[Comparative study of the effects of thymalin and vitamin E on certain indices for local pulmonary protection in rheumatoid arthritis]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie vliianiia timalina i tokoferola atsetat na nekotorye pokazateli mestnoi zashchity legkykh pri revmatoidnom artrite.

In experimental rheumatoid arthritis, certain indices for local defence of the lung were studied together with effects on these of preparations of vitamin E and thymalin. Noted in experimental rheumatoid arthritis are manifest changes in quantitative indices for cellular population of the bronchoalveolar space and disturbances in humoral mechanisms of defence of the lungs. The drugs employed for the treatment of the affliction have a positive effect on quantitative indices for the cell population of the lung local defence factors. But no significant effects could be demonstrated of thymalin on humoral factors of defence of the lungs. Unlike thymalin, tocopheroli acetas is noted to augment the secretion of lysozyme, to decrease the activity of phospholipase A2, to improve the surface-active properties of the lung surfactant. It is suggested that its antioxidant, membrane-stabilizing action may be responsible for the positive effect on indices for local defence of the lung.

[Effect of tocopherol acetate, indomethacin and dexamethasone on some indices of local lung defense in rheumatoid arthritis]. / Vliianie tokoferola atsetata, indometatsina i deksametazona na nekotorye pokazateli mestnoi zashchity legkikh pri revmatoidnom artrite.

Marked disorders in the system of local lung defence are noted in experimental rheumatoid arthritis. In such a setting non-unidirectional shifts occur in the quantitative and qualitative indicators of cellular factors for the local pulmonary defensive system, characterized by discordant changes in the indicators of alveolar macrophages and segmented neutrophiles. There occur apparent disturbances in the functional activity of alveolar macrophages manifested by changes both in their phagocytary and metabolic activity and by depression of humoral mechanisms in the local pulmonary defensive system. The use of indomethacin, dexamethasone and vitamin E in an experimental rheumatoid arthritis setting favors positive shifts in indices for humoral and cellular links of the local pulmonary defensive system. Effects of vitamin E on indices for cellular and humoral links of the local pulmonary defensive system are more manifest as compared to those of indomethacin and dexamethasone.