Thymus inflammation symptoms. Thymus. Hormones and functions

In the human body there is a large number of glands that produce substances that are necessary for it normal life... One of them is the thymus gland. In adults, it reaches a weight of thirty grams. Thymus has other names, for example, thymus. In general, it is considered the central organ of formation in adults, located behind the sternum. It consists of the right and left lobes, which are interconnected by loose fiber. It should be noted that the thymus gland begins to form earlier and faster than other organs of our immune system... In addition, her weight in a newborn baby reaches thirteen grams. However, in the future, the thymus is replaced by ninety percent of fatty fiber. Most often, the period of active growth of the human body coincides with the activity of the thymus gland.

The thymus is involved in two types of immune response in the human body. We are talking about reactions of the humoral and cellular type. In the first case, the thymus gland in adults is involved in the production of antibodies, in the second - in the process of rejection of various types of transplants. As for the production of special antibodies, B-lymphocytes are responsible for this, for rejection reactions foreign tissue T-lymphocytes. And in fact, and in another case, these bodies are formed as a result of changes and transformations of cells bone marrow... The hormones that the thymus gland produces in adults and children convert stem cell into thymocytes. They, in turn, enter the lymph nodes or spleen. As a result, thymocytes are transformed and become T-lymphocytes. Stem cells are transformed into B-lymphocytes, according to most experts, directly in the bone marrow itself.

In addition to the fact that the thymus is involved in the transformation of bone marrow cells, thymopoietin and thymosin are constantly produced in this gland, which are hormones that play a major role in the immune responses of our body.

There are many dysfunctions of this organ. There are also children who have no thymus at all. Symptoms indicating a lack of functioning are nothing more than a decrease in the human body's resistance to any infectious diseases... Other signs can also be included here. For example, breathing disorders, muscle fatigue, heaviness of the eyelids, the appearance of tumors. In addition, in such a situation, violations occur directly in immunity at the cellular level. In addition to all this, they can develop which are ailments in which the body destroys its own cells, since the immune system is unable to recognize them and distinguish them from a virus and foreign cells, for example.

Dysfunctions of the thymus can be not only congenital, but also acquired. Sometimes the thymus gland and its tissues are damaged (radioactive rays). However, in most cases, the reasons for the violations of the functions of this body cannot be established.

If the thymus gland is enlarged, which is typical for newborn babies, we can talk about the presence of thymomenalia. This is often caused by any childhood ailments, external factors... It is worth noting that this disease is considered genetic. Its development can be affected by infection of the mother during pregnancy, nephropathy. A specialist can easily identify an enlarged thymus gland in an infant by some of the symptoms. For example, in a similar situation, swelling of the tonsils, adenoids, and enlarged lymph nodes are most often observed. Can be done X-ray, on which an enlarged thymus will be immediately noticeable.

Functional disorders of the described organ are successfully treated today. Removal of the thymus is sometimes required. However, in addition to this, the doctor may prescribe special medications. In any case, a sick person is most often isolated in order to reduce the risk of infection. If you notice that you are getting sick more often, and the disease (infectious) lasts longer, contact your doctor. He will prescribe an examination and select the most appropriate course of treatment.

V. L. Manevich, V. D. Stonogin, T. N. Shirshova, I. V. Shuplov, S. V. Momotyuk

II department clinical surgery(Head - Professor Timofey Pavlovich Makarenko) of the Central Institute for Advanced Medical Studies on the basis of the Central clinical hospital No. 1MPS.

The publication is dedicated to the memory of Vasily Dmitrievich Stonogin (1933-2005)

Diseases of the thymus gland are studied by doctors of various specialties: neuropathologists, endocrinologists, immunologists, hematologists, surgeons, pathologists, etc. The problem of myasthenia gravis is relatively well understood; in recent years, the participation of the thymus gland in such a vital process as the development (regulation) of immunity has been established.

Tumors and cysts of the thymus gland, myasthenia gravis, and some autoimmune diseases require surgical treatment. A significant contribution to this complex section was made by domestic and foreign surgeons (A.N.Bakulev and R.S.Kolesnikova; V.R.Braitsev; B.K.Osipov; B.V. Petrovsky; M.I. Kuzin et al. ; S. A. Gadzhiev and V. Vasiliev; Viets, etc.).

From 1966 to 1973, we observed 105 patients with various diseases of the anterior mediastinum, 66 of them with various diseases of the thymus gland. These patients were divided into the following clinical groups: 1st - 30 patients with thymus hyperplasia and symptoms of myasthenia gravis; 2nd - 23 patients with tumors of the thymus gland (thymomas), of which 15 with benign, including symptoms of myasthenia gravis; with malignant 8, including symptoms of myasthenia gravis 5; 3rd - 4 patients with thymus cysts, all without myasthenia gravis; 4th - 3 patients with teratoid formations; 13th - 2 patients - lymphogranulomatosis with isolated lesion of the thymus gland; 6th - 4 patients with aplastic anemia on the background of autoimmune aggression of the thymus gland.

Of the 66 patients, 65 were operated on: 62 underwent radical and 3 exploratory surgery.

There were 44 patients with symptoms of myasthenia gravis under our supervision, of whom 43 (13 men and 30 women) were operated on; the age of the operated patients was from 14 to 55 years, and the age of the majority (25 patients) was from 15 to 30 years. Among patients with tumors of the thymus gland, the prevalence of 30-40 years old (13 patients).

Myasthenia gravis is a complex neuroendocrine disease, the main manifestation of which is weakness and especially rapid, pathological muscle fatigue after exercise. Along with this, according to the studies of a number of authors (M.I.Kuzin et al., Et al.), With myasthenia gravis, the function of many organs and systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, metabolism, etc.) ...

The clinic of myasthenia gravis is well known, however, the correct diagnosis of a patient with myasthenia gravis is often made after prolonged observation. In 32 of our 44 patients, the correct diagnosis was made only 6-8 months after the first signs of the disease appeared. This is explained by the low severity of the clinical picture of myasthenia gravis in initial stage and poor awareness of practitioners who are the first to seek help from patients with myasthenia gravis (neuropathologists, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists, therapists).

With a pronounced generalized form of myasthenia gravis, the diagnosis is not difficult. At the initial stage and in cases when myasthenia gravis is localized (bulbar, ocular, musculoskeletal, pharyngeal-facial), our patients were expected to have a variety of diagnoses, up to suspicion of simulation. We consider it necessary to emphasize the particular importance of the proserin test, which has differential diagnostic value. In patients with myasthenia gravis, an intramuscular injection of 1-2 ml of a 0.05% solution of proserin eliminates muscle weakness and rapid fatigue, while in case of myopathies and muscle weakness caused by other causes, an injection of proserin does not have an effect. Dynamometry, ergometry and electromyography are important.

It is generally accepted that the treatment of myasthenia gravis should be carried out in a comprehensive manner with the participation of 3-4 specialists: a neuropathologist, an endocrinologist therapist, an anesthesiologist-resuscitator and a surgeon. Based on a large clinical material (hundreds of operated and observed in remote period), the authors emphasize the advantage of surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis over conservative (M.I.Kuzin; A.S. Gadzhiev et al., et al.). The results of surgical treatment are better if the operation is performed for the first time 2-2.5 years from the onset of the disease. In more late dates the operation turns out to be less effective. Hence the particular importance of early diagnosis myasthenia gravis.

Of the 43 patients operated on by us, only 12 were admitted in the first year of myasthenia gravis, in terms of 1 to 3 years - 23 and after 3 years - 8 patients. Consequently, patients were admitted to the clinic late for surgical treatment.

A special method for examining the thymus gland is radiopaque - pneumomediastinography, which allows one to judge the degree of enlargement of the thymus gland, its structure - a separate node with clearly defined contours or a tumor with infiltrating growth, etc.

The presence of a pronounced clinical picture of progressive myasthenia gravis in a patient is an indication for surgery, since all conservative methods treatments, including X-ray therapy, provide only temporary improvement.

In patients with myasthenia gravis, special preoperative preparation is required, the purpose of which is to reduce the manifestations of myasthenia gravis by individual selection of the dose of drugs. Dosages of drugs are selected strictly individually, so that during the day there are no periods of myasthenic exhaustion, no myasthenic crisis occurs. Preoperative preparation, being symptomatic therapy, has some curative action, which has a positive meaning for the upcoming operation. However, not all patients have preoperative preparation, despite its complexity and intensity, is effective.

The question of the need for preoperative X-ray therapy cannot be considered definitively resolved. Only 5 of our patients received X-rays before the operation, and we did not notice any improvements during the postoperative period. In patients operated on for malignant thymoma with symptoms of myasthenia gravis, preoperative irradiation plays an important role in the immediate outcome of the operation and to some extent affects the timing of the onset of disease relapse (MI Kuzin et al.).

Most of the operations for myasthenia gravis were performed by us from the anterior approach by means of a complete median longitudinal sternotomy. The most crucial moment of the operation is the separation of the gland from the left brachiocephalic vein. Injury to this vessel is dangerous due to massive bleeding and possible air embolism. In one case, this vein was injured, which ended well (a lateral vascular suture was imposed). During the operation, clamping should be avoided. glandular tissue crushing it.

Three of our patients had a combination of myasthenia gravis and retrosternal goiter. Thymectomy and subtotal strumectomy were performed.

In 26 patients, the mediastinal pleura was damaged during the operation, including 8 patients on both sides. There were no complications associated with surgical pneumothorax. If the pleura is not damaged during the operation, the anterior mediastinum is drained with one rubber tube, the end of which is brought out to the lower corner of the wound or through a separate puncture below the xiphoid process and connected to the suction. Following thymectomy, a tracheostomy (preventively) was applied to 5 patients.

If the operation of thymectomy itself is not particularly difficult in comparison with other thoracic operations, then the course of the postoperative period in a number of patients is accompanied by complications, in the first place among which is myasthenic crisis. Therefore, operations for myasthenia gravis are possible only in those institutions where it is possible to provide round-the-clock observation of an anesthesiologist-resuscitator, as well as multi-day mechanical ventilation of the lungs.

The question of the appointment of anticholinesterase drugs in postoperative period not finally resolved. In order to reduce bronchial hypersecretion, it is better to prescribe proserin with small doses of atropine.

Severe myasthenic crisis with respiratory disorder, cardiac activity, swallowing, etc. was observed in the first days after surgery in 26 patients. Conservative measures managed to get 7 patients out of the crisis; 19 patients underwent tracheostomy with their transfer to apparatus breathing, the duration of which ranged from 3 to 40 days. Through the tracheostomy, mucus is systematically aspirated from the tracheobronchial tree around the clock. Nutrition of patients who are on apparatus breathing is carried out through a probe. In addition to medication, the use of oxygen, the use of breathing exercises, in recent years, all patients with myasthenia gravis in the postoperative period undergo a therapeutic massage of the whole body, repeated several times a day.

The tracheostomy tube is removed after the patient has steadily restored spontaneous breathing.

Of the 43 operated on for myasthenia gravis, 3 patients died in the first days after the operation. This refers to the period when these operations were just being mastered in the clinic. All patients were operated on in serious condition. Long-term results were followed in 26 patients: recovery occurred in 17 patients and improvement (patients take anticholinesterase drugs) in 8 patients; the condition remained unchanged in 3 patients. Two operated patients died of recurrent malignant thymoma (one with symptoms of myasthenia gravis after 3 years, the other with myocardial infarction).

Benign tumors of the thymus gland (thymomas) are rounded nodes with a dense capsule. During histological examination, along with connective tissue cells, fibroblasts and concentrically located elongated epithelial cells resembling Gassal's little bodies are found in these tumors. These tumors in structure resemble sclerosing angioma, they are also called reticular perithelioma (Pope and Osgood). Special place are occupied by lipotimomas. Some authors classify them as benign tumors, others as malignant (Andrus and Foot). These tumors often reach large sizes and consist of lobular fatty tissue containing accumulations of thymocytes and gassal bodies. If the tumor predominates adipose tissue, it is recommended to call it lipotimoma, if the elements of the thymus gland predominate - thymolipoma.

Among our patients, we observed 3 (2 men and 1 woman, all over 40 years old) with lipotimoma. Their tumor was small in size, with even, clear boundaries; the tumor was regarded by us as benign. The disease was accompanied by moderately pronounced symptoms of myasthenia gravis. One of these patients was admitted with complaints of weakness and rapid fatigability; further examination revealed severe hypoplastic anemia. The patient was operated on; in the immediate postoperative period, favorable results were noted.

Of our 15 patients with benign thymomas, 9 (4 men and 5 women) had myasthenia gravis, in the rest the tumor did not manifest itself in any way and was detected by chance.

Malignant thymomas are dense, lumpy tumors of various sizes, often growing into the capsule. In patients with these neoplasms, due to the rapid growth of the tumor, germination neighboring bodies or compression of them early, mediastinal compression syndrome develops. Patients complain of pain behind the breastbone, a feeling of pressure in the chest, etc. Often, malignant thymomas occur with symptoms of myasthenia gravis, which we noted in 5 out of 8 patients. Malignant thymoma can be completely asymptomatic. Here's an example.

Patient M., 19 years old, was admitted on 17 March 1966. No complaints. After graduating from high school, while undergoing a medical examination for admission to an educational institution, a tumor formation in the anterior mediastinum was revealed by X-ray. There are no signs of myasthenia gravis. Pneumomediastinography: in the anterior mediastinum, a gas-enveloped formation of an oblong shape measuring 15 * 5 cm from all sides, with areas of enlightenment in the center; conclusion: a tumor of the thymus gland, possibly with areas of decay. Thymectomy was performed. Histologically: malignant thymoma of the retinulocellular type. Postoperative X-ray therapy was performed. Examined 4 years after the operation: no complaints, good condition, no signs of relapse.

Differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thymomas is often difficult. Malignant thymoma on radiological signs resembles lymphogranulomatosis and lymphosarcoma. In contrast to these formations, thymoma is located directly behind the sternum, usually oval-flattened or conical in shape. Any thymoma, whether it occurs with or without myasthenia gravis, must be removed. There are indications in the literature that each thymoma should be considered as a potentially malignant tumor (B.V. Petrovsky; Seybold et al., Et al.).

Thymus cysts are rare. Usually these are thin-walled formations of various sizes, located in the thickness of the gland, filled with a yellowish or brownish liquid. Due to the elasticity of these formations, there are no signs of compression of the surrounding organs. The clinical picture of cysts, if they proceed without myasthenia gravis, is poor. As a rule, they are discovered by chance, when preventive examination... All of our 4 patients (3 women and 1 man) were over 40 years old (41 years old - 48 years old). None of the patients had signs of myasthenia gravis, although combinations of a thymus cyst and myasthenia gravis have been described. All were operated on (thymectomy) with favorable results.

In 3 patients we operated on, a tumor anterior mediastinum histologically, it was a teratoma. Considering the close connection of the formation with the remnants of the thymus gland and the presence of the tissue of the thymus gland in the formation itself, we regarded the tumor as a thymus teratoma. In 2 patients, on the basis of signs (the appearance of sebaceous masses in the sputum, hair in one patient, as well as the detection of organoid inclusions on the roentgenogram in another), the diagnosis was made before the operation, in the third patient only during the operation. Of the 3 operated patients, 2 had to remove not only the teratoid formation, but also the lobe of the lung due to the involvement of the latter in the process (breakthrough of a suppurative teratoma in the upper lobe bronchus). High degree malignant transformation of teratoid formations, the possibility of suppuration and other complications convince of the need for early and radical surgical removal these neoplasms.

The question of the possibility of an isolated lesion of the thymus gland by lymphogranulomatosis is controversial. We observed 2 patients who were diagnosed with a tumor of the thymus gland before the operation. After the operation, during the histological examination of the preparations, the diagnosis was changed: an isolated lesion of the thymus gland with lymphogranulomatosis. Taking into account the indications of the possibility of an isolated lesion of the thymus gland in the early stages of the disease (S. A. Gadzhiev and V. V. Vasiliev), we attributed both these observations to the pathology of the thymus gland. After the operation, the patients are monitored for 5 years. There are no signs of relapse and generalization of the process.

The disease, which consists in a combination of the pathology of the thymus gland and hypoplastic anemia, which occurs as a result of selective damage to the bone marrow without changing the production of leukocytes and platelets, was first described by Katznelson in 1922. Later it was suggested that the thymus gland affects the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow, regulation of the composition of protein fractions, the state of the lymphoid system, etc. (Soutter et al.). Since then, some authors have published data on individual operations on the thymus gland for various blood diseases (A. N. Bakulev, 1958; Chaemers and Boheimer, and others). To date, we have performed 4 thymectomies in patients with hypoplastic anemia. It is too early to speak about the results of these operations, since a short time has passed after them. The immediate results are satisfactory in 3 patients.

conclusions

In the thymus, a number of pathological processes that require surgical treatment.
Operative treatment about myasthenia gravis is justified both in the presence of an X-ray and clinically detectable tumor, and only with hyperplasia of the thymus gland.
The operation is recommended to be performed as soon as possible after the diagnosis is made. Radiation treatment it is advisable to carry out after removal malignant tumor or if you produce radical surgery impossible.

LITERATURE.

1) Bakulev A.N., Kolesnikova R.S. Surgical treatment of tumors and cysts of the mediastinum. M., 1967.

2) Braitsev VR Congenital dysontogenetic formations of the mediastinum and lungs. M., 1960.

3) Gadzhiev S. A., Dogel L. V., Vanevsky V. L. Diagnostics and surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis. L., 1971.

4) Gadzhiev S. A., Vasiliev V. Med newspaper, 1973, No. 15.

5) Kuzin M. I. Wedge honey, 1969, No. 11, p. 6.

6) Kuzin M. I., Uspensky L. V., Volkov B. P. Vesti, chir., 1972, No. 7, p. 48.

7) Osipov B.K. Surgical diseases of the lungs and mediastinum. M., 1961.

8) Petrovsky B.V. Mediastinal surgery. M., 1960.

9) Andus W., Foot N., J. thorac. Surg., 1937, v. 6.p. 648.

10) Chaemers G., Boheimer K., Brit. med. J., 1954, v. 2, p. 1514.

11) Pope R., O s g o d R., Am. J. Path., 1953, v. 20, p. 85.

12) Seybo 1 d W., D o n a 1 d M. S., J. thorac. Surg. Clagett C. et al., 1950, v. 20, p. 195.

13) Soutter G., Sommers Sh. R e 1 m about n Ch. et al. Ann. Surg., 1957, v. 146, p. 426.

14) Viets H., Brit. med. J., 1950, v. 1, p. 139.

Text recovery, computer graphics - Sergey Vasilievich Stonogin.

Any copying of the material is prohibited without the written permission of the authors and editor.

Work is protected Federal law on the protection of copyright of the Russian Federation.

Why is the thymus gland needed?

V human body each organ is a separate “planet” with its own tasks, living conditions and “inhabitants”. Let's talk about the most mysterious organ of the human body - the thymus gland.

“If you want to safely hide something, put it in the most conspicuous place,” advised Sherlock Holmes, a big lover of detective stories. This is exactly what happened with the thymus gland. Little known, it is located in a central place - the upper part chest, right at the base of the sternum. Finding it is very simple: to do this, you need to attach two fingers folded together below the clavicular notch. This will be the approximate location of the thymus gland.

The thymus gland consists of the right and left unequal lobes, united by connective tissue. Each lobule of the thymus gland consists of the cortical and medullary layers, the basis of which is the reticular connective tissue... In the days of ancient medicine, it was believed that it was in this place that the soul was located, later it was called the "gland of childhood", "the gland of growth." The thymus gland got its name due to its characteristic shape, reminiscent of a trident fork. This is how a healthy gland looks like, and the damaged one most often takes the form of a butterfly or a sail.

The thymus gland has another name - thymus... Translated from Greek means "life force". A hundred years ago, doctors called it the thymus gland for its close proximity to thyroid gland and did not consider it a particularly important organ. In the 60s of the last century, scientists came to the conclusion that the thymus gland does not just produce hormones, but belongs to the organs of the immune system. Moreover, like the bone marrow, it is the central organ of the vertebrate immune system.

Long-term observations have shown that human life largely depends on this pink gland, especially the life of babies who have not yet turned 5 years old. Thymus is a "school" of accelerated learning of cells of the immune system - lymphocytes. Once in the thymus gland, newborn soldiers of the immune system become capable of fighting viruses, infections and autoimmune diseases... The thymus gland appears already at the 2nd month intrauterine development, almost simultaneously with the heart, and by the time of birth it has dimensions larger than everything endocrine glands together. The mass of the thymus gland undergoes age changes... In newborns, iron weighs from 7.7 to 13 grams, then there is an increase in mass. And the greatest weight, about 30 grams, has a thymus in children 6-15 years old. Then the thymus undergoes a reverse development and in adults it is almost completely replaced by adipose tissue; in people over 50, adipose tissue makes up 90% of the total mass of the thymus.

Why the thymus in some people grows old and resolves earlier, while in others later, it is difficult to say. But the later this happens, the better. And all because the thymus gland is able to slow down. biological clock organism, i.e. slow down aging. The thymus gland not only collects an army of lymphocytes, but also produces thymic hormones that activate the immune system, improve skin regeneration, and promote rapid cell regeneration.

So, the thymus is doing serious work to rejuvenate the entire body. Do not be afraid of the natural extinction of the thymus gland, this process does not pose any threat to human life. For the first 5 years active work the thymus manages to provide the body with such a supply of T-lymphocytes, which is quite enough for the rest of its life. Thymus gland by content ascorbic acid is in 2nd place after the adrenal glands. In addition, it contains a lot of vitamins B2, D and zinc. Thymus hormones are involved in the process of puberty - they inhibit puberty in childhood, enhance the growth of the body and retain calcium salts in the bones.

What does the thymus gland like? Like all organs of the immune system, the thymus loves protein, which is building material for antibodies and enhances the activity of its own cells. The thymus also loves thermal procedures- sauna, warming compress, rubbing with ointments based on essential oils or physical therapy. But immunologists do not advise to get involved in stimulating the thymus gland, because prolonged activity can lead to depletion of the organ, and this can cause the opposite effect. The thymus should be warmed up for 5-10 days, no more, preferably shortly before the period of colds or when the malaise is just beginning, but the temperature does not rise.

The thymus gland is an impressionable and very vulnerable lady and cannot stand stress at all. In a person who is often risky and nervous, the thymus gland wears out and ages faster. Sometimes problems with the functioning of the thymus can be caused by a deficiency of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Radioactive radiation, temperature drops, loud noise, anesthesia have a detrimental effect on the thymus. With age, the thymus gland first of all breaks down, and it performs both hormonal and immune roles.

Please note that each new stress causes the thymus to dry out. Subsequently, it is restored, but never returns to its original state. As the thymus gland involutions, the entire immune system weakens. Both the antibacterial and anticancer defenses of the body are weakened. Degradation of the thymus leads to hormonal disorders... First of all, the release of growth hormone into the blood is reduced.

In men, the decrease in thymus size is much more intense than in women. Bodybuilders use steroids to build muscle, but the higher the concentration, the more harmful they are to the thymus.

This is such a small, poorly studied, but very significant thymus gland.

The gland functions in close relationship with other endocrine glands, is involved in the regulation of growth and mineral metabolism in organism. Currently, the thymus gland is considered as the central organ of immunity. It is also in a functional relationship with the sex glands and adrenal cortex. An enlargement of the thymus gland is observed with an increase in the function of the thyroid gland.

Astrologically, iron, according to most astrologers, belongs to the zodiac sign Gemini, and its main functions are expressed by Mercury.

The unfavorable aspects of the planets in Gemini with Mercury give grounds for assuming a violation of metabolic processes in the thymus gland (deposition of large amounts of cholesterol in it), as well as inflammation of the thymus gland (aspects with Mars and Neptune).

It is very important for parents of a newborn child to pay attention to the health of his thymus gland - this is the foundation of immunity. It is believed that the thymus gland serves as a link between parent and child until the child reaches puberty. Sometimes a process is observed when, even after 50 years in a person, the thymus gland does not fade away, but even becomes active. This can be observed in people who are self-sufficient, happy, calm and positive-minded. I believe that this is possible when a person lives and is guided by what his heart tells him.

Thymus is responsible for our interaction with the world. The thymus gland connects the physical body with its heart chakra - the energy center. Dysfunction of this gland indicates blocked energy, stagnation in the heart.

"Immunity" means "protection", "shelter", thus, a problem with immunity suggests that a person does not love himself enough and is hiding behind everyday worries. A person's immunity will increase when he again begins to love himself with unconditional love - as all the universal Teachers taught us.

American shamans, for example, also relate the thymus gland to the fourth heart chakra:

Element: Air. Color: green. Bodily aspects: circulatory system, lungs, mammary glands, heart, asthma, immunodeficiency. Instinct: love. Psychological aspects: love, hope, dedication, empathy, intimacy. Glands:Sources: selfless love, forgiveness. Negative manifestations: inflated pride, resentment, selfishness, gloom, loneliness, abandonment, betrayal.

The heart chakra is located in the center of the chest - not above the heart itself, but in the heart plexus. This is the axis of the chakra system. The abdomen is the center of gravity of the material organism, and the heart is the center glowing body... The heart chakra regulates the functioning of the thymus gland, which is responsible for cellular immunity.

In Sanskrit, this chakra is called anahata which means "unbound". At the level of this chakra, success is no longer measured by material achievements. For a person leaning on the heart chakra, freedom, joy and lasting peace are much more important. In terms of age, the heart chakra corresponds to the period from twenty-one to twenty-eight years. This center helps us to create a family, to love our partners and children.

We experience love through the heart center. The meaning of this chakra is more often than others misunderstood, since her love is not attraction or romantic love. The heart chakra radiates love for all that is. This kind of love is not focused on any object; in its existence it does not depend on anything. This is not sentimentality, but impersonal love.

You need to stop falling in love and become love itself. To do this, it is enough to surrender to love, to turn it from feeling into deed and meditation. As you feel your heartbeat again, remember that it is the beating of love.

One of the negative manifestations of this chakra is inflated conceit. We have all come across people who insist that “the most important thing is love”, who speak about love in hackneyed words. But the most important thing for such people is to demonstrate their "enlightenment"; real charity and selfless love are of secondary importance to them.

Another negative manifestation of the love instinct is the inability to empathize with oneself. In the absence of self-love, we are immersed in self-criticism and shame.

Love is the strongest and most reliable immunity. If you live from the Heart and radiate Love, then health and youth are your companions. Cultivate Love in yourself, become Love in action, constantly feel the Rose in your chest of amazing beauty, fragrant with a wonderful aroma, and more often turn to your heart ... And there - only Love!

What else can we do for our physical and mental health?

Our youth directly depends on the full-fledged and well-coordinated work of the thymus gland, therefore the questions arise: “How can we influence the thymus in order to stop the process of its degeneration with age? How can you eliminate the consequences of exposure to the thymus of vaccinations and other negative factors influence? How to get the thymus to regenerate and replace fat cells thymus on the medulla? How to turn back time? "

According to the latest scientific research, which are contained in a number of theses and patents, the thymus is very sensitive to external influences electromagnetic in nature, has the ability to recover when exposed to a pulsed field of a low-frequency nature.

And thousands of years ago, the people of Tibet already knew about the connection between low frequencies and youth and health. Therefore, the exercise that drives away old age and restores youth in Tibetan gymnastics of internal organs is based on the creation of low-frequency oscillations in the region of the thymus, i.e. the upper part of the sternum.

And the replacement of fat cells is carried out by a method known to us - massage. So, finally we got to the exercise itself.

FORK TOKEN EXERCISE

We put our hands on the upper part of the sternum, and with love, tenderness and gratitude we turn to the thymus. Only after the thymus is saturated with love and gratitude, we recruit more air and with the sound "A" (Ae) we begin to show King Kong. Remember this episode when he beat himself in the chest, so try to repeat it. Come on, let's start beating yourself in the chest, proving to yourself and those around you that here it is the personification of youth, beauty, sexuality, health, intelligence, wit, resourcefulness, talent. Just don't beat so as to break your sternum. Gently, gently, then with fists, then only with your fingers, with a frequency of about 6 beats per second, while letting out the air with a sound. A pleasant vibration should be created within you. After you have convinced everyone of your exclusivity, stroke intensively upper part sternum. Give yourself a pleasant massage. Well, that's all, you can run and look at yourself in the mirror, how many years have you rejuvenated by doing this exercise. This is one of the exercises of Tibetan internal gymnastics.

Health to you forever!

Compiled by Irina Shibakova

The thymus (thymus gland) is located in the mediastinum and plays a key role in cellular immunity. It is formed from the 3rd and 4th branchial arches in close connection with the parathyroid glands. The thymus is relatively large in a newborn, weighs 10-25 g, continues to grow until puberty, and then undergoes gradual involution with the replacement of the parenchyma with fatty tissue. The thymus is pyramidal, surrounded by a capsule and consists of two lobes. The fibrous processes of the capsule divide each lobe into numerous lobules, each of which has an outer cortical layer surrounding the centrally located medulla. The main cells of the thymus are thymic epithelial cells and T-lymphocytes. Immediately under the capsule, epithelial cells are densely packed, but deeper in the cortex and medulla, they form a network containing lymphocytes. In the cortex, epithelial cells contain abundant cytoplasm and pale vesicular nuclei, poor in chromatin, with one small nucleolus; cytoplasmic protrusions are in contact with neighboring cells. In the medulla, epithelial cells, on the contrary, are poor in cytoplasm and lack processes; they have an oval or fusiform shape with oval dark-colored nuclei. The curls of these cells form Gassal's little bodies with a keratinized center.

Thymus - essential organ the immune system. Bone marrow stem cells migrate to the thymus and give rise to T cells here. At the periphery of the lobule is a layer of prothymocytic lymphoblasts, which give rise to more mature thymocytes (T cells) located in the cortex and medulla. Most of the thymocytes of the cortex are small compact lymphocytes containing the markers CDh CD2 and CDh as well as CD4 and C08. At the gates of the medulla there are fewer lymphocytes, but they are similar to those found in the peripheral circulation, and slightly larger than cortical lymphocytes; depending on the presence of surface markers, they can be divided into CD / (TA) and CD8 + (T &) - lymphocytes. In addition, macrophages can be found in the thymus, dendritic cells, single neutrophils and eosinophils, B-lymphocytes and myoid (muscle-like) cells. Myoid cells are of particular interest, since the development of myasthenia gravis is associated with the thymus, and musculoskeletal diseases are diseases of immune origin.

Morphological changes in the thymus are found in various systemic diseases - from immunological to hematological, as well as oncological. Diseases of the thymus are relatively rare and are divided into: 1) congenital; 2) hyperplasia of the thymus and 3) thymoma.

Congenital diseases. Congenital aplasia of the thymus (Di George syndrome; A. Di George). The syndrome develops when the formation of the 3rd and 4th branchial arches is disturbed in the embryonic period, characterized by following signs: 1) aplasia of the thymus, leading to a lack of differentiation of T cells and a deficiency of the cellular link of immunity; 2) congenital hypoparathyroidism caused by agenesis parathyroid glands; 3) heart defects and large vessels. Death can occur in early age from tetany; older children develop recurrent and persistent infections.

Thymus cysts. They are rare, usually discovered by chance during surgery or during postmortem examination. Cysts rarely reach 4 cm in diameter, can be spherical or branched, and are lined with stratified or prismatic epithelium. The liquid contents can be serous or mucous, with hemorrhages often occurring.

Hyperplasia of the thymus. The disease is accompanied by the appearance of lymphoid follicles (follicular thymic hyperplasia). The gland may not be enlarged. Lymphoid follicles do not differ from those found in lymph nodes, have embryonic centers and contain both dendritic reticular cells and B-lymphocytes, which are also found in small quantities in the normal thymus. Although follicular hyperplasia is noted as in chronic inflammation and immunological diseases, more often it is observed with myasthenia gravis (65-75% of cases). In this neuromuscular disease, autoantibodies to acetylcholine receptors disrupt the transmission of impulses through myoneural connections. Follicular hyperplasia involving B cells reflects their role in the formation of autoantibodies. Similar changes in the thymus are sometimes found in Graves' disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis as well as other autoimmune diseases.

T and m o m s. In the thymus, different tumors- from germ cells (germ cells), lymphomas, carcinoids. However, the term "thymomas" is used exclusively for tumors from thymic epithelial cells.

There are the following types of thymoma: 1) benign - cytologically and biologically benign; 2) malignant - type I - cytologically benign, but biologically aggressive and capable of local invasion and less often distant metastases, type II - the so-called thymic carcinoma - cytologically malignant with all the characteristics of cancer and comparable behavior.

All types of thymomas, benign and malignant, occur in adults (usually over 40) people, rarely in children. Men and women get sick equally often. Thymomas, as a rule, appear in the anterior or upper mediastinum, but sometimes in the neck, thyroid gland, hilum, and less often in the posterior mediastinum.

Macroscopically, thymomas are lobular, dense, gray-white formations. Sometimes there are areas of cystic necrosis and calcification, even in those tumors that later turn out to be biologically benign. Most tumors are encapsulated, however, in 20-25% of cases, there is a distinct penetration of the capsule and infiltration of the surrounding tissues with tumor cells. Microscopically, all thymomas are a mixture of epithelial cells and an infiltrate of non-neoplastic lymphocytes in approximately equal proportions.

In benign thymomas, epithelial cells resemble those in the medulla and are often elongated or spindle-shaped (medullary thymoma). Tumors containing significant numbers of medullary epithelial cells are almost all benign. An admixture of rounded epithelial cells of the cortical type is often detected. Some tumors are composed entirely of these cells. Thymomas of this type often contain few lymphocytes. Hassal's bodies are rare, and when they are, they resemble poorly formed complementary curls. Gassal's little bodies have no diagnostic value, since they represent the residual normal tissue of the thymus. Medullary and mixed variants account for about 50% of all thymomas.

Malignant type I thymoma - cytologically benign tumor, with local invasive growth and sometimes giving distant metastases. These tumors account for 20-25% of all thymomas. The ratio of epithelial cells and lymphocytes can be different. Epithelial cells are mainly of the cortical type with abundant cytoplasm and rounded vesicular nuclei. Sometimes these cells form a palisade along the vessels. Fusiform cells are also found. There are no signs of malignancy in the cytoarchitectonics of the tumor, which, however, is evidenced by the invasive nature of its growth and the younger age of the patients. The prognosis of these tumors is determined by the penetration of the capsule and the degree of invasion into the surrounding structures. If the invasion is insignificant, which allows completely removing the tumor, then 90% of patients survive the 5-year period. Massive invasion is often accompanied by metastasis, then less than 50% of patients survive the 5-year period.

Malignant type II thymoma is also called thymic carcinoma. It makes up about 5% of all timomas. Unlike type I, type II malignant thymoma has cytological signs of malignancy. The most common histological variant of a tumor is squamous cell carcinoma... Another common type of malignant thymoma is lymphoepithelioma, which consists of anaplastic cortical epithelial cells located among a large number lymphocytes of a benign type. Some of these tumors contain the genome Epstein-Barr virus... Other types of carcinomas of the thymus include sarcomatoid variants, basalioid carcinoma, and clear cell carcinoma.

Thymomas can be asymptomatic, sometimes they are discovered accidentally during operations on the heart and blood vessels. Among clinically significant thymomas, 40% of tumors are detected during X-ray examination or in connection with the onset of symptoms of pressure on the surrounding tissues, and 50% due to their connection with myasthenia gravis. About 10% of thymomas are associated with so-called systemic paraneoplastic syndromes such as Graves' disease, pernicious anemia, dermatomyositis-polymyositis, and Cushing's syndrome.

The defeat of the thymus in patients after 20 years of age is caused by pathological proliferation of its tissue (hyperplasia). Normally, in adults, there is a gradual decrease in the organ. If this does not happen, then the thymus gland changes its structure. Its lobules increase, centers consisting of germ-type cells are found, in the future their growth is possible with the formation of a tumor - thymoma.

About what diseases are found in adults, their symptoms, read further in our article.

Read in this article

Major diseases of the thymus gland in adults

Thymus hyperplasia accompanies autoimmune diseases... They are characterized by the formation of antibodies against their cells. Most serious condition in case of dysfunction of the thymus gland is progressive muscle weakness - malignant autoimmune myasthenia gravis. This syndrome is also found in tumor processes.

A thymus cyst is rarely found, as it most often does not give symptoms. Mostly an accidental finding on X-ray or tomographic examination of the chest. Since such a formation is often soft, then even with a large size, there is no pressure on adjacent tissues.

Symptoms of the disease in women and men

All manifestations of thymus diseases in adult patients can be divided into three groups - compression (compression) of the mediastinal organs, myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness) and tumor intoxication.

Compression

The thymus gland is located behind the sternum between pleural cavities in which the lungs are located. In the immediate vicinity of it, there are such structures:

trachea;
esophagus;
large vessels (aorta, vena cava, pulmonary artery);
pericardium;
nerve fibers.

If the size of the thymus increases due to the development of a tumor or tissue proliferation, then it compresses the organs.

It causes:

difficulty breathing, swallowing;
swelling of the face and upper half of the chest, arms;
bluish skin tone;
cough, attacks of suffocation;
overflow of veins in the neck;
hoarseness of voice;
chest pain.

Thymus tumor

It is characteristic that in the supine position the symptomatology increases, and when half-sitting it decreases. With a severe degree of compression, wheezing breathing occurs, bleeding from the veins of the esophagus, lungs, and nose. Stagnation venous blood in the cranial cavity leads to headache, drowsiness.

Myasthenia gravis

Most often, drooping of the eyelid and double vision first appear. They may be less in the morning, and increase by the end of the day. Then the patient's muscles of the extremities weaken - it is difficult to get up from the chair, walk up the steps, raise his hands. Typical feature myasthenia gravis - fatigue appears in all muscle groups. For example, if the patient is asked to sit down 10 times, the upper eyelid drops.

Myasthenia gravis

When talking and chewing solid food, patients quickly get tired, their voice becomes similar to the diction of a person with a pinched nose. If the muscles of the pharynx are damaged, the liquid does not pass into the esophagus, but enters the nose, Airways accompanied by choking. Therefore, patients often try to eat after the administration of Proserin, taking Kalimin tablets.

Tumor intoxication

Occurs only with malignant. The decay products of the tumor enter the bloodstream, which is accompanied by:

nausea;
decreased appetite, aversion to meat;
urge to vomit;
an increase in body temperature;
an increase in weakness;
decreased ability to normal physical activity.

The skin becomes pale with a yellowish, bluish or earthy tinge. At night it is celebrated excessive sweating... Bone and joint pains are troubling. The emotional background is changing: there are depression, difficulty falling asleep, frequent night awakenings, mood swings. Often they are joined by persistent or paroxysmal headaches and dizziness.

Symptoms of diseases of the thymus gland in children

You can suspect a thymus malfunction in a child by the following signs:

Most often, these signs persist until school age, then the thymus gland at proper nutrition and the lifestyle is bouncing back.

The thymus gland in adults can be enlarged due to tissue overgrowth or tumor. There is a compression of neighboring organs of the mediastinum, progressive muscle weakness. At cancerous tumor intoxication joins them. In children, organ dysfunction is noted, which affects development, immunity, the endocrine system, the work of the heart, and respiratory organs. Children are prone to infections and allergic reactions.

Useful video

Watch the video about what the thymus gland is for: