[Composition of microorganism community in the airways of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

This review summarizes results of research on the composition of microorganism community in the airways of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Modern technologies for molecular genetic identification of microorganisms provide a deep insight into the microbiota of patients with chronic broncho-obstructive diseases for the better understanding of bronchopulmonary pathology in man and effect of microbiotic communities on the clinical course of diseases and formation of resistance to antibiotics.

[The prevalence of food allergies in children in world nidus of opisthorchiasis: background and study methodology of epidemiological survey EuroPrevall].

Accordingly to numerous surveys food allergy affects up to 2-6% of population in different countries and varies due to numerous factors including the prevalence of helminths infestation. The food allergy prevalence data in Russia are based on official medical statistics. The study was performed as part of "The Prevalence, Cost and Basis of Food Allergy Across Europe" (EU funded project No FP6-2006-TTC-TU-5 Proposal 045879 EuroPrevall). The aim is to create the concept offood allergy in children in opisthorchiasis endemic area based on epidemiological study of the prevalence, risk factors and clinical features. The main objective of the study will be the working out of the food safety regulations. This article describes the study design and its methodology.

[Molecular and pharmacogenetic mechanisms of severe asthma].

This review summarizes the results of studies to identify the dominant mechanisms of development and persistence of inflammation in severe asthma and results of pharmacogenetic studies of determination response to drugs. These mechanisms could potentially be used for diagnostic purposes and become the new targets of asthma therapy. Pharmacogenetic information will enable the use of a personalized approach to the asthma management which will adjust the therapy technology and increase the possibility of achieving disease control.

[Cytomorphological analysis of remodeling of the bronchial wall in different types of bronchial asthma].

The objective of the present work was to search for the tissue and cellular markers of remodeling of bronchial mucosa in the patients with different clinical forms of bronchial asthma (BA). The use of up-to-date morphometric techniques has demonstrated that mild and moderately severe forms of bronchial asthma are accompanied by the development of Th2-immune response associated with increased production of interleukin-4 and marked degranulation of eosinophilic granulocytes resulting in desquamation of epithelium and goblet cell hyperplasia. The severe BA phenotype of "chronic asthma with fixed obstruction" is associated with the development of non-atopic inflammation in the bronchial mucous membrane that manifests itself as the increased concentration of interleukin-8 in bronchial mucosa and its neutrophilic infiltration leading to the development of pronounced subepithelial fibrosis, thickening of the basal membrane, and atrophy of epithelium. Specific structural changes in bronchial mucosa of the patients presenting with BA underlie functional disturbances that cause severe bronchial obstructive syndrome.

[Pathomorphological characteristics of unstable bronchial asthma (brittle phenotype)].

AIM: To ascertain morphological features of severe uncontrolled bronchial asthma (BA) of brittle phenotype. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Standard bronchofibroscopy was made in 10 patients with severe BA (brittle phenotype) and 9 patients with moderate BA. Cell composition of bronchial lavage and morphological indices of bronchial mucosa biopsies were studied. RESULTS: Patients with brittle BA had low total cytosis of lavage fluid compared to patients with moderate BA patients (1.73 +/- 0.10 and 2.84 +/- 0.21 x 10(6) in 1 ml, respectively, p = 0.001). Bronchobiopsy samples from patients with brittle BA were characterized by reduced cubic density of tegmental epithelium, ciliary and goblet epithelyocytes, height of epithelial layer and relative gland volume, increased thickness of basal membrane (18. 77 +/- 2.74 mcm), relative volume of connective tissue, hyperplasia of smooth muscle cells in the proper mucous plate. Infiltrate of bronchial mucosa in brittle BA contained a predominant amount of histiomacrophagal elements (65.80 +/- 3.83 in 1 mm2) and lymphocytes (52.94 +/- 4.38 in 1 mm2), moderate count of easinophils and neutrophils (15.35 +/- 2.13 and 19.04 +/- 2.23 in 1 mm2, respectively). CONCLUSION: Patients with severe brittle BA had atrophic alterations, inflammatory mucosal infiltration, marked bronchial remodeling in spite of therapy with high doses of inhalatory corticosteroids.