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Ninety children, aged from 7 days to 12 months, with perinatal damage of the central nervous system (CNS) were virologically tested. The persistence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA in the blood, urine and oropharyngeal swabs was identified in 18.9% of children. In 14.4% of children, CMV DNA was found only in oropharyngeal swabs and urine samples. In some cases, the severity of neurologic symptoms and absence of positive changes in the restoration treatment could be caused by the activity of CMV infection, blood CMV DNA and the increase in blood-brain barrier permeability. The authors recommend performance of a comprehensive immunological and molecular-biological survey in patients with suspected CMV infection. In case of positive reactions, a specific antiviral treatment should be started. Tree clinical cases are reported.

The state-of-the-art of malaria elimination programs worldwide and the advances made in the past decade were analyzed and assessed. The factors contributing to or reducing the achievement of the final objective of malaria elimination--to interrupt the local transmission of the infection and to steadily maintain the achieved successes are given. Technical problems are defined at the final stages of a malaria elimination program. The problems include difficulties in identifying patients and asymptomatic parasite carriers due to the low level of malaria transmission and the absence of highly effective methods for detecting malaria parasites with low parasitemia, as well as mixed malaria infections requiring the use of different treatment regimens and antimalarial drugs. Large-scale uncontrolled population migration is noted to be of importance in spreading the infection in a malaria-free area. The solution of urgent tasks is to improve the existing methods and develop new ones for the detection and treatment of the infection and a package of antimalarial measures.

The sensitivity of a rapid test versus microscopy of blood samples was studied while examining 7983 dwellers from the republic's endemic areas. The results of blood testing in the Pyanj and Shurobod districts showed agreement with those of blood microscopy. However, its sensitivity in two other districts was as high as 1.9%. Only one of 53 positive tests was verified by microscopy examination. The findings suggest that it is impossible to use the examined tests (Access Bio Inc. Care Start Malaria pLDH 2 line test) under the conditions of Tajikistan; all the more they identify malaria without differentiation in its pathogen types.

Sjogren's syndrome is a rare chronic recurrent disease which etiopathogenesis is still unknown. Salivary glands involvement in Sjogren's syndrome is often associated with viral infection. In order to prove this hypothesis we have conducted virological studies in four patients with Sjogren's syndrome. The studies showed no correlation of Epstein-Barr virus or CMV and Sjogren's syndrome development. Patients with Sjogren's syndrome may be Epstein-Barr virus carriers.

Antigens of enteroviruses were detected quantitatively in the modified complement-binding reaction in blood samples from 102 of the 208 (49%) patients with ACS, in coronary artery tissues from 23 of 24 and heart from 51 of 94 (54.3%) patients with MI who died from cardiogenic shock and/or cardiac rupture. The relative level of enterovirus antigen (RLEVA) in the blood of patients with MI complicated and uncomplicated by cardiogenic shock and/or cardiac rupture was 0.42 +/- 0.04 and 0.29 +/- 0.02 arbitrary units respectively (p = 0.032) compared with 0.21 +/- 0.07 in patients with unstable angina (UA) (p = 0.0001). RLEVA in patients with UA was significantly lower than in those with uncomplicated MI (p < 0.011). RLEVA in necrotized myocardial areas after death from cardiogenic shock (0.54 +/- 0.18) and/or cardiac rupture (0.46 +/- 0.15) was higher than outside MI zones (0.30 +/- 0.14 and 0.26 +/- 0.10 respectively) (p < 0.01). RLEVA in coronary vessels feeding the necrotic zones of patients with MI complicated by cardiogenic shock (0.44 +/- 0.18) was higher (p = 0.03) than in the vessel feeding tissues outside the MI zone (0.29 +/- 0.19). It is concluded that enterovirus infection is a factor of ACS; it is directly involved in its pathogenesis and promotes the development of cardiogenic shock and/or cardiac rupture.

Examination of 281 healthy vaccinees from 6 children's homes could isolate 37 vaccine polioviruses. The detection rate for polioviruses in the children's homes, in which there were children born to HIV-positive mothers, was significantly higher than that in other children's homes. These children's homes showed the longest poliovirus excretion after vaccination. The RFLP analysis showed that 40% of the strains being examined were intertypic recombinant strains. The sequence analysis demonstrated that about 30% of the strains under study had a small number of nucleotide substitutions in the VP3-VP1 genomic region. The study revealed a correlation between the dynamics of poliovirus excretion after oral vaccination and the kinetics of formation of recombinant poliovirus strains.

Two hundred and thirty-six echinococcosis patients aged 17 to 70 years were examined for paecilomycosis. Seventy-five subjects of different ages who were considered to be clinically healthy were prepared as a control. Of them who had physiological parameters of blood fungi, 24 subjects, including 9 subjects aged 17 to 23 years and 15 subjects aged 15 to 30 years, were eligible. The other examinees were patients with paecilomycosis of varying stages. Nizoral, fluconazole, diflucan, orungal, mycosyst, and teknazol, which have been tested by the authors, are proposed for use in paecilomycosis-complicated echinococcosis prior to and after surgery. It is advisable to use one fungicide. In this respect, the authors have conducted clinical trials that have yielded positive results.

Aim: To reveal features of rubella epidemic process during start of mass immunization and to determine rubella virus genotypes circulating in Saint-Petersburg., Materials and Methods: Official data on rubella morbidity during 1995-2007 and number of vaccinated against rubella children and adults were used in this study. During 2006-2008 males aged 17-20 years with rubella diagnosis were eligible for laboratory test on rubella. Nasopharyngeal swabs and blood specimenswere tested by PCR and virus isolation on cell culture (PK13). Genotyping of isolates was performed on the basis of 600 nucleotide sequence of E1 gene from 8731 to 9653 n.p., Results: It was shown that mass vaccination of children and young women against rubella during 4 years resulted in 3-fold drop of rubella incidence inwhole population, which diminishes the probability of infection in pregnant women and born of children with congenital rubella syndrome. In age structure of rubella morbidity the proportion of children aged 3-6 and 7-14 years decreased by 1.5-fold. Epidemic process loss the features of autoregulating system (periodicity and seasonal incidence peaks). Results of genotyping showed that isolates belonged to genotype 1E. High degree of homology (97.7-99.6%) to isolates from Barnaul and Belorussia was demonstrated., Conclusion: Issues on isolates' origin and success of measures on elimination of endemic rubella could be resolved by further studies on isolation and genotyping of rubella virus strains in Saint-Petersburg and North-East region of Russian Federation in the whole.

The investigation has revealed that mixed hepatitis A + B is a genetically determined disease. HLA-A10, B21, Cw2, Cw5, A10-A19, B8-B13, B21-B35, A3-B21, and A9-B21 are immunogenetic markers of this disease. The carriers of HLA-B21, Cw5, A3-B21, and A9-B21 and those of HLA-A10, A10-A19, and A10-B14 are at high risk for this infection among men and women, respectively. The findings of the distribution of HLA antigens and their combinations in mixed infection with hepatitis A and B viruses allow prediction of its occurrence (including the consideration of examinees' gender) which will assist in solving the matter of timely prophylaxis of this pathology.

A total of 14,366 one-time blood donors were examined; 984 (6.8%) donors of them were found to have anti-HBc. All anti-HBc-positive samples were tested for HBsAg, IgM anti-HBc, HBeAg, anti-HBe, and specific DNA-HBV by polymerase chain reaction (sensitivity 400 coplml or higher). Anti-HBc in combinations with HBsAg, anti-HBe, IgM anti-HBc was detected in 29 (2.9%), 3 (0.3%), 5 (0.5%) donors, respectively. Specific HBV DNA was identified in 29 donors with HBs-antigenemia and in 9 anti-HBc positive donors in the absence of serum HBsAg. The activity of AIAt was correlated with neither HBsAg nor HBV DNA. Thus, latent HBV infection is 0.9% of anti-HBc-positive one-time blood donors and tests for anti-HBc may be useful in identifying persons who need a more meticulous study for HBV DNA.

The aim of the study was to develop a sensitive and specific method for revealing the direct marker of hepatitis C virus (HCV)--core protein in the serum and to test it in the laboratory setting. Experiments were made on plasma and serum samples from asymptomatic HCV-seropositive blood donors (n=65), patients with acute (AHC) and chronic (CHC) hepatitis C (n=295), and HCV-seronegative blood donors (n=20). The processing protocol for serum included their concentration by means of polyethylene glycol and subsequent treatments of pellets to detect core protein in free virions, nonenveloped nucleocapsids, and immune complexes. This allowed an assay to be developed for the detection of core protein, by using a sandwich ELISA. Inclusion of a combination of three original monoclonal antibodies into the sandwich could reveal in the samples core proteins of at least 3 genotypes of HCV (1, 2, and 3) with a sensitivity of 20 pg/ml in the majority of HCV-infected subjects. The results of determination of core protein and HCV RNA correlated with a high degree of sensitivity. To detect HCV in the blood of patients with AHC, it was shown to be sufficient to find freely circulating virions whereas an analysis of immune complexes should be included in cases of CHC to achieve more sensitivity. The findings are a basis for developing a test system for the diagnosis of hepatitis C, including its early stages before seroconversion and for determining a viral load during interferon therapy. Introduction of the method into practice increases the reliability of the diagnosis of hepatitis C and virus-free safety of blood transfusions.

It is showed that HAV+HBV mixed infection is a genetically determined pathology. Following HLA-antigens were immunogenetic markers of the disease: HLA-A10, B21, Cw2, Cw5, A10-A19, 88-813, B21-B35, A3-821, A9-B21. Lower risk of disease development was associated with HLA-B5, A2-Cw3, A3-Cw4, B35-Cw4, A3-B35-Cw4. Atypical forms of the hepatitis A were often met in carriers of HLA-Cw5, 827-835, A3-814, A3-B21, A9-B21, whereas typical forms - in carriers of HLA-A10, Cw2, A10-A19, B8-813, 821-835. Mild forms of hepatitis A were associated with the presence of HLA-A10,B22, A10-A19, B8-B13, A3-B21, A9-B8, A10-814, A10-822, A10-Cw3 in the patients' phenotype, whereas intermediate and severe forms - with the presence of HLA-B17, 817-818, 821 - 835, A28-B21, B18-Cw2. The findings about distribution of HLA-antigens and their combinations in mixed hepatitis A+B can be used in attempt of their prediction and prevention.

Evaluations of immune system of 155 patients with rubella and 90 contacts with patients were examined. Detection of viral genetic material in blood, urine, and nasopharyngeal swabs has been performed using RT-PCR method. Clinical diagnosis has been confirmed by RT-PCR in 114 (73.5%) patients. Changes of laboratory tests for rubella without clinical signs of the infection were observed in 20% of contacts. Complex ELISA- and PCR-assisted examination of patients can help to determine the stage of disease and characteristics of immune response. For differential diagnostic of rubella and other infectious diseases with exanthema it is rational to perform complex examination of patients using immunologic and molecular biologic methods.

Structure of bacterial microflora of periodontal pocket using classical cultural and molecular genetic methods (PCR and RT-PCR assays) was studied in patients with chronic generalized severe or intermediate periodontitis in acute phase and in healthy subjects. Structure of viral and fungal microflora using PCR or ELISA assays was studied also. Markers of Gram-negative bacteria (B. forsithus, T. denticola, A. actinomicetemcommitans, P. intermedia and P. gingivalis) were detected with different rates. Rate of detection of pigment-forming P. intermedia and P. gingivalis was significantly higher when PCR assay was used compared with traditional bacteriologic method. Detection rate of Candida albicans DNA in tooth-gingival fluid was virtually not different from one when cultural method was used. PCR assay is recommended as laboratory method for detection of DNA of microorganisms associated with inflammatory diseases of oral mucosa and periodontium.

Of total of 181 patients with Salmonella infection were examined by clinical and laboratory methods. As many as 124 indices characterizing biological properties of Salmonellae, a large intestine microbiocenosis status, systemic and local immunity, were investigated as well. Among these indices, the most revealing signs were defined to prognosticate the reconvalescent carrier state. Conclusion was made on the prevalence of immune mechanisms in the development of reconvalescent salmonella carriage and on the important role of the ability of a causative agent to inactivate the factors of host innate immunity in this process. Diagnostic prognosis algorithm for Salmonella bacterial carriage was worked out. Clinical testing confirmed its effectiveness.

A total of 132 patients were examined for chronical endocervicitis by clinical, immunological and morphological methods. According to the results obtained the patients were subdivided into several groups. The first group covered 77 females with an active clinical somatic form of the disease. The second group included 55 patients with chronical inactive endocervicitis. Controls included 25 practically healthy females. No differences were found between immunological indices of peripheral blood in groups of patients with active and inactive forms of chronic endocervicitis. Immunological tests on cervical mucus in patients with chronic endocervicitis revealed differences in the total number of leukocytes, content of living cells, functional activity of neutrophils, concentration of immunoglobulins and proinflammatory cytokines. This study may contribute to the development of immunological criteria for diagnosis of inflammatory process activity as well as a diagnostic model.

The immunoenzyme analysis and the method for the determination of IgG-containing immune complexes, carrying C1q component of the complement, were developed. In human blood sera the functional activity of components C3, complex C1r2s2, the content of C1 inhibitor and complement-activating immune complexes were determined. The comparative analysis of the activity of components C3 and C1r2s2, as well as between the content of C1 inhibitor and the activity of complex C1r2s2 for seropositive and seronegative sera, was made. Pronounced correlation for seropositive sera was observed. In addition, for seropositive sera correlation between an increase in IgG immune complexes and a drop in the functional activity of complex C1r2s2, as well as a drop in the functional activity of complex C1r2s2 and a growth in the titers of IgG antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis, were established. The decreased functional activity of key complement components, simultaneously with the presence of complement-activating immune complexes and high titers of specific antibodies could be the diagnostic criteria of carrier state.

In 1993 to 1999, a total of 1020 Russians temporarily living in the Republic of Guinea were examined; of them 26 (2.5%) persons were found to be asymptomatic carriers of P. falciparum. Single studies of cellular and humoral immunity were first conducted in 15 asymptomatic parasitic carriers of P. falciparum. Asymptomatic parasitic carriage of P. falciparum was established in nonimmune persons who developed immunopathological reactions. The nature of immune disorders gives grounds to regard parasitic carriage as a subclinical form of tropical malaria for the first time. By taking into account asymptomatic carriage of P. falciparum, a parasitological blood study should be made in all non-immune persons when they are leaving an endemic focus for Russia.

Recombinant proteins 3A, 3B and 3AB were obtained by expression in Escherichia coli and purified by metal-chelate chromatography. The proteins were used as antigens in indirect ELISA to differentiate vaccinated and infected cattle. While testing 200 sera from cattle 3A-ELISA was more sensitive and specific than 3B- and 3AB-ELISA. Compared with "Chekit FMD-3ABC", 3A-ELISA showed the same level of specificity and higher level of sensitivity.

The monitoring for the presence of H. pylori carrier state in a group of patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer was carried out with subsequent determination of the relationship between the intensity of the urease activity of the bioptic specimen of the mucous membrane and the severity of the course of the disease. For this purpose we developed the scheme for the evaluation of the severity of the disease with quantitative criteria. The data obtained in this work showed no correlation between the severity of this disease and usease activity. Still the method of the quantitative determination of the urease activity of the bioptic specimen made it possible to evaluate the rate of the production of hydroxyl anions by a given H. pylori strain and thus quickly establish the presence of carrier state.

To determine the causative agent of hepatitis A in the blood of patients, we developed the method of the nest polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with reverse transcription. For the comparative evaluation of the diagnostic efficacy of the nest PCR and the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) serum samples and mononuclear blood cells obtained from 15 patients with diagnosed hepatitis A and from 33 patients having signs and carrying markers of other form of hepatitis were analyzed. On the whole, the method of PCR confirmed the results of EIA and in some cases exceeded it in sensitivity. In addition, hepatitis A virus RNA was detected in the blood of a clinically healthy person having had a contact with a hepatitis A patient. The PCR data were shown to correlate with the activity of liver amino transferases. The results obtained in this study indicate that the field of the use of PCR in the analysis of hepatitis A virus may include cases of mixed infection and virus carriership.

Micro test systems for the biochemical identification of comma bacilli (MTS-V) and for a rapid determination of their groups according Heiberg (MTS-H) were designed and commissioned into medical practice. The micro test systems showed their advantages before the control media of Hiss and Bacterium Incubation Media at studying the museum-kept and freely-obtained vibrio strains as well as at studying the concomitant microflora and clinical materials taken from ill people and vibrio-carriers during the 1994 outbreak of cholera in Daghestan.

Solid-phase synthesis of three linear peptides overlapping the major immunodominant epitope of HDAg, which located within amino acid (aa) segment 53-108, and peptide aa 167-179 was carried out. The structure of the peptides corresponded to the sequences of isolates HDV type I. Their antigen reactivity was studied by indirect enzyme immunoassay with sera from patients with hepatitis D and from asymptomatic carriers of anti-delta antibodies. Two B-epitopes located within aa 53-80 and 71-93 appeared to be the most immnunoreactive. The use of these peptides in ELISA allowed anti-delta IGg antibodies to be detected with 95% confidence in serum of patients with hepatitis D and with 87% confidence in serum of asymptomatic carriers of anti-delta antibodies. Analysis of obtained data showed that these peptides can be used in new diagnostic anti-HDV tests.

The problem of diagnosis of diphtherial infection has come to acquire especially significance at the present stage because here in Ukraine we have no legitimate standard procedure for identification of a case of diphtheria and because interpretation of results of bacteriological and serological studies in patients who might have diphtheria is often faulty. The diagnosis of atypical cases of mild localized diphtheria in the vaccinated subjects relies on the presence of chronic ENT-affections and a history of predisposition to sore throat. It is necessary that parallel culturing be done of smears obtained from the nasopharynx for diphtheria and pathogen microflora in order that no possibility of angina of other microbe etiology might be entertained. Isolation of nontoxicogenic strains C diphtheria in the absence of clinical signs of diphtheria should not prompt us to diagnose a patients as having this problem. Serologic investigation of the patients serum in the passive hemagglutination test for the presence of antitoxic antibodies can be recommended for use to verify the vaccination history in those having been taken ill rather than to aid in the differential diagnosis of diphtheria and bacteria-carrier states. Results of bacteriological and serological investigations do not give much ground for rejection or confirmation of the diagnosis made.

The frequency of the residual staphylococcal carriage among the children who live in rural area having different levels and patterns of environmental pollution is estimated. A relationship is found between the frequency of the residual staphylococcal carriage and the rate of technogenic pollution of the ambient air. The findings suggest that the staphylococcal carriage among children may be used as an index of the unfavorable environment.

The results of microbiological spatial monitoring in Orenburg were evaluated. A biological variety of Staphylococcus on the nasal mucosa of schoolchildren were detected. The highest proportion of carriage of the pathogen Staphylococcus was found in different districts of Orenburg, which had the highest air pollution.

Microbiological analysis of discharge from the genitals in passenger car conductors (5787 women and 1496 men aged 20 to 40) showed Gardnerella vaginalis to be the most frequent agent of urogenital infection. It was isolated in 26% cases, whereas Trichomonas were isolated in 2.5%, fungi in 1.5%, and gonococci in 0.27% cases. The diagnosis of gardnerellosis is reliable if the key cells are found. Monoinfection with G. vaginalis was diagnosed in 80% patients, the overwhelming majority (74%) of carriers of this bacterium had no inflammatory symptoms, and in only 26% the carrier state was associated with the presence of leukocytes and histiocytes, more often in the cervix. In men the carrier state was detected in 0.4% cases. The clinical picture of Gardnerella infection is similar to that of infection with Mobiluncus, which is little known. This infection occurred 10 times less frequently (2.5%) than gardnerellosis, but in 92% cases it was a component of mixed infection, most frequently in association with G. vaginalis. A little known fungus Leptothrix was found in the genital discharge of 4% examinees, mostly women, but sometimes in men as well; it is represented by 3 types of ramifying threads. The practitioners are to know these infections causing specific diseases, such as bacterial vaginosis, which are often responsible for serious complications in gynecology and obstetrics.

The comparative analysis of 16 biological characteristics of staphylococci isolated from specially selected groups of persons with different types of carrier state has been made. Five signs (antilysozyme, anti-interferon and anticomplementary activities, sensitivity to fusidin, microbial contamination) forming the main informative combination have been determined. The diagnostic model of the differentiation of resident and transitory staphylococcal microflora in carrier state has been developed.

In Tula Province [correction of Region], the affliction of its population with cryptosporidiosis has been first estimated at 0.2%. Cryptosporidium infection has been recorded in 0.5% of cases among patients with acute gastrointestinal diseases, in 0.6% among cattle-breeders, and in 7.2% among agricultural animal (pigs). Low-immunity children under 4 years mainly suffer. Cryptosporidiosis ran as a moderate monoinfection and in one case it was severe. Two cases of cryptosporidiosis were simultaneously detected in the familial focus. The source of infection could not be established.

Vacuoles, aqueous fissures, crumb-like opacities, color iridescence, and thickening under the posterior capsule in the lens were found in 86% of 45 patients with chronic active hepatitis B, mean age 33 +/- 2.5 years. Seven percent of patients developed posterior capsule cataracts. examinations of 42 patients with cirrhosis of the liver caused by hepatitis B virus (mean age 39 +/- 2 years) revealed changes in the lens in 100% and mature cataracts in 36% of the eyes. In 2 of the 4 healthy HBsAg carriers aged 31 to 35 initial changes in the lens and accumulation of antilenticular antibodies in the lacrimal fluid and serum. A reliable difference by all the tested parameters between the examinees and controls (HBsAg-negative age-matched blood donors, n = 20) confirms a relationship between hepatitis B infection and lenticular abnormalities in subjects of a productive age. Markers of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBe, anti-HBc) were found in the lenticular mass and blood sera of 11 out of 14 children aged 1.5 to 4 operated on for congenital nonhereditary cataracts; in 4 of them viral replication still continued. HBV markers of chronic viral carriership or markers of potential contagiousness were found in the sera of their mothers (in 6 and 5 sera, respectively), this indicating a possible intrauterine infection of children. The findings evidence a possible etiological role of hepatitis B virus infection in the formation of congenital and early acquired cataracts.

To find out the spread of urogenital Mycoplasma carriership urogenital mycoplasmosis (UGM) among women living and working under similar conditions and making up risk groups with respect to these infections, pregnant women, gynecological patients and clinically healthy women were specially surveyed. As revealed in this survey, UGM and Mycoplasma carriership were found in clinically healthy female workers significantly more often than in other similar groups of the same region. In the group of pregnant women the occurrence of Mycoplasma carriership and UGM reached 90%. In cases of sterility the facts of asymptomatic Mycoplasma carriership and UGM were registered.

HIV-carriage is characterized by hematological signs such as normocytosis of the general leucocyte count and deviations within normal range of values for myeloid series cells (neutrophiles, eosinophiles, basophiles). A peculiar hematological sign seen in HIV-infection is a finding of a raised content of cellular elements of mononuclear type on a hemogramme of peripheral blood and consistent decrease in the level of small T-lymphocytes against the background of substantial growth of suppressor-killer populations (large lymphocytes and lymphocyte-like mononuclears) as evidenced by a mononucleorogramme of peripheral blood, which fact provide a mechanism of antiviral protection at early stages of HIV-infection. Such changes in hemogrammes of peripheral blood, consistently found in all virus carriers, may be used in clinical settings as an early diagnostic sign of HIV-infection.

Erythrocytic activity of H-6-PDG and alpha-HPDG was studied in 32 chronic carriers of HBsAg free of any clinical or biochemical signs of viral hepatitis B. Puncture biopsy of the liver discovered chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) in 25 patients. 7 cases had no changes of hepatic tissue. In these patients alpha-HPDG activity remained normal while in all the HBsAg carriers with latent CPH it was very high. For H-6-PDG, the activity was enhanced in 28 and 72% of HBsAg carriers, respectively. The above biochemical tests may serve markers of latent liver involvement in subclinical HBsAg carriers.

Examination of 2005 patients with acute viral hepatitis provided grounds for calculation of hepatitis A, B, D, mixed hepatitis A+B and B+D ratios as well as for estimation of hepatitis A morbidity in carriers of HBsAg both in seasonal epidemic and interepidemic periods. Changes of directive documents need to be made in the part stipulating blood serum examination in patients and other contingents solely for HBsAg, for this principle does not correspond to modern scientific level and practical demands.

The immunity parameters were studied in 42 pregnant women, HBsAg carriers, both clinically healthy and suffering from chronic liver diseases. Sixty pregnant women without liver diseases or HBs-antigenemia made up the reference group. A marked T-cellular immunodeficiency was revealed in pregnant women with persistent HBs-antigenemia and chronic persistent hepatitis, in contrast to the clinically healthy women whose cellular immunity parameters were the same as in healthy pregnant women. Besides cellular immunodeficiency, the pregnant women with HBs-positive chronic persistent hepatitis presented with a marked imbalance of the humoral immunity parameters and hypersensitization to liver lipoprotein, this indicating manifest shifts in the immunity system. Spontaneous abortions occurred much more often in women with chronic persistent or active hepatitides than in the controls. The authors claim that screening of pregnant women for HBsAg is advisable for deciding on the policy of pregnancy management.

The authors studied changes in the levels of hepatic and myocardial enzymes in 89 patients with oropharyngeal diphtheria. The forms of the disease were different: carriage of the bacteria, local oropharyngeal diphtheria, toxic and subtoxic disease. Biochemical tests were also performed in 21 patients with lacunar angina. A correlation has been revealed between the intensity of fermentemia, its standing and the severity of the local lesions. Possible usage of biochemical markers is discussed for characterizing toxic diphtheria severity and prognosis of the disease.

Data on the frequency of detection of serological markers of hepatitis C and B viruses using enzyme immunoassay for examinations of blood donors in different regions of the country, of patients with hepatitis of obscure etiology and patients with hemophilia regularly receiving hemostatic therapy are presented. The rate of detection of antibody to hepatitis C (anti-HCV) in reserve donors varied from 2% (Baltic states) to 9.2% (Moldavia), that of the carrier state of HBsAg from 0.3% to 10.3%, respectively. Among patients with hepatitis of obscure etiology, anti-HCV was found in 9-18%. A higher rate of anti-HCV was found in donors with high levels of aminotransferases (18.75%) and in patients with hemophilia (77.6%). Epidemiological serological surveys of group incidence of hepatitis revealed a high portion of incidence of virus hepatitis C (from 50 to 90%).

The diagnostic value of original immunoblot system depends on the availability of enveloped protein GP120 because it is the antibodies to this polypeptide that frequently indicate the running virus infection. This polypeptide is lost during purification of viral material but remains free in culture medium. The extraction of GP120 from culture fluid with immunosorbent based on sepharose 4B with ligated immunoglobulins from HIV-1-infected persons enriched the preparation for immunoblot with proteins increasing its diagnostic value.