Immune status during odontogeneous abscesses and phlegmonas.

Odontogeneous abscesses and phlegmonas are considered as one of the most urgent problems for stomatology. By its localization and complications the patients suffering from this pathology clearly show weakening of protective mechanisms of organism. By the use of modern methods of immunologic research we studied the nonspecific, cell, humoral and specific immune status. Study of immune status proved drastic decrease in nonspecific resistance indices, namely complete phagocytosis, total number of phagocytosis and phagocytosis index, as well as decreased alpha and beta interferon concentration. Cell immunity indices show decrease of number of T-effectors, T-helpers, T-lymphocytes and T-suppressors. Study of humoral immune status proved insignificant decrease of B-lymphocytes, Ig G, Ig M and Ig A. Serologic studies showed many-fold increase of concentration of anti-staphylococcus antibodies and presence of alpha -toxin (alpha -toxin must be absent in the norm). The results obtained by us refer to necessity of carrying out therapy with immune modulators alongside with the etiologic treatment of this pathology.

[Epidemiological and immunological monitoring of tetanus in Georgia (Republic)]. / Epidemiologicheskii i immunologicheskii monitoring za stolbniakom v Gruzii.

During the period of 1961-1990 the regular immunological and epidemiological monitoring of tetanus was carried out. At the prevaccination period (1937-1960) 140 cases of tetanus were registered, 77 patients died (morbidity rate being 0.97-0.11 per 100,000 of the population with mortality rate equal to 55.6%). At the period of mass vaccinal prophylaxis (1960-1990) 56 cases were registered and 27 patients died (the corresponding values: 0.09-0.11 with 48.2% mortality). In 1981-1990 altogether 53,213 vaccinees were examined. 4,864 vaccinees (8.9%) proved to be seronegative and 43,615 vaccinees (81.9%) were found to have protective antibody titers. 4,220 pregnant women were examined; 476 women (11.2%) proved to be seronegative and 3,576 women (84.3%) were found to have protective antibody titers. Timely specific prophylaxis proved to be the only way for decreasing tetanus morbidity.