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In recovered COVID-19 patients, the state of mucosal immunity remains understudied. Cytological, functional, and metabolic characteristics of neutrophils and the interleukin status will help to correctly assess the need for immunorehabilitation measures. The study objective is to assess the state of mucosal immunity after COVID-19. A comprehensive study of mucosal immunity included the assessment of nasal mucosal neutrophils with the monitoring of destructive and apoptotic changes as well as examination of the functional and metabolic activity of neutrophils entering the nasal secretions. Phagocytic activity was assessed using microbial suspension of Staphylococcus aureus, as well as intracellular oxygen-dependent biocidity, the functions of capturing, absorbing, and killing pathogens. Study of the secretory component included assessment of interleukin levels (TNF-α, IL-10, IFN-γ) and the content of sCD95 (sAPO-1/FAS), membrane marker of apoptosis, in the nasal secretions. Cell wall neutrophils in recovered COVID-19 patients show enhanced destructive and apoptotic processes within the cells. Functional disorders due to inhibited phagocytosis of autoflora are recorded. Functionally defective cells are brought into the nasal secretions; they demonstrate severely inhibited oxygen-dependent biocidity, rapid depletion of reserves, incomplete phagocytosis, and limited ability to capture pathogens, which can contribute to the growth of various pathogenic viruses and bacteria. In the nasal secretions, the concentration of sCD95 (sAPO-1/FAS), the membrane marker of apoptosis, is increased. Elevated level of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-10) downregulates IFN-γ, thus directly contributing to the formation of functionally defective neutrophils. Compensatory increase in the IL-10 anti-inflammatory cytokine under the influence of SARS-CoV-2 virus proteins downregulates IFN-γ and is a cofactor of depression of intracellular biocidity of neutrophils. An increased level of the TNF-α pro-inflammatory cytokine increases apoptotic and destructive changes in neutrophils entering the nasal secretion. Virus-induced, functional, and metabolic impairment of neutrophils of the mucosal immunity system develop in recovered COVID-19 patients, thus providing a scientific rationale for immunomodulatory therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to develop preventive measures for occupational allergy to latex in health care workers and to elucidate diagnostic specifics of latex sensitization by clinical and immunological parameters. One thousand three hundred forty-six health professionals whose work involves contact with latex-containing products underwent a screening questionnaire survey. One hundred twenty health professionals had an immunoassay done involving the estimation of total and latex-specific IgE. Thirty-six health care workers had a prick skin test done with a standard kit of allergens (home dust mites, epidermal, and pollen allergens). Latex allergy in health care workers is most often characterized by the development of skin manifestations and allergic rhinitis. Latex allergy in health professionals was found to be most common in individuals with the history of allergies, confirmed by increased total IgE values, which should be taken into consideration in occupational fitness assessments on a preliminary medical examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hundred thirty-one assays were performed to determine the level of specific IgE to major molecular components of the birch pollen—rBet v 1, timothy grass pollen—rPhl p1, rPhl p 5b, and house dust mites—nDer p1, rDer p2 as well as to the minor components of birch pollen—rBet v 2, rBet v 4, timothy grass pollen—rPhl p7, rPhl p 12, and house dust mites rDer p10 in patients with asthma (N = 66) and allergic rhinitis (N = 65). It is well established that sensitization to major and minor allergens facilitates the selection of an allergen for the allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT). According to the concept of molecular-based allergen diagnostics, the ASIT efficacy is expected to be high when IgЕ to major components are present and antibodies to minor components are absent. When elevated IgЕ levels to major and minor ASIT proteins are present, a moderate ASIT efficacy is expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of herd immunity to measles in the Republic of Tatarstan indicates epidemiological well-being, with the values correlating with average values across the Russian Federation (RF) in the following indicator groups: 3-4 and 9-10 years of age. The proportion of antibody-negative individuals increases (in comparison with the average values across the RF) in the age groups of 16-17 and 23-28 years and older than 30 years that suggest the tendency to epidemiological unsafety in these age categories. High titers of anti-measles antibodies in the age groups older than 40 years might evidence about definitely increased post-infection immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data have been obtained on dynamics of antibiotic susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates circulating in preschool children suffering from respiratory pathologies, in the city of Kazan in the years 2009-2015. The high activity of β-lactam antibiotics (from 96 to 90.8 %, depending on the period considered), macrolides (from 83.7 to 93.4 %), and ciprofloxacin (78.9-73.5 %) for the causal treatment of pneumococcal infections. No vancomycin-resistant strains of pneumococci were registered. Comparative analysis of 2009-2011 and 2015 showed a statistically significant increase of the ratio of resistant strains to penicillin (3.5 %), amoxicillin/clavulanate (3.9 %), amoxicillin (5.3 %), clarithromycin (3.6 %), clindamycin (2.9 %), ceftriaxone (5.2 %), and cefixime (2.3 %). According to data on serotyping of isolates, serotypes of S. pneumoniae are covered by the 13-valent conjugate vaccine currently used in children by the national calendar of preventive vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]