Prevalence of Markers of Certain Blood-Borne Viral Infections in Pregnant Women and Their Partners in the Republic of Guinea

The aim of the work was to estimate the prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV markers among pregnant women and their male partners in the Republic of Guinea.Materials and methods. The material of the study was blood plasma samples from 140 pregnant women living in Kindia prefecture and N’Zerekore prefecture, as well as 60 male partners who reported sexual contact with HIV-infected persons. The samples were examined for the presence of serological (HBsAg, HBeAg, antibodies anti-HBs IgG, anti-HBcore IgG, anti-HBe IgG, anti-HCV IgG, Ag/Ab-HIV) and molecular (HBV DNA, HCV RNA, HIV RNA) markers.Results and discussion. The age of the examined pregnant women ranged from 13 to 55 years and was on average (26.29±9.67) years. The age of men varied from 15 to 60 years, on average – (29.05±11.99) years. When assessing the prevalence of serological markers, antibodies to HCV were detected in 2.14 % cases in women and in 3.33 % cases in men. Antibodies to HIV were found in 6.43 % and 6.67 % women and men, respectively. Serological markers associated with HBV were detected in 80.71 % (HBsAg – 13.57 %) of women and 81.67 % (15 %) of men. In the pregnant women, HCV RNA was not detected, HIV RNA was revealed in 1 case, HBV DNA was identified in 26 cases (18.57 %), including 5 % HBsAg-negative hepatitis B cases. In the men group, HCV RNA and HIV RNA were detected in 3.33 % and 6.67 % cases, respectively. HBV DNA was determined in 16.67 % of men, including latent hepatitis B in one person. A significantly higher incidence of HIV in men compared to women is shown (χ2=3.907 at p<0.05). The relative risk of HIV infection in men is nine times higher than in women: RR=9.333; p=0.0291; 95 % CI: 1.065–81.815 %. Four out of five identified HIV infection cases were co-infected with HBV and/or HCV. There is an obvious need to introduce screening for HIV, HCV, HBV, including latent hepatitis B, into routine laboratory diagnostics during examination of pregnant women and their partners, followed by couples counseling and vaccination against hepatitis B virus

Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus among HIV/HBV Co-Infected Patients from the Republic of Guinea

Aim. Molecular genetic characterization of hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus in patients with HIV / HBV co-infection living in the Republic of Guinea. Materials and methods. 2168 blood serum samples obtained from the Republic of Guinea residents – blood donors and conditionally healthy people, without suspicion of Ebola virus disease, UK RUSAL employees and their families, as part of their routine medical examination. The presence of serological and molecular biological markers of HIV and HBV was examined. When HIV/HBV co-infection was detected, the nucleotide sequences of the complete HBV genomes and the HIV pol gene fragment were sequenced. Results and discussion. HIVserological markers were detected in 239 people (11.02 %). HIV RNA was detected in 31 people, which accounted for 12.9 % of patients in the seropositive group (1.43 % of the total group). HBV serological markers among HIV RNAs-positive individuals were detected in 29.03 % of patients, including 16.12 % HBsAg and 12.9 % anti-HBcore IgG. HBV DNA was detected in all HBsAg-positive and in two anti-HBcore IgG-positive patients, as well as in 12 people negative for all HBV serological markers analyzed in the work. Thus, HBV DNA was found in 61.29 % of HIV RNA-positive individuals. Based on the pol gene fragment nucleotide sequences analysis of 19 HIV samples, it was shown that the HIV circulating recombinant form CRF02_AG  prevails in the examined group (52.63 %) compared with HIV A1 (42.1 %), one sample was an independent recombinant of genotypes A1 and G. HBV phylogenetic analysis of the studied samples showed that genotype E prevails – 47.36 %, compared with HBV D1 – 21.05 %, D2 – 15.78 %, D3 – 10.52 % and A2 – 5.26 %. HIV and HBV samples have been detected that carry drug resistance mutations despite the antiretroviral therapy absence. HIV and HBV drug resistance mutations identification in ART-naive patients emphasizes the need for HIV surveillance programs as well as routine testing for HBV and HIV and HBV drug resistance before starting antiretroviral therapy in the clinical management of patients in the country

Determination of HIV Tropism in Patients with Antiretroviral Therapy Failure in Arkhangelsk Region

The aim of the study was to determine the tropism of the human immunodeficiency virus in patients with virological failure of antiretroviral therapy (ART) from the Arkhangelsk Region based on the analysis of the env gene V3 loop nucleotide sequence.Materials and methods. We used blood plasma samples obtained from 76 HIV-infected persons from the Arkhangelsk Region with virological failure of antiretroviral therapy. The nucleotide sequences of the HIV env gene C2-V3-C3 region were studied by PCR followed by sequencing. The genotype of the studied strains was determined based on the analysis of their phylogenetic relations with reference sequences from the international GenBank database, as well as using specialized programs. To predict viral tropism, the Garrido rule and the online bioinformatic tool Geno2Pheno[coreceptor] were used. The Geno2Pheno[coreceptor] algorithm, determines the false positive rate (FPR) based on the analysis of the env gene V3 loop nucleotide sequence. Results and discussion. Significantly lower representation of R5X4/X4-tropic HIV variants in long-term infected persons with subsubtype A6 virus compared to subtype B virus has been shown. For all FPR cut-off algorithms, a significant correlation between subtype and HIV tropism was observed (p=0.0014 and p=0.013 for FPR 10 % and FPR 20 %, respectively). While among subtype B strains, at least 57 % were identified as R5X4/X4-tropic variants (for an FPR of 10 %), including two strains classified as X4-tropic; among HIV subsubtype A6 even at an FPR of 20 %, the frequency of R5X4/X4-tropic samples only slightly exceeded 22 %. It can be assumed that the dynamics of changes in HIV tropism depends on the virus subtype. Significant differences in the distribution of amino acid residues of the V3 region sequences in the examined group between R5-tropic and R5X4/X4-tropic strains of subsubtype A6 for positions 18 (χ2=7.616, p=0.0058), 21 (χ2=7.281, p=0.007), 24 (χ2=5.587, p=0.0181), and 34 (χ2=5.144, p=0.0233) have been demonstrated. Among the R5X4/X4-tropic strains of the A6 subsubtype, amino acid substitutions were registered at positions 6, 19, 21, 26, 29, 30, which were not found in the R5-tropic A6 strains. The high occurrence frequency of a number of mutations previously described as presumably associated with resistance to maraviroc and similar drugs may indicate a natural polymorphism characteristic of the A6 subsubtype, which does not correlate with resistance to CCR5 co-receptor antagonists

Theory and Applications of X-ray Standing Waves in Real Crystals

Theoretical aspects of x-ray standing wave method for investigation of the real structure of crystals are considered in this review paper. Starting from the general approach of the secondary radiation yield from deformed crystals this theory is applied to different concreat cases. Various models of deformed crystals like: bicrystal model, multilayer model, crystals with extended deformation field are considered in detailes. Peculiarities of x-ray standing wave behavior in different scattering geometries (Bragg, Laue) are analysed in detailes. New possibilities to solve the phase problem with x-ray standing wave method are discussed in the review. General theoretical approaches are illustrated with a big number of experimental results.Comment: 101 pages, 43 figures, 3 table

Энтеральные вирусные гепатиты в южном регионе Социалистической Республики Вьетнам

Aim: To study the hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis Е (HEV) prevalence in the Southern region of Vietnam based on the frequency analysis of the antibodies to hepatitis A and E viruses detection in the local population and groups at increased risk of infection.Materials and methods. Serological markers of enteral viral hepatitis were determined in blood serum samples from adults aged 18 to 65 years of three groups: conditionally healthy individuals (n = 397), HIV-infected (n = 316), and patients with chronic viral hepatitis (n = 268). The ELISA method was used for the qualitative detection of anti-HAV IgG, anti-HAV IgM, anti-HEV IgG, anti-HEV IgM.Results. When analyzing the prevalence of anti-HAV IgG in samples obtained from conditionally healthy, HIV-infected, and patients with chronic viral hepatitis, no differences were found between the groups. The incidence of anti-HAV IgG in the general group (n = 981) was 80.1%, in the absence of anti-HAV IgM. There were no gender-age differences in the frequency of anti-HAV IgG in the examined groups. Antibodies anti-HEV IgG in the groups of conditionally healthy, patients with chronic viral hepatitis, and HIV-infected were present in the samples in 36,2%, 33,2%, and 39,8% of cases, respectively. The prevalence of anti-HEV IgM in these groups was 3,27%, 4,1%, and 3,79%, respectively. In the general group (n = 981), anti-HEV IgG was detected in 36,6% of cases, anti-HEV IgM in 3,66%, which corresponds to the prevalence of antibodies to HEV in endemic regions.Conclusion. A high incidence of enteral viral hepatitis markers was shown in residents of South Vietnam, including the groups of conditionally healthy, patients with chronic viral hepatitis, and HIV-infected. There is an obvious need for further studies of the spread extent of hepatitis A and hepatitis E in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam using currently available highly sensitive diagnostic methods, including sequencing of the virus›s nucleotide sequences.Цель: изучить распространенность гепатита А (ГА) и гепатита Е (ГЕ) в Южном регионе Вьетнама на основании анализа частоты выявления антител к вирусам гепатитов А и Е у местного населения и группах повышенного риска инфицирования.Материалы и методы. Серологические маркеры энтеральных вирусных гепатитов определяли в образцах сыворотки крови взрослых от 18 до 65 лет 3 групп: условно-здоровых лиц (n=397), ВИЧ-инфицированных (n=316), пациентов с хроническим вирусным гепатитом (n=268). Использован метод ИФА для качественного выявления анти-ВГА IgG, анти-ВГА IgM, анти-ВГЕ IgG, анти-ВГE IgM.Результаты. При анализе распространенности анти-ВГА IgG в образцах, полученных от условно-здоровых, ВИЧ-инфицированных и пациентов с хроническими вирусными гепатитами, различий между груп пами не выявлено. Встречаемость анти-ВГА IgG в общей группе (n=981) составила 80,1% при отсутствии анти-ВГА IgM. Гендерно-возрастных различий по частоте антиВГА IgG в обследованных группах не выявлено. Анти-ВГЕ IgG в группах условно здоровых, больных хроническими вирусными гепатитами, ВИЧ-инфицированных присутствовали в образцах в 36,2%, 33,2% и 39,8% случаев соответственно. Распространенность анти-ВГЕ IgM в указанных группах составила 3,27%, 4,1% и 3,79% соответственно. В общей группе (n=981) анти-ВГЕ IgG выявили в 36,6% случаев, анти-ВГЕ IgM в 3,66% что соответствует распространенности антител к ВГЕ в эндемичных регионах.Заключение. Показана высокая встречаемость маркеров энтеральных вирусных гепатитов у жителей Южного Вьетнама, включая группы условно-здоровых, пациентов с хроническим вирусным гепатитом и ВИЧинфицированных. Очевидна необходимость дальнейших исследований масштабов распространения гепатита А и гепатита Е в Социалистической Республике Вьетнам с использованием доступных в настоящее время высокочувствительных диагностических методов, включая секвенирование нуклеотидных последовательностей вирусов.

ANALYSIS OF THE HIGH-TEST CAST IRON QUALITY WITH APPLICATION OF METHODS OF MATHEMATICAL STATISTIC

is determined that application of bowl with lid for spheroidizing processing of melt allows to receive high-test cast iron without pyroeffect and smoke emission

Detection of Patient HIV-1 Drug Resistance Mutations in Russia’s Northwestern Federal District in Patients with Treatment Failure

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is currently a combination of three (less frequently four) antiretroviral drugs; these target pathways involved in various stages of HIV replication in the body. Treatment failure is a problem facing doctors and patients using HAART. The most common cause of therapeutic failure is the development of HIV drug resistance. The emergence of resistance is associated with processes involving mutation occurring in the viral genome under the influence of evolutionary factors. Sequencing reactions were performed using the AmpliSens HIV Resist-Seq. Assembly of consensus sequences from fragments obtained during sequencing was carried out using Unipro UGENE softwar. Isolate genotyping was performed using the MEGA-X software with the Neighbor-joining algorithm. According to the analysis, 72.05% of patients had at least one significant mutation associated with drug resistance for the corresponding viral subtype. HIV-1 A6 remains the predominant HIV-1 genetic variant in Russia’s Northwestern Federal District. Among samples with drug resistance mutations, in all cases, mutations associated with pharmacological resistance to two or three drug groups were found. Given the high incidence of resistance mutations in patients on ineffective ART, surveillance of HIV-1 drug resistance, in both ART-receiving and ART-naive individuals, appears necessary. A lack of vigilance and control measures may lead to the spread of primary ART-resistant HIV strains

Comparative Analysis of the Vertical Risk of Transmission of Some Blood-Borne Infections in the Republic of Guinea

The aim of our work was to compare the HBV, HCV and HIV vertical transmission risk in the Republic of Guinea.Materials and methods. The material for the study was 305 blood plasma samples from pregnant women living in Conakry, Republic of Guinea. The samples were examined for the presence of serological (HBsAg, antibodies antiHBs IgG, anti-HBcore IgG, anti-HCV IgG, Ag/Ab-HIV) and molecular (HBV DNA, HCV RNA, HIV RNA) markers.Results and discussion. When assessing the overall prevalence of serological markers among patients, the incidence of HBV markers was 76.06 %. Antibodies to HCV were detected only in 1 case, which amounted to 0.32 %. HIV markers were detected in 3 cases, which amounted to 0.98 %. The prevalence of HBsAg in the group under examination significantly differed between the groups of pregnant women aged 13–19 years (17.33 %) and 20–24 years (12.12 %), p<0.0001, RR=5.107 with 95 % CI: 2.458–10.612. When assessing the overall prevalence of molecular-biological markers among patients, we did not detect HIV RNA, in one patient, HCV RNA was determined, which was 0.32 %, while the incidence of HBV DNA was 20 %. Among HBsAg-positive individuals, HBV DNA was detected in 86.11 %, which was 10.16 % of the total group. Among the HBsAg-negative individuals, HBV DNA was detected in 11.15 % (9.84 % of the total group). It should be noted that in nine cases, HBV DNA was detected without any serological markers, which amounted to 14.75 % (2.95 % of the total group). Assessment of the blood-borne infections prevalence in pregnant women is significant for the subsequent identification of pathogen transmission routes in order to control and/or prevent the spread of infection