Combinedtechnology of photodynamic therapy and laser plasmon photothermal therapy accompanied by optical clearing was developed for rats with model tumors. Temperature monitoring and spectral measurements were made. Morphological studies of the tumor were performed with standard and immunohistochemical methods. In 72 hours, we observed pronounced necrotic changes in the tumor tissue. 21 days after the therapy, the tumor growth inhibition index by tumor mass was $77.4 \%$.

OBJECTIVE:To study morphological features of Hassall's corpuscles (HC) and their microenvironment in newborns with increased thymus mass.MATERIAL AND METHODS:The study was carried out on autopsy material of children of the first month of life. Based on the thymic index (TI), 2 groups were identified: with normal (conditional norm) and increased TI value (increased thymus weight). The standard method of histological staining and immunohistochemical methods with antibodies to Pan-CK, CK19, CD68, CD3 and p53 were used in the study. The classification proposed by A.G. Beloveshkin (2013) was used to determine the degree of maturity of HC. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used to determine statistically significant differences in the groups.RESULTS:In the group of children with increased thymus weight, the number of HC decreased by 20%. It was found that the proportion of progressive and mature corpuscles in this group was reduced by 2.3 and 1.6 times, respectively, compared to the group of children with normal thymus weight, while the proportion of regressive corpuscles increased almost 2-fold. In the HC microenvironment, there is an increase in the total number of thymocytes, combined with a decrease in the expression of CD68, CD3 and p53 in them. A sharp decrease in CK19-expressing cells in this group is accompanied by a disruption in the formation of reticular structures characteristic of the comparison group.CONCLUSION:In the thymus with increased mass, the structural and functional organization changes: along with an increase in the total number of thymocytes in the cortical layer and a decrease in the number of macrophages, epithelial cells and HC (with a predominance of regressive corpuscles), disturbances in the processes of maturation, apoptosis and negative selection of lymphocytes occur, which can lead to development of immunogenesis disorders.

Combined use of an immersion agent with low-intensity laser irradiation for optical clearing of skin before plasmon photothermal therapy (PPTT) procedure is offered. Pilot study results of influence of the immersion agents on optical parameters of skin, subdermal connective tissue and model tumor of rats in vivo at hyperthermia during PPTT are presented. Model of alveolar liver cancer --- cholangiocarcinoma, transplanted under the skin, was used as a model tumor. For PPTT the gold nanorods with absorption band in the area of diode laser radiation (808 nm) were introduced. Monitoring of light attenuation coefficient change in skin at optical clearing was performed using optical coherent tomography. Measurements of optical parameters of the complete tumor and its layers were performed using spectrometers in a wave length range of 350-2200 nm. Reduction of skin thermal damage during PPTT with preliminary optical clearing using immersion agent (mixture of 70% glycerol water solution and 10% DMSO) and low-intensity laser irradiation at wave length of 808 nm is observed. Keywords: gold nanorods, IR laser radiation, optical clearing, optical parameters, plasmon photothermal therapy.

The aim of this study was to develop a combined technology of plasmon photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy of transplanted cholangiocarcinoma PC-1 in rats. For photodynamic therapy, rats were intratumorally administered with indocyanine green diluted in polyethylene glycol at a ratio of 1 : 100 at a dose of 2 mg/kg. For plasmon photothermal therapy, gold nanorods diluted in polyethylene glycol (400 μg/mL) were intratumorally injected in a volume of 30

The need for searching for new methods of antitumor therapy is due to the sharp increase in morbidity and mortality from cancer, as well as because of the fact that conventional chemo- and radiotherapy are often insufficiently effective owing to the development of tumor cells resistance. Plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPT) is a method based on tumor hyperthermia by laser heating of metal nanoparticles with plasmon resonance properties.

At present, the incidence of cancer tends to dramatically increase, and the existing advanced methods of cancer treatment are not always effective [1]. In addition, the disadvantages of the antitumor drugs used are their toxic effect made on the intact organs and tissues of the body, as well as the development of tumor resistance to them [2]. All this makes it necessary to search for new, safer and more effective drugs. In this case, plant-derived medicines have minimal side effects, so they are given special attention today.

Carriers based on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and cyanine dye are suitable for theranostic application in oncology, although care must be taken for selection of the surface coating material, UCNP surface charge, size, and dosage of the material. Investigation of influence of annealing temperature of particles on the upconversion luminescence properties and cytotoxic effect are relevant. The present work demonstrates the assessment of cytotoxicity UCNPs unannealed and annealed at 550 oC on different normal and cancer murine cell lines in vitro. The cell viability is scored for cytotoxic effects of UCNPs at dark conditions. UCNPs provide a dose-dependent and time-dependent cytotoxic effect on all studied cell lines which was most pronounced for the Raw264.7 cell line. It is probably caused by the high phagocytic activity of macrophages. The statistically significant differences in cell viability after 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation of cells with particles were observed just for the macrophage cell line. It is also worth noting that annealed particles are less toxic than unannealed ones.

The present work demonstrates the assessment of cytotoxicity upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) coated by SiO2 on different normal and cancer murine cell lines in vitro. The cell viability is scored for cytotoxic effects of UCNPs at dark conditions. UCNPs coated by silica shells provide a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on all studied cell lines which was most pronounced for the Raw264.7 cell line. It is probably caused by the high phagocytic activity of macrophages. The less sensitive cell line was 4T1. The statistically significant differences in cell viability after 24 and 48 h of incubation of cells with particles were observed just for the macrophage cell line. It is worth notifying that after 48 h of incubation the cytotoxic effect on Raw 264.7 cell line increased which shows a possible negative effect on some subpopulations on blood cells. The obtained results confirm a high sensitivity of the UCNPs to the concentration variations within cells. Carriers based on UCNPs and dyes are promising alternatives to photosensitizer for traditional photodynamic therapy and possess prominent potentials in biological and clinical applications.

Despite great advances in the treatment of cancer, the effectiveness of standard chemotherapy and radiation therapy for some malignant neoplasms remains insufficient. Plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPT) with plasmon resonance gold nanoparticles has been an intensively researched area in therapy in recent years [1, 2]. Successful PPT with nanoparticles for tumor treatment requires solving a number of problems associated with the potential toxicity and the bio-distribution of nanoparticles, including the development of the most efficient method of nanoparticle delivery, as well as optimization of their therapeutic protocol.

Urolithiasis is one of the most urgent problems of clinical urology. Currently, there is no consensus on the causes of stone formation, as well as the role of various factors in the development of urolithiasis, however, increasingly, according to various studies, the leading role is given to genetic causes. The article presents a modern review of data on genetic polymorphisms associated with ICD: rs1801197 and rs6776158 of the CASR gene; TaqI of the VDR gene; rs1801197 of the CALCR gene, rs3752472, rs650439, rs2853744 of the Klotho gene.

Предложено комбинированное использование иммерсионного агента с низкоинтенсивным лазерным облучением для оптического просветления кожи перед проведением процедуры плазмонной фототермической терапии (ПФТТ). Представлены пилотные результаты исследования влияния иммерсионных агентов на оптические параметры кожи, подкожной соединительной ткани и модельной опухоли у крыс in vivo при гипертермии в процессе ПФТТ. В качестве модельной опухоли использовалась модель альвеолярного рака печени --- холангиокарциномы, трансплантированной подкожно. Для проведения ПФТТ внутрь опухоли вводились золотые наностержни с полосой поглощения в области излучения диодного лазера (808 nm). Мониторинг изменения коэффициента ослабления света в коже при оптическом просветлении проводился с помощью оптической когерентной томографии. Измерения оптических параметров цельной опухоли и её слоёв проводились на спектрометрах в диапазоне длин волн 350-2200 nm. Получено снижение термического повреждения кожи при проведении ПФТТ с предварительным оптическим просветлением с помощью иммерсионного агента (смесь 70% водного раствора глицерина с 10% ДМСО) и низкоинтенсивного лазерного облучения на длине волны 808 nm. Ключевые слова: золотые наностержни, ИК лазерное излучение, оптическое просветление, оптические параметры, плазмонная фототермическая терапия.

The efficacy of antitumor efficacy and apoptosis induction in A498 human renal cell carcinoma observed when applying extracts of cruciferous herbal material (indole-3-carbinol), Chinese mushroom (cordycepin), and French red wine (resveratrol) at low concentrations after 24 and 48 h were compared in vitro in this study. Fluorescence methods were used for imaging apoptosis and necrosis in human tumor cells in vitro. Propidium iodide and acridine orange were chosen as dyes in the “live/dead” assay, which made it possible to identify the number of dead cells and cells with apoptosis initiated. It was found that indole-3-carbinol at low concentrations (0.0288 and 0.1152 mg/mL) displayed a pronounced cytotoxic and cytostatic activity against human kidney cancer cells, significantly exceeding that of resveratrol at the same concentrations. Meanwhile, cordycepin showed no cytotoxic or cytostatic activity at these concentrations. Indole-3-carbinol demonstrated the most pronounced apoptotic activity at concentrations of 0.0144–0.1152 mg/ml; in 48 h, the number of kidney cancer cells in apoptosis increased 6.8–10 times compared to the control group. It is concluded that indole-3-carbinol is a promising antitumor agent to use in the complex therapy of patients with kidney cancer.

We compared the effectiveness of antitumor effects and apoptosis induction on human renal cell carcinoma A498 extracts of cruciferous plant material (indole-3-carbinol), Chinese mushroom (cordycepin), French red wine (resveratrol) at low concentrations after 24 and 48 h using fluorescent methods of imaging apoptosis and necrosis in human tumor cells in vitro . Propidium iodide and acridine orange were used as dyes in the "alive and dead" test, which allowed us to detect the number of dead cells and cells in which apoptosis had started. It was found that indole-3-carbinol at low concentrations (0.0288 and 0.1152 mg/ml) has a pronounced cytotoxic and cytostatic activity against human kidney cancer cells, significantly exceeding the action of resveratrol at the same concentrations. At the same time, cordycepin has no cytotoxic and cytostatic activity at these concentrations. Indole-3-carbinol also has the most pronounced apoptotic activity at concentrations of 0.0144-0.1152 mg/ml, after 48 h the number of kidney cancer cells in apoptosis increases by 6.8-10 times compared to control. It is concluded that indole-3-carbinol is a promising antitumor agent for use in the complex therapy of patients with kidney cancer.

The quercetin content in aqueous EtOH extracts of covering leaves of anthocyanin Purple Saratov diploid variety of Zea mays L. grown under dry conditions reached 39.36 ± 0.41 mg/100 g of dry extract and significantly exceeded the value (26.03 ± 0.36 mg/100 g of dry extract) for maize grown under normal wetting conditions. The large amounts of polyphenolic compounds in anthocyanin Purple Saratov diploid variety showed good prospects for using it as a source of them.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors of plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPT) efficiency in rats with transplanted liver cancer on the basis of assessment of the degree of tumor vascularization. Before any exposure, rats with transplanted liver cancer PC-1 were subjected to Doppler ultrasonography to assess the degree of vascularization of transplanted tumors. Half of the animals with the transplanted tumors were withdrawn from the experiment after Doppler ultrasonography to determine the content of vascular factors in blood serum by enzyme immunoassay and in tumor tissue by immunohistochemical method. After three intravenous injections of polyethylene glycol-coated gold nanorods (GNRs) at a dose of 0.4 mq/mL, the transplanted tumors were irradiated percutaneously with infrared laser radiation at a wavelength of 808 nm, followed by thermography of local tumor heating. The animals were withdrawn from the experiment 24 h later, and tumor tissue samples were taken for histological examination. It is found that the accumulation of gold in the tumor tissue and the PPT efficiency at repeated intravenous GNR injections are determined by the presence of formed vasculature in the tumor.

Using fluorescence methods for visualizing apoptosis and necrosis in human tumor cells in vitro, we compared the efficacy of antitumor effects on human kidney carcinoma cells A498 flavonoid-containing extracts: Gratiola officinalis and green tea at ultra low concentrations after 24 and 48 h. Fluorescent dyes (propidium iodide and acridine orange) were used in the “living and dead test”, which made it possible to identify the total number of dead cells by necrosis and apoptosis, as well as cells in which apoptosis started, and apoptotic bodies or pycnosis of the nucleus were detected. Avrana extract possessed the most pronounced cytostatic activity 48 h after exposure, reducing the number of cells in the field of view by 1.5 times in comparison with the control. The most pronounced cytotoxic activity was possessed by green tea extract at a concentration of 0.0288 mg / ml, and its severity increased 48 h after exposure. Avran’s extract showed cytotoxic activity at lower concentrations (0.0036 mg / ml).

The tumor vascularization in rats with transplanted cholangiocarcinoma was assessed by US power Doppler before plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPT). For PPT, the multiple intravenous injections of PEG-coated gold nanorods and irradiation by 808-nm NIR diode laser were used. We have shown that gold nanoparticles accumulation in tumor and efficiency of PPT are associated with the degree of vascularization of a tumor.

Using fluorescence methods for visualization of human tumor cell apoptosis and necrosis in vitro, the antitumor effects of flavonoid-containingGratiola officinalisL. and green tea extracts at ultralow concentrations on A498 human kidney carcinoma cells after 24 and 48 h were compared. Fluorescent dyes (propidium iodide and acridine orange) were used in the "living and dead" test, which made it possible to identify the total number of cells that died by necrosis and apoptosis, as well as cells in which apoptosis has started and apoptotic bodies or pycnosis of the nucleus were detected.Gratiola officinalisL. extract had the most pronounced cytostatic activity 48 h after exposure; the number of cells per field of view decreased by a factor of 1.5 compared with the control. Green tea extract at a concentration of 0.0288 mg/mL had the most pronounced cytotoxic activity; its manifestation was growing 48 h after exposure.Gratiola officinalisL. extract exhibited cytotoxic activity at lower concentrations (0.0036 mg/mL).

Currently, the mortality rate in pediatric population resulted from such diseases as respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia and infections is extremely high. It cannot be ruled out that this is due to impaired functioning of the children's immune system. The thymus gland appears to be the central organ of immunopoiesis in children, that is why pediatricians pay special attention to thymic hyperplasia. To date, there is no consensus on the nature and clinical significance of the thymic enlargement. The aim of research was to study morphometric parameters of the thymus gland in children of the first year of life having thymic enlargement. Material and methods . To analyze the incidence of thymic enlargement in deceased children, the authors selected 764 autopsy protocols of children for the period from 2012 to 2017; of these, 117 were children who died in their first year of life. Autopsies were performed in Saratov Centralized Pediatric Prosectorium. The thymic enlargement in deceased children of the first year of life was detected in 34% (40 cases). Autopsy material of 32 children was selected (15 cases with and 17 cases without the thymic enlargement) for histological examination. The thymic index was calculated to specify correlation between the thymus mass and the age and body weight of a child. Morphometric studies were performed using an mVizo-103 microvisor. Results. As demonstrated, infectious diseases are a risk factor for the formation of thymomegaly in children of the first year of life. A morphological study detected that the thymic enlargement occurred mainly due to the enlargement of the cortical layer with the reduction of the lobule area. The lobule area in the studied group of children reduced by 15%, and the number of lobes bordering in the field of view increased by 50%, respectively to the similar parameters in children of the comparison group. Conclusion. Thus, infectious pathologies appear to be the most common cause of death in children with the thymic enlargement. The study results support the fact that histological signs of thymomegaly are the increased number of bordering thymic lobes in the field of view and the increased number of immature thymocytes.