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Objective. The purpose of the study is to develop and apply a method for extracting information about the identity of users from recordings of their voices using the calculation of mel-cepstral coefficients.Method. In the study of the application of methods for extracting informative features from a voice recording, allowing identification of the speaker, an authentication scheme using mel-cepstral coefficients is presented.Result. Based on this method, an authentication module was implemented using audio recordings of user voices using the simplest MFCC. The authentication module was developed using Python languageConclusion. The biometric authentication method is an inexpensive and relatively simple way to verify the authenticity of users. Despite the obvious advantages of mel-cepstral coefficients, this method has certain disadvantages. To eliminate shortcomings, various frequency filters can be used, as well as third-party algorithms for analyzing audio recordings.

Objective: to study the pyramidal tract in patients with highly active multiple sclerosis (HAMS) during treatment switching from first-line MS therapy to second-line therapy due to suboptimal response.Material and methods. 24 patients with HAMS were analyzed. Depending on the severity of pyramidal functional system (PFS) impairment according to EDSS, patients were divided into 2 groups; group 1 — 17 patients with an EDSS score of 0—2.5 points, group 2 — 7 patients with an EDSS score of ≥3 points. All patients underwent MRI of the brain according to the standard protocol. The diffusion tensor images (DTI) were processed using the DTI FiberTrak software.Results. The volume of the pyramidal tract was decreased in patients in group 2 (p

Classical reassortment in developing chicken eggs is a well-established technique for obtaining LAIV strains. Naturally generated reassortant vaccine strains are characterized by high reproductive capacity, genetically stable characteristics of temperature sensitivity and cold resistance, which correspond to the characteristics of the MDV involved in crossing with the epidemic virus. Along with antigenic relevance, natural reassortment ensures attenuation of vaccine strains, good reproduction capacity in upper respiratory tract cells and inability to reproduction in the lower respiratory tract. With classical reassortment, the speed and efficiency of obtaining vaccine reassortants largely depend on the properties of epidemic virus, and therefore cannot be stable. The potential of reverse genetics is attractive because it allows to obtain vaccine reassortants quickly and efficiently, reduce the likelihood of spontaneous mutations; however, the vaccine strain is deprived of the advantages of natural selection, in which the most viable clones are selected. This study presents the results of comparatively assessed A(H3N2) LAIVs obtained in parallel by classical reassortment and reverse genetics according to criteria confirming that vaccine strains inherit the necessary properties that guarantee their harmlessness and high reproduction in chicken embryos. Strains for LAIV obtained by both methods retained all attenuating mutations inherited from the MDV, were highly reproductive at the optimal temperature, with temperature sensitivity corresponded to the MDV. However, strains obtained by reverse genetics, was observed to have partial loss of cold resistance in comparison with that of the MDV and classical reassortants. Reduced cold adaptation may negatively affect vaccine effectiveness. It is important that after several additional passages in chicken embryos at low temperature, the cold resistance of the vaccine strain, assembled by reverse genetics, was increased. Credibly that cold resistance is a phenotypic trait, the degree of manifestation of which depends on the temperature conditions of virus multiplication. The selective factor of reduced incubation temperature is missing in reverse genetics. In order for the cold-adapted phenotype to be fully realized, additional passages at low temperature of RG-reassortants are necessary. Thus, the reverse genetics method using plasmid technology allows to effectively prepare reassortant strains for LAIV. An important stage in obtaining vaccine strains using genetic engineering techniques should be the control of their cold-adapted phenotype and its optimization by additional passages at low temperature.

The article presents a review of the literature and a description of a clinical case of osmotic demyelination syndrome manifested by pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis in a 36-year-old woman after her third surgical preterm delivery. The reasons for the development of a demyelinating lesion of the central nervous system are discussed, and clinical cases described in world literature sources are presented. An analysis of the pathogenesis of the development of this disease in women during pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation is provided. The importance of this period in a woman's life as an independent significant risk factor for the development of osmotic demyelination syndrome is discussed.

This article examines the specifics of the blogosphere of the Russian-speaking segment of the Internet, as well as the changes that have occurred in this area after the ban of certain social platforms and their recognition as extremist on the territory of the Russian Federation. The study was carried out using a comparative method and is based on the analysis of the content of blogs in the social networks VKontakte, Dzen, Telegram, selected by a continuous sampling method for the period from February 2022 to October 2022. The blogosphere today is a dynamically and actively developing environment, and blogs are no longer just a channel for broadcasting relevant information, but also a social and communicative phenomenon existing at the intersection of journalism, marketing and political technologies.The recognition of some popular social networks as extremist on the territory of the Russian Federation has led to a reduction in the income of bloggers associated with a sharp decrease in the coverage of their accounts, as well as the departure of a number of major foreign advertisers from the Russian market. There was a transition of the main bloggers to alternative blogging platforms, as well as the search for suitable forms of content submission for them and attempts to increase the audience. These changes affected not only bloggers, but also the accounts of various state budget organizations operating within the framework of the electronic state presented on the Internet.Social networks today are turning from platforms for communication and file sharing into digital ecosystems that include many services. Bloggers develop their accounts, increasing the number of subscribers and building up a regular audience and become influencers — opinion leaders, which is actively used by businesses in influencer marketing. To optimize cooperation with media personalities who have their own blogs, representatives of companies turn to influencer agencies, which today provide a full range of digital services, from the idea to its final implementation. The growth of the older audience leads to the fact that the content is “maturing” — more and more serious topics are being raised, the requirements for the quality of content are increasing. The trends of personalization of content and fragmentation of the blog audience are also increasing.

In 2020–2021, the world was engulfed by the pandemic of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The low population coverage with vaccination against COVID-19 and the lack of herd immunity result in the need to find an effective and safe etiotropic treatment. Medicinal agents for treatment of COVID-19, approved while preparing this publication, have several limitations related to the conditions of their use and/or population category. In this situation, interferon-containing drugs widely used in Russia and the CIS for prevention and treatment of viral infectious diseases, i.e. ARVI and influenza, may hold promise. This study aims to confirm in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 for the preparation VIFERON® containing recombinant human interferon alpha-2b (IFNα-2b). Materials and methods. Vero CCL-81 cells were infected with hCoV-19/StPetersburg-RII3524VR4/2020 strain of SARS-CoV-2 at doses of 10 TCID50 or 100 TCID50 per well. The suppressive effect of IFN-2b, extracted from VIFERON® in dosage form of rectal suppositories, was evaluated by qRT-PCR at 24 h and 48 h after the infection of cells in two schemes, simulating preventive (24 h before infection) and therapeutic (2 h after infection) use of drugs. Results. IFNα-2b at concentrations of 800, 400, 200, 100 and 50 IU/ml, extracted from rectal suppositories of VIFERON®, showed high biological activity, displayed as inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 strain replication in both infectious doses evaluated either at 24 h or at 48 h after cell infection. The “preventive” vs. “therapeutic” scheme was found to be more effective. In the “preventive” scheme the virus titre decreased by more than 3 lg TCID50 at 24 hours post-infection and by 5–6 lg TCID50 at 48 hours post-infection after administration of 800 IU/ml IFNα-2b. Conclusion. The study results evidence that VIFERON® in dosage form of rectal suppositories may be promising for prevention and treatment of new coronavirus infection in clinical practice.

Background: Growing glioblastoma is associated with an impairment of the blood brain barrier and increased hemodynamic parameters (CBV, CBF), which is related to advanced tumor angiogenesis. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion, an additional study to the routine intravenous contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be a technique for assessment of hemodynamics and identification of the residual tumor tissue.Aim: To study the potential of native ASL to assess hemodynamic parameters and detect residual tumor tissue in the patients who had undergone surgical resection of glioblastoma.Materials and methods: At 2 to 4 weeks after surgery for glioblastoma grade IV, brain MRI with native ASL perfusion and subsequent intravenous contrast enhancement was performed in 63 patients. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) values were measured in three areas of interest: in the presumptive tumor tissue (PTT) with maximal perfusion, in the postoperative scar tissue (PST) and in the deep white matter (DWM) of the contralateral hemisphere.Results: According to their CBF values, all patients were categorized into two groups. Group 1 included 43 patients (68.3%) with mean CBF in PTT of 135.4±41.3 ml/100 Gr/min (min 73.9, max 255.9). These values were 5 to 6-fold higher than the CBF values in the PST and 6 to 8-fold higher than those in DWM. Group 2 included 20 patients (31.7%) without any areas of abnormal CBF increase in PST, with its mean value of 22.1±5.6 ml/100 Gr/min (min 13.9, max 37.1), which was close to the CBF level in DWM (19.8±4.6 ml/100 Gr/min, p=0.06). There were no between-group differences for the CBF values in PST (p=0.6), and DWM (p=0.7).Conclusion: ASL MR perfusion technique has good potential for the identification of residual tumor tissue after surgical resection of glioblastoma and can be an alternative to contrast enhancement during long-term follow up.

Meniere's disease is characterized by vertigo, inconsistent hearing loss and progressive deterioration of audiological and vestibular functions. The attacks of Meniere's disease occur without obvious triggers and disrupt social adaptation of patients. Radiation diagnostic methods have not been included into the list of diagnostic criteria by the European Consensus on Diagnosis and Management of Meniere's disease (2018). However, a number of studies have been published recently that indicate the feasibility of in vivo anatomical identification of endolymphatic hydrops, as the main disease substrate seen using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Due to the progress in radiological visualization of the inner ear, some patterns have been identified and new data obtained for Meniere's disease. The choice of the best route for contrast administration (intratympanic or intravenous) is a matter of active debate. There is no consensus on the criteria for the assessment of hydrops' grade. Future developments of the technique are associated with improvements of diagnostic procedures and protocols, use of new contrast agents and diagnostic algorithms developed with consideration of the otological problem of patients.

ZnCoO:H and ZnCoAlO:H films were synthesized by radio frequency magnetron sputtering in a (1 − x)Ar + xH2 mixed atmosphere with x = 0.2–0.5. The films contain different amounts of metallic Co particles (from 7.6% and higher) ~4–7 nm in size. The magnetic and magneto-optical (MO) behavior of the films was analyzed in combination with their structural data. The samples exhibit high values of magnetization (up to 377 emu/cm3) and MO response at room temperature. Two situations are considered: (1) the film magnetism is associated only with isolated metal particles and (2) magnetism is present both in the oxide matrix and in metal inclusions. It has been established that the formation mechanism of the magnetic structure of ZnO:Co2+ is due to the spin-polarized conduction electrons of metal particles and zinc vacancies. It was also found that in the presence of two magnetic components in the films, these components are exchange-coupled. In this case, the exchange coupling generates a high spin polarization of the films. The spin-dependent transport properties of the samples have been studied. A high value of the negative magnetoresistance of the films at room temperature (~4%) was found. This behavior was explained in terms of the giant magnetoresistance model. Thus, the ZnCoO:H and ZnCoAlO:H films with high spin polarization can be considered as sources of spin injection.

Cardiac amyloidosis (amyloid cardiomyopathy) is a disease damage to the heart caused by extracellular amyloid deposition. In some cases, there may be local damage to the structures of the heart, for example, the atria; more often, heart damage is part of a systemic (generalized) pathology. Depending on the amyloid precursor protein, 36 types of amyloidosis are described, among which hereditary and acquired forms are distinguished. Cardiac amyloidosis is diagnosed 1) in the case of the amyloid infiltration in the myocardial bioptates or 2) in the case of non-cardiac amyloid deposition and the left ventricular wall thickening >12 mm without arterial hypertension and other reasons. The heart is most often affected in AL-, ATTR-, AA-, AANF-types of amyloidosis. Cardiac amyloidosis should be considered in patients with a heart failure with an unclear etiology, especially with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, refractory to treatment, with proteinuria and CKD 4-5, in patients with idiopathic atrial fibrillation and conduction disturbances, in patients with left ventricular wall thickening of unclear etiology, low ECG voltage, unexplained arterial hypotension and pulmonary hypertension. Screening for cardiac amyloidosis should include non-invasive methods such as electrophoresis and immunofixation of blood and urine proteins, the free light lambda and kappa chains of immunoglobulins, 99Tc-DPD scintigraphy, genetic testing (if hereditary variants of amyloidosis are suspected), as well as a histological examination of biopsy samples stained with Congo red and polarizing microscopy.

Rationale: Most people infected with SARS-CoV-2 have asymptomatic or minor clinical manifestations and recover without any aggressive therapy. However, there are patient categories in need of specific treatment and those at high risk of severe disease. Control of viremia with antiviral therapy may not be the best therapeutic strategy, since, in addition to substantial toxicity, antiviral agents can suppress the production of antiviral antibodies and disintegrate adoptive immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Due to a high correlation between the symptoms severity in patients with COVID-19 and inflammation, anti-inflammatory corticosteroids have been proposed to treat the disease. However, clinical data do not support the systemic administration of corticosteroids for the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19. Such treatment may have a negative effect due to suppression of the adoptive immune system. In this regard, the development or use of already available of agents that modulate inflammation without compromising the adoptive immune response could be the most effective therapeutic strategy.Aim: To evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of the cell biotherapy technique, the extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), in the treatment of patients with moderately severe new coronavirus disease COVID-19.Materials and methods: The study included four patients (three women and one man, age 42 to 60 years), with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by gene amplification. All patients had CT-confirmed bilateral multisegmental viral pneumonia (grades > 2, i.e. with 25 to 60% involvement of the lungs). Prior to admission, all patients received antibiotics (azithromycin 500 mg daily and levo-floxacin / amoxicillin clavulanate 500 mg BID) and antipyretics for torpid fever of up to 38.5-39 °C. The outpatient treatment lasted for 8 to 14 days, with signs of progressive respiratory failure. In addition to the moderately severe and torpid course of viral pneumonia, three patients showed hematology test abnormalities, such as hypochromic anemia, leukopenia, leukopenia/lymphopenia, and moderate thrombocytopenia. Three patients had high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Inpatient treatment consisted of azithromycin 500 mg daily, levofloxacin 500 mg BID, hydroxychloroquine 200 mg BID, and low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin 0.4 ml, 4000 anti-Xa IU, s.c. BID). Despite the treatment, the patients showed signs of progressive respiratory failure, with increasing dyspnea and gradual decrease in saturation from 96% to 92%. Isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was done in an intermittent blood separator "Haemonetics MCS+” (USA), with subsequent cell irradiation with an extracorporeal blood irradiator (OKUFKE 320/400-600/650-01 "Yulia”, ZAO NPKF "METOM”, Russia). Ammifurin (ZAO "Pharmcenter VILAR”, Russia) was used as a photosensitizer. Three patients had two ECP sessions with an interval of 24 hours, and one patient had one ECP session.Results: In three patients who had received two ECP sessions, there was a regression of radiographic signs of viral pneumonia from CT2 to CT1 (less than 25% of lung tissue involvement) during the next four days (96 hours). In one patient, the follow-up CT showed resolving pneumonia with less than 5% involvement of the lungs. The patients (n = 3) with baseline high CRP levels showed their normalization at 4 days after two ECP sessions. At 24 hours after a single ECP session, leukocyte count and differential, as well as platelets were restored. In three patients, viral RNA tests within 2 to 4 days after ECP were negative. These results were associated with normalization of body temperature, no further progression of respiratory failure, and a reduction in hospital stay.Conclusion: The use of ECP in 4 patients with moderately severe SARS-CoV-2 infection has contributed to the rapid relief of clinical symptoms, resolution of the inflammation and restoration of respiratory abnormalities in all of them. These observations allow us to consider ECP as an effective and safe method of treatment for moderately severe COVID-19 and a promising adjuvant method in the high-risk patients in order to prevent an unfavorable disease outcome.

Introduction. Noise pollution is one of the three most significant environmental disruptions in the world. In urban areas, the main source of noise is road transport, which accounts up to 80% of all noise. Noise protection measures are an integral part of the design both at the feasibility study stage and during a project development. In the conditions of cramped urban development, high density of the road network and the shortage of free territories, it is more appropriate to use noise protection structures in the form of roadside noise (acoustic) screens - vertical walls that are installed as close as possible to the highway. However, as the experience has shown, in operating conditions, noise screens do not always fully fulfill their protective function. This article presents a critical analysis of the effectiveness of the noise screens installation on the example of a traffic interchange on 15th Rabochaia in Omsk.Materials and methods. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the design solutions for the installation of noise screens and the execution of these solutions was carried out with two methods. The first method is calculating. The calculation of the noise impact from the traffic flow on the residential development was carried out according to the methodology of ODM 218.2.013-2011 the Guidelines for the protection from traffic noise of territories adjacent to the roads. To perform the calculations, the content and intensity of the movement of transport at each section of the interchange was determined. The geometric parameters on the object are set. The second method is experimental. To confirm the calculation results, the full-scale measurements of the noise level at nine points at the indicated interchange were carried out.Results. Based on the results of the calculation it was concluded that the current noise protection structures do not fully fulfill their function. A residential development in the area under consideration is located in the noise discomfort zone. The results of field measurements are confirmed by calculated data. The article gives recommendations for correcting the shortcomings made in the design and construction of the noise screens.Conclusion. Considering the results of the research presented in this article and published earlier, it is advisable to consider the reconstruction of the transport interchange on 15th Rabochaia street in Omsk.Financial transparency: the authors have no financial interest in the presented materials or methods. There is no conflict of interest.

Uveal melanoma is the most common intraocular malignancy. Despite significant progress in the treatment of the primary tumor, uveal melanoma continues to be the most aggressive tumor due to its high potential for hematogenous metastatic spread. Uveal melanoma metastases are located mostly in the liver. Overall survival of patients with liver metastases is 4 to 15 months. There is no adjuvant systemic therapy to prevent metastases of uveal melanoma. In this paper, we aim to analyze achievement in diagnosis of metastatic uveal melanoma made during the last 10 years and to show advantages and disadvantages of the main diagnostic methods. The last years showed the emergence of understanding the differences between skin and uveal melanoma based on different molecular genetic abnormalities and different signaling pathways of these tumors. The success of target treatments for skin melanoma is not applicable to uveal melanoma. Skin and uveal melanoma responds differently to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Insufficient efficacy of systemic chemotherapy, immune and target therapy has made it necessary to develop techniques of local chemoembolization and radioembolization of uveal melanoma metastases. At present, there are no available assessment algorithms for the management of patients with uveal melanoma and suspected metastases. Ultrasonography, if seen as available techniques for radiology diagnostics, should be enhanced either by the intravenous contrast, or by qualifying computed tomography. The use of positron emission tomography / computed tomography has not demonstrated the maximal diagnostic value in identification of liver metastases, and, taken into account its high costs, low availability, and large radiation dose, it cannot be considered as a feasible method for every 6 months' application. The most effective diagnostic method is magnetic resonance imaging with the liver-specific contrast agents, due to the possibility to detect metastases of less than 1 cm in diameter. However, this technique has not been widely accepted clinically due to high costs, contraindications and a big proportion of false positive results. Current armamentarium of radiation techniques that could be potentially applicable for visualization of hepatic focal abnormalities is rather impressive and is being continuously updated; however, the problem of the metastatic uveal melanoma diagnosis remains unsolved.

Amyloidosis is a heterogeneous group of the diseases caused by the extracellular deposition of amyloid in various organs including a cardiovascular system.Aim. To study the cardiovascular damage in patients with systemic amyloidosis.Material and methods. A retrospective assessment of 38 cases of systemic amyloidosis was carried out. Diagnosis was verified by biopsy in 57,9% (27,3% of these cases were then confirmed by autopsy) and autopsy in 42,1% of patients. Congo red stain and polarized-light microscopy were used. The systemic nature of lesion was diagnosed in the positive biopsies of two or more localizations or in the positive biopsy of one localization in the combination with the clinical picture of amyloidosis at least one organ. Median (interquartile range) of age was 72,5 (64-84) years (women, 65,8%; men, 34,2%).Results. In the medical history, 81,6% of patients with systemic amyloidosis had hypertension, 52,6% — coronary artery disease, 34,2% — myocardial infarction, 36,8% — type 2 diabetes, 44,7% — atrial fibrillation, 26,3% — conduction disorders. Also 13,2% of patients had an implanted pacemaker. According to the electrocardiography, 42,3% of patients had a low QRS voltage. According to echocardiography, left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy was detected in 94,7% of patients. In addition, 31,6% of patients had signs of granular sparkling myocardial appearance, 20% — impaired local LV contractility, 77,8% — increased pulmonary artery reassure, 28,6% — LV diastolic dysfunction, 14,3% — normal diastolic function. LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was 55 (44,5-55)%. LVEF 50% — in 65% of patients. Heart failure was indicated in 71,1% of patients with systemic amyloidosis, chronic kidney disease (CKD) — in 95% of patients. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (CKD-EPI) was 21,2 (13,1-40) ml/min/1,73 m2. Proteinuria (1,1 (0,5-3,0) g/l) was detected in 88,9% of patients. Nephrotic syndrome occurred in 27,8% of patients.Conclusion. Patients with cardiovascular lesions of unclear etiology, especially in the presence of LV wall thickening, preserved LVEF, stage 4-5 CKD and proteinuria, require screening for systemic amyloidosis.

Pulmonary embolism in breast cancer is one of the causes of major deterioration of health status of the patients. Pulmonary artery occlusion is most often a consequence of venous thromboembolism; this condition is referred to as "pulmonary thromboembolism". Significantly less common cause of occlusion of the pulmonary artery branches can be embolism by a cluster of tumor cells, accompanied by development of pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy. This paper reviews data on the etiology and pathogenesis of pulmonary embolism in breast cancer, and approaches to its prevention and treatment.

We present a rare combination of a solitary fibrous orbital tumor and uterine cancer in a female patient with type I neurofibromatosis. This 77-year old patient developed a left painless exophthalmos within 2 years and decreased visual acuity of the left eye. At the age of 20 she was diagnosed with type I neurofibromatosis. Half a year ago she underwent hysteron-oophorectomy due to uterine adenocarcinoma. The visual acuity of her left eye was decreased to 0.3, with an increase of intraocular pressure to 30 mm Hg. She had a 13-mm left-sided exophthalmos with misplacement of the eye downwards and laterally at 40°. Reposition of the left eye was severely impaired, with limitation of the eye movements to all directions. Ophthalmoscopy showed optic disc discoloration and blunting of its inner border. The patient underwent trans-conjunctival orbitotomy, with removal of three encapsulated tumor nodules. Histological and immunochemical studies of the removed tissue identified solitary fibrous tumor of the left orbit with an undetermined malignant potential. In the post-operative period, visual acuity of the left eye was 0.2, with no exophthalmos and right position of the eye. There was a non-significant limitation of the left eye movement to the left and to the right. X-ray computed tomography confirmed radical tumor excision. Conclusion: Solitary fibrous tumor is a rare orbital neoplasm. Nevertheless, it should be included into the differential diagnosis list of spin-cell orbital tumors. It is necessary to aim at tumor removal through the least traumatic orbital access. Relapsing course of the tumor is the rationale for a long-term follow-up of patients after removal of solitary fibrous orbital tumor.

Background: At present, computed tomography (CT) is recognized as method for primary diagnosis of middle ear disorders. More accurate diagnosis of cholesteatoma is based on a sequence of non-echo planar diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. The choice of the type of surgery depends on cholesteatoma size and location. Aim: To assess the possibility of fusion of CT and magnetic resonance images (MRI) to determine the precise location of the middle ear cholesteatoma. Materials and methods: The CT and diffusion-weighted (DW) images of 24 patients with chronic suppurative otitis media, including 12 with newly diagnosed and 12 with relapsing cholesteatoma were fused. The patients underwent the standard CT and MRI, including DW-MRI. CT and DW-MRI images were fused with determination of exact size and location of cholesteatoma in the middle ear cavity. Results: The exact location and size of the cholesteatoma were identified. The study results were compared with intraoperative data. The use of fused CT and DW images had the sensitivity in determination of cholesteatoma location and size of 96%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative of 96%, which all were higher than the corresponding values for CT and MRI assessments. Conclusion: Fusion of CT and DW-MRI allows for determination of the precise localization of cholesteatoma, partial exclusion of false-positive results correlate and for comparison of the lesion with important bone landmarks. The method may be useful for the surgeon both in planning of primary surgery, as well as for repeated revision of the postoperative cavity.

The risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) in cancer patients is 4–7-fold, compared to other patient categories. PE is the second most frequent cause of death in the first year after cancer diagnosis. PE is diagnosed in 7.5% of patients with malignant brain tumors, in 1 to 25% of those with gastrointestinal tumors, in 4.5 to 17.5% of those with breast cancer and in 4 to 10% of lung cancer patients. The risk of PE is higher with surgical interventions and chemotherapy, as well as in metastatic tumors. In 13% of cases, PE may be the first symptom of cancer manifestation. For prevention and treatment of PE low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and warfarin are used. The risk of recurrent PE is 2-fold lower with LMWH. The frequency of bleeding with LMWH and warfarin treatment is from 14 to 19%. Placement of a cava filter is indicated only if anticoagulation is inefficient. New oral anticoagulants, which act as selective thrombin or Factor Xa inhibitors, are not used in cancer patients. Thus, diagnostics and treatment of PE is a very urgent problem in oncology that requires new approaches to be looked for.

The authors describe a 74-year-old patient with a verified, rare for Europe Kimura’s disease, its classic radiographic and histological appearance, persistent course, and resistance to the treatment methods.

Wilms' tumor is the most common primary malignant renal tumor. It is paradigm for comprehensive treatment of malignant solid tumors in children. Typically, children with this disorder are initially seen with abdominal distention, palpable masses or due to fever of unknown origin. Atypical tumor symptoms can be caused by complications, making it difficult to diagnose the disease. We present three clinical cases of Wilms' tumor in young children. Emergency multidetector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging provided the surgeon with sufficient information to perform an urgent radical resection.

A number of inflammatory systemic and non-systemic pharyngel and laryngeal diseases may clinically imitate a tumor. In these cases, computed tomography provides rapid assessment and significant additional information to that obtained from endoscopy. We present 4 clinical observations with certain common features. These are a suspicion of a neoplasm and absence of typical computed tomography symptoms characteristic of tumor lesions. IgG4-related systemic disease, rheumatoid arthritis, amyloidosis, and actinomycosis are rare disorders, however, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis. In this context, the knowledge of the radiation diagnostic characteristics of these rare nosologies will be useful for a practitioner.

We describe a clinical case of a piriformis syndrome in a patient with lumboischialgia. A technique of botulinum toxin therapy is described which was performed under neuroimaging control, i.e., with pelvic computerized tomography, that allowed for an accurate injection of the botulinum toxin into the deeply located muscle. Insufficient accuracy in determination of the injection site based on external reference points was shown.

The article describes clinical cases of two pregnant women with a history of corrective surgery for Bland-White-Garland syndrome. During pregnancy, long-term results of surgery may translate into heart arrhythmias that occasionally are life threatening, into myocardial ischemia symptoms associated with a high probability of coronary artery bypass graft thrombosis. In both cases, there was a risk of preliminary pregnancy termination and development of fetoplacental insufficiency.

The article shows the role of mothers' adverse pregnancy and birth, in the formation of pathology of the reproductive system, for the girls with, connective tissue dysplasia. The most significant risk factors were revealed: the threat of premature termination, of pregnancy, preeclampsia, preterm, birth, and. also basic phenotypic features of connective tissue dysplasia syndrome were determined. Menstrual function disorders in adolescent girls are characterized by early menarche, hypomenstrual syndrome, uterine bleeding of puberty.

Biological effects of nitric oxide are multiply, including vasoactive activity, participation in neurotransmission and intercellular communication etc. These effects are associated with endogenous releasing of nitric oxide, but influence of exogenous administration of this substance does not study in details. In particular, systemic action of nitric oxide inhalations is not so clear. The aim of this work was the investigation of nitric oxide inhalations action on some parameters of energy and oxidative metabolism of healthy rat blood. Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group (without any manipulations; n=10) and main group (n=10) with inhalations by nitric oxide-containing gas flow (20 ppm). Lactate dehydrogenase and lactate level were estimated in rat blood samples. In addition, we calculated a number of integral coefficients of energy metabolism, such as substrate provision coefficient and coefficient of energy reactions balance. Our experiments demonstrate that 10-days course of inhalations of low nitric oxide doses (20 ppm) increases the adaptive potential of healthy rats’ organism. One of these positive effects is associated with activation of some components of energy metabolism. First of all, it realized through stimulation of catalytic activity of lactate dehydrogenase, including its erythrocyte pool. Observed metabolic effect provides the basis for pathogenic correction of diseases, associated with hypoxia, oxidative stress and energy deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]