothiobarbamin injected intravenously to cats in the phase of circulatory hypoxia 1-2 days after intracerebral hemorrhage improves the functional activity, blood supply, oxygen supply to the brain, prevents excessive accumulation of lactate in the brain tissue. The drug exerts the stimulating effect on the disordered local blood flow: the blood supply to the ischemic areas increases, and that of the hyperemic ones decreases. The mechanism of the vasodilative effect of isothiobarbamin is due to inhibition of Ca2+ delivery through the potential-dependent and serotonin-activated channels of the smooth muscle plasmic membrane. The drug activity increases with a rise of the initial vascular tone.

[The state of immunity and the cyclic nucleotide system in the radiotherapy of breast cancer]. / Sostoianie immuniteta i sistemy tsiklicheskikh nukleotidov pri luchevoi terapii raka molochnoi zhelezy.

Indices of the T-system of immunity were lowered in breast cancer patients. Small fractional radiotherapy resulted in its greater suppression. A tumor revealed low pathomorphosis accompanied by a sharp increase in the levels of cyclic nucleotides. Large fractional radiotherapy caused no changes in the state of the immune system correlating with high radiation pathomorphosis in a tumor and a decrease in a cGMP level.

[Cyclic nucleotides during radiotherapy of breast cancer]. / Tsiklicheskie nukleotidy pri luchevoi terapii raka molochnoi zhelezy.

Levels of cAMP and cGMP were higher in breast cancer tissue as compared with benign tumors. Large-fraction irradiation was followed by a decrease in cGMP concentration matched by a rise in cAMP/cGMP ratio in cases of radiosensitive tumors. Small-fraction treatment did not affect cyclic nucleotide levels. Radiotherapy was followed by a decrease in initially raised blood plasma cyclic nucleotide concentration.