Study of Antibiotic Resistance of the Oropharyngeal Hemolytic Microflora in Preschool Children

It is impossible to imagine modern medical practice without antibiotic therapy. However, the rapid development of the pharmaceutical industry expands free access of the population to antibacterial drugs. At the same time, the illiteracy of people with respect to the principles of rational antibiotic therapy also increases. The problem of microbial resistance to antibacterial drugs remains relevant to this day. Special attention should be paid to rational antibiotic therapy applied to children.The purpose of this work was to study the resistance of hemolytic microorganisms, which are often the cause of upper respiratory infection in preschool children, to the main antibacterial drugs used in pediatric practice. The results of this scientific research can be advisory and useful to pediatricians and other specialists whose professional activities are related to children’s health. Keywords: hemolytic active microorganisms, bacterial carriage, antibiotic resistance, children’s healt

Socio-Economic Impact of the Creation and Operation of Mega-Science Projects

Challenges of development facing society and states require efforts consolidation, in the research field in particular. Therefore, to organize international cooperation and to conduct basic and applied research, mega-science infrastructures are being created and implemented all over the world. Currently, research facilities of the mega-science class are being created in the Russian Federation. They play an important role in the development of science and the innovation process. The competitiveness of Russian science is a determining factor for ensuring the safety and technological independence of Russia. Therefore, the Federal program for the development of Synchrotron and Neutron research and research infrastructure for 2019-2027 was approved in March 2020. In the present article, the concept of the socio-economic impact of the operation of large-scale research infrastructure is revealed. The authors refer to the materials on the socio-economic impact analysis, which was based on the data on the Swedish neutron source (European Spallation Source). The article provides a generalized idea of the main indicators for assessing the potential of the research infrastructure as well as their application to characterize the research facilities in the Russian Federation. It is worth highlighting that each large research facility is unique and it is not possible to unify the analysis of the socio-economic impact. However, the obtained results can be used for a similar analysis of research infrastructures, based on the same physical principles and created to solve general scientific problems

Сytokine markers for different variants of sclerotic lichen in women

Our work was aimed for studying the role of systemic of IL-23 and IL-20 levels in different clinical variants of sclerotic lichen in women. The study was based on results of clinical data (anamnesis, examination, palpation, vulvoscopy) and immunological studies (determination of IL-20 and IL-23 cytokines in peripheral blood) in the patients with sclerotic lichen (114 patients aged 42.5±15.1 years). Group I included patients with atrophic variant of sclerotic lichen (n = 58); group II, with sclerotic variant of sclerotic lichen (n = 34). Group III included women with a sclero-atrophic variant of this disorder (n = 22). The control group consisted of conditionally healthy women without present, or previously documented vulvar pathology (30 persons). Criteria for inclusion were as follows: women 20 to 60 years old, the presence of a benign vulvar disease, absence of treatment with immunotropic drugs over past year. Exclusion criteria: presence of viral infection (HPV, HSV), detection of STI, presence of acute inflammatory process (including vulvitis and vaginitis), cancer diagnosis, symptoms of autoimmune disorders, pregnancy, and the patient’s reluctance to participate in the study.Predominant increase of IL-23 was revealed in all clinical groups of the examined patients, the most pronounced increase (2.7 times) was in severe sclerotic lichen (p < 0.0001). IL-23 concentration in the 2nd clinical group corresponded to the reference age-matched values. There was a significant increase in the blood content of IL-20 in subgroup 2.2 of the patients with sclerotic lichen (p < 0.0001), as well as in patients from group 3 with a mixed clinical course of its disorder (p < 0.0001). Meanwhile, the absence of pronounced vulvar tissue sclerosis in sclerotic variant of sclerotic lichen (subgroup 2.1) was accompanied only by a tendency for increased IL-20 concentration (p = 0.502), and only a trend for decrease in atrophic variant of sclerotic lichen (p = 0.288). In general, analysis of these data presumes a significant role of IL-20 and IL-23 in pathogenesis of sclerotic lichen in women. The cytokine assays in various clinical variants of this vulvar disorder may provide additional differential diagnostics (IL-20), and to assess severity of atrophic and sclerotic changes in vulvar tissues (IL-23) in women with sclerotic lichen

Optical pump–terahertz probe study of HR GaAs:Cr and SI GaAs:El2 structures with long charge carrier lifetimes

The time dynamics of nonequilibrium charge carrier relaxation processes in SI GaAs:EL2 (semi-insulating gallium arsenide compensated with EL2 centers) and HR GaAs:Cr (high-resistive gallium arsenide compensated with chromium) were studied by the optical pump–terahertz probe technique. Charge carrier lifetimes and contributions from various recombination mechanisms were determined at different injection levels using the model, which takes into account the influence of surface and volume Shockley–Read–Hall (SRH) recombination, interband radiative transitions and interband and trap-assisted Auger recombination. It was found that, in most cases for HR GaAs:Cr and SI GaAs:EL2, Auger recombination mechanisms make the largest contribution to the recombination rate of nonequilibrium charge carriers at injection levels above ~(0.5–3)·1018 cm−3, typical of pump–probe experiments. At a lower photogenerated charge carrier concentration, the SRH recombination prevails. The derived charge carrier lifetimes, due to the SRH recombination, are approximately 1.5 and 25 ns in HR GaAs:Cr and SI GaAs:EL2, respectively. These values are closer to but still lower than the values determined by photoluminescence decay or charge collection efficiency measurements at low injection levels. The obtained results indicate the importance of a proper experimental data analysis when applying terahertz time-resolved spectroscopy to the determination of charge carrier lifetimes in semiconductor crystals intended for the fabrication of devices working at lower injection levels than those at measurements by the optical pump–terahertz probe technique. It was found that the charge carrier lifetime in HR GaAs:Cr is lower than that in SI GaAs:EL2 at injection levels > 1016 cm−3.В ст. ошибочно: Irina A. Kolesnikov

РАСПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ КОНТАКТНЫХ НАПРЯЖЕНИЙ В ПРОЦЕССЕ ВОЛОЧЕНИЯ КРУГЛЫХ ИЗДЕЛИЙ

The computer simulation of contact stresses in the course of round product drawing through conical draw dies has been carried out by the finite element method with the DEFORM-2D particularized bundled software.Приведены результаты компьютерного моделирования контактных напряжений при волочении круглых изделий в конические волоки с помощью метода конечных элементов в специализированном программном комплексе DEFORM-2D

Assessment of the general condition and quality of life of women of post-reproductive age after asymptomatic COVID-19 and 12 months after moderate COVID-19

The aim. To assess the general condition, laboratory parameters, quality of life of women of post-reproductive age after asymptomatic COVID-19 and 12 months after moderate COVID-19.   Material and methods. We examined 47 women (45–69 years old), divided into 3 groups: those who did not have COVID-19, not vaccinated (group 1 – control; n = 15); women 12 months after moderate COVID-19, accompanied by pneumonia (group 2; n = 19); women with IgG in their blood who deny any symptoms of COVID-19 (group 3; n = 13).   Results and discussion. An assessment of the general condition of women in post-reproductive age was carried out. In women 12 months after COVID-19 we found a lower level of total bilirubin compared to the group with asymptomatic COVID-19 (p = 0.004). An increase in thrombin time was determined in the groups of patients with symptomatic (p = 0.014) and asymptomatic (p = 0.025) COVID-19 course compared with the control group. Patients with asymptomatic COVID-19 course had a higher level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with the control group (p = 0.016) and the group 2 (p = 0.006). Compared with the control group, the group 2 had lower scores for general health (p = 0.006), vital activity (p = 0.013), general physical well-being (p = 0.039), physical functioning (p = 0.046); and the group 3 had higher scores in role functioning due to physical condition (p = 0.049). When comparing groups 2 and 3, lower scores in the group of women who recovered from the moderate COVID-19 were found in physical functioning (p = 0.002), pain intensity (p = 0.034), role functioning due to physical condition (p = 0.049), general health (p = 0.003), vital activity (p = 0.018), general physical well-being (p = 0.001).   Conclusion. 12 months after moderate COVID-19, there is a pronounced deterioration in physical and emotional health; and in asymptomatic patients, better protective functions of an organism can be assumed

The production of hyperimmune pseudotuberculosis sera

Background. Pseudotuberculosis remains a serious public health problem, which dictates the need to develop simple and rapid diagnostic methods for this disease. The effectiveness of the latter largely depends on the activity and specificity of the diagnostic sera. Currently, in our country, a diagnostic serum for Yersinia pseudotuberculosis O-monovalent (serotype I, III) is produced with a regulated area of application: for an approximate agglutination reaction on glass (Pasteur NIIEM, St. Petersburg). Preparation of pseudotuberculosis sera for a wider scope of their use, in particular, as a  source of specific antibodies in the design of diagnostic immunobiological preparations and test systems for pseudotuberculosis, is relevant and in demand in healthcare practice.Aims. To obtain hyperimmune pseudotuberculosis sera, promising for use in the practice of laboratory studies for pseudotuberculosis.Materials and methods. Chinchilla rabbits aged 3–6 months, weighing 2.5–3.0 kg served as animal producers of pseudotuberculosis sera. As immunogens, we used a corpuscular antigen (CAg) - a suspension of cells of the epidemically significant Yersinia pseudotuberculosis 3704 O: 1b strain isolated by an outbreak of pseudotuberculosis in the town of Zima, Irkutsk region, inactivated by boiling, and a preparation obtained from the outer membranes, containing the main surface immunogen of the strain. For the adsorption of experimental sera, in order to minimize the nonspecific response, we used heterologous microorganisms Escherichiacoli, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella flexneri and Y. enterocolitica O:3, which have a similarity of surface antigenic structures with the causative agent of  pseudotuberculosis. The presence of specific antibodies in experimental pseudotuberculosis sera was determined in a volumetric agglutinationreaction.Results. Optimal schemes of rabbit immunization were selected, which made it possible to obtain hyperimmune sera against Y. pseudotuberculosis 3704 O:1b antigens with an agglutination activity of 1:3200-1:6400. In low dilutions of experimental sera (1:100–1:400), obtained against corpuscular antigen and outer membrane antigens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella flexneri , Y. enterocolitica О:3, S . enteritidis Gartnery) was observed in the agglutination reaction (AR). After the adsorption of experimental pseudotuberculosis sera by cells of heterologous strains, there was no cross-reaction with the indicated microorganisms in the  agglutination reaction.Conclusions. The obtained hyperimmune adsorbed sera against the boiling-inactivated Y. pseudotuberculosi s 3704 O: 1b corpuscular antigen and outer membrane antigens can be used as a source of specific antibodies in the design of diagnostic immunobiological preparations for the detection of pseudotuberculosis microbe, as well as in the monitoring of the epidemic situation

Isolation and whole genome sequencing of a lipophilic anaerobic bacterium, a representative of the species complex <i>Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum</i>, from a tuberculosis focus

Background. The study of the lower respiratory tract microbiome has been actively developed inrecent years with the help of whole genome sequencing (WGS) methods. Due to this, it became clear that the nature of the lungs microbiota is very different from other microbial communities inhabiting the human body. One of the important directions in the study of pathological lungs biocenosis is the study of the role of the satellite microbiota of the tuberculosis focus. The aim of the work. To isolate and characterize oxygen-tolerant anaerobes from the necrotic contents of tuberculomas. Materials and methods. Biopsy material from 5 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was obtained during a planned surgical treatment of tuberculoma. A pure culture was isolated from one sample during anaerobic cultivation. Lipase activity of strain was determined by plating on brain heart infusion agar (HIMEDIA, India) supplemented with 0.1 % Tween-80 and 10 mM of CaCl2. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by RAPMYCO and SLOWMYCO of TREK Diagnostic Systems (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA). DNA from the sediment of the broth culture was isolated by the CTAB chloroform method. Whole genome sequencing was performed on a DNBSeq-G400 NGS sequencer by Genomed (Russia). Results. Based on WGS results and phylogenetic analysis, the strain was identified as Corynebacterium kefirresidentii. The strain was characterized by high lipase activity and resistance only to Isoniazid, Ethionamide and Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazolin. Conclusion. The isolation of a lipophilic anaerobic representative of the Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum species complex from a tuberculous focus indicates a  possible role of the non-tuberculous microbiota in the liquefaction of caseous necrosis. We assumed that in some cases, favorable conditions are created inside the tuberculous focus for the development of satellite anaerobic lipophilic microbiota

Epidemiological Situation on Tick-Borne Viral Encephalitis in the Russian Federation in 2022 and Forecast of its Development for 2023

The aim of this review is to predict the incidence of tick-borne viral encephalitis (TBVE) in the Russian Federation for 2023 based on analysis of the epidemiological situation on TBVE during 2012–2022. Over the decade, the highest incidence of TBVE was registered in the Siberian, Volga and Ural Federal Districts. In 2022, the Ural Federal District took the second place, the share of the North-Western one decreased by almost two times. Ranking of territories according to the rate of TBVE incidence at the level of constituent entities has made it possible to attribute 16 of them to the group of regions with a high epidemic risk, 14 – to medium epidemic risk, and 18 – to a low epidemic risk. In 2022, the incidence of TBVE in Russia increased by 1.9 times compared to 2021, and amounted to 1.34 0/0000. Despite the increase in the incidence of TBVE in 2022, a significant downward trend has been retained. The rate of infection of ticks removed from humans in 2022 was below the long-term average values. PCR and ELISA were applied for tests. Infection rate of ticks from environmental objects when studied by PCR was higher than the multi-year average values, and lower when studied by ELISA. In 2022, 3.5 million people were immunized against TBVE (vaccinated and revaccinated). Emergency immunoprophylaxis with immunoglobulin covered 24.5 % of the people affected by tick bites (children accounted for 34.3 %). The forecast for TBVE incidence in Russia in 2023 remains favorable. It is expected to be reduced to (0.83±0.298) 0/0000. However, there was not only an increase in the number of TBVE cases, but also the proportion of clinical manifestations of the disease, as well as lethal outcomes among those who suffered from tick bites in 2022. If this pattern holds, the incidence of TBVE in 2023 will be higher than predicted, especially in the constituent entities where the share of individuals with manifest forms among those who suffered from tick bites has increased greatly

Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> drug resistance in TB children

Background. Russian Federation is included in the list of 30 countries with the highest burden of tuberculosis, including MDR tuberculosis. The most important part of this problem is the primary MDR/XDR TB in children.The aim: a comparative analysis of the phenotypic and genotypic profile of drug resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs (ATP) according to whole genome sequencing of M. tuberculosis strains from children.Materials and methods. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) results of 61 M. tuberculosis isolates from children with tuberculosis in 2006–2020 in the Russian Federation were analyzed for anti-TB drug resistance mutations, according to the WHO catalog and were compared with the results of phenotypic drug sensitivity.Results. The M. tuberculosis belonged to two genetic groups: Beijing genotype – 82 % (50/61) dominant Central Asian Russian (31/50) and B0/W148 (16/50) subtypes, and non-Beijing (Ural, S, LAM) – 18 % (11/61). Three isolates belonged to Asian Ancestral subtype (3/50). Of the 61 isolates, only 14.7 % (9/61) were sensitive to antiTB drugs, 49.2 % (30/61) were MDR and 14.7 % (9/61) were pre-XDR. Comparison of the resistance profile (MDR/pre-XDR) with genotype revealed an upward shift for Beijing isolates, in particular Beijing B0/W148 (15/16) subline compared to other Beijing (19/34) (Chi-square with Yates correction = 5.535; p &lt; 0.05) and nonBeijing (5/12) (Chi-square with Yates correction = 6.741; p &lt; 0.05) subtypes. Discrepancies between genotypic and phenotypic drug resistance profiles were found in 11.5 % (7/61) of cases.Conclusions. Based on the analysis of WGS data, the genotypic characteristics of M. tuberculosis and the most complete set of drug resistance mutations were obtained, indicating a significant prevalence in MDR and pre-XDR TB of cases caused by epidemic subtypes of Beijing (B0/W148 and Central Asian Russian). The molecular mechanisms of adaptation of M. tuberculosis to the treatment of anti-TB drugs are not unique for the child population but reflect the general processes of the spread of MDR/XDR in Russia