The prevalence of anti-rubella antibodies in women of childbearing age in Poland.

Congenital rubella is a clinically serious problem, which is due to maternal infection with rubella virus during the first trimester of pregnancy. It may result in spontaneous abortion or in fetal infection leading to fetal birth defect. Maternal anti-rubella antibodies have a protective effect and they may prevent congenital rubella.

Immunity against measles in populations of women and infants in Poland.

During the 1997-1998 measles epidemic in Poland a high attack rate occurred in infants up to 1 year of age (24.6/100,000 in comparison with 5.5/100,000 in total population).

[Eradication of leprosy and public health. Vaccination and multidrug therapy].

Leprosy is a disease, which still affects large populations in the developing countries particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. For the last 15 years significant advances have been made towards leprosy elimination. The most effective strategy for leprosy control is an early identification of cases and an effective treatment with multidrug therapy (MDT).

Measles vaccine efficacy during an epidemic in 1998 in the highly vaccinated population of Poland.

A measles epidemic with 2255 reported cases occurred in Poland between November 1997 and July 1998, despite high vaccination coverage since the 1980s. Cases occurred at all ages less than 30 years but showed two distinct peaks: young, unvaccinated children born in 1996-1997 and once vaccinated young adults born 1976-1982. The 60% of cases were among persons aged 15 years or more.

[Immunity of children aged 6-8 against pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria].

Vaccination against pertussis has been performed since 1960. Whole cell pertussis vaccine produced by Plant of Sera and Vaccines Biomed S.A.

The epidemiology of measles in Poland: prevalence of measles virus antibodies in the population.

WHO has adopted a goal of eliminating indigenous measles from the European Region by the year 2007. The strategy focuses on reducing the proportion of susceptible individuals in the population to low levels and maintaining these low levels of susceptibility. Routine vaccination against measles for children aged 13-15 months was introduced in Poland in 1975, and a second dose added in 1991.

[Serological survey of measles antibody prevalence in chosen regions in Poland].

Serological survey of measles antibody prevalence in the Polish population was carried out in 1998. The study group consisted of population in 6 regions: Warsaw, Wroclaw, Poznan, Lublin, Tarnobrzeg and Zielona Gora. A total of 3,000 serum samples were collected from individuals aged from 12 months to 30 years.

[Measles vaccines].

The World Health Organization has settled the goal of measles elimination in European Region by the year 2007. The proposed measles elimination strategy is to reduce an estimated proportion of susceptible individuals in the population to low levels by intensive vaccination and to maintain these low levels for some years. In this strategy, the quality of measles vaccine used for immunization is crucial.

[The impact of immunization against measles on epidemiology of measles in Poland].

The measles vaccination has been introduced in Poland in 1975, and the second vaccine dose of measles vaccine in 1991. Mass immunization against measles exerted a significant impact on measles incidence, morbidity rate and mortality. The progressive increase of immunization coverage caused significant decrease of measles incidence rate among children at age below 10 years as well as among not vaccinated children up to 12 months of age.

[Examination of protein MPB 70 properties in BCG substrains used for the production of Polish antituberculosis vaccines].

The aim of the study was examination of MPB70 protein production by different BCG substrains and testing this protein as reagent in allergenic skin test on BCG vaccinated guinea pigs. Three BCG substrains: Danish 1331 (D), Japanese 172 (J) and Polish BCG Moreau (P) were used for the study. The protein MPB70 received from dr Nagai from Osaka University was used as reference preparation.

[Evaluation of the usefulness of the peripheral test for determination of rabies vaccine potency].

The results of CDC peripheral test for potency of rabies vaccines were compared to the results obtained in the NIH intracerebral test recommended by the WHO. We did not find statistically significant differences in the potency of tested rabies vaccines by CDC and NIH tests.

[Polysaccharide vaccines. II. Meningococcal vaccines].

A short history of vaccination and troubles connected with preparation of vaccine effective in preventing serogroup B meningococcal diseases was described. Different kinds of meningococcal vaccines used all over the world and epidemiological situation in Poland was also discussed.

[Usefulness of the cytotoxic test for testing levels of diphtheria antibodies in sera of immunized animals].

Vero cells method was used for determination of antibodies level in humans vaccinated with Td vaccine and also in animals immunized with Di, DiTe, Td and DTP vaccines. We have found quite high levels of antibodies in both groups of animals. There was also a significant increase of antibody level in the human sera after Td booster dose in the CCV and HA tests, but the correlation with antitoxin titre was low.

[Polysaccharide vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type B].

Epidemiological situation of Haemophilus influenzae infection was described. Conjugated polysaccharide vaccines used all over the world and available in Poland were discussed according to their efficacy and safety.

[Evaluation of the usefulness of the antibody binding test for the estimation of the potency of the rabies vaccine].

Two methods of the estimation of the potency rabies vaccine were used: in vivo NIH Test and in vitro Antibody Binding Test (AB-Test). Six series of vaccines were studied, they passed NIH Test. The results of AB-test were comparable with the results of NIH Test.

[Comparative study of BCG vaccines: Polish, Danish and Japanese -- laboratory tests].

Three freeze-dried BCG vaccines: Polish, Danish and Japan were compared. It was found, that they fullfill all WHO requirements for freeze-dried BCG vaccine. They were shown to have a high survival of bacilli upon freeze-drying, good viability, thermostability and allergizing properties in guinea pigs.

[Investigation of factors determining stability of BCG vaccine].

This study was aimed at establishment of influence of a carrier-sodium glutamate and of changes introduced during the process of freeze-drying on survival of BCG bacilli during lyophilization, as well on thermostability and homogeneity of the vaccine and its immunogenicity. It was found that appropriate drying of the vaccine after freeze-drying performed in higher temperature influences favorably its thermostability. Concentration of the carrier is significantly influential for survival of bacilli during freeze-drying.

[Perspectives on fighting leprosy].

This review presents current distribution of leprosy in the world. The immunologic analyses of the histopathology and pathogenesis of the various stages of leprosy is discussed. The present effectiveness of multidrug therapy (MDT) in the face of emerging resistance to anti-leprosy drugs is presented as well as different attempts for preparing safe and effective vaccine against leprosy.

[Evaluation of thermostability of lyophilized BCG vaccines by using an accelerated thermal degradation test].

The degree of thermal degradation of BCG vaccines prepared from various substrains, using a test evaluating number of viable particles of BCG was determined. Thermal degradation coefficient were established for particular vaccines in different temperatures and a prognosis time curve of 50% CFU titer loss was constructed. It was found, that polish vaccine does not differ essentially from danish and french vaccines in respect to thermostability.

[Heat stability of potency of bacterial vaccines and the titer of tetanus antitoxin of Polish production].

Described the stability of potency vaccines (DTP, BCG) and immunoglobulins (human's and animal's) at storage and experimental temperatures. Thermal degradation rate and design of loss of potency in time have been determined by Arrhenius equation. Our results were similar to WHO data from preparations which have been made in another countries.

[Various immunochemical properties of nonspecific bacterial vaccines].

After critical evaluation of the composition and technology of preparation of nonspecific bacterial vaccines (nsb) some of them were withdrawn from the production (Neoflaminum, Neurovaccinum) and replaced with a new one (Polyvaccinum submite). Part of them were modified (media) and modernised (Panodinum, vaccine according to Delbet). Panodine produced at the present is free from bovine bile, which according to the results of the studies is strongly haemolytic for human and animal red blood cells.

The use of the firefly bioluminescent reaction for the rapid detection and counting of mycobacterium BCG.

A rapid test for the counting of Mycobacterium BCG, based on firefly luciferase assay of bacterial ATP has been evaluated. Three different methods for the extraction of ATP from mycobacterial cells were examined. Extraction with n-butanol proved to be the best method.