[Analysis of some viral infections, transmitted by parenteral and sexual routes, in the Republic of Azerbaijan]. / Analiz nekotorykh virusnykh infektsii, peredaiushchikhsia parenteral'nym i polovym putem, v Respublike Azerbaidzhan.

Representatives of various population groups in Azerbaijan were tested for infection with human T-lymphotropic (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) and hepatotropic viruses (HCV and HBV). A total of 835 sera were studied by screening and specific tests for virus-specific antibodies and/or antigens. Thirty-five DNA specimens from peripheral blood lymphocytes were analyzed in the PCR for HTLV-I-specific sequences. No HTLV-I or HIV were detected, but two cases with integration of the HTLV-I LTR gene into cellular DNA genome were detected. A high rate of infection with hepatitis B and C was revealed. The level of anti-HCV was 8.7%, HBsAg 4.1%, and antiHBs 23.4%. Six cases with double HBV-HCV infection were detected. High values of ALT among HBV/HCV-seronegative subjects prompts their testing for other types of hepatitis viruses.

[Effectiveness of plasmapheresis on the PF-0.5 blood separator in patients with paraproteinemic hemoblastoses]. / Effektivnost' plazmafereza na fraktsionatore PF-0,5 u bol'nykh paraproteinemicheskimi gemoblastozami.

Plasmapheresis on a Soviet-made PF-0.5 blood cell separator was performed in 20 PPH patients (altogether 33 sessions of plasmapheresis). 1600 to 3300 ml of plasma were removed during one session. Rheopolyglucin was mainly used as plasma-substituting liquid. The procedure was well tolerated by all the patients. After plasmapheresis biochemical indices were within normal. In multiple myeloma paraprotein was decreased by 42%. Waldenström's macroglobulinemia by 47%. Plasma viscosity was decreased 1.2- and 2-fold, respectively. The investigations showed a high efficacy and reliability of plasmapheresis with the help of the Soviet-made PF-0.5.