[Drug-resistant tuberculosis in the Republic of Karelia].

The study of drug resistance (DR) trends in the Republic of Karelia (2000-2005) indicated an increase in the incidence of multidrug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis. Among the contingents of patients, there was a particularly considerable increase in MDR tuberculosis from 18.4 to 57.

[Prevalence of primary drug resistance in M. tuberculosis in four administrative areas of the North-Western Federal District of the Russian Federation].

The paper describes the results of radiometric BACTEC assay of drug susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, isolated from 81 new cases of tuberculosis, to first- and second-line antituberculosis drugs in four administrative areas of the North-Western Federal District of the Russian Federation. The results of determination of drug susceptibility to the antituberculosis drugs by the absolute concentration method and the BACTEC method are also compared. Primary drug resistance has been revealed in 58.

[Factors influencing morbidity rates in preschool children in the city of Orsk].

The comparative contribution of environmental factors to morbidity among the preschoolchildren of the town of Orsk was studied by applying currently available methods. Great morbidity is favoured by toxicosis during maternal second-half pregnancy, the poor health status of neonatal babies at birth and by the end of the first year of life, going to the nurseries where vegetable and calorie diets are not observed, the location of kindergartens in the areas with high traffic, high ambient air pollution with sulfuric anhydride and acid, and with substandard drinking water quality. Lower morbidity in children is in turn promoted by greater quantities of vegetables and fruits in the meals both at home and in the nurseries and kindergartens, over 2-month breast feeding, no adverse working conditions in their parents, as well as implementation of conditioning procedures in children.

[Pulmonary hypertension and myocardial contraction in disseminated types of pulmonary tuberculosis].

To elucidate the influence of hemodynamic factors on the development of right ventricular failure, hemodynamic parameters of the lesser and greater circulations and those characterizing myocardial contractility were studied in 36 patients. Despite profuse lung damage, pulmonary failure, and marked external respiration dysfunction that accompanied disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis, pulmonary hypertension was moderate and failed to be followed by hemodynamic overload, right cardiac hypertrophy and dilatation. Significant reductions in myocardial contractility both of the right and left cavities with a rise in the intensity of an inflammatory process suggest the leading role of a toxic and infectious agent in myocardial damage.