(An)aerobic bacteria found in secondary-cataract material. A SEM/TEM study. Twenty four patients, who had marked reduction of vision due to secondary-cataract developed after an ECCE, were treated by surgical cleaning of the posterior lens capsule. During this procedure globular secondary-cataract material was removed and collected for morphological examination by SEM and TEM. Fragments of various sizes and shapes, including some with a 'golf ball' structure, were seen; these closely resembled particles frequently found in cataractous lenses. In addition, in 18 patients micro-organisms were found: rod-shaped bacteria, cocci, and in 2 cases yeasts. These findings were the more remarkable because these were clinically quiet eyes with no signs of intra-ocular inflammation and cultures have been persistently negative. We imagine that these bacteria must have entered the eye during the cataract extraction and have settled there without causing an infection.


Discrepancies between single stimulus and multiple stimulus visual field examinations with the Peritest semi-automated perimeter in glaucoma patients. In a total of 24 randomly selected eyes of glaucoma patients, tested with the automated (single stimulus) and the manual (multiple stimulus) modes of the semi-automated Peritest perimeter, the numbers and depths of defects were compared as estimated with these two different measurement strategies. It was found that with the manual technique considerably less defects were detected than with the automated strategy.


Serotonin (5-HT) and the rat's eye. Some pilot studies. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a biogenic amine which has a multitude of more or less clearly established effects on peripheral vessels. It influences blood viscosity, platelet aggregation, and vasoconstruction and -dilatation, it enhances capillary permeability, it is the precursor of melatonin (a hormone with diurnal production in the eye). Because of these actions a role for serotonin in the development of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy might be suspected. In a series of pilot studies on rats the effects of serotonin on the anterior and posterior segments of the eye were studied. Serotonin had marked influence on the retinal and choroidal vasculature. The optic disk seemed to be very sensitive to serotonin. Possibly it had an influence on the blood-retinal barrier. It caused transient cataracts, probably by decreasing the production of aqueous. It blocked tropicamin-induced mydriasis. The techniques and provisional results of measurement of serotonin in human aqueous are also described.


The Visual Advice Centre, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. An intervenient evaluation. On referral by ophthalmologists, the Visual Advice Centre provides the partially sighted with advice and prescriptions for illumination and visual aids. In this paper the multidisciplinary structure of the centre is presented and the results obtained in the first 18 months of its existence are discussed. Two hundred and ninety-eight patients were referred to the centre in this period. The majority of these patients (79.2%) were older than 60 years. The main cause of visual impairment was macular disease (45.3% of the patients). An interesting finding is that, although reading is an important need, reading problems only constituted 35.9% of the total number of demands for help. From an inquiry into the situation of 125 patients 6 months after prescription, it appears that more than 90% of the aids prescribed are used regularly. The conclusion is drawn that patients referred to the Visual Advice Centre benefit from the multi-disciplinary approach to their problems.


Study of the substructure of the Morgagni and Brunescens cataract with the TAO non-coating technique. Part 1: Morgagni cataract. Lens tissue from a Morgagni cataract was examined by SEM and TEM. For SEM, after prefixation with glutaraldehyde and postfixation with the tannic acid/arginine/OsO4 non-coating (TAO) technique, and for TEM, after prefixation with glutaraldehyde, postfixation with OsO4/K4Fe(CN)6 and poststaining with uranyl acetate/lead citrate. The TAO technique seems to be a particularly suitable postfixation method for the SEM investigation of cataract tissue because of the presence of the protein structures present. The cortical region showed areas of radially, instead of concentrically, arranged lens fibres, degenerated lens fibres with holes (vacuoles), broken ball and socket connections between the lens fibres, and oval or spherical structures varying in size from 0.5-20 microns, the largest resembling a golfball, arising from the cytoplasm of degenerating lens fibres. The smallest, 0.2-0.5 microns, appear to have been expelled from the furrowed lens epithelium.


Study of the substructure of the Morgagni and Brunescens cataract with the TAO non-coating technique. Part 2: Brunescens cataract. Lens tissue from a Brunescens cataract was prepared for SEM study by prefixation with glutaraldehyde and postfixation with the tannic acid/arginine/OsO4 combination; for TEM study the material was prefixed with glutaraldehyde, postfixed with OsO4/K4Fe(CN)6 and poststained with uranyl acetate/lead citrate. At low magnification, in contrast to the Morgagni cataract, no difference could be seen between the lens fibres in the cortical and nuclear areas. Morphologically, the destruction of the ball and socket system and the development of holes and spherical structures was striking. The latter appeared to have a thin coating and, after fracture, were either empty or showed remnants of material resembling membranes. In sections of the cataractous material, larger vacuoles containing smaller spheres were indistinctly visible.


Comparative anatomy of the vitreous body in rhesus monkeys and man. In the isolated unfixed vitreous body a structural organization can be visualized by slitlamp microscopy or by an ink-injection technique. We discuss the observations on human and rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) vitreous bodies using the ink-injection technique. Advantages and disadvantages of this method compared with slitlamp microscopy are described. Eventual functional implications of vitreal organization are mentioned briefly.


An analysis of colour vision in 10,000 patients. Examination of a great number of patients resulted in the depth localisation theory. The combination of this theory with the fixation-eccentrisation theory is clinically useful: acquired colour vision defects can be subdivided by the fixation mode and by signs of receptor damage. There are indications that in multiple sclerosis the slowly progressive cases present with more receptor damage than the acute cases.


Ocular lubricants and intraocular stray light. The question was raised whether ocular lubricants or artificial tears might have adverse effects on optical clarity of the eye. Eight current commercial products were tested on five young subjects, using the Straylight Meter. No adverse effects were found.


Towards a classification of visual impairment. For the rehabilitation of people with impaired vision, it is essential to have adequate (preferably quantitative) information about their residual visual functions. Special attention is given to the extra information provided by the results of measurement of the contrast sensitivity, especially in combination with the results of other measurements, such as the visual field, the amount of intraocular straylight and the visual acuity. The value of the contrast sensitivity function as a predictor of the extent of dysfunctioning in the visual activities of everyday life, such as outdoor vision, reading and recognition of faces, will be discussed. As far as this is concerned, a comparison is made between the value of visual acuity and contrast sensitivity as measures of the extent of vision and visual dysfunctioning.


Possible relation between HLA and ABO type and prognosis of uveal melanoma. Not only local parameters but also genetic determinants like the HLA genes may play a role in the development and clinical behavior of malignant tumors. In skin melanoma the presence of HLA-B40 is associated with a poor prognosis. We tested the hypothesis that the clinical behavior of uveal melanoma is influenced by the HLA type of the patient. The HLA types of 44 patients with uveal melanoma had been determined before operation with a view to using the cornea of the enucleated eye for an HLA-matched corneal transplantation. We compared the ABO and HLA types of the patients with the development of metastases and with the ten-year patient survival. An association was observed between the presence of HLA-B40 and death due to metastasis of uveal melanoma. We conclude that the HLA type of the patient may influence the clinical behavior not only of skin melanoma but also of uveal melanoma.


Iris nevi and melanomas: a clinical follow-up study. A follow-up study of 113 patients with suspicious iris nevi who were referred to our clinic between 1973 and 1991 was carried out by: reviewing their clinical records, fluorescein angiography, obtaining recent data with cooperation of their own or the referring ophthalmologist and contacting patients for reexamination. After examination the diagnoses were: 64 suspicious nevi, 23 melanomas, 15 ciliary body tumors with iris involvement and 11 other pseudomelanomas. In the group of suspicious nevi 86% was localized in the inferior part and 66% in the temporal part of the iris; for the melanoma group these figures were 78% and 75% respectively. The chamber angle was more often involved in the melanoma group, 40% against 17% in the suspicious nevi group. In this group 11 cases (21.6%) showed growth during the follow-up (mean 10.6 years). In three cases the tumor was surgically removed, with as histopathologic diagnosis: 1 xanthogranuloma, 1 neurolemmoma and 1 possible melanoma. In the melanoma group 16 lesions (76%) showed growth during the follow-up (mean 7.2 years), in most cases within 5 years of the initial diagnosis. The lesion was surgically removed in 11 cases. The histopathologic diagnoses were: 8 melanomas, 1 xanthogranuloma, 1 possible melanoma and 1 metastasis of a skin melanoma. Our study shows that periodic ophthalmic check-ups are of great importance in the management of iris lesions suspect for melanoma.


Analysis of the electroretinogram in toxoplasma retinochorioiditis. The decision to use therapy in toxoplasma retinochorioiditis depends on the location of the active lesion and the presence of vitreous activity. In eyes with dense vitreous clouding it can be difficult to see whether the macular region is involved or not. In theory the localisation of a lesion can be estimated on the basis of the flash ERG. The standard flash electroretinogram was recorded in 23 patients with inactive toxoplasma retinochorioiditis lesions in the retina. In 17 cases a lesion was present within the central 12 degrees of the visual field, 8 of these had a reduced photopic ERG. In 15 patients lesions were found outside the central 12 degrees, in 8 of whom the scotopic ERG was reduced. We conclude that the ERG can be of use in indicating the scar location in patients with dense vitreous clouding.


Late consecutive exodeviations.

Late consecutive exodeviations. A retrospective study was made of the case-histories of 48 patients with late consecutive exodeviations, which had occurred after surgical treatment of a primary convergent squint. An evident predisposition towards the late appearance of the exodeviation could not be demonstrated. In some cases there seemed directly to have been a slight overcorrection, within the limits of operative success. In spite of the attempted overcorrection in a second operation on account of 'exodrift', recurrence of the exodeviation often occurs.


Kearns-Sayre's syndrome developing in a boy who survived pearson's syndrome caused by mitochondrial DNA deletion. A 7-year-old boy presented with bilateral ptosis and atypical retinitis pigmentosa. Before age two, he had had an Fe-refractory anemia, with neutropenia and thrombopenia. Just prior to the ophthalmic examination, the patient developed lactate acidosis, muscular hypotonia, ataxia and increased protein in the spinal fluid. Pancytopenia, pancreas dysfunction and growth retardation are the main features of Pearson's syndrome, most children not surviving beyond age three. The cause of Pearson's syndrome in our patient turned out to be a 5 kb deletion in the mitochondrial DNA. Similar deletions have been described in the Kearns-Sayre syndrome. It seems that children who survive the initial phase of Pearson's syndrome, may develop Kearns-Sayre syndrome.


Costs and methods of preventive visual screening and the relation between esotropia and increasing hypermetropia. Atkinson has shown that early correction of hypermetropia reduces the incidence of esotropia. If esotropia is reduced by prescribing glasses early, the rate of esotropia-induced amblyopia can be similarly reduced; this would have important economic consequences. We have studied (1) how costs compare to benefits in early visual screening, (2) how videorefraction as used by Atkinson compares to retinoscopy, and (3) whether esotropia is more likely to occur in children who have increasing as opposed to decreasing hypermetropia. The costs of the study so far have been high. It was exceedingly difficult to get all infants invited, come to the clinic and examined. Videorefraction did not compare favourably with retinoscopy in terms of costs and precision, whereas the amount of skill and time needed was approximately equal. The third question, whether esotropia is more likely to occur in children who have increasing as opposed to decreasing hypermetropia, arose from the controversy whether, in the general population, refraction increases or decreases during the first years of life. We found that papers reporting a decrease of hypermetropia in early childhood were studies of large cross-sections of the general population, whereas papers that reported an initial increase originated from ophthalmological practices or strabismus departments. These conflicting results could be reconciled by assuming a population bias: if esotropia is more likely to occur in children with increasing hypermetropia, children with increasing hypermetropia will preferentially be seen by ophthalmologists. It seems natural that children with increasing hypermetropia are more likely to squint, because additional accommodation, needed to overcome increasing hypermetropia, will inevitably confer additional convergence. This relationship has meanwhile been confirmed by others.


Mersilene (polyester), a new suture for penetrating keratoplasty. Mersilene (polyester monofilament) seems to be suitable for penetrating keratoplasty because it is strong, shows no degradation by ultraviolet light, is insoluble, so that it can be left in situ, and offers the possibility of regulating postoperative astigmatism by suture adjustment. In 12 patients penetrating keratoplasty was performed with the combined interrupted/running suturing technique, using eight interrupted nylon 10-0 sutures and one running Mersilene 11-0 suture. The results were compared with those of 25 patients in whom eight interrupted nylon 10-0 sutures and one running nylon 11-0 suture were used. Six months after penetrating keratoplasty, no differences could be found between the two groups in keratometric astigmatism, visual acuity or slitlamp findings. In three patients postoperative adjustment of the running Mersilene suture reduced astigmatism by 50, 90 and 100% respectively. In an animal study the behaviour of Mersilene in the cornea was evaluated by slitlamp examination, histology and electron-microscopy. The tissue response to Mersilene was minimal. Considering the resemblance to nylon in clinical findings, minimal tissue response, lack of biodegradation and possibility of regulating postoperative astigmatism by suture adjustment, Mersilene seems to be a suitable material for penetrating keratoplasty.


The determination of the central static visual acuity. In identical experimental situations we tested 22 adults with our proposed Landolt C wall-chart and the so-called TNO Landolt-C chart. Contrary to theoretical expectations, it appeared that there was only a slight difference in the measured visual acuities. Further study will show whether this is an incidental or a structural occurrence.


Selective inhibition of in vitro cell growth by the anti-tumour drug Ukrain. The inhibitory effect of Ukrain on malignant cells and on normal cells, in vitro, has been compared. To obtain a 50% inhibition of cell growth, a tenfold concentration had to be used with normal endothelial cells compared to a human osteosarcoma cell line. Hybrids of the two cell types showed nearly the same sensitivity as normal cells. A laser scanning microscope showed a high uptake of Ukrain in malignant cells, while the content in normal cells under the same experimental conditions was substantially lower.


Modification of antinociceptive action of morphine by Ukrain in rodents. Morphine-induced (0.1 mg/kg s.c.)antinociceptive action was determined in rodents by using the writhing syndrome, hot plate and tail-flick tests. Ukrain given i.p. in doses equivalent to 0.05 and 0.1 LD50 did not affect the reactivity of the mice in the writhing syndrome test. Only in a dose of 0.1 LD50 did Ukrain produce an antinociceptive effect in the hot-plate and tail-flick tests. Ukrain significantly enhanced the antinociceptive effect of morphine in the hot-plate and tail-flick tests. The action of morphine was significantly suppressed by Ukrain in the writhing syndrome test in mice. These results indicated that Ukrain modified the antinociceptive action of morphine.


Effect of Ukrain on the efficacy of anti-epileptic drugs against maximal electroshock-induced seizures in mice. It has been found that Ukrain, given intraperitoneally (i.p.), did not influence the threshold for maximal electroconvulsions in mice. Ukrain in doses of 9.5 and 19 mg/kg significantly enhanced the protective efficacy of valproate, decreasing the ED50 values. However, Ukrain had no effect on the protection provided by diazepam, carbamazepine, diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbital. The combined treatment with Ukrain and anti-epileptic drugs did not cause any signs of toxicity.


Studies concerning the effect of Ukrain in vivo and in vitro. Ukrain, a reaction product of different alkaloids of Chelidonium majus L. (celandine) with Thio tepa has been investigated for possible use as an anticancer agent. A possible tumour inhibiting effect on the Ehrlich mouse ascites tumour is now tested in vivo. Moreover, possible changes in the oxygen consumption of mouse ascites tumour cells and a guinea pig liver homogenate are to be determined after the administration of Ukrain in vitro with the aid of an oxygen electrode.


In vitro effects of Chelidonium majus L. alkaloid thiophosphoric acid conjugates (Ukrain) on the phenotype of normal human lymphocytes. Several plant-derived drugs are used in medical oncology (1-3). The thiophosphoric acid-alkaloid derivative from the plant Chelidonium majus L. (Ukrain) has been produced since 1978 by Nowicky. (Austrian Patent No. 354644, Vienna, 25 January 1980). It has been reported that this drug may exert therapeutic effects in cancer patients by modulating their immune systems (4, 5-8). The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the possibility that Ukrain may influence the phenotype of lymphocyte subpopulations isolated from healthy donors.


Teratological evaluation of Ukrain in hamsters and rats. The compound Ukrain, containing thiophosphoric acid alkaloid derivatives from the plant Chelidonium majus L., was given intramusculary (i.m.) on days 6-11 of gestation to hamsters and on days 6-15 of gestation to rats in doses of 0.1, 1.67 and 28 mg/kg daily. No clinical signs of toxicity were found in treated animals and no teratogenic effect could be noted in either species. Such parameters as the number of corpora lutea, implantation sites, pre and post-implantation losses, number of live foetuses per litter, placental weight, foetal weight and crown-rump length were not significantly different between the Ukrain treated rats and the controls. Slight embryotoxic effects (increased post-implantation losses) and in consequence decreased number of average litter size were noted in hamsters exposed to Ukrain at doses which were otherwise not embryotoxic to rats.


Evaluation of mutagenic, genotoxic and transforming properties of Ukrain. Evaluation of mutagenic and genotoxic properties of Ukrain was on the basis of the Ames and micronucleus tests. Ukrain was investigated for its ability to induce morphological transformation of embryonic cells of the Syrian hamster. Under the experimental condition used in this study, Ukrain was found to be non-mutagenic and non-genotoxic, and furthermore did not induce morphological cell transformation.


The immunomodulating preparation Ukrain does not induce anaphylactic sensitization in mice and guinea pigs. The ability of Chelidonium majus L. alkaloids derivative Ukrain to induce an anaphylactic sensitization was tested on mice and guinea pigs. The levels of IgE antibody in the mouse sera, and IgG1a, IgG1b as well as IgE antibody levels in guinea pig sera, were evaluated by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) tests. Ukrain alone or adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide gel (alum) introduced into BALB/c mice in several subcutaneous injections was unable to stimulate measurable anti-Ukrain IgE antibody response. Moreover, Ukrain introduced together with ovalbumin (OA) into mice in the course of immunization with OA induced lower anti-OA antibody response as compared to the response induced by OA alone. Ukrain adsorbed on alum and injected subcutaneously into guinea pigs did not induce measurable IgG1a, IgG1b and IgE antibody response. The present results suggest that the immunomodulating preparation Ukrain could be therapeutically safe at least as far its inability to induce anaphylaxis is concerned.


Clinical studies of Ukrain in healthy volunteers (phase 1). Phase I of a clinical study of Ukrain was performed in 19 healthy outpatient volunteers. Their general clinical conditions were evaluated, as well as the following parameters: biochemical, haematological, immunological, electrolyte and trace elements, neopterin, immune complexes and non specific blocking factors. Ukrain was administered intramuscularly (i.m.) or intravenously (i.v.) every one, two or three days in doses of 5 to 50 mg for 7 to 40 days. In one case the drug was administered for three years in the dose of 5 to 50 mg/injection in repeated courses. During the investigation no significant changes were found in clinical states. During the intramuscular injections the volunteers felt only localized pain; some reported drowsiness, increased thirst and polyurea. There was a slight, insignificant increase in body temperature and negligible decrease of blood pressure in some cases. In conclusion, it can be said that Ukrain is well tolerated in healthy volunteers in the doses of 5, 10, 20, and 50 mg/injection, even during prolonged (up to three years) administration.


Clinical studies of Ukrain in terminal cancer patients (phase II). Phase II of clinical studies was performed on 70 patients, ranging in age from 14 to 80 years, (27 male, 43 female) to determine the appropriate dose range for Ukrain and the clarification of dose/response relationships, in order to provide an optimal background for wider therapeutic trials. The following parameters were studied: physiological (pulse, blood pressure, temperature); biochemical, haematological and immunological. Electrolytes and trace elements were investigated, as well as neopterin, tumour markers, immune complexes, non specific blocking factors, development of tumours and metastases in quantitative respects (by X-ray, CT, scintigrams and US). The patients' general conditions were also assessed. Ukrain was given intramuscularly or intravenously every one, two, three, four or five days, or according to other schemata, in the dose range of 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 mg increasing (2.5 to 25 mg per injection), decreasing (25 to 2.5 mg per injection) and stable (5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 mg per injection). Duration of one course of therapy was between 10 days and 90 days. Intervals between courses ranged from 7 days to 3 months. In order to find dose/duration/interval/response-relationships, some cases were treated after chemoradiotherapy, some as adjuvant therapy to chemo-radiotherapy and alternatives such as iscador, and some as monotherapy. All patients were at terminal stages of their disease.


Enhancement of macrophage tumouricidal activity by the alkaloid derivative Ukrain. In vitro and in vivo studies. Ukrain is a semisynthetic drug with immunomodulatory properties, derived from Chelidonium majus L. alkaloids and thiophosphoric acid. The effect of this compound on the growth of Balb/c syngenic mammary adenocarcinoma was assessed. Intravenous, but not subcutaneous or intraperitoneal, administration of this drug was found to be effective in delaying tumour growth in an actual therapeutic protocol initiated five days after tumour implantation. No untoward side-effects were observed using these in vivo treatment modalities. The role of macrophages in the observed retardation of tumour development was investigated using peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM) in cytotoxicity assays. In previous studies, the authors have found that PEM of mammary tumour bearing mice lose their capacity to kill a variety of tumour target cells including the in vitro cultured homologous tumour cells (DA-3). Pretreatment of PEM from normal mice with 2.5 microM Ukrain for 24 h followed by stimulation with either IFN-gamma or with LPS+IFN-gamma enhanced their cytotoxic activity. Treatment of PEM from tumour bearing mice with 2.5 microM Ukrain and LPS results in a reversal of their defective cytotoxic response against the DA-3 target cells. Furthermore, Ukrain alone, in the absence of a secondary signal, induced the activation of tumouricidal function of PEM from tumour bearing but not from normal mice. These data indicate that Ukrain's in vivo effects against the development of mammary tumours may be due, at least in part, to its ability to restore macrophage cytolytic function.


Ukrain both as an anti cancer and immunoregulatory agent. Thirty six stage III cancer patients were treated with Ukrain, a semisynthetic drug derived from Chelidonium majus L. alkaloids conjugated with thiophosphoric acid. The drug was injected intravenously every second day in a dose of 10 mg per injection. Each patient received 300 mg of the drug (30 injections). The cytostatic effect of Ukrain was monitored clinically and by ultrasonography (USG) and computer tomography (CT), as well as by determination of CEA and CA-125 in the sera of patients with rectal and ovarian cancers, respectively. The influence of Ukrain on immune parameters was evaluated by monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to CD2, CD4, CD8 and CD22. The influence of Ukrain on immune parameters in cancer patients was matched with its effect on these parameters in 20 healthy volunteer controls. The results obtained indicate that Ukrain, in a concentration not cytostatic in normal cells, is cytostatic for malignant ones, and may suppress the growth of cancer. The compound also has immunoregulatory properties, regulating the T lymphocyte subsets.


Preliminary studies on the effect of Ukrain (Tris(2-([5bS-(5ba,6b,12ba)]- 5b,6,7,12b,13,14-hexahydro-13-methyl[1,3] benzodioxolo[5,6-v]-1-3- dioxolo[4,5-i]phenanthridinium-6-ol]-Ethaneaminyl)Phosphinesulfide.6HCl ) on the immunological response in patients with malignant tumours. Preliminary clinical observations and studies on immunological response-indicators were made in eight patients with malignant tumours, who had been administered parenteral injections of Ukrain. The results suggest that the preparation is a non-toxic immunostimulator inducing production of thymodependent T lymphocytes. The preparation improves general health of patients, has anti-allergic action, and sedative and anti-inflammatory effects. It can inhibit growth of malignant tumours.


Lymphocyte subsets in patients with lung cancer treated with thiophosphoric acid alkaloid derivatives from Chelidonium majus L. (Ukrain). Lymphocyte subsets were evaluated in nine men (aged 42-68 years, mean 57 years) with histologically proven lung cancer, previously untreated. Lymphocyte subpopulations were quantified by immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies against total T-cells, T-helper and T-suppressor cells. In addition, the percentage of NK cells and the helper/suppressor (H/S) ratio were evaluated. The number of B-cells was determined by surface immunoglobulin immunofluorescence. Chelidonium majus L. (preparation Ukrain) was applied as an intravenous injection every three days. One course consisted of 10 applications of 10 mg each. All immunological tests were performed before and after drug administration. The treatment was generally well tolerated. The results showed an increase in the proportion of total T-cells, and a significant decrease in the percentage of T-suppressor cells. The normalization of the H/S ratio was also noted. However, there were no signs of activation of NK, T-helper and B-cells. The restoration of cellular immunity was accompanied by an improvement in the clinical course of the disease. This effect was particularly pronounced in patients who responded to further chemotherapy. Objective tumour regression (CR+PR) was seen in 44.4% of treated patients. Four out of nine patients (44.4%) died of progressive disease during the course of this study. It is concluded that Ukrain can be immunologically effective in lung cancer patients and can improve human cellular response.


The effects of thiophosphoric acid (Ukrain) on cervical cancer, stage IB bulky. This study was carried out to determine the clinical and immune response of a stage IB voluminous uterine cervical cancer to thiophosphoric acid alkaloid derivatives from Chelidoniium majus L. (Ukrain). The drugs were administered 10 mg intramuscularly every other day, for up to 10 injections. The two largest diameters and tumour volumes were measured and laboratory and immunological tests were performed before and after Ukrain administration. The patients were then operated on with type III Piver's radical hysterectomy. Three out of nine eligible cases had partial responses while six cases remained stable. Decreased total B lymphocytes and suppressor T lymphocytes were observed as well as increased total numbers of T lymphocytes and helper T lymphocytes. There was no single case of clinical or haematological toxicity apart from mild nausea. Two patients were treated with adjuvant radiotherapy due to lymphatic involvement and all nine patients were still alive at least six months after follow-up.


Chelidonium majus L. (Ukrain) in the treatment of cancer patients. Ukrain, a semi-synthetic thiophosphoric acid compound of alkaloid chelidonine isolated from Chelidonium Majus L., Tris(2-([5bS-(5ba,6b,12ba)]-5b,6,7,12b,13,14- Hexahydro-13-methyl][1,3]-benzodioxolo[5,6-c]-1,3-dioxolo[4, 5- i]phenanthridinium-6-ol]-Ethaneaminyl) Phosphinesulfide 6HCl, causes a regression of tumours and metastases in many oncological patients. More than 400 documented patients with various carcinomas in different stages of development have been treated with Ukrain. The authors report on only three different cases treated with preparation Ukrain. Ukrain can be helpful in improving the general condition and prolonging life by reduction of the tumour progression and its immunomodulating effect on the organism.


Effect of three months treatment with Ukrain on peripheral blood morphology in rodents. Studies on Albino Swiss mice and Wistar rats have demonstrated that Ukrain administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) for three months produces the following effects in the haematologic parameters: increased leucocytes and decreased thrombocytes. The haemoglobin and erythrocyte levels, as well as haematocrit value, were unchanged. In the leucogram changes were observed; i.e., a fall in the number of neutrophil segments and an increase in the lymphocyte count. The erythrocyte indices, P.C.V., M.C.V., M.C.H. and M.C.H.C. were not changed by a period of three months i.p. Ukrain administration. The observed changes were more marked in female than in male animals and were greater in mice than in rats.


Effect of single and three months treatment with Ukrain on aminotransferases (ALT and AST) and on the serum protein level in rodents. The influence of Ukrain on the activity of aminotransferases (ALT and AST) and on the serum total protein content was estimated in mice and rats of both sexes receiving single or repeated doses of the drug. It was found that one hour after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of Ukrain no characteristic changes were recorded in the activity of the investigated enzymes, or in the serum protein content of animals of either sex. Similar effects were observed after three months treatment with Ukrain in rats of either sex. Only in mice receiving Ukrain for three months was a rise in ALT and AST activity found. No particular changes were observed in the total serum protein level, except for a small decreases in the sera of male mice.


Effect of single and prolonged administration of Ukrain on prolactin concentration in rats. The effect of single and prolonged administration of Ukrain on the serum prolactin concentrations in rats of both sexes was investigated. One hour after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of Ukrain in rats, in doses of 7, 14 and 28 mg/kg, the drug did not affect their serum prolactin concentration. Only in a dose of 28 mg/kg did this drug decrease serum prolactin in a group of female rats. Repeated i.p. treatment (once daily for three months) with 7, 14 and 28 mg/kg of Ukrain significantly increased the serum prolactin concentration in rats of both sexes. The most marked effect was observed in the group of female rats.


Interaction between Ukrain and aminophenazone in analgesic tests in rodents. The effect of Ukrain on the analgesic activity of aminophenazone was studied in mice and rats. Antinociceptive action induced by aminophenazone in doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.) was determined by using the writhing syndrome, hot-plate tests and tail-flick latency. The action of aminophenazone was significantly enhanced by Ukrain in the writhing syndrome test and in the tail-flick test. Antinociceptive action of aminophenazone was decreased by Ukrain in the hot-plate test in mice. These results suggest that Ukrain, given simultaneously with aminophenazone, changes susceptibility of animals to nociceptive reaction in the tests performed.


Ultrastructural-morphometric effects of radiotherapy on pituitary adenomas in acromegaly. Within a series of 22 irradiated GH-producing adenomas we studied by light microscopical and morphometrical means the grading of nuclear pleomorphism, the proportion of densely granulated cells, the number of mitoses, multinuclear cells, necrotic or necrobiotic cells, and the degree of fibrosis in comparison to non-irradiated tumours. By electronmicroscopical morphometry we investigated the changes in area, circumference, area percentage, and number of intracellular structures. The rate of necrobiotic cells and the grade of nuclear pleomorphism were significantly higher in the irradiated tumours. The fibrotic areas were larger. No differences were observed in the degree of granulation and the rate of multinuclear cells. Mitoses were found in only one tumour. Within the group of the well-differentiated adenomas the areas and circumferences of the nuclei, nucleoli, mitochondria, immature secretory granules, and secretory granules increased significantly. The area percentages of the nuclei, mitochondria, immature secretory granules, and secretory granules increased as well. The mitochondria, Golgi-fields, and the rough endoplasmatic reticulum decreased in number. The undifferentiated adenomas changed almost in the same significant way. To us most of these changes are a sign of irradiation damage. The enlargement of intracellular structures could be a sign of an increased rate of secretory activity.


The influence of exogenous oxytoxin on labelling of secretory epithelium of mouse mammary gland by [3H]leucine, evidenced by autoradiography. It has been suggested that oxytocin, besides its milk-ejecting activity, is also involved in the hormonal regulation of the mammary gland secretory cells. The available data, however, are conflicting. In this study two independent experiments, separated by a certain time interval show that oxytocin intravenously administered to mice at days 10-14 of lactation diminished the incorporation of [3H]leucine into the mammary gland tissue by 32 and 53 per cent, respectively. The neurohormone was co-injected with the tracer amino acid. The radioactivity taken up by the secretory cells was estimated by light microscopic autoradiography. The autoradiograms were evaluated by visual silver grain counting. Tissue radioactivity was measured by liquid scintillation counting. A milk stasis in the mammary gland induced by depriving the mice of suckling two hours before tracer injection had no influence on the secretory activity of the glandular cells. It is assumed that oxytocin has a direct effect on the milk-producing cells, and that the reduction in measurable radioactivity caused by the neurohormone may be due to an accelerated intracellular passage of labelled milk proteins.


Serum levels of steroid hormones in men with varicocele and oligospermia as compared to normozoospermic men. In order to assess the contribution of individual steroidogenic organs to over-all steroid biosynthesis, the basal plasma levels of six hormonal steroids, reflecting the function of gonads and adrenals, as well as both gonadotropins and prolactin, have been determined in 63 oligo- and/or asthenozoospermic men with palpable varicocele, confirmed in each case by sonography. The values obtained were compared with the results of a group of age-matched normospermic men without endocrine disorders. Insignificantly lower levels of testosterone accompanied by significantly lower levels of dihydrotestosterone, slightly decreased LH but increased FSH undistinguishable concentrations of cortisol in patients with varicocele were in agreement with previous findings. Higher levels of an exclusively adrenal androgen 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione in men with varicocele indicate increased activity of the adrenal cortex. Significantly higher basal levels of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone in the patient group (p < 0.001), so far not unequivocally proved, evidence for suggested decreased enzyme activity of C17-20 lyase in the testis in at least some of men with varicocele.


Glycoregulation is not altered by short-term administration of diltiazem in nondiabetic humans. In this study changes in glucose assimilation during an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was investigated in 12 clinically healthy normotensive women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 (range 22-31). This was assessed by coefficient Kg, the level of glycosylated proteins and insulin, C-peptide and contraregulating hormone secretion after seven days of oral administration of diltiazem, a calcium current blocker (180 mg per day). In spite of the fact that diltiazem protracted electrocardiographic QT interval from 0.16 +/- 0.008 to 0.18 +/- 0.009 s. (p < 0.01), QaT from 0.29 +/- 0.007 to 0.31 +/- 0.008 s. (p < 0.05), QeT from 0.35 +/- 0.009 to 0.37 +/- 0.009 s. (p < 0.01), it did not affect Kg in any significant way, nor did it affect the glycosylated protein levels, insulin and C-peptide secretion, nor the secretion of adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, cortisol and growth hormone. Thus although diltiazem is a highly effective drug as far as the cardiovascular system is concerned, short-term administration of therapeutic doses of 180 mg/day is not associated with glycoregulatory risks.


Altered terminal glycosylation of thyroglobulin in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Samples of thyroglobulin (Tg) were isolated from specimens of differentiated thyroid carcinoma of the papillary type and from normal adjacent glandular tissue, and the content of sialic acid was estimated. Also the in vitro incorporation of 14C-sialic acid, in the form of both CMP (cytidine 5'-monophospho-)--activated and non-activated N-acetyl-neuraminic acid, into Tg of malignant and morphologically normal thyroid. The sialic acid content of Tg preparations from papillary thyroid carcinomas varied considerably (0.27-0.92 mg/100 mg Tg). In six cancerous Tg samples the content of sialic acid was markedly lower than that in Tg from the corresponding apparently normal thyroid tissue (0.71:1.11 mg per 100 mg Tg). In addition, in comparison with the control, the incorporation of non-activated 14C-sialic acid into Tg of malignant thyroid tissue was considerably lower (-41%). However, the incorporation of CMP-activated 14C-sialic acid into cancerous Tg was greater than into Tg of morphologically unchanged tissue of the same gland (+29%). The reduced content and incorporation rate of sialic acid into Tg of differentiated thyroid carcinoma is probably the consequence of disturbances in terminal glycosylation of the Tg molecule in malignantly transformed thyroid tissue. The enhanced incorporation of CMP-sialic acid into cancerous Tg suggests that Tg sialylation in carcinoma is probably altered in the sialic acid activation phase.


The influence of testosterone substitution on bone mineral density in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome. The aim of this study was to clarify the extent of bone mineral deficiency in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome on the premise that testosterone substitution could prevent this deficiency. Bone mineral density was measured by single-photon absorptiometry in 42 patients with Klinefelter's syndrome, (21 patients without therapy, 10 with testosterone substitution before the age of 20 and 11 patients with testosterone substitution beginning after the age of 20). We found significantly lower bone mineral density in patients without therapy and in patients when the therapy began later compared to normal individuals. Patients with early therapy showed a high proportion of normal values of bone mineral density. We found a positive correlation between bone mineral density and plasma testosterone and a negative correlation between plasma testosterone and age for patients without therapy. These findings suggest that low testosterone levels before or during puberty cause inadequate bone development and low bone mineral density in Klinefelter's syndrome. Only early testosterone substitution may prevent bone mineral deficiency. Later substitution no longer affects bone mineral density.


Further findings on the inhibitory effect of estradiol benzoate on the circulation and on 45Ca and 3H-proline incorporation in rat bones. Various aspects of the effect of estradiol benzoate (EB, Agofollin Depot, Czechoslovakia, usually in a s.c. dose of 5 mg/kg body weight once a week), on the local circulation (the uptake of 85Sr-microspheres), the incorporation of 45Ca and 3H-proline, bone density and ash weight related to bone volume were studied in six experiments in the tibia and distal femur of 224 rats. 1. The dose-response. In rats treated four weeks with doses of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg EB per rat once a week, a significant correlation with the uptake of 85Sr-microspheres (r = -0.56), the blood flow (r = -0.56), the incorporations of 45Ca (r = -0.89) and 3H-proline (r = -0.35) and body weight (r = -0.71) was demonstrated. 2. The time course of changes after 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks administration of EB. Circulatory values were not significantly lowered until after four weeks, 45Ca incorporation and body weight were significantly lower after only one week and 3H-proline incorporation did not fall until after eight weeks. The course of the uptake of 85Sr-microspheres and the incorporation of 45Ca were very similar. 3. Comparison of males and females. EB reduced circulatory values and 45Ca and 3H-proline incorporation and increased bone density and bone ash weight in both males and females. Conclusions. The decrease in the local bone blood flow after EB showed a significant dose-effect correlation; the decrease in circulatory values, on using the given administration method, is significant after four weeks. The inhibitory effect of EB on the bone blood flow is not sex-specific.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Critical care hypercalcemia--a hyperparathyroid state. Hypocalcemia is a well known finding in critically ill patients. Subsequent occurrence of mild hypercalcemia has also been reported. In order to investigate the incidence and nature of critical care hypercalcemia serum calcium was measured in 83 critically ill ICU patients (TISS score > or = 40) and related to the occurrence of acute renal failure (ARF) and severity of illness, evaluated by the APACHE-II and the multiple organ failure scoring systems. Thirty-two percent of the patients developed hypercalcemia (serum calcium > or = 2.60 mmol/l) during their ICU stay. These hypercalcemic episodes (mean maximal value 2.71 +/- 0.12 mmol/l) were more common and occurred earlier in patients with co-existing ARF. However, multiple regression analysis showed the number of failing organ systems in the first days to be the best predictors for later occurrence of hypercalcemia (p < 0.0001). When serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) was measured in 6 of the patients without ARF during their hypercalcemic episodes, PTH was not suppressed but slightly elevated, to a similar extent as in patients with mild primary hyperparathyroidism. In conclusion, a high incidence of hypercalcemia was found in critically ill ICU patients. The hypercalcemia was mild and was more frequently found in patients with co-existing renal failure. The most powerful predictor to later occurrence of hypercalcemia was however the severity of the illness in itself. The raised levels of PTH found during the hypercalcemic episodes suggest ICU hypercalcemia to be caused by parathyroid overactivity.


Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and vasopressin and oxytocin release: in vitro as well as in vivo studies. Rats euhydrated and dehydrated for two or four days were given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in a daily dose of 200 ng dissolved in 10 microliters of 0.9% sodium chloride.) A single dose of TRH administered to euhydrated animals was followed by a significant increase of the vasopressin content in the neurohypophysis and hypothalamus as well as of the hypothalamic oxytocin content. On the contrary, a single dose of TRH decreased the oxytocin content in the neurohypophysis. Under conditions of dehydration TRH distinctly restrained the decrease of vasopressin and oxytocin in the hypothalamus. In animals dehydrated for two or four days the decrease of oxytocin in the neurohypophysis, brought about by stimulation of osmoreceptors, was distinctly more marked under treatment with TRH. On the contrary, the depletion of neurohypophysial vasopressin was significantly less apparent under such conditions. 28 nmol/L TRH markedly increased vasopressin release but inhibited that of oxytocin from the neurointermediate lobes incubated in vitro both under basal conditions as well as during stimulation with excess (56 mmol) potassium.


Postoperative hyperglycaemia--are the patients diabetic? The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and causes of postoperative hyperglycaemia. Blood sugar was measured after operation in 262 patients who had undergone minor emergency operations, when the patients were receiving 5% glucose infusion at the rate of 170 ml/h. In 32 patients (12%) blood glucose was over 8.0 mmol/l. Serum insulin concentration in these patients was significantly higher than in reference patients, who had blood glucose below 5.5 mmol/l. The number of insulin receptors in red cells and the affinity of insulin to receptors were similar in both groups. Serum cortisol was higher, but free fatty acid concentration lower, in the hyperglycaemic group than in the reference group. The tests done postoperatively were repeated two weeks later without surgical stress. The values recorded, indicating the patients' normal metabolism, did not differ between the two groups, except that serum cortisol was somewhat higher in the reference patients. The oral glucose tolerance test was normal in all patients except one. The results suggest that patients prone to postoperative hyperglycaemia are not diabetic, but that their production of glucose is increased during surgical stress.


The effect of azathioprine, cyclosporine A and insulin on the in vitro lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in type I diabetic patients. Previously both specific and nonspecific immune reactions have been reported in patients with type I diabetes mellitus. In this study the effect of various immunosuppressive drugs and insulin was studied on in vitro lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in 20 type I diabetic patients. Twenty sex- and age-matched healthy subjects served as controls. Human pancreas-extract (300 micrograms/ml protein)-coated, 51-Chromium labeled chicken erythrocytes were used as target cells and separated T-lymphocytes as effector cells with and without azathioprine 50 micrograms/50 microliters (Wellcome), Cyclosporine A 5 ng/50 microliters (Sandoz) and MC Actrapid insulin 0.1 IU/50 microliters (Novo). The degree of cytotoxicity was expressed with cytotoxic capacity: the number of maximal killed target cells. Simultaneously islet cell antibodies (ICA) in sera and the number of activated T-lymphocytes were assessed. Significant lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity was observed in the majority of type I diabetic patients (18/20), while no cytotoxicity was found in the control cases. The cytotoxicity decreased in all 16 patients using azathioprine or insulin, independently of ICA and HLA-DR positivity. The number of killed target cells was lowered considerably by Cyclosporine A in all 18 patients having cytotoxicity against pancreas-extract. Our observations reveal that Cyclosporine A proved to be the most effective immunosuppressive agent in vitro. It decreases not only the leucocyte migration inhibition as previously observed, but also the lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity, which represents the late stage of cellular immune reactions against pancreatic tissue.


Adrenergic mechanism in hyperketonemia in thyrotoxic and starved rats. To evaluate the possible role of the adrenergic mechanism in hyperketonemia in hyperthyroidism and starvation, the plasma concentrations of FFA, acetoacetate (AcAc), and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) were measured in thyrotoxic and starved rats for 96 hours. Thyrotoxemia was induced in rats by a daily subcutaneous thyroxine (100 micrograms/kg/day) injection carried out for 7 days. Some of the thyrotoxic and starved rats were administered subcutaneous phentolamine (2 mg/kg, twice daily) or propranolol (0.1 mg/kg, twice daily). Plasma levels of FFA, AcAc, and BOHB were significantly increased in thyrotoxic and starved rats compared with the control rats. Phentolamine and propranolol administration did not alter plasma levels of FFA, AcAc, and BOHB in thyrotoxic rats. In starved rats, propranolol did not alter plasma levels of FFA, AcAc, and BOHB, however, phentolamine did increase plasma levels of FFA, AcAc, and BOHB. These results indicate that the adrenergic mechanism may not contribute to the hyperketonemia in thyrotoxic rats, but may have a slight inhibitory effect on ketogenesis in starvation probably due to alpha-antilipolytic action.


The role of limbic-hypothalamic systems in metabolic responses of phenylalanine to repeated cold exposures in rabbits. In this study we examine the effects of lesions to limbic or hypothalamic structures on the metabolic responses of phenylalanine in liver slices prepared from rabbits exposed to cold stress (-20 degrees C) for 12 hours at a fixed time once a day. The results were as follows: 1. The 1st cold exposure (cold exposure on the 1st day) had marked and various effects on phenylalanine metabolism, and the metabolic responses of phenylalanine to cold exposure gradually decreased and then completely disappeared with repetitions of exposure in intact rabbits. 2. The metabolic patterns and responses of phenylalanine to the 1st cold exposure were altered by lesioning the periventricular arcuate nucleus (ARC), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), stria terminalis (ST) or dorsal fornix (FX). 3. The complete abolishment of the metabolic responses to cold exposure by its repetition was observed in rabbits with lesions in the ARC or VMH as well. 4. In contrast, metabolic responses of phenylalanine to cold exposure in rabbits with lesions in the ST or FX remained even after six exposures. These results suggest that the ARC, VMH, amygdala (AMYG)-ST system and dorsal hippocampus (HPC)-FX system played a role in the metabolic regulation of phenylalanine and in the metabolic responses of phenylalanine to the 1st cold exposure and that the AMYG-ST and HPC-FX systems, but not the ARC or VMH, participated in the process of the metabolic adaptation of phenylalanine to cold exposure.


[Physiologic bases of the method to increase nonspecific resistance of the organism by adaptation to intermittent normobaric hypoxia]. Impulse biorhythm of cyclic pO2 change in the uterus tissues and intrauterine fetus of rats, guinea pigs and dogs is regarded as evolution-fixed, physiological mechanism aimed at increasing nonspecific resistance of the fetus. Modeling of this mechanism by adaptation to intermittent normobaric hypoxia under impulse conditions permits more significantly increasing nonspecific resistance of the organism than application of hypoxic effect under constant conditions.


[Effect of inhalation therapy on the dynamics of electroencephalographic and rheoencephalographic indices in patients with vasomotor dystonia and with pathology of respiratory organs]. Dynamics of electro- and rheoencephalographic (EEG and REG) indices in patients with some forms of cephalgia (vegetovascular dystonia--VVD) as well as with chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases has been studied under the effect of artificial mountain climate therapy conducted using a special chamber "Orotron" created by a collective of researchers from Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The results of EEG and REG analysis reflect a general tendency to improvement of the bioelectrical brain activity and cerebral hemodynamics.


[Pathophysiologic mechanisms of cardiorespiratory system dysfunction in high school children with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases]. The basic indices of the cardiorespiratory system function, gas exchange, regional pulmonary functions have been studied. It is stated that a group of children with a higher level of oxygen consumption (hyperergic type) as against a control group is characterized by disorder in permeability of terminal branches of a bronchial tree, by the development of acute obstructive emphysema, increase in alveolar ventilation with relative decrease in minute blood volume, arterial hypoxemia with possible emergence of tissue hypoxia. A decrease in permeability of large bronchi were observed in a group of children with a low level of oxygen consumption (hypoergic type). Due to this decrease the hypoventilation zones appeared. It caused the development of arterial hypoxemia, but a risk of the tissue hypoxia emergence was insignificant.


[Artificial mountain climate in therapy and rehabilitation of patients with chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases]. Therapeutic efficiency of artificial Alpine climate was studied in a group of 318 patients with chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases (CNDP). The Alpine climate was modelled on device "Orotron". The base, progradient and prolonged regimes of therapy by artificial Alpine climate (orhotherapy) were used in work. It is shown that application of optimal conditions of orhotherapy promotes normalization of the external respiration function in patients with CNPD due to a decrease in expression of broncho-obstructive and bronchitic syndromes and in nonuniformity of regional ventilation of lungs. Therapy by artificial Alpine climate is recommended to be used in wide clinical practice for treatment and rehabilitation of patients with CNDP.


[The use of hypoxic stimulation in chronic and relapsing bronchitis in young children ]. 214 children of different age with various forms of bronchitis were subject to immunological and biochemical examination. Against a background of hypoxic state of patients the values of quantitative indices of cellular immunity (E-RFC, blast-transformation reaction with phytohemagglutination) were revealed to decrease and dysimmunoglobulinemia-to form. It is shown that in the period of exacerbation of clinical symptoms of bronchitis the concentration of malonic dialdehyde and resistance of erythrocyte membranes to peroxide hemolysis significantly increase. Analysis of peroxidation level against a background of improvement of clinical indices after the performed treatment indicates that there is no tendency to normalization of metabolic disorders. The above results show that it is necessary to carry out normobaric hypoxic stimulation aimed at treating and preventing bronchitis in children of early age.


[Results of utilization of intermittent normobaric hypoxia in patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis]. The results of intermittent normobaric hypoxytherapy in 42 patients with bronchial asthma (BA) and 14 patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis (COB) are analyzed. The positive effect is obtained in 76% of patients with BA and 92.8% of patients with COB. In the group of patients with BA the best effect was achieved for atopic form of BA--in 90% of patients, the effect was less pronounced for infection-allergic form--in 73.9% and for mixed form of BA--in 66.7%. In the process of treatment the attacks of asphyxia disappeared or became more occasional in 60.7% of patients; in 32.1% the attacks were more easily arrested or stopped independently; 33.8% of patients decreased doses of constantly taken drugs; in 33% cough ceased or decreased, sputum became to expectorate better; in 41% of patients dyspnea disappeared and considerably decreased. Improvement of the state in 54% of patients was retained for one year and more, in 29%--for 6 months, in 16.6%--for 3-4 months. The course of treatment consisted of 20-25 sessions. The patients breathed in hypoxic gas mixture containing 10% of oxygen (HGM-10) under intermittent conditions alternating with respiration of free air.


[Physiological premises and mechanisms of normalizing effect of normobaric hypoxia and inhalation therapy]. Pathogenetic and physiological aspects of hypoxia problems have been considered. An opinion is stated that normalizing effect of intermittent normobaric hypoxia (INH) with short-term respiration of gaseous mixture containing at least 10% of oxygen in nitrogen is based on biorhythm inherent in all the living organisms with replacement of the high functional activity periods by the periods of rest and restoration with temporary physiological hypoxia as their typical companion. It is shown that for numerous diseases the course of INH or sessions of staying in the chamber of artificial mountain climate normalize the state of central nervous system, blood circulation, respiration, hemopoiesis and immunological reactivity, activate natural protective mechanisms and increase functional reserves of the organism. Allowing for anthropogenic pollution of the environment and its consequences for the health, it is advisable to widely adopt hypoxytherapy and orrhotherapy.


[Effect of inhalation of surface-active substances on the surfactant system of the lung]. Surface activity, biochemical composition and morphology of the rat lungs were studied in norm, under effect of acute hypoxia and after infusion of obsidan (1 mg/100g). The data permit suggesting that under the influence of obsidan and hypoxia a stability index of surfactants and quantity of phospholipids decreased, while the quantity of lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine increased. Morphology studies show that after hypoxia and obsidan infusion oedema and cell destruction developed in the lung. The inhalation of exogenous surfactant increased stability index and quantity of phospholipids, decreased the quantity of lysophospholipids but did not eliminate morphological disorders in the lung induced by hypoxia and obsidan infusion.


[Hyperventilation syndrome and reflexologic methods of its correction]. Acupuncture has been studied for possibility to be used for correction of hyperventilation disorders. Diagnostics of hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) was carried out on the basis of data of clinical, laboratory and functional methods. Acupuncture was carried out using the first (strong) variant of classical inhibitive procedure of acupuncture. It was shown that reflex therapy decreased electroencephalographic characters of dysrhythmia and exaltation and paroxysmal activity as well as inter-hemisphere asymmetry in patients with HVS. Parallel with a decrease in the degree of negative subjective sensations, minute respiratory volume, non-informity of regional ventilation were observed to decrease and partial oxygen pressure in alveolar air--to increase. The positive results of reflex therapy of HVS indicate that it is possible to correct hyperventilation disorders using no pharmacotherapy.


[Effects of hypoxic stimulation in experimental animals and in children with bronchial asthma]. Inhalations using hypoxic mixture of 12-15% O2 were tested in 40 rats (daily for 20 min. during 1-4 months) and in 200 children with light and mid-serious forms of bronchial asthma (for 5-10 min. 2-4 times with 5 min. break, course-10 days). Stimulation effect in animals was observed for 1-2 months and then depression came. The immunological and allergological indices were observed to distinctly improve, whereas the indices of the pulmonary function remained practically unchanged. The clinical indices in most patients improved and the similarity of this method and effects of other nonmedicamental methods was noted.


[Effect of intermittent normobaric hypoxia on dynamics of disease state in patients with hypertension]. Curative effect of intermittent normobaric hypoxia created when breathing in gaseous hypoxic mixture containing 10% of oxygen and 90% of nitrogen has been examined in 41 patients with hypertonic disease. Adaptation to hypoxia has been studied for its effect on the central hemodynamics psychoemotional state and kinetics of oxygen supply of the skin. The pronounced positive effect of treatment was achieved in 70.7% of patients, the arterial pressure decreasing at the expense of different mechanisms depending on the type of blood circulation. Besides, a decrease in the emotional tension of patients and normalization of oxygen consumption and transport were observed.


[Effect of intermittent normobaric hypoxic activity on the development of acute radiation disease]. The experiments on 260 male mice of colony SHK, 352 mongrel rats and 20 Wistar rats were carried out to study the ability of using the normobaric hypoxic stimulation method for acute radiation sickness. Hypoxic stimulation using gas mixture with 10% of oxygen and 90% of nitrogen was conducted for two weeks after irradiation for 30 min. every day. It is shown that under influence of ionizing radiation (7 and 5.5 Gy) the postradiation hypoxic action increased the 30-day survival rate of mice, reduced disturbances of the qualitative composition of leukocytes in peripheric blood, promoted more rapid restoration of thromboelastography indices and caused no reliable changes in the postradial content of albumin and creatinine in blood.


[Manifestation of oxygen effect during normobaric hypoxic hypoxia in the intrauterine and postnatal developmental periods]. The experiments on rats have shown that hypoxic gas mixture containing 10% of oxygen and 90% of nitrogen (HGM-10) under normobaric conditions exerts a highly reliable radioprotective effect on progeny when 11-day pregnant animals are exposed to total irradiation (60Co, 20 Gy). As distinct from the known radioprotector, mexamine, (5-methoxytryptamine), HGM-10 has a pronounced radioprotective effect during the first days (1-5) after birth. Radioresistance of new-born rats correlates with the level of pO2 in the tissues which progressively decreases with respiration of HGM-10 and remains unchanged after mexamine (10 mg/kg) introduction.


[Radioprotective action of gas hypoxia (8%) in local irradiation of the kidneys]. The radioprotective action of hypoxia in local irradiation of kidneys was studied. The experiments were carried out on hybrid mice (CBA x C57Bl) exposed to local X-ray irradiation through a lead diaphragm matched to the kidneys. In the experimental group the animals breathed in gaseous mixture with 8% of oxygen prior to and during irradiation. 20-36 weeks after irradiation the functions of glomerular and juxtaglomerular systems, as well as mass of native and dried kidneys were studied in the animals. It is shown that hypoxia efficiently protects kidneys against irradiation and permits increasing the supplied dose of radiation at least by 25%. High-efficient protection is retained when passing from single to fractionated irradiation.


[State of the free-radical oxidation system in normobaric hypoxia]. The experiments on the rats have revealed that 7-hour action of 10% hypoxic gas mixture (HGM-10) exerts no effect on the parameters of Fe(2+)-induced chemiluminescence and rate of accumulation of TBA-active products in the heart, liver, kidney, brain tissues and blood plasma. Two-week adaptation to intermittent effect of HGM-10 causes some activation of free-radical oxidation recorded in blood plasma and the more pronounced increase in power of the endogenic antioxidant system. It is assumed that the revealed changes in the state of the homeostatic system of free-radical oxidation and antiradical protection of the organism are of importance in the mechanism of the known preventive and curative action of intermittent normobaric hypoxia.


[Use of respiratory mixture containing 8.0-8.5% of oxygen in hypoxic radiotherapy of cervical neoplasms]. Combined radiotherapy of patients with cervical carcinoma of stages IIb and IIIb was conducted. Hypoxia (8.0-8.5% of O2 in the respiratory mixture) was used in microfractionated (2 Gy) irradiation of metastatic spreading zones. When irradiating under conditions of hypoxia, the number of fractions was brought up to 28 as compared to 20 in control. Despite a 40%-increase of the dose, seriousness of radiation reactions and remote injuries remained at the same level. It is found that patients endure well the respiratory mixture for 6 min. necessary for irradiation.


[Morphofunctional characteristics of murine kidneys in single and fractionated irradiation in air and hypoxia (8% of O2)]. The protective effect of hypoxic gas mixture containing 8% of oxygen (HGM-8) has been studied in long terms after local single and fractional X-ray irradiation of the kidney in mice. Some criteria of injury shown that hypoxia protects the kidneys against irradiation, changes in irradiation dose constituting 1.25-1.33. When passing from single irradiation to five-fold daily one, the protective effect of hypoxia does not fall significantly.


[Antihypoxic effect of glucosamine in acute hypoxic states in mice]. The preventive glucosamine injection causes an increase in the survival of mice with acute hypobaric hypoxia. The injection of glucosamine, combined with sodium hydroxybutyrate greatly increased their antihypoxic activities.


[Membrane technology as a basis for creation of treatment-and-prophylactic equipment for inhalation therapy and normobaric hypoxia]. The principles of membrane technology of gas distribution have been considered, that has a wider adoption in different branches of economy and in medicine. One of the promising trends of membrane technology employment is production of respiratory gas mixtures for hypoxytherapy, non-medicamental method to increase the human organism resistance to numerous pathogenetic environmental factors. Gas distributors and devices with different surface mass exchange and wide range of operating stress using hollow selectively permeable fibers of poly-4-methylpentene-1 are designed and produced under conditions of scientific productions. The technology of hollow fibers formation has been tried out on production spinning machinery of enterprises of chemical fibers in Ukraine. Design of gas distributors permits supplying them as a part of different devices of normobaric hypoxia from individual ones to devices of joint use allowing for customer's demands.


[Effect of hypoxic hypoxia on immune reactivity and some factors of nonspecific resistance of humans and animal organisms]. Evidences available in home and foreign literature concerning the effect of normobaric hypoxia, adaptation to mountain climate conditions and trainings in barochamber on cellular and humoral indices of immunity have been critically considered. The data on the influence of permanent residence under mountain conditions on the level of sickness rate of population, bioenergy indices, and activity of the opiate brain system have been studied as well. The analyzed data indicate that it is expedient to use normobaric hypoxia for effects on the state of immunic organism system.


[Effect of ceruloplasmin on the oxygen tension in muscular tissue of experimental animals]. The polarographic method using platinum electrode has been applied to study the effect of ceruloplasmin (CP) on the oxygen tension (pO2), oxygen saturation rate and rate of oxygen utilization in the muscular tissue of high-leukemic AKR mice, C57BL/6 mice with transplanted Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) and rats after gamma-irradiation in a dose of 7 Gr. It has been shown that CP in AKR mice improves oxygen saturation of the muscular tissue. This effect is also evident in the case of the marked pO2 decrease in the muscle and its oxygen saturation rate (animals with Lewis lung carcinoma and after gamma-irradiation).


[Some mechanisms of antihypoxic action of taurine]. It is shown that preliminary taurine treatment prevents the disturbances of energy metabolism in the brain, heart and liver tissues of Wistar rats with acute hypoxic hypoxia. Administration of taurine restored to normal the parameters of adenine pool: the concentration of ATP increased within the cytoplasm, while that of ADP and AMP diminished; mitochondrial respiration proceeded more rapidly; the concentrations of pyruvate and malate decreased; isocitrate dehydrogenase activity, P/O and NAD/NADH ratios increased. Taurine treatment resulted in a decreased level of lipid peroxides in the rat tissues with hypoxia. The role of intracellular calcium content and biomembranes structure changes as the mechanisms of taurine action on energy metabolism and lipid peroxidation is discussed.


[Effect of intermittent normobaric hypoxia on gastric and duodenal mucosa in man]. Clinical and laboratory examinations of 11 patients with peptic ulcer have shown that combined treatment using sessions of intermittent normobaric hypoxytherapy (10% of oxygen in 90% of nitrogen, length of respiration is 7 min., respiration of free air 3 min., such 6 cycles for 1 hour) promotes healing of ulcers, decreases dyspepsic and astheno-neurotic symptoms of disease. The method can be recommended for treating the patients with peptic ulcer and for preventing seasonal acute attacks in patients with relapses of this disease.


[Endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices in pediatric patients]. Endoscopic sclerotherapy was performed for esophageal variceal sclerosis in 7 children, aged 18 months to 11 years. Five of them had cavernomatous portal degeneration and the other two hepatic cirrhosis. The technique used was intra- and perivariceal with ethanolamine oleate in order to get the decrease or disappearance of the variceal veins. Two of the patients showed retrosternal pain and fever after the sclerosis procedure. This preliminary report shows that endoscopic sclerosis of esophageal varices is a good procedure to control acute bleeding and to prevent its onset in children.


[Role of flexible sigmoidoscopy in the early detection of colorectal tumors]. In a large endoscopic population screening study for colo-rectal polyps and cancer among 2,080 average-risk asymptomatic or with minor GI symptoms, adults of both sex, average age 56.2, were submitted to flexible sigmoidoscopy 60 cm as part of a preventive medical checkup. Procedure was very effective: 349 polyps were detected in 276 patients, with a total polyp incidence of 13.3%. In 174, more than 60% of such cases, endoscopic polypectomy was performed: 118 were tubular benign adenomas, 57 hyperplastic, 7 mixed types adenomas, 3 carcinomas in situ Dukes A, 2 villous adenomas one of them malignant, one leiomyoma and one rectal carcinoid. All in situ malignant polyps were removed endoscopically with excellent results. There was a high incidence of polyps (13.04%) in group aged 40-49, therefore changes on criteria for initiating routine flexible sigmoidoscopy must be considered. FOB tests (guaiac) showed a very low specific rate for diagnosis since only 24 out of 276 polyps bearing patients showed positive results, probably due to the fact that most polyps were non-ulcerating and small lesions. One third of the total polyps were out of the reach of the rigid scope and this procedure should be excluded in all screening programs of this type. Endoscopic polypectomy should be always an early procedure. In order to decrease the number of nondetected right side colonic lesions, non accessible to the 60 cm flexible scope, at time of polypectomy a simultaneous colonoscopy should be performed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


[Non ulcer dyspepsia, endoscopic gastritis and Helicobacter pylori]. We studied 33 patients with non ulcer dyspepsia and endoscopic gastritis. 21 were female (63.4%) and 12 male (36.4%). Helicobacter pylori (HP) was investigated by gastric mucosal biopsy. Urease test, Gram, culture, and histology were performed in all and two or more of these test hat to be positive to consider HP infection. 16/33 resulted HP positive (48.8%). Erosive gastritis was most commonly associated with H.P. infection (62.5%). This was statistically significant. In all the cases HP positive chronic gastritis was present. 15/16 were active chronic gastritis. Our results suggest that erosive gastritis is most frequently associated with HP infection and non ulcer dyspepsia.


[Colorectal cancer. Experience in 120 patients]. The medical records of 120 patients with Colo-Rectal Cancer who were admitted between 1983 and 1990, were reviewed. The clinical, radiologic, epidemiologic, endoscopic and pathologic characteristic were analyzed in all the patients; also their follow up related to Age, CEA, Dukes and treatment. Late stage diagnosis (10.8% of the cases were diagnosed during obstructive episodes, and 48.3% of the cases were Dukes C and D) and the high mortality (34.1% of the patients died within the first year of the diagnosis), are still basic problems to be solved. The high percentage of patients less than 40 years old (25.8%) and the high incidence of rectal localization of the disease (49.1%), must prompt us to attempt to control the disease by means of colonic evaluation in young people with symptoms attributable to Hemorrhoids or Amebiasis.


Effect of estradiol treatment on male mice synaptonemal complexes: difference of sensitivity between neonates and adults. The effect of estrogen on pachytene spermatocytes was studied with the assistance of the synaptonemal complex analysis under electron microscopy. Male NMRI mice were injected with estradiol benzoate from birth onwards and allotted to different groups according to the dose administered: 1) three injections of either 12.5 micrograms or 25 micrograms or 50 micrograms on d0, d5 and d10; 2) single injections of 50 micrograms either on d0 or on d5 or on d10; 3) double injections of 50 micrograms on d0 and d5; and 4) daily injection at the dose of 0.5 micrograms/g BW from d0 to d27. Animals were sacrificed on day 28, 60 and 90. Adult male mice were treated daily with E2B (0.5 micrograms/g BW) for one (from d30 to d60) or two months (from d30 up to d90) to test the age-related sensitivity to estrogen. A number of different SC anomalies were observed at each harvest time. Among all the anomalies, pairing failure (asynapsis) was predominant followed in decreasing order of importance by SC breakage (fragmentation of SCs), and heterotelomeric associations resulting either in quadrivalent-like figures or in trivalents. In E2B treated neonates the frequency of SC anomalies, which was less than 2% in controls, varied from 3.6 to 27% of pachytene cells regardless of the harvest time. In E2B treated adult mice, the SC anomalies were rare (< 4%), but significantly different from controls in which the frequency of SC aberrations did not exceed 1% of pachytene cells. The prevalence of anomalies appeared to be independent of the TW decrease. Our observations suggest that estrogens act indirectly on SCs. Different mechanisms of action are discussed.


[Necrotizing amoebic colitis: a fatal complication]. Five cases of necrotizing amoebic colitis are described. The patients were seen at the University Hospital of Caracas during a period of 3 years in the surgical departments. In 3 patients the diagnosis was made preoperatively and antiamoebic treatment was started. Only one patient survived. The clinical manifestations, diagnosis methods and treatment modalities are revised.


Inviability of hybrids between D. melanogaster and D. simulans results from the absence of simulans X not the presence of simulans Y chromosome. Interspecific crosses between D. melanogaster and D. simulans or its sibling species result in unisexual inviability of the hybrids. Mostly, crosses of D. melanogaster females x D. simulans males produce hybrid females. On the other hand, only hybrid males are viable in the reciprocal crosses. A classical question is the cause of the unisexual hybrid inviability on the chromosomal level. Is it due to the absence of a D. simulans X chromosome or is it due to the presence of a D. simulans Y chromosome? A lack of adequate chromosomal rearrangements available in D. simulans has made it difficult to answer this question. However, it has been assumed that the lethality results from the absence of the D. simulans X rather than the presence of the D. simulans Y. Recently I synthesized the first D. simulans compound-XY chromosome that consists of almost the entire X and Y chromosomes. Males carrying the compound-XY and no free Y chromosome are fertile. By utilizing the compound-XY chromosome, the viability of hybrids with various constitutions of cytoplasm and sex chromosomes has been examined. The results consistently demonstrate that the absence of a D. simulans X chromosome in hybrid genome, and not the presence of the Y chromosome, is a determinant of the hybrid inviability.


Comparison of lethal mutations of Drosophila melanogaster with D. simulans when detected by the attached-X method. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attached-X method compared with the standard Basc method, and, using this method, to find out whether the observed differences in genetic polymorphisms are related to differences in lethal mutation rates in D. melanogaster and D. simulans. When EMS-treated Drosophila melanogaster males are mated to untreated attached-X females, a decrease in the progeny sex ratio (male/female + male) is observed due to the induced lethal mutations on the X chromosome. The decrease in the frequency of male progeny were shown as the attached-X index. The expected male number is calculated from the control sex ratio. The difference between the expected and the observed male numbers, expressed as the ratio to the expected male number, defines the attached-X index. The index values for various EMS concentrations were compared to the lethal frequencies obtained by the standard Basc method for the same EMS treatments, and gave a highly positive correlation (gamma = 0.993, p < 0.01, d.f. = 2), thus providing an alternative method for evaluation of possible mutagens. The attached-X method was applied to D. simulans, of which natural populations are known to have relatively low genetic variation, and frequencies of the EMS-induced X chromosome lethal mutations were estimated and compared with those in D. melanogaster. The results indicate that D. melanogaster is slightly more sensitive in the sperm and spermatogonial stages, but less susceptible in the spermatid stage when compared with D. simulans.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


[Dynamics of morphological and cytochemical changes in the placenta following cadmium chloride intoxication]. The experiments carried out for the study aimed at determining the prenatal sensitivity to cadmium in the aspect of beth morphological and functional condition of placenta. The experiments were carried out on 80 pregnant female rats divided into three experimental groups and a control one. The experimental animals were daily administered, intragastrically, aqueous solution of cadmium chloride, from the 7th to the 19th day of pregnancy, in doses differing between the experimental groups: 2, 10 and 22 mg of CdCl2 per kilogram of body weight, respectively. The animals were decapitated on the 21st day of pregnancy. Placenta sections, besides hematoxylin and eosin staining, were examined for the activity of the following enzymes: succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) E.C.1.3.99.1., lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) E.C.1.1.1.27., NADH-tetrazole reductase (NADH-t.r.), without a catalog number, and their glycogen reaction was checked. The results of the experiments proved cadmium chloride to cause considerable damage to the enzymatic apparatus of placenta, leading to energy deficit in the cells of both the fetal and the maternal part of this organ. The multienzymatic changes observed preceded the morphologic ones by far.


Effects on ADH activity and distribution, following selection for tolerance to ethanol in Drosophila melanogaster. Strains of Drosophila melanogaster homozygous for either the AdhF or the AdhS allele were kept on food supplemented with ethanol for 20 generations. These strains (FE and SE) were tested for tolerance to ethanol and compared with control strains (FN and SN). The E strains showed increased tolerance to ethanol both in the adult and in the juvenile life stages. In adults the increase in tolerance was not accompanied by an increase in overall ADH activity. However, there were changes in the distribution of ADH over the body parts. Flies of the FE strain possessed significantly more ADH in the abdomen, compared with FN. Another set of FN and SN populations were started both on standard food and on ethanol food with reduced yeast concentrations. After 9 months ADH activities were determined in flies from these populations which had been placed on three different media: the food the populations had been kept on, regular food and regular food supplemented with ethanol. The phenotypic effects of yeast reduction on ADH activity were considerably, but longterm genetic effects were limited.


[Examination of activity of certain phosphatases in the placenta of female rats exposed to cadmium]. The enzymatic examinations were carried out to determine, as early as possible, the functional changes in cells of fetal and maternal part of placenta, as well as pointing out those elements which were the most susceptible to cadmium toxic action. The experiments were carried out on 80 pregnant female rats which were divided into three experimental groups and a control one. The experimental animals were daily administered, intragastrically, aqueous solution of cadmium chloride, between the 7th and 19th day of pregnancy, in doses depending on experimental groups: 2, 10 and 20 mg of CdCl2 per kilogram of body weight, respectively, the animals were killed on the 21st day of pregnancy. Placenta sections were determined for activity of adenosinetriphosphatase stimulated by Mg++ ions (ATP-ase Mg++) E.C.3.6.1.3., and acid phosphatase (AcP) E.C.3.1.3.2. When administered to pregnant females, cadmium chloride was proved to cause a considerable impairment of active transport through biological membranes in placenta, which is indicated by a decrease of reactivity to Mg++ ions stimulated ATP-ase; and an increase in intracellular catabolic processes, which in turn is shown by an increase in reactivity to acid phosphatase. The fetal part of the placenta proves to be more susceptible to the lesion causing activity of cadmium than the maternal part of this organ.


[Infection with chlamydia trachomatis among women with infertility treatment]. 68 women with sterility treatment were tested. Among 13 of them (20%) presence of chlamydial antibodies was found. Hormonal profile was estimated. In a group of women with positive serologic reaction increased concentration of prolactin was found.


[Zinc concentration in human semen of men from childless marriages]. Zinc concentration in human semen was studied on the material of 106 male patients aged 20-35, from childless marriages. Full microscopic examination was performed including number of spermatozoa mobility, flux time, pH, morphological composition, number of leucocytes. Zinc level was measured using spectrophotometric analysis. Trial of relation estimation between zinc concentration and number of live spermatozoa and pH of the semen was taken out. Any significant differences between zinc concentration in the semen from normospermic and oligospermic males were found. There was proved, that semen pH increase was correlated to zinc concentration decrement in the semen fluid.


[Levels of ferritin and iron in women with leiomyoma of the uterus treated surgically]. The aim of the work were changes of serum ferritin and iron concentrations in women with leiomyoma of the uterus treated surgically. We took the growth of the leiomyomatous uterus under concern. We observed the lower serum ferritin and iron concentrations before the surgical treatment, and the correlation with the growth of the leiomyoma. The results show that surgery for leiomyomatous uterine contributes significantly for the increase of the serum iron and ferritin in patients.


[Levels of catecholamines and activity of the renin-aldosterone system in women with hypertension in the period before and after menopause]. The examinations were carried out for 93 selected women divided into premenopausal group and the group in the early stage of postmenopausal period. Each of these groups was subdivided into two subgroups with normal blood pressure and arterial hypertension. The catecholamine level were determined fluorimetrically as per Euler and Lishajko, and the level of dopamine in plasma using Nagatsu's method. Angiotensin I and aldosterone concentration in serum was determined by radioimmunoassay using RIA set of Sorin. Free catecholamine excretion with urine for women with arterial hypertension in the premenopausal period is highly statistically (p < 0.001), and in the postmenopausal period only epinephrine is statistically higher (p < 0.01), whereas the dopamine level in plasma is smaller, statistically significant only in premenopausal period (p < 0.05). Also for women with the arterial hypertension compared with the control group the angiotensin I and aldosterone concentration in serum is statistically smaller.


[Level of estrogen receptors (ER) as a function of histological malignancy stages of tumors in patients with breast neoplasm]. The presence of estrogen receptors (ER) has been studied in 70 patients with primary operable breast cancer. The tumors were graded histologically according to Bloom and Richardson criteria. A significant correlation was found between these two prognostic factors: the better--differentiated tumors (I + II histological grade) had significantly higher level of ER than that in the poor--differentiated tumors. Estrogen receptor content of primary breast cancer as a function of tumor grade can be useful in selection of the most efficient treatment modalities for individual patients.


[EPH gestosis or hypertension induced by pregnancy?]. The use of the term "pregnancy induced hypertension" is connected with the use of diagnostic criteria and classification to which this term belongs. These diagnostic criteria have important disadvantages: 1) only diastolic blood pressure is taken into account, 2) oedema is not taken into account, 3) there are only two severity grades, based only on the diastolic blood pressure, 4) "eclampsia imminens" does not exist, 5) "preeclampsia" is when there is elevated diastolic blood pressure and proteinuria, even of low severity both, other symptoms are not taking into account. The applying of such diagnostic criteria can contribute to inadequate management.


[Ectopic spleen in pelvis minor--a case report]. A case of ectopic spleen diagnosed as a left adnexal tumor in a 19 year old female was presented. Considering the rareness and lack of typical symptoms, diagnosis of this pathology still is very difficult, and establish most often intraoperatively. In every case of ascertainment irregular mass in minor pelvis one should differentiate it among: colonic diverticulosis, wandering kidney, coproliths, colon and mesentery tumors and ectopic spleen. We consider that ultrasonography plays the special role in these cases. In every case of stating the pathologic structure in minor pelvis it seems advisable not to content only with estimation of genital organs, but also locate such as: kidneys, liver, spleen. Such a procedure allows to state preoperative diagnosis more precisely.


Laser video-laparoscopic colpopexy.

Laser video-laparoscopic colpopexy. Video-laparoscopic colpopexy is an innovative procedure. This study included 15 post-hysterectomy with vaginal prolapse. The surgical technique has been described in detail.


[Certain factors of cellular immunity in clinical evaluation of women with EPH gestosis symptoms]. The applicability of clinical examination was studied in women with symptoms of medium-advanced or advanced primary gestosis of subpopulation of T lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) in the peripheral blood. Also studied was the usefulness of the proliferative activity of lymphocytes in in vitro cultures: spontaneous and mitogenic (PHA, ConA, PWM)--in the environment of fetal calf serum (FCS) and autologous sera: heat-inactivated and heat-non-inactivated. It has observed that the percentages of particular T Lymphocyte subpopulations and the proportion of CD4+ lymphocytes to CD8+ lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and the mitogenic activity of the heat-non in activated autologous serum in the test of lymphocyte spontaneous blastic transformation reveal a correlation with an enhancement of particular clinical symptoms of EPH gestosis and with the birth condition of newborns.


[Spontaneous proliferative activity of lymphocytes in normal and EPH gestosis complicated pregnancy]. The spontaneous proliferative activity of lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ ratio has been estimated in normal and EPH gestosis-affected pregnancy; also the effects of autologous and allogenic sera on this lymphocyte activity was evaluated. Although in normal pregnancy there was a very low CD4+/CD8+ ratio, the spontaneous proliferative activity of lymphocytes and the effects of autologous sera exerted thereupon were the same in either healthy pregnant women or in non-pregnant controls, what indicates a normal cellular immunity in physiological pregnancy. In gestosis an increased proliferative activity of lymphocytes and very high CD4+/CD8+ ratio was observed, when referred to non-pregnant controls. The serum of normal pregnant women did not reveal any immunosuppressive features against the activity of both autologous lymphocytes and gestosis--affected pregnancy, whereas it clearly inhibited the lymphocyte proliferation in non-pregnant controls. A different model of the autologous sera effects on the lymphocyte activity in gestosis women--when compared with the other examined women--is an evidence for altered immuno-modulating parameters of the serum in question.


[Use of vancomycin in treating staphylococcal septicemia in newborns]. The authors report the results of vancomycin treatment of staphylococcal septicemia in 26 newborns, including 17 prematures and 9 full-term. It was found, that all coagulase-negative strains and 91% of Staphylococcus aureus were sensitive to this antibiotic. Complete cure in 65% and clinical improvement in 10% were obtained. Death (12%) in very low birth weight prematures were due to secondary complications of septicemia, congenital malformations and intracerebral haemorrhages. Administration of vancomycin in generally accepted doses caused no side effects and is worth in newborns, in which other antibiotics has been given unsuccessfully.


[Changes of lipid and lipoprotein levels in serum of women in the early postoperative period after surgical castration]. Concentration of lipids and lipoproteins was estimated in the serum of 26 women after surgical menopause. Different range of changes in concentration of lipoproteins was noticed. First, decreasing levels of concentration of lipo- and lipoprotein fractions was confirmed, and then, their increasing levels in the end of the research period.


[Effect of immunotherapy on the level of immunoglobulin in serum of women with pruritus of the vulva]. This study was performed in 52 women in their early postmenopausal period, divided into two equal groups. The control group included women with menopausal symptoms only, women in the study group demonstrated also pruritus. All women were on estrogen replacement therapy, additionally a bacterial auto-vaccine was administered in the study group. The level of IgG, IgA, IgM was determined by radioimmunodiffusion, IgE with an immunoenzymatic method. It was found that women with pruritus of the vulva had lower levels of IgG and IgM and higher levels of IgA and IgE, as compared with the control group. The auto-vaccine caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase of IgG and IgM and significant (p < 0.05) decrease of IgA and IgE, as compared with initial values.


[Role of second-look operations in women with ovarian cancer in complete remission]. Among 142 women with ovarian cancer, a complete remission was observed in 51 cases. The second-look operation was performed in 26 cases among them. The operation had no significant influence on 3 and 5 years survivals together. The operation should not be performed in early stages of cancer particularly in mucinous and endometrioid carcinoma. Relapses are observed more frequently and in a shorter period of time in women on whom the second-look operation was not performed. Then it leads to deaths of the women more quickly.


[Mastopathy--its hormonal conditions and therapy]. The hormonal factors contributing to the development of benign breast diseases are discussed. The main elements of hormonal therapy of mastopathy are presented.


[Video-laparoscopically modified hysterectomy with vaginal vault suspension]. Thanks to advanced operative techniques to traditional indications for operative laparoscopy, such as: adhesion lysis, endometriosis center coagulation, biopsy, myomectomy, hysteropexy, colpopexy, ovarian wedge resection and biopsy, pelvic herniorrhaphy, aspiration of cystic fluid it can be add laparoscopic treatment of ectopic pregnancy, adnexal tumors, polycystic ovary drilling and endoscopic hysterectomy. However, so complex a surgery necessitates in having an experienced surgical team and the state of art equipment. For the first time in Europe a 32 year old woman was subjected to video-laparoscopic modified hysterectomy with vaginal vault suspension, what was described in this paper.


[Video-laparoscopic treatment of polycystic ovaries using monopolar electrocoagulation]. A 27 year old woman with resistant polycystic ovaries was under medical treatment for one year. After that time video-laparoscopic drilling of ovaries with monopolar coagulation was performed.


Guided tissue regeneration around dental implants in immediate and recent extraction sites: initial observations. Guided tissue regeneration, the principle of using membranes to exclude epithelial tissue during wound healing, thus enhancing periodontal regeneration, is an exciting addition to the implant armamentarium. However, additional clinical review of the results, advantages, and disadvantages of guided tissue regeneration is necessary before the procedure can be recommended for routine use. To this end, the author reports three representative cases in which membranes were used to encourage healing and discusses the results and problems.


Strengths and needs of black grandparents. This study was conducted to identify ethnic differences in grandparent performance and effectiveness so that an educational program called Becoming A Better Grandparent could be adapted to maximize its relevance for Black families. MANOVA procedures were used to compare perceptions of 204 Anglo grandparents and 204 Black grandparents as well as 175 Anglo and 295 Black grandchildren. Black grandparents perceived themselves more favorably than did Anglos on every subscale of the Grandparent Strengths and Needs Inventory. Black grandchildren assigned grandparents significantly more favorable ratings for teaching and overall success, whereas Anglo grandchildren assigned their grandparents higher scores for coping with difficulty, managing frustration, and meeting information needs. Analyses of grandparent responses revealed significant main effects for age of grandparent, age of grandchild, time spent together, and geographical proximity. Grandchildren responses yielded significant main effects for age of grandchild and time spent together. Findings showed interaction effects for ethnicity by age of grandparent, ethnicity by age of grandchild, and ethnicity by distance. Implications for modifying the program to fit Black grandparents were identified.