Significance of the studies of urinary syndrome in clinical practice]

The study of urinary sediment is essential in laboratory diagnosis. Conventional clinical methods are now used in line with computer-aided techniques and additional microscopy of the sediment elements. The paper provides a brief analysis of clinical situations characterized by appearance in the urine of abnormal numbers of leukocytes, erythrocytes, casts; provides clinical assessment of additional microscopic methods able to accentuate qualitative characteristics of the urinary syndrome; considers possibilities of application of the urinary sediment data in follow-up to improve diagnosis and control on-going treatment.     

Tryptophan 650 of human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor, implicated in the activation of JAK2, is also required for G- CSF-mediated activation of signaling complexes of the p21ras route

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) induces rapid phosphorylation of JAK kinases as well as activation of the p21ras route through interaction with its specific receptor (G-CSF-R). The cytoplasmic membrane-proximal region of G-CSF-R (amino acids 631 to 684) is necessary for proliferation induction and activation of JAK2. In contrast, activation of Shc and Syp, signaling molecules implicated in the p21ras signaling route, depends on the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues located in the membrane-distal region (amino acids 685 to 813) of G-CSF-R. We investigated whether G-CSF-induced activation of signaling complexes of the p21ras route depends on the function of the membrane-proximal cytoplasmic region of G-CSF-R. A G- CSF-R mutant was constructed in which tryptophan 650 was replaced by arginine and expressed in BAF3 cells (BAF/W650R). In contrast to BAF3 cell transfectants expressing wild-type G-CSF-R, BAF/W650-R cells did not proliferate and did not show activation of JAK2, STAT1, or STAT3 in response to G-CSF. Immunoprecipitations with anti-Shc and anti-Grb2 antisera showed that mutant W650R also failed to activate Syp and Shc. These data indicate that the membrane-proximal cytoplasmic domain of G- CSF-R is not only crucial for proliferative signaling and activation of JAK2 and STATs, but is also required for activation of the p21ras route, which occurs via the membrane-distal region of G-CSF-R.     

Effectiveness of using external laser irradiation in the complex treatment of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis with concomitant bronchial obstruction syndrome]

External laser radiation (ELP) (18-20 daily procedures) was used together with chemotherapy in the combined treatment of 53 patients with destructive pulmonary tuberculosis characterized by delayed dynamics of the process and concurrent obstructive bronchial syndrome. ELR promoted acceleration of the process dynamics, closure of disintegration cavities and alleviation of bronchial obstruction phenomena. The mechanisms of a favourable ELR action were essentially due to the reduction of basal oxidative metabolism and enhancement of defensive reaction during contact with a specific pathogen in phagocytes, which was confirmed by the recorded results of the spontaneous and stimulated by the killed BCG culture NST rest in peripheral neutrophils and monocytes.     

Diagnosis of granulomatous lung diseases

The accumulated experience and the literature data allow for the separation of a group of granulomatous pulmonary diseases among pulmonary diseases of different etiology. Etiologically heterogeneous granulomatous diseases are united by the general signs: granuloma development, immunologic disturbances mainly within the cellular system and mediators as well as systemic vascular affection in the form of vasculitis. In our opinion, granulomatous diseases include disseminated tuberculosis, sarcoidosis of respiratory organs, exogenic and idiopathic fibrous alveolitis, Wegener's granulomatosis, histiocytosis X, primary hemosiderosis, Goodpasture's syndrome and some other rare diseases. Granulomatous diseases are diagnosed on the basis of the ++clinico-roentgenologic findings with an obligatory cytological and histological study of the bioptic specimen; immunologic diseases are diagnosed proceeding from the study of the immunologic status and detection of specific antibodies; of great significance for the diagnosis of pulmonary granuloma caused by infectious pathogens are microbiologic studies which provide for the detection of microorganisms and fungi. Study of the clinicoroentgenologic and laboratory data made it possible to distinguish a number of features typical for each disease and to unite them into diagnostic symptom complexes. Despite the different course of granulomatous pulmonary diseases they may end in recovery and granuloma resolution, development of lung fibrosis in a chronic course and in certain diseases in lung tissue destruction with cavity formation (tuberculosis, Wegener's granulomatosis). A fatal outcome may also ensue due to an acute or chronic course of the diseases.     

An experimental study of the chemotherapeutic efficacy of flurenizid, a new antitubercular pharmaceutical

The efficacy of a chemotherapeutic effect of flurenizid, a new antituberculous drug, was experimentally demonstrated. Flurenizid is an aromatic heterocyclic derivative. As estimated on the models of hematogenic disseminated and destructive pulmonary tuberculosis, a chemotherapeutic dose of the drug was 20 and 50 mg per kg body weight of an animal. Phagocytotic stimulation and fibrillogenetic intensification represent one of the mechanisms of its action. The most pronounced efficacy of flurenizid was noted when it was combined with isoniazid.