[Follicular cell (papillary and follicular) thyroid carcinoma, genetic inheritance, and molecular diagnostic markers].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the genetic forms of follicular cell thyroid carcinoma (FCTC) (papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma (PTC and FTC)), to identify criteria to individually predict the development of the same disease for relatives, and to assess the role of molecular markers in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of this disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and ninety adult patients aged 20 to 84 years with histologically verified PTC and FTC and 20 children (12 patients with PTC and 8 with benign thyroid tumors) aged 2 to 16 years were examined. To assess the role of the BRAF gene as a molecular marker for thyroid carcinoma, DNA was isolated from the thyroid tumor tissue of 29 patients, which had been obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and scraping and swabbing the cytological specimen previously showing an area containing tumor cells. A BRAF c.1799T>A (p.V600E) mutation in the FNAB specimens was tested by allele-specific ligation, followed by PCR amplification. RESULTS: The examinees' families were found to have a segregation of benign thyroid tumor and nontumor diseases (13.6%). Neoplasias of different sites were observed in 15% of the patients' relatives. Multiple primary tumors were detected in 6.1% of the patients and in 25% of the examined children (3/12). PTC was ascertained to accumulate as two clinical forms in the families. One form belongs to familial PTC (FPTC) in which two or three generations of relatives in the family are afflicted by only PTC and have a more severe phenotype of the disease. The other includes an association of FPTC with papillary kidney cancer. Furthermore, FPTC and PTC may be a component of multitumor syndromes, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, Cowden syndrome, and familial adenomatous polyposis. The familial hereditary forms of FCTC were generally revealed in 4.2% of the patients. BRAF v600E mutations were found in only 3 patients with Stages II and III PTC and were not in all the 12 children with PTC. CONCLUSION: The found clinical manifestation of the hereditary forms of FCTC permits the identification of people at high risk for this disease. No correlation between somatic BRAF mutations with a less favorable course in PTC can be noticed because there are few observations. Analysis of published data on the role of molecular markers in FCTC has shown that the existing specific somatic changes complement information in the differential cytological diagnosis when examining FNAB specimens.

[The state of the regenerative activity of the tympanic membrane tissues and the results of myringoplasty at different time points of remission of experimental otitis media].

The objective of the present study was to estimate the regenerative potential of the tympanic membrane tissues in the early period of remission after experimental otitis media and evaluate the results of myringoplasty. The experiments were carried out using 23 outbred dogs exhibiting no signs of "spontaneous otitis". Experimental otitis media was induced in 20 animals using a Staphylococcus aureus strain as the pathogenic organism. The treatment of the experimental animals was started two weeks after the development of otitis and continued up to obtaining the "dry ear" condition. The animals were allocated to 4 groups depending on the time of myringoplasty. In the animals of group 1 myringoplasty was performed one week after remission, those of groups 2, 3, and 4 underwent myringoplasty two, three, and four weeks after the onset of remission respectively. The results of the study indicate that the first two weeks after the inflammatory process in the middle ear subsided are the optimal time for myringoplasty because the proliferative activity during this period amounts to its maximum which promotes the survival of the transplant and the closure of tympanic defects.

[Dynamic changes in the microbial contamination of the exudate and the mucous membrane from the tympanic cavity in the course of experimental staphylococcal otitis media].

The objective of the present study was to determine the relationships between characteristics of the microbial contamination of the pyogenic exudate and the mucous membrane from the tympanic cavity in the course of experimental suppurative otitis media caused by staphylococcal infection. The experiments were carried out on 29 rabbits showing no signs of "spontaneous" otitis. Experimental staphylococcal suppurative otitis was induced in 26 of these animals. The degree of microbial contamination of the mucous membrane from the tympanic cavity was expressed either in colony-forming units per swab (CFU/swab) or as the number of microbial cells per 1 mg of the tissue. It was shown that microbial contamination of the exudate and the mucous membrane from the tympanic cavity depended on the extent of the inflammatory process in the middle ear in the course of experimental staphylococcal otitis. The highest degree of contamination fell on the acute phase of middle ear inflammation. Staphylococci disappeared from the mucous membrane sooner than from the exudate. This difference can be attributed to the different activity of the tssue immunity factors.

[Yhe pre-analytic stage in studies of surveillance of HIV strains resistant to anti-retrovirus preparations in the Privolzhskiy Federal Okrug].

The article presents analysis of activities concerning organization of pre-analytic stage of monitoring of HIV resistance to anti- retrovirus preparations on territories of the Privolzhskiy Federal Okrug. The medical records of patients receiving anti-retrovirus therapy and appointment cards to detect drug resistance of HIV from territorial centers of prevention and control of AIDS and infectious diseases are analyzed. The results of testing of specialists of service of prevention of AIDS/HIV with questionnaire "Characteristics of pre-analytical stage under implementation of molecular genetic and immunologic analyses" developed in the Privolzhskiy okrug center of prevention and control ofAIDS and samples of bio-tests obtained during coming-outs in regions of okrug were included into analysis too. The failures in implementation of pre-analytical stage were established. Hence, the subsequent decreasing of informativeness of analyses or inexpediency or even impossibility of application of testing of AIDS drug resistance. The recommendations are proposed concerning main directions of work to enhance pre-analytical stage of analysis of AIDS resistance to anti-retrovirus preparations.

[Detecting the markers of HIV infection with the new enzyme immunoassay diagnostic kit "DS-EIA-HIV-AB-AG-SPECTRUM" at the laboratories of AIDS prevention and control centers in the Volga Federal District].

A possibility of simultaneously detecting specific antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2 by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) at lower concentrations than those by immunoblotting (IB), and well as an additional possibility of earlier diagnosis of HIV infection, by identifying the HIV-1 antigen p24 lay the foundation of the "DS-EIA-HIV-AB-AG-SPECTRUM" test system made by OOO "Research-and-Production Association "Diagnosticheskiye Sistemy" (Diagnostic Systems). These peculiarities were compared with those of IB at a number of laboratories of AIDS prevention and control centers in the Volga Federal District, by using native serum/plasma samples and a specially designed control panel. The analysis of the conducted studies to identify HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies and HIV-1 antigen p24 in 65 plasma/serum samples in the "DS-EIA-HIV-AB-AG-SPECTRUM" and "LIA-HIV-1/2" (OOO "Niarmedik plus") test systems while confirming the positive result indicated agreement in 57 (87.7%) cases. The diagnostic possibilities of the "DS-EIA-HIV-AB-AG-SPECTRUM" test system versus the "New Lav-Blot I" one to make a laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection were studied. Irrefragable answers as to the availability of HIV-1 markers in the study serum samples on the enciphered panel were provided by IB in 73.3% of cases and EIA in 92%.

[Development of a regional external quality assessment program of the diagnosis of syphilis in the Volga Federal District].

In 2004, the authors first developed and implemented a regional external quality assessment program (REQAP) for the diagnosis of syphilis in the Volga Federal District (VFD). Its objective is to improve the quality of studies in the clinical laboratories of AIDS prevention and control centers (AIDS PCC) using a cardiolipin antigen precipitation microtest and/or enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the diagnosis of syphilis and to compare the reproducibility of results at the laboratories. The program includes a theoretical stage--the issues concerning different aspects of the diagnosis of syphilis and the variants of replies to them; a practical stage--to solve enciphered problems, to draw up protocols; and a final stage--to sum up the results of two former stages and to organize a seminar. Twenty laboratories (16 laboratories of VFD AIDS centers and 4 laboratories of other therapeutic-and-prophylactic institutions) implemented REQAP for the diagnosis of syphilis. This resulted in the creation of a normative base regulating the techniques of diagnostic studies and appropriate test systems; revealed the sources of errors in the interpretation of the results obtained by the Lewis test; showed the correct interpretation of the results of EIA; indicated shortcoming when working with guide materials. Intralaboratory monitoring could reveal the incomplete realization of the stated sensitivity of test systems in considerable numbers of laboratories of the district, and well as no skills in statistical data processing. It is concluded that the normative base of diagnostic studies should be additionally worked over, that the laboratories should obligatorily participate in the Federal external quality assessment system, and that intralaboratory monitoring should be done. Most participants of REQAP for the diagnosis of syphilis are ready to use a precipitation microtest and EIA.

[Clinical and immunological manifestations of tuberculosis concurrent with HIV infection in the Kemerovo Region].

The clinical and immunological features of the course of pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) were studied in 418 patients with HIV infection. PT developed in the presence of HIV infection in 212 patients (Group 1), active PT was detected before HIV infection in 72 (Group 2), TB and HIV infection were concurrently diagnosed in 134 patients (Group 3). In the region, most patients with TB and HIV infection were found to have a moderately suppressed immune response. There was a high proportion of patients with disseminated TB in Groups 1 and 3 and those with chronic TB in Groups 2. In Groups 2 and 3, fibrocavernous PT was registered several times more frequently.

[Soluble HLA class I and HLA class II antigens in the blood of HIV infected patients]. / Uroven' rastvorimykh antigenov HLA I i II klassov v syvorotke krovi VICH-infitsirovannykh lits.

The levels of HLA, class I, antigen and HLA-DR antigen in the blood sera of HIV-infected persons were determined by the enzyme immunoassay. The levels of soluble antigens HLR-DR and of HLA, class I, in serum samples containing only antibodies to HIV were elevated, respectively, 1.8- and 1.3-fold in comparison with the norm. The level of soluble HLA-DR antigen in samples containing the markers of other infections (HBsAg, antibodies to hepatitis C virus, anti-IgM antibodies to cytomegalovirus) was significantly higher in comparison with samples containing only antibodies to HIV and serum samples from healthy donors (p < 0.05). The concentration of soluble HLA antigen, class I, in the samples containing antibodies to HIV and markers of other infections was also elevated, but the statistically authentic increase in comparison with the normal level was observed only in the presence of the markers of HIV infection, hepatitis C and cytomegalovirus infection.

[Prevalence of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis in the adult population of St. Petersburg]. / Rasprostranennost' bronkhial'noi asatmy i allergicheskogo rinita sredi vzroslogo naseleniia Sankt-Peterburga.

AIM: To evaluate prevalence of bronchial asthma (BA) and allergic rhinitis (AR) among adult population of St-Petersburg. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Responders to ECRHS and B. Sibbald & E. Rink questionnaires who gave at least one positive answer were examined clinically, functionally and allergologically. A total of 3634 responders aged 16 to 98 years participated in the study. RESULTS: By the answers of the responders prevalence of BA was 7.2%, of AR--9.9%. Such figures were much higher than official statistics. Atopic BA was most frequent among other types--64%. CONCLUSION: It became evident that BA and AR in many cases are diagnosed late or are not recognized at all. This leads to growing number of patients with moderate and severe course of these diseases and deteriorates effectiveness of BA and AR treatment.

[Effectiveness of detection of bronchial asthma with two international questionnaires]. / Effektivnost' vyiavleniia bronkhial'noi astmy pri ispol'zovanii dvukh mezhdunarodnykh oprosnikov.

AIM: Assessment of two questionnaires (ECRHS and IUATLD) for efficiency in bronchial asthma (BA) detection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 196 patients aged 16-59 years seeking advice of a doctor for pulmonary or extrapulmonary complaints. All of them have not been previously examined for BA. At first stage of the study the patients filled in ECRHS and IUATLD questionnaires. At the second stage patients who had answered positively as least one question of the above questionnaires underwent clinical, functional and allergological examinations. RESULTS: BA was more frequently detected in patients with chronic bronchopulmonary and allergic diseases. New cases with mild disease predominated. CONCLUSION: Both questionnaires were effective for BA diagnosis but ECRHS showed a number of advantages which make it preferable for epidemiological surveys.

[A comparative study of the level of knowledge of schoolchildren about HIV infection and AIDS]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie urovnia informirovannosti shkol'nikov o VICh-infektsii i SPIDe.

The comparative study of the level knowledge on HIV infection and AIDS among school children was carried out. The prophylactic work among school children yielded positive results, which was statistically confirmed by the analysis of answers to questionnaires, distributed before and after lectures.

[An O-antigen study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from serological group O11]. / Izuchenie O-antigenov Pseudomonas aeruginosa serologicheskoi gruppy O11.

In the study of P. aeruginosa cultures, serogroup O11, strains agglutinated simultaneously by factor sera 11b and 11c have been detected. In experiments on cross agglutination and agglutinin adsorption the antigenic structure of these strains, viz. 11a, 11b and 11c, has been determined.

[Sensitivity to virulent bacteriophages of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains of different serogroups]. / Chuvstvitel'nost' k virulentnym bakteriofagam shtammov Pseudomonas aeruginosa razlichnykh serogrupp.

The data on the sensitivity of P. aeruginosa clinical strains to pyocyaneum, a therapeutic and prophylactic bacteriophage preparation, and to individual groups of phages contained in this preparation are presented. Out of 549 P. aeruginosa strains, 16% have proved to be nonlysing cultures. The proportion of phage-sensitive strains prevailed in serogroups 01, 03, 06, 09, while phage-resistant strains prevailed in serogroups 04, 07, 011, as well as among O-nontyped cultures. The expediency of introducing P. aeruginosa strains of different serotypes into the collection of cultures used for the production of pyocyaneum has been shown.

[Prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa O serogroups]. / Rasprostranennost' O-serogrupp Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The serological typing of 708 P. aeruginosa strains made it possible to determine serogroups in 97.9% of cultures. Serogroups O2 and O6 were the most prevalent (33.8% and 2.5% respectively); serotypes O1, O3 and O11 also occurred rather frequently (about 10%); O4, O7 and O9 were rare (3-8%), serotypes O10 and O12, very rare (less than 1%). The prevalence of P. aeruginosa strains O2 and O6 among the clinical strains was shown over a period of 10 years, serogroup O2 always playing the leading role. In serogroups, the predominance of strains with a definite combination of partial antigen was established; strains with the antigenic structure not described in the International Scheme of the Structure of O-Antigens were detected.

[Distribution of phage-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains]. / Raspredelenie fagoustoichivykh shtammov Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The sensitivity of a number of P. aeruginosa clinical strains to virulent bacteriophages has been studied. Phage-resistant strains have been found to constitute a considerable proportion among the tested P. aeruginosa strains. The strains under study fall into 19 groups differing in their sensitivity to the bacteriophages used in this investigation. The strains belonging to some groups are phenotypically identical to experimentally obtained P. aeruginosa phage-resistant mutants PAO. The use of bacteriophage mutants has made it possible to demonstrate that in most cases the resistance of P. aeruginosa natural strains to type phi k phages is due to disturbances in their adsorption, whereas their resistance to type phi m and phi mn phages is, seemingly, not linked with disturbances in their capacity for adsorption on the cell membranes of the bacteria.