Intraepithelial prostatic neoplasia

44 patients seeked medical advice for low urinary symptoms. Their examination consisted of digital rectal investigation, test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the serum, transurethral ultrasonic investigation, fine needle multifocal biopsy of the prostate. Three groups were identified by the PSA levels. 7 patients of group 1 had PSA up to 6 ng/ml. Cancer was diagnosed in 3 of them, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) in 4 patients. 16 patients of group 2 had PSA within 7-10 ng/ml. In this group only 1 patient had cancer, the rest 15 had PIN. 21 patients of group 3 with PSA at least 10 ng/ml had cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, PIN (12, 2 and 7 patients, respectively). 3 patients with high-grade PIN and PSA above 10 ng/ml in 6 months were diagnosed to have adenocarcinoma, in 6 such patients signs of dysplasia disappeared after antiandrogenic therapy. Further investigations on diagnosis and treatment of PIN are desirable.     

Radiological states around the Kraton-4 underground nuclear explosion site in Sakha

A radiological survey around the site of Kraton-4, an underground nuclear explosion (Yield of 20 kt, depth of 560 m, 1978) in Sakha was carried out in March 1998. Gamma survey and in-situ spectroscopy on the ground exhibited quite normal levels: a dose rate of 0.022 microSv/h and Cs-137 surface contamination of less than 1.1 kBq/m2 around the hypocenter. The results suggested no remarkable leakage of radioactivity from the epicenter to the ground surface at least not for non-rare gas elements as of 1998.     

Recent advances in diagnosis and management of pulmonary hypertension in chronic lung disease

Pulmonary hypertension with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance is a common cardiovascular complication associated with increased morbidity and mortality in preterm infants with chronic lung disease. Injury to the developing pulmonary circulation results in structural and functional abnormalities of the pulmonary vasculature. Animal studies have demonstrated that disruption of angiogenesis may contribute to the failure of normal alveolarisation in chronic lung disease. Levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are lower in infants with chronic lung disease compared to preterm controls. Supplemental oxygen is commonly used to prevent and treat pulmonary hypertension, although optimal arterial oxygen saturation levels remain uncertain. Other vasodilators such as inhaled nitric oxide appear promising, but as yet have not been evaluated in the form of randomised controlled trials. Further studies are required to investigate the long-term effectiveness of pulmonary vasodilator therapy.     

Surgical treatment of carotid chemodectomas

49 patients have been examined and 38 of them operated in RRCS RAMS for carotid hemadectomas (CH). CH is a rather rare tumor developing from the carotid gland locating in bifurcation of the common carotid artery. It is slowly growing tumor which is scantily active and rarely metastasizes. In 35 of the 38 operated patients radical ablation of the tumor was carried out. In the rest 3 patients radical removal of the tumor was impossible due to its dissemination and malignancy. The classification was used according to which all the tumors were distributed in 3 groups in dependence on the character of their growth. The basic principle of their division was the relation of CH to the carotid arteries. The use of this classification allowed to define individual surgical tactics. As a result of the treatment 97.4% of the patients were discharged with improvement. During the follow-up period (94 +/- 5 months) there were no relapses detected in these patients.     

Relationship of Quality of Life with Disability Grade in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Dysthymic Disorder

Background:

There is paucity of information on the relationship of quality of life (QOL) in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and dysthymic disorder (DD) with disability grade in India.

Aim:

To assess the relation of QOL with disability level in OCD and DD.

Materials and Methods:

This hospital based study was conducted in a medical institution in Davanagere, Karnataka, India. Data was collected by using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV Text Revision (DSM IV TR) criteria, WHO QOL BREF and IDEAS. Relationship between disability grade and QOL was assessed by independent sample t test.

Results:

Mild disabled OCD patients had a significantly better QOL in the Q1 domain i.e. perception on quality of life as compared to moderately disabled patients (P < 0.05), while in other domains of QOL, there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). But, QOL score in physical domain showed significant difference across disability grades (56.00, SD = 6.89; 48.50, SD = 12.28) in DD, but not in other domains.

Conclusion:

Perception of QOL is better in those with mild disability in OCD, but in DD, physical domain of QOL score is more in mild disability compared to moderate disability.     

Analysis of N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression in human hepatocellular carcinomas

AIM:To study the relationship between N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression in the carcinogenesis and the development of human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC).METHODS:The N-ras gene mutation and the p53 gene expression were analyzed in 29 cases of HCC by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:Thirteen cases of HCCs were p53 positive (44.8%), which showed a rather high Cpercen-tage of p53 gene mutation in Guangxi. The aberrations at N-ras codon 2-37 were found in 79.31% of HCCs and 80.77% of adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues. More than 2 point mutations of N-ras gene were observed in 22 cases (75.86%). Twelve cases (41.37%) of HCCs showed both N-ras gene mutation and p53 gene expression.CONCLUSION:N-ras gene and p53 gene may be involved in the carcinogenesis and the development of HCC.That 38% of HCCs with N-ras gene mutation did not express p53 protein indicates that some other genes or factors may participate in the carcinogenesis and the development of HCC.     

Short-Term Highly Intense Physiological Stress Causes an Increase in the Expression of Heat Shock Protein in Human Leukocytes

Extracellular heat shock protein with molecular weight of 70 kDa is a signal molecule of the immune system. It is secreted by the peripheral blood, liver and muscle cells in response to physiological, thermal, and mental stresses. The main goal of our study was to compare the levels of expression of heat shock protein (70 kDa) matrix ribonucleic acid in leukocytes and serum concentrations of the protein before and after physiological stress. In order to solve this problem, we developed enzyme immunoassay of serum heat shock (70 kDa) protein concentration and a method for evaluating the expression of matrix ribonucleic acid of this protein in leukocytes by the real time PCR. The concentration of 70 kDa heat shock protein in the serum increased 1.7 times as a result of even a short-term highly intense physiological stress, while the expression of its matrix ribonucleic acid in leukocytes increased 1.5 times. The individual features determine the response to physiological stress. Probable sources of 70 kDa heat shock protein are discussed. Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 147, No. 3, pp. 335–340, March, 2009     

Minimally Invasive Treatment for Papillae Deficiencies in the Esthetic Zone: A Pilot Study

Background: The presence of papillary deficiencies adjacent to dental implants or teeth presents an esthetic concern for the dental team and patients. Purpose: The aim of this pilot project is to evaluate a new method for reducing or eliminating small papillary deficiencies. The use of a commercially available gel was evaluated as a possible method for enhancing deficient papillae. Materials and Methods: Eleven patients, seven females and four males, with an average age of 55.8 years (ranging from 25 to 75 years) with 14 treated sites are included in this pilot study. Patients had a minimum of one papillary deficiency in the esthetic zone. Prior to treatment photographs were either taken at a 1:1 ratio or converted to a 1:1 ratio using a commercially available program. A standardization photographic device was not used. After administration of a local anesthetic, a 23‐gauge needle was used to inject less than 0.2 mL of a commercially available and Food and Drug Administration‐approved gel of hyaluronic acid 2–3 mm apical to the coronal tip of the involved papillae. Patients were seen every three weeks and treatment was repeated up to three times. Patients were followed from 6 to 25 months after initial gel application. A computer program measured changes in pixels between initial and final treatments. A formula was derived to determine percentage change in the negative space between initial and final examinations. Results: Each site was individually evaluated. Three implant sites and one site adjacent to a tooth had 100% improvement between treatment examinations. Seven sites improved from 94 to 97%, three sites improved from 76 to 88%, and one site adjacent to an implant had 57% improvement. Conclusion: Results from this pilot study are encouraging and present evidence that small papillary deficiencies between implants and teeth can be enhanced by injection of a hyaluronic gel. Improvements were maintained for a range of 6 to 25 months.     

The Clinical Picture of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Its Treatment in Different Types of Traumatic Exposures

The effects of different extreme events were studied in relation to two types of stress - combat (military) stress and stress imposed by the Chernobyl nuclear power station accident. Totals of 30 combatants and 33 clean-up workers were investigated and treated. The characteristics of the initial stage of stress reactions and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed in terms of the major diagnostic criteria in each group. The overall conclusions were: that the responses to different stresses involved the development of similar pathological states, including all the main symptoms of PTSD. However, these were accompanied by significant phenomenological differences at the level of syndromes depending on the nature of the stressors (traumatic events). This report provides detailed assessment of the questions of the complex treatment of patients using psychotherapy and medications, as well as approaches to rehabilitation and social support.