Imported cases of dengue fever in Russia during 2010-2013

Objective:To confirm dengue infection among Russian tourists returned from Southeast and Mexico in 2010-2013 with clinical signs of infection.Methods:Blood and serum samples from patients were collected.NSI antigen and human IgM/IgG antibodies to dengue virus were identified using commercial tests manufactured by "Standard Diagnostics,INC.",Korea.ELISA test was used for the quantitative analyses of human IgM/IgG antibodies to dengue virus( "Orgenics Ltd.",Israel).Viral RNA was delected using commercial real-lime PCR lesls manufactured by "Genome Diagnostics Pvt.Ltd.",India and "Vector",Russia.Genotypes of revealed dengue viruses were determined employing nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 5'-UTR of the viral genome.Results:A total of 98 collected blood samples were analyzed.Fifty samples were positive for at least one of four markers of dengue infection.IgM to dengue virus were revealed in 38 samples,in 25 samples IgM were combined with IgG.NSI antigen was detected in43 samples.22 serum samples were positive for dengue virus RNA.The majority of samples(12patients) from tourists returned from Thailand were positive for genotype 1 of dengue virus,2nd and 4lh genotype were identified each in 1 patient.Conclusions:Due to laboratory confirmed cases of imported dengue fever in Russia,the differential diagnosis of dengue is strictly recommended for tourists returning from endemic areas.

Efficacy of the new therapeutic approach in curing malignant neoplasms on the model of human glioblastoma

Objective:Glioma is a highly invasive tumor,frequently disposed in essential areas of the brain,which makes its surgical excision extremely difficult;meanwhile adjuvant therapy remains quite ineffective.Methods:In the current report,a new therapeutic approach in curing malignant neoplasms has been performed on the U87 human glioblastoma model.This approach,termed"Karanahan",is aimed at the eradication of cancer stem cells(CSCs),which were recently shown to be capable of internalizing fragments of extracellular double-stranded DNA.After being internalized,these fragments interfere in the process of repairing interstrand cross-links caused by exposure to appropriate cytostatics,and such an interference results either in elimination of CSCs or in the loss of their tumorigenic potency.Implementation of the approach requires a scheduled administration of cytostatic and complex composite double-stranded DNA preparation.Results:U87 cells treated in vitro in accordance with the Karanahan approach completely lost their tumorigenicity and produced no grafts upon intracerebral transplantation into immunodeficient mice.In SCID mice with developed subcutaneous grafts,the treatment resulted in reliable slowing down of tumor growth rate(P<0.05).In the experiment with intracerebral transplantation of U87 cells followed by surgical excision of the developed graft and subsequent therapeutic treatment,the Karanahan approach was shown to reliably slow down the tumor growth rate and increase the median survival of the mice twofold relative to the control.Conclusions:The effectiveness of the Karanahan approach has been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo in treating developed subcutaneous grafts as well as orthotopic grafts after surgical excision of the tumor.