Immune response to influenza and pneumococcal vaccines in mice.

The immune response of mice injected with influenza vaccine (FluV) or pneumococcal vaccine (PV) given separately or simultaneously was evaluated. Balb/c mice were divided into six groups. Group I served as control, the mice in group II were injected intraperitoneally with PV, in group III intramuscularly with FluV two weeks after the onset of the study. The mice from group IV received PV and 2 weeks later were injected with FluV, mice in group V were given FluV, whereas group VI received both FluV and PV simultaneously. The results showed that the proliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) significantly increased in animals from groups II, V and VI, whereas the proliferation of splenocytes increased in mice from groups II, III, IV, and VI. These observations indicate a comparable effect of both vaccines, at least when the proliferative response of PBMC and splenocytes were considered.

Does pneumococcal vaccine reduce influenza morbidity in humans?

A retrospective study was conducted to verify the possibility that people immunized with pneumococcal vaccine (PV) show lower morbidity not only for pneumonia but also for influenza. A total of 450 individuals were enrolled between 1999 and 2003 and allocated to one of the following groups: (A) not vaccinated; (B) immunized with PV during 1999; (C) immunized with anti-influenza vaccine (Flu-V) each year; and (D) immunized with PV once in 1999 and Flu-V every consecutive year. People from group B showed significantly lower percentage of influenza-related diseases during the year 2000 in comparison with those from group A (p<0.01), whereas in the course of 2001 the morbidity of patients from group B was lower compared with the other groups (p<0.01). The results point to a way to decrease the morbidity of influenza-related diseases by immunization with PV only, at least for 2-3 years, avoiding Flu-V administration and permitting considerable saving for health care providers. Therefore, it is concluded that PV can reduce the morbidity of influenza at a greater rate than the Flu-V.

Pure red cell aplasia--a rare disease with multiple causes.

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a relatively rare disease although multiple factors are implied in the pathogenesis of its development. A slow progressive normocytic-normochromic anemia and reticulocytopenia, without leukopenia and thrombocytopenia in a patient who, except pallor, does not show abnormal findings on physical examination, should arise the suspicion that he has PRCA. Search for underlying diseases or infections and intake of drugs may help for the establishment of the diagnosis of acquired PRCA. Lack of erythroblasts in the bone marrow with normal development of the other hemopoietic series, as well as high level of serum erythropoietin are important clues for the diagnosis. Elimination of potentially causative factors, administration of immunosuppressive agents and/or recombinant erythropoietin, preferably epoetin beta, may induce remission and complete recovery.

Breast-feeding and smoking habits among Israeli women.

BACKGROUND: Many women stop smoking before or during pregnancy, or while breast-feeding (nursing). OBJECTIVES: To assess the relation between breast-feeding and smoking habits. METHODS: A survey was conducted among 920 women attending family health clinics (group 1) and a maternity department (group 2) on their breast-feeding and smoking habits. RESULTS: A total of 156 women (16.95%) smoked during pregnancy. A significant correlation was found between breast-feeding and not smoking after delivery (P = 0.009 in group 1, P = 0.03 in group 2). A higher tendency to nurse was found among women with an uneventful pregnancy, who vaginally delivered a singleton at term weighing 2,500-4000 g, and who received guidance on breast-feeding. CONCLUSION: Professional guidance in favor of breast-feeding is crucial to increase the rate of nursing. Encouraging breast-feeding will probably decrease the rate of cigarette smoking.