[Evaluation of the dynamics of detection of viable SARS-CoV-2 (Coronaviridae: Betacoronavirus: Sarbecovirus) in biological samples obtained from patients with COVID-19 in a health care setting, as one of the indicators of the infectivity of the virus].

INTRODUCTION: The study of the mechanisms of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the basis for building a strategy for anti-epidemic measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding in what time frame a patient can spread SARS-CoV-2 is just as important as knowing the transmission mechanisms themselves. This information is necessary to develop effective measures to prevent infection by breaking the chains of transmission of the virus. The aim of the work is to identify the infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus in patient samples in the course of the disease and to determine the duration of virus shedding in patients with varying severity of COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In patients included in the study, biomaterial (nasopharyngeal swabs) was subjected to analysis by quantitative RT-PCR and virological determination of infectivity of the virus. RESULTS: We have determined the timeframe of maintaining the infectivity of the virus in patients hospitalized with severe and moderate COVID-19. Based on the results of the study, we made an analysis of the relationship between the amount of detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA and the infectivity of the virus in vitro in patients with COVID-19. The median time of the infectious virus shedding was 8 days. In addition, a comparative analysis of different protocols for the detection of the viral RNA in relation to the identification of the infectious virus was carried out. CONCLUSION: The obtained data make it possible to assess the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 detection and viral load in patients with COVID-19 and indicate the significance of these parameters for the subsequent spread of the virus and the organization of preventive measures.

[The relationship between obesity, cardiometabolic disorders and disease activity in psoriatic arthritis patients: data from the Russian register].

AIM: To study the relationship between obesity, cardiometabolic disorders and disease activity in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in real practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Russian register included 614 PsA patients [female 331 (54%)/283 (46%)]. Average age 45.20.52 years, PsA duration 5.70.27 years, psoriasis 15.710.56 years. Patients underwent examination, body mass index (BMI), PsA activity according to DAPSA, cDAPSA, analysis of concomitant diseases were assessed. The patients were divided into 3 groups depending on BMI (kg/m2): normal 25 (group 1), increased 2530 (group 2), obesity 30 (group 3). RESULTS: The average BMI was 27.70.23 kg/m2, normal BMI in 213 (34.7%), increased in 214 (34.8%) and obesity in 187 (30.5%). Concomitant diseases in 297 (48%). In group 3, arterial hypertension was observed significantly more often than in groups 1 and 2 (p0.0001); more often than in group 2 diabetes mellitus (p0.0001), metabolic syndrome (p0.0001); more often than in group 1 ischemic heart disease (p=0.026). PsA activity at Baseline, after 6/12 months was significantly higher in group 3 (p0.031). In obese patients, the chance of a decrease in disease activity to a moderate/low level and remission during therapy for 6/12 months is 2.484 times lower than in group 1, and 2.346 times lower than in group 2: odds ratio 2.346 (95% сonfidence interval 1.075.143) and 2.484 (95% сonfidence interval 1.1355.439), respectively. CONCLUSION: In the majority (65.3%) of PsA patients, BMI exceeded the norm. Obesity is associated with a high incidence of cardiometabolic disorders, with higher PsA activity and lower treatment efficacy.

Interaction of Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium in Microbial Association Formed by Them in In Vitro Experiment.

We studied the interaction of Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium in the microbial association formed by these microorganisms in vitro. It was found that S. typhimurium in microbial association in LB-broth inhibited reproduction of S. enteritidis, which attested to its higher competitiveness. The concentration of S. typhimurium in the medium in 6 h reached 92-93% of the total number of bacteria. Parallel growth of the populations of S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium was observed only during the first hour, but later, S. typhimurium always exceeded S. enteritidis by the growth dynamics. The competitive advantage of S. typhimurium was observed both in the absence and presence of 60-MDa virulence plasmid.

[FORMATION OF POPULATION MORBIDITY WITH SALMONELLOSIS CAUSED BY SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS IN REGIONS WITH INCOMPLETE SUPPLY OF LOCAL POULTRY PRODUCTS].

AIM: Study plasmid characteristics of S. enteritidis strains in patients and features of epidemi- ology of the infection in regions with incomplete supply of population with local poultry produc- tion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plasmid analysis of microbe strains isolated from 382 patients and 8 samples of products was carried out, and significance of plasmid types in population morbidity was evaluated. Identification of salmonella was carried out by conventional methods, plasmid 41 specter - by Kado C.I. and Liu S.T (1981) method. RESULTS: 98.4% of strains contained virulence plasmid p38, and 80.1% of strains also had small plasmids. Sakhalin strains were divided into 16 plasmid types (D=0.794), and strains from Jewish AO - 10 (D=0.834). Uniformity of strains in patients during infection outbreaks and in transmission factors was detected. CONCLUSION: Features of salmonellosis in. the studied subjects of Russian Federation are determined by higher risk of import of products containing salmonella. Monitoring based on plasmid analysis is an effective base for epidemiologic control.

[A comparison of the efficacy and safety of memantal and original memantine in the treatment of mild and moderate dementia in Alzheimer's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the efficacy and safety of original memantine and generic medication (memantal) in patients with mild/ moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A six-month randomized controlled comparative study included 50 patients with mild/moderate dementia due to AD. Patients were naive to memantine and IAChe. Original memantine and generic medication dosage (5 mg daily) was titrated according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Patient's condition was assessed with MMSE, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and IADL. Side-effects were recorded. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in cognitive functions, neuropsychiatric symptoms, instrumental activity and safety between original memantine and generic medication. Both medications slightly improved patient's cognitive functioning, mostly in patients with mild dementia due to senile type of AD. CONCLUSION: The generic medication (memantal) and original memantine have equal efficacy and safety in patients with mild/moderate dementia due to AD.

[Improvement of effectivity of photo disinfection of water from bacterial contaminants in the presence of heterogeneous sensitizers based on phthalocyanines grafted to aminopropyl silicagel].

The possibility of using 12 heterogeneous sensitizers (HS) based on phthalocyanines covalently grafted to aminopropyl silicagel for disinfection of water from bacteria has been studied. For reliable water quality control the technique of performing bacteriological analysis in the presence of HS beads in the sample has been elaborated. The conditions increasing the efficiency of photo disinfection in the presence of HS were studied. Algorithm for estimation of photo disinfectant effect of HS against bacteria was substantiated. Obtained data confirm the perspective of further studies on the substantiation of the possibility of the application of HS for water disinfection.

[Water treatment from viruses using heterogeneous sensitizer based on polycationic aluminum phthalocyanine].

The authors propose a new heterogeneous photo sensitizer containing aluminum tetrakis [bis(cholinyl)phenylthio)] phthalocyanine grafted onto silica as an active phase. A poliovirus type 1 LSc2ab and RNA-containing phage MS2 model was used to show that the sensitizer had photo decontaminating activity against viruses and may be used to purify water from viral contamination. The mechanism for removal of viruses from water is two-step and involves the adsorption of the virus on the heterogeneous sensitizer particles and the photodynamic inactivation of the adsorbed virus.

Electrostatic binding of substituted metal phthalocyanines to enterobacterial cells: its role in photodynamic inactivation.

The effect of ionic substituents in zinc and aluminum phthalocyanine molecules and of membrane surface charge on the interaction of dyes with artificial membranes and enterobacterial cells, as well as on photosensitization efficiency was studied. It has been shown that increasing the number of positively charged substituents enhances the extent of phthalocyanine binding to Escherichia coli cells. This, along with the high quantum yield of singlet oxygen generation, determines efficient photodynamic inactivation of Gram-negative bacteria by zinc and aluminum octacationic phthalocyanines. The effect of Ca2+ and Mg2+ cations and pH on photodynamic inactivation of enterobacteria in the presence of octacationic zinc phthalocyanine has been studied. It has been shown that effects resulting in lowering negative charge on outer membrane protect bacteria against photoinactivation, which confirms the crucial role in this process of the electrostatic interaction of the photosensitizer with the cell wall. Electrostatic nature of binding is consistent with mainly electrostatic character of dye interactions with artificial membranes of different composition. Lower sensitivity of Proteus mirabilis to photodynamic inactivation, compared to that of E. coli and Salmonella enteritidis, due to low affinity of the cationic dye to the cells of this species, was found.

[Comparative toxicity of photosensitizers in varying destruction].

The toxicity of the photosensitizers proflavine acetate (PA) versus methylene blue (MB) was evaluated during their varying destruction. Under the influence of visible light, a partial (25%) transformation of the photosensitizers was shown to be attended by their enhanced toxicity and 100% destruction of the parent substances caused a reduction in their hazard. PA and its phototransformation products mainly affect the antiperoxide protection system and the structural and functional states of the liver, kidney, and duodenum. The maximum noneffective dose is 0.002 mg/kg. The possibility of using PA for water disinfection depends on the ratio of safe and effective concentrations. A partial (25%) MB destruction products cause mutagenic effects; the permissible dose of the mutagen is 0.00025 mg/kg. MB is not recommended for disinfection of all types of waters.

[Environmental activity of earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) and the spatial organization of soil communities]. / Sredoobrazuiushchaia deiatel'nost' nornykh dozhdevykh chervei (Lumbricus terrestris L.) i prostranstvennaia organizatsiia pochvennoi bioty.

The effect of feeding and burrowing activities of anecic earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) on abiotic characteristics of the soil, biomass and activity of soil microorganisms, and the spatial distribution of Collembola and Lumbricidae species was studied in a Iinden forest near Moscow. The results showed that organic carbon content, nitrogen content, pH, and microbial biomass and basal respiration are considerably higher around L. terrestris burrows than in the surrounding soil. The total density of springtails near the burrows was 1.6-1.7 as high as at the control sites. The most pronounced preference for earthworm burrows was observed in the species dominating in the soils of undisturbed deciduous forests (Isotomiella minor and Isotoma notabilis). The number and biomass of epigeic and endogeic earthworms also increased significantly in the zone of L. terrestris burrows. However, some springtail (Isotoma viridis, Protaphorura cf. nemorata, Lepidocyrtus lignorum) and earthworm species (Aporrectodea rosea) did not accumulate near L. terrestris burrows and even avoided them. Thus, L. terrestris activities create a mosaic of soil microhabitats, which provides for the coexistence of different microcommunities of soil organisms.

[Photo-induced destruction of DOPA-melanin]. / Fotoindutsirovannaia destruktsiia DOFA-melanina.

Studies of the effect of illumination at different wavelengths revealed a high stability of DOPA-melanin to the visible light. Contrariwise, UV-visible light of high intensity upon prolonged (many hours) illumination caused a significant bleaching of the diluted aqueous solution of the pigment. The absorption spectrum of DOPA-melanin in the UV- and IR-regions did not differ from the initial one; however, the illuminated pigment acquired an ability for fluorescence. Stepwise gel chromatography on Toyopearl-55 and Toyopearl-40 columns resulted in three fractions of photobleached DOPA-melanin which differed in their molecular masses, absorption spectra (UV, IR) and fluorescence. It was concluded that the photoinduced bleaching of DOPA-melanin was mainly due to the pigment depolymerization. A possible mechanism of melanin photodestruction is discussed.

Structure and transport properties of the Ultracell membrane for hemodialysis.

Particular features of structure and transport properties of a new Soviet-made hydrate cellulose membrane Ultracell have been studied. The membrane has a structure of a swollen gel with well defined macropores that ensures high effectiveness in convectional transport of substances across the membrane. In view of the above the Ultracell membrane may be used both for conventional hemodialysis and also for hemodialysis with simultaneous or consecutive ultrafiltration aimed at removing the excessive water and metabolites with middle molecular weight.

[Effect of mineral phosphorus on mycoheptin biosynthesis]. / Vliianie mineral'nogo fosfora na biosintez mikogeptina

The effect of mineral phosphorus in doses of 22.8 to 684 gamma/ml in a synthetic medium on biosynthesis of mycoheptin, an antifungal antibiotic was studied. It was found that the maximum productivity of the mycelium was at the phosphorus concentration in the medium equal to 22.8--45.6 gamma/ml and the concentration of 91.2 gamma/ml was optimal for the growth of the antibiotic-prodicing organism. The phosphorus optimal concentrations for the growth and antibiotic synthesis phases did not coincide that provided consideration of phosphorus as a limiting factor useful in control of the antibiotic biosynthesis. The content of pphosphorus in the medium 6 times higher than the optimal concentration did not inhibit the biomass accumulation and had no significant effect on the colony morphology.