Vitamin A Reduces the Mortality of Animals with Induced Liver Fibrosis by Providing a Multi-level Body Defense System

Background

Liver diseases remain the most important medical and biological problem. Works devoted to the study of the vitamin A role have shown conflicting results of its effect on the fibrosis development. We tested the hypothesis that an increase of the copper content in the liver, an example of which is Wilson's disease, shifts the balance in the redox system towards pro-oxidants, which leads to the antioxidant systems inhibition, including a decrease in the vitamin A content; this affects the levels of liver function regulation and the development of fibrosis.

Methods

In animals with Cu-induced liver fibrosis, neutrophil activity, the immunocompetent cells content, the activity of alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamylaminotransferase, the content of urea and creatinine in blood serum, as well as the vitamin A content in the liver, copper ions and its regenerative potential were determined.

Results

It was found that three consecutive injections of copper sulfate to animals with an interval of 48 h between injections led to the death of 40% of the animals, and 60% showed resistance. The content of vitamin A in "resistant" animals at the beginning of the development of the fibrosis was reduced by 4 times compared to the control, the functional activity of the liver was somewhat reduced, and a connective tissue capsule was formed around the liver lobes in 75% of the animals. If animals with the initial stage of liver fibrosis received daily vitamin A at a dose of 300 IU/100 g of body weight, which was accompanied by its multiple increase in the liver (15 times on day 14), the mortality of animals decreased by almost 7 times, the functional activity of the liver did not differ from control. In the blood of these animals, the number of leukocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes was increased and phagocytic activity was increased. At the same time, the connective tissue capsule was developed more intensively than in animals receiving only copper sulfate, and was detected in 91% of the animals. Fragments of the liver, even more than in the case of fibrosis, lost the ability to regenerate in culture.

Conclusion

We came to the conclusion that vitamin A leads to the connective tissue "specialization" formation of the liver and triggers vicious circles of metabolism and includes several levels of regulation systems. Further studies of the vitamin A effect mechanisms on the liver with fibrosis will allow the use of this antioxidant in the treatment.

[The age-related characteristics of the immune reaction of the mucosa of the gastric antrum in chronic gastritis]

Stomach biopsies from 16 adult patients at the age from 18 to 55 years, 16 adults of 56-68 years and 23 children were studied histologically, immunohistochemically and morphometrically. The frequency of Helicobacter pylori findings was dependent on the age. Local production of IgM and IgG was higher in the adults of young and mature age. Number of IgA producing cells decreased and that of IgG producing cells sharply increased in the aged persons; in this category also was increased the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and of T-lymphocytes relating to the subpopulation of suppressor cytotoxic cells.

Immunomorphogenesis in Degenerative Disc Disease: The Role of Proinflammatory Cytokines and Angiogenesis Factors

Back pain (BP) due to degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a severe, often disabling condition. The aim of this study was to determine the association between the expression level of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17), angiogenesis markers (VEGF-A and CD31) in intervertebral disc (IVD) tissue and IVD degeneration in young people with discogenic BP. In patients who underwent discectomy for a disc herniation, a clinical examination, magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine, histological and immunohistochemical analyses of these factors in IVD were performed in comparison with the parameters of healthy group samples (controls). Histology image analysis of IVD fragments of the DDD group detected zones of inflammatory infiltration, combined with vascularization, the presence of granulation tissue and clusters of chondrocytes in the tissue of nucleus pulposus (NP). Statistically significant increased expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, VEGF-A and CD31 was evident in the samples of the DDD group compared with the controls, that showed a strong correlation with the histological disc degeneration stage. Our results denote an immunoinflammatory potential of chondrocytes and demonstrates their altered morphogenetic properties, also NP cells may trigger the angiogenesis.

[Pathomorphology of the large intestinal mucosa in acute infectious colitis]

634 biopsies of distal colon mucosa from 393 patients with acute intestinal bacterial and viral infections were studied histologically, histochemically and morphometrically. Acute catarrhal or catarrhal-hemorrhagic inflammation was found regardless of the colitis etiology (Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, rotavirus). The most pronounced inflammation was in shigellosis and minimal one in rotavirus infection. Marked eosinophilic infiltration of the epithelium and tunica propria was observed in colonic contamination with C. pylori. Correlation analysis between morphometric indices in shigellosis and salmonellosis revealed a decrease in the number of strong functional links and the appearance of new ones indicating morphofunctional derangement.

[Clinico-endoscopic and morphometric characteristics of gastric and duodenal mucosa in children with dermatomyositis]

A total of 53 patients with dermatomyositis aged 4-14 with the disease duration of three months to eight years were under observation. Twenty seven patients complained of stomach-ache, II felt pain during palpation, 30 lost appetite. Electrogastrography revealed disorders in bioelectric activity of the stomach muscles in 99.9% of the patients. Endoscopic studies revealed lesions in the stomach and duodenum in all the patients, in 39 of them gastroduodenitis in the stage of exacerbation was diagnosed, in 7 erosion, in 3 peptic and duodenal ulcer. In 81.3% of the children during clinico-laboratory remission of dermatomyositis gastroduodenitis persisted at the stage of exacerbation. The vessels lying in the mucosa of the antral area of the stomach and duodenum underwent peculiar changes: arterial walls looked thickened, nuclei of the endothelial cells were enlarged, rounded up. One could observe infiltrates around the vessels consisting mainly of lymphocytes. Morphometric indices of the mucosa were also different in the antral area of the stomach and duodenum. Apparently, changes revealed in the gastric and duodenal mucosa of children with dermatomyositis occur due to vascular processes developing as a result of the main disease. This should be taken into consideration in the treatment of such children.

[Age-related features of inflammatory and immune responses of the gastric mucosa in women with chronic gastritis]

The paper presents the results of studies of the specific features of an inflammatory reaction of the mucosa in the gastric body and antrum in chronic gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori (HP) in females of reproductive age and in menopause. In the gastric body, there were prevalent chronic inflammatory processes with developed mononuclear infiltration in reproductive females whereas there were predominant elements of exudative and destructive inflammation in older females. The antral mucosa of young females showed predominantly destructive changes. The magnitude of HP seeding in the superficial and fossular mucosa was much higher both in the fundum and antrum in menopausal than reproductive females. There was great differences in the nature of inflammatory and immune reactions in either females with HP-associated chronic gastritis.

[The results of a morphological study of the gastric and duodenal mucosae in patients with vibration-induced disease]

AIM

Morphological study of gastric and duodenal mucosa in patients with vibration disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

64 patients with vibration disease stage I and II were examined endoscopically, histologically, bacterioscopically and morphometrically irrespective of the presence or absence of gastrointestinal complaints.

RESULTS

Erosive gastroduodenitis, non-erosive gastroduodenitis and gastritis, polyps in the stomach and gastric ulcer were diagnosed in 19(29.7%), 40(62.5%), 2(3.2%) and 1(1.6%) patients, respectively. Small intestinal metaplasia occurred in 22% of patients. Helicobacter pylori occurred most frequently in the antral part of the stomach (90.24%). Advanced dissemination often combined with metaplasia of the small bowel. Morphometrically, there were slight differences from relevant values in patients with chronic gastroduodenitis who were not exposed to occupational hazards. Vibration disease patients exhibited impairment of duodenal vessels (large endothelial nuclei, thick arteriolar walls) 2 times more frequently than controls.

CONCLUSION

In vibration disease, gastric and duodenal mucosa, as a rule, shows signs of chronic gastroduodenitis.

[A clinical case of visceral toxocariasis as a cause of eosinophilic polyserositis]

The aim of the present report is to describe a clinical case of toxocariasis. 37-year - old man was admitted to Pirogov Municipal Clinical Hospital No.1 in Moscow. He was presented with intense generalized abdominal pain. Three months before the described hospitalization, the patient had acute bronchitis, then pneumonia. During the examination there were found hyperthermia, ascites, shortness of breath, sweating, hypereosinophilia. Patient lost 8 kilos over the last 6 months. There were arisen many hypotheses, however, after a more detailed survey about patient's life it turned out that he travelled a lot. So that the parasitosis became the main conjecture, which later was confirmed by serological tests.

[Problems of androgen deficiency associated with somatic diseases in vibration disease patients]

The article deals with new scientific data on influence of industrial vibration on prevalence of androgen deficiency in vibration disease pateints, correlation between androgen deficiency level and general somatic diseases in vibration disease patients, criteria of early diagnosis of the combined pathology.

[Immunity indices during the vaccinal therapy of protracted forms of dysentery in children]

The results obtained in the study of the dynamics of systemic and local immunity characteristics in children with prolonged and chronic dysentery under the influence of vaccinal therapy are presented. The vaccine, containing soluble antigenic complexes isolated from Shigella sonnei cells by disintegration with hydroxylamine, was introduced intrarectally in doses of 2-4 mg. The course of treatment consisted of 5-6 administrations. The vaccinal therapy resulted in an increase in the level of immunoglobulins and the titer of specific antibodies, particularly IgA, in sera and fecal filtrates. These data coincided with an increase in the number of IgA-producing cells in bioptic samples of the mucous membrane of the large intestine. The vaccinal therapy contributed to the cessation of the release of bacteria in 82.5% of the patients.

[The morphometric and immunohistochemical characteristics of the gastric and duodenal mucosa in systemic lupus erythematosus]

Histological, morphometric, and immunohistochemical studies of biopsy specimens from the mucosa of the body and antral portion of the stomach, the bulb and descending portion of the duodenum were performed in 27 children with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) and in 12 with chronic gastroduodenitis. The inflammatory infiltrate from SLE patients was found to contain higher levels of young and mature fibroblasts than that from patients with chronic gastroduodenitis, mature fibroblasts being prevalent. The inflammatory changes in the gastric and duodenal mucosa were ascertained to be associated with the progression of SLE. In exacerbation of SLE, the walls of vessels (arterioles) exhibited immune complexes classified mainly as IgG and, to a lesser degree, as IgM. In remission, the luminescence of the vessels decreased. The serum level of immunoglobins did not correlate with their regional production in the gastric and duodenal mucosa.

[Morphometrics and immunohistochemical characteristics of chronic gastroduodenitis in adolescents]

Mucous membrane of the antral region of the stomach and that of duodenum were studied in 36 teenagers, 21 of them had erosions revealed endoscopically and histologically. Morphometric indices of the inflammation were more pronounced when erosions were present; the latter did not influence the local production of IgA, IgM and IgG. The content of IgG was particularly high. Contamination with Helicobacter pylori was found in all cases and was more pronounced in erosive gastroduodenitis. High frequency of lymphoid follicles formation was found, particularly in the antrum.

[Hormonal and metabolic disorders in machinery construction workers]

The article presents study results that demonstrate biochemical and neurohumoral disorders in machinery construction workers. The authors defined characteristics of changed functional state of adrenocorticotropic and luteotropic regulation, that is presented in central and peripheral endocrine system divisions.

Emotional personality disorders in patients with vibration disease associated with androgen deficiency

Comparative analysis covered emotional personality disorders in vibration disease patients'in dependence on presence and intensity of androgen deficiency. Parameters of depression, personal and actual anxiety in vibration disease patients are reliably higher in those with marked clinical and laboratory signs of androgen deficiency.

[Assessment of real myocardial energy demand using indirect calorimetry in early postoperative period after cardiac surgery]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate actual myocardial energy requirements using indirect calorimetry, oxygen delivery (DO2), oxygen extraction ratio (O2ER), cardiac output (CO) and their components, as well as to study the impact of positive inotropic agent (dobutamine) on myocardial metabolism in early postoperative period after cardiac surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We measured the main metabolic parameters using indirect calorimetry in 20 patients after on-pump cardiac surgery with cardioplegia. To evaluate the impact of metabolic load on CO, VO2 and DO2, we administered dobutamine 3 µg/kg/min at the second phase of the study. Basal metabolic parameters were recorded together with CO and arterial and venous blood gas composition.

RESULTS

Under dobutamine infusion, VO2I and VCO2 significantly increased by 10%, DO2I increased by 27%, and O2ER decreased by 10%. Aerobic metabolism increased from 1902.3±380.6 to 2130.9±423.1 kcal/day. The predicted energy expenditure values (Harris-Benedict equation) were significantly lower (1759.7±255.6 kcal/day). Cardiac index increased by 26%, stroke volume - by 10%, heart rate - by 21%. Central venous pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic volume and ejection fraction were the same. VO2I obtained through indirect calorimetry were higher than those measured using the reverse Fick method. At the first phase, these values were 138.6±28.9 and 72.8±27.6 ml/min/m², at the second phase - 155.4±28.2 and 68.1±27.1 ml/min/m², respectively.

CONCLUSION

Energy expenditure exceeded the predicted values. This was accompanied by elevated VO2 and DO2 with moderate decrease of O2ER in postoperative period. VO2 values assessed by indirect calorimetry and reverse Fick method represent two distinct physiological parameters, and they are not interchangeable. Further studies are required to assess this technology in critically ill patients.

[The persistence of Shigella sonnei in epithelial tissue in Serény's model]

The duration of persistence of S. sonnei in the tissues of a guinea pig eye (Serény's model) has been studied. Bacteriological and histological investigations made with the use of fluorescent antibody techniques have revealed that S. sonnei can be preserved in macrophages (histiocytes) and intercellular space of the eye epithelium for a long time (up to 277 days). The injection of ACTH or Shigella vaccine into the animals may provoke the exacerbation of the infectious process and the release of the infective agent.

[Comparative study of modifications in the immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescent methods of detecting human tissue immunoglobulins]

The comparison of the data obtained by using different modifications of the immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescent methods for detecting immunoglobulins in intestinal tissues was made. The direct immunoperoxidase method was shown to allow the quantitative study of immunoglobulin-containing cells. The direct immunoperidase method was found to be technically simpler, but the indirect and complex peroxidase-antiperoxidase methods proved to be more sensitive.