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Biomedical subjects

N Mueller

Publications and source records attributed to N Mueller.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Opportunistic malignancies and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The clinical manifestations of chronic infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) fall into two broad categories: opportunistic infections and opportunistic malignancies. The initial observation of both occurring in outbreak fashion among young homosexual men led to the early identification of the present pandemic. Conversely, the identification of additional malignancies which occur in excess frequency in the presence of the immunodeficiency of HIV infection can provide insight into the role of viruses in human malignancy. The first report related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic was of a series of 5 cases of Pneumocystic carinii in young homosexual men in Los Angeles and was published in June 1981. This was shortly followed by the report of additional cases of P. carinii as well as Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) occurring among young homosexual men in California and New York City. The increased risk of KS among people with HIV infection has been confirmed since these initial reports, with 1 in 5 AIDS patients in the United States developing KS sometime in their course of disease. However, the proportion of AIDS patients with KS has decreased from 35% before 1983 to 15% in the first half of 1987. Among the recognized risk groups of AIDS patients, the proportion with KS is highest among homosexual men and female intravenous drug abusers, and lowest among children and hemophiliacs. This variation suggests that risk of KS in AIDS parallels that of sexually-transmitted infections. A second family of opportunistic malignancy in AIDS is comprised of the non-Hodgkin's disease lymphomas (NHL). These lymphomas are typically of B-cell origin, immunoblastic or Burkitt's-like in character, and frequently present with extra-nodal involvement such as the central nervous system. These were first recognized somewhat later than KS as being associated with AIDS; together, KS and NHL account for about 95% of all neoplasms seen in AIDS patients. Additional malignancies are currently suspected to occur excessively with HIV infection. These include Hodgkin's disease, anorectal carcinoma, and testicular cancer. Validation of these associations will require extensive epidemiologic surveillance. Since HIV infection leads to progressive loss of cellular immunity, it is probable that these malignancies result from the progressive reactivation or loss of immunologic control of latent oncogenic viruses. The cytomegalovirus has been implicated in the pathogenesis of KS, perhaps with reinfection, and the Epstein-Barr virus in the NHL. The role of papilloma viruses in anorectal carcinoma has also been proposed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1984

Acquired von Willebrand's disease in the myeloproliferative syndrome.

An acquired hemorrhagic disorder developed in two patients in association with postsplenectomy thrombocytosis and leukocytosis during the course of the myeloproliferative syndrome. The presence of acquired von Willebrand's disease in these individuals was demonstrated by a decrease or absence of the larger von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers, alteration of the repeating vWF multimeric "triplet," decreased ristocetin cofactor activity (vWF:RCo), and prolonged bleeding time. The bleeding stopped in both patients after treatment with either 1-deamino-[8-D-arginine]-vasopressin (DDAVP) or Cohn fraction I. Treatment with thrombocytapheresis and azathioprine or busulfan resulted in reduction of the elevated platelet and white cell counts and was associated with partial correction of the vWF abnormalities and remission of the hemostatic abnormalities. In five additional patients with the myeloproliferative syndrome, but without bleeding symptoms, large multimers of plasma vWF were diminished also. These findings suggest that acquired von Willebrand's disease should be considered when a bleeding diathesis develops during the course of the myeloproliferative syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Cytosine arabinoside- and interferon-mediated control of polyoma and SV40 genome expression.

By metabolic DNA inhibitors such as araC, viral as well as host DNA replication is suppressed in polyoma- and SV40-infected cells. The interruption of the current viral DNA replication has no effect on the current transcription of the late viral genes. The persistence of the late transcription indicates that the onset, but not the persistence, of the viral DNA replication is a prerequisite for the persistence of the late polyoma and SV40 genome transcription. Pretreatment of monkey kidney cells with poly(I):-poly(C) nearly completely inhibits the SV40 T antigen formation; the early SV40 RNA formation is suppressed far less. This type of SV40 genome control favors the concept of a primary action of poly(I):poly(C)-mediated interference on SV40 translation.

Cell Line↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antibodies to HTLV-1 in saliva of seropositive individuals from Japan.

Secretory antibodies protect mucosal surfaces against transmission of many viruses. Human T-lymphotropic Virus, Type I (HTLV-I) is transmitted via blood products and via sexual contact across mucosal surfaces. We investigated the presence of HTLV-I-specific antibodies in whole saliva samples from 10 seronegative and 28 seropositive volunteers from a hospital in southern Japan. Antibodies directed to HTLV-I antigens were found in the salivas from 22 of 28 (79%) of the seropositive subjects. None of the seronegative individuals showed evidence of salivary antibodies. Antibodies directed to the envelope antigens of the virus were found in 21 of 22 positive saliva samples. Secretory antibodies may be important in preventing mucosal transmission.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiologic studies assessing the role of the Epstein-Barr virus in Hodgkin's disease.

The hypothesis that an infection plays a role in the etiology of Hodgkin's disease (HD) is suggested by both its clinical and histologic features. Its bimodal age-incidence pattern also suggests an infectious process among younger persons. In economically advantaged populations, the first peak occurs among young adults, while in disadvantaged populations, it occurs among children at a much lower frequency. It appears that the age distribution of HD shadows that of susceptibility to common childhood infections, such as the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV); furthermore, that risk of HD is increased among those susceptible to a relatively late infection, in parallel with infectious mononucleosis (IM), and it has been found that people who have had IM have about three times the expected rate of HD. Serologically, there is a consistent association between EBV and HD. As a group, patients have an altered antibody pattern against EBV which suggests chronic reactivation, both following and preceding diagnosis. This altered pattern is common to all age groups. Severity of infection may alter host control among younger people, while diminished cellular immunity with aging may allow similar reactivation among older persons. Whether the EBV plays a direct role or simply reflects the action of a more primary factor is unknown.

Antibodies, Viral↗