EXPRESSION OF PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH RECEPTOR IN ENDOMETRIAL CANCER PATIENTS WITH METABOLIC DISORDERS.

AIM: To study the expression of the programmed cell death receptor (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) by immunocompetent cells in endometrial cancer patients with metabolic disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Populations and subpopulations of lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Antibodies against CD279 were used to detect PD-1 on the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Antibodies against CD14 and CD274 were used to detect PD-L1 on monocytes. RESULTS: In patients with severe metabolic disorders, the expression of PD-1 on CD8+ and CD4+ lymphocytes and the expression of the corresponding PD-L1 on CD14+ cells before treatment and after radiation therapy were higher than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Theincreased expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 receptors by immunocompetent cells can be considered a new prognostic marker in endometrial cancer patients with morbid obesity.

Features of silicon- and titanium-polyethylene glycol precursors in sol-gel synthesis of new hydrogels.

The formation of organic/inorganic hydrogels based on silicon and titanium polyethylene glycolates, new biocompatible water-soluble precursors in sol-gel processing, was investigated. The influence of different factors on the gelation process, such as excess of PEG, water molar content, pH of medium, electrolyte additives, was investigated in comparison with silicon- and titanium-glycerol precursors. The specific features of gelation for each type of precursor were revealed. It has been determined that titanium polyethylene glycolates synthesized and used in the excess of PEG formed transparent polymeric hydrogels resistant to syneresis under certain conditions. The titanium polyethylene glycolates synthesized without excess of PEG formed turbid heterogeneous colloidal gels. In the case of silicon polyethylene glycolates the hydrogels obtained were polymeric. Dynamic light scattering was used to confirm the polymeric or colloidal type of gelation. The solid and liquid phases of polymeric silicon- and titanium-polyethylene glycol hydrogels were separated by exhaustive extraction. The solid phase was characterized by combined thermal analysis with simultaneous quadruple mass spectrometry, XRD, IR spectroscopy, and liquid phase-atomic emission spectroscopy. The structural features of polymeric gels were investigated by SEM and TEM methods. The cross-linking density of polymeric hydrogels was evaluated using Flory-Rehner theory based on the mechanical properties of swollen networks of flexible polymeric chains.

A novel navigation principle in computer-assisted surgery.

Novel methods of laser measurements and interventions in the framework of image-guided surgery are presented. The first innovation concerns the basis of error propagation studies in registration chains from CT via OR navigator to the surgical laser tool holder. Here, we propose a holographic ground truth. The second innovation concerns a laser-based inherent sound-guidance principle for burr hole depth measurement.

Osteotomy with 80-micros CO2 laser pulses--histological results.

Haemostatic and aseptic effects and intricate cut geometry are beneficial aspects of non-contact laser osteotomy. Collateral thermal damage, however, has severely limited the use of conventional lasers. The purpose of this study was to test the side effects on bone after cutting it with short CO2 laser pulses and simultaneous application of a fine air-water spray. The 10.6 microm CO2 laser emitted 80 micros pulses of 46 mJ energy, f=100 Hz, focused to a spot diameter of 130 ìm. Scan rate amounted to 40 mm/s. To approximate live conditions 10 samples of cortical bone and 10 rib segments were prepared immediately after sacrificing of pigs. A reference cut with a bandsaw and three laser cuts with an increasing number of beam passes (4, 16, 64) were performed on each sample. Half of the samples were decalcified in EDTA. The others were embedded in plastic to cut non-decalcified sections. The laser incisions were not accompanied by carbonisation. The incisions with slightly convergent walls were 150 ìm wide. The depths of the cavities increased with the number of the beam passes from approximately 0.5 mm (4 passes) to 3 mm (64 passes). At the border of the incisions two narrow zones of damage were noted: an amorphous intensively stained zone of 1-3 microm width and a wider, also sharply demarcated but faintly stained zone of 7-10 microm. A broader zone of about 50 microm was characterised by empty lacunae and osteocyte damage. These effects were not predictable; intact osteocytes were also observed near to the cut surface. Polarised light microscopy showed no alterations in the inorganic structure of the bone at the cut borders. The histological results indicated only minimal damage to bone ablated at the specified parameters. The described laser procedure might have advantages over mechanical instruments.

Bone tissue ablation with sub-microS pulses of a Q-switch CO(2) laser: histological examination of thermal side effects.

. The goal of this study is an in vitro evaluation of thermal side-effects by the application of short sub- micro s CO(2) laser pulses in combination with an air-water spray on different types of bone tissue. A mechanically Q-switched CO(2) laser delivered 300 ns pulses at 9.6 micro m wavelength, which were focused down to a spot size of 440 micro m on the tissue (a corresponding energy density of 9 J/cm(2)). Bone samples (blocks from pig femur, rib, or cartilage) were moved through the beam repeatedly until 1-5 mm deep cuts were produced. An air driven water spray was applied to prevent the tissue dehydration. Subsequent visual and histological examinations revealed no carbonisation, melting traces or fissuring of the tissue. An extremely narrow, 2-6 micro m thick thermally altered layer was observed at the cut border in compacta and cartilage. No accumulation of the thermal damage occurred with increasing cut depth. Laser incisions in trabecular tissue were accompanied with a 100-200 micro m thick zone of thermal necrosis in bone marrow. The difference from compacta and cartilage can be explained considering the particular character of the spreading of the ablation products in the trabecular meshwork. Minor thermal side effects make the Q-switched and probably other short pulsed CO(2) laser systems interesting for hard tissue surgery.

[Surface of the vascular plexuses of human cerebral ventricles]. / Poverkhnost' sosudistykh spletenii zheludochkov golovnogo mozga cheloveka.

The racemose part of vascular plexuses of the lateral ventricles has been studied in fetuses and persons at various age in the scanning and transmissive electron microscopes. In the magistral arteries of the vascular plexuses the neural trunks have been studied. They form the periadventitial plexus with a more complex network of connections in mature persons. The sulci and the elongated folds between them make the relief of the plexus. A rough surface of epitheliocytes has deep craters and irregular protrusions, microvilli, cilia and spherical bodies. The epitheliocytes are arranged in a single layer and connected with each other by means of protoplasmic peduncles. Over the epithelial layer, as single groups, Kolmer cells are situated.