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Objective. To assess the time-related changes in the titer of virus neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in patients with HIV infection within 6 months after experienced COVID-19, and to identify factors associated with the intensity and duration of the natural humoral immune response.Materials and Methods. А prospective study was performed in 102 HIV-infected patients who had COVID-19 without previous vaccination, the titer of virus neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 was identified by microneutralization assay using the standard method, the follow-up period was 6 months. Patients were enrolled in St. Petersburg from October 2020 to January 2022. The possible impact of clinical and laboratory characteristics of HIV infection and the severity of COVID-19 on antibody titer was assessed.Results and discussion. А high antibody titer (>1:160) was detected at 1 month in 15 patients (14.7%), at 3 months — in 5 of 44 patients; at 6 months — in 3 of 26 patients. There was a statistically significant positive correlation of the titer at 1 month with an undetectable HIV viral load and the Cd4+lymphocytes count in the blood. Cases of a late increase in antibody titer (after 3 and 6 months) were registered without COVID-19 re-infection along with improvement of the immune status on antiretroviral therapy.Conclusion. А low incidence of effective humoral immune response 1 month after COVID-19 infection was demonstrated in HIV-infected patients without vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Single cases of delay in antibody titer increase with an immune status improvement were observed.

Chronic immune activation is one of the main causes of HIV disease progression. Bacterial components passed to the bloodstream from the gut as a result of microbial translocation, are known to induce immune activation. Component of Gram-negative bacteria’s cell walls, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is considered to be the major marker of microbial translocation. Through the activation of myeloid cells (predominantly monocytes) LPS causes the secretion of soluble CD14, thus making it a marker of LPS bioactivity. Besides sCD14 was shown to correlate with immune status in HIVinfected patients and to be an independent predictor of disease progression. Hypothesis: opiates increase microbial translocation from the gut in HIV-infected patients that is manifested by a higher concentration of sCD14 in plasma. Aim: to estimate the influence of opiate use on the level of sCD14 in plasma of HIV-infected patients. Materials and methods. Longitudinal study of 351 HIV positive individuals. Concentration of sCD14, was evaluated at 3 time points: baseline, after 12 and 24 months. Following groups were studied: 1) current opiate users – opiate use within past 30 days; 2) opiate users, who denied consumption of opiates within past 30 days; 3) people claiming to never have used opiates. Results. In dynamic assessment sCD14 mean was significantly higher in current opiate users (2222,46±39,02 ng/ml) against patients who denied opiates within past 30 days (1930±597 ng/ml) and those, claiming to never have used opiates (1915±577 ng/ml) (p

Aim: to analyze leptin and adiponectin serum levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C in comparison with metabolic syndrome components, biochemical features and stage of hepatitis.Materials and methods: In 93 patients with chronic HCV in age 20-55 with a few symptomatic HCV-infection and minimal liver fibrosis stage serum leptin and adiponectin was measured. Associations between leptin, adiponectin and metabolic abnormalities, biochemical features, and hepatic fibrosis were determined.Results: Abdominal obesity was revealed at 40% patients, overweight – at 41%, insulin resistance – at 36,6% cases. The leptin and adiponectin levels were within normal limits range at most patients. Patients with minimal liver fibrosis had higher index of leptin by comparison to patients with moderate and severe fibrosis (r= – 0,402, р= 0,018). In patients with HCV genotype 3a the adiponectin level was below, than in HCV genotype 1b. Patients with abdominal obesity and overweight had higher leptin and lower adiponectin indexes by comparison to patients without these metabolic abnormalities. Direct cross-correlation between the leptin level and body mass index (r=0,358, p=0,001), waist circumference (r=0,292, p=0,01); negative cross-correlation between the adiponectin level and body mass index (r=- 0,435, р

Public-private partnership as a new form of business draws attention of the academic community and the general public. However there is no clear understanding of what PPP stands for. The article considers the problem of formal definition of PPP and its role in contemporary economy. Similarities and distinctions between PPP and other forms of collaboration between private and public companies (e.g. privatization or public procurement) are revealed as a result of comparative analyses conducted in the article. Based on this analyses key features of PPP are formulated. Then there are considered causes and stimulus from participation of state and private companies in joint projects. Additionally there are given reasons for distinction between PPP and concession due to different level of risk transfer in these forms and different main source of income for private company. Special attention is given to the question of application PPP in infrastructure and innovations. As a result of the research the author has offered clarification for PPP definition and classification of PPP tools in Russia.