[HIV-1 genetic variants in the Asian part of Russia: a study (2005-2010)].

The HIV-1 genetic variants circulated in the Asian part of the Russian Federation in 2005-2010 were studied. The samples of HIV-1 (427 in total) were collected in Khabarovsk, Magadan, Kurgan, Krasnoyarsk, Noyabr'sk, Yakutsk, Altay, and Tyva. Sequencing of some genome regions followed by the phylogenetic analysis or specific Internet resource sampling were used as the main methods of the HIV subtyping. The domination of the IDU-A HIV-1 genetic variant typical of HIV-infection epidemic in Russia was shown in all regions tested in 2005-2010. This variant prevailed both in IDUs and heterosexuals. In addition to IDU-A, some other HIV-1 genetic variants were found among them: subtype B and recombinant CRF03_AB. The HIV-1 genetic polymorphism in Russia was found to be low. An increase in the genetic distance among studied de novo samples was noted in the Asian part of Russia in 2005-2010 (26-68%) as compared to the European variants in 1996-1999 (10%).

[Value of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of p24 antigen of human immunodeficiency virus in confirmation of HIV-infection].

AIM: To evaluate diagnostic value of p24 antigen detection for algorithm of confirmatory diagnostics of HIV-infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Concurrently with Western blot assay (WB, "New Lav Blot1", Bio-Rad), tests for detection of p24 antigen of HIV (Genetic Systems HIV-1 Ag EIA", "VectoHIV-1 p24-antigen confirming test", and "DS-EIA-HIV-AG-SCREEN") were used for confirmation of first-positive result of immuno-enzyme assay. RESULTS: p24 HIV antigen was detected in serum samples in 8.4% of patients with equivocal result of WB and in 4.2% of patients with negative and positive results of WB. Presence of p24 was correlated with high viral load, and, in patients with confirmed diagnosis, with low CD4 cells count (<500 cells/ml). p24 was detected in more than 30% of persons with confirmed seroconversion after primary testing. CONCLUSION: In groups of persons with negative and equivocal results of WB assay, detection of HIV p24 antigen points to the presence of infection and could be the reason for the final diagnosis. Detection of p24 in patients with positive result of WB assay allows to consider them as probable candidates for highly active antiretroviral therapy.

[Clinical and immunological effect of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae, type B, in children with disorders of the nervous system].

Observations on 277 children aged 3 months to 4 years with lesions of the nervous system, immunized with vaccine Act-HIB (Aventis Pasteur, France), were carried out in groups of children. The significant decrease of the level of Hib nasopharyngeal carrier state in 3.3 times and the decrease of total morbidity in acute infections of respiratory and ENT organs in 2.7 times occurred after immunization was revealed. The immunological effect of immunization on the level of protective titers against H. influenzae, type b, in children with organic CNS lesions in children was shown.

[Metabolic characteristics of immunocompetent cells in children with relapsing herpes]. / Osobennosti matabolizma immunokompetentnykh kletok u detei s retsidiviruiushchei gerpeticheskoi infektsiei.

Healthy children aged 1-6 years and patients of the same age with recurrent herpesvirus infection (RHVI) during remission were examined. The levels of NAD(P)-dependent dehydrogenases of blood lymphocytes were measured. Lymphocyte metabolism in the patients was characterized by activation of the key reaction of the pentose phosphate cycle, increased level of the mitochondrial compartment oxidoreductases, increased substrate flow through glucose-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and inhibition of NADH-dependent dehydrogenase reactions of the cytoplasmatic compartment. A relationship between intracellular metabolism and incidence of RHVI relapses was detected. The metabolic status of blood lymphocytes did not normalize during RHVI remissions.

[Regularities in the spread of hepatitis C virus and its genotypes in Russian and countries within the former USSR]. / Zakonomernosti rasprostraneniia virusa gepatita C i ego genotipov v Rossii i stranakh SNG.

The incidence of markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV in the blood of 4216 normal subjects living in the European Russia (Northern, North-Western, Central, Central Chernozem, Volga-Vyatka, Volga, and North Caucasian regions), in the Urals, in Siberia (Eastern Siberian region), in the Far East, and in Monogolia is assessed. The incidence of antibodies to HCV varied from 0.7% in the Central region to 3.8% in the Central Chernozem and 10.7% in Mongolia. HCV genotyping (identification of 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, and 3a genotypes) was performed using 469 RNA of HCV-positive sera of donors and patients collected in Russia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, and Mongolia. The 1b genotype predominated everywhere (68.9%), its incidence being the highest in Moldova (96%). Unclassifiable variants of HCV were found in 28 (6%) of sera. The regularities of HCV genotypes circulation in the European Russia were the same as in other European countries, whereas their prevalence in Eastern Russia was rather like that in China or Japan. The prevalence of genotypes did not depend on the clinical manifestations of diseases caused by HCV.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus and distribution of its genotypes in Northern Eurasia.

We tested hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody in 4216 sera collected from healthy people living in European part of Russia (including Northern, North-Western, Central, Central-Blacksoil, Volga-Vyatka, Volga, and North-Caucasian regions), non-European part of Russia (the Urals, East-Siberia, and the Far-East regions) and Mongolia. Prevalence of HCV antibody varied significantly by regions, ranging from 0.7% in Central region of European part of Russia to 10.7% in Mongolia. Genotyping of HCV (into 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, and 3a) was performed on 469 sera from blood donors and patients (in Russia, Moldova, Turkmenistan, and Mongolia) who were positive for both HCV antibody and RNA. Genotype 1b was the most dominant genotype irrespective of regions (68.9%), with the highest rate in Moldova (96%). HCV unclassifiable into genotypes 1a-to-3a was found in 28 (6.0%) samples: particularly 4 of 10 samples from Lipetzk were untypable. Overall, HCV genotypes in European part of Russia were more similar to those in European countries, while those in Eastern part of Russia more similar to China or Japan. Genotype distribution was not associated with the clinical expression of HCV disease: acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis.

[The insulin, C-peptide and glucagon content of the blood of patients with chronic opisthorchiasis]. / Soderzhanie insulina, C-peptida i gliukagona v krovi bol'nykh khronicheskim opistorkhozom.

Insulin, C-peptide and glucagon levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in the blood of 42 patients with chronic opisthorchiasis and 27 healthy subjects. An insignificant decrease in insulin levels and a drastic decrease in C-peptide and glucagon levels have been established.