[Chemotherapy of virus diseases].
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Amantadine↗
Biomedical subjects
T Mertens
Publications and source records attributed to T Mertens.
[Vaccine poliomyelitis as a complication of oral vaccination].
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Adult↗
[Experimental viral carditis].
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Animals↗
Epidemiology of an outbreak in a maternity unit of infections with an antigenic variant of Echovirus 11.
After an 8-day-old child had died with clinical signs of septicemia, 6 other newborns fell ill. Virus was isolated from various sites from all the 6 children (28 isolations). The agent was identified by cross neutralization tests as an antigenic variant of Echovirus 11. The agent could not be isolated from mothers or nursery staff (49 people). We therefore tried to trace the path of infection by isolating specific IgM and IgG antibodies. A laboratory infection by the agent isolated enabled the time pattern of the serologic immune response to be roughly determined. The data collected indicate that the infection spread through close contact between the affected newborns and nurses working in the newborn room. Rigorous hygienic and isolation measures, initiated immediately, appeared to interrupt the spread of infection.
Antibodies, Viral↗
Demonstration of rubella-specific IgM by serum ultracentrifugation on sucrose gradients: comparison of a vertical and a swinging bucket rotor.
The performances of a vertical and a swinging bucket rotor in the diagnosis of rubella-specific IgM were compared using two sets of predominantly low titre rubella IgM positive sera. Applying a number of subtle criteria, the vertical rotor was shown to separate IgM and IgG less well than the swinging bucket rotor. If the vertical rotor was loaded with pretreated sera with IgG content decreased severalfold, its performance was similar to that of the swinging bucket rotor with native serum. The findings are discussed from the aspect of the main indication of rubella IgM testing, and it was concluded that for the majority of cases the vertical rotor would not present an alternative to the swinging bucket rotor.
Antibodies, Viral↗
Peripheral facial palsy and infections- findings and problems.
Eighty-four patients of the Cologne University ENT Clinic with a diagnosis of idiopathic peripheral facial palsy (PEP) were examined - both clinically and virologically. In addition, examinations were carried out on 33 further PFP-patients from different practising physicians (Group B) where the clinical information, however, was much less detailed. In the ENT Clinical Group (84 patients), there was a total of 12 recent virus infections (9 varicella zoster virus, 2 herpes simplex virus, 1 coxsackie B4). Proof of a recent infection depended strongly on the diagnostic prerequisites: if early and paired sera were available a virological diagnosis was possible in 32% of the cases, while in some of the other patients a recent infection could at most be suspected by the serological results. Group B with the 33 unselected patients yielded no virologically significant results. The aetiological relationship between the virological findings and PEP is discussed.
Adolescent↗
[Encephalitis of the basel ganglia associated with mumps].
Two weeks after epidemic parotitis a 10-year old boy developed an acute extrapyramidal syndrome together with pyramidal tract signs but without impairment of consciousness. The CSF showed mild pleocytosis. The CT of the brain exhibited a well defined circumscribed and symmetrical swelling and hypodensity of the basal ganglia and of the internal capsule. Only slight and transient dysrhythmia was to be found in the EEG. Therapy with Prednisolone, Biperidene and Tiapride resulted in regression of symptoms. But one year later rigor and pyramidal tract signs remained evident in spite of intensive physiotherapy and logopaedic measures. Residual symmetric atrophia of the basal ganglia became evident in the CT by dilatation of the anterior horns of the lateral ventricles caused by lacking of the vault of the caudate nuclei heads.
Basal Ganglia Diseases↗
[An epidemic in a maternity unit caused by an echo virus 11 variant (author's transl)].
In October 1978, a 6 day-old child became ill in a maternity ward and died with clinical signs of septicemia. In quick succession, 6 other children fell ill with aseptic meningitis, 5 within the first 10 days post partum and one child 4 weeks old. From these 6 children virus was isolated at different times and from various sites (CSF, pharynx, rectum). 25 isolates were obtained. By cross-neutralization an antigenic variant of Echo virus 11 was identified. Since further isolations were unsuccessful the route of infection was reconstructed from environmental investigation and clinical and serological data in 49 people. A laboratory infection with the agent isolated gave additional opportunities for detailed virological and clinical observations.
Disease Outbreaks↗
[Appearance and persistence of rubella-specific IgM antibodies (author's transl)].
In order to investigate the validity of rubella-specific IgM antibodies for current or recent infections serum samples of 103 persons were investigated after natural infection or immunisation. 41 patients with natural infections and 7 immunised persons could be observed until complete disappearance of IgM antibodies. In all cases rubella-specific IgM could be demonstrated up to 10 weeks after infection. The percentage of positive findings decreased gradually thereafter. Lower concentrations of rubella IgM were demonstrable for several months after infection in some cases and for as long as 379 days in one case. The concentration of specific IgM antibodies was shown to be very high for the first 50 days after infection whereas only low concentrations were found after the 80th day.
Antibodies, Viral↗
[Studies on optimising rubella virus haemagglutination-inhibitor tests].
Immuno-electrophoretic and serological studies were undertaken to characterise the non-specific serum inhibitor of rubella haemagglutination. The majority of such inhibitor effects come from the beta(1)-lipoproteins. In addition, small inhibitory effects which were due to alpha(1)-lipoproteins were noted in some sera. The result of the tests is influenced less by removing the inhibitor than by conditions of incubation of the serum-antigen mixture, especially pH. The test is more sensitive if it is not performed at optimal pH for haemagglutination.
Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests↗
Epidemiology of HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in selected African and Asian populations.
401 sera from patients of a rural hospital in Zimbabwe (1987), 211 South African sera (1982/83), as well as 460 sera from four Katmandu hospitals (1985) were tested for HIV-1 antibodies. The sera from Zimbabwe and Nepal were additionally tested for anti-HIV-2 using a panel of different tests, for hepatitis B markers, and partially for antibodies against other viral, bacterial, and protozoal antigens. Detailed clinical and sociodemographic data were taken from the Zimbabwe and Katmandu patients. The prevalence of HIV-1 antibodies in the Zimbabwe study population was 3.2%. All infections were found in the age group 17 to 30 years (n = 254). The epidemiological situation was entirely different from that of HBV (hepatitis B virus). No serum could be confirmed to be anti-HIV-2-positive, but a definite diagnosis is still difficult to establish. Regular town contacts may be considered a possible risk factor. Antibodies against HIV-1 could not be detected in the South African and Asian sera. The seropositivity for anti-HBc in Katmandu (14%) and the prevalence of HBsAg (1.1%) was much lower than reported from other Asian countries.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Routes of plasmid DNA vaccination that prime murine humoral and cellular immune responses.
Induction of humoral and MHC (major histocompatibility complex)-I-restricted, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses of Balb/c mice to the small hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were studied with a protein antigen or a DNA vaccine. Different routes were used to deliver the HBsAg-encoding plasmid DNA or the recombinant HBsAg particles: different doses of expression plasmid DNA (10 micrograms or 100 micrograms per mouse) or of recombinant HBsAg lipoprotein particles were injected into different (normal or regenerating) muscles (m. tibialis anterior and m. quadriceps), into subcutaneous tissue (at the base of the tail), into the peritoneal cavity, or intravenously (into the tail vein). At different time points post-vaccination, the induction of HBsAg specific, MHC-I-restricted CD8+ T cells and of serum antibodies to HBsAg was monitored. The data show that the intramuscular and subcutaneous but not the intravenous and intraperitoneal injection of 'naked' DNA efficiently and reliably primes cellular and humoral immune responses. In contrast, recombinant HBsAg particles injected by all four routes (without adjuvants) efficiently primed specific humoral and CTL responses. These data demonstrate that the choice of routes to deliver 'naked' plasmid DNA for obtaining efficacious immunogenicity of the expressed antigen is restricted.
Animals↗
[Virology of herpes simplex virus. "Herpes diseases in pregnant patients and newborn infants" workshop in Passau 19/20 November 1986].
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Female↗
[Porous hydroxylapatite ceramics with homologous osteoblasts from cell cultures for bone replacement].
In an animal model using 24 inbred Lewis rats the effect of the simultaneous implantation of in vitro cultivated osteoblasts and a porous hydroxyl apatite ceramic material on bone regenerations was studied. Bone tissue was harvested from 2 inbred rats and a cell line of osteoblasts was established. The osteoblasts were multiplied in cell cultures and after 3 passages inserted along with granular HA into monocortical femur defects in 24 rats of the same inbred line. After various times of observation the femurs were examined radiographically and bone growth was assessed histologically. No significant increase in bone growth rate was observed, although earlier studies in the same model showed a marked qualitative effect of reimplanted in vitro cultured osteoblasts on new bone formation. Considering that pre-incubation largely reduces the toxic effect of HA ceramics, the results of this study indicate that the activity of the implanted osteoblasts in the defect is prevented by the simultaneous implantation of replacement material and cells.
Animals↗
[Bone regeneration following the implantation of osteoblasts from cell cultures].
An animal model utilizing 26 inbred rats was aimed at the question if the regeneration of bone tissue is enhanced by implantation of osteoblasts previously cultured in vitro. Bone tissue was harvested from inbred rats (Lewis) and a cell line of rat osteoblasts was established. The osteoblasts were cultured in vitro and multiplied in three passages. Characterization of the cells was by various methods. Monocortical defects were created in the distal portion of the rat femurs by drilling; and the cells, embedded in 25% bone gelatine, were reimplanted into these defects. After observation periods of varying lengths, the femurs were examined radiographically and bone growth in the defect area was evaluated histologically. The results of this study indicated that there was an initial effect of the reimplanted cultured osteoblasts on the bone growth pattern. At a later point in time this effect could no longer be demonstrated in the young, healthy rats.
Animals↗
[Implantation of pyrolyzed calf bone along with osteoblasts cultured in vitro].
The regeneration of osseous tissues after simultaneous implantation of rat osteoblast-like cells cultured in vitro and pyrolyzed calf bone was investigated. In this study a cell line of rat osteoblast-like cells originating from explants of 2 inbred rats (Lewis) was established and cells were characterized. The osteoblast-like cells were cultured in vitro, embedded in bovine bone gelatine after 3 passages in culture and then implanted together with pyrolyzed calf bone in artificial femur defects of the inbred Lewis rats. After 10, 20, 40 and 80 days animals were sacrificed and the treated femora were taken for histological examination of bone growth. It was demonstrated that the cultured osteoblast-like cells showed an activity by forming extracortical bone, but had no measurable effect on bone growth pattern in the defects. Since our former animal study on reimplantation of osteoblast-like cells had revealed an effect on the cells on bone growth pattern, it is discussed whether the present lack of this effect can be explained by simultaneous implantation of xenogenic bone. In view of the importance of bone regeneration, autologous reimplantation of cultured bone cells deserves further investigation.
Animals↗