[Chronic inflammatory and dystrophic diseases of the eye anterior segment and their association with genetic polymorphisms in workers of metallurgic industry].

The ophthalmologic investigation of workers of the two metallurgical enterprises has shown that 1045 persons (55%) from 1911 observed workers suffer chronic diseases of a forward piece of eyes. Chronic inflammatory diseases (blepharitis, conjunctivitis and blepharoconjunctivitis) are found at 28,9% of them, and dystrophic diseases (pinguecula/pterygium)--at 25,8%. Among metallurgists (1801 persons) ophthalmopathy was found in 2, 2 times more often than at persons in control group (110 observed engineers and managers).

[Serum lactoferrin levels in children with viral hepatitis A].

Serum lactoferrin levels were studied in 79 healthy children and 80 children with viral hepatitis A in the Republic of Tyva. No statistically significant age- and gender-related differences were found in the healthy children. In viral hepatitis A, the level of the protein was shown to decrease with disease severity and to return to the normal values after 6 months.

[Use of atomic force microscopy to study the cytomorphological signs of papillomavirus infection].

The paper presents the results of studying genital squamous epitheliocytes from human papillomavirus-infected female patients by cytology and atomic force microscopy. The squamous epitheliocytes with and without cytomorphological signs of papillomavirus infection (koilocytosis, dyskeratosis, parakeratosis, hyperkeratosis) have been compared. Examining the surface of the squamous epithelium has yielded quantitative characteristics of infection-induced surface changes.

[Alpha-2-macroglobulin ligands and their biotransport mechanisms].

Alpha-2-macroglobulin (MG) is a high-molecular weight glycoprotein that possesses a wide range of regulatory functions. Earlier it has been shown that covalent binding of MG with proteinases results in conformational transformation of MG, which enables MG to transport some additional types of cytokines linked by noncovalent interactions. The results of our study have demonstrated that the range of proteins, with the ability for additional binding with transformed MG is variable and comprises IgG, IgA, IgM, albumin, both types of lipoprotein chain, plasmin, some cytokines and even pregnancy associated alpha-2-glycoprotein (structured MG homolog).

[Level of lactoferrin in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with meningitis].

Study showed 9-fold increase of concentration of lactoferrin (LF) in serum of patients with bacterial meningitis (BM) compared with normal concentration and 5-fold increase of LF concentration in patients with aseptic meningitis (AM). Level of LF in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with BM and AM was 200-fold and 22-fold higher than in control group respectively. In 71% of patients with AM concentration of protein in CSF did not exceed minimal level observed in patients with BM.

[Development of acute exudative inflammation in rats upon perftoran infusion].

The effect of the perftoran--a blood replacing emulsion with multifunctional properties--on the biochemical parameters of blood serum has been studied in rats with acute exudative inflammation. It is established, that perfloran does not influence the adaptive biochemical reactions on early terms of inflammation development. At the same time, perftoran essentially reduces exudate volume, however this effect is short-time upon single infusion of the preparation.

[Specific reactions of polyfunctional proteins of the family of macroglobulins and lactoferrin with receptors and ligands in the protection of the body from pathogens].

The reactions of polyfunctional proteins alpha2-macroglobulin (MG) and lactoferrin (LF) lipoprotein-receptor protein (LRP) and different ligands (antibodies and hydrolases) for ascertaining the mechanisms of their interaction and the probable role of MG and LF in the neutralization of bacterial pathogens were under study. The binding of MG and LF with ligands, irrespective of their nature, was shown to lead to the neutralization of the complex thus formed. This mechanism of neutralization in reaction of LF with ligands was supposedly due to the antibacterial properties of this protein: multiple reactions of LF with receptor sites on the surface of pathogens neutralized the charge of the latter and facilitated phagocytosis.

Effect of perftoran on macroglobulin content in the plasma and peritoneal exudate of rats with acute exudative inflammation (peritonitis).

The effect of blood substitute perftoran on the content of alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-macroglobulins in the plasma and exudate was studied in rats with acute exudative inflammation. After intravenous injection of perftoran macroglobulin content increased in the plasma, but remained unchanged in the peritoneal fluid.

[Lactoferrin and its role in the pathogenesis of tick-borne encephalitis].

The content of lactoferrin (LF) was studied in the liquor and blood of patients with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) of the meningeal and focal types; additionally, the information density of the discussed parameter was assessed for evaluating the severity and degree of the inflammation process in the central nervous system (CNS). The LF level was determined in liquor of 37 samples obtained from TBE patients (main group) and of 10 persons with osteochondrosis (controls); it was also determined in the serum taken from 21 TBE patients and from 40 healthy donors by using the immune-enzyme analysis. The LF concentration in TBE patients was found to exceed the normal value by 1.

[Permeability of the blood-brain barrier in severe craniocerebral trauma].

Permeability of the blood-brain barrier was studied by comparing the molar concentrations of albumin and alpha 2-macroglobulin in the spinal fluid and blood of patients with severe brain injury. If the outcome was good, the selective permeability of the barrier was shown to be fully retained, which meant that its regulatory and protective functions remained normal. If the outcome was poor, the selective permeability changed to a greater extent and the alterations found suggested that the regulatory function of the barrier was preserved with simultaneous loss of its protective properties.

[The possible role of alpha 2-macroglobulin in regulating the immune components of the brain in tick-borne encephalitis].

In tick-borne encephalitis certain immunopathological reactions develop in the tissues of the central nervous system; alpha 2-macroglobulin may serve as the marker of the activity of these reactions. The dynamic study of liquor taken from 16 patients with the meningeal and focal forms of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), 8 patients with severe craniocerebral traumas accompanied by meningitis and 10 patients with osteochondrosis was made. As revealed in this study, in TBE patients the level of alpha 2-macroglobulin increases 3.

[Immunoenzyme method of lactoferrin analysis].

The authors propose a highly effective method for isolation of lactoferrin from female colostrum. Lactoferrin is measured by the sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Its concentrations in the serum, urine, amniotic and cerebrospinal fluid in health are measured.

Immunoregulatory Properties of alpha(2)-Macroglobulin.

Native and modified with ammonium ions alpha(2)-macroglobulin forms exhibit similar abilities to influence proliferative activity and secretion of immunoglobulins in cultures of human blood mononuclear cells in vitro. Effects of modified with ammonium ions alpha(2)-macroglobulin were more significant than those of native alpha(2)-macroglobulin. Revealed properties of native alpha(2)-macroglobulin could be conditioned by a partial modification of its structure with endogenous proteinases or cytokines, some of which were shown to be common affinants for both forms.