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Aim: Study phylogenetic interconnections of HIV-1 subtype A and B variants circulating in Novosibirsk region (NSR)., Materials and Methods: 268 HIV-1 variants isolated in 2007 - 2010 from blood samples of HIV infected patients in NSR, Samara, Congo and Moscow. HIV-1 variant genotyping was performed by analysis of 1.3 kb long pol gene nucleotide sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences was carried out by program Mega version 4.1 by constructing phylogenetic trees by nearest neighbor method. Nucleotide distances were calculated by Kimura method., Results: The studied HIV-1 subtype B variants form separate phylogenetic groups with a low HIV-1 nucleotide sequence homology level combined based on territorial principle and/or time of HIV infection in a territory but not possessing interconnection with a specific population risk group. Subtype A HIV-1 is a fairly homogenous monophyletic group. Phylogenetic differences during studies of HIV-1 isolated from risk group patients - injection drugs users and individuals infected through sexual contacts were not detected. HIV variants isolated from patients infected in Moscow and Samara generally grouped with HIV variants circulating in the European part of Russia., Conclusion: An independent circulation of genetically separate HIV-1 subtype B groups is observed on the territory of siberian region which is a result of multiple independent introductions of distant variants of the virus. The confirmed limited spread of this HIV-1 genetic variant with a subsequent territorial separateness creates a possibility of formation of genetically different virus populations. The studies of subtype A viruses performed confirm the high level of homogeneity detected earlier in other Russia territories of HIV-1 belonging to this genetic variant. Monophyly of subtype A HIV variants is explained by imposition of 2 factors - territorial mobility of the population inside the country and lack of specific transmission routes for HIV-1 subtype A.

Repeated epidemiological morphological investigations of atherosclerosis of the aorta and coronary arteries were performed in apparently healthy men aged 20-59 years in Moscow, Ryazan and Yakutsk at a 40-year interval. More severe atherosclerosis and different rates of its progression were revealed in males of these towns over 40 years.

HIV has been spreading over the territories of our countries for 18 years, and it is still possible to resist the epidemic in a unique and efficient way. In June 2001, the UNO General Assembly Special Session was devoted to the problem of HIV/AIDS in full. Its Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS (Resolution S-26/2) defines main directions of this work both in world-wide, regional, and international scopes. It should be stressed that first of all the Declaration emphasizes the necessity to improve management and coordination of efforts at the global, regional, and national levels, which is of special importance to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where a new phase of HIV infection epidemic has begun and the spread of the virus grows and very soon may gain uncontrollable character. As for the countries of our region, here the epidemic process has been developing mostly through sexual way of transmission for 8 years since 1987, when the first case of HIV infection was revealed. More than 350000 HIV-infected people, including more than 15,000 children, have been registered in Russian Federation. More than 9000 people have died. The proportion of childbearing age women constantly grows, and the number of children born to mothers with AIDS has now exceeded 15,000. To realize the component "Prevention of HIV infection, B and C hepatitis, and revealing and treatment of HIV patients" of the priority national health project, 3.1 billion rubles are allocated for the prophylaxis of and fight against HIV and AIDS. The measures that are planned to take will allow for principle changes in the present situation with medical aid providence of contemporary antiretroviral medicines. Russian Orthodox Church with its parishes, monasteries etc. carries out numerous projects of primary HIV prophylaxis among children and young people in different regions; these projects are directed towards forming moral values.

The results of a medical genetic study of the spread of congenital morphogenetic types (CMGT) among 3-7-year-old children living in Magnitogorsk whose territory is highly polluted with chemical compounds are presented. In Magnitogorsk, the mean of CMGT cases per child is 2.89, which is much greater than the respective values for environmentally favorable cities and towns in Russia. The most common signs are as follows: diastema (137.79 cases per 1000 children), clinodactyly (135.98 per 1000), epicanthus (122.44 per 1000), and wide umbilical ring (110.71 per 1000).

The paper presents the results of the studies of gastric cancer (GC) associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) among the patients residing in 4 geographical regions. In situ hybridization (ISH) techniques revealed that 49(11.4%) of the 430 examinees were EBV positive (EBV+), the virus-specific marker mRNA-1 of EBV, EBER-1) was found to be present in 80-100) of tumor cells. The proportion of EBV(+)-associated GC cases in different geographic regions ranged from 7.3 to 15%. These tumors were predominant in males (15%) as opposite to females (5.5%). Histological types most common among EBV+ tumors and their location in the stomach are also described. Serological findings indicated that the increased anti-EDV antibody response in 70% of GC cases coincided with the presence of the viral genetic information detected by ISH. In contrast to a humoral response to EBV, a humoral response to Helicobacter pylori was equal both in patients with EBV(+)- and EBV(-)-associated gastric tumors. Further molecular biological analysis of EBV isolates from virus positive and virus negative GC may answer the question whether there are really the so-called tumor and non-tumor variants of EBV.

Aim: To determine occurrence of cryoglobulinemia (CGE) in residents of Moscow with various rheumatic diseases and healthy subjects, in Tynda population (migrants to Siberia) with rheumatic arthritis (RA) and healthy ones., Materials and Methods: CG screening was performed according to the WHO recommendations among 243 rheumatic patients from Moscow, 500 healthy subjects living in Moscow, 72 RA patients from Siberia and 1750 healthy Siberia migrants., Results: CGE occurred more frequently among Moscovites with SLE and RA (28 and 19%, respectively). In RA Siberians CGE was present in 52%. In healthy Siberians CGE occurred in 8.4% of the examinees, in Moscovites it was extremely rare. In all the examinees CGE was associated with cryoglobulinemia syndrome. SLE and RA Moscovites had mixed CGE with monoclonal components (type II), RA Siberial migrants had CGE type II and III (mixed polyclonal)., Conclusion: The study of CGE incidence in healthy migrants to Siberia with different duration of residence, measurements of metal ions in RA Siberians with and without CGE in the serum, blood cells and cryoprecipitates provided the authors with information for a new hypothesis of CGE origin and design of new policy of treating CGE.

The authors describe the results of a cooperative epidemiological screening of schoolchildren aged 11 to 14 years, living in Moscow, Tallinn and Novosibirsk. 1219 persons underwent screening in Moscow, 923 in Novosibirsk, and 1227 in Tallinn; the screening coverage was 88.3, 92 and 87.2%, respectively. The mean values of systolic and diastolic arterial pressure (AP), the anthropometric parameters, and of the degree of puberty are given with respect to the cities. The structure as well as predictors of high AP in schoolchildren differed with respect to the above-indicated cities. The highest AP values were identified in Moscow schoolchildren whereas the least ones in schoolchildren living in Tallinn. The data obtained were compared to those of the epidemiological screening of the male population aged 20 to 54 years, living in the same cities. A reverse correlation has been established.