[IgE-autoantibodies in patients with atopic dermatitis].

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a complicated and multifactorial disease. Autoimmune reactions to own antigens (Ag) revealed in AD patients can aggravate a clinical course of this disease. The aim of the study was to identify IgE antibodies (IgE-Abs) to tissue Ags in AD patients and to evaluate a relationship between the levels of these IgE-Abs and the level of the total IgE. Serum samples from 75 AD patients and 24 healthy persons of different age were examined with enzyme immunoassay for IgE-Abs to 7 tissue Ags (keratin, collagen of type III and VI, elastin, myosin, myelin basic protein - MBP, thyroglobulin), total IgE and IgE-Abs to exoallergens. The levels of IgE-Abs to all investigated tissue Ags (except for MBP) were higher (p < 0.05) in AD patients than in healthy persons. Incidence rate of IgE-Abs to various tissue Ags varied widely (39-78%) and did not depend upon age. Significant correlations were found between the levels of IgE-Abs to collagen of type VI (r = 0.32), thyroglobulin (r = 0.78) and of total IgE. Therefore, most of stimulating IgE-autoreactivity Ags are involved in the pathologic process in AD, keratin, collagen of type IV, thyroglobulin being more important. This may aggravate an AD course.

[Epitope mimicry and its role in the development of autoimmune reactions].

The role of molecular mimicry in the development of some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, the Julian-Barré syndrome, the antiphospholipid syndrome, multiple sclerosis, is reviewed. The data on the presence in bacteria and viruses antigenic determinants similar to those in human tissues are presented. The phenomenon of epitope mimicry is considered in the light of the latest research in the field of IgE autoreactivity, which may take part in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases.

[Prevalence and structure of acute respiratory virus infections]. / Rasprostranennoct' i struktura ostrykh respiratornykh virusnykh infektsii.

Information on epidemiology of acute respiratory virus infections (ARVI) is reviewed and analyzed. In addition to influenza viruses, the role of respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV), rhino- and adenoviruses, as well as other viruses, in the development of respiratory diseases, especially in newborns, young children and elderly persons, is emphasized. A high proportion of RSV in the etiology the severe forms of ARVI and in the development of intrauterine infection is pointed out. The conclusion has been made that the identification of the causative agents of ARVI with the use of modern methods makes it possible to determine the real role of each of the pathogens in the formation of the severe forms of diseases, as well as the expediency of vaccinal prophylaxis.

[Allergic alteration of leukocytes in patients with drug intolerance]. / Allergicheskaia al'teratsiia leikotsitov u bol'nykh lekarstvennoi neperenosimost'iu.

Increased sensitivity to benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, claforan, cefzol, novocain and lidocaine was determined by means of the leukocyte allergic alteration (LAA) test in 599 patients with intolerance reactions to these preparations in their medical history. In most of these patients the test results exceeded 30% and reached 98%, their average values exceeding those in the control group no subjects with no drug intolerance. The LAA test ensured a high level (83%) of the detection of drug intolerance.

[Investigation on the mechanisms of leukocyte alteration in patients with intolerance to some drugs (with novocaine as a model)]. / Issledovanie mekhanizmov al'teratsii leikotsitov u bol'nykh s neperenosimost'iu nekotorykh lekarstv (na modeli novokaina).

The mechanisms of novocain damaging action on blood cells in persons with increased sensitivity to this drug were studied in the leukocyte alteration test. The leading role of histamine liberated from basophils was established. The increased sensitivity to novocain was shown not to be passively transferred to the cells of healthy donors with patient serum with intolerance to the drug; moreover, the joint action of both cell-mediated and thermolabile humoral factors was found to be necessary for the realization of leukocyte alteration under the action of novocain. The comparison of the information content of a number of methods--skin testing, dosed provocation, leukocyte alteration test and chemiluminescence--for revealing increased sensitivity to novocain in 30 persons with adverse reactions to this preparation registered in their medical history. The two in vitro tests were shown to be comparable in their diagnostic significance with the method of dosed provocation.

[Increased sensitivity to cockroaches of the species Blattella germanica in patients with allergic diseases]. / Izuchenie povyshennoi chuvstvitel'nosti k tarakanam Blattella germanica u bol'nykh s allergicheskimi zabolevaniiami.

Sensitization to Blattella germanica (B.g.) was studied in 290 allergic patients having increased sensitivity to house dust (HD). The study carried out by ELISA techniques with the use of allergen especially developed by the authors, revealed that the sera of adults and children with bronchial asthma (BA) contained high levels of IgE antibodies (Ab) to B.g. in 34 and 63.5% of cases, respectively. The presence of pronounced IgE-linked sensitization of target cells of BA patients was confirmed in leukocyte alteration test and in the natural leukocyte migration inhibition test. Increased sensitization to B.g. was shown to be the second in the total spectrum of sensitization to different arthropod species in house dust, and the presence of mixed sensitization to B.g. and HD mites was not due to cross reactions caused by main mite allergens. The content of IgG and IgG4 Ab to B.g. in BA patients exceeds that in healthy subjects, the tendency towards reverse correlation (r = -0.4) between the content of specific IgE and IgG Ab being revealed in the former. An essential role of sensitization to cockroaches in pathogenesis of BA is emphasized.

[Clinico-microbiological assessment of therapeutic antifungal drugs therapeutic activity in patients with atopic dermatitis sensitized to yeast fungi]. / Kliniko-mikrobiologicheskaia otsenka terapevticheskoi éffektivnosti protivogribkovykh preparatov u bol'nykh atopicheskim dermatitom, sensibilizirovannykh k drozhzhepodobnym gribam.

AIM: To study of therapeutic activity of local (natamycine) and systemic (fluconasol) antifungal drugs in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) with mycogenic sensitization and candida carriage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 29 patients with severe AD and diagnosed contamination of the skin lesions with yeast fungi have received antifungal treatment with fungicidal drugs in low-dose long-term course. RESULTS: The drugs were effective in 83% of patients: poor effect was in 28%, moderate--in 21% and good--in 34% of cases. 5 (17%) patients did not respond. Mild, moderate and severe AD responded in 87, 36 and 60% of patients, respectively. The highest response was registered in patients without sensitization to yeast fungi (78%) or low sensitization (83%). In high sensitization the effect occurred in 57% of the cases. CONCLUSION: The authors have developed indications for treatment with antifungal drugs in AD patients with mycogenic sensitization.

[Storage mites as the source of household allergens]. / Ambarnye kleshchi kak istochnik bytovykh allergenov.

Storage mites of the families Acaridae and Glycyphagidae attracted attention as the source of household allergens. Storage mites occurring in house dust were studied. The fauna of storage mites in house dust was represented by two families. The dominating species, both in the relative amount and occurrence, were Tyrophagus putrescentiae and Chortoglyphus arcuatus. In addition, Caloglyphus rodionovi and Carpoglyphus lactis occur regularly. The specific activity of allergenic extracts obtained from storage mites was studied in ELISA. They were shown to have sensitizing and immunogenic properties. The study revealed that storage mites possessed specific determinants and those common with pyroglyphid, not linked with allergens of groups 1 and 2.

[Specifically reactive cells in experimental allergic pertussis encephalomyelitis]. / Spetsificheski reaktivnye kletki pri éksperimental'nom allergicheskom kokliushnom éntsefalomielite.

Dynamics of emergence of specific reactive cell (SRC) with respect to the brain antigen in the draining regional lymph nodes and peripheral blood was studied in experimental whooping cough allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in guinea pigs. The greatest number of SRC in the regional lymph nodes, that markedly decreased by the 9th day of sensitization, was revealed in the middle of the EAE incubation period (the 6-7th day), whereas the peripheral blood showed the highest SRC number during this period. The SRC number rose in the regional lymph nodes and dropped in the peripheral blood at the height of EAE progress (the 20th day). It is concluded that SRC found may be attributed to T lymphocyte population.