The clinico-epidemiological characteristics of HIV infection and AIDS in Ukraine

The summarized results of the observations of 449 hospitalized patients, aged mainly 18-37 years (40 patients with active AIDS, 43 patients with AIDS, other patients were HIV carriers and infected at the stage of lymphadenopathy). In most of the HIV-infected patients the infection process progressed in 3-5 years, which was manifested by associated candidiasis in 74.7% of cases. In AIDS patients opportunistic infections of viral etiology (herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus infection, etc.) prevailed. 14 patients were found to have tuberculosis. Clinico-epidemiological analysis made it possible to come to the conclusion that the specific features of HIV carriership and AIDS were greatly linked with different groups of risk to which the patients belonged. Thus, a shorter period of carriership, the prevalence of opportunistic viral infections were mostly characteristic of drug addicts.     

Pseudotuberculosis in the Krasnodar Territory. The clinico-epidemiological characteristics of its morbidity and the biological properties of its strains]

Group cases of pseudotuberculosis, first registered at health-restoring institutions of the health resort of Gelendzhik (the Krasnodar Territory), are described. The etiology of these cases of the disease was established on the basis of clinico-epidemiological data, specific seroconversion in 66% of the examined patients and the isolation of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strains from the feces of four patients. The combination of signs observed in the isolated strains, viz. the presence of plasmids with molecular weights of 75 and 45 MD, resistance to bactericidal factors of normal human serum and autoagglutination in cell culture medium, made it possible to consider these strains to be virulent. The cases of infection were probably caused by the use of fresh cabbage salad. The study of 3,128 rodents caught in the Krasnodar Territory, including those caught in the area of the health resort, resulted in the isolation of 105 Y. enterocolitica strains and strains of 5 other Yersinia species, but not Y. pseudotuberculosis strains. The concept on the saprozoonotic nature of pseudotuberculosis was substantiated.     

The clinico-epidemiological characteristics of Powassan encephalitis in the southern Soviet Far East]

The present communication deals with the analysis of 14 cases of Powassan encephalitis. As shown in this study, the course of this infection may be accompanied by symptoms indicating the presence of cerebral and meningeal lesions (in 7 cases meningoencephalitic forms with one fatal outcome and in 2 cases meningeal forms were registered) or take febrile and inapparent forms (5 cases). Powassan encephalitis was found to give characteristic symptoms of cerebellovestibular lesions, differentiating this disease from tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The cases of mixed infections caused by TBE virus, Powassan encephalitis virus and tick-born Borrelia were found to be possible.     

The clinico-epidemiological characteristics of the course and diagnosis of tick-borne rickettsiosis in northern Asia

The study of tick-borne rickettsiosis in Northern Asia has made it possible to determine the clinico-epidemiological features of the modern course of this disease, which should be taken into consideration for the timely diagnosis of this infection. The laboratory verification of the diagnosis should be carried out, as recommended by the authors, in the agar precipitation and leukocytosis tests in their modification.     

Contagiousness of monkey pox for humans: results of an investigation of 2 outbreaks of the infection in Zaire

The results of the investigation of two outbreaks of group monkeypox infection among humans (altogether 8 cases) in the zone of Bumba, Equatorial Province, Zaire, are presented. The primary source of infection in both outbreaks was not established, the outbreaks were supposedly caused by sick wild animals. Almost all persons affected by this infection were children aged 7 months to 7 years, never vaccinated against smallpox; the only exception was a 29-year old female patient, formerly vaccinated and revaccinated against smallpox. During one of the outbreaks the laboratory-confirmed transmission of infection from man to man was established in two generations. During the other outbreak there were grounds to suspect the transmission of infection in three generations, though the possibility of contacting infection from animals could not be completely ruled out. The existence of the inapparent form of monkeypox in humans was revealed.     

Cryptosporidiosis in children and adults: parasitological and clinico-epidemiological features

By using the elective diagnosis methodology for Cryptosporidium (modified Ziehl-Neelsen and Heine stainings), 481 faeces samples from patients--children and adults--presenting acute or prolonged gastroenteritis and also from asymptomatic ones, but with professional, immunological or pharmacological risk for infection, were studied. Twelve Cryptosporidium positive cases were identified, meaning a general prevalence of 2.48% Cryptosporidium infection was detected in all investigated epidemiological groups: children, animal handlers, immunodeficient patients, immunocompetent adults with acute gastroenteritis. The risk factors hierarchy elicited the role of children collectivities attending, for acquiring the parasite in infantile cryptosporidiosis, while the opportunistic and zoonotic feature of the disease was especially present in adults' cryptosporidiosis. The assessment of cryptosporidiosis evolution, according to patients' immune status, has not allowed an obvious clinical discrepancy, since the immunocompetent subjects with professional risk had presented a prolonged oocysts excretion. The different clinico-epidemiological and parasitological features of Cryptosporidium infection are commented and the importance of applying Cryptosporidium methodology in current diagnosis practice is emphasized.     

The development and use of an immunoenzyme test system for detecting and the species identification of the monkey pox virus]

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system for the species-specific diagnosis of monkeypox, based on the use of monoclonal antibodies (McAb) to monkeypox virus, has been developed. Immunoglobulins, isolated from McAb-containing cultural and immune ascitic fluids, have been conjugated with horse-radish peroxidase and used as detector antibodies. For immunosorption, rabbit polyclonal antibodies to the vaccine virus have been used. The specificity and sensitivity of the EIA system thus obtained have been tested on animals and humans having monkeypox and confirmed by traditional diagnostic methods (the isolation of the virus on chick embryo chorioallantoic membranes and in cell culture).     

Cocaine: Tolerance to its convulsant and cardiorespiratory stimulating effects in the monkey

Repeated daily I.V. injections of cocaine in the monkey at a minimal convulsant dosage (MCD) produced tolerance resulting in a marked increase in the MCD of cocaine. The repeated daily I.V. injections of cocaine at subconvulsant doses (2.0–4.0 mg/kg) produced a marked decrease in the cardiorespiratory stimulating effect and apparent plasma half-tife of cocaine in the monkey.     

Human cytosolic sulphotransferases: genetics, characteristics, toxicological aspects

Cytosolic sulphotransferases transfer the sulpho moiety from the cofactor 5'-phosphoadenosine-3'-phosphosulphate (PAPS) to nucleophilic groups of xenobiotics and small endogenous compounds (such as hormones and neurotransmitters). This reaction often leads to products that can be excreted readily. However, other sulpho conjugates are strong electrophiles and may covalently bind with DNA and proteins. All known cytosolic sulphotransferases are members of an enzyme/gene superfamily termed SULT. In humans, 10 SULT genes are known. One of these genes encodes two different enzyme forms due to the use of alternative first exons. Different SULT forms substantially differ in their substrate specificity and tissue distribution. Genetic polymorphisms have been described for three human SULTs. Several allelic variants differ in functional properties, including the activation of promutagens. Only initial results are available from the analysis of SULT allele frequencies in different population groups, e.g. subjects suffering from specific diseases and corresponding controls.     

Human protein metabolism: its measurement and regulation

The body's protein mass not only provides architectural support for cells but also serves vital roles in maintaining their function and survival. The whole body protein pool, as well as that of individual tissues, is determined by the balance between the processes of protein synthesis and degradation. These in turn are regulated by interactions among hormonal, nutritional, neural, inflammatory, and other influences. Prolonged changes in either the synthetic or degradative processes (or both) that cause protein wasting increase morbidity and mortality. The application of tracer kinetic methods, combined with measurements of the activity of components of the cellular signaling pathways involved in protein synthesis and degradation, affords new insights into the regulation of both protein synthesis and breakdown in vivo. These insights, including those from studies of insulin, insulin-like growth factor I, growth hormone, and amino acid-mediated regulation of muscle and whole body protein turnover, provide opportunities to develop and test therapeutic approaches with promise to minimize or prevent these adverse health consequences.