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The article analyzed the prognostic significance of IL28b gene polymorphism with regard to the success of antiviral therapy in 152 patients with chronic hepatitis C (63.8 % men and 36.2 % women). Molecular and genetic analysis of IL28V (rs12979860) gene polymorphism, located at a distance of 3 thousand nucleotide pairs from IL28V gene, using the polymerase chain reaction allows to predict the success of combination antiviral therapy, and the presence of C/C genotype can be a predictor of sustained virological response in patients chronic hepatitis C.

Natural solid oil bitumens (asphaltites, kerites, anthraxolites) appear to be useful spectral analogs for cometary and asteroid refractory organics. They show color similarities to the surfaces of dark asteroids and cometary nuclei, as well as compositional and structural resemblances to organic components of carbonaceous chondrites. These dark solids are composed of a variety of organic compounds, most of which are aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Spectral reflectance measurements in the range 0.5-16 [[micro]meter] have been performed on a suite of solid bitumen powders. The samples were also characterized by chemical analyses, solid state 13C-NMR, and X-ray diffractometry. The observed spectral variations between bitumen samples correlate with their chemical composition and structure. In the near-infrared region spectral parameters have been found, which make it possible to derive carbon aromaticities ([f.sub.a]) and the most important elemental ratios (C/(C + H + N + S + O) or H/C). Moreover, these parameters can be used to estimate some structural characteristics of the aromatic component (an average interlayer spacing [d.sub.002] and vertical crystallite size [L.sub.c]). The use of the same spectral parameters may help to reveal the presence of mineral admixtures when their content in an organic-rich assemblage is too low to show any distinct absorption bands of the minerals. Key Words: spectroscopy; organics; composition; comets; asteroids.

Laboratory results from a simulation of possible optical effects of impact melting and repeated crystallization on asteroidal surfaces are presented. Quick melting and crystallization of surface materials were simulated by impulse laser treatment of powdered materials in vacuum. The mafic materials used in this study were: ordinary chondrite (OC) Elenovka L5, carbonaceous chondrite Allende CV3, terrestrial olivine, clinopyroxene, and olivine-clinopyroxene mixture 1:1. The reflectance spectra of powdered samples before and after laser treatment were recorded in the range 0.3-25 [[micro]meter]. The laboratory laser alteration produced a reduction in overall reflectance and spectral contrast, a noticeable increase in spectral slope, the shifts in the wavelength positions of absorption band centers, and a decrease in band area ratio. The continuum slope of the ordinary chondrite Elenovka after laser treatment is comparable to that of S-type asteroids. Laser impulse alteration raises the spectrally derived olivine/orthopyroxene ratio of Elenovka from 2.8 to 5.4. This value is far outside the OC range, but falls within the olivine/orthopyroxene range for S-asteroids. The results suggest that quick melting and subsequent crystallization can enhance the spectral similarity between S-asteroids and ordinary chondrites.