[Current approaches to the morphologic diagnosis of different types of congenital epidermolysis bullosa].

Unlabelled: Congenital epidermolysis bullosa (CEB) is an extensive group of hereditary skin diseases, the differential diagnosis of which is a challenge due to the rarity of this pathology and the diversity of its clinical manifestations. The determination of the type of CEB makes it possible to estimate its prognosis and to facilitate a prenatal diagnosis.

Aim: to optimize the morphological diagnosis of different types of CEB.

Analysis of Polymorphism of Angiotensin System Genes (ACE, AGTR1, and AGT) and Gene ITGB3 in Patients with Arterial Hypertension in Combination with Metabolic Syndrome.

Changes in the frequencies of genotypes and mutant alleles of ACE, AGTR1, AGT, and ITGB3 genes were analyzed in patients with arterial hypertension coupled with metabolic syndrome (N=15) and compared with population data and corresponding parameters in patients with isolated hypertension (N=15). Increased frequency of genotype ID of ACE gene (hypertension predictor) was confirmed for both groups. In case of isolated hypertension, M235M genotype (gene AGT) was more frequent, in case of hypertension combined with metabolic syndrome, the frequency of genotypes A1166C and C1166C of the gene AGTR1 was higher in comparison with population data.

Syphilis epidemiology in 1994-2013, molecular epidemiological strain typing and determination of macrolide resistance in Treponema pallidum in 2013-2014 in Tuva Republic, Russia.

The incidence of syphilis in the Tuva Republic (geographical centre of Asia), Russia has been exceedingly high historically. No detailed examinations and no molecular investigations of Treponema pallidum strains transmitted in the Tuva Republic, or in general, in Russia, were published internationally. We examined the syphilis epidemiology in 1994-2013, and the molecular epidemiology and macrolide resistance in T.

[Role of the skin expression of neuropeptides, neurotrophins and their receptors in the pathogenesis of dermatoses].

Objective: to define the role of neurotransmitters and their receptors in the development of itch and in the maintenance of a skin inflammatory response in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

Material And Methods: Skin biopsy specimens from 30 patients with psoriasis and 30 patients with atopic dermatitis were investigated by histological, immunoperoxidase, and indirect immunofluorescence assays. The investigators determined the expression of protein gene product 9.

[Future Therapeutic Targets in Management of Autoimmune Skin Diseases].

Pemphigus is a severe, potentially fatal bullous skin disease, caused by desmoglein autoantibody production and immune-mediated regulation of T-cells subsets. Conventional therapy including systemic corticosteroids with or without other immunosupressants causes numerous adverse effects and becomes inefficient in refractory patients. In this work, the authors showed a modern view on the pathogenesis ofpemphigus.

[The role of some individual amino acid substitutions in penicillin-binding protein (PBP2) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the emergence of resistance to ceftriaxone].

The goal of the study was to identify amino acid replacements in the structure of penicillin-binding protein PBP2, which may influence on the development of resistance N. gonorhoeae to the III cephalosporins generation. The gene penA of 50 strains of N.

Russian gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility programme (RU-GASP)--resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae during 2009-2012 and NG-MAST genotypes in 2011 and 2012.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a major concern worldwide and gonococcal AMR surveillance globally is imperative for public health purposes. In Eastern Europe, gonococcal AMR surveillance is exceedingly rare. However, in 2004 the Russian gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility programme (RU-GASP) was initiated.

Infliximab plus methotrexate is superior to methotrexate alone in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis in methotrexate-naive patients: the RESPOND study.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of treatment with infliximab plus methotrexate with methotrexate alone in methotrexate-naive patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: In this open-label study, patients 18 years and older with active PsA who were naive to methotrexate and not receiving disease-modifying therapy (N=115) were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either infliximab (5 mg/kg) at weeks 0, 2, 6 and 14 plus methotrexate (15 mg/week); or methotrexate (15 mg/week) alone. The primary assessment was American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 response at week 16.

Proteome and cytokine serum profiling to diagnose a mycosis fungoides.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate a possibility of mycosis fungoides (MF) diagnostics based on protein profiling in blood serum.

Experimental Design: We obtained and analysed samples of blood serum from 23 patients with MF, and 29 psoriasis patients and 22 healthy donors as controls. Protein profiling was carried out using SELDI TOF MS SELDI-TOF and also profiling of 27 cytokines with multiplex immunoassay technology was implemented.

[Rhinosinusogenic orbital complications: the prevalence and principles of treatment].

Results of retrospective analysis of 8397 medical records accumulated in the otorhinolaryngological department of a regional hospital for the last 15 years are presented. The patients were admitted for the treatment of rhinosinusitis. A total of 269 (3.

The Russian gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility programme (RU-GASP)--national resistance prevalence in 2007 and 2008, and trends during 2005-2008.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a major problem worldwide. In the former Soviet countries including Russia, the knowledge regarding AMR has been highly limited. However, in 2004 the Russian gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility programme (RU-GASP) was initiated.

Direct bacterial profiling by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for identification of pathogenic Neisseria.

The present study investigates the suitability of direct bacterial profiling as a tool for the identification and subtyping of pathogenic Neisseria. The genus Neisseria includes two human pathogens, Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, as well as several nonpathogenic Neisseria species. Here, a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry profiling protocol was optimized using a laboratory strain of E.

Analysis of the contribution of molecular mechanisms into formation of gonoccocal resistance to tetracycline.

We applied complex genetic analysis for evaluation of tetracycline-resistance markers in 129 clinical strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from Central, Privolzhskii, and Siberian regions. For detection of mutations in rpsJ gene and MtrRCDE locus we first used minisequence reaction followed by identification of products by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The incidence of detection of resistance markers among the analyzed strains were: tetM--3.

Direct evaluation of drug resistance parameters in gonococcus.

We carried out complex genetic analysis of clinical samples containing N. gonorrhoeae DNA, the genotype and profile of drug resistance of this agent were evaluated. Changes in genes responsible for the formation of N.

Relation between genetic markers of drug resistance and susceptibility profile of clinical Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains.

The main goal of this work is to clarify the predictive value of known genetic markers of Neisseria gonorrhoeae resistance to penicillin, tetracycline, and fluoroquinolones. The correlation between the presence of certain genetic markers and susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae isolates to penicillin, tetracycline, and fluoroquinolones has been analyzed by means of statistical methods.

National surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in 2005-2006 and recommendations of first-line antimicrobial drugs for gonorrhoea treatment in Russia.

Objectives: To investigate comprehensively the antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae during 2005-2006 in a national survey and to recommend effective antimicrobial drugs for the treatment of gonorrhoea in Russia.

Methods: The susceptibility of N gonorrhoeae isolates, cultured mainly from consecutive gonorrhoea patients (n = 1030) during the period January 2005 to December 2006 in Russia, to penicillin G, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and spectinomycin was analysed using the agar dilution method. Nitrocefin discs were used for beta-lactamase detection.

Analysis of genetic markers of N. gonorrhoeae resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics.

A complex method for detection of genetic markers of N. gonorrhoeae resistance to penicillin was developed. Mutations in penA and ponA genes were detected by minisequencing reaction with subsequent detection of reaction products by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

A multi-centre evaluation of nine rapid, point-of-care syphilis tests using archived sera.

Objectives: To evaluate nine rapid syphilis tests at eight geographically diverse laboratory sites for their performance and operational characteristics.

Methods: Tests were compared "head to head" using locally assembled panels of 100 archived (50 positive and 50 negative) sera at each site using as reference standards the Treponema pallidum haemagglutination or the T pallidum particle agglutination test. In addition inter-site variation, result stability, test reproducibility and test operational characteristics were assessed.

[Detection of fluoroquinolone resistance SNPs in gyrA and parC genes of Neisseria gonorrhoeae using MALDI-TOF mass-spectrometry].

For many known mechanisms of the drug resistance in microorganisms are described genetic markers (specific changes in the genome of microorganism, in the majority of the cases representing single nucleotide polymorphism). The search for the new methods, which make possible to identify single nucleotide changes with the greater effectiveness and at smaller prime is actual for the solution of the problem of the identification of the resistant strains. In this work a new approach of the determination of single nucleotide polymorphisms is proposed.

[Resistance of Russian isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to fluoroquinolones].

Fluoroquinolones still belong to the drugs of choice in the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea. At the same time, there have been more data on the spreading N. gonorrhoeae strains resistant to fluoroquinolones.

Fluoroquinolone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from Russia: molecular mechanisms implicated.

Objectives: During a longitudinal study of the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a number of high-level fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates were obtained from the sexually transmitted diseases clinic in the Moscow region in 2002. The aim of the present study was to determine the molecular mechanisms of resistance and to assess the clonal relationship of these strains

Methods: For the 32 clinical strains of N. gonorrhoeae studied, the MIC values were determined for four fluoroquinolones.

Molecular typing of N. gonorrhoeae strains prevalent in the Russian Federation.

Genetic polymorphism of Russian population of N. gonorrhoeae was detected and a system for genotyping of its clinical strains was introduced into practice. Comparative analysis of the prevalence of N.

[The problem of diagnosis and treatment of urogenital chlamydiosis in Russia].

The problems associated with the distribution, diagnosis, classification and treatment of urogenital tract chlamydiosis in Russia are discussed. Some arrangements for the improvement of the activities of the laboratory diagnostic services, the use of the International Classification of urogenital tract chlamydioses and the treatment optimization are offered. The drug of choice in the treatment of urogenital tract chlamydiosis is azithromycin (Sumamed, Pliva).