[The vaccinal prophylaxis of hepatitis B in Russia--the achievements, problems and outlook]. / Vaktsinoprofilaktika gepatita B v Rossii--dostizheniia, problemy, perspektivy.

Certain specific features of the present epidemic situation with hepatitis B (HB) in Russia were established: significant growth of HB morbidity, starting from 1995; the prevalence of persons aged 15-29 years among HB patients, which was linked with the sharp activation of the sexual route of the transmission of HB virus in recent years; an essential increase in the number of patients having contacted this virus in the process of the intravenous use of drugs. The results of the use of vaccine "Engerix B" among persons belonging to different risk groups were considered (a decrease in HB morbidity among them by 8-19 times was noted), the study demonstrated high immunogenicity anti-HBs antibodies on protective titers were determined in 92.3-95.7% of the vaccinees) and low reactogenicity of the vaccine, as well as stable postvaccinal immunity (5 years after the course of vaccination was completed anti-HBs antibodies were retained in 70.6-74% of the vaccinees). The study showed that only the vaccination of adolescents in combination, in the presence of opportunity, with the immunization of newborn infants and young children in the first year of their life made it possible to produce an essential effect on the activity of the epidemic process. Already in 2 years such organization of work on the prophylaxis of HB in one of the cities of the Sverdlovsk region led to a decrease in HB morbidity by 2.9 times, and among adolescents 9 times.

[Intravenous immunoglobulin in combined therapy for children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (evaluation of therapeutical efficiency and factors that influence them)]. / Vnutrivennoe vvedenie immunoglobulina v kompleksnoi terapii detei s iuvenil'nym revmatoidnym artritom (otsenka terapevticheskoi éffektivnosti i vliiaiushchikh na nee faktorov).

The study was based on the follow-up of 20 patients with systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis who received intravenous immunoglobulin. The study comparatively analyzed the efficiency of the therapy alone and in combination with steroids. The immunoglobulin was shown to have positive effects on both articular and extraarticular manifestations of the disease particularly in a group of children untreated with corticosteroids. The duration of the disease did not affect the therapeutical properties of immunoglobulin.