Cell-binding properties of glycoprotein B of Aujeszky's disease virus

The glycoprotein B (gB) of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) has a role in virus entry and cell-to-cell spread. In this report we examined the cell-binding properties of native ADV gB purified from the virus envelope by affinity chromatography. The binding of gB to the surface of susceptible cells BHK-21 and MDBK was specific, dose-dependent, and nearly saturable, which is characteristic of conventional receptor-ligand interactions. The purified gB was shown to specifically bind to immobilised heparin. The addition of soluble exogenous heparin and heparinase treatment of cells inhibited the binding of gB to the cells. Cell-associated gB could also be dissociated from the cells by soluble heparin. The results indicated that ADV gB binds specifically to cellular heparan sulphate. The binding of gB to cells inhibited the attachment of virus to cells and thus the formation of viral plaques. The results suggest that ADV gB may have a function in the initial attachment of ADV to the surface of susceptible cells.     

Effects of preemptive analgesia on pain and cytokine production in the postoperative period

BACKGROUND: The postoperative period is associated with increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, which are known to augment pain sensitivity, among other effects. In a previous study, the authors found that patients treated with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) exhibited attenuated proinflammatory cytokine response in the postoperative period. In the present study, the authors examined whether preemptive analgesia continued with PCEA may further attenuate the proinflammatory cytokine response and reduce pain sensitivity in the postoperative period. They compared cytokine production in two groups of patients, one receiving PCEA, the other receiving preemptive epidural analgesia continued by PCEA. METHODS: Female patients hospitalized for transabdominal hysterectomy were randomly assigned to one of two pain management techniques: PCEA or preemptive epidural analgesia followed by PCEA (PA + PCEA). Postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analog scale. Blood samples were collected before, 24, 48, and 72 h following surgery. Production of the following cytokines was assessed in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells: interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-6, IL-1ra, IL-10, and IL-2. RESULTS: Patients of the PA + PCEA group exhibited lower pain scores throughout the 72 h postoperatively, compared with patients of the PCEA group. In patients of the PA + PCEA group in the postoperative period, production of IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-1ra, and IL-10 was significantly less elevated, while IL-2 production was significantly less suppressed. CONCLUSIONS: Proinflammatory cytokines are key mediators of illness symptoms, including hyperalgesia. The present results suggest that preemptive epidural analgesia is associated with reduced postoperative pain and attenuated production of proinflammatory cytokines.     

Role of phagocytosis activation in the mechanism of therapeutic effect of medical ozone in patients with sluggish purulent inflammations of maxillofacial soft tissues

Sixty-three patients with local sluggish suppurative inflammations of maxillofacial soft tissues were examined. Medical ozone was added to the treatment protocols of 30 of these patients. Before treatment peripheral blood leukocyte phagocytic activity was decreased in 54 patients, which corresponded to clinical form of a sluggish inflammation. Traditional therapy did not appreciably change the level of phagocytosis. Addition of medical ozone exposure to therapy promoted normalization of leukocyte phagocytic activity and accelerated liquidation of inflammation.     

Effects of alfacalcidol on mineral density of bone tissue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The analysis of antiosteoporotic efficacy of alphacalcidol was made in 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 30 RA patients received alphacalcidol in a dose 0.75-1.0 mcg/day for 12 months. 20 control RA patients did not receive the drug. Mineral density of the bone tissue (MD) of the proximal femur and low back spine was studied using double x-ray absorptiometry at the start of the treatment and 12 months after it. It was established that alphacalcidol stabilizes MD of the neck of the femur and low spine. A significant MD increase was observed in those areas of the proximal femur where cortical bone tissue prevails.     

Features of skin-coincubated macrophages that promote recovery from spinal cord injury

Uncontrolled inflammation is considered to exacerbate the neuronal loss that follows spinal cord trauma. However, controlled inflammation response appears to be beneficial. Skin-coincubated macrophages injected into contused spinal cord of rats resulted in improved motor recovery and reduced spinal cyst formation. The macrophages express elevated levels of cell-surface molecules CD80, CD86, CD54 and MHC-II, markers characteristic of antigen presenting cells (APCs). Additionally, skin-coincubation elevates secretion of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), and reduces secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). We propose that macrophages activated by skin-coincubation bolster neuroprotective immune activity in the spinal cord, making the environment less cytotoxic and less hostile to axonal regeneration.     

Clinical significance of the determination of R-proteins in the ejaculate of patients with chronic prostatitis

Products of cell receptor (R-proteins) catabolic lysis were measured in ejaculate of 121 patients with chronic prostatitis and 15 healthy males. R-protein levels were higher in the patients (U = 172.5; p = 0.047). When immunological indices of the ejaculate (IgA, sIgA, IgG, IgM, interleukin-8) were measured, it was found that in patients with chronic prostatitis there is a positive correlation between concentration of interleukin-8 and content of R-proteins (r = 0.43; p = 0.028). Positive correlation also exists between R-protein content and prostate volume (r = 0.24; p = 0.034) while negative one--between R-proteins concentration and size of the hypoechogenic sites in the prostate (r = -0.25; p = 0.039), between R-proteins in the ejaculate and serum level of fibrinogen B (r = -0.25; p = 0.021). It is inferred that elevation of ejaculate R-protein level occurs in alteration of the prostate. The test for R-proteins in ejaculate can be helpful in detection of early stages of chronic prostatitis.     

The antioxidant effects of amtizol and trimetazidine

Experiments were conducted on rats to study the antioxidant effects of amtisol and trimethasidin (25 mg/kg) in incomplete cerebral ischemia complicated by hypoxia. Amtisol as well as trimethasidin inhibited activation of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and prevented decrease in activity of the antioxidant system. In in vitro experiments amtisol and trimethasidin blocked epinephrine auto-oxidation. Amtisol inhibited ascorbate-dependent LPO in the liposomes and metabolizing model system, inhibited fermentative NADP-dependent POL in brain tissue homogenates.     

Mechanism of vagal inhibition of small intestine contraction

The mechanism of inhibition of small intestine contraction in response to weak stimulation of the peripheral end of the vagus nerve cut at the cervical level was studied in experiments on anesthetized dogs. This inhibition can be blocked with arfonade or hexamethonium, atropine, and rausedyl, as well as by combined, but not individual administration of propranolol and dihydroergotoxine. We assume that inhibition is triggered by the release of catecholamines from sympathetic postganglionic terminals in response to activation of their muscarinic receptors induced by acetylcholine released from parasympathetic terminals during excitation. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 129, No. 2, pp. 135–138, February, 2000     

Kinetics of 1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-phenylaminopiperidine acylation by propionyl chloride in nonaqueous media

The kinetics of 1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-phenylaminopiperidine acylation with propionyl chloride in nonaqueous solutions to form fentanyl hydrochloride have been studied experimentally using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It is established that the reaction is second order. The kinetics and activation parameters of the reaction have been determined.