Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium and Ureaplasma urealyticum in clinical and non-clinical settings, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia.

Russia and Eastern Europe have the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the world. As sexually transmitted infections (STIs) play an important role in HIV transmission, we conducted this study to find the prevalence of three microorganisms associated with STIs in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. First void urine from 1729 participants was analysed using nucleic acid amplification testing, and all participants completed a questionnaire. One hundred and twelve (6.5%) were tested positive for Chlamydia trachomatis, 67 (3.9%) for Mycoplasma genitalium and 221 (12.8%) for Ureaplasma urealyticum. A significant association was found between C. trachomatis and U. urealyticum (odds ratio [OR] 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1 to 3.0). U. urealyticum was associated with similar social demographics and sexual risks as C. trachomatis and M. genitalium. This suggests that U. urealyticum has a possible role as an STI pathogen or might be a contributing factor for the spread of other STIs.

[Analysis of TGFbeta2 expression in human eye tissues in prenatal development].

In this work we focus on the temporal and spatial characteristics of TGFbeta2 expression in various human eye tissues during prenatal development from fetal weeks 8 to 22. We used the complex approach: the analysis of TGFbeta2 gene expression by PCR and the localization of TGFbeta2 protein by immunohistochemistry. TGFbeta2 was detected in all eye tissues. Our results suggest that differential expression pattern of TGFbeta2 in the lens and retina is correlated with the cell type and differentiation state. The data obtained give evidence to the TGFbeta2 contribution to forming of eye tissues of various embryonic origins.

Expression of transforming growth factor-ß2in vitreous body and adjacent tissues during prenatal development of human eye.

Expression of transforming growth factor-ß2 was detected by PCR in the vitreous body, lens, retina, and ciliary-iris complex of human eye at early stages of fetal development. Immunochemical assay of the corresponding protein in eye tissues revealed a correlation between the localization of transforming growth factor-ß2 and the development of intraocular hyaloid vascular network, its regression, formation of the vitreous body, and development of definite retinal vessels.

[Identification of the OCT4-pg1 retrogene and NANOG gene expression in the human embryonic eye].

The goal of this study was the search for and structure-function analysis of the regulatory genes specific for pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs). This was the first study in which PCR was used to obtain DNA fragments with primers constructed on the basis of OCT4 and NANOG mRNA. cDNA synthesized on mRNA isolated from human embryonic eye in the 9.5th week of development was used as a template in PCR analysis. PCR fragment DNA was sequenced. A comparative analysis of the nucleotide sequences demonstrated their 100% homology with the OCT4-pg1 retrogene and NANOG gene. Expression of the genes of interest was reliably detected in the cornea, crystalline lens, retina, and eye tunics in the 10.5th week of development. The nuclear localization of the products of the NANOG gene and OCT4-pg1 retrogene indicates that these proteins are classified with transcription factors. The role of the OCT4-pg1 retrogene and NANOG gene in self-renewal and differentiation of pluripotent cells in a developing eye is discussed.

[Study of expression of beta-III tubulin in human eye tissues during prenatal development].

Expression of beta-III tubulin, a marker protein of early neuronal cells, was studied by molecular genetic and immunochemical techniques. The study was performed with human eyes in the 8.5th to 27-28th weeks of prenatal development. Expression of beta-III tubulin was detected immunochemically in the retina and lens fibers in the 8.5 to 22-23 weeks of development. PCR revealed a high level of expression of the gene for beta-III tubulin in the retina of 9.5-week embryos. The level of expression of this gene remained high until the 18th week of prenatal development, slightly decreased to the 24th week, and became negligible in 27- to 28-week embryos. In the 15th to 24th weeks of prenatal development, the level of expression of this gene in the lens was very low and became undetectable in 27- to 28-week embryos. The results of PCR analysis are consistent with immunochemical data.

[Localization of the PITX2 gene expression in human eye cells in the course of prenatal development].

The pattern of the PITX2 gene expression was studied in the cornea, lens, retina, iridocorneal complex (ICC), and eye coats of human fetuses at weeks 9.5-22 of intrauterine development. Using the PCR method, PITX2 expression in all these tissues was revealed already at the earliest stage studied (9.5 weeks), being especially strong in the anterior eye complex (the cornea and lens) and weaker in the retina and sclera. The level of PITX2 expression in all eye tissues slightly decreased by week 15, increased to a high level in the ICC on week 18, and further decreased in all tissues by week 22. Using cDNA derived from the whole eyes of 8-, 9-, 10.5-, and 11-week fetuses, the expression of two PITX2 isoforms specific for eye tissues (A and B) was revealed. By means of in situ hybridization, the PITX2 mRNA was localized in the eye tissues of ectodermal and neuroectodermal origin.

[Molecular genetic aspects of human eye development].

Multicomponent signal pathways and the main cascade of regulatory genes play a key role in eye morphogenesis. There are about 15 conservative transcription factors and several signal proteins involved in the regulation of eye development. The review is focused on the regulatory factors and their interaction that determines the development of the eye at different stages of embryogenesis.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae population in Arkhangelsk, Russia: phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity.

Reliable data concerning the incidence and phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae population in many eastern European countries are lacking. Clinically significant N. gonorrhoeae isolates (n = 76) from 76 consecutive patients in Arkhangelsk, Russia were characterised by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, serovar determination, porB gene sequencing and N. gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing (NG-MAST). The isolates were assigned to 12 different serovars, displayed 35 divergent porB sequences, and belonged to 40 different sequence types (STs). All the serovars, but only seven of the STs, had been identified previously in other countries. Twelve ST clusters of between two and 14 isolates were identified, which indicated that many multiple transmission networks exist in Arkhangelsk. The high number of unique STs (n = 28) may be a consequence of sub-optimal diagnostic procedures, ineffective partner tracing, local emergence of new STs, import of strains via sexual tourists, or foreign travel. The N. gonorrhoeae population circulating in Arkhangelsk was highly diverse and differed from the N. gonorrhoeae populations disseminated in some western European countries. Thorough knowledge concerning the incidence of gonorrhoea, antibiotic susceptibility and other phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the N. gonorrhoeae strains circulating in eastern Europe is crucial.

[An analysis of an outbreak of HIV infection in the city of Svetlogorsk, the Republic of Byelarus, among persons using injected narcotics]. / Analiz vspyshki VICh-infektsii v g. Svetlogorske Respubliki Nelarus' sredi lits, potrebliaiushchikh narkotiki in''ektsionno.

The examination of all persons suspected in the use narcotics (including suppliers and vendors of drugs) in Svetlogorsk (Belarus) for the presence of antibodies to HIV revealed 811 cases of HIV infection, i.e. 1% of the whole population was found to be infected by HIV. More than 90% of all HIV-infected persons were drug addicts introducing narcotic intravenously; young people aged 18 to 29 years constituted 81% (of these, 76% were males and 24% were females). The rapid spread of HIV was caused by the use of a ready-made HIV-infected drug which had been supplied for sale and could have been infected in the process of manufacture or packing.

[Inhibition of glutamine synthetase activity by biologically active derivatives of glutamic acid]. / Ingibirovanie aktivnosti glutaminsintetazy biologicheski aktivnymi proizvodnymi glutaminovoi kisloty.

The inhibition of activity of glutamine synthetase from Chlorella and porcine brain by 4-hydroxy-D-4-fluoro-D,L- and 4-amino-D,L-glutamic acids diastereoisomers was studied. Each compound was shown to exert the same inhibiting effect on glutamine synthetase from both sources. In case of threo-4-hydroxy-D-glutamic acid the inhibition of the Chlorella enzyme was of a competitive and of a completely mixed type. The enzyme inhibition by 4-fluoro-D, L-glutamic acids seemed to be of a completely non-competitive type. The Ki values for all inhibition reactions were determined. A comparison of biochemical parameters and biological activity revealed that the most effective inhibitors of the enzyme exert a most potent antitumour and antiviral action.