A Mathematical Model of a Thermoelectric Device for the Treatment of Whitlow by Local Hypothermia

Biomedical Engineering - A mathematical model of a thermoelectric device for the treatment of whitlow by local hypothermia is discussed. The model is based on a solution of the heat conduction task...     

Development of composition and technology for immunstifin capsules

The physicochemical and technological properties of immunstifin parent substance (salidroside obtained from the dry extract of Rhodiola rosea) have been studied in order to select the composition and optimize the technology of the drug in capsules. The results showed the necessity of introducing excipients into the capsule composition. The best characteristics were obtained with the addition of starch, aerosil, and magnesium stearate in the following amounts: immunstifin substance, 0.1 g; potato starch, 0.098; aerosil, 0.0002; magnesium stearate, 0.0018. The average mass of a capsule is about 0.2000 g. This mixture was used to fill capsules soluble in the acidic media of gastric juice. Tests with immunstifin capsules in 0.1% solution met the pharmacopoeial quality requirements with respect to disintegration, dissolution, appearance, and all other indices.     

Borderline nervous mental disorders in patients with chronic joint diseases

Nervous-psychic status by criteria of the V. P. Serbsky Center of Mental Health (Moscow) was assessed in 107 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 54), osteoarthritis deformans (n = 35), gout (n = 11), ankylosing spondyloarthritis (n = 7). Autonomic and psychosomatic, asthenic, affective, hypochondriac, phobic, hysteric disorders were detected in 24.3, 15.9, 8.4, 7.5, 4.6 and 2.8% of examinees, respectively. These disorders correlated with the form and duration of the underlying disease, age of the patients, severity of anemia and joint dysfunction. Such social factors as invalidity, family and financial problems, frequent pregnancies and labor also contributed to development of nervous-psychic disorders.     

Histologic and immunohistochemical characterization of tumor and inflammatory infiltrates in oral squamous cell carcinomas treated with local multikine immunotherapy: the macrophage at the front line

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN) are excellent candidates for local immunotherapy owing to their accessibility and their infiltration by mononuclear cells that are susceptible to immunomodulation. A response rate of 25–60% has been reported for treatment with natural IL-2 or a mixture of natural lymphokines. In the present study, biopsies and posttreatment excision specimens from nine patients with operable SCCHN treated systemically with a variety of immunomodulators and locally with natural lymphokines (multikine, CelSci) were analyzed in an attempt to correlate clinical response to histopathological and immunohistochemical changes. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues were stained with antibodies against lymphocytes (CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20), macrophages (CD68) including dendritic cells (S-100), markers for lymphocyte activation (CD30, HLA-DR), natural killer cells (CD56 and CD57), beta-2-microglobulin and keratin. One patient showed a complete response to treatment and two a partial response. Tumor size was significantly smaller after therapy. Clinical and pathological regression were more prominent in the smaller tumors. Numerous macrophages, both mononucleated and multinucleated, were present along the tumor-stroma interface in the posttreatment specimens of seven patients, most prominently in the three patients with tumor regression. The increase in the number of CD68+ and S-100+ macrophages after treatment was statistically significant. Lymphocytic infiltrates, which showed some increase following treatment, were composed of a mixture of T and B lymphocytes, the former mostly in contact with the tumor and the latter placed more peripherally. CD8+ lymphocytes extended into the tumors, whereas CD4+ lymphocytes showed minimal extension. Intensity of beta-2-microglobulin staining in tumors was significantly higher following therapy and associated with a better outcome. The marked increase in macrophages following treatment may indicate that the macrophage plays a major role in tumor recognition, destruction and clearance. An increase in the number of macrophages in a posttreatment specimen may indicate immunoresponsiveness.This study is a CISEPO project and was supported in part by the Saul A. Silverman Family Foundation.