The effect of the Russian inhalant glucocorticosteroid budesonide on bronchial inflammation and hyperreactivity during the long-term treatment of bronchial asthma patients

11 patients with severe bronchial asthma entered a randomized trial of glucocorticosteroid budesonide of Russian produce. Of them 6 patients received inhalations of budesonide (800 micrograms/day for 6 months), 5 control patients did not receive the drug. As shown by investigations of external respiration and bronchoalveolar lavage with estimation of cytogram, metacholine provocative tests, fiber bronchoscopy, budesonide inhalations relieved clinical symptoms of asthma, bronchial hyperreactivity and inflammation.     

The genetic sequelae for plant populations of radioactive environmental pollution in connection with the Chernobyl accident

Populations of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., and Pinus sylvestris L., growing within 30 km of Chernobyl and Bryansk region have been analyzed for the frequency of embryonic lethal mutations on Arabidopsis and frequency of chlorophyll mutations and chromosome aberrations by pine. On pine also have been analyzed rate of mutations at enzyme loci in endosperms of seeds. Dose dependence of the value genetic damage on level of radioactive pollution was observed.     

A Ser315Thr substitution in KatG is predominant in genetically heterogeneous multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates originating from the St. Petersburg area in Russia

Parts of katG and rpoB from 27 Russian Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were sequenced to detect mutations causing resistance to isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RMP), respectively. All 24 INH-resistant isolates had a mutated katG, and 22 of them (91.7%) carried a mutation coding for a Ser315Thr shift. An rpoB mutation was noted for each of the 21 RMP-resistant isolates, with Ser531Leu being the most prevalent change encoded. Only two isolates had identical IS6110 fingerprints.     

Enterosorption in ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract with concomitant intestinal dysbacteriosis

Adjuvant use of enterosorbents in combined therapy of gastroduodenal ulcers (158 patients), nonspecific ulcerative colitis with intestinal dysbacteriosis was assessed. Enterosorption in combined therapy of gastrointestinal diseases with dysbacteriosis potentiated positive effect. The highest benefit of enterosorption occurs in intestinal affections (nonspecific ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel-syndrome, chronic enteritis, colitis). In gastroduodenal ulcer lignin sorbent (polyfepan) is preferable. Polyfepan acted positively on intestinal dysbacteriosis through eliminating Escherichia with hemolyzing properties and enterococci, by reducing lack of bifidobacteria.