Hierarchical Black Hole Mergers in Active Galactic Nuclei.

The origins of the stellar-mass black hole mergers discovered by LIGO/Virgo are still unknown. Here we show that if migration traps develop in the accretion disks of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and promote the mergers of their captive black holes, the majority of black holes within disks will undergo hierarchical mergers-with one of the black holes being the remnant of a previous merger. 40% of AGN-assisted mergers detected by LIGO/Virgo will include a black hole with mass ≳50M_{⊙}, the mass limit from stellar core collapse. Hierarchical mergers at traps in AGNs will exhibit black hole spins (anti)aligned with the binary's orbital axis, a distinct property from other hierarchical channels. Our results suggest, although not definitively (with odds ratio of ∼1), that LIGO's heaviest merger so far, GW170729, could have originated from this channel.

[Isolation of the Chikungunya virus in Moscow from the Indonesian visitor (September, 2013)].

The results of the virological identification of the Chikungunya fever case in Moscow (September, 2013) in an Indonesian visitor are presented. The clinic, electron microscopy, and molecular genetic data are discussed. The Ghikungunya virus (CHIKV) strain CHIKVILEIV-Moscow/1/2013 belonging to the Asian genotype (ID GenBank KF872195) was deposited into the Russian State Collection of viruses (GKV 1239; 18.11.2013).

[Methods for diagnosis of prion diseases].

The epidemic of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United Kingdom, its related occurrence of a new type of Creutzfeld-Jacob disease and proven cases of this type of the disease transmitted by blood transfusion initiated intensive studies to develop a inexpensive, prompt, and sensitive method for the early lifetime diagnosis of prion diseases. This would permit initiation of the timely treatment of the patients and prevention of contamination of foodstuffs. However, despite significant progress made in this direction, this objective has not yet been achieved. The present review highlights the currently available methods for the diagnosis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, as well as the latest developments in the ultrasensitive detection of these diseases, which is based on the misfolded prion protein complex.

[Multidrug resistance determinants in acute myeloid leukemia developed in persons exposed to ionizing radiation due to the Chernobyl accident].

The results of multidrug resistance determinants expression analysis on leukemic cells of 56 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients by immunophenotyping are presented. Of these, there were 21 persons exposed to ionizing radiation due to the Chemobyl accident with radiation-associated AML and 35 patients with spontaneous leukemia. The aim of this study was to determine if transport proteins (P-glycoprotein, LRP, and MDR1), apoptosis-related proteins (Fas, Bcl-2, Bax, p53, and Bcl-X(L)), and topoisomerase IIalpha expression in AML patients with the history of radiation exposure differed from those in spontaneous AML cases. Leukemic cells in patients with radiation-associated diseases compared to spontaneous AML more often overexpressed antiapoptotic oncoprotein Bcl-2 (12/21 vs. 6/35, p < 0.005) and less often demonstrated expression of Fas receptor (12/21 vs. 30/35, p < 0.05). Moreover, leukemic cells were simultaneously Fas negative and Bcl-2 positive in 4 out of 21 patients exposed to ionizing radiation but none of spontaneous cases had similar phenotype (p < 0.05). Leukemic cells in patients with radiation-associated AML compared to spontaneous cases more often were P-glycoprotein positive (12/20 vs 9/31, p < 0.05). P-glycoprotein overexpression significantly correlated with resistant disease in patients with radiation-associated AML (r = 0.47, p < 0.05), but was not a prognostic variable for the treatment outcome in terms of overall survival. Defects in pathways of drug-induced apoptosis and function of pump, that actively effluxes drugs could contribute significantly to developing drug resistance in radiation-associated AML.

[Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in the liver biopsy specimens from patients with chronic hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma by means of in situ RT-PCR].

The in situ RT-CPR technique has been first adapted in Russia to detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in the samples from patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HC). A total of 18 patients with CHC and HC were examined. Fourteen (78%) samples were ascertained to be positive. A positive reaction was found in 2 of 3 patients with HC. A label was revealed in individual hepatocytes without any regularity in the distribution along the tissue section. A reaction was negative in all samples from control groups. The label was observed in both the cytoplasm and the hepatocytic nuclei. There was no correlation between the degree of hepatic lesion, estimated after Knodelle, the results of the classical RT-CPR and the in situ RT-CPR techniques.

[Multi-media computer-based chart: modern tool of clinical record keeping]. / Komp'iuternaia multimediinaia istoriia bolezni--sovremennyi instrument vedeniia klinicheskikh protokolov.

AIM: To design the program of computer multimedia case history (MCH) for collection, storage and analysis of information about the patient including diagnostic images; to test MCH for application in telemedical consulting and control over valid conduction of the treatment protocol. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Brief representation of information is reached by integrated multilevel placement of the data on common time axis. Dynamics of the selected parameters is represented as normalized diagrams in the same system axes. Electron tables are filled either by hand or import of the data from individual electron file of all the information about the patient. Diagnostic images and conclusions are obtained from local computer bases of the diagnostic units. Inexpensive commonly used computers allows one to input digital micro- and macrophotos, x-ray images, etc. Monitor information is available from the universal computer net directly from the monitors Geolink-M. RESULTS: MCH was tested in the Hematological Research Center of RAMS. In cooperation with Bryansk diagnostic center N 1 telemedical consulting and some data bases were perfected. The MCH system joints routine activity of the clinic without any problems raising quality of the patients management, facilitating the access to therapeutic and diagnostic information and its analysis. On-line breaking the limits of the controlled parameters and protocols is detected automatically. These events are emphasized by "blocking questions" which must be worked out by the user. The information on the patient can be fully stored on CD-ROM in line with the MCH program providing organization of the data. CONCLUSION: The system is introduced which collects medical information from various sourses and builds up comprehensive representation of the data on the same time axis. The system provides control over implimintation of the protocols of the patients' management, gives a convenient access to medical information, ensures its reliable storage and availability in case of the patients transfer to other medical institutions, facilitates analysis of clinical cases, conduction of medical consulting.

Experimental investigation of high-energy photon splitting in atomic fields.

Data analysis of an experiment in which photon splitting in atomic fields was observed is presented. The experiment was performed at the tagged photon beam of the ROKK-1M facility at the VEPP-4M collider. In the energy region of 120-450 MeV, statistics of 1.6x10(9) photons incident on the BGO target was collected. About 400 candidate photon-splitting events were reconstructed. Within the attained experimental accuracy, the experimental results are consistent with the calculated exact atomic-field cross section. The predictions obtained in the Born approximation differ significantly from the experimental results.

Electron microscopic study of DNA packing in phi(kz) bacteriophage (Pseudomonas Aeruginosa) irradiated with laser in the presence of a dye.

DNA packing of bacteriophage phikz (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) was studied by electron microscopy after gentle destruction of the capsid with powerful laser impulse in aqueous virus suspension in the presence organic dye. Suspension of destroyed phage heads contained complexes of genomic DNA with endogenous capsid proteins characterized by pronounced regular structure. The type of these structures corresponds to one the main model of phage DNA packing, the so-called coil packing.

Atomic force microscopy analysis of bacteriophages phiKZ and T4.

Bacteriophage phiKZ was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The well-known phage T4 was used as a reference sample. Reproducible contact mode AFM images of native and partially disintegrated particles of bacteriophage phiKZ in air were obtained. It was demonstrated that the heads of phiKZ and T4 phages were compressed differently and depended on adsorption onto highly ordered pyrolytic graphite and mica. We have established a procedure to partially disintegrate the viral particles after which the internal protein body, which is a helical structure with a cylinder-like form, was easily observable inside the bacteriophage phiKZ head.

[The vaccinal prophylaxis of hepatitis B in Russia--the achievements, problems and outlook]. / Vaktsinoprofilaktika gepatita B v Rossii--dostizheniia, problemy, perspektivy.

Certain specific features of the present epidemic situation with hepatitis B (HB) in Russia were established: significant growth of HB morbidity, starting from 1995; the prevalence of persons aged 15-29 years among HB patients, which was linked with the sharp activation of the sexual route of the transmission of HB virus in recent years; an essential increase in the number of patients having contacted this virus in the process of the intravenous use of drugs. The results of the use of vaccine "Engerix B" among persons belonging to different risk groups were considered (a decrease in HB morbidity among them by 8-19 times was noted), the study demonstrated high immunogenicity anti-HBs antibodies on protective titers were determined in 92.3-95.7% of the vaccinees) and low reactogenicity of the vaccine, as well as stable postvaccinal immunity (5 years after the course of vaccination was completed anti-HBs antibodies were retained in 70.6-74% of the vaccinees). The study showed that only the vaccination of adolescents in combination, in the presence of opportunity, with the immunization of newborn infants and young children in the first year of their life made it possible to produce an essential effect on the activity of the epidemic process. Already in 2 years such organization of work on the prophylaxis of HB in one of the cities of the Sverdlovsk region led to a decrease in HB morbidity by 2.9 times, and among adolescents 9 times.

[Bone marrow hematopoiesis in those who worked in the cleanup of the aftermath of the accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station with a history of acute radiation sickness (based on myelogram data)]. / Kostnomozgovoe krovetvorenie u likvidatorov posledstvii avarii na ChAES, perenesshikh ostruiu luchevuiu bolezn' (po dannym mielogramm).

On the basis of myelograms an evaluation was done of medullary hemopoiesis in 15 subjects who had been taken ill with acute radiation sickness (ARS) as a result of Chernobyl accident in 1986. 6-12 years following the exposure to ionizing radiation the bone marrow of ARS convalescents still shows a tendency toward hypocellularity (the number of myelokaryocytes in the examinus ranged from 40 to 80 x 10(9)/l), high index of neutrophil maturation (0.99) was recordable, which fact was related to depletion of granulocyte reserve and increase among the elements of granulopoiesis of share of proliferating cells, together with a rise in the number of lymphoid elements (19%).

[The vaccinal prophylaxis of hepatitis B among children born to mothers with persistent HBs-antigenemia]. / Vaktsinoprofilaktika gepatita B sredi detei, rodivshikhsia ot materei s persistiruiushchei HBs-antigenemiei.

In Uzbekistan and Moldova 542 children born of HBsAg carriers were immunized against hepatitis B (with vaccine Engerix B according to the immunization schedule of 4 injections). Anti-HBs antibodies in protective titers were detected by EIA and RIA techniques in 76.7% of children aged 4-5 months after the 3rd injection, in 95.7% of children aged 15-16 months and in 90.0% of children aged 2-2.5 years after the 4th (booster) injection. In the control group (117 nonimmunized children born of HBs carriers) observed during the same period anti-HBs antibodies were detected significantly less frequently (in 7.3%, 11.6% and 12.9% of these children respectively). 1-2 months after the course of immunization was completed 74.1% of the immunized children had high anti-HBs antibody titers (exceeding 1000 IU/ml) with their subsequent decrease by 2-2.5 years of age. In the control group these figures were 27.1% and 29.0% respectively. The index of immunization effectiveness obtained by the comparison of the hepatitis B morbidity rates in both groups was 7.8. No postvaccinal complications were registered.

[Expression of human immunodeficiency virus gag antigens and formation of virus-like particles in a cell culture, infected with recombinant vaccinia virus strains (an electron-microscopic study)]. / Ekspressiia gag-antigenov virusa immunodefitsita cheloveka i obrazovanie virusopodobnykh chastits v kul'ture kletok, infitsirovannykh rekombinantnymi shtammami virusa ospovaktsiny (élektronno-mikroskopicheskoe issldovanie).

The synthesis of gag antigens of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by recombinant vaccinia virus strains containing the expressed genes gag and gag-pol and the capacity of these proteins to formation of virus-like particles during infection of various cell cultures were studied. The recombinant strain containing the truncated gag gene (p48gag) was shown to effectively synthesize gag polypeptides and to form immature virus-like particles during infection of all the cell cultures tested (CV-1, Hep-2, HT-29). The morphogenesis of mature virus-like particles was detected by electron microscopy only in infection of Hep-2 cells with a strain containing a complete gag-pol sequence of HIV.

[Morphological analysis of a cell system, infected with different strains of the human immunodeficiency virus]. / Morfologicheskii analiz kletochnykh sistem, infitsirovannykh razlichnymi shtammami virusa immunodefitsita cheloveka.

Cell systems infected with 63 strains of types 1 and 2 HIV virus (HIV-1 and HIV-2) were examined under electron microscope. HIV virions were most frequently detected near the cell membrane or budding from it. In the cytoplasm HIV occurred only in vacuole-like formations. Accumulations of mature virions were seen in the cell-to-cell space. Mature particles of HIV-1 and HIV-2 differed by their morphology from oncoviral C particles and were similar rater to the Visna/Medi type Lentiviruses. Morphological analysis of HIV strains isolated in Russia demonstrated their similarity to be foreign HIV strains.

[Study results and the unresolved problems in the epidemiology and prevention of parenteral viral hepatitis in Russia]. / Itogi izucheniia i nereshennye voprosy épidemiologii i profilatiki parenteral'nykh virusnykh gepatitov v Rossii.

Great differences in the activity of the epidemic process of hepatitis B (HB), the occurrence of HBsAg among the population of different regions of Russia (in the central and northwestern regions among 1.8-2.4% of the population, in Tuva among 9.8% of the population, in Yakutia among 11.6% of the population) and considerable differences in the occurrence of HBeAg among HBsAg carriers in these regions (antibodies to delta virus have been detected in 1.3-5.5% of carriers of this antigen in the European part of Russia and in 21.0% of carriers in Tuva) are shown. The structure of the transmission routes of HB virus, the proportion of the artificial and natural routes of its transmission are analyzed. The data on the frequency of cases of perinatal and intrafamily HB virus infection in regions with different activity of the epidemic process, as well as the data on effectiveness of measures for the prevention of posttransfusion HB and parenteral infection during therapeutic and diagnostic interventions, are given. The results of the use of Engerix B vaccine among 2,500 persons belonging to groups of risk are presented. The proportion of hepatitis C (HC) cases among patients with different kinds of acute and chronic viral hepatitis among the population of different regions and the occurrence of anti-HC antibodies among the population of different regions of Russia (in Moscow and St. Petersburg among 1.1-1.2% of the population, in North Caucasia among 4.5% of the population), as well as in high risk groups (3.1% among medical personnel, 19.4% among drug addicts, 25% among patients of hemodialysis wards, ets), are considered. The structure of transmission routes of HC virus is analyzed, the possible measures for the prophylaxis of HC virus infection are considered.

[Use of open method of treatment in diffuse purulent peritonitis in children]. / Primenenie otkrytogo sposoba lecheniia razlitogo gnoinogo peritonita u detei.

Open method of treatment--laparotomy--was used in 22 children with diffuse purulent peritonitis, aged from 1 to 14 years. This permitted to drain adequately the abdominal cavity after the operation, to abolish the intoxication during 2-3 days in the most observations, to eliminate the enteroparesis. The single repeated abdominal cavity sanation was sufficient in 19 (90.5%) children, in 2 she was applied twice. Laparostoma was closed in 17 (80.9%) patients on the 2-3 th day, in 4--on the 4-7 th day after the operation. One child (4.5%) died.