Vol 7, No 2 (2010)

Cathelicidins are a family of cationic amphipathic antimicrobial polypeptides, which play an important role in innate and adaptive immunity. The knowledge of biological effects of these peptides allows to use them not only as an alternative to common antimicrobial therapies. Cathelicidins may also be used for the re-activation of an immune system that has been suppressed by an infection or inflammation, for modulation of inflammation as lipopolysaccharide-binding drugs, and for the activation of regenerative processes. Besides, examination of cathelicidins may serve to detect individuals prone to infectious diseases, to monitor infectious process control in these patients, and to select efficient therapy.

Object. Cause-and-effect relations^ assessment of immunoglobulin E leveTs increase in patients with pyoinplammatory diseases. Materials and methods. 80 patients with acute appendicitis, 51 patients with chronic recurrent furunculosis, 27 patients with chronic osteomyelitis aged 16 to 60 years old have been examined. The patients with the increased IgE level underwent clinical and allergologycal assessment. Patients with chronic pyoinplammatory diseases had been skin tested with the Staphylococcus aureus allergens. Results. Total IgE level was increased in all nosologic groups of patients. In patients with the increased IgE level atopy or antihelminths antibodies have been established. In patients with chronic pyoinflammatory total IgE level was not changed but negative correlative connections between the level of immunoglobulin and the late phase of immediate hypersensitivity reaction have been shown. Increased level of serum immunoglobulin E in patients with acute appendicitis confirmed more serious involvement of appendix and surrounding tissues and the higher indexes of white blood cells count before the operation. Conclusion. Increased IgE level in patients with pyoinflammatory diseases reflects Th2 type of immune response mostly due to the condition of atopy or parasites. The higher rate of development of destructive and complicated forms of appendicitis is typical for the patients with acute appendicitis and the increased IgE level.

Background. To study the clinical value of determining NO in exhaled air in patients with bronchial asthma (BA), as well as its role as marker of asthma control and the relationship with other indicators of BA control. Materials and methods. 114 patients with BA (age 18 to 82) have been examined. Clinical and specific allergical surveys, spirometry and bronchial hyperresponsiveness have been performed. The level of NOex has been measured by NIOX MINO device; Aerocrine AB, Sweden. Asthma control determined by using the ACT-test. Results. It was found that NOex in patients with atopic BA statistically was significantly (p=0,0008) higher than in the healthy control group, the same in patients with nonatopic В A (p=0,00419). The existence of statistically significant correlations between the level of NOex and phase of BA, level NOex and spirometry, NOex and the ACT-test for patients with atopic BA was found. Reducing NOex >20% in response to the correction of the asthma therapy is a sign of achieving asthma control, OR=3,18; 0:1,13-8,92. Conclusion. NOex can be in use as an indicator of control in patients with atopic BA, that statistically significantly correlate with the level of asthma control determined by the doctor (phase of BA), the level of control, determined by the patient (ACT-test), as well as a spirometry (FEV ). NOex is a sensitive marker of response to anti-inflammatory asthma therapy.

The article is devoted to IFN -a usage in clinical practice, virus detection, main IFN -a effects: antiviral, antitumor, immunoregulatory. Described efficacy of recombinant IFN -a - viferon in virus-associated diseases.

Objective. Determination of the role of neuropeptides and p-endorphin in developmental mechanisms of atopic dermatitis, and assessment of the effectiveness of levocetirizine, a modern Hl-antihistamine, on atopic dermatitis symptoms and its influence on the SCORAD index in children with atopic dermatitis. Materials and methods. 84 children with atopic dermatitis of moderate-to-severe or severe clinical nature, aged 1 to 17 years, were enrolled in this (double-blind or open, randomised, etc.) study. Patients were treated with levocetirizine 5 mg once daily during 14 days. The levels of P substance, neurokinin A, neurokinin B, and p-endorphin in blood serum, as well as levocetirizine effectiveness on disease symptoms and the SCORAD index were evaluated. Results. Lower neuropeptide levels were associated with disease severity; children with severe atopic dermatitis had lower neuropeptide values. Before treatment, SCORAD index in children with severe atopic dermatitis was 76,5±11,3, and after 7 days of therapy SCORAD index was 14±6,2 points (p< 0,01). By the 7th day after treatment initiation, the acute atopic dermatitis became of subacute nature and was accompanied by a regression of the cutaneous eruption in the form of significant decreasing of skin manifestations and pruritus, absence of new eruption and normalized sleep. In children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis the SCORAD index before levocetirizine treatment was 44,2±3,4 points; on the 3rd day, this index was 20,4±2,6 points; and on the 7th day there was a complete absence of clinical symptoms of the main disease. Levocetirizine administration led to the disappearance of the disease clinical symptoms and pruritus in children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Conclusion. This trial demonstrated that neuropeptides are involved in the developmental mechanisms of atopic dermatitis and that levocetirizine can significantly improve the signs and symptoms of children with moderate-to-severe or severe atopic dermatitis.

Цель работы. Оценить эффективность и безопасность препарата цетиризина (зодак) при аллергических заболеваниях у детей. Материалы и методы. В исследование включены 30 детей, страдающих атопическим дерматитом (АтД) и сезонным аллергическим ринитом (САР). 1-ю группу составили 15 детей с АтД, 2-ю группу - 15 пациентов с САР. Для оценки эффективности лечения АтД использовали шкалу учета степени тяжести клинических проявлений SCORAD и дневники самооценки. Динамика симптомов САР отражалась в дневниках самоконтроля. Результаты. Положительный эффект от проведенного лечения отмечался у всех детей с АтД. К моменту завершения терапии индекс SCORAD уменьшился с 61,1 до 14,2 балла. Отмечено достоверное снижение субъективных симптомов к концу лечения цетиризином. У 10 пациентов (66,7%) отмечался существенный регресс большинства симптомов АтД. Носовое дыхание улучшилось у всех детей, выраженная положительная динамика отмечалась в изменении симптомов чихания и ринореи. Заключение. Двухнедельный курс терапии цетиризином детей с АтД и САР позволил достичь значительного клинического улучшения в лечении болезни. Переносимость препарата была хорошей. Препарат приводит к улучшению качества жизни пациентов при отсутствии побочных эффектов.