Chemical Oxidative Polymerization of Methylene Blue: Reaction Mechanism and Aspects of Chain Structure.

The kinetic regularities of the initial stage of chemical oxidative polymerization of methylene blue under the action of ammonium peroxodisulfate in an aqueous medium have been established by the method of potentiometry. It was shown that the methylene blue polymerization mechanism includes the stages of chain initiation and growth. It was found that the rate of the initial stage of the reaction obeys the kinetic equation of the first order with the activation energy 49 kJ × mol.

[Bone mineral density in patients with scleroderma systematica].

Aim: To study the frequency and magnitude of a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD) and its association with clinical parameters in patients with scleroderma systematica (SDS).

Subjects And Methods: Fifty-six postmenopausal women aged 45-71 years (58.1±7.

[Angiogenesis and its association with inflammation and fibrosis in course of the development of scleroderma systematica].

Scleroderma systematica (SDS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by severe fibrosis of the skin and visceral organs. Vascular disorders are an important component of the disease, but the mechanisms of vascular injury and their prevention are unknown. Angiogenesis in SDS is accompanied by the apparent expression of angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor and basal or fibroblast growth factor.

[Efficacy and safety of sildenafil in patients with systemic scleroderma].

Aim: To retrospectively analyze the efficacy and safety of sildenafil (Sf) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SS).

Subjects And Results: Sf was used in 16 patients (including 14 women) aged 20-66 years (mean 48.6 +/- 14.

[Pleiotropic effects of statins in systemic sclerosis].

Aim: To study anti-inflammatory and angioprotective properties of statins in patients with systemic sclerosis (SS).

Material And Methods: Fifty SS patients enrolled in the trial were divided into two groups: the study group included 30 patients who received standard therapy and atorvastatin in a dose 10-40 mg/day, the control group (n = 20) received standard therapy alone. The blood of the patients was studied with enzyme immunoassay for concentrations of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), IL-6, VCAM-1, E-selectin, WF antigen, VEGF-A, VEGF-R2.

[Significance of bone marrow endothelial progenitor cells in disturbance of angiogenesis and endothelial dysfunction in systemic scleroderma].

The study is aimed to investigate the process of endothelial repair related to endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in systemic sclerosis (SS), and analyze the role of EPC abnormalities in endothelial dysfunction and impaired angiogenesis. Correlation between EPC circulating levels, measured by flowcytometry, and peripheral vascular manifestations, cardiac involvement, carotid artery disease, Framingham risk factor score, endothelial function and morphological signs of microangiopathy is explored. Our data demonstrate, that EPC reduction with disease progression is closely linked with endothelial dysfunction and destructive microangiopathy, and significantly contribute into development of severe cardiac disease and pulmonary hypertension in SS patients.

[Clinical associations of C-reactive protein in systemic sclerosis].

Aim: To evaluate incidence of C-reactive protein (CRP) rise and CRP associations with clinical manifestations in systemic sclerosis (SS).

Material And Methods: CRP concentrations in blood serum were estimated with solid phase enzyme immunoassay in 21 SS patients (8 patients with diffuse SS--dSS and 13 patients with limited SS--lSS). Two patients with ISS had documented rheumatoid arthritis (RA)--SS/RA.

[Classification of microangiopathy in systemic sclerosis].

Aim: To classify main types of morphological changes of nailfold capillaries in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Material And Methods: Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NCS) was performed in 103 patients with SSc (34 patients with dSSc and 69 patients with ISSc) with a median age of 47.9 +/- 13.

[Morphological characteristics of sclerodermic angiopathy].

Capillaroscopic study of the nail bed of patients with scleroderma systematica (SS) detects avascular regions and neoangiogenesis signs, but the data on the morphological substrate of these changes are lacking. Positive correlation is established between the degree of inflammation and fibroblast number in the skin biopsies on the one hand and expression of the avascular foci, their total surface and sclerodermic processes activity, on the other. Vascular lesions in SS manifested with sclerodermic vasculopathy which in some patients is comorbid with vasculitis of microcirculatory vessels.

[Level of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type I in patients with systemic scleroderma].

Aim: To study content and clinical correlations of sTNF-RI in patients with systemic sclerosis (SS).

Material And Methods: Thirty nine SS patients were examined with enzyme immunoassay for serum levels of sTNF-RI and soluble adhesion molecules (sSAM) sVSAM-1, sISAM-1 and sR-selectine using R&D System kits (USA). The control group consisted of 14 healthy subjects (donors).

[Tumor necrosis factor alpha in systemic scleroderma].

The authors present the review of the literature on the role of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) in scleroderma systematica (SS). It is shown that TNF alpha participates in activation of vascular endothelium, regulation of immune response and metabolism of the connective tissue by modulation of fibroblastic function. SS patients exhibit a systemic and local rise of TNF alpha content.

[Clinical value of soluble adhesion molecules in systemic scleroderma].

The aim of the trial was to study clinical significance of estimation of cell adhesion soluble molecules (CASM) in scleroderma systematica (SS). Quantitation of CASM VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and R-selectin was made with enzyme-immunoassay (R&D System kits, USA) in 38 patients with SS (11 with limited SS and 27 with diffuse SS). The levels of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and R-selectin was elevated in 30 (79%), 17 (45%) and 20 (53%) patients, respectively.

[Vascular pathology in systemic scleroderma].

The mechanisms of vascular lesions in systemic scleroderma (SSC) are still little studied with the current comprehensive investigations being focused on this issue. The results of a study dealing with the structural-and-morphological and molecular reasons of sclerodermic micro-angiopathy as compared with the variations and pattern of the clinical disease course are summarized in the article. The structural capillary changes were evaluated on the basis of the results of a wide-field video-capillaroscopy of the nail bed (CNB).

Diagnosis of occlusive lesions of upper extremity arteries in patients with thromboangiitis obliterans.

The study accrued 84 patients suffering from thromboangiitis obliterans (TO) examined and treated at the A.V. Vishnevsky Institute of Surgery, RAMS, over the period 1988 to 2002.

[Alterations of rheological properties of blood in systemic sclerodermia].

Aim: To study hemorheological status in systemic sclerosis (SS) patients.

Material And Methods: Macro- and microrheology of blood were investigated in 70 SS patients. The rate of spontaneous aggregation of red blood cells [T1(s)], durability of the largest units [Ia2.

[Autoantibodies to vasoactive peptides and angiotensin converting enzyme in patients with systemic diseases of the connective tissue].

Aim: To estimate the level of natural autoantibodies (NAAb) to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and endogenic mediators affecting vascular tone (bradykinin--BK, angiotensin II--AII, vasopressin--VP) as well as the activity of serum ACE in patients with systemic diseases of the connective tissue.

Material And Methods: Levels of NAAb were measured by enzyme immunoassay in sera from 30 patients with SLE, 19 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 36 patients with scleroderma systematica (SS). Serum from donors served control.

[Effect of vazaprostan on microcirculation in patients with scleroderma systematic].

Aim: To investigate the effect of vazaprostan (alprostadil) on skin blood flow in patients with sclerodermia systematica (SS).

Material And Methods: A total of 51 patients with SS aged 33-70 years were included in the study. 33 of them received a 3-hour infusion of vazaprostan at the standard dose for 20 consecutive days.

Investigation of sialic acids and sialyltransferase activity in blood of patients with systemic scleroderma.

Systemic scleroderma (SSd) is a connective tissue disorder accompanied by generalized fibrosis. A disturbance of the synthesis and production of matrix glycoproteins, such as collagens, fibronectin, and proteoglycans, by connective tissue cells is typical for this disease. We previously demonstrated a decrease in the ganglioside content of cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with SSd.

[Reparative characteristics of gastric and duodenal mucosa in ulcer].

Mucosal repair in the stomach and duodenum was assessed clinically and morphologically in various ulcer phases in 475 patients with gastroduodenal ulcer. It was found that poorly scarring ulcers are characterized by severe impairment of regeneration with epithelial proliferation prevailing over its differentiation. Participation of immune system, primarily T-cell component, in regeneration regulation is shown.

[Antimutagenic protection of the human genetic system in acute intoxication].

The results of clinical studies and model experiments have shown that human genome damages are widely spread in patients with acute intoxication. For neutralization of the negative effects, biologically active compounds-antimutagens, alpha-tocopherol, and new plant mutagen were used. The application of antimutagens has been found to increase the level of genetic damages induced by acute intoxication.