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Biomedical subjects

S Draca

Publications and source records attributed to S Draca.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

The possible role of prolactin in the immunopathogenesis of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system characterized by multiple areas of inflammation and demyelination in the white matter of brain and spinal cord. A complex mechanism of the immunopathogenesis of the disease involves mononuclear cells infiltrating multiple sclerosis plaques, as well numerous cell products, such as interleukins, interferons, certain growth factors, etc. Some recent studies have emphasized the immunoregulatory role of certain neuroendocrine peptides, including prolactin. Prolactin, a hypophyseal hormone which is also produced by activated immunocytes, has been considered in this work as a co-factor participating in the immunopathogenic mechanism of multiple sclerosis.

Central Nervous System↗

Prolactin as an immunoreactive agent.

Prolactin (PRL), an endocrine hormone from the anterior pituitary, is also synthesized and secreted by activated immunocytes, mostly T cells and thymocytes. In vitro PRL acts as an autocrine or paracrine growth factor which regulates the proliferation of previously stimulated immunocompetent cells. PRL acts through its specific cell surface receptors expressed on different immunocytes including T cells, B cells, monocytes, NK cells and neutrophils. In vivo the immunoregulatory role of PRL is still the subject of intense investigation, especially in the conditions of stress and reproduction. The conflicting results suggest that PRL concentration, sex hormones and some other factors influence the immunomodulatory role of PRL.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

The analysis of virus-caused alterations of cellular and humoral immunoresponsiveness during the first days of morbilli rush in the young adult population.

The parameters of cellular and humoral immune responsiveness were studied during the first days of morbilli rush in the group of 34 young adult patients. The analysis of cell-mediated immune response included T cell relative and absolute numbers, mitogen-induced T cell proliferative response, as well as the relative and absolute numbers of mononuclear phagocytes. The tested parameters of humoral immune response included B cell relative and absolute numbers, serum concentrations of immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM, and serum level of immune complexes (IC). The reduction of total leukocyte number, T cell and B cell relative and absolute numbers, as well as diminished mitogen-induced T cell proliferative response, associated with the elevation of IgM and IC serum levels were found in the majority of analyzed patients. Moreover, the subsequent analysis revealed positive correlations between T cell percentage and T cell proliferative response, as well as between serum concentrations of IgM and IC. These data confirmed the presence of acute morbilli infection-caused disturbances of patients' immunocompetence.

Adolescent↗

[Preservation and relocation of the ovaries in an experiment on female dogs and the initial experience in radical hysterectomy in women].

During an experiment in bitches, the ovaries were placed sub-peritoneally beneath the skin of the abdominal wall preserving the infundibulo-pelvic ligament. A year later a relaparotomy was performed. No alterations were evidenced in the ovaries placed either sub-peritoneally of beneath the skin. In 7 patients of less than 36 years of age, during radical hysterectomy performed for cervical carcinoma the ovaries were placed intraperitoneally at the level of the lower kidney pole, preserving the vascularisation of the infundibulo-pelvic ligament. In one patient a cystic degeneration occurred on the right side, while the ultrasound control did not reveal any pathology in the rest of the patients. A year later the total urine estrogen levels were within normal ranges.

Adult↗