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F Ambrosch

Publications and source records attributed to F Ambrosch.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of new multivalent pneumococcal vaccines.

In a study conducted in two phases at one month's interval, 22 healthy adult volunteers received a tetravalent (1, 3, 4, 12F) polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine; 21 other subjects received another tetravalent (14, 18C, 19F, 23F) vaccine and 25 received a pentadecavalent vaccine (1, 3, 4, 6A, 7F, 8, 9N, 11A, 12F, 14, 15F, 18C, 19F, 23F). Placebo was given under single blind conditions to eleven subjects in the first phase of the study and to 24 subjects in the second phase of the study. The vaccines were well tolerated giving rise to transient local reactions in a small proportion of subjects. Results obtained indicate that all 15 polysaccharides are satisfactorily immunogenic. Results so far obtained can be described as encouraging. Further studies to investigate the reactogenicity and immungenicity of multivalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines with a greater number of serotypes are under way.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

[Effect of BCG vaccination of the newborn infant on the incidence and course of juvenile leukemias].

As a retrospective study the clinical data of 613 leukaemic children were collected. 269 of them were born in Austria, fell sick between 1967 and 1976 and were not older than 5 years at the onset of disease. BCG-vaccination, which is performed in Austria within the first three days after birth, was checked by means of hospital reports, birth protocols and central BCG record. All data were stored and evaluated by electronic data processing. Besides a significant decrease of mortality, which we could demonstrate in earlier studies, the following correlations between BCG-vaccination of newborn and leukaemia were found: Reduction of morbidity, decrease of case fatality, increase of 5 years survival rate, increase of mean survival time, delayed onset of disease, decrease of frequency of myeloic and chronic leukaemia. With the exception of the slight reduction of morbidity all correlations are significant.

BCG Vaccine↗
PubMed1980

[Epidemiology of meningococcal meningitis in Austria].

In Austria the report of epidemic meningitis is obligatory. Similar to other countries most of the observed strains of meningococci belong to the serogroups A, B and C. The morbidity is decreasing at present, the last peak occurred in the years 1966 to 1971. While several epidemics occurred in other parts of the world during the last years, only 1.2 cases in 100,000 persons were registered in Austria at that time, indicating an epidemiologic wave trough. During the observation period of 20 years the case fatality rate remained relatively constant at 8.6%. In comparison with other infectious diseases the percentage of deaths due to meningococcal infections has increased considerably during the last years. At present about half the deaths in children by infectious diseases are due to meningococci. Mortality and case fatality are very high in childhood and in persons over 50 years. Inversely the mean bactericidal antibody titer against group A and C meningococci is low in these age groups. Indications for meningococcal vaccination in the present situation are discussed.

Austria↗
PubMed1980

[Hepatitis A: antibody conversion under gamma globulin (author's transl)].

55 soldiers of the Austrian UNO contingent to the Near East, stationed on the Golan Heights for 6 months were examined before and after their period of duty for hepatitis A antibodies and the liver specific enzymes GOT, GTP and gamma-GT were determined. All received prophylactic gamma globulin to prevent infectious hepatitis at a dosage of 0.05 ml/kg body weight before flying out and after three months. No cases of hepatitis occurred, but 4 sero-negative subjects displayed antibody conversion. No concomitant changes in the liver enzyme values were recorded, however. These findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Investigations on the immune response against meningococcal polysaccharide in children (author's transl)].

Children between the 2nd and 5th, respectively between the 7th and 10th year were immunized with meningococcal vaccine A + C in comparison to adults. The vaccines contained 50 micrograms of meningococcal polysaccharide A and C and fulfilled the requirements of the WHO. Antibodies were determined before and 4 weeks after vaccination by means of the bactericidal microassay. All age groups showed a distinct immune response to polysaccharide A and polysaccharide C. The mean titer increase was between 4.5 and 9.3 titer steps, the conversion rate ranged from 71% to 100%. In the youngest age group a positive correlation between age and mean titer increase was found in prevaccinal seronegative children as well as in prevaccinal seropositve ones. In all age classes prevaccinal seronegative children showed a significant higher titer increase than prevaccinal seropositive ones. A negative correlation was found between prevaccinal titers and titer increase in all age groups with polysaccharide A and polysaccharide C.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Cost-benefit analysis of BCG-vaccination in Austria.

BCG-vaccination in Austria is performed generally in newborn, but only partially in school children. A cost-benefit analysis was performed considering age-dependent immunizations, tuberculosis morbidity, protection rate and duration of protection, costs of vaccination, costs of tuberculosis therapy, frequency of complications due to vaccination and costs for treatment of these complications. This analysis shows an economic balance between costs and benefits with regard to immunication of newborn, i. e., costs of vaccination are approximately compensated by the saved costs of prevented diseases. In contrary vaccination of school children reveals a considerable economic gain. General revaccination of schoolchildren would make BCG-vaccination much more effective in an economic respect.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Cost-benefit calculations of vaccinations against measles and mumps in Austria.

The analysis of combined measles-mumps vaccination in Austria showed that this measure is highly profitable in economical respect. The benefit-cost ratio Qc amounts to 2.65 without and 4.48 with consideration of the so-called "nursing vacation", a one week's vacation which is being granted in Austria to employed mothers for the nursing of a sick child once a year. The benefit-cost difference Dc amounts to AS 672.85 OF 1,681.90 respectively, per child. Twelve years after the beginning of vaccination of 100,000 one year old children per year which corresponds roughly to the birth rate in Austria an amount of 63 mill. AS can be saved, if "nursing vacations" are not considered. This amount will be even 528 mill. AS, if "nursing vacations" are taken in account.

Austria↗
PubMed1979

Methods for risk-benefit and cost-benefit analysis of vaccinations.

The basic aim of vaccination is to prevent more severe complications of the respective disease than might be caused by the vaccine itself. Following this idea formulae were developed for calculation of the risk ratio Q and the risk difference D. The following parameters are considered in this formulae: risk of the disease (R), risk of vaccination (r), protection rate (p) and duration of protection (t). Besides, for calculations with partially vaccinated populations the immunization rate "I" has to be considered. A vaccination is beneficial if Q greater than 1.0 and D greater than 0. If vaccinations have proved to be valuable from the medical point of view, additional cost-benefit calculations may be of great importance for socio-economic considerations. Consequently, the above mentioned formulae were modified for calculation of the benefit cost ratio (Qc) and the benefit cost difference (Dc) for monovalent as well as for bivalent vaccines.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1979

Costs and benefits of measles and mumps immunization in Austria.

The usefulness of an immunization programme can be evaluated by comparing either risks and benefits or costs and benefits. By means of special formulae, the benefit-cost ratio and the benefit-cost difference can be calculated for monovalent and bivalent vaccines. An analysis of combined measles-mumps immunization in Austria showed that this measure is highly profitable economically. Since employed mothers are allowed one week's vacation each year to nurse a sick child, this affects the calculations. Including the cost of the "nursing vacation" among the benefits that would be realized following an immunization programme, the estimated benefit-cost ratio is 4.48; if the cost of the "nursing vacation" is omitted the ratio is 2.65. The estimated annual benefit-cost differences are AS 1681.90 and AS 672.85, respectively, per child. Twelve years after the beginning of a programme to immunize 100 000 1-year-old children per year (corresponding roughly to the birth rate in Austria) an amount of AS 528 million would be saved if the "nursing vacation" is included in the calculations and an amount of AS 63 million if it is not.

Austria↗
PubMed1979

[Influenza immunization, clinical results and serological tests (author's transl)].

207 patients of a geriatric department were immunized against influenza with either tween-ether-split-vaccine or subunit-vaccine in a double blind study. For 6 months the following data were daily registered: rest in bed, fever over 38,5 degrees C, rhinitis, laryngopharingitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, enteritis, medication with antibiotics or chemotherapeutics. In cases with fever over 38,5 degrees C blood tests were taken for serological examination. The immune response against influenza A was excellent in both groups, the titer was higher in the subunit group, only one patient showed influenza infection. The immune response against the type B Hongkong was not satisfactory in both groups. The clinical data showed a significant lower incidence of rhinitis, laryngopharingitis and bronchitis in the group immunized with the tween-ether-split-vaccine. This effect was more distinct within the first 3 months after the immunization than within the second 3 months.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Changes of risk and benefit in immunization against pertussis and tuberculosis.

In the case of infectious diseases with decreasing morbidity and mortality, the beneficial effects of vaccination should be reevaluated regularly with the help of special formulae. This procedure can be simplified by calculation of the epidemiologic trend and the so-called borderline risk Rlim, meaning the borderline number of complications when risks of the disease and risks of vaccination are equal. This method allows to estimate when the vaccination against a certain disease will lose its beneficial effect. A follow-up of the mortality of whooping cough in Austria leads to the conclusion that vaccination against whooping cough has lost its justification. In case of BCG vaccination the borderline mortality is not yet reached in Austria, although tuberculosis mortality and the number of prevented cases have decreased already to a very low level.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[Epidemiology of measles and mumps. 1st part: measles (author's transl)].

Measles morbidity is seen to follow a cyclic pattern with peaks and ebbs every 2--3 years. The maximum in the annual course is found in the second quarter, the peak of the age-specific morbidity in Central Europe in the 4th year of life. At 15 years of age, seroconversion is practically 100%. Complications can be expected in 6,7% of cases, mortality in about 1:10,000. Encephalitis occurs in about 1,2% of cases and is often followed by neurological and psychical damage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[Epidemiology of measles and mumps. 2nd part: mumps (author's transl)].

Similar to measles, mumps morbidity is also seen to follow an undulating course with a 2--3 years rhythm as well as having an annual peak in the second quarter. The peak of the age specific morbidity, however, is found in the 7th--8th year of life and consequently part of the infections only appear later in adulthood. Most of the infections remain subclinical and only about 12% are recorded. Morality is about 1 : 100 000, meningitis occurs in about 1,5% of the infections and is benign in most cases. Encephalitis occurs in about 0,9% of cases and frequently leads to brain damage.

Austria↗
PubMed1978

[BCG vaccination and leukemia. Epidemiologic studies on the effect of BCG vaccination on leukemia].

The possible influence of BCG vaccination on leukemia mortality of infants was investigated by various authors. The methods used were prospective trials, retrospective studies and epidemiological analyses. In some of these studies a protective effect of BCG vaccination was observed, in other studies no influence was found. Up to now this problem is subject to controversial discussions. An epidemiological analysis of the Austrian data using trend analyses, regression analyses and analyses of rank correlation showed an inverse correlation between BCG vaccination rate of newborns and leukemia mortality in the age group 0--5 years. From this correlation a protection rate of 0.77 could be calculated.

Austria↗
PubMed1978

[The effect of neonatal BCG vaccination on the incidence of leukemia (author's transl)].

Data from several publications were analyzed with respect to the possible non-specific influence of BCG vaccinations on leukemia. Our own investigations in the five largest provinces of Austria showed that there was an inverse correlation between leukemia mortality and BCG vaccination of the newborn. From this data a protection rate of 0.88 for prevention of leukemia deaths could be calculated for the first five years of life. The number of positive tuberculin reactions was significantly lower in leukemic infants than in normal ones. This finding was completely in accordance with the probability of positive tuberculin reactions as calculated from the protection rate.

Austria↗
PubMed1978

[Costs and benefits of measles vaccination].

Former calculations of the medical benefit of measles immunization, concerning frequency of measles complications, effectiveness and risk of vaccination, showed that measles vaccination is a very useful measure. As the decision to introduce vaccination on a broad scale depends on financial deliberations, too, a cost-benefit analysis for Austria has been performed and the cost-benefit ratio as well as the cost-benefit difference calculated. The costs of measles vaccination which is performed mainly by private pediatricians at the present time, include costs of vaccine, physician and additional antipyretic and is 257.90 AS. The average costs of therapy per child consist of home treatment (287.20 AS), hospital treatment (162.50 AS) and care of residual cerebral damage (88.50 AS). Together with the costs of one week vacation which is warranted in Austria for the nursing of a sick child once a year, this makes a total sum of 1081.--AS. From these data the cost-benefit ratio was calculated by 2.95, the cost-benefit difference by 715.--AS per child. 5 years after the start of general measles vaccination of 1 year old children the accumulated costs of vaccination are equalled by the profit gained by prevention of the disease. The annual cost-benefit difference is positive after 3 years. 10 years after introduction of general vaccination the accumulated cost-benefit difference in Austria would be approximately 167 Mill. AS.

Adolescent↗