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Biomedical subjects

M G Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to M G Anderson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Randomised controlled trial of lymphoblastoid interferon for chronic active hepatitis B.

Thirty male patients (27 homosexual) with biopsy proven chronic active hepatitis B were randomised to receive lymphoblastoid interferon (Wellferon) or no treatment. All patients were HBeAg positive and had continuing viral replication. Patients receiving treatment were given a single daily intramuscular injection of interferon for 28 days at a starting dose of 2.5 MU/m2 increasing to a maximum of 7.5 MU/m2/day. Transient side effects of malaise and influenza like symptoms occurred in all patients and resolved rapidly after treatment. Hepatitis B viral replication was suppressed during interferon treatment in all patients but the effect was limited to the period of therapy. After one year there was no appreciable difference in viral markers between the two groups of patients and this treatment schedule appears less effective than the thrice weekly, three month regimes recently reported from other centres.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Strategy for lymph node biopsy in homosexual men suspected of having LAV/HTLV-III related disease.

Since January 1985 we have changed our policy regarding lymph node biopsy in male homosexuals presenting with lymphadenopathy. Before that date all such patients underwent biopsy if there was no apparent cause. We no longer perform biopsy in male homosexuals presenting with uncomplicated persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (enlargement to more than 1 cm of lymph nodes in more than one extra-inguinal site for more than 3 months with no apparent cause) provided that the patient is positive for the antibody to lymphadenopathy associated virus/human T-lymphotropic virus type III. Such a policy should reduce the need for open biopsy procedures in this group of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Hepatitis B virus DNA in the hepatocyte. A series of 160 biopsies.

DNA-DNA hybridisation was used to examine 160 liver biopsies for the presence of the hepatitis B virus genome. HBeAg-positive HBsAg carriers were found to have replicating viral DNA in the hepatocytes and, very occasionally, HBV DNA was also integrated into the chromosomes. A high proportion of the anti-HBe-positive HBsAg carriers also have replicating HBV DNA and in the remainder integrated sequences are often, but not always, seen. No evidence was found, however, to implicate HBV in HBsAg-negative patients with alcoholic liver disease, nor in patients with a variety of other liver diseases including non-A, non-B hepatitis.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Randomised controlled trial of lymphoblastoid interferon for chronic active hepatitis B.

Thirty male patients (28 homosexual or bisexual) with biopsy proven chronic active hepatitis B were randomised to receive lymphoblastoid interferon (Wellferon) or no treatment. All patients were HBeAg-positive and had continuing viral replication. Interferon was given as a single daily i.m. injection for 28 days at a starting dose of 2.5 megaunits/m2 increasing to a maximum of 7.5 megaunits/m2/day. Transient side-effects occurred in all patients. Hepatitis B viral replication was suppressed during interferon treatment in all patients but the effect was limited to the period of therapy. After 1 year there was no appreciable difference in viral markers between the two groups of patients and this treatment schedule appears less effective than the thrice weekly, 3-month regimes reported from other centres.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1986

In vitro effects of lymphoblastoid interferon on lymphocyte activation and cell-mediated cytolysis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

In addition to a direct anti-viral effect, interferons have important immunological properties including effects on cell-mediated immunity and antibody production as well as cell-mediated cytolysis. In chronic hepatitis B virus infection the host immune system is important for the elimination of replicating virus and in addition to directly inhibiting hepatitis B virus replication, interferons may affect host immune responses. We investigated the effect of lymphoblastoid interferon in vitro on lymphocyte activation and cell-mediated cytolysis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The proliferative response to the mitogen PHA was significantly impaired in patients compared to controls. In addition supernatants of cultured mononuclear cells from patients stimulated with PHA contained less interleukin-2 activity than controls while the proportion of stimulated mononuclear cells expressing the interleukin-2 receptor was also reduced in patients. Prior incubation with 10(3) U ml-1 lymphoblastoid interferon increased both interleukin-2 activity and interleukin-2 receptor expression in patients and controls, although in patients the response was less marked. In contrast the proliferative response was unaffected. Natural killer cell activity against K562 cells was similar in patients and controls which in both groups was significantly augmented by prior incubation with 10(3) U ml-1 lymphoblastoid interferon; the increase was inversely proportional to baseline activity. In contrast incubation of target or effector cells with interferon did not augment T-cell cytotoxicity against autologous hepatocytes. The effects of lymphoblastoid interferon in vitro, were modest, but subtle changes in immunological status in addition to a direct effect on viral replication may be relevant to eventual clearance of the hepatitis B virus.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗
PubMed1986

Growth Response of a Succulent Plant, Agave vilmoriniana, to Elevated CO(2).

Large (about 200 grams dry weight) and small (about 5 grams dry weight) specimens of the leaf succulent Agave vilmoriniana Berger were grown outdoors at Phoenix, Arizona. Potted plants were maintained in open-top chambers constructed with clear, plastic wall material. Four CO(2) concentrations of 350, 560, 675, and 885 microliters per liter were used during two growth periods and two water treatments. Small and large plants were grown for 6 months, while a few large plants were grown for 1 year. Wet-treatment plants received water twice weekly, whereas dry-treatment plants received slightly more water than they would under natural conditions. Plant growth rates in all treatments were significantly different between small and large specimens, but not between 6 month and 1 year large plants. Only the dry-treatment plants exhibited statistically different growth rates between the CO(2) treatments. This productivity response was equivalent to a 28% and 3-fold increase when mathematically interpolated between CO(2) concentrations of 300 and 600 microliters per liter for large and small plants, respectively.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1986

Early warning skin signs in AIDS and persistent generalized lymphadenopathy.

Distinctive patterns of skin disease other than Kaposi's sarcoma have been in patients with AIDS, in others with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) and in a group at high risk of developing AIDS. We found a chronic acneiform folliculitis on the face, back, chest and buttocks, extensive cutaneous fungal infections and a striking neck and beard impetigo. These skin diseases were not present in asymptomatic male homosexual control subjects, 32% of whom were found to have antibodies to human T cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III). We regard these dermatoses as early warning signs of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Trial of (+)-cyanidanol-3 in patients with hepatitis B chronic liver disease.

A double-blind controlled trial of 12 months' treatment with (+)-cyanidanol-3 was carried out in 26 patients with chronic hepatitis B liver disease. Treatment did not improve liver blood tests nor histological appearances of the liver, but there was a trend towards reduction of serum titres of hepatitis B surface antigen.

Catechin↗
PubMed1986

Interleukin 2 activity in chronic liver disease and the effect of in vitro alpha-interferon.

To investigate mitogen induced helper interleukin 2 (IL-2) production in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), IL-2 activity was assessed by an IL-2 bioassay using phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC). IL-2 activity was significantly reduced in patients with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis with or without cirrhosis (P less than 0.01), and was comparable to controls in those with alcoholic cirrhosis alone. In vitro preincubation of PBMNC with lymphoblastoid alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) before stimulation with PHA, led to a significant increase in IL-2 activity in all subjects (P less than 0.01), except those with alcoholic hepatitis, but in none of the groups did the levels of IL-2 activity reach those seen in normal subjects. The decrease in IL-2 activity in patients with CLD may be due to low IL-2 production or presence of an IL-2 antagonist(s). Such an abnormality may occur, not only as a result of liver damage, but may also be important in determining immunological disturbances involved in the pathogenesis of the liver disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Altered natural history of hepatitis B in homosexual males--a reflection of altered immune responsiveness?

We suggest that subtle alterations in T-cell functions in male homosexuals makes them more likely to have silent anicteric hepatitis B infection, and perhaps more likely to become chronic carriers with significant chronic liver disease. This immunodeficiency might also explain why they respond less favourably to antiviral therapy. In future trials of antiviral therapy homosexual males should be randomised separately. Further studies of the immunomodulatory effects of new and existing agents will be of value in designing drug regimes particularly suited to the treatment of homosexual HBV carriers.

Anal Canal↗
PubMed1985

In vitro alpha-interferon treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells improves interleukin-2 activity in HBV-related chronic liver disease.

To investigate mitogen-induced helper T cell activity in patients with HBV-related chronic liver disease (CLD), Interleukin-2 (IL-2) activity was assessed by an IL-2 bioassay using phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated mononuclear cells (MNC). IL-2 activity was significantly reduced in patients with CLD (P less than 0.01), and was comparable to controls in those with minimal liver damage, indicating that decreased IL-2 activity is not due to the presence of HBV X MNC from 2 of the 3 patients treated with alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) showed the highest IL-2 activity. In vitro preincubation of MNC with alpha-IFN before stimulation with PHA, led to a significant increase in IL-2 activity in all subjects (P less than 0.01). The improvement in IL-2 activity induced by alpha-IFN may be, in part, responsible for the therapeutic effect of this agent in HBV-related CLD.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Persistent lymphadenopathy in homosexual men: a clinical and ultrastructural study.

Ultrastructural changes (tubuloreticular structures and tube and ring shaped forms) previously described in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are described for the first time in the lymph nodes and circulating lymphocytes of patients with persistent lymphadenopathy. These observations support the view that the persistent lymphadenopathy syndrome and AIDS are caused by the same transmissible agent(s).

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1984

Intracytoplasmic inclusions in human hepatocytes in non-A, non-B hepatitis: an ultrastructural study.

An ultrastructural study was carried out on 114 liver biopsies obtained for diagnostic purposes from patients with various pathological disorders of the liver including hepatitis B-related liver disease, non-A, non-B hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, fatty change, and cryptogenic cirrhosis. The opportunity was taken to evaluate the significance of intracytoplasmic crystalline structures found in the hepatocytes of nine patients with a variety of liver disorders. The cytoplasmic inclusions varied in size up to 2 microns in length and shape and were not limited by membranes. The presence of these inclusions cannot, however, be correlated either specifically with non-A, non-B hepatitis or with other known nonviral liver disease. The functional, physiological, and pathological significance of the crystalline structures remain to be elucidated.

Adult↗