Application of Dot-Immunoassay for Detection of Plague Agent Antigens in the Field Samples

CFU/ml) and soluble antigens (FI) − ≥ 4.8 ng/ml and high specificity, confirmed by the absence of false-positive reactions with five heterologous microorganisms. The test-systems were used for Y. pestis antigen detection in field material from the territory of the Altai mountain natural plague focus by dot-immunoassay with comparison of the received results in passive hemagglutination reaction. Test-systems possessed a number of advantages as compared to routine serological reactions and could be applied with success by practical public health services both in stationary and field conditions

Clinical-epidemiological features and improvement of botulism laboratory diagnos-102 tics in Irkutsk region

Irkutsk Region is one of the Russian Regions where botulism cases are registered yearly. Botulism morbidity in Irkutsk Region is analysed for the ten-year period (since 2002); its clinical-epidemiological features are revealed at the present stage. Sporadic cases of botulism, are dominated. (81,9 %). From. 2006 in Irkutsk Region botulism share makes 100 % in food poisoning number. A considerable role in the infection transmission plays consumption of fish, mainly smoked or salty Baikal omul (90,9 %). In 30 % of cases injured people purchased fish at private persons in unascertained trade places, 60 % of patients ate own salting fish. In Irkutsk Region botulism is registered more often from July till November with peaks in July (58,3 %) and. September (20,8 %) that is connected, with activation of unprofitable fabricated fish selling in combination, with adverse conditions of this foodstuff storage. Botulism affects various age groups of population with, prevalence of the age category 30-49 years old. (47,8 %). Socially active able-bodied population. (72,3 %) is most often affected that increases the social importance of the disease. Mainly, moderate severe (56, 5 %) and. severe (34,8 %) disease forms were registered. Primary symptoms include two variants - dyspeptically-paralytic and. ophthalmologic-neurological forms. Analysis of botulism etiological structure showed, that the leading part in the disease occurrence in Irkutsk Region belonged to botulinum. type Е (73, 9 %). Clinical material and. foodstuff testing to botulinum toxin presence was conducted in parallel by the standard reaction of biological toxin neutralisation in white mice and dot-immunoanalysis with application of the test system that we have developed. Possibility of dot-immunoassay application in laboratory diagnostics of botulism is estimated as the express method with high specificity, sensitivity and. simplicity

Pharmacogenetic Warfarin Dosing Algorithm in the Russian Population

Background. To date, there are many pharmacogenetic algorithms for selecting the dose of warfarin. However, there is very little information about the predictive accuracy of the algorithms. We decided to evaluate the predictive accuracy of the Gage algorithm, using a calculator, located on the web site (http://www.warfarindosing.org) in two ethnic groups (Caucasians and Asians), living in Russia.Aim. To compare the actual warfarin dose (AWD) to the calculated warfarin dose (CWD), using the algorithm in two ethnic groups taking warfarin.Materials and methods. We included 114 patients (66 Caucasians and 48 Asians): the mean age was60.91 ± 12.34 years; 61 (53.51 %) men, and 53 (46.49 %) women. The comparative characteristics of the algorithm were tested using the mean absolute error (MAE) between AWD and CWD, and percentage of patients, whose CWD fell within 20 % of AWD (percentage within 20 %). Genotyping for CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3, CYP4F*2 and VKORC1 was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method using Pharmacogenetics Warfarin reagent kits (DNA technology, Russia).Results. The Gage algorithm produced the predictive accuracy with MAE = 1.02 ± 0.16 mg/day and percentage within 20 % for Asian patients was 39.6 %. We obtained MAE = 1.33 ± 0.16 mg/day and percentage within 20 % for Caucasian patients was 40.9 %. In two ethnic groups (Caucasians and Asians) of the Russian population, overall performance of warfarin pharmacogenetic dosing by the Gage algorithm was similar.Conclusions. Despite the performance limitation of the current warfarin pharmacogenetic dosing Gage algorithm, constant international normalized ratio monitoring is important

FREQUENCIES OF POLYMORPHISMS IN THE CYTOCHROME’S P450 GENES OF WARFARIN TRANSFORMATION IN A EUROPEAN POPULATION OF EASTERN SIBERIA

Background. Genotypes of the cytochrome p450 isoform (CYP2C9 and CYP4F2) determine warfarin dose requirements. Frequencies of risk alleles and genotypes of CYP2C9 and CYP4F2 gene vary in different races and ethnic groups.Aim. This study analyzed the frequencies of *2, *3 alleles of CYP2C9 gene and the 1347 C>T allele of CYP4F2 gene in the Caucasians of Eastern Siberia, and compare with other populations.Materials and methods. Participants were 147 patients (Caucasians): 67 (45.58 %) man and 80 (54.42 %) women), taking warfarin for the prevention of thrombosis with a mean age of 64.74 ± 14.29 years. There were patients with atrial fibrillation – 77 (52.38 %) persons, coronary artery disease – 10 (6.80 %), pulmonary embolism – 5 (3.40 %), 15 (10.20 %) patients after implantation of an mechanical heart valve, etc. The subjects were genotyped for CYP2C9 (*1,*2,*3), and CYP4F2 (1347 C>T) by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using “Pharmacogenetics Warfarin” reagent kits (DNA technology, Russia).Results. 69.4 % of Caucasians of Eastern Siberia (Russians), have two functional alleles (*1/*1) of CYP2C9 (they’re extensive/normal metabolizers), the number of intermediate metabolizers (*1/*2, *1/*3) was 29.8 % and 0.68 % of slow metabolizers (*3/*3). Homozygous carriers of two non-functional alleles *2 and *3 (*2/*2, *2/*3) were absent. Carriers of one coumarin-resistant Т-allele of CYP4F2 were 57 (38.7 %) respondents, two coumarin-resistant alleles – 10 (6.8 %) respondents.Conclusions. Frequencies of polymorphisms in the Cytochrome’s p450 genes of warfarin transformation in a European population of Eastern Siberia have no differences with other European populations of the worl

Features of developing SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein population-based seroprevalence during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in the Russian Federation

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, dubbed COVID-19, has become one of the most serious challenges for human populations in the vast majority of countries worldwide. Rapid spreading and increased mortality related to it required new approaches to manage epidemic processes on a global scale. One of such approaches was based on analyzing SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence associated with COVID-19. Our aim was to summarize the results on assessing seroprevalence to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen (Nc) in residents from 26 regions of the Russian Federation, carried out during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic.Materials and methods. Seroprevalence distribution was examined in 26 model regions of the Russian Federation according to the unified method developed by the Rospotrebnadzor with the participation of the Federal State Institution Saint Petersburg Pasteur Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Such approach implied formation of a group of volunteer subjects in model geographic region who were tested by ELISA for anti-Nc serum antibody level in peripheral blood. Analyzed primary data obtained in separate regions were either accepted for publication or released.Results. The current paper finalizes the data obtained in all 26 regions of the Russian Federation. The total SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 19.5 (10.0–25.6)% with the maximum and minimum value found in the Kaliningrad Region and the Republic of Crimea, respectively (50.2% vs. 4.3%). A pattern of age-related seroprevalence distribution indicates insignificant predominance of seroprevalence among subjects of 1–17 years old: 22.1 (13.1–31.8)%. Among COVID-19 convalescents positive for SARS-CoV Nc antibodies it reached 60.0 (40.0–73.3)%. The number of contact persons comprised 6285 subjects or 8.5% of total volunteer cohort, with the level of seroprevalence reaching up to 25.3 (17.95–35.8)%. A direct correlation was revealed between levels of seroprevalence in convalescent and contact volunteers. In addition, the reproductive number for SARS-CoV was calculated comprising 5.8 (4.3–8.5) suggesting that one convalescent subject can infect at least 4 healthy individuals. A high level of asymptomatic forms of COVID-19 among seropositive subjects was confirmed empirically comprising up to 93.6 (87.1–94.9)%.Conclusion. A single cross-sectional study performed during 2020 June–August timeframe allowed to assess pattern of sex- and agerelated COVID-19 seroprevalence for general population in 26 Russian Federation regions. The data obtained may serve as a basis for the longitudinal cohort investigation with serial subject sampling. The timing and duration of study will be determined by dynamics of ongoing COVID-19 epidemic

Hepatic stellate cells:central modulators of hepatic carcinogenesis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and is increasing in incidence. Currently, our therapeutic repertoire for the treatment of HCC is severely limited, and therefore effective new therapies are urgently required. Recently, there has been increasing interest focusing on the cellular and molecular interactions between cancer cells and their microenvironment. HCC represents a unique opportunity to study the relationship between a diseased stroma and promotion of carcinogenesis, as 90 % of HCCs arise in a cirrhotic liver. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are the major source of extracellular proteins during fibrogenesis, and may directly, or via secreted products, contribute to tumour initiation and progression. In this review we explore the complex cellular and molecular interplay between HSC biology and hepatocarcinogenesis. We focus on the molecular mechanisms by which HSC modulate HCC growth, immune cell evasion and angiogenesis. This is followed by a discussion of recent progress in the field in understanding the mechanistic crosstalk between HSC and HCC, and the pathways that are potentially amenable to therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, we summarise the exciting recent developments in strategies to target HSC specifically, and novel techniques to deliver pharmaceutical agents directly to HSC, potentially allowing tailored, cell-specific therapy for HCC

MODERN TECHNOLOGIES IN THERAPEUTIC DRUG MONITORING (REVIEW)

Abstract: due to the emergence of new technologies in a pharmakokinetics, a pharmacogenetics and analytical chemistry, the medicine comes to qualitatively new stage of development. Therapeutic drug monitoring as the mean of the real time pharmacotherapy efficiency control becomes the basis of rational therapy in modern medicine. In the article various aspects of the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) as subsection of clinical pharmacology are discussed. The main indications to carrying out TDM and the main TDM procedures are submitted. Value of TDM for an epileptology is discussed. The special attention is paid to the bioanalytical methods and new methodical approaches (such as non-invasive drug monitoring and equilibrium dialysis) applied in TDM. TDM role as an independent discipline of a medical sciences, with concentration on modern pharmacokinetics computer programs is separately analyzed

The clinical and neurophysiological characteristics of the deja vu phenomenon in epilepsy

Objective: to study the clinical and neurophysiological characteristics of the deja vu phenomenon in epilepsy. Patients and methods. The manifestations of the dВjЕ vu phenomenon were compared in 154 examinees in two groups: 1) 139 healthy individuals and 2) 25 patients with epilepsy (mean age 25.17±9.19 years; women, 63.2%) The characteristics of the phenomenon were determined, by questioning the examinees; 12—16-hour ambulatory electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring was made. Results. The deja vu phenomenon occurred with cryptogenic and symptomatic focal epilepsy with equal frequency; however, the phenomenon was also seen in the idiopathic generalized form of the latter and could be concurrent virtually with any types of seizures and observed as an individual seizure and in the structure of a partial and secondarily generalized seizure. In epileptic patients, the main clinical characteristics of the deja vu vu phenomenon are its frequency, fear before its onset, and emotional coloring. The most important criterion is a change in the characteristics of deja vu vu: prolongation, more frequencies, and the emergence of negative emotions. On EEG, the phenomenon was characterized by the onset of polyspike activity in the right temporal leads and, in some cases, ended with slow-wave, theta-delta activity in the right hemisphere

DEREALIZATION DISORDERS IN EPILEPSY

Derealization is mental disorder, manifested in a feeling of unreality and strangeness of the surrounding real world, a form of impairment of consciousness. The most common and recognizable such disorder is the phenomenon of «déjà vu» – deja vu (DV). Objective: to study the clinical and diagnostic value derealization disorders (DD) in epilepsy. Materials and Methods: the total study group was 152 persons (mean age 25,17±9,19; 63,2% of women). The phenomena of derealization were compared in groups of healthy subjects (n = 139) and patients with epilepsy (n = 23). Patients were interviewed on the DV characteristics and long-term (12-16 hours) ambulatory EEG monitoring was conducted. Results: the same frequency of DV in patients with cryptogenic and symptomatic focal epilepsy was demonstrated. DV could be combined with any types of seizures, it could be aura of a seizure or own seizure. The main clinical characteristics that differentiate DV in healthy from DV in patients with epilepsy are: frequency, fear of the onset DV and emotional coloring. The most important criterion is the dynamic characteristics of the DV: elongation increased the appearance of negative emotions. The DV phenomenon characterized in EEG by start with polyspiking activity in the right temporal leads and, in some cases, ended by slow wave, theta-delta activity in the right hemispher