Epidemiological, Clinical, and Laboratory Features of Children with SARS-CoV-2 in Ukraine.

Introduction: In December 2019, the Chinese city of Wuhan reported the first cases of pneumonia from a new type of beta coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. In the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, paediatric patients were thought to be immune to the new virus; however, further studies have shown people of all ages to be susceptible to the virus.

Objective: Identify and describe the clinical and epidemiological features of COVID-19 among hospitalized children in Ukraine.

Analysis of Relative Average Length of Telomeres in Leukocytes of Women with COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract caused by a new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. A global vaccination program against SARS-CoV-2 continues, and the incidence of COVID-19 worldwide is significantly decreasing. However, among millions of those who survived COVID-19, numerous groups will need assistance due to increased clinical consequences after COVID-19.

Clinical course of COVID-19 in hospitalized children of Ukraine in different pandemic periods.

Background: The coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic has seen a progressive increase in childhood morbidity worldwide. Continuous mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus causes the wave-like course of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is characterized by an undulating course and the predominance of different variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. There are many reports that the clinical picture may vary depending on the circulating strain of the virus [7-11, 13-16].

Relationship between the Prevalence of ACE1 I/D Polymorphism Genotype II and Covid-19 Morbidity, Mortality in Ukraine and in Some Europe Countries.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which was first recorded in China in December 2019, quickly spread to other countries and in a short period of time, the local outbreak escalated into a pandemic. There are significantly more cases of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in European countries than in East Asia, where the disease was first detected. Such population differences are unique, especially for SARS-CoV-2 and are due to both socio-behavioral differences and features of the gene pool of the population of different countries.

One drug to treat many diseases: unlocking the economic trap of rare diseases.

There are two major problems with the development of therapies for rare diseases. First, among over 7000 such diseases, the vast majority are caused by genetic defects and/or include neurodegeneration, making them very difficult to treat. Second, drugs for rare diseases, so-called orphan drugs, are extremely expensive, as only a small number of patients are interested in purchasing them.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone and kisseptin-10 regulate nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group a member 1/catenin beta 1/ nuclear receptor subfamily 0 group B member 1 activity in female rat anterior pituitary gland.

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that modulation of endogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gnrh) neuronal network activity alters the mRNA expression of nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 1 (Nr5a1), through one of the component of Wnt pathway signaling - catenin beta 1 (Ctnnb1) (its co-activator), and its co-repressor nuclear receptor subfamily 0, group B member 1 (Nr0b1) in the female rat pituitary gland in vivo. Adult ovariectomized rats were given a serial infusion of Gnrh, kisspeptin-10, Gnrh + Gnrh antagonist (Antide), or kisspeptin-10 + kisspeptin antagonist (kisspeptin-234) into the third ventricle of the brain. The anterior pituitary and blood was used to mRNA and protein expression analysis.

Acyclovir inhibits Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 multiplication in vitro.

Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3), also known as koi herpesvirus (KHV), is an aetiological agent of a virulent and lethal disease in common and koi carp. In this study, we examined in vitro the anti-CyHV-3 activity of acyclovir (ACV), nucleoside analogue commonly used against human herpesviruses, as well as acyclovir monophospate (ACV-MP). The cytotoxicity of the ACV and the ACV-MP for two common carp cell lines, CCB (Common carp brain) and KF1 (Koi carp fin 1), was determined by means of MTT and crystal violet assays.

Hematological Alterations as a Response to Exposure to Selected Fungicides in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).

The aim of the present study was to assess the hematological response of common carp to fungicides and to determine recovery patterns in fungicide-free water. Fish were exposed to mancozeb, prochloraz or tebuconazole (at concentrations of 1.0, 1.

[Advantages and disadvantages of microbiological methods used in the diagnosis of Mycoplasmapneumoniae infections in selected clinical situation].

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the most common causes of community-acquired pneumonia in children and adults. Correct and rapid laboratory diagnosis of M pneumoniae infections is important to introduce appropriate antibiotic treatment. Diagnosis for M.

[Etiology of bacterial infections and incidence of comorbidities in patients with tuberculosis, treated in Mazovian Treatment Centre of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases during years 2012-2014].

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Infection occurs mostly via inhalation, while the immune system is weakened. TB can take a pulmonary or extrapulmonary form.

Reactions of N(3) -substituted amidrazones with cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and biological activities of the products.

A series of novel compounds were synthesized in reactions of N(3) -substituted amidrazones with cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride: linear, isoindole, and triazole derivatives. All new structures were confirmed by H(1) NMR and IR spectrometry as well as elemental analysis. Potential biological effects of new compounds were predicted with the Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS) program.

Biological activity of (lipo)polysaccharides of the exopolysaccharide-deficient mutant Rt120 derived from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain TA1.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii TA1 (RtTA1) and its mutant Rt120 in the pssBpssA intergenic region as well as degraded polysaccharides (DPS) derived from the LPS were elucidated in terms of their chemical composition and biological activities. The polysaccharide portions were examined by methylation analysis, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. A high molecular mass carbohydrate fraction obtained from Rt120 DPS by Sephadex G-50 gel chromatography was composed mainly of L-rhamnose, 6-deoxy-L-talose, D-galactose, and D-galacturonic acid, whereas that from RtTA1 DPS contained L-fucose, 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose, D-galacturonic acid, 3-deoxy-3-methylaminofucose, D-glucose, D-glucuronic acid, and heptose.

[The role of cytokines in depression].

Clinical and experimental studies on animals indicate that depression is associated with increased plasma cytokine acute phase protein concentrations and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) activation. Additionally it has been detected that immunological activation induces stress-like behavioural and neurochemical changes in organisms of animals and humans. Hypersecretion of cytokines in response to stress or to endogenous trigger factors may induce depressive symptoms.

Changes in serum concentrations and in cytokine production by blood cell cultures of a patient with major depression--case report.

The aim of the paper was to compare the periodical changes in serum cytokine levels and in cytokine production in short-term blood lymphocyte cultures of two persons: the patient with major depression and healthy control. In sera of both persons such cytokines as IL-1 beta, IFN-gamma and IL-6 were detected, but IL-6 level in serum of depressed patient was higher than that observed in healthy control. In both persons examined serum cytokine level changed periodically during 9 days of observation showing rhythmic waves.

Serum cytokine level and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by blood neutrophils from a schizophrenic patient with hypersensitivity to neuroleptics.

Background: There have been few publications concerning the role of the immune system in neuroleptic intolerance. Some studies have shown that in neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), the serum level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) increases significantly, which is thought to trigger the onset of DIC.

Case Report: A 23-year-old woman suffering from catatonic schizophrenia developed hypersensitivity to neuroleptics.

Investigation of serum cytokine levels and cytokine production in whole blood cultures of paranoid schizophrenic patients.

There is some evidence that the pathophysiology of schizophrenia is related to changes in the innate and adaptive immune systems. In an attempt to define a potential immunological dysfunction in schizophrenia, we measured the serum levels of several cytokines in the sera of 24 patients with paranoid schizophrenia and investigated the cytokine production in whole blood assays after stimulation in vitro with virus (Newcastle disease), phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and compared them with healthy, normal controls. A significant increase of interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8 and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) levels, but a decreased L-10 level were observed in the sera of patients with schizophrenia.

Effect of granulocyte colony stimulating factor treatment on ex vivo cytokine production by blood cells of patients after chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

We explored ex vivo alterations in the cytokine release of stimulated blood cells taken from 8 patients with hematological malignancies who, after chemotherapy or radiotherapy developed leukopenia, and were treated for 3-7 days subcutaneously with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), daily, dose of 5 microg/kg of body weight. Blood was also taken from 8 healthy controls not treated with G-CSF and from patients before and 24 h after last dose of G-CSF and ex vivo treated with interferon (IFN) inducers: Newcastle disease virus (NDV), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inducer--lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Blood cells of patients before G-CSF treatment exhibited ex vivo a low ability to produce IFN-gamma in comparison to controls.

Effect of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating growth factor on interferon and tumor necrosis factor production in whole blood cell cultures of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia.

The effect of recombinat human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating growth factor (rHuGM-CSF) treatment on in vitro interferon (IFN) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production in peripheral blood cells of 46 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) was examined. GM-CSF significantly enhanced virus-induced IFN-alpha production in blood cells (containing 68% of blasts) of 28 patients with M4-M5 AML according to the French-American-British (FAB) classification and also phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced IFN-gamma production in blood cells (containing 70% of blasts) of 18 patients with AML MO-M3 type. In control blood cells (25 healthy persons) GM-CSF enhanced PHA-induced IFN-gamma but did not influence IFN-alpha production.

Cytokine production in whole blood cell cultures of patients with B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The influence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

We investigated the levels of 6 different cytokines in the sera of 10 newly diagnosed patients with B cell lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and detected a significant increase in IL-6 and IFN-alpha serum levels in comparison to that of healthy controls. Whole blood cell cultures of 10 ALL patients and 20 control individuals were induced with classical cytokine inducers, such as virus, PHA and LPS, and their ability to produce 9 different cytokines was compared. Blood cells of ALL patients produced significantly less IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-10 and TNF-alpha than control cells and not significanly lower levels of IL-6, but comparable with control levels of IL-2, IL-4.

Antiviral activity of the products of cyclization of dimethyl 2-[(1-arylamino-1-arylmethylidene)hydrazono]succinate.

In this research, conditions of cyclization of dimethyl 2-[(1-arylamino-1-arylmethylidene)hydrazono]succinate 1-5 leading to the formation of 3,4-diaryl-5-carboxymethyl-1,2,4-triazole 6-10 and methyl 2-(5-oxo-3,4-diaryl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1,2,4-triazine-6-ylidene)acetates 11-15 and the biological activity of some of them have been examined. Their chemical structures were confirmed by IR, 1H-NMR, EI-MS and elemental analysis. Substances 8 and 13 exhibited moderate virucidal activity and partially inhibited absorption of the viruses to the susceptible cells.

Cytokine inducing activities of rhizobial and mesorhizobial lipopolysaccharides of different lethal toxicity.

The lethality and cytokines-inducing activity of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) obtained from nodulating bacteria, Rhizobium leguminosarum and Mesorhizobium loti, were compared to those of Salmonella typhimurium LPS. The activity of R. leguminosarum LPS was almost comparable to Salmonella endotoxin in terms of lethality, Limulus lysate gelating activity and in vivo tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induction capacity.

The inhibitory effect of zinc on cadmium-induced cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in cell cultures.

The prevention of apoptosis by Zn(2+) is a well-known phenomenon. Both in in vitro and in vivo Zn(2+) supplementation prevents apoptosis induced by a variety of agents, among them by cadmium ions. The target for protective action of Zn ions on cell apoptosis is still unknown.

Influence of low dose rIL-2 treatment on endogenous cytokine production, expression of surface IL-2R and the level of soluble IL-2R in patients with minimal residual disease.

This study was designed to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of low-dose IL-2 therapy (100 microg/day for 3 weeks) on interferon (IFN), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production in vivo and in vitro and on the expression of IL-2Ralpha/beta and soluble form of IL-2Ralpha. Patients enrolled in the study suffered from multiple myeloma (MM), Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) All of them were in remission after chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Our results indicated that IL-2 given subcutaneously at a low dose of 100 microg/day for 3 weeks induced IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in plasma (measured 24 hrs after the last dose of IL-2) and affected the ability of blood leukocytes to produce cytokines.

Interferon gamma as immunomodulator in a patient with multiple myeloma.

We describe here a patient with multiple myeloma, who, while in remission after chemotherapy, received 100 micrograms of rIFN-gamma (Imukin, Boehringer, Ingelheim) subcutaneously 3 times a week for 4 weeks as supportive therapy before autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). The patient was monitored for serum IFN, TNF, IL-2 activities and for the ability of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) to produce IFN-alpha/beta, IFN-gamma, IL-2 and TNF-alpha after in vitro induction. Changes in the percent of plasma cells in the bone marrow, in the total and differential white blood cell counts, in T cell subsets and NK cells were also monitored.