Immunomodulatory and clinical effects of Viscum album (Iscador M and Iscador P) in children with recurrent respiratory infections as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Ninety-two children 5 to 14 years of age living in areas exposed to the radioactive fallout from Chernobyl with recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) were treated after randomization with either Viscum album praeparatum mali or pini (Iscador M or P). The dosage was two subcutaneous injections a week for 5 weeks with individual doses of 0.001 mg to 1.0 mg. Both Viscum album preparations were effective in significantly reducing clinical symptoms. One year after a single treatment course, the frequency of RRI relapses decreased by 78% and 73%, respectively. Immunomodulatory effects were assessed by investigation of lymphocyte subsets, natural killer (NK) cell activity, phagocytic and oxidative activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and antiviral activity of serum before and 1 week after treatment. Viscum album therapy resulted in normalization of initial immune indices either below or above the normal ranges. High levels of antiviral activity before treatment were significantly decreased by Viscum album mali. Viscum album treatment should be studied further in children with RRI.

[The current concepts of the influence of lactobacilli on the immune system of the human body]. / Suchasni uiavlennia pro vplyv laktobakterii na imunnu systemu orhanizmu liudyny.

The review summarizes experimental and clinical data about the influence of Lactobacillus on the immune system. A conclusion is made that the effect of Lactobacillus is a multifactor process. After entering the intestinal tract live microorganisms or biologically active substances produced by them may activate specific and nonspecific systems of microorganism protection. Experimental and clinical data about the action of Lactobacillus as adjuvants to the humoral immune response are presented. The mechanisms of anticancerogenic action of Lactobacillus and their cell wall components are analyzed in detail. The prospects for the use of Lactobacillus as probiotics in medicine are considered. The conclusion about positive value of the multifactor action of these microorganisms on the human immune system is made, since no negative effects are evoked by the discussed mechanisms of specific effect of Lactobacillus. This opens wide possibilities for the development of application schemes of probiotics from lactobacillus for the stimulation of several functions of the immune system, creation a new forms of antitumor drugs and combination of them with oral vaccines for improving their immunogenicity.

[Protective effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus on development of infection, caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae]. / Protektivnoe deistvie Lactobacillus acidophilus pri razvitii infektsii, vyzvannoi Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The mechanisms of protective action of Lactobacillus have been studied during development of the generalized infection induced by Klebsiella pneumoniae in CBA mice after weaning. The mice were infected intragastrically during the first day after weaning (1 x 10(9) bacterias per mice). Suspensions of Lactobacillus were introduced before and after infection during 10 days (1 x 10(6) bacterias per mice). It has been shown that introduction of Lactobacillus substantially decreased the level of the gut contamination by Klebsiella, prevented generalization of infection and death of animals. Significant higher levels of IgA in the blood serum, IgA and IgM in the gut content, percentage of splenocytes, expressing surface IgM and IgG were observed on the 7th day as compared with those in animals without Lactobacillus. Significantly lower percentage of splenocytes, expressing CD4 antigen was also observed. On the 11th day after infection the mice receiving lactobacillus have shown a tendency to an increase of IgA in the gut content, significantly lower concentrations of IgM in the gut content and a higher level of IgA to the blood serum as compared with the control. Other characteristics were comparable to those of the control group. A conclusion is made that introduction of Lactobacillus prevents development of the Klebsiella infection and protects the immune system from excessive antigenic action.

[Effect of Klebsiella Pneumoniae bacterial colonization of the gastrointestinal tract on the immune processes in mice after weaning]. / Vliianie kolonizatsii zheludochno-kishechnogo trakta bakteriiami semeistva Klebsiella Pneumoniae na immunnye protsessy u myshei- ot"ëmyshei.

The influence of intestinal colonization by the Klebsiella pneumonia strain 50/59 on the characteristics of local and humoral immunity has been studied on CBA mice after weaning. Bacteria have been introduced intragastrally in doses of 1 x 10(6) bacteria per mice. Observations have been performed in dynamics during 11 days. They have shown that intestinal colonization induces significant elevation of the concentration of IgA in serum, intestinal content and percentage of splenocytes, expressing receptors of IgA, IgM, CD4 on the 7th day. On the 11th day a significant decrease in these parameters was observed. A conclusion is made that intestinal colonization is not indifferent for the whole organism and induces complex influences on its immune system.

[Effects of dysbacteriosis and impairment of immunity formation in the early neonatal period on morbidity of children during the 1st year of life and ways of its reduction]. / Vliianie disbakterioza i narusheniia stanovleniia immuniteta v rannem neonatal'nom periode na zabolevaemost' detei pervogo goda zhizni i puti ee snizheniia.

The catamnesis of 124 infants has been studied in the course of 12 months by means of questionnaires. Dysbacteriosis that occur in the early neonatal period produce an unfavourable effect on the immunity establishment and increase the disease incidence among the neonates. Moreover, dysbacteriosis may later result in the impairment of the formation of tolerance to food antigens supplied to the gastrointestinal tract. The carriership of Staphylococcus aureus in the fauces occurring in the presence of the decreased characteristics of local defence and phagocytic system of the newborn favours an increase of the disease incidence in the babies as well as the formation of the chronic foci of infection in the future. Prevention of dysbacteriosis of the early neonatal period by means of the use of biopreparations, particularly of pure cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus does not only reduce the disease incidence in children of the first year of life but also improves on the whole their health status.

[Prevention of dysbacteriosis in the early neonatal period using a pure culture of acidophilic bacteria]. / Profilaktika disbakteriozov rannego neonatal'nogo perioda s pomoshch'iu chistoi kul'tury atsidofil'nykh palochek.

In order to prevent dysbacterioses occurring in the early neonatal period, 60 neonates classified with the risk group were administered, when they were still at the puerperal room, pure cultures of specially selected strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus possessing marked anti-Klebsiella activity and antagonistic activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The cultures were instilled into the mouth and nasal passages. Forty neonates administered bifidum-bacterin and 54 neonates not given biopreparations were used as control. Application of the pure culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus noticeably raised the efficacy of the preventive measures. Over 60 percent of the neonates were discharged from the maternity home with a normally formed intestinal microflora, 60 percent had normal microflora in the fauces, 80 percent in the nose, and 70 percent of the neonates demonstrated normal skin microflora. The carriage of opportunistic microorganisms in the fauces and nose of the neonates had decreased substantially by the time of the discharge from the maternity home, while the incidence of pyo-inflammatory diseases had also reduced among them.