Origin of Enriched Regulatory T Cells in Patients Receiving Combined Kidney-Bone Marrow Transplantation to Induce Transplantation Tolerance.

We examined tolerance mechanisms in patients receiving HLA-mismatched combined kidney-bone marrow transplantation (CKBMT) that led to transient chimerism under a previously published nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen (Immune Tolerance Network study 036). Polychromatic flow cytometry and high-throughput sequencing of T cell receptor-ß hypervariable regions of DNA from peripheral blood regulatory T cells (Tregs) and CD4 non-Tregs revealed marked early enrichment of Tregs (CD3+ CD4+ CD25high CD127low Foxp3+ ) in blood that resulted from peripheral proliferation (Ki67+ ), possibly new thymic emigration (CD31+ ), and, in one tolerant subject, conversion from non-Tregs. Among recovering conventional T cells, central memory CD4+ and CD8+ cells predominated. A large proportion of the T cell clones detected in posttransplantation biopsy specimens by T cell receptor sequencing were detected in the peripheral blood and were not donor-reactive. Our results suggest that enrichment of Tregs by new thymic emigration and lymphopenia-driven peripheral proliferation in the early posttransplantation period may contribute to tolerance after CKBMT. Further, most conventional T cell clones detected in immunologically quiescent posttransplantation biopsy specimens appear to be circulating cells in the microvasculature rather than infiltrating T cells.

[Interpretation of the epizootic outbreak among wild and domestic birds in the south of the European part of Russia in December 2007].

The paper presents the results of interpreting the epizootic outbreak etiologically associated with high-virulent influenza virus A/H5N1 among domestic and wild birds in the Zernogradsky and Tselinsky districts of the Rostov Region. Epizooty was characterized by a high infection rate in the synanthropic birds of a ground-based complex. RT-PCT revealed influenza virus A/H5 in 60% of pigeons and crows and in around 20% of starlings, and in 10% of tree sparrows. Fifteen viral strains from chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus), Indian ducks (Cairina moschata), rooks (Corvus frugilegus), rock pigeons (Columba livia), tree sparrows (Passer montanus), common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), and great white herons (Egretta alba) were isolated and deposited in the State Collection of Viruses of the Russian Federation. Full-sized genomes of 5 strains were sequenced and deposited in the international database GenBank. The isolated strains belong to the Quinhai-Siberian (2.2) genotype, an Iranian-Northern Caucasian subgroup, they are phylogenetically closest to the strain A/chicken/Moscow/2/2007 (inducing epizooty among poultry in the near-Moscow Region in February 2007) and have 13 unique amino acid replacements as the consensus of the Quinhai-Siberian genotypes in the proteins PB2, PA, HA, NP, NA, and M2, by preserving thereby 4 unique replacements first describes for the strain A/chicken/Moscow/2/2007. The findings are indicative of a different mechanism that is responsible for bringing the virus into the northeastern part of the Azov Sea area in September 2007 (during the fall migration of wild birds) and in December 2007 in the south-western Rostov Region where a human factor cannot be excluded. Mass infection of synanthropic birds endangers the further spread of epizooty, including that in the central regions of the Russian Federation in spring after near migrants return after wintering.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine: its potential social and economic impact.

Present and immediately foreseeable medical knowledge suggest that HIV infection cannot be avoided by vaccination and that an affordable cure for the resulting syndrome, AIDS, is a long way off. There is a strong possibility that Ukraine is confronted by an HIV epidemic which will spread into the general population and that the most common mode of transmission will be through heterosexual intercourse. The epidemic in the Ukraine is currently concentrated among intravenous drug users. It is estimated that between 60,000 and 180,000 people may currently be infected. In present economic and social circumstances there are many features of Ukrainian society that may add to the probability of the epidemic becoming widespread in the general population. It is likely that this process may have already commenced. The result of this will be numerous additional deaths and illness over the short (5 year) (19,000-23,000 deaths), medium (10-15 year) (61,000-111,000), and longer terms (>20 year) (in excess of 40,000-160,000 deaths). The research reported here was undertaken in 1997-8 and describes the potential medium to long term social and economic impact of an HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine. Using the concepts of risk environment, susceptibility and vulnerability, it reports the problems which might be expected to develop in relation to care of excess orphans, the elderly, vulnerable households and regions as well as among those working in the "third sector", a social sector upon which exponents of the importance of developing sound "civil society" in "transitional economies" place heavy emphasis.

[On issues concerning the methodology of long-term population forecasting (a global aspect)]. / K voprosu o metodologii dolgosrochnogo demograficheskogo prognozirovaniya (global'nyi aspekt).

PIP: Theoretical and methodological issues involved in population forecasting are investigated. The interrelationship between population forecasting and population policy is explored. The author encourages the use of historical models of population reproduction as an alternative to demographic transition theory in forecasting population. (SUMMARY IN ENG)^ieng

[The death rate of the population in demo-logical interpretation]. / Smertnost' naseleniya v demologicheskom osveshchenii.

"The present-day peculiarities...[of] population death-rate analysis are considered. It is substantiated that the population death-rate should be studied in two mutually complementary aspects: [a natural] historical process and a result of human activities. The demographic policy object is formulated as aimed at prolongation of the human life." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

[Some trends in population policy concerning the birth rate]. / O nekotorykh napravleniyakh demograficheskoi politiki v sfere rozhdaemosti.

"Demographic results of higher state assistance to families with children [in the Ukrainian SSR] are analyzed. Basic trends for improving conditions for reproduction are determined." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND UKR)

[Some theoretical problems in the development of demo-economic studies]. / Nekotorye problemy razvitiya demoekonomicheskikh issledovanii.

PIP: The author analyzes the state of current demographic research and discusses the importance of including economic theory in the formulation of demographic theory. (SUMMARY IN ENG)^ieng