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.