[Study of the resistome of human microbial communities using a targeted panel of antibiotic resistance genes in COVID-19 patients].

AIM: To study overall drug resistance genes (resistome) in the human gut microbiome and the changes in these genes during COVID-19 in-hospital therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted. Only cases with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 RNA using polymerase chain reaction in oro-/nasopharyngeal swab samples were subject to analysis. The patients with a documented history of or current comorbidities of the hepatobiliary system, malignant neoplasms of any localization, systemic and autoimmune diseases, as well as pregnant women were excluded. Feces were collected from all study subjects for subsequent metagenomic sequencing. The final cohort was divided into two groups depending on the disease severity: mild (group 1) and severe (group 2). Within group 2, five subgroups were formed, depending on the use of antibacterial drugs (ABD): group 2A (receiving ABD), group 2AC (receiving ABD before hospitalization), group 2AD (receiving ABD during hospitalization), group 2AE (receiving ABD during and before hospitalization), group 2B (not receiving ABD). RESULTS: The median number of antibiotic resistance (ABR) genes (cumulative at all time points) was significantly higher in the group of patients treated with ABD: 81.0 (95% CI 73.8-84.5) vs. 51.0 (95% CI 31.1-68.4). In the group of patients treated with ABD (2A), the average number of multidrug resistance genes (efflux systems) was significantly higher than in controls (group 2B): 47.0 (95% CI 46.0-51.2) vs. 21.5 (95% CI 7.0-43.9). Patients with severe coronavirus infection tended to have a higher median number of ABR genes but without statistical significance. Patients in the severe COVID-19 group who did not receive ABD before and during hospitalization also had more resistance genes than the patients in the comparison group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that fewer ABR genes were identified in the group with a milder disease than in the group with a more severe disease associated with more ABR genes, with the following five being the most common: SULI, MSRC, ACRE, EFMA, SAT.

[QUANTITATIVE DNA EVALUATION OF THE HIGH CARCINOGENIC RISK OF HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUSES AND HUMAN HERPES VIRUSES IN MALES WITH FERTILITY DISORDERS].

Infertility is an actual medical and social problem. In 50% of couples it is associated with the male factor and in more than 50% of cases the etiology of the infertility remains insufficiently understood. The goal of this work was to study the prevalence and to perform quantitative analysis of the human herpes viruses (HHV) and high carcinogenic risk papilloma viruses (HR HPV) in males with infertility, as well as to assess the impact of these infections on sperm parameters. Ejaculate samples obtained from 196 males fall into 3 groups. Group 1 included men with the infertility of unknown etiology (n = 112); group 2, patients who had female partners with the history of spontaneous abortion (n = 63); group 3 (control), healthy men (n = 21). HHV and HR HPV DNA in the ejaculates were detected in a total of 42/196 (21.4%) males: in 31 and 11 patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p > 0.05) and in none of healthy males. HHV were detected in 24/42; HR HPV, in 18/42 males (p > 0.05) without significant difference between the groups. Among HR HPV genotypes of the clade A9 in ejaculate were more frequent (14/18, p = 0.04). Comparative analysis of the sperm parameters showed that in the ejaculates of the infected patients sperm motility as well as the number of morphologically normal cells were significantly reduced compared with the healthy men. The quantification of the viral DNA revealed that in 31% of the male ejaculates the viral load was high: > 3 Ig10/100000 cells. Conclusion. The detection of HHV and HR HPV in the ejaculate is associated with male infertility. Quantification of the viral DNA in the ejaculate is a useful indicator for monitoring viral infections in infertility and for decision to start therapy.

Low Concentrations of Hydrogen Peroxide Activate the Antioxidant Defense System in Human Sperm Cells.

The effect of low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (10-100 µM) on sperm motility and on the activity of the sperm enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDS) was investigated. Incubation of semen samples with 10 and 100 µM hydrogen peroxide increased the content of spermatozoa with progressive motility by 20 and 18%, respectively, and enhanced the activity of GAPDS in the sperm cells by 27 and 20% compared to a semen sample incubated without additions. It was also found that incubation with 10 µM hydrogen peroxide increased the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) in sperm cells by 50% on average compared to that in the control samples. It is supposed that low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide activate the pentose phosphate pathway, resulting in NADPH synthesis and the reduction of the oxidized glutathione by glutathione reductase yielding GSH. The formed GSH reduces the oxidized cysteine residues of the GAPDS active site, increasing the activity of the enzyme, which in turn enhances the content of sperm cells with progressive motility. Thus, the increase in motile spermatozoa in the presence of low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can serve as an indicator of normal functioning of the antioxidant defense system in sperm cells.

[Use of a helminthic indicator of soil to determine the frequency of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women]. / Ispol'zovanie gel'mintologicheskogo pokazatelia zagriazneniia pochvy dlia opredeleniia chastoty toksoplazmoza sredi beremennykh zhenshchin.

Studies have ascertained the high dissemination of the soil with helminthic eggs and cysts of intestinal pathogenic protozoa (Lamblia, Toxoplasma, etc.) in some districts of the Belgorod Region. Comparing these data with the morbidity rates in pregnant females with toxoplasmosis shows a direct high correlation of the above indicators. The latter makes it possible to recommend the helminthic indicators of soil contamination to be used to determine the rate of toxoplasmosis in pregnant females.

[Control over prostatic functional activity]. / Kontrol' za funktsional'noi aktivnost'iu predstatel'noi zhelezy.

The investigation of the tendency in the development of benign hyperplasia of the prostate is a crucial point in decision on the treatment initiation, schedule and policy. In view of this, the knowledge of the intensity of cellular proliferation and secretion, i.e. prostatic functional activity, in line with detrusor assessment is held essential. Optimal criteria of this value can be obtained by histological examination of prostatic biopsies, investigation of androgen and estrogen receptors in distant adenomatous nodes, by comparison of various biochemical ingredients in prostatic secretion. Twelve biochemical ingredients of prostatic secretion were studied in patients of the control group, in those with prostatic stones, adenoma, chronic prostatitis. The treatment included either androgenic, or antiandrogenic, or estrogenic therapy. Prostatic secretion biochemistry analyzed mathematically showed fluctuations in zinc ions concentration which appeared most significant. It is inferred that zinc ion concentration in prostatic secretion must be considered a significant means of overall evaluation of prostatic function able to represent the capacity of glandular epithelium for response to androgenic stimulation or estrogenic (antiandrogenic) inhibition of secretory and proliferative processes.

[Regulation of prostatic growth, pathogenesis of prostatic adenoma and cancer]. / Reguliatsiia rosta predstatel'noi zhelezy, patogenez adenomy i raka predstatel'noi zhelezy.

This review discusses the molecular mechanism of the regulation of prostate growth, maintenance of the prostate integrity and possible disturbances in these processes leading to the development of prostatic cancer and benign hyperplasia. The role of hormones, growth factors, oncogenes is described in more details. The participation of the angiotensin converting enzyme and renin-angiotensin systems in the regulation of polyamine synthesis in the prostate and the regulation of prostate growth is assumed.

[Blood viscosity in ischemic heart disease with different types of hyperlipoproteinemia]. / Viazkost' krovi u bol'nykh ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa s raznymi tipami giperlipoproteidemii.

Fifty patients with chronic forms of ischaemic heart disease were examined, their blood viscosity being determined with the aid of a rotational viscosimeter, and their hematocrit and fibrinogen levels being measured. Some increase in blood viscosity was found in patients with ischaemic heart disease with a tension shift of 0.7 and 0.5 dyn/cm2. In analysing the interrelationship between the blood viscosity figures and the risk factors inherent in ischaemic heart disease it was found that smoking results in an increasing blood viscosity with low tension shifts. The highest blood viscosity with low tension shifts. The highest blood viscosity values were found in patients with IIb and IV types of hyperlipoproteinemia. A direct correlation was established between the level of triglycerides and blood viscosity with a tension shift of 0.7 dyn/cm2.

[Several indices of immunity in the pre- and postoperative periods of patients with brain neoplasms]. / Nekotorye polazateli immuniteta v do- i posleoperatsionnom periode u bol'nykh s opukholiami golovnogo mozga.

Surgical trauma of the brain in neurooncological patients is accompanied by acute blood loss, results in a significant suppression of the resistance of the body, thus favouring the development of endogenous infection. The mobilization of the body resistance forces falls behind the growth of the number of pathogens. An active tactics is mandatory for the restoration of the suppressed immune systems by way of specific and nonspecific immunity stimulation.