Detection and Characteristics of Rifampicin-Resistant Isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Genotyping and analysis the drug resistance of 59 isolates of M. tuberculosis obtained from patients living in Altai Territory were performed using a BACTEC MGIT 960 fluorometric system by means of VNTR typing (variable number tandem repeat), PCR-RFLP analysis, and sequence analysis. The occurrence frequency was highest for isolates of the Beijing family (n=30, 50.8%). Analysis of mutation spectrum in the rpoB gene associated with rifampicin resistance revealed the major mutation (codon 531 of the rpoB gene) in 93% samples, which allows us to use rapid test systems.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Clinical Isolate, Mycobacterium abscessus Strain NOV0213.

Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapid-growing species of nontuberculous mycobacteria that is frequently associated with opportunistic infections in humans. We determined the complete genome sequence of the M. abscessus strain NOV0213, which was isolated from a patient with tuberculosis-like disease and with various antibiotic resistances.

[Interferon alpha-2b in the complex therapy of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis concurrent with bronchoobstructive syndrome].

Interferon alpha-2b was tested for its effect on therapeutic effectiveness in pulmonary tuberculosis patients with bronchoobstructive syndrome and signs of secondary immunodeficiency. The patients were randomized to 2 groups. The study group (n=35) received rectal interferon alpha-2b, 3 million IU, on chemotherapy days (twice weekly). The total duration of a course of immunochemothery was 4 months or more. The control group (n=35) did not take the immunomodulator. The use of interferon contributed to the normalization of T-cell immunological parameters in 60.6% of the patients and functional parameters in 35.7% and could achieve closure of decay cavities (the only cavity or one of the cavities) in 90.6% of cases (in the control group, these were in 33.3, 20, and 64.3%, respectively).

[An association of the reduction in the count of T1 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis with the lower monocytic expression of costimulatory CD80 molecules].

The percentage of T1 lymphocytes in the presence of the unchanged content of T2 cells were shown to be decreased in the peripheral blood of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis as compared with apparently healthy donors. In addition, the patients were found to have a significantly reduced quantity of CD80-expressing monocytes, the relative quantities of Th1 and Tc1 cells were directly related to the count of CD80+ monocytes. It is suggested that decreased CD80+ cells is a cause of ineffective antigen presentation that results in a systemic reduction in the count of CD4+ and CD8+ cells producing T1 cytokines and in impairment of an effective specific T1 response.

[The clinicobiological status of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis concurrent with chronic hepatitis B and/or C].

Examination was made in 155 patients, including 60 patients were diagnosed as having hepatitis, hepatic lesion being first detected by a screening survey for markers of hepatitis. The antipyrine test was carried out. Patients with slow and rapid hydroxylation were identified. No changes were found in the biotransformation functions of the liver in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis 6 months after intravenous intermittent chemotherapy twice a week from the beginning of therapy; however, there was inhibition of the activity of monooxygenases and a two-fold increase in the number of patients with slow hydroxylation among patients with concomitant chronic hepatitis B and/or C. The best results of chemotherapy were found in tuberculous patients with slow hydroxylation: they less frequently underwent surgical interventions since decay cavities were therapeutically closed.

[On early transfer of new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis to outpatient treatment]. / O rannem perevode na ambulatornoe lechenie vpervye vyiavlennykh bol'nykh tuberkulezom legkikh.

Based on 228 clinical cases, the authors propose procedures for complex two-stage (inpatient and outpatient) treatments of new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis by using intermittent intravenous chemotherapy that makes it possible to have a high therapeutic effect in a short space of time, to reduce the duration of hospital treatment substantially, to on the average 2-4 months, and to ensure controlled chemotherapy at the outpatient stage.

[Specific features of the course of pulmonary tuberculosis concurrent with liver pathology]. / Osobennosti techeniia tuberkuleza legkikh u bol'nykh s patologiei pecheni.

The study was undertaken to reveal clinical, biochemical, morphological, and immunological features of pulmonary tuberculosis concurrent with liver pathology. Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who suffered from liver diseases were found to have more marked clinical signs, such as subfebrile temperature, weight loss, elevated levels of aminotransferases and gamma-glutamyltransferase. Morphological studies of liver biopsy specimens indicated that the rates of necrosis and inflammatory infiltration were higher in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and CHC and substantially lower in CHB and alcoholism. Impaired immunity involved primarily the phagocytic link.

[Effectiveness of liposomal antibacterial drugs in the inhalation therapy of experimental tuberculosis]. / Effectivnost liposomalnoi lekarstvennoi formy antibakterialnykh preparatov v ingaliatsionnoi terapii éksperimentalnogo tuberkulëza.

The model of generalized tuberculosis in BALB/c mice was used to compare efficacy of daily and intermittent (2 times a week) regimens of ultrasound inhalation therapy. This employed water-soluble and liposomal dosages of antituberculous drugs. The highest effect was achieved in daily inhalations of liposomal drugs. In spite of the fact that intermittent regime of the liposomal drugs required a 2-fold lowered dosage, its efficacy was not inferior to daily water-soluble drug therapy and was only by 22% less than maximum. High response to liposomal form stems from prolonged persistence of high rifampicin concentrations in pulmonary tissue.

[Lymphogenic introduction into lesser circulation of orally administered rifampicin in standard and liposomal forms]. / Limfogennoe postuplenie v malyi krug krovoobrashcheniia peroral'no vvodimogo v obychnoi i liposomal'noi formakh rifampitsina.

Pharmacokinetics of water and liposomal suspensions of lipophilic antibiotic rifampicin introduced intragastrically through a tube was studied in experiments on Wistar rats. After administration of water suspension rifampicin concentration reached its peak in all the tissues in 3 hours, lung concentration being 1.6 and 1.9 times higher than blood one. After liposomal suspension administration lymphatic rifampicin concentrations were maximal in 3 hours, while in the lungs and blood they were the highest in 6 hours. It is concluded that oral liposoluble drug enter primarily chyle vessels and via thoracic lymphatic duct directly lesser circulation. Liposomal inclusion of the drug warrants its high concentration in lymphatic system and lung tissue.