Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Trepo

Publications and source records attributed to C Trepo.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Antigenic cross-reactions between woodchuck hepatitis virus and human hepatitis B virus shown by immune electron microscopy.

Using immune electron microscopy (IEM), low-level cross-reactions could be demonstrated between the surface antigens of hepatitis B and woodchuck hepatitis. However, immune complex formation was greatly enhanced by pre-exposure of the antigens to 0.5% deoxycholate. Cross-reaction between the core antigens and e antigens of both viruses was also confirmed by IEM as well as radioimmunoassay. It appears that the woodchuck sera used in this study may well contain an anti-immunoglobulin akin to rheumatoid factor.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Serial transmission of hepatitis B like non-A, non-B hepatitis and associated markers to chimpanzees successfully immunized against HBV.

In order to demonstrate that the HBV like strain of NANB hepatitis bred true as non-B together with its associated markers, 2 chimpanzees with high titer anti-HBs (45 and 125 AUSAB RU respectively) immunized with the Pasteur HB vaccine received 1 ml IV of a NANB inoculum. Two neighbour captive animal served as controls. The inoculum was the serum of a leukemic patient in remission for over 3 years with NANB chronic active hepatitis which serum contained HBV like particles and was found positive for NANBe Ag and anti-NANBc whereas in the liver typical numerous "SHIMIZU" dense soft edge aggregated intranuclear structures were demonstrated by electron microscopy. After 4 weeks portal inflammation and hepatocyte necrosis with significant aminotransferase elevation lasting for over 10 weeks developed in the 2 infected chimpanzees. No change in anti-HBs titer was seen and HBs, HBc, HBe Ag and/or AB could neither be detected in serum by RIA nor in liver by immunofluorescence during the 6 month follow up period. By contrast NANBc Ag became clearly demonstrable by immunofluorescence in the liver nuclei together with anti-NANBc in the serum after the 6th week and both persisted for over 4 months. Double unit structures similar to those of NANB/F strain were demonstrable in the cytoplasm at the acute phase. None of these changes was seen in the two control animals. Inoculation of the acute phase serum in the 2 previous control animals was again followed by the same sequence of events. Hybridization studies with HBV DNA of liver biopsies of infected chimps were negative.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Influence of delta infection on severity of hepatitis B.

The prevalence of serum markers of primary delta infection was determined in 532 patients with acute benign hepatitis B seen in Italy, and in 111 patients with fulminant hepatitis B seen in Italy, France and England. Patients with fulminant hepatitis had significantly higher prevalence of delta markers (43/111, 39%) than did those with benign hepatitis (101/532, 19%). In 25 of the 43 patients with delta-positive fulminant hepatitis, serum markers indicated a primary hepatitis B infection while in the remaining 18, IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen was absent, indicating that hepatitis B preceded superinfection with the delta agent. The increased morbidity of HBsAg hepatitis with delta infection may result from the cumulative simultaneous exposure to hepatitis B virus and delta, or from superinfection of HBsAg carriers with delta.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1981

Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in liver and serum: a direct appraisal of the chronic carrier state.

The detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the liver and the serum permits direct study of the interaction between the virus and the liver cell. 40 HBV chronic carriers were studied by the blot technique of Southern to detect HBV DNA, and the results were compared with the serological status and histological status of the patients. It was possible to define two different chronic carrier states. The first is characterised by free viral DNA in the liver, with viral DNA and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAG) in the serum; integrated HBV DNA is also present, at least in some patients. The second carrier state is characterised by the presence of only integrated HBV DNA sequences in the liver: viral DNA and HBeAg are not present in the serum. In one HBeAg-negative patient, however, free HBV DNA was detected in the liver and HBV DNA was present in the serum. The hybridisation technique appears to be a very sensitive test which could reflect viral multiplication better than HBeAg radioimmunoassay. Since a needle biopsy sample provides sufficient tissue for the Southern blot technique, it should be useful in understanding chronic hepatitis, the selection of patients for antiviral therapy, and the estimation of its efficiency.

Autoradiography↗
PubMed1981

[Prognostic value of HBe antigen and anti-HBe antibody in viral hepatitis B (author's transl)].

HBe antigen (Ag) and anti-HBe antibody (Ab) were detected in 50 patients with chronic hepatitis due to virus B. In 19 cases of non-specific hepatitis and 15 cases of chronic persistent hepatitis, there was a significant correlation (p less than 0.01) between biochemical disturbances and the presence of HBe Ag. In 13 cases of HBs Ag-positive chronic persistent hepatitis (9 with HBe Ag and 4 with anti-HBe Ab) followed up for a mean period of 15 months, the biochemical disturbances were associated with the presence of HBe Ag and they subsided when the anti-HBe Ab appeared. In 4 cases of persistent chronic hepatitis and 16 cases of chronic active hepatitis followed up biochemically and histologically for a mean period of 22 months, aggravation of hepatic lesions was observed in the 8 cases where HBe Ag persisted. Conversely, histological improvement and return to normal of biochemical values were noted in 8 of the 12 remaining cases (5 seroconversions HBe Ag/Ab, 1 seroconversion HBs Ag/Ab, 3 HBs Ag and HBc Ab, and 3 HBs Ab). The results of treatment with corticosteroids alone or combined with azathioprine appeared to correlate with changes in HBe serology rather than with the pharmacological effects of the drugs. It would therefore seem that the disappearance of HBe Ag is a prerequisite of improvement of hepatitis B and that the HBe Ag/anti-HBe Ab system is an excellent prognostic index, as it closely reflects the evolutive potential of the disease, which in turn governs all therapeutic measures.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1981

Deleterious effect of prednisolone in HBsAg-positive chronic active hepatitis.

To study the efficacy of corticosteroids in chronic active hepatitis (CAH) positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), we pair-randomized 51 patients to receive either 15 to 20 mg of prednisolone per day or a placebo. After initial remission, the maintenance dosage of prednisolone was 10 mg per day, and the patients were prospectively followed for up to 3 1/2 years. Prednisolone decreased serum bilirubin (P < 0.05) and globulin (P < 0.01) at three months; it delayed other biochemical remission occurring after the second month of medication (P < 0.001); it hastened biochemical relapse (P < 0.0001); and it increased the frequency of complications (P < 0.0001) and the death rate (P < 0.01). We conclude that prednisolone has an overall harmful effect in patients with HBsAg-positive CAH.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Elevation of serum beta 2 microglobulin in liver diseases.

beta 2 Microglobulin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in the serum of 160 patients with liver disease and compared to 63 normal controls and 75 asymptomatic HBs-Ag carriers. All the latter subjects had normal values. Elevated serum beta 2 microglobulin levels were found in most of the other categories: acute viral hepatitis (35/45); chronic persistent (8/26) or active (35/41) hepatitis and liver cirrhosis (27/38). beta 2 Microglobulin values were significantly lower in chronic persistent hepatitis than in the three other groups (p less than 0.05). Steroid therapy was followed by reduction of serum beta 2m levels in 11/11 cases of chronic active hepatitis, eight of whom returned to normal value. Although linked to the course of the disease, variations of beta 2 microglobulin were independent of transaminases, bilirubin and gamma globulins. Elevated serum beta 2 microglobulin correlated with demonstration of rheumatoid factor but not with detection of circulating immune complexes, hepatitis B virus markers or autoantibodies. The results suggest that elevation of serum beta w microglobulin is encountered mostly in the active forms of inflammatory liver diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Detection by immunofluorescence of a new "core-like" Ag/Ab system in liver and serum of patients with NANB hepatitis.

Using direct immunofluorescence, a nuclear antigen was found in liver of chronic hepatitis patients with circulating NANBe Ag or anti-NANBe, and selected sera from either group were used as source of conjugates. The new Ag/Ab system was designated NANBc Ag and anti-NANBc since it behaved like the core Ag of HBV . NANBc Ag was detected in coded frozen liver biopsies from patients with chronic persistent 15/25 (60%) or active 27/50 (54%) hepatitis and cryptogenic cirrhosis 16/30 (53.3%) devoid of HBV markers. Only 2/30 alcoholic cirrhosis cases (7%) used as controls were positive (p less than or equal to 0.001). The homologous anti-NANBc antibody was always detectable by indirect immunofluorescence in the patients' serum when NANBc Ag was found in the liver. It was also found in 11/135 (8%) additional cases without any other NANB marker. A correlation was observed between coded detection of the NANBc Ag/Ab system by immunofluorescence and demonstration of NANBe Ag or anti-NANBe by immunodiffusion. In acute post-transfusion NANB hepatitis, anti-NANBc was first detectable 14 days after transfusion and persisted as long as ALT remained elevated, or longer. IgM anti-NANBc present at onset became associated with an increasing proportion of IgG after the 28th day. The prevalence of anti-NANBc in sporadic NANB hepatitis (11/50 = 22%) was significantly lower (p less than or equal to 0.001) than in cases with parenteral exposure such as post-transfusion, occupational or drug addict hepatitis (47/72 = 65%). Immunofluorescent tests for NANBc Ag and Ab are promising assays for the serological diagnosis of NANB hepatitis.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1981

[Fulminant hepatitis B virus associated with acute pancreatitis. Report of two cases (author's transl)].

Viral hepatitis affections are sometimes associated with endocrine or exocrine pancreatic disorders. An acute necrotizing hemorrhagic pancreatitis seems to be the prerogative of the fulminating forms. The demonstration of HBS fluorescence in the pancreatic acini cells in one patient suggests the possible etiopathogenic role of HB virus in some cases, apart from the other factors involved.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1980

[Viral hepatitis: incidence and epidemiologic pattern in an urban area (author's transl)].

In order to describe the incidence and the epidemiologic pattern of viral hepatitis (V.H.) in a French urban area, with a special attention to ambulatory cases, an epidemiological information system has been developed during one year. The physicians (sample), the medical laboratories and, at a lesser degree, the hospital care units, have taken part in this work. The incidence rate of ambulatory cares has been estimated 85 cases/10(5) persons (69/110), less than previously assumed. Non-B V.H. remains more frequent (52 cases/10(5) persons), but B.V.H. are rather close to them (33 cases/10(5) persons). Large differences exist between geographic areas, without evident rational. Higher incidence rates characterize children (especially 5-9 years) and migrant people (especially from North Africa): those facts are completely account by very high rates within the subgroup of migrant children (473 and 260 cases/10(5) persons). The reported patterns allows us to point on this high risk characteristic of migrant's children and to assume an important modification in the pattern of local inhabitants V.H. in the region. These trends have to be followed by further studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[Non-A, Non-B hepatitis : status of current knowledge (authors' transl)].

The many studies carried out following post-transfusion hepatitis cases, not due to the A and B viruses identified to date, have provided incontestable evidence that cases with all the clinical, biochemical and histopathological characteristics of A and B hepatitis, but etiologically distinct, do exist. These have been temporarily termed "Non-A, Non-B" (NANB). The epidemiology, duration of incubation period and type of evolution, including the risk to evolve towards chronic hepatitis are common to both B and NANB hepatitis. NANB hepatitis can be experimentally transmitted to chimpanzees, but the disease may have milder characteristics. Immunological studies have revealed the presence of corresponding antigens and antibodies in certain NANB hepatitis cases, which may hopefully lead to the development of serological methods of diagnosis after confirmation of these results. Two categories candidate virus have been so far proposed: either DNA viruses similar, to, but immunologically distinct from the hepatitis B virus, or small RNA viruses. The identification and role of such viruses in the determination of NANB hepatitis warrant further study. However, it already appears possible to postulate, on the basis of epidemiological, clinical, immunological and experimental data, that at least two etiologically different types of NANB hepatitis should exist.

Age Factors↗