Peculiarities of the ultrastructure of mixed biofilms of the causing agent of diphtheria and conditionally pathogenic microorganisms isolated from the human respiratory tract.

In the post-epidemic period, the circulation of the causative agent of diphtheria in the population is maintained due to the carrier of bacteria. Entering an organism with a high level of antitoxic immunity, the pathogen enters into intermicrobial interactions with representatives of the opportunistic microflora inhabiting the respiratory tract and forms a biofilm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Modeling of the biofilm formation process was carried out using the strains C.diphtheriae gravis tox+№. 665, C.pseudodiphtheriticum, S.aureus. Biofilm samples were placed on the stage of a scanning electron microscope and gold-sputtered in an EicoIB-3 ioncoater vacuum deposition unit (Eico, Japan) at an ion current of 6-8 mA. The samples obtained were examined in a JEOL 6510LB scanning electronmicroscope. («JEOL¼ company, Japan) at an accelerating voltage of 30 kV. RESULTS: Electron microscopic examination of samples of biofilms C. diphtheriae gravis tox+ № 665 and opportunistic microorganisms shows groups of 2-7 young bacterial cells packed into a single microcapsule. Much more voluminous accumulations of bacterial cells (more than 10-12) are typical for biofilm samples represented by C. diphtheriae gravis tox+№ 665 and S. aureus cells. On the surface of the biofilm, young bacterial cells with an intact structure are located at various stages of active division. The conglomerates of bacterial cells, covered with a common intermicrobial matrix, adhere tightly to each other and form a multilayer biofilm. CONCLUSION: Features of the ultrastructure of biofilms containing strains of C. diphtheriae and opportunistic bacteria, especially antibiotic-resistant bacteria inhabiting the respiratory tract, can contribute to long-term persistence of the pathogen of diphtheria in the body. They not only significantly complicate the access of antibacterial drugs, but also interfere with the isolation of C.diphtheriae during bacteriological research.

[Features of biofilm morphology, formed by Corynebacterium diphtheriae gravis tox+ strains].

AIM: Study the structure of homogenous microbial communities of Corynebacterium diphtheriae gravis tox+ strains during formation of biofilms in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Object of study--typical and biofilm cultures of C. diphtheriae gravis tox+ museum and circulating strains. Intensity of biofilm formation was evaluated by OD on microplate reader at 540 nm wave length studying 120 and 720 hour cultures. S-450 (Hitachi, Japan) scanning electron microscope was used. RESULTS: The peak of exopolysaccharide matrix (EPS) formation, that is formed in the process of biofilm formation, by museum strain takes place at earlier terms of cultivation (120 hours) than circulating (720 hours). An inverse correlation was established during analysis of bacterial cells of museum and circulating strains of C. diphtheriae during biofilm formation between them and intensity of EPS formation. At maximum EPS content, that took place at various terms of cultivation of the 2 studied strains of diphtheria causative agent, a reduction of corynebacteria cells was observed. CONCLUSION: Bacterial biofilms of museum and circulating strains of C. diphtheriae and patterns of dynamics of EPS reflect, probably, adaptive abilities of the causative agent, that determine its competitiveness in the fight for adhesion sites, resistance to factors of natural immunity and as a result--prolonged persistence in the organism of bacterial carriers.

[Potentials of combined non-medication therapy of arterial hypertension associated with ischemic heart disease].

The objective of the present work was to develop methods and a scientifically sound rationale for the optimization of clinical results of the treatment of patients presenting with arterial hypertension (AH) associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) using red and infra-red (IR) low-intensity laser irradiation. The study included a total of 90 patients of working age (62.2% of men and 37.8% of women) having AH associated with coronary heart disease and abnormal blood lipid spectrum. They were allocated to three groups each comprising 30 patients matched for age, sex, severity of clinical conditions, and character of maintenance medicamental therapy. Patients of group 1 were treated by intravenous blood irradiation with laser light; those in group 2 were given similar treatment in combination with external low-intensity IR laser therapy; patients of group 3 received basal medicamental therapy. The study allowed the clinical value of different variants of low-intensity laser therapy to be assessed as regards efficiency of correction of hypersympaticotony, disturbances of lipid metabolism, and refractoriness to pharmaceutical products as well as improved tolerance of physical exercises, anti-hypertensive, anti-ischemic, and anti-anginal effects, diastolic function, and quality of life as targets of the comprehensive rehabilitative program designed for patients with AH associated with coronary heart disease. An optimized therapeutic modality is proposed for patients presenting with these pathologies based on the application of the low-intensity laser irradiation regime characterized by mutual amplification and complementary action of red and infrared lights.

Experimental validation of videoendoscopic isolation and occlusion of the bloodflow in open ductus arteriosus.

The potentialities of videoendoscopic isolation and extravasal occlusion of large vessels with titanium clips were studied in acute and chronic experiments on 36 animals and anatomic studies on 5 human cadavers. The number and optimal sites for insertion of trocars and disposition of instruments and thoracoscope for isolation of open ductus arteriosus were determined. A method for videoendoscopic isolation of vessels is developed and possible complications and measures for their liquidation evaluated. High efficiency and low traumatism of videoendoscopic operation are proven under condition of strict adherence to methodology and sufficient qualification of the surgeon in endosurgical manipulations.

Extravasal occlusion of large vessels with titanic clips: efficiency, indications, and contraindications.

The mechanism of extravasal occlusion of blood vessels with titanic clips "Atrauclip" and "Ligaclip extra" was studied in order to reveal indications and contraindications to their use. Occlusion with the clips of both types was ineffective in vessels with a diameter of >7.0 mm. Arteritis or the presence of an intravascular occlusion facility in the vessel were also the contraindications for clip occlusion. In overcases the procedure of occlusion with titanic clips was efficient and atraumatic.

[Ozone therapy of migraine]. / Ozonoterapia migreni.

Application of ozone therapy was based on the notions of a significant role of lipid peroxidation in the pathogenesis of migraine attacks. A therapy was performed in form of intravenous infusions of the ozonized physiologic solutions with ozone, concentration 1200 micrograms/l; a therapy course included 8-9 procedures. 68 patients with migraine attacks, followed by the pronounced autonomic changes, that developed in the frequency range from 5-6 times a year to 2-3 times a week were examined. 40 patients formed a study group and 28 individuals control one (in a control group the physiologic solution was used without ozone). The intensity of a headache, the expression of an anxiety, the state of the vessels of the brain and some biochemical indices were determined. Positive dynamics of the disease was 25% higher in the study group than made up a those in the controls (p < 0.05). In 58% of the patients the attacks were absent during 3-5 months after ozone therapy; less intensity of headache was observed after their relapse. Improvements in the patients coincides with changes in biochemical parameters.

[Effect of euphylline on the cyclic nucleotide content and cAMP phosphodiesterase activity of the lymphocytes of bronchial asthma patients]. / Vliianie éufillina na soderzhanie tsiklicheskikh nukleotidov i aktivnost' fosfodiésterazy tsAMF v limfotsitakh bol'nykh bronkhial'noi astmoi.

The content of cAMP, cGMP and cAMP phosphodiesterase activity were studied in lymphocytes of bronchial asthma patients and normal persons before and 15 min after euphylline administration in a dose of 4 mg/kg. The cAMP/cGMP ratio was significantly lowered in patients. Euphylline administration led to its significant increase. In normal persons, this ratio remained unchanged. Some patients manifested an elevated activity of cAMP phosphodiesterase. In these cases, administration of euphylline brought about a significant increase in cAMP level in lymphocytes in the presence of the lowered activity of the enzyme phosphodiesterase. In the remaining patients and in normal persons, these indicators did not significantly change. It is suggested that the mechanism of euphylline action is dependent on cAMP phosphodiesterase activity.