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Competitive runners experience various risk factors that render them more susceptible to superficial cutaneous fungal infections, including the use of occlusive footwear, shared locker rooms, submission of feet to constant maceration, trauma, sweating, and having depressed immune function. The goal of this work was to assess the prevalence of athlete's foot fungi in cross country runners at St. John Fisher College. Toe webs of 16 collegiate runners were sampled and volunteers surveyed about their shoe habits, foot hygiene, and average miles run per week. Lack of tinea pedis-causing fungi in asymptomatic cross-country runners shifted the study to investigate the identities of fungi morphologically similar to athlete's foot and look for correlations with volunteers' running habits and hygiene. Thirty-five distinct fungal cultures were isolated and compared to a known Trichophyton rubrum strain both microscopically and macroscopically. Four samples were preliminarily identified as tinea pedis-causing fungi and sequenced to confirm molecular identification. Fungal DNA was isolated, purified, and PCR amplified using primers for the internal transcribed spacer region, D1/D2 region of the 28S subunit, and ß-Tubulin gene. Three of the four isolates were identified as Fusarium equiseti, a soil-borne plant pathogen with rare human pathogenicity reported. The fourth isolate was Beauveria bassiana, a common soil-borne pathogen that can infect immunocompromised individuals. Correct dermatophytic identification and understanding of the interplay between species is important to provide correct treatment, prevent spread among athletes and within facilities, and determine how opportunistic pathogens might play a role in people with immune suppressed function, which includes runners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological hydrogen production by anaerobic fermentation of widely available renewable resources is a promising and advantageous area. Using microbiological hydrogen production from crude glycerol biodiesel-derived waste was utilized by obtaining renewable energy carrier. The purpose of this research was to study biogas and hydrogen production by Enterobacter aerogenes MSCL 758 and by natural microbial communities. Growth medium was supplemented with analytical grade, technical grade or crude glycerol. Inoculants from old municipal landfill, manure and lake sludge were also used. Biogas production was analyzed using Automatic Methane Potential Test System II. Part of the experiments were carried out in serum bottles and evolved gases were tested using mass-spectrometry. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used for bacterial population dynamic determination. Optimal concentration for crude glycerol was found to be six grams per liter. Amount of hydrogen was significantly higher and amount of nitrogen gas was lower in case of analytical grade glycerol usage in comparison to crude glycerol fermentation. E. aerogenes acted in synergy with landfill substrate and manure in biogas production from technical grade and analytical grade glycerol. It was not the case for crude glycerol usage. Addition of E. aerogenes increased overall amount of produced hydrogen. Obtained results showed potential of E. aerogenes for use in bioaugmentation purposes for fermentation of glycerol. Lake sludge inoculum contained microorganisms necessary for the production of hydrogen as well as biogas from glycerol. Clostridia and Gammaproteobacteria were predominant in the inoculum. Cultivable bacteria Bacillus licheniformis, Burkholderia cepacia, Hafnia alvei and unidentified Clostridium species were found to be predominant after six days of fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The persistence of immune dysfunction during therapy has serious consequences for the health of HIV-infected people. Therefore, an important direction is the search for drugs that can reduce the inflammatory potential of the immune system and serve as an additional component of antiviral therapy. Aim ‒ to study the effect of the immunomodulatory drug Sodium deoxyribonucleate with iron complex (DNA-Na-Fe) on the expression of activation markers in MT-4 cells infected with HIV-1., Materials and Methods: Expression levels of CD4, CD28, CD38, CD62L and HLA-DR proteins on the plasma membrane were measured in cells. To assess viral activity, the p24 protein was quantified by ELISA., Results and Discussion: The two cell variants with different replicative activity were analyzed. Control cells, cells with DNA-Na-Fe, infected cells and infected cells with DNA-Na-Fe were tested. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that antiviral activity of the drug in MT-4 cells infected with HIV-1 is associated with immunomodulatory activity that enhances the expression of membrane proteins CD4, CD28, CD38 and CD62L. Diversity in the effect of DNA-Na-Fe on the studied surface proteins expression in two cell lines indicates that they depend on the characteristics of the combined molecular biological processes occurring in cells. And the increased effects observed in a system with changes in replicative activity assumes its active participation in virus replication at the stages of virus penetration and budding., Conclusion: Studies have shown that DNA-Na-Fe has antiviral and immunomodulatory activity.

Congenital upper extremity deformities are rare, the reported incidence is from 0.15% to 0.2%. The thumb is very important for a hand's functionality, as it provides up to 50% of its total performance. Proper pinch grip formation at the age of 12 to 16 months is part of normal development; however, no functional development can affect a child's psychoemotional development. Well-described techniques such as third or fourth superficial flexor transposition can be found in the literature. There is a paucity of studies on using the extensor indicis proprius (EIP) transposition for stabilization of the ulnar collateral ligament for the first metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ). Techniques for the usage of EIP tendon for the reconstruction of absent extensor pollicis longus tendon are more commonly practiced as they create abduction and extension for the thumb hypoplasia grade II-IIIa. We performed EIP transposition with subperiosteally fixation for the ulnar collateral ligament stabilization for thumb hypoplasia patients with a mean age of 38 months (11 to 128) and grade II (n=9), grade IIIa (n=4), and grade IIIb (n=1). Long-term follow-up (2 to 10 y) for the esthetical and functional study was performed. Patients and parents are satisfied with functional and esthetic outcomes. We believe that the EIP tendon transposition can be an alternative method for thumb hypoplasia patients grade II-IIIa reconstruction., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding: The authors report no conflicts of interest and no source of funding., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The urgent problem of modern medicine is the fight against acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI). To combat ARVI, drugs of wide antiviral potency are needed, as well as immunomodulating drugs. Such antiviral and immunomodulatory effects has sodium deoxyribonucleate (DNA-Na) and its complex with iron (DNA-Na-Fe) developed on the basis of double-stranded DNA of natural origin., Aim of the Study: To assess antiviral and virucidal activity of DNA-Na and DNA-Na-Fe against viruses of different kingdoms and families., Materials and Methods: Antiviral and virucidal activity of DNA-Na and DNA-Na-Fe was assessed in cell cultures infected with viruses., Results and Discussion: DNA-Na and DNA-Na-Fe had antiviral activity against adenovirus at concentrations of 2501000 mcg/ml. Antiviral effect of both drugs was not detected in case of poliovirus. DNA-Na and DNA-Na-Fe had antiviral activity against coronavirus in all administration schemes. EC50 for DNA-Na ~ 2500 mcg/ml, for DNA-Na-Fe ~ 1000 mcg/ml. In cells treated with DNA-Na-Fe, secretion of following proinflammatory cytokines was detected: Interleukin (IL) 1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-18, interferon- (IFN-), IFN-, as well as anti-inflammatory cytokines: IL-4, IL-10, antagonist of IL-1 receptor. Evidently, DNA-Na and DNA-Na-Fe have antiviral effect, but mechanism of action does not seem to be associated with specific effect on viral replication. Presence of virucidal activity of drugs against representatives of Coronaviridae, Adenoviridae, Picornaviridae, Retroviridae, Herpesviridae in vitro test in range of 1.03.0 lg TCID50 was identified., Conclusion: Presence of simultaneous antiviral and virucidal activity of DNA-Na and DNA-Na-Fe against adeno- and coronaviruses shows their prospects for prevention and treatment of ARVI.

Radial absence or severe hypoplasia in radial longitudinal deficiency (RLD) is most commonly treated through stabilization of the carpus on the ulna (centralization or radialization) with or without preliminary distraction. Alternative methods include bone transfer to replace the absent or deficient radius using the proximal fibula, vascularized or nonvascularized, and more recently the transfer of a vascularized second metatarsophalangeal joint. There is paucity of articles suggesting vascularized fibula growth plate transfer for RLD grade III where proximal part of radius can be found and none about double fibular growth plate transplantation. We developed new technique a bilateral growth plate transplantation for the pediatric patient with unilateral RLD stage IV (Bayne and Klug). Totally 2 patients were operated using new technique. No vascular problems occurred and no peroneal nerve damage were observed at the follow-ups. Annual growth was determined on x-rays at the 1 and 2-year follow-ups measuring 0.75 to 0.9 cm with open growth plates. The x-rays also show no changes that can harm the long-term growth potential in the forearm, demonstrating this technique's capacity to achieve better results for forearm length and functionality in comparison to the Vilkki procedure or radialization operation and there is no need to sacrifice second toe. Thumb reconstruction can be done at age 3 or 4 years using pollicization or toe-to hand transplantation techniques. The patients and parents are satisfied with functional and esthetic outcomes. We believe the double fibular growth plate transplantation is a promising method to use to reconstruct unilateral RLD grade IV., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding: The authors report no conflicts of interest and no source of funding., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The important role of integrins (IG) in the initiation and development of cancer processes makes these structures convenient targets for the development of immunomodulatory therapeutic drugs that have an effect directly on these molecules. Among the latter, IG β1, α4 and cell adhesion receptor ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1) are of particular interest. Immunomodulators are capable of changing the IG activity through non-specific mechanisms, which, however, in some cases can cause a decrease in the protective functions of the immune system and health deterioration.The aim of the study was to determine the effect on the levels of cellular expression and the nature of IG metabolism of the drug sodium deoxyribonucleate with ferrum complex, DNA-Na-Fe, which is having been used in the Russian Federation as an immunomodulatory agent, but whose action has not been studied in details so far., Material and Methods: We used 2 variants of the neoplastic CD4+ T-lymphocyte cell line transformed with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) of the Retroviridae family, MT-4 (MT-4/1 and MT-4/2). The indicated variants were characterized by different levels of expression of the protein activation markers CD28 and CD38. After cell culture in the presence of 500 μg/ml DNA-Na-Fe, the expression levels of IG β1 (CD29), α4 (CD49d), and ICAM-1 (CD54) were studied by flow cytometry., Results: The cells of the both lines contained many membrane proteins CD29+ (90.4% ± 4.5) and CD54+ (97.9% ± 1.4), while small percentage of cells contained protein CD49d+ (1.9% ± 1.0). No changes in the expression of the studied proteins were observed in the presence of the drug., Discussion: The levels of IG β1, α4 and ICAM-1 expression may serve as one of the phenotypic characteristics of MT-4 cells. The obtained data are of great importance because the peculiarities of CD4+ T-lymphocytes transformation and their metabolism during HTLV-1 infection have not been sufficiently studied so far., Conclusion: The results of this work may be helpful in determining the pathogenesis of HTLV-1-induced diseases, some types of malignancies, and in searching for new specific pharmacological agents, including molecularly targeted ones. The results of the study will help to expand the existing knowledge on the markers of MT-4 cell line.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has created an urgent need for diagnostic tests to detect viral RNA. Commercial RNA extraction kits are often expensive, in limited supply, and do not always fully inactivate the virus. Together, this calls for the development of safer methods for SARS-CoV-2 extraction that utilize readily available reagents and equipment present in most standard laboratories. We optimized and simplified a RNA extraction method combining a high molar acidic guanidinium isothiocyanate (GITC) solution, phenol and chloroform. First, we determined the GITC/RNA dilution thresholds compatible with an efficient two-step RT-qPCR for B2M mRNA in nasopharyngeal (NP) or oropharyngeal (OP) swab samples. Second, we optimized a one-step RT-qPCR against SARS-CoV-2 using NP and OP samples. We furthermore tested a SARS-CoV-2 dilution series to determine the detection threshold. The method enables downstream detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR with high sensitivity (~4 viral RNA copies per RT-qPCR). The protocol is simple, safe, and expands analysis capacity as the inactivated samples can be used in RT-qPCR detection tests at laboratories not otherwise classified for viral work. The method takes about 30 min from swab to PCR-ready viral RNA and circumvents the need for commercial RNA purification kits., (© 2021 The Authors. APMIS published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Scandinavian Societies for Medical Microbiology and Pathology.)

In this study was made an attempt to reveal additional laboratory markers of white blood for preliminary estimation level of HIV-infection development. Essentially such markers these are in progress without complex equipment and expensive reagent. It was studied alterations of basic values cells of innate and acquired immunity of peripheral blood HIV-infected individuals with and without antiretroviral treatment (ART) during infection. It was estimate value leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, lymhpocytes, T-lymhpocytes, CD 4 + , CD 8 + T-cells, CD 4 /CD 8 index. It was used the first analysis in the time of registration for regular medical check-up and the intermediate derived during 2017-2018 years. Patients without ART and with ART before and after treatment had rates of leukocytes, lymhpocytes, T-lymhpocytes, monocytes and neutrophils within the normal guideline. Essential changes were observed in basic conventional laboratory parameters evaluation of HIV-infection dynamic (parameters of CD 4 + , CD 8 + T-cells, CD 4 /CD 8 index). Thereby it was impossible to reveal supplementary immunological markers of HIVinfection., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

It was studied in vitro the immunomodulatory effect of plasma HIV-infected individuals on expression of activation markers when used as a model neoplastic cell line MT-4. Carrying out researches indicated the variation in expression of the activation markers CD28+, CD38+, HLA-DR+ и CD69+. Change dynamics of these indices showed that these proteins can to consider as markers for level evaluation of patients immune system during used of plasma HIV-infected individuals with and without antiretroviral treatment (ART). Analysis revealed reduction of cells activation potential in plasma of patients with ART presence and rise without treatment. Examinations of the expression proteins CD28, CD38, HLA-DR и CD69 MT-4 cells and plasma of patients with HIV-infection application can have prognostic value for infection monitoring and efficacy of different therapeutic approaches., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The combined action of the immunostimulatory drug Stimforte and the basic etiotropic drug acyclovir commonly used to treat herpes infections was studied using the model of lethal experimental infection of mice BALB/c with herpes simplex virus type 1. It was found that the interaction of these drugs is additive. In addition, Stimforte inhibits infection caused by a strain of virus, which is highly resistant to acyclovir. When administered 24 hours prior to HIV-1 infection of human lymphoblastoid cells MT-4, Stimforte exhibited reliable antiretroviral activity best expressed during the early period of infection (the 3rd day). On the 6th day of observation the effect was almost completely lost. Combined use of Stimforte at a dose of 50-100 µg/ml with a subthreshold dose of retrovir (0.03 µg/ml) had a synergistic antiviral effect. Thus, Stimforte, which exhibits, on the one hand, antiviral activity against viruses of different families and, on the other hand, the immunomodulatory properties, could be promising as an etiopathogenic tool in helping to normalize both nonspecific and specific immunity. It may be used simultaneously with etiotropic antiviral chemotherapy in treatment of generalized herpes infection in patients with immunodeficiency. Furthermore, Stimforte can be used in the case of development of drug resistance in HSV, in particular, in HIV-infected patients.

The immune-modulating activity of "Ferrovir" medication in system in vitro was analyzed using neoplastic cellular line MT-4 as a model. Ferrovir decreased number of cells containing such markers of activation as CD28+, CD38+, CD62L+, CD69+ and HLA-DR+.Under 24 hours incubation period of cells in presence of 500 mkg per ml of medication, indices of decreasing of number of cells expressing these proteins (IRE), for proteins CD28, CD38, CD62L and HLA-DR made up to 1,9 ± 0,4, 1,3 ± 0,4, 1,2 ± 0,4, 1,1 ± 0,06 correspondingly. At prolonged incubation of cells in presence of Ferovir, the maximal effect was observed after 7 days of incubation and IRE for proteins mentioned above made up to 3,2, 3,4, 6,2, 1,4 и 3,1 correspondingly. Only for protein CD62L was marked a significant decreasing of number of cells bringing this marker and at 11th day of cells cultivation in presence of Ferrovir (IRE 3.89). It is possible that such an action of Ferrovir can decrease the process of spreading of cells containing integrated pathogenic material through organs and tissues of organism and slow down generalization of infectious process. The obtained results indicate that Ferrovir has an immune-modulating activity in vitro since it can decrease activating potential of neoplastic line of cells MT-4. These features can be useful in treatment of various type of cancer, HIV-infection and other human diseases. The decreasing of level of activation of cells of immune system also decreases risk of development of opportunistic infections., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The article considers expression of markers of activation of neoplastic CD4+ T-lymphocytic transplantable cellular line M T-4, transformed by T-lymphotropic human virus type I. It is demonstrated that in cells are detected such external proteins as CD25 + , CD28 + , CD38 + , CD62L + , CD69 + , CD95 + and HLA-DR + . The maximal number of these components was detected in three days after transplantation of cells. These indices reached average level for markers CD25 + , CD28 + , CD38 + , CD69 + , CD95 + and HLA-DR + - more than 90% and for CD62L + - 48%. The obtained results and cultivation of cells indicate that cells MT-4 can be used as a convenient model for testing of activity of immune modulation preparations., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

In this work the proinflammatory (IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-10) plasma cytokine levels were evaluated in HIV-infected patients with or without antiretroviral treatment (ART). IFN-γ was detected in 94% samples with and without ART, TNF-α in 88% and IL-2 in 38% samples without ART, as well as in 12% and 30% samples with ART, respectively. Positive correlation was detected between viral RNA and IFN-γ levels (rs = 0.13) and negative correlation (rs = -0.242) in the patients without or with ART. Cosecretion of three cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2) was detected in 31% samples and two cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α) in 35% samples of persons without ART. Cosecretion of three cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2) was detected in 20% samples with ART; cosecretion of IFN-γ and IL-2 was detected in 10% samples. The higher percentage of the proinflammatory cytokines with cosecretion was detected in plasma HIV-infected patients without ART in the course of 6 and more years, which suggests that their immune system is able to provide disease control.

The study was carried out to investigate impact of plasma of patients infected with human HIV virus receiving and not receiving highly active antiviral therapy on: expression of phenotypic markers of lymphocytes (CD3+, CD3+/CD4+, CD3+/CD8+, CD19+, CD3-/CD (16+56)+, CD3+/CD(16+56)+, CD3+/HLA-DR+, CD4+/CD62L+, CD8+/CD38+) in mononuclear cells of blood of donors and secretion of pro-inflammatory (interleukin-1β, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-4 and interleukin-10) cytokines. After 24 hours of activation of mononuclear cells with plasmas it was demonstrated that as compared with control groups, in of plasmas of patients with highly active antiviral therapy increasing of number of CD4+ T-cells and decreasing of CD8+ T-cells is observed. The plasmas of patients with highly active antiviral therapy activate in most instances CD4+ T-cells whereas plasmas of patients without treatment--CD8+ T-cells. The results of detection of cytokines in blood indicate that in patients without treatment inflammatory potential is increased as compared with group of highly active antiviral therapy. The data concerning accumulation of interleukin-1β under cultivation of mononuclear cells with plasmas indicates at its role in preservation of vitality of natural killers. The analysis of immunomodulatory activity of plasma of patients infected with human HIV virus can be recommended as an additional technique of evaluation of functioning of immune system.

Background: Pressure among young athletes to meet body composition goals may lead to poor nutrition and affect growth., Aims: To examine the proportion of body fat (%BF), measured by bioimpedance analysis, among Latvian children and adolescents participating in organized sports., Methods: Our study had a nationally representative sample of 6048 young athletes, aged 10-17 years. Their %BF was measured using a multifrequency, 8-pole, bioelectrical impedance leg-to-hand analyzer., Results: About 19.2% (CI 14.4-20.0) of boys and 15.1% (CI 14.0-16.3) of girls had a %BF value below the recommended levels. The %BF in young female athletes participating in aesthetic sports was lower than among their peers participating in other sports. Young male athletes participating in aesthetic sports had lower %BF levels at 10 and 12 years of age, compared with participants in weight-class sports; and lower levels of %BF from age 10-14 years, compared with participants in non-weight-sensitive sports., Conclusions: Almost every fifth child and adolescent participating in organized sports displayed critically low body fat levels. Body fat needs to be assessed regularly in young athletes, to prevent negative consequences on health., (© 2015 the Nordic Societies of Public Health.)

We present quantitative reconstructions of regional vegetation cover in north-western Europe, western Europe north of the Alps, and eastern Europe for five time windows in the Holocene [around 6k, 3k, 0.5k, 0.2k, and 0.05k calendar years before present (bp)] at a 1° × 1° spatial scale with the objective of producing vegetation descriptions suitable for climate modelling. The REVEALS model was applied on 636 pollen records from lakes and bogs to reconstruct the past cover of 25 plant taxa grouped into 10 plant-functional types and three land-cover types [evergreen trees, summer-green (deciduous) trees, and open land]. The model corrects for some of the biases in pollen percentages by using pollen productivity estimates and fall speeds of pollen, and by applying simple but robust models of pollen dispersal and deposition. The emerging patterns of tree migration and deforestation between 6k bp and modern time in the REVEALS estimates agree with our general understanding of the vegetation history of Europe based on pollen percentages. However, the degree of anthropogenic deforestation (i.e. cover of cultivated and grazing land) at 3k, 0.5k, and 0.2k bp is significantly higher than deduced from pollen percentages. This is also the case at 6k in some parts of Europe, in particular Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, the relationship between summer-green and evergreen trees, and between individual tree taxa, differs significantly when expressed as pollen percentages or as REVEALS estimates of tree cover. For instance, when Pinus is dominant over Picea as pollen percentages, Picea is dominant over Pinus as REVEALS estimates. These differences play a major role in the reconstruction of European landscapes and for the study of land cover-climate interactions, biodiversity and human resources., (© 2014 The Authors Global Change Biology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Fractions of aqueous and water-alcohol extracts of the birch fungus Inonotus obliquus have antiviral effect against the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Antiviral properties of low toxic extracts were manifested in the concentration of 5.0 μg/ml upon simultaneous application with the virus in the lymphoblastoid cells culture MT-4. The extract of the birch fungus can be used for development of new antiviral drugs, inhibitors of HIV-replication when used both in the form of individual drugs and as a part of complex therapy.

The expanded analysis of 57 samples of peripheral blood from conditionally healthy patients was implemented concerning phenotype of main populations of lymphocytes, activated pools of cells and level of cytokines. The samples were received in the department of storage of blood and its components of the research institute of blood transfusion of the hematology research center. It is demonstrated that number of T-lymphocytes, T-helpers and activated TY-cells with phenotype CD3+HLA-R+ and level of detected cytokines by standard indicators had no difference with publications data. In particular cases an increase of number of cytolytic T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes and natural killers and decrease or increase of CD4/CD8 index relative to standard were detected. The decrease of number of natural killers was the most frequent aberration. The study demonstrates that among conditionally healthy patients giving blood as donors persons with disorders of immune system were presented.

Background and Objective: According to the data of epidemiologic research, the prevalence of both excessive and insufficient body weight is increasing in a pediatric population leading to the growing burden of health problems due to these changes. The aim of the study was to understand the current situation of physical development of 9- and 10-year-old boys and girls in Latvia and to estimate the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity among young adolescents., Material and Methods: During 2007-2009, a random sample of healthy 9-year-old (n=184) and 10-year-old (n=320) children from all regions and different socioeconomic groups of Latvia was surveyed in a cross-sectional study. The anthropometric measurements of height, weight, (3) circumferences, and 5 skinfolds were performed. The percentage of body fat was calculated by the equation of Slaughter et al. Body mass index and fat mass index were calculated for each respondent. Children were divided into groups according to these indexes. At the age of 9 years, 69.5% of boys had a normal nutritional level either by BMI or FMI, and 54.5% and 72.2% of the girls of the same age had a normal nutritional level by BMI and by FMI, respectively. Obesity according to BMI in 9-year-old boys was found to be 4.7% and in girls 6.1%; according to FMI, 3.7% and 2.3%, respectively. A similar trend was also observed in the cohort of 10-year-old children., Conclusions: The results of the research showed that the problem of high prevalence of Latvian children with underweight is not smaller than the problem of children with obesity. Evaluation of physical development in children based only body mass index may lead to overdiagnosis of obesity.

The antiretroviral properties of Fullevir (sodium salt of fullerenepolyhydropolyaminocaproic acid) manufactured by IntelFarm Co.) were studied in the human cell culture infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The agent was ascertained to be able to protect the cell from the cytopathic action of HIV. The 90% effective concentration (EF90) was 5 microg/ml. The 50% average toxic concentration was 400 microg/ml. Testing of different (preventive and therapeutic) Fullevir dosage regimens has shown that the drug is effective when used both an hour before and an hour after infection and when administered simultaneously with cell infection. The longer contact time for the agent with the cells increased the degree of antiviral defense. Co-administration of Fullevir and the HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitor Retrovir (azidothymidine) showed a synergistic antiretroviral effect. Thus, Fullevir may be regarded as a new promising antiretroviral drug for the treatment of HIV infection.