Autohaemotherapy, after a bland treatment ex vivo of blood with ozone, is a fairly unknown medical procedure claimed to have therapeutic value in viral diseases and neoplasms. Having already shown that ozone acts as a mild inducer of cytokines, we have undertaken an investigation in normal rabbits and in normal volunteers aiming to evaluate eventual changes of some cytokine levels in plasma as well as of immunological parameters such as the Mx protein, neopterin, beta 2-microglobulin and of some acute-phase proteins after single or repeated autohaemotherapy. We have also evaluated the potential development of of side-effects. This study is the first one to show that autohaemotherapy can activate an immunological marker in normal subjects without procuring any toxic effects.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Which will be the most useful interferon?

Promising signs of clinical success using interferon in cancer patients have spurred the interferon boom and pharmaceutical companies, lured by a potential lucrative market, are expanding their investment in the production of this natural drug. This paper points out that the interferons known so far have different pharmacokinetic and therefore it would be important, for the future clinical trials, to correlate pharmacokinetic behaviours with therapeutic efficacy. The empirical approach in use today may lead to some failure but, on the other hand, it may help in deciding more rapidly which interferon, or combination of interferons, is more effective. Furthermore, the importance of continuing the search for an ideal interferon inducer is stressed, owing to the growing awareness that interferon is a powerful antiviral and antiproliferative agent but, probably, needs other modulators to exert its full therapeutic potential.

Escherichia coli↗

PubMedDate not supplied

What roles have anti-interferon antibodies in physiology and pathology?

Until recently the generation of antibodies to interferons (IFNs) was considered an unlikely event, while it is now clear that natural interferons (except IFN-beta) are practically nonimmunogenic, although recombinant interferons give rise to antibodies in about 30% of patients with occasional clinical complications. By realizing that normal individuals display spontaneously traces of IFN autoantibodies, in this review it is suggested that (if immunotherapy has to succeed) new generations of recombinant proteins should be the least antigenic as possible.

Antibody Formation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Quasi-total-body exposure to an oxygen-ozone mixture in a sauna cabin.

We have investigated the effects of quasi-total-body exposure of healthy volunteers to either an oxygen-ozone mixture (O(2)-O(3)) or to oxygen (O(2)) alone during a short period in a sauna cabin. The subjects underwent both an experimental and a control examination, separated by a 3.5-month interval. Body mass, blood pressure, body temperature changes, electrocardiograms, venous blood gas and haemocytometric analyses, total antioxidant status and plasma levels of protein thiol groups, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), plasma cytokine, hepatic enzymes and creatine were determined before, immediately after the 20-min period in the cabin and then 0.5, 1.0 and 24 h afterwards. We observed statistically significant variations of body temperature, venous partial pressure of O(2) values, TBARS and plasma levels of interleukin 8, particularly after O(2)-O(3) exposure. The increase in TBARS plasma levels concomitant with protein oxidation has been tentatively interpreted as being attributable to the transcutaneous passage of some reactive O(2) species, which should be considered if this approach is to be used as a biological response modifier. However, in the present study no adverse effects were noted after one session.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Autohaemotherapy after treatment of blood with ozone. A reappraisal.

Autohaemotherapy, involving bland treatment ex vivo of blood with ozone and prompt reinfusion into the donor, is a procedure mainly performed in central Europe, which is claimed to have therapeutic value in circulatory disorders, viral diseases and cancer. This practice is mostly performed in private clinics, and good clinical trials have not been published, which has understandably given rise to prejudice and scepticism. By analysing possible mechanisms of action and current hypotheses, this report attempts to explain how this procedure can be useful in such disparate diseases. The current state of the art is presented objectively, the lack of toxicity is documented, and the rationale and therapeutic advantages are discussed, with the aim of eliciting interest in carrying out controlled clinical trials.

Blood↗

PubMedDate not supplied

How a physiologist viewed and lived with the interferon problem.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Rational bases for using oxygen-ozonetherapy as a biological response modifier in sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia: a therapeutic perspective.

We are proposing to evaluate whether a complementary approach based on cycles of oxygen-ozone autohemotherapy (O3-AHT) already performed in millions of patients, can abate the chronic oxidative stress and improve the quality of life of serious hemoglobinopathic patients. Although a preliminary study has yielded encouraging results, it appears appropriate to perform a controlled, randomized and possibly multicentre clinical trial. The long use of this approach in other pathologies has proved to be very useful and it is hoped that scepticism will not prevail over scientific rationale. Ozone, as any other drug, has an intrinsic toxicity that, in the proposed application, is fully tamed by the blood antioxidant system.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Is interferon effective after oral administration? The state of the art.

At present the evidence that interferon can be effective when administered by oral route is tenous and the purpose of this minireview is to focus attention on this problem. Interferon may act on the oral-associated lymphoid tissue and trigger a cascade of events leading to activation of the immune system with little or no presence of interferons in body fluids and lack of toxicity. If this is true, the oral administration could be the ideal route for the treatment of some viral diseases and immunodeficiencies.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunocytochemical localization of interferons in human trophoblast populations.

It is known that Interferon (IFN) is present in normal body fluids and tissues during pregnancy. Using an immunohistochemical technique and a panel of monoclonal antibodies we have localized IFN-alpha, -beta and -gamma directly on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded normal human placentae at different stages of pregnancy and in the hydatidiform mole. The results show that IFNs is mostly localized in villous syncytiotrophoblast and in extravillous interstitial-trophoblast. No reactivity was observed in villous cytotrophoblast or in cytotrophoblast cell columns. The most intense staining was observed for IFN-alpha and -beta, while IFN-gamma was rather weak. There is then a gradual diminution in IFN reactivity with increasing gestation age being almost imperceptible at term. These results suggest that IFN may deploy antiviral, immunomodulator and differentiation activities during normal human pregnancy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗