[Investigation of stages of chemical leaching and biooxidation during the extraction of gold from sulfide concentrates].

We examined the chemical leaching and biooxidation stages in a two-stage biooxidation process of an auriferous sulfide concentrate containing pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite and pyrite. Chemical leaching of the concentrate (slurry density at 200 g/L) by ferric sulfate biosolvent (initial concentration at 35.6 g/L), which was obtained by microbial oxidation of ferrous sulfate for 2 hours at 70°C at pH 1.4, was allowed to oxidize 20.4% ofarsenopyrite and 52.1% of sulfur. The most effective biooxidation of chemically leached concentrate was observed at 45°C in the presence of yeast extract. Oxidation of the sulfide concentrate in a two-step process proceeded more efficiently than in one-step. In a two-step mode, gold extraction from the precipitate was 10% higher and the content of elemental sulfur was two times lower than in a one-step process.

[Applying of assessment scales for patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia in young patients].

One of the most important issues in the management of patients with community-acquired pneumonia is the correct initial assessment of the severity of the patient's condition. In the context of outbreaks of pneumonia among soldiers performing military service, this position is crucial. Up to date specialized scales were developed and used in clinical practice allowing assessing a risk on the basis of an adverse outcome, objectifying the decision on the choice of the place of treatment of a patient with community-acquired pneumonia. Various prognostic scales have their advantages and several disadvantages; in particular the possibility of their use to date has not been studied in the management of patients with pneumonia of organized groups. This publication is a brief description and analysis of the possibilities of applying the most well known scales in young people.

[Antibiotic therapy regimens for mild community-acquired pneumonia in patients with risk factors for ineffective treatment: clinical and economic comparisons].

AIM: To evaluate the clinical efficiency, tolerance, and pharmacoeconomic parameters of treatment for mild community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in patients with risk factors for ineffective treatment with levofloxacin (Glevo) versus original levofloxacin and standard pharmacotherapy regimens for mild pneumonia (real practice). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An open-label comparative randomized trial was conducted in parallel groups of 147 patients aged > or = 18 years with mild CAP and risk factors for ineffective treatment. Group 1 included 61 patients (59 men and 2 women; mean age 23.3 +/- 11.2 years) receiving levofloxacin (Glevo) 500 mg/day; Group 2 comprised 41 patients (39 men and 1 woman; mean age 26.4 +/- 13.4 years) treated with original levofloxacin 500 mg/day; Group 3 consisted of 45 patients (all men; mean age 23.7 +/- 9.9 years) on standard therapy. The trial was performed in 3 pulmonology centers. RESULTS: The use of the respiratory fluoroquinolone levofloxacinto treat mild CAP in the patients with risk factors for failure for its therapy demonstrated a higher efficiency than the antibiotic regimens used in real clinical practice. This suggests that physicians underestimate risk factors and do not always make a rational choice of an antimicrobial agent in the given clinical situation. CONCLUSION: The generic form of levofloxacin (Glevo) is as clinically effective as its original drug in the treatment of CAP and characterized by its optimal pharmacoeconomic parameters.

[Diagnostic and predictive capabilities of the quantification of C-reactive protein in patients with community-acquired pneumonia].

According to numerous researches the authors emphasize the importance of the quantification of C-reactive protein in patients with community-acquired pneumonia. We gave an analysis of different publications on the given issue. We came to conclusion that available laboratory kits for the quantification of C-reactive protein in blood serum, including instant diagnosis, allow considering the given method as a method of common use for military-medical facilities.

[Susceptibility of pandemic influenza virus A 2009 H1N1 and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A H5N1 to antiinfluenza agents in cell culture].

The data on cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of commercial antivirals, such as Remantadine, Oseltamivir, Arbidol and Ribavirin in the MDCK cell culture infected with highly pathogenic (H5N1) and pandemic 2009 (H1N1) influenza A viruses are presented. The study of the antiviral activity of antivirals in the MDCK cells culture demonstrated that Arbidol, Rimantadine and Ribavirin efficiently inhibited reproduction of the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses isolated from sick birds. Arbidol and Oseltamivir carboxylate selectively inhibited reproduction of the pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses with changed specificity to the cell receptors, causing severe influenza in men, while remantadine had no effect on their reproduction.

[Polymorphism of the GSMT1 gene in lung cancer resistance and susceptibility]. / Polimorfizm gena GSTM1 v gruppakh predraspolozhennosti i rezistentnosti k raku lëgkogo.

The published studies of onco-associated genetic polymorphisms are characterized by insufficient interlaboratory reproducibility. The inconsistency of the results can be partially attributed to some characteristics of patients and control groups, which are used for the comparison of allele frequencies. For instance, many investigations involve so-called "healthy donors" as a standard. However, the efficiency of such a comparison can be questioned; indeed, as an individual life-time risk of malignancy reaches as high as 40-50%, a significant part of "healthy donors" would soon or later become the oncological patients. Here we tested the advantage of using "true" oncologically tolerant individuals as an additional control, e.g. tumor-free people, who succeeded to achieve an elderly age without signs of any neoplastic disease. GSTM1 gene polymorphism was used as a "positive control" for this novel design of molecular epidemiological study, as the GSTM1-null genotype displays slight but reproducible association with lung cancer risk. In the present investigation, GSTM1-deficiency was detected in 45% elderly tumor-free individuals, 55% healthy middle-aged donors, and 59% lung cancer patients. The minimal frequency (43%) of GSTM1(-) genotype was detected in elderly tumor-free smokers, and the maximal one (100%) was found in never-smoking lung cancer patients. Thus, the comparison of lung cancer patients to the "true" oncologically tolerant cohort (elderly tumor-free individuals, especially smokers) revealed more demonstrative deviations for the unfavorable genotype, than the traditional comparative analysis between oncological patients and healthy donors.

[L-myc and GSTM1 polymorphism in cerebral glioma]. / Polimorfism genov L-myc i GSTM1 u bol'nykh gliomami golovnogo mozga.

L-MYC and GSTMI polymorphisms were studied in glioma patients. L-MYC allele frequency in patients (L: 61/114 (54%); S: 53/114 (46%)) and controls (L: 108/204 (53%); S: 96/204 (47%)) was identical. S allele was associated with certain unfavourable clinical features of the disease. In particular, its frequency was 26/42 (62%) in relapse vs. 26/68 (38%) in relapse-free disease (p < 0.05). GSTMI "null" genotype was identified in both patients and healthy donors (48%). GSTMI-deficient genotypes were significantly predominant in patients with grade III-IV gliomas as compared with grade I-II tumors (p < 0.05). Patients, but not donors, frequently revealed a combination of SS L-MYC homozygosity and GSTMI (-) variant (p < 0.01) as well as an association of LL L0-MYC homozygosity and GSTMI (+) genotype (p < 0.05).