Vol 68, No 5 (2013)

Сomparison data on results of efficiency of the research institutes (RI) of RAMS by international and own evaluation criteria of the research activity of above institutions in 2011 are presented. The consistency of international and own evaluation results was observed in 21RI (39%), the institutions-leaders found, and in 13 RI (24%) — less effective institutions. Thus, the use of own evaluation criteria only complicates the unbiased assessment of the Russia’s position in the international scientific rating.

For the last decade many experimental and clinical data about the study and application of regenerative medicine methods in the maxillofacial surgery were accumulated. For better bone regeneration mesenchymal stem cells are often used. Considering the general wariness of researchers in some aspects of cell therapy, methods of study of mesenchymal stem cells and the technologies of its clinical application are constantly being upgraded. This review will consider methods of tissue engineering used to regenerate bone tissue defects in maxillofacial surgery.

Review of authors’ results and the most representative literature data on the role of tumor-associated proteolitic systems involved in invasion, metastasizing and angiogenic processes in diagnostics and prognosis in various oncologic diseases is presented in this paper. The main attention is paid to the key matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) as well as to the plasminogen activation system components (uPA, PAI-1) study in tumor tissues and peripheral blood. Personal results demonstrated an increase of most MMPs, uPA and PAI-1 expression in the tumors of 70–90% patients with various neoplasms as compared to histologically unchanged adjacent tissues. MMP-7 was shown to be a promising serologic marker of ovarian and colorectal cancer (CRC): its sensitivity at 70% specificity level comprised about 70% in both diseases. The greatest clinical interest should be paid to the implication of tumor-associated proteases as prognostic factors. Thus, results of 5-years monitoring have demonstrated that high preoperative serum MMP-7 and TIMP-1 levels were independent unfavorable prognostic factors for CRC and univariate analysis revealed unfavorable prognostic role of high tumor MMP-7 in patients with disseminated process. Tumor PAI-1 level was shown to be a valuable prognostic factor for stage III CRC. In the final part of the review possibilities and prospects of tumor-associated proteases usage as targets for specific molecular directed therapy are discussed.

Results of epidemiological studies of thyroid cancer incidence in Russia following the Chernobyl accident are presented in the article. Child population in territories contaminated with radionuclides who got thyroid dose from incorporated ¹³¹I above 100–150 mGy, should be referred to a group at radiation risk. Prognostic estimates of increase in thyroid cancer incidence among the population living in close vicinity of the Fukushima Daiichi NPP were made with account for the Chernobyl data and recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

Currently, neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) occupy a significant place in the structure of disease of the elderly, which dictates the need to find new and effective treatment and prevention of this pathology. At the heart of NDD development  is a violation of the metabolism and the conformational change of cellular proteins with subsequent accumulation and aggregation of their in  certain groups of neurons. The immediate cause of the death of the affected neurons in NDD is initiated by intracellular proteins apoptosis, during which a large number of neurotransmitter glutamate is released. The consequence of an imbalance in the synthesis and release of neurotransmitters are related  the memory impairment, motor coordination and cognitive abilities of human. Based on the analysis of the extensive literature domestic and predominantly foreign authors of the last decade  the modern data on the effect of sulfated polysaccharides (SPS) of algae in vivo and in vitro in degenerative processes of the nervous system. Found that due to its multi-point impact,   SPS have on the body antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, antihyperlipidemic, anti-toxic effects. Consequently, SPS can arrest a number  of secondary pathological effects observed in neurodegenerative diseases (oxidative stress, inflammation, the phenomenon of increased neuronal apoptosis, toxic effects etc.). Varieties of pathogenic mechanisms underlying NDD makes possible the combined use of neuroprotective compounds acting sequentially in different stages of a pathological process. Accumulated a lot of experimental evidence to assume that the SPS  may be the basis for the creation of next-generation drugs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

This work shows comparative characteristics of immunogenic properties of the extract of Opisthorchis felineus in different severity of asthma using antigen presenting dendritic cells in vitro. New data on the effect of Opisthorchis felineus on the expression of surface markers of dendritic cells (CD209, HLA-DR, CD83, CD86) were received. Pronounced expression of CD209, CD86 and HLA-DR on the surface of dendritic cells in mild and severe asthma compared with healthy individuals was shown. In the stimulation of dendritic cells with extract Opisthorchis felineus in vitro weakening of CD86 expression in mild and in severe asthma was found. CD86 molecule may be a regulatory factor in the co-stimulation of dendritic cells which allows us to consider it as a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of allergic diseases.