Interaction between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Human Host: Role of Cytokines in Pathogenesis and Treatment Monitoring

Tuberculosis is one of the most prevalent infections of human beings. According to WHO Global tuberculosis report 2016, there were 10.4 million new incidents of TB cases worldwide, and 580,000 new cases of multidrug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis. Monitoring the effectiveness of tuberculosis treatment and timely diagnosis of latent tuberculosis is an important problem for immunological research. Interaction of M. tuberculosis and the human immune system begins with phagocytosis of mycobacteria by macrophages and activate the immune response through the cytokines and chemokines release. The balance of proinflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokines and chemokines production may reflect the level of host-parasite interaction (e.g., elimination or persistence of the microbe). The review presents current clinical trends in studies on proinflammatory (IL-12, IL-1, INF-II, TNF-α) and immunoregulatory (IL-10 and TGF-β) cytokines, as well as matrix metalloproteases and hemoxygenase 1 to characterize the success of antituberculous chemotherapy. Monitoring the effectiveness of tuberculosis treatment will require the use new combinations of cytokines, chemokines, and nonspecific inflammatory factors which combinations have not yet been determined. The most promising area is studying of immunoregulatory cytokines, (e.g., IL-10, TGF-β), cell migration factors (e.g., IP-10/CXCL-10, MIG/CXCL/9), and markers of nonspecific inflammation (e.g., HO-1, SAA and MMP-1,3,9)

ADVERTISING INTERVENTIONS IN METRO ARCHITECTURAL SPACE

Research actualizes the problem of uncontrolled distribution of advertising messages in the architectural environment, namely in the underground metro space, as exemplified by the Kharkiv and Kyiv metro stations. Particular attention is focused on the so-called branding – a campaign involving the complete covering of architectural forms and structures with advertising images. The result of the negative influence of such methods on the perception of the architectural image of metro stations is shown. As a result of analysis of the current state of the metro in the cities of the post-Soviet space, it has been revealed that the identified problem is characteristic only for Ukraine. The need is noted to involve professionals and the public to discuss and further resolve this problem.Key words: architectural environment, evaluation of aesthetic qualities, outdoor advertising, commercial signs, metro space.кандидат архитектуры Авербах М. Я. Рекламные интервенции в архитектурном пространстве метрополитена/ Харьковский национальный университет строительства и архитектуры, Украина, ХарьковИсследование актуализирует проблему безудержного распространения рекламных сообщений в архитектурной среде, в частности в подземном пространстве метро на примере станций харьковского и киевского метрополитенов. Особое внимание сосредоточено на так называемом брендировании – акции, которая предусматривает полное завешивание архитектурных форм и конструкций рекламными изображениями. Показан результат негативного влияния таких приемов на восприятие архитектурного образа станций метро. В результате анализа существующего состояния метрополитенов городов постсоветского пространства выявлено, что обозначенная проблема является характерной только для Украины. Отмечается необходимость привлечения профессионалов и общественности для обсуждения и дальнейшего урегулирования данной проблемы.Ключевые слова: архитектурная среда, оценка эстетических качеств, наружная реклама, коммерческие знаки, пространство метрополитена

IMPACT OF ADVERTISEMENTS ON THE ARCHITECTURAL IMAGE AND ITS PERCEPTION BY CONSUMERS (BASED ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE KHARKIV METRO STATIONS),

У дослідженні зачіпаються актуальні для сучасного стану суспільства питання нестримного поширення рекламних повідомлень в архітектурному середовищі, зокрема в підземному просторі метро. В результаті такої експансії порушується авторське право, спотворюється архітектурний образ, впроваджуються сторонні сенси, формується «карнавальний» стиль, не властивий інженерним інфраструктурним об'єктам. Постулюється необхідність залучення громадськості до формування думки щодо даних явищ і прийняття певних рішень. Запропоновано методику оцінки думок споживачів, в даному випадку - пасажирів харківського метрополітену. Розроблено питання для фіксації і шкалювання відповідей респондентів.Ключові слова: архітектурне середовище, зовнішня реклама, бренд, архітектурний образ, візуальне сприйняття, простір метрополітену.The paper considers the issues, particularly relevant for the current state of society, regarding the unrestrained distribution of advertising messages in the architectural environment, especially in the underground space of the metro. As a result of this expansion, copyright is violated, the architectural image is distorted, extraneous meanings are introduced, and a “carnival" style is formed that is not typical for engineering infrastructure facilities. The necessity is postulated to involve the community in the process of forming an opinion regarding these phenomena and making certain decisions. A methodology is proposed for assessing the opinions of consumers, in this case, passengers of the Kharkiv Metro. Questions have been developed in order to record and scale respondents' opinions. Key words: architectural environment, outdoor advertising, brand, architectural image, visual perception, metro space

CONTENT OF PENTRAXIN-3 AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN BLOOD SERUM OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS SUFFERING FROM RESPIRATORY TUBERCULOSIS WITH DESTRUCTION AND MINOR FORMS OF THE DISEASE

The study investigated the dynamic changes in the content of pentraxin-3 and C-Reactive Protein in blood serum of children and adolescents suffering from respiratory tuberculosis with destruction and minor tuberculous changes in chest lymph nodes and lungs (minor forms). Level of PTX3 in tuberculosis patients with destructive lesions confidently reduced by the 6th month of treatment (end of the intensive phase of treatment): from 3 285.2 ± 387.1 down to 1 280.0 ± 65.4 pg/ml In the group ofthose with minor forms oftuberculosis the content of PTX3 confidently increased after 6 months of treatment (completion of the main course of chemotherapy): from 2 990.0 ± 330.3 down 5 329.7 ± 421.3 pg/ml. Such changes of PTX3 in this group were observed for the first time and it had not been described before. It is possible that the increase of PTX3 level after completion of chemotherapy course is temporary and it is related to activation of the lung tissue healing. Content of C-Reactive Protein before treatment start was typically higher in those with destructive lesions and it confidently reduced in 6 months of chemotherapy in the patients from this group (from 15.7 ± 2.9 down to 5.95 ± 1.2 mg/l) and remained unchanged in the patients with minor forms of tuberculosis (4.5 ± 1.1; 2.9 ± 0.1 mg/l)

DYNAMIC CHANGES OF CHEMOKINE CXCL-10 (IP-10) IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH DIFFERENT FORMS OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

CXCL10 (IP-10) chemokine is one of additional humoral markers applied along with determination of antigen-induced IFNγ for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in humans. Dynamics of the IP-10 changes and its prognostic value in planning treatment for various forms of tuberculosis is a scarcely studied problem, especially, in children and adolescents. Present study has revealed an increase in spontaneous and antigen-induced IP-10 production in children and adolescents with overt tuberculosis, when compared with latent course of tuberculosis, followed by its significant reduction in cases of successful chemotherapy of tuberculosis. Such dynamics was not evident in destructive forms of tuberculosis manifesting as torpid and progressive infection

DYNAMIC CHANGES OF GRANULYSIN AND CATHELICIDIN IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH DIFFERENT FORMS OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

Granulysin and cathelicidin, the cytolytic molecules of innate immune system are important protective factors during infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We present original data concerning high levels of granulysin and cathelicidin among the group of children and adolescents with latent TB infection. Patients with tuberculosis of the respiratory system exhibit significantly lower amounts of serum cathelicidin in destructive forms, as well as granulysin levels in “minor” forms of tuberculosis before starting the specific chemotherapy. The chemotherapy performed did not influence the serum granulysin and cathelicidin contents in patients with destructive tuberculosis, whereas the patients with “minor” forms (TLN/focal tuberculosis) revealed a significant increase in granulysin content after 6 months of treatment, and same trend for cathelicidin concentrations after 3 months of chemotherapy, followed by subsequent return to baseline values

Algorithm Engineering in Robust Optimization

Robust optimization is a young and emerging field of research having received a considerable increase of interest over the last decade. In this paper, we argue that the the algorithm engineering methodology fits very well to the field of robust optimization and yields a rewarding new perspective on both the current state of research and open research directions. To this end we go through the algorithm engineering cycle of design and analysis of concepts, development and implementation of algorithms, and theoretical and experimental evaluation. We show that many ideas of algorithm engineering have already been applied in publications on robust optimization. Most work on robust optimization is devoted to analysis of the concepts and the development of algorithms, some papers deal with the evaluation of a particular concept in case studies, and work on comparison of concepts just starts. What is still a drawback in many papers on robustness is the missing link to include the results of the experiments again in the design

ДИНАМИЧЕСКОЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ КЛИНИКО-ИММУНОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ПОКАЗАТЕЛЕЙ У БОЛЬНЫХ С ВПЕРВЫЕ ВЫЯВЛЕННЫМ САРКОИДОЗОМ

Cytokine profile in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and blood serum was investigated in 80 patients with newly diagnosed sarcoidosis. Of them, 42 patients were treated with prednisolone and 38 patients were treated with fenspirid (Eurespal). BALF interleukin (IL) concentration was higher than serum IL concentration that could reflect a local immune response. To the 6th month of the therapy, significant blood levels of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5 in prednisolone-treated patients were found compared to fenspirid-treated patients that could indicate an increased immune Tx-2 activity that, in turn, could facilitate development of prednisolone adverse effects. Treatment with fenspirid during 6 months has led to increased production of IL-10 that was 2.5-fold higher compared to IL-10 level in prednisolone-treated patients. The results suggest more effective inhibition of excessive immune inflammation in prednisolone-treated patients.Выполнено исследование цитокинового профиля в бронхоальвеолярном лаваже (БАЛ) и сыворотке крови у пациентов (n = 80) с впервые выявленным саркоидозом. Пациенты 1-й группы (n = 42) получали преднизолон, 2-й (n = 38) – фенспирид (эреспал). Отмечено, что содержание интерлейкинов (IL) в БАЛ выше, чем в сыворотке крови, что является отражением местного иммунного ответа. По сравнению с пациентами группы лечения эреспалом значительный уровень продукции в сыворотке крови IL-2, IL-4 и IL-5 к 6-му месяцу лечения преднизолоном указывает на повышенную активность иммунологического ответа по типу Тх-2, что может оказывать влияние на побочные реакции лечения преднизолоном. Лечение эреспалом в течение 6 мес. приводит к повышению продукции IL-10, что в 2,5 раза выше аналогичного показателя в группе преднизолона. Это свидетельствует о более эффективном подавлении избыточного иммунологического компонента воспаления в результате проводимой терапии

Макрофагальный и цитокиновый спектры бронхоальвеолярного смыва при впервые выявленном и рецидивирующем саркоидозе органов дыхания

Goal of the study: to investigate structural and functional specific features of macrophages and cytokine profiles of bronchoalveolar lavage in new and relapsing respiratory sarcoidosis (RS).Materials and methods. The study included comparative light optical and electronic microscopic examinations of macrophages, macrophage formula and cytokine profile of bronchoalveolar lavage in 120 patients suffering from different forms of RS. It was found that in case of new RS mostly macrophages of M1 phenotype were detected in the lavage. They had high level of IL-8, IL-2, IL-1β production and ultrastructural signs of hypersecretion which was especially typical of platycytes. High level of IL-4, IL-5 content is typical of relapsing sarcoidosis: additionally to macrophages of M1 phenotype, there are macrophages of M2 phenotype with ultrastructural signs of phagocytic function which can be used for diagnostics of this form of RS.Цель исследования: изучить структурно-функциональные особенности макрофагов и цитокиновый спектр бронхоальвеолярного лаважа при впервые выявленном и рецидивирующем саркоидозе органов дыхания (СОД).Материалы и методы. Проведено сравнительное светооптическое и электронно-микроскопическое изучение макрофагов, определены макрофагальная формула и цитокиновый спектр бронхоальвеолярного смыва у 120 больных с различными вариантами СОД. Показано, что при впервые выявленном СОД в лаваже определяются преимущественно макрофаги М1-фенотипа. Они отличаются высоким уровнем продукции IL-8, IL-2, IL-1β и ультраструктурными признаками гиперсекреции, что особенно характерно для эпителиоидных клеток. Для рецидивирующего саркоидоза характерно повышенное содержание IL-4, IL-5: помимо макрофагов с М1-фенотипом, появляются макрофаги М2-фенотипа с ультраструктурными признаками фагоцитарной функции, что может быть использовано в диагностике этой формы СОД