ABSTRACT
The effectiveness of an orally administrable thymic derivative (Thymomodulin) for the treatment of the recurrent respiratory infections (RRI) in children has been studied in a double-blind clinical trial with historical comparison. In the Thymomodulin treated group a significant decrease of the monthly frequency of RRI has been observed in comparison with the previous year (P less than 0.05) and with the placebo treated group (P less than 0.002). The evaluation of the laboratory data at the beginning of the study didn't show in the two groups typical alterations of the common hematological and immunological parameters, but at the end of the trial a statistically significant increase of the levels of salivary IgA has been noticed only in the Thymomodulin treated group (P less than 0.02).
Subject(s)
Child , Respiratory Tract Infections/drug therapy , Thymus Extracts/therapeutic use , Administration, Oral , Adolescent , Animals , Cattle , Child, Preschool , Clinical Trials as Topic , Disease Susceptibility/drug therapy , Double-Blind Method , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin A/analysis , Immunoglobulin A/metabolism , Male , Respiratory Tract Infections/blood , Respiratory Tract Infections/prevention & control , Saliva/analysis , Thymus Extracts/administration & dosageSubject(s)
Arrhythmias, Cardiac/etiology , Stress, Psychological/complications , Animals , Cardiology/trends , Coronary Disease/physiopathology , Coronary Vessels/physiopathology , Disease Susceptibility/drug therapy , Dogs , Heart/physiopathology , Heart Ventricles , Hemodynamics , Humans , Myocardial Infarction/physiopathology , Parasympathetic Nervous System/physiopathology , Sleep/physiology , Stress, Psychological/physiopathology , Sympathetic Nervous System/physiopathology , Synaptic Transmission/drug effects , Vagus Nerve/physiopathology , Ventricular Fibrillation/physiopathologyABSTRACT
The part played by the thymus and its products in conferring and maintaining immunological competence is examined. Attention is also devoted to the effect of thymic involution on the immune system, with particular reference to a fall in circulating thymic hormone. Generally speaking, this fall occurs in the 5th decade of life, which can be described as the thymopause. It is accompanied by increased sensitivity to infection and neoplasia. Two lines of intervention are suggested: the use of highly purified, selective hormone fractions after careful evaluation of the functional aspects of the immune system; employment of organ extracts containing all or nearly all the thymic hormones and peptides in an integrated form. It is felt that the second approach is more practicable today, since it permits broad-spectrum interventions through the stimulation of many mechanisms with different sequential steps, and a well-programmed biological rhythm over the course of time.
