Influence of Melatonin on the state of immunity at psoriasis

The influence of the chronopharmacological scheme of treatment with the use of exogenous Melatonin in the form of the Melaksen drug on the immunity status of psoriasis patients has been studied. The study of the immunity status consisted in determination of the main Manchini classes of immunoglobulins A, M, G, the level of circulating immune complexes by the method of selective precipitation in 3% polyethylene glycol. In addition, we determined the subpopulation of lymphocytes carrying CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD 25, and CD72 antigens by the immunofluorescent method. In has been found that Melatonin in psoriasis patients exerts the immunomodulatory action on the immune system at the combined treatment (due to an increase in the number of -lymphocytes with cytotoxic-suppressive properties at obvious signs of immune disbalance in the form of the increased ratio of Т CD4+ and CD8+).

Simultaneous Immunofluorescent Detection of Coentrapped Cells in Gel Beads

ABSTRACT An immunofluorescent method involving double color labeling and confocal microscopy was reported to specifically detect lactic acid bacteria and probiotic cells coimmobilized in gels beads. The method described is rapid (4 h) and sensitive and may be useful for studying cell dynamics during mixed-culture starter production using immobilized cells in gel beads. Microscopic observations were perfectly correlated to cell counts obtained using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Mass and Viability Estimations of Nocardia in Activated Sludge and Anaerobic Digesters Using Conventional Stains and Immunofluorescent Methods

An immunofluorescent method was developed to estimate the quantity and viability of Nocardia filaments in activated sludge and anaerobically digested sludge on both a mass and volume basis. The Gram stain counting technique of Vega-Rodriguez (1983) and Pitt (1988) was modified to estimate the mass of Nocardia in activated sludge and compared to the immunofluorescent method. Both methods were calibrated on a pure culture of chemostat grown Nocardia amarae. Using the immunofluorescence technique, Nocardia were estimated to comprise an average of 18% by weight of the VSS in a foaming activated sludge plant. Nocardia were found to be, on average, 79% viable as judged by INT reduction staining. Nocardia were found to comprise 13% of the VSS in a foaming anaerobic digester sludge and had an average viability of 63%. These organisms were estimated to be 30 to 50% viable in a mixed anaerobic digester with a hydraulic detention time of 14 days.