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L Magnius

Publications and source records attributed to L Magnius.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Hepatitis B outbreak in a day care center affected several families. It could have been prevented by vaccination of all children].

An outbreak of hepatitis B originating in a family day nursery affected several children with Somali background. The transmission chain was confirmed by sequence analysis of the S gene. In Africa hepatitis B is often spread horizontally among children of pre-school age, a pattern of transmission that was retained in this outbreak. To limit the outbreak 126 children in the nursery and 50 members of staff had to be vaccinated. The total cost for this intervention was estimated to about 300,000 SEK. Considering the great number of immigrants in Sweden from areas highly endemic for hepatitis B the inclusion of vaccination in the general child immunisation program seems to be the most cost effective measure for long term prevention not only of hepatitis B transmission among children but also of venereal spread in early adulthood.

Child Day Care Centers↗
PubMed1998

Confirmation of nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C virus by phylogenetic analysis of the NS5-B region.

Four hepatitis C virus transmission chains at three dialysis units were disclosed by limited sequencing; three of these were disclosed by analysis of the NS5-B region of the genome. Dialysis on the same shift as that during which infected patients were dialyzed was the common factor for seven patients in two chains. Two nurses exposed to needle sticks and their sources of infection constituted two other chains. The strains of three chains belonged to subtype 1a and formed clusters with an intrachain variability of 0 to 6 nucleotides compared to 8 to 37 nucleotides for unrelated strains within this subtype. The clusters were supported by bootstrap values ranging from 89 to 100%.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1996

An increase in sudden unexpected cardiac deaths among young Swedish orienteers during 1979-1992.

BACKGROUND: Sixteen cases of sudden unexpected cardiac death, 15 males and one female, are known to have occurred among young Swedish orienteers from 1979 to 1992, of which seven cases occurred between 1989 and 1992. This is considered to be indicative of an increased death rate. RESULTS: Histopathological evaluation showed myocarditis in a higher than expected proportion of cases. In one such case, which we studied before the sudden unexpected death occurred, the victim had suffered a Chlamydia pneumoniae infection verified by serology, and a nucleotide sequence was found in the heart and lung by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that hybridized with a probe specific for that organism. Male Swedish orienteers do not, however, seem to have an increased rate of exposure to this agent. No further sudden unexpected deaths among young orienteers have occurred over the past 3.5 years. At the beginning of that period, attempts were made to modify training habits and attitudes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Identification of hepatitis B virus core protein regions exposed or internalized at the surface of HBcAg particles by scanning with monoclonal antibodies.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (HBcAg) particles purified from Escherichia coli were probed in a competition enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with a panel of 16 murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed to different forms of core protein. The linear binding sites of the MAbs were mapped by combination of solid-phase and competition EIA using synthetic peptides covering the complete sequence of HBV core protein. Relative accessibilities of the linear binding sites at the HBcAg surface were investigated by comparing reactivities in solution of the MAbs to (i) two genetic variants of particulate HBcAg, (ii) denatured core protein, and (iii) synthetic peptides mimicking the appropriate linear binding sites. Further, accessibilities of HBV preS1 and preS2 epitopes (introduced into core protein at positions 77 or 144) at the surface of chimeric HBcAg particles were investigated. The previously described surface localization of core protein region 78-83 at the core particle surface was confirmed. In addition, another region, encompassing residues 127-133, was found to occupy a surface position at particulate HBcAg, whereas regions 9-20 and 133-145 were exposed after denaturation of the core protein and at synthetic peptides but not at particulate HBcAg.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Immunity to poliovirus and immunization with inactivated poliovirus vaccine after autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Titers of antibody to poliovirus in 102 patients were determined with a sensitive neutralization assay before and 1 year after autologous bone marrow transplantation. At 1 year 14 patients (14%) had lost antibodies to poliovirus type 1 (P < .001), 10 (10%) to poliovirus type 2 (P < .05), and 13 (13%) to poliovirus type 3 (P < .01). Twenty-two patients had lost antibodies to at least one type of poliovirus. Follow-up of unimmunized patients 2 years (n = 40) and 3 years (n = 23) after transplantation documented a continuous decrease in antibody titer; by 3 years after transplantation, another 6 patients had become seronegative. When one dose of inactivated trivalent poliovirus vaccine was administered 1 year after transplantation, 2 (25%) of 8 patients seronegative for poliovirus type 1 had an increase of at least fourfold in antibody titer; after three doses, 10 (83%) of 12 patients exhibited such an increase (P < .05). The corresponding figures were 5 (71%) of 7 and 13 (100%) of 13 for poliovirus type 2 (difference not significantly) and 2 (22%) of 9 and 14 (88%) of 16 for poliovirus type 3 (P < .01). These results indicate that at least 30% of patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation including those seronegative for poliovirus before transplantation will benefit from reimmunization with three doses of inactivated trivalent poliovirus vaccine 1 year after transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Severe aplastic anemia associated with seronegative community-acquired hepatitis C virus infection.

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare complication of viral hepatitis affecting mainly children or young adults. Most reported cases have been associated with community-acquired non-A, non-B hepatitis, but hepatitis A and B have also been implicated in a few patients. We report on a 43-year-old woman with severe AA, in association with acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, diagnosed by detection of HCV RNA by the polymerase chain reaction technique. Her AA was successfully treated with anti-thymocyte globulin and cyclosporin A. The hepatitis C progressed to chronic disease but, despite a follow-up time of 2 years, the patient still has no detectable anti-HCV antibodies, as evaluated with a second-generation anti-HCV assay.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Late seroconversion and high chronicity rate of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with hematologic disorders.

BACKGROUND: Patients with hematologic disorders requiring repeated blood and platelet transfusions are at high risk for development of post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients with hematologic diseases and post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis were studied. Sera were assayed for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies with a second-generation enzyme-linked immunoassay. Sera from 40 patients were examined for the presence of HCV RNA with a nested PCR method. RESULTS: The clinical picture of acute non-A, non-B hepatitis did not differ from that described in other patient groups: however, progression to chronic hepatitis was very common (95%). Thirty-eight (95%) of 40 patients, whose sera were analysed both serologically and for the presence of HCV RNA had verified HCV infections. In some patients time to seroconversion was prolonged, up to more than 14 months. Seventeen patients with resistant or relapsed acute leukemia were treated with combination chemotherapy during the acute or chronic phase of hepatitis. Suppression of the inflammatory activity as reflected by a decrease of serum aminotransferase levels was recorded during the subsequent pancytopenic period. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis C has a high chronicity rate in patients with hematologic disorders which parallels the situation of hepatitis B in the immunocompromised host. Furthermore, like the situation in hepatitis B, the hosts' immune response to infection seems to be involved in the pathogenesis of liver injury. Time to seroconversion may be prolonged and detection of HCV RNA is therefore important for diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Important role of hepatitis C virus infection as a cause of chronic liver disease in Somalia.

In a case-control study, 62 Somali patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) including primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the same number of age and sex matched controls were investigated for serological markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. Antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) was detected in 40.3% and 6.5% of cases and controls, respectively. The corresponding prevalences of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were 37.1% and 9.7%, respectively. Of the HBsAg-positive cases, 34.6% had antibodies to hepatitis D virus (anti-HD) compared with 14.3% among the HBsAg-positive controls. Anti-HCV was less prevalent in HBsAg-positive cases than among HBsAg-negative patients (p < 0.001), indicating that these agents were independent causes of CLD/HCC. The odds ratios for patients with CLD/HCC associated with the presence of anti-HCV, anti-HD, HBsAg without anti-HD and anti-HCV, were found to be 9.8, 10.4, and 3.3, respectively. When the patients were divided into tumour and non-tumour cases, using the criteria of serum alpha-fetoprotein > 100 ng/ml and/or solid hepatic lesions detected by ultrasonography, they did not differ with regard to frequencies of HBsAg and/or anti-HCV, although they did differ when these markers were taken together (43/49 versus 5/13, respectively). The mean age of the tumour patients with anti-HCV alone was significantly higher than that of tumour patients with HBsAg as the sole marker, 61.7 versus 31.4 years (p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Interferon alpha-2b treatment in an HIV-infected patient with hepatitis B virus induced nephrotic syndrome.

A 31-year-old male patient with an asymptomatic HIV infection but with a hepatitis B (HBV) related membraneous glomerulonephritis with nephrotic syndrome was given interferon alpha-2b subcutaneously 3 times weekly for 7.5 months. Zidovudine was added at the 10th week due to low CD4+ cell counts. Before the 6th week of treatment the patient reported a reduced need for diuretics to keep his lower limb edemas at a minimum. This response was partially sustained even after the 7.5 months interferon treatment course. The titers of HBV-DNA decreased markedly during the treatment with interferon but rose to pretreatment levels after discontinuation of the interferon treatment. The serum albumin increased but the proteinuria and hematuria were unaffected. Adverse reactions like fever, myalgias and anemia were tolerable and did not require dose reduction of either interferon or zidovudine. This treatment regimen, at least temporarily, improved the situation for the patient and can be worthwhile to try in HIV-infected patients with HBV related nephritis with nephrotic syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Early diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis by detection of specific IgM antibodies with a solid-phase reverse immunosorbent test (SPRIST) and mu-capture EIA.

A solid-phase reverse immunosorbent test (SPRIST) and a mu-capture enzyme immunosorbent assay (EIA) for detection of enterovirus-specific IgM antibodies were evaluated for enterovirus diagnosis of aseptic meningitis in 160 consecutive patients from whom enterovirus (11 different serotypes) were isolated in 64. In patients with an enterovirus isolate and/or four-fold titre rise in the complement fixation test (CFT) for enterovirus, specific enterovirus IgM antibodies were detected on the day of admission to hospital in 48% by SPRIST and in 50% by EIA and 4-6 days after onset of symptoms in 71% by SPRIST and 79% by EIA. A significant increase in titre was observed between serum sampled on the day of admission and 2 days later in 38% by SPRIST and in 41% by EIA. These results indicate that the IgM antibody response appears early in the course of aseptic meningitis. Since both SPRIST and EIA provide rapid results the tests may be of differential diagnostic value and the IgM antibody kinetics may be utilized for diagnosis during the acute phase of aseptic meningitis. With optimized serum sampling the positive outcome was 76% in SPRIST and 82% in EIA among patients with positive virus isolation and/or CFT for enterovirus. In 67 patients virus isolation and CFT for enterovirus yielded negative results as well as all non-enteroviral diagnostic tests. Thirty-eight of these patients were positive by SPRIST and/or EIA and in half of these 38 a significant titre rise and/or fall in SPRIST and/or EIA was recorded. The majority of these IgM-positive patients became ill in the late summer or autumn, i.e., the "enterovirus season."(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Seroprevalence and outcome of hepatitis C in liver transplantation.

A recombinant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) followed by a neutralization test (NT) and recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) were used for the detection of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in 71 patients receiving 84 orthotopic liver grafts between 1984 and 1990. Before the liver transplantation (LTX) anti-HCV was present in six of the 71 recipients (8.5%) who were accepted for LTX because of acute or chronic liver failure. After LTX anti-HCV could not be detected in one of the patients, but it was continuously present in the others for more than 12 months. Detectable HCV antibodies were not present in the three patients who underwent LTX because of clinical evidence of fulminant NANB hepatitis. Two of 48 (4.2%) previously HCV seronegative recipients, who survived more than 3 months, seroconverted 9 and 16 months, respectively, after transplantation. The postoperative seroconversion was probably due to the transfer of virus via perioperative blood transfusions. Thus, these liver recipients may be able to respond by producing anti-HCV despite immunosuppressive therapy. None of the seven post-transplant HCV-seropositive patients developed symptoms such as icterus or fatigue, which would suggest the presence of liver insufficiency due to HCV infection. However, two of them had increased transaminase levels and histological signs of mild hepatitis. No significant difference was found in 1-year survival, prothrombin complex, albumin levels or the risk for retransplantation in post-transplant anti-HCV-seropositive patients, compared with those without detectable HCV antibodies (71% vs 69%, respectively). Thus, during the study period of 1-5 years, the clinical course of HCV infection was milder than that reported for hepatitis B infection in liver recipients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

HBcAg induced T-cell independent anti-HBc production in chronic HBsAg carriers.

The capacity of the nucleocapsid protein of HBV to function as a T-cell independent antigen in man was studied. When T-cell depleted B-cell cultures were challenged with E coli-derived HBcAg, anti-HBc production was registered in culture supernatants from the majority of chronic HBsAg carriers in a quiescent stage of disease. In contrast, similarly prepared and stimulated cultures from donors with natural acquired immunity to hepatitis B or HB-susceptible controls were non-responsive. Addition of autologous T-cells effectively restored anti-HBc responsiveness in T-cell depleted B-cell cultures from HB-immune donors, demonstrating the T-cell dependency for anti-HBc induction in natural HBV-infection.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1992

The risk for hepatitis A, B, and C at two institutions for children in Somalia with different socioeconomic conditions.

The prevalence of serologic markers for hepatitis A, B, and C was investigated in children from two residential institutions in Somalia. Among 596 individuals at one residence (Shebeli), the prevalences were 96% for antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV), 75% for total hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers, 16% for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and 1.5% for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). Corresponding figures for the 76 individuals at a smaller residence (Societe Organisation Sociale, SOS) were 59%, 20%, 3.9%, and 0%, respectively. At Shebeli, the HBsAg carrier rates in the 1-10-year-old age group was 28% for boys and 16% for girls. These rates were significantly higher than in the older children (16% and 7.4% for boys and girls, respectively). Fifty-eight percent of the HBsAg carriers were positive for hepatitis B e antigen. Total HBV markers were significantly more frequent in girls from Shebeli, when their duration of residence was longer than five years (89% versus 63%). The duration of stay did not influence the prevalences of HBsAg, HAV, or HCV antibodies. A followup study of children initially seronegative for HBV markers was carried out after two years. For children at Shebeli 1-10 years old, the annual seroconversion rates to HBV markers (95% confidence interval) was 60.5% (42.7-77.0%). The corresponding rate for children at SOS was 10.2% (5.2-17.5%). The differences between the two institutions in the prevalence of serologic markers for hepatitis A and B, and in the annual seroconversion rate to HBV markers reflected different rates of horizontal transmission.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Response to immunization against polio after allogeneic marrow transplantation.

Long-term immunity to poliovirus and immunization response to inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) were studied in 55 patients who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Antibodies were determined by neutralization assays. Patients were studied before, at 12 months after BMT and at 12 months after immunization with IPV. Thirty-seven patients were seropositive to all poliovirus types at 12 months after BMT. At least a four-fold decrease in antibody level was recorded between BMT and 12 months later in 55%, 41%, and in 45% of the patients to poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Nineteen patients were immunized with one dose of trivalent IPV. Eight patients (42%), seven patients (36%), and four patients (21%) responded with at least a four-fold antibody titer increase to poliovirus type 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Twenty-nine patients were primarily immunized with three IPV doses. The response rates were 52%, 48% and 48% to poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The immunization responses were similar in patients who did or did not have chronic GVHD. Reimmunization of allogeneic BMT recipients against poliovirus is necessary and a three dose schedule is needed to obtain an adequate immunization response.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Late seroconversion to hepatitis B in a Somali village indicates the important role of venereal transmission.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers were investigated in a cross-sectional study in 1985 on sera from 84% of the 648 inhabitants in a rural Somali village. The prevalence of HBV markers increased with age, from 9.7% in subjects less than 12 years old, to 38% in the age group 12-19 years, and to 68% in adults. HBV markers were more common in boys less than 12 years old, 13%, than in girls of the same age group, 5.8% (P less than 0.05). A rapid increase of HBV markers started at adolescence in both sexes. The female cohort showed their highest seroconversion rate during their second decade of life, while the male cohort seroconverted more rapidly in the third decade. Thus, an initially more rapid seroconversion among boys was reversed when the females reached reproductive age, and no sex difference in marker frequencies was observed in the age group 12-19 years. There was a steady increase of HBV markers during the reproductive years in both sexes. The frequencies of HBsAg, as well as total markers, were significantly higher in adult males than females, 14 vs 5.6%, and 77 vs 62%, respectively. HBV markers were more frequent in wives of HBV positive husbands than in those married to HBV negative husbands. No increased marker prevalence was observed among siblings of HBV positive children, nor among their mothers, which disproved the role of vertical and early horizontal transmission. In 1989 the four-year rate of seroconversion was investigated in villagers who were seronegative in 1985. On testing 158 sera from 319 individuals, the seroconversion rate was significantly lower among those younger than 12 years in 1985 compared to those in the older age group, 5 vs 17%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Early diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis by a solid-phase reverse immunosorbent test and virus isolation.

45 cases of aseptic meningitis/meningoencephalitis were studied with regard to enteroviral etiology by virus isolation and solid-phase reverse immunosorbent test (SPRIST), a cross-reacting test for enterovirus IgM. An etiological diagnosis was reached in 37/45 (82%) patients. Etiological diagnoses other than enteroviruses were found in 8 patients: Borrelia burgdorferi in 4, varicella-zoster virus in 2, herpes simplex virus in 1 and mumps virus in 1 patient. Enteroviruses (echovirus 6, 21 and 30) were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 26/37 (70%) and from stool samples of 20/21 (95%) of patients with no other etiology. Altogether enteroviruses were isolated from CSF and/or faecal samples in 29 patients. Echovirus 30 dominated as etiologic agent. In 34/40 (85%) of the samples with an enterovirus, a cytopathogenic effect was observed in cell culture within 4 days. In patients with an enterovirus isolate a SPRIST IgM response to echovirus 3, 5, 7 and/or coxsackievirus B3 was detected in 6/13 (46%) sera sampled 3-4 days after the onset of meningeal symptoms and in altogether 17/25 patients (68%). In 4 out of these virus isolation positive and SPRIST negative patients a single serum for SPRIST was available less than 4 days after onset of meningeal symptoms. Antigen from echovirus 5 gave the highest diagnostic yield. The SPRIST IgM test was positive in 2 cases where virus isolation, complement fixation and neutralization tests were negative. Epidemiological data however supported an enteroviral diagnosis in both of them. In conclusion, both SPRIST and virus isolation seem to be valuable for the early diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis.

Adolescent↗