The diagnostic and prognostic value of the study of serum immunoglobulin free light chains kappa and lambda (FLC-κ and FLC-λ) and their ratio (FLC κ/λ) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) was evaluated. The study involved 206 patients with newly diagnosed MM which were observed in Novosibirsk Hematology Center from 2012 to 2017. The median age of the subjects was 67 years (32–82 years). The control group included 56 conditionally healthy individuals: 34 women (60.7%), 22 (39.3%) men, and the median age in this group was 62 years (40–68 years). The concentration of FLC-κ and FLC-λ (mg/l) in blood serum was determined by immunoturbidimetric method.

It was found that in patients with MM, the secretion level of serum FLC-κ or FLC-λ was statistically significantly higher in comparison with the control group and differed depending on the type of MM (p < 0.005). The diagnostic sensitivity of the quantitative determination of FLCs and their ratio in MM was 98.54%, compared with 94.17% in a standard immunochemical study. The values of the FLC κ / λ ratio < 0.04 or > 60, as well as the level of FLC-κ and FLC-λ are higher than the median obtained for the whole group (FLC-κ ≥ 702.0 and FLC-λ ≥ 493.2 mg/l); correlate with the known unfavorable prognosis factors for MM — with a high β2-microglobulin level (>3.5 mg/l) (r = 0.461, p < 0.001), plasma cell infiltration of bone marrow > 24% (r = 0.420, p < 0.001), and renal failure (creatinine > 173 μmol/l) (r = 0.380, p < 0.002), and also with a high level of LDH (>450 units/l) (r = 0.520, p < 0.001) — and are associate with an adverse outcome. The median overall survival (OS ) in the group of patients with FLC κ / λ < 0.04 or > 65 was 35 months compared with 60 months in the group with FLC κ / λ 0.04–65 (p < 0.001), 5-year OS — 42 and 75% respectively (p < 0.001).

Thus, the determination of serum FLCs in the blood serum of patients with MM increases diagnostic capabilities and can be used to assess the survival prognosis. The value of the FLC κ / λ ratio < 0.04 or > 65 allows us to divide patients with MM into risk groups with significantly different outcomes and can be used to identify patients with high risk who need more aggressive therapy and more detailed monitoring of the response to it.

The purpose of the study was to develop approaches to assessing the uniformity of mass fractions in subdividing tablets. The problem of dividing tablets into parts to provide the necessary dose is considered. A survey of 18 pediatric hospital nurses concerning practice of subdividing tablets was conducted during which we found that 78% of respondents divided tablets into 2 parts or more (up to 5). The fractions of subdivided tablets were tested for compliance with the requirements of the federal General Monograph 1.4.2.0009.15 “Mass uniformity of dosage forms” intended for non-divided tablets and the European Pharmacopoeia (article 0478 “Tablets”; section “Subdivision of tablets”). The need for regulation of methods for controlling the subdivision of tablets is established. It is proposed to introduce into the State Pharmacopoeia of Russia a pharmaceutical-technological test “Uniformity of mass of subdivided tablets” harmonized with the European Pharmacopoeia methodology (article 0478 “Tablets”; section “Subdivision of tablets”).

The aim of the study was to develop a method for screening blood samples, primarily sample preparation, for the detection of narcotic drugs, psychotropic and medicinal substances in the blood by gas chromatography with mass selective detection (GC-MS) for the implementation of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (MH RF) Order No. 933n dated December 18, 2015. The blood sample preparation procedures for screening testing for narcotic drugs, psychotropic and medicinal substances by GC-MS method were developed and validated in accordance with the requirements of the Order No. 933n of the RF Ministry of Health. It was revealed that an ethanol content of up to 10‰ in the blood does not affect the extraction degree of toxicants and the possibility to interpret the results. The efficacy of the model substances extraction from blood samples was evaluated depending on the isolation method. It was found that the liquid-liquid extraction method is better for isolating compounds with high logP, and the solid-phase extraction method is better for isolating compounds with low logP.

The aim of the study is to assess the effect of heparin and ethanol on the orientation and exploratory behavior (locomotion) of rats in the Open field test. Experimental animals (male rats weighing 200 ± 10 g) were intraperitoneally injected with high molecular heparin and ethyl alcohol and then placed in a behavioral response testing set. It was found that ethanol (5 g/kg) in intraperitoneal administration reduces the parameters of orientation exploratory behavior which does not recover after 24 hours. Heparin in combined injection with ethanol affects the vertical and horizontal activity of rats in different directions, but a recovery of behavioral responses is observed after 24 hours from the moment of administration. Heparin is believed to interact with ethanol to form a complex and partially block the ethanol toxic effect.

The chronic inflammatory process in periodontal tissues (gingivitis, periodontitis) is one of the most common issues in dental practice. The results of treatment of such process is determined mainly by the state of the periodontal microcirculation system. In the complex therapy of these diseases, physiotherapeutic techniques based on the effects of direct electric current (anode-galvanization, drug electrophoresis, depophoresis) are often used.

In the study on the effect of direct electric current on the structural organization of endotheliocytes of blood capillaries of gums in patients with chronic marginal gingivitis (CMG) participated 39 persons (group 1 consisted of 10 persons with an intact periodontium, group 2 consisted of 10 patients with simple CMG before treatment, and group 3 consisted of 19 patients with CMG after comprehensive treatment, including 3-fold anode-galvanization of gums for 5 min).

Authors have found changes in the structure of endotheliocytes of blood capillaries of chronically inflamed gums (the size and number of cellular organelles have changed) under the influence of direct electric current, that may have a significant effect on the course of chronic inflammatory process in periodontal tissues.

Psychotic state has a high traumatic potential for patient’s personality. In order to assess the traumatic effects of psychosis, 29 patients who suffered endogenous and exogenous psychoses were examined; clinical psychopathological and clinical psychological instruments were used. High risks of the formation of psychosis-associated post-traumatic stress disorder in the first five years of the disease, as well as the great importance of semantic factor and dissociation mechanisms in the development of the traumatic effects were revealed.

The efficacy of balneological and thermal procedures with antler decoction in sanatorium rehabilitation programs in 62 patients with chronic abacterial prostatitis (IIIB) was assessed. The average age of the patients was 38.2 ± 2.9 years, the duration of the disease was 3.4 ± 5.1 years. It was revealed that the inclusion of balneotherapy and thermal procedures with antler decoction in the comprehensive sanatorium treatment program for patients with abacterial prostatitis (IIIB) led to a faster and more significant effect in stopping the main clinical symptoms, normalizing the vegetative status, and positive changes in the psychoemotional sphere and quality of life.

The analysis of hormonal and metabolic parameters in women of different age groups was carried out. 122 women aged 21 to 70 years were examined (the average age was 41 ± 1.8 years). All women underwent an anthropometric survey to calculate the body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio. The laboratory study included: determination of serum glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, immunoreactive insulin, leptin, adiponectin, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S). It was revealed that the advance in age in women is accompanied by an  increase in the values of anthropometric parameters, which testifies the accumulation of subcutaneous and visceral fat. The accumulation of adipose tissue and an increase in blood pressure (BP) was associated with hypertriglyceridemia, hyperleptinemia, and DHEA-S decrease. The results of the correlation analysis suggest that the processes of accumulation of excess body weight and the formation of obesity in women with aging are associated, at least partially, with disturbance of adipocytokine fat metabolism regulation. The combination of abdominal obesity, high BP and hypertriglyceridemia in older women being the three main components of the metabolic syndrome testifies to a high risk of cardiovascular diseases.

288 patients were examined to study the level of endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide in patients with bronchial asthma (BA) associated with arterial hypertension (AH): 96 patients — with BA, 96 patients — with AH and 96 patients — with BA + AH. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), N-monomethyl L-arginine (NMMA) and L-arginine determined by method of high-performance liquid chromatography, total nitric oxide — by photometric method. It is revealed that the comorbid course of bronchial asthma and arterial hypertension is characterized by a significant increase in serum concentration of ADMA, SDMA and NMMA having significant correlation with blood nitric oxide level. Decrease in concentration of endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide in this cohort of patients can represent a perspective pharmacological task.

The paper presents a literature review on the associations of molecular genetic markers with scar formation in patients with acne. Given the high prevalence of the disease and long-term negative aesthetic consequences, the problem of post-acne is very relevant. However, the detection of reliable prognostic markers of an increased risk of scar formation due to acne is remaining an unsolved problem. The paper reviews most recent publications devoted to the analysis of molecular genetic markers with post-acne scars and concluded that the study of the genetic aspects of scar formation in patients with acne is almost at the initial stage. The lack of effective means for the prevention and treatment of acne scars necessitates a further search.