ABSTRACT
At present an increase of some autoaggressive diseases can be observed. The commonly used treatment consists of the administration of some immunosuppressive drug of some hormonal preparations. This type of therapy is accompanied by some undesired side effects, as these drugs influence also some other cell systems besides the immunologically active cells. These drugs are also known to lower the resistance to some intercurrent infections. Due to these undesired side effects some naturally occurring factors are introduced into the therapy. These are e.g., TGF-beta, or some interleukins (IL-10 etc.). In our department and immunosuppressively acting substance was isolated from DHL which had the ability to inhibit the AA (adjuvant arthritis) in rats. In humans this SF (suppressive factor) stimulates the CD 8+ cells which are known to have suppressoric activity. This SF was successfully applied in some autoaggressive diseases, e.g., atopic eczema, multiple sclerosis, some polyradiculoenuritis, amyotropic lateral sclerosis etc. In this paper the results in the ALS patients are given. Amongst other possibilities of the therapy the application of antilymphocyte sera, monoclonal antibodies to some CD markers of lymphocytes and some methods of hyposensitizations of tolerance induction are mentioned. Further, an original method using antigen bound to isosoluble carrier is described. This administration of encephalitogen bound onto Sforon (polyacrylate spheres) sis not only inhibit the EAE manifestations but also enable the survival of guinea-pigs which had already manifested the clinical signs of EAE.
Subject(s)
Autoimmune Diseases/therapy , Adult , Animals , Antilymphocyte Serum/therapeutic use , Arthritis, Experimental/therapy , Autoimmune Diseases/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes , Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/therapy , Female , Guinea Pigs , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Lymphocyte Count , Male , Middle Aged , Rats , Suppressor Factors, Immunologic/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Forty amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients were treated with suppressor factor. The therapy led to the normalization of the immunoregulatory index in approximately two thirds of the patients. The responder patients had a better clinical response, i.e. the degenerative process slowed down or it was even arrested. This favourable effect was accompanied with a significant increase in the patients' life span. When the therapy had no effect on the CD8 cells, it was discontinued. Stopping the therapy led to disease progression and death; thus, in some patients, therapy was carried out despite its failure to increase the CD8 cell numbers. Substantial clinical improvement was noticed in these patients. The mean survival of patients with ALS was 2-3 years, whereas ALS patients treated with the suppressor factor survived on the average more than 5 years.
Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/therapy , Suppressor Factors, Immunologic/therapeutic use , Aged , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Female , Humans , Lymphocyte Count/drug effects , Lymphocyte Subsets/drug effects , Male , Middle Aged , Suppressor Factors, Immunologic/immunologyABSTRACT
A low-molecular leukocyte dialysate, suppressor transfer factor (STF), exerting a stimulating effect on CD8 subpopulations in man, was administered to 17 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Following three s.c. injections of STF, activation of CD8 subpopulations was noted in 11 patients while a decrease in CD4 in seven. Progression of the disease was found to slow in nine outpatients administered STF injections at an interval of 3-4 weeks. No therapeutic effect was seen in four patients in whom STF injection failed to show stimulating activity on lymphocyte subpopulations. Remission of the stimulating effect of STF occurs within four weeks. No side effects were seen in any of the patients treated. The effect of STF on immune reactivity and on the clinical course of ALS supports the hypothesis of autoimmune character of the disease.
Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/therapy , Transfer Factor/therapeutic use , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Molecular WeightABSTRACT
Polygraphic nocturnal records make it possible to differentiate different forms of the sleep apnoea syndrome, depending on the predominating type of apnoea--central or obstructive. In mixed apnoea always one component predominates. On five typical cases of sleep apnoea the authors describe basic symptoms, principles of diagnosis and pathophysiological mechanisms of their development. In the clinical picture usually several factors and pathophysiological systems participate, most frequently functional disorders of respiratory centres and tonigenetic structure along with their afferentation or inhibition by afferent stimulation. The authors describe therapeutic approaches. Tracheostomy is recommended nowadays only in vital indication.
Subject(s)
Sleep Apnea Syndromes , Adult , Electrocardiography , Electroencephalography , Electromyography , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sleep Apnea Syndromes/physiopathologyABSTRACT
A simple blind study with small doses of naloxone (0.8-1.6 mg i.v.) was carried out in 11 patients with hypersomnia with sleep apnoea (HSA). The effect was studied by diurnal polysomnography. It was found that the administration of naloxone was followed by significant prolongation of wakefulness and by significant shortening of the total duration of the second stage of NREM sleep. The duration of the apnoeic episodes was also significantly shortened after naloxone, although their number did not alter. Increased activity of the endorphinergic system (which naloxone inhibits by receptor competition) evidently plays a role in the pathophysiology of HSA.
