Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T Jeren.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The determination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype is an important epidemiological parameter in patients with chronic hepatitis C, while its clinical significance is still a matter of debate. The HCV genotypes in a group of 203 Croatian patients with chronic hepatitis C were examined. Genotypes were correlated to different risk factors, age, duration of the disease, liver histology activity and level of viremia. HCV-RNA was detected in each serum by means of reverse transcription PCR. Genotypes were determined from the amplificate by reverse hybridization in a line probe assay. The level of viremia was assessed by branched DNA (bDNA) signal amplification. The most common genotype was 1b (61.1% of patients), followed by 3a (26.1%), and 1a (10.8%). Other genotypes such as 2a and 4 were only rarely found in our patients (2%). Genotype 1b was most commonly acquired via blood transfusion, while genotype 3a was strongly related to intravenous drug use. Genotype 1b was associated with older age (mean 42.6 vs 29.3 years), longer duration of the disease (mean 6.0 vs 3.5 years), higher histologic activity score (mean 13.2 vs 10.6) and higher viremia (mean 9.06 vs 5.93 Meq/ml) at statistically significant levels (p < 0.001) when compared to genotype 3a. The prevalence of HCV genotypes follows the patterns of southeastern European countries, except for a lower prevalence of genotype 2. The observation that genotype 1b is associated with higher viremia and more severe liver injury is confirmed.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess the influence of trauma caused by forced expulsion from home in a war-ravaged region on the psychological, hormonal, and immune responses in displaced persons and to analyze the relationships between psychometric, hormonal, and immunologic variables. METHODS: Participants were 20 displaced and 14 control women. Psychosomatic response was evaluated using the COR-NEX2 test. Serum concentrations of cortisol, prolactin, endorphin, thyroxine, and triiodothyronine were measured by radioimmunoassay. Immunophenotyping and lymphocyte proliferation were determined by flow cytometry, and phagocyte functions (i.e., ingestion and antibody-dependent cytotoxicity) against 51Cr-labeled sheep red blood cells were assessed through radioactivity uptake and release, respectively. RESULTS: In comparison with control women, displaced women had higher COR-NEX2 test scores; higher serum cortisol, prolactin, and endorphin levels; an increase in activated phenotype within all three measured cell populations (i.e., B, T, and natural killer cells); as well as an enhanced proportion of proliferating lymphocytes in freshly isolated samples. However, the phytohemagglutinin-stimulated proliferative response, estimated as the stimulation index, was lower in displaced women. A complex pattern of relations between psychological, hormonal, and immune responses was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic psychological stress elicited multiple, predominantly stimulatory influences on immune functions.
BACKGROUND: Body cavity-based lymphomas are rare malignancies in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, but because of their unusual clinical, morphologic and immunophenotypic features, they are recognized as a distinct subgroup of lymphomas connected to human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection. CASE: A 39-year-old, HIV-positive, homosexual man was admitted to the hospital because of a left-sided pleural effusion that contained malignant lymphoid cells. He responded partially to a low-dose cyclophosphamide/doxorubycin/vincristine/prednisone regimen and died five months after the diagnosis of lymphoma. On cytology, the sediments contained exclusively large, round, neoplastic, lymphoid cells with abundant basophilic cytoplasm and large, round nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Many cells had immunoblastic features, and some had plasmocytoid differentiation. Mitotic figures were numerous. On flow cytometry, the homogeneous population of large cells expressed CD45, CD38, HLA-DR and CD7 positivity. Other specific T-, B- and NK-cell markers tested negative. Polymerase chain reaction demonstrated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and HHV-8 in the malignant effusion. CONCLUSION: Primary effusion from lymphoma with molecular evidence of HHV-8 and EBV coinfection represents a distinct clinical and morphologic entity in AIDS patients. However, immunophenotypic markers of malignant clones can be diverse in different cases.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamics of cytologic changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and to determine the various forms of mononuclear cells by immunocytochemical methods. STUDY DESIGN: To perform a cytologic analysis of 200 cells in stained sediment of CSF. To determine the population and subpopulation of mononuclear cells by using monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: Pleocytosis in CSF in patients with TBE during the first three days of illness was, on average, 570 cells per cubic millimeter with about 60% neutrophils. Mononuclear cells predominated from the fifth day of illness. Among lymphoid cells, 18% carried marker CD20 and 60% of them marker CD3. Among monocytoid cells, 66% carried marker CD32. CONCLUSION: CSF cytology findings reflect the immunologic and inflammatory changes in the CNS during TBE.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the most common cause of sporadic encephalitis in developed countries. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) causes oropharyngeal infections, keratoconjunctivitis and infections of the central nervous system, while herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in the immunocompetent most frequently causes genital infections. HSV-1 primary infection usually occurs in the early childhood but is also possible at adolescent age. HSV-2 primary infection is usually postponed till the adult age and coincides with the sexual activity. Common characteristics of these two viruses are a relatively rapid reproductive cycle, an efficient elimination of the infected cells, and the ability of causing a latent infection in the sensory ganglia. Since nowadays there is a specific therapy, the prognoses of severe HSV infections are much better. However, it is necessary that the antiviral therapy be applied shortly after the first symptoms of the disease have appeared. Therefore, the application of a rapid and safe method for detection of HSV from clinical materials is the first step in the treatment of severe and lethal infections like meningoencephalitis. In that light, the method called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) represents a new in vitro technique of DNA replication which enables exponential replication of a well defined DNA fragment. The advantages of this diagnostic method are its rapidity and sensitivity, and it does not require live cells for virus detection.
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A retrospective study of 84 cases of tuberculous meningitis from a ten-year period is presented. Lumbar punctures had been performed, and the dynamics of cytologic changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) had been followed weekly during the course of the disease. The typical clinical picture, the course of the disease and cytologic characteristics of the CSF are noted. Of particular interest were some cases presenting atypical cytologic, as well as clinical, pictures of tuberculous meningitis. These patients had pleocytosis lasting as long as two years. In the first ten days, neutrophils predominated (60% to 80%); then mononuclear cells, such as lymphocytes, lymphoid cells, monocytoid cells and macrophages, became predominant. From the third week of the disease, plasmocytes (20%) were found in 30% of these cases. The presence of reticulomonocytes and reticulohistiocytic cells that could hardly be classified was also noted. By detailed analysis of the cytologic changes in the CSF, the suggestion of a diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis can be made before Koch's bacilli are found, even when the clinical picture and course of the disease are atypical.
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Clinical and laboratory features of two female patients with Kawasaki disease, aged 9 and 12 years are presented. The main pathogenetic, differential diagnostic and therapeutic considerations are discussed.