Efficacy of inactivated split-virus influenza vaccine against culture-confirmed influenza in healthy adults: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: A new trivalent inactivated split-virus influenza vaccine (TIV) was recently introduced in the United States. We assessed the efficacy of TIV against culture-confirmed influenza A and/or B.

Methods: In this double-blind trial conducted from September 2006 to May 2007 in the Czech Republic and Finland, participants aged 18-64 years were randomized to receive 1 dose of TIV (n = 5103) or placebo (n = 2549).

Challenge of conducting a placebo-controlled randomized efficacy study for influenza vaccine in a season with low attack rate and a mismatched vaccine B strain: a concrete example.

Background: Our aim was to determine the efficacy of a trivalent inactivated split virus influenza vaccine (TIV) against culture-confirmed influenza A and/or B in adults 18 to 64 years of age during the 2005/2006 season in the Czech Republic.

Methods: 6203 subjects were randomized to receive TIV (N = 4137) or placebo (N = 2066). The sample size was based on an assumed attack rate of 4% which provided 90% power to reject the hypothesis that vaccine efficacy (VE) was > or = 45%.

TBE infection in an incomplete immunized person at-risk who lives in a high-endemic area--impact on current recommendations for immunization of high-risk groups.

This is a case report on a 50-year-old patient, working as a forest guard in a high-endemic region. The subject was immunized with two doses of FSME Immun 0.5 Baxter vaccine (with a time interval of 18 days between the two doses).

Motion-onset and pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials in diagnostics of neuroborreliosis.

Neuroborreliosis is a form of borreliosis that affects the central and/or peripheral nervous system. Although it can mimic neurologic and ophthalmologic disorders such as multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis, visual evoked potential (VEP) examination is usually not used in neuroborreliosis diagnostics. Combined VEP testing (pattern-reversal VEPs and VEPs produced in response to linear and radial motion) was performed in 81 patients with neuroborreliosis verified by laboratory results (positive polymerase chain reaction or intrathecal antibodies production).

Malaria-an unusual cause of fever in the infant.

Malaria is the fourth most frequent cause of death in African children. Connected with perinatal diseases as well as gastrointestinal and respiratory infections malaria has been still a serious health problem of that region. Occurrence of tropical malaria in infants reported in European countries is relatively rare.

Potency requirements of rabies vaccines administered intradermally using the Thai Red Cross regimen: investigation of the immunogenicity of serially diluted purified chick embryo cell rabies vaccine.

To determine the minimum vaccine potency per intradermal dose required to elicit an adequate immune response using the Thai Red Cross (TRC) regimen (2-2-2-0-1-1), healthy volunteers received 0.1 mL volumes of PCECV containing decreasing amounts of antigen. Subjects also received HRIG to evaluate potential interference with antibody production.

Diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis using enzyme immunoanalysis.

Background: Antiborrelia antibodies in Lyme borreliosis (LB) are mostly detected by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), confirmed by immunoblot (the "two-step system"). In indicated cases, direct evidence of Borrelia burgdorferi is obtained with the PCR method, electron microscopy and cultivation. The "one-step system" of testing for IgM and IgG antibodies in LB is economically preferably, but it requires an EIA kit with more than 90% sensitivity and specificity.

[Clinical manifestations and treatment of Lyme disease].

Survey of criteria necessary to establish the diagnosis of Lyme disease according to its definitions by various organizations and institutions in the USA and Europe (European Union Concerted Action on Lyme Borreliosis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society). In the discussion the authors present other possible clinical manifestations connected with the involvement of various organs. In the second part of their paper they describe patterns of therapy for individual forms of Lyme disease in Europe and the USA and their differences.