[Level of beta 2-microglobulin in serum of patients with acute viral hepatitis types A, B and C]. / Poziom beta 2-mikroglobuliny w surowicy krwi chorych na ostre wirusowe zapalenia watroby typów A, B i C.

Serum beta 2-microglobulin concentrations were assayed in 14 patients with acute hepatitis A, 16 with acute hepatitis B and 10 with hepatitis C. Serum samples were taken from each patient in the first and the second week of hospitalization and in the period of aminotransferase normalization. There was a significant increase of beta 2-microglobulin level in every type of hepatitis compared to the control group. A raised serum beta 2-microglobulin concentration persisted during convalescent period. It decreased gradually in type A and B of hepatitis. Serum beta 2-microglobulin level during convalescence in hepatitis C was similar to that of first weeks of hospitalization.

Interferon and tumor necrosis factor production by peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with infectious mononucleosis.

Blood samples from 29 patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) in phases of acute disease and convalescence were obtained. Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) activity was detected in sera of patients both in: acute and convalescence phase, however when IFN titers were higher in the acute than convalescence phase, TNF titers were the highest in convalescence. In the whole blood assay Newcastle disease virus (NDV), phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (ConA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used as cytokine inducers. A significant decrease in IFN titer induced in vitro with NDV, PHA and ConA was observed in blood leukocytes of patients in the acute IM phase. In convalescence the ability of blood leukocyte of IM patients to produce IFN returned to normal, comparable with control. However, blood leukocytes of IM patients in the acute phase produced more TNF in response to LPS than in convalescence. The role of the observed overproduction of TNF in the course of IM similar to that in HIV infection should be elucidated.

[Beta 2-microglobulin in serum of patients with infectious mononucleosis]. / Beta 2-mikroglobulina w surowicy chorych na mononukleoze zakazna.

Serum beta 2-microglobulin concentrations were assayed in twenty patients with infectious mononucleosis. Pairs of sera taken from each patient in the first week of hospitalisation and two weeks later were tested. There was a significant increase of beta 2-microglobulin levels in these patients compared to the control group. A raised serum beta 2-microglobulin concentration persists during the convalescent period.

[Anti-Hbs level after the basic course of vaccination against hepatitis B in health care workers]. / Poziom przeciwcial anty-HBs u pracowników sluzby zdrowia po szczepieniu przeciwko wirusowemu zapaleniu watroby typu B.

Health care workers are the group at high hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection risk. Groups of physicians and nurses working in hospitals of Lublin have been vaccinated since 1989. The aim of this work was to assess the level of anti-HBs in different years after the basic course of vaccination. We have examined 166 persons, aged from 18 to 65 years, vaccinated with a yeast recombinant hepatitis B vaccine Engerix B (Smith Kline Biologicals). They completed the full cycle of vaccination according to the pattern of 0, 1, 6 months. Within the group of people who had got the third dose one year ago we found 100% of women and 88% of men with a protective level of anti-HBs (> or = 10 IU/l). Four years after the final inoculation differences between female and male population were even more significant: 93% of man had a protective level of anti-HBs. We have also found that humoral response was higher in the group of younger vaccinees (18-40 years). We propose that timing of booster vaccination should be scheduled on the basis of anti-HBs level. It seems to be necessary to control the level of anti-HBs at least 3 years after the last dose of vaccination.

[Awareness of AIDS in selected population groups from the province of Lublin]. / Wiedza na temat AIDS w wybranych grupach ludnosci wojewodztwa lubelskiego.

The poll carried out among selected community groups in the Lublin Voivodship has shown that the problem of AIDS is looked upon multifariously depending on age. The paper is an attempt to compare opinions of the 18-25 age group (118 people) with those of the 40-60 age group (100 people). The poll, which consisted of 8 questions, has indicated that the knowledge of epidemiology and preventive measures in reference to AIDS is incomplete, the younger group revealing greater awareness of the problem. It has also been determined that the need for information on the HIV virus is high. It has been agreed that television and radio programmes constitute the best methods to convey information on AIDS; the press comes second followed by various publications and open lectures. The poll has also shown that the young tend to accept HIV carriers more than the 40-60 age group.

PIP: Investigations were carried out in 1991 in 218 persons in Lublin county who were divided into 2 groups: Group I comprised 118 persons 18-25 years old, who had completed primary school, basic level trade school, or secondary school, and Group II consisted of 100 persons 40-60 years old, who had completed primary, secondary, or higher level schooling. A questionnaire asked about the probability of HIV infection in Poland, the routes and time of transmission, prevention methods, and knowledge about AIDS. Responses to the questions concerning the route of transmission were similar in both groups: sexual intercourse, use of narcotics, needle prick conveying blood of infected person, blood transfusion, maternal-fetal exchange, childbirth, and breast-feeding. Group II more frequently indicated the possibility of infection through sharing food, kisses, working together, riding the bus, and shaking hands with an infected person. Transmission of HIV by insects was asserted by 26.3% of Group I and 38% of Group II. Regarding transmission from persons with negative test results, 7.6% of respondents in Group I and 9.0% in Group II stated that it was possible to get infected from them, while 59.3% and 79.0%, respectively said it was not. As to prevention of HIV infection, 76.2% in Group I and 42% in Group II advocated the use of condoms, 59.3% and 44%, respectively, stated the need for a steady partner and avoidance a casual partners, 33.1% and 24.0%, respectively, mentioned single uses of medical instruments, but only 3.4% and 0%, respectively, referred to avoiding contact with blood. Familiarity with the topic of AIDS before filling out the questionnaires was reported by 61.9% in Group I and 59.0% in Group II. Basic sources of knowledge were derived from television, radio, press, specialist brochures, lectures, and acquaintances. The topic of AIDS was of interest to 83.1% in Group I and 71.0% in Group II. Regarding acceptance of an HIV-infected person in their vicinity, 40.7% in Group I said yes vs. 30.0% in Group II; while 44.1% and 63.0%, respectively, said no.

[Alpha-fetoprotein in acute viral hepatitis type A]. / Alfa-fetoproteina w ostrym wirusowym zapaleniu watroby typu A.

Serum AFP levels were estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA) at the first and the last but one day of hospitalization of 25 patients with acute viral hepatitis of type A. The observed group consisted of 11 women and 9 men. A significant increase in the serum AFP levels was found in the group of patients on the first day of hospitalization. Besides, a rise in the aminotransferases (ALT and AST) activity and in the serum total bilirubin level were observed. On the last but one day of hospitalization the mean value of serum AFP level and the activity of the investigated enzymes were diminished. Mean value of serum AFP level the and activity of aminotransferases were higher in patients than those in the control group. Only serum total bilirubin level was similar to the mean value of control group.

[Level of prolactin, gonadotrophin, testosterone, and alpha fetoprotein in serum of blood donors with antibodies to hepatitis c virus (anti-HCV)]. / Poziom prolaktyny, gonadotropin, testosteronu i alfa-fetoproteiny w surowicy krwi krwiodawców, nosicieli przeciwcial przeciwko wirusowemu zapaleniu watroby typu-C (anty-HCV).

The study was aimed at the determination of serum levels of the investigated hormones (prolactin, gonadotrophins, testosterone and alpha-fetoprotein) in blood donors with antibodies to hepatitis C virus. The observed group consisted of 50 men of age between 22 and 47 years. The blood serum concentrations of hormones were determined by RIA method using the ready made reagent kits. No characteristic changes were observed in the serum hormones levels except for prolactin. Mean value of serum prolactin concentration was higher in blood donors than those in the control group.

[Discrepancies between ambulatory diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis and subsequent examination of patients during hospitalization at the Infectious Disease Clinic]. / Rozbieznosci miedzy rozpoznaniem ambulatoryjnym ostrego wirusowego zapalenia watroby (wzw), a nastepnie ustalonym podczas hospitalizacji w Klinice Chorób Zakaznych.

Medical documentation of 1283 patients hospitalized in the Clinic of Infectious Diseases due to primary diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis has been analysed. In 1137 cases (88.6%) primary diagnosis has been confirmed. In 146 cases (11.4%) other hepatic diseases were found, which primarily imitated acute viral hepatitis. Among them cholelithiasis biliaris and vesicularis were the most often encountered-in 59 cases (4.6%).

[Beta-glucuronidase in blood serum of patients with contagious mononucleosis]. / Beta-glukuronidaza w surowicy krwi chorych na mononukleoze zakazna.

The activity of beta-glucuronidase in blood serum of 12 women and 14 men ill from contagious mononucleosis in the first and third week of hospitalization was determined after the method given by Krawczynski. Moreover, there were determined: the number of leucocytes, percentage of normal lymphocytes including atypical ones, the activity of aminotransferases (asparagine and alanine), as well as Paul-Bunnell-Davidsohn's reaction. It was found that the level of beta-glucuronidase during the first week of hospitalization increased, and it decreased in the third week, which may be one of the indices of convalescence, independently of the sex of the examined persons.