Background: The mechanisms of the formation of immunological competence against tuberculosis (TB), and especially those associated with HIV co-infection, remain poorly understood. However, there is an urgent need for risk recurrence predictive biomarkers, as well as for predictors of successful treatment outcomes. The goal of the study was to identify possible immunological markers of TB recurrence in individuals with HIV/TB co-infection. Methods: The plasma levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-1β (cytokines which play important roles in the immune activation and protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis) were measured using ELISA EIA-BEST kits. The cytokine concentrations were determined using a standard curve obtained with the standards provided by the manufacturer of each kit. Results: A total of 211 individuals were enrolled in the study as follows: 62 patients with HIV/TB co-infection, 52 with HIV monoinfection, 52 with TB monoinfection, and 45 healthy donors. Out of the 62 patients with HIV/TB, 75.8% (47) of patients were newly diagnosed with HIV and TB, and 24.2% (15) displayed recurrent TB and were newly diagnosed with HIV. Decreased levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10 were observed in patients with HIV/TB when compared with HIV and TB patients. However, there was no difference in IFN-γ, TNF-α, or IL-10 secretion between both HIV/TB groups. At the same time, an almost 4-fold decrease in Il-1β levels was detected in the HIV/TB group with TB recurrence when compared with the HIV/TB group (p = 0.0001); a 2.8-fold decrease when compared with HIV patients (p = 0.001); and a 2.2-fold decrease with newly diagnosed TB patients (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Significantly decreased Il-1β levels in HIV/TB patients’ cohort with secondary TB indicate that this cytokine can be a potential biomarker of TB recurrence.

Staphylococcus spp. skin colonization is involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). While coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus strains are known to worsen symptoms, the role of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) remains controversial. Further research is needed to clarify the pathogenicity of CoNS in AD patients. A study involving 329 children with AD (mean age: 4.89 years) assessed the frequency of staphylococcal colonization on affected skin, along with the toxin-producing properties and antibiotic resistance of isolated strains. Mild AD: Predominantly colonized by CoNS (especially S. epidermidis). Moderate/Severe AD: Showed a significant increase in S. aureus colonization. CoNS (including S. epidermidis) could produce enterotoxins (A, B, C) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), though less frequently than S. aureus strains. In severe AD, the number of toxin-producing CoNS strains (especially enterotoxin A producers) was higher than in mild AD, and the number of non-toxin-producing strains was lower. CoNS exhibited higher resistance rates than S. aureus. Methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE): 23.4%. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA): 1.27%. CoNS may contribute to AD pathogenesis through toxin production (exacerbating inflammation) and antibiotic resistance (limiting treatment options). Severe AD may involve a synergistic effect between S. aureus and toxin-producing CoNS.

The article describes the current view of the topical treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). Today in the world there is an increase in the incidence of AR, its prevalence in different countries of the world ranges from 4% to 32% of the population, in Russia – 10-24%. Most often, the disease debuts in the first half of life. AR is often associated with bronchial asthma, which is detected in 15-38% of patients with AR. Recently, the attention of researchers has been focused on local AR, which is diagnosed in patients with negative skin and serum tests, when AR is confirmed by provocative tests with significant allergens for the patient with the detection specific IgE in the nasal cavity. When conducting local therapy, nasal sprays are used to eliminate allergens and restore the protective role of epithelial barriers, decongestants are prescribed in a short course, and topical antihistamines are used to relieve allergic inflammation. The main drugs for the treatment of moderate to severe AR are topical glucocorticosteroids: mometasone furoate, azelastine, fluticasone furoate, fluticasone propionate, beclomethasone dipropionate and budesonide. A good effect in the treatment of infectious-allergic rhinitis was obtained with saline solutions.

Allergic reactions to hen’s egg are rather a common problem, especially in infants. Hen’s eggs contain a few protein components which may serve as food allergens. They are 4 egg-white proteins: ovomucoid (Gal d 1, 11%), ovalbumin (Gal d 2, 54%), ovotransferrin (Gal d 3, 12%), lysozyme (Gal d 4, 3,4%) and one egg-yolk protein - alpha-livetin (Gal d 5). Ovomucoid (OVM) is the dominant allergen in hen’s egg. The allergenicity of egg whites depends mostly on their resistance to heat and digestive enzymes. A skin prick test size of 5 mm in children younger than 2 years old and 7 mm in children older than 2 years had a positive predicative value (PPV) of 100%. However, patient questioning and skin testing cannot be the only proof of food allergy. There exists a positive correlation between the growing levels of eggs-pecific IgE and the probability of allergic symptoms occurrence. Testing for sensitization to different hen’s egg proteins (molecular diagnostic) may assist in marking off allergy reaction to raw eggs from that one to heat-treated eggs. Questionable cases call for carrying out challenge tests which are not certified in Russia. The recent studies have demonstrated the safety of measles vaccination in children with proven eggwhite allergy. Currently, oral, sublingual and epicutaneous immunotherapy for food allergy to egg-whites has been extensively investigated in clinical trials.

Staphylococcus spp. skin colonization is involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). While coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (S.) aureus strains are known to worsen symptoms, the role of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) remains controversial. Further research is needed to clarify the pathogenicity of CoNS in AD patients. A study involving 329 children with AD (mean age: 4.89 years) assessed the frequency of staphylococcal colonization on affected skin, along with the toxin-producing properties and antibiotic resistance of isolated strains. Mild AD: Predominantly colonized by CoNS (especially S. epidermidis). Moderate/Severe AD: Showed a significant increase in S. aureus colonization. CoNS (including S. epidermidis) could produce enterotoxins (A, B, C) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), though less frequently than S. aureus strains. In severe AD, toxin-producing CoNS strains (particularly enterotoxin A producers) were more common than non-toxin-producing strains, suggesting a possible aggravation of inflammation via superantigen-mediated mechanism. CoNS exhibited higher resistance rates than S. aureus. Methicillin-resistance S. epidermidis (MRSE): 23.4%. Methicillin-resistance S. aureus (MRSA): 1.27%. This indicates that CoNS in AD may act as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes, complicating treatment. CoNS may contribute to AD pathogenesis through toxin production (exacerbating inflammation) and antibiotic resistance (limiting treatment options). Severe AD may involve a synergistic effect between S. aureus and toxin-producing CoNS.