Pharmacological and surgical experimental animal models of induction of spermatogenesis disorders

Introduction. Experimental induction of spermatogenesis disorders is possible mainly by physical, pharmacological methods. However, not all methods can cause non-obstructive azoospermia.Objective. To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of induction of spermatogenesis disorders in rat models by applying ligatures to the spermatic cords and administration of cisplatin.Materials & methods. Seventy-three mature male rats (Wistar) were divided into 2 experimental groups and 1 control (n = 9) group: group 1 (n = 27) with ligature on the spermatic cord for 12 h (n = 9), 24 h (n = 9), 36 h (n = 9); group 2 (n = 37) with five-fold intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin at concentrations of 5 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg. On days 0, 7, 14, 28 after the last day of induction of spermatogenesis disorders, epididymal semen analysis, blood test, total serum testosterone, pathomorphological examination of testes tissue, body weight, reproductive system organ weight were performed to assess model performance.Results. Ligation to the spermatic cords did not have a negative effect on the general condition of the animals (p < 0.05), blood test (p < 0.05); there was a decrease in the testicular weight (p < 0.05), the appendage of the testis (p < 0.05), prostate (p < 0.05), the weight of the seminal vesicles did not change (p > 0.05). In group 1, the number of epidermal spermatozoa decreased in all subgroups, statistically significant changes were recorded at 7 (exposure 24 h) and 28 (exposure 12, 36 h) days of research. Histologically, there was no significant inhibition of spermatogenesis, except for a decrease in the area, diameter of the seminal tubules on 7, 28 days after surgery (exposure 24, 36 h). In group 2, the survival of animals was noted only when using cisplatin at a dose of 1 mg/kg five times. Body weight decreased in all rats without recovery, thrombocytopenia recorded after 1 wk, leukocytopenia regressed by 2 wk of the study. A decrease in the weight of all reproductive organs was noted. Sperm concentration decreased at 1 wk and recovered at 28 wk. In the analysis of testicular biopsies: pronounced disorganization of the spermatogenic epithelium, a decrease in the absolute area and diameter of the seminal tubules.Conclusion. Ligation to the spermatic cord does not cause permanent inhibition of spermatogenesis. Cisplatin at a dose of 1 mg/kg causes persistent severe damage to the spermatogenic epithelium

THERMAL NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF POROUS COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Cylindrical porous diaphragms made of a composite based on zirconium and aluminum oxides were studied by the method of thermal control. The use of the active two-way control technique allowed detecting manufacturing defects such as fistulas and cracks, as well as other surface inhomogeneities

Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosolized chemotherapy clinical efficacy in the combined treatment of newly diagnosed ovarian cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis and ascites

Purpose of the study. To study the clinical efficacy of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosolized chemotherapy (PIPAC), which complements the combined treatment of ovarian cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis.Patients and methods. The study included 175 patients with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis (87 in the main group, 88 in the control group). All patients underwent extirpation of the uterus with appendages, removal of the large omentum and chemotherapy according to the TC scheme (Taxol, Carboplatin). In the main group, 3 additional sessions of PIPAC were performed. The duration of relapse‑free survival, PCI index, ascites volume and peritoneal morphology were evaluated.Results. Complete regression of carcinomatosis was noted in the second session of PIPAC, in 44 (52.4 %) patients (PCI = 0); complete resorption of ascites – in 74 (88.1 %); complete therapeutic pathomorphosis – in 48 (57.2 %) cases. Complete regression of carcinomatosis was noted in the third session of PIPAC in 73 cases (87.0 %), complete resorption of ascites in 80 cases (95.2 %), complete morphological pathomorphosis in 69 cases (82.2 %). 6 months after treatment, complete regression of carcinomatosis (PCI = 0) was detected in 81 patients (96.4 %), complete resorption of ascites in 83 (98.8 %), complete morphological regression in 72 (85.7 %). The advantage of the main group in terms of median relapse‑free survival was 7 months.Conclusion. Ascites resorption, a decrease in the PCI index and drug pathomorphosis of peritoneal metastases, detected during the 2nd session of PIPAC, had an increasing dynamics during treatment and persisted for a long time. From our point of view, the advantage in median relapse‑free survival in the main group is due to the local effect of PIPAC, which complemented the standard treatment of ovarian cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis

Endolaryngeal surgery in treatment of early-stage cancer in supraglottic laryngeal region

Objectives to improve the results of surgical treatment of patients with T1-T2 stages of cancer in the supraglottic and ventricular region by using endolaryngeal resections. Material and methods.The study was held in Samara Regional Clinical Oncology Center from 2011 to 2016. We analysed 97 case histories of patients diagnosed with stage 0-I laryngeal cancer. The patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the selected organ-preserving method of surgical treatment. The patients of the control group were subjected to open resection of the larynx (laryngofissure). While the patients of the main group received the endolaryngeal resection using an endoscopic rack, a suspension system, a laryngoscope, hard endoscopes of 0, 30, 45 degrees, as well as electrosurgical cutting and endolaryngeal instruments. Results.The duration of the operation, blood loss, and bed day number was significantly less in patients of the main group in comparison with the control group. Also, the percentage of common complications in the main group was lower in relation to the control group. The three-year relapse-free and overall survival was not significantly different between the study groups. Conclusion.According to our observations, the endolaryngeal resections in treatment of the initial stages of laryngeal cancer do not impair the results of treatment and do not significantly affect the survival of this category of patients

Thermal Non-Destructive Testing of Zirconium Composite Coatings

Cylindrical samples made of zirconium with a composite coating based on yttrium, aluminum, titanium and silicon oxides were studied by thermal testing. The dependence of the radiation temperature of equally heated objects on the characteristics of these coatings was established

Regulatory Effect of Connexin 43 on Basal Ca2+ Signaling in Rat Ventricular Myocytes

Background: It has been found that gap junction-associated intracellular Ca 2+ [Ca 2+]i disturbance contributes to the arrhythmogenesis and hyperconstriction in diseased heart. However, whether functional gaps are also involved in the regulation of normal Ca 2+ signaling, in particular the basal [Ca 2+] i activities, is unclear. Methods and Results: Global and local Ca 2+ signaling and gap permeability were monitored in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) and freshly isolated mouse ventricular myocytes by Fluo4/AM and Lucifer yellow (LY), respectively. The results showed that inhibition of gap communication by heptanol, Gap 27 and flufenamic acid or interference of connexin 43 (Cx43) with siRNA led to a significant suppression of LY uptake and, importantly, attenuations of global Ca 2+ transients and local Ca 2+ sparks in monolayer NRVMs and Ca 2+ sparks in adult ventricular myocytes. In contrast, overexpression of rat-Cx43 in NRVMs induced enhancements in the above measurements, and so did in HEK293 cells expressing rat Cx43. Additionally, membrane-permeable inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3 butyryloxymethyl ester) and phenylephrine, an agonist of adrenergic receptor, could relieve the inhibited Ca 2+ signal and LY uptake by gap uncouplers, whereas blockade of IP 3 receptor with xestospongin C or 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborate mimicked the effects of gap inhibitors. More importantly, all these gap-associated effects on Ca 2+ signaling were also found in single NRVMs that only have hemichannels instead of gap junctions. Further immunostaining/immunoblotting single myocytes with antibod