[Lipid peroxidation and enzymes of the antioxidant defense system in patients with bronchial asthma]

In 71 patient with bronchial asthma (BA), lipid peroxidation (LPO) was studied together with the condition of the antioxidant system (AOS) as related to the degree of severity of the illness, with results evaluated of conventional therapy versus complex treatment involving the use of cytochrome C. Established in the above series was intensification of LPO in the presence of inhibition of activity of SOD enzymes and catalase, their degree dependent on severity of the condition. Unlike basic therapy, employment of cytochrome C has been found to be associated with a more complete restoration of balance in the LPO/AOS system, especially so in steroid-independent form of BA.

[Use of cytochrome C in the prevention of myocardial reperfusion injury during heart valve prosthesis implantation under conditions of extracorporeal circulation]

Cytochrome C used at the postischemic period causes a rapid reestablishment of coronary circulation, hemodynamic parameters, prevents activation of lipid peroxidation in reoxygenation of the heart after prolonged total myocardial ischemia in patients with acute bacterial endocarditis in whom the prostheses of heart valves had been fulfilled. Parallel with the positive inotropic effect, Cytochrome C reduces the postloading and, as a result, transfers the cardiac muscle to a more profitable regimen. At the end of the myocardial ischemia period Cytochrome C provides rapid and effective recovery of the bioelectrical function of the heart, improves its pumping function, thus allowing the dose and duration of inotropic stimulation of the myocardium at the postischemic period to be reduced, lowers pulmonary resistance and finally leads to less postoperative intrahospital lethality from acute heart failure.

[Prevention of disorders of myocardial contractile function in patients with ischemic heart disease during aortocoronary shunting]

The efficacy of pre-, intra-, and postoperative prevention of hemodynamic disorders by creatinine phosphate, cytochrome C, and glutamic acid was evaluated in 61 coronary patients with decreased myocardial contractility. All these agents exerted a positive inotropic effect in coronary patients with ejection fraction below 0.4, increasing the stroke volume and left-ventricular ejection fraction without modifying heart rate. Glutamic acid is not recommended for preoperative treatment, because it increases oxygen consumption by the myocardium above the reserve potential of the coronary bed. Cytochrome C is the most effective drug for preoperative treatment. Intraoperative preischemic protection of the myocardium by cytochrome C in coronary patients during high risk operations prevents the development of unfavorable hemodynamic complications during induction and maintenance of anesthesia before artificial circulation, provides favorable recovery of cardiac activity, decreases the incidence of severe arrhythmias, promotes a rapid and full-value recovery of myocardial contractile function after ischemia, and decreases the incidence of acute heart failure.

[The effect of cytochrome c on the myocardium during reperfusion]

Experimental and clinical trials have shown high effectiveness of cytochrome c (0.5 mg/kg) in prevention of reperfusion myocardial disorders in cardiosurgical patients. Cytochrome c inhibits development of myocardial ischemic contracture, depression of coronary circulation, activation of lipid peroxidation. It reduces myocardial consumption of oxygen and promotes earlier restoration of fatty acids metabolism under lower glucose consumption by the heart muscle. By correction of myocardial metabolism, the drug suppresses fermentemia in early reperfusion.

[The subcellular pathophysiology of heart failure due to toxic-allergic myocarditis and the action of refracterin on intracardiac hemodynamics and the functional state of the 3 subcellular cardiomyocyte systems responsible for the act of contraction-relaxation]

It is shown that cardiotropic drug refracterin promotes recovery of cardiac contraction and relaxation, their coordination destroyed in cardiac failure (CF) caused by 10-day toxico-allergic myocarditis (TAM). Pumping capacity of the heart returns to normal after normalization of functional activity of three systems of cardiomyocyte responsible for contraction-relaxation: contractile proteins, energy supply and calcium transport. The key process is refracterin-related reestablishment of normal content and proportion of adenyl nucleotides and creatininephosphate and regulation role of phosphorylation and energy of metabolic processes in the cells and their interaction. Thus, refracterin effectiveness lies in its ability to interfere in intracellular metabolic processes in the myocardium, to reestablish normal homeostasis of the systems responsible for contraction-relaxation function and eventually to remove left ventricular cardiac dysfunction.

[Antihypoxants in emergency medicine]

Presents the results of many-year experimental studies, clinical trials, and medical use of drugs of a new pharmacological class: antihypoxants. Antihypoxants are perspective drugs of urgent medicine, which was demonstrated on various models (all types of hypoxia, myocardial, brain, renal, and liver ischemia, grave mechanical and thermal injuries, blood loss, etc.) and in patients with these states.

[Use of antihypoxants in the acute period of myocardial infarction]

A total of 620 patients with acute myocardial infarction were followed up in order to assess the efficacy of antihypoxants as a component of intensive care. 385 of these patients, divided into groups of 20-40 subjects, were administered one of 12 antihypoxants or sessions of hyperbaric oxygenation during the acute period of the disease, the rest were treated traditionally. Analysis of clinical, laboratory, and prognostic values showed the highest protective effect of amtizol, lithium hydroxybutyrate, piracetam, and ubiquinone. Cytochrome C, riboxine, mildronate, and olifen were somewhat less active, and solcoseryl, bemitil, trimethasidine, and aspisol were the least effective. The protective potentialities of standard sessions of hyperbaric oxygenation were virtually null. The author proposes a parameter D, reflecting the difference between actual and predicted mortality, and the rating (score) system for assessing the routine laboratory diagnostic tests to be used together with the known criteria for evaluation of the protective effects of antihypoxants in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

[The effect of fructose-1,6-diphosphate, cytochrome c and their combination on the size of the necrotic area in transient myocardial ischemia]

The effect of fructose-1, 6-diphosphate (200 mg/kg), cytochrome C (20 mg/kg) and their combinations on the size of the zone of necrosis 4 and 72 h after 15-min transitory myocardial ischemia was studied. Combination of the compounds under study inhibited considerably the development of post-occlusion and reperfusion arrhythmias and reduced the size of necrosis 4 h after their administration as prophylactic and arresting measures (to 23.8 +/- 2.9 and 29.3 +/- 3.6% of the ischemic zone, respectively, in 42.8 +/- 3.8% in the control). A combined course of cytochrome C and fructose diphosphate also limited the size of the necrotic zone 72 h after transitory ischemia. Separate single administration of fructose diphosphate and cytochrome C caused no essential changes in the size of myocardial necrosis recorded 72 h after transitory myocardial ischemia.

[The effect of cytochrome c preparations on the autoregulation of the cerebral blood flow in ischemia]

The effect of animal cytochrome C (Ca), biotechnological cytochrome (Cb) and its hemtetradecapeptide (HTDP) on cerebral blood flow autoregulation during rapid decrease of systemic arterial pressure (SAP) was studied in acute experiments on rats. Cytochrome C preparations caused no effect on the autoregulatory responses of the cerebral vessels in animals with normal cerebral circulation. Injection of 5 mg/kg Ca and Cb and 0.8 mg/kg HTDP promoted restoration of the phenomenon of cerebral blood flow autoregulation in ischemic brain damage in change of SAP from 120 to 60 mm Hg. Prophylactic injection of 20 mg/kg Ca and Cb and 3.3 mg/kg HTDP prevented cerebral blood flow autoregulation disturbance caused by transitory brain ischemia.

[The spectrum of the anti-ischemic activity of immobilized cytochrome c]

The antihypoxic, anti-ischemic and antianginal activity of biotechnological cytochrome c which had been immobilized on a dialdehydedextran and polyethyleneglycol carriers was studied in various experimental animals (mice, rats, rabbits). The immobilized cytochrome c exhibits higher antihypoxic and anti-ischemic activity on different models compared to cytochrome c.

[An experimental study on the treatment of fetal rabbits with intrauterine growth retardation]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of histocyte activators and vasodilators on the amino acids concentration in fetal rabbits with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).

METHODS

The rabbits with IUGR were caused by passive smoking and treated with histocyte activators (adenosine triphosphatase, coenzyme A, cytochrome C, and vasodilators (injectio salviac molfiorrhizae composita, anisodamine). The effects of different remedies on the fetal plasma amino acids' concentration and the fetal development (i.e. birth weight, the weights of fetal liver and fetal brain) were studied.

RESULTS

Both histocyte activators and vasodilators had favorable effects on the improvement of fetal development and the increase of fetal plasma amino acids' concentration. But the action of histocyte activators was stronger than vasodilators.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggested that vasodilators could improve the uterine-placental flow, and histocyte activators could enhance placental transfer of amino acids. But histocyte activators seem to be better than vasodilators.

[The effect of succinate combined with cytochrome C on postischemic disorders in the skeletal muscle of the extremities]

A combination of succinic acid and cytochrome c was studied for effects on skeletal muscle carbohydrate metabolism in the extremities of rats with experimental arterial occlusion. The administration of the agents into the ischemic area allowed the stores of glycogen and ATP to be preserved, by lowering the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase fraction V in the skeletal muscle of rats with extremity ischemia. The intraperitoneal administration of the agents produced no positive metabolic effect.

[The effect of cytochrome c preparations on the cerebral circulation in cerebral ischemia]

Biotechnological cytochrome c, heme-tetradecapeptide (HTDP) and animal cytochrome c were studied for their effects on intact and brain ischemic rats. In the latter case, the compounds were administered before ischemia induction and 15 min after artery ligation. It was found that the cytochrome c preparations did not virtually affect the cerebral circulation in intact rats. In cerebral ischemia, the cytochrome C preparations increased circulation, showing their more profound effects in case of preadministration of the drugs. The dose-independent effects of HTDP may be associated with the higher transmembranous permeability and the saturation phenomenon of this compound.

Bioactivation of free-fat transfers: a potential new approach to improving graft survival

A new approach to free-fat autotransplantation resorption was evaluated experimentally in a rat animal model. Bioactive fat grafts were created by the addition of basic fibroblast growth factor delivered by dextran beads to the grafts and compared with free fat alone, free fat plus beads, and free fat plus beads and a control solution in the same animal. The grafts were assessed by weight and histology at 1 and 12 months postoperatively in 40 animals. A graded response in weight retention was observed at 1 and 12 months, with the growth factor-treated grafts exhibiting near complete weight maintenance after 1 year. All other bead-containing grafts had an intermediate response, with free fat alone averaging more than one-half graft weight loss after 1 year. Histologically, the bead-containing grafts had good fibroblastic ingrowth, but extensive intercellular collagen formation and the occurrence of small-sized adipocytes among the larger adipocytes were seen only in the growth factor-treated grafts. These findings indicate that graft manipulations that affect the preadipocyte cells of the graft or fibroblastic components of the recipient site, either through polypeptide stimulation or surface charge attraction, may offer a viable approach to postoperative fat-graft volume maintenance.

[Relationship of antioxidant and anti-ischemic effects of various energy-yielding compounds]

Influence of fructose++-1,6-diphosphate, succinate, malate and cytochrome C on free lipid peroxidation (FLP), infarct sizes and metabolic acidosis was studied in experiments on rats. The good correlation between inhibition of FLP and cardioprotector activity was established for activators of glycolytic energy production only. Krebs' cycle metabolites limited the zone of myocardial necrosis after coronary occlusion without any significant depression of FLP. Succinate and malate were practically inactive under acute metabolic acidosis of isolated rat heart.

[Morphohistochemical appraisal of the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygenation, cytochrome c, and thymalin in the management of experimental gastric ulcers]

The authors studied the content of xanthine oxidase and the activity of the reparative process in the border of an acetate ulcer after Okabe in 48 rabbits before and during treatment by HBO, cytochrome c, and thymalin. In treatment by HBO and cytochrome c the activity of the enzyme was normalized rapidly, which coincided with cicatrization of the ulcer. In treatment with thymalin xanthinE oxidase activity was not normalized in this period and mucosal inflammation persisted in the zone of ulcer cicatrization.

Anti-oxidant capacity of spinal cord and erythrocytes of guinea pigs in case of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and after disease suppression

In the lumbar spinal cord of EAE guinea pigs a significant increase in SOD activity, lipid hydroperoxides content (more than 60%) and Fe2(+)-ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation was observed. Multiple injections of cytochrome C-vitamin B2-vitamin PP (CV-combination) during the disease latent period resulted in suppression of EAE development. Supplementation with vitamin C, vitamin B12 or ATP eliminated this suppressive effect. Upon treatment with CV-combination beginning on the day of the first EAE clinical signs a half of the sick animals recovered. In their erythrocytes the ratio between SOD and catalase activities was normalized, though on a higher level. In the lumbar spinal cord the concentration of lipid hydroperoxides was decreased to the control one. Oxidative damage of the central nervous system is one of the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of lethal EAE.

[Cytochrome-C in the treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarct]

Sixty-eight patients with acute macrofocal myocardial infarction were subdivided in two groups depending on the kind of treatment: routine (nitrates, beta-blocking agents, calcium antagonists) and cytochrom-C. It was found that cytochrom-C produced a positive effect on the indices of myoglobin and cardiac fractions of lactatedehydrogenase-1 and lactatedehydrogenase-2. It is shown that inclusion of cytochrom-C during the first hours of treatment of patients with macrofocal myocardial infarction resulted in an improvement of tissue breathing and amelioration of the peri-infarction zone state.

Treatment of spinal cord-induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat with liposomes presenting central nervous system antigens

Chronic-relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (CR-EAE) in the Lewis rat, induced by the injection of spinal cord tissue in complete Freund's adjuvant (SC/CFA), was studied in vivo by treatment with liposomes containing central nervous tissue antigens, and in vitro by lymphocyte proliferation assays. Intracardiac administration of myelin basic protein (MBP) liposomes, galactocerebroside (GC) liposomes, or MBP + GC liposomes substantially reduced the clinical severity and/or delayed the onset of the initial phase of disease. Liposomes prepared from whole myelin provided even greater protection, and were effective at suppressing both the first disease episode and the relapses. These results indicate that while GC and MBP may play significant roles in the development of CR-EAE in the Lewis rat, immune responses to other antigens are probably also involved. Splenic and lymph node lymphocytes from MBP-GC liposome-treated rats, and splenic lymphocytes from cytochrome-GC (CYT-GC) liposome-treated rats, showed drastically reduced abilities to proliferate in response to MBP in culture. Spleen cells from both the MBP-GC- and CYT-GC-liposome-treated donors were able to actively suppress antigen-induced proliferation of MBP-primed lymphocytes. These findings suggest participation of both clonal anergy, and active suppressor cells in the liposome-mediated suppression of CR-EAE in the Lewis rat.

[A preclinical evaluation of the antianginal activity of energy metabolism intermediates]

In acute experiments on dogs and cats with occlusion of the coronary arteries the antianginal activities of malate (100 mg/kg) and NAD (0.2 mg/kg) were studied. The drugs were found to increase the collateral blood flow and the contractile activity of the myocardium against the background of a moderate rise of the heart oxygen consumption and to normalize the systemic hemodynamics parameters.

Changes of myocardial functions in acute hepatic porphyrias. Role of heme arginate administration

In three patients with attacks of acute intermittent porphyria we found markedly impaired functions of the left ventricle accompanied by ECG changes that returned to normal after administration of heme arginate or cytochrome C administration. In nine patients with other types of porphyria, and in one patient with acute intermittent porphyria not suffering an attack, no significant changes of left ventricle function were observed. The changes seen in patients with an acute attack may be ascribed to acute myocardial hypoxia resulting from defective biosynthesis of heme. We assume that the exogenous supply of heme may improve cellular hypoxia.

[Intracellular mechanisms of the effect of cytochrome C on various areas of the myocardium during the dynamic development of an experimental infarct]

The effectiveness of the drug was shown to depend on the number of reversibly damaged cells. The intracellular mechanisms of cytochrome C effect are thought to be related to both the possibility of its permeation through the changed cell membrane of a cardiomyocyte and the action of the drug directly on sarcolemma. Predominantly in the early periods of the study one could note a marked preservation of the ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes, a decrease of degradation of adenine nucleotides and cytochrome aa3 and in the long run limitation of the sizes of necrosis zone.

[Type-II alveolocytes in the treatment of the pulmonary form of oxygen poisoning (electron microscopic and morphometric research)]

The effect of cytochrome C, thymalin and their combination has been studied concerning morphofunctional state of alveolocytes of the II type (A II) in the lungs of 33 non-inbred white rats at the pulmonary form of oxygen poisoning. The phenomenon develops, when the animals are in pure oxygen under pressure of 0.25 MPa for 10 h. The ultrastructural stereological analysis demonstrates that after exposure of the mice in the barochamber, immediately after decompression and during the 1st and the 3d day in the animals not given the pharmacological preparations in the A II diffuse and local edema develops in hyaloplasm, certain changes develop in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Comparing to intact animals, a relative volume of the lamellar bodies decreases nearly two times, the volume of mitochondria increases by 1.5 times, amount of A II drops. While treating the pulmonary form of oxygen poisoning with cytochrome C or thymalin, in 3 days after beginning to administer the preparations, the relative volume of the lamellar bodies increase by 1.5 times in comparison with those in the group of untreated animals, and at the combined administration-by 2.5 times. This demonstrates stimulation of the pulmonary surfactant synthesis. When the preparations are applied together, by the 3d day the relative volume of mitochondria and amount of A II do not differ from the corresponding indices in intact animals.

[Effect of polypeptides isolated from the heart on the course of experimental myocardial infarct]

Polypeptides excreted from the heart have been shown to exert a positive influence on myocardial infarction caused by izadrin injection in experimental rats.

The effects of cytochrome C on the extent of myocardial infarction and regional function of the ischemic myocardium

The effects of cytochrome C, an electron carrier in the process of oxidative phosphorylation, on infarct size and regional left ventricular function after a coronary artery occlusion were investigated. Thus, in 30 dogs, 1 minute after left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion, 99mTc-labeled albumin microspheres (8 mCi) were injected into the left atrium for subsequent assessment of the hypoperfused zone, that is, the area at risk of infarction. Fifteen minutes after coronary artery occlusion, dogs were randomized into a control group (n = 15) and a cytochrome C-treated group (n = 15). The latter immediately received cytochrome C, 2.5 mg/kg intravenously. Six hours after coronary artery occlusion the dogs were sacrificed and their left ventricles were cut into 3 mm thick slices. Infarct size was determined by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and measured by planimetry. The same slices were then submitted to autoradiography and the hypoperfused zone was then measured by planimetry. The hypoperfused zone was 22 +/- 2% and 23 +/- 2% of the left ventricle in the control and treated groups, respectively (NS), indicating that the extent of myocardium at risk before treatment was similar. The extent of the hypoperfused zone which evolved to necrosis was 90 +/- 3% in the control group but only 50 +/- 7% in the treated group (p less than 0.001). Myocardial salvage in the treated group was paralleled by improvement in systolic wall thickness of the ischemic segment as measured by two-dimensional echocardiography. Thus, cytochrome C reduced the extent of myocardial necrosis by 44% and improved systolic function of the ischemic myocardium.

[Pharmacological activity of cytochrome C]

Cytochrome C (a single dose range of 1-200 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) does not possess the antihypoxic activity (altitude chamber, methemoglobinemia, circulatory hypoxia), decreases (in a dose of 50 mg/kg) diuresis in rats modifying diversely (depending on the dose used) the hypnotic effects of general anesthetics and the convulsant activity of corazol and arecoline.

Histological evidence for rescue of radiation dermatitis in an ultraviolet model system

Rescue of acute radiation dermatitis has already been shown feasible with cytochrome c(Sci. Rep. Res. Inst. Tohoku Univ.-C 29: 1, 1982). Interest in the probable reduction of inflammatory sequelae led to histological studies in an ultraviolet model system in the rabbit. The relative dermal thickness in the field of ultraviolet irradiation was 1.70 +/- 0.30 (5) in the untreated control and 1.31 +/- 0.07 (5) in the cytochrome c group respectively (p less than 0.05). Usefulness of the principle cannot be overemphasized in the strategies of radiotherapy, and in the treatment and/or prevention of actinic radiation dermatitis.

[Clinical death-cap (Amanita phalloides) poisoning: prognostic factors and therapeutic measures. Analysis of 205 cases]

205 cases of clinical poisoning with the mushroom Amanita phalloides (death cap) in the period 1971 to 1980 have been studied retrospectively. The lethality was 22.4%. Age and latency between the ingestion of the mushrooms and the first clinical symptoms were of prognostic significance. The death rate was 51.3% in children below 10 years of age but only 16.5% in patients older than 10 years. The average latency period was 10.3 hours for the fatal cases and 12.6 hours for the surviving patients. Country, year, sex and time of hospitalization did not influence lethality. Prognostic relevance could also be attributed to the thromboplastin time (Quick). 84% of the patients with values below 10% died, while all patients with minimal values of more than 40% survived. The correlation with the outcome was weaker for the serum transaminases and nil for creatinine. The patients underwent on the average 8 therapeutic measures, but up to 20 therapies could be administered to the same patient. Eight of the 30 recorded treatments involved general support, 7 toxin elimination and the remaining 14 could be classified as pharmacotherapy. With the aid of multiple regression analysis taking into account age, latency period and the effects of all the other measures, penicillin and hyperbaric oxygenation were found to contribute independently to a higher survival rate. As compared to penicillin, the combination of penicillin with silybin was associated with still further increased survival. On the other hand, several measures, including exchange transfusion, thiocytic acid, sulfamethoxazole, plasma expanders, haemodialysis, treatment of the hemorrhagic diathesis and THAM/sodium bicarbonate were administered more often to patients who did not survive. For the remaining 20 therapeutic measures our analysis revealed neither a positive nor a negative correlation with the clinical outcome.

[Oxidative phosphorylation of Krebs cycle substrates in experimental treatment of enterocolitis with cytochrome c]

After administration of exogenous cytochrome c into rats with enterocolitis, caused by salmonellae, tissue respiration and oxidative phosphorylation in presence of succinic, alpha-ketoglutaric, pyruvic and oxaloacetic acids were increased in the liver tissue. Treatment with cytochrome c produced a positive effect on the general state of an organism, led to disappearance of macroscopic alterations in mucosa of small intestine. The data obtained suggest that cytochrome c possesses the positive therapeutic effects in enterocolitis caused by salmonellae.

[Experimental basis for the therapy of Amanita phalloides poisoning]

The experimental basis for the treatment of death-cap poisoning is reviewed. The available data suggest penicillin and silymarin as the antidotes most likely to be effective. Measures to increase the elimination of the toxins appear to be warranted.

[Cytochrome content in the liver of rabbits in chronic carbon tetrachloride poisoning after perenteral administration of exogenous cytochrome C]

Administration of exogenous cytochrome C to rats poisoned with CCl4 prevented reduction of the cytochrome C content in the homogenates, and of cytochromes a+a3, b and c+c1 in the hepatic mitochondria; it also promoted the normalization of the histostructure of the organ.

Antagonistic effects against single lethal doses of Amanita phalloides

Agents with antagonistic effects against phalloidin or alpha-amanitin were tested in mice against lethal doses of an extract from the whole mushroom Amanita phalloides. The following categories of agents reduced lethality after the extract. First, agents protecting only against phalloidin such as rifampicin, phenylbutazone and antamanide. Second, silymarin and prednisolone which display both antiamatoxic and marked (silymarin) or moderate (prednisolone) anti-phallotoxic acitivty. Thioctic acid displayed some activity when tested against mid-lethal doses of the extract. Cytochrome c, a chemical with curative potencies against alpha-amanitin did not reduce the lethality of the exact. All of the effective agents acted only when applied prior to the poisoning. The pattern or protective activity would indicate that in mice death after single doses of Amanita phalloides may follow a qualitatively particular couse which is difficult to ascribe to phallo- or amatoxic effects alone.