Objectives  Avian‐like H1N1 and human‐like H3N2 swine influenza viruses (SIV) have been considered widespread among pigs in Western Europe since the 1980s, and a novel H1N2 reassortant with a human‐like H1 emerged in the mid 1990s. This study, which was part of the EC‐funded ‘European Surveillance Network for Influenza in Pigs 1’, aimed to determine the seroprevalence of the H1N2 virus in different European regions and to compare the relative prevalences of each SIV between regions. Design  Laboratories from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Poland and Spain participated in an international serosurvey. A total of 4190 sow sera from 651 farms were collected in 2002–2003 and examined in haemagglutination inhibition tests against H1N1, H3N2 and H1N2. Results  In Belgium, Germany, Italy and Spain seroprevalence rates to each of the three SIV subtypes were high (≥30% of the sows seropositive) to very high (≥50%), except for a lower H1N2 seroprevalence rate in Italy (13·8%). Most sows in these countries with high pig populations had antibodies to two or three subtypes. In Ireland, the Czech Republic and Poland, where swine farming is less intensive, H1N1 was the dominant subtype (8·0–11·7% seropositives) and H1N2 and H3N2 antibodies were rare (0–4·2% seropositives). Conclusions  Thus, SIV of H1N1, H3N2 and H1N2 subtype are enzootic in swine producing regions of Western Europe. In Central Europe, SIV activity is low and the circulation of H3N2 and H1N2 remains to be confirmed. The evolution and epidemiology of SIV throughout Europe is being further monitored through a second ‘European Surveillance Network for Influenza in Pigs’.

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The objective of this study was to assess the utility of measurement of thrombomodulin, antinucleosome antibodies, sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, neopterin, fas ligand, IL-10 and sIL-2R in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to compare them with traditional markers of SLE activity (anti-dsDNA antibodies, C3, C4) and the ECLAM index of disease activity. The measurement was performed over a 6-month period at three consecutive time points after 3 months in each of the 52 patients with SLE. Anti-dsDNA antibodies, thrombomodulin, antinucleosome antibodies, sVCAM-1m sICAM-1, neopterin, fas ligand, IL-10 and sIL-2R were tested by ELISA technique, while C3, C4 components of complement were tested by nephelometry. Fas ligand and IL-10 did not correlate with the ECLAM index. The rest of the markers showed significant correlation with the disease activity index. Thrombomodulin and anti-dsDNA antibodies reflect in the best way the changing trend in disease activity. Antinucleosome antibodies seem to be a promising marker useful in early diagnosis. Soluble VCAM-1, sICAM-1, neopterin and sIL-2R are interesting molecules with a role in disease pathogenesis, but their practical utility is limited.

The aim of this study was to compare under the same conditions in vitro the inhibitory effects of seven 1-monoglycerides (MAG) containing fatty acids with a medium chain on ten strains of food-borne pathogens or spoilage gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Citrobacter freundii, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and on their growth indicatos. The inhibitory effect of MAGs (monocaprylin, monocaprin, monolaurin, monomyristin, monopalmitin, MAG of undecanoic and 10-undecenoic acids) at a concentration of 25 -1500 mg·l -1 was observed. Growth of bacteria in the presence of MAG was studied by means of optical density of bacteria for 24 h. The data were modelled through a Gompertz equation and the lag-time, the maximum specific growth rate and the maximal value reached were calculated. MAGs inhibited mainly the growth of gram-positive bacteria, which was shown by the extended lag-time, decrease in specific growth rate and decrease in cell density. Inhibitory effects of tested MAGs could be ranked from point of view of the minimum inhibitory concentration: MAG-C12:0 > MAG-C11:0 > MAG-C10:0 > MAG-C14:0 > MAG-C11:1 > MAG-C8:0 > MAG-C16:0. In vitro, no significant inhibitory effects of 1-monoglycerides, with the exception of the highest concentrations applied, on the growth of gram-negative bacteria were detected. The main contribution of this study is to compare the effects of several MAG containing fatty acids with a medium chain under the same conditions on the growth indicators of bacteria.Inhibition effect, esters of glycerol, microorganism, Gompertz model, specific growth rate, lag-time

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