Protective effect of thymus extract against stress-induced gastric ulcer in rats

This study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of thymus extract against peptic ulcer in stress-induced gastric ulcer model in rats, together with the determination of its effect on gastric secretion. The possible effect of thymus extract on the isolated fundal strip of rat stomach and the isolated smooth muscle of guinea pig ileum was also studied. The oral administration of thymus extract [50 mg/kg/day] for one week significantly reduced the incidence of ulceration, the mean ulcer score and the ulcer index compared with the saline control group and achieved a preventive index of 57%. Also, it decreased gastric acidity, as it significantly reduced the mean pepsin concentration as compared with the saline control animals. On the other hand, thymus extract produced a dose- dependent relaxant effect on the isolated smooth muscle of guinea pig ileum, but not the isolated fundal strip of rat stomach

Management of severe atopic dermatitis with thymostimulin.

Two patients with severe atopic dermatitis unresponsive to conventional therapy were enrolled in a clinical trial on thymostimulin (TP-1). TP-1 was administered by subcutaneous injection 1 mg/kg/day for 14 days and then 1 mg/kg/day on alternate days for 2 months. Clinical and immunological status were evaluated at baseline and at regular intervals during the treatment. Clinical severity scores included eight skin conditions (erythema, edema, vesicle, crust, excoriation, scaling, lichenification, pigmentation), two subjective components (itchiness and loss of sleep), and extent of area affected. There was a statistically significant improvement in the overall assessment of the severity scores. There were no definite changes in immunological parameters including CD4, CD8 T-cell subpopulations and serum IgE, but eosinophil count showed a mark decrease in one case. No serious side effects were observed.

Presentación de cinco casos de linfocitopenia CD4+ idiopática / Report of five cases of idiopathic CD4+ lymphocytopenia

Introducción: el objetivo de este trabajo es llamar la atención sobre una inmunodeficiencia recientemente descripta y ofrecer una propuesta de estudio y tratamiento. Material y métodos: período de estudio: enero de 1998 a agosto de 2000. Presentamos 5 pacientes de entre 23 y 86 años de edad (media 51,2 años), todos de sexo femenino, que fueron estudiadas por presentar infecciones a repetición (micóticas, virales y bacterianas). Se les realizó determinación de VIH por ELISA, pruebas cutáneas para antígenos habitualmente reconocidos por el organismo, medición de linfocitos CD4+ y CD8+ por partículas magnéticas. Proteinograma electroforético, dosaje de inmunoglobulinas plasmáticas por inmunodifusión radial. Se efectuó tratamiento con timomodulina 60 mg por día. Conclusiones: al momento del diagnóstico se observó: pruebas cutáneas hipoérgicas, VIH negativo y disminución de linfocitos CD4+. Posterior al tratamiento con timomodulina, se observó buena respuesta clínica, mejoría de las pruebas cutáneas y elevación de los linfocitos CD4+ en todas las pacientes

The role of Wobe-Mugos in reducing acute sequele of radiation in head and neck cancers--a clinical phase-III randomized trial.

Oral enzymes act as a potent antiinflammatory, antiedematous agents thereby decreasing acute toxigenic effect of radiation and increasing compliance, quality of life of our patients. Fifty patients were randomized 25 allocated in enzyme and radiotherapy arm, 25 in radiotherapy alone. Pre RT and post RT biopsies were taken from both arms. In our study it was found that there was clinical, histopathological as well as statistical significant difference in both arms. The enzyme arm patients had mucostis of grade I in 76%, grade II in 12%, grade III in 8% while as 8% had grade I, 68% grade II, 24% had grade III in RT arm alone. In enzyme patients skin reactions of grade I in 72%, 20% had grade II, 8% had grade III. In control arm 12% had grade I, 76% had grade II, 8% had grade III skin reaction.