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Biomedical subjects

G Hess

Publications and source records attributed to G Hess.

248 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Non-specific viral infections as possible synchronising events of the manifestation of type 1 diabetes.

Four cases of simultaneous manifestation of Type 1 diabetes in two members of the same household are reported. In all cases, a flu-like infection preceded diabetes onset. Surprisingly, despite simultaneous development of insulin dependency, insulin requirements were strikingly different at 3 months in all cases. These observations suggest that increased insulin resistance during infection may cause insulin deficiency in individuals with widely varying residual beta cell activity.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of recombinant alpha-interferon treatment on serum levels of hepatitis B virus-encoded proteins in man.

The effect of alpha-interferon treatment on serum levels of hepatitis B virus-encoded proteins was analyzed in eight patients with chronic type B hepatitis who participated in a pilot study of interferon therapy. Three individuals became HBsAg-negative, 4 lost HBeAg but remained HBsAg-positive and 1 remained positive for both HBsAg and HBeAg. Initiation of interferon treatment was rapidly followed by reduction or loss of hepatitis B virus DNA in the serum but by little immediate change in hepatitis B virus antigen levels. Changes in hepatitis B virus antigens were usually delayed. Loss of HBsAg from the serum was preceded by the sequential disappearance of pre-S-encoded proteins (pre-S1 and polymerized human serum albumin) and HBeAg. In patients who lost HBeAg but remained HBsAg-positive, serum levels of pre-S1 and polymerized human serum albumin usually, but did not always, decrease. The individual who remained HBsAg- and HBeAg-positive had unchanged serum levels of pre-S1, polymerized human serum albumin and HBsAg. These results suggest that alpha-interferon inhibits hepatitis B virus DNA replication but has little direct effect on synthesis of hepatitis B virus gene products.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunoelectron microscopic observations on the inflammatory infiltrates and HLA antigens in hepatitis B and non-A, non-B.

The present knowledge of the inflammatory reaction occurring in situ during hepatitis B favors a T cell-dependent MHC-restricted immune response. However, the reports in the literature are primarily based on the application of monoclonal antibodies directed at different lymphocyte subsets which discern only lymphocytic phenotypes and do not reflect the actual situation adequately. Therefore, we investigated the liver biopsies of patients with hepatitis B (28 patients) and non-A, non-B (21 patients) by immunoelectron microscopy with monoclonal antibodies directed at lymphocyte subtypes (pan-B, pan-T, T8, T4 and NKH1) and at activation epitopes (IL-2 receptor, TA1 and T11/3) as well, in order to determine the phenotype in association with the activation status of the lymphocytes that are in close contact with hepatocytes; thus, establishing an effector-target cell relationship on the ultrastructural level. We were able to confirm the central role of T8 lymphocytes being the predominant type of lymphocytes in close contact with liver cells in the space of Disse. A certain percentage of these cells expressed "activation" markers as IL-2 receptor, TA1 and T11/3. In acute hepatitis, the NK lymphocytes made up a fifth of all lymphocytes, whereas their number dropped below 10% in the chronic stage. There was a vague correlation between the inflammatory activity of the disease and the expression of HLA antigens (both classes I and II) on inflammatory cells and also on hepatocytes. The results did not show significant differences between hepatitis B and non-A, non-B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

HLA Antigens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hepatitis B and C in heterosexual patients with various sexually transmitted diseases.

The seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections were prospectively assessed in 356 heterosexuals with STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) and compared to a control group of 381 healthy first-time blood donors. Eighty-one of 356 STD patients were anti-HBC positive (22.8%) compared to 14/381 blood donors (3.8%; p less than 0.001). In addition, 18 of the 81 anti-HBC positive STD patients, but none of the controls, were positive for HBSAg (p = 0.06). The prevalence for anti-HCV was also significantly higher in the STD group than in the controls (5.3% vs. 0.5%; p less than 0.001). Among the various STDs syphilis (anti-HBC: 67.5%; anti-HCV: 12.5%) and Chlamydia trachomatis infections (anti-HBc: 20.2%, anti-HCV: 8.1%) had the highest prevalence for both infections. This study provides strong evidence of heterosexual transmission of hepatitis B and C virus infections. Thus, heterosexuals with STDs or multiple partners should be actively vaccinated against hepatitis B.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development of monoclonal neutralizing antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea virus after pretreatment of mice with normal bovine cells and cyclophosphamide.

After immunization of mice with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) concentrated by ultracentrifugation only antibodies against normal cellular constituents were detectable. Monoclonal and polyclonal anti-BVDV antibodies were obtained, however, after induction of tolerance against normal bovine cellular antigens by pretreatment of adult mice with bovine cells and cyclophosphamide followed by immunization with BVDV containing material.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen in blood donors screened for alanine aminotransferase level and hepatitis non-A, non-B in recipients.

Four-hundred and seventeen patients undergoing open-heart surgery were followed for more than 9 months after transfusion. All 2270 blood units transfused had alanine aminotransferase levels less than or equal to 30 U/l. Blood units positive for antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were more frequently associated with recipient hepatitis non-A, non-B (HNANB) (13.7%) than anti-HBc-negative units (4.2%) (p less than 0.001). The frequency of HNANB among recipients of at least 1 anti-HBc-positive blood unit (8/79, 10.1%) was fivefold greater than among recipients of exclusively anti-HBc-negative blood units (7/338, 2.1%) (p less than 0.01). In this study the exclusion of donors positive for anti-HBc (4.2%) might have reduced the incidence of recipient HNANB by 42 percent. These results support the introduction of anti-HBc donor screening to prevent recipient HNANB.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Sesamoid bone complex and hallux valgus deformity. A retrospective analysis of 82 Mitchell osteotomies].

The aim of the operative treatment of the hallux valgus deformity is to correct the medial luxation of the first metatarsal head out of the sesamoid complex, the restoration of a congruent joint, the patient after treatment should be painfree. 82 patients were available for an independent clinical and radiological review. The median follow up was 32 months. The evaluation of the results are based on objective and subjective assessment of the patients as well as on radiographic criteria, such as hallux valgus angle, intermetatarsal angle, shortening of the first metatarsal bone, subluxation, lateral positioning of the osteotomized MT I-head and position of the sesamoid complex. Depending on the degree of "lateralisation" of the sesamoid complex seven groups were defined: 0/0, 1/0, 1/1, 2/1, 2/2. 2/3, 3/3 following Appel. Following objective criteria 61% of the patients were evaluated excellent or good, following subjective criteria 77% were evaluated excellent or good. Isolated parallel shifting seems to be sufficient in mild forms of hallux valgus (sesamoid complex group 2/2 or less), while the severe subluxation in the metatarsophalangeal joint (sesamoid complex group 2/3, 3/3) requires an additional lateral wedge osteotomy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The significance of hepatitis G virus infection in patients with non-A to C hepatic diseases.

The clinical significance of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection was studied in 35 patients with various liver diseases of unknown etiology. Diseases included 5 cases of acute hepatitis, 23 cases of chronic liver diseases, and 7 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. None of the patients showed evidence of hepatitis A, B, or C virus infection. HGV RNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) within 5' untranslated region (5'UTR), nonstructure (NS) 3 region, and NS5 region. RT-PCR within 5'UTR and NS5 detected HGV RNA in 9 of 35 patients, while that within NS3 detected HGV RNA in only 2 patients. This result suggests that RT-PCR within 5'UTR and NS5 as a primer is more sensitive than NS3 in Japanese patients. HGV RNA was detected in 3 of 5 cases of acute hepatitis, 3 of 23 cases of chronic liver diseases, and 1 of 7 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. The HGV positive rate was high in patients with acute hepatitis suggesting that HGV might cause acute liver injury. In patients with chronic liver injury, the elevation of serum ALT levels was mild for about 2 years, but persistent HGV infection existed. The studied patients had no causative agent except for HGV. Therefore, HGV was thought to be an important etiological agent for liver injury.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Repeated imipramine administration enhances the effects of NMDA receptor ligands on synchronous activity in rat frontal cortex in vitro.

This study assessed the effects of repeated administration (14 days) of imipramine on the function of NMDA receptors by measuring the frequency of spontaneous epileptiform discharges which develop in rat frontal cortical slices incubated in Mg2+-free conditions. Imipramine significantly enhanced both the excitatory effect of NMDA and the inhibitory effect of the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist CGP 37849 on the frequency of discharges. These results are consistent with studies indicating that chronic administration of antidepressant drugs induces adaptive changes in NMDA receptor/ channel complex in the cerebral cortex.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗