Improving porous properties of activated carbon from carbon gel by the OTA method.

High-surface-area microporous-mesoporous carbons were produced from carbon gel by applying the three consecutive steps of air oxidation, thermal treatment, and activation (the OTA method) to the gel. The formation of mesopores occurs both inside and outside the nanoparticles which form the carbon gel, while micropores are predominantly created within the nanoparticles. The OTA method offered a greater increase in pore volume and BET surface area of the resulting activated carbon in comparison with conventional CO2 activation either under the same activation conditions or at the same degree of carbon burn-off. Under the best preparation conditions, the maximum values of micropore volume, mesopore volume, and BET surface area achievable using the OTA method were found to be 1.19 cm3 g-1, 1.81 cm3 g-1, and 2920 m2 g-1, respectively at a 72% carbon burn-off. The larger increase in porous properties of activated carbon gel prepared by the OTA method over those based on conventional activation stems from the effects of the oxidation and heat treatment steps of the OTA method that could produce a large number of reaction sites which lead to efficient pore formation during the following CO2 activation process.

[Biological properties and phylogenetic relationships of tick-borne encephalitis virus (Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) isolates of siberian subtype isolated in the south of East siberia in modern period].

INTRODUCTION: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is medically most important representative of the same-name serogroup of genus Flavivirus (Flaviviridae). In the view of various researchers there are 3 to 5 TBEV subtypes, of them siberian being the most prevalent. The aim of the work is to compare the biological properties and to reveal phylogenetic relationships of large group of modern (2006-2019) TBEV isolates of siberian subtype from natural foci in southern East Siberia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ixodid ticks (Ixodidae) and small mammals (Mammalia) from tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) natural foci in Irkutsk Region, Republic of Buryatia and Republic of Tuva, as well as specimens from TBE patients, were examined for TBEV markers using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Virus was isolated from suspensions with positive result, and its pathogenicity for white mice (Mus) (WM) was studied by different inoculation ways. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences of E gene was performed for isolates at 1st passage. Phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA X program. RESULTS: The phylogenetic analysis has shown that TBEV of siberian subtype that circulates in natural foci of the studied territory belong to two genetic lines. These lines are «Vasilchenko¼ and «Zausaev¼ with a strong predominance of the first. The differences in biological properties between the two groups of strains have been demonstrated. Most of the strains from both groups showed high virulence for WM both after intracerebral and subcutaneous inoculation. Only four strains demonstrated the reduced ability to overcome the blood-brain barrier. However, the analysis of the E protein coding sequences revealed evident correlation between phylogenetic clustering and geographical origin of isolates, but not with TBE host or pathogenicity for WM. CONCLUSION: Further search for TBE genome regions associated with pathogenicity require the analysis of complete genome sequences of representative group of strains with different biological properties.

Analysis of effectivity of the tickborne encephalitis virus detection methods in ixodid ticks.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is transmissible viral disease widely common in temperate zone of Eurasia. ELISA and PCR are used for express identification of the vector's infection, but the results of the two methods often do not agree. Aim of the work is comparative analysis for TBE virus of Ixodid ticks from nature using complex of methods, including ELISA, PCR, and isolation of the virus in laboratory mice. 18608 Ixodid ticks were collected during 2013-2019 in TBE natural foci of the Baikal Region. The ticks suspensions were examined individually, using ELISA (n=17610) and PCR (n=2999). Suckling mice were inoculated with the suspensions positive in the both tests. The TBEV antigen was found in 1.2 % of ticks in average. All ticks positive in ELISA were examined in PCR (Group 1). Randomly selected part of negative-ELISA samples were examined in PCR too (Group 2). The PCR results were positive in 68.9±3.13 % of the Group 1, with average Ct index 24.6±0.38. Positive results of PCR in Group 2 accounted for just 2.7±0.31 % with average Ct index 31.0±0.70. The average Ct margin of the Groups 1 and 2 is statistically significant (p < 0.001; df = 118). Isolation of strains was significantly more successful in Group 1 (21.7±2.77 %), than in Group 2 (8.2±5.26 %; p < 0.05; df = 50). ELISA is more useful for examining large amounts of ticks. To get a more complex picture about epidemically dangerous part of the vectors in TBE natural foci, the results of the two express-methods is better to sum. The isolation of the virus is useful to carry out of the samples positive in ELISA and PCR concurrently.

Development of an efficient CVD technique to prepare TiO2/porous-carbon nanocomposites for high rate lithium-ion capacitors.

Titanium dioxide is a promising electrode material for lithium-ion capacitors. When using TiO2 as an electrode material, it is necessary to combine it with carbon at the nanometer level to improve its low electrical conductivity and low reactivity with Li+. However, preparation methods of reported TiO2/porous-carbon nanocomposites are generally not cost-effective, and their productivities are low. In this study, the vacuum liquid-pulse chemical vapor deposition (VLP-CVD) technique was developed to easily prepare TiO2/porous-carbon nanocomposites, where TiO2 nanoparticles with a diameter of ∼4 nm could be homogeneously deposited inside the pores of meso- or macroporous carbons. Because the deposited TiO2 nanoparticles had access to effective electrically conductive paths formed by the porous-carbon substrate, they showed a high discharge capacity of ∼200 mA h g-1-TiO2 (based on TiO2 weight). In particular, the composite prepared from macroporous carbon showed an extremely high rate performance, where 50% of the discharge capacity was retained at a current density of 15 000 mA g-1 when compared to that measured at 50 mA g-1. In addition, the composite also showed very high cyclability, where 80% of the discharge capacity was retained at the 10 000th cycle. Because the VLP-CVD technique can be performed using simple apparatus and commercially available starting materials, it can be expected to boost industrial production of TiO2/porous-carbon for lithium-ion capacitors.

Carbon Paper with a High Surface Area Prepared from Carbon Nanofibers Obtained through the Liquid Pulse Injection Technique.

To improve the performance of carbon paper used for applications such as electrodes for electrochemical devices and air filters, two types of long carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with average diameters of 20 and 49 nm were prepared by the liquid pulse injection (LPI) technique by adjusting reaction conditions. Carbon paper was made from the CNFs through a simple filtration process. The paper prepared from the CNFs with an average diameter of 20 nm (LPI-CNF(20) paper) was firm and flexible even though it was prepared without using any binders. LPI-CNF(20) paper also had a high surface area and showed a high electrical conductivity and a moderate gas permeability according to its void size. These properties are required for cathodes in the latest battery systems such as lithium-air batteries. In electrochemical experiments conducted to evaluate the performance of LPI-CNF(20) paper as a cathode, the paper showed a larger discharge capacity on the basis of the cathode weight than a conventional cathode (a commercially available carbon paper combined with a porous carbon), which indicated that it has a high potential to be used as a cathode in lithium-air batteries.

Development of TiO2-SiO2 Photocatalysts Having a Microhoneycomb Structure by the Ice Templating Method.

Immobilization of TiO2-based photocatalysts usually suffers from lowered surface area and mass transfer limitation compared with their suspended counterpart. In this work, TiO2-SiO2 monolithic photocatalysts having straight macropores, called microhoneycombs, were synthesized. The obtained samples had straight macropores with a diameter in the range of 15-40 µm formed by walls having a thickness up to 5 µm. The samples also contain micropores and small mesopores inside their walls, which contribute to high surface areas of more than 500 m2 g-1. Synthesized photocatalysts were tested in a continuous flow system using the decolorization of methylene blue as a model reaction. It was found that the unique morphology of the samples can be used to promote the uniform distribution of the target fluid while reducing the pressure drop across the photocatalyst to less than a hundredth compared with a packed bed system. In addition, calcination at 600-800 °C improved the strength and photocatalytic activity of the monoliths while preserving the high surface area of the samples.

Synthesis of Mg-Al Mixed Oxides with Markedly High Surface Areas from Layered Double Hydroxides with Organic Sulfonates.

Mg-Al mixed oxides with record-high surface areas and basic site concentrations were synthesized from Mg-Al layered double hydroxides with interlayer isethionate (Ise) or 3-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonate (HPS). Anion exchange of interlayer CO3 2- in synthetic hydrotalcites with the organic sulfonates induces disorders in layer stacking as characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and enables facile delamination in water. Thermal treatment of materials anion-exchanged by Ise (MgAl-Ise) and HPS (MgAl-HPS) in N2 and H2 resulted in the formation of Mg-Al mixed oxides with marked enhancement in Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area relative to those treated in air. Treatment in a flow of H2 is particularly effective, doubling the surface area of mixed oxides derived from MgAl-Ise relative to those obtained in a flow of N2. A higher degree of disorder in layer stacking in MgAl-HPS than MgAl-Ise resulted in the formation of Mg-Al mixed oxides with higher surface areas than those from MgAl-Ise. As a result, thermal activation of MgAl-HPS in a flow of H2 yielded Mg-Al mixed oxides with the highest BET surface area (410 m2 g-1) and CO2 uptake (1.6 mmol g-1 at 25 °C and 100 kPa) in all samples. These values are significantly higher than those obtained from the initial hydrotalcites as well as those reported in the literature with similar Mg-Al ratios. Investigation of the thermal activation steps by thermogravimetric analysis and mass spectrometry indicates that the key factors to achieve high surface area and CO2 uptake are to weaken interactions between layers by inducing stacking disorders and to facilitate the removal of interlayer sulfonates by preventing the formation of sulfates from them via thermal activation under a reducing environment.

Ophthalmic presentation of giant cell arteritis in African-Americans.

PurposeTo determine the differences in the presentation of ophthalmic giant cell arteritis between African-Americans and Caucasians.MethodsThis was a multicenter retrospective case series comparing African-American patients with ophthalmic GCA to a previously published Caucasian cohort. Neuro-ophthalmic centers across the United States were contacted to provide data on African-American patients with biopsy-proven ophthalmic giant cell arteritis. The differences between African-American and Caucasian patients with respect to multiple variables, including age, sex, systemic and ophthalmic signs and symptoms, ocular ischemic lesions, and laboratory results were studied.ResultsThe Caucasian cohort was slightly older (mean=76.1 years) than the African-American cohort (mean=72.6 years, P=0.03), and there was no difference in sex distribution between the two cohorts. Headache, neck pain, and anemia were more frequent, while jaw claudication was less frequent in African-Americans (P<0.01, <0.001, 0.02, and 0.03 respectively). Acute vision loss was the most common presentation of giant cell arteritis in both groups, though it was less common in African-Americans (78 vs 98% of Caucasians, P<0.001). Eye pain was more common in African-Americans (28 vs 8% of Caucasians, P<0.01).ConclusionsThe presenting features of ophthalmic giant cell arteritis in African-Americans and Caucasians are not markedly different, although a few significant differences exist, including higher rates of headache, neck pain, anemia, and eye pain, and lower rates of jaw claudication and acute vision loss in African-Americans. Persons presenting with suspicious signs and symptoms should undergo evaluation for giant cell arteritis regardless of race.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus isolates from natural foci of the Irkutsk region: clarification of the genotype landscape.

The Irkutsk region is the unique territory where all known subtypes of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) circulate. In the last years, the phenomenon of changes in TBEV subtypes (substitution of the Far-Eastern subtype by the Siberian one) was noted in some regions of the Russian Federation. The results of individual investigation of 11522 Ixodes persulcatus ticks and brain specimens from 81 small mammals collected in natural foci of the Irkutsk region during 2006-2014 are presented in the article. More than 60 TBEV strains have been isolated and studied by virological methods; E gene fragments (1193 b.p.) of 68 isolates have been typed. The majority of the strains (irrespective of subtype) were of high virulence for laboratory mice (LM) in case of both intracerebral and subcutaneous inoculation of virus. All isolates from warm-blooded small mammals and humans were of high virulence for LM, but placed in the same clusters of the phylogenetic tree with ticks collected in the same area. Tick-borne strains of different virulence also did not form separate clusters on the tree. Phylogenetic analysis showed that modern TBEV genotypic landscape of the studied territory is changing toward absolute predominance of the Siberian subtype (94.1%). This subtype is represented by two groups with prototype strains "Zausaev" and "Vasilchenko". The "Vasilchenko" group of strains is spread on the whole territory under study; the strains of "Zausaev" group were isolated previously in the Irkutsk suburbs. The European subtype of TBEV circulates in natural foci of Pribaikalie permanently (at least 5% of the random sampling); the strains are of high virulence for LM. The Far-Eastern TBEV subtype was not found within the group of isolates collected in 20062014. The phylogenetic relationship of the strains under study had a higher correlation with the place of isolation than with the year or source.

Hyperintense Optic Nerve due to Diffusion Restriction: Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Traumatic Optic Neuropathy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Abnormal signal intensity of the optic nerve due to diffusion restriction may be seen in traumatic optic neuropathy. In addition to evaluating optic nerve hyperintensity on diffusion-weighted imaging, we compared the group differences of ADC values between the injured and uninjured contralateral nerve and identified the relation between measured ADC values and admission visual acuity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 29 patients with traumatic optic neuropathy who underwent MR imaging with DWI. Uninjured contralateral optic nerves were used as controls. Two attending radiologists, blinded to the side of injury, independently reviewed the DWI for the presence of signal-intensity abnormality and obtained ADC values after manually selecting the ROI. RESULTS: Hyperintensity of the optic nerve was demonstrated in 8 of the 29 patients, with a sensitivity of 27.6% (95% CI, 12.8-47.2) and a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 87.9-100). ADC values were obtained in 25 patients. The mean ADC in the posterior segment of the injured nerve was significantly lower than that in the contralateral uninjured nerve (Welch ANOVA, F = 9.7, P = .003). There was a moderate-to-strong correlation between low ADC values and poor visual acuity in 10 patients in whom visual acuity could be obtained at admission (R = 0.7, P = .02). Patients with optic nerve hyperintensity presented with worse visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperintensity of the optic nerve due to diffusion restriction can serve as a specific imaging marker of traumatic optic neuropathy. When paired with reduced ADC values, this finding may be an important surrogate for visual acuity.

Derivation of neural stem cells from an animal model of psychiatric disease.

Several psychiatric and neurological diseases are associated with altered hippocampal neurogenesis, suggesting differing neural stem cell (NSC) function may play a critical role in these diseases. To investigate the role of resident NSCs in a murine model of psychiatric disease, we sought to isolate and characterize NSCs from alpha-calcium-/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II heterozygous knockout (CaMK2α-hKO) mice, a model of schizophrenia/bipolar disorder. These mice display altered neurogenesis, impaired neuronal development and are part of a larger family possessing phenotypic and behavioral correlates of schizophrenia/bipolar disorder and a shared pathology referred to as the immature dentate gyrus (iDG). The extent to which NSCs contribute to iDG pathophysiology remains unclear. To address this, we established heterogeneous cultures of NSCs isolated from the hippocampal neuropoietic niche. When induced to differentiate, CaMK2α-hKO-derived NSCs recapitulate organotypic hippocampal neurogenesis, but generate larger numbers of immature neurons than wild-type (WT) littermates. Furthermore, mutant neurons fail to assume mature phenotypes (including morphology and MAP2/calbindin expression) at the same rate observed in WT counterparts. The increased production of immature neurons which fail to mature indicates that this reductionist model retains key animal- and iDG-specific maturational deficits observed in animal models and human patients. This is doubly significant, as these stem cells lack several developmental inputs present in vivo. Interestingly, NSCs were isolated from animals prior to the emergence of overt iDG pathophysiology, suggesting mutant NSCs may possess lasting intrinsic alterations and that altered NSC function may contribute to iDG pathophysiology in adult animals.

Immobilization of magnesium ammonium phosphate crystals within microchannels for efficient ammonia removal.

Magnesium ammonium phosphate was formed in flow-through microchannels of silica monoliths using two different methods to fabricate materials that show efficient ammonia adsorption performance from wastewater with low hydraulic resistance. Magnesium ammonium phosphate crystals in these materials release ammonia when heated at 378 K, yielding primarily magnesium hydrogen phosphate. When this material was used for ammonia removal from an aqueous solution containing 100 ppm ammonia in a flow system, the material readily removed ammonia, decreasing the ammonia concentration to 25 ppm. The material can be reactivated by the same procedure and used again for ammonia removal. Hydrodynamic resistance through the lengths of the materials depend on the shape of the immobilized crystals, showing that needle-like crystals are more effective to cause less resistance than plate-like particles. The material containing needle-like crystals causes only approximately one-eighth of the hydraulic resistance that a packed column consisted of spherical particles with a typical bed porosity of 0.5 does. Thus, these results demonstrate the high applicability of the material for ammonia removal from wastewater in a continuous process.

Detection of an immature dentate gyrus feature in human schizophrenia/bipolar patients.

Hippocampus-associated cognitive impairments are a common, highly conserved symptom of both schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BPD). Although the hippocampus is likely an impacted region in SCZ/BPD patients, the molecular and cellular underpinnings of these impairments are difficult to identify. An emerging class of mouse models for these psychiatric diseases display similar cognitive impairments to those observed in human patients. The hippocampi of these mice possess a conserved pathophysiological alteration; we term the 'immature dentate gyrus' (iDG), characterized by increased numbers of calretinin-positive immature neuronal progenitors, a dearth of calbindin-positive mature neurons and (often) constitutively increased neurogenesis. Although these models provide a link between cellular dysfunction and behavioral alteration, limited translational validity exists linking the iDG to human pathophysiology. In this study, we report the initial identification of an iDG-like phenotype in the hippocampi of human SCZ/BPD patients. These findings suggest a new motif for the etiology of these diseases and link an emerging class of mouse models to the human disease condition.

Retinoic acid 4-hydroxylase inducibility and clinical response to isotretinoin in patients with acne.

BACKGROUND: The cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme CYP26 (retinoic acid [RA] 4-hydroxylase) initiates the catabolism of all-trans RA (tRA) and limits the effects of tRA. The CYP26 enzyme acts specifically on tRA, but not 13-cis RA (isotretinoin), a retinoid used to treat severe acne. However, 13-cis RA can isomerize to tRA, which can then be metabolized by CYP26. OBJECTIVE: In healthy individuals, we assessed the variability of CYP26 enzymatic activity. We then investigated whether response to oral 13-cis RA among patients with acne correlates with variability in CYP26 expression. METHODS: In healthy individuals, we isolated microsomal fractions from the epidermis of keratome biopsy specimens and measured CYP26 enzymatic activity in untreated skin and skin treated with tRA. Enzymatic activity was determined based on rate of formation of 4-hydroxy RA (pg/min/mg microsomal protein). Using real-time polymerase chain reaction we quantified CYP26 messenger RNA induction after tRA application in patients with acne who responded or did not respond to one course of 13-cis RA. RESULTS: In normal-appearing skin (N = 118), CYP26 enzymatic activity was widely variable (1-180 pg/min/mg microsomal fraction; mean 42.7 +/- 3.5). Furthermore, CYP26 enzymatic activity was inducible in a dose-dependent manner in normal-appearing skin after tRA application, but not correlated with age or sex (N = 29). In patients with acne, CYP26 messenger RNA induction after 0.1% tRA application did not differ (P > .05) between patients who responded (N = 8, 587 +/- 325-fold) or did not respond (N = 8, 657 +/- 227-fold) to one course of 13-cis RA. LIMITATIONS: The small number of patients with acne treated with 13-cis RA was a major limitation. CONCLUSION: Factors other than CYP26 activity may determine response to isotretinoin in acne.

[Healing of free vascularized bone allotransplants: optimizing by short-term immunosuppression and host-derived neovascularization]. / Einheilung vaskularisierter Knochenallotransplantate : Optimierung durch Kurzzeit-Immunsuppression und der empfängerbasierten Neovaskularisation.

BACKGROUND: Living bone allotransplants (ATs) currently require long-term immunosuppression (IS), but this is impractical for extremity-preserving procedures. An alternative method to maintain viability of the transplant uses host-derived neoangiogeneic vessels combined with short-term IS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diaphyseal femoral defects in Dutch-Belted rabbits were reconstructed with a free microvascular AT from New Zealand White rabbits. Additionally, a host-derived intramedullary pedicled fascial flap was placed and short-term IS administered to two of four groups. Neovascularization and bone healing were quantified by microangiography and a custom radiographic score. RESULTS: Bone ATs with perfused fascial flaps achieved bone healing equivalent to autotransplant controls, even when they received IS only until host-derived neoangiogenesis replaced the original perfusion. Vascularized ATs without this combination achieved significantly inferior results. SUMMARY: This rabbit model demonstrated that increased bone turnover allows good healing but may temporarily weaken the allotransplant. However, by the more intense replacement of the graft with host-derived cells, this process may, in the long-term, ultimately result in a better transplant than an avascular graft.

Combined fractures of the distal radius and scaphoid.

Combined fractures of the distal radius and scaphoid are uncommon, are usually the result of a high-energy trauma and there is no consensus regarding their optimal management. We present a retrospective study of ten patients, out of whom nine underwent internal fixation of their fractures. Open reduction and internal fixation were performed in six of the eight intraarticular fractures of the distal radius. After a mean follow-up of 40 months, eight patients reported no pain and the mean range of wrist motion was 55 degrees flexion and 71 degrees extension. Our current management protocol is outlined. Emphasis on treatment of this combined fracture should be placed on the management of the distal radius fracture. Internal fixation of both fractures, followed by early rehabilitation, optimises outcomes. Cast treatment is indicated only in patients with completely undisplaced fractures of both the radius and the scaphoid.

Prolyl isomerase, Pin1: new findings of post-translational modifications and physiological substrates in cancer, asthma and Alzheimer's disease.

The peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1 specifically binds phosphorylated Ser/Thr-Pro protein motifs and catalyzes the cis/trans isomerization of the peptide bond. Accumulating studies have revealed that Pin1 isomerase activity is regulated by its post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation and oxidation. Various transcription factors and regulators have been identified as substrates for Pin1. It enhances AP-1 activity via isomerization of both c-Jun and c-Fos for cellular proliferation and stabilizes the oncosuppressors p53 and p73 against DNA damage at the checkpoint. We demonstrated the association between the intracellular form of Notch1 (NIC) and Pin1 by analyzing Pin1/p53 double-knockout mice. Pin1 also regulates the post-transcriptional level of some cytokines, associated with asthma, that possess 3' untranslated region AU-rich elements (AREs) via interaction withAUF1, the nucleoprotein in the ARE-binding complex. Pin1 has been identified as the molecular partner of tau and amyloid precursor protein (APP), the key factors of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It interacts with the phosphorylated Thr-231 of tau and regulates its activity to bind microtubules. It further interacts with the phosphorylated Thr-668 of APP and affects its metabolism. Thus, Pin1 is probably involved in the pathogenesis of human diseases, including cancer, asthma, and AD, presenting an attractive target for future therapeutical drugs.

Recurrent intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia of the right middle finger treated with radiation therapy.

We describe a case of recurrent intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia involving the middle finger which was successfully-treated with photon and proton radiotherapy following two previous surgical excisions.

[Molecular epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis].

The review presents information on the development of studies into the molecular epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Russia and foreign countries. The existence of three major virus genotypes has been established by various techniques, such as genomic fragment sequencing, molecular hybridization using genotype-specific probes, and restriction fragment length polymorphism test. Each of the genotypes prevails in different parts of a natural habitat; the Ural-Siberian genotype (a Siberian subtype) is most commonly encountered. The genetic differences between the strains belonging to different genotypes are great and comparable with differences between some mammalian flaviviruses transmitted by ticks (viruses of a TBE complex). Further studies of the molecular epidemiology of TBE are of importance in understanding the evolution of the causative agent, improving the taxonomy and the classification of flavivuruses, and designing highly effective methods for the specific diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the disease.

[Current approaches to emergency specific prevention of tick-borne encephalitis].

Emergency specific prevention of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) by using homologous immunoglobulin is an important element in the package of controlling measures against this viral natural and focal infection. There are annually a few hundred thousand referrals for health care facilities for tick bites. Their maximum coverage tactics via immunoglobulin prevention is medically unreal and unjustifiable. The paper presents the results of a long-term application of another approach based on preliminary rapid studies of the ticks taken from victims or the blood of patients in the period of possible development of virusemia and preventive immunoglobulin use only in the persons bitten with TBE virus-infected ticks. Examination of the material available from more than 56 thousand referrals indicated the high epidemiological (more than 99%) and economic effectiveness of the target administration of an immunological drug. By taking into account the accumulated data on a wide spread of combined foci of TBE and other tick-borne infections and the authors' own experience, it is suggested that it is necessary to organize a comprehensive differential laboratory diagnosis and emergency prevention against the whole complex of Ixodes tick-borne infections.