[Immune-regulating Th1- and Th2-cytokines in chronic infections caused by hepatitis B and C viruses]. / Immunoreguliatornye Th1- i Th2-tsitokiny pri khronicheskikh infektsiiakh, vyzvannykh virusami gepatitov B i C.

The serum levels of Th1 (gamma-IFN and sIL-2r) and of Th2 (IL-10) cytokines were measured in 33 patients (23 males and 10 females, mean age 23.1 +/- 1.9) with chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) according to a disease etiology (6 patients with hepatitis B--CVHB, 15 patients with hepatitis C--CVHC, and 12 patients with a mixed form of chronic hepatitis B and C--HBV + HCV). Besides, the contents of the studied cytokines were compared with the traditional infection markers and the presence of viremia. The similar indices taken from 10 healthy persons served as controls. The concentration of gamma-IFN was found to be reliably higher (p < 0.05) in patients of all three groups (0.32 +/- 0.07, 0.34 +/- 0.09 and 0.25 +/- 0.06 pg/ml, respectively) regardless of a disease etiology and as compared with the control value (0.09 +/- 0.04) pg/ml). At the same time, the levels of gamma-IFN, sIL-2r and IL-10 (0.25 +/- 0.06 pg/ml, 166.5 +/- 31.3 IU/ml and 48.1 +/- 8.4 pg/ml, respectively) was found to be reliably (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) higher, as compared to the controls (0.09 +/- 0.04, 57.1 +/- 5.6 and 10.8 +/- 7.8, respectively), only in patients with the mixed infection of hepatitis. Like in our previous study, a trend was established towards the growing mean values of the IL-r level from its lowest parameters in the group of CVHB patients towards its highest parameters in the group with the mixed hepatitis form. According to our data, the IL-2r level correlated reliably with the activity of AlAt (r = 0.452; p < 0.05), while the gamma-IFN content correlated reliably with the IL-10 concentration (r = 0.805; p < 0.05), and the gamma-IFN content correlated with the IL-10 concentration (r = 0.805; p < 0.01) irrespective of disease pathology.

[Th1-cytokines in chronic hepatitis B and C]. / Th1-tsitokiny pri khronicheskikh formakh virusnykh gepatitov B i C.

Forty-four patients with chronic HBV and HCV were observed. Serum levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and soluble IL-2 receptor (IL-2r) were measured by enzyme immunoassay in 29 patients divided into 3 groups: group 1 (n = 9) with chronic HBV, group 2 (n = 9) with chronic HCV, and group 3 (n = 11) with mixed HBV + HCV infection. Control group consisted of 10 normal subjects without HBV, HCV, or HIV infection markers. The most informative of Th1 cytokines was IL-2r: its concentration was increased significantly (p < 0.01) in all patients with hepatitis B and/or C in comparison with the control. In addition, there was a trend to an increase in the mean concentrations of IL-2r from group 1 to groups 2 and 3. The concentrations of IFH-gamma and IL-2 did not differ significantly in the patients and controls. However, the concentrations of IFN-gamma were increased significantly (p < 0.01) in comparison with the control in 3 patients from group 1 and 4 patients from group 3 with more pronounced inflammation.

[Hepatitis A in Estonia (1990-1999)]. / Gepatit A v Estonii (1990-1999).

During recent 10 years (1990-1999) essential changes occurred the epidemiology of viral hepatitis A (VHA) in Estonia: simultaneously with a decreased level of morbidity (morbidity rate per 100,000 of the population was 78.4 in 1990 and 7.7 in 1996, or 1,241 and 112 cases, respectively), a shift in the age structure of patients from children of preschool age to older age groups took place. Everyday contacts were the main established route of VHA transmission in recent years, but in more than 80% of cases the risk factors of the virus transmission remained obscure. During the regional outbreak of VHA in North Estonia in 1998 (937 out of 989 cases registered in the country) a rise in morbidity was observed among young people aged 15-29 years, when a wide spread of parenteral viral hepatitides B and C and drug addiction were registered in this region. During this outbreak VHA was transmitted mainly through everyday contacts. Still the considerable prevalence of injection drug users who practiced the group use of syringes and needles and took drugs from common containers, a sufficiently high level of the mixed forms of the disease (more than 18% of all registered cases of VHA), detected for the first time, make it possible to suggest that the parenteral transmission route could appear among persons belonging to the above mentioned group. Vaccination is regarded as the most effective measure for the prophylaxis of VHA.

[Functional and metabolic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils in acute viral hepatitis B and C]. / Funktsional'naia i metabolicheskaia aktivnost' neirofilov perifericheskoi krovi pri ostrykh virusnykh gepatitakh B i C.

The functional metabolic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils in acute virus hepatitis B (VHB) and/or virus hepatitis C (VHC) was evaluated. 48 patients were examined; of these, VHB was diagnosed in 28 patients and VHC was diagnosed in 9 patients and the mixed form of virus hepatitis (VHB + VHC), in 11 patients. Determination of adhesive capacity of neutrophils, production of superoxidase anion in the nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) test, activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and acidic phosphatase (AP), the amount of cation proteins (CP) was made. Most pronounced functional dysbalance of neutrophil leukocytes and considerable changes in biochemical characteristics of the activity of the infectious process in patients with the mixed form of virus hepatitis were established. These data demonstrated that in acute virus hepatitis B and C at the peak of the disease such characteristics of the functional activity of neutrophils as results of the NBT test, the activity of MPO and AP, as well as the amount of CP, were highly informative.

[Interferon system status in hemodialysis patients infected with hepatitis B and C viruses]. / Sostoianie sistemy interferona u patsientov na gemodialize, infitsirovannykh virusami gepatita B i C.

The production of alpha- and gamma-interferon (IFN) by peripheral blood cells in vitro and the concentration of serum IFN were studied in patients treated by hemodialysis at the Pelgulinna Tallinn Hospital and compared to controls. Out of 108 patients on hemodialysis, 19.4% were infected with hepatitis B (HBV), and antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) were detected in 7.4%. During 3.5 years of observation, cases of hepatitis B and C infection among patients and medical staff were rare. The production of alpha- and gamma-IFN in 23 patients with HBV and/or HCV markers on hemodialysis and in 38 patients without markers was similarly decreased in comparison with the controls and the titers of serum IFN were similarly increased. Lack of reliable difference between IFN status of two groups of patients may be explained by the absence of clinical symptoms of hepatitis, confirmed by laboratory findings.

[Functional status of the interferon system in inapparent and clinical infection with hepatitis B and C viruses]. / Funktsional'noe sostoianie sistemy interferona pri innaparantnoi i klinicheskoi infektsii virusnymi gepatitiami B i C.

In vitro production of alpha- and gamma-interferon (IF) by peripheral blood cells and the concentrations of serum IF were studied in 47 intravenous drug users infected with hepatitides viruses B and C (HBV and HCV) and in 50 inpatients with verified diagnosis of hepatitides B or C, 16 of these narcomaniacs. In acute disease, the capacity of cells to produce alpha- and gamma-IF was suppressed, while the concentration of IF circulating in the blood was increased. Suppression of alpha-IF production was more expressed in patients with hepatitides C and B+C than in those with hepatitis B. HBV and/or HCV infection without clinical signs of disease did not affect the production of IF. In narcomaniacs using opiates and ephedrine drugs for up to 5 years IF system did not depend on drug addiction.

[Live enteroviral vaccines for the emergency nonspecific prevention of mass respiratory diseases during fall-winter epidemics of influenza and acute respiratory diseases]. / Zhivye énterovirusnye vaktsiny dlia ékstrennoi nespetsificheskoi profilaktiki massovykh respiratornykh zabolevanii vo vremia osenne-zimnikh épidemii grippa i ostrykh respiratornykh zabolevanii.

The results of the 3-year controlled trials of a new method of nonspecific urgent prophylaxis of influenza and acute respiratory diseases (ADR) by immunization of healthy adults with standard live enterovirus oral vaccines, introduced in 2-3 administrations at intervals of 7-10 days, at the initial stages of autumn and winter epidemics are presented. Observations, carried out in three republics, covered more than 150,000 persons immunized with enterovirus interferonogenic vaccines. A considerable decrease in morbidity rate among the vaccinees was achieved (on the average, by 3.2 times) in comparison to that among nonimmunized subjects. The method of nonspecific prophylaxis with live enterovirus interferonogenic vaccines is recommended during outbreaks of diseases induced simultaneously by several causative agents of influenza and ARD, as well as by pathogenic enterovirus strains.

[Experimental study of the prophylactic anti-influenza and interferon-inducing activity of epsilon-aminocaproic acid]. / Eksperimental'noe izuchenie profilakticheskoi protivogrippoznoi i interferonindutsiruiushchei aktivnosti épsilon-aminokapronovoi kisloty.

Epsilon-aminocaproic acid, an original antifibrinolytic had a rapid and prolonged protective effect, thus lowering the death rate of experimental mice contaminated with virulent strains of the influenza virus. The protective effect of the acid was observed after its intraperitoneal administration in a dose of 20 mg/mouse 24 hours before contamination by the strain with the H3N2 antigenic formula and after intranasal application of 15 mg of epsilon-aminocaproic acid divided into 2 doses 2 days before contamination by the strain with the H1N1 antigenic formula. In the animals contaminated by the H1N1 influenza virus 5 days after subcutaneous administration of the drug in a dose of 30 mg there was detected in the lungs a much lower number of the infectious viruses 3 days after the contamination. It was shown that 3 and 6 weeks after initiation of the 5-day treatment course with subcutaneous administration of epsilon-aminocaproic acid in a daily dose of 90 mg/mouse the animal resistance to the H1N1 influenza virus increased. No interferonogenic activity after administration of epsilon-aminocaproic acid was observed in the mice.

[Interferon-inducing and anti-influenzal properties of 3-(2,2,2-trimethylhydrazine)propionate in an experiment]. / Interferonindutsiruiushchie i protivogrippoznye svoistva 3-(2,2,2-trimetilgidrazinii)propionata v éksperimente.

An original compound, 3-(2,2,2-trimethylhydrazine)propionate, belonging to the class of hydrazine betaines, is an active interferon inducer in mice and shows a protective effect against influenza virus when used according to therapeutic and preventive schedules. The survival of the animals depends on the dose, time, and route of administration of the compound.

[Antiviral immunity in disseminated sclerosis]. / Izuchenie protivovirusnogo immuniteta pri rasseiannom skleroze.

Titres of antibodies to various viral antigens, levels of immunoglobulins, and the rate of detection of specific IgM to measles virus were studied in the blood sera of 50 patients with multiple sclerosis and 50 normal subjects. High antibody titres to measles, mumps, rubella and parainfluenza type 3 virus antigens were revealed. Specific IgM to measles virus were detected in 50% of multiple sclerosis patients and in none of the normal subjects. The patients with multiple sclerosis showed no significant differences in the levels of immunoglobulins of the three main classes (G, A, M).

[Experimental study of the interferonogenic and antiviral activity of biologically active substances]. / Eksperimental'noe izuchenie interferonogennoi i protivovirusnoi aktivnosti nekotorykh biologicheski aktivnykh veshchestv.

The results of screening of five national preparations for the interferon-inducing activity in white mice by various doses, schedules and routes of administration are presented. Their capacity to protect the animals against influenza, tick-borne encephalitis, and herpes viruses was evaluated. Cuthizon, zimosan, tiloron and its analogue IC-32 induced in mice endogenous interferon production in amounts from 40 to 640 IU50/ml. Tiloron, prodigiozin, and zimosan were found to be effective against influenza. Protective effect of zimosan in combination with polyguacyl was observed against tick-borne encephalitis.

[Formation of immune interferon and blast transformation in stimulated cultures of human lymphocytes]. / Obrazovanie immunogo interferona i blastnaia transformatsiia v stimulirovannykh kul'turakh limfotsitov cheloveka.

Lymphocyte blast transformation (LBT) and interferon (IF) production were studied in 55 phytohemagglutinin- and dry purified tuberculin-stimulated lymphocyte cultures obtained from normal subjects (7 adults and 24 children). A relationship has been disclosed between LBT and interferon production. However, in some of the culture with marked LBT there occurred a defective IF production. On the contrary, with suppressed PHA-induced transformation, IF production was within normal. The role of the interferon production test for estimation of the functional activity of human lymphocytes is discussed.

[Interferon production in multiple sclerosis]. / Izuchenie interferonoobrazovaniia pri rasseiannom skleroze.

The interferon-synthesizing activity of the peripheral blood leukocytes and serum interferon in the blood of patients with multiple sclerosis were studied. A reverse relationship was found between antibody production (high titers of measles antibody) and the interferon-synthesizing activity of peripheral blood leukocytes in these patients. A 3-fold decline in serum interferon titers was observed in patients with multiple sclerosis as compared with the control group.

[Production of interferon and virus-neutralizing antibodies in adult mice infected with enteroviruses during the neonatal period]. / Produktsiia interferona i virus-neitralizuiushchikh antitel u vzroslykh myshei, zarazhennykh v neonatal'nyi period enterovirusami.

Newborn albino mice were inoculated with enteroviruses and in 6 weeks reinfected with homologous or heterologous strains. Strains moderately pathogenic for newborn mice led to formation of specific immunologic memory. Mice infected after birth with highly pathogenic strains produced specific antibodies for a long time and lacked secondary response. Production of interferon was not associated either with the strain pathogenicity for newborn mice or with the presence of antibodies.