Effect of iron on early changes in Escherichia coli-induced ascending pyelonephritis in rats

Uptake of d-glucose, l-lysine and l-proline and the kinetic parameters of alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase were evaluated in renal brush border membrane (BBM) vesicles prepared from control, pyelonephritic and iron-administered pyelonephritic rats. The uptake of d-glucose and amino acids and V_max of both the enzymes studied were found to be altered in pyelonephritic and iron-administered pyelonephritic rats, but changes appeared earlier and more severely in iron-administered infected animals than in other infected animals. These early physiological alterations were accompanied by higher bacterial colonisation in iron-administered rats.     

Effect of immobilization stress on the course of experimental influenza infection and the process of interferon formation

The experimental data on the peculiar features of interferon production in C57BL/6 mice, infected with the lethal dose of influenza virus and simultaneously subjected to the action of a stress factor, are presented. Immobilization stress was found to exert pronounced influence on the interferon-producing system of the body, which was manifested by the appearance of alpha interferon in a titer of up to 1:80 in the blood of intact animals. 6-hour immobilization preceding infection did not accelerate the development of the lethal from of influenza infection, but sharply suppressed the viral induction of the synthesis of interferon.     

Effect of X-irradiation on the course of experimental vaccine anthrax

The author studied the course of vaccine anthrax infection in irradiated rabbits. The experiments show that infection of irradiated rabbits with a vaccine strain can give rise to a disease bacteriologically, clinically, histologically and biochemically identical with typical anthrax and that anthrax toxin can be demonstrated in the plasma of dead rabbits. The main cause of anthrax sepsis is not raised sensitivity to the toxin, but the high degree of proliferation of the microorganism in the irradiated organism. The significance of phagocytosis as a defence against vaccine anthrax infection and the significance of the capsule or of another somatic substance for the development of the anthrax syndrome are discussed.     

Effects of interferon preparations on the course of Salmonella infection (experimental and clinical studies)]

The effect of type I interferons on the process of experimental salmonellosis in mice and rabbits, as well as their effect on salmonellosis in patients was studied. It was shown that homologous interferon increased the animal survival rate, activated bactericidal activity of the phagocytic cells and increased elimination of the infectious agents from the host. The complex of the etiotropic and pathogenetic treatment of 32 patients with salmonellosis included human leukocytic interferon, leukinferon. It was administered intramuscularly in a dose of 1 x 10(4)-2 x 10(4) IU: three injections at intervals of 48 to 72 hours (the treatment course). The course was repeated 10 days after the last injection of the first course. Addition of leukinferon to the routine scheme of the medicinal treatment of salmonellosis provided recovery of all the patients without complications or appearance of the bacteria carriers (the observation period of more than 3 years).     

Chemiluminescence response of phagocytes in E. coli induced experimental ascending pyelonephritis.

The mechanism of tissue injury at the cellular level by following the chemiluminescence response of various phagocytes in E. coli induced experimental pyelonephritis in mice was investigated. There was a marked increase in the capacity of various phagocytic cells viz; renal neutrophils and macrophages peritoneal macrophages, blood monocytes and neutrophils to produce reactive oxygens species through the respiratory burst activity as monitored by the chemiluminescence response. The chemiluminescence response was observed to be increased significantly (p less than 0.001) with increasing days post infection in all phagocytic cells. However, the quantity of total reactive oxygen species produced per million cells was much more in the renal and peritoneal macrophages as compared to blood monocytes and neutrophils. The peak chemiluminescence response time was observed to be decreased from 4 to 2 minutes with the progression of the diseases. The implications of these findings have been discussed.     

Effect of metronidazole on the course of experimental anaerobic streptococcal pneumonia

The effect of metronidazole in experimental anaerobic pneumonia in guinea pigs infected with peptostreptococci has been studied. In the untreated animals the prolonged pathological process in the lungs is mainly associated with the suppression of the functional state of the thymus-dependent link of the immune system. Metronidazole suppresses anaerobic flora, stimulates local immune reaction and arrests the development of inflammatory changes in the lungs. The drug eliminates the unbalance in some subpopulations of immunocompetent cells and restores the number of cells regulating immune response to the normal level. The results obtained in this investigation make it possible to recommend the trial of metronidazole in the complex therapy of peptostreptococcal pneumonia.