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Biomedical subjects

C Kunz

Publications and source records attributed to C Kunz.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Reactogenicity and immunogenicity of different lots of a yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine.

Several lots of a yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine at different doses and a 20 micrograms dose of plasma-derived vaccine were tested in young healthy adults and compared with respect to risk of hypersensitivity reactions, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity. No signs of hypersensitivity either pre-existing or vaccine-induced were observed. Reactogenicity was low and similar in all vaccine groups. It was not dose related and unaffected by the number of injections. Immunogenicity was evaluated for a 0, 1, 2, and 12 month vaccination schedule. Seroconversion rates (greater than or equal to 10 IU/l) were not significantly different between the purified yeast- and plasma-derived vaccines one month after the second vaccination whereas the percentage of seroconversion was slightly lower in the groups receiving only partly purified recombinant vaccines. Although geometric mean titres induced by the plasma-derived vaccine were somewhat higher after the first months, the antibody titres induced by the recombinant vaccine were at least as high as those elicited by a plasma-derived vaccine following the booster dose.

Antigens↗
PubMed1987

Persistence of vaccine-induced antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen and the need for booster vaccination in adult subjects.

Protection against hepatitis B virus infection can be achieved by the induction of neutralizing antibodies against the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). An antibody concentration of 10 IU/l, as measured by radioimmunoassay, is considered to be protective. HBsAg can be produced either from the plasma of chronic carriers or by DNA recombinant technology in yeast cells. Plasma- and yeast-derived vaccines have been compared in several studies and their immunological properties were found to be similar, including the persistence of antibodies induced by either type of vaccine. Finally, yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine can boost anti-HBs responses initially elicited by either plasma- or yeast-derived vaccine equally and effectively. In order to maintain protective immunity after hepatitis B vaccination, antibody determination and, if necessary, booster vaccination should be performed, particularly in high-risk persons.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[HTLV-III serology, epidemiology and clinical aspects of imprisoned i.v. drug-dependent males in Austria].

Sera of 71 intravenous drug abusers imprisoned in Austria were tested for HTLV-III antibodies and the results correlated with the case histories and available clinical data. 12 sera, i.e. 17%, were found to be positive. Seronegative and seropositive drug addicts showed no notable difference regarding the average duration of previous drug abuse or the incidence of sexually-transmitted diseases. Among HTLV-III seropositive drug addicts there was found to be a significantly higher incidence of frequent needle-sharing and history of previous i.v. drug abuse in Amsterdam. 6 of 12 HTLV-III seropositive drug addicts had developed the lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS); chronic liver disease and positive hepatitis B serology were equally frequent in HTLV-III seronegative persons, HTLV-III seropositive persons without symptoms and LAS patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

[Double infection with early summer meningoencephalitis virus and Borrelia burgdorferi].

A 68-year-old woman developed a meningoencephalitis 18 days after a tick bite. IgG and IgM antibodies against tick-encephalitis virus were demonstrated, by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay, in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid (csf). Lymphoplasmocytic pleocytosis was present in csf for over six weeks, as was an increased IgM level. Three weeks after the onset of neurological symptoms and clearing of the encephalitis there occurred multiple peripheral pareses in the left leg which were slow to regress. Retrospectively, IgM and IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi were demonstrated in deep-frozen serum and csf. Since IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi, locally synthesised in csf, could also be demonstrated, it must be assumed that the patient had a double infection. It is suggested that in confirmed cases of tick-encephalitis with an atypical course an additional infection with Borrelia should be considered, because if present the latter can be successfully treated with high doses of penicillin.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

[The 1984/85 rubella epidemic in Austria].

As a consequence of the rubella epidemic in Austria in 1979, prophylaxis against this disease was intensified. In spite of this measure, however, there was an increase in cases of rubella in 1984/85. The peak incidence in both years occurred in May. In 1984, most cases were found in Vienna, Lower and Upper Austria, and Salzburg, whereas in 1985, Styria and Vienna were most affected. The clinical diagnosis of rubella was confirmed serologically in 685 patients. Of these, 151 were pregnant women and 104 were women of childbearing age who gave no information as to pregnancy. Due to the virtually complete recognition of cases, which usually led to therapeutic abortion, only 7 cases of intrauterine rubella infection were recorded. In spite of the vaccination of all prepuberal schoolgirls, of women at occupational risk, and of seronegative women after delivery, 10% of women of childbearing age still have no reliable immunity (HI titre 1:32) to rubella. This situation can be improved only by testing women at around 20 years of age for immunity (irrespective of their vaccination status) and vaccinating them if necessary.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

A controlled trial for evaluating two live attenuated mumps-measles vaccines (Urabe Am 9-Schwarz and Jeryl Lynn-Moraten) in young children.

A prospective, randomised clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of two live attenuated mumps-measles vaccines, the Urabe Am 9-Schwarz and the Jeryl Lynn-Moraten vaccine, in 400 young children aged 9 months-4.5 years (median 13.4 months). Antibody responses to both vaccine components were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); 96.9% of the seronegative children who received the Urabe Am 9-Schwarz vaccine showed satisfactory mumps antibody responses compared to 90% of the Jeryl Lynn-Moraten vaccine recipients (P less than .01). Similar proportions of both groups, 98.5% and 96.8%, respectively, developed measles virus specific antibodies. Both vaccines were equally well tolerated and clinically acceptable.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1986

Different immune responses after intradermal and intramuscular administration of vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis virus.

A single multisite intradermal (ID) administration of the same dose used for regular intramuscular (IM) immunisation with vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) resulted in seroconversion of all vaccinees within three weeks: with the regular IM schedule, two vaccinations were necessary for all vaccinees to seroconvert. After the first ID vaccination, antibodies of the IgM class against TBEV (anti-TBEV-IgM) were observed in all vaccinees; after the first IM vaccination, only three out of nine vaccinees showed an IgM response. The geometric mean titer (GMT) of anti-TBEV-IgM in seropositives was 5-20-fold higher in the ID group and similar to that after natural infection. The GMT of antibodies of the IgG class against TBEV (anti-TBEV-IgG) was also higher in the ID group but with a less marked difference. Hemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) antibodies appeared earlier and persisted longer after one or two ID injections; after a third vaccination, HI antibody levels were similar in both groups. Side effects after ID vaccination were limited to local reactions. These results indicate that follow-up injections may be omitted or at least reduced after ID administration of the vaccine dose usually used for IM vaccination schedules. However, additional studies in larger groups of vaccinees are necessary before ID vaccination can be recommended for general use.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Detection of respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal secretions by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, indirect immunofluorescence, and virus isolation: a comparative study.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigens in nasopharyngeal secretions (NPS) from children with acute respiratory disease. Antisera against RSV nucleocapsids were used as immunoreagents for this test system. The results obtained by RSV antigen ELISA were compared to those of indirect immunofluorescence (IF) and tissue culture virus isolation (TC). Of the 404 NPS obtained, 278 were tested in parallel by ELISA and IF and 205 by ELISA and TC, and 89 were screened in parallel by all three methods. The sensitivity of ELISA in relation to IF was 86.7%, the specificity 95.7%. Sensitivity and specificity obtained by ELISA were 89.9% and 94.4%, respectively, compared to TC. False-negative results were obtained with all three test systems used.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

A model study of the use of monoclonal antibodies in capture enzyme immunoassays for antigen quantification exploiting the epitope map of tick-borne encephalitis virus.

On the basis of an epitope model, capture enzyme immunoassay systems using monoclonal antibodies have been devised for the detection and quantification of Tick-borne encephalitis virus and compared with a reference system employing polyclonal sera. Monoclonal antibodies were used both as capture and detector antibodies, their suitability depending primarily on their avidity and intrinsic background activity. A considerable increase in sensitivity was achieved by combining antibodies to different non-overlapping epitopes. Biotinylation of the detector antibodies allowed the construction of multiple site simultaneous binding assays. Furthermore the use of monoclonal antibodies of defined serological specificity made virus type identification possible. This assay can therefore be used as a rapid 'test of identity' as required during the manufacture of viral vaccines.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

A personal computer program using a 4-component logit for the evaluation of ELISA calibration curves with unknown asymptotic values.

A BASIC program is described for the calculation of ELISA calibration curves using a 4-component logit for the linearisation of the sigmoidal shape. The difficulty of estimating the four logit parameters without knowledge of upper and lower asymptotic values is overcome by statistical analysis of the experimental data. The program is run on an IBM-PC and the curves are plotted by a HP7475A plotter.

Biometry↗
PubMed1986

[Histamine reactivity of affected and unaffected skin in endogenous eczema and in chronic allergic contact dermatitis].

In 30 patients with atopic dermatitis and 40 with allergic contact dermatitis in the chronic stage intracutaneous tests were performed with 0.1 ml histamine 1:10,000 in affected and non-affected skin. The erythematous and wheal reactions were compared with 40 age- and sex-matched controls. The diameters of the erythema and wheals were significantly reduced in affected and non-affected skin of the atopic dermatitis (p less than 0.01). In allergic contact dermatitis only the erythema of the affected and non-affected skin was reduced (p less than 0.05), but not the wheal reaction. The erythematous reaction was, however, less reduced in non-affected skin than in the affected one of the allergic contact dermatitis (p less than 0.05). The reduced histamine reactivity seems to be a typical basic mechanism in atopic dermatitis. It is suggested to be due to the histamine mediated immune modulation and the increased release from mast cells, leading to a refractory behaviour of histamine receptors of the blood vessels like in tachyphylaxis. It is interpreted as a secondary phenomenon in allergic contact dermatitis. Although the histamine reaction shows differences for the groups of patients, it is not suitable to discriminate single cases.

Dermatitis↗
PubMed1985

[Detection of HTLV-III antibodies using ELISA and the western blot].

Three commercially available ELISA test kits were used for the detection of antibodies to HTLV-III, the cause of AIDS. Positive results were confirmed by means of the Western Blot. In the course of our routine diagnostic studies, a total of 112 infections with HTLV-III were found among persons in high-risk groups or in blood donors, of whom only 13 presented the clinical picture of AIDS. About 20% of all seropositive persons were intravenous drug addicts. Upon comparison of the ELISA kits of Abbott, Organon, and Sorin, no conclusive indication of a false negative result has been obtained to date with any test kit. Differences were, however, found as regards the number of repeatedly positive samples that could not be confirmed in the Western Blot. The highest rate of these false positive results was found with the Abbott-ELISA, followed by Sorin, while the Organon test did not yield a single false positive result. The lack of agreement in a certain percentage of the tested samples is probably caused by differences in the cut-off values of the various ELISAs used. This value is chosen in such a manner that false positive results are avoided, while even low levels of antibodies are still detected. Since there was no evidence of false negative results, all three kits are suitable for HTLV-III screening of sera. Our results show the need for confirmation of positive results with ELISA by means of the Western Blot.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗