[The role of cytokines in the development and clinical course of cardiac insufficiency].

The review is focused on the main premises of the theory of progressive cardiac insufficiency based on the notion of immune activation and systemic inflammation as markers of adverse prognosis and high risk of cardiovascular complications. The relationship between blood cytokine level/composition and severity of cardiac insufficiency is illustrated. Classification of cytokines is considered along with possible causes of their increased concentration and involvement in the development and clinical course of this condition.

[Features of metabolism of Klebsiella genus bacteria].

Some metabolic peculiarities of bacteria of the genus Klebsiella were investigated. The bacteria under study were isolated from different sources and varied in virulence. The pathogenic and saprotrophic enterobacteria were discriminated based on their response to the addition of carbohydrates or nitrate to the medium.

[The physiological-biochemical properties of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains of different origins].

While comparatively analyzing the properties of Klebsiella pneumoniae from three studied sources (patients, healthy people, environment), no reliable differences between the comparable strains have been revealed. No differences have been found in the toxin formation, hemagglutinating and antilysozymic activity, adhesivity and invasive properties as well as in the peculiarities of gas exchange, while growing on media with different nitrogen and carbon sources. The studied microorganisms differed only in antibiotic resistance: strains isolated from the environment were sensitive to antibiotics, whereas strains of human origin were resistant to them.

[Effect of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen on the physiological and biochemical properties of Bacillus brevis and Pseudomonas mycophaga].

The pattern of oxido-reductive processes and antifungal properties of the bacteria Bacillus brevis and Pseudomonas mycophaga were studied as related to the type and ratio of nitrogen sources (NH4, NO3) in the nutrient medium. The biosynthesis of antibiotics was coupled with the anaerobic pattern of metabolism, and energetic processes of metabolism varied with respect to the nitrogen source. Nitrates exerted an inhibitory effect on the enzymic systems responsible for utilization of ammonium nitrogen.