Rapid detection of respiratory syncytial virus in clinical specimens.

Results of the direct immunofluorescence (IF) test in 152 clinical specimens (throat swabs) were compared with those of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isolation. The prevalence of RSV infections in the upper and lower respiratory tract was high especially in infants until 12 months of age. The average RSV isolation rate was 18.

[Effect of long-term plasmapheresis on blood composition. I. Changes in the concentration of total proteins, electrophoretic fractions and immunoglobulins].

Effects of long term plasmapheresis on blood constituents was examined in the plasma donors from whom 220-660 ml of plasma was withdrawn weakly. The donors were submitted 3-300 times to double plasmapheresis procedures. Small decreases in concentrations of total proteins, albumins, gamma-globulins, immunoglobulins IgA and IgM were observed as well as the increases in the concentrations of alpha-1-globulins (p less than 0,05), alpha-2-globulins (p less than 0,05), beta-globulins (p less than 0,05) and immunoglobulins IgG (p less than 0,05).

Observation of the changes of plasma proteins after long term plasmapheresis.

The influence of long term plasmapheresis on the health of donors was examined in two groups of plasma donors that donated mean volume of 411 ml of plasma during 176 weeks and 670 ml of plasma during 123 weeks (p less than 0,05). The control group consisted of 27 whole blood donors. Statistically no significant differences (p greater than 0,05) were found in the concentrations of total proteins, albumin, gammaglobulins, immunoglobulins, alpha 1 antitrypsin, alpha 2 macroglobulin, plasminogen, fibrinogen, factor V, factor VIII, GPT and alkaline phosphatase.