[Variants of immune response in children with acute respiratory viral infections]. / Varianty immunnogo otveta pri ostrykh respiratorno-virusnykh infektsiiakh u detei.

Four patterns of changes in the proliferative activity of T-lymphocytes in the lymphocyte blastogenesis test with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) are distinguished in children with acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI). The differences between these patterns are due to aggravated clinical severity of the infection process and enhancement of the cytokine reaction of macrophage monocytes. Comparison of immunological characteristics of response to ARVI in 4 groups of children showed that high reactivity of T-lymphocytes during the acute phase of disease (first and third variants) correlated with a relatively weak production of immunoglobulins and antiviral antibodies, while the suppression of T-lymphocyte response to PHA (second and fourth variants) is associated with expressed humoral profile of immune response by the level of immunoglobulin and antiviral antibody production. These data permit a hypothesis about the predominant generation of T x 1-like clones in children with the first and third variants of immune response and of T x 2-like clones in children with the second and fourth variants.

[Variants of the immune response in the dynamics of the localized form of stomatopharyngeal diphtheria in children]. / Varianty immunnogo otveta v dinamike lokalizovannoi formy difterii rotoglotki u detei.

4 variants of immune response (IR) have been identified according to the dynamics of the development of nonspecific immunosuppression as determined in the reaction of lymphocyte blast transformation to phytohemagglutinin. These variants, characterized by a rise in the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta, immunoglobulins of 4 classes, are linked with the increased risk of the development of clinically pronounced forms (CPF) of diphtheria. The antigen-specific profile of each of these variants (types) of IR has been studied. Proofs of the fact that each type of IR has definite critical mechanisms of immune protection, contributing to the prevention of CPF of diphtheria, are presented. Treatment with antitoxic antidiphtheria serum produces different effect in 4 types of IR as it acts on different mechanisms of IR.

[Respiratory chlamydial infection in children with a complicated course of acute respiratory viral infections]. / Respiratornaia khlamidiinaia infektsiia u detei s oslozhnennym techeniem ostrykh respiratornykh virusnykh infektsii.

The role and influence of Chlamydia trachomatis on the development and course of acute respiratory virus infections (ARVI) in 130 children admitted to the hospital of the Research Institute of Children's Infections (St. Petersburg) was studied. The occurrence of respiratory Chlamydia infections in ARVI patients with an unfavorable premorbid background was 35-36%. The disease took its course simultaneously with the mixed infection of the respiratory tract with viruses, pneumococci and their associations with staphylococci and Haemophilus influenzae. Chlamydia infection in children had no influence on the character of the clinical manifestation of ARVI with the exception of the obstruction syndrome which was constantly observed in children with ARVI (p < 0.001).

[Determination of the phenotype of N-acetyltransferase activity]. / Opredelenie fenotipa N-atsetiltransferaznoi aktivnosti.

The authors suggest a simple easily reproducible micromethod for determination of genetically determined activity of N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.5) and acetylator phenotype. The method consists in oral intake of sulfadimezine as an acetylation substrate, followed by measurement of the enzyme activity from the degree of sulfadimezine acetylation in blood or urine samples. Examinations of 121 children with acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) and 36 healthy children have shown that children with a slow acetylation type are more liable to ARVI. This was confirmed by the fact that complicated ARVI forms in young children occurred as a rule only in 'slow acetylators', mostly in children with the lowest N-acetyltransferase activity.

[Viral and bacterial associations and their role in the development of bronchopulmonary diseases in children]. / Virusno-bakterial'nye assotsiiatsii i ikh rol' v formirovanii bronkholegochnykh zabolevanii u detei.

Clinical and laboratory criteria for estimating the role of viruses and bacteria that determine bronchopulmonary diseases have been derived. The clinical importance of the detectable microflora, part of which permanently invade the nasopharynx (pneumococcus, adenoviruses) is under critical review. Pneumonias that may develop within the first days of acute respiratory viral infection are characterized by monoviral influenzal or RS-infection; later pneumonias are marked by viral infection with the predominance of adenoviruses. Attempt has been made to reveal the role of geno- and phenotypic factors (N-acetylation, lipid peroxidation, synthesis of alpha-interferon). The data obtained support an assumption about self-regulation of the child's immune system and the adaptation character of responses in mixed infections.