[Propagation of hepatitis E virus in an endemic and nonendemic regions]. / Osobennosti rasprostraneniia virusa gepatita E v éndemichnom i neéndemichnom regionakh.

The role of hepatitis E (HE) in sporadic morbidity at an endemic territory (Southern Uzbekistan) and the incidence of anti-HEV in different populations of a nonendemic region (Russia) were evaluated. Antibodies to HEV were detected in 22.1% of patients with acute HE, including mixed infections (+ HA or HB), in the Dekhkanabad district of Kashkadarya region in 1993. The estimated incidence of acute HE was 51.7 per 100,000 population. Analysis of monthly incidence of acute HE demonstrated a seasonal pattern of the morbidity: more than 80% of total recorded cases occurred in August-September. These data indicate the presence of group HEV infections and an important role of this infection in the structure of acute viral hepatitis at the endemic territory. Anti-HEV were found in some population groups at a nonendemic territory: in free-of-charge blood donors in Surgut (4%), in patients with HIV infection (1.6%), and in medical workers in Moscow (1.1%).

[Expression of urokinase and its receptor correlate with proliferation of smooth muscle cell in injured arteries]. / Ekspressia urokinazy i ee retseptora korreliruet s proliferatsiei gladkomyshechnykh kletok v povrezhdennykh arteriiakh.

Using the immunohistochemistry and a standard reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay optimized to estimate the mRNA levels, we observed a 2-fold increased uPA expression by the SMCs in injured vessels as compared with uninjured vessels. The uPA elevation occurred within 6 hours from the injury and persisted for 96 hours after the injury. The uPAR expression was also elevated after an injury although it occurred slower and more gradually. The data obtained suggest that the uPA is capable of contributing to both the SMC migration, replication and accumulation in the neointima early after balloon catheter injury of the carotid artery in rats.

[Involvement of urokinase and its receptor in the remodeling of normal and pathological tissue]. / Urokinaza i ee retseptor kak uchastniki strukturnoi perestroiki tkanei v norme i pri patologii.

Urokinase is the main component of the fibrinolytic system and comprises two functions. Namely, the catalytic domain enables to trigger the proteolytic cascade in blood and in the vessel wall, stimulating the activation of growth factors, matrix remodelling and smooth muscle cell proliferation. On the other hand, the amino terminal domain of urokinase that is homologous to epidermal growth factor promotes urokinase to bind to the specific receptor. The cell surface binding of uPA may initiate the activation of the second messengers, protein phosphorylation and cell migration. This dual function of urokinase affects vascular growth, as well as the intimal thickening of the vessel wall after intravascular injury. Also uPA and its receptor are implicated in many physiological and pathological processes, including ovulation, embryogenesis, cancer metastasis, inflammation, and wound healing.

[The effect of hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorite on brain Na,K-ATPase activity]. / Vliianie peroksida vodoroda i gipokhlorita na aktivnost' Na,K-ATPazy mozga.

Brain Na,K-ATPase is subjected to direct modifying influence of the hypochlorite anion and hydrogen peroxide resulting in irreversible inactivation of the enzyme. The K0.5 values for these compounds are 20-40 microM and 1 mM, respectively. The inhibiting effect of hydrogen peroxide is suppressed by desferrioxamine (by 20-30%) which indicates that the H2O2-induced inhibition is partly due to the generation of the hydroxyl radical. Carnosine, homocarnosine and the hydrophobic antioxidants, alpha-tocopherol and ionol, protect the enzyme from H2O2: their effective concentrations are to 10 mM (carnosine), 5 microM (alpha-tocopherol), and 0.5 microM (ionol). The data obtained suggest that inhibition of Na,K-ATPase by the antioxidants is caused by their direct action on the protein molecule, while the protective effect of natural hydrophilic antioxidants are due to the quenching of the hydroxyl radical.

[Work experience of the "Marriage and family" urban consultation center]. / Opyt raboty gorodskoi konsul'tatsii "Brak i sem'ia".

The experience of establishing specialized "Marriage and Family" urban consulting centre is provided. The necessity is discussed of staffing the service with both health and social workers and lawyers, organization of specialized bed fund, advisability of expanding preventive activities within marriage registry offices, dispensarization of marriage couples.