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T Mertens

Publications and source records attributed to T Mertens.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Comparison of two commercially available anti-HIV ELISAs: Abbott HTLV III EIA and Du Pont HTLV III-ELISA.

Serum specimens were tested for HIV antibodies by two commercially available ELISAs (Abbott HTLV III EIA and Du Pont HTLV III-ELISA). The specificity and sensitivity of these assays were determined by comparison with indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. Specificity ranged from 94.3% in the Abbott assay to 97.9% in the Du Pont-ELISA. The sensitivity was 100% in the Abbott-ELISA and 99% in the Du Pont test. With both tests, false-positive results occurred predominantly in sera from patients with immunological disorders (kidney transplant recipients, lymphoma, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, etc.), whereas symptomatic AIDS-patients, patients with ARC, and persons with a defined risk for HIV infection could be diagnosed unequivocally. Specificity and sensitivity of anti-HIV ELISAs seemed to depend not only on definition of the cutoff value but also on other factors, such as antigen preparation and inactivation measures. Testing of ELISA-reactive sera by confirmatory tests remains necessary.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

[Development of viral vaccines].

Great success in the control of infectious diseases has been achieved by vaccination, and especially for virus infections immunization will remain of great significance. Knowledge of the epidemiology of a virus infection, an optimum vaccination strategy as well as the feasibility of a vaccination programme are important factors. Our considerations will lead to the conclusion that further development of conventional (dead/live) vaccines has to be advanced together with "modern" vaccines (obtained by recombinant gen technology). With regard to an "AIDS-vaccine", molecular biology seems to be the method of choice.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1986

[Chemotherapy of herpes encephalitis].

Problems and developments of antiviral chemotherapy can be demonstrated with herpes encephalitis: optimum medical intensive care and early acyclovir therapy reduce lethality from approx. 70% to approx. 20% and also the rate of sequelae in surviving patients. Evaluation of interferon therapy is not possible at present. In newborns of mothers with manifestations of genital herpes very early therapy (prophylaxis) should be possible and instituted.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1985

Encephalomyocarditis virus and diabetes mellitus: studies on virus mutants in susceptible and non-susceptible mice.

The so-called M-variant (especially subtype D) of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) induces a diabetes-like syndrome in certain mouse strains which may serve as a model of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in man. The development and course of diabetes was influenced by a number of virus and host factors, among these being virus strain, virus dose, mouse strain, age, sex, and the host's immunological status. In a D-variant stock of EMCV, we found a virus plaque variant (PV 2) diabetogenic for DBA/2 mice, and at least one variant (PV 7) that did not affect carbohydrate metabolism. Although the diabetogenicity of PV 2 proved to be a genetically stable characteristic after further passages in vivo and in vitro, the incidence of diabetes varied somewhat (mean value 65% in 10-week-old DBA/2 mice infected with 10(5) p.f.u.). Both lower (10(1) or 10(3) p.f.u.) and higher (10(7) or 10(8) p.f.u.) virus doses led to a diminished incidence and severity of diabetes. In younger animals (5 weeks) transient hyperglycaemia often appeared, whereas in older animals (20 weeks) there was a higher rate of mortality. Histological examination of the islets of Langerhans in diabetes-susceptible (DBA/2) and resistant (C57BL/6) mice revealed that EMCV-induced hyperglycaemia appeared to develop in parallel to islet cell damage. Even in diabetic animals, some unaffected islets were regularly found. This study demonstrates that EMCV mutants may have completely different biological effects and produce diabetes only in special circumstances. Host factors play a significant role in the development of diabetes.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

[Transmission of urogenital trichomoniasis in female prostitutes].

A group of female prostitutes (n = 41) was found to be infected with Trichomonas vaginalis to 36.6%, diagnosed by using culture methods. The examination of these women for T. vaginalis and their treatment is not obligatory, therefore the transmission of these parasites by infected prostitutes is not properly controlled; transmission of the trichomoniasis continues under nearly optimal conditions. It is urgently necessary to examine female prostitutes for T. vaginalis infections without exception. In these cases culture methods must be used and all infected women must be treated immediately with effective drugs. The last meeting of the German Society of Gynecologists in 1984 has stressed the necessity to control trichomoniasis systematically.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Attempts at isolating viruses from the male urogenital tract in patients without symptoms of herpes simplex virus infections].

Materials from the urogenital tract (swabs, secretions, tissue probes) of 181 male patients of the Cologne area without manifest symptoms of a herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection were virologically examined. In no case any virus could be isolated. This seems to be an argument against the theory of extraneural persistence of HSV with chronic virus production and shedding, and even against the possibility of veneric transmission of HSV by asymptomatic men. This result is at variance to published results which were obtained in non-European countries with possibly patients of other socioeconomic status.

Herpes Simplex↗
PubMed1983

Neutralizing antibodies against Coxsackie B viruses in patients with recent onset of type I diabetes.

In a search for Coxsackie B virus-induced, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) we examined sera from 166 selected patients (age 1-17 years) with recent onset of IDDM for specific neutralizing antibodies. All 166 patients investigated had a clinical history of recent infectious illness. Eighty per cent of the patients had antibodies against at least one Coxsackie B virus type. But even among the children studied with antibody titers higher than 256 only in about 44% could a recent Coxsackie B virus infection be serologically demonstrated by determining specific neutralizing IgM antibodies. This result again strengthens the notion that IDDM includes several different etiologic groups, among others possibly Coxsackie B virus infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Two cases of coxsackie B2 infection in neonates: clinical, virological, and epidemiological aspects.

Two cases of neonatal coxsackie virus B2 infection are described. One infant presented with meningitis and enteritis, the other with rhinitis, meningoencephalitis, and enteritis. Both infants made good recoveries. The virus infection could also be demonstrated in all nonimmune family members, most of whom gave a history of recent mild febrile disease (pharyngitis, diarrhea). Enterovirus infections may be suspected in cases of neonatal meningitis or myocarditis associated with gastrointestinal signs, especially 1. when it is during the hot season July-October, 2. when there has been febrile illness in other family members recently. For an effective and rapid isolation of the agent, rectal swabs or stool specimens not only from the patient, but also from household contacts should be sent to the virus laboratory on several consecutive days. Meningitic infection may be proved by an early c.s.f. sample. For serodiagnosis a first blood specimen should be drawn as soon as possible, a second one some days later. The importance of rapid virological diagnosis and of stringent hygienic measures to prevent spread of the infection is stressed.

Coxsackievirus Infections↗
PubMed1983

Problems of live virus vaccine-associated poliomyelitis a paralytic case with isolation of all three poliovirus types.

The case of a 4-month-old girl is described who developed a paralytic polio-like syndrome 3 weeks after oral polio vaccination (OPV). All three poliovirus types could be isolated (9 days after onset of disease polio type 2, and 33 days after onset of disease types 1 and 3, respectively). In order to classify these isolates as Sabin (vaccine)-like (SL) or non-Sabin-like (non-SL), several markers were tested in three laboratories [intratypic serodifferentiation, reproductive capacity at supraoptimal temperature (RTC), Al(OH)3 gel elution assay, and oligonucleotide mapping]. The results of the marker determinations were not uniform, but--summarizing all data--it seems plausible to associate the disease with the OPV. The significance of marker determinations in proving a vaccine-induced poliomyelitis is discussed in the light of this clinical case. Some comments are made on poliovirus vaccination policy in developed countries.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of four different methods for detection of rubella IgM antibodies.

Four different tests for detection of rubella-specific IgM antibodies were compared: two Ig separation methods (centrifugation and chromatography) with subsequent haemagglutination inhibition test and two commercially available ELISA tests. The 114 sera tested had been sent to the diagnostic laboratory, mostly with insufficient clinical histories. Agreement between the centrifugation method and one of the ELISA tests was good (2 divergent results with 107 sera tested), while the other ELISA test yielded more positive (partly perhaps non-specific) results. The chromatographic method did not separate the Ig classes as reliably as the centrifugation method, but because of its simplicity it may be useful, if adequate test controls are performed. The divergent results are discussed. It is postulated that in cases with pending induced abortion, two independent tests should be performed.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1983

Cross antigenicity among enteroviruses as revealed by immunoblot technique.

Antigenic relationships of various human and two animal picornaviruses were investigated by the immunoblotting ("Western blot") technique. The viruses included all coxsackievirus B types (1-6), poliovirus types 1-3, several strains of echovirus 11, EMC virus, and FMDV. Antisera included human sera and sera from rabbits hyperimmunized with either purified picornaviruses, viral structural polypeptides (VP8), boiled or "sample-boiled" virions. Group-specific reactions of various extent were observed among the human picornaviruses, but not with EMC virus. These reactions were obtained with human sera (whole serum, IgG- and IgM-fraction) as well as with "monospecific" (neutralization test) rabbit antisera. Among cross reacting polypeptides VP1 was predominant with the notable exception of coxsackie B4, where VP1 (defined according to cleavage pattern) migrates in our gel system as second largest polypeptide. Antisera prepared vs VP1 had neutralizing activity as demonstrated with five different echovirus 11 strains (titers up to 2000). Antisera vs VP1 (and other VP8) exhibited cross-reactivity in the immunoblots. Antisera to the three poliovirus types (and to certain echovirus 11 strains) showed a surprisingly narrow cross-reacting spectrum which--in the case of poliovirus--could not be broadened by additional hyperimmunization of the rabbits with heated poliovirus 2. The significance of these results for a diagnostic ELISA in patients with picornavirus infections is dealt with.

Animals↗