Changes in immune status in patients with infectious endocarditis in surgical treatment involving artificial blood circulation

In 98.2% patients with infectious endocarditis, admitted to the hospital for surgical treatment, the moderate immune deficiency state is revealed with the cell link of immunity depression and phagocytic function of neutrophils insufficiency, which become aggravated after operative intervention performance, especially using artificial blood circulation. The cell link of immunity depression, the B-lymphocytes function inhibition are preserved during 6 months after the operation.     

Papillomavirus infection in healthy women from St.Petersburg

The study was aimed to evaluate the features of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in healthy female inhabitants of St. Petersburg. 309 attendants of gynecological clinics were recruited for the screening. All participants were of reproductive age and were lacking the clinical or morphological symptoms of HPV-related diseases. PCR revealed HPV-specific sequences in 90 (29%) women. HPV type distribution was similar to the one in USA and Europe. HPV-positivity did not correlate with age of females, age at sexual debut, or total life-long duration of sexual activity. However, HPV were overrepresented among women reporting excessive number of contraceptive abortions. The data imply that an establishment of large-scale HPV-testing in Russia could be a desirable component of preventive anti-cancer programs.     

Enhancement of the therapeutic effect of sarcolysine by arterial hypotension in sarcoma 45 trials

Arterial hypotension was found to potentiate antitumor effect of sarcolysin on transplantable sarcoma 45 of rats. Induction of hypotension as modifying factor of chemotherapy of cancer is discussed.     

Histogenesis and structural organization of the walls of rat venae cavae and pulmonary veins

Using light and electron microscopic methods, the histogenesis and structural organization of the walls of rat venae cavae and pulmonary veins were studied in prenatal and postnatal periods of development. The special attention was paid to the appearance of the striated myocytes in the walls of these vessels during the process of ontogenesis. The time of initial divergent development of myoblastic differon was established, the stages of differentiation of striated myoblasts and the peculiarities of intercellular junctions were characterized, as well as the innervation and vascularization of the walls of venae cavae and pulmonary veins.     

Mineral water Volzhanka from Undorovskĭ spring in combined therapy of patients with nephrolithiasis and chronic pyelonephritis

Water loading is an essential component in therapy of nephrolithiasis, especially in the presence of small ureteral concrements or fragments after extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. Saluretics, furosemide in particular, cause side effects. One of these is dyselectrolytemia due to potassium loss. Mineral waters have advantages in the treatment of nephrolithiasis and pyelonephritis as their drinking does not lead to electrolyte loss. Low mineral waters are highly diuretic, e.g. after drinking 1 liter of Volzhanka day-time diuresis increases by 300-400 ml. This relieves ureteral and calyceal-pelvic tonicity stimulating elimination of the concrements or their fragments after lithotripsy. Intake of Volzhanka proved effective in combined therapy of nephrolithiasis, calculous pyelonephritis, urate nephrolithiasis.     

Comparative studies of local antibody and cellular immune responses to influenza infection and vaccination with live attenuated reassortant influenza vaccine (LAIV) utilizing a mouse nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) separation method

The first and most significant barrier against influenza infection is the mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue of the upper airways and rodent nasopharyngeal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) is considered equivalent to the lymphoid tissue of human Valdryer's ring. This study is the first attempt to analyze and compare local and systemic cellular and antibody immune responses in NALT and spleen in a mouse model of experimental influenza infection and intranasal vaccination with LAIV (live attenuated reassortant influenza vaccine). It was shown that the vaccine strain completely inherited the ability to induce high-grade local antibody responses (secretory IgA + IgG + IgM), local cellular lymphoproliferative activity, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD19⁺ lymphocyte and cytokine production responses from the virulent parental strain but it had less capacity to stimulate production of serum IgG, accumulation of CD8⁺ cells and IFN-γ production in the spleen. Primary non-complicated influenza infection and primary vaccination were accompanied by a short-term (24 h) increase in the levels of lymphocyte apoptosis in both NALT and spleen. However, experimental data indicated that vaccination with LAIV and uncomplicated forms of influenza infection did not influence immune system apoptosis following a secondary immune response.     

Inverse relationship of cannabimimetic (R+)WIN 55, 212 on behavior and seizure threshold during the juvenile period

Cannabinoids have anti-convulsant effects in both in vivo and in vitro models of status epilepticus. Since the development of spontaneous seizures and neuronal vulnerability are age-dependent, we hypothesized that the anti-convulsant effects of cannabimimetics are also age-dependent. We administered a single injection of varied doses of (R+)WIN 55,212 (0.5, 1, 5 mg/kg) to postnatal (P) day 20 rats 90 min prior to induction of kainate (KA)-induced status epilepticus. The highest dose of (R+)WIN 55,212 (5 mg/kg) resulted in rapid onset of behavioral stupor, loss of balance, stiffening and immobility while standing on hind legs or laying flat in prone position; lower doses had minimal or no behavioral effect. After KA administration, seizure scores and electroencephalography (EEG) recordings were inversely related to (R+)WIN 55,212 dosage whereby higher doses were associated with high seizures scores and synchronous epileptiform activity and low doses with low seizure scores and diminished spiking in the EEG. Immunohistochemistry revealed a dose-dependent reduction in CB1 receptor expression with increasing concentrations of (R+)WIN 55,212 in presence or absence of KA seizures. Nissl and NeuN staining showed hippocampal injury was attenuated only when seizures were mild following low doses of WIN 55,212 (0.5, 1 mg/kg), consistent with the level of CB1 expression. Since low doses abolished seizures without psychotropic side-effects further study may facilitate a groundbreaking cannabamimetic therapeutic strategy to treat early-life seizures. Higher doses had adverse effects on behavior and failed to prevent seizures and protect CA1 neurons possibly due to inactivation or loss of CB1 receptors.