Minocycline-induced hyperpigmentation is a rare but documented side effect of the drug. It has an approximate incidence of 3-15%.[1] Patients being treated with minocycline for rosacea have a 15% general incidence of developing hyperpigmentation. Patients treated with minocycline for acne have a lesser incidence of 3%.[1] While specific causation remains unconfirmed, there appears to be a strong correlation noted in the literature of dose-and durationdependent development.[1] There are three main types of minocycline-induced hyperpigmentation. Type I has been seen as early as a few weeks after initiation of minocycline treatment, whereas type II and III appear to develop after several months for cumulative doses of 70-100 grams. The patient may fit the classification of type II, which is often seen on healthy cutaneous tissue as brown-gray or blue-black coloration of shins, ankles and arms. Type II is thought to be due to minocycline or its oxidation products being deposited into insoluble complexes within the cutaneous tissue.[1] Discontinuation of minocycline usually results in resolution of hyperpigmentation in a few months.[1,2] Though rare, type III has been known to cause permanent changes.[2]

Discovery and development of new chemical compounds with putative anti-cancer properties requires reliable predictive preclinical models for in vitro screening of efficacy. Such models mainly include cultures of human cancer cells: two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems. In this review, we discuss the molecular aspects of cells cultured in 2D and 3D, and their relevance to cancer study, focusing on key examples from the recent literature. Advantages, disadvantages and perspectives of described models are also analyzed.

Morbid obesity is a distinct disorder which leads to metabolic disorders and to the development of many severe chronic diseases, therefore, the effective treatment of the disorder is an urgent problem of modern medicine. Currently, morbid obesity and the corresponding disorders are a growing problem associated with a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. The study was aimed to assess the morphological and functional changes in the stomach wall after gastroplication performed by the new method worked out in the Clinic of the Department of Surgical Diseases and New Technologies of the Bashkir State Medical University. Gastroplication was performed in 15 male rabbits of the Gray Giant breed aged 12–16 months weighting 3050–5380 g. The animals were withdrawn from the experiment 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, followed by histological examination of the stomach wall plicated section. Changes in the mucous membrane and the muscle layer of the stomach wall after gastroplication were adaptive and associated with no severe morphological impairment. That made it possible to use the method in clinical practice in 15 patients with morbid obesity, 9 women and 6 men aged 42 ± 2.1. In most patients (13 people, 86.7%), a steady decrease in the body weight was achieved during the first 2–12 months. Long-term treatment results had been tracked during two years. It has been confirmed, that the new laparoscopic gastroplication technique does not lead to pathological changes in the stomach wall plicated section, therefore, the simple and cost-effective method may be used in clinical practice for treatment of patients with morbid obesity.

This study was aimed at assessment of quality of life in hospitalized patients with exacerbation of moderate to severe asthma. Special questionnaires (AQLQ, SGRQ) were used for this purpose. All patients with asthma exacerbation had lower quality of life compared to health subjects. After treat ment, in 17-24 days, mean total scores were higher but scores of physical and psychological domains were lower than those in moderate asthma patients. Before discharge from the hospital, quality of life was inversely related to duration of disease. The study revealed that achieving a good con trol of asthma is associated not only to an improvement in asthma symptoms and the respiratory function but to significant increase in quality of life as well.