Evaluation of the Efficiency of Lubricant Based on Pulmonary Surfactant in Experimental Knee Osteoarthritis in Rats: Analysis of 3D Reconstructions.

We evaluated the efficiency of a lubricant based on a pulmonary surfactant in experimental knee osteoarthritis in rats induced by intraarticular injection of abrasive material that reduces the lubricative properties of the synovial fluid. Experimental substance containing proteins of the pulmonary surfactant exhibiting natural lubricative properties was used as the lubricant. The effectiveness of the substance was analyzed by changes in morphological characteristics of the articular cartilage in 3D reconstruction images of the knee joint obtained by the method of multiple high-precision grinding.

MODERN ANTICEPTIC HYDROGEL IN TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS OF WOUNDS IN SURGERY.

Treatment and prevention of infectious complications remain the actual problems of surgery. Purulent complications very often arise in operative interventions with an application of various fixing devices. A study of the adhesive surgical antiseptic (ASA) «ARGAKOL» (Registration certificate № FS 012б2005/1878-05) was completed.

[OBJECTIVE CRITERIA OF PATIENT'S READINESS TO FREE AUTOPLASTY IN CASE OF GRANULATING WOUNDS (CRITERIA OF READINESS OF GRANULATING WOUNDS TO OPERATION)].

The article based on the analysis of 84 follow-up of the patients. The authors suggested using the indices of microbiological and immunological investigations and data of laser Doppler ultrasonography to determine the readiness of granulating wound to free autoplasty. The data obtained allowed developing an algorithm of treatment, patient's preparation to surgery and determination of operation terms.

Pleiotropic effects of hemagglutinin amino acid substitutions of H5 influenza escape mutants.

In the present study we assessed pleiotropic characteristics of the antibody-selected mutations. We examined pH optimum of fusion, temperatures of HA heat inactivation, and in vitro and in vivo replication kinetics of the previously obtained influenza H5 escape mutants. Our results showed that HA1 N142K mutation significantly lowered the pH of fusion optimum.

H9N2 influenza viruses from birds used in falconry.

Background: H9N2 avian influenza viruses continue to spread in poultry and wild birds throughout Eurasia.

Objectives: To characterize H9N2 influenza viruses from pheasants, quail, and white-bellied bustards (WBBs) used to train falcons in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods: Four H9N2 viruses were isolated from pheasants, quail, and WBB used for falconry in the UAE, and antigenic, molecular, phylogenetic analysis, and invivo characterization of H9N2 viruses were performed.

Pathogenicity and transmissibility of North American triple reassortant swine influenza A viruses in ferrets.

North American triple reassortant swine (TRS) influenza A viruses have caused sporadic human infections since 2005, but human-to-human transmission has not been documented. These viruses have six gene segments (PB2, PB1, PA, HA, NP, and NS) closely related to those of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses. Therefore, understanding of these viruses' pathogenicity and transmissibility may help to identify determinants of virulence of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses and to elucidate potential human health threats posed by the TRS viruses.

[Impact of mutations in the hemagglutinin gene of H5N1 influenza virus on antigenicity and virulence as revealed by site-specific mutagenesis].

In our earlier studies, we have shown that amino acid changes in the hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza H5N1 virus escape mutants conferring resistance to monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) may correlate with a decrease of virus virulence for mice and that the virulence can be restored to the initial level by serial passages. In the present study, the mutations identical to those observed in the HA of a low-virulent escape mutant and its readapted variant were introduced into the HA gene by site-specific mutagenesis. The viruses produced by plasmid transfection and containing the HA gene either of A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (H5N1) virus with a deletion at the cleavage site, or of a low-virulent escape mutants, or of its readapted variant, in the presence of 6 genome segments of A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) virus and the NA gene of A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (H5N1) virus, were assayed for virulence.

Antigenic epitopes in the hemagglutinin of Qinghai-type influenza H5N1 virus.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses have become widespread and evolved into several clades. In our previous studies, the antigenic sites of the H5 hemagglutinin (HA) were characterized by selection and sequencing of escape mutants. In the present studies we analyzed the antigenic epitopes recognized by monoclonal antibodies against avian influenza A/Duck/Novosibirsk/56/05 (H5N1) virus isolated in western Siberia and belonging to subclade 2.

Readaptation of a low-virulence influenza H9 escape mutant in mice: the role of changes in hemagglutinin as revealed by site-specific mutagenesis.

In our earlier studies, we showed that an escape mutant of mouse-adapted H9N2 influenza virus carrying a T198N amino acid change in heamagglutinin (HA) has a lowered virulence for mice. The readaptation of this mutant to mice was associated with N198S or N198D reverse mutations. In this study, single-gene reassortants having HA gene of the wild-type virus, its low-virulence escape mutant, or a readapted variant were generated by site-specific mutagenesis and assayed for virulence.

[Amino acid substitutions in the hemagglutinin of H5 influenza virus changing the antigenic specificity and virus virulence].

In our earlier studies, we mapped the hemagglutinin antigenic epitopes of H5 influenza virus by selecting mutants resistant to the neutralizing effect of the antibody (escape mutants). Several escape mutants were shown to have a lowered virulence for mice. The readaptation of low-virulent escape mutants to mice resulted in the restoration of virulence.

[Optimization of the gene composition of influenza H5 virus hemagglutinin-containing reassortants and their efficacy in immune cross-protection experiments].

The reassortant described in the authors' previous paper contained 6 genes originating from the high-yield virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) and the genes of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) of the low-pathogenic avian influenza A/Duck/Primorie/2621/2001 (H5N2) (6:2 reassortant). The reassortant was used for the backcrossing with the parent avian virus in order to optimize the gene composition. Genotyping of the highest-yield second-generation reassortment indicated that it had obtained the PB1, HA, and NA genes from the virus A/Duck/Primorie/ 2621/2001 and the other genes received the genes from the virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (5:3 reassortant).

Epitope mapping of the hemagglutinin molecule of a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus by using monoclonal antibodies.

We mapped the hemagglutinin (HA) antigenic epitopes of a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus on the three-dimensional HA structure by characterizing escape mutants of a recombinant virus containing A/Vietnam/1203/04 (H5N1) deltaHA and neuraminidase genes in the genetic background of A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) virus. The mutants were selected with a panel of eight anti-HA monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), seven to A/Vietnam/1203/04 (H5N1) virus and one to A/Chicken/Pennsylvania/8125/83 (H5N2) virus, and the mutants' HA genes were sequenced. The amino acid changes suggested three MAb groups: four MAbs reacted with the complex epitope comprising parts of the antigenic site B of H3 HA and site Sa of H1 HA, two MAbs reacted with the epitope corresponding to the antigenic site A in H3 HA, and two MAbs displayed unusual behavior: each recognized amino acid changes at two widely separate antigenic sites.

[Effect of perfluorane on the time course of changes in endogenous intoxication in victims with severe thermal injury].

The investigation was undertaken to study the effects of perfluorane on the degree of endogenous intoxication in the severely burnt. Sixty-five victims aged 20 to 55 years who had burns of the skin, involving more than 30% of the body surface area, without comorbidity (less than 9 SAPS scores), were examined. All the examinees were divided into 2 groups.

Effect of gene constellation and postreassortment amino acid change on the phenotypic features of H5 influenza virus reassortants.

Reassortants between a low-pathogenic avian influenza virus strain A/Duck/Primorie/2621/2001 (H5N2) and a high-yield human influenza virus strain A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) were generated, genotyped and analyzed with respect to their yield in embryonated chicken eggs, pathogenicity for mice, and immunogenicity. A reassortant having HA and NA genes from A/Duck/Primorie/2621/2001 virus and 6 genes from A/Puerto Rico/8/34 virus (6:2 reassortant) replicated efficiently in embryonated chicken eggs, the yields being intermediate between the yields of the avian parent virus and those of the A/Puerto Rico/8/34 parent strain. The reassortant having the HA gene from A/Duck/Primorie/2621/2001 virus and 7 genes from A/Puerto Rico/8/34 virus (7:1 reassortant) produced low yields.

[Clinical and immunological criteria of burn sepsis].

A hundred and twenty-nine victims aged 16 to 60 years who had skin burns in the area of 15 to 60% of the body surface without severe concomitant somatic disease (SAPS less than 9 scores). The clinical symptoms of a systemic inflammatory response (SIR) and the signs of wound infection were recorded in all the examinees. The victims underwent a comprehensive clinical and laboratory examination, 55 of them were immunologically studied over time (on admission, on days 3 and 10).

[A device for demonstrating micropreparations "histoskop"].

A device "Histoscop" for demonstration of histologic preparations is described. The device has a powerful lighting system enabling it to reflect images of histological structures from the microscope objective to a screen. The device is multipurpose (can be used in conferences, teaching, etc.