Immunity profile in breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the multifactorial pathogenesis of malignant transformation, it is assumed that deficiency in some immune mechanisms plays a considerable role in its development. BACKGROUND: Chronically activated immune cells exert tumour-promoting effects directly by influencing the proliferation and survival of neoplastic cells, as well as by indirect modulation of neoplastic microenvironments in favour of tumour progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We refer to results of two separate investigations that aim to monitor the immune functions in patients with breast cancer. In the first investigation, we compare the picture of basic cellular immunity profile of patients in early stage of breast cancer with those suffering from advanced disease; in the second one, we compare the production of Th1-cytokines in patients in different stages of breast cancer and atopic healthy controls. RESULTS: We recognized that the totals of T-lymphocytes and T-helpers were lower and the expression of HLADR on T-lymphocytes were higher in patients with advanced disease; the expression of IL-2 and LFN-gamma by T-lymphocytes was decreased in metastatic breast cancer patients, however IL-2 production was increased in patients in early stage of disease. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the role of immune system in cancer development is ambivalent as it may be not only protective, but also harmful (Tab. 1, Fig. 3, Ref. 22). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

[Air pollution and the occurrence of recurrent respiratory tract diseases in children in the first years of life. II]. / Znecistenie ovzdusia a výskyt recidivujúcich ochorení dýchacích ciest detí v prvých rokoch zivota--II. cast'.

In 200 3-7-year-old children in two localities of Bratislava-city with different concentrations of NO2, SO2, dustiness with different bioclimatic factors and a different epidemiological position the authors investigated their effect on the frequency, incidence and types of relapsing respiratory diseases during different months in 1991. The different concentrations of the above substances in the atmosphere of the two localities did not affect the number of respiratory diseases nor their annual or monthly incidence. In the place with the increased NO2 concentration a significantly higher number of serious forms of respiratory diseases was found in the investigated group. In the locality with a more favourable oecological and epidemiological situation the adverse effect of monthly NO2 concentrations was manifested when it was potentiated by the SO2 concentration and combined with dustiness and dust fall-out. The authors found a significant correlation between the incidence of relapsing respiratory diseases and the atmospheric temperature and its relative humidity in the course of different months of the year.

[Air pollution and the occurrence of recurrent respiratory tract diseases in children during the first years of life]. / Znecistenie ovzdusia a výskyt recidivujúcich ochorení dýchacích ciest detí v prvých rokoch zivota.

The authors investigate in a group of 211 children aged 2-6 years, incl. in particular a group of 33 2-year-old ones, in 1990 and checked in 1991 at two sites in Bratislava--a town with a varying concentration of NOX, SO2, dustiness and dust fallout--their influence on the incidence, type and course of relapsing respiratory disease. In both sites the concentrations of the mentioned noxious substances were beneath levels admitted by hygienists. In the place with higher concentrations, in particular of NOX, a significantly higher number of serious forms of relapsing respiratory diseases was recorded and an adverse course of the diseases in 2-6 year-old children and in particular in the 2-year-old ones.

[Hylak Forte drops in the treatment of atopic eczema in children]. / Hylak forte kvapky v liecbe atopického ekzému u detí.

The authors describe a group of 14 children with atopic eczema where to common Hismanal or Zaditen treatment in tablet form Hylak forte drops were added (L. Merckle Co.). After two months treatment the authors observed regression of subjective and objective complaints in 10 children. As to the investigated immunological parameters, they observed normal phagocyte activity of granulocytes and in the majority of children a decline of circulating immune complexes. This creates prerequisite conditions for reducing the costs of treatment and for starting aimed specific hyposensitization.

[Incidence and characteristics of bronchial asthma in a selected region in the Slovak Republic]. / Výskyt a charakteristika bronchiálnej astmy vo vybranej územnej oblasti Slovenskej republiky.

In a selected area comprising five districts with a population of 744,762 the authors analyzed a group of 2168 cases of confirmed bronchial asthma. The number of women predominated (61.10%). The highest frequency of asthma was in the age group between 35 and 44 years. As to the type, the mixed type of asthma predominated (61%). Impaired pulmonary function was recorded in 46% of the patients. The condition was found most frequently in workers (40.5%). 62% of the investigated group of patients was treated with Intal, Zaditen, Berotec or a combination of these drugs.

[Measurement of volume-rate parameters of pulmonary ventilation in infants using the SAV pneumotachograph]. / Meranie objemovo-rýchlostných parametrov ventilácie plúc u detí v dojcenskom veku pneumotachografom SAV.

The paper deals with methods and equipment for measuring pulmonary ventilation parameters in children of the lowest age category. Description and substantiation of the given method of the measurement itself on the Pneumotachograph SAV. Evaluation of the obtained results in the records and of the time courses of volume and air flow rate on a single-pen recorder is presented further the relations necessary for quantitative description of analogue signal processing from the pneumotachograph are given as well as the series of parameters obtained on examining 21 infants and their clinical evaluation. (Tab.1,Fig.2,Ref.7.).

[Lipoprotein profiles in 6-year-old children breast fed for different periods of time]. / Lipoproteínový profil sestrocných detí s rôznou dojceneckou výzivou.

The authors submit results of investigations of the lipoprotein profile in six-year-old children fed a different diet during infancy. It is the continuation of previous results of a long-term longitudinal investigation of this group of healthy children which revealed a favourable effect of breastfeeding on the cholesterol distribution in lipoprotein fractions. Throughout the investigation the children were divided into four groups according to the breastfeeding period. At the age of six serum cholesterol was assessed and cholesterol in lipoprotein fractions, levels of apolipoproteins A1 and B and risk for the genesis and development of atherosclerosis were calculated. The most favourable lipoprotein profile was found in the group of children, breastfed for three months and with this corresponded also the lowest values of the risk indexes. The serum cholesterol concentration, levels of serum apolipoproteins A1 and B in different groups of children did not differ significantly.

[Spophylin Spofa--tablets with a delayed effect: therapeutic use in the complex therapy of acute bronchitis in infants and toddlers]. / Spophylin Spofa--tabletky s retardovaným úcinkom: terapeutické vyuzitie v komplexnej liecbe akútnych bronchitíd kojencov a batoliat.

In 18 children aged 6-36 months with acute respiratory disease and bronchospasms the authors administered as part of comprehensive treatment Spophyllin tablets with a retarded effect (16-20 mg/kg/hours). Concurrently the theophyllin serum and saliva levels were assessed on the third day of administration. The authors proved a direct relationship between serum and saliva levels. The assessed values in saliva accounted on average for 73.5% of the serum levels. Values in saliva (6-7 micrograms/l ml) were indicators of effective serum values.

[Relation between chronic respiratory diseases in children and secretory IgA and IgM]. / Vzt'ah medzi chronickým respiracným ochorením detí a sekrecným IgA a IgM.

In 1981-1984 from a total of 288 children aged 6-36 months, suffering from acute and relapsing respiratory disease, in 52 children in the nasopharyngeal secretion IgM was detected in average amounts of 11.3 +/- 9.7 mg/100 ml. In 13 of the children in the course of 1-2 years after the first examination the IgM values in the nasopharyngeal secretion doubled or increased several times (20-50 mg/100 ml). The values in saliva at the age of 5-9 years were in seven of these children lower than the mean physiological values of SIgA in saliva (34.3 +/- 15.9 mg/100 ml). In 12 children in the course of 5-9 years chronic respiratory disease developed--obstructive bronchitis. In six children, where during school age in saliva mean SIgA values lower than normal were recorded, more frequent relapses and complications were recorded (pneumonia, sinobronchial syndrome, otitis media). Elevated values of SIgM in the nasopharyngeal secretion of infants and toddlers with acute and relapsing bronchitis can be considered a risk factor for the development of chronic disease, in particular in case of a permanently reduced SIgA formation also in saliva.

Activities of blood glutathione peroxidase in schizophrenic and depressive patients.

Glutathione peroxidase activity was determined in the blood of healthy individuals and schizophrenic and depressive patients. No significant changes in enzyme activity were observed between the groups of patients. A slight decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity was found in the group of schizophrenic men and in the groups of depressive patients. The treatment with neuroleptics did not influence enzyme activity with an exception--the group of depressive men.

[The effect of different types of infant nutrition on indicators of lipid metabolism in 1-to-4-year-old children]. / Vplyv rôznej dojcenskej výzivy na niektoré ukazovatele tukového metabolizmu diet'at'a v období od 1. do 4. roka zivota.

The authors present the results obtained in investigations of the influence of different infant diets on some indicators of lipid metabolism in a group of healthy children followed up from birth and aged 1-4 years at the time of the investigation. The work is a continuation of previous investigations which provided evidence of the influence of breastfeeding on blood lipid levels and the cholesterol distribution in different lipoprotein fractions during the early postnatal period. The analysis of the plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein cholesterol in children breastfed for varying periods and children not breastfed bottlefed) at the age of 1, 1.5 and 2 years did not reveal substantial differences. The percentage ratio of cholesterol in different lipoprotein fractions in children aged 2 years and the risk indexes were, however, more favourable in children breastfed for the longest period. Similar results were recorded also in children aged 4 years. The apolipoprotein B plasma level which was assessed by immunoelectrophoresis was throughout the investigation higher in bottlefed children although the differences were not statistically significant.

[Immunologic indicators in the treatment of recurrent respiratory diseases using peroral bacterial vaccines]. / Niektoré imunologické ukazovatele pri liecbe recidivujúcich respiracných chorôb perorálnymi bakteriálnymi vakcínami.

The authors treated on account of relapsing respiratory diseases 95 children with Broncho-vaxom (Lab. ltd. Meyrin, Geneva) and 75 children with bacterial vaccine prepared with regard to the microbiological examination. Restoration or improvement of the clinical condition was achieved in 80% of the patients. No side-effects were observed during treatment. As to investigated immunological indicators they recorded after treatment a significant reduction of IgM (P less than 0.001), IgA (P less than 0.01), SIgA in saliva (P less than 0.01), values of the nitroblue tetrazolium test (P less than 0.01) and (P less than 0.05). The assembled data revealed that bacterial vaccines are useful as immunomodulating preparations.

Effect of breast-feeding on infant thyroid activity: 3 year follow up--longitudinal study.

The effect of breast-feeding on serum thyroid hormones and TSH was studied in a longitudinal study from birth up to 3 years. T4 was found to be significantly higher in breast-fed than in weaned infants at the age of 4 and 6 months and so was rT3 at the age 4 months. The body weight of breast-fed girls at the age 4 and 6 months was lower than that of formula-fed ones. Breast-feeding at the age 9 months resulted in a decreased serum TSH. Serum T3 of infants weaned before the end of the first week of life was higher than in other groups of infants at the age of 10 weeks. Serum T4 of children 1-2-year-old correlated positively with the age at weaning, provided that they had been breast-fed at least for 60 days. Serum rT3 of 2-year-old children also correlated with the age of weaning. Serum TSH at the age of 3 years was higher in children who had been weaned during first 60 days of life than in those weaned later. It is concluded that breast-feeding possess some immediate effects on thyroid function parameters. Some effects were still detected at the age of 1-3 years.

Simple diagnosis of diabetes insipidus and antidiuretic hormone excess.

The value of information that may be obtained by measuring osmolality of body fluids is not generally appreciated by clinicians. Osmolality determination by freezing point depression is technically simple to perform and requires only 0.2 ml fluid. The simultaneous measurement of plasma and urine osmolality may yield useful information concerning alterations in water homeostasis (diabetes insipidus and antidiuretic hormone excess) and avoid uncomfortable and sometimes hazardous investigations of patients.