The complete coding sequence of Influenza A/Unknown/Chelyabinsk/206/H7N4.

An influenza virus strain was obtained during a bird surveillance study in 2023 near Lake Chebarkul in the Chelyabinsk region, Russia. This complete coding genome sequence of the virus sampled from the Ural region significantly expands the knowledge about the spread of the H7N4 subtype of the influenza A virus.

Transferability of the PRS estimates for height and BMI obtained from the European ethnic groups to the Western Russian populations.

Genetic data plays an increasingly important role in modern medicine. Decrease in the cost of sequencing with subsequent increase in imputation accuracy, and the accumulation of large amounts of high-quality genetic data enable the creation of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) to perform genotype-phenotype associations. The accuracy of phenotype prediction primarily depends on the overall trait heritability, Genome-wide association studies cohort size, and the similarity of genetic background between the base and the target cohort. Here we utilized 8,664 high coverage genomic samples collected across Russia by "Evogen", a Russian biomedical company, to evaluate the predictive power of PRSs based on summary statistics established on cohorts of European ancestry for basic phenotypic traits, namely height and BMI. We have demonstrated that the PRSs calculated for selected traits in three distinct Russian populations, recapitulate the predictive power from the original studies. This is evidence that GWAS summary statistics calculated on cohorts of European ancestry are transferable onto at least some ethnic groups in Russia.

Risk factors for COVID-19 case fatality rate in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A nationwide retrospective cohort study of 235,248 patients in the Russian Federation.

The aim: To study the association of demographic, clinical, and laboratory factors and the use of glucose-lowering drugs and anti-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination with the COVID-19-related case fatality rate (CFR) in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Methods: This study is a nationwide observational cohort study based on the data from the National Diabetes Register (NDR) that is the database containing online clinical information about the population with DM. The outcomes (death or recovery) for COVID-19 were registered in 235,248 patients with DM [type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), n = 11,058; type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), n = 224,190] from March 20, 2020, until November 25, 2021. The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to estimate the risk factors for CFR. Then the ranging of significant factors was performed and the most vulnerable groups of factors for the lethal outcome were chosen. Results: The CFR due to COVID-19 was 8.1% in T1DM and 15.3% in T2DM. Increased CFR was associated with the male population [OR = 1.25 (95% CI: 1.09-1.44) in T1DM and 1.18 (95% CI: 1.15-1.21) in T2DM], age ≥65 years [OR = 4.44 (95% CI: 3.75-5.24) in T1DM and 3.18 (95% CI: 3.09-3.26) in T2DM], DM duration ≥10 years [OR = 2.46 (95% CI: 2.06-2.95) in T1DM and 2.11 (95% CI: 2.06-2.16) in T2DM], body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 [OR = 1.95 (95% CI: 1.52-2.50)] in T1DM, HbA1c ≥7% [OR = 1.35 (95% CI: 1.29-1.43)] in T2DM. The atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) were associated with higher CFR in T1DM but not in T2DM. The pre-COVID-19 glucose-lowering therapy in T2DM was differently associated with CFR (OR): 0.61 (95% CI: 0.59-0.62) for metformin, 0.59 (95% CI: 0.57-0.61) for dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitors), 0.46 (95% CI: 0.44-0.49) for sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, 0.38 (95% CI: 0.29-0.51) for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (arGLP-1), 1.34 (95% CI: 1.31-1.37) for sulfonylurea (SU), and 1.47 (95% CI: 1.43-1.51) for insulin. Anti-COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a lower fatality risk in both DM types: OR = 0.07 (95% CI: 0.03-0.20) in T1DM and OR = 0.19 (95% CI: 0.17-0.22) in T2DM. Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that increased COVID-19-related fatality risk in both T1DM and T2DM patients associated with the male population, older age, longer DM duration, and absence of anti-COVID-19 vaccination. In T2DM, pre-COVID-19 glucose-lowering therapy with metformin, DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT2 inhibitors, and arGLP-1 had a positive effect on the risk of death. The most vulnerable combination of risk factors for lethal outcome in both DM types was vaccine absence + age ≥65 years + DM duration ≥10 years.

[Real-time PCR assay development for the control of vaccine against hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome].

INTRODUCTION: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) holds a leading place among natural focal human diseases in Russian Federation. There is no etiotropic therapy for the disease now. The vaccine prophylaxis is the most effective method to control this infection. The main criteria for inactivated vaccines evaluation are its immunogenicity and specific activity.The study purposes were to develop a sensitive and specific real-time PCR method for viral RNA quantification in the inactivated vaccine and to study the correlation between the viral RNA amount and vaccine immunogenicity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: L-segment fragments of the Puumala, Hantaan, and Sochi vaccine strains were selected as diagnostic targets for oligonucleotides and fluorescent probes. The immunogenicity of experimental vaccines was determined by the induction of neutralizing antibodies in BALB/c mice. RESULTS: A highly specific, sensitive and reproducible real-time PCR method has been developed. The analytical sensitivity was 1.24 ± 1.5 x 102 copies/ml for Puumala virus; 1.16 ± 1.4 * 102 copies/ml for Hantaan; 1.32 ± 1.8 * 102 copies/ ml for Sochi, with a virus content of 1.5 ± 0.5 lg FFU/ml; 1.8 ± 0.5 lg FFU/ml and 2.2 ± 0.5 lg FFU/ml, respectively. The viral RNA amount in experimental vaccine preparations inactivated with ß-propiolactone was proportional to the neutralizing antibodies titer observed in mice following the immunization. DISCUSSION: It was found that different virus inactivators differently affects the detected viral RNA amount, but not the vaccine immunogenicity, which indicates the same degree of the immunogenic proteins damage. The direct relationship between the viral RNA copy number and vaccine immunogenicity makes it possible to use this criterion for vaccine dosage preparation. CONCLUSION: The developed method for viral RNA quantification is a promising tool for the specific activity control of the HFRS vaccine.

Phylodynamics of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in South Russia.

Phylodynamics of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) genotype V in South Russia was analyzed using 244 partial (452-571 nt) sequences in all three genomic segments and 38 complete genomic sequences. Despite increased number of sequences, the Russian lineage of the European genotype V (commonly termed GtVa) was distinct from GtV isolates from Turkey and the Balkan countries. No geographic pattern was observed in phylogenetic subgrouping of CCHFV within South Russia. Identical isolates could be found at distant locations spaced by hundreds of kilometers, while relatively divergent viruses circulated in the same region. Full genome analysis indicated that reassortment events within GtVa occurred every few decades (median half-life of a non-reassortant node 30-40 years) and involved M and S segments. Therefore, in South Russia CCHFV represents a highly dynamic population of frequently reassorting viruses.

Development and evaluation of a RT-qPCR assay for fast and sensitive rabies diagnosis.

Rabies virus is endemic to Russia, among other countries. It is therefore critical to develop a high-quality and high-precision diagnostic procedure for the control and prevention of infection. The main objective of the research presented here was to develop a reliable RT-qPCR assay for rabies diagnostics. For this purpose, a RABV strains from various biological and geographical origins were used. In addition, rabies-positive and rabies-negative samples, as well as nucleic acids from other viruses and DNA extracted from the brain tissues of mice, dogs, cats, bats and humans, were studied using the developed assay. The analytical sensitivity of the assay, as assessed using armored recombinant positive control dilutions, was 103 copies/ml, and the sensitivity measured using characterized strains was between 0.1 LD50/ml and 1.0 LD50/ml. A broad range of RNA from RABV strains circulating in different regions of Russia, as well as RNA from RABV-positive primary brain samples from 81 animals and two humans, was detected using the developed assay. No false-positive or false-negative results were obtained. Given that high analytical and diagnostic sensitivities and a high specificity were verified for this assay, it has high potential as a screening test that may be suitable for the epizootiological monitoring of animals and for the fast postmortem diagnosis of rabies.

Retrospective diagnosis of two rabies cases in humans by high throughput sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Rabies is prevalent in 150 countries and is definitely found in Russian Federation. The average registered incidence of rabies infection among animals in Russia is 3000 cases per year. At least 500,000 cases of animal bites and scratches are registered in the Russia every year, but only 2-4 cases of rabies infection in humans are reported per year. This relatively low incidence of rabies infection among humans is the result of a well-organized program of rabies surveillance and control as well as the readily available vaccination and immunoglobulin therapies. However, physician awareness of rabies infection in patients with acute encephalopathy is low, and some cases of rabies remain undiagnosed. OBJECTIVES: A retrospective study of autopsy materials from patients who died of encephalitis of unknown etiology in the Astrakhan region of Russia in 2003. STUDY DESIGN: A broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis followed by high throughput sequencing were used for the diagnosis. RESULTS: Two cases of rabies were detected and subsequently confirmed using a fluorescent antibody test, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a mouse inoculation test. Two strains of rabies virus were isolated and characterized using virological methods. The entire genome of each strain was sequenced.

Development and evaluation of a real-time RT-PCR assay for the detection of Ebola virus (Zaire) during an Ebola outbreak in Guinea in 2014-2015.

In early February 2014, an outbreak of the Ebola virus disease caused by Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) occurred in Guinea; cases were also recorded in other West African countries with a combined population of approximately 25 million. A rapid, sensitive and inexpensive method for detecting EBOV is needed to effectively control such outbreak. Here, we report a real-time reverse-transcription PCR assay for Z. ebolavirus detection used by the Specialized Anti-epidemic Team of the Russian Federation during the Ebola virus disease prevention mission in the Republic of Guinea. The analytical sensitivity of the assay is 5 × 10(2) viral particles per ml, and high specificity is demonstrated using representative sampling of viral, bacterial and human nucleic acids. This assay can be applied successfully for detecting the West African strains of Z. ebolavirus as well as on strains isolated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2014.

Development and evaluation of the RT-PCR kit for the rabies virus diagnosis.

To improve the diagnosis, surveillance, and control for the rabies virus, a kit for hybridization-triggered fluorescence detection of rabies virus DNA by the RT-PCR technique was developed and evaluated. The analytical sensitivity of the kit was 4*10 GE per ml. High specificity of the kit was shown using representative sampling of viral, bacterial, and human nucleic acids.

Virological, epidemiological, clinic, and molecular genetic features of the influenza epidemic in 2015-2016: prevailing of the influenza A(H1N1)09 pdm virus in Russia and countries of the Northern hemisphere.

This work describes the specific features of the influenza virus circulating in the period from October 2015 to March 2016 in 10 cities of Russia, the basic laboratories of CEEI at the D.I. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology "Federal Research Centre of Epidemilogy and Microbiology named after the honorary academician N.F. Gamaleya" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. The increase in the morbidity caused by influenza viruses was detected in January-February 2016. The duration of the morbidity peak was 4-5 weeks. The most vulnerable group included children at the age from 3 to 6; a high rate of hospitalization was also detected among people at the age of 15-64 (65%). In clinic symptoms there were middle and severe forms with high frequency of hospitalization as compared with the season of 2009-2010, but much higher in comparison with the season of 2014-2015. Some of the hospitalized patients had virus pneumonias, half of which were bilateral. Among these patients, 10% were children; 30%, adults. The mortality in the intensive care unit of the hospital was 46%. Almost all lethal cases were among unvaccinated patients in the case of late hospitalization and without early antiviral therapy. The predominance of the influenza A(H1N1)09pdm virus both in the Russian Federation and the major part of the countries in the Northern hemisphere was noted. The results of the study of the antigenic properties of influenza strains of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus did not reveal any differences with respect to the vaccine virus. The sequencing data showed the amino acid substitutions in hemagglutinin (receptor binding and Sa sites) and in genes encoding internal proteins (PA, NP, M1, NS1). Strains were sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir and maintained resistance to rimantadine. The participation of non-influenza ARI viruses was comparable to that in preliminary epidemic seasons.

Isolation and complete genome sequencing of rabies virus strain isolated from a brown bear (Ursus arctos) that attacked a human in Primorsky krai (November, 2014).

An attack of a brown bear (Ursus arctos) on human was detected in November, 2014 in the Barabash village (Khasan region of the Primorski krai) located in close proximity to the national park Land of the Leopard. The bear was shot. The deviant behavior of the bear indicated the possibility of rabies. The diagnosis was confirmed by means of laboratory methods. The strain RABV/Ursus arctos/Russia/Primorye/PO 01/2014 (further PO 01) was isolated from the brain of the bear. PO 01 is the first completely sequenced Far Eastern strain of RABV. It can be considered as topotypic. PO 01 considerably differs from the vaccine strain RV 97 (GenBank EF542830) that is the basis of attenuated vaccine applied in the Land of the Leopard. At the same time, the immunodominant sites in PO 01 and RV 97 proteins differ slightly. It can be recommended to continue application of the vaccine. The analysis of the PO 01 genome (GenBank KP997032) revealed its belonging to the Eurasian genetic subgroup of the genotype 1 (street rage). Thus, this genetic subgroup stretches to the East. Expansion of the cross-border protected territories of Russia and China in the Far East demands the correct statistics of circulation of the lyssaviruses to be kept.

Complete genome sequences of four virulent rabies virus strains isolated from rabid animals in Russia.

Rabies virus (RABV) strains Rus(Lipetsk)-8052f, Rus(Lipetsk)-8053c, Rus(Lipetsk)-8054f, and Rus(Lipetsk)-8057f were isolated from foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and a cat (Felis catus) in the Lipetsk region of Russia in 2011. Close relationships between these strains and the members of the "Cosmopolitan" group from Russia (98% homology) and from Europe (95% homology) were estimated.

[Anaerobic gas-producing clostridial endogenic infection in patient with salmonellosis].

Anaerobic gas-producing clostridial infection is one of most severe complications of mainly gunshot wound of war period, in peace time occurs very seldom. The rare clinical case of anaerobic gas-producing clostridial endogenic infection with fulminant course in patient with salmonellosis produced by group B salmonella typhimurium. The disease was finished with fatal outcome in 8.5 hours after appearance of pain syndrome in right thigh with consequent fulminant development of gas gangrene with arterial hypotension on 4th day after onset of gastroenteric form of medium severity salmonellosis. Clinical, microbiological and postmortem data are represented.

[Acute myocarditis caused by ECHO virus].

Enteroviral infection is characterized by clinical polymorphism. One of its clinical manifestation is myocarditis, which is usually caused by Coxsackie virus. ECHO viruses cause the disease mostly in childhood. The article presents a case of enteroviral (ECHO) infection complicated by pneumonia and focal myocarditis in a 41-year-old patient, hospitalized during a season of influenza and acute respiratory infections. Acute myocarditis was moderate and the patient recovered by day 23.

[Morphometric analysis of the structure of tear and aqueous humor in senile cataract].

The parameters of the wedge dehydrated samples of aqueous humor and tear taken from patients with senile cataract were compared by a morphometric assay. Computer-aided processing of the images of the test biological fluids was made on a Morphotest-1 hardware-software complex. The study has provided evidence for the uniformity of distribution of major structural components in the dehydrated samples of tear and aqueous humor in each specific examinee. This fact opens up possibilities for studying the signs of different intraocular pathological conditions from the morphological pattern of tear.

[A morphological pattern of the aqueous humor in the evaluation of pathophysiological mechanisms of involutional cataract genesis]. / Morfologicheskaia kartina vodianistoi vlagi v otsenke patofiziologicheskikh mekhanizmov involiutivnogo kataraktogeneza.

The method of wedge-type dehydration was made use of to study the specificity of the systemic structure of 496 samples of aqueous humor obtained in the course of surgical interventions in 62 patients for senile cataract. The results were analyzed with respect to a cataract stage and it was established that the systemic structure of aqueous humor reflects different-phase impairments in the system of the intermolecular interaction of aqueous-humor components, which is mainly related with activated processes of organic products' mineralization as observed in senile cataract progression.

[Experience of organization of the skilled and emergency specialized surgical care rendered during the armed conflicts in the North Caucasus]. / Opyt organizatsii kvalifitsirovannoi i neotlozhnoi spetsializirovannoi khirurgicheskoi pomoshchi v vooruzhennykh konfliktakh na Severnom Kavkaze.

At present the hepatosurgery in the Vishnevsky Central Military Clinical Hospital has become one of the most perspective and rapidly developing directions of the surgery. The authors present the review of hepatosurgery development in the hospital with the detailed analysis of treatment results at each stage of development, the description of technical support of the new methods for conducting the complex operations on liver. For the short time (since 1991) we have passed the way from atypical hepatic resections up to the liver autotransplantation. The importance of additional surgical manipulations and procedures facilitating the surgery, the postoperative period and improving the operation results are underlined.

[Clinical implications of impaired microcirculation and hemodynamics in acute respiratory viral infections and their pharmacological correction]. / Klinicheskoe znachenie narushenii mikrotsirkuliatsii i gemoreologii pri ostrykh respiratornykh virusnykh infektsiiakh i ikh medikamentoznaia korrektsiia.

Microcirculation, hemocoagulation and blood viscosity were studied in 377 of 1033 inpatients with influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections. The new data show that it is feasible to improve the course, outcomes and results of the treatment. Microcirculation disorders persist throughout the disease, but in convalescence, intravascular alterations are leading. The microcirculatory changes manifest themselves with advanced erythrocyte aggregation, activation of vascular-platelet and plasmic links of hemostasis, and high blood viscosity at low shift velocities. In the presence of concomitant pathology (ischemic heart disease, hypertensive disease, diabetes mellitus) and development of complications, especially acute pneumonia, these disturbances are still greater and tend to increase to the period of decline of clinical and toxic manifestations. These patients should take acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) as an antiaggregant and other medicines improving blood rheology.

[Microcirculation and hemostasis in influenza and acute viral respiratory infections complicated with pneumonia]. / Sostoianie mikrotsirkuliatsii i gemostaza pri grippe i ostrykh respiratornykh virusnykh infektsiiakh, oslozhnennykh pnevmoniei.

AIM: To study microcirculation (MC), hemostasis and blood viscosity (BV) in influenza and acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) complicated by pneumonia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Conjunctival biomicroscopy, hemostasis and BV were studied in 232 patients with influenza and ARVI. In 91 of them the disease complicated with acute pneumonia (AP), in 87--with obstructive bronchitis. RESULTS: Irrespectively of the disease course, patients with influenza and ARVI showed intravascular changes in MC system, hypercoagulation, deterioration of fibrinolysis. In convalescence platelet aggregation increased, fibrinolytic blood activity enhanced. In influenza and ARVI complicated with AP intravascular changes and hypercoagulation were most pronounced. In uncomplicated influenza and ARVI accompanied by bronchitis such changes are less severe. BV was the highest in development of AP. CONCLUSION: MC and hemostatic disorders arising in influenza and ARVI seem to be essential pathogenetic links provoking development of AP. In intravascular aggregation of platelets and red cells, activation of plasmic hemostasis differentiated treatment with desaggregants and anticoagulants are indicated.