Antimicrobial resistance of nasopharyngeal pneumococci from children from day-care centres and orphanages in Russia: results of a unique prospective multicentre study

This study assessed the antimicrobial resistance of nasopharyngeal pneumococci isolated from children aged < 5 years in day-care centres and orphanages throughout Russia during 2001-2002. Swabs were collected from 2484 children in 43 day-care centres and eight orphanages in 11 cities of European Russia, and from 1669 children in 37 day-care centres and three orphanages in eight cities of Asian Russia, with a total of 1144 and 912 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates being recovered in European and Asian Russia, respectively. All macrolide-non-susceptible (MICs 0.5-128 mg/L) and fluoroquinolone-non-susceptible (ciprofloxacin MICs > or = 4 mg/L) isolates were tested for resistance mechanisms and clonal relatedness. Non-susceptibility rates, by CLSI criteria, were 19.3%, 0.9% and 0.4% for penicillin G, cefotaxime and amoxycillin-clavulanate, respectively. Resistance to macrolides and lincosamides was also relatively low, i.e., < 7% for clindamycin and 14- and 15-membered macrolides. The highest rates of non-susceptibility were for tetracycline and co-trimoxazole (52.0% and 64.5%, respectively). No clones resistant to ciprofloxacin (MICs > or = 8 mg/L) were found, but 1.7% of isolates were non-susceptible (MIC 4 mg/L). No resistance was found to levofloxacin, gemifloxacin, telithromycin or vancomycin. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis showed no relationship between ciprofloxacin- and macrolide-non-susceptible isolates in European and Asian Russia. Resistance among macrolide-resistant isolates resulted mostly from the presence of erm(B) and mef(A), and from changes in L4; additionally, L22 mutations were common in isolates from Asian Russia. Non-susceptibility to quinolones was associated with mutations in parC and parE among European isolates. Asian Russian isolates had mutations in parC and gyrA, and alterations in parE were more common. There were substantial differences in non-susceptibility and mechanisms of resistance between pneumococci from Asian and European Russia, with orphanages appearing to be 'hot-spots' of resistance.     

Phenotypic characteristics of lewis lung carcinoma cells

We studied adhesive properties and physiological activity in vivo of cells from Lewis lung carcinoma and its metastases. These cells differed in tumorogenic activity and metastatic potential in the syngeneic system. In vivo non-metastasizing cells are characterized by a lower content of surface lectins to tetrasaccharides SiaLe^x [Neu5Ac2-3Gal1-4(Fuc1-3) GlcNAc] and SiaLe^a [Neu5Ac2-3Gal1-3(Fuc1-4)GlcNAc] and trisaccharide HSO₃Le^x [HSO₃2-3Gal1-4(Fuc1-3)GlcNAc] compared to cells forming metastases in the syngeneic system. Metastatic cells with low tumorogenic activity weakly expressed lectins to disaccharide ligands 6-SiaLac [Neu5Ac2-6Gal1-4Glc], 6-HSO₃LacNAc, and A-di [GalNAc 1-3Gal] and trisaccharides H-type 1 [Fuc1-2Gal1-3GlcNAc and Le^x [Fuc1-3(Gal 1-4)GlcNAc] compared to cells that initiated tumor formation in the syngeneic system (similarly to transplanted tumors). We hypothesized that cell receptors to these carbohydrate determinates are involved in the development and growth of primary tumors, while lectins to SiaLe^x, SiaLe^a, and HSO₃Le^x play a role in the progress of tumor process and metastasizing.     

Functional asymmetry of the brain and bone marrow in hemopoiesis in (CBAxC57Bl/6)F(1) mice

The role of functional asymmetry of the brain and bone marrow in the formation of exogenous 8-day splenic CFU was studied in (CBA×C57Bl/6)F1 mice. The intensity of hemopoiesis depended on the motor asymmetry of donors and recipients of bone marrow cells and differed for bone marrow transplantations from the right and left femoral bones.     

Antimotion effect of nooglutyl and its neuronal mechanism

Experiments on rats demonstrate that nooglutyl exhibits pronounced vestibular-protective properties and by its antimotion activity does not rank below classic vestibular protectors, such as scopolamine and diprazine. Electrophysiological experiments on cats show that nooglutyl alters spontaneous activity in 80% of cortical neurons (somatosensory zone I and area 5 of the parietal association cortex) and considerably weakens effects caused by motion sickness: activation of single unit activity of somatosensory zone I and inhibition of neuron responses to somatic stimulation. This property of the preparation is believed to form the basis of its antimotion effect. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, No. 5, pp. 515–516, May, 1995 Presented by P. V. Sergeev, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Telemedicine in north-west Russia

During the last few years, telemedicine based on simple, low-cost technology has increased significantly in the Arkhangelsk region of north-west Russia. Specialists at the regional hospital of Arkhangelsk are diagnosing patients from local hospitals 600-700 km from the capital. A still-image system is used for emergency cases. The same technology, along with telephones with loudspeakers, is also used to provide distance learning at the regional hospitals of Arkhangelsk and Troms?. This article describes the results from the telemedicine collaboration between the University Hospital of Troms? and health-care institutions in Arkhangelsk, and discusses the experience gained.     

State of microcirculation channel in the area of laser "welded" anastomosis of the small intestine]

Experiments were conducted with CO2 and AIG laser on neodymium to study the condition of microcirculation and the degree of its disturbance in the wall of the small intestine in formation of a laser "welded" entero-enteral and termino-terminal anastomosis. The microcirculatory disorders and their extent were found to be directly dependent on the degree of the thermal effect and the width of the coagulation zone in the region of the suture. The results of the experiment confirmed that the suggested powers of the laser effect on the intestinal wall were optimal.     

The thoracoscopic use of the CO2 laser in the combined treatment of pleural empyema]

A new method for treating acute pneumothorax with a bronchopleural fistula was experimentally developed and clinically tested. It is based on thoracoscopic use of CO2 laser radiation. The laser beam energy is employed for evaporation of necrotic tissues in the area of pulmonary destruction, "welding" of the bronchopulmonary fistulae, and general irradiation of the empyema cavity with a defocused beam. Nineteen patients with various disease duration were treated. In 16 patients the bronchial fistulae and the empyema cavity were eliminated and the lung re-expanded. The purulent inflammation in the pleural cavity was acute in these cases.     

The factors that determine the manifestation of uremic poisoning during the development of chronic kidney failure

To specify factors determining the intensity of uremic intoxication, 86 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis were examined without regard for exacerbation at different stages of chronic renal failure. Microcolumn gel chromatography was used to measure the content of medium-size molecules in the blood serum, urine, gastric and intestinal juice of the patients and 22 mongrel dogs before and after bilateral nephrectomy. It has been established that as the mass of acting nephrons decreases, the content of "medium-size" molecules in the blood serum and intestinal juice rises, being unchanged in gastric juice. At the same time the urinary clearance of the given group of substances declines. It is assumed that in stage I chronic renal failure, enhancement of the excretion of "medium-size" molecules in the proximal third of the small intestine is made for by hyperfiltration of intact nephrons. The appearance of the clinical symptomatology in stage II and III chronic renal failure is determined by intensification of absorption of uremic toxins by the intestine, associated with a fall of their urinary clearance. The necessity of early administration of the low-protein diet combined with enterosorbents is stressed.