[Diagnostic and prognostic value of interleukin-6 in malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas]. / Diagnosticheskoe i prognosticheskoe znachenie interleikina-6 pri zlokachestvennykh nekhodzhkinskikh limfomakh.

Sixty six patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) were studied, interleukin-6 (IL-6) was revealed in the blood sera of 33 patients. IL-6 was revealed more frequently in patients with high-grade malignant (p < 0.05) than in those with low-grade malignancy. The largest group of IL-6 positive patients included NHL patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and angioimmunoblastic lymphoma. The marked relationship was found between the serum IL-6 levels and the stage of disease: the serum IL-6 level was significantly lower in untreated patients with Stages II and III disease than in those with end-stage (IV) NHL. IL-6 significantly decreased upon remission, comparable with its level before the initiation of treatment. Analysing the association of prognosis of disease with the serum IL-6 showed that in the group of patients with good (The SNLG index < 2) and intermediate (2 < SNLG index < by 2.6) prognosis, the concentration of this cytokine was significantly lower than in those with poor prognosis (SNLG index > 2.6). There was a significant decrease of the total survival rates of NHL with serum IL-6 found. Therefore, IL-6 is a good prognostic marker in NHL and associated with the activity of a malignant process. Additionally, the increased serum IL-6 levels correlated with NK activities positively and with serum IL-4 levels negatively.

[Various cellular mechanisms of the action of laser irradiation of blood]. / Nekotorye kletochnye mekhanizmy deistviia lazernogo oblucheniia krovi.

Effect of in vitro exposure to therapeutic He-Ne laser at a wave-length of 630 nm in two modes, 2 and 6 mWt, on the function of blood cells is studied. Exposure to 6 mWt resulted in spontaneous increase of interleukin-1 production by peripheral blood mononuclears. 2 mWt exposure led to increase of erythrocyte deformability and decrease of their viscosity, whereas 6 mWt exposure did not modify these parameters. Laser-effected changes in the production of other cytokines, primarily interleukins 2, 6, and 8, are a perspective trend of research.

[Connection between Epstein-Barr virus infection and HLA phenotype and features of cytokine status in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas]. / Sviaz' infektsii virusom Epshteina-Barr s HLA-fenotipom i osobennostiami tsitokinovogo statusa u bol'nykh so zlokachestvennymi nekhodzhkinskimi limfomami.

Thirty-four primary (untreated) patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were examined. Their HLA phenotype and the production of interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha were assessed. Serological profiles characteristic of the late stages and reactivation of EBV infection were detected in 16 (47.1%) patients. NHL of low malignancy predominated in EBV-infected patients. A greater number of blank HLA-A antigens and a higher incidence of HLA-DR7 antigen was observed in infected patients. Serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha was reliably higher in them, whereas the production of this cytokine by the peripheral blood mononuclears decreased. Hence, serum tumor necrosis factor is a product of transformed B lymphocytes. Spontaneous and stimulated production of interleukin-1 beta by peripheral blood mononuclears was significantly decreased in EBV-infected patients, and the serum concentration of this cytokine similarly had a trend to decrease, which indicates an inhibition of interleukin-1 beta production in EBV-infected patients with NHL.

[The Epstein-Barr virus in patients with infectious endocarditis]. / Virus Epshteina--Barr u bol'nykh infektsionnym éndokarditom.

Serological markers of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been investigated in 28 patients with infectious endocarditis. In 75% of patients IgM antibodies to "early" antigen of the virus which are the marker of active viral infection occurred vs 6.2% among healthy blood donors. Specific for infectious endocarditis reaction profile (anti-EBV combination in one person) indicates reactivation of latent viral infection. The conclusion is made on the necessity of further investigation of both the role of EBV in pathogenesis of pyoseptic diseases and immunologic mechanisms for reactivation of latent viral infections.

[The activation mechanisms in cytomegalovirus infection]. / O mekhanizmakh aktivatsii tsitomegalovirusnoi infektsii.

Antibodies to cytomegalovirus class IgG and IgM and level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the serum were measured in 81 patients with severe surgical infections. In patients with acute lung abscess TNF level was twice higher and activation of cytomegalovirus infection (specific IgM) was three times more frequent than in patients with infectious endocarditis. The conclusion is made that severe surgical infections inducing progressive immunodeficiency create conditions for activation of latent viral infections, cytomegalovirus, in particular). Recommendations on prevention of hemotransmissible cytomegalovirus infection are presented.

[Method of diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus infection]. / Metod diagnostiki infektsii virusom Epshtein-Barr.

An original methodological approach to the diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is proposed, consisting in the detection of viral DNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes using in situ DNA hybridization. EBV DNA was found in 6 (50%) patients with lymphomas and in 1 (33%) with infective endocarditis out of 26 examined recipients of blood components. No EBV DNA was found in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 14 regular donors. Normalization of the immune status of a patient and use of blood components containing no EBV is the key factor in the prevention of EBV infection. Biohit test system for in situ hybridization of EBV DNA may be used for diagnostic monitoring of EBV infection and screening of blood and tissue donors.

[The histocompatibility problem in military blood transfusions]. / Problema gistosovmestimosti v voennoi transfuziologii.

One of the basic approaches which provides for the increase of immunological safety of hemocomponental therapy is the use of donor-recipient histocompatible blood. The decisive factor in the organism's individuality is HLA-antigen system. Antigen incompatibility of donor's and recipient's tissues in HLA-antigen causes the development of delayed hypersensitivity and sensibilization of the recipient, which provoke a number of complications and posttransfusion reactions. Histocompatibility is the key problem for modern transfusiology and transplantology.

[The immunogenetic status of patients with infectious endocarditis]. / Immunogeneticheskii status bol'nykh infektsionnym éndokarditom.

On the basis of a deep clinico-immunological examination of 23 patients with septic endocarditis it was established that HLA B35 antigen and haplotype A2-B35 are the most probable markers of the genetic predisposition to the development of infective endocarditis. Immune deficiency is accompanied by a decreased content of T-helpers, decreased activity of natural killers and phagocytic activity of granulocytes. A combination of a genetically determined defect of the immune response with a modification of histocompatibility antigens by infective agents, drugs (narcotics, antigens etc.) and other factors are thought to be of pathogenetic significance in the development of infective endocarditis.