Tick-borne encephalitis in the Estonian SSR

The foci of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) of 2 types, differing in their morbidity rates, the character of their immunological structures, the species composition of carrier mites and their capacity for TBE virus carriership, have been shown to exist in Estonia. TBE morbidity is characterized by 4- to 5-year cycles, the overwhelming majority of TBE cases being registered in the area of the joint habitat of both species of mites. During the epidemic season 2 peaks of morbidity rise are registered, which corresponds to peaks in the number of mites in nature. Different epidemic importance of 2 species of carrier mites in TBE morbidity in Estonia has been shown.     

Epidemiology of viral hepatitis: an overview

Nearly all human viral hepatitis is caused by five hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D (delta) and E. An overview of the epidemiology and current measures for preventing transmission of these viruses are discussed.     

The state of veterinary genetics in the Estonian SSR

Short review of veterinary-genetic research in the Estonian SSR is presented in this paper, Six main original achievements are discussed, in particular, population-immunological characterization of hen flocks. The latter method is simple, not labour-consuming and helps to prognose the viability and endurance of hens, on the basis of determining the immunological traits of blood in young hens.     

Comparison of some pollen concentrations in Finland and the Estonian SSR

Summary Pollen and spore concentrations were compared in Tartu, Estonia and in three sites in Finland (Turku, Kuopio and Oulu) during May–September 1989. The onset ofQuercus, Pinus, Poaceae,Urtica andRumex flowering started earlier in Tartu than at any site in Finland. The flowering ofJuniperus andArtemisia, on the other hand, began earlier in Turku and Kuopio than in Tartu.Pinus andJuniperus showed a significant correlation (number of pollen grains at the same date) between Tartu and Turku and between Turku and Kuopio. Poaceae andUrtica were correlated between all the sites, as wasRumex except between Tartu and Turku.Artemisia was correlated between Tartu and Turku, Turku and Oulu, and Kuopio and Oulu.Cladosporium correlated between Tartu and Turku. The pollen seasons of Poaceae,Urtica andRumex are prolonged towards the south.     

Long-term investigations of atmospheric ionization in Tartu,Estonian SSR

This is a review of the resulta of long-term measurements of small and large air ions of both signs from 1951–1963 and the correlation of this data with meteorological measurements and the incidence of spontaneous death and cardio-vascular diseases during 3 years in Tartu, Estonia. There is a seasonal variation in the density of air ions. The density of small ions was maximal from January to March and minimal from May to July, the density of large ions was the opposite. There was also a diurnal variation of the small ions with the highest density after midnight and minimum density at 07:00 hr. General mortality and incidence of cardiovascular disease were above the annual average during the winter months when the density of small ions was lowest.

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Zusammenfassung Dies ist eine Übersicht über die Ergebnisse langfristiger Messungen der grossen und kleinen Luftionen beider Vorzeichen von 1951–1963 und die Korrelation der Werte mit meteorologischen Messungen und mit der Häufigkeit von Todesfällen und Herz- und Gefässkrankheiten in Tartu, Estland. Es wurde eine jahreszeitliche Variation in der Dichte der Luftionen beobachtet, das Maximum der kleinen Ionen war von Januar bis März, das Minimum von Mai bis Juli, Maximum und Minimum der grossen Ionen lagen umgekehrt. Die diurne Variation der kleinen Ionen zeigte die grösste Dichte nach Mitternacht und die geringste Dichte um 7 Uhr früh. Todesfälle und Herz- und Gefässkrankheiten waren überdurchschnittlich häufig in den Wintermonaten, wenn die Dichte der kleinen Ionen an geringsten war.

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Resume Il s'agit ici de la compilation des résultats de mesure des petits et grands ions atmosphériques des deux signes, mesures faites à Tartu (Estonie) de 1951 à 1963. On a en outre recherché les corrélations pouvant exister entre ces mesures d'une part, les éléments métorologique, la fréquence des décès, les maladies de coeur et des vaisseaux d'autre part. On a pu constater une variations saisonnière de la densité des ions atmosphériques. Le maximum des petits ions se rencontre de janvier à mars,le minimum de mai à juillet. Les grands ions se répartissent de façon opposée. La répartition diurne présente un maximum de densité des petits ions après minuit, un minimum vers 7 heures du matin. Le nombre de décès et de crises cardiaques ou vasculaires est le plus grand lorsque les petits ions sont le moins nombreux.

     

Results of the examination of patients with viral hepatitis for HBsAg in Kashka-Darya Province, Uzbek SSR

The practical use of the reverse passive hemagglutination test for the examination of viral hepatitis patients revealed the presence of HBsAg, on the average, in 28.4 +/- 0.95% of cases. This antigen occurred most frequently among the patients aged up to 1 year (42.8 +/- 4.18%), as well as in the second quarter of the year (33.3 +/- 2.3%). The proportion of patients with hepatitis B in the total number of patients with viral hepatitis was 20%.     

The territorial and age-related characteristics of the distribution of patients with non-A, non-B viral hepatitis infected via the fecal-oral mechanism in foci of elevated viral hepatitis morbidity in the Uzbek SSR

The study of patients from 10 foci of acute viral hepatitides for the presence of HBsAg (in the passive reverse hemagglutination test) and anti-hepatitis A virus IgM (in the radioimmunoassay) has shown high frequency and variability in the spread of hepatitis non-A, non-B, the prevalence of adults aged 20-29 years and children aged 2-4 years among persons involved into the epidemic process and the tendency towards an increase in the proportion of hepatitis non-A, non-B in the total number of cases of viral hepatitides in the republic.     

Morphology,production and mineral contents inPhragmites australis in different waterbodies of the Estonian SSR

The present work was carried out at four waterbodies in the Estonian SSR where seven different habitats ofPhragmites australis were selected. The paper gives the results of the study of clones from essentially different sites: the characteristics of the habitat of the species (soil profile, soil analyses, pH of water), morphological features of shoots, the nutrient content in plant parts, the production of clones, and also relations between these characteristics.     

Epidemiology of allergic diseases of the respiratory passages in the Kazakh SSR

Over a period of 20 years, the authors have been studying the distribution, aetiology and causes of increasing incidence of allergic respiratory diseases in various climatogeographic zones of the Kazakh SSR. Large groups of people living in towns and in the country were examined by various methods. The number of patients seeking advice in health service establishments because of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma was found to increase every year. A number of factors influencing the incidence of disease were pointed out, such as the character of diet, duration of the person's stay, vaccination against brucellosis, pollution of the atmosphere, local flora, climate, and other factors. Morbidity also depended on the methods of studying the epidemiology of respiratory allergoses. The obtained results will help health service authorities in taking specific measures to reduce morbidity from the mentioned pathological condition.     

Glycosylation in viral hepatitis

BackgroundThe interaction between hepatitis viruses and host cells is regulated by glycans exposed on the surfaces of human and viruses cells. As the biosynthesis and degradation of human glycoproteins take place at the highest level in the liver, the changes in glycosylation of serum proteins may potentially be useful in the diagnosis of liver pathology. On the other hand, specific alterations in viruses envelope glycans could cause large changes in the entry process of hepatitis viruses into a host cells.Scope of reviewUnique alterations in glycosylation of specific proteins can be detected in HBV and HCV infected patients especially with confirmed fibrosis/cirrhosis. On the other hand, viral envelope proteins that bind to host cells are glycosylated. These glycosylated proteins play a key role in recognition, binding and penetration of the host cells. In this review we summarized the knowledge about significance of glycosylation for viral and host factors.Major conclusionsGlycosylation changes in single serum glycoproteins are noticed in the sera of patients with viral hepatitis. However, a more specific biomarker for the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis than that of a single glycosylated molecule is systemic investigation of complete set of glycan structures (N-glycome). Glycans play important roles in the viral biology cycle especially as a connecting element with host receptors.General significanceThe interaction between virus glycoproteins and cellular receptors, which are also glycoproteins, determines the possibility of virus penetration into host cells. Therefore these glycans can be the targets for the developing of novel treatment strategies of viral hepatitis.