[Factors inducing transition from growth to dormancy in rhizobacteria Azospirillum brasilense].

The factors suppressing division of the cells of the rhizobacterium Azospirillum brasilense and inducing their transition to a dormant state were analyzed. These included the presence of hexylresorcinol or heavy metals (Cu and Co) in the medium, oxygen stress, and transfer of the cells into the physiological saline or phosphate buffer solution. The results were used to develop a protocol for obtaining of uncultured cells of A. brasilense Sp245, a natural symbiont of wheat. The cells lost their ability to grow on synthetic agar medium, but could revert to growth when incubated in freshly prepared liquid medium. Needle-shaped crystals differing from struvite, which has been previously reported for this strain, were found in the dormant culture of A. brasilense Sp245.

[Clinicodiagnostic significance of gastroesophageal reflux and structural changes in the esophagus and stomach in bronchial asthma].

Four hundred patients with bronchial asthma (BA) were questioned. Complex clinical and instrumental examination of 60 patients with BA and endoscopic-positive gastroesophageal reflux disease was carried out; the control groups included 30 patients with BA alone and 30 patients with GERD alone. Clinical symptoms of GERD were revealed in 58% of BA patients; endoscopic-positive GERD was diagnosed in 48.6% of BA patients. The study proved the connection between the degree of respiratory disturbances, on the one hand, and the degree of esophagitis and the level of intraesophageal pH, on the other, in patients with BA plus GERD. The study also established the role of esophageal and gastric epitheliocytes, producing endothelin-1, melatonin, NO-synthase, and calretinin, in the occurrence of mutual exacerbation syndrome.