Anti-arbovirus antibodies positive serum screening in population of Saratov

Seroepidemiological studies revealed the existence of a population stratum immune to West Nile and Sindbis viruses in the Saratov region. Screening of 218 sera showed that the stratum immune to arboviruses increased from 1998 to 2000. The incidence of antibodies to Batai and Sindbis viruses was the highest. Activation of natural foci of these arboviruses can lead to exacerbation of the epidemic situation in the region.     

Viral hepatitis A and B in anthropoid apes of the Moscow Zoo

The rate of occurrence of hepatitis A and B virus specific markers in anthropoid apes of the Moscow Zoo (3 chimpanzees, 3 gorillas, 8 orang-outangs) was studied. Long-term persistence of HBs-antigen in orang-outang accompanied by the presence of HBe-antigen and anti-HBs was demonstrated. The presence of anti-HBs in gorillas and orang-outangs was recorded. Antibodies to hepatitis A virus were found in all the animal species examined. Cases of acute virus hepatitis A in orang-outangs are described contracted from the personnel handling the animals and suffering from this type of hepatitis. Morphological features of the course of hepatitis A in the presence of HBs-antigen carrier state are described. The possibility of active immunization of susceptible animals and the personnel of the zoo against viral hepatitides is discussed.     

Optimized polymerase chain reaction-based single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of p53 gene applied to Bulgarian patients with invasive breast cancer

During the last few decades a substantial amount of evidence has accumulated proving that the abrogation of the normal p53 pathway is a critical step in the initiation and progression of tumors. Decoding the genetic mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis requires screening for consistent genetic tumor alterations, including those concerning the p53 gene. Thus, practical, efficient, and inexpensive techniques for accurate determination of p53 mutational status are needed. Polymerase chain reaction/single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis is considered to be a useful tool to investigate the role of the p53 gene in the development and progression of human cancers. The sensitivity of the method can be increased considerably by varying the experimental conditions. Here we demonstrate a scheme of PCR-SSCP optimization for detection of p53 gene mutations of patients with various cancers. Optimal conditions for PCRSSCP of p53 exons 4-9 are reported. Such PCR-SSCP optimization could allow an increase in the sensitivity and reproducibility of the technique and facilitates screening of large series of patients to assess the clinical significance of p53 mutations in human cancers. Using the optimized PCR-SSCP analysis we screened Bulgarian patients with invasive breast cancer for p53 gene mutations and registered a 33.33% frequency of mutations. To date, there are no data concerning the p53 status of Bulgarian breast cancer patients. Screening for p53 gene mutations enables an accurate and routine determination of the p53 status of patients with cancer and may be applied in clinical oncology to cancer diagnosis, prediction of prognosis and response to treatment.     

Some non-vagal cardiac depressor mechanisms

Summary The characteristic features of the cardiac sympathetic effect were studied in guinea pigs and dogs during experimentally induced typhoid fever intoxication and infection. It was established that depression of the cardiac activity in these conditions may take place by means of sympathetic innervation. The change of the functional condition of the sympathetic centers, as well as the change in the reactivity of the neuromuscular apparatus of the heart to typhoid fever antigens, plays a definite role in development of the phenomenon referred to above.Presented by Prof. V. V. Parin, Active Member AMN SSSR