Nature and prevalence of risk factors associated to type B and C acute viral hepatitis cases in Bucharest, 1998-2000.

The main objective of the study was to calculate and report the prevalence of probable risk factors involved in the transmission of pathogenic agents among type B and C acute viral hepatitis cases confirmed in Bucharest (1998-2000). The standardized values of the risks detected in the 45-180 days preceding the onset of illness suggest that in both types of acute viral hepatitis considered in our study transmission associated to the individuals' behaviour (19.0%-hepatitis B and 20.1%-hepatitis C) seems more frequent than "iatrogenic" transmission; in case of hepatitis B, sexual contacts with more than one partner coming first (15.7%), whilst in case of hepatitis C the use of i.v. drugs (heroine) was most frequently incriminated (12.4%). The study reviews the present knowledge of the risk factors involved in the transmission of the disease and approaches prevention strategies.

Antidiphtheria and antitetanus immunity in various age groups (0-70 yrs) in Romania.

The evaluation of the antidiphtheria and antitetanus immunity level is still a topical question. The paper approaches the study of antidiphtheria and antitetanus immunity on age groups in 3,768 and, respectively, 4,001 subjects. In the studied population, the results of estimating immunity revealed an antidiphtheria percentage of 87.16% and a protection level against tetanus of 94.47%. The immunity level against both diphtheria and tetanus varied depending upon the studied age. The highest susceptibility values against diphtheria (29.42%) were recorded in the 6th decade and against tetanus (18.89-28.27%) in the 6th and, respectively, 7th decade. A high antidiphtheria and antitetanus immunity level (over 90%) was reported in children and young people after the IIIrd and IVth boosters).

Drug allergy: incidence in terms of age and some drug allergens.

The authors studied the incidence of drug allergy in 3 groups of subjects. In the first group the incidence was established in terms of the subjects' age: 1.8% in children up to 14 years old (323 subjects), 5.8% in middle-aged subjects (389 subjects) and 2.9% in the elderly (243 subjects). In the second partly selected group, drug allergy was studied in patients admitted to the 3rd Medical Clinic--Craiova between 2 Jan. 1981 and 31 Dec. 1982; 103 of the 8,760 patients admitted presented allergic reactions, a relatively high incidence rate (1.01%) as compared to other published reports. The third group of previously selected cases consisted of 197 patients who had come to the allergology service with complaints of present or past sensitivity to drugs. The total number of patients was 336 selected or preselected from about 10,000 subjects, to which 17 patients with a diagnosis of "asthmatic triad" must be added. Drug allergy in terms of the drug used was dominated by penicillin, pyramidon-algocalmin, aspirin, iodine preparations, etc.; foremost among the clinical syndrome were the dermatologic syndromes types I, III and IV; syndromes of the "anaphylactic shock" type, "serum sickeness" bronchial asthma, angioneurotic oedema.

Investigations upon the incidence of atmospheric fungi in the town of Craiova.

The present investigation was suggested by the fact that bronchial asthma (of all types) presents in Craiova and the district of Dolj a relatively increased incidence which may be correlated with certain findings concerning the incidence of atmospheric fungi in the houses and working places of asthmatic subjects. Petri dishes with Czapek medium were exposed monthly in the open air, in 17 houses of asthmatic subjects and in a large bakery unit. The prevalence of various types of fungi was observed on the culture media and a correlation could be made with the seasons. In the houses of asthmatics Penicillium was found to predominate and in certain months of the year Aspergillus as well, which may have a certain etiopathogenic role in bronchial asthma. In certain months Cladosporium and Alternaria also appeared. In the open air the number of colonies was smaller but the incidence was identical. In the bakery unit Penicillium was predominant in 3 out of 5 months, Aspergillus prevailling in all the other months of the year. Cladosporium and Alternaria were also rather frequent. Other fungi sometimes found in relatively large proportions (Mucor, Rhizopus, Verticillium) were not in themselves etiopathogenically involved in bronchial asthma.

[Evolutive peculiarities of streptococcal infections in the year 1980, in the city of Bucharest]. / Particularitatile evolutive ale infectiilor streptococice, în cursul anului 1980, în municipiul Bucuresti.

In further investigations on the evolutive trends of the epidemiologic streptococcal process, an extensive epidemiological survey was carried out in prescholar and school communities in the town of Bucharest with a view to applying efficient antiepidemic measures able to limit primary streptococcal infections and prevent late, redoubtable complications. In 1980, in Bucharest, morbidity from scarlet fever was at its lowest level (92.7 per 100,000) during the last 31 years; it was in general benign, affecting especially in the month of March the 5-9 years age group (623.9 per 100,000) and the 1-4 years age group (529.4 per 100,000). The trailing evolution of a scarlet fever focus in a prescholar community suggested the hypothesis of the potentiation of the induction of streptococcal toxigenesis under the influence of intercurrent vital infections, especially measles. There were no deaths from scarlet fever. Laboratory investigations for the active detection and treatment of anginas, of carriers at risk, totalled 52101 tests; of these 4478 (8.59%) were positive for group "A" streptococci. In the prescholar communities surveyed no poststreptococcal complications were reported (acute articular rheumatism and glomerulonephritis). In 1980, there were 63 cases of acute articular rheumatism (code 250) in the 0-18 year-old group. The results suggest the need of continued epidemiological survey of streptococcal infections in children with a view to improving the health status of the population.

Atopic and non-atopic sensitivity in a large bakery.

Flour is an allergen which can sensitize either by the digestive or the inhalatory route, particularly those who work with this product. Factors involved occupational four-induced asthma also include various insects and their excreta, fungi and dermato-farinae. In this study, 1303 subjects from a number of bakeries were studied. They underwent allergological investigation by means of prick-tests with allergens and respiratory function tests for those with bronchial asthma. Also studied is the relationship with atopic syndromes or atopic family history.

[Research on anti-diphtheria immunization in the city of Bucharest]. / Investigatii privind imunizarea antidifterica în municipiul Bucuresti.

Biological, sero-epidemiological and bacteriological investigations, carried out in the town of Bucharest for evaluating the present diphtheria vaccination programme showed: -- high anatoxin titers, exceeding the titer considered as protective, in the vaccinates ; -- a concentration of the level of the titers of 1--4 AU/ml, in over 62% of the subjects, which means that the protective titer was exceeded 33 to lucru: -- negative Schick reaction, in the mean 95.06%, in the subjects examined during the 1969--1975 period; -- isolation of the Bacillus diphtheriae in a proportion of 0.08%, none of the toxigenic gravis type. The authors, correlating these data, consider the present vaccination calendar too loaded both as number of inoculations and as antigen concentration per revaccination dose, and recommend reconsideration of the vaccination programme.