The objective: A comparative analysis of effectiveness and safety of treatment for respiratory tuberculosis with confirmed drug susceptibility of M. tuberculosis using short-course regimens and a six-month regimen, based on the published data.
Subjects and Methods. A systematic search for randomized and quasi-randomized controlled clinical trials was conducted in databases from January 1, 2010 to January 21, 2025 using the keywords "pulmonary tuberculosis", "drug susceptibility" and "short-course regimens". Eight trials met the selection criteria and were included in the subsequent systematic review and meta-analysis. The primary outcomes focused on the risk of tuberculosis relapse and treatment failure, as well as development of serious adverse events during treatment with short-course regimens. Secondary outcomes included sputum conversion by week 8 of treatment, emergence of acquired drug resistance, and death during treatment with short-course regimens.
Results. According to the meta-analysis results, the risk of relapse was three times higher with short-course regimens versus a six-month regimen for drug-susceptible tuberculosis (RR 2.97, 95% CI (2.29-3.85). Short-course regimens slightly increase the risk of treatment failure (RR 1.47, 95% CI (1.27-1.71)) and provide no significant impact on death during treatment (RR 0.57, 95% CI (0.33-0.99)), incidence of serious adverse events (RR 0.90, 95% CI (0.81-1.01)), and sputum conversion by week 8 of treatment (RR 1.12, 95% CI (1.08-1.16)). Based on the meta-analysis results, it is impossible to draw a clear conclusion whether short-course regimens can lead to development of drug resistance (RR 0.45, 95% CI (0.12-1.73)).

The objective: to establish effectiveness and safety of preventive treatment of tuberculosis with fluoroquinolones in children exposed to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) in their families.
Subjects and Methods. A cohort prospective study was conducted in Arkhangelsk Region from January 01, 2011 to December 31, 2021. Children exposed to MDR TB who received or did not receive preventive treatment were enrolled in the study.
Results. 286 children aged 0 to 18 years exposed to 939 adult MDR TB patients were included in the study. Of the 286 children, 37 were exposed to more than one adult with MDR TB, 3 children were exposed to 5 cases, 2 children were exposed to 4 cases, 8 children were exposed to 3 cases, and 24 children were exposed to 1 case. Of the 225 children who received preventive treatment with fluoroquinolones, there were no cases of tuberculosis as of March 1, 2024. Among 61 children who received no preventive treatment, there was 1 (1.64%) case of tuberculosis, which corresponded to the rate of 1639.3 per 100,000 contingent. Adverse reactions to fluoroquinolone were reported in 48/225 (21.33%) children, of which 8/225 (3.6%) were serious ones. All adverse reactions resolved.

The objective: to compare the spectrum of drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis obtained from respiratory and surgical specimens of pulmonary tuberculosis patients.
Subjects and Methods. A non-randomized, continuous, single-center retrospective study was performed and included 102 patients who underwent surgery at National Medical Research Center of Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases for drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis from 2018 to 2022. Spectrum of drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolated from the respiratory and surgical specimens was retrospectively analyzed.
Results. When comparing the type and spectrum of drug resistance (DR) of MTB isolated from respiratory samples and surgical specimens, inconsistent results were observed in 47 (46%) of 102 patients, of which 21/102 (20.6%) were diagnosed with primary drug resistance, of them 14 (13.7%) patients had MDR and 7 (6.8%) patients had pre-XDR. The consistency of DR spectrum was more often observed in fibrous cavernous tuberculosis versus tuberculomas – in 13 (76.4%) of 17 patients and in 31 (37.8%) of 82, respectively, p = 0.024 (TTF); OR = 5.34; 95% CI: 1.49-19.1.

The objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of chemotherapy in patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) after introduction of molecular genetic and phenotypic rapid methods for drug susceptibility testing.
Subjects and Methods. From 2018 to 2021, epidemiological surveillance forms for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR TB) (TB 06, Table 3b for Results of Drug Susceptibility Testing to First- and Second-Line Drugs) were analyzed. Those forms were approved by the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic (KR) in 2014. During this period, molecular genetic tests (GeneXpert/MTB-Rif, LPA, MTBDRsl) began to be used for testing drug susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), while the use of phenotypic tests (cultures on liquid (MGIT 960) media and solid media (Levenshtein-Jensen (LJ)) continued.
Results. In the Kyrgyz Republic, over 4 years (2018 - 2021), the proportion of MTB strains sensitive to anti-tuberculosis drugs was growing from 44.0% in 2018 to 58.9% in 2021. Among the drug-resistant MTB strains, the proportion of isoniazid-resistant ones increased from 18.9% to 28.7%. In 2020 and 2021, the treatment effectiveness of patients with drug-susceptible extrapulmonary tuberculosis made 84.8 and 83.9%, respectively, and almost reached the target rate of 85% of the National Tuberculosis Control Program of the Kyrgyz Republic. In Bishkek in 2018, the treatment effectiveness in patients with DR extrapulmonary tuberculosis was close to the target of the National Program (75%) and amounted to 73.5%, and in 2019 it exceeded the target rate and reached 82.4%.

The objective: to study effects associated with active case-finding of pulmonary tuberculosis patients among adult population (the impact on the epidemiological risk and treatment outcomes).
Subjects and Methods: Data from the register of tuberculosis patients in Kemerovo Region for 2014-2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Methods of descriptive statistics, logistic regression and survival analysis were used the access the data. The authors compared two groups of pulmonary tuberculosis patients, those were detected by active case-finding and those detected when seeking medical care.
Results: The study included data from 17,654 adult new pulmonary tuberculosis patients registered in Kemerovo Region from 2014 to 2022. Of them, 7,657 were detected through active case-finding and 8,892 were identified when seeking medical care. In the patients detected actively, 25.0% of cases had a positive result of sputum smear, while this rate made 55.0% of cases among those detected by self-referral. Destructive changes in the lungs were observed in 33.7% and 48.5%, respectively (OR = 0.54), fibrous cavernous tuberculosis in 0.5% and 5.1%, respectively (OR = 0.09). The following treatment outcomes were reported: successful treatment was reported in 73.9% of patients detected actively and in 44.1% of those detected by self-referral. Active case-finding, independent of other factors, contributed to the reduction of risks of treatment failure (aOR=0.85; p=0.016), death (aOR=0.19; p<0.001), and loss to follow-up (aOR=0.75; p<0.001).

The objective: to compare clinical and radiological characteristics of tuberculous pleural lesions in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients.
Subjects and Methods. The article analyzes and compares tuberculous pleural lesions in 53 HIV-negative patients and 104 HIV-positive patients.
Results. Manifestations of tuberculous pleural lesions in HIV-positive patients were characterized by a longer history before seeking medical care, pronounced clinical signs and abnormal blood parameters. Tuberculous lesions were localized only in the pleura in 64.2% of HIV-negative patients and 44.2% of HIV-positive patients. Pleurisy in HIV-positive case was often comorbid with dissemination to the lungs.

The objective: to study the type of attitude towards the disease in tuberculosis patients depending on their age and social factors.
Subjects and Methods. The data of 24 patients of Thoracic Surgical Hospital of N.V. Postnikov Samara Regional Clinical TB Dispensary and 52 patients of the Lesnoye TB Sanatorium were studied. The TOBOL psychodiagnostic technique and the Mann-Whitney U-test, a method for statistical data processing, were used.
Results. Patients of the thoracic surgical hospital, compared to patients of the sanatorium, more often have anxiety cluster types of attitude towards the disease. Factors such as age and social status may influence attitudes towards tuberculosis. For patients in older age groups, sensitive cluster types of attitude towards the disease are more typical. Having a permanent job inspires patients with self-confidence and belief in the successful outcome of the disease.

The objective: to identify socio-demographic and behavioral risk factors associated with occurrence of tuberculosis relapse among tuberculosis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Fergana Region, Uzbekistan.
Subjects and Methods. The article describes a cross-sectional study among tuberculosis patients admitted to hospital in 2020-2022. 1499 patients were enrolled in the study. Univariate and bivariate analysis of socio-demographic and behavioral parameters was conducted.
Results. Bivariate odds ratio analysis of demographic factors revealed that individuals aged 18-29 years were 3.1 times more likely to develop tuberculosis relapse, while those aged 30-49 years were 2.2 times more likely to develop tuberculosis relapse versus those aged 70 years and older. Also, unmarried people were 4 times more likely to develop tuberculosis relapse than divorced people. While individuals who frequently consumed fatty foods were 2.6 times more likely to develop tuberculosis relapse.

The objective: to study the frequency and spectrum of complications after transbronchial lung cryobiopsy.
Subjects and Methods. A continuous retrospective study was conducted, which included 138 patients with pulmonary tissue dissemination syndrome. All those patients were treated in Novosibirsk Tuberculosis Research Institute from January 2023 to December 2024. To verify the diagnosis, all patients underwent transbronchial lung cryobiopsy. The authors assessed the diagnostic effectiveness of biopsy and complications that developed.
Results. Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy allowed to verify the diagnosis in 109 (78.9%) of 138 patients. Complications were registered in 125 (90.6%) patients: bleeding – in 89.1%, grade 3 bleeding – in 3.6%, and pneumothorax – in 2.2%. There were no lethal outcomes.

The objective: to evaluate safety of Thiosonide in multiple doses, a new domestic anti-tuberculosis drug, in patients with multidrug, pre-extensively or extensively drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis.
Subjects and Methods. The safety of Thiosonide was assessed from November 24, 2014 to May 17, 2019 within a multicenter, 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study (Protocol no. TIO22, Permit no. 661 dated November 24, 2014 by the Russian Ministry of Health). The study included 160 patients aged 18 to 60 years, who were undergoing inpatient or outpatient treatment in 13 clinical centers with the verified diagnosis of MDR TB, pre-XDR TB and XDR TB. Against the background of standard anti-tuberculosis therapy, patients received 200, 400 or 600 mg of Thiosonide or placebo once a day. Treatment duration made 84 days. The following parameters were used to assess safety of the drug: frequency and severity of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs), number of cases of early discontinuation of the drug due AEs and SAEs, changes in vital signs during a physical examination, abnormal parameters of laboratory and instrumental tests and examinations.
Results. It has been demonstrated that Thiosonide is well-tolerated and safe. During the study, 100 AEs were reported, but only one of them (1%), which was an elevated creatine phosphokinase level, was definitely related to the investigated drug. Statistical analysis reveal no significant relationship between the frequency of AEs and dosage of the drug.
Conclusion. A safety study of Thiosonide, an original anti-tuberculosis drug, in patients with MDR, pre-XDR and XDR pulmonary TB with multiple administration in doses of 200 mg, 400 mg and 600 mg showed its good tolerability, accompanied by single AEs, of which no more than 1% were definitely related to the investigated drug. Due to the above, Thiosonide can be considered as a promising drug for the treatment of MDR/XDR TB patients.

The article presents a clinical case describing difficulties of diagnosing tuberculosis in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia during therapy with retinoic acid derivatives and arsenic trioxide. Immediacy and individual approach to treatment and diagnosing tactics made it possible to effectively complete the course of treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia and generalized tuberculosis achieving a cure of these diseases.

The article describes a case of successful clinical cure of an HIV-positive patient with multiple infectious and parasitic co-morbidities affecting the meninges. Upon treatment, the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome with combined tuberculous and fungal meningitis developed after the start of anti-retrovirals. The latter regressed following four months of intensive therapy.

The review analyzed 56 publications in order to investigate the possibility of using flavonoids as concomitant therapy in the long-term treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) and to determine the relevance of such studies. Publications were selected from main databases including RSCI, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The use of bioflavonoids in tuberculosis chemotherapy can enhance its effectiveness and prevent toxic effects of anti-tuberculosis drugs. The growing rate of MDR TB among new tuberculosis cases confirms the relevance in this study.