Receptor Activator of Nuclear Transcription Factor NF-κB (RANK), Its Ligand RANKL, and Natural Inhibitor of RANKL Osteoprotegerin (OPG) in the Blood Serum of Patients with Primary Bone Tumors.

The content of components of the RANK/RANKL/OPG system, the key regulator of homeostasis in the bone tissue, in blood serum samples from 199 patients with primary bone neoplasms and 131 practically healthy volunteers was measured by ELISA. Borderline giantcell tumor of the bone with high osteoclastogenic and osteolytic activity is characterized by an increase in the level of all components of this system and highest ratio of sRANKL/OPG in the blood serum. Study indexes in patients with various benign neoplasms and tumor-like bone lesions were lower than in patients with giant-cell tumor.

[TWIN-TO-TWIN TRANSFUSION SYNDROME: THE POSSIBILITY OF LATENT FLOW (CASE REPORT)].

The early diagnosis of the Twin-To-Twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) carries benefits of the better survivor for the fetus-donor; but at the same time there are obvious practical impediments to diagnose the condition earlier in the course of a pregnancy. That's why this particular problem in practical medicine requires in depth investigation to clarify casual factors, and specify tactical approach to the prospective patients which in turn will lead to prevention of the fetal death and damage and improvement of fetal survivor in any form of TTTS. The TTTS is one of the complications of a monochorionic pregnancy leading to fetal distress and certain developmental abnormalities as well as worse prognosis for the survival for the affected twin.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGF), IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in blood serum of patients with colorectal cancer.

Serum levels of insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1 and IGF-2), IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, and IGFBP-3) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured by standard ELISA technique in 95 primary colorectal cancer patients and 48 healthy individuals. Significant increase in serum levels of IGF-1, IGFBP-2, and VEGF and decrease in IGFBP-3 level were demonstrated in patients in comparison with the control group; in male patients, serum level of IGF-2 was also increased. Sensitivity of IGF-1 as the prospective diagnostic marker of colorectal cancer was 80% and specificity was 75% at the threshold level of 140 ng/ml.

Content of matrix metalloproteinase-8 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in oral fluid of patients with chronic generalized periodontitis.

The content of MMP-8 and MMP-9 in oral fluid of 145 patients (95 women and 50 men, 18-52 years) was measured by enzyme immunoassay. We examined 63 subjects with the intact periodontium and 82 patients with chronic generalized periodontitis (25 patients with mild disease, 45 patients with moderate disease, and 12 patients with severe disease). All patients were examined during the remission of chronic periodontitis and did not have clinical signs of associated somatic diseases.

[Impact of the time of outpatient monitoring of patients with implanted pacemakers to evaluate dangerous changes in the parameters of apparatuses].

Patients with implanted pacemakers (PM) should pass outpatient monitoring at definite intervals given in the PM certificate. The paper shows that the monitoring periods in the patients are frequently violated, therefore the voltage of the PM battery is less than the critical level at which the PM is to be replaced. As the discharge of the battery is less than the critical level, the electronic unit of the PM begins first to regenerate an irregular sequence of stimulating pulses and then the generation of pulses stops.

[Epidermal growth factor receptors in malignant and benign tumors in children].

The radioligand technique was used to study the amount of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) in malignant and benign tumors in 32 children aged 8 months to 17 years. The membranous fraction of 11 of the 32 tumors studied showed EGFR equal to 10.1 to 1327 fmol/mg (163.

[EFR-like peptides and their receptors as prognostic factors for the survival of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer].

The levels of EGFR and its ligands have been assayed in tumor and adjacent lung tissues in NSCLC patients. Both EGFR and EGF-like peptides were found in tumor more frequently than in unaltered tissue. It was shown (Kaplan-Meyer) that simultaneous expression of EGFR and its ligands in tumor and adjacent lung tissues was associated with lower overall and relapse-free survival in NSCLC patients.

[Epidermal growth factor receptors and their ligands in non-small-cell lung carcinoma].

Investigators and clinicians have recently called attention not only to the clinical and morphological parameters, but to the parameters characterizing the biological activity of nonsmall-cell carcinoma of the lung (NSCCL) from biochemical and molecular biological points of view. These include production of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors (EGFR) and their ligands which are important auto/paracrine regulation of lung tissue formation in health and tumor growth. Active studies of EGFR and EGF-like peptides (mainly, EGF and alpha-TGF) have failed to gain an insight into their role in the pathogenesis of NSCCL.

Comparative analysis of the sensitivity of endometrial cancer cells to epidermal growth factor and steroid hormones.

Background: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF-regulated processes play an important role in steroid signal transduction. Comparative analysis of EGF and steroid receptor expression and the sensitivity of early stages of proliferation induction, such as activation of phospholipid turnover to EGF and steroids, may provide a useful new approach to characterizing the sensitivity of endometrial cancer to hormone therapy.

Methods: Progesterone (PR), estradiol (ER), and EGF receptor (EGFR) content was measured by radioligand competitive methods in surgically excised tumors from 26 patients with primary endometrial cancer.

[A new method for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia in patients with an implanted programmable pacemaker].

Implanted programmable pacemaker (IPP) applicability for detection of myocardial ischemia has been tried in patients with continuous pacing (CP). 28 patients (mean age 59 +/- 9 years) on CP in VVI and AAI regimens because of arrhythmia and abnormal cardiac conduction underwent loading test with enhanced stimulation made with IPP on the changed program. Impaired local contractility (ILC) of the left ventricle was registered at two-dimensional echoCG.

[Interaction of tamoxifen with cytosol estradiol receptors in myoma and histologically unchanged myometrium].

The relative binding affinity of nonsteroidal antiestrogen tamoxifen to the cytosol estradiol receptors of hyperplastic and unaltered myometria in patients with leiomyoma has been studied. Relative binding affinity of tamoxifen in tumor tissues exceeded one in normal myometrium.

[The pathogenetic basis for using antiestrogens in treating patients with hyperplastic processes of the endometrium in the postmenopause].

Estradiol and progesterone cytosol receptors, tamoxifen relative binding capacity in endometrial tissue samples, serum estradiol and progesterone levels were studied in 60 postmenopausal patients with hyperplastic processes in the endometrium. Estradiol and progesterone receptor levels were increased in glandular cystic polyp tissue, in atypical hyperplastic tissue samples, and in well-differentiated adenocarcinoma tissue. High estradiol levels were detected in the blood sera of patients with glandular cystic polyps, atypical and glandular hyperplasia.

[20-year experience with continuous endocardial stimulation of the heart].

Twenty years' experience with continuous endocardial stimulation of the heart is summed up. The bulk of the reviewed data falls to the period of 1980 through 1985, when 1776 primary implantations were performed, whereas more than 3,000 implantations have been performed in the past 6 years. Opinions are voiced on many aspects related to endocardial stimulation.

[Use of the electric stimulation of the heart in sick sinus syndrome (achievements and disputable problems)].

Experience with cardiac electrostimulation for the weak sinus node syndrome is presented. Between 1982 and 1985, 296 primary pacemaker implantations were performed, or 21.44% of all primary implantations performed over that period.