[Influence of meteorological factors on the activity of the adult taiga tick (Ixodes persulcatus Sch., Ixodinae) in St. Petersburg and its environs].

The article deals with influence of meteorolical factors on the activity of the taiga tick Ixodes persulvatus Sch. in St. Petersburg and its environs.

Crystal structure of mutant form Cys115His of Citrobacter freundii methionine γ-lyase complexed with l-norleucine.

The mutant form of Citrobacter freundii methionine γ-lyase with the replacement of active site Cys115 for His has been found to be inactive in the γ-elimination reaction of methionine while fully active in the γ-elimination reaction of O-acetyl-l-homoserine and in the β-elimination reaction of S-alk(en)yl-substituted cysteines. In this work, the crystal structure of the mutant enzyme complexed with competitive inhibitor, l-norleucine was determined at 1.45Å resolution.

[VALUE OF THE -2PROPSA INDEX AND THE PROSTATE HEALTH INDEX IN PATIENTS WITH PROSTATE CANCER: REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND DATA OF RUSSIAN PROSPECTIVE STUDY].

The article presents the analysis of the fundamental studies on the -2proPSA and prostate health index (PHI) and the determination of their field of use in patients with prostate cancer (PCa). The main aspects of use of the new markers studied include improvement of detection of prostate cancer, increase of specificity and reduction of the number of unnecessary biopsies, identification of aggressive forms of prostate cancer, as well as determination of the progression of the disease. The results of numerous studies, as well as preliminary data of Russian study on the assessment of new indicators are promising and today allow to recommend the use of the test to determine the values of the -2proPSA and prostate health index (PHI) in routine urological practice.

[Current approaches to laboratory diagnosis of syphilis].

The efficiency of chemiluminescence immunoassay (CIA) used as a treponemal test in the serological diagnosis of syphilis was evaluated, by applying the serum samples of 219 patients screened for syphilitic infection. The efficiency of CIA was evaluated in two steps: (1) comparison of the results of tests using the IMMULITE 2000 Syphilis Screen and LIAISON Syphilis screen reagent kits; (2) that of the results of tests applying the IMMULITE 2000 Syphilis Screen and Recombi Best antipallidum-summary antibodies kits. A 100% correlation was found when comparing the results of tests employing the IMMULITE 2000 Syphilis Screen and DiaSorin LIAISON Syphilis Screen kits (n=66).

Biological microchip for a simultaneous quantitative immunoassay of tumor markers in human serum.

The biochip was constructed for simultaneous assay of total and free prostate-specific antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, cancer embryonic antigen, human chorionic gonadotropin, and neuron-specific enolase. These biochips represent an array of gel elements with covalently immobilized proteins. The major analytic characteristics of the developed method were obtained.

[Aseptic meningitis season caused by enteroviruses in 2007: molecular-epidemiological aspects].

Aim: Analysis of manifestation of epidemic process of aseptic meningitis and causes of its activation using molecular genetic methods.

Materials And Methods: Samples of feces and CSF, nasopharyngeal swabs from 296 patients with aseptic meningitis (AM), as well as 240 samples of drinking water and 6 samples of lake water were studied. Epidemiologic analysis, isolation of enteroviruses in Hep-2 and RD cell cultures, RT-PCR, partial sequencing of 5'NTR and genome region coding VP1 were performed.

Blood testosterone in rats: correlation of the level of individual anxiety and its impairment after "death threat".

Studies of identical groups of male Wistar rats after preliminary selection to give groups including extreme behavioral types with low and high rankings on the anxiety scale showed that blood testosterone concentrations in intact rats (controls) correlated negatively with anxiety ranking, i.e., minimal hormone concentrations (no greater than 5 nM) corresponded to high levels of anxiety - with a predominance of passive defensive behavioral components on testing.

[Blood testosterone in rats: correlation with individual anxiety and its derangement after the "death threat"].

After preliminary testing on a multiparameter scale, test and experimental groups of Wistar male rats were formed on the principle of identical distribution of individuals with different anxiety levels. A negative Spearman correlation between the testosterone blood concentration and the level of anxiety was observed in intact rats: the minimum hormonal concentrations (lower than 5 nmol/l) were found in rats with high anxiety, whereas the maximum concentrations (up to 16 nmol/l) corresponded to the higher anxiety level (prevalence of passive defense reactions during testing). After a sort-term exposure to life-threatening situation (viewing of a boa's attacking and devouring two victim rats from the test group), the correlation was deranged because of appearance of a scatter in testosterone blood concentration (from 3 to 21 nmol/l) in rats with low anxiety.

[Development of a biochip for quantitative determination of two forms of prostate specific antigen using internal calibration curve].

Three-dimensional gel-based microchip allowing simultaneous quantitative detection of total (PSAtot) and free (PSAfree) forms of prostate specific antigen in human serum (in a format "one patient-one biochip") was developed. A method, which doesn't require preliminary construction of calibration curves when performing an assay, was applied for quantitative determination of PSAtot and PSAfree. Gel elements with immobilized antigen (PSA) in different concentration, forming an internal calibration curve, were included in a structure of the microchip, in addition to the elements with immobilized antibodies specific against PSAtot and PSAfree.

[Medical waste: the problem of handling].

The paper provides the environmental and hygienic characteristics of medical waste, the necessity of introducing a new system of collection, storage, transportation, and removal of waste from health care facilities. In accordance with SanPiN 2.1.

[The role of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and E-selectin) in development of diabetic microangiopathies].

Aim: To examine the expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54) on the surface of leukocytes and a soluble E-selectin (CD62) level in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) at various stages of diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy.

Material And Methods: 42 patients with newly diagnosed and long-standing DM1 with presence or absence of microangiopathy (diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy) were examined. Routine laboratory, ophthalmologic tests, a special immunological test with ICAM-1 expression and soluble E-selectin (sES) examination were performed.

[Current problems of occupational health in polyurethane production].

Prospective production of polyurethane is not safe for humans. This production is characterized by possible workers' exposure to chemical hazards mixture. The work safety includes cautionary and current sanitary supervision, implantation of sanitary recommendations concerning individual protective means also.

[Gas chromatography in detection of toluene diisocyanate in biological medium].

The authors suggested a method of gas chromatography for detection of toluylene diisocyanate (TDI) in biologic material: liver, lungs, spleen, brain, kidney. The method includes TDI extraction from tissues by solvent, subsequent concentration and the extract chromatography by a device with electron capture detector. The method was tested in white rats.

[Pathogenesis of tolylene diisocyanate intoxication].

Experimental and clinical investigations to evaluate immunity, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and antioxidative defense (AOD) under the action of tolylene diisocyanate at the level of MAC and 10 MAC were conducted for further studies of the agent's pathogenetic mechanisms. The experimental investigations showed the predominant activation of cellular and humoral immunities, as well as the suppression of nonspecific defence at 10 MAC, enhanced LPO, and phasic changes in AOD. Most profound immunological changes were observed in those having as long as 5 years of length of service.

[Repair processes in human cultured cells upon exposure to nickel salts and their modification].

The genetic activity of nickel sulfate was estimated from the viability, decreased DNA replication, and increased DNA repair synthesis in cultured human fibroblasts and peripheral blood lymphocytes. All but the viability tests showed the mutagenic effect of nickel sulfate. Pretreatment with ascorbic acid modified DNA repair synthesis and increased the viability of lymphocytes treated with nickel sulfate.