[Etiology of the epidemic outbreak of community-acquired pneumonia in children in St. Petersburg].

In September-December 1998 the epidemic rise of outhospital pneumonia (EP) among children was observed in St. Petersburg, which led to a twofold increase in morbidity rate this year. The study of the etiology of EP during the period of 1998-2001 confirmed the prime role of Streptococcus pneumoniae (74.

[Immunoserodiagnosis of acute Streptococcus pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae infections in the period of epidemic rise of non-hospital pneumonia in children in St. Petersburg, 1998-2001].

The dynamics of the antibody formation to S. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae in children during the epidemic outbreak of non-hospital pneumonia in St.

[The role of intrauterine infection of the central nervous system with herpes simplex viruses in development of encephalopathies in infants].

Intrauterine infections often affect the infant brain and cause meningoencephalitis and long-term encephalopathy. In this study we have analysed morphological changes in different parts of CNS of 22 deceased infants who had suffered from encephalopathy of different degree due to persistence of herpes simplex viruses. Morphological, immunofluorescent, serological methods were used.

[Frequency of acute cytomegalovirus infections among people of differing age groups].

The incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was assessed from the presence of anti-CMV IgM in the sera of 1312 children of different age and 250 adults by the Labsystems enzyme immunoassay kit. CMV-specific IgM are rare in newborns (1.3%), but their incidence increases to 5% during the first year of life.

[Status of the fetus and placental function in women with viral and Mycoplasma infections].

Females with viral and Mycoplasma infection were studied for the fetal and placental status. There was fetal growth retardation; disorders in fetal cardiac performance; placental dysfunction appeared as decreased levels of placental lactogen, chorionic gonadotropin, appeared signs of placental aging, decreased blood flow.

[Involvement of the afterbirth in influenza].

Light- and fluorescence-microscopy examinations of 186 placentas were carried out, with concurrent determination of placental interferon, isolation of influenza virus, and serologic tests of maternal and fetal blood, and amniotic fluid. In 32 of the cases, placentitis caused by serotype A or B of influenza virus was present, characterized by hyperplasia and subsequent destruction of amniotic cells, trophoblast, decidual cells, and vascular endothelium, by the presence of influenza antigens, fuchsinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions in the affected cells, and lymphoid infiltrates, and/or by circulatory disturbances. In addition, an interferon possessing properties of viral, immune, and placental interferon was detected in a number of placentas.

[Viral appendicitis].

In order to study the appendix involvement with respiratory viruses in appendicitis, 44 cases of this disease in patients varying in ages from 14 to 71 years were investigated at random. Light microscopy and immunofluorescent examinations of the appendix were performed. The results were compared with those of serological blood tests done in the time course.

[Incidence of intrauterine infections caused by respiratory viruses and Myc. pneumoniae and the role of serological studies in their diagnosis].

Examinations involved 40 stillborns and infants of up to 3 days of age using light and immunofluorescent (IF) microscopy, and the results obtained were compared with the data of clinical observations and serological examinations of the blood of infants and their mothers. The diagnostic titer of antibody determined by complement fixation and hemagglutination-inhibition tests was higher to respiratory viruses (1--4 in each baby) in 72.5% of babies and to M.