flu
[Study of human influenza viruses isolated in 1982 which are antigenically related to the swine flu virus]

[Article in Russian]

Iamnikova SS, Shemiakin IG, Nikolova Z, Kotseva R, Aimar M.

Influenza A viruses (H1N1 serovariant) antigenically related to swine influenza viruses were isolated in March, 1982, from two sick adolescents in a rural area of Bulgaria who had had contacts with each other and with animals. The isolates, A/PRB/120/82 and A/PRB/121/82, were found to have hemagglutinin containing antigenic regions typical of hemagglutinin of both A/New Jersey/8/76 strain and A/swine/Finister/HG/82 strain. Because of the unusual structure of hemagglutinin, it is assumed that these viruses have not been introduced into Europe from the American continent. The limited nature of the outbreak is associated with the presence in virions of A/PRB/120/82 and A/PRB/121/82 strains of NP-protein typical of animal influenza viruses.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2800524&dopt=Abstract flu, flu medicine, tamiflu



flu
[Influenza and pregnancy]

[Article in French]

Dumont M.

Clinique Gynecologique et Obstetricale a la Faculte de Medecine de Lyon, Caluire.

Benign flu should be differentiated from malignant flu often complicated with pulmonary diseases, which resulted, during the severe epidemics of 1918 and 1957, in a marked mortality in pregnant women, mortality which markedly decreased with the use of modern antibiotics and assisted ventilation. The effect on the fetus and the newborn is real, since abortions, premature deliveries, intrauterine growth delays, are not unusual in severe forms of flu, which could, for some authors, induce the occurrence of fetal malformations; but this is not quite confirmed. Therefore, passage of the virus from the mother to the fetus seems real. But the subsequent occurrence of neoplasia, especially leukemia, reported in some studies, appears costly. Anti-flu vaccination is recommended in pregnant women, especially those with chronic pulmonary diseases, or in case of epidemics.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2814179&dopt=Abstract flu, flu medicine, tamiflu



flu
Towards a second generation of inactivated vaccines. Use of herpesvirus (feline rhinotracheitis virus) subunits for the prevention of cat flu.

Saint-Gerand AL.

Rhone Merieux, Lyon, France.

Prevention of feline upper respiratory disease, commonly known as 'cat flu' is traditionally achieved by two types of vaccination: live vaccines administered by intranasal or by parenteral inoculation or parenteral inactivated vaccines with an adjuvant. Both of these have been associated with side effects. The objective of the development of a new generation of cat flu vaccines was to market a vaccine which was perfectly safe in all epidemiological situations and was as potent as the current products available on the market.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3245289&dopt=Abstract flu, flu medicine, tamiflu



flu
Structure of the lysosomal sphingolipid activator protein 1 by homology with influenza virus neuraminidase.

Potier M.

Service de Genetique Medicale, Hopital Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The sphingolipid activator protein 1 (SAP-1) increases the rate of hydrolysis of sphingolipids in the lysosome by apparently bringing together the substrate and the corresponding hydrolytic enzyme. This implies specific recognition of both the substrate and enzyme by SAP-1. However, binding domains in SAP-1 and recognition mechanisms involved are unknown. Amino acid sequence comparison of SAP-1 with influenza virus neuraminidase (EC 3.2.1.18, FLU NA) indicates that functional amino acid residues in or near the sialic acid binding site of FLU NA are also found at equivalent positions in the first 48 N-terminal amino acids of SAP-1. This region of homology allows to propose folding of the SAP-1 polypeptide chain by comparison with known crystallographic structure of FLU NA and identify a potential domain for lysosomal enzyme recognition through sialic acid binding. There is also a region of 10 amino acid residues near the C-terminal end of SAP-1 which has a strong propensity to form an alpha-helix with amphiphilic properties of lipid-binding helices. This domain in SAP-1 is probably responsible for the lipid(substrate)-binding function of SAP-1.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3415686&dopt=Abstract flu, flu medicine, tamiflu



flu
The flu shot study: using multiattribute utility theory to design a vaccination intervention.

Carter WB, Beach LR, Inui TS.

Differences between the multiattribute utility (MAU) profiles of participants who had previously gotten flu shots and those who had not done so were used to design an informational brochure urging influenza vaccination. The effectiveness of the MAU brochure was evaluated in a VA ambulatory care clinic with a long-standing influenza vaccination program. The target population for the intervention was high-risk clinic patients who had not gotten a shot the previous year. Participants received either a letter urging them to get a flu shot, or a letter plus the informational brochure. A significantly larger proportion of the patients who received the brochure got shots; 36% versus 23% for the letter only. While a 13 percentage point increase is modest, influenza and related complications (preventable through vaccination) are the fourth-leading killers of older persons. Adding a MAU-based brochure to an ongoing vaccination program is inexpensive and may save additional lives.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10279492&dopt=Abstract flu, flu medicine, tamiflu



flu
Folk flu and viral syndrome: an epidemiological perspective.

McCombie SC.

Department of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.

Public health officials and medical social scientists both recognize the importance of the relationship between culture and infectious disease. However, the divergence that exists between the medical model and the epidemiological model has not been well studied. During the course of enteric disease surveillance in the southwest United States, the categories 'flu' and 'viral syndrome' were identified. The relationship between 'flu', a popular illness category, and 'viral syndrome', part of the medical model, is discussed. From the standpoint of an epidemiologist, both of these concepts act as obstacles to disease investigation and control.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3423849&dopt=Abstract flu, flu medicine, tamiflu