CYP2C19*2 gene variant (G681A, rs4244285) as a prognostic marker for the clinical course of multiple myeloma.

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is the most common type of paraproteinemic hemoblastosis, which is characterized by an aggressive course, high mortality and a large number of complications. The G681A variant (*2, rs4244285) of the CYP2C19 gene leads to the formation of an inactive enzyme and, as a consequence, may affect the development and course of MM. The aim of this research was to analyze the effect of the G681A variant of the CYP2C19 gene on the risk of the development of MM and its course.

A Ukrainian multicenter prospective study of the value of PET/ CT prognostic role in primary patients with Hodgkins lymphoma in a real-life cohort.

Introduction: In recent years, the positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) has changed and the treatment approaches in Hodgkins lymphoma (HL) patients have entirely improved. The main idea in several studies is the use of PET/CT and the International Prognostic Score (IPS) protocols in identification of patients within a high-risk group and potential early relapse/refractory disease.

Materials And Methods: This study was based on PET/CT evaluation and treatment strategies of patients from eight Centers of Hematology in Ukraine.

DEVELOPMENT OF GANGLIONOPATHY AND TABETIC VISCERAL CRISES ON THE BACKGROUND OF POLYRADICULONEUROPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHY (CASE REPORT).

The article presents an analysis of the clinical occurrence of development of chronic polyradiculoneuropathy associated with monoclonal IgG/k (kappa) gammopathy of the undetermined significance. The peculiarity of this occurrence is the uniqueness of the development of the symptoms which are characteristic of tabes dorsalis in this pathology with episodic severe visceral crises and also with ganglionopathy. The example describes the clinical polymorphism of the course of visceral crises, the problems of their diagnosis and as a consequence of inadequate treatment with the development of severe social maladaptation.

[Pneumococcus pathogenicity factors and their protective properties].

Owing to rapid development of molecular-biological and genetic methods of research in infectology as well as use of adequate models (tissue colonization of human respiratory epithelium, mice models of colonization, sepsis and meningitis), a significant progress in the field of pneumococcus pathogenicity factors has been made in the last decades. Aside from the well-known pathogenicity factor--capsule polysaccharide, to date several dozens of surface proteins providing adhesion, colonization and invasion have been detected in pneumococcus. Pneumolysin is a toxic factor and at the same time brain invasion factor.

[Experience of using thalidomide in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma].

The results of treatment of patients with multiple myeloma with thalidomide and complications of this treatment are presented. Monotherapy with thalidomide and its combinations with corticosteroids and cytostatics is an effective as first line treatment and as a treatment of patients with refractory disease. The most common side effect is toxic neuropathy.

[Bacterial carriage as a form of persistence of meningococci].

Features of meningococcal carriage as a form of microorganism's persistence necessary for survival and species preservation are discussed in this review. New data on genetic heterogeneity of meningococcal population, which is major determinant of occurrence-of asymptomatic forms, are presented. Process of formation of meningococcal biofilms is described.

[Epidemic process of gonorrhea in modern world].

Gonorrhea in spite of its fully elucidated etiopathogenesis and available drugs for etiotropic therapy belongs to infections which are not controlled by vaccination due to absence of immunity formation. Analysis of scientific publication, statistical materials and WHO's data showed that epidemic process of gonorrhea infection depends mainly from people's behaviour, first of all, sexual. Modern epidemic process of gonorrhea infection consists from irregular increases and decreases of incidence due to various reasons.

[Molecular biological basis of the gonococcal pathogenicity and specific features of immune response].

The pathogenicity factors of gonococci--pili, outer membrane proteins (porins, Opa proteins, iron-regulated proteins), lipooligosaccharide, a number of secreted enzymes--are considered according to our knowledge of their relationships with different human specialized cells, including neutrophils. The main stages of the infectious process of gonorrhea are described in the light of modern concept of "parasite-host" relationships. Materials on the instability of gonococcal antigens, and frequent formation of new antigenic variants are presented.

[Molecular and biological mechanisms of the meningococcal carrier state].

A review of the results of the latest molecular biological investigations on the problem of the formation of meningococcal carrier state, the colonization of human nasopharynx. The process of the adhesion of meningococci to epithelial cells by means of fimbrial and nonfimbrial adhesins, the transmission of signals between bacterial and epithelial cells, as well as the role phasic changes in the structure of meningococci in the process of adhesion are considered. The data on the penetration of meningococci into the epithelium and their fate within the cell are discussed.

[Reactions and complications caused by thrombocyte concentrate transfusions].

The review contains current data on complications developing in the wake of employing thrombocytes concentrate in clinical settings. Complication patterns are submitted, causes thereof are analyzed. Technical aspects are discussed of optimum measures to be implemented in transfusions of the thrombocytes concentrate.

[Genetic structure of Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains isolated in Russia during epidemics of various intensity].

The genetic structure of C. dipthteriae toxigenic strains isolated in Russia during the period of more than 50 years was analysed. The use of the method of ribotyping made it possible to register 17 C.

[The pathogenicity factors of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains causing meningitis].

Pneumococcal meningitis was registered in St. Petersburg in 1985-1991, morbidity rate being 1.7-2.

[Streptococcus pneumoniae adhesion].

The adhesive capacity of 425 S.pneumoniae strains (S- and R-forms) isolated from children with various clinical forms of pneumococcal infection was studied with the use of the epithelium of oral cavity as a model. The strains isolated from patients with meningitis and otitis appeared to be less adhesive than the strains isolated from mucous membrane of respiratory tracts.

[The Neisseria meningitidis serotypes and subtypes circulating among bacterial carriers in Moscow (1989-1991)].

N. meningitidis strains isolated from 218 healthy carriers in 1989-1991 in closed communities of adults, irrespective of cases of meningococcal infection registered in these communities, were characterized with a variety of different type and subtype antigens. Only in 139 strains (63.

[The role of hyaluronidase in the occurrence of a generalized pneumococcal infection].

The hyaluronidase activity of pneumococcal strains isolated from 39 patients with purulent meningitis, 26 patients with acute internal otitis and 130 healthy carriers was studied. All strains isolated from patients with purulent meningitis and meningoencephalitis and 84.6% of strains isolated in cases of otitis were found to have hyaluronidase, while in healthy children hyaluronidase-synthesizing strains were detected only in 11.

[The antilysozyme activity of the meningococci isolated from bacterial carriers in closed collectives with different epidemiological situations].

The degree of the antilysozyme activity (ALA) of 430 Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated from 379 healthy carriers in 11 closed groups with different epidemiological situation and in 3 family foci was studied by the method of delayed antagonism. 87% of the strains exhibited ALA in a concentration of lysozyme between 1 and 10 micrograms per ml of the medium; about 11% of them were highly active, inactivating 20 and 25 micrograms of lysozyme per ml. ALA was shown to be the constant sign of carriership.

[The etiological structure of acute bacterial meningitis in different regions].

In 1985-1989 the etiological structure of acute bacterial meningitides (ABM) in children was studied in 4 largest industrial cities in different regions of the European part of the former USSR, as well as in 2 industrial cities of western Siberia. Due to the common methodological approach used in all investigations, comparable data were obtained in all cities. These investigations revealed that meningococci caused 53.

[The adhesive activity of diphtheritic strains in relation to the characteristics of the infectious process they induce].

The degree of adhesiveness of 602 C. diphtheriae strains isolated from patients with different forms of diphtheria was studied on trypsinized sheep red blood cells (SRBC) used as an experimental model. The titer of bacterial suspension, i.

[The antilysozyme activity of meningococci].

The antilysozyme activity of 184 meningococcal strains was studied. Such activity was found in all strains within the range 1-25 micrograms/ml, which was due to the heterogeneity of bacterial population. Strains varying in the total level of their lysozyme activity differed in the population structure by this sign.