[The impact of immunoactive drugs on passive avoidance response].

AIM: The objective of this project was to explore the influence of immunoactive drugs (tactivin, thymulin, and thymosin fraction 5) on the development of the passive avoidance conditioned reflex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two types of passive avoidance boxes were used--a regular two-chamber box and a modified three-chamber box, comprising a dark chamber in which rats were exposed to electrical shock, a safe dark chamber, and a light chamber in the center. RESULTS: The project has established that the memory trace persists longer under the influence of the immunoactive drugs in both models, which is consistent with the reference nootropic piracetam test results. Notably, the immunoactive drugs' mnemotropic effect was more pronounced in the modified three-chamber box than in the standard two-chamber box. Using the modified box helped to establish the influence of tactivin, thymulin, and thymosin fraction 5 on the spatial memory component. Immunotropic preparations from thymus caused the animals to select the safe chamber 24 hours later and in subsequent tests. CONCLUSION: The project's results indicate that the drugs tested do possess mnemotropic properties, so their range of clinical use can be broadened.

[Immunobiologically active compounds from skin].

This paper describes physiochemical and biological properties of 3 immunologically active compounds extracted by acetone from porcine skin. High pressure gel chromatography confirmed their heterogeneity. RP-HPLC of compound 2 (C2 or K-activin) also characterizes it as a heterogeneous entity. It was shown to inhibit proliferation of cultured fibroblasts from human fetuses and exhibit weak activity in general anaphylactic reaction (anaphylactic shock) and skin anaphylactic reaction. A summary of data on immunologically active compounds are presented with special emphasis laid on acetone-extractable K-activin.

[Effect of tactivin on the behaviour and learning in rats].

The action of the immunocorrective agent tactivin on CNS functional activity was studied in an experiment using outbred white rats. The drug was shown to affect the animals' behaviour in an elevated cross-shaped maze including learning capacity and ability to overcome functional disorders of conditioned active avoidance response. The data obtained suggest anti-stress activity of tactivin.

[From transplantation of the thymus to molecular reconstruction of the immune system]. / Ot peresadki timusa k molekuliarnoi rekonstruktsii immunnoi sistemy.

The results of the first global grafting of the thymus and a thymus-sternum block are given. The grafting of immunocompetent organs in children with the Louis-Bar syndrome is shown to cause to a partial and in some cases significant recovery of immunological parameters. Thus, blast-cell transformation showed 10-40% increases, the titers of antibodies to Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli rose, and immunoglobulin A that was generally absent in these children before surgery appeared. The clinical effect of grafting was noticeably observed 20-30 days after surgery. The most significant parameters were as follows: cessation of sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, and purulent skin lesions. Neurological syndromes improved: tremor and staggering gait diminished, ocular convergence normalized. Thereafter such operations were made in 27 patients with Bruton's disease and in 3 patients with lymphogranulomatosis. The grafting of immunocompetent organs led to the design of agents derived from the thyroid gland (Tactivin) and bone marrow (myelopid). The immunobiological and clinical effects of Tactivin in the past 15-20 years are given in detail. The basic principles in immunomodulating therapy with thymic agents are presented.

[Tactivin in the combined treatment of acute inflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial area]. / Taktivin v kompleksnom lechenii ostrykh vospalitel'nykh zabolevaniiakh cheliustno-litsevoi oblasti.

Examinations of 46 patients with acute inflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial area revealed a reduction of some immunity parameters. Thymic activity of the saliva and blood was found to reduce still more after surgery (opening of the phlegmon). The ratio of thymic activities of the saliva and blood may be an indirect evidence of a tendency in development of an inflammatory process. The authors demonstrated the efficacy of correcting immunity parameters by tactivin, which was particularly effective in grave cases. Tactivin concentrations in the blood and saliva, their time course and ratio may be considered as additional criteria for assessing the status of patients and the risk of complications.

[The use of tactivin in the combined treatment and prevention of complications in reconstructive operations on the bones of the facial skeleton]. / Primenenie taktivina v kompleksnom lechenii i profilaktike oslozhnenii pri rekonstruktivnykh operatsiiakh na kostiakh litsevogo skeleta.

Sixty-three patients with congenital and acquired defects and deformations of facial bones without concomitant diseases were examined. Twenty-eight of them were operated on; auto- and alloplasty was resorted to in 18 patients, and to 10 patients tactivin was administered after common protocols for immunocorrection before or after surgery. Immunologic and clinical studies showed that immunodeficiency states are the most probable causes of postoperative complications following repair surgery on the facial bones. Tactivin normalized the immunity parameters and prevented the development of postoperative complications.

[The use of immunological indices for assessing the severity of the course of periodontitis and treatment efficacy]. / Ispol'zovanie immunologicheskikh pokazatelei dia otsenki tiazhesti techeniia parodontita i éffektivnosti lecheniia.

The authors studied immunological status of patients with paradontosis. If included estimation of extended structure of lymphocytes and functional status of thymus. There was marked correlation between clinical of patients and immunological indices especially in severe form of paradontitis. As immunological preparation T-activin was used in injections and applications. Using of T-activin gave positive results in patient developed of paradontitis.

[Biologically active substances from the skin that influence the proliferation and differentiation of cultured human keratinocytes]. / Biologicheski aktivnye veshchestva kozhi, vliiaiushchie na proliferatsiiu i differentsirovku kul'tiviruemykh keratinotsitov cheloveka.

Three fractions of biologically active substances of human skin varying in molecular weight (F1 > 15 kD, F2 1.4-15 kD, F3 < 1.4 kD) were tested in primary and regenerating cultures of human epidermal keratinocytes. F1 and F3 caused stimulation of keratinocyte proliferation, F2 inhibited proliferation and enhanced terminal differentiation of epidermal cells.

[Immunodiagnosis of retinoblastoma]. / Ob immunodiagnostike retinoblastomy.

To improve the accuracy of early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the authors have examined a number of cellular and humoral immunity parameters in 188 children with retinoblastomas, in 57 ones with nontumorous conditions of the eyes, and in healthy controls. Stages III-IV retinoblastoma was found associated with reduced blood levels of IgG and IgA and a still more marked reduction of both in the lacrimal fluid (4-fold), with reduced blood T lymphocyte count (by 1.5 times), decreased lymphocyte blastogenesis response to phytohemagglutinin (by 8-9 times), reduced leukocyte migration activity (MI = 79 +/- 10%), reduced serum thymic activity (by 2.5 times). The early (I-II) stage of the disease involves a lowering of only lacrimal fluid IgA (2-fold) and of the leukocyte migration index (MI) (89 +/- 2%). This index was found to be an important specific indicator for the early preoperative diagnosis of retinoblastoma. Leukocyte migration inhibition (MI less than 95%) by retinoblastoma antigens was observed only if this tumor was present. In cases with the nontumorous conditions and in health retinoblastoma antigens as a rule stimulated the leukocyte migration (MI over 95%).

[T-cell immunity and immunomodulators in the comprehensive treatment of diffuse toxic goiter]. / Sostoianie T-sistemy immuniteta i primenenie immunomoduliatorov v kompleksnom lechenii bol'nykh diffuznym toksicheskim zobom.

Age-specific and related to DTG severity lowering of T-lymphocyte count, active and autologous T-lymphocyte number, thymic serum activity were found in 83 DTG patients. These shifts made justified the use of immunomodulator tactivin in 32 DTG patients. The drug was administered in daily subcutaneous doses (1 ml of 0.01% solution) for 5 days. As a result, the T-cell immunity returned to normal values. The highest response occurred in young subjects with moderate hyperthyroidism. Because a single tactivin course failed to bring up a persistent effect, repeat courses are needed to achieve good clinical and immunologic responses.

[Leukocytic index of intoxication and immunologic disorders in diffuse suppurative peritonitis]. / Leikotsitarnyi indeks intoksikatsii i immunologicheskie narusheniia pri razlitom gnoinom peritonite.

Expression of total T- and B-population, T-subpopulation lymphocyte receptors and secretion of IgM, IgG and IgA were measured in 112 patients with diffuse purulent peritonitis and 81 healthy donors. Expression of receptors was correlated with the disease severity identified by leukocytic index of intoxication (LII). The latter appeared to accurately reflect the pattern of immunological impairment. Reduced absolute and proportional values of total pools of T-, B-cells and T-helpers, but elevated ones of T-suppressors and T-amplifiers occurred in LII less than 2.0. In LII greater than 7.0 there was total suppression of all the cellular populations due to deep lymphopenia. At the terminal stage of peritonitis paralysis of T-helper receptors and B-cells went in parallel with high secretion of serum immunoglobulins.

[Effects of taktivin on antibody-forming splenic cells in rats]. / Vliianie taktivina na antiteloobrazuiushchie kletki selezenki krys.

The paper studied the effect of Taktivin on antibody forming cells of the spleen of Wistar rats which were injected in doses 0.5 Hg and 1.0 Hg. Infusions of Taktivin were made in 24 h and 72 h after antigen immunization.

[T and B components of the immune system in acute bronchopulmonary diseases in children with thymomegaly and without it]. / Pokazateli T- i B-zven'ev sistemy immuniteta pri ostrykh bronkho- legochnykh zabolevaniiakh u detei s timomegaliei i bez nee.

The immune status was estimated comprehensively and indicators of the level I and II tests of T and B components of the immunity system were defined in 120 children with thymomegaly (group I), in 30 children with unenlarged thymus (group II), and in 40 practically healthy children with unestablished size of the thymus, with a favourable family and personal disease history, who had never fallen ill before the immunologic examination (group III). The children belonging to groups I and II were examined at the acute disease period, during convalescence and clinical wellbeing. It has been established that during the acute bronchopulmonary disease, the group I and II children manifested the same regularities of immune response to the action of an antigenic stimulus. However, at the period of the clinical wellbeing, the group II children showed a higher lymphocytosis, impairment of the ratio of the T lymphocyte subpopulations, an increase of the EAC--RFC count, and a decline of the level of serum thymic factor. It is assumed that in the group I children, the system of immunologic defence is of weak safety within the first 3 years of life.

[Restoration by T-activin and its subfractions of splenocyte membrane structures in thymectomized animals]. / Vosstanovlenie taktivinom i ego subfraktsiiami struktury membran splenotsitov timéktomirovannykh zhivotnykh.

It was shown that thymectomy induces the injury of plasma membranes of mouse splenocytes. This membrane disorders completely inhibit T-cell response on Concanavalin. A. The incubation of splenocytes with Tactivin or injection of Tactivin or its subfractions to the animals restore the membrane structure and T-cell response.

[The use of T-activin for the prevention of congenital influenzal infection in mice and the correction of the immune deficiency]. / Ispol'zovanie T-aktivina dlia profilaktiki vrozhdennoi grippoznoi infektsii u myshei i korrektsii immunodefitsita.

Viremia accompanying influenza infection and the possibility of transplacental passage of the virus into the fetus make it expedient to develop measures for the prophylaxis of intrauterine infection of the fetus in case of influenza during pregnancy. The work presents the optimum scheme of administration of T-activin for prophylactic purposes to pregnant mice with acute influenza infection. Besides, the use of T-activin for immunocorrection in case of established congenital influenza infection in mice is proposed.

[Immunocorrective therapy of pyelonephritis in children]. / Immunokorrigiruiushchaia terapiia pielonefrita u detei.

A total of 40 children who suffered from acute or chronic pyelonephritis underwent immunological treatment with polypeptide drug tactivin. There was an evidence of clinical and laboratory improvement in 82.5 per cent of treated persons, first manifest in decreased proteinuria and normalized urinary sedimentation, and then in lower levels of bacteriuria due to the developing resistance to infectious agents. In 15 per cent of tactivin-treated children leukocyturia persisted though the disease progression was hindered. In the course of the treatment no side-effects were noted. In line with the stimulation of humoral immune response and activation of the complement system, tactivin administration evoked the competence of T-lymphocytes and potentiated the development of this link of immune system. As part of combined treatment the above preparation favourably affected the disease pathogenesis in children.