Insight into Population Structure and Drug Resistance of Pediatric Tuberculosis Strains from China and Russia Gained through Whole-Genome Sequencing.

This study aimed to determine phenotypic and genotypic drug resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from children with tuberculosis (TB) in China and Russia, two high-burden countries for multi/extensively-drug resistant (MDR/XDR) TB. Whole-genome sequencing data of M. tuberculosis isolates from China (n = 137) and Russia (n = 60) were analyzed for phylogenetic markers and drug-resistance mutations, followed by comparison with phenotypic susceptibility data. The Beijing genotype was detected in 126 Chinese and 50 Russian isolates. The Euro-American lineage was detected in 10 Russian and 11 Chinese isolates. In the Russian collection, the Beijing genotype and Beijing B0/W148-cluster were dominated by MDR strains (68% and 94%, respectively). Ninety percent of B0/W148 strains were phenotypically pre-XDR. In the Chinese collection, neither of the Beijing sublineages was associated with MDR/pre-XDR status. MDR was mostly caused by low fitness cost mutations (rpoB S450L, katG S315T, rpsL K43R). Chinese rifampicin-resistant strains demonstrated a higher diversity of resistance mutations than Russian isolates (p = 0.003). The rifampicin and isoniazid resistance compensatory mutations were detected in some MDR strains, but they were not widespread. The molecular mechanisms of M. tuberculosis adaptation to anti-TB treatment are not unique to the pediatric strains, but they reflect the general situation with TB in Russia and China.

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant protection in girls with type 1 diabetes mellitus during reproductive system development.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is found worldwide and is regarded as one of the main risks to human health. The objective of this study was to determine the state of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidant protection in girls with T1D type considering the stages of reproductive system development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 56 young girls with T1D and 60 healthy girls (control) matched by age. The study population was divided into 3 age groups: prepubertal, adolescent, and juvenile. The state of LPO and antioxidant system was assessed using the coefficient of oxidative stress that represented the ratio of LPO products to general antioxidative blood activity. Spectrophotometric and fluorometric methods were applied. RESULTS: The results of our study showed increased conjugated diene (CD) and thiobarbituric acid reactant (TBAR) concentrations as well as a decreased reduced glutathione level in prepubertal girls with T1D. Adolescent girls with T1D had a significantly greater CD level and juvenile girls with T1D had a significantly greater TBAR level and lower α-tocopherol concentration than girls in the control group. The greatest coefficient of oxidative stress (1.16) was observed in the prepubertal period. CONCLUSIONS: The prepubertal period is characterized by the most severe state of lipid peroxidation process-antioxidant protection.

The effect of low alcohol consumption during pregnancy on the lipid peroxidation-antioxidant defense system of women, their alcohol-exposed infants, and growth, health, and developmental outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the effects of low-dose alcohol consumption on the "lipid peroxidation-antioxidant defense" (LPO-AOD) system of mothers and infants, and on infant growth and development. This study examined effects of alcohol consumption on the LPO-AOD system of pregnant women and newborns and infant development. METHODS: A total of 209 pregnant women were recruited for this prospective study at the first prenatal visit and followed until delivery: 112 consumed alcohol and 97 reported no alcohol use during pregnancy. Infants were evaluated at birth, and at 6 and 12 months of age. The study controlled for the confounding effect of maternal smoking. RESULTS: Biomarkers of lipid peroxidation, for example, thiobarbituric acid reactants, were higher and the activity of the antioxidant defense system was lower in drinkers and their infants. Higher rates of pathological conditions and slower postnatal growth were observed among infants who were prenatally exposed to alcohol. Low-dose alcohol use and tobacco smoking were associated with lower postnatal infant growth trajectories, resulting in restricted growth at 6 and 12 months among infants born to mothers who drank or smoked during pregnancy. Alcohol had a broad effect on the infant and maternal LPO-AOD system, while the effect of smoking was limited in this study to maternal glutathione peroxidase. CONCLUSIONS: Small amounts of alcohol consumed during pregnancy are associated with dysfunction of the LPO-AOD system and development of oxidative stress in women and their children. Identification and preventive interventions are needed for pregnant women who use alcohol in any amount.

Lipid peroxidation depends on the clock 3111T/C gene polymorphism in menopausal women with Insomnia.

A comparative analysis of lipid peroxidation processes and antioxidant defense system in Caucasian menopausal women with/without insomnia depending on the genotype of Clock 3111T/C gene polymorphism was performed. Two hundred and fourteen Caucasian menopausal women divided into control (without insomnia) and main group (with insomnia) were examined. Lipid peroxidation (conjugated dienes, thiobarbituric acid reactants) and antioxidant defense system parameters (?-tocopherol, retinol, reduced and oxidized glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase) were determined by spectrofluorophotometer and immunoenzymometric methods. Patients with insomnia carriers of the TT-genotype had a significantly higher thiobarbituric acid reactants level and glutathione peroxidase activity as compared to group with insomnia carriers of the minor 3111C-allele (p < .05). A comparative analysis of the parameters in the women of the main and control groups showed higher conjugated dienes, thiobarbituric acid reactants levels and lower retinol, reduced glutathione levels, glutathione reductase activity in women with insomnia carriers of the TT-genotype (p < .05). The carriers of the minor allele with insomnia had a higher conjugated dienes levels and lower glutathione peroxidase activity as compared to control (p < .05). Thus, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system parameters in Caucasian menopausal women with insomnia depend on the Clock 3111T/C gene polymorphism.

Antioxidant status in peri- and postmenopausal women.

Menopause is a risk factor for oxidative stress. The aim of our study is to assess antioxidant system parameters (α-tocopherol, retinol, reduced glutathione, total antioxidant activity) in peri- and postmenopausal women. The antioxidant defense activity by estimation of total antioxidant activity, α-tocopherol, retinol, oxidized and reduced glutathione levels was studied in women of reproductive age (n=37), in perimenopausal (n=41) and postmenopausal women (n=41). In our study we used spectrofluorofotometer methods. Statistical analysis was performed by non-parametric tests with p<0.05 as the level of significance. The results of our study showed the decrease of α-tocopherol and retinol concentrations and the increase of oxidized glutathione level in blood serum both in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, the total antioxidant activity of blood serum was decreased in postmenopausal women only. The results of our study demonstrate that decrease of antioxidant defense system resources depends on the menopausal phase.

Sleep-disordered breathing in 15-year-old boy with arterial hypertension.

Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSA/HS) is the basis of the spectrum of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and is a condition characterized by the presence of snoring, repetitive partial upper airway obstruction (hypopnea) and/or intermittent complete obstruction (apnea), long enough to cause reduce the level of oxygen in the blood (desaturation), fragmented sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. It is known that OSA/HS in the middle and older age predisposes to arterial hypertension (AH). We discuss a case of 15-year-old boy with AH and OSA/HS. He was treated on nasal continuous positive pressure in the upper airway (nasal CPAP) with good results.