Difensil Immuno Reduces Recurrence and Severity of Tonsillitis in Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Oral supplements (OS) support the immune system in fighting upper airways infection. This study aimed to analyze the effect of Difensil Immuno (DI) on the recurrence of tonsillitis and fever in children. A multicentric randomized clinical trial was conducted. One-hundred and twenty children with chronic tonsillitis were randomly assigned to group A, B or control. Patients in group A were treated with 10 mL of DI for 90 consecutive days, patients in group B underwent treatment with 15 mL of DI for 45 consecutive days. The following data were collected at baseline (T0), T1 and T2: tonsillitis and fever episodes, tonsillar volume, blood test results. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze within and between variances. Patients in group A and B statistically improved their clinical parameters (episode of tonsillitis and fever, tonsillar volume) when compared to control group both at T1 and T2. However, T1 variances were more consistent in group A than in group B. All patients in the study groups improved their clinical outcomes. No statistically significant variances were observed in blood parameters both at T1 and T2. Our results suggest that children treated with DI had fewer episodes of tonsillitis and fever and a reduction in their tonsillar volume.

Identification of antigen-specific neutrophils in the tonsils with recurrent acute inflammation.

The pathogenesis of recurrent acute tonsillitis (Rtn) is to be further investigated. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) often associate with the pathogenesis of acute and chronic inflammation. This study aims to identify the antigen-specific PMNs (sPMNs) isolated from the tonsillar tissues with recurrent acute inflammation. In this study, CD66b+ PMNs were isolated from surgically removed tonsils (40 tonsils were from 20 Rtn patients; 24 tonsils were from 12 tonsil tumour patients) by flow cytometry cell sorting. sPMNs were identified through immunological approaches. We found that compared with the control tonsil samples (from marginal non-tumour tissues of tonsil cancer), Rtn samples showed higher PMN frequency, higher levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neutrophil elastase (NE), in which positive correlation was detected between the inflammatory scores in the Rtn tissues and PMN counts (r = .7352; p = .0002), or MPO (r = .6565, p = .0017), or NE (r = .6687, p = .0013). Upon exposure to tonsillar tissue protein extracts in the culture, a portion of Rtn PMNs was activated and released inflammatory mediators. A complex of tonsillar tissue-specific IgG and FcγRI was observed on the surface of Rtn PMNs; these PMNs could specifically recognize the Rtn tissue extracts and were designated the tonsillar antigen-specific PMNs (sPMNs). A signal transduction pathway of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-nuclear factor of T cell activation (NFAT) was activated in sPMNs after exposure to Rtn tissue extracts. In summary, a fraction of sPMN in the Rtn tonsillar tissues was identified and characterized. The sPMNs can be activated upon exposure to tonsil-specific antigens. These sPMNs may contribute to the Rtn pathogenesis.

Mucosal bacterial immunotherapy with MV130 highly reduces the need of tonsillectomy in adults with recurrent tonsillitis.

Recurrent tonsillitis in adults is a common ENT disease. The current standard treatment is tonsillectomy. However, continuous prophylaxis with antibiotics has been prescribed in order to avoid tonsillectomy. The objective was to evaluate if the bacterial immunotherapy (Bactek MV130) together with the prophylactic antibiotic therapy can produce clinical improvement and to avoid the tonsillectomy. Material and methods: The medical records of 88 patients with recurrent tonsillitis were reviewed. Sixty-six were treated during 3 months with a course of antibiotics and 22 received, in addition to the antibiotics, immunotherapy with Bactek MV130 during this Globally, 53 (60%) patients had clinical improvement and 35 were tonsillectomized. In the The group of patients who received only antibiotic, 35 (53%) avoided tonsillectomy and 31 (47%) did not. In the group that, in addition to antibiotics, were treated with Bactek MV130, 18 patients (82%) experi- enced clinical improvement avoiding tonsillectomy and 4 (18%) didn't improve and the tonsils were surgically removed. The difference between both groups was significant (P = 0.023).he results obtained in this evaluation support this combined treatment as an effective strategy to reduce the need of tonsillectomy.

Immunomodulatory effect of Polypodium leucotomos (Anapsos) in child palatine tonsil model.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent tonsillitis might reduce the immunological capability of fighting against the infection of tonsil tissue. Polypodium leucotomos (Anapsos) immunomodulating effect has been subject of research in the last years. The aim of this research is to test the in vitro immunomodulating capacity of Anapsos in a child palatine tonsil explants model. METHODS: Palatine tonsils explants of children undergoing amigdalectomy were stimulated with mononuclear cells obtained from their own blood by density gradient centrifugation. Some were then treated with Anapsos while others rest untreated. Cytokines were measured by ELISA, immune cells activation was measured by flow cytometry and activation of immunoglobulins was appreciated by indirect immunofluorescence in tonsils tissue. RESULTS: Anapsos activates Natural Killers cells. It increases IL-2 and IFN-γ levels by the activation of Th2 lymphocytes, and IL-10, by the Th1 lymphocytes. Anapsos also increases immunoglobulins IgM, IgD and IgG4 by B-lymphocyte activation in tonsils tissue. CONCLUSION: Anapsos has an immunomodulating effect, both in humoral and cellular responses, which might benefit children suffering of recurrent tonsillitis as it could enhance their immune system. This effect might reduce the number of episodes suffered and therefore the number of children undergoing surgery.

Clinical holistic medicine: chronic infections and autoimmune diseases.

The consciousness-based (holistic) medical toolbox might be useful in general practice and in cases of recurrent infections and chronic infection or inflammation. From our clinical experiences, there is hope for improvement from a number of diseases caused by disorders affecting the regulation of the immune system when the physician includes the holistic medical approach. Our scientific understanding of the connection between consciousness and cellular order is still limited. Consciousness-based holistic medicine removes (as explained by the holistic process theory of healing) the "blockages" in the tissues of the body and facilitates function and informational exchange of the cells of the body. Many blockages and repressed feelings in an area would imply "noise and disturbances" on the level of intercellular communications, which in turn means major difficulties for the cells of the immune system. For this they are totally dependent on the body information system, which the holistic treatment aims to recover. Processing the blockages increases the coherence of the cells and organism, thus increasing the intercellular flow of information in the area and thus strengthening the immune defense and healing the disease. The area of clinical holistic medicine is going through a rapid development and the toolbox of consciousness-based medicine is available for dealing with many diseases arising from disturbances in the regulation of the immune system. Holistic medicine has yet to be better explained scientifically and our proposed holistic cures have yet to be documented clinically. We invite the medical community to cooperate on this important challenge.

[A comparative study of conservative treatment schemes in chronic tonsillitis in children]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie nekotorykh skhem konservativnogo lecheniia khronicheskogo tonzillita u detei.

Three schemes of conservative treatment of chronic tonsillitis in children are compared. Chelidonium majus L. tincture improved tonsillar function, cellular and humoral immunity, nonspecific resistance, promoted a reduction in the number of recurrences.

[Effect of mesodiencephalic modulation on peripheral blood immunocompetent cells in viral-bacterial infections]. / Vliianie mezodiéntsefal'noi moduliatsii na immunokompetentnye kletki perifericheskoi krovi pri virusno-bakterial'noi infektsii.

The effect of mesodiencephalic modulation (MDM) on peripheral blood immunocompetent cells during a mixed viral/bacterial infection was studied in 10 patients aged 15 to 35 suffering from acute respiratory diseases complicated by lacunar tonsillitis. Control group consisted of 10 patients aged 16 to 42. A course of MDM consisted of 4-5 daily 10-min sessions. MDM alleviated the course of respiratory diseases complicated by lacunar tonsillitis at the expense of activating body response to inflammation and due to immunomodulating effect of electropulse exposure on lymphocyte subpopulations.

Role of immunoactivation with pidotimod in recurrent respiratory infections in childhood.

The efficacy and safety of pidotimod ((R)-3-[(S)-(5-oxo-2-pyrrolidinyl)carbonyl]-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, PGT/1A, CAS 121808-62-6) were rated in a child population with a remote history of recurrent respiratory infections (RRI). This randomized double-blind multicenter clinical trial versus placebo, stratified by age groups, involved 748 children recruited in 69 Medical Centres. The trial consisted of a 60-day treatment period and a 90-day follow-up. At the end of the treatment period the pidotimod group showed a significant decrease in the number of RRI episodes and associated symptoms vs control group. As a consequence, there was a significant decrease in the number of days of absence from kindergarten or school and in the consumption of antibiotics and symptomatic drugs. Safety was good. The effect of the drug persisted after its withdrawal throughout the whole 90-day follow-up period. During this period there was a significantly lower RRI incidence rate in the pidotimod group than in the placebo group (p < 0.01). Because of its efficacy and safety, pidotimod may be rated as an excellent drug in the RRI management in children.

Immunoactivity of pidotimod against episodes of recurrent tonsillitis in childhood.

The therapeutic efficacy of the synthetic immunostimulant pidotimod ((R)-3-[(S)-(5-oxo-2-pyrrolidinyl) carbonyl]-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, PGT/1A, CAS 121808-62-6) was evaluated in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in parallel groups in the management of recurrences in 235 children with recurrent tonsillitis. The ambulant study provided for 15 days of treatment with two oral vials of pidotimod 400 mg or placebo daily, in accordance with a randomisation list, 60 days of treatment with one oral vial of pidotimod 400 mg or placebo daily, and a 90-day follow-up period. The total trial period was 165 days. In addition to evaluating the number of tonsillitis recurrences which occurred during the 75 days of treatment and the 90-day follow-up period, the number of days on which the principal symptoms of the illness were present and on which drugs such as antibiotics or anti-inflammatory agents were used concomitantly, as well as the number of days' absence from school, were analyzed. The findings showed that, taking the treatment phase and the three-month follow-up period together, pidotimod significantly reduces the incidence of inflammatory upper airways episodes. The very low incidence of adverse effects, which was the same as that in the placebo group, confirmed the excellent safety of the product.

[Evaluation of liposomal forms of rifampicin and prodigiozan in the treatment of experimental chronic tonsillitis]. / Otsenka liposomal'nykh form rifampitsina i prodigiozana pri lechenii éksperimental'nogo khronicheskogo tonzillita.

Therapeutic effect of liposomal dosages of rifampicin and prodigiozan was studied on rabbits with simulated chronic tonsillitis in comparison to that of commercial ones of the drugs. The treatment schemes included daily intra-tonsillar++ injections of the dosage forms for 5 days. A high efficacy of their liposomal dosage forms in treatment of experimental chronic tonsillitis was confirmed microbiologically and immunologically. Approval of the liposomal dosage forms used in the therapy of patients with chronic tonsillitis requires clinical trials.

Secretory immunoglobulin A in oral and respiratory passages in man.

Secretory IgA (SIgA) is the predominant immunoglobulin in certain external secretions and may have an important role in immunological mucosal resistance. SIgA differs in chemical and immunological properties from serum IgA. The present study was undertaken to investigate the antigenic relationship between SIgA, free secretory component (FSC) and serum IgA and the localization of SIgA as well as other immunological classes in tissues of oral and respiratory passages by use of immunofluorescence technique. SIgA and FSC were highly purified from human colostrum and rabbit anti-SIgA and anti-SC antisera were prepared. On the basis of antigenic relationships between SIgA, FSC and serum IgA, it was emphasized that individual specific antisera for SC and IgA and/or SIgA should be used in immunochemical or immunohistological investigations for SIgA. The present study failed to detect SC determinants in palatine and lingual tonsils. However, it was evident that cells present in the pharyngeal tonsillar epithelium contain SC determinants. SC molecules may be synthesized in certain secretory cells of mucous membrane and glandular epithelium and the combining of SC with IgA could occur in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells, the intercellular spaces and/or in the lumens of glandular acini and ductules.