The SHS-174 preparation, a lyophilized infusion from flowers of Sambucus nigra L., aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum L., and roots of Saponaria oficinalis (100 g; 70 g; 40 g) exhibited an antiviral effect. It inhibited the reproduction of different strains of influenza virus types A and B, both in vitro and in vivo, and herpes simplex virus type 1, in vitro. The preparation contains flavonoids, triterpene saponins, phenolic acids, tannins and polysaccharides which could be responsible for its antiviral properties.

SUMMARYThe congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is associated with increased risk for diabetes and thyroid disease. However, the mechanisms by which the rubella virus may cause these diseases are poorly characterized. Previous studies were carried out before modern immunological methods were available. The present study aimed at evaluating whether autoimmune mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis by analysing antibodies to biochemically characterized autoantigens. The incidence of clinical diabetes, thyroid disease, coeliac disease and related antibodies (islet cell antibodies, ICA; insulin autoantibodies, IAA; antibodies to the tyrosine phosphatase related IA-2 molecule, IA-2 A and glutamic acid decarboxylase, GADA; thyroid peroxidase, TPO; tissue transglutaminase, TTGA; and gliadin, AGA) and HLA risk genotypes were analysed in 37 subjects affected by or exposed to rubella during fetal life (mean age 22·5 years). One patient had diabetes and four patients had clinical hypothyroidism at the time of the examination. ICA, IAA, GADA or IA-2 A were not detected in any of the patients, while five patients tested positive for TPO antibodies. Coeliac disease or TTGA were not observed. Eight patients carried the HLA-DR3-associated HLA-DQB1*02-DQA1*05 haplotype. These results provide no evidence of an increased frequency of markers for humoral b -cell autoimmunity in patients with CRS suggesting that diabetes in CRS may be caused by other than autoimmune mechanisms.

The study covered 310 pregnant women from southern Poland who were exposed to rubella during the 1985-86 epidemic, none of whom had been vaccinated against rubella. Rubella specific antibodies were detected by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) tests, and IgM antibodies by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) (Organon Teknika). Clinical symptoms according to anamnesis were recorded. The consequences of serologically confirmed maternal rubella on the course of pregnancy and on fetal outcome were evaluated. IgM antibodies could be examined in only 10 newborns at delivery or in the first days of life. After seven years, follow-up studies of children born to infected mothers were done. The mental development of 14 of these children was evaluated with Terman-Merrill test. Among 310 women examined during pregnancy, rubella infection was confirmed serologically in 46 cases (14.8%). All but 3 of those had clinical symptoms. The course of pregnancy was observed in 36 of the infected mothers. Only 5 women (22.7%) who had the infection in the first trimester of pregnancy delivered a healthy child. The rate of complications in pregnancy among women infected in the second trimester was lower, and 8 (66.7%) bore healthy children. All the children born to mothers infected in the third trimester were healthy. Eight of the 10 newborns examined at delivery were IgM positive. Of 29 children congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) was confirmed in 5 cases, CRS compatible or CRS possible in 7 and 3 had congenital infection only confirmed serologically (IgM-positive) without defects or symptoms. Seventeen (58.6%) children were found healthy including the 3 who had congenital infection only. The mental development of 14 children at age 7 was assessed; 10 cases (72%) fell within rank II 130-85, and 4 (28%) were of borderline intelligence. The study indicates that congenital rubella is still a serious problem in Poland. Immunization was introduced only in 1988-89, for 13-year-old girls. Women of child-bearing age should be screened for rubella antibodies and those susceptible to rubella infection should be vaccinated.

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Presence of mycoplasma organisms in tissue culture systems and virus pools was detected by titration of the contaminated material on agarose-suspended BHK21 / 13S cells. The use of this method permitted isolation of mycoplasmas which could not be detected by standard assay methods. Mycoplasma colonies at concentrations ranging from 104 to 106 colony-forming units/ml in agarose-BHK21/13S media could be distinguished from virus plaques, and the two populations of inicroorganisms could be easily disassociated either by electron microscopy or by biological methods. All isolated mycoplasmas were identified in growth inhibition tests as belonging to the GDL group. The growth inhibition test on agarose-BHK21/13S cell suspension plates could also be applied directly to those strains which could not be isolated by standard assay procedures.