Changes in liver lysosomes of rats with chronic toxic hepatitis

Permeability of the lysosomal membranes and the subcellular distribution of acid hydrolases were investigated in rats with chronic hepatitis induced by inhalation of CCl₄ and during repair of the liver after injury. Until 14 days after the last inhalation of CCl₄ no sign of restoration of the parameters studied to normal was observed: changes in the stability of the lysosomal membranes persisted and a redistribution of acid hydrolases was observed. This last effect is associated with the processes of both injury and repair of the liver.Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR I. V. Toroptsev.Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 80, No. 8, pp. 50–53, August, 1975.     

Effect of rush immunotherapy on airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness after bronchoprovocation with allergen in asthma

Background: Rush immunotherapy (RIT) has been shown to be effective in allergic asthma. Objective: We investigated the mechanisms of RIT on the basis of cytokine production by T-cell lines and airway inflammation and responsiveness. Methods: Subjects were 8 patients with house dust mite–allergic asthma treated with dust mite extract RIT for 6 months and 6 RIT-untreated control patients. IL-5 production by Dermatophagoides farinae –specific T-cell lines, eosinophil percentages, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in induced sputum and airway responsiveness to allergen and histamine were evaluated before and after treatment. Changes in eosinophil percentages and ECP in induced sputum and responsiveness to histamine 24 hours after allergen inhalation were also studied. Results: After 6 months of RIT, percentages of total eosinophils (43.0% ± 6.90% to 16.8% ± 2.48%; P < .01), percentages of EG2⁺ eosinophils (32.6% ± 6.39% to 19.7% ± 4.68%; P < .01) and ECP (362.7 ± 125.3 ng/mL to 26.2 ± 5.15 ng/mL; P < .05) decreased in induced sputum, and IL-5 production by T-cell lines decreased (617 ± 93.2 pg/mL to 200.0 ± 34.1 pg/mL; P < .01). RIT decreased both early- and late-phase bronchoconstriction (early phase: 33.2% ± 3.46% to 25.4% ± 1.42%; P < .03; late phase: 16.2% ± 3.52% to 6.2% ± 1.96%; P < .03) and suppressed increases in the percentages of total (61.8% ± 4.89% to 42.0% ± 4.67%; P < .01) and EG2-positive eosinophils (55.54% ± 7.21% to 36.5% ± 6.43%; P < .01) and ECP (685.6 ± 217.0 ng/mL to 85.4 ± 23.4 ng/mL; P < .05) in induced sputum after allergen inhalation. RIT also decreased airway responsiveness to dust mite (1:303.7 ± 123.7 wt/vol to 1:65.0 ± 13.2 wt/vol; P < .03) and to histamine before (397.1 ± 206.9 μg/mL to 1391.3 ± 283.3 μg/mL; P < .03) and after allergen inhalation (139.2 ± 36.5 μg/mL to 629.1 ± 196.3 μg/mL; P < .03). Conclusion: RIT decreases airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness before and after bronchial provocation with allergen, possibly by inhibiting both allergen-specific T-cell– and mast cell-dependent pathways. RIT is an effective antiinflammatory treatment in allergic asthma. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998;102:927-34.)     

New property of the heparin-serotonin complex

The antihypoxic activity of the heparin-serotonin complex was studied under conditions of acute hypobaric hypoxia. Rats were given an intraperitoneal injection of the complex in a dose of 300 μg/kg and “lifted” on a height of 12,000 m. In these rats, the intervals before the posture loss and the second agonal inhalation were 9.6- and 8.8-fold as long as those in control rats. The survival of the complex-treated rats was 90%, 70% in rats injected with heparin or serotonin, and 50% in the control group. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 10. pp. 425–427, October, 1998     

Morphological and histochemical changes in the thyroid gland after a single exposure to 2,4-DA herbicide

Pathomorphological and quantitative histochemical studies revealed injury and changes in the membrane transport and synthetic processes in the thyroid gland of rats after acute exposure to herbicide 2,4-DA (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid amine salt). Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 12, pp. 676–677, December, 1997     

Rheumatoid factors of the blood and cerebrospinal fluid in patients with a complicated spinal injury

The levels of rheumatoid factors (RF) of IgM-RF and IgG-RF classes were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in the sera of patients with spinal injuries. Analysis showed that 46% of patients with spinal injuries were seropositive for IgG-RF-and 40% for IgM-RF; no IgG-RF was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), whereas the IgM-RF content was 37.6 μg/ml. Results of RF measurements in the sera make it possible to qualify the systemic involvement of the body in the late period of a spinal injury as a rheumatic disease. The findings point to the presence of independent mechanisms of immune control in the CSF. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 8, pp. 174–176, August, 1994     

Pituitary-adrenal and sympathetic-adrenal systems in patients with complicated spinal trauma

Plasma contents of catecholamines and cortisol are measured in patients with spinal trauma and spinal cord injury by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. Compared with healthy donors and patients with skull injury, the epinephrine content in spinal patients is increased significantly, while the cortisol content shows a tendency toward an increase. This suggests that disturbances both in the transmitter and hormonal systems persist 2–3 weeks after trauma, complicating its treatment. Translated fromByulleten's Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 11, pp. 568–570, November, 1996     

Effect of acyclovir on bronchoconstriction and urinary leukotriene E4 excretion in aspirin-induced asthma

Background: Acyclovir (9-[2-hydroxyethoxymethyl] guanine), an inhibitor of the DNA polymerase of the herpes virus, has been reported to exhibit pharmacologic activity other than antiviral activity, including antiasthmatic effects. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of acyclovir on airway responsiveness to the sulpyrine provocation test and to investigate whether this protective activity is associated with a reduction in aspirin-induced excretion of urinary leukotriene E₄ (u-LTE₄ ), a marker of cysteinyl leukotriene (LT) overproduction that participates in the pathogenesis of aspirin-induced asthma. Methods: We assessed the effects of pretreatment with acyclovir on bronchoconstriction precipitated by inhalation of sulpyrine in 16 adult patients with mild or moderate aspirin-induced asthma; those who were in stable clinical condition and were hyperresponsive to the sulpyrine provocation test were allocated to this study. A double-blind, randomized, cross-over design was used. u-LTE₄ was measured by a combined reverse-phase HPLC enzyme immunoassay. Results: Acyclovir protects against aspirin-induced attacks of asthma through mechanisms unrelated to its bronchodilator property but related to the improvement of bronchial hypersensitivity to sulpyrine; protection was nearly complete in all patients (P < .0001). By contrast, after acyclovir, the maximum level of u-LTE₄ in patients was significantly lower than that in control subjects (P < .01). Conclusion: Our results suggest that acyclovir is not only an antiviral drug but also an inhibitor of analgesic-induced bronchoconstriction, probably acting by inhibiting the release of cysteinyl LTs. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998;102:909-14.)     

Effects of S-adenosyl methionine, ethanolamine, and their combination on lipid composition of rat brain in chronic alcohol intoxication

Brain lipids are studied in rats with chronic alcohol intoxication after injection of S-adenosyl methionine, ethanolamine, and their combination. The levels of total lipids, phospholipids, and cardiolipin are increased and those of sphyngomyelin and cerebrosides-III decreased after a 14-day inhalation of ethanol. Combined administration of S-adenosyl methionine and ethanolamine in chronic alcoholization eliminated ethanol-induced shifts in concentrations of phospho- and glycolipid fractions in rat brain. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 4, pp. 398–400, April, 1998     

Albumin concentration and properties in the blood and exudate in acute pancreatitis

The concentration of albumin and the state of its binding centers in the serum and abdominal exudate from patients with acute pancreatitis were evaluated using a fluorescent technique. The total albumin concentration was below normal by 33%. The ratio of effective to total concentration also decreased attesting to conformational changes in the albumin molecule. Albumin molecules are released into exudate in its native form, but sometimes albumin in the exudate is dramatically changed probably due to bursa omentalis seal failure and its concentration sharply decreased probably due to proteolytic degradation. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 128, No. 12, pp. 660–662, December, 1999     

Yeast fungi in patients with allergic disease: Species variety and sensitivity to antifungal drugs

Yeast microflora was studied in the skin of 91 patients with atopic dermatitis, in bronchial secretion of 13 patients with bronchial asthma and 8 patients with allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis. Forty-eight isolates were obtained. Alypophilic yeast fungi isolated from the skin were presented mainly by generaCandida spp. (48%) andRhodotorula spp. (29%), while the cultures isolated from bronchial secretion mainly byCandida albicans. The sensitivity of yeast cultures to the antifungal drugs diflucan, clotrimazole, nizoral, orungal, exoderil, levorin, pymafuzin, and nitrofungin was determined. The most efficient drugs were diflucan, clotrimazole, nizoral, and orungal. More than half isolates were sensitive only to the high concentrations of levorin (48%), pymafuzin (75%), and nitrofungin (82%); 64% isolates were insensitive even to high concentrations of exoderil. Preliminaryin vitro selection of the antifungal drugs is required for efficient elimination of the yeasts. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 129, No. 6, pp. 704–708, June, 2000     

Ultrastructural,radioautographic, and morphometric analysis of gastric mucosa in chronic gastritis

Biopsy specimens of gastric mucosa from patients with chronic gastritis are examined. The dynamics of structural changes occurring during the development of chronic inflammation is demonstrated and the ultrastructural changes in the mucosa cell populations are described, which together with the radioautographic analysis of biosynthetic reactions and morphometric data characterizes the complex structural and functional rearrangements in the gastric mucosa. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 7, pp. 103–108, July, 1996     

General pathological processes in somatic muscles in W/SSM rats with genetically determined metabolic myopathy

Hypertrophy, atrophy, and dystrophy, which reflect the balance between alterative and compensatory-adaptive processes at all levels of structural organization, predominate among structural changes in W/SSM rats with metabolic myopathy under conditions of progressive chronic disorders of cellular homeostasis. Primary universal reactions of striated muscles to damage (myofibril contractures and intracellular myocytolysis) are observed at the ultrastructural level. Increased incidence of focal changes and the time course of morphological and stereological parameters in a constantly functioning organ (diaphragm) indicate that working muscle fibers are most susceptible to injury. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 8, pp. 228–233, August, 1998     

Purification of the antigenic components of pigeon dropping extract, the responsible agent for cellular immunity in pigeon breeder’s disease

Background: Pigeon breeder’s disease (PBD) is a lung disease caused by inhalation of antigens derived from pigeons. Objective: This study was undertaken to characterize the responsible component of pigeon dropping extract (PDE) for PBD. Methods: First, crude PDE was applied to SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting by using antibodies in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Second, 9 bands of PDE were separated by SDS-PAGE and used for antigen-induced PBMCs. Finally, amino-terminal sequencing was conducted on an isolated 21-kd protein by 2-dimensional electrophoresis. Results: Immunoblots with BAL fluid from patients with PBD identified 9 bands. Similar patterns were observed by using BAL fluid from 10 control patients (9 with summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and 1 asymptomatic breeder), except for the 21-kd protein, which was detected in 10 patients with PBD and 1 asymptomatic breeder. The stimulation indices of PBMCs determined by using proteins electroeluted from the 9 bands were higher in patients with PBD than in the 10 control patients. The 21-kd protein was separated into 5 spots by 2-dimensional electrophoresis; these spots were all reactive with BAL fluid from patients with PBD as determined by immunoblotting. The sequence of the 21-kd protein had 57% identity to a Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome X reading frame. A synthetic peptide, derived from the amino acid sequence of the N-terminal of the native protein, induced significant proliferation of PBMCs obtained from 5 patients with PBD, but not with PBMCs obtained from control patients. Conclusion: The 21-kd protein is the only protein that identified individuals exposed to pigeons by immunoblotting. Only PBMCs from patients with PBD showed significant proliferation to the 21-kd protein and to the synthetic peptide on the basis of the N-terminal sequence of the native peptide. The 21-kd protein will be an important antigen for studies on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and pathogenesis of PBD. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103:1158-65.)     

Hormonal function of the adrenal glands in men and monkeys in hemoblastoses and during aging

Similar changes in the functioning of the adrenal glands (activation of cortisol synthesis due to a more complete utilization of its biochemical precursors and reduced formation of dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate fraction) are demonstrated in men and monkeys in hemoblastoses and during aging. It is assumed that being adaptive and nonspecific in nature, these changes lead to hormonal imbalance promoting the development of senile involution processes in patients and animals with severe chronic disease. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 8, pp. 207–210, August, 1997     

Pathomorphological signs of damage to capillary endothelium in skeletal muscle after traumatic injury to or replantation of a limb

Several months after an extensive crush injury to or replantation of a limb in rats, capillary endotheliocytes of its skeletal muscle are seen to undergo ultrastructural changes of both “dark” and “light” types. Destructive/degenerative changes of the “light” type are accompanied by intracellular edema and cytoplasmic homogenization and can eventually result in monocellular colliquative necrosis. Changes of the “dark” type are characterized by signs of functional overstrain in the endotheliocytes, succeeded by destructive/degenerative cytoplasmic changes, increased electron density of intracellular organelles, loss of distinct boundaries by the nucleus and intracellular structures, rupture of cell membranes, endothelial desquamation, and some other changes, which eventually lead to coagulation necrosis, followed by breakdown of the cell into small fragments. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N^no 10, pp. 378–383, October, 1994     

Nitric oxide synthase in bronchial epithelium and nitric oxide metabolites in the lungs of rats with bronchial asthma after fenoterol inhalation

Nitric oxide synthase of the bronchial epithelium and concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites (NO₂ ⁻ and NO₃ ⁻) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids were measured in rats with bronchial asthma after fenoterol inhalation. It was suggested that nitric oxide-ergic mechanisms can mediate the effects of inhaled β₂-adrenergic agonists. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 8, pp. 176–179, August, 2000     

Adrenergic and cholinergic structures of the lungs in normal guinea pigs and in guinea pigs with experimental bronchial asthma

The morphological and functional state of the adrenergic and cholinergic innervation of the bronchopulmonary apparatus of guinea pigs was studied by luminescence and histochemical methods under normal conditions and during the course of sensitization (subcutaneous and inhalation methods) by the allergen of the miteDermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Considerable excitation of the adrenergic innervation and a fall in acetylcholinesterase activity were observed in the bronchopulmonary tissue during sensitization of the animals.Department of Pathological Physiology, Chuvash University. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. D. Ado.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 4, pp. 446–448, April, 1977.     

Association of c.802C>T polymorphism of NOD2/CARD15 gene with the chronic gastritis and predisposition to cancer in H. pylori infected patients

This paper shows analysis of the association of the 802C>T polymorphism of the NOD2/CARD15 gene with the occurrence of the chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa associated with the Helicobacter pylori infections, development of intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia and, in the result of this, gastric cancer. Genomic DNA samples were extracted from paraffin blocks of gastric mucosal biopsies and from peripheral blood. H. pylori infection was confirmed by histological analysis and urease test. Pyrosequencing of 802C>T polymorphism of the NOD2/CARD15 gene was performed for H. pylori infected patients (131) and population group (100). Analysis of the NOD2/CARD15 gene showed that frequency of the T allele was significantly higher (32.8%) in the group of patients in comparison with the population group (18.1%), with the relative risk of 1.8. In the patient group, the frequency of the CC genotype was 51.1%, CT 32.1% and TT 16.8% (relative risk: 0.7, 1.1 and 4.2, respectively), while in the population group it was 69.0%, 25.7% and 5.3% (relative risk: 1.0, 0.9 and 1.3, respectively). The increasing frequency of the T allele and CT and TT genotypes in the patients with increasingly deeper changes in the gastric mucosa becomes apparent. Our findings suggest that polymorphism 802C>T is associated with changes in gastric mucosa and plays a significant role in the initiation and the progression of carcinogenesis. The number of observed mutations in gastric mucosa correlated with severity of disease.     

Lipid peroxidation level in the focus of compression ischemia in the cerebral cortex of rats

Pathomorphological changes in a focus of ischemia, the level of lipid peroxidation (as indicated by the content of products reacting with thiobarbituric acid), and the postischemic levels of adenyl nucleotides and tissue lipids were studied in rats with focal compression ischemia of the cerebral cortex. An increased level of the TBA-reactive products paralleled by a reduction of the concentrations of adenyl nucleotides and tissue lipids was found to be in clear-cut correlation with the processes of neuronal injury and death and with subsequent repair phenomena in the focus of cortical ischemia. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 12, pp. 589–590, December, 1994 Presented by O. S. Adrianov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood platelets and mononuclears in cancer patients and healthy donors

The cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood platelets and mononuclears from 82 patients with cancer, 9 with diseases other than cancer, and 18 healthy donors towards a continuous cell line of pulmonary adenocarcinoma was studied. There were no appreciable differences in the killer activity of platelets in cancer patients (32±3.5%), patients with diseases other than cancer (33±8.1%), and healthy donors (30±6.7%). In contrast to platelets, mononuclears of cancer patients possessed a higher cytotoxicity than mononuclears of healthy donors. The cytotoxicity of platelets of cancer patients was found to reliably drop in cases with disseminated metastases and after polychemo-and radiotherapy. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, N ^o 2, pp. 192–195, February, 1996 Presented by N. N. Trapeznikov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences