Inhibition of systemic TNF-alpha cytotoxicity in cancer patients by D-peptidoglycan.

The current study was designed to investigate direct inhibitory effects of N-acetyl-glucosaminyl-muramyldipeptide (GMDP) over the cytotoxic nature of TNF-alpha. A lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay of the inhibition of TNF-alpha cytotoxicity was done in vitro on the following cell lines: A549 (human lung carcinoma cells), A431 (human breast cancer cells) and L929 (mouse breast cancer cells). In a double-blind placebo-controlled trial, cancer patients with an elevated activity of all five LDH isoensymes were randomized to receive either a GMDP solution or a placebo; 63 patients were evaluated every third day for the mean daily number of episodes of nausea or vomiting, changes in clinical status, cell blood count and blood chemistry.

[Protective effect of antioxidants in methemoglobinemia caused by sodium nitrite in experimental studies].

Sodium nitrite induced poisoning resulted into oxidation-reduction disorders with concomitant changes in the ratio of the oxidated and reduced forms towards accumulation of the oxidated equivalents. Antioxidants unithiol, tocopherol acetate, ascorbic acid, methylene blue, violuric acid influenced the oxidation-reduction balance in different ways. The protective action of violuric acid was comparable with that of methylene blue and exceeded the unithiol protective properties.

[Use of xenobiosorption in the treatment of a severe form of brucellosis].

Brucellosis sepsis was treated by xenosorption involving the porcine spleen. Compared to standard therapy ineffective in protracted sepsis, the biosorption provided good results leading to a rapid arrest of the infectious process and eventual elimination of the organisms. As the data on related experience are not available in the literature, the above technique of brucellosis treatment is believed fresh.

[Transrectal and transvaginal ultrasonic diagnosis of rectal cancer].

In 48 patients with rectal carcinoma diagnostic means for ultrasound investigation USU were tested. The high quality of transrectal and transvaginal ultrasound scanning (US) facilitated a detailed evaluation. The stage of the malign tumor was correctly evaluated in 95.

[Diagnosis of tumors of the bladder and rectum by the method of high-resolution transvaginal echography].

Analysis of the results of high resolution transvaginal US-tomography in 32 women with malignant bladder and rectal tumors made it possible to assess the potentialities of this new method for the diagnosis of a degree of local spreading of these tumors. As compared to transabdominal echography UST proved to be more informative in tumors of the cervix, basis and anterior wall of the bladder and in calcifications on the tumor surface which were detected in 3 patients. Transvaginal US-tomography with a contrast study of the rectal walls provided good diagnostic information on a degree of local spreading of malignant rectal tumors.

[Transrectal and transvaginal echography in cancer of the rectum].

To assess the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in rectal carcinoma, the procedure was performed in 48 such cases. Stage was reliably established in the majority (95.8%) of patients.

Transvaginal longitudinal ultrasonography in diagnosis of carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

In order to determine the staging of urinary bladder tumors accurately, it is very important to choose a suitable method of treatment and to reach the correct prognosis. In 1974, Watanabe and Holm performed the first transurethral and transrectal ultrasonography. They obtained sonograms of the involved bladder wall by radial scanning using a rotation transducer.

[Transvaginal longitudinal ultrasonic study in the diagnosis of bladder cancer].

Eight patients with urinary bladder neoplasms, aged 41-66, were examined. Transvaginal longitudinal ultrasonotomography proved effective in diagnosing urinary bladder tumors of any localization and images highly informative.

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of human lymph nodes.

MR-imaging of surgically excised enlarged and non-enlarged human lymph nodes was studied in patients with and without malignant metastatic lymphadenopathy. NMR tomograms were performed at frequency of 200 MHz using the CPMG sequence. Space resolution was up to 0.

[Ultrasonic scanning in determining the local spread of bladder cancer].

The results of ultrasound investigation were analysed in 48 patients with urinary bladder cancer. Potentialities of longitudinal intracavitary echography in the determination of the local dissemination of malignant urinary bladder tumors were studied. This method proved to be most informative for tumors sited in the cervix, basis and anterior wall of the bladder whereas transabdominal echography provided reliable diagnostic information for tumors of the lateral and posterior walls.

[NMR tomography of excised human lymph nodes].

The paper is concerned with the potentialities of the NMR-tomography technique (1H) for metastructure studying of the biopsied human lymph nodes both uninvolved and affected by tumor. Tomography was performed at 200 MHz using the Bruker CXP-200t mini-tomograph. Spin-echoes sequence and projection-reconstruction technique was employed.

[Properdin in the lymph in traumatic stress].

The changes of properdin level in different kinds of lymph and blood of dogs in case of burn of hind paws (the 1st group), and of craniocerebral injury (the 2nd group) were investigated. The properdin level proved to increase in the lymph of the cervical duct and the afferent lymph of the popliteal node in both the groups of dogs. The properdin level in the afferent lymph of the popliteal lymph node, thoracic duct and in blood was reduced in case of the burn and rose in cranicerebral injury.