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Biomedical subjects

H Hofmann

Publications and source records attributed to H Hofmann.

396 records · Page 22Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Prenatal diagnosis of campomelic dysplasia by ultrasonography.

Consanguineous partners had a boy with campomelic dysplasia who died of increasing respiratory distress soon after birth. The next pregnancy was monitored frequently by ultrasonography and a healthy male infant was born at term. During a further pregnancy, ultrasonography suggested campomelic dysplasia in the 16th week of gestation. This was confirmed in the 18th week. The pregnancy was terminated and the fetus showed the typical radiological, anatomical and histological findings.

Bone and Bones↗
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Detectability of IgM antibodies against TBE virus after natural infection and after vaccination.

IgM antibodies against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus were investigated by means of a three-layer ELISA (antigen bound to the solid phase) and a four-layer ELISA (anti-mu-serum bound to the solid phase) after natural infection as well as after vaccination. In general, the four-layer ELISA detected IgM antibodies more often and for a longer period of time than the three-layer test. In some patients, IgM antibodies were detected for as long as eight months after the disease with the four-layer test but for only six months with the three-layer test. In addition, after the second TBE vaccination, IgM antibodies were found for as long as eight months in 24 sera which were taken within eight months after the second vaccination. Five were positive in the three-layer ELISA and 16 in the four-layer test. IgM antibodies were never detected in specimens taken later than ten months after the second and third vaccination. The results are of diagnostic importance in infections of the CNS which are not caused by TBE virus and which have been preceded by a possibly silent TBE virus infection or by a TBE vaccination.

Antibodies, Viral↗
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Infectivity of medical staff for hepatitis B.

Prior to hepatitis B vaccination, 36,000 persons of the medical staff were tested for HBs antigen, HBc antibodies, and HBs antibodies. 210 sera were found positive for HBs antigen and HBc antibodies. Of these sera, 171 were available for testing for hepatitis B virus DNA as a marker of infectivity by spot hybridization. DNA was detected in only 15. One hundred and thirty-nine had HBe antibodies but no detectable HBe antigen, and only two of these were hepatitis B virus DNA positive. 12 had neither HBe antigen nor HBe antibodies and none had hepatitis B virus DNA. Hepatitis B virus DNA was, however, detected in 13 of 20 HBe antigen-positive but HBe antibody-negative sera. Our study confirms epidemiological observations that medical staff hardly plays any role as a source of HBV infection for patients.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Low risk of health care workers for infection with hepatitis C virus.

294 health care workers from 21 different departments were tested for hepatitis C antibodies by means of the Ortho ELISA test. Only six (2%) were found positive. Health care workers having direct contact with the patient, such as doctors and nurses, seem to be at a higher risk of infection than those with only indirect contact, such as laboratory technicians and cleaning personnel. In the geriatric ward the risk is possibly slightly higher than in other departments. However, in general risk of infection with HCV for health care workers seems to be low.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lyme borreliosis--problems of serological diagnosis.

As long as test procedures are not standardized, the serological results of IgM- and IgG-antibodies in Lyme borreliosis must be interpreted with caution and always in the context of clinical signs and symptoms. False negative results occur primarily during the first weeks of infection. In erythema migrans of less than 4 weeks' duration, 50% of patients are seronegative even with newly designed ELISAs. At this early stage of the infection the therapeutic decision has to be established on the basis of clinical criteria. Frequently IgM- and/or IgG-antibodies develop during antibiotic therapy. After 4 weeks' duration 80% of patients have elevated borrelial antibodies detectable with recently developed ELISAs. Positive and borderline results should be confirmed by Western blot. False positive results, particularly slightly elevated IgM, may occur in a variety of other diseases. Another problem is the persistence of Borrelia-specific IgM antibodies after therapy. Serological follow-up can only be carried out with the same methods in the same laboratory. Retreatment should be considered if IgM antibodies are increasing significantly and new symptoms are occurring.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
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In vitro susceptibility and sterol biosynthesis of Candida albicans strains after long-term treatment with azoles in HIV-infected patients.

Over a period of 6 to 24 months a long term follow up of the in vitro antifungal susceptibility of 306 Candida albicans strains from 49 HIV-infected patients was performed. Using a microdilution test, the strains were tested against the azoles ketoconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole. The susceptibility range for fluconazole was between 1 and 128 mg/l, for itraconazole between 0.015 and 32 mg/l and for ketoconazole between 0.007 and 16 mg/l. 11.7% of the strains showed elevated IC30-values against ketoconazole, 9.1% against itraconazole and 10.1% against fluconazole. Sterol biosynthesis was examined by thin layer chromatography in 18 less sensitive strains and nine sensitive strains in the presence of ketoconazole. The proportion of ergosterol in the presence of ketoconazole at a concentration of 0.003 mg/l varied between 7.6% and 21.1% in sensitive strains and between 11.1% and 86.6% in less sensitive strains. In resistant control strains the proportion of ergosterol was 73% and 94.2%, respectively. Without ketoconazole the ergosterol proportion was > 85% in all strains. There was a significant correlation between the IC30-values and the inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis (p = 0.05).

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sudeck's atrophy in Lyme borreliosis.

A patient with disseminated Lyme borreliosis is reported. The patient suffered from erythema migrans and radicular pain. Serologic tests routinely performed (IFT, ELISA, Western blots with different strains and Borrelia-LTT) were negative. However, Borrelia burgdorferi (genotype Borrelia afzelii) was cultivated from a skin biopsy. Western blot with the patient's isolate and sera showed strong reactivity only with the 60 kDa protein. In spite of immediate diagnosis and intravenous antibiotic treatment according to current recommendations he developed pain in the right ankle, which was resistant to further antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy. Sudeck's atrophy was diagnosed by X-ray. Treatment with calcitonin brought immediate relief from pain and led to radiographically demonstrable recalcification.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Genotypes and virus load in patients with hepatitis C infection.

Virus load was tested by means of PCR calibrated with standards and HCV genotypes were determined by the LIPA-technique using sera from 123 HCV patients. Of these 39 were on renal hemodialysis treatment, 19 suffered from hemophilia, 13 were i.v. drug users and the remaining 52 had none of these risk factors (chronic hepatitis group). The most prevalent subtype in Austria was 1b followed by 3a and 1a. However, genotype 1b infections were found relatively less often in hemophilia patients and drug users than in the other groups, indicating that hemophiliacs probably had been infected by an antihemophilic plasma coming from South American or Asian donors. The highest amounts of virus were found in patients infected with genotype 3a. Determination of the patient's virus load and of the infecting subtype of HCV may be helpful in planning interferon alpha therapy.

Chronic Disease↗
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Seroepidemiologic study of hepatitis C virus in sexually transmitted disease risk groups.

To identify the importance of heterosexual activity as a possible route for the transmission of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), a screening of antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV) was performed in 200 sexually transmitted disease patients with different risks for incurring genital infections as well as in 100 registered prostitutes. Out of all 300 persons tested, 14 cases of HCV infection were detected. Anti-HCV was present in 3 of the prostitutes and in 11 of the STD patients. Evaluating known risk factors, such as intravenous drug use or blood transfusion, 6 out of the 11 STD patients and all of the prostitutes in whom anti-HCV was present were intravenous drug users and exhibited highly promiscuous behavior. Intravenous drug use was the probable means of acquisition in 9 of the 14 subjects in whom anti-HCV was present, and homosexual promiscuous behavior was assumed to be the means of acquisition in another 2 subjects. In heterosexual patients engaging in high-risk behavior (high number of sexual partners and genital infections), the exclusion of intravenous drug use decreased the prevalence of anti-HCV from 12.1% to 4.1%, demonstrating no significant increase from the prevalence among low-risk persons. Most of the patients were screened for STDs, such as syphilis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), trichomoniasis, and yeast infections. The highest rate of coinfection with anti-HCV was found in patients with serologic evidence of an HIV infection (50%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Rubella infection in pregnancy in naturally acquired immunity].

This case-report concerns the problem of rubella-reinfection in pregnancy (17th week of gestation). Inspite of documented maternal immunity infection was followed by transmission of virus to the fetus. Nowadays in most countries antenatal maternal screening for rubella seems to be sufficient. The observation of cutaneous exanthema, however, demands further investigation, even if maternal immunity was documented.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical trials with a new influenza subunit vaccine in adults and children.

The reactogenicity and immunogenicity of a new influenza subunit vaccine containing essentially only hemagglutinin and neuraminidase has been studied in man. Studies in primed individuals demonstrated that the subunit vaccine induced antibody levels as high as those induced by a comparable whole virus vaccine, or a commercially available whole virus vaccine or by a split vaccine. The commercial whole virus vaccine caused systemic reactions, including fever and headache in 15% of volunteers. In contrast local and systemic reactions were significantly fewer after application of subunit vaccine. When unprimed individuals were vaccinated serological responses were, however, superior with whole virus vaccines. The subunit vaccine demonstrated good immunogenicity and a very low reactogenicity in children. Three months after vaccination, a number of the children were challenged intranasally with live attenuated influenza virus. All proved, as judged by virus isolation and antibody response to be resistant.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Field study with a live influenza vaccine (RIT 4050) in children.

In autumn of 1976 a study was performed with Gripovax (RIT 4050) in 126 schoolchildren in Vienna. Sixty-one of the children were 10 to 14 years old and 65 were 7 to 10 years old. The study was initiated in the older group (10-14 years old) by transnasal administration of a single dose of vaccine; 23 children received a second dose 7 days later. Symptoms were recorded daily up to the 7th postvaccinal day. 53 out of 61 vaccines did not report any symptoms during the 7 day postvaccinal period. 8 complained of mild and transient nasal stuffiness and only 1 child had a rise in temperature (37.8 degrees C). In a second group (7 to 10 years of age), 65 children received 2 doses of the vaccine at a 7 day interval. No symptoms were recorded in 57 subjects and only 8 reported mild and transient nasal stuffiness. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers were determined before and after vaccination. In the older age group (10-14 years), after one dose of vaccine (vaccinees with prevaccinal titers less than 1:20), seroconversion occurred in 20 out of 28 (71.4%) and after two doses, in 18 out of 21 (85.7%). Children aged 7 to 10 years received both doses of the vaccine. In subjects with prevaccinal titers less than 1:20, seroconversion occurred in 40 out of 43 (93%). Geometric mean of titers (GMT) before and after one dose was 24.3 and 97.4, respectively. The GMT of those children who received two doses (both age groups) was 30 preceding and 185 after vaccination.

Administration, Intranasal↗