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Eighty-two patients with Hodgkin's disease (H.D.) and 40 patients with Multiple Myeloma (M.M.) were HL-A typed. The results were compared with those of 255 healthy individuals of the same geographical area. In both diseases W18 (4cr) - belonging to the 4c-complex - was significantly increased.

Twenty-six bone marrow transplantations were performed at the West Germany Tumour Centre at Essen between December 1975 and December 1981. Three patients had aplastic anaemia, 23 acute leukaemia. Of the leukaemia patients 13 had a recurrence and ten were in full remission at the time of the transplantation. Two of the patients with a recurrence received deep-frozen autologous marrow from the remission phase. One patient with aplastic anaemia had an identical twin as donour, while all other patients received allogeneic marrow from histocompatible family members. Eleven patients are still alive, all three of those with aplastic anaemia, one of those with leukaemia in a recurrence, and seven of those with acute leukaemia in full remission. Two of the survivors have a chronic graft-host reaction, but the others are symptom-free, after an observation period of up to four years. Main causes of death were leukemic recurrence (6), infection (5), and graft-host reaction (2). It would seem that at present bone marrow transplantation offers the best chance of a cure for severe aplastic anaemic and acute leukaemia in adults, but only if transplantation is undertaken early and not in the end-stage of the disease.

Hepatitis-A antibody of the IgM class can be demonstrated in serum by radio-immunoassay quickly, relatively cheaply and simply. The diagnosis of fresh or recent hepatitis-A virus infection can be made from a single serum sample in a single test. Epidemiological analysis of the positive findings obtained in 1981 gave the following results: 1. Hepatitis-A is, in Germany, largely a disease of young adults, with an average age of 24 years. But cases still occurred above the age of 50.2. Among foreigners positive results were obtained already in children (average age 7 years). 3. While in foreigners the disease predominantly occurred in the last four months of the year, among Germans the distribution had three peaks related causally to the holiday months of April, July and October.

Bone-marrow transplantations were performed in 71 patients, 11 with panmyelopathy, 17 with recurrence of acute leukaemia, 25 with acute leukaemia and remission, 18 with chronic myeloid leukaemia. The transplantation was allogenic in 67, autologous in 2, isologous in 2. Eight patients each survived in the panmyelopathy and chronic myeloid leukaemia groups. In the group of patients with acute leukaemia only one patient of those in a recurrence survived the transplantation for several years, but after 6 years there was another recurrence. Of the 20 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia who received the transplantation during their first remission, 11 are still alive. Retransplantation because of the recurrence was employed in one case each of acute and chronic myeloid leukaemia. Main cause of death was interstitial pneumonia with an overall risk of 23%. Only 5% of patients developed severe acute graft-versus-host reaction, grades III-IV. The low incidence of this reaction is possibly due to the strict gnotobiotic measures which in most of the patients led to decontamination of the intestinal tract.

HLA antigen segregation analysis was performed in 38 families with a total of 52 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients including 14 families with 2 affected sibs.HLA-A 3 and especially B 7 occurred more frequently in familial MS cases (propositi) (A3: 42.9%, B7: 64.3%) than in non-familial cases (A3: 35.8%, B7 : 35.3%).As could be expected from the increased phenotype frequencies of A3 and B7, the haplotype A3-B7 showed a disturbed segregation among the MS patients but not among their healthy sibs.A second haplotype, A1-B8, was found more frequently than expected among the MS patients but also among their unaffected sibs.These data may suggest increased MS susceptibility associated with the haplotype A 3-B 7 and, conversely autoimmune or protective properties associated with A 1-B 8 in MS patients and their healthy sibs, respectively.

The usually recommended terminal disinfection by formaldehyde vapor is unable to completely inactivate vaccinia viruses embedded in scabs. In view of our results, we recommend doubling the concentration of formaldehyde (10 g of formaldehyde per m3 of space) and prolonging the time of exposure to 24 h for terminal disinfection in the case of smallpox. Subsequent disinfection by scrubbing assumes special importance, since no complete inactivation of the scabs occurs.

24 HL-A antigens were determined in a total of 163 Caucasien cancer patients (60 breast cancers, 64 cancers of the cervix uteri, 19 cancers of the endometrium and 20 cancers of the ovary). The comparison of the antigen frequencies with the analogous values from 1000 healthy controls yielded no outstandingly significant deviations for cancer of the cervix, endometrium and ovary. In breast cancer patients, however, there might be an association with the antigens HL-A10 and W18 or the haplotype HL-A10-W18, as indicated by the results of a combined evaluation of our data together with the results of four different HL-A studies in breast cancer patients.

Summary Post-exposure prophylaxis, also known as post-exposure treatment, is the combination of suitable methods to inactivate rabies virus locally by physical and chemical methods and by specific immunoglobulin, and to prevent spreading of the virus by passively applied immunoglobulin and active antibody formation through vaccination. In addition to these measures, officially recommended by WHO, passive and active interferonization can be considered as a method of preventing early replication of the virus. Different rabies vaccines for man which are actually in use are briefly described, with special regard to efficacy and reactogenicity. Most successful results have been obtained with the human diploid cell vaccine. Some characteristics of the humoral immune response to this vaccine are presented and some reports on severe adverse reactions and possible «breakthough shall be critically discussed.

The attenuated influenza-A-virus strain "Alice" (H3N2) - A Recombination from A2/England/72 and A/PR8 Mount Sinai/34 - was given intransally in drops (10(7,2) ID50 per dose), twice seven days apart. In a similar fashion, 25 healthy persons received placebos. Local antibodies were determined before and three weeks after the first vaccination from nasal irrigation fluid. The fluid was concentrated and adjusted to an IgA amount of 50 mg/l. Blood samples were obtained at similar intervals. Systemic antibody formation was comparable to that obtained with inactivated virus vaccine. There was good antibody formation against retrospective and prospective virus strains of the actual drift period. The conversion rate of antineuraminidase antibodies was comparable to that obtained with inactivated virus vaccine. The locally induced antibodies behaved predominantly in a strain-specific manner. However, there were also reactions with the virus strains Port Chalmers and Hong Kong. Live vaccine should in future be used in "drift" times, while inactivated virus vaccine should be used in shift periods (occurrence of new virus strains).

Die Seren von insgesamt 282 Patienten mit verschiedenen Formen der Hepatitis und Cirrhose wurden auf das Vorhandensein lymphocytarer Antikorper untersucht. Bei diesen Antikorpern handelt es sich um 19S-IgM-Immunglobuline, die in vitro optimal bei einer Temperatur von 15°C unter Komplementverbrauch reagieren und keine HLA-Spezifitat aufweisen. Sie waren in Prozentsatzen zwischen 14% und 48% bei Patienten mit Hepatopathien nachweisbar, wobei die hochste Frequenz bei chronisch-aggressiver Hepatitis (CAH) und die niedrigste bei Patienten mit chronisch-persistierender Hepatitis (CPH) beobachtet wurden. Bei Patienten mit akuter Hepatitis (blander und rezidivierender Verlauf) lag die Haufigkeit des Nachweises der Kaltelymphocytotoxine (Cold reactingComplement dependant lympho-Cytotoxins=CoCoCy) zwischen denjenigen der CAH- und CPH-Patienten. Eine Korrelation zum Hepatitis-B-Antigen bestand nicht. Diese Antikorper waren nicht nur bei Leberpatienten, sondern auch in der Kontrollgruppe der HB-Ag-positiven und HBAg-negativen Blutspender in 20% bzw. 6% nachweisbar. Die Serumkonzentration der CoCoCy ist gering. Der Nachweis dieser Antikorper ist weniger von diagnostischem als von pathogenetischem Interesse. Moglicherweise sind die CoCoCy ein „Brutto-Parameter“ fur die Immunreaktivitat. Sie besitzen wahrscheinlich T-Zell-Spezifitat und sind unabhangig von dem spezifischen Antigenstimulus der Immunreaktion.

SUMMARYThe specificity of serum anti-HA antibody from children immunized or infected with A/Victoria/75 (H3N2) or A/Texas/77 (H3N2) virus was examined using the single radial haemolysis test together with adsorption of antibody with three antigenic variants A/Hong Kong/68 (H3N2), A/Port Chalmers/73 (H3N2) and A/Victoria/75 (H3N2). The majority of young children reacted to vaccination or infection by producing strain-specific (SS) antibody to the homologous virus. A small proportion of children's sera contained cross-reacting (CR) antibodies capable of reacting with the haemagglutinins of all antigenic variants of the subtype including A/HK/1/68. In contrast, most adults reacted immunologically to either vaccination or infection by producing CR antibody, reacting with all variants of the antigenic subtype including the prototype virus A/HK/1/68 (H3N2).

An den Essener Zellinien HeLa, KB, FL, MS und an diploiden Rhesusaffennierenzellen wurden der Zeitpunkt der hochsten Mitoserate ermittelt und cytogenetische Untersuchungen durchgefuhrt. Die einzelnen Zellinien zeigen teilweise ausgepragte Unterschiede in der Wachstumsintensitat, die sich u.a. auch in unterschiedlichen Zeitpunkten der hochsten Mitoserate reflektieren. Trotz relativer Homogenitat der Chromosomenzahl konnte eine ausgepragte Heterogenitat des Caryotypus auch innerhalb der einzelnen Stammlinien beobachtet werden. Abschliesend wird auf die Notwendigkeit und die Moglichkeit zur Gewinnung von genetisch einheitlichen Zellpopulationen hingewiesen.

221 Metaphasen der Zellinie BHK-21 C13 in der 81. Passage und 227 Metaphasen der Linie BHK-21 C13S in der 80. Passage wurden ausgewertet. BHK-21 C13 besitzt eine Stammlinie (65%) mit 44 Chromosomen. Die Karyotypierung von 10 Mitosen der Stammlinie ergab keine Abweichungen vom diploiden Komplement des mannlichen Syrischen Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Die aneuploiden Metaphasen verteilen sich vorwiegend auf den hypodiploiden und hyperdiploiden Bereich. 4,8% der Mitosen haben eine annahernd tetraploide Chromosomenzahl. Bei der Linie BHK-21 C13S liegen zwei Stammlinien mit 42 (32,3%) bzw. 43 (24,2%) Chromosomen vor. Nur 9,8% der Mitosen weisen die diploide Chromosomenzahl 44 auf. Im Gegensatz zu der Linie BHK-21 C13 wurden hier selbst hypertetraploide Metaphasen und eine annahernd oktoploide Mitose gefunden. Die Karyotypen der Stammlinien stimmen in keinem der 12 untersuchten Falle uberein. Als gerichtete Veranderung gegenuber dem diploiden Karyotyp fallt bei 10 der 19 analysierten Mitosen mit 40–44 Chromosomen eine Trisomie des Chromosoms 21 auf. Bei 16,3% der Metaphasen konnten dizentrische, in drei Fallen trizentrische Chromosomen festgestellt werden. Die Befunde werden mit denen fruherer Untersuchungen verglichen und diskutiert.

Der Informationsgehalt von AK-Katastern fur die Populationsimmunitat und Impfindikation wird durch Transformation der als prozentuale Haufigkeiten vorliegenden Ergebnisse in die katalytische Wachstumskurve mit der Funktion∼=k (1−e−rt) wesentlich erhoht. Diese Art der Auswertung wird am Beispiel der Poliovirus Typ I-Immunitat der Essener Bevolkerung als Arbeitsanweisung vorgestellt. Die Zuverlassigkeit der Interpretation wurde an der 1/2 Jahr nach der serologischen Untersuchung (Sommer 1968) im Essen-Gelsenkirchener Raum abgelaufenen Polioepidemie (Typ I) uberpruft.

Um zu prufen, ob Virusinfektionen zur Pyelonephritis disponieren, untersuchten wir bei 442 Kindern das Serum auf komplementbindende Antikorper gegen mehrere beim Menschen weitverbreitete Viren. 260 Kinder hatten verschiedene Formen einer Harnwegsinfektion. 107 Kinder ohne Hinweis auf eine Infektion und 22 Patienten mit akuten bakteriellen Infektionen auserhalb des Harntraktes dienten als Kontrollgruppen. Von der Alterszusammensetzung unabhangige Unterschiede zwischen Gesunden und Patienten mit Harnwegsinfektionen fanden wir nur bei Antikorpern gegen ECHO-Viren (Mischantigen der Typen 7, 11 und 18). Diese Antikorper waren bei folgenden drei Patientengruppen gehauft: Kinder mit akuter Harnwegsinfektion; Kinder mit akutem Schub einer chronisch-rezidivierenden Harnwegsinfektion; Kinder mit akuter bakterieller Infektion auserhalb des Harntrakts. Gemeinsames Merkmal dieser drei Kollektive ist eine akute bakterielle Infektion; sie unterscheiden sich in der Lokalisation der bakteriellen Erkrankung. Ein Booster-Effekt der Bakterien auf Antikorper gegen ECHO-Viren sowohl auf der Basis einer unspezifischen als auch einer spezifischen anamnestischen Reaktion ist unwahrscheinlich. Eher kann angenommen werden, das Infektionen mit ECHO-Viren der Typen 7, 11 oder 18 durch Beeintrachtigung fur den Gesamtorganismus wichtiger Abwehrmechanismen zu akuten bakteriellen Infektionen gleich welcher Lokalisation disponieren.

Es wird insbesondere auf die harte und unberechtigte Kritik eingegangen, die H.Petzsch an dem wesentlichsten Faktor der derzeitigen Bekampfung der Tollwut, der starken Verminderung des Raubwildbestandes, ubt und darauf verwiesen, das es troB aller Bemuhungen bislang noch nicht gelungen ist, neue wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse zu sammeln, die der Tollwutseuchenbekampfung in Deutschland neue Wege weisen musten. In Ubereinstimmmung mit H.Petzsch wird die Bedeutung von Untersuchungen im SinnePawlowski's zur Aufdeckung eventueller Naturherde dieser Infektionskrankheit herausgestellt.

Twenty histocompatibility antigens of the 1st and the 2nd HL-A series have been determined in 200 MS patients and 255 randomly-selected healthy individuals of West Germany. Both groups diff

With the use of reduction of cell proliferation as an over-all parameter of cell damage, the effect of diagnostic (0.01 w. per square centimeter, 2.5 mHz.) and therapeutic (0.05 to 3 w. per square centimeter, 870 KHz.) intensities of ultrasound was studied in diploid and aneuploid human cells in tissue culture. With diagnostic ultrasound, no deleterious effect was observed in any of the 3 cell types tested. Therapeutic ultrasound, however, beginning with 0.1 w. per square centimeter, interfered with cell proliferation of all cell types studied and produced a growth reduction up to 60 per cent.

1. Bei der Zuchtung von BHK 21 C13- und BHK 21 C13S-Zellen in stationaren und rotierenden Gewebekultursystemen stellen Splitraten bis 1∶40 kein Hindernis fur das konfluierende Zellwachstum dar. Derartige Splitraten sind bei keiner anderen bisher bekannten Zellinie moglich. 2. Die Zellzahl/cm2 erreichte in den drei verwendeten Gewebekultursystemen (PK und RK als stationares sowie KB als rotierendes System) annahernd gleiche Werte — bei RB jedoch bei den gewahlten Versuchsbedingungen erst nach einmaligem Mediumwechsel (PK: 3,75 · 105 Zellen/cm2; RK: 3,3 · 105 Zellen/cm2; RB: 4,0 · 105 Zellen/cm2). 3. Die Zellzahl/ml ist bei dem rotierenden Gewebekultursystem etwa dreimal groser als bei dem stationaren (PK: 8,25 · 105 Zellen/ml; RK: 6,0 · 105 Zellen/ml; RB: 24,0 · 105 Zellen/ml). Das rotierende System ist daher fur die Virusmassenzuchtung besser geeignet als die stationaren Systeme. 4. Der Zeitpunkt des Erreichens der maximalen Zellzahl in den verschiedenen Kulturgefasen ist von der Splitrate abhangig, nicht aber von unterschiedlichen Kulturgefasen. 5. Es wurden Nomogramme erstellt, die fur die praktische Handhabung der beiden Zellinien von Bedeutung sind.

Summary Cells of tissue cultures infected with rabies virus are lysed after exposure to antirabies antibody and complement, as shown either by counting of cells stained with trypan blue or by release of chromium 51 from labeled cells. Neither antirabies serum nor fresh guinea pig serum is active alone. The reaction is abolished by treatment of serum-complement mixture with EDTA, or treatment of complement by heat or hydrazine. Fluorescein-conjugated antibody without complement stained the surface of infected cells; with complement, intracytoplasmic staining was seen, indicating penetration of the cell membrane by antibody. Both lytic antibody and neutralizing antibody were found in the 7 S IgG immunoglobulin fraction of human and mouse antisera. Study of the sera of animals either immunized against rabies or in the incubation stage of the disease showed, however, that lytic and neutralizing antibody titers could vary independently. Lytic antibody was produced in man and animals infected with street virus, injected with inactivated vaccine, or infected with crude or purified live virus vaccine.

Liquor cerebrospinalis of eight patients with central nervous symptoms were tested for influenza virus during the influenza virus epidemic 1971/72. In three of these cases influenza virus (A/Hong Kong/1/68 (H3N2) was isolated from spinal fluid in the embryonated hen egg. These patients showed after influenza like prodromi meningo-encephalitis, encephalitis or paranoid psychosis. Possible pathomechanisms are discussed.

In this paper, it is demonstrated that two influenza vaccines, differing in the H1N1 component (virus strain A/USSR/90/77 or virus strain A/Brazil/11/78) did not show significant differences with respect to the induction of H1N1 antibodies (as measured in the haemagglutination inhibition test) in the vaccination of 25 and 26 young female adults, whose age ranged from 17 to 25 years. It can be concluded that vaccines which differ in the H1N1 portion in this manner do not produce different immunological (i.e. also protective) reactions in vaccinated individuals. Both H1N1 virus strains could be considered to be practically of equal value for the influenza immunoprophylaxis against the H1N1 type.

A test system based on morphological alterations and desintegration of hepatitis virus B (HBV) is presented for the approximative evaluation of the virucidal efficacy of a chemical disinfectant. Dane particles, supposed to be the infectious entity of HBV, were partially purified by a trap and a rate zonal ultracentrifugation from serum samples of a patient with chronic hepatitis undergoing an immune suppressive treatment because of leukemia. "Gigasept" on the basis of succine dialdehyd and formaldehyd served as disinfectant for this investigation. In one experiment partially purified Dane particles were exposed to the action of a 5% solution of "Gigasept" on electron microscopic grids. Morphological alterations resulting in derounding, break up of the outer membrane, spiral uncoiling as well as asymmetric enlargement of the space between the outer membrane and the core of the HBV was observed after 2 mins. After 15 mins, the HBV were diffusely stained with loss of the characteristic substructure and became polygonal. The decrease of the number of the particles was proportional to the length of the contact time with the disinfectant. In a second series equal volumes of a 5% solution of "Gigasept" and of a HBV containing serum were in contact for 2 hours, with consecutive purification and morphological characterization of the HBV. The sedimentation of the HBs antigenicity differed from the control. A part of the Dane particles was diffusely stained and lost its substructure. Moreover empty particles in the range of the HBc antigen were found. Another part of Dane particles, however, was morphologically unchanged. The relation of intact and non intact particles could possibly serve as parameter for the HBV virucidy.-Thermo inactivation (3 mins, +98 degrees C) of the HBV in a serum was undertaken for comparison.

Twenty-six bone marrow transplantations were performed at the West Germany Tumour Centre at Essen between December 1975 and December 1981. Three patients had aplastic anaemia, 23 acute leukaemia. Of the leukaemia patients 13 had a recurrence and ten were in full remission at the time of the transplantation. Two of the patients with a recurrence received deep-frozen autologous marrow from the remission phase. One patient with aplastic anaemia had an identical twin as donour, while all other patients received allogeneic marrow from histocompatible family members. Eleven patients are still alive, all three of those with aplastic anaemia, one of those with leukaemia in a recurrence, and seven of those with acute leukaemia in full remission. Two of the survivors have a chronic graft-host reaction, but the others are symptom-free, after an observation period of up to four years. Main causes of death were leukemic recurrence (6), infection (5), and graft-host reaction (2). It would seem that at present bone marrow transplantation offers the best chance of a cure for severe aplastic anaemic and acute leukaemia in adults, but only if transplantation is undertaken early and not in the end-stage of the disease.

A post-exposure vaccination procedure (Essen-Scheme, vaccination on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 90) for immunization of man with a highly antigenic tissue culture vaccine (antigenic value ≥ 1.3) is described which induces an early and long-lasting immunity against Rabies. Some characteristic features of this procedure are discussed. So far, this procedure was applied to at least 50,000 persons exposed to infectious Rabies virus.

To study antigenicity, persistence of antibody (efficacy) and reactogenicity of a new bivalent influenza subunit vaccine, Sandovac, it was given in two different concentrations (1000 and 2000 IU) to 156 subjects from two epidemiologically destinct areas (119 students from Essen, average age 22 years, 37 residents from Kassel average age 56 years). Serum antibody response was measured by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and neuraminidase inhibition (NI) tests before, one, two and six months after vaccination. The following results were obtained: 1. Four weeks post vaccination an excellent strain specific and crossreactive (H3 N2 variant-specific) antibody response was observed. Subtype specific (H0, H1 or H2) activity could not be detected. 2. Six months post vaccination a still notably higher antibody level as compared to the preimmunization status could be demonstrated. 3. A difference, however, existed between the immune responses of the Essen student population with an average age of 22 years, and of the Kassel resident population with an average age of 56 years. The immune response being significantly better in younger vaccinees. 4. High and low concentrated vaccines revealed neither objective nor subjective differences in reactogenicity and were very well tolerated. 5. In all immunological parameters tested the double concentrated vaccine (S 2000) proved to be slightly superior to the lower concentrated vaccine (S 1000) that is officially licensed in the German Federal Republic.

A 25-year-old patient presented with hypogammaglobulinemia diagnosed at the age of 7, causing recurrent infections of the gastrointestinal and bronchial tracts. He was treated with gammaglobulins and infusions of fresh human plasma. At admission he had an exacerbation of his chronic enteric symptoms. X-ray investigation and coloscopy showed mucosal changes as in enteritis regionalis . A biopsy of rectal mucosa showed accumulations of amyloid. Routine examination of humoral and cellular immune parameters revealed a pattern characteristic for common variable immunodeficiencies. Analysis of T-cell subsets with monoclonal antibodies of the OKT series showed unusually high relative numbers of OKT8+ cells (suppressor-T-lymphocytes) and a comparatively low number of OKT4+ cells (helper-T-lymphocytes). Suppressor-T-cells exert inhibitory effects on B-lymphocyte function (i.e. antibody production). The numerical excess of T-lymphocytes with suppressive properties could be a pathogenetically important factor with immunotherapeutic implications in a number of non-classifiable immunodeficiency syndromes.

A Project Document (PRODOC) is presented which describes a comprehensive national programme involving: a) all administrative levels country-wide b) several sectors and disciplines and c) international cooperation