ABSTRACT
Multiple sclerosis as it seen presently is a disease determined by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Risk factors are some chronic infections and living in ecological hazard areas. In this aspect, the authors review a role of metals which remains unclear so far. The paper presents the data on the effects of zinc, cadmium, lead and copper on the multiple sclerosis course.
Subject(s)
Heavy Metal Poisoning, Nervous System/complications , Multiple Sclerosis/chemically induced , Multiple Sclerosis/epidemiology , Adult , Cadmium/blood , Cadmium/toxicity , Copper/blood , Copper/toxicity , Female , Heavy Metal Poisoning, Nervous System/blood , Humans , Lead/blood , Lead/toxicity , Male , Middle Aged , Multiple Sclerosis/blood , Zinc/blood , Zinc/toxicityABSTRACT
AIM: Evaluation of adhesive properties of microorganisms colonizing rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nose mucosa and urinal microflora from 62 rheumatoid patients (32--rheumatoid arthritis and 30--systemic lupus erythematosus patients) was studied. 57 opportunistic microorganisms were isolated: including representatives of Staphylococcus, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Morganella, Enterobactergenera. Adhesive properties on erythrocyte model of microorganisms isolated in patients with rheumatoid disease, museum cultures and clinical strains were analyzed by using standard technique. RESULTS: Bacteria isolated in rheumatoid disease patients were characterized by pronounced adhesive potential. Bacteria of Enterobacteriaceae family have shown significantly higher adhesive properties. Heterogeneity of adhesive properties levels, and genera and species adhesive potential of bacteria was determined. CONCLUSION: Microorganisms colonizing rheumatoid disease patients have a high adhesive potential that can increase the risk of patient infections.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/microbiology , Bacteria/classification , Bacteria/pathogenicity , Bacterial Adhesion , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/microbiology , Nasal Mucosa/microbiology , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/urine , Bacteria/isolation & purification , Host-Pathogen Interactions , Humans , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/urine , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness Index , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
AIM: To assess the effects of cyclophosphamide (CP), methotrexate (MT), and prednisolone (PS) on the levels of staphylococci, enterococci, Escherichia coli (EC) and lactose-negative enterobacteria (LNEB) in feces of white mice as well as to determine adhesive properties of isolated microorganisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Drugs were administered intragastrically during 6 weeks; CP in dose 35.4 mg/kg daily; MT - 2.5 mg/kg over week; PS - 2.5 mg/kg daily; sterile distilled water was administered to controls. Microflora was assessed by common methods; adhesion of microorganisms to group 0 (I) human erythrocytes was determined. RESULTS: Administration of prednisolone leads to increase of isolation rate of staphylococci, CP increased levels of LNEB and EC with suppressed enzymatic activity (P < 0.05). MT decreased isolation rate of typical EC (P < 0.05). MT also decreased degree of adhesion of EC and LNEB, whereas PS enhanced adhesiveness of LNEB, and CP decreased adhesion of staphylococci (P < 0.05). Statistically significant correlation between number and adhesiveness of enterobacteria was established (r = 0.73, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Immunodepressors from different groups have non-similar effects on quantitative characteristics of microflora and adhesiveness of isolated opportunistic microorganisms.
