[Detection of hepatitis B surface antigen using passive hemagglutination]

The passive hemagglutination test (Sero-Test CCB) for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has been developed. The comparative study of the sensitivity of Sero-Test CCB, the passive hemagglutination test Hepanostikon (developed by Organon, the Netherlands) and the radioimmunoassay (with the use of an experimental assay kit provided by the Institute of Vaccines in Dessau, GDR) has been carried out by the determination of HBsAg in 100 coded sera from viral hepatitis patients and hepatitis virus carriers. Both passive hemagglutination tests (Sero-Test CCB and Hepanostikon) have yielded coinciding results (r = 0.90). The sensitivity of Sero-Test CCB has been found to exceed that achieved with the use of electrophoretic techniques 30-150 times, though it is 8 times lower than the sensitivity of the radioimmunoassay. The test kits Sero-Test CCB HBsAg are used for the examination of donor blood and for the survey of groups of persons subjected to a high risk of contacting hepatitis B infection in hemodialysis and transplantation centers, surgical wards, etc.

Purchase of service contracts and the functioning of private agencies

During the past 15 years, social services have experienced a number of significant changes in clientele, provisions, delivery, and financing of services. The escalation of these changes became most dramatic with the passage of Title XX as an amendment to the Social Security Act, effective October 1, 1975. Title XX represents the groundwork of the emerging social service structure in the United States. The authors discuss the multiple issues in the expansion of Title XX and present findings from an exploratory study as to the implications.

Characterization of calmodulin effects on calcium transport in cardiac microsomes enriched in sarcoplasmic reticulum

Calmodulin prepared from red cell hemolysates was found to significantly increase Ca2+ uptake into cardiac microsomal preparations enriched in sarcoplasic reticulum in a dose-dependent manner. The stimulation of calcium uptake by calmodulin was additive to that stimulation produced by maximal stimulatory concentrations of adenosine cyclic 3',5'-phosphate (cAMP) dependent protein kinase and cAMP, indicating separate mechanisms of action and potentially different modulatory roles for these two systems in the control of calcium transport. K+ significantly decreased calmodulin stimulation of calcium uptake, while in the absence of calmodulin, K+ increased Ca2+ uptake. In the absence of K+, calmodulin increased Ca2+ uptake to levels observed at maximal K+ concentrations without calmodulin present. Na+ produced effects similar to those of K+ in this preparation both in the presence and absence of calmodulin. The effect of calmodulin on the intermediate steps of the (Mg2+,Ca2+)ATPase in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum was also investigated. Calmodulin was found to reduce the steady-state level of the Ca2+-dependent phosphoprotein (ECaP) and increase the (Mg2+,Ca2+)ATPase activity of this preparation. Dephosphorylation of ECaP in the presence of Tris-ATP (0.5 mM) was significantly stimulated by calmodulin. These studies indicate that calmodulin stimulates Ca2+ transport in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum by increasing the turnover rate of the transport process.

Evaluation of antiviral substances against influenza A virus strains by the haemadsorption reduction test

The haemadsorption reduction test with Ehrlich mouse ascites tumour cells proved to be a simple method for testing the sensitivity of influenza A virus strains to antiviral substances. Ribavirin and 2-deoxy-D-glucose were poorly effective in this system while all virus strains except A/PR/8/34 (H0N1) were highly sensitive to amantadine and rimantadine, the latter being the strongest inhibitor.

[The efficiency of mammographic mass screening (author's transl)]

After commenting the assessment of the benefits of medical measures some remarks are made concerning the risk of mammography which has been discussed in detail else where. The benefit of mammography for screening asymptomatic women is estimated on the basis of figures from the literature applying four criteria; 1. Results of the HIP-study, 2. clinically occult breast cancers, 3. clinically occult cancers without axillary nodal involvement, 4. clinically occult "minimal" cancers. On the basis of 10 years-survival it follows that 7% of all breast cancers will be additionally "curable" through screening by mammography. This age-independent value has to be considered apart from risk of radiation induced cancer and benefit/risk-ratios, which are strongly agedependent. Costs of mammography and the screening of high-risk groups are briefly considered.

[Study of the chemical and immunogenic properties of the capsular Staphylococcus aureus antigen. 2. Evaluation of the immunogenic properties of the capsular antigen in experiments in vitro]

Albino mice were immunized with a purified capsular antigen isolated from the S. aureus strain 1193/74. The presence of specific anticapsular antibodies in the sera of animals were determined by two methods: 1) by conversion of diffuse growth of a homologous strain into compact one, and 2) by determination of opsonic index in phagocytosis of homologous staphylococci by human neutrophils. It was revealed that antibodies converting the microbical growth were absent in the sera of normal mice and reached the highest level after the second antigen injection; opsonins were present in the sera of normal mice in widely varying quantities; their maximal level was noted after the 3rd immunization.