[Diagnosis of latent primary intrathoracic tuberculosis of respiratory system in the phase of calcification in children].

The paper shows the latent activity of newly diagnosed intrathoracic tuberculosis in the phase of calcification in children: clinical and X-ray changes, tuberculin sensitivity (Manteaux test), the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) in the sputum and blood (cultivation, bacterioscopy, polymerase chain reaction PCR), the blood levels of acute-phase reagents: haptoglobin and alpha 1-protease inhibitor (alpha 1-PI), immunological parameters, tuberculosis antibodies (TAb), and MBT antigen. Ninety children were examined before treatment. Twenty-five children (Group 1) were found to have single minor calcified masses in one group of intrathoracic lymph nodes or in the lung.

[Significance of molecular genetic and immunological techniques in risk groups and in children with tuberculosis].

A total of 188 children and adolescents were examined. In all the children, blood Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) DNA was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and MBT antigens (AG) and antibodies (AB) were by enzyme immunoassay. The studies have shown that it is expedient to concurrently determine MBT DNA and MBT AT in order to identify local forms of tuberculosis in children from risk groups.

[Tuberculous IgE antibodies. Part II. Study of its concentrations in different forms of tuberculosis].

Tuberculosis-afflicted lung are infiltrated by two functionally types of lymphocytes, which presumably counteract with each other by producing proinflammatory (type 1) and anti-inflammatory (type 2) cytokines. It is held that irregular sequestration of antigen into different compartments of the lung may lead to preferential activation of T-helper 1 or T-helper 2 lymphocytes. Unlike IgE antibodies, specific tuberculosis IgE antibodies are seen only in tuberculosis infection.

[Anti-tuberculous IgE antibodies. I. Immunodominant antigens].

It is widely accepted that protection against tuberculosis is provided by the formation of type 1 immune response, which is characterized by the production of IFN-gamma and IL-2. However, type 2 antimycobacterial immune response is also present: specific IgE antibodies that are IL-4 dependent, are usually found in tuberculosis patients. There is elevated production of type 2 cytokines in some cases.