[Heterogeneity of diabetes mellitus]. / O geterogennosti sakharnogo diabeta.

AIM: To define a criterium for differentiation of different types of diabetes mellitus (DM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The condition of immunity, antibodies to the pancreatic island cells, proliferative activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to human immunoglobulin were studied in 152 patients with DM. RESULTS: Sensitization of lymphocytes to insulin is associated with DM type I. Latent sensitization of lymphocytes to insulin detectable in inhibition of functional activity of prostaglandin-synthesizing cells is encountered in classic course of DM type II, while detectable in inhibition of functional activity of the cells carrying receptors to histamine is observed in patients with symptoms of either DM type I or DM type II. Lack of either apparent or latent lymphocyte sensitization to insulin in chronic hyperglycemia is associated with secondary DM. CONCLUSION: How lymphocytes are sensitized to insulin is important for differential diagnosis not only of DM type but also of DM forms within the same type. Groups of the DM patients were different not only by immunological indices but also by clinical course, treatment and prognosis.

[Immune system in residents of territories contaminated with radionuclides after Chernobyl accident]. / Sistema immuniteta u lits, prozhivaiushchikh na territorii, zagriaznennoi radionuklidami vsledstvie avarii na Chernobyl'skoi AES.

AIM: Study of the immunity and nonspecific defense factors in subjects living at a territory contaminated with radionuclides at a density of 1-5 Ci/km2 after the Chernobyl accident. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 144 subjects aged 18 to 82 years living in the Sasovo region of the Ryazan district were examined. Three groups were distinguished with different density of contamination: 1) n = 54, 1-5 Ci/km2; 2) n = 36, conditionally pure territory; and 3) n = 54, living at the interface of the two territories. Blood analysis was carried out, nonspecific defense factors studied in the NBT test, and cellular and humoral immunity parameters investigated. RESULTS: Values of the NBT test, levels of the natural inhibitory factor and IgA, counts and functional activities of T lymphocytes and their subpopulations differed but negligibly from those in subjects living at pure territories. On the other hand, the counts of large granular lymphocytes were decreased and the incidence of autoimmune reactions to thyroid hormone antigens increased in the population exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation, which might be due to incorporation of radioactive iodine. CONCLUSION: The detected changes in the population exposed to low-dose radiation indicate that the history of exposure cannot be neglected, for such an exposure causes development of some diseases or alters their course.