In patients with a long history of broncho-pulmonary pathology a non-marked cough often takes place providing nearly normal parameters of mucociliary transport (MCT). The proposed radionuclide method modification using the central antitussive drug «Tusuprex» allows to exclude compensatory cough during the investigation period, thus obtaining significant MCT parameters.

The technique and hardware for the express-test of rheological properties of small amounts of sputum in patients with COPD have been elaborated. The method is based on the computer analysis of the thinning process of sputum capillary thread. It has been shown that rheological properties of sputum can be desoribed by Maxwell’s model for the elastico-viscous fluid. The in vitro process of sputum destruction due to different mucolytic agents has been studied. The monitoring was assessed using elastico-viscous characteristics of fluid — the relaxation time. The efficacy of various mucolytic agents in different forms of COPD has been observed. The proteolytic activity of microsporic flora has been assessed in experiment. The above mentioned method is of perspective for making mucolytic therapy more optimistic.

Locomotory, phagocytic activity and the level of key oxydative enzymes functioning were studied in neutrophils, obtained from broncho-alveolar fluid (BAF) of 21 patient with chronic bronchitis and 24 — with bronchiectasis. In these two diseases the common features for BAF neutrophils were: a) decrease of LDH activity on the peak of exacerbation; b) lack of dynamics in locomotory and phagocytic activity parameters as well as of G-6-PDH exchange level in spite of inflammatory process growing activity. An increase of SDH and NADPDH activity in BAF neutrophils was marked at the peak level of chronic bronchitis exacerbation. At the same time no increase in their activity was found in bronchiectasis group.

In two groups of patients suffering from systemic scleroderma: 1st group (11 patients) without and 2nd group (7 patients) with the signs of lung damage, diagnostic broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) was performed. Cell content and functional activity of alveolar macrofages (AM) from the BAL fluid were studied by means of spontaneous and induced NBT-test. According to cytogram data, 54,5 % of patients from the 1st group were suffering from «latent» alveolitis of neutrophil type. Spontaneous NBT-test parameters witnessed for the activated condition of AM with no significant difference in this parameter between patients with diagnosed alveolitis and those, having normal cytogram. Higher levels of cytosis and neutrophilia of BAL fluid from patients of the 2nd group corresponded to more severe cases of fibrosing alveolitis (FA) accompanied by X-ray changes and decrease in pulmonary function parameters. There was no difference in common tendencies of NBT-test parameters between the two groups. More severe and generalized damage of skin was marked in all patients with high activity of FA.

Cytotoxic activity of cell free fraction (CFF) of the broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) according to its ability to lyse the cells from the monocytoid human blast cell line J96 was assessed 8 asthmatics and 4 normals. Immunoregulatory properties of CFF were assessed according to its influence on spontaneous and konkanavaline A induced proliferation of peripheric human blood lymphocytes, cultivated in the presence of ³H-timidine. As a rule during «normal» stage CFF has no cytotoxic and mitogenic activity, and very slightly inhibits mitogenic response of lymphocytes stimulated by konkavaline in vitro. During the state of bronchial asthma CF of BAL presents high cytotoxic activity, which is not followed by appearance or rise in level of tumor necrotizing factor a. Immunoregulatory properties of BAL CFF are changing during asthma exacerbations: There appear some factors capable of inhibiting the spontaneous proliferation of peripheric human blood lymphocytes and strengthen their response to mitogens in comparison with the «normal» BAL CFF.

The results of the study have shown that single hypoxic stimulation increases the content of neutrophils and epithelium cells in broncho-alveolar fluid (BAF) and stimulates phagocytic activity of cells from the lung tissue. 24 hours after the single stimulation as well as during repeated stimulations the cell content of the BAF remains the same. Parameters of phagocytic activity of neutrophils and macrofages ane been normalized. 24 hours after single hypoxic stimulation a decrease in BAF cytosis is marked, which is connected with high adhesive ability of activated phagocytes. After 10 hypoxic stimulations the rise of lymphocytes, as well as of neutrophils and epithelium cells was marked in BAF of the Wistar rats. Multiple hypoxic stimulation stimulates the phagocytic activity of BAF cells.

Biopsy material and broncho-alveolar lavage from 146 patients with disseminated tuberculosis, 104 — with sarcoidosis and 36 patients with allergic alveolitis were used to assess heterogenity of macrophageal elements and to reveal peculiarities of macrophageal reaction of the lungs taking into account the stage of disease. Data are of practical importance for differential diagnostics of histologically similar granulomatous lung diseases.

Lungs from 28 infants died from pneumonia at the age of 1 month up to 1 year were studied using complex of immunofluorescent and morphometrical methods. The obtained data testify that in conditions of acquired immunodeficiency lung inflammation of viral etiology is characterized by another qualitative aiming with often development of productive alveolitis, differ one from another depending on etiology and pathogenesis of pneumonia. Thus, in infants died from primary pneumonia, caused by DNA-containing viruses, as a rule there is lobular interstitial type of inflammatory reaction with marked giant cell and lymphocytic component. In those died from secondary pneumonia, induced by RNA-containing viruses, the inflammatory reactionis of multifocal interstitially-desquamative type with low content of lymphocytes and often has tendency for generalization of viral infections (10 observations from 16).

Peculiarities of ATP and ADP degradation by lung membranes were studed. It was shown that AMP is the final product of ATP hydrolysis. AMP is formed from ATP by sequential release of terminal phosphate according to the scheme: ATP─ ─→ADP─ ─→AMP, and not by pyrophosphatase activity.

Inhibitory analysis using adenine nucleotides, their nonhydrolysible analogs, phosphate and pyrophosphate and also determination of kinetic values (Kni and Vmax) for the ATP-ase and ADP-ase reactions indicates on a coordinated hydrolysis of ATP and ADP.

ATP-degradating activity is discovered in membranes of cells formed a blood vessels (endothelial and smooth-muscle), but not in membranes of Type II alveolar cells, which secrete surfactant.

This nucleotide hydrolising activity is preferentially localised on a luminal surfase of plasma membrane, since addition of a pore-forming antibiotic alameticine to a confluent endothelial monolayer does not significantly increase the ATP hydrolysis.

Studies of circadian rhythmicity blood microrheological parameters (erythrocytes deformability and agregability) and relative plasma viscosity in COPD patients with different degree of respiratory insuffisiency and healthy subjects have been carried out. The presence of distinctive circadian rhythmicity of noted values changes both in patients and healthy subjects was determined. Microrheological values biological rhythm disorders creating critical situation for microcirculation at night and early morning hours in COPD patients grew progressively worse while intensifiing of respiratory insufficiency clinical manifestation.

Serum levels of adrenal, hypophysis, sex hormones, PG F2alfa, C — AMP and C — GMP were meansered in 197 patients with chronic bronchitis (CB) in course of the disease evolution.

Hypohonadism, the intensity of which corresponded with CB severity and' patient age, was observed. Testosteron serum level decrease was accompanied by the increase of follicle-stimulating and lutein hormones serum levels.

Mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid adrenal function activation due to growing hipoxia. was found in CB patients. Pathogenetic role of hormonal disturbances is discussed.