[Results from the hepatitis A-virus diagnostic of the hygiene-institut in Tübingen].

The age-specific and seasonal distribution of serologically confirmed hepatitis A-cases in the area of Tübingen in southern Germany is reported. During 1978-1980 most of the hepatitis A-cases diagnosed by high anti-HAV-IgM titers occurred from September to December. The age distribution of patients with German names showed two age-related peaks, the first one in young children 5-10 years of age and a second one in young adults between 20-30 years.

[Intravenous immunoglobulin administration for antibody deficiency (author's transl)].

Seven patients received a total of 23 infusions of a polyvalent largely monomeric and intravenously applicable immunoglobulin preparation (Sandoglobulin). Among them are two with congenital antibody deficiency syndrome. One of them, who has agammaglobulinaemia type Bruton, is still receiving 9 g Sandoglobulin every three months.

[Rota virus infection in the newborn and infant -- epidemiological aspects (author's transl)].

In a total of 406 sera an age-dependent pattern of complement fixing antibodies against Rotavirus (Nebraska calf diarrhea virus) was found: 85% of the adults had antibodies, infants in the second half-year of life had the lowest percentage (42%). Thereupon a Rotavirus survey was carried out in a newborn ward by means of electron microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and complement fixation test during three weeks in January/February 1978. A chronically high infection rate was discovered.

[Immunisation against influenza with a new subunit vaccine tested on children at risk (author's transl)].

The efficacy and tolerance of Sandovac, a new subunit vaccine, was tested in 104 children and juveniles aged 2 1/4 to 17 years, at five children's clinics. Sandovac 1000 was given to 39 children, Sandovac 2000 to 65. The vaccine was well tolerated, no appreciable side effects--local or systemic--having been recorded.

[Treatment of ALL in children. Results and side effects with a modification of protocol memphis VII (author's transl)].

42 patients with ALL were treated according to the following protocol: induction with vincristine + prednisone (+/- L-asparaginase), CNS-prophylaxis with cranial irradiation (2400 rads) and intrathecal methotrexate, maintenance for 3 years with 6-MP 50 mg/m2/d p.o. + MTX 75-150 mg/m2/2 wk i.

Diarrhea in newborn cynomologus monkeys infected with human rotavirus.

Of six newborn cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) naturally delivered and normally nursed five developed diarrhea after oral administration of human rotavirus. Virus excretion was observed in the stool of four animals. This virus was transmitted to four out of six other monkeys causing diarrhea in only one animal.

Simple mathematical deductions in the seroepidemiology of viral infections. I. Herpesvirus group (herpesvirus hominis, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovris, Epstein-Barr-Virus).

Large samples of nonselected persons collected in South-West Germnay were investigated for the prevalence of serum antibodies to the human Herpesviruses HSV, VZV, CMV and EBV. According to "catalytic models", which compare the infection spread to simple chemical reactions of molecules, a mathematical approximation of the serum surveys was performed. Through a new deduction of the exponential function y = k (l - e-r+) a simple way was found to estimate the annual attack rates in percent of the susceptible, seronegative people.

IgM antibodies to cytomegalovirus during pregnancy.

IgM antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) could be detected in about 7 per cent of 629 pregnant women whereas in 225 nonpregnant control women of similar age distribution only 2.6 per cent showed CMV IgM antibodies. Intrauterine CMV infections were almost exclusively detected among the CMV IgM positive gravides.

[Poliomyelitis epidemic in a district of Freiburg i. Br. in autumn 1975 (author's transl)].

In the autumn of 1975 five cases of poliomyelitis occurred within 6 weeks in German children of families of low socioeconomic class. They lived in two districts of Freiburg with close familial and occupational contacts. One child had been immunised against polio once orally several years ago and none of the others were immunised.

Severe hemorrhagic varicella with visceral involvement: virological and serological studies during treatment with cytosine arabinoside.

A boy 13 year-old suffered an extremely severe and prolonged attack of hemorrhagic chickenpox with visceral involvement, the diagnosis being confirmed by isolation of varicella-zoster-virus (VZV). There was no other compromising disease. All preceding vaccinations including two against smallpox had been uneventful.

[Congenital spondylo-epiphyseal dysplasia: follow-up of a case over 9 years (author's transl)].

A girl with the symptoms of dysplasia spondyloepiphysaria congenita has been observed during 9 years. The progressively severe alterations of the skeleton are demonstrated and briefly discussed.

[Tuberculin allergy in BCG-vaccinated children (author's transl)].

Frequency, duration and intensity of tuberculin allergy was tested in 431 children, vaccinated as neonates, and compared with the data of 400 non-vaccinated children, and 30 children with tuberculosis. When tested with 100 TE, 59% of the vaccinees showed a positive reaction at the age of 5 years, still 36% reacted positively in the 7th year. 4,7% of the non-vaccinated children were tuberculin-positive in 7--9 years old.

[Passive immunization against rubella: studies on the effectiveness of rubella-immunoglobulin after intranasal infection with rubella vaccination virus].

The effectiveness of high-titre rubella immunoglobulin was tested on rubella-susceptible female juveniles or young adults after intranasal immunization with rubella strain RA 27/3, 20 ml of rubella immunoglobulin having been administered intramuscularly to 56 subjects at different times (1, 3 and 5 days) after the immunization. The effect was demonstrated by seroconversion and virus isolation from the throat. In the control subjects (26) the secroconversion was 96% and in 42% of subjects virus was demonstrated in the throat.

Unusual roentgenological findings in cytomegalic inclusion body disease: large and circumscribed calcareous deposits of the basal ganglia and scattered calcifications of the parieto-occipital cortex.

The roentgenological and clinical findings of a five year old girl suffering from cytomegalic inclusion body disease are reported. In this disease unusual circumscript and large calcareous deposits of the basal ganglia and scattered gyriform calcifications of the occipito-parietal cortex were shown on plain skull x-rays and their paraventricular localization demonstrated on pneumoencephalotomogram.