Diagnostic markers of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in patients with severe asthma.

Introduction: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a lung disease in patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis (CF) caused by chronic allergic inflammation to Aspergillus spp. antigens. The role of different immunological mediators in the formation of chronic allergic inflammation in patients with ABPA is not sufficiently explored.

Mechanism of Activation of Enteric Nociceptive Neurons via Interaction of TLR4 and TRPV1 Receptors.

Evidence obtained by immunohistochemical double labeling and confocal laser scanning microscopy suggests that capsaicin, a ligand of the TRPV1 nociceptive vanilloid receptor, increases the number of TLR4-positive neurons in the rat colon myenteric plexus. In colitis caused by trinitrobenzene sulfonate, an increase in TRPV1 expression was more significant in both plexuses. Specific inhibitor of the TLR4 (C34) pattern-recognition receptor reduces TRPV1 expression in enteric neurons of both intact rats and rats with induced acute colitis.

[Ultrastructural Patterns of Interactions between Murine Lung Macrophages and Yeast Cells of Cryptococcus neoformans Strains with Different Virulence].

This article presents the ultrastructural patterns of interactions between the murine lung macrophages and cells of low- (RKPGY-881, -1165, -1178) and high-virulence (RKPGY-1090, -1095, -1106) strains of Cryptococcus neoformans at the seventh post-experimental day. It was found that if macrophages ingest living yeast cells, the latter can: 1) become completely free from polysaccharide capsules, after that their contents undergo lysis, and cell wall debris are extruded from the macrophage (first scenario); 2) become partly free from their capsules, destroy the phagosomal plasma membrane and induce destructive processes inside the macrophage causing their death (second scenario); or 3) not lose their capsules and localize inside macrophage in latent state (third scenario). Macrophages can also ingest senescent and dead C.

[Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in patients with asthma: Results of a prospective study].

Aim: To estimate the frequency of fungal sensitization and the incidence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in asthmatic patients.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 140 asthmatic patients were examined. They underwent allergologic (skin tests for fungal allergens, estimation of total and fungal allergen-specific IgE levels) and mycological (microscopy and inoculation of respiratory biosubstrates) examinations.

[Common variable immunodeficiency in adults].

The paper analyzes 7 cases of common variable immune deficiency (CVID), a primary immunodeficiency disease. All the cases were detected in outpatients over the age of 40 years. The diagnosis was based on their history data and general clinical findings with due regard for the results of previously conducted functional studies, expert opinions, and the results of immunological studies including the quantitative and functional indices of T and B cells, phagocytes and the levels of immunoglobulins.