Interleukin-2 stimulates the colony-forming activity of in vitro irradiated bone marrow

The data are presented on the stimulatory effect of interleukin-2 on the formation of spleen exocolonies from bone marrow irradiated in vitro with doses of 0.5 to 2.5 Gy. It is suggested that the effect observed is associated with the increased proliferation of CFUs survived after irradiation.     

Study of toxicity and antineoplastic activity of 14-substituted derivatives of rubomycin and carminomycin

Toxicity and antitumor activity of five derivatives of rubomycin and carminomycin were studied in animals. The derivatives were prepared by modification of the methyl C-14 group. These were the following: 14-chlorrubomycin, 14-chlorcarminomycin, 14-salicyloyloxyrubomycin, 14-salicyloyloxycarminomycin and 14-quinaldinoyloxyrubomycin. The chemotherapeutic study revealed that, in their activity, all the compounds were inferior to the starting antibiotics. Unlike the other derivatives, 14-chlorcarminomycin induced a significant inhibition of leukemia P-388 development (the average lifespan of the mice amounted to 165 per cent as compared to the control). However, in the magnitude of its effect, the derivative was inferior to carminomycin.     

Antitumor activity of doxorubicin in the treatment of hemocytoblastosis La and various ascites tumors in mice

Antitumor activity of doxorubicin made in the USSR was studied on mice in respect to three transplantable tumors (lymphadenosis NK/LI, sarcoma 37 and Ehrlich's carcinoma) and hemocytoblastosis La. Doxorubicin injected intravenously 4 times was shown to be highly active against the above ascites tumors. The highest inhibitory effect of doxorubicin was observed in respect to the development of Ehrlich's carcinoma. By the selectivity of the therapeutic effect on this tumor it was superior to rubomycin and carminomycin. A high antileukemic activity of doxorubicin in respect to hemocytoblastosis La was shown. In experiments with this leukemia, intravenous injection of doxorubicin provided a higher efficacy than intraperitoneal injection. When used intravenously in the doses equivalent by their toxicity doxorubicin was inferior to rubomycin in terms of the therapeutic effect on leukemia La. However, on intraperitoneal injection of the drugs rubomycin showed no such advantage. Doxorubicin made in the USSR did not differ by its antitumor activity from the analogous foreign drug.     

Role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the pathogenesis of combined radiation/thermal injuries

Combined injury such as whole body gamma-irradiation at the dose of 7 Gy+10% body surface full-thickness thermal burn were investigated in (CBA x C57BL6)F1 mice. Enhanced level of IL-6 in mice serum at 6-24 hs following combined injury was established. The potential inhibiting activity of pentoxifylline (POF) as an influence to IL-6 levels, and measure of several acute phase response signs has been evaluated. It was established, that single POF injection don't modify IL-6 production, don't change leukocytosis and early hyperfermentemia (as alaninaminotransferase levels indicated). But serum albumin content was increased after preliminary POF administration to mice with combined injury. On the other side, mouse anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibodies administration increased 30-days animal survival up to 60% while 100% lethality was registered in untreated mice. Possible anti-inflammatory inactivity reasons of POF under combined injury conditions are discussed in this article, and important role of IL-6 hyperproduction in combined injury outcomes burden is suggested.     

Experience with vaccine prophylaxis of hepatitis B among different groups of children

The immunological activity of different vaccines against hepatitis B was evaluated in the Hepatological Center organized on the basis of the Infectious Hospital in Tula. Newborn infants were immunized with the use of the following vaccines: Engerix B (Belgium), Combiotech (Russia), Euvax B (Aventis Pastèur, South Korea). Altogether, after the full course of immunization anti-HBs were detected in 76 children out of 81 (in 93.8%). Vaccine Engerix B, when introduced according to the schedule 0-1-2-12 months, exhibited high immunogenic properties in a group of infants born of women with persistent HBs-antigenemia. Anti-HBs at a concentration exceeding 1000 I.U./I could be detected in 84.6%. In another group of children immunized according to the schedule 0-1-6 months first with vaccine Combiotech at the age of 0 and 1 month, then (at the age of 6 months) with vaccine Euvax, the presence of postvaccinal anti HBs at protective concentration was registered in all children. After immunization against hepatitis B with the use of all above-mentioned vaccines introduced according to both schedules high immunological activity and safety of immunization were noted.     

Cytokine production by different population of macrophages following radiation or combined radiation injury

Male mice (CBA x C57BL6)F1 were used for the experiments throughout this study. The levels of spontaneous and LPS-stimulated cytokines production (IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha) by peritoneal, splenic, and bone marrow macrophages were evaluated by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at 3, 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours after irradiation alone or combined injury (irradiation + thermal burn). The results suggest that macrophages, harvested from the main mice hematopoietic organs (bone marrow, spleen), did not increase cytokines production within the first three days following the 7 Gy gamma-irradiation or combined injury. Peritoneal macrophages revealed a capacity to enhance IL-6 and IL-1 production versus normal healthy mice. There were no significant differences of cytokine-producing activity if macrophages were harvested from irradiated or combined injured mice.     

The assessment of biocenosis contamination in the region of radioactive waste storage (RWS) placing and influence of this storage on rodents

The results of radiative and of chemical monitoring show definite contamination of this zone by 90Sr and toxic metals. The essential local contaminations of geosystems (up to 2.3 x 10(4) Bk/kg of soil) require in environmental condition assessment at biocenosis level. Biotesting found the increase of metallothioneines levels in kidney (up to 15.63 microg/g of tissue) and liver (up to 19.22 microg/g of tissue) of rodents inhabited in the region of RWS placing as compared with the control group (3.51 and 4.44 microg/g of tissue accordingly). Besides, the decrease of total quantity of leucocytes (by 14.5% as compared with the control group) and absolute quantity all forms of them in animal blood were noted. It was assumed the increase of protein--MT is the result of complex influence by ionizing radiation and toxic metals.     

Some consequences of systemic inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of aggravation of outcomes of combined radiation and thermal injuries

Experiments were executed on (CBA x C57BL6) F1 male mice. Animals were subjected to the total body irradiation with a dose 7 Gy or combine radiation-thermal injury (CRTI), when irradiated animals were additionally subjected to a thermal burn of 10% of the body surface. Some signs of systemic inflammatory response were investigated in these two compared groups. It was established that the period of substantial increasing of the mortality in animals with CRTI (from 7th till 15th day) was characterized with expressed postradiation leikopenia and thrombocytopenia, was accompanied by hypoalbuminemia and hyperfibrinogenemia with a moderate raise in serum ALT activity. From all investigated hematological and biochemical parameters, at CRTI only plasma level of fibrinogen statistically differed from that in a group of the irradiated mice without a burn. It is suggested that endogenous infection and bacterial toxins are important at the pathogenesis of hyperfibrinogenemia and aggravation of CRTI outcomes by the 30-days survival criteria.     

Polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 (GSTM1 and GSTT1) in the indigenous and the nonresident population of the Kemerovo region

GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms were studied in Shorians, Teleuts, and Caucasians of the Kemerovo region. It has been shown that distribution of homozygous deletions in the examined groups is significantly heterogeneous. The frequency of deletion genotypes and combinations of deletion in these genes was lower in Shorians and, Teleuts than in Caucasians.