Forecasting of Brucellosis Morbidity Rates in the Russian Federation Using Wald Method

Objective of the study is to conduct epidemiological analysis of official statistical data on brucellosis morbidity rates over the period of 2005–2014 in different constituent entities of the Russian Federation, using Wald method. Materials and methods. Utilized were recording and reporting documents of the Federal Service for Surveillance in the Sphere of Consumers Rights Protection and Human Welfare, FBHI “Federal Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology” of the Rospotrebnadzor, and WHO information resources.Results and conclusions. Studies of peculiarities of epidemic process development over the long-term period have allowed for identification of entities that are the most affected by the diseases. The results obtained on the morbidity rates in the Russian Federation over the period of 2005–2014 testify to the fact that first comes North Caucasian Federal District (NCFD) (62 %), next go Siberian (SbFD) (16 %) and Southern (SFD) (13 %) Federal Districts, second and third lines of the list respectively. Other regions account for 9 % of the load. The largest share of morbidity in NCFD entities belongs to the Republic of Dagestan – 62 %. Thereat, annual increment rate is 5.54 cases, which points to stabilization and some downward trend. Application of this morbidity rate prediction tool provides for in-time planning of clinical-diagnostic, prophylactic, and anti-epidemic measures in brucellosis foci. Wald method for forecasting of morbidity can be used for other infectious diseases too

Фотодинамическая терапия базальноклеточного рака кожи ЛОР-органов

Results of photodynamic therapy in 96 patients with primary and recurrent basal cell skin cancer of ENT-organs are represented. For photodynamic therapy the Russian-made photosensitizer Photoditazine at dose of 0.6–1.4 mg/kg was used. Parameters were selected taking into account type and extent of tumor and were as follows: output power – 0.1–3.0 W, power density – 0.1–1.3 W/cm2, light dose – 100–400 J/cm2. The studies showed high efficacy of treatment for primary and recurrent basal cell skin cancer of nose, ear and external auditory canal – from 87.5 to 94.7% of complete regression. Examples of efficacy of the method are represented in the article. High efficacy and good cosmetic effects allowed to make a conclusion about perspectivity of photodynamic therapy for recurrent basal cell skin cancer of ENT-organs. Приведены результаты лечения методом фотодинамической терапии 96 пациентов с первичным и рецидивным базальноклеточным раком кожи ЛОР-органов. Для проведения фотодинамической терапии применяли фотосенсибилизатор отечественного производства – фотодитазин – в дозе 0,6–1,4 мг/кг. Параметры облучения подбирались с учетом формы и распространенности опухолевого процесса и составляли: выходная мощность – 0,1–3,0 Вт, плотность мощности – 0,1–1,3 Вт/см2, доза света – 100–400 Дж/см2. Исследования показали высокую эффективность лечения первичного и рецидивного базальноклеточного рака кожи носа, ушной раковины и наружного слухового прохода – от 87,5 до 94,7% случаев полной регрессии. В статье приведены примеры, иллюстрирующие эффективность предложенной методики. Высокая эффективность и хорошие косметические результаты позволили сделать вывод о перспективности применения фотодинамической терапии в лечении базальноклеточного рака кожи ЛОР-органов. 

Эпидемиология гепатита А и тактика вакцинопрофилактики

Hepatitis A (HA) is an acute infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HA disease incidence rate is closely linked to the social and economical development. The results of seroepidemiologic studies show that the prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies in population ranges from 15 to almost 100% in various countries of the world. The only reliable way to prevent hepatitis A virus (HAV) for today is the specific prophylactic vaccination. Recently developed inactivated vaccines against HAV have been successfully used in many countries. Vaccines authorized in Russia are safe, possess low reactogenicity and high immunogenicity. Practical experience in using vaccines during the outbreaks of HAV has shown that they possess epidemiological efficacy and provide necessary protection of the population in extreme conditions. This is clearly confirmed by single administration of vaccines to patients in epidemic focus of HAV. Constant regular monitoring of the duration of protection induced by one and two doses of the vaccine is required. The article considers WHO’s position on the use of vaccines for the prevention of HA. It describes the prospects of the further use of vaccines to control the spread of HA.Гепатит А (ГА) является острым инфекционным заболеванием печени, вызванным вирусом гепатита А (ВГА). Заболеваемость ГА тесно связана с социально-экономическим развитием, серо-эпидемиологические исследования показывают, что распространенность анти-ВГА антител среди населения колеблется от 15 до почти 100% в разных странах мира. Единственно надежным средством предотвращения вирусного гепатита А (ВГА) в настоящее время является специфическая профилактика с использованием вакцин. Созданные в последние годы инактивированные вакцины против ВГА с успехом применяются во многих странах мира. Зарегистрированные в России вакцины безопасны, слабореактогенны и обладают высокой иммуногенностью. Опыт практического применения вакцин в очагах ВГА показал, что они обладают эпидемиологической эффективностью и обеспечивают необходимую защиту населения в экстремальных условиях. Наглядно это подтверждается при однократном введении вакцин лицам в эпидемических очагах ВГА. Необходим постоянный регулярный мониторинг продолжительности защиты, индуцированной одной и двумя дозами вакцины. Рассмотрена позиция ВОЗ в отношении применения вакцин для профилактики ГА. Представлены перспективы дальнейшего использования вакцин для контроля над распространением ГА

Factors associated with diversity, quantity and zoonotic potential of ectoparasites on urban mice and voles

Wild rodents are important hosts for tick larvae but co-infestations with other mites and insects are largely neglected. Small rodents were trapped at four study sites in Berlin, Germany, to quantify their ectoparasite diversity. Host-specific, spatial and temporal occurrence of ectoparasites was determined to assess their influence on direct and indirect zoonotic risk due to mice and voles in an urban agglomeration. Rodent-associated arthropods were diverse, including 63 species observed on six host species with an overall prevalence of 99%. The tick Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species, found on 56% of the rodents. The trapping location clearly affected the presence of different rodent species and, therefore, the occurrence of particular host-specific parasites. In Berlin, fewer temporary and periodic parasite species as well as non-parasitic species (fleas, chiggers and nidicolous Gamasina) were detected than reported from rural areas. In addition, abundance of parasites with low host-specificity (ticks, fleas and chiggers) apparently decreased with increasing landscape fragmentation associated with a gradient of urbanisation. In contrast, stationary ectoparasites, closely adapted to the rodent host, such as the fur mites Myobiidae and Listrophoridae, were most abundant at the two urban sites. A direct zoonotic risk of infection for people may only be posed by Nosopsyllus fasciatus fleas, which were prevalent even in the city centre. More importantly, peridomestic rodents clearly supported the life cycle of ticks in the city as hosts for their subadult stages. In addition to trapping location, season, host species, body condition and host sex, infestation with fleas, gamasid Laelapidae mites and prostigmatic Myobiidae mites were associated with significantly altered abundance of I. ricinus larvae on mice and voles. Whether this is caused by predation, grooming behaviour or interaction with the host immune system is unclear. The present study constitutes a basis to identify interactions and vector function of rodent-associated arthropods and their potential impact on zoonotic diseases

Cross-species Analyses of Intra-species Behavioral Differences in Mammals and Fish

Multiple species display robust behavioral variance among individuals due to different genetic, genomic, epigenetic, neuroplasticity and environmental factors. Behavioral individuality has been extensively studied in various animal models, including rodents and other mammals. Fish, such as zebrafish (Danio rerio), have recently emerged as powerful aquatic model organisms with overt individual differences in behavioral, nociceptive and other CNS traits. Here, we evaluate individual behavioral differences in mammals and fish, emphasizing the importance of cross-species analyses of intraspecies variance in experimental models of normal and pathological CNS functions. © 2019 IBROAVK laboratory is supported by the Southwest University (Chongqing, China) Zebrafish Platform construction funds. This research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant 19-15-00053 . KAD is supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research ( RFBR) grant 18-34-00996 , Fellowship of the President of Russia and Special Rector’s Fellowship for SPSU PhD Students. DBR receives the CNPq research productivity grant (305051/2018-0), and his work is also supported by the PROEX/CAPES fellowhip grant 23038.004173/2019-93 (Brazil). MP receives funding from the British Academy (UK) . BDF is supported by a CAPES Foundation studentship (Brazil). FC is supported by the Father’s Foundation and the Fast Data Sharing-2036 programs. AVK is the Chair of the International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC) Special 2018-2019 Task Force that coordinated this multi-laboratory collaborative project

Imaging Long-Term Fate of Intramyocardially Implanted Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Porcine Myocardial Infarction Model

The long-term fate of stem cells after intramyocardial delivery is unknown. We used noninvasive, repetitive PET/CT imaging with [18F]FEAU to monitor the long-term (up to 5 months) spatial-temporal dynamics of MSCs retrovirally transduced with the sr39HSV1-tk gene (sr39HSV1-tk-MSC) and implanted intramyocardially in pigs with induced acute myocardial infarction. Repetitive [18F]FEAU PET/CT revealed a biphasic pattern of sr39HSV1-tk-MSC dynamics; cell proliferation peaked at 33–35 days after injection, in periinfarct regions and the major cardiac lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes. The sr39HSV1-tk-MSC–associated [18F]FEAU signals gradually decreased thereafter. Cardiac lymphography studies using PG-Gd-NIRF813 contrast for MRI and near-infrared fluorescence imaging showed rapid clearance of the contrast from the site of intramyocardial injection through the subepicardial lymphatic network into the lymphatic vessels and periaortic lymph nodes. Immunohistochemical analysis of cardiac tissue obtained at 35 and 150 days demonstrated several types of sr39HSV1-tk expressing cells, including fibro-myoblasts, lymphovascular cells, and microvascular and arterial endothelium. In summary, this study demonstrated the feasibility and sensitivity of [18F]FEAU PET/CT imaging for long-term, in-vivo monitoring (up to 5 months) of the fate of intramyocardially injected sr39HSV1-tk-MSC cells. Intramyocardially transplanted MSCs appear to integrate into the lymphatic endothelium and may help improve myocardial lymphatic system function after MI

Photodynamic therapy for basal cell skin cancer ENT-organs

Results of photodynamic therapy in 96 patients with primary and recurrent basal cell skin cancer of ENT-organs are represented. For photodynamic therapy the Russian-made photosensitizer Photoditazine at dose of 0.6–1.4 mg/kg was used. Parameters were selected taking into account type and extent of tumor and were as follows: output power – 0.1–3.0 W, power density – 0.1–1.3 W/cm2, light dose – 100–400 J/cm2. The studies showed high efficacy of treatment for primary and recurrent basal cell skin cancer of nose, ear and external auditory canal – from 87.5 to 94.7% of complete regression. Examples of efficacy of the method are represented in the article. High efficacy and good cosmetic effects allowed to make a conclusion about perspectivity of photodynamic therapy for recurrent basal cell skin cancer of ENT-organs. </p

Epidemiology of hepatitis A and vaccination policy

Hepatitis A (HA) is an acute infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HA disease incidence rate is closely linked to the social and economical development. The results of seroepidemiologic studies show that the prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies in population ranges from 15 to almost 100% in various countries of the world. The only reliable way to prevent hepatitis A virus (HAV) for today is the specific prophylactic vaccination. Recently developed inactivated vaccines against HAV have been successfully used in many countries. Vaccines authorized in Russia are safe, possess low reactogenicity and high immunogenicity. Practical experience in using vaccines during the outbreaks of HAV has shown that they possess epidemiological efficacy and provide necessary protection of the population in extreme conditions. This is clearly confirmed by single administration of vaccines to patients in epidemic focus of HAV. Constant regular monitoring of the duration of protection induced by one and two doses of the vaccine is required. The article considers WHO’s position on the use of vaccines for the prevention of HA. It describes the prospects of the further use of vaccines to control the spread of HA