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In patients with primary resectable breast cancer, a positive correlation between the age and the count of CD16 + lymphocytes and a negative correlation of this parameter with the number of regulatory CD4 + CD25 + CD127 - cells and proliferative activity of Ki-67 tumor cells were revealed. Higher level of Ki-67 was associated with reduced number of effector lymphocytes (CD8 + and CD16 + ) and elevated content of regulatory CD8 + CD11b - CD28 - T cells. The absence of expression of estrogen receptors was associated with reduced cytotoxic potential of CD8 + T cell in comparison with ER + breast cancer. The percentage of CD8 + lymphocytes (CD3 + CD8 + and CD8 + CD11b + CD28 + ) among lymphocytes infiltrating the tumor was higher in PR + breast cancer than in PR - tumors. With increasing the tumor load, the number of lymphocytes expressing CD16 marker and their cytotoxic potential decreased.

Respiration hydrogen analyzer H2Rate has been used in pilot examinations of a group of students. This method for noninvasive diagnosis of small intestinal diseases promotes proper interpretation of the results. Free hydrogen level in the exhaled air increases as a result of lactulose (diagnostic agent) cleavage by enteric microflora within about 3 h. Based on the experimental data, the main groups with characteristic curves reflecting the time course of hydrogen concentrations have been distinguished. Excessive bacterial colonization of the intestine can correspond to emergence of characteristic peaks of hydrogen concentrations in the curve. Hydrogen concentrations in exhaled air can also be analyzed to evaluate the rate of the substrate propulsion in the middle compartment of the intestine.

Combined phenotypes of cells with membrane and intracellular expression of apoptosis and proliferation regulation markers (p53, bcl-2, CD95, CD95L, Ki-67) were studied by flow cytometry of cell suspension from thyroid tissue specimens from patients with autoimmune diseases, adenoma, and thyroid cancer. The incidence of cell groups with phenotypes p53/Ki-67, p53/CD95, bcl-2/Ki-67, bcl-2/CD95, CD95/Ki-67, p53/CD95L, CD95/CD95L, and bcl-2/CD95L was evaluated and the density of receptor distribution on/in each cell group are presented. Patients with autoimmune diseases had high incidence of cells with phenotypes p53/Ki-67, p53/CD95, bcl-2/Ki-67, bcl-2/CD95, CD95/Ki-67, p53/CD95L, CD95/CD95L, and bcl-2/CD95L; cells with the bcl-2/CD95 phenotype were the most incident. Patients with thyroid adenoma had high levels of cells with p53/CD95L phenotype, while patients with thyroid cancer had significantly lower levels of p53 expression in the p53/CD95L cell group. The density of CD95L receptors on CD95/CD95L-positive cells was 4-7-fold higher in patients with thyroid tumors; the density of CD95L receptors on CD95/CD95L cells was maximum in thyroid adenoma and minimum in thyroid cancer. These data indicate differences in the expression of apoptosis and proliferation markers in thyroid adenoma, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. Analysis of the expression of these markers in the above diseases can be useful for differential diagnosis.

The paper contains an overview of the role of certain minor subpopulations of lymphocytes in tumour growth and of the main results obtained in the studies of the phenotype of immunocompetent cells from cancer patients. Special attention is given to selected indicators of immunity as predictors of the disease and efficacy of immunotherapy.

Dialysis-Control apparatus for noninvasive monitoring of hemodialysis parameters is described. The monitoring procedure is based on electrochemical measurement of the content of organic substances in salt-containing liquid. The Dialysis-Control apparatus provides timely assessment and correction of hemodialysis procedure and ensures adequacy of the delivered treatment, which leads to improvement of dialysis treatment quality.

New logical and statistical methods were used for the analysis of relationships between survival rate of solid tumor patients and immunological variables. These methods are based on the search of the regularities (syndromes) in the multidimensional space. The syndromes are the elements of partitions of allowable areas of variables. To estimate the statistical validity of found regularities the new technique based on Monte-Carlo computer simulation was used. The broad panel of monoclonal antibodies for lymphocyte differentiation antigens was used for subpopulation analysis. The two tasks are described. The purpose of the first task was the evaluation of significance of immunological parameters for prediction of one-year metastasis-free survival in non-metastatic osteosarcoma of extremities. The second task was the construction of the predicting algorithm for prognosis of two-year survival of patients with stomach cancer. The optimal sets of parameters for prediction of survival were found for both tasks. We found out the high predictive value of HLA DR(+) cells percentage in the 1st task, and the percentage of adhesion cells (CD50(+) lymphocytes) is the most significant parameter in the 2nd task. The predictive algorithms were developed.

Data on the safety and effect of the vaccination of children with solid tumors are presented. As revealed in this study, the injection of adsorbed DT-m toxoid with reduced antigen content at the period of remission does not induce the relapse of the disease and leads to the production of specific antitoxic antibodies on the protective level. The study has shown that complex antitumor treatment does not essentially affect the formation of specific immune response, though prolonged changes in cell-mediated immunity can be observed.

Monoclonal antibodies (Mab) IKO-21 and IKO-25 obtained to the membrane antigen of the woman milk lipid globules were tested immuno- and cytochemically on the samples of human normal definitive and embryonal tissues and tumours. Mab IKO-21 are shown to react, apart from epithelial tissues, with a vascular endothelium and blood cells. Mab IKO-25 are specific to the epithelial tissue and malignant epithelial tumours. Their intensive reaction with the cells of malignant tumours of the mammary gland, lung, ovary and the type of their distribution in the organs and tissues enables their use in the differential diagnosis of malignant epithelial and non-epithelial tumours as for revealing metastases both in vitro and in vivo.

A Mab set was used to study immunological phenotype of lymphocytes of five patients bearing stage IV malignant melanoma and its changes developing in the course of interleukin-2 (Euro cetus) immunotherapy. Patients were shown to have lowered counts of T cells (mainly due to T-helper/inducers), B cells and lymphocytes expressing adhesion and activation molecules as well as abnormal immunoregulatory cell ratio. Two patients receiving interleukin-2 achieved a response. Follow-up of antigen expression revealed a rise in natural killer and immunoregulatory T lymphocyte levels in the responders whereas activation antigens and B cell levels were increased in all the patients.

The glycoprotein with the molecular weight of 82,500 D (Ag3) was extracted from the native membranes of fatty globules of human milk and was purified by isoelectrofocusing. Polyclonal antisera (PCA) as well as monoclonal antibodies (MoAb)-ICO-21, ICO-22, ICO-26, ICO-29 against this membrane antigen were produced. The localization of the antigen in the human normal and malignant tissues was tested by the immunochemical technique. Apical staining of the Ag3 was in the acinus and duct cells of the normal breast. Weak staining with the antibodies to Ag3 was revealed in the epithelium cells of ovaries, bronchi, kidney tubules and uterine tubes. The far more pronounced staining of the Ag3 with PCA and MCA was observed in the cell cytoplasma both in the primary and metastatic breast and ovarian tumours. The specificity of the MoAb to Ags suggests that they will be useful in the diagnosis of the malignant disease of the breast and ovary.

Monoclonal antibodies (Mab) ICO-13 of IgM isotype reacted in indirect surface immunofluorescence test with 88.5 +/- 3.4% of thymocytes and 7.1 +/- 2.4% of T cells, but failed to react with other peripheral blood cells from healthy donors. The antigen disappeared in cells stored at 4 degrees C overnight or at -196 degrees C in liquid nitrogen. The antigen detected by Mab ICO-13 was expressed on blast cells of acute lymphoblast leukemias and lymphomas. The antigen was absent in chronic lymphoblast leukemia and blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia.

The panel of monoclonal antibodies (MCA) ICO-16, ICO-17, ICO-18, ICO-19, ICO-20, ICO-27, ICO-28 IgG2a isotypes to CD38 antigen was obtained. MCA discovered the antigen with 45 kD molecular mass, expressed on the surface of 100% thymocytes, 43-53% lymphocytes, 32-46% monocytes. All obtained MCA blocked the binding each other with thymocyte of man. MCA reacts in complement-dependent cytotoxic test. The antigen CD38 is expressed on blast cells of patients with T-cells subset of ALL.

Monoclonal antibodies (Mab) Ig G2a isotypes reacting in indirect immunofluorescence assay with 68.7 +/- 4.1% of thymocytes, 7% of T-cells and not determining the antigen on other blood cells were obtained. Mab ICO-20 reacted in complement-dependent cytotoxic test. The antigen was expressed on colony-forming cells of granulocyte-macrophage row. Mab ICO-20 reaction with 100% of thymocytes was defined by flow cytometry. Antigen molecular mass is 45000 Dalton. The antigen was expressed on blast cells of patients with ALL and AML. Mab ICO-20 reaction was more more often with T-cell ALL.

Mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAB) ICO-10 to Thy-1 antigen were obtained. MAB ICO-10 reacted in indirect immunofluorescence test with 5.7 +/- 0.8% human thymocytes. Antibodies did not react with granulocytes, monocytes, T- and non-T cells from peripheral blood, and with marrow cells of healthy donors. MAB ICO-10 reacted with blast cells from 25 of 53 patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), from 2 of 5 patients with B-cell ALL. This antigen was absent on blood and marrow cells from some patients with ALL, 80 patients with chronic lymphoid leukemia, 54 patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia at the stage of blastic crisis, 128 patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia. Antibodies are specifically bound to thymocytes and spleen cells of Thy 1.1 and Thy 1.2 mice. MAB ICO-10 detect Thy-1 antigen expressed on human hematopoietic cells. MAB ICO-10 may be applied for human leukemia and lymphoma immune diagnosis.

A wide panel of monoclonal antibodies to hematopoietic cell differentiation antigens was applied to the study of CD4-negative skin hematosarcomas on cryostat secretions. The most frequent CD4-negative type was the B-cell one identified in 6 of 10 cases. In this type the use of monoclonal antibodies in addition to standard immunoglobulin markers seemed to be very important. T-cell type (CD3+ CD8+), histiocytic variant (CD11+Ia+), pseudolymphoma (polyclonal markers pattern), and Kaposi's sarcoma (hematopoietic cell negative antigen) were identified in 1 case each. The authors emphasize the importance of immunological studies of hematosarcomas because of the high frequency of the generalization of B-cell lymphomas; such studies may also help in the differential diagnosis between pseudolymphoma and hematosarcoma.

ICO-35 monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were produced following BALB/c mouse immunization with peripheral blood cells from a patient with lymphoid type of chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis (SML BC) ICO-35. Mabs detect antigen on CD10-positive cells from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, CML BC, CD10-positive cells of Reh line and are not bound to other cells. Comparative studies of reactivity of ICO-35 and K 503 Mabs to CD10 antigen revealed their similarity. However, in contrast to K503 ICO-35 Mabs do not react with granulocytes.

Monoclonal antibodies (MoAB) ICO-45 discovered the antigen with 45 kD molecular mass, expressed on the surface of 77% thymocytes, 68% monocytes, 95% granulocytes, 46% T-lymphocytes, 59% non-T-lymphocytes. MoAB ICO-45 blocked T-lymphocyte blast transformation and inhibited the respiratory burst of monocytes and granulocytes of the peripheral blood.