[HCV genome variability in acute and chronic viral hepatitis C].

Aim: To evaluate HCV genome variability in acute and chronic phases of viral hepatitis C.

Material And Methods: The study of heterogeneity of HCV in acute hepatitis C has detected genetic heterogeneity and variability of individual HCV population circulating in the blood. Significant genetic heterogeneity of HCV was observed in 1b, 2a and 3a genotypes.

[Morbidity and mortality in acute viral hepatitides in a hyperendemic region. The role of viral hepatitis E].

Official annual statistical data on morbidity in acute viral hepatitides (AVH), including the number of lethal cases, for 1985-1995 were analyzed. Mortality rates per 100,000 of the population at the period of 11 years were calculated for different age groups, sex and the place of residence. 396 and 99 patients were examined for the presence of serological markers of hepatitides A, B and E, respectively, at the periods of epidemic rises in morbidity and satisfactory epidemic situation.

[Regularities in the spread of hepatitis C virus and its genotypes in Russian and countries within the former USSR].

The incidence of markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV in the blood of 4216 normal subjects living in the European Russia (Northern, North-Western, Central, Central Chernozem, Volga-Vyatka, Volga, and North Caucasian regions), in the Urals, in Siberia (Eastern Siberian region), in the Far East, and in Monogolia is assessed. The incidence of antibodies to HCV varied from 0.7% in the Central region to 3.

[Analysis of the organization of immunodominant epitopes of hepatitis virus E orf2 and orf3 proteins using synthetic peptides].

A set of synthetic peptides of different length derived from proteins encoded by open reading frames (ORF) 1, 2, and 3 of hepatitis E virus (HEV) genome was synthesized and tested for antigenicity in indirect enzyme immunoassay. Peptides 414-433 (ORF2 protein) and 99-119 (ORF3) specifically react with antiHEV-positive sera collected during outbreaks in the Central Asian areas of the former USSR. The antigenic structure of the Central Asian variants and the Burmese types of HEV was found similar.

[Prevalence of genotypes of the hepatitis C virus, circulating in northwestern and central parts of Russia].

Testing of 90 sera for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) by genotyping methods resulted in determination of the genotype in 83 cases: 47 cases with 1b genotype, 27 with 1a, 7 with 3a, 1 with 2a, and 1 with 2b genotype. Hence, preliminary data indicate the predominance of HCV genotype 1b among patients with hepatitis C in these regions of Russia.

[Neutrophil and macrophage functional activity during the irradiation of an intestinal anastomosis with a low-intensity laser in the infrared spectral range].

The influence of different methods of treatment of intestinal anastomosis in rabbits (group 1: common single-row sutures; group 2: sutures treated with cyanacrylate glue CO-4; group 3: low-intensity laser irradiation through the skin in the infrared spectral range) on the phagocytic and oxidase activity of cells in the peritoneal washings and peripheral blood on days 2, 4 and 7 after the operation was studied. Laser irradiation of the suture was shown to produce a stimulating effect on the macrophagal-phagocytic system of the blood. The oxidase activity of phagocytes in peritoneal washings in the group of animals subjected to laser irradiation was considerably lower than in two other groups.

[Synthesis and antigenic activity of peptides from the ORF3 protein sequence of hepatitis E virus].

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an infection agent (detected recently) responsible for an enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis [1,2]. Hepatitis E is a big problem in many developing countries, including the Central Asian areas of the former Soviet Union [2]. By cloning followed by sequence analysis of the HEV genome, three open reading frames (ORF) have been identified, among them ORF3 encoding a protein containing 123 amino acid residues, the function of this protein being unknown.

[The spread of hepatitis C markers among the population of regions of Russia and Central Asia].

A total of 2,217 blood serum samples taken from the population of some regions of the former USSR were studied for the presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) with the use of a commercial enzyme immunoassay system (obtained from Ortho, Japan). Perceptible changes in the detection rate of these antibodies throughout the territory of the former USSR were established. Most frequently anti-HCV antibodies were detected among the population of the republics of Central Asia (5.

[A comparative study of the diagnostic value of peptides, corresponding to various genomic sequences of the hepatitis delta virus].

A set of 5 peptides from the immunodominant region (65-80 aa) of delta-antigen was prepared by solid phase synthesis. Peptide 71-80 was synthesized in two variants with different amino acid residues in positions 73, 74, 76. Free peptides and their conjugates with bovine serum albumin were tested for antigenicity in ELISA.

[The incidence of detecting hepatitis C viral antibodies in different age groups of the population in northeastern Ukraine].

Examinations for the presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-C100-3) were carried out in 1143 human subjects, residents of the town of Sumy, Ukraine (681 blood donors, 176 school children, 286 subjects hospitalized for abortions and for treatment of acute traumas). Anti-HCV were determined by enzyme immunoassay using a commercial test system "Abbott" of the first generation, with confirmation of the positive findings by neutralization test. Anti-HCV were found in 2.

[The prevalence of the markers of viral hepatitis B and delta among the population in regions differing in the level of morbidity].

From two regions differing by the levels of incidence of hepatitis B, 2019 blood serum specimens from normal population were examined for markers of HBV infection. In Moscow, among 1040 samples examined HBsAg was found in 2.0%, anti-HBs in 10.

[The clinical picture and outcome of acute delta infection].

A total of 60 patients were observed with acute hepatitis delta defined at examination of 200 adult subjects with acute HBsAg-positive hepatitis. Moderate and severe forms of the disease occurred more frequently, lethality reached 13.3%.

[The etiological structure of acute viral hepatitis in Tadzhikistan in a period of decreased morbidity].

In the period of reduced incidence of viral hepatitis in Tajikistan, January-December, 1990, 1562 patients with acute viral hepatitis (AVH) were examined in the first days of the jaundice phase (928 children under 14 years and 634 adults) in Dushanbe. Markers of hepatitis A, B, and D (HBsAg, anti-HA IgM, anti-HBc IgM, anti-delta IgM) were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Hepatitis A occurred in 25.

[IgM- and IgG-class antibodies to the hepatitis C virus].

The test system widely used currently for the determination of anti-HCV permits the detection of anti-HCV IgG alone. The data recently published by T. G.

[The characteristics of an outbreak of non-A, non-B hepatitis with a fecal-oral mechanism of the transmission of the causative agent in Osh Province, the Kirghiz SSR].

The results of epidemiological, clinical and laboratory studies revealed that the sharp rise of morbidity in viral hepatitides in Osh Province, the Kirghiz SSR in autumn 1987 was caused by hepatitis non A, non B virus with fecal-oral transmission. At this period the results of the enzyme immunoassay showed the absence of the markers of hepatitides A, B and Delta in 72.2% of viral hepatitis patients.

[The production of anti-HBc IgM antibodies by human lymphocytes transformed by the Epstein-Barr virus].

In transformation by Epstein-Barr virus of lymphocytes derived from patients with acute hepatitis B, continuous cell cultures were obtained which produced anti-HBc IgM antibodies. These cell lines underwent from 50 to 150 passages. The level of the specific immunoglobulin production was shown to have a trend to decline; however, after cloning the antibody production became more stable.

[Prevalence of hepatitis A markers in families of patients treated at home and in hospitals].

The data on the time-course examinations of 119 family members of 59 adult patients with hepatitis A (HA) treated at home in Moscow and 170 relatives of 82 HA patients admitted to an infectious hospital are presented. The diagnosis for all the patients was verified by the detection in their blood of antibodies to hepatitis A virus (HAV) of the IgM class. Clinical methods of examination were used as well as determinations of anti-HAV of the IgG and IgM classes by enzyme immunoassay.

[Synthesis and immunological properties of the peptide fragment of the hepatitis B virus envelope preS-protein].

We have synthesized the 24-41 fragment of the preS region of the hepatitis B (subtype ayw) envelope. The peptide was prepared by the solid phase synthesis on perfluoropoly-ethylene polymer grafted with polystyrene. The peptide chain was elongated from C-terminus using pentafluorophenyl- and p-nitrophenyl esters of Boc-amino acids.