Modulation of murine anti-SRBC response by carrageenan: possible mechanism

Carrageenan (CGN), a sulphated polygalactant extracted from red algae, induced antigen-specific suppression of secondary antibody response to SRBC. Unlike the previous studies reported in the literature, in the present study no significant difference could be observed in the number of either total or adherent cells in the peritoneal cavity of CGN treated animals when compared to the untreated controls. However, upon immunization with SRBC, the number of IA and IE positive cells of the treated animals was significantly reduced as compared to the untreated controls. From these results, the possible mechanism in the modulation of immune response by CGN is discussed in the present study.     

Cardiac conduction abnormalities and atrial arrhythmias associated with salicylate toxicity

Cardiac side effects from aspirin are uncommon; however, severe acid-base imbalance, pulmonary edema, ventricular ectopic activity and cardiopulmonary arrest have been reported in patients with toxic serum salicylate concentrations. We saw a patient with salicylate toxicity who developed a variety of sinus and atrioventricular nodal conduction disturbances and atrial arrhythmias with a relatively low toxic serum salicylate concentration. The cardiac rhythm returned to normal as the serum salicylate concentration decreased, and results of subsequent electrophysiologic testing and Holter monitoring were normal. A low serum albumin level may have resulted in altered salicylate binding in this patient, thereby increasing the availability of unbound (active) drug for toxic effects.     

Naturally occuring antibodies against nerve growth factor in human and rabbit sera: comparison between control and herpes simplex virus-infected patients

Antibodies against nerve growth factor (NGF) in sera were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), by their isolation after passage of sera through NGF immunoadsorbent columns and by their specificity to bind and immunoprecipitate mouse NGF as well as to stain by immunohistochemical methods cellular sites of NGF synthesis. Increased levels of anti-NGF antibodies were found in sera of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected patients but not in HSV-inoculated rabbits. As HSV latency is known to be promoted by NGF in vitro, these results may suggest that anti-NGF antibodies modulate the cytokine function of NGF and thus might play a role in HSV infection. The biological function of circulating antibodies against NGF, in general, is now open to future investigation.     

Evaluation of the antiatherosclerotic properties of natural compounds of plant origin on cell cultures of the human aortic intima

Administration of alizole, berberine, pheonol and pheoniphlorine in doses of 30-100 micrograms/ml in the culture of the atherosclerotic human aortic intimal cells decreased the content of intracellular cholesterol by 35-41% and reduced the proliferative activity of the cells. In healthy donors administration of single doses of berberine and pheoniphlorine (0.9 g) increased the antiatherogenic potential of the serum which was estimated on the primary culture of the intimal cells.     

Antisilicotic activity of fractions of the copolymer of ethylene glycol vinyl glycidyl ether and N-vinylpyrrolidone

Translated from Khimiko-farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 23, No. 6, pp. 711–713, June, 1989.     

The management of a neck mass: presenting feature of an asymptomatic head and neck primary malignancy?

Malignancy of the upper aerodigestive tract is not always associated with obvious localizing symptoms. Presentation may then only be prompted by the appearance of a hard mass in the neck, a metastasis to a cervical lymph node. Neck exploration without a prior diligent search for an occult head and neck primary tumour is to be avoided as it compromises subsequent treatment. The diagnostic investigation of 112 patients complaining solely of a painless and enlarging neck swelling is reviewed. An otolaryngologic examination identified an asymptomatic malignancy of the head and neck in 72 patients (64%). Excision biopsy of the neck mass was required to achieve a diagnosis in only 29 (29%) of those patients who had not already undergone surgery. These results are presented to emphasize the need for a specialist examination of the head and neck prior to embarking on excision of any suspicious neck mass.