flu
[Costs of influenza therapy]

[Article in Japanese]

Kaji M, Kuno H, Oizumi K.

Kurume University Medical Center, Department of Neurology.

The costs of outpatients with influenza. Outbreak of influenza occurs every winter in Japan and it brings a huge impacts on society and the individual. We calculated the costs of medications and medical examinations for outpatients with influenza in hospital. After we confirmed the diagnosis of influenza by rapid diagnosis system (Directigen Flu A) or hemagglutinin inhibition test, neutralization test, comparison of costs was done between influenza patients (89 cases) and non influenza patients (212 cases). Mean cost of total medication and medical examinations were 14,800 +/- 980 yen for an influenza patient and 12,420 +/- 976 yen for a non influenza patient. This data showed that treatment of the influenza patient is more expensive than non influenza patient. It must be considered that prophylaxis with influenza vaccine and treatment with antiinfluenza drugs given in the early stage of influenza are useful for reducing medical costs.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11494561&dopt=Abstract flu, flu medicine, tamiflu



flu
Interference of cephalosporins with immune response: effects of cefonicid on human T-helper cells.

Villa ML, Armelloni S, Ferrario E, Ottaviani F, Clerici M.

Cattedra di Immunologia e Istituto naz. Tumori, Universita di Milano, Italy.

To determine the immunosuppressive effect(s) of cephalosporin cefonicid (CEFO) on human T-helper cells (Th), we exposed human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to various concentrations of CEFO during in vitro stimulation with a panel of T-lymphocyte stimulators that activate different Th/antigen presenting cell (APC) pathways. We evaluated the proliferation and IL-2 production induced by influenza virus (FLU), allogeneic lymphocytes (ALLO), xenogeneic mouse splenocytes (XENO) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The proliferative responses to FLU and XENO were much more depressed by CEFO than those to ALLO or PHA. After 7 days of culture with the highest dose of CEFO tested (200 mg/l) the stimulation index (stimulated/unstimulated culture) was near to 0 in FLU and XENO treated cultures, indicating that the response against these antigens was completely abrogated. The responses to ALLO and PHA were also impaired, but not abrogated (stimulation index greater than 1). Since FLU and XENO utilize the CD4+ Th/self-APC pathway our data suggested that this pathway was extremely sensitive to CEFO-induced inhibition both when the response requires memory Th cells (FLU) and virgin Th cells (XENO). The incubation with CEFO (200 mg/l) reduced the IL-2 production by XENO, FLU and ALLO to less than 20% of control cultures, while paradoxically increases to 120% the production by PHA.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1839990&dopt=Abstract flu, flu medicine, tamiflu



flu
The establishment and validation of the mobile immunization team concept at a clinic level.

Higgins SJ, Walls EA, Fisher AG, Smith DC, Humphries TJ.

11th TAC Clinic, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, Willow Grove NAS 19090.

Faced with unacceptably low and declining overall immunization compliance, as well as specific flu immunization compliance, the Executive Committee of a 32-person Air National Guard clinic asked the nursing service to devise a method of correcting these deficiencies as rapidly as possible and maintaining immunization compliance at a rate of 90% or better of the total patient population of approximately 1,100 full-time and Guard personnel for whom the clinic was responsible. The concept of a mobile immunization team was devised and validated over a 2-year interval. In order to successfully develop and implement this concept, command emphasis and a high level of cooperation from both clinic personnel and the Unit Commanders involved was requested and received. The make-up of the team, risk management, the timing and place of team visits, and record keeping were among the problems addressed and resolved. The mobile immunization team concept was a success, achieving excellent overall immunization compliance and outstanding compliance with the flu immunization program over a 2-year period.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1900587&dopt=Abstract flu, flu medicine, tamiflu



flu
Influenza virus detection in clinical specimens.

Havlickova M, Pljusnin AZ, Tumova B.

Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Prague, Czechoslovakia.

The authors compared the results of influenza A (H1N1) and influenza A (H3N2) virus detection in nasopharyngeal swabs from flu patients by molecular hybridization (MH), ELISA, virus isolation and seroconversion. Using the immunofluorescence (IF) technique influenza virus was detected in cell suspensions from the first chick embryo passage. Altogether 63 swabs from various epidemic seasons were separated into 3 groups according to specimen sampling and storage. It was shown that influenza virus RNA could be found in 16 out of 22 swab specimens (72%) stored at -70 degrees C without thawing and that ELISA revealed the influenza virus antigen in 19 cases (86%); in contrast, IF was positive in 6 (27%) and virus isolation in 5 (22%) cases only. However, the positive rate of MH decreased to 9% in 21 swab specimens repeatedly thawed and stored at -20 degrees C and was completely negative after prolonged storage of repeatedly thawed samples. Despite these conditions, ELISA was still successful in both latter sample groups (71-80%). For specificity control, 29 samples coming from patients with influenza B virus and other respiratory virus diseases (adeno- and respiratory syncytial virus) were used.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1981455&dopt=Abstract flu, flu medicine, tamiflu



flu
[Anti-flu vaccination: satisfaction study in a vaccinated population]

[Article in Spanish]

Gaston Morata JL, Aguado Mingorance JA, Garcia Camacho I, Burgos Gamez G.

Centro de Salud Zaidin-Sur, Granada.

Most of the studies on the coverage of our country with regard to flu vaccinations reveal figures which do not surpass 50%-70% of the target population. In the USA, this figure only amounts to 20%-30%. There seems to be a certain "reticence" on the part of the population with regard to taking these injections or to continue the vaccination programs yearly. For this reason, we have made a prospective surveillance and monitoring study of the individuals vaccinated with the flu vaccine, which has taken in two flu injection campaigns (1988-1989) for the purpose of ascertaining the possible causes of this "reticence" and the degree of satisfaction achieved with the flu vaccine procedures. The study reveals the only 51.8% of the population receiving the vaccine was satisfied with the procedure, although 75.2% repeated the procedure the following year. The highest degree of insatisfaction is shown among women, and the customary patients who visit their physicians for every ache and pain, and those receiving the vaccine for the first time confuse acute respiratory symptoms with flu symptoms.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2131593&dopt=Abstract flu, flu medicine, tamiflu



flu
Polarized release of enveloped viruses in the embryonic chick heart: demonstration of epithelial polarity in the presumptive myocardium.

Peng I, Dennis JE, Rodriguez-Boulan E, Fischman DA.

Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021.

The presumptive myocardium of the embryonic vertebrate heart is composed of cells which exhibit the morphology of a cuboidal epithelium. To examine the functional polarity of these developing myocytes, embryonic chick hearts (Hamburger-Hamilton stages 10-13) were infected with either influenza virus (FLU) or vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). These viruses have been shown to sort vectorially to either apical (FLU) or basolateral (VSV) membrane surfaces in monolayers of polarized kidney (MDCK) cells. Our results demonstrate that these viruses bud with comparable polarity from differentiating myocytes. However, there appear to be stage-dependent differences in the polarized budding of the two viruses: restricted basolateral release of VSV is present before or shortly after the formation of the heart tube, whereas polarized budding of FLU is established later in development. These results are discussed in terms of plasma membrane organization during the early stages of cardiac development.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1697268&dopt=Abstract flu, flu medicine, tamiflu