A Case of Primary Amyloidosis Involving Liver, Stomach, Intestines, and Heart without Evident Kidney Involvement

Aim. Systemic amyloidosis caused by the synthesis and deposition of immunoglobulin light chains (AL amyloidosis) is a relatively rare disease that involves heart, kidneys, peripheral nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and has a large number of various clinical manifestations. We present a clinical case of systemic AL amyloidosis with a predominant involvement of liver, stomach, intestines, and heart in a Caucasian female.Key points. A Caucasian woman presented to clinic with severe general weakness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, sudden weight loss, and palpitation. Initial examination revealed a duodenal bulb ulcer complicated by bleeding and polyps in the retrobulbar part of duodenum. Decreased hemoglobin levels, elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, signs of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and hepatomegaly became the basis for a clinical suspicion of AL amyloidosis and puncture liver biopsy. Histochemical and immunohistochemical studies of liver, stomach, and duodenum biopsy specimens confirmed AL amyloidosis. Timely diagnosis made it possible to conduct a specific therapy with melphalan plus dexamethasone, get a satisfactory response and improve the patient’s condition.Conclusion. A thorough examination of patients along with a pathomorphological and immunohistochemical study of the biopsy specimens is the basis for confirming the diagnosis of AL amyloidosis, selecting the proper therapy, improving the condition of patients and their survival

ESTIMATION METHOD FOR MULTIPAHT CHANNELS OF HIGH-SPEED DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS WITH OFDM BASED ON REGRESSION ANALYSIS

This text describes a technique for estimating a multipath radio channel of high-speed data transmission systems with OFDM modulation based on regression analysis. A brief de-scription of the proposed technique and its effectiveness is given

Combination therapy for benign prostate hyperplasia-related urinary symptoms

Introduction. Non-neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a serious polyetiologic problem in the male population. The side effects of the medication agents used to treat LUTS significantly reduce treatment compliance. According to the literature data, the frequency of refusal for the proposed treatment during the year varies from 20 to 80%. Several studies have shown the benefits of herbal medicine for LUTS concerning the fewer side effects and increased adherence to treatment. However, to obtain a high-level recommendation base, clinical trials are required.Purpose of the study. To evaluate the effectiveness of Gardaprost® in LUTS combination therapy.Materials and methods. The study included 57 men aged 60 – 70 years with diagnosed medium- or large-volume benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and moderate-to-severe LUTS according to I-PSS, morphologically excluded prostate cancer, without urinary infection signs. The patients were randomized into two follow-up groups. Tamsulosin 0.4 mg q.d. was prescribed to patients in the control group. Patients of the main group received Gardaprost® 0.4 mg q.d. in addition to Tamsulosin. The follow-up period in both groups was one-year. The statistical analysis includes data from 56 men. To evaluate therapy at the screening visit and on days 180 and 360, I-PSS, urination diary, IIEF-5, urinalysis, prostate-specific antigen, uroflowmetry, ultrasound were analyzed. Paired t-test and one-way ANOVA test were used to determine intergroup differences in normally distributed variables. For variables with a distribution other than normal, Friedman's two-way ANOVA for related samples was used. Events with a probability greater than 95% were considered statistically significant.Results. At the time of inclusion in the study, the groups were comparable concerning the control parameters. In the main group, there was a more pronounced positive dynamics in the I-PSS score, maximum urine flow rate, and post-void residual urine volume, which corresponded to 7.9 ± 2.1 points, 18.0 ± 7.3 ml/sec, 23.6 ± 13.6 ml vs 19.7 ± 7.2 points, 10 ± 3.5 ml/sec, 65.9 ± 33.2 ml in the main and control groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Additionally, in the main observation group, a decrease in prostate volume was recorded by 18.8% (p < 0.001) was recorded.Conclusion. We have obtained encouraging long-term results from the use of Gardaprost® in combination therapy of moderate-to-severe LUTS caused by medium- and large-volume BPH

Treatment of overactive bladder symptoms in women with Diunorm®: preliminary results report

Introduction. Overactive bladder (OAB) with or without urgent incontinence tends to progress with age and occurs in both men and women. However, the frequency of occurrence in the female population averages about 25%.Purpose of the study. To assess the effectiveness and safety of the drug Diunorm® (in caps.) in the prevention and treatment of OAB in women.Materials and methods. The statistical analysis includes the results of a survey of 28 women with symptoms of OAB, whose average age was 35.3 years. The drug Diunorm® was used for treatment in dosage 400 mg QD for 90 days. Patients completed the Overactive Bladder Awareness Tool and a urination diary. Additionally, urinalysis, bacteriological examination of urine, uroflowmetry, bladder ultrasound and cystoscopy were performed.Results. All women throughout the study had negative urine cultures and no pyuria in urinalysis, which excluded an infectious etiology of urinary dysfunction. During therapy, a statistically significant decrease in irritative symptoms was recorded according to the Overactive Bladder Awareness Tool questionnaire. The sum of points after 1 and 3 mo decreased by 3.0 and 4.3 points, respectively (p < 0.05). Positive dynamics in terms of the points' sum was noted in 75%, in relation to nocturia in 82% of patients (p < 0.01). The average urination rate increased from 13.3 ± 0.7 ml/s to 15.1 ± 0.7 ml/s and 15.4 ± 0.5 ml/s after 1.5 and 3 months, respectively (p < 0,0001). A similar trend was observed for maximum urine flow and residual urine volume. The maximum urine flow when taking Diunorm® increased from 15.9 ± 0.6 ml/s to 17.4 ± 0.5 ml/s and 18.1 ± 0.4 ml/s (p < 0.001). Residual urine volume decreased throughout the study. When included in the study, after 1,5 and 3 mo, this indicator was 19.9 ± 1.4; 12.2 ± 1.6 and 6.4 ± 1.1 ml, respectively (p < 0.001).Conclusion. Diunorm® can become a worthy alternative to traditional first-line OAB therapy. Comparative studies are required to obtain a high-level evidence base

Narcissism and the strategic pursuit of short-term mating : universal links across 11 world regions of the International Sexuality Description Project-2.

Previous studies have documented links between sub-clinical narcissism and the active pursuit of short-term mating strategies (e.g., unrestricted sociosexuality, marital infidelity, mate poaching). Nearly all of these investigations have relied solely on samples from Western cultures. In the current study, responses from a cross-cultural survey of 30,470 people across 53 nations spanning 11 world regions (North America, Central/South America, Northern Europe, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, Africa, Oceania, Southeast Asia, and East Asia) were used to evaluate whether narcissism (as measured by the Narcissistic Personality Inventory; NPI) was universally associated with short-term mating. Results revealed narcissism scores (including two broad factors and seven traditional facets as measured by the NPI) were functionally equivalent across cultures, reliably associating with key sexual outcomes (e.g., more active pursuit of short-term mating, intimate partner violence, and sexual aggression) and sex-related personality traits (e.g., higher extraversion and openness to experience). Whereas some features of personality (e.g., subjective well-being) were universally associated with socially adaptive facets of Narcissism (e.g., self-sufficiency), most indicators of short-term mating (e.g., unrestricted sociosexuality and marital infidelity) were universally associated with the socially maladaptive facets of narcissism (e.g., exploitativeness). Discussion addresses limitations of these cross-culturally universal findings and presents suggestions for future research into revealing the precise psychological features of narcissism that facilitate the strategic pursuit of short-term mating

Narcisismo y búsqueda estratégica del emparejamiento a corto plazo a través de las culturas: Enlaces omnipresentes a través de 11 regiones mundiales del Proyecto de la descripción de la sexualidad internacional 2

Previous studies have documented links between sub-clinical narcissism and the active pursuit of short-term mating strategies (e.g., unrestricted sociosexuality, marital infidelity, mate poaching). Nearly all of these investigations have relied solely on samples from Western cultures. In the current study, responses from a cross-cultural survey of 30,470 people across 53 nations spanning 11 world regions (North America, Central/South America, Northern Europe, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East, Africa, Oceania, Southeast Asia, and East Asia) were used to evaluate whether narcissism (as measured by the Narcissistic Personality Inventory; NPI) was universally associated with short-term mating. Results revealed narcissism scores (including two broad factors and seven traditional facets as measured by the NPI) were functionally equivalent across cultures, reliably associating with key sexual outcomes (e.g., more active pursuit of short-term mating, intimate partner violence, and sexual aggression) and sex-related personality traits (e.g., higher extraversion and openness to experience). Whereas some features of personality (e.g., subjective well-being) were universally associated with socially adaptive facets of Narcissism (e.g., self-sufficiency), most indicators of short-term mating (e.g., unrestricted sociosexuality and marital infidelity) were universally associated with the socially maladaptive facets of narcissism (e.g., exploitativeness). Discussion addresses limitations of these cross-culturally universal findings and presents suggestions for future research into revealing the precise psychological features of narcissism that facilitate the strategic pursuit of short-term mating.Estudios previos, en primer lugar a través de las muestras de culturas occidentales, han documentado asociaciones sistemáticas del narcisismo subclínico con múltiples indicadores de estrategias del emparejamiento a corto plazo (p. ej. sociosexualidad ilimitada, infidelidad, caza de pareja). En este estudio se han usado respuestas de la encuesta transcultural de 30.470 personas de 53 naciones de 11 regiones mundiales (América del Norte, América del Sur/América Central, Europa del Norte, Europa del Oeste, Europa del Este, Europa del Sur, Oriente Próximo, África, Asia del Sur/Sudoeste de Asia, Asia del Este y Oceanía) para evaluar si el narcisismo (medido por el Inventario de Personalidad Narcisista; NPI) se asocia panuniversalmente con los indicadores del emparejamiento a corto plazo, tanto en la dirección, como en la intensidad. Los resultados sugieren que el narcisismo (incluidos muchos aspectos suyos medidos por el NPI) tiene las mismas asociaciones básicas con los rasgos de personalidad relacionados con el sexo (p. ej. extraversión alta) y con los resultados sexuales claves (p. ej. búsqueda más activa de las estrategias del emparejamiento a corto plazo) a través de las 11 mayores regiones mundiales del PDSI 2. La discusión se enfoca en las implicaciones y limitaciones del estudio actual

Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty with <i>Latissimus Dorsi</i> Transfer for Humerus Fractures Sequelae

Relevance. Fractures of the proximal humerus occupy the 3rd place in the structure of fractures in the elderly. Failure to treat these injuries leads to irreversible changes in the shoulder. The main treatment for the latter is arthroplasty. The surgical treatment of this category of patients is still a difficult task. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of standard reverse arthroplasty with reverse arthroplasty in combination with the reconstruction of the external rotators of the shoulder or transposition of the latissimus dorsi. Materials and Methods. The retrospective evaluation of treatment results of 96 patients with consequences of shoulder injuries was conducted. Of these, 51 patients underwent standard reverse arthroplasty (group I), and 45 patients (group II) underwent arthroplasty with reconstruction of the external rotators of the shoulder or transposition of the latissimus dorsi. The female patients accounted for 68.8%. The duration of the injury varied from 8 months to 2.5 years, the follow-up — from 1 to 7 years (Me = 3.5). The results were assessed with VAS, ASES, UCLA scales. Results. The positive outcomes were observed in most patients. Complications: dislocations of the endoprosthesis occurred in 16.7%, infectious complications — in 5.2%, shoulder component instability — in 2.1%, fracture of the humeral diaphysis — in 3.1%, neurovascular bundle injury — in 2.1% of cases. In the patients of group I, dislocations occurred significantly more often than in the patients of group II. To reduce the risk of complications, a rational tactic has been developed for treating patients with consequences of shoulder injuries. If electroneuromyography values from the deltoid muscle were less than 40% of the contralateral side, or if mineral bone density T-score was less than 2.5 SD, arthroplasty was not performed. During arthroplasty, it is necessary to perform the direct suturing of the of the infraspinatus and teres minor tendons to the humerus. If it is impossible, the latissimus dorsi transfer is indicated. Conclusion. Reverse arthroplasty in the treatment of the humerus fractures sequelae is an effective technique. To reduce the risk of complications, it is necessary to provide the additional stability of the endoprosthesis by reconstruction of the external rotators or latissimus dorsi transfer. It is advisable to refrain from arthroplasty in cases of severe deltoid hypotrophy and severe osteoporosis