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AIM: To evaluate of parameters of lipid peroxidation - antioxidant defense changes in women of fertile age with chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) and with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection, depending on the degree of inflammatory process activity in the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 99 women of reproductive age were examined, of them 44 patients with chronic parenteral viral hepatitis, 27 patients with HIV co-infection (HIV + hepatitis B and/or C) and 28 practically healthy women (control group). RESULTS: Patients with CVH in combination with HIV-infection with the presence of minimal and low degree of inflammatory activity in comparison with patients with CVH-monoinfection had a higher content of lipid peroxidation products (an increase in the content of diene conjugates and ketodienes and conjugated trienes), reduced values of total antioxidant activity, superoxide dismutase activity, as well as the concentration of fat-soluble vitamins α-tocopherol and retinol. In the group with CVH and HIV with moderate and high degree of activity, similar, but even more pronounced changes in the system of lipid peroxidation were observed. CONCLUSION: The presence of co-infection - CVH in combination with HIV infection with minimal and low, as well as moderate and high inflammatory activity, is characterized by more intensive lipid peroxidation processes and a pronounced lack of antioxidant factors than with CVH-monoinfection.

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AIM: To reveal the specific features of changes in the parameters of lipid peroxidation - antioxidant defense and the status of the reproductive system in women of fertile age with monoinfection (HIV) or coinfection (HIV and hepatitis B and/or C). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 81 reproductive-aged women were examined and divided into 3 groups: 1) 28 apparently healthy women (controls); 2) 26 patients with HIV monoinfection; and 3) 27 patients with HIV coinfection (HIV + hepatitis B and/or C) who had not previously received antiretroviral therapy. RESULTS: The HIV coinfection group showed the higher values of primary (conjugated dienes) and secondary (ketodienes and conjugated trienes) lipid peroxidation products in the presence of lower superoxide dismutase activity and obvious α-tocopherol deficiency than the control and HIV monoinfection groups. HIV coinfection in reproductive-aged women was accompanied by the high frequency of luteal phase deficiency. CONCLUSION: HIV coinfection is characterized by a more pronounced oxidative stress, antioxidant factor deficiency, and the high frequency of luteal phase deficiency in the patients.

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In situ x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) provides element-specific characterization of both crystalline and amorphous phases and enables direct correlations between electrochemical performance and structural characteristics of cathode and anode materials. In situ XAS measurements are very demanding to the design of the experimental setup. We have developed a sample chamber that provides electrical connectivity and inert atmosphere for operating electrochemical cells and also accounts for x-ray interactions with the chamber and cell materials. The design of the sample chamber for in situ measurements is presented along with example XAS spectra from anode materials in operating pouch cells at the Zn and Sn K-edges measured in fluorescence and transmission modes, respectively.

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In the article analyzed the current literature, devoted to the peculiarities of functioning of the thyroid gland in patients with HIV infection. Based on the analysis of literature data bases demonstrated the structure of thyroid function disorders in HIV-infected, as well as the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of these disorders. In the structure of thyroid function is dominated by hypothyroidism, euthyroid pathological syndrome, Graves' disease, for which the opportunistic infections are triggers immune activation. It should be noted that the step of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is accompanied by the development of inflammatory and neoplastic processes in the thyroid gland. Convincingly demonstrated the negative impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive for the development of thyroid dysfunction, in connection which the expediency of forming risk groups and the timely correction of the projected thyroid diseases.

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AIM: To reveal features of rubella epidemic process during start of mass immunization and to determine rubella virus genotypes circulating in Saint-Petersburg. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Official data on rubella morbidity during 1995-2007 and number of vaccinated against rubella children and adults were used in this study. During 2006-2008 males aged 17-20 years with rubella diagnosis were eligible for laboratory test on rubella. Nasopharyngeal swabs and blood specimenswere tested by PCR and virus isolation on cell culture (PK13). Genotyping of isolates was performed on the basis of 600 nucleotide sequence of E1 gene from 8731 to 9653 n.p. RESULTS: It was shown that mass vaccination of children and young women against rubella during 4 years resulted in 3-fold drop of rubella incidence inwhole population, which diminishes the probability of infection in pregnant women and born of children with congenital rubella syndrome. In age structure of rubella morbidity the proportion of children aged 3-6 and 7-14 years decreased by 1.5-fold. Epidemic process loss the features of autoregulating system (periodicity and seasonal incidence peaks). Results of genotyping showed that isolates belonged to genotype 1E. High degree of homology (97.7-99.6%) to isolates from Barnaul and Belorussia was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: Issues on isolates' origin and success of measures on elimination of endemic rubella could be resolved by further studies on isolation and genotyping of rubella virus strains in Saint-Petersburg and North-East region of Russian Federation in the whole.

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Tn10 and Tn9 from temperature-sensitive replicons RPI::Tn10 Rep is and RP1::Tn9 Rep ts and Tn5 from the "suicidal" vector pSUP5011 may integrate in the P. pseudomallei chromosome. Transposons induced auxotrophic mutations of different spectrum, depending on the strain, Tn element, and defects in the genes responsible for the mobility sign, function of some extracellular elements (lecithinase and lipase), hemolytic activity, and antigen 8 synthesis, which are considered as the potential factors of the pathogenicity of melioidosis agent. No secondary restructuring induced by Tn elements were detected in the domains adjacent to insertion sites. Plasmids RP1::Tn10 Rep ts and RP1::Tn9 Rep ts were stable in insertion mutant cells, mediating the variable TR-TS phenotype probably indicating that plasmid integration with the chromosome is unstable.

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In experiments on the shore crab H. sanguineus studies have been made of the effect of variable longitudinal acceleration during swinging (for 15--30 min) upon cardiac activity and gravitational reflexes. High sensitivity of gravitational receptors of the canal statocyst to the effect of acceleration was demonstrated. Removal of the statocysts increases the frequency and amplitude of cardiac contractions as revealed by ECG recording. Changes in stato-kinetic coordinations cause both the disorder of overturning reactions and the disorder of reciprocal inhibition in antagonistic muscles of the dactylopodite. Statocyst regulation of skeletal muscles and heart is presumably realised via contralateral inhibitory canal which is sensitive to linear accelerations.

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