Dilated cisternae chyli. A sign of uncompensated cirrhosis at MR imaging

Background: To retrospectively determine the frequency of dilated cisterna chyli (CC) on MR images in patients with cirrhosis, and to assess its value as a simple diagnostic imaging sign of uncompensated cirrhosis. Methods: Study population included 257 patients (149 with pathologically proved cirrhosis and 108 control subjects without history of chronic liver diseases) who had 1.5T MR imaging. Cirrhosis patients were divided into compensated and uncompensated groups. Three independent observers qualitatively evaluated visibility of CC 2mm or greater in transverse diameter, identified as a tubular structure with fluid signal intensity (SI). CC diameters greater than 6 mm were defined as dilated. Statistical analysis was performed by Student t test and interobserver agreement via intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: CCs with diameter 2 mm or more were recorded in 113 of 149 (76%) cirrhotic patients and 15 of 108 (14%) control subjects (P\u3c 0.001). Dilated CCs were significantly more frequent in uncompensated than compensated cirrhotic patients (54% vs 5%, P\u3c0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive predictive value of dilated CC for uncompensated cirrhosis were 54%, 98%, 80%, and 96%, respectively. Conclusion: Dilated CC can be used as a simple and specific sign complimentary to other findings of uncompensated cirrhosis

DISORDERS OF HIGHER PSYCHICAL FUNCTIONS IN ENCEPHALOPATHY OF DIFFERENT GENESIS

We examined the patients with encephalopathy of different genesis (vascular from the exposure of mercury and alcohol). Besides the comparison of clinical picture of disease the comparative analysis of psychological and neuropsychological indices was performed. The disorders of higher psychical functions revealed in patients with encephalopathy from different etiological factor may testify the dysfunction of subcortical-frontal systems that take part in the regulation of cognitive functions

Possibilities of neurophysiological methods of study in encephalopathy of occupational and non-occupa-tional genesis

The diagnostic possibilities of the neurophysiological study methods were studied in the process of examining the patients with chronic mercury intoxication, discirculatory encephalopathy and chronic alcoholism to reveal the disorders of the bioelectrical activity, indicating the organic brain injury in the encephalopathy of the occupational and non-occupational genesis. 36 patients with the postponed chronic mercury intoxication (CMI) working at the chemical enterprise in shop on manufacture soda and chlorine a method mercury electrolyses (group I) were chosen for study. The average age of the patients in this group was 50,8 ± 6,0, average work period -14,7 ± 1,05years. The second group consisted of 30 patients with discirculatory encephalopathy (DE) (average age - 50,8 ± 5,2 years old). The third group consisted of 30 persons with chronic alcoholism (average time period of the alcoholization was 16,7 ± 2,1 years, average age - 47,5 ± 6,6 years old). The control group consisted of 30 practically healthy men (average age - 50,8 ± 5,2 years old, average total working period -14,2 ± 1,2 years) who were not occupationally exposed to the harmful substances (group IV). The persons examined in all the groups were males. The complex analysis of the available neurophysiological indices allowed to reveal the expression of the brain deficiency, to assess the specificity of the disorders revealed in the encephalopathies of different genesis. The multinidus brain injuries were revealed indigently of the etiological factor in encephalopathies. The presence of the equivalent sources of pathological activity in the field of the dyencefalic structures which may be clinically characterized by the emotional and cognitive disorders was found to be a common sing. The injury of the corny body was considered as the specific character for mercury-induced encephalopathy evidenced by the presence of the expressed depressive responses. More frequent presence of the pathological nidus activity in the cerebellar field which were clinically followed by the cerebellar disorders were presented as the characteristic difference for alcohol encephalopathy. The temporal brain regions were considered as the more typical source of the pathological activity in the discirculatory encephalopathy

Вплив “ЕМ® ПРОБІОТИК для БДЖІЛ” на динаміку тривалості життя бджіл в садковому досліді

At present, Ukraine is one of the first honey producing country in Europe. Around 100 thousand tonnes of honey are produced annually in Ukraine, therefore, maintaining the health of the bee colonies is an important issue. The use of different groups of drugs for the prevention of bee diseases is strictly controlled, now the known alternatives to antibiotics are probiotics. The micro-organisms in these preparats are able to synthesise vitamins and amino acids necessary for the growth and development of bees, which in turn activates the immunocompetent cells of the insects and prolongs their life. The immunomodulatory and immunostimulatory ability of such supplements of “beneficial” microorganisms is known, both in veterinary and human medicine. The use of such remedies is therefore promising in the field of modern beekeeping. “EM® PROBIOTIC FOR BEES” is a biopreparation that positively influences the microbiological environment of insects, as the preparation is based on Effective Microorganisms®. The ability of this probiotic to influence the dynamics of life span of Ukrainian steppe bees in a wooden entomological cage experiment (in vivo) was the main objective of the experiment. The effect of the probiotic on bee viability was determined by daily analysis and counting the number of dead insects. The study involved the settlement of bees in a wooden entomological cages and the creation of optimal conditions for their keeping (at a temperature of +24 – +25 °C and a humidity of 50–70 %). The product was diluted with buckwheat honey syrup solution and sugar syrup solution at concentrations of 5 %; 2.5 %; 1.25 %; control groups of bees received native solutions of the sugar syrup and buckwheat honey syrup. The analysis of the results shows a positive effect of “EM® PROBIOTIC FOR BEES” on the longevity of Ukrainian steppe worker bees of the winter generation in a entomological cage experiment. A beneficial effect of the probiotic product diluted in sugar syrup at concentrations of 1.25 % to 5 % has been detected on the bee organism, which increased their lifespan. When the product was diluted with buckwheat honey syrup, the best longevity of the insects was recorded at a concentration of 1.25 % compared to the control group of bees. The coefficient of average life expectancy of bees indicates the predominance of sugar syrup as a solvent for this probiotic compared to buckwheat honey syrup under laboratory conditions.На теперішній час Україна займає одне з перших місць з виробництва меду серед країн Європи. Щороку близько 100 тис. тонн меду виробляється в Україні, тому важливим питанням є підтримка здоров’я бджолосімей у належному стані. Використання різних груп препаратів для профілактики хвороб бджіл строго контролюється, наразі відомими альтернативними засобами до антибіотиків є пробіотики. Мікроорганізми, що входять до складу таких засобів, здатні синтезувати низку вітамінів та амінокислот, необхідних для росту та розвитку бджіл, що своєю чергою призводить до активації імунокомпетентних клітин організму комах, що сприяє продовженню тривалості їхнього життя. Імуномодулююча та імуностимулююча здатність таких добавок «корисних» мікроорганізмів відома як у ветеринарній, так і в гуманній медицині. Тому використання таких засобів є перспективним у галузі сучасного бджільництва. “ЕМ® ПРОБІОТИК для БДЖІЛ” – біопрепарат, який позитивно впливає на мікробіологічне середовище комах, оскільки виготовлений на основі Ефективних Мікроорганізмів®. Здатність до впливу даного пробіотика на динаміку тривалості життя бджіл української степової породи в садковому експерименті (in vivo) було основною метою експерименту. Вплив пробіотика на життєздатність бджіл визначали шляхом щоденного аналізу і підрахунку кількості загиблих комах. Дослідження включало поселення бджіл у ентомологічні садки та створення оптимальних умов їх утримання (при температурі +24–+25 ºС і вологості повітря 50–70 %). Препарат розводили медовою гречаною ситою та розчином цукрового сиропу у концентраціях 5 %; 2,5 %; 1,25 %; контрольні групи бджіл отримувати нативні розчини цукрового сиропу та гречаної медової сити. Аналіз отриманих результатів свідчить про позитивний вплив “ЕМ® ПРОБІОТИКа для БДЖІЛ” на тривалість життя робочих бджіл української степової породи, зимової генерації, у садковому досліді. Зареєстровано сприятливу дію пробіотичного препарату, розведеного цукровим сиропом у концентраціях 1,25–5 % на бджолиний організм, що сприяє збільшенню тривалості їхнього життя. При розведенні препарату медовою гречаною ситою найдовша тривалість життя комах зареєстрована при концентрації 1,25 % порівняно із контрольною групою бджіл. Коефіцієнт середньої тривалості життя бджіл свідчить про перевагу цукрового сиропу як розчинника для даного пробіотика порівняно з гречаною медовою ситою в лабораторних умовах

Cравнительная характеристика когнитивных нарушений у больных с токсической (ртутной) и сосудистой (дисциркуляторной) энцефалопатией

The neurophysiological (the registration of induced potentials P300) and the psychological examinations of 70 patients, males, with chronic mercury intoxications (ChMI) and discirculatory encephalopathy (DE) have been performed with aim to reveal the features of cognitive disorders (CD). The study results have shown the presence of light CD and small demention in the patients of both groups, preferably, of subcork type for the patients with ChMI and preferably of cork type – for the patients with DE.Проведено нейрофизиологическое (регистрация вызванных потенциалов Р300) и психологическое обследование 70 мужчин с хронической ртутной интоксикацией (ХРИ) и дисциркуляторной энцефалопатией (ДЭ) с целью выявления особенностей когнитивных нарушений (КН). Результаты исследования показали наличие легких КН и легкой деменции у пациентов обеих групп, преимущественно подкоркового типа для больных ХРИ и коркового - для пациентов с ДЭ

Influence of pharmacogenetics on response and toxicity in breast cancer patients treated with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide

BACKGROUND: Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) therapy is an effective treatment for early-stage breast cancer. Doxorubicin is a substrate for ABCB1 and SLC22A16 transporters. Cyclophosphamide is a prodrug that requires oxidation to 4-hydroxy-cyclophosphamide, which yields a cytotoxic alkylating agent. The initial oxidation is catalysed by cytochrome P450 enzymes including CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A5. Polymorphic variants of the genes coding for these enzymes and transporters have been identified, which may influence the systemic pharmacology of the two drugs. It is not known whether this genetic variation has an impact on the efficacy or toxicity of AC therapy. METHODS: Germ line DNA samples from 230 patients with breast cancer on AC therapy were genotyped for the following SNPs: ABCB1 C1236T, G2677T/A and C3435T, SLC22A16 A146G, T312C, T755C and T1226C, CYP2B6*2, *8, *9, *3, *4 and *5, CYP2C9*2 and *3, CYP3A5*3 and CYP2C19*2. Clinical data on survival, toxicity, demographics and pathology were collated. RESULTS: A lower incidence of dose delay, indicative of less toxicity, was seen in carriers of the SLC22A16 A146G, T312C, T755C variants. In contrast, a higher incidence of dose delay was seen in carriers of the SLC22A16 1226C, CYP2B6*2 and CYP2B6*5 alleles. The ABCB1 2677A, CYP2B6*2, CYP 2B6*8, CYP 2B6*9, CYP 2B6*4 alleles were associated with a worse outcome. CONCLUSION: Variant alleles in the ABCB1, SLC22A16 and CYP2B6 genes are associated with response to AC therapy in the treatment of breast cancer