Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection among female sex workers in Bulgaria.

The present study estimates the prevalence and risk factors of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among female sex workers (FSWs) in Bulgaria. HPV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 43.4% of FSWs.

A novel secretory poly-cysteine and histidine-tailed metalloprotein (Ts-PCHTP) from Trichinella spiralis (Nematoda).

Background: Trichinella spiralis is an unusual parasitic intracellular nematode causing dedifferentiation of the host myofiber. Trichinella proteomic analyses have identified proteins that act at the interface between the parasite and the host and are probably important for the infection and pathogenesis. Many parasitic proteins, including a number of metalloproteins are unique for the nematodes and trichinellids and therefore present good targets for future therapeutic developments.

Human papillomavirus prevalence in invasive cervical carcinomas in Bulgaria.

Background: Although Bulgaria has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality in the EU, data on HPV type distribution are limited.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of HPV types 16 and 18 in archival specimens from cervical cancer cases from Bulgaria.

Methods: A total of 145 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples from women with histologically proven invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were available for this study.

Genetic diversity of liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica) from Eastern Europe.

The genetic diversity of liver fluke populations in three different countries from Eastern Europe (Greece, Bulgaria, and Poland) was determined and compared with available data from other countries. Specifically, SNPs from regions of two nuclear genes, 28S rDNA, β-tubulin 3 and an informative region of the mitochondrial genome were examined. Two major lineages for the 28S rDNA gene based on the highly polymorphic 105th nucleotide position were found.

Antitumor activity of quaternized chitosan-based electrospun implants against Graffi myeloid tumor.

Nanofibrous implants containing quaternized chitosan (QCh), poly(L-lactide-co-D,L-lactide) (coPLA), and the antitumor drug doxorubicin (DOX) were fabricated by electrospinning. The surface chemical composition and the morphology of the implants were characterized by XPS and SEM. In vitro cell viability studies demonstrated that QCh- and DOX-based implants exhibited high cytotoxicity against Graffi tumor cells.

Isolation and characterization of galactose-specific carbohydrate-binding protein from Guerin tumor cells.

Carbohydrate-binding protein with specificity towards galactose was isolated from Guerin tumor cells. This protein had molecular weight of 51 kDa in dissociating and reducing conditions. It was phosphorylated, but not glycosylated, having two isoforms with pIs corresponding to 7.

Some pathological features of lungs from domestic and wild ruminants with single and mixed protostrongylid infections.

Lungs of 40 ruminants from Bulgaria with natural small lungworm (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae) infections were investigated, including 16 goats, 15 sheep, 7 mouflons, and 2 chamois. Muellerius capillaris, M. tenuispiculatus, Cystocaulus ocreatus, Neostrongylus linearis, and Protostrongylus brevispiculum infections were predominantly associated with nodular lesions, and Protostrongylus rufescens, Protostrongylus hobmaieri and Protostrongylus rupicaprae were associated with extensive lesions located mainly along the length of the large bronchi.

Ultrastructure of spermiogenesis and mature spermatozoon of Triaenorhina rectangula (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea: Paruterinidae).

Ultrastructural characters of spermiogenesis and mature spermatozoon of Triaenorhina rectangula (Fuhrmann, 1908) are examined by transmission electron microscopy. Spermiogenesis follows the Bâ and Marchand's Type III spermiogenesis of cestodes. The process begins with the formation of a differentiation zone containing two centrioles and a cytoplasmic protrusion.

Experimental strategies in gene therapy of cancer.

Gene therapy is a new and innovative approach to the treatment of malignant neoplasms, although it is still not capable of eradicating cancer in humans. Selection of the appropriate vector with maximal efficiency and minimal toxicity is crucial for gene therapy and numerous viral and non-viral (synthetic) methods for gene transfer have been developed. There are different gene therapy approaches for cancer treatment such as: 1) gene correction; 2) molecular chemotherapy; 3) proapoptotic gene therapy; 4) antiangiogenic gene therapy; 5) immune gene therapy; and 6) modulation of drug resistance/sensitivity.

Selenium supplementation at low doses contributes to the antioxidant status in Trichinella spiralis-infected rats.

Selenium (Se) supplementation may prevent the formation of free radicals and lipid peroxidation processes in trichinellosis. The oxidative-antioxidant status of male Wistar rats infected or uninfected with Trichinella spiralis (Nematoda) and supplemented or unsupplemented with Sel-plex (Alltech) was tested through blood biomarkers. Sel-plex was applied to restore antioxidant defense system.

Cytotoxicity and effects of 1,10-phenanthroline and 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline derivatives on some immunocompetent cells.

The biological activity of previously synthesized compounds [(phen)(3)(H(+))(2)(NO(3)(-))(2) (1), Pd(5-NH(2)-phen)(2)(NO(3))(2) (2) and Pd(phen)(2)(NO(3))(2)(H(2)O) (3)] was investigated in vivo. The three compounds did not show any histological alterations in the observed lung, liver, spleen and lymph nodes of White Wistar rats. The propidium iodine staining did not discover any cytotoxic effect of the tested derivatives.

Antitumour activity of novel 1,10-phenanthroline and 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline derivatives.

Synthesis and impact on the tumour growth of palladium(II) complex of 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline Pd(5-NH(2)-phen)(2)(NO(3))(2) and the protonated dimer (phen)(2)(H(+))(BF(4)(-)) have been described. In the reported experiments a cancerous (100% lethality) myeloid subcutaneous tumour (with Graffi-tumour origin) in hamsters was used. The animals were injected i.

Oxidative-antioxidant status of Fasciola hepatica-infected rats supplemented with zinc. A mathematical model for zinc bioaccumulation and host growth.

The oxidative-antioxidant status of male Wistar rats infected or uninfected with Fasciola hepatica (Trematoda) and supplemented or unsupplemented with 2Gly.ZnCl(2).2H(2)O was tested through liver biomarkers.

Spermiogenesis and sperm ultrastructure of Valipora mutabilis Linton, 1927 (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea, Gryporhynchidae).

This is the first ultrastructural study of the spermiogenesis and the mature spermatozoon of a cyclophyllidean cestode of the family Gryporhynchidae. The spermiogenesis of Valipora mutabilis begins with the formation of a differentiation zone delimited by arching membranes and containing two centrioles. One of the centrioles develops an axoneme that grows directly into the cytoplasmic protrusion.

Immunorestoration and augmentation of mitogen lymphocyte response in Graffi tumor bearing hamsters by purified saponin mixture from Astragalus corniculatus.

Investigations on the effect of purified saponin mixture (PSM) obtained from the aerial parts of Astragalus corniculatus Bieb. (Fabaceae) on mitogen response of the spleen cells in Graffi tumor bearing (GTBH) and healthy hamsters were reported. The saponin mixture in a doses of 50mg/kg b.

Influence of purified saponin mixture from Astragalus corniculatus Bieb. on phagocytic cells in Graffi-tumor bearing hamsters.

A purified saponin mixture (PSM) from Astragalus corniculatus Bieb. protected significantly hamsters against the experimental Graffi myeloid tumor. The application of PSM increased the survival rates, prolonged mean survival time and the tumor growth was markedly reduced.

The highly abundant protein Ag-lbp55 from Ascaridia galli represents a novel type of lipid-binding proteins.

Lipid-binding proteins exhibit important functions in lipid transport, cellular signaling, gene transcription, and cytoprotection. Their functional analogues in nematodes are nematode polyprotein allergens/antigens and fatty acid and retinoid-binding proteins. This work describes a novel 55-kDa protein, Ag-lbp55, purified from the parasitic nematode Ascaridia galli.

Ultrastructure of the contact surfaces of Passalurus ambiguus (Rudolphi, 1819) (Nematoda).

The ultrastructure of the contact surfaces (integument and intestinal wall) of the nematode Passalurus ambiguus has been studied. The integument is composed according to the scheme common for all nematodes and includes a cuticle, hypodermis and a muscular layer. The specificity is with regard to the epicuticle, the different number of the cuticular sublayers in the anterior, central and the posterior parts of the worm body and the absence of a basal cuticular membrane.

An experimental model for study of sialoglycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus 1 epitope structures.

Sialic acid (SA) molecules located terminally on retrovirus glycoproteins (gps) play a key role in virus-cell interactions. The specificity of sialylation of Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) gps has not yet been studied. Looking for a convenient and reproducible experimental virus-cell model for studying the problem mentioned above we compared viral sialoglycoprotein (Sgp) patterns in H9/HTLV III B cells chronically infected with laboratory-adapted HIV-1LAI and MT-2 cells acutely infected with the same virus.

Conformational and functional analysis of the lipid binding protein Ag-NPA-1 from the parasitic nematode Ascaridia galli.

Ag-NPA-1 (AgFABP), a 15 kDa lipid binding protein (LBP) from Ascaridia galli, is a member of the nematode polyprotein allergen/antigen (NPA) family. Spectroscopic analysis shows that Ag-NPA-1 is a highly ordered, alpha-helical protein and that ligand binding slightly increases the ordered secondary structure content. The conserved, single Trp residue (Trp17) and three Tyr residues determine the fluorescence properties of Ag-NPA-1.

A native 13-kDa fatty acid binding protein from the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica.

A 13-kDa fatty acid binding protein (FABP) (Fh13) has been isolated from the cytosol of adult Fasciola hepatica and its physicochemical and binding characteristics determined. Fh13 appears to exist as a dimer in native solution. Binding of the fluorescent fatty acid analogue 11-((5-dimethyl aminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl) amino) undecanoic acid (DAUDA) to Fh13 results in changes in the emission spectrum, which are reversed by oleic acid.

In vitro investigation on the effect of a plant preparation with antiviral activity on the functions of mice phagocyte cells.

A polyphenol extract from the aerial roots of the medicinal plant Geranium sanguineum L. (PC) inhibited the reproduction of influenza viruses type A and B in vitro and in ovo and protected mice from mortality in the experimental influenza infection. The in vivo protective effect was connected with multiple biological activities of the preparation.

Effects of dietary fat on virus-induced pancreatic carcinogenesis in guinea fowl.

The present study was performed to assess the effects of diets supplemented with low (5%) and high (20%) corn oil on a Pts 56 retrovirus-induced model of pancreatic carcinogenesis in guinea fowl. The early microscopic lesions appear after 3 mo after virus treatment and progress over time. Eight to 10 mo after initiation, up to 100% of virus-inoculated birds develop multiple hyperplastic and neoplastic pancreatic lesions of duct/ductular phenotype.

Trace element levels in the liver of rats with acute and chronic fascioliasis and after treatment with zinc-copper hydroxochloride mixed crystals.

Quantities of trace elements including copper, zinc, cobalt, manganese and iron were investigated in the liver tissue of rats at the acute or chronic stages of fascioliasis following treatment with zinc-copper hydroxochloride mixed crystals. Oral dosing (with food) of zinc-copper mixed crystals to healthy rats increased zinc and copper levels in the liver and decreased the iron content compared with controls. Manganese and cobalt levels did not change significantly.

A novel glycosylated Cu/Zn-containing superoxide dismutase: production and potential therapeutic effect.

The fungal strain Humicola lutea 103 produces a naturally glycosylated Cu/Zn SOD. To improve its yield, the effect of an increased concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) on growth and enzyme biosynthesis by the producer, cultivated in a 3 l bioreactor, was examined. Exposure to a 20% DO level caused a 1.