Prognostic significance of the TNM system criteria, levels of serum insulin-like growth factors and their transport proteins, VEGF and MMP-7 in colorectal cancer.

The analysis of long-term results of treatment of 88 primary patients with colon adenocarcinoma at various stages of tumor process is presented, taking into account the TNM system criteria, and serum IGF-1, IGF-2, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3, VEGF, and MMP-7 levels. The overall survival rate assessed by Kaplan-Meier method and Cox multivariate regression model was used as the criterion of prognosis. It was established that IGF-1, IGFBP-2 and VEGF serum levels along with the stage of colorectal cancer might be considered as statistically significant independent predictors of overall survival in patients.

[PARAMETERS OF SPERMATOGENESIS IN MEN EXPOSED TO DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENTS].

This study was aimed to the comparison of the effects of various unfavorable factors on spermatogenesis and the level of free radical oxidation in the ejaculate. 40 men of reproductive age who visited doctor for lack of children within 2-3 years of marriage were examined. Patients were divided into 4 groups depending on the action of the unfavorable factors: the oil and gas industry workers, workers of radio-location and television and radio broadcasting facilities, creative workers, the unemployed and low-income people. The control group consisted of physically healthy men of similar age who had children within marriage. The malondialdehyde levels in the ejaculate and morphokinetic parameters of sperm cells were assessed. Natural gas and oil-dissolved gas were the most toxic against fertilizing properties of the ejaculate, they led to sharp decline in sperm concentration and motility of sperm cells by reducing the active mobile forms in oil and gas industry workers. In workers of radio-location and television and radio broadcasting facilities, essential modifications of sperm cell morphology were caused by mechanical damage of the microwave radiation. In creative workers suppression of spermatogenesis had complex nature due to the enhanced dynamics of free-radical oxidation, as well as the participation of the central regulatory mechanisms. The unemployed and low-income people with hyponutrition and malnutrition had suppression of spermatogenesis caused by a lack of biological resources necessary to maintain spermatogenesis and provide reliable antioxidant protection. There was an increase in the dynamics of aging of sperm cells. Thus, the intensity of lipid peroxidation, as well as the nature and direction of specific unfavorable factor determine the cumulative effect of the toxicity of this factor and the fertilizing capacity of the ejaculate.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGF), IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in blood serum of patients with colorectal cancer.

Serum levels of insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1 and IGF-2), IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, and IGFBP-3) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured by standard ELISA technique in 95 primary colorectal cancer patients and 48 healthy individuals. Significant increase in serum levels of IGF-1, IGFBP-2, and VEGF and decrease in IGFBP-3 level were demonstrated in patients in comparison with the control group; in male patients, serum level of IGF-2 was also increased. Sensitivity of IGF-1 as the prospective diagnostic marker of colorectal cancer was 80% and specificity was 75% at the threshold level of 140 ng/ml. Serum levels of IGF-1 significantly decreased with age in both patients and healthy donors, but in patients, this correlation was much weaker. These parameters did not correlate with the main clinical and morphological indices, such as dissemination, localization, and histological structure of colorectal cancer.

[The efficacy of hepatotropic agent Remaxol in oncological patients with postoperative liver dysfunction].

The study of the efficiency and safety of the hepatotropic drug Remaxol in oncological patients with minimal, subclinical manifestations of liver dysfunction in the postoperative period was performed. It is shown that using of Remaxolcontributes to leveling the biochemical liver dysfunction: decrease of the concentration of total bilirubin, a decrease serum activity of lactate dehydrogenase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase. The unwanted effects of Remaxol were not identified.

[Role of receptor for advanced glycation end-products in pathgenesis of psoriasis].

This review summarizes the existing knowledge regarding the role of receptor for advanced glycation end products which is a key participant of the inflammatory process, in pathogenesis of psoriasis. By interacting with multiple ligands and activating several signaling mechanisms, receptor for advanced glycation end products regulates gene expression via a group transcription factors, that includes NFKB and AP1. According to the published data the expression of receptor for advanced glycation end products in both immune cells and their targets, a high stability of this receptor in complexes with ligands as well as a positive feedback loop, upregulating the expression of its certain ligands, suggest receptor for advanced glycation end products as a possible principal factor that makes the inflammatory response in psoriasis sustainable. Considering receptor for advanced glycation end products as a potential master regulator of several processes that play a crucial role in development of psoriatic plaques, we believe that further experimental studies are needed to elucidate how exactly this receptor converts a transient inflammatory reaction to a sustainable inflammatory response. These studies are also needed for the development of novel medications that target receptor for advanced glycation end products and signaling mechanisms that this receptor activates.

[Expression of genes for metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-12) associated with psoriasis].

Using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we measured mRNA amounts of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs): MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-12 genes in psoriatic lesions and unaffected skin of the same patients. We observed significant (about 15-fold) increase in the expression level of matrix metalloproteinase MMP-1 and MMP-12 genes associated with psoriasis. The results of our studies of MMP gene expression in cultured primary human keratinocytes treated with interleukin (IL-17) have shown upregulation of MMP gene expression both in cultured keratinocytes and in psoriatic skin lesions. Therefore, upregulation of MMP genes in the skin affected by psoriasis could result from IL-17 effects on skin cells.

[Determination of polyamines in various biological media].

The existing methods for the determination of polyamines in various biological objects were assessed. The simplest, accessible, rather sensitive, and rapid method to determine polyamines, which is based on the electrophoretic fractionation of polyamines on 1.5% agar, is proposed for extensive clinical application. The proposed method has been used to study the levels of free polyamines in the spermoplasma of fertile and subfertile males. Different forms of subfertility showed significant differences in both the concentration of polyamines and their ratio as compared to those in the fertile males. The findings may be of diagnostic value in practical andrology.

[Genetic diversity of local spring soft wheats (Triticum aestivum L.) of west and east Siberia in gliadin genes].

A considerable polymorphism in gliadin genes was detected in the local wheats of West Siberia (Altai krai, Omsk oblast, and Kurgan oblast) and the local cultivars characteristic of several East Siberian regions (Krasnoyarsk krai, Irkutsk oblast, Tuva, and Yakutia), and the genetic formulas were determined. The common alleles characteristic of the wheats of both regions were detected, namely, Gli-A1f, Gli-A1j, Gli-A1i, Gli-A1m, Gli-B1e, Gli-B1m, Gli-D1a, Gli-A2q, Gli-A2k, Gli-A2u, Gli-D2a, and Gli-D2q, as well as 14 novel alleles unknown earlier. It was demonstrated that several genotypes had formed in Siberia. Of them, the genotypes Gli-Alf_Gli-Ble_Gli-D1a and Gli-Alj_Gli-Ble_Gli-D1a occur both in West and East Siberia, whereas the genotypes Gli-Ali Gli-Blm Gli-D1a Gli-A2new10, Gli-A1m_Gli-B1b_Gli-D1a_Gli-A2f, and Gli-A1m_Gli-B1m_Gli-D1a_Gli-A2u are found only in East Siberia.

[Diagnostic value of seminal bactericidal activity in bacteria carriers].

Seminal bactericidal activity (SBA) that is referred to as a factor of natural resistance and that controls bacterial survival in the male urogenital tract is an integral index of the congenital adaptive mechanisms of mucosal defense. The paper shows changes in SBA and other indices of the functional activity of the reproductive tract in male patients with different forms of bacteria carriage.

Study of Molecular Mechanisms Involved in the Pathogenesis of Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases, using Psoriasis As a Model.

Psoriasis was used as a model to analyze the pathogenetic pathways of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, and the results of bioinformatic, molecular-genetic and proteomic studies are provided. Cell mechanisms, common for the pathogenesis of psoriasis, as well as Crohn's disease, are identified. New approaches for immune-mediated diseases are discussed.

[Ejaculate microflora sensitivity to lactoferrin in chronic prostatitis]. / Chuvstvitel'nost' k laktoferrinu mikroflory éiakuliata pri khronicheskom prostatite

To determine an antimicrobial action of lactoferrin on bacterial flora of ejaculate in chronic prostatitis, we examined 124 patients with various diseases of male reproductive system at the age between 17 and 56. A total of 280 strains were used as test microorganisms (MO). Sensitivity of the latter to lactoferrin was studied with a human lactoferrin apoform. MO isolated from patients with marked dysbiosis were resistant to lactoferrin (94%). MO, not leading in cenosis, were more sensitive to lactoferrin than MO of the main colonies grown after seeding. Reproductive dysfunction was accompanied by higher occurrence of strains resistant to lactoferrin. The least sensitivity to lactoferrin was registered in asthenozoospermia. Lactoferrin resistance of MO may raise MO pathogenicity. When lactoferrin-resistant strains predominate in microbiocenosis, it is an unfavourable prognostic sign in relation to development of complications, primarily subfertility.

[Lactoferrin assay in urethritis and urethral prostatitis]. / Opredelenie laktoferrina pri uretritakh i uretroprostatitakh.

An immunochemical study of prostatic secretions in 97 patients with urethritis and urethroprostatitis has detected a significant rise of lactoferrin level in mixed infections (trichomonads + chlamydia and trichomonads + uroplasma--17 patients) versus control (14 healthy males) and group as a whole. In the control group a mean lactoferrin level was 51.2 +/- 8.4 mg/l (12 mg/l-67.3 mg/l), in the group as a whole 106 +/- 41.5 mg/l (19.5 mg/l to 334.8 mg/l) in patients with mixed infection 221.25 (102.9 mg/l to 334.8 mg/l). The assessment of diagnostic significance of the immunochemical test for lactoferrin in detection of mixed infections in urethritis and urethroprostatitis has shown that in threshold level of 150 mg/l the test's specificity was 87.5%, sensitivity 94.1%, effectiveness 88.65%, prognostic value of positive result 61.5%, of negative result 98.59%; in threshold level 200 mg/l the respective values were 100, 52.9, 91.75, 100 and 90.9%. Practical application of the proposed immunochemical test in detection of mono- and mixed infection is discussed.

[Prostatic cancer: immunochemical control over chemotherapy]. / Immunokhimicheskii kontrol' khimioterapii raka predstatel'noi zhelezy.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was measured in blood-serum of patients with prostatic cancer (PC) from two groups. Group 1 received estrogens, alkylating cytostatic, antracycline antibiotic and antimetabolite; group 2--LH releasing hormone (RHLH) analog. The immunochemical test was made weekly for 52 weeks. Group 2 patients had a high PSA level reaching maximum on week 6 (59.32 +/- 5.37 microg/l). After that, the PSA level decreased. The initial level was reached on week 17. On week 52 a mean PSA concentration made up 16.78 +/- 1.88 micrograms/l. As to group 1, no trend to serum PSA elevation was seen for two weeks, than it slowly rose and on week 8 it converted to plateau (mean level 51.5 micrograms/l). Lowering occurred slowly beginning on week 19. The initial level was reached only on the treatment week 30-31 being to the end of the treatment 22.06 +/- 1.53 micrograms/l. Assay for other cancer markers detected elevation of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in 21.8% of group 1 patients after 21-22 weeks of the treatment. Serum level of PSA is recommended for control over chemotherapy of prostatic cancer. The role of drugs in induction of AFP resynthesis is not discussed.

[Medium molecular weight molecules and their fractions in Astrakhan rickettsial fever]. / Srednie molekuly i ikh fraktsii pri Astrakhanskoi rikketsioznoi likhoradke.

The level of medium-weight molecules (MWM) over the course of disease and changes in the lipid share of MWM fractions at the peak of disease were studied in patients with Astrakhan rickettsial fever (ARF). The level of MWM was significantly increased in comparison with the control and MWM concentration clearly correlated with the severity of intoxication. A level higher than 600 U is an unfavorable sign of a grave course. The significance of the lipid part of MWM fraction in the formation of the intoxication syndrome in ARF is shown.

[Selenium correction of male subfertility]. / Primenenie selena dlia korrektsii subfertil'nosti u muzhchin.

To study the effect of selenium in subfertile men, three groups of men were studied. Group 1--31 subfertile men living in healthy environment, group 2--25 subfertile men exposed for a long time to low doses of gas containing hydrogen sulfide, group 3--control 43 fertile men. Men of groups 1 and 2 received 3 courses of selenium (3.5 microg/kg/day for 30 days). Before the treatment and after each course ejaculate fertility was assessed by spermogram, enzyme activity of alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) and lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), concentrations of prostatic acid phosphatase, sperm-specific inhibitor tripsin and prostate-specific antigen. Selenium proved effective, the response being higher in group 2 than in group 1. The causes of this difference are discussed. It is thought possible to use selenium for correction of some subfertility forms in men.

[Iron and nonheme iron protein metabolism in ejaculates with varying degrees of fertility]. / Obmen zheleza i negemovykh ferroproteinov v éiakuliatakh razlichnoi fertil'nosti.

Spermoplasm of 21 fertile and 96 subfertile males was examined for Fe, transferrin and scaferrin the concentrations of which were compared to 14 morphofunctional and physicochemical parameters of ejaculate fertility. Fe and non-hemic spermoplasm ferroproteins are involved in male reproduction: participate in ejaculate thinning, in formation of viscosity and sperm pH, are important for normal spermatogenesis and intercellular interactions. The findings can be applied in diagnosis of male subfertility and control of ongoing treatment, hold promise for improvement of fertilizing ability of the sperm used for artificial insemination and extracorporeal fertilization.

[The protein spectrum of ejaculates with different fertilities]. / Belkovyi spektr éiakuliatov razlichnoi fertil'nosti.

Immunochemical assay for protein composition was made in 22 fertile and 110 subfertile human sperm samples. Changes in the levels of albumin, prostatic acid phosphatase, sperm-specific tripsin inhibitor, prostate-specific antigen and alpha-2-microglobulin of fertility in spermoplasm were studied in different disturbances of ejaculate fecundating ability. The latter was determined by 14 morphofunctional and physicochemical criteria of sperm fertility. With an increase of the ejaculate volume above 5 ml protein homeostasis showed abnormality. The authors consider functional value of the study proteins in ejaculate, pattern of spermatozoid motor activity, maintenance of normal spermoplasmic pH; discuss practical opportunities of the data obtained for increasing fertility of the sperm used in artificial fertilization, diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

[The enzymatic activity of the seminal plasma in ejaculates of different fertilities]. / Aktivnost' fermentov spermoplazmy v eiakuliatakh razlichnoi fertil'nosti.

Enzymatic ejaculates activity was studied in 15 fertile and 65 subfertile samples of human sperm. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1), gamma-glutamyl transferase (EC 2.3.2.2), creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2), total lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) and lactate dehydrogenase-1 was compared to spermogram findings according to 14 morphological and physicochemical criteria of fertility. The enzyme activity depends on functioning of the testes, seminal vesiculae, prostate, bulbourethral glands and is involved in formation of fertility. The findings allowed elucidation of the role of synthesis and some function of spermoplasma enzymes. Practical applications of the above data are discussed in the treatment of male infertility and to raise fertilizing power of the sperm in artificial insemination.