Journal of hygiene, epidemiology, microbiology, and immunology
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The study summarizes basic information on environmental conditions and health status of the Czechoslovak population. It analyzes the relationships between health and environmental conditions, and Appendix brings the comprehensive results of relevant studies performed in Czechoslovakia. The analytic results suggest the quality of Czechoslovak ecology as unsatisfactory, which in some localities, e.g. ⋯ In addition to the specific effects of individual factors and life style also immunity, reproduction cycle, metabolic processes etc. become involved in the health-living conditions relationships. All these influences are responsible for high rates of morbidity due to the so-called civilization diseases. Inevitably, the only possible solution is to protect effectively human healthy by protecting his living conditions, i.e. environment and life style.
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J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol · Jan 1990
Historical ArticleSmallpox diagnosed 400 years later: results of skin lesions examination of 16th century Italian mummy.
Results are presented on virological examination conducted on WHO request of a Naples infant mummy with smallpox-like lesions. Electron microscopy of lesions confirmed the findings of Italian researchers: well-preserved virus-like structures, whose size and morphology were identical to those of orthopoxviruses have been revealed. It was shown that the virus in mummy skin had lost its viability. Viral antigenic activity could not be detected in EIA or RPHA, nor was determined its DNA in the test of DNA molecular hybridization.
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J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol · Jan 1989
Enzyme immunoassay in the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in diverse patient groups.
An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in parallel with cell culture was used to investigate the extent of infections due to Chlamydia trachomatis. EIA reactive confirmed in cell culture was taken as positive. C. trachomatis was found in 6 (26.0%) of 23 men with symptomatic non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU), ten (17.2%) of 58 symptom-free males and in three of 4 with postgonococcal urethritis. ⋯ Of 3 women with PID, 2 (66.7%) harboured C. trachomatis in their cervix while in another 29 infertile women, C. trachomatis was positive in 3 (8.1%). Contraceptives appeared to have an effect on the chlamydial positivity. Comparative testing of EIA with the standard cell culture method in this study indicate EIA as a suitable alternative for the definitive diagnosis of chlamydial infection in high prevalence settings and with caution in low prevalence settings.
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J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol · Jan 1988
The development and evaluation of Sevatest ELISA hCG Micro I. kit as a test for pregnancy.
The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method of sandwich type for determination of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in serum or urine using horseradish peroxidase as an enzyme label and microtiter ELISA plates (or polystyrene microtubes respectively) as a solid phase support for antibody was developed. Test sensitivity of 200 mIU hCG per milliliter is approximately sixfold greater than the available hemo- or latex agglutination tests; quantitative hCG ELISA method has sensitivity of 6 mIU hCG per milliliter. ⋯ Reliability of the test performed on routine basis at the Institute for the Care of Mother and Child in Prague proved to be 97.2% for intrauterine pregnancy detection, in 2.52% the test result was "+ -", and only in 0.28% the results were erroneous. For samples sent with the diagnosis of suspected extrauterine pregnancy 93.5% of correct results, 4.35% of "+ -" and 2.17% of erroneous results was found.
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J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol · Jan 1988
Determining the basic characteristics of aerosols suitable for studies of deposition in the respiratory tract.
Studies of aerosol particle deposition in the respiratory tract requires experimental inhalation of artificial model aerosols. The paper formulates some of the most important requirements for the properties of such aerosols. Several suitable fractions were prepared as part of a research project dealing with the use of microporous polymers for diagnostic purposes. 5 fractions of the polymer designated G-gel 60 with the particle size as stated by the manufacturer, ranging from 3 to 7 micron were evaluated using a 16-channel particle dispersity analyzer HIAC/ROYCO MT 3210 with the sensor 1200 and operated by a microprocessor, the equipment being coupled to an APPLE IIe computer. ⋯ The deposition curve was similar to already published curves, being characterized by an S-shaped pattern with maximum deposition in the greater size classes. An analysis of inhaled, exhaled and deposited aerosol suggested that deposited aerosol is more polydisperse and has particles of greater sizes than inhaled aerosol. Investigation of the effect of apnoe on deposition indicated that deposition increased as a function of apnoeic pause.