[Effects of temperature and duration of storage of citrated blood on chemiluminescence of its phagocytes]. / Vliianie temperatury i srokov khraneniia tsitratnoi krovi na khemiliuminestsentsiiu ee fagotsitov.

Relationship between chemiluminescent response of whole citrate capillary blood of normal subjects, patients with osteoarthrosis deformans (n = 21) and with systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 37) and the temperature and duration of storage of blood samples was under study. Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence was induced by barium sulfate microcrystals and recorded as a curve. Chemiluminescence intensity was found to increase if the samples were stored longer than 1 h, this increase being reliably higher in the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus than in normal subjects or patients with osteoarthrosis. Capacity of citrate blood phagocytes to chemiluminescent response is partially preserved after 24 h storage on the cold, but is commonly manifest only after an hour's adaptation to room temperature. The following phases are characteristic of the chemiluminescent response curve in the majority of cases: latent (up to 1.5 = 4 h), an abrupt rise, and slow decrease.

[The mechanism of the action of laser therapy in rheumatoid arthritis]. / K mekhanizmu deistviia lazernoi terapii pri revmatoidnom artrite.

48 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were exposed to He-Ne laser radiation. Due to the course of the above laser therapy the patients displayed reduced levels of E and F2 alpha prostaglandins, a trend to a decrease of lipid peroxidation products, glycosaminoglycans and collagen-peptidase activity. This evidences for suppression of the inflammation and destruction in the connective tissue. Catalase activity in red cells enhanced. The authors point to high efficacy of low-intensity He-Ne laser in moderate rheumatoid inflammation.

[The effect of intra-articular emoxipin injections on the course of immune arthritis in rabbits]. / Vliianie vnutrisustavnykh in''ektsii émoksipina na techenie immunnogo artrita u krolikov.

Immune arthritis in sensitized rabbits was induced by intraarticular injection of bovine serum albumin. The development of the arthritis was accompanied by an increase in ESR, a rise of the level of serum CRP, caeruloplasmin and CIC. A chemiluminescent response of the whole blood phagocytes to stimulation by barium sulfate crystals, serum beta-glucuronidase and red cell superoxide dismutase activity enhanced, plasma malone dialdehyde content rose, serum SH groups diminished.

[Changes in beta-glucuronidase activity in the blood cells and blood serum of patients with rheumatism in relation to clinical manifestations of the disease]. / Izmenenie aktivnosti beta-gliukuronidazy v kletkakh i syvorotke krovi bol'nykh revmatizmom v zavisimosti ot klinicheskikh proiavlenii bolezni.

The authors examined 22 patients with rheumatic fever in whose cells (neutrophils, mononuclear cells, thrombocytes) and in the blood serum they noted the activity of lysosomal enzyme of beta-glucuronidase (BGU) and the concentration of protein in the cells of the peripheral blood. The activity of the enzyme and concentration of protein in neutrophils of mononuclear cells was found to be decreased. Differences in determining the activity of BGU in the blood serum in relation to the clinical manifestations of the disease were also established. A significant rise in the activity of BGU in the blood serum as compared to the norm was observed in patients with a protracted course of rheumatic fever, with the I degree of the process activity, circulatory disorders and complicated cardiac failures. There was a clearly seen direct relationship between the activity of BGU in the blood serum and the level of circulating immune complexes, and an indirect relationship between the mentioned enzyme and alpha 2-globulin. A decrease in the activity of BGU in the cells was caused by degranulation of neutrophils and monocytes induced by immunological factors. A decrease in the level of BGU in the cells of patients with rheumatic fever apparently influences the processes of phagocytosis and aggravates immunological disorders, and, consequently, is connected with the disease pathogenesis. Determination of the BGU activity in the blood serum can be used for detection of the minimum activity of the inflammatory process in a chronic course of rheumatic fever.

[The beta-glucuronidase activity in the blood cells and serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Aktivnost' beta-gliukuronidazy v kletkakh i syvorotke krovi bol'nykh sistemnoi krasnoi volchankoi.

Beta-glucuronidase (beta-GU) activity and protein concentration were measured in peripheral blood cells (neutrophils and mononuclear cells) and blood serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE patients were found to tend towards decrease of beta-GU activity in neutrophils and to an appreciable increase thereof (2-fold) in blood serum. The concentration of protein in both neutrophils and mononuclear cells was within normal. Substantial changes in beta-GU activity were seen in SLE patients with trophic disorders (a significant decrease of the enzyme in neutrophils and a rise in blood serum). These patients also manifested a noticeable reduction of protein concentration in mononuclear cells. The measurement of beta-GU activity in blood cells can be used for the choice of adequate therapy in the course of the treatment of SLE patients.

[The total proteolytic and collagenolytic activity in the blood cells of patients with systemic scleroderma]. / Izuchenie obshchei proteoliticheskoi i kollagenoliticheskoi aktivnosti v kletkakh krovi bol'nykh sistemnoi sklerodermiei.

Collagenolytic (CA) and neutral caseinolytic activity (NCA) was studied in extracts from blood cells (neutrophils, mononuclear cells and platelets) of patients suffering from systemic scleroderma (SSD). 23 persons were examined. Of these, 15 had local skin lesions, 8 diffuse lesions. CA, both specific and per 10(6) cells was found to be dramatically decreased (2-4-fold) in all blood cells, whereas NCA was increased in neutrophils and mononuclear cells; in platelets, it remained within normal. The amount of protein in neutrophils and mononuclear cells was lowered 1.2 and 2-fold respectively. In diffuse skin lesions, the amount of protein in cells was lower than in local lesions. It should be noted that in SSD patients examined, the inflammatory process was unmarked. Therefore, the data on substantial changes in proteolytic activity cannot be related to the inflammatory process. A reverse correlation was established between CA in neutrophils and circulating immune complexes as was a reverse correlation between CA in mononuclear cells and blood antinuclear factor. The data presented indicate that proteinases are an important factor of the pathogenesis in SSD. Apparently, SSD is characterized not only by enhanced synthesis of collagen but also by a dramatic reduction of the activity of enzymes that specifically hydrolyze this group of proteins, which leads to a decrease of collagen catabolism and hence, to the development of fibrosis in tissues.

[Proteolytic activity of blood cells in rheumatoid arthritis]. / Issledovanie proteoliticheskoi aktivnosti kletok krovi pri revmatoidnom artrite.

Collagenolytic and neutral caseinolytic activities were studied in lysates of neutrophils, mononuclear cells and thrombocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis considering the steps and duration of the disease, before and after medical treatment. 5 healthy persons and 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were investigated. Specific caseinolytic activity (per 1 mg of protein) was increased in the patients neutrophils and monocytes 2.2- and 3.2-fold, respectively, while the activity per 10(6) cells was increased 1.5- and 2.2-fold, respectively. Specific collagenolytic activity was increased 1.4-fold in neutrophils and monocytes, whereas the activity per 10(6) neutrophils was increased by 20% and per 10(6) monocytes--near normal values. In thrombocytes collagenolytic activity was decreased by 40% and caseinolytic activity was similar to controls. Concentration of protein was decreased 1.5-fold in neutrophils and monocytes of the patients as compared with healthy persons. Proteinases are of importance in pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and collagenolytic activity correlated most distinctly with development of the disease. After medical treatment collagenolytic activity was normalized in the patients cells studied, while caseinolytic activity was markedly decreased but remained above control values. Experiments with proteinase inhibitors enabled to detect major types of neutral proteinases in blood cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and to find some differences in the enzyme patterns in various blood cell populations.

[The clinical value of determining beta-glucuronidase activity in the cells and blood serum of patients with systemic scleroderma]. / Klinicheskoe znachenie opredeleniia aktivnosti beta-gliukuronidazy v kletkakh i cyvorotke krovi bol'nykh sistemnoi sklerodermiei.

The spectrophotometric method was used to determine the activity of beta-glucuronidase (BGU) in the cells (neutrophils, mononuclear cells, thrombocytes) in the blood serum of patients with systemic sclerodermia (SSD). The authors revealed a synchronous change in the activity of BGU in all the cells and in the blood serum, and also a decrease in the activity of the enzyme in the concentration of protein in neutrophils, it being very significant in patients with SSD accompanied by trophic changes. There was a direct relationship between the activity of BGU in the blood serum and the level of C-reactive protein and an inverse one between the activity of BGU and the content of circulating immune complexes in the blood. The level of BGU in the blood serum reflects not only the activity of the inflammatory process but also the markedness of trophic changes in patients with SSD.

[The collagenolytic and general proteolytic activity in synovial fluid cells in rheumatoid arthritis]. / Issledovanie kollagenoliticheskoi i obshchei proteoliticheskoi aktivnosti v kletkakh sinoval'noi zhidkosti pri revmatoidnom artrite.

The authors made a comparative study of collagenolytic (CA) and neutral caseinolytic activity (NCA) in the cells of the synovial fluid (CSF) depending on the peculiarities of the course of rheumatoid process and also on the duration of the disease prior to and after treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It has been shown that proteinase is one of the factors of RA pathogenesis. The level of enzymes directly depended on the activity of synovitis. The data obtained show that with a rapidly progressing RA and also with the III degree of the disease activity, CA in CSF were twice as high as those observed with a slowly progressing RA and also with the I-II degree of RA activity. The treatment conducted promoted a rise in CA, NCA in CSF. The possible mechanism of these processes is being discussed.

[Effect of 1-hour administration of dimethyl sulfoxide on the levels of prostaglandins, products of lipid peroxidation and beta-glucuronidase activity in the blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Vliianie chasovoi applikatsii dimetilsulfoksida na urove'n prosta- glandinov, produktov perekisnogo okisleniia lipidov i na aktivnos't beta-gliukuronidazy krovi bo'lnykh revmatoidnym artritom.

The effect of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) on the level of prostaglandins (PGE and PGF2 alpha), the intensity of peroxide oxidation of lipids (POL), activity of beta-glucuronidase (BGU) prior to and 5 and 24 hours after application made to the patients' hands was studied by a double blind method in 20 patients with genuine rheumatoid arthritis (RA) against the background of therapy with nonsteroid antiphlogistic preparations. Of 20 patients 10 received one-hour application of a 50 per cent DMSO gel, 10 patients received placebo (glycerol instead of DMSO). The authors revealed a significant suppression of PS production against the background of an increased level of POL in four patients who had been given DMSO. The activity of BGU increased five hours after application of DMSO and in 24 hours returned to the initial levels. Changes in the levels of inflammation mediators proved to be statistically insignificant in the group of patients given placebo. Thus, one-hour application of DMSO produced a substantial effect on the system of mediators and their interrelationship in patients with RA.

[Importance of beta-glucuronidase activity and glycosaminoglycan concentration in synovial fluid in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in estimating local inflammation]. / Znachenie aktivnosti beta-gliucuronidazy i kontsentratsii glikozaminoglikanov v sinovial'noi zhidkosti u bol'nykh revmatoidnym artritom v otsenke mestnoi vospalitel'noi aktivnosti.

In 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the activity of beta-glucuronidase and the content of sulfated and non-sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAG) were measured in synovial fluid (SF) and in the cells of SF. It has been established that as the local inflammation increases, the activity of the enzyme and the content of sulfated GAG in SF also rise. This is accompanied by simultaneous reduction of beta-glucuronidase activity in the cells and by the drop of the hyaluronic acid content in SF.

[Glycosaminoglycans and beta-glucuronidase in peripheral blood cells and biological fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Glikozaminoglikany i beta-gliukuronidaza kletok perifericheskoi krovi i biologicheskikh zhidkostei pri revmatoidnom artrite.

Content of glycosaminoglycans and beta-glucuronidase activity were measured in leukocytes, blood serum and urine of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Concentration of glycosaminoglycans was increased in blood serum and urine of the patients. The most distinct increase as compared with healthy persons in content of these substances was found in leukocytes of the patients with joint form of rheumatoid arthritis. Activity of beta-glucuronidase was also elevated in cells of peripheral blood, whereas content of protein was decreased in these cells. The enzymatic activity was reduced in the fraction of polymorphonuclear leukocytes of the patients as shown by estimation of the activity per 10(6) cells after fractionation using the Ficoll-verografin procedure. Deficiency of beta-glucuronidase activity in polymorphonuclear leukocytes appears to be among the factors responsible for excess of glycosaminoglycans in blood serum and urine of the patients as well as for chronic inflammation under conditions of rheumatoid arthritis.

[Clinical value of determining beta-glucuronidase and glycosaminoglycans in blood cells and biological fluids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Klinicheskoe znachenie opredeleniia beta-gliukuronidazy i glikozaminoglikanov v kletkakh krovi i biologicheskikh zhidkostiakh u bol'nykh revmatoidnym artritom.

Patients with proved rheumatoid arthritis (RA) demonstrated changes in the activity of beta-glucuronidase and the concentration of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in the blood formed elements and biological fluids showing correlation with peculiarities of the RA course. The content of beta-glucuronidase and GAG in biological fluids well reflected the activity of an inflammatory process. Significant differences in the level of beta-glucuronidase and GAG in blood cells of patients with the articular type of RA and systemic manifestations of disease were revealed.

[Role of histiocytic and parenchymatous elements of the liver in biosynthesis of reactive blood glycoproteins (haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin)]. / Rol' gistiotsitarnykh i parenkhimatoznykh élementov pecheni v biocinteze reaktivnykh glikoproteinov krovi (gaptoglobina i tseruloplazmina).

Synthesis of haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin was found to occur in liver parenchyma under conditions of obligatory participation of the tissue mesenchymal structural elements. Dependence of the blood glycoproteins hyperproduction on the processes of proliferation, occurring in hystiocytic structural elements of liver, was detected after administration into rabbits of zymosan, which stimulated the reticuloendothelial cells, of turpentine (causing inflammation in subcutaneous fatty tissue) or of intracellular cytoplasmic soluble antigens of beta-haemolytic streptococcus A.