[The AIDS epidemic among children in Romania. The current data and short-term forecasts].

Situation and main characteristics of the AIDS epidemics in Romania are analysed. Prevention measures, among which it is worth mentioning a correct information of the population, are proposed.

The continuous decrease in the number of SSPE annual cases ten years after compulsory anti-measles immunization.

The record of SSPE cases diagnosed immunochemically and serologically in our laboratory, standing for about 60% of the total new cases reported in our country, shows a significant decrease in the incidence in 1988-89 (from 5.21 new cases per year per million total population in 1987 to 1.82 cases in 1988).

Viral infection correlated with superoxide anion radicals production and natural and synthetic copper complexes.

Studies conducted on asymmetric triazine derivatives synthetized at the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research Institute showed that products S1, S16, S17, S19, S20 and S22 have a remarkable O2- radical scavenger activity. Among these derivatives, the product S1 is the most efficient as an antiviral agent.

Protein kinase C and the antiviral effect of human interferon.

Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors: Hidaka's compounds H-7 (10 microM) and H-8 (20 microM), palmitoyl-carnitine (10 microM) and phloretin (50 microM), did not modify the antiviral effect of human natural or recombinant interferon alpha and of natural interferon beta. The tumor promoter 12-o-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) (200 nM), known as activator of PKC induced an antiviral state when tested on human embryo fibroblasts challenged with the vesicular stomatitis virus. The battery of PKC inhibitors used inhibited the antiviral effect induced by TPA.

[The antiproliferative effects associated with vincristine and human interferons in experimental in vitro systems].

Cytotoxic potential of suboptimal doses of vincristine associated with human interferon was studied in two cell lines of tumoral origin, as compared to the action of or gamma type interferon preparations. Results show that the vincristine cytotoxic effect may be synergistically augmented in both culture types by simultaneous interferon administration.

[Adaptation of the avidin-biotin system for identifying and quantifying Sendai virus antigens].

The avidin-biotin system was adapted in view of the identification and dosage of the Sendai parainfluenza virus and of its antigens, using the method of double antibodies (biotinylated and nonbiotinylated) in ELISA type tests.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). VII. Established lymphoid cell line (IVPat-88) obtained from synovial fluid of a patient with aseptic arthritis.

Attempts have been made to culture mononuclear cells from synovial fluid of 8 patients with arthropathy, and have led to the development of the lymphoid cell line IVPat-88. Cell line has been propagated by serial passages for more than 14 weeks in continuous culture. The cells grew as single, free-floating individuals, or in dense clumps without adherence to glass or plastic surface.

[Different modalities for registering AIDS cases. Their importance for the European epidemic].

The high number of AIDS cases diagnosed in different European countries imposed to reconsider the opinion that European epidemic is just reflecting the American epidemic. The whole morbidity des not point out the peculiar elements of HIV infection propagation in Europe. The exponential rise of reported case number during 1987 imposes to analyse the new epidemiological situation.

[Assessment of the epidemiological parameters of the most widespread viral diseases in the Socialist Republic of Romania and in Sibiu County for period 1967-1986].

Essential peculiarities of the kinetics of the morbidity evolution of most frequent virus diseases were explained using a determinant mathematical model. The main epidemiological parameters for the whole territory of the S.R.

[Gamma interferon induced in human leukocytes by phytohemagglutinin: its production and biological characteristics].

Human gamma type interferon (IFN) preparations were obtained through phytohemagglutinin stimulation of leukocytes from the peripheral blood. Biological value of these preparations varied between 160 u and 800 u/ml, depending on leukocyte incubation medium, culture system and inductor conservation. The rising of the antiviral activity through association between gamma (3 u) and alpha (27 u) interferons was revealed by the virus quantity reduction (in this case the vesicular stomatitis virus was used) during a 24-hour multiplication cycle.

Interferon-induced antiviral state is inhibited by neomycin and mimicked by diacylglycerols.

The antiviral effect of human interferons alpha and beta was inhibited in dose-dependent manner by submillimolar concentrations of neomycin, known to block phosphoinositide hydrolysis and therefore the diacylglycerol formation. On the contrary, the synthetic permeant diacylglycerols (1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn or rac-glycerol) were able to induce an interferon-like antiviral state when tested against the vesicular stomatitis virus and herpes simplex type I virus. Hidaka's compound H-8 (1.

[Treatment of cutaneous herpes and herpes zoster with Nivcrisol-D].

The results obtained at the Dermatological service of the Colentina Hospital show that the product NIVCRISOL-D, containing propolis, has a significant therapeutical effect against recurrent herpes and zona zoster.

Computerized studies of influenza epidemiology in the Sibiu county between 1968 and 1986.

The report presents a statistical synthesis (a microcomputer Junior was used) concerning the incidence of various acute infections of the upper respiratory tract (AIURT), the stages of their evolution, the distribution of cases among the population groups, the seasonal incidence and the values of epidemiologic parameters. We used clinical and epidemiologic data on AIURT of viral etiology (especially influenza). The structure of a data base on the epidemiology of AIURT of viral etiology is also presented.

[Presence of C-reactive protein in the development of acute mumps infection. Preliminary report].

Investigations conducted on subjects with epidemic parotitis serologically confirmed (hemagglutination inhibition) allowed the detection of amounts of C reactive protein (Crp) higher than the normal level in 34% of the serum samples collected during the first twelve days of illness. After that, the Crp gradually decreased. The results showed that Crp is present in more than 40% of the subjects with uncomplicated mumps and in 55 to 75% of the cases with such complications as meningitis or orchitis.

[Anti-proliferative and antiviral effects of human alpha-interferon on tumor cells].

Antiproliferative and antiviral activities of a type alpha human leukocytic interferon on several heteroploidic cell lines: HeLa, HEp-2, and T-10, a cell line of malignant origin (glioblastoma) were investigated, as compared to subcultures of human embryo fibroblasts. The tumor cell multiplication rate decreased proportionally to the amount of interferon in the culture medium. The highest interferon concentration used in our experiments (1,000 mu/ml) induced a decrease of the normal cell multiplication rate (human embryo fibroblasts).

Effect of several unpurified milk preparations on experimental influenza infection in mice.

Investigations were performed as regards the effect of the in vitro contact of influenza virus A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) with different milk preparations: boiled milk, milk acidified with lactic acid, supernatant from boiled yoghourt. It was the latter preparation that had the highest efficacy as regards the reduction of hemagglutinating (HA) titer following direct in vitro contact and the course of experimental influenza infection in mice. In the case of animals inoculated with influenza virus exposed to yoghourt supernatant HA titers in the lung homogenates were lower, mortality rates were reduced and the mean survival time was longer than in controls infected with untreated virus.

Effect of some anthracycline antibiotics on the neuraminidase activity of Sendai virus and its isolated glycoproteins.

Anthracycline antibiotics violamycin BI (VBI) and adriamycin (Adr) strongly inhibited the neuraminidase (NA) activity of Sendai virus and of its isolated glycoproteins, occurring either in solution or associated in liposome-like particles. NA did not exhibit the classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics: the plot of reaction velocity versus substrate concentration was sigmoidal, while Hill's plotting indicated that the enzyme has at least two binding sites for the substrate. The reaction kinetics obtained suggested that Sendai virus NA acts as an allosteric enzyme, when its material support, the HN is located on the virus surface.

Some physico-chemical and biological properties of egg-Sendai virus with altered haemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein.

Some physico-chemical and biological properties of egg-cultivated Sendai (egg-Sendai) virus particles with altered haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein were studied. These particles were obtained accidentally from purified egg-Sendai virus stored at +4 degrees C. Egg-Sendai with altered HN protein was not infectious for cultured cells, but could still infect embryonated eggs.