[(HUMAN DIROFILARIASIS: CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF THE PATHOGEN)].

To seek medical advice is due to the time when a person has become infected during the infection transmission season (July-August) and the duration of development of the pathogen Dirofilaria (N.) repens in his/her body Clinical manifes- tations occurred in 61% of the patients 6-10 months after infection, as confirmed by the maximum body sizes (125-160 mm) of removed females which have reached puberty. PCR-based diagnosis in conjunction with microscopic studies improves the efficiency of identifying the patients and the species of the pathogens D.repens and D.immitis. The use of these methods for the first time in 2016 could confirm D.immitis infestation in a 14-month-old infant living in the Solnechnogorsk District, Moscow Region.

[MALARIA IMPORTATION BY RUSSIA'S CITIZENS AND FOREIGNERS, INTO THE CITIES AND TOWNS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION].

A total of 436 malaria cases, including 12 from the CIS countries and 424 from far foreign countries (of Africa and Central and South-East Asia), were imported into the Russian Federation in 2010-2014. Most (96.6%) cases were notified in the urban areas of 52 administrative subjects of Russia. The largest number of the imported cases were seasonal workers (39.2%), tourists (31.3%), students and foreign postgraduate students (19.5%), and ship or aircraft crews (10%). During a short malaria transmission season (June to August), there were 150 cases of different types, out of them there were only 63 cases of tertian malaria (its pathogen is Plasmodium vivax, to which malaria mosquitoes of Russia's fauna are susceptible). The relatively small number of infection sources in the short transmission (June to August) season of malaria, its importation into low-susceptibility large towns, and a small proportion of imported vivax malaria cases substantially reduce the risk of malaria in the highrisk areas of the country.

[Experimental evaluation of actoprotective activity of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds derivatives in extreme conditions].

In experiments on nonlinear male mice the ability of new derivatives of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds to increase the physical working capacity in conditions of hyperthermia, hypothermia and acute normobaric hypoxia and hypercapnia has been investigated. It is established, that pyridine derivative IBHF-11 has more expressed positive action in the said conditions. It provided increase of the working capacity of animals at all kinds of extreme influence, and the value of positive action was comparable, and in conditions of acute normobaric hypoxia and hypercapnia exceeded those at the reference products bemitil and bromantan.

[Signs of chronic cardiac insufficiency in merchant marine sailors on long voyages].

Incidence of symptoms and clinical signs of chronic cardiac insufficiency (CCI) was studied in sailors in the Northern basin. Their variations were tracked and risk factors of that are most likely to provoke cardiovascuar diseases (CVDs) during 6-mos. voyages were elicted. Examined were 225 sailors of 10 sister large-capacity vessels belonging to Russian shipowners. Clinical condition and the cardiovascular function of the sailors were assessed on months 1, 3 and 6 using physical methods and ECG, provocative tests and clinical condition scoring scale. Physical activity was evaluated. Incidence of CCI symptoms and clinical signs in sailors was significantly in excess of the all-Russian value. Clinical condition of sailors with CCI symptoms and clinical signs was noted to grow worse by the end of voyage. Factors contributing to CCI development and aggravation during long voyages were identified.

[Studies on actoprotective and antihypoxic properties of new succinate-containing benzothiazole derivatives].

Experiments with mice demonstrated that in contrast to the preparations for comparison (mexidol and reference antihypoxant succinate amtisol at a dose of 1-100 mg/kg) new succinate-containing derivatives of benzothiazole BTI-2 (0.5-5 mg/kg), BTI-3 (0.1, 0.5 and 10 mg/kg), 877-4 (0.5 mg/kg) and BTI-5 (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) improved physical performance of animals by 18-56 and 21-39% in the treadmill test and swimming test (positive effect of BTI-4 and -5 only), respectively. In all three models of acute hypoxia (normobaric hypoxic hypoxia with hyperkapnia, histotoxic and hemic) an obvious antihypoxic activity was displayed by BTI-1 and -2 only. In comparison with mexidol and succinate amtizol, positive and stronger effect of these compounds was achieved at significantly lower doses. Therefore, the succinate-containing benzothiazole derivatives have considerable promise as ingredients of performance enhancing antihypoxic and therapeutic compositions.

[Dirofilariasis in the Moscow Region, a low disease transmission risk area].

The spread of canine and human dirofilariasis was first studied in the Moscow Region, a low disease transmission risk area. D.repens infestation was found to have a tendency to increase in Moscow residents with the imported cases being predominant. In 33 (84.6%) districts of the Moscow Region, dogs were registered to have D. immitis and D. repens infestation, with the former being preponderant in 31 districts. An original map of dirofilariasis distribution was compiled with the areas being singled out at a distance of Moscow: 15-20 km (6 districts) (the first ring); as long as 70 km (11 districts) (the second ring), and over 70 km (16 districts) where infestation rates greatly varied in both the number of infected animals and human beings and the species of causative agents.

[Monitoring delagil (chloroquine) efficacy against imported Plasmodium vivax strains].

The efficiency of P. vivax malaria treatment with delagil (chloroquine) was evaluated in 122 patients, including 82 cases in Moscow and the Moscow region. The origin of the cases was malaria endemic areas in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Region, South America, and Transcaucasia. Forty other cases were imported malaria cases (secondary to imported ones), detected in Moscow and the Moscow region. Standard treatment with delagil (2.5 g) resulted in clinical improvement during 3 days in the majority of cases. Initial signs of degradation of asexual stages of P. vivax--kernels of nucleus, refinement of cytoplasm and its vacuolization, aggregation of pigment in isolated instances, its pushing out from cytoplasm--were observed after 1-2 hours after administration of delagil. Thereafter, parasite degradation was increasing, and it disappeared within 48 hours. Disappearance of fever slowed down in a few cases. However, degradation of parasites occurred during the same period among the rest of cases. It can not be excluded that fever was determined by the pyrogenic effect of remnants of degraded parasites and by the products of destroyed infected erythrocytes. It is probable that the findings of gametocytes, not completely degraded after disappearance of asexual forms in conjunction with prolonged fever, could result in a wrong conclusion of drug resistance. Negative results of microscopy and nested PCR on the last day of treatment, as well as in the following 10 days and absence of complains during 45 days, suggest the absence of resistance to delagil in P. vivax strains imported from different regions of the world. It is also probable that the literature on P. vivax resistance to chloroquine is limited to sporadic cases.

[Results of epidemiological surveillance of malaria vectors in the Moscow open water reservoirs].

In the past 2 years, the malaria epidemiological situation in Moscow has drastically deteriorated, sporadic cases of local transmission of tertian malaria (Plasmodium vivax) have been notified, which permits one to pose a problem, namely to eliminate malaria in the megapolis by 2010. Monitoring and assessment of the entomological situation, surveillance of the malaria vectors Anopheles mosquitoes in particular, acquire vital importance. The entomological surveillance has shown its efficiency on the territory of the megapolis and a need for continuous monitoring and assessment in future in order to consolidate the achieved success and to attain malaria elimination in Moscow by 2010. The major benefit of hydraulic measures is that they are directed on fundamental radical environmental enhancement. The impact of timely and properly implanted hydraulic measures is long-term, therefore this prophylactic line has been considered to be of priority.

[Results of epidemiological supervision of malaria vectors in the open water reservoirs of Moscow].

In the past 2 years, the malaria epidemiological situation has drastically improved in Moscow: only sporadic cases of local transmission of tertian (Plasmodium vivax) malaria have been notified, which sets a task to eradicate malaria in the megalopolis in 2010. In this connection, the surveillance of the malaria vectors Anopheles mosquitoes is assuming prime importance. The results of entomological monitoring have shown its efficiency on the territory of the megalopolis. Main efforts have been directed to the application of safe controlling methods against the mosquitoes and to hydraulic engineering actions to reduce "area susceptibility". Entomological observations have demonstrated benefits from the correctly chosen and constantly performed hydraulic engineering measures that guarantee a long-term and positive impact on the malaria situation.

[Supervision of the sanitary-helminthological state of soil in the inhabited areas of Moscow].

In accordance with the normative and methodical documents [3-5, 7-9], a complex of organizational, sanitary, and antiepidemic actions is performed to protect soil from causative agents of parasitic diseases in Moscow. About 2000 soil samples are annually taken from the playgrounds of children's educational establishments and apartment houses and tested. The soil contamination averages 3.2%. It has been established that there are no sanitary-and-epidemiological opinions as to the parasitic safety of sand or lids on the sand-boxes on the playgrounds from which the soil or sand samples show causative agents of parasitic diseases (most commonly toxocariasis) and which are accessible to stray and domestic dogs. In 2005, DESINBAC super having bactericidal, fungicidal, sporocidal, and virocidal activities and ovicidal properties was approved for soil disinfection in the Russian Federation. The prevention of toxocariasis is a state problem. Executive bodies, housing-and-communal services, veterinary stations, and health care services with the participation of sanitary-and-epidemiological facilities and their control must take part in solving this problem.

[Clinical and neurological evaluation of the efficiency of transspinal magnetic stimulation during surgical treatment of tuberculosis spondylitis].

The clinical and neurophysiological efficiency of high-intensity transpinal rhythmic magnetic stimulation was studied during surgical treatment in patients with tuberculosis spondylitis complicated by neurological disorders. Its highest efficiency was determined in patients with minor neurological disorders, radicular syndrome, and paresis. Magnetic stimulation was shown to affect the regression of neurological symptoms. The use of electric neuromyography allows quantitative assessment of the course of reparative processes in the pathways.

[Prediction of the effectiveness of a health care organization system for Muscovites in case of scab].

The present paper gives data on prediction of the number of Muscovites and homeless individuals who suffered from scab in 1998-2005. As of 2005, the difference in the expected and actual number of scab patients among the Muscovites and the homeless was 4.3 and 13% less than the expected values, respectively. At the same time the authors show that over 6 years (2005-2010) the incidence of scab will be able to reduce by 43.5 and 48.7% among the Muscovites and the homeless, respectively. Due to the extensive use of the inexpensive, safe, and most effective drugs medifox and medifox-super to treat scab and disinfect its foci, the efficiency of the treatment and prevention of scab has considerably increased. The above and other measures implemented by a dermatovenereological service and the concerned organizations improved the rating of Moscow: if it occupied the tenth place in the incidence of scab in 1999, then in 2003 it ranked third among the subjects of the Russian Federation.

[Malaria in Moscow: evaluation of the vulnerability and susceptibility of an area].

Before eradication of malaria in the USSR, there was a steady transmission of vivax malaria in the Moscow Region. In the posteradication period, there were two insignificant cases of local transmission: in 1972 and 1982. However, since 1999, there has been a local transmission of malaria every year. The possible causes of the transmission are analyzed. This includes a change in favor of better climatic conditions for malaria transmission in 1948 to 2004. It is shown that a weather quality jump in about 1984, which appeared as the area's higher susceptibility. A great deal of anophelogenic water reservoirs open the way to a local transmission in summer months. The vulnerability of the area has increased with a larger number of migrants from the endemic areas of the former USSR. Thus, more cases of malaria import (increased vulnerability), possibilities of the carrier to multiply, better climatic conditions for transmitting malaria (increased susceptibility) have created conditions for worsening its situation in the Moscow Region.

[Malaria in Moscow in 2000-2004].

Malaria was eradicated on the territory of Moscow in 1960; its imported cases mainly from the countries of Asia and Africa and sporadic cases secondary to the imported ones were recorded during the following 40 years. Mass migration of the population (businessmen, seasonal workers, etc.) from the endemic CIS countries in the late 1990s, particularly to the Moscow Region, increased cases of tertian malaria, resulting from the transmission of the infection by the mosquitoes Anopheles. A total of 793 cases of malaria, including 27 parasitic carriers, were recorded from 2000 to 2004. The proportion of Muscovites was 24.1% of the total cases of malaria in 2002 and increased up to 50% in 2004. The causative agents of tertian malaria (Plasmodium vivax) were detected in 74.8% of the total number of cases. The ongoing importation of malaria from Tadjikistan and Azerbaijan, the late establishment of final diagnosis, the shortage of antimalarial drugs make the malaria situation worse in Moscow, which requires that antiepidemic measures should be intensified in the coming 3 years.

[The level of radionuclides and aflatoxin M1 in laid-in milk].

The performed studies have provided a model that is based on the predicted trend and permits prediction of the levels of radionuclides and aflatoxin M1 in laid-in milk in its different yield periods.

Role of cAMP in regulation of activity of acid hydrolases of rat heart and liver during ischemia and after recirculation.

The interrelation between intracellular cAMP content and activity of lysosomal hydrolases was studied in rat liver and heart during ischemia of varying genesis and after recirculation. The activity of acid phosphatase (AP) and cathepsin D (CD) was determined in the fraction enriched with lysosomes (FEL) and in the supernatant fraction (SF) at 30,000 x g. Ischemia of isolated perfused heart of 20 to 60 min as described by Langendorff was accompanied by an increase in the SF/FEL ratio. Postischemic reperfusion resulted in a further increase in this ratio. In a terminal state induced by cardiac arrest of 10 min and within the first postresuscitation hours the SF/FEL ratio in the rat liver also increased. Processing of the liver FEL with 0.025% concentration of detergent Triton X-100 was also indicative of lability of lysosomal membranes during recirculation. The intracellular cAMP content changed differently. During ischemia of the myocardium, the cAMP level rose by 40 min and remained increased after 20 and 40 min of reperfusion. The cAMP content in the liver decreased after 10 min of circulatory arrest and increased in the postresuscitation period achieving its peak 4 h after resuscitation. Intra-abdominal injection of lyposomes with incapsulated cAMP to rats in the postresuscitation period and the study of the effect of dibutyryl-cAMP, caffeine and isoproterenol on the activity of acid hydrolases of ischemic heart and after postischemic reperfusion showed that an increase in the cAMP content achieved in various ways was conducive to stabilization of lysosomal membranes.

The first "space" vegetables have been grown in the "SVET" greenhouse using controlled environmental conditions.

The paper describes the "SVET" project--a new generation of space greenhouse with small dimensions. Through the use of a minicomputer, "SVET" is fully capable of automatically operating and controlling environmental systems for higher plant growth. A number of preliminary studies have shown the radish and cabbage to be potentially important crops for CELSS (Closed Environmental Life Support System). The "SVET" space greenhouse was mounted on the "CRYSTAL" technological module docked to the Mir orbital space station on 10 June 1990. Soviet cosmonauts Balandin and Solovyov started the first experiments with the greenhouse on 15 June 1990. Preliminary results of seed cultivation over an initial 54-day period in "SVET" are presented. Morphometrical characteristics of plants brought back to Earth are given. Alteration in plant characteristics, such as growth and developmental changes, or morphological contents were noted. A crop of radish plants was harvested under microgravity conditions. Characteristics of plant environmental control parameters and an estimation of functional properties of control and regulation systems of the "SVET" greenhouse in space flight as received via telemetry data is reported.

Six-month space greenhouse experiments--a step to creation of future biological life support systems.

SVET Space Greenhouse (SG)--the first automated facility for growing of higher plants in microgravity was designed in the eighty years to be used for the future BLSS. The first successful experiment with vegetables was carried out in 1990 on the MIR Space Station (SS). The experiments in SVET SG were resumed in 1995, when an American Gas Exchange Measurement System (GEMS) was added. A three-month wheat experiment was carried out as part of MIR-SHUTTLE'95 program. SVET-2 SG Bulgarian equipment of a new generation with optimised characteristics was developed (financed by NASA). The new SVET-GEMS equipment was launched on board the MIR SS and a successful six-month experiments for growing up of two crops of wheat were conducted in 1996 - 97 as part of MIR-NASA-3 program. The first of these "Greenhouse" experiments (123 days) with the goal to grow wheat through a complete life cycle is described. Nearly 300 heads developed but no seeds were produced. A second crop of wheat was planted and after 42 days the plants were frozen for biochemical investigations. The main environmental parameters during the six-month experiments in SVET (substrate moisture and lighting period) are given. The results and the contribution to BLSS are discussed.

[Morphofunctional changes in the spleen in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]. / Morfofunktsional'nye izmeneniia selezenki pri idiopaticheskoi trombotsitopenicheskoi purpure.

Morphofunctional changes in the spleen in this disease were assessed using a number of histological, histoenzymochemical, morphometric, cytological, and immunological methods. The study included 52 operatively removed spleens. Hyperplastic changes in the white pulp varying in different age groups were demonstrated. Irrespective of the age, an increase in the number of macrophages and a decrease in the number of rosette-forming cells in the spleen tissue were observed, indicating disorders in cooperation of cells of the immunocompetent system, immunodeficiency state.

[Study of cytokinins produced by rhizospheric microorganisms]. / Issledovanie tsitokininov, produtsiruemykh rizosfernymi mikroorganizmami.

A high-molecular-weight complex of a polysaccharide and biologically active cytokinins was found in the culture liquid of rhizosphere microorganisms of the genus Bacillus. Enzyme immunoassay and thin-layer chromatography showed that zeatin riboside and a hormone nucleotide were the main cytokinins observed. Components of this complex were linked by a noncovalent bond.