Evaluation of the eight-year period of compulsory measles vaccination in the Czech Socialist Republic (CSR)

The object of the study is the evaluation of a more than 8-year period of compulsory vaccination against measles in the CSR. So far, a total of 1,850,000 children have been vaccinated. A pronounced decrease has been achieved in morbidity while mortality and lethality reached zero values as early as in 1973. Changes occur in the epidemiological characteristic of measles manifested primarily by the shift of the age distribution of notified cases into older age groups, by continuous prolongation of interepidemic intervals and by gradual disappearances of typical seasonal incidence. Regular immunological surveys have become the most efficient tools in epidemiological surveillance of this infection and in monitoring the vaccination programme. The results of immunological surveys indeed led to the introduction in 1975 of so-called second vaccination compulsory for children starting the first year of school attendance. Up to the present, a total of 24,000 cases of measles have been recorded in children vaccinated earlier, i.e., 1.5% of the total of vaccinated children. It can be expected that measles as a mass disease will be eliminated from the territory of the CSR in the next few years.     

HLA-A, B, C gene, antigen and haplotype frequencies in the northern GDR (German Democratic Republic)

HLA-A, B, C-polymorphism was characterized from a population sample taken in the north of the GDR (n = 1446). The frequencies obtained are representative for the GDR population. The data properly fit into the European distribution pattern of HLA antigens.     

Epidemiological trial of the prophylactic effectiveness of the interferon inducer dipyridamole with respect to influenza and acute respiratory diseases

The epidemiological effectiveness of dipyridamol, an interferon-inducing agent used for the prevention of influenza and viral acute respiratory diseases, was tested in 4 epidemiological trials, 3 of them carried out as double blind trials. Observations were made in groups of adults (a research institute, a factory) and children (a kindergarten, a school), comprising 1040 subjects in the test groups and 771 subjects in the control groups. The drug was used during the whole epidemic period (January--March 1983) according to the following schedule: 1 oral administration in 8 days, in doses of 8 mg for adults, 50 mg for schoolchildren and 24 mg for children in the kindergarten. The epidemiological effectiveness of the drug was evaluated by comparing the total morbidity rates in influenza and acute respiratory diseases in the test and control groups. The results of 4 trials showed a pronounced epidemiological effectiveness of dipyridamol. The values of the epidemiological effectiveness index of the drug were 2.38 in the kindergarten, 1.55 at the school, 7.42 at the factory and 2.16 at the research institute. The results of the study of dipyridamol suggest that further investigations should be made with a view to use it for the mass prevention of influenza and acute respiratory diseases.     

Use-wear analysis of the lithic assemblage from LGM Mohelno-Plevovce site (southern Moravia,Czech Republic)

The Mohelno-Plevovce site, located in Moravia (Czech Republic), has yielded two stone structures that represent the remains of two different short occupations. The chronology of these occupations situates them in the midst of the Last Glacial Maximum, and the techno-typological features of the lithic assemblages link them with the recently defined ‘Epi-Aurignacian with Sagaidak–Muralovka-type microliths’. High power use-wear analysis of representative lithic samples from the two stone structures has been carried out to understand site function and the particular uses made of the different tool types represented at the site. The results of the use-wear analysis are used to test whether these occupations represent the archaeological signatures of pioneer populations that reoccupied the Moravia region, which had previously been abandoned by human populations due to the climatic hardships of the Last Glacial Maximum.     

15. Brve (Czech Republic): Vegetation development over the last about 2.5 millennia in the Bohemian Lowland close to Prague

Two Burkard seven-day recording traps have been in operation in the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria since 1987. Pollen calendars average data for 1987 and 1988. Grass pollen is the most significant contributor in absolute and relative terms. This taxon comprises 52% of total regional pollen for the study period. Pollen of alien northern hemisphere trees is abundant, relative to that of native trees. This is attributed partly to the paucity of trees in the natural vegetation, and partly to their entomophilous nature. The flowering season for exotics is very short, possibly due to the short spring season. The greatest proportion of pollen, 58,8%, is nonseasonal. Species in this category flower throughout the year. 28.4% of taxa are spring-flowering. Annual variability is marked for most taxa.     

Intratracheal double-stranded RNA plus interferon-gamma: a model for analysis of the acute phase response to respiratory viral infections

Double-stranded (ds)RNA is made as a by-product of viral replication. Synthetic dsRNA induces virtually all of the same systemic symptoms as acute viral infections, such as fever and malaise. In order to develop a model of respiratory viral infections (such as influenza) suitable for use in gene knockout mice (where the deleted gene may affect viral replication), we examined C57BL/6 mouse body temperature and locomotor activity responses to the synthetic dsRNA polyriboinosinic.polyribocytidylic acid (poly[rI.rC]) introduced via the intratracheal (IT) route. We compared the IT poly[rI.rC] responses to the well-characterized intraperitoneal (IP) poly[rI.rC] responses. IT poly[rI.rC] failed to induce an acute phase response (APR) in mice, in contrast to IP poly[rI.rC]. However, addition of interferon (IFN)gamma to the IT poly[rI.rC] inoculum induced sustained hypothermia and suppressed locomotor activity responses with similar kinetics to those responses seen in acute mouse influenza. We further examined cytokine, antiviral, muscarinic M2 receptor and inducible nitric oxide synthase gene expression at 5 hr in the lungs of IT challenged mice. These studies suggested that priming the lung with IFNgamma could enhance proinflammatory (IL1beta, IL6, TNFalpha) cytokine gene expression and suppress interferon gene expression compared to IT poly[rI.rC] alone. No differences were detected for the other genes examined. While further molecular characterization of the model is required, we demonstrate that IT challenge with combined poly[rI.rC] and IFNgamma closely simulates the APR to an acute respiratory virus, and may serve as a suitable model for analyzing the molecular basis of the viral APR in gene knockout mice.     

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus NTPase/helicase belongs to a distinct class of 5' to 3' viral helicases

The putative NTPase/helicase protein from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is postulated to play a number of crucial roles in the viral life cycle, making it an attractive target for anti-SARS therapy. We have cloned, expressed, and purified this protein as an N-terminal hexahistidine fusion in Escherichia coli and have characterized its helicase and NTPase activities. The enzyme unwinds double-stranded DNA, dependent on the presence of a 5' single-stranded overhang, indicating a 5'o 3' polarity of activity, a distinct characteristic of coronaviridae helicases. We provide the first quantitative analysis of the polynucleic acid binding and NTPase activities of a Nidovirus helicase, using a high throughput phosphate release assay that will be readily adaptable to the future testing of helicase inhibitors. All eight common NTPs and dNTPs were hydrolyzed by the SARS helicase in a magnesium-dependent reaction, stimulated by the presence of either single-stranded DNA or RNA. The enzyme exhibited a preference for ATP, dATP, and dCTP over the other NTP/dNTP substrates. Homopolynucleotides significantly stimulated the ATPase activity (15-25-fold) with the notable exception of poly(G) and poly(dG), which were non-stimulatory. We found a large variation in the apparent strength of binding of different homopolynucleotides, with dT24 binding over 10 times more strongly than dA24 as observed by the apparent Km.     

Applying Landscape Metrics to Characterize Potential Habitat of Bonobos (Pan paniscus) in the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba Landscape, Democratic Republic of Congo

To conserve areas and species threatened by immediate landscape change requires that we make planning decisions for large areas in the absence of adequate data. Here we study the utility of broad-scale landscape metrics as predictors of species occurrence, especially for remote areas where there is a need to make the most of limited spatial and biological data. Bonobos (Pan paniscus) are endangered great apes endemic to lowland forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are threatened by bushmeat hunting that is exacerbated by habitat fragmentation through slash-and-burn agriculture and timber harvest. We developed four landscape metrics —edge density (ED), COHESION, CONTAGION, and class area (CA)— that may serve as surrogates for measuring accessibility of areas to hunting in order to predict relative bonobo-habitat suitability. We calculated the metrics for the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba (MLW) landscape and evaluated them for utility in predicting bonobo-nest occupancy based on 2009 field data. Cross-validations showed that all four metrics performed similarly. However, forest ED was arguably the best predictor, with an overall classification accuracy of 72.1% in which 85% of known nest blocks (N = 124) were classified correctly. We demonstrated that for a relatively intact landscape and a mobile forest-dwelling species that is fairly tolerant of forest openings, forest fragmentation can still be an important predictor of species occurrence. We suggest that ED can be helpful when mapping bonobo habitat in MLW and can aid landscape-planning and conservation efforts. Our approach may be applied to other edge-sensitive species, especially where high-resolution data are deficient.     

The reactogenicity and safety of a multicomponent vaccine (VP-4) in the prevention of acute respiratory diseases in preschoolers

The reactogenicity and safety of poly-component vaccine (VP-4), prepared from the antigens of opportunistic bacteria, in the prophylaxis of acute respiratory diseases (ARD) in children aged 2.6-6 years. The vaccine was administered intranasally in 3 administrations and orally in 6-8 administrations at intervals of 3-4 days for a period of 24 +/- 4 days. The prophylaxis of ARD with the use of VP-4 was carried out in 168 children in 4 children's preschool institutions. The control group was made up of 120 children, attending the same institutions. The study revealed that VP-4 had low reactogenicity and induced short-time systemic and local reactions (common cold, cough). The administration of VP-4 at a period of the epidemic rise on influenza and ARD morbidity did not lead to an increase in the frequency and duration of ARD in the vaccinees, as well as to the exacerbation of chronic infection and the allergization of the body.     

The use of augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) in the postoperative period in patients with infectious-inflammatory diseases of the ENT organs]

Augmentin (SmithKline Beecham) was used in the treatment of 24 patients after operations on the otorhinolaryngologic organs. The drug was administered orally, intravenously or applied locally. After a radical operation on the maxillary sinus the use of augmentin resulted in a marked decrease of the wound secretion and soft tissue edema on the 6th-7th days. After tonsillectomy cleaning of the tonsil niche from the fibrin patches and the epithelialization started on the 4th-5th days. After operations on the temporal bone cleaning of the postoperative cavity and beginning of the epithelialization were observed on the 9th-10th days. On the whole, the use of augmentin accelerated the cure which was recorded 3-4 days earlier.     

The structure, morbidity level and the frequency of acute diarrheal diseases in children in the preschool period (longitudinal cohort research)

Some new aspects of acute intestinal infections incidence rate have been revealed in longitudinal cohort study, whose results are proposed for use in the system of prophylactic measures. The group of susceptible children frequently suffering from acute intestinal infections is considered to be of particular scientific and practical importance, for it is this group which determines the level of morbidity in these infections.     

Early to high medieval colonization and alluvial landscape transformation of the Labe valley (Czech Republic): evaluation of archaeological,pollen and macrofossil evidence

In the High Middle Ages, a wave of landscape transformation which originated in western Europe swept across the east-central part of the subcontinent. In the Czech Republic, this happened during the 13th century and it had the same environmental attributes as in the rest of Europe—a considerable increase in population, vast deforestation resulting in a rapid increase in soil erosion, irreversible changes in forest species composition and overall formation of a cultural landscape. In the Czech Republic, the dynamics of such a radical change are poorly understood because it would require detailed archaeological, historical and palaeoecological insight into developments during the Early Middle Ages—a demand that is mostly not met. The aim of this paper is to fill in this gap. Archaeological and historical data from three early medieval strongholds located in central Bohemia, at Libice nad Cidlinou, Stará Boleslav and Hradi??ko, are summarized and evaluated. The first two sites represent well-known political and religious centres of the early Czech state in the 10 to 11th centuries, while the last was of secondary importance. These archaeological sites have radiocarbon dated pollen and plant macrofossil evidence from oxbow sedimentary sequences which are situated in the immediate vicinity of the strongholds. The issue of fluvial transport of pollen and macrofossils is also discussed. Both pollen and macrofossil data from Hradi??ko show surprisingly small impact of the stronghold on the forested alluvial environment. The vicinity of Stará Boleslav was intensively affected by human activity only during the later 11th century. It has not been possible to trace any impact of the foundation of the stronghold at Libice nad Cidlinou on the landscape. Medieval landscape change began before the 13th century in some places, as shown by the data from Stará Boleslav.     

Correction to: Low Resistance of Senior Resident Females Toward Female Immigration in Bonobos (Pan paniscus) at Wamba,Democratic Republic of the Congo

International Journal of Primatology - The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in the Discussion section. The phrase “...by older females against younger...     

Development of a novel fusogenic viral liposome system (HVJ-liposomes) and its applications to the treatment of acquired diseases.

Toward human gene therapy and gene analysis in vivo, a novel hybrid vector based on liposome has been developed for more efficient gene delivery and gene expression. The liposome was decorated with HVJ (Sendal virus) envelope fusion proteins to introduce DNA directly into the cytoplasm, and contained DNA and DNA-binding nuclear protein to enhance expression of the gene. Recently, several types of HVJ-liposomes were developed by altering the lipid components of the liposomes. HVJ-cationic liposomes increased gene delivery 100-800 times more efficiently in vitro than the conventional HVJ-anionic liposomes. HVJ-cationic liposomes were also more useful for gene expression in restricted portions of organs and for gene therapy of disseminated cancers. It was further discovered that the use of anionic liposomes with a virus-mimicking lipid composition (HVJ-AVE liposomes) increased transfection efficiency by several fold in vivo, especially in liver and muscle. By coupling the Epstein-Barr (EB) virus replicon apparatus to HVJ-liposomes, transgene expression was sustained in vitro and in vivo. Most animal organs were found to be suitable targets for the fusigenic-viral liposome system, and numerous gene therapy strategies using this system were successful in animals.     

Quantitative analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus-infected cells using proteomic approaches: implications for cellular responses to virus infection

We present the first proteomic analysis on the cellular response to severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection. The differential proteomes of Vero E6 cells with and without infection of the SARS-CoV were resolved and quantitated with two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis followed by ESI-MS/MS identification. Moreover isotope-coded affinity tag technology coupled with two-dimensional LC-MS/MS were also applied to the differential proteins of infected cells. By combining these two complementary strategies, 355 unique proteins were identified and quantitated with 186 of them differentially expressed (at least 1.5-fold quantitative alteration) between infected and uninfected Vero E6 cells. The implication for cellular responses to virus infection was analyzed in depth according to the proteomic results. Thus, the present work provides large scale protein-related information to investigate the mechanism of SARS-CoV infection and pathogenesis.     

Genetic diversity of the prion protein gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">PRNP</Emphasis>) coding sequence in Czech sheep and evaluation of the national breeding programme for resistance to scrapie in the Czech Republic

Of 34 breeds kept in the Czech Republic 45,604 sheep were genotyped for codons 136, 154 and 171 in the prion protein gene (PRNP) during the years 2006–2014. In this cohort, haplotypes ARR, ARQ, ARH, AHQ, VRQ, AHR and ARK were detected. The haplotype AF₁₄₁RQ associated with susceptibility to atypical scrapie was observed in nine out of 30 breeds analysed for this purpose. In addition, six rare nonsynonymous substitutions producing haplotypes AT₁₃₇RQ, AN₁₃₈RQ, AG₁₅₁RQ, AH₁₅₁RQ, ARL₁₆₈Q and ARQE₁₇₅ were identified in various breeds. Due to their low frequencies, these polymorphisms are of no potential importance for the breeding programme. With regard to their genetic particularity, Sumavka, Valachian and Cameroon breeds were screened for additional polymorphisms. Further haplotypes, AR₁₄₃RQ and AS₁₄₆RQ, were found in Sumavka and Cameroon, and in Valachian sheep, respectively. Frequencies of the ARR (resistance-associated), VRQ (susceptibility-associated) haplotypes, and of the most resistant ARR/ARR genotype calculated for sheep born in the years 2001–2003 and 2011–2013 documented effects of the 10 year-lasting national breeding programme. The total frequency of ARR doubled from 36.8 to 75.8 %, while the frequency of VRQ decreased from 4 to 0.7 %. The total frequency of the ARR/ARR genotype increased from 17.7 to 59 %. These data show that the national scrapie resistance breeding programme has had an important desirable effect on haplotype and genotype frequencies of PRNP in Czech sheep.     

The augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) prophylaxis of postoperative infectious complications in patients with acute surgical diseases of the abdominal cavity organs]

Augmentin was used prophylactically in 25 patients with an account of the infectious complication risk according to 4 regimens: ultrashort-term (1.2 g intravenously with initial narcosis), short-term (1.2 g intravenously with initial narcosis followed by intravenous administration in a dose of 600 mg in 8 and 16 hours), middle-term (1.2 g intravenously with initial narcosis followed by intravenous administration in a dose of 600 mg every 8 hours for 2 days) and long-term (1.2 g intravenously with initial narcosis followed by intravenous administration in a dose of 600 mg every 8 hours for 3 days). One complication episode as wound suppuration was recorded. The routine approach to the use of antibiotics in emergency abdominal surgery, when antibiotics are administered every day for several days after the operation, should be revised.     

Bacterial lysate (I.R.S. 19) applied intranasally in the prevention of acute respiratory diseases in children: a randomized double-blind study

A controlled trial was undertaken to test I.R.S. 19 (a commercial intranasal spray) versus placebo in the prevention of acute respiratory diseases (ARD) in 825 maternity-school children in three cities; another control group of 327 children received neither I.R.S. 19 nor placebo. The spraying was done twice a day for a total of 20 spraying days in each child; sprayings were interrupted on weekends and during absence, the mean spraying period being 34 calendar days. During the 6-month study (1 November to 30 April) the children were monitored for ARD morbidity causing absence from school. A total of 1,585 such ARD cases occurred; their etiology was not investigated. The indices evaluated were: total duration of ARD-associated absence, ARD incidence, and mean duration of one illness. With the administration schedule used, I.R.S. 19 did not, in an overall evaluation, surpass placebo in any of these indices in either normal children or a subgroup of children with presumed enhanced ARD susceptibility.