[The voice and speech]. / O hlase a reci.

Biophysics is the science comprising the sum of biophysical disciplines describing living systems. It also includes the biophysics of voice and speech. The latter deals with physiological acoustics, phonetics, phoniatry as well as logopaedics. In connection with the problems of voice and speech, including also their teaching problems, a common language is often being sought for appropriate to all the interested scientific branches. As a result of our efforts aimed at removing the existing barriers we have tried to set up a University Society for the Study of Voice and Speech. One of its first activities was also, besides other events, the realization of a videofilm On voice and speech.

Herpes viruses in multicase families with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the rate and extent of infection by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus, and herpesvirus 6 in families (affected and nonaffected members) with multiple cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Viral DNA was detected by polymerase chain amplification in cells from saliva and peripheral blood. Human leukocyte antigen pedigrees were characterized. RESULTS: Viral DNA, particularly EBV, was detected in increased frequency (p = 0.029) in the patients with RA compare to their nonaffected relatives. CONCLUSION: We suggest that in RA multicase families, increased frequency of viral infection is likely a consequence of the disease state and/or due to gene(s) as yet unidentified.

Characteristic features of HIV/AIDS in the Czech Republic.

First laboratory proved HIV infections in the Czech Republic were diagnosed in a homosexual couple in autumn of 1985. Total number of detected HIV+ cases reached 143 persons by the end of 1992 (132 men and 11 women), of that 31 cases were classified as fully blown AIDS (21 already died). Out of these 143 HIV+ cases, 93 (65.0%) are represented by homo/bisexuals, 10 (7.0%) by heterosexuals, 16 (11.2%) by haemophiliacs, 14 (9.8%) by blood recipients, 1 (0.7%) by IVDU and 9 (6.3%) by unknown transmission category. Approx. 2.1 mil. of tests have been done as routine screening of donated blood. Only 5 cases (0.0002%) of HIV positivity have been found in this group. All HIV positive blood recipients (30 cases) were infected before the mandatory HIV testing of blood supply has been introduced in 1987 (14 out of 16 HIV+ haemophiliacs were infected by imported clotting products). The twins born in 1990 to mother infected by contaminated blood in 1984, were declared at the age of 30 months as HIV free, with all laboratory tests (serology, virus cultivation, PCR) negative. The cummulative infection rate of HIV antibody in 1986-1992 reached 13.8 per million inhabitants. It may be concluded that slow steady increase in the number of reported HIV/AIDS cases has been registered during the whole follow-up period. The authors are aware that relatively low prevalence of HIV infection in the Czech Republic may change dramatically in consequences of recent deep social, political and economical changes in the country.

[Cultivation of HIV-1 virus on mononuclear peripheral blood cells of HIV-1 seropositive individuals]. / Kultivace viru HIV-1 z mononukleárních bunek periferní krve anti HIV-1 pozitivních osob.

Using the method of co-cultivation with phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes from healthy donors, the author isolated the HIV-1 virus from peripheral mononuclear blood cells of three patients with the AIDS symptomatology and one patient with the ARC symptomatology. The presence of the virus in infected cells was proved by detection of the viral antigen p 24 in enzymatic immunoassays and in the immunofluorescence test. Three of the isolated strains were adapted to sensitive continual tissue cultures, where the isolates caused chronic infection of the cells associated with the development of a cytopathic effect. In the investigated patients no relationship was proved between viraemia and antigenaemia. The author discusses the importance of virus cultivation for laboratory diagnosis, epidemiology and research of HIV infection and AIDS.

[Dynamics of the antibody response and p24 antigenemia in HIV-1 infected individuals in Czechoslovakia]. / Dynamika protilátkové odpovedi a p 24 antigenémie u HIV-1 infikovaných osob v CSR.

In a group of 83 anti HIV-1 positive subjects the antibody response against different structural viral proteins was investigated concurrently with assessment of p 24 antigenaemia. Disappearance of antibodies against the capsidal antigen p 24 was recorded in 12% of 42 patients with ARC and AIDS. On the other hand, these antibodies persisted in all 41 asymptomatic infections throughout the three-year investigation period. Disappearance of antibodies against p 17 antigen was proved in 41% of the patients and in 22 subjects without clinical symptoms. The authors found a rising trend of antigenaemia p 24 in the course of HIV infection. The free p 24 antigen was detected in 62% patients with AIDS and only in 10% asymptomatic infections. The investigation confirmed the importance of investigations of the antibody response and p 24 antigenaemia in the prognosis of development of HIV infection and in monitoring of the effect of therapy.

[Detection of HIV infection using the immunofluorescence test]. / Prukaz infekce HIV v testu imunofluorescence.

The author examined, using the immunofluorescence test, 107 ant HIV positive sera and 114 sera with false reactions in the ELISA test. He proved a high sensitivity and specificity of the immunofluorescence test in the detection of anti-HIV antibodies, comparable with Western-blot's technique and he established the value of the immunofluorescence test for the identification of the virus antigen on isolation of the virus from HIV infected patients.

[Specific and nonspecific indicators of activation of influenza viruses before an epidemic caused by influenza viruses subtype A/H3N2 and type B in Czechoslovakia in 1986]. / Specifické a nespecifické indikátory aktivizace chripkových viru pred epidemií vyvolané viry chripky subtypu A/H3N2/ a typu B v CSR v roce 1986.

The authors submit an aetiological and epidemiological analysis of the influenza epidemic which occurred in the CSR between the 4th and 14th week of 1986 and was caused by the influenza virus subtype A/H3N2/ and type B. The epidemic affected a total of 27.1% of the population, in the age group of 0-5 years 63.7%, in the age group 6-14 years 52.7% and in the age group above 15 years 17.1%. In the course of the epidemic 77,458 cases of pneumonia and bronchitis were reported and 1,412 deaths with the diagnosis influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia and chronic affection of the lungs. The authors analyze also specific indicators of the activation of influenza viruses and reach the conclusion that serological evidence of the circulation of influenza viruses in the population was detected already in the third quarter of 1985, the first isolations were made six weeks before the influenza epidemic. Activation of the influenza viruses is indicated already during the pre-epidemic period by some non-specific indicators which include the rising number of patients with acute respiratory affections in surgeries and the rising number of children absent from nurseries and nursery schools on account of these diseases. The most sensitive non-specific indicator is the rising number of patients with respiratory diseases in surgeries of the First aid medical service.

Central nervous system involvement in infectious mononucleosis with studies for Epstein-Barr virus.

Neurologic complications in three girls, aged four, fourteen and fifteen years, with infectious mononucleosis are reported. All three patients had meningoencephalitis, in two of them cerebellar involvement predominated, while the third patient had cerebral involvement with paresis of cerebral nerves. The diagnosis of an Epstein-Barr virus infection was established serologiccally and in the first patient also by the detection of the Epstein-Barr virus.