Sensitivity of Quails (Coturnix coturnix), Siskins (Carduelis spinus), and Frogs (Rana ridibunda) to West Nile Virus.

The level of viremia and features of the course of experimental infection caused by West Nile virus were studied in two species of migratory birds, siskins Сarduelis spinus and quails Coturnix coturnix, and in one species of amphibians, frogs Rana ridibunda. In quails, the virus caused a fatal disease; histological analysis revealed pathological changes in the heart, kidneys, liver, and brain stem. In siskins and frogs, virus antigen was detected in cloacal smears despite the absence of clinical manifestations, the level of viremia was sufficient to infect insect vectors during bloodsucking. These findings suggest that siskins and frogs can be potential reservoirs of West Nile virus and play a role in its circulation.

Influence of Biological Model on the Formation of the Pathogenic Properties of the West Nile Virus Isolate.

Various biological models are used to isolate West Nile virus, but their role as a selection factor that facilitates selection of isolates with certain properties is usually not evaluated. We compared pathogenic properties of three strains of the West Nile virus obtained from one sample of virus-containing material using different models: WNV Volgograd 900m/18 (on the model of suckling mice), WNV Volgograd 900a/18 (on C6/36 cells) and WNV Volgograd 900v/18 (on Vero cells). WNV Volgograd 900m/18 strain demonstrated virulent (LD50 5×103±0.005×104 PFU, p≤0.05) and neuroinvasive properties, induced viremia and pathomorphological changes in the liver, lymph nodes, and brain of nonlinear white mice. WNV Volgograd 900v/18 strain had similar characteristics except for neuroinvasiveness. WNV Volgograd 900a/18 variant demonstrated minimum virulence (LD50 5×104±0.005×104 PFU, p≤0.05), did not cause neurological symptoms, and was not isolated from the blood of infected animals.

[Structural-functional approach to chronic cerebral ischemia in elderly people.]

The aim of the study - experience in implementing a structural-functional approach to chronic brain ischemia (CCI) in elderly people by combining simultaneously produced measurements. Object of research - elderly patients with CCI 1 stage. As a result of the study, the methodological experience of the system study of CCI from the standpoint of the structural and functional approach in the elderly is shown. Thus, it has been demonstrated that the progression of chronic cerebral-dygemical morphological changes in the form of periventricular and subcortical leukoaareosis (according to magnetic resonance imaging) correlates with the degree of expression of cognitive dysfunction syndrome (according to the brief indicative test). Hyperhomocysteinemia are typical for patients with CCI 1 stage, what correlates with mild cognitive dysfunction. The identified biochemical, neuroimaging, neuropsychological correlates should be taken into account during medical and psychological rehabilitation of these people.

[Biopsychosocial concept of the chronic ischemia of the brain in elderly.]

The aim of the study was to optimize the strategies of diagnosis and treatment of chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) in the elderly by using a multidimensional integrated approach in determining the role of biological, individual psychological and social factors in the occurrence and course of the disease. The object of study - patients with CCI. As a result of the study, a methodology for systematic research of CCI was developed for the first time. It promotes an understanding of not only psychosomatic and somatopsychic relationships, but also mechanisms of an individual's adaptation to the disease and optimization of the patient's quality of life. The author proposes a diagnostic and treatment diagnostic algorithm for elderly people with CCI, which can be used to build comprehensive programs for the primary prevention of stroke in the population scale. The idea was expressed about the correspondence of the stages of dyscirculatory encephalopathy (neurological manifestations of the disease) and the variants of the course of the psychoorganic syndrome, reflecting the severity of cerebral dyshemia and impaired cognitive status.

Modification of the Method of Receiving of Insertion Mutants with the EZ::TN5 System.

We demonstrated the possibility of obtaining insertion mutants by a modified technique using EZ::TN5 system during culturing of the recipient strain on a dense nutrient medium and exclusion of the centrifugation stage. The frequency of transposon mutants of E. coli 10979/EZ::TN5 was 2×10-6. Genetically modified strains were characterized by kanamycin resistance, inability to L-malate assimilation, changes in the expression of individual proteins of protein mass-spectra (5096.3, 6252.9, and 9067.7 Da), and the presence of fragments in genomic DNA amplified by specific forward and reverse primers that were homologous to Tn5 transposon insertion sites. The modified procedure for obtaining insertion mutants by using EZ::TN5 system was not inferior by the efficiency to the standard procedure, but shortens experiment duration, simplifies it, and reduces the risks related to working with group 2 pathogenicity microorganisms.

[Modeling of an influence of indicators of social stress on demographic processes in regions of the Russian Federation]. / Modelirovanie vliianiia indikatorov sotsial'nogo stressa na demograficheskie protsessy v regionakh Rossiiskoi Federatsii.

AIM: To assess an impact of indicators of social stress on demographic processes in regions of the Russian Federation using statistical methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data of Rosstat «Regions of Russia¼ and «Health care in Russia¼ were used as information base. Indicators of about 80 subjects of the Russian Federation (without autonomous areas) for the ten-year period (2005-2014) have been created in the form of the database consisting of the following blocks: medico-demographic situation, level of economic development of the territory and wellbeing of the population, development of social infrastructure, ecological and climatic conditions, scientific researches and innovations. In total, there were about 70 indicators. Panel data for 80 regions of Russia in 10 years, which combine both indicators of spatial type (cross-section data), and information on temporary ranks (time-series data), were used. Various models of regression according to the panel data have been realized: the integrated model of regression (pooled model), regression model with the fixed effects (fixed effect model), regression model with random effects (random effect model). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Main demographic indicators (life expectancy, birth rate, mortality from the external reasons) are to a great extent connected with socio-economic factors. Social tension (social stress) caused by transition to market economy plays an important role. The integral assessment of the impact of the average per capita monetary income, incidence of alcoholism and alcoholic psychoses, criminality, sales volume of alcoholic beverages per capita and marriage relations on demographic indicators is presented. Results of modeling allow to define the priority directions in the field of development of mental health and psychotherapeutic services in the regions of the Russian Federation.

[The application of time-of-flight mass spectrometry with matrix activated laser desorption-ionization (MALDI-ToF) for identifying agents of glanders and melioidosis].

The article presents the results of application of developed methodological approach to identifying Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei using direct mass spectrometry profiling of cellular proteins. The protocol of sampling preparation of cultures of melioidosis and glanders was optimized with taking in account characteristics of observation of requirements of biological safety for operations with pathogenic biological agents of pathogenicity group II. The dependence of quality of mass spectrums (number of individual peaks and their intensity) from medium of fermentation of microorganisms was evaluated. The characteristic mass spectrums of collection strains B.pseudomallei (5) and B.mallei (5) were obtained. The set of reference mass-spectrums was generated for identification data base S.A.R.A.M.I.S.TM (Anagnostec Gmbh.). The mentioned data base was used for identification of 43 strains of pathogenic Burkholderia. The opportunity of reliable identification of taxonomic belonging of examined microorganisms up to species' level. The cluster analysis of obtained mass-spectrums of common cellular proteins of collection strains of pathogenic Burkholderia demonstrated grouping of examined strains according to their species' belonging. The supplemented data base of mass-spectral characteristics hereinafter will permit applying express-identification of isolates suspicious for belonging to agents of melioidosis and glanders. The updated data base will become a basis for developing schemes of hemotyping of strains of Burkholderia using mass spectrometry technique.

[IDENTIFICATION OF CAUSATIVE AGENTS OF GLANDERS AND MELIOIDOSIS BASED ON PRINCIPLES OF POLYPHASE TAXONOMIC APPROACH].

AIM: Determine an optimal set of the most effective methods of identification and intraspecies typing ofcausative agents ofglanders and melioidosis. Materials andmethods. Bacteriologic, immunochemical, molecular-genetic methods were used. RESULTS: A possibility to identify collection strains of pathogenic and closely related Burkholderia in semiautomatic systems is studied. Means of detection of informative variable genome segments ofthe specified microorganisms were developed, methods of their genetic typing were selected. Effectiveness of application of precipitating mAbs for differentiation of Burkholderia was established. Data on diagnostic possibilities of immunoglobulins fluorescing based on monoclonal antibodies of various etiotropic directionality for detection and identification of B. mallei and B. pseudomallei are generalized. Experimental series of amplification test-systems for identification of glanders and melioidosis causative agents in real-time PCR format are created. CONCLUSION: A number of methods for identification and typing of glanders and melioidosis causative agents is proposed.

Use of the phytopathogenic effect for studies of Burkholderia virulence.

The phytopathogenic effect of the pseudomallei group Burkholderia is demonstrated on the Peireskia aculeata model. A method for evaluation of the effect is suggested. The effect correlates with the levels of Burkholderia pseudomallei, Burkholderia mallei, and Burkholderia thailandensis virulence for laboratory animals. P. aculeata can be used as a model for preliminary studies of the virulence of the above species.

[A model of primary open-angle glaucoma: manifestations and outcomes].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expected duration of the disease and the age of the patients with different stages ofprimary open-angle glaucoma complicated by pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) and/or patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEG). METHODS: The study protocol included data from 120 patients (50 males (41.7%), 70 females (58.3%)); 189 eyes; 102 right eyes; 87 left eyes). The first study group (28 patients, 44 eyes) comprised patients with suspected glaucoma. The second group (53 patients, 84 eyes) consisted ofpatients with early glaucoma. The third group (21 patient, 33 eyes) included patients with advanced glaucoma, the forth group (18 patients, 28 eyes) comprised patients with terminal glaucoma. Mean age of the patients at diagnosis was 61.6 (58.4; 66.9) years and 66.9 (63.4; 72.8) years at the endpoint visit in 2013. In all cases, diagnosis was made in accordance with the differential diagnostics system and confirmed by special diagnostic techniques. The database included data from 3 qualified examinations taking account of the results of tonometry and static automated perimetry. RESULTS: The mean expected age of the patients age at the onset of blindness was 75.1 years. The occurrence of the event was limited to a period of 6.1 years. Mean age at the time of possible glaucoma development was 59.58 (56.14; 64.36) years. The disease itself could develop within 3.24 (-5.38; -1.2) years prior to diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Studies for glaucoma diagnosis should be focused on the age group of 55-60 years. The degree of IOP reduction in patients with advanced glaucoma does not agree with the Russian glaucoma society recommendations which accounts for progression of the disease.