Etiology of invasive candidosis agents in Russia: a multicenter epidemiological survey.

A multicenter prospective epidemiological survey on the etiologic agents of invasive candidosis was conducted in Russia in the period of 2012-2014. Samples were collected from 284 patients with invasive candidosis and Candida species isolated by culture. The species were identified by DNA sequencing and MALDI-TOF massspectrometry. A total of 322 isolates were recovered, in which 96% of Сandida species belonged to six major species, namely, C. albicans (43.2%), C. parapsilosis (20.2%), C. glabrata (11.5%), C. tropicalis (9.6%), C. krusei (6.2%), and C. guilliermondii (5.3%). Most Candida species were isolated from blood samples (83.23%). Notably, the prevalence rate of C. albicans reduced from 52.38% to 32.79% (2012 vs. 2014) (P = 0.01) whereas that of non-C. albicans increased from 47.62% (2012) to 67.21% (2014) (P < 0.01). Species distribution differed among geographical regions; specifically, the prevalence rate of C. albicans as an etiologic agent of invasive candidosis in Siberian Federal region was significantly higher than that in other Federal regions. Results indicated a shift from C. albicans to non-C. albicans. Therefore, a detailed investigation on the contributing factors and appropriate treatment of invasive candidosis is needed.

[Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in patients with asthma: Results of a prospective study]. / Allergicheskii bronkholegochnyi aspergillez u bol'nykh bronkhial'noi astmoi: rezul'taty prospektivnogo issledovaniia.

AIM: To estimate the frequency of fungal sensitization and the incidence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in asthmatic patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 140 asthmatic patients were examined. They underwent allergologic (skin tests for fungal allergens, estimation of total and fungal allergen-specific IgE levels) and mycological (microscopy and inoculation of respiratory biosubstrates) examinations. Chest computed tomography, when indicated, was done. A group of patients with ABPA and that of patients with severe asthma and fungal sensitization were identified. RESULTS: The frequency of fungal sensitization in asthmatic patients was 36%; the main allergenic fungi were Aspergillus and Alternaria. The incidence of ABPA was as high as 4% in the patients with asthma and 11% in those with severe asthma and fungal sensitization. CONCLUSION: The given current diagnostic criteria will assist practitioners to identify ABPA, to prevent its progression, and to initiate specific anti-inflammatory and antifungal therapy in due time.

Serious fungal diseases in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

We have undertaken the first and preliminary estimation of severe and chronic mycotic diseases in the Republic of Uzbekistan, using a model proposed by LIFE (Leading International Fungal Education). Calculation was carried out based on data from 2014. Published results describing mycoses in Uzbekistan were identified. In the absence of published or official data, information about the frequency of mycoses from scientific literature elsewhere in groups at risk of development of fungal infections were taken into account. We also utilized methodology used in analogous estimations of mycoses in the Russian Federation. We estimate that of the 30.8 million population, 536,978 people (1.8% of the population) were affected by severe and chronic mycotic diseases. In 2014, there were 12,351 cases of acute invasive fungal diseases and 524,627 cases of chronic fungal diseases, including 1,941 cases of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. The most frequent problems were recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (513,600 cases), trichophytosis of the scalp (6,414), and relapsed oral candidiasis (4,950). Results of the investigation indicate a significant prevalence of mycoses in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

[Successful treatment for cryptococcal meningoencephalitis complicated by cerebral salt-wasting syndrome in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A clinical case].

Cryptococcus neoformans is a common agent of fungal meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised patients. Cerebral salt-wasting syndrome is one of the rare causes of severe hyponatremia in patients with CNS diseases. The paper describes the first clinical case of a patient, whose onset of chronic lymphocytic leukemia was complicated by cryptococcal meningoencephalitis presenting with mental disorders and severe electrolytic imbalance. Antifungal treatment with amphotericin B and fluconazole could alleviate an infectious process and metabolic disturbances.

[Invasive mucormycosis in patients with hemoblastosis in St.-Petersburg].

Thirty four patients with mucormycosis in 10 hospitals of St. Petersburg were observed in 2004-2013. The most frequent underlying diseases of mucormycosis were acute leukoses (64%). In 100% of the patients mucormycosis developed as a nosocomial infection. The risk factors, etiology, basic clinical signs and strategy in the treatment of mucormycosis were analyzed.

[Invasive mycoses during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

AIM: To define the frequency, etiology, and risk factors of invasive mycoses (IM) in patients with allogeneic (allo) and autologous (auto) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and to evaluate the impact of IM on overall survival (OS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on 356 patients after allo-HSCT (n = 237) and auto-HSCT (n = 119) from 2000 to 2010 were analyzed. The diagnosis of IM was established according to the EORTC/MSG 2008 criteria. RESULTS: The incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) was 19.1%; that was 23.2 and 10.9% in allo-HSCT and auto-HSCT recipients, respectively. The incidence of MI following allo-HSCT was significantly higher than that after auto-HSCT. Aspergillus spp. (82.3%), Candida spp. (11.8%), zygomycetes (Mucor spp., Rhizopus spp.) (4.4%), and Cryptococcus neoformans (1.5%) are involved in the etiology of MI. Its risk factors are acute lymphoblastic leukemia; non-myeloablative conditioning regimen; use of fludarabine and antilymphocyte globulin; peripheral blood stem cells as a source for grafting; long-term lymphopenia, neutropenia; use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF); acute graft-versus-host reaction; grade 3-4 mucositis; infections, such as cytomegalovirus, sepsis. The development of MI in HSCT recipients did not significantly reduce one-year OS after allo-HSCT and auto-HSCT--53.6 and 55% and 86.7 and 90.3% (with and without MI, respectively). In patients with invasive aspergillosis, OS (12 weeks after IM being diagnosed) was significantly longer in those with other invasive mycoses (91.3 and 50%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The incidence of MI after allo-HSCT was higher than that after auto-HSCT. MI induced by the fungal genus Aspergillus spp. was most common. Along with known risk factors, there was a poor prognostic factor, such as G-CSF. The development of MI failed to affect one-year OS, which was indicative of the adequate quality of its early diagnosis and therapy. The prognosis was poor in patients with invasive candidiasis, zygomycosis, and cryptococcosis. Investigations need to be continued to specify the reasons for high morbidity rates and the factors provoking discussion by investigators worldwide.

Results from the ARTEMIS DISK Global Antifungal Surveillance Study, 1997 to 2007: 10.5-year analysis of susceptibilities of noncandidal yeast species to fluconazole and voriconazole determined by CLSI standardized disk diffusion testing.

Fluconazole in vitro susceptibility test results determined by the CLSI M44-A disk diffusion method for 11,240 isolates of noncandidal yeasts were collected from 134 study sites in 40 countries from June 1997 through December 2007. Data were collected for 8,717 yeast isolates tested with voriconazole from 2001 through 2007. A total of 22 different species/organism groups were isolated, of which Cryptococcus neoformans was the most common (31.2% of all isolates). Overall, Cryptococcus (32.9%), Saccharomyces (11.7%), Trichosporon (10.6%), and Rhodotorula (4.1%) were the most commonly identified genera. The overall percentages of isolates in each category (susceptible, susceptible dose dependent, and resistant) were 78.0%, 9.5%, and 12.5% and 92.7%, 2.3%, and 5.0% for fluconazole and voriconazole, respectively. Less than 30% of fluconazole-resistant isolates of Cryptococcus spp., Cryptococcus albidus, Cryptococcus laurentii, Trichosporon beigelii/Trichosporon cutaneum, Rhodotorula spp., Rhodotorula rubra/Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and Rhodotorula glutinis remained susceptible to voriconazole. Emerging resistance to fluconazole was documented among isolates of C. neoformans from the Asia-Pacific, Africa/Middle East, and Latin American regions but not among isolates from Europe or North America. This survey documents the continuing broad spectrum of activity of voriconazole against opportunistic yeast pathogens but identifies several of the less common species with decreased azole susceptibility. These organisms may pose a future threat to optimal antifungal therapy and emphasize the importance of prompt and accurate species identification.

[The first successful bilateral lung transplantation in Russia].

Lung transplantation is one of the most difficult fields of contemporary transplantology. The operation was performed on a 53-year-old female who had been suffering from terminal stage COPD. The period of cold ischemia for the right and left lung was 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 hours 25 minutes respectively. The total operation time was 4 hours and 40 minutes. There were no surgical complications. There were no signs of transplant rejection 6 weeks after the operation. The considerable decrease in dispnea and increase in quality of life were registered during the follow-up. FEV1 was increased by 80% and 6 minute walk test distance was increased by 200 meters.

[The empirical antibiotic therapy of patients with acute leukemias: the results of a multicenter study]. / Empiricheskaia antibioticheskaia terapiia u bol'nykh ostrymy leikozami: itogi mnogotsentrovogo issledovaniia.

AIM: To evaluate efficacy of ampicilline/sulbactame and fluconasole in the regimen of empirical antibiotic therapy in patients with acute leukemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The trial covered 14 hematological departments of Russia and 1 of Ukraine. Acute myeloid leukemia patients were included. 92 cases of fever in 56 patients with analysis of efficacy in 66 cases were considered. At the first stage of empirical antibiotic therapy, cefoperason (4 g/day) and gentamycin (240 mg/day) were administered. If no response was reached, ampicilline/sulbactam (7.5 g/day) was added. This was the second stage. If no response occurred for 5 days the three drugs were joined by fluconasol (400 mg followed by 200 mg). RESULTS: Fever of unclear genesis was cured in 82% (28 of 34), clinical infection--in 80% (20 of 25), microbiologically confirmed infection--in 4 of 7 cases. A complete response to the empirical antibiotic therapy was registered in 52 of 66 cases (79%). 7(10.5%) patients died of infectious complications. 7(10.5%) received other antibiotics.

[Method of diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus infection]. / Metod diagnostiki infektsii virusom Epshtein-Barr.

An original methodological approach to the diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is proposed, consisting in the detection of viral DNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes using in situ DNA hybridization. EBV DNA was found in 6 (50%) patients with lymphomas and in 1 (33%) with infective endocarditis out of 26 examined recipients of blood components. No EBV DNA was found in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 14 regular donors. Normalization of the immune status of a patient and use of blood components containing no EBV is the key factor in the prevention of EBV infection. Biohit test system for in situ hybridization of EBV DNA may be used for diagnostic monitoring of EBV infection and screening of blood and tissue donors.

[Parameters of carbohydrate metabolism in patients before and after removal of insulinoma]. / Nekotorye pokazateli uglevodnogo obmena u bol'nykh do i posle udaleniia insulinomy.

Measurements of the daily fluctuations in the sugar blood levels, fasting test, the double glucose tolerance test, and measurements of the blood insulin and C peptide levels were carried out in 13 patients with organic hyperinsulinism prior to insulinoma removal and in the immediate and late periods after it. The double glucose tolerance test was for the first time used to study carbohydrate metabolism in patients with organic hyperinsulinism. The curve of this test in insulinoma patients was found to resemble that in health though with lower levels and a more abrupt lowering of its end section. This feature may be used to define the origin of hyperinsulinism. No correlation between the blood glucose, insulin, and C peptide levels was detectable before surgery in this patient population. After surgery the imbalance in these three parameters relationships is eliminated. Carbohydrate metabolism parameters normalized after the operation; the lowest blood sugar level was increased twofold in the fasting test. Transitory hyperglycemia persisted for two weeks after elimination of hyperinsulinism. Daily fluctuations in the blood sugar levels normalize during the third week after surgery.

[Secondary pneumonia in subjects with acute leukemia]. / Vtorichnaia pnevmoniia u lits, bol'nykh ostrym leikozom.

UNLABELLED: Of 105 patients with acute leukoses secondary pneumonias were found in 47.6%. A dependence was found of the frequency of pneumonia on the severity of initial hyperleukocytosis and duration of post-cytostatic agranulocytosis. The efficiency of routine criteria of diagnosis was 66% and increased significantly in microbiological and cytological investigation of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. TREATMENT: combined antibacterial therapy, antifungal, desintoxicating agents; in severe cases--endobronchial administration of monogroup leucocytic mass.

[Use of computed tomography in the examination of patients with endocrine ophthalmopathy]. / Primenenie kompiuternoi tomografii pri obsledovanii bol'nykh éndokrinnoi oftal'mopatiei.

Combined investigation of 29 patients with Basedow's disease, 5 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, and 4 patients with mixed toxic goiter was carried out including computerized tomography (CT) of the orbits. The investigation of 10 patients was repeated 6 months after the first one. Signs of endocrine ophthalmopathy were detected in 28 patients with Basedow's disease and in 2 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. Characteristic CT signs of retrobulbar tissue changes in endocrine ophthalmopathy were defined. The use of CT of the orbits was shown to improve early diagnosis of endocrine ophthalmopathies, to assess the time course of the disease and therapeutic efficacy. The authors proposed 3 variants of endocrine ophthalmopathy with regard to the involvement of the oculomotor muscles or retrobulbar fat tissue, revealed by CT.

[Immunohematologic changes in pituitary adenomas]. / Immunogematologicheskie izmeneniia pri adenomakh gipofiza.

The authors conducted studies of colony-producing capacity of precursor cells of bone marrow granulomonopoiesis and cytogenetic study of blood T lymphocytes in 13 patients with adenoma of the hypophysis. It was established that adenomas of the hypophysis are attended by the development of functional deficiency of T lymphocytes and the resultant disturbance of T cell regulation of granulomonopoiesis. The disorder of granulomonopoiesis occurs at the level of the precursor cells in the bone marrow.