[Rehabilitation of the patients with osteoarthritis].

Under the term "osteoarthritis" (OA) is currently meant a clinical syndrome resulting from the combined effect of articular pain and disordered functional activity leading to the deterioration of the quality of life of the patients. The principal objective of rehabilitation of the patients presenting with GA in which all patients with this condition are in need practically after each next aggravation of the pathological process is to relive pain syndrome and restore the functional ability of the joints lost or deteriorated after each exacerbation in order to eventually improve the quality of life of the patients experiencing the constantly progressing degenerative process in the musculoskeletal system. The effectiveness of pain alleviation, the degree of improvement'of the joint functional activity and the general condition of the patient are considered as the criteria for the assessment of the effectiveness of the rehabilitative treatment. These criteria have been chosen in accordance with the recommendations of the OMERACT international working group (outcome measures in rheumatology). In addition, the quality of life associated with the health status and the adverse effects of the rehabilitative measures were estimated. Bearing in mind comorbidity in the patients presenting with OA, one of the main challenges is the development of the scientifically sound rationale for the application of non-pharmacological technologies of physical therapy, remedial gymnastics and massage for the prevention and elimination of an aggravation of the secondary aseptic inflammatory process associated with OA and the subsequent rehabilitative treatment for the restoration of the lost locomotory stereotype and the quality of life of the patients. One of the effective methods of physical therapy used for the treatment and rehabilitation of the patients presenting with GA is hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy. This method makes use of the heat rejection phenomenon to which the organism responds, either in the compensatory or/and reflectory mode, by the activation of the heat production processes in the tissues due to the stimulation of the metabolic processes as well as the vascular, neuroendocrine, and immune systems involved in the regulation of homeostasis which produces the desired therapeutic effect apparent as the cessation of secondary aseptic inflammation and progressive degeneration process associated with OA. Taking into consideration the aforesaid, the objective of the present study was the scientifically sound substantiation of the application of hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy as a constituent of the combined rehabilitative treatment of the patients presenting with gonarthritis and a coxarthrosis. This article was designed to report the results of such combined treatment obtained in 110 patients (22 men and 88 women) with gonarthritis and a coxarthrosis of the II-III stages (based on the classification of Kellgren). The patients aged from 40 to 75 years which were randomly divided into two groups (the main and the control (comparison) groups) comprising 55 patients each. The patients of the main group, unlike those in the control one, were treated with the use of hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy in addition to traditional physical therapy and balneotherapy, therapeutic physical exercises, and massage. The results of the treatment were evaluated making use of the Lequesne, WOMAC, Likert international indices. It allowed to identify the predictors for the use of hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy and to increase the effectiveness of the rehabilitative treatment of the patients suffering from OA of the large joints by 33% in comparison with the control group. The highest clinical effectiveness of 90% was achieved in the cases of at a.gonarthritis; it was somewhat lower (64%) in the cases of coxarthritis.

Immunorehabilitating effect of ultrahigh frequency electromagnetic fields in immunocompromised animals.

We observed immunorehabilitation effects of ultrahigh frequency electromagnetic fields (microwaves) in immunocompromised animals. It was shown that microwave irradiation of the thyroid gland area could abolish actinomycin D- and colchicine-induced immunosuppression and did not affect immunosuppression caused by 5-fluorouracil. These findings suggest that changes in the hormonal profile of the organism during microwave exposure can stimulate the processes of transcription and mitotic activity of lymphoid cells.

[The approaches to realization of the therapeutic action of gas-air carbonate baths and lysozyme inhalation during their combined application for the treatment of patients presenting with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

The results of this study indicate that the application of gas-air carbonate baths resulted in the reduction of alveolar hypoxia, moderate increase in the patency of central bronchi, marked improvement of pulmonary and systemic cardiohemodynamics, and functional state of cellular immunity. Courses of lysozyme inhalation promoted degradation of the inflammatory process, reduction of disturbances in the mucociliary function, and improved functioning of the humoral component of the immune system. The combined application of rehabilitative technologies had the well apparent anti-inflammatory and immunocorrective effect, decreased general bronchial obstruction and hypoxia, improved pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics and contractile activity of the myocardium, and suppressed lung hypertension. These findings suggest complementary and additive action of the methods employed in the present study.

[The influence of pulsed infrared laser radiation on the hormone production in the thymus (an experimental study)].

Local irradiation with pulsed (1500 Hz) low-energy infrared laser light of the thymus and thyroid gland region caused well-apparent stimulation of alpha-1-thymosin production in the healthy animals and normalized its level in the stressed ones. Similar stimulation of alpha-1-timosine biosynthesis was observed in an experiment with direct laser irradiation of the cultured HTSC epitheliocytes from the human thymus.

[Influence of combined rehabilitation treatment including novel non-pharmacological technologies on immune system of patients with seronegetive spondylarthritis].

The immune system was studied in 90 patients with seronegative spondylarthritis (SNSA). Of them, 60 patients had ankylosing spondylarthritis (30 patients with central and 30 patients with peripheral forms) and 30 patients with reactive arthritis. SNSA patients were found to have secondary immunodeficiency. Cellular immunity was characterized by a decreased count of T mu (helper cells), an increased count of T gamma (cytotoxic/suppressors) and suppressed functional activity of lymphocytes, humoral immunity--by a high concentration of circulating immune complexes in an increased concentration of serum immunoglobulins. Integral assessment of the changes in the immune system and clinical data in SNSA patients leads to the conclusion that water radon baths and decimetric wave therapy reach the highest efficacy in ankylosing spondylarthritis while water radon baths and low frequency ultrasound--in reactive arthritis, a complex of water radon baths and ultraphonophoresis of hydrocortisone--in ankylosing spondylarthritis and reactive arthritis.

[The action of laser radiation on thymic hormone production]. / Deistvie lazernogo izlucheniia na vyrabotku gormonov timusa.

Irradiation of the epithelial cells from human thymus (cell line HTSC) by arsenid-gallium laser (0.89 nm, 1500 Hz) induces an enhancement of thymic hormone production. The concentration of alpha-1-thymosin was substantially increased on the days 1 and 5 in culture after irradiation. The increase of thymulin level in cultural supernatants was less pronounced and displayed after irradiation during 3-4 minutes. Local laser irradiation of thymus region of rats (5 minutes, 10 times) induce the increase of serum concentration of alpha-1-thymosin and the decrease of serum level of thymulin 2 days after irradiation.

[The elimination of stress-related changes in the thymus with the action of laser radiation on the endocrine glands]. / Ustranenie stressornykh izmenenii v timuse pri deistvii lazernogo izlucheniia na éndokrinnye zhelezy.

Experiments were carried out on male rats to study the stress-limiting effect of impulse infrared laser radiation (0.89 micron). The thymus and thyroid gland were subjected to 2 W localized impulse laser radiation with an impulse length of 7 x 10(-8) sec. and 3.000 Hz frequency. The following data were estimated: thymus weight, thymocyte population, acridine orange binding by thymocyte nucleus, protein content in thymocytes, the level of peroxide oxidation of lipids in thymocytes. It was revealed that the effect of laser radiation depends on the sequence of its application to stress animals rather than on its localization: its stress-limiting features were more effective when applied to stress animals rather than as a prophylactic measure.

[Immunodepressive effect of transcerebral lasers]. / Immunodepressivnyi éffekt transtserebral'nykh lazernykh vozdeistvii.

The aim of the present paper was to study the effect of infrared laser radiation on endocrine regulation of immunogenesis and on endogenic opioid system. For this purpose experiments on rabbits were carried out. The animals underwent transcerebral radiation with subsequent induction of the primary immune response (PIR) to thymus-dependent antigen (sheep red blood cells). The PIR suppression was revealed in all test animals. It was more graphically expressed in rabbits exposed to impulse radiation. Immunodepression was combined with the increase of glucocorticoid activity of adrenal cortex, while no significant changes in thyroid hormones were registered. The 0.08 Joles impulse radiation cause a palpable fall in opioid concentration in blood plasma, the fact, which can be possibly accounted for the rapid exhaustion of opioid synthesis after their stimulation due to laser radiation.

[The enhancement of immune suppression by local laser irradiation in rats exposed to cyclophosphane]. / Usilenie immunnoi supressii lokal'nymi lazernymi oblucheniiami u krys, podvergnutykh vozdeistviiu tsiklofosfana.

The authors experimentally studied where low-energy laser radiation (LELR) can be used to enhance cyclophosphanum-induced immunodepression. Preliminary LELR of the adrenal region and cyclophosphanum, 4 mg/kg, resulted in a more profound decrease in the intensity of a primary immune response as compared to the controls received a pseudoradiation and the cytostatic in the same dosage. The findings suggest that laser radiation can be applied to the adrenal region in the clinical setting to reduce a dose of the cytostatic administered and hence adverse effects, by preserving the therapeutical level of immunodepression.

[The combined action of an ultrahigh-frequency electrical field bitemporally and decimeter waves on the thymus area in the combined therapy of rheumatoid arthritis patients]. / Sochetannoe vozdeistvie élektricheskogo polia ul'travysokoi chastoty bitemporal'no i detsimetrovykh voln na oblast' timus v kompleksnoi terapii bol'nykh revmatoidnym artritom.

The thymus of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients was exposed to combined action of bitemporal UHF electric field and decimeter waves to study immunomodulating effect of the combination. Biochemical, immunological and endocrinological findings during the patients follow-up gave evidence for conclusion on activation of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-thymic axis. A response was achieved in RA seronegative variant with concomitant synovitis. This may be due to genetic factors.

[The immunological and hormonal effects of combined exposure to a bitemporal ultrahigh-frequency electrical field and to decimeter waves at different sites]. / Immunologicheskie i gormonal'nye éffekty sochetannogo vozdeistviia élektricheskogo polia ul'travysokoi chastoty bitemporal'no i detsimetrovykh voln razlichnoi lokalizatsii.

Bitemporal UHF electric field is shown to enhance glucocorticoid adrenal function unlike inhibition of the thyroid function suppressing a primary immune response (PIR) in the productive phase. The combined exposure to bitemporal UHF electric field and decimeter waves of the adrenals doubles glucocorticoid synthesis abolishing the inhibitory action of the UHF therapy on thyroid function resultant in much more suppressed PIR. Both modalities inhibit thymic production. Decimeter waves alone are less effective. The exposure of the thyroid to decimeter waves initiated PIR by 2.5-fold activation of medullar lymphocytes and by a 80% increase in the thymic function. No response was achieved in combined action on the thyroid of the electric field and decimeter waves.

[The functional changes in the hypothalamus under the influence of an ultrahigh-frequency electrical field]. / Funktsional'nye izmeneniia gipotalamusa pod vliianiem élektricheskogo polia ul'travysokoi chastoty.

The experimental study was performed to clarify the advance of the biological effect of UHF bitemporal therapy. Realization of the effect proceeds at the expense of alterations in the patency of neuromediator and endogenic opioid systems of the brain. In addition, the study covered modulations of peripheral endocrine glands by hypophysis, glucocorticoids and catecholamines by the adrenals, proliferation of the lymphoid tissue, functional activity of humoral immunity.

[The immunomodulating effect of microwaves and of an ultrahigh-frequency electrical field in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Immunomoduliruiushchii éffekt mikrovoln i élektricheskogo polia ul'travysokoi chastoty u bol'nykh sistemnoi krasnoi volchankoi.

Bitemporal exposure of the adrenals to UHF electric field and decimeter waves was studied as a component of combined therapy for stage I-II chronic SLE. The best therapeutic response was achieved at bitemporal employment of UHF electric field directed to the system hypothalamus-hypophysis. This may be due to enhanced glucocorticoid activity of the adrenals and immunomodulating effect: a rise in the T-lymphocytes number, humoral immunity suppression. Antiinflammatory action was seen from a positive trend in clinical symptoms. Less therapeutic response to the direct stimulation of the adrenals with decimeter waves stems from the deficient function of the latter consequent to long-term corticosteroid therapy.

[The immunomodulating action of microwaves in the induction of an immune response to Vi antigen]. / Immunomoduliruiushchee deistvie mikrovoln pri induktsii immunnogo otveta na Vi-antigen.

In this work the possibility of using microwaves for immunomodulation in the immunization of animals with thymus-independent antigen was studied. The projection zones of the thymus and adrenal glands of the test animals were subjected to the action of decimeter, or ultrahigh frequency (UHF), waves, while the corresponding zones of the control animals were subjected to imitation UHF irradiation. Vi-antigen was shown to be a thymus-independent antigen for rabbits (according to the results of the evaluation of the functional state of thymocytes, as manifested by the adsorption of acridine orange by the chromatin of thymocyte nuclei and by the content of RNA and DNA in the thymus). The action of UHF waves on the projection zone of the thymus was accompanied by a decrease in the glucocorticoid activity of the adrenal cortex, observed simultaneously with a pronounced immunostimulating effect. The UHF irradiation of the zone of the adrenal glands was accompanied by immunosuppression in combination with enhanced glucocorticoid activity of the adrenal cortex.

[The dynamics of the immunobiological effects in transcerebral microwave exposures]. / Dinamika immunobiologicheskikh éffektov pri transtserebral'nykh mikrovolnovykh vozdeistviiakh.

The trend in immunobiological responses to transcerebral action of decimeter microwaves was studied in intact rabbits. Transcerebral microwaves (120 mW/cm2) can alter functional activity of certain links of endocrine system due to possible activation of hypothalamus and hypophysis exposed to microwave electromagnetic field. Such exposure given in courses at early stages leads to an increase in the number of antibody-forming cells in the spleen, whereas total number of splenocytes is on the decrease.

[The immune and hormonal effects of the local action of microwaves of different intensities]. / Immunnye i gormonal'nye éffekty lokal'nogo vozdeistviia mikrovoln razlichnoi intensivnosti.

The trend in immune and hormonal parameters in thyroid, adrenal and transcerebral exposure to microwaves with intensity of 120, 240 and 480 mW/cm2 was studied in rabbits. The thyroid exposure to 120 and 240 mW/cm2 microwaves lead to immunostimulation, while adrenal and transcerebral one induced immunosuppression. The exposure to 240 mW/cm2 and 480 mW/cm2 microwaves resulted in damage to the tissues in 56 and 100% of the animals, respectively. The latter irradiation appeared lethal for 25% of the rabbits. 120 mW/cm2 MV proved safe as there were no signs of edema and necrosis seen with more intensive microwaves. The authors suggest to employ microwaves of 120 mW/cm2 intensity for endocrine glands irradiation to produce an immunomodulating effect.