Analysis of the TREC and KREC Levels in the Dried Blood Spots of Healthy Newborns with Different Gestational Ages and Weights.

Inborn errors of immunity can be detected by evaluating circular DNA (cDNA) fragments of T- and B-cell receptors (TREC and KREC) resulting from the receptor gene rearrangement in T and B cells. Maturation and activation of the fetal immune system is known to proceed gradually according to the gestational age, which highlights the importance of the immune status in premature infants at different gestational ages. In this article, we evaluated TREC and KREC levels in infants of various gestational ages by real-time PCR with taking into account the newborn's weight and sex. The 95% confidence intervals for TREC and KREC levels (expressed in the number of cDNA copies per 105 cells) were established for different gestational groups. The importance of studying immune system development in newborns is informed by the discovered dependence of the level of naive markers on the gestational stage in the early neonatal period.

[ASSOCIATION OF POLYMORPHIC MARKERS IN GENES OF INNATE IMMUNITY IN PATIENTS WITH PERIODONTITIS AND INFLAMMATORY DISEASES OF UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT].

AIM: Search of association of polymorphisms in DEFB1, IL-10, TNF-α and TLR2 genes with development of chronic generalized periodontitis in representatives of Ural region (Caucasian race). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 142 patients, that were split into 3 groups, took part in the study: a group of patients with periodontitis, a group with frequent inflammatory disease of upper respiratory tract and a comparison group--healthy donors. A study of polymorphic markers was carried out: DEFB1 (-44G/C), DEFB1 (-20A/G), IL-10 (-1082.A/G), TNF-α (-308 G/A), Arg753Gln and Arg677Trp using PCR in real time mode. RESULTS: Association of infectious pathology ofupper respiratory tract and development of periodontitis diseases with markers in DEFB1 (-44G/C) and Arg753Gln and Arg677Trp genes was determined. Significant differences in distribution of genotypes and alleles of genes IL-10 and TNF-α in the group of patients with periodontitis and comparison group were not detected. CONCLUSION: DEFB1 (-44G/C) polymorphism can be examined as a marker of periodontitis development risk.

Efficacy and safety of pidotimod in the prevention of recurrent respiratory infections in children: a multicentre study.

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) still represent a big challenge for paediatricians, especially in those children defined as "ailed" as they are more susceptible to such kinds of disease. In this paediatric population, the immune system is still under-developed with an evident alteration in cytokine levels. A clinical study was carried out in 5 sites in Russia with the intention to enroll children particularly susceptible to contract respiratory infections (defined as "ailing"), assigning them to a treatment group with pidotimod in comparison with a control group, treating them for 30 days and observing the reduction in the number of ARI episodes throughout the follow-up period (6 months). Moreover, changes in serum immunological markers were evaluated at baseline and 30 days after treatment discontinuation. One hundred and fifty-seven ailing children were enrolled and assigned to two arms: a main pidotimod treatment group or a control group. The percentage of incidence of ARIs in the observation period at three different time points was statistically significant (p < 0.05). At the end of the follow-up period (after 6 months), ARIs had developed in 72 children (92.3%) in the main group and in 79 patients (100%) in the control group. Concerning changes of the immunological markers, the treatment group showed a better profile of normalization compared to the control group. The 30-day pidotimod therapy course led to improvement/reduction in the rate of acute respiratory infection recurrence in ailing children within a 3-month period, with a quick elimination of symptoms and signs of infection and, as a result, a faster recovery. The normalisation of the content of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 confirmed the immune-modulatory effect of the investigational drug, underlying its prophylactic effect.

Experimental modeling of viral diseases of the locomotor system.

Dissemination of infectious inflammation was studied in experimental influenza and acute and chronic herpesvirus infections. The possibility of articular involvement into the infectious process was evaluated. Pathomorphological signs of changes in the articular tissue confirmed the effects of these viruses on the locomotor pathology. Results of virus infection simulation in experimental animals suggest this model for studies of the pathogenesis of diseases of viral etiology (including those with articular involvement) in humans.

[Measurement of allergen-specific IGG for diagnosis of atopic diseases in children]. / Opredelenie allergenspetsificheskikh immunoglobulinov E v diagnostike atopicheskikh zabolevanii u detei.

The concentrations of allergen-specific IgE were measured in 146 children with respiratory, skin, and mixed forms of allergic diseases. The spectrum of the allergens was determined and specific features for each of the studied patient populations defined.