Ultrasound investigation in estimation of vascular invasion and morphological verification of pancreatic tumors

The aim of publication. To present potential of ultrasound investigation (US) in diagnostics of pancreatic tumors (PT).Summary. Morphological verification of PT and estimation of stage of their progression are the basic factors of treatment planning. Traditionally «the gold standard» in detection of tumor and estimation of vascular invasion is computer tomography. In world practice US at PT is used only at the stage of primary diagnostics, as a rule, application at specifying diagnostics stage is limited because the method is operator-dependent and storage of study data is complex. However US can be carried out in various planes and positions of the patient’s body, that in some cases helps to receive additional information. Though morphological verification is the leading factor in assessment of prognosis and treatment approach at oncologic diseases, its necessity and ways of tissue sampling at PT is discussed up to now.Conclusion. Potential of US in morphological verification and assessment of vascular invasion of PT is demonstrated by the clinical case example, that has allowed to carry out radical surgical treatment to the patient

Er,Yb:ReGa3(BO3)4 (Re = Y, Gd) laser crystals

Phase relationships in the ErxYbyY1-x-yGa3(BO3)4-Bi2O3-B2O3-(Y,Er,Yb)2O3–Ga2O3 and ErxYbyGd1-x-yGa3(BO3)4-Bi2O3-B2O3-(Gd,Er,Yb)2O3 – Ga2O3 (x = 0.02, y = 0.11 at.%) system were studied in the temperature range from 1000 to 900 оС. Multicomponent melt Bi2O3-Ga2O3-B2O3-(Y,Gd)2O3 were used as reasonable fluxes for high-temperature solution growth of ErxYbyR1-x-yGa3(BO3)4 (R = Y, Gd) spontaneous crystals. The segregation coefficients of Yb and Er impurities in the obtained crystals are determined. The unit cell parameters for the grown crystals were studied, also showing the micromorphology characteristics of the crystals. The luminescence kinetics were investigated, and the lifetimes of the 4I13/2 energy level of Er3+ ions for Er,Yb:ReGa3(BO3)4 crystals were determined

Two‑Dimensional Copper Coordination Polymer Assembled with Fumarate and 5,5’‑Dimethyl‑2,2’‑bipyridine: Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Magnetic Properties

[[Cu(fum)(dmb)]·H2O]n, exhibiting weak antiferromagnetic interactions, displays a two-dimensional array comprised of rhombic dinuclear units, where the carboxylate moieties of fumarate bridging ligand displays monodentate and oxo-bridging coordination modes connecting two Cu centers.[[Cu(fum)(dmb)]·H2O]n (1) (fum = fumarate; dmb = 5,5’-dimethyl-2,2’-bipyridine) was obtained by a self-assembly solution reaction, at ambient conditions, and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and X-ray single crystal diffraction. Crystallographic studies show that 1 crystallizes in a triclinic system with a P-1 space group, with a = 8.2308(2) Å, b = 9.7563(2) Å, c = 10.3990(2) Å; α = 80.3444(4)°, β = 77.9517(4)°, γ = 82.0440(5)°; V = 800.45(3) Å3. The Cu(II) centers are five-coordinated with a distorted square pyramidal configuration. The formation of a two-dimensional (2D) array in 1 can be explained by the presence of two different coordination modes in the fumarate ligand: μ-η1:η0 and μ2-η2:η0, both in a bridging monodentate manner, the latter generating distinctive rhombic-dinuclear units. The thermal stability of 1 has also been analyzed. Magnetic measurements revealed that this polymer exhibits weak antiferromagnetic ordering.Universidad Autonoma del Estado de México Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Méxic

Использование контрастного усиления при ультразвуковом исследовании простых и сложных кист почек

In developed countries, the main methods of research and dynamic monitoring of cystic kidney formations are CT and MRI, but their use is impossible in patients with severe concomitant diseases, as well as in the presence of metal structures, pacemakers, etc. Additionally, taking into account the high dose of radiation exposure when using CT obtained by the patient during dynamic observation, the development of alternative methods is relevant. These include, but not limited to, ultrasound using contrast enhancement, which can be used as an alternative or additional method in primary diagnosis or in the dynamic observation of cystic kidney formations. In the article, the authors provide their own experience with the use of an ultrasound contrast medium for the diagnosis and dynamic observation of complex kidney cysts, as well as the introduction of ultrasound observation using a contrast medium to classify patients according to Bosniak M.A.The study included the results of the use of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in 28 patients with various cystic formations of the kidneys. The patients were previously divided into two groups: the first consisted of 13 patients with simple cysts, the second – 15 with suspected complex cysts. As a result of the study, the patients were distributed as follows: 15 patients were classified as Bosniak type I, 7 patients – as type II, 3 - type III, 3 - type IV. The studied CEUS method is simple and effective. The specificity of the method was 78.57%, the accuracy of the method was 85.71%, the predictive value of the positive result was 81.25%, and the predictive value of the negative result was 91.66%. CEUS helps to quickly and accurately conduct differential diagnosis between a simple cyst and a complex one, as well as classify cysts according to M.A. Bosniak.В развитых странах основными методами исследования и динамического наблюдения за кистозными образованиями почек являются КТ и МРТ, однако их применение невозможно у пациентов с тяжелыми сопутствующими заболеваниями, а также при наличии в организме металлоконструкций, кардиостимуляторов и т.д. Дополнительно принимая во внимание высокую дозу лучевой нагрузки при использовании КТ, получаемой пациентом при динамическом наблюдении, является актуальной разработка альтернативных методик. К относится ультразвуковое исследование с применением контрастного усиления (КУУЗИ), которое может использоваться как альтернативный или дополнительный метод в первичной диагностике или в динамическом наблюдении кистозных образований почек. В статье авторы приводят собственный опыт применения при ультразвуковом исследовании контрастного препарата для диагностики и динамического наблюдения сложных кист почек, а также внедрения этой технологии для распределения пациентов по классификации M.A. Bosniak.В основу исследования вошли результаты применения КУУЗИ у 28 пациентов с различными кистозными образованиями почек. Предварительно пациенты были разделены на две группы: первую составили 13 пациентов с простыми кистами, вторую – 15 пациентов с подозрением на сложные кисты. В результате исследования было получено следующее распределение пациентов по М.А. Bosniak: 15 отнесены к I категории, 7 – ко II, 3 – к III, 3 – к IV. Исследуемый метод КУУЗИ отличается простотой и эффективностью. Специфичность метода составила 78,57%, точность метода – 85,71%, прогностичность положительного результата – 81,25%, прогностичность отрицательного результата – 91,66%. КУУЗИ помогает быстро и качественно провести дифференциальную диагностику между простой кистой и сложной, а также классифицировать кисты по M.A. Bosniak

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

LONG-TERM RESULTS OF TARGET THERAPY WITH FIRST AND * SECOND-LINE TYROSINE KINASE INHIBITORS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKEMIA

Aim: To assess long-term efficacy of firstand second-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-selected patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in a real-life clinical setting.Materials and methods: The assessment is based on long-term results of a prospective single center comparative clinical trial that was based on non-selected groups of 116 patients with various stages of chronic myeloid leukemia being treated with a first generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib, and of 44 patients being treated with a second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib. We analyzed all-cause mortality, progression-free survival from April 2005 to April 2013, with a median of the follow-up of 128 months.Results: In 116 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with imatinib, the Kaplan-Meier survival estimate was 120 months. In 44 patients at an early chronic phase, 5-year overall survival and progression-free survival was 93.2% and 8-year overall and progression-free survival was 79.5%. In 44 patients at a late chronic stage, 5-year overall and progression-free survival was 95.5%, 8-year overall and progression-free survival, 72.7%. In 28 patients at acceleration phase, 5-years overall survival was 78.6% and 8-year overall survival, 46%. Median of overall survival in patients treated with nilotinib was not reached. During 78.6 months of combination treatment with cytotoxic agents, tyrosine kinase inhibitors of the first (imatinib) and second line (nilotinib), overall survival was 100%.Conclusion: In clinical practice, inclusion of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia and imatinib resistance (disease relapse) or imatinib intolerance into the treatment program with frontline therapy with general cytotoxic agents and thereafter with firstand second-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors significantly improves overall survival

Bone quality in patients with chronic osteomyelitis of the foot according to computed tomography data

Objective: to study radiographic morphological changes in the bones of the foot in its chronic osteomyelitis and to develop indicators for assessing bone quality.Material and methods. The results of foot bone multislice computed tomography (MSCT) using 64 detector rows were analyzed in 29 patients with chronic osteomyelitis of the talus, calcaneus, and midfoot bones.Results. Radiographic changes in the talus and calcaneus in chronic osteomyelitis were characterized by pronounced polymorphism and accompanied by the lower density of the talus and calcaneus and by the lack of their organotypic structure. In a number of cases, the organotypic structure was entirely absent in the calcaneus along with marked anatomical changes (a defect). In these cases, the talus also undergoes considerable changes; however, its density does not decrease to more than 200 HU. Based on an analysis of the findings on the specific features of the architectonics of the talus and calcaneus and their density, the criteria for assessing bone quality, which allow estimation of the magnitude of radiographic morphological changes in the foot bones, were proposed to choose a method for treatment and rehabilitation.Conclusion. The use of the proposed criteria for assessing bone quality indicated moderate, significant, and serious quality defects in 4, 5, and 20 patients, respectively. The findings should be kept in mind when choosing a method for treatment and rehabilitation measures