[The analysis of main causes of increasing of cost of social aftermath of drug addiction in the region according to results of repeated evaluation].

The article presents an attempt to evaluate what factors could contribute into significant changes of both amount and structure of social cost of drug consumption in the region. The analysis, based on preserved basic principles of assessment, was applied to processes that occurred in both state and non-state spheres. The purpose of the study was to analyze main causes of dynamics of social cost of drug consumption during re-assessment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The social cost of drug consumption in the Samara Oblast was re-assessed in 2017-2020 (first assessment was implemented in 2007-2010). The main causes of increasing of social cost of drug consumption were analyzed on the basis of the study results. RESULTS: In Samara Oblast, due to financial and structural changes in state and non-state spheres, occurred increasing of social cost of drug consumption from 18.0 billion to 25.4 billion rubles per year. At that, percentage of social cost of drug consumption in the gross domestic product decreased from 2.9% to 1.6%. In general structure of expenses greatest changes affected percentage of social aftermath of drug addiction (increase from 17.8% to 26.1%) and expenses of drug consumers (decrease from 69.7% to 62.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The increase of absolute values of financial expenditures of the Oblast related to drug consumption conditioned by financial and structural changes in society, is accompanied by decreasing of percentage of ocial cost of drug consumption in value of gross domestic product. The main cause of its dynamics is significant increasing of gross regional product.

[The cost of social consequences of narcotic substances using in Russian and European studies: publications review].

The article analyzes the practice of estimating social economic losses of society from drug consumption implemented in Russia and European countries from 2002 to the present time. Purpose of the study is to identify objective indicators and advantages of various calculation methods applied to analyze of foreign and national practice of estimating social and economic losses of society from drug consumption. The analytical method was applied to analyze various approaches to estimating social economic losses of society because of drug consumption in various countries. The sampling of articles was implemented in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines in the PubMed, Google Scholar and eLibrary databases. It is established that in various studies assessing value of social cost of drug consumption, different methodological approaches are applied, which affects the results of assessment. The magnitude of social cost of drug addiction in the studies ranged from 0.00023% to 4.7% of the Gross Domestic (National) Product (GNP). The large part of social cost of drug abuse in GNP is mostly conditioned by estimating number of hidden drug users during the study, as well as by optimal approach in calculating expenditure categories. The assessment of amount of economic losses of society because of drug traffic is needed to make correct management decisions within the framework of implementation of state drug policy at various levels. This approach can help to better use of the public financial resources.

[An interim analysis of the results of treatment program implementation with the use of injectable extended-release naltrexone for opioid addicted patients]. / Promezhutochnyi analiz rezul'tatov realizatsii programmy lecheniia stradaiushchikh narkoticheskoi zavisimost'iu patsientov prolongirovannym in''ektsionnym naltreksonom.

AIM: To analyze outcomes of treatment in the 'Point of soberness' program for opioid addicted patients (2015-2016 гг.). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The results of treatment of 83 opioid addicted patients were analyzed. Seventy-four (89.16%) patients received treatment course of injections of extended-release naltrexone (from 4 to 6 injections), maintaining their participation in the outpatient medical rehabilitation program. Thirty-six (43.37%) patients completed a full course of injections of extended-release naltrexone. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The high efficacy of complex treatment with naltrexone injections was demonstrated. 89% of patients achieved remission during the course of treatment.

trp operon induction during the expression in E. coli of two IFN-gamma sequences.

Two nucleotide sequences coding for mature human immune interferon (IFN-gamma) and differing from each other by nine N-terminal nucleotides were expressed in E. coli under the control of a trp promoter. The longer gene variant after the ATG initiatory codon contained a TGT TAC TGC sequence, which was absent in the shorter gene. When expressed in E. coli under the direction of identical transcription and translation regulatory elements, these genes showed different susceptibility to induction.

Variations in genome fragments coding for RNA polymerase in human and simian hepatitis A viruses.

The genome of hepatitis A virus (HAV) isolated from spontaneously infected African vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) has been cloned and partially sequenced. Comparison of genome fragments (1248 and 162 bp) from the 3D (RNA polymerase) region with the corresponding parts of human HAV genomes revealed a high degree of heterogeneity: there were altogether 257 nucleotide changes leading to 44 substitutions in predicted amino acid sequence, i.e. 89% amino acid identity. This divergence is considered to be significantly greater than genomic variations usually found among human HAV strains, where amino acid identity in the 3D region is over 98%.

Insertion of short hepatitis virus A amino acid sequences into poliovirus antigenic determinants results in viable progeny.

In an infectious poliovirus cDNA construct, the determinant encoding antigenic epitope N-Ag1 (in a loop located between two beta-strands in poly-peptide VP1) was altered by site-directed mutagenesis, to be partially similar with the determinants for presumptive epitopes in polypeptides VP1 or VP3 of hepatitis A virus (HAV). The modified constructs proved to be infectious. However, another construct, in which the same locus encoded a 'nonsense' and a relatively hydrophobic amino acid sequence, exhibited no infectivity. These data showed the feasibility of the insertion of foreign sequences in a specific antigenically active locus of the poliovirus icosahedron, and suggest some limitations with respect to the sequences to be 'transplanted'.

Short report: phylogenetically distinct hepatitis E viruses in Pakistan.

Hepatitis E, which is enterically transmitted, is the most common cause of acute hepatitis in much of Asia. Phylogenetic analysis of several isolates of hepatitis E virus (HEV) from Asia suggests that transmission of this virus is geographically restricted. In Sarghoda, Pakistan, HEV Sar-55 was isolated from a 1987 outbreak. It belongs to the Central-Asian cluster of the Asian sub-genotype. We now report the complete sequence of a second Pakistan HEV from a 1988 outbreak in Abbottabad. The Abbottabad nucleotide sequence was compared with 15 other complete HEV sequences using statistical methods of phylogenetic analysis. The analysis showed that Abbottabad HEV belongs to the South Asia cluster of the Asian sub-genotype. The sequence differences of the 2 Pakistan isolates recovered only one year apart suggest that HEV of 2 distinct origins circulate in Pakistan.

[Expression in Escherichia coli cells of mutant human interferon alpha2]. / Ekspressiia v kletkakh Escherichia coli mutantnogo interferona alpha2 cheloveka.

cDNA library was obtained from mRNA isolated from human leukocytes induced by Newcastle disease virus. Clones containing cDNA for alpha 2-interferons were identified by colony hybridization with two synthetic hexadecanucleotides. One of the positive clones contained a NH2-terminal part of cDNA of human interferon identical to cDNA for IFN-alpha 2. The only difference between these two clones was the Ser-8 leads to Asn-8 substitution in deduced sequenced of mature interferons. This mutant interferon, named alpha 2, was expressed in E. coli and its properties were compared with those of interferon alpha 2.

[An experimental study of human recombinant gamma interferon with a proteolytically reduced C-end area of the protein]. / Eksperimental'noe izuchenie rekombinantnogo chelovecheskogo gamma-interferona s proteoliticheski redutsirovannym C-kontsevym uchastkom belka.

The work presents the results of experimental study of gamma interferon obtained by gene engineering techniques on the basis of Escherichia coli producer strains. The study has revealed that gamma interferon, whose molecular weight is 15 KD, due to intracellular proteolytic degradation shows the absence of some amino acids at the C-end of protein and is electrophoretically homogeneous, while its antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulating effects are less pronounced than those of gamma interferon with a molecular weight of 18 KD.

Biological and molecular comparisons of human (HM-175) and simian (AGM-27) hepatitis A viruses.

Comparisons of HM-175, the prototype human strain of hepatitis A virus, and AGM-27, a simian isolate, indicate that the two HAV viruses differ substantially in sequence and in biological characteristics. The extent of the differences suggests that hepatitis A viruses have a greater potential for diversity than previously assumed.

Simian hepatitis A virus (HAV) strain AGM-27: comparison of genome structure and growth in cell culture with other HAV strains.

Fragments of cDNA representing greater than 99% of the entire genome of wild-type hepatitis A virus (HAV) strain AGM-27, isolated from an African green monkey, were obtained by the polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. Comparison with other HAV isolates revealed differences in the predicted amino acid sequence in functionally critical parts of the genome. Comparison of the biological properties of AGM-27 with those of human wild-type and cell culture-adapted HM-175 strains revealed that AGM-27 grew in cell culture significantly better than did wild-type HM-175, but not as well as cell culture-adapted HM-175. AGM-27 and cell culture-adapted HM-175 were distinguishable by their differential growth in CV-1, FRhK-4 and primary AGMK cells.

False-positive serologic test resulting from a probable yeast infection in a chimpanzee.

Sera used to identify putative hepatitis E viral proteins expressed in Pischia pastoris produced a false-positive reaction because of antibodies to a yeast protein. This report illustrates a potential problem when serological reagents are used in combination with recombinant proteins expressed in yeast.

Phylogenetic analysis suggests only one serotype of Japanese encephalitis virus.

Phylogenetic analysis was performed for different genome regions of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Similar genetic groupings were identified for all analyzed genome regions including complete genomes. More extensive analysis was performed for 92 isolates (complete envelope sequences) available in the GenBank. Results of phylogenetic analysis were compared with those performed for human positive strand RNA viruses with well characterized serotypes - poliovirus (PV) and dengue virus (DEN). The observed level of the JEV inter-genotype diversity was much less than that observed across PV and DEN serotypes and was consistent with the genetic diversity observed within PV or DEN serotypes. This genetic analysis supports the contention that all known JEV isolates comprise a single serotype.

Partial sequence comparison of eight new Chinese strains of hepatitis E virus suggests the genome sequence is relatively stable.

Partial genomic sequences representing 420 nucleotides of a nonstructional region, 480 nucleotides of the putative RNA polymerase region, and 540 nucleotides of the structural region of epidemic-associated Chinese strains of hepatitis E virus (HEV) were obtained by direct sequencing of PCR-amplified DNA. Comparison with previously published HEV sequences showed a clear relatedness of all Chinese strains to each other and to a Pakistani strain (Sar-55). All eight Chinese strains examined had very similar sequences (98.5-99.8% homology) in the regions examined and were much closer to the Pakistani strain (Sar-55) (97.9-98.4% homology) than to the Burmese strain (92.5-93.3% homology). Sequence comparisons of the three genomic regions in the Chinese strains indicated that the RNA polymerase region was much more conserved than the other nonstructural region or the structural region. HEV isolates from three remote geographic regions of China had sequences closely related to each other.

A simian strain of hepatitis A virus, AGM-27, functions as an attenuated vaccine for chimpanzees.

The AGM-27 strain OF hepatitis A virus (HAV) was originally isolated from an African green monkey with hepatitis and appears to represent a true simian strain. The virus caused acute hepatitis after intravenous inoculation into African green monkeys, rhesus monkeys, and marmosets. Cynomolgus monkeys inoculated with the virus did not develop hepatitis, probably because of prior exposure to HAV. Chimpanzees inoculated with a high dose of the virus did not develop signs of hepatitis, although the virus replicated and the animals seroconverted. Marmosets and chimpanzees convalescent from infection with the AGM-27 strain of HAV were rechallenged with the virulent HM-175 strain of human HAV. They were partially or totally protected from disease.

Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis E virus among rodents in the United States.

The recent identification of antibody to hepatitis E virus (HEV) in pigs, sheep, and cattle and characterization of an HEV isolated from domestic pigs suggest animal reservoirs for this virus. To investigate whether rodents might be a natural reservoir of HEV, the prevalence of anti-HEV was determined among a variety of species throughout the United States. Serum samples were obtained from 806 rodents of 26 species in 15 genera. Anti-HEV prevalence was assessed by 2 EIAs (mosaic protein- and 55-kDa protein-based), which gave concordant results. The highest prevalence of antibody was found in the genus Rattus (59.7%; 166/278). Overall, rodents from urban habitats had a significantly higher prevalence of anti-HEV than did animals captured from rural areas. A high prevalence of anti-HEV was found in animals captured on mainland versus barrier islands. The results from this study provide convincing evidence of widespread HEV or HEV-like infection in rodents of the United States.

Role of immune serum globulins in pregnant women during an epidemic of hepatitis E.

The efficacy of an Indian preparation of immune serum globulins (ISG) was evaluated among pregnant women during an epidemic of hepatitis E in Karad, Western India from January to March 1993. Ten of 55 women receiving ISG developed immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) during the 1 month of follow-up compared with 18 out of 53 control subjects. Although the total number of recent HEV infections was significantly less in the ISG-treated group, no significant difference could be shown in the proportion of clinical hepatitis E cases because of the very small numbers of patients who developed clinical disease. The observed marginal beneficial effect of ISG might be the result of a low immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-HEV IgG titre (1:500) of the ISG preparation used. Preparation and testing of high-titred ISG should be a high priority for protecting pregnant women during epidemics of hepatitis E.

Fulminant hepatitis in patients undergoing liver transplantation: evidence for a non-A, non-B, non-C, non-D, and non-E syndrome.

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) in the absence of serum markers of hepatitis A (HAV) or B (HBV) infection or another cause is called non-A, non-B (NANB) FHF. The pathogenetic role of viral infection in NANB FHF remains controversial. To better define this relationship, we studied patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for FHF. Thirty-six patients with FHF underwent transplantation between 1987 and 1992. Pre-OLT serum was available for 24 patients, 14 with NANB FHF (all female; mean age, 32 years), and 10 (3 males, 7 females; mean age, 20 years) with a defined origin for FHF who formed the control group. Sera were tested using polymerase chain reaction for HAV, HCV, HDV, and HEV RNA and HBV DNA, and also serologically for antibodies to these viruses. In the NANB group, pre-OLT serum was negative for all viruses tested. Four patients in the control group had HBV serologically, 2 with HBV DNA in serum. One of these 4 also had hepatitis C and one hepatitis D infection. There was no difference in intensive care unit or hospital stay between the groups. The only significant difference in laboratory data was for peak creatinine pre-OLT (0.94 mg/dL in NANB v 1.62 mg/dL; P < .05). Two patients in the NANB groups and 3 in the control group required early retransplantation for graft primary nonfunction. One case of NANB FHF appeared to recur at 6 months but not after subsequent retransplantation. NANB FHF is not associated with hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E in plasma. It has a later age of onset but a similar clinical course to other forms of FHF and appears to preferentially affect women.