[Pathogenetic importance of proinflammatory cytokines in the formation and progression of fibrosis in alcoholic hepatitis].

AIM OF INVESTIGATION: To study the effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) on prognosis and outcome of alcoholic hepatitis (formation of fibrosis). METHODS: Overall 48 patients with alcoholic hepatitis (AH) were investigated. The control group consisted of 25 healthy donors. Morphological study of liver biopsies and 13C-methacetin breath test (13C MBT) was carried out at 15 patients with AH. Concentration of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) in blood serum was detected by immunoenzyme assay with application of commercial tests-systems Vector-Best. STUDY RESULTS: At patients with AH TNF-alpha, IL-6 and CRP significantly increased in comparison to healthy persons. We found a significant correlation between fibrosis stage and TNF-alpha (r = 0.53; p < 0.01), IL-6 (r = 0.62; p < 0.01), the Knodell Histological Activity Index and TNF-alpha (r = 0.58, p < 0.05), IL-6 (r = 0.64; p < 0.01), the results of 13C MBT and TNF-alpha (r = -0.72; p < 0.01), IL-6 (r = -0.73; p < 0.01), alanine aminotransferase and TNF-alpha (r = 0.61; p < 0.01), IL-6 (r = 0.54; p < 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase and TNF-alpha (r = 0.64; p < 0.01), IL-6 (r = 0.65; p < 0.01), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and TNF-alpha (r = 0.46; p < 0.01), IL-6 (r = 0.48; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 have predictive value for development of inflammation and fibrosis in patients with AH and can be used as non-invasive markers of fibrosis.

[Bases of the replacement surfactant therapy for bronchopulmonary diseases]. / Osnovy zamestitel'noi surfaktantnoi terapii bronkholegochnykh zabolevanii.

The article presents modern data about structure and function of the pulmonary surfactant system in healthy people and in patients with bronchopulmonary diseases. Information about different types of preparations of surfactant for use as the replacement surfactant therapy to treat immature newborns with respiratory distress syndrome and adult patients with acute injury of the lung is presented in the article. Exogenous surfactant "Sucrim" and "Suzakrin" medicine made in Ukraine are discussed in the article.

[Iridodiagnosis in diseases of the hepatobiliary system and kidneys]. / Iridodiagnostika pri zabolevaniiakh gepatobiliarnoi sistemy i pochek.

Overall fifty patients with chronic hepatitis and 50 patients with concurrent pathologies were examined. The patients with chronic active hepatitis and in coexisting pathologies showed more profound depression of the immunity system as well as striking alterations on the iris of the eye. The former patient group received basic therapy, while the latter one were given immunomodulating agents against the background of basic therapy. Iridodiagnosis will, we believe, help in detecting concurrent pathologies of the hepatobiliary and urinary systems. The dynamics of the pathological signs in the iris is strongly related to the clinicoimmunological picture of the illness. Iridodiagnosis is a reliable test of a therapeutic effect in patients with chronic diseases of the hepatobiliary system and in those cases having this medical problem concurrently with the urinary system pathologies.

[Nigedase in the combined treatment of patients with chronic pancreatitis and enterocolitis]. / Nigedaza v kompleksnom lechenii bol'nykh khronicheskim pankreatitom i énterokolitom.

The authors examined the efficacy of a new native agent of lipolytic action (nigedase, made in the USSR) used for the treatment of digestive disorders in 62 patients with chronic diseases of the pancreas and enterocolitis. Nigedase should be taken 1-2 tablets daily for 3-4 weeks. By its lipolytic action nigedase is more active than festal.