Use of prazosin in management of hypertension in patients with chronic renal failure and in renal transplant recipients.

Prazosin was used in combination with other antihypertensive drugs in the successful management of hypertension in seven patients with chronic renal failure and six renal transplant recipients, also with chronic renal failure. The addition of small doses of prazosin (mean 3 mg/day) to the antihypertensive regimen produced significant falls in systolic and diastolic blood pressures in both the lying and standing positions. The standing blood pressures were significantly lower than the lying blood pressures during prazosin treatment. Neither the mean blood urea concentrations nor the mean plasma creatinine concentrations changed significantly during prazosin administration. Chromium-51 edetic acid clearances did not change significantly during prazosin treatment in the seven patients in whom it was measured. Severe symptomatic postural hypotension occurred in one patient a week after starting prazosin 3 mg/day. This hypotensive episode was associated with a transient and reversible deterioration in renal function. Another patient developed a rash while on prazosin but it was probably related to propranolol rather than prazosin. Prazosin is thus an effective antihypertensive drug in patients with chronic renal failure, and it may be used with a variety of other drugs. It should be used cautiously, however, since patients with chronic renal failure may respond to small doses, and significant postural falls in blood pressure may result. There was no evidence that the use of prazosin resulted in progressive deterioration in the residual renal function of the patients with chronic renal failure.     

Fluorescent probe-indicator of differences between T- and B-lymphocytes in the blood]

A new physico-chemical marker for the human peripheral blood lymphocytes was worked out. The lymphocytes were vitally stained with the fluorescent probe 3-methoxybenzanthrone and measured by microfluorometry. The blood lymphocytes population was found to be heterogeneous; this population consists of the two main groups of cells differing by the intensity of their fluorescence. By means of immunological lymphocyte fractionation it was shown that one of these cell groups was represented by T-lymphocytes, and the other one--by B-lymphocytes.     

Interaction and migration of T- and B-lymphocytes in immune responses during carcinogenesis induced by methylcholanthrene]

The (CBA X C57BL) F1 mice were injected intramuscularly with methylcholantrene (MCA) in a dose of 0.3 mg, and their T- and B-cells ability to cooperate in the immune response against sheep red blood cells, and also migration of these cells from the thymus and the bone marrow to the spleen were studied. The MCA immunosuppressive action proved to be associated with the inhibition of migration and cooperation of T- and B-lymphocytes in the immune response. A conclusion was drawn that the immunosuppressive effect developing during the carcinogenesis was complex and it was realized at various stages of immunogenesis.     

Hyperlipidemia in rats with chronic renal failure]

The character of hyperlipidemia was studied in rats with chronic uremia induced by subtotal nephrectomy--5/6 of the renal tissue was removed. 13 to 30 weeks after this operation the blood serum cholesterol and phospholipid concentration almost doubled. Hyperlipidemia was more pronounced in rats with high azotemia (blood urea nitrogen--BUN). No elevation of serum tryglycerides occurred. Total serum beta- and pre-beta-lipoproteins determined nephelometrically increased significantly only with the BUN level of over 80 mg%. Lipoprotein disc electrophoresis of the serum in rats with uremia demonstrated a distinct rise of alpha-lipoproteins and a slight--of beta-lipoproteins; postheparin lipolytic activity of the plasma was normal. Experimental rats displayed massive proteinuria, but hypoproteinuria was insignificant.     

Role of immune RNA in the interaction of T- AND B-lymphocytes]

"Immune" RNA preparations were obtained from the total population and also from the T- and B-lymphocytes of the spleens of the QBA line. Intact bone marrow cells or splenic cells activated with antigen served as target cells for the "immune" RNA. Investigations were carried out in the system of syngenic transfer. To study the target cells in the activated population of the spleen elimination of T-or B-lymphocytes was realized immediately after the incubation of the suspension of the splenic cells with the RNA preparations with the aid of anti-theta-or anti-B-antilymphocytic sera. T-lymphocytes served as the source of the biologically active RNA in the total preparation. B-lymphocytes of the spleen and the bone marrow served as target cells for the RNA of the cells of thymus origin. However, to detect the inducing action of the RNA simultaneous presence in the population of T- and B-lymphocytes is necessary.     

Immunological study of the T- and B-lymphocytes in normal cows and in chronic lympholeukemia

T- and B-lymphocyte populations from lymphoid organs and tissue of normal cattle and cattle with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) were studied. Comparative studies of surface properties, quantitative parameters and heterogeneity of main T- and B-cell populations were performed. It must be noted that proliferation of B-lymphocytes, bearing surface IgM in blood, lymph nodes and spleen is closely connected with the progression of leukaemic process. An increased number of B-lymphocytes (2-3 times) with the receptors for complement was found. The proportion of T mu and T gamma cell subsets in CLL cows is distorted. The T gamma cell subset in T-cell suspensions from blood and spleen in CLL cows prevails in comparison with that in controls. The number of T mu cells in blood and lymph nodes in CLL is decreased.     

Participation of mouse T- and B-lymphocytes in the graft versus host reaction]

Cells of the spleen or lymph nodes of CBA mice were transplanted to sublethally irradiated (CBAXC57BL/6)F1 mice; this caused development of the graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR). Lymphocytes lost the capacity to realize this reaction after in vitro treatment with specific sera against mouse T- and B-lymphocytes. Apparently, development of the GVHR in mice was connected with the cooperative interaction of T- and B-lymphocytes.     

Digoxin-like substance in blood and hypertension in dialysed patients with chronic renal failure]

Concentration of free serotonin, adrenaline, noradrenaline, aldosterone and plasma renin activity have been assayed in blood of 18 patients with the primary arterial hypertension (WHO stage I) and in 10 healthy volunteers. It was found that blood free serotonin and noradrenaline are increased in hypertensive patient. No difference in adrenaline and aldosterone levels and plasma renin activity was seen. No significant correlation between free serotonin and assayed hormones was noted.     

T- and B-lymphocytes of guinea pigs sensitized to ragweed pollen]

Functional activity of T and B lymphocytes in guinea pigs sensitized with common ragweed pollen was investigated. The content of T and B rosette-forming cells (T RFC and B RFC) was studied in guinea pigs following sensitization with common ragweed pollen. It was shown that the amount of B RFC in the regional lymph nodes at the early period of sensitization was over 4 times greater than that of the B RFC in normal animals. Functional capacity of T cells during the sensitization determined in the rosette-formation test altered less than the analogous capacity of B cells.     

T- and B-lymphocytes and an analysis of the specific reactivity in experimental brucellosis]

There was an increase of a relative and absolute T-lymphocytes content and a considerable reduction of B-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of guinea pigs infected with a high doses of brucella of vaccine strain 19-BA. There proved to be no correlation between the number of T-lymphocytes in the blood and the intensity of Burnet's test. The content of B-lymphocytes was compared with different antituberculosis antibodies in the blood serum of the infected animals.     

Immunologic competence of T- and B-lymphocytes in tolerance induced by cyclophosphamide]

A study was made of immunological competence of T- and B-lymphocytes of mice subjected to tolerogenic treatment (administration of a massive dose of sheep erythrocytes and cyclophosphamide 7 days before the experiment). The capacity of lymphocytes of tolerant mice to influence the interaction of normal T- and B-lymphocytes was also investigated. This form of tolerance was caused not by T-suppressors, but by a true deficiency of T-cells-helpers (both in the thymus and in the spleen), and partially of B-cells (in the spleen). Some lack of B-cells in the bone marrow was connected with a nonspecific action of cyclophosphamide. Cyclophosphamide is supposed to selectively eliminate cells proliferating in response to the antigen.     

Clinical estimation of 1-alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol in treatment of patients with chronic renal failure]

31 adult patients (15 male and 16 female) with chronic renal failure were treated for 6 months with 1-alfa-hydroxycholecalciferol on a dose 0.25-2.0 micrograms/24 h. 15 patients with not very advanced renal failure (serum creatinine level 176.8-442 mumol/l) received conservative therapy (group I), 16 patients with serum creatinine value 884-1326 mumol/l were treated by intermittent hemodialysis (group II). The statistically significant decrease of serum alkaline phosphatase activity in group I and II (p < 0.01), the rise of serum calcium level in group I (p < 0.005) were determined. Half of the patients from both the groups stated the relief or disappearance of bone and joint pains and muscle weakness. Besides in group I significant decrease of creatinine clearance (p < 0.001) and increase of serum urea and creatinine value (p < 0.01) were noticed. On the basis of these results we can conclude that the treatment with 1-alfa-hydroxycholecalciferol, produced by "Polfa", ought to be introduced gradually with increasing doses and frequent monitoring of calcium-phosphate metabolism and renal function parameters.