A course of acute respiratory virus infections in patients with metabolic syndrome

AIM: To determine specific features of a course of acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) and changes in immunological status in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, levels of cholesterol, lipoproteins, triglycerides, cytokines and immunoglobulins were measured and glucose tolerance test was made in 120 patients with MS. Registration of ARVI during a year was verified by the presence of antigens in immunofluorescence reaction. RESULTS: MS patients have obesity of an abdominal type and immunoresistance. Concentration of proinflammatory cytokines and leukocyte count in blood increased proportionally to an increase in fat tissue mass, immunoglobulins content went down. ARVI in most evident MS were characterized by a sluggish and areactive onset, longer course, more frequent respiratory and cardiovascular complications. CONCLUSION: MS is a factor of risk of a sluggish and complicated course of ARVI.     

One-Year Follow-up of Duodenal Ulcers after 1-Wk Triple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori

Objective : to study the ulcer recurrence rate of Helicobacter pylori-positive duodenal ulcers at 1 yr after eradication of the bacteria by triple therapy. Method : Patients with H. pylori-positive duodenal ulcers were randomized to receive either triple therapy for 1 wk plus omeprazole for 4 wk (THple+OMP) (n = 78), or omeprazole alone (OMP) for 4 wk (N = 77). Patients were followed up every 3 months for symptom enquiry. At 1 yr, all asymptomatic patients were invited to attend for gastroscopy. Results : At 8 wk, 16 patients in the OMP group and four in the Triple+OMP group had an ulcer. During the 1-yr period, 12 patients in the OMP group and no patient in the Triple+OMP group developed symptomatic ulcers. At follow-up endoscopy at 1 yr, another 10 ulcers were detected in the OMP group and two in the Triple+OMP group. Fifteen patients in the OMP group and 13 in the Triple+OMP group were lost to follow-up. In total, ulcers were de-tected in 39 of 61 (64%) assessahle patients in the OMP group, and in six of 65 (97o) assessahle patients in the Triple+OMP group after I yr (χ² test: p < 0.001). Of the patients whose H, pytori were successfully eradicated hy Triple+OMP at 8 wk, 90% remained H. pylori negative at 1 yr. Conclusion : Triple therapy for 1 wk eradicates H, pylori infection and significantly reduces duodenal ulcer relapses.     

Efficacy of nimodipine in the prophylaxis of migraine

The efficacy of nimodipine in the prophylaxis of migraine was assessed in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study carried out on 33 patients, 20 of whom suffered from classic and 13 from common migraine. Four patients dropped out, but not as a result of the side effects of the drug. The duration of drug treatment was 8 weeks. The dosage used was 30 mg four times daily. Nimodipine proved to be better than placebo, the number of migraine attacks and severity of headache showing a significant reduction. The drug was well tolerated and no marked side effects were noted. The results suggest that nimodipine is a useful new prophylactic drug for migraine, but further studies are needed before its final value can be evaluated.     

Use of affinity interaction of biologically active substances in practice of public health system

AIM: To determine the potentialities of use of affinity interaction of immobilized biologically active substances (bacterial cells or their fragments, toxins, antigens of various chemical nature, immunoglobulins, enzymes, gangliosides, etc.) for medical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Emulsion polymerization of acrylamide monomers in the gaseous nitrogen current was used as a basic method for preparation of solid-phase magnetic immunosorbents (MIC). A procedure for preparation of siliceous MIC was also applied. The prepared MICs were used a solid phase in enzyme immunoassay and immunofluorescence assay and the recorded data were compared with those of studied conventionally used in practical medicine. RESULTS: The use of MIC made it possible to detect pathogens of particularly dangerous infections in large volumes of the samples contaminated with another microflora. With the proposed MIC, one can stand a good chance of surveying large contingents of the population, of obtaining the quantitative results in shorter periods to establish a diagnosis. With this, the sensitivity and specificity of immunoassays substantially increase. Whether MIC may be used as selective hemosorbents to remove specific antibodies from the blood of patients with rheumatic diseases for therapeutic purposes was studied. CONCLUSION: The findings are indicative of wide potentialities of use of affinity interaction of biologically active substances immobilized on inert carriers with the inserted magnetic material in the laboratory diagnosis of diseases of both infectious and autoimmune nature, which may be widely used in the in- and outpatient settings.