The use of a method for the quantitative determination of HIV-1 RNA for assessing the severity and prognosis of the development of the disease

The informatory role of a new marker of HIV infection, characterizing the content of HIV-1 RNA in the biological fluids of the patient's body, is evaluated. The quantitative determination of HIV-1 RNA, carried out in a single assay, was made in the blood of 25 HIV-infected patients. These studies confirmed that the determination of the level of RNA in the plasma (viral load) was a reliable criterion indicating the severity and progress of the disease. The viral load of more than 100,000 copies/ml was a sign prognosticating the future pronounced progress of the disease in spite of moderate clinical manifestations and relatively high values of CD4 cells in the patient's blood at the moment of testing.     

The adaptational properties and immunoregulatory action of a preparation of proteolytic enzymes in experimental stress

The use of the experimental model of the development of acute secondary immunodeficiency, accompanied by the redistribution of immunoglobulins from plasma to blood cells, for evaluating the effect of immunomodulation is substantiated. The preparation of proteolytic enzymes Wobenzym [correction of "Vobenzyme"] has been shown to produce significant and dose-dependent decrease the sorption of immunoglobulins on mouse cells in the process of swimming.     

The possible role of immunogenetic factors in the pathogenesis of HIV infection

In this review the data on the presence of associations between immunogenetic markers and the development of HIV infection are presented. Special attention is given to spatial relationships of genetic determinants, responsible for the synthesis of the components of the complement system on one hand and the genes controlling resistance to the causative agents of opportunistic infections and malignant growth on the other hand. Suggestion is made on close relationship between the specific features of the course of HIV infection and the genetic control, responsible for the synthesis of complement components, in particular the genes making up the HLA system.     

The isolation of monoclonal antibodies to Cryptococcus neoformans antigens

In this work conditions for the reproduction of hybridoma technology, specially adapted to C. neoformans, for obtaining monoclonal hybridomas (McAb) to diagnostically significant antigens of C. neoformans, the infective agent of cryptococcosis, are presented. The advantages of using the short-time cycle of stimulation of mouse B lymphocytes with low doses of C. neoformans capsular polysaccharide and the effectiveness of the hybridization of mouse spleen cells with myeloma cells, line Sp2/0, are shown. Four lines of stable hybridomas, producing McAb to different epitopes of C. neoformans surface antigens, have been obtained. The specific activity of McAb has been studied in the indirect immunofluorescence assay, the cytochemical and solid-phase enzyme immunoassays (EIA). McAb 3E2, Cr2 and 2G9 have been shown to be suitable for use in diagnostic EIA systems.     

Tumor-associated changes in the buccal epithelium in human breast and thyroid pathology

The estimation of the malignancy-associated changes in oral mucosa of patients with benign and malignant processes in mammary and thyroid gland is carried out on the basis of textural and densitometric indices of the interphase nuclei of the epitheliocytes with the help of the methods of mathematical statistics.     

Disorders in molecular organization of erythrocyte membrane in patients with somatic and mental pathology

The article describes general laws and peculiarities of structural and functional changes of erythrocyte's membrane in patients with somatic and mental pathology. Considering our own investigations and reports in medical journals, conclusions are made supposing an existence of typical molecular disorders of erythrocyte membrane in pathological process of different genesis. It is suggested that a universal reaction of circulating pool of erythrocytes on different pathological affects is evolutionary formed.     

The effects of electrical stimulation of posterior hypothalamus on activity of the nucleus pontis oralis' neurons

The nucleus pontis oralis' neurons were responsive to electrical stimulation of posterior hypothalamus. PS-on neurons showed an inhibitory response, and PS-off cells demonstrated an excitatory response. Neurons that discharged in association with phasic paradoxical sleep phenomena were found to have both the excitatory and the inhibitory responses. Evoked responses changed across sleep-waking cycle. The findings suggest that posterior hypothalamus is involved in the control of paradoxical sleep generation mechanisms located in the nucleus pontis oralis.     

Locomotor reactions and excitability of neurons during the blockade of dopamine by haloperidol in vertebrate and invertebrate animals

Two groups of rats with different level of motor activities: high- and low-active animals, were distinguished. The blockade of dopamine receptors by haloperidol led to depression of locomotor activity in both groups of rats; in grape snails, haloperidol caused a decrease of the velocity of locomotor responses. In was found that within 5 minutes of intravenous injection of haloperidol the excitability of spinal centers of rats decreased; but in 30 minutes in started restoring. Chronic application of the preparation depressed the effect of posttetanic potentiation of H-response in gastrocnemius muscle of spinal rats. In command neurons of grape snail, chronic injections of haloperidol causes a significant hyperpolarization shift of membrane potential and an increase of threshold of the generation of action potential. It was shown that the selective pharmacological inhibition of dopaminergic system of the brain led to a decrease of excitability in some determined neurons of the snail and spinal motor centers of rats, as well as inhibited the locomotor responses both in vertebrate and in invertebrate animals.     

Effect of low-intensity He-Ne laser irradiation on rat mesenteric microcirculation

Changes in microcirculation during low-intensity He-Ne laser irradiation were studied by measurement of blood vessels and lymphangions' diameter in anesthetized rat mesentery using method of videomicroscopy in vivo. We demonstrated that the red coherent light induced a significant increase in contractility of vessels' smooth muscle cells. The flow decreased in the mesenteric microvessels during H2O2-mediated oxidant stress was restored after He-Ne laser irradiation.