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Biomedical subjects

S K Litvinov

Publications and source records attributed to S K Litvinov.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Immunization of 6 and 9 month old infants with AIK-C, Edmonston-Zagreb, Leningrad-16 and Schwarz strains of measles vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Measles kills more than 1 million infants per year and is particularly lethal in infants < 1 year old in developing countries. Recent reports have suggested that measles vaccines of different strains and titre differ in their immunogenicity in young infants. We sought to identify strains and titres of measles vaccines which would be effective in 6 and 9 month old infants. METHODS: We conducted a randomized trial of AIK-C, Edmonston-Zagreb (EZ), Leningrad-16 and Schwarz strains of measles vaccine at different titres in 1202 6 month old and 1250 9 month old infants. Antibody levels were measured by haemagglutination inhibition assay. Seroconversion was defined as a change from seronegative to seropositive or a fourfold rise in titre above the expected level after antibody decay (assumed antibody half-life = 6 weeks). Chi-square tests were used to compare seroconversion rates and rates of adverse reactions among the groups. Comparison of geometric mean titres (GMT) was done by the Student's t-test. RESULTS: No severe or unusual adverse reactions occurred during the 6 weeks after vaccination. All strains induced high seroconversion rates in 9 month old infants. In 6 month olds, medium- and standard-titre AIK-C induced the highest rates of seroconversion. Antibody titres at 6 weeks after vaccination were highest in recipients of Schwartz vaccine and lowest for EZ vaccine recipients. CONCLUSIONS: Standard-titre AIK-C may be more effective than other measles vaccine strains for early measles immunization and should be evaluated further for efficacy, long-term immunogenicity, and long-term safety.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1993

EUROHEALTH Programme.

The countries of central and eastern Europe (CCEE) and the newly independent states (NIS) of the former USSR are undergoing rapid and profound change, and assistance from the international community has lacked a common focus. In late 1990, the WHO Regional Committee for Europe created the EUROHEALTH programme to try to meet the urgent and medium-term needs of the CCEE/NIS for technical, managerial and material resources within the framework of the long-term regional strategy for health for all. The programme's strategy includes making collaborative agreements with each of the CCEE/NIS, raising funds and coordinating tripartite assistance with a wide variety of international organizations. The Regional Office for Europe has changed to support the EUROHEALTH programme by establishing a Country Health Development department, and an information clearing-house to track assistance to the NIS so it can be provided more efficiently. The programme's work has created a flow of information and better coordination of cooperation between all the organizations working in the health sector in the CCEE/NIS. The most important EUROHEALTH activities in 1992-1993 have focused on: relieving shortages of vaccines and medical equipment, developing health policy and developing programmes on such issues as health service reform, human resources, noncommunicable diseases, maternal and child health, AIDS and environment and health. The EUROHEALTH programme is a pragmatic and highly appropriate approach to the CCEE/NIS; its main need is for more funding to enable it to meet countries' needs more precisely and to cooperate more effectively with other organizations.

Europe↗
PubMed1986

[The cluster method in conducting epidemiological research].

The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) whose goal is to reduce morbidity and mortality by providing children with immunizations against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, and tuberculosis continually faces the problem of documenting immunization coverage rates. Therefore the EPI seeks simple, effective, and inexpensive methods of evaluation which could be implemented in different countries. An example of such a method is a simplified cluster sampling technique of estimation of immunization coverage through the examination of 210 children, selected randomly as 30 groups of 7 children each. In 1978-1984 more than 1000 immunization coverage surveys were performed all over the world, mainly in developing countries. In a modified way this method is also used to collect data on morbidity and mortality of certain EPI target diseases as well as diarrhoeal diseases.

Child↗
PubMed1978

A cold box for the transport and storage of vaccines.

A cold box capable of maintaining a temperature below +4 degrees C for 1 week was constructed and tested in the laboratory and under field conditions. Cooling is produced by commercial cold packs precooled in a deep-freeze or the freezing compartment of a refrigerator. The box can take approximately 3000 doses of vaccine and is simple, cheap and strong. It is primarily intended for storage of vaccines during field trips by vaccination teams, as an alternative to the refrigerator in regional and peripheral stores in the case of an electrical power failure, and for the delivery of vaccines from regional store to the district.

Cold Temperature↗