Study of the post-natal effects of chemopreventive agents on ethylnitrosourea-induced transplacental carcinogenesis in rats. II. Influence of low-molecular-weight polypeptide factors from the thymus, pineal gland, bone marrow, anterior hypothalamus, brain cortex and brain white substance

The influence of the polypeptide factors extracted from thymus, pineal gland, bone marrow, anterior hypothalamus, brain cortex or brain white substance on N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced transplacental carcinogenesis was studied in rats. ENU was given to pregnant rats as a single i.v. exposure at a dose of 75 mg/kg body weight on the 21st day of gestation. The polypeptide factors were given to the offspring as a series of s.c. injections, at a dose of 0.5 mg/rat/day, starting at one or 2.5 months of age and continuing throughout the whole of post-natal life. ENU induced tumors of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and kidneys in 94-98% of the offspring exposed to the carcinogen, with an average number of 2.3-2.6 tumors per rat, and an average survival time of 294 days. Post-natal thymus factor or pineal gland factor administration was followed by an increase in mean lifespan of approximately 2 months and a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the total tumor number per tumor-bearing rat, as well as the incidence and multiplicity of spinal cord tumors. Pineal gland factor also decreased the incidence of peripheral nerve and kidney tumors and their number per tumor-bearing rat. Brain cortex factor and brain white substance factor treatment was followed by a decrease in total tumor multiplicity of 1.2- to 3.3-fold, and a decrease in incidence of brain tumors of 10 to 33% per rat in comparison to the controls. Brain cortex factor also decreased the total tumor incidence. At the same time, brain white substance factor administration increased the incidence of peripheral nerve tumors and decreased the mean lifespan. Both bone marrow factor and anterior hypothalamus factor did not have any modifying effects on any of the ENU-induced tumors and mean lifespan. Thus, our results show the possibility of attenuation of transplacental ENU-induced carcinogenesis with post-natal administration of some polypeptide substances.

Spontaneous luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of thrombocytes increases in hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

Spontaneous luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) of thrombocytes was studied in 12 patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Puumala virus. CL in the acute phase of HFRS (median, 61 mV/10 sec; range, 22-91) was higher than that of healthy controls (median, 22 mV/10 sec; range, 18-29; P < 0.01) and patients with acute hepatitis B infection accompanied by thrombocytopenia (median, 33 mV/10 sec; range, 13-45; P < 0.01). CL of thrombocytes in the convalescence phase of HFRS (median, 31 mV/10 sec; range, 12-80) was significantly lower than that during the acute phase (P < 0.01). Neither was there a difference in CL response between HFRS patients with or without thrombocytopenia, but both groups produced a higher CL response than that of the control groups. Both the complement-containing and complement-free sera from acute HFRS patients (final dilutions: range 1:10-1:2560) exhibited no effect on CL response of normal thrombocytes. A possible role of increased oxygen radicals production by thrombocytes in pathogenesis of HFRS is discussed.

Neurological manifestations of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome caused by Puumala virus: review of 811 cases

Eight-hundred eleven case records of patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Puumala virus were reviewed, and particular attention was given to data regarding severe neurological manifestations. The most common symptoms were headache (97%), blurred vision (40%), and vomiting (31%); 27% of the patients had all three. Nine patients (1%) had severe neurological manifestations: meningism and cerebral hemorrhage occurred during the first week of illness, whereas epileptiform seizures and urinary bladder paralysis developed during the second week. In terms of the severity of renal failure, as evidenced by maximum serum creatinine levels, there was no difference between patients with or without severe neurological conditions. There was one fatal case due to cerebral hemorrhage; the other patients with severe neurological manifestations clinically recovered and did not have any neurological signs during 6 months of follow-up. HERS caused by Puumala virus, or a variant of it, may be associated with severe, potentially life-threatening neurological complications.

Impaired neutrophil function in the cutaneous form of anthrax

Spontaneous and Bacillus anthracis induced luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of neutrophils was studied in six patients with the cutaneous form of anthrax. Spontaneous chemiluminescence in anthrax was decreased compared to the healthy controls (p < 0.05). B. anthracis, opsonized by complement-containing sera from patients, induced chemiluminescence in neutrophils from control donors but not from patients. B. anthracis, opsonized by complement-free sera from the patients, did not cause an increase in chemiluminescence response in either the patient or the control neutrophils. Also, B. anthracis, opsonized with normal sera and nonopsonized, did not induce chemiluminescence in either patient or control neutrophils. It was concluded that oxidative metabolism by neutrophils is impaired in anthrax, whereas the functional capacity of antibodies seems to be unaffected.

[Reaferon in the treatment of hemorrhagic fever with the renal syndrome]

Ninety six patients with hemorrhagic fever and the renal syndrome were followed up. Reaferon was included into the complex therapy of 57 cases. The drug was administered intramuscularly in a dose of 2 x 10(6) IU twice a day for 5 days. The use of reaferon in the complex therapy resulted in a decrease in the period of the general intoxication by 3.4 +/- 1.3 days. The use of the drug at the initial stages prevented acute renal failure. When reaferon was used at the stage of oliguria, the level of proteinuria and the risk of the further affection of the kidneys lowered. After the completion of the treatment course with the use of reaferon, a significant increase in the content of the T-helper cells was observed which could be indicative of an activation of the mechanisms providing the immunity development and pathogen elimination. Reaferon promoted a decrease in the concentration of the circulating immune complexes of the blood serum. No significant adverse reactions to the use of reaferon were recorded. The results are in favour of the reaferon use in complex therapy of patients with hemorrhagic fever and the renal syndrome, especially at the initial stages until the syndrome of acute renal failure developed.

A case of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome complicated by spleen haemorrhage

A case of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) complicated by spleen haemorrhage is described. The patient developed progressive anaemia, hypotension and signs of preshock. Computerized tomography demonstrated extensive haematoma in the spleen and splenectomy was performed. This case confirms previous reports that HFRS caused by Puumala virus may be associated with severe haemorrhagic manifestations.

[The diagnostic value of different test systems for the screening determination of antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus]

Evaluation of the quality of enzyme immunoassay (EIA) systems by their sensitivity and specificity is inadequate, mainly due to the impossibility of detecting early or latent HIV infection in humans as it manifests by seroconversion only to a few HIV proteins. The additional evaluation criterion (confirmation rate) has been introduced, and an original method for the integral evaluation of the quality of assay systems intended for the diagnosis of HIV infection by EIA techniques has been proposed.

[The use of DNA polymerase from Thermus thermophilus]

National DNA polymerase from Thermus thermophilus was used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The synthetic oligonucleotides (primers) to the basic structural HIV genes GAG, ENV, the genome DNA of donor peripheral blood lymphocytes were used, and the controls included the plasmid DNA with cloned HIV genome and the genome DNA of peripheral blood lymphocytes from HIV-infected persons confirmed by ELISA and Western blot analysis. The PCR technique and evaluation of the obtained results are described. The expediency of using PCR for different contingents is discussed.

[The status of immunity in the victims of industrial catastrophes and natural disasters]

The influence of industrial catastrophes or calamities upon human organism is accompanied by the affection of the immunity system. The structure and manifestations of immunity disorders depend on nature of the disturbing factors in every concrete catastrophe. The affections of the immunity system may lead to the formation of secondary immunodeficiency which will require additional medical assistance.

[The correction of secondary radiation-induced immunodeficiencies]

The influence of the ionizing radiation upon the human organism is accompanied by the formation of the secondary radiative immunodeficiencies, which can be treated with the help of immunomodulating preparations of microbiotic, animal and plant origin, as well as compounds obtained by chemical synthesis. The comparative analysis of the various immunomodulators has shown that the peptide preparations of thymos and bone marrow, referred to the cytomedinum class (thymalinum, thymogenum, haemalinum) were most perspective for the correction of the secondary radiative immunodeficiencies. The scheme of thymalinum application in the treatment of radioactive affections of immune system is enclosed.

[The effect of thymalin on biochemical and immunological indices of lymphocyte differentiation and functional activity]

Polypeptide preparation thymalin obtained from thymus was found to normalize the LDH isoenzyme spectrum and cyclase system in lymphocytes of patients. Thymalin contributed also to expression of differentiation antigens on T-lymphocytes surface. As a result of this functional activity of T-lymphocytes was restored, which correlated with improvement of the patients clinical state. Biochemical and immunological patterns of lymphocytes differentiation may be used both in diagnosis and control of treatment efficiency in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

[Regulating properties of peptides of the thymus and bursa of Fabricius in immunodepression in birds]

The intensity of nucleic acids and protein synthesis in the cells of the thymus and the bursa of Fabricius was studied in chickens against the background of an immunodepression induced by administration of hydrocortisone and cyclophosphamide. It was found out that hydrocortisone causes in chicken a marked lowering of the intensity of inclusion of 3H-thymidine, 3H-uridine and 14C-glycine in thymic cells, and cyclophosphamide--in the cells of the bursa of Fabricius. Under the conditions of selective immunodepression the preparations on the basis of the peptides of the thymus (thymalin) and of the bursa of Fabricius (bursilin) regulate the processes of nucleic acids and protein synthesis chiefly in the cells of organs which produce them.

Effect of low-molecular-weight factors of thymus and pineal gland on life span and spontaneous tumour development in female mice of different age

Female SHR mice, aged 3.5 or 12 months, were exposed monthly to 5-day long courses of subcutaneous injections of 0.1 mg thymus-derived or pineal gland-derived polypeptide factors (TF and PF, respectively) or 0.9% sodium chloride solution (control). PF treatment increased life span of both young and middle-aged mice by 20% and 17%, respectively, and TF increased the life span only in young mice. Both factors when administered to young mice caused a decrease in both overall tumour incidence and incidence of mammary adenocarcinomas (TF, 1.8-fold decrease; PF, 2.6-fold decrease). TF administration to mature mice did not produce any antitumour effect, whereas PF possessed certain anti-tumour activity, but the response was far less pronounced than in young animals. The results obtained give additional evidence of the geroprotective and anti-tumour effect of thymus and pineal gland-derived peptide factors. The mechanisms of action of TF and PF and perspectives of clinical use of these agents as geroprotectors are discussed.

[Treatment of deep burns and frostbite of the hand and fingers]

Under observation there were 186 patients with thermal burns and 59 patients with frostbites of hands and fingers. Free skin plasty with a splitted autotransplant was used in 29 patients. Plasty on a temporary feeding pedicle was used in 39 patients. Better results were obtained in remote terms in patients after non-free dermoplasty. In patients with burns and frostbites of the IVth degree no labour rehabilitation was achieved.