[The cytokine profile in patients with chronic type C hepatitis].

The purpose of the study was to perform complex evaluation of cytokine status in patients with type C chronic hepatitis (CCH), taking into account its system and local parameters and their correlation with peculiarities of clinical and morphological parameters. The study revealed a significant increase of concentrations of cytokines Th-2, interleukins (IL-4, IL-10), and proinflammatory cytokines (IL -1alpha, IL -12p40, IL -12p70), as well as a significant decrease of Th1-cytokine (IL-2 and interferon-gamma) levels, both in blood and in the supernatant of hepatic tissue samples. The study also found an increase of serum and local tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -alpha and established a correlation between the levels of the system and local cytokines under study, on the one part, and clinical, laboratory and morphological parameters, on the other, which evidences their significant role in CCH immunopathogenesis. The most significant from the clinical point of view are serum and local levels of TNF-alpha, IL-4, IL-12p40; the most important parameters for determination of inflammatory activity of the pathologic process and fibrosis stage are concentrations of IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12p70 in serum and the supernatant of hepatic tissue samples.

[Diagnosis of tropical malaria by express-methods]. / Diagnostika tropicheskoi maliarii s pomoshch'iu ékspress-metodov.

An examination of a thick blood drop and of blood smear for the presence of plasmodia is a classic and indisputable diagnostic test for tropic malaria. However, express-methods, based on the immune-enzyme analysis, have been introduced into the health-care practice primarily in developing and underdeveloped countries. The diagnosis of tropic malaria by using the discussed methods enables, in the non-laboratory settings, a rapid and reliable detection of PI. falciparum in blood. This is important because an untimely diagnosis of tropic malaria increases the risk of the lethal outcome.

[Circulation of Seoul hantavirus in populations of synanthropic rodents and its significance in the incidence of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in the Primorye territory]. / Tsirkuliatsiia khantavirusa Seul v populiatsiikh sinantropnykh gryzunov i ego znachenie v zabolevaemosti gemorragicheskoi likhoradkoi s pochechnym sindromom v Primorskom krae.

The prevalence of Seoul virus in the Primorie territory is presented and its significance in the morbidity structure with regard to hemorrhagic fever with the renal syndrome (HLPS) is discussed. Epidemiological and clinical manifestations of HLPS caused by Seoul virus are described. The authors conclude that in the urban foci of HLPS it is associated mainly with Seoul virus, while in the rural foci, with Hantaan virus.