Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

U Bienzle

Publications and source records attributed to U Bienzle.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Hepatitis B virus and delta infection in male homosexuals.

Six hundred and sixty-six homosexuals were analysed in respect of hepatitis B virus and delta infections. Evidence of ongoing or recent hepatitis B virus infection was found in 450/666 (67.6%) homosexuals; 44 were HBsAg positive. Anti-delta was found in two HBsAg-positive homosexuals. Both individuals had a non-replicative form of HBV infection and biochemical evidence of liver disease. The study confirms that HBV infection is frequent in homosexuals and indicates that delta-infection is rare in male homosexuals.

Berlin↗
PubMed1986

Detection of Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae in peripheral blood. A quantitative comparison of the efficiency and sensitivity of four techniques.

Four techniques for the detection and quantification of Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae in peripheral blood were compared, namely the conventional thick smear, thick films prepared by cytocentrifugation, filtration of blood through polycarbonate membranes, and density gradient centrifugation followed by membrane filtration. The efficiency of the methods and their sensitivity was assessed by determining quantitatively the recovery of known numbers of microfilariae from defined volumes of blood. Polycarbonate membrane filtration either alone or in combination with density gradient centrifugation showed an efficiency of 0.9 and 0.8, respectively, and reached 100% sensitivity with microfilariae densities of greater than or equal to 10 microfilariae per ml of blood. Conventional thick smears and cytocentrifugation were of considerably lower efficiency (0.02 and 0.03, respectively) and reached 100% sensitivity with more than 200 microfilariae per ml.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Lymphadenopathy and antibodies to HTLV-III in homosexual men. Clinical, laboratory and epidemiological features.

The study provides information on the epidemiology of HTLV-III infection and the lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAP) in 374 German homosexual men. Sexual contacts in the USA and rectal enemas before receptive anal intercourse are the main risk factors associated with virus transmission. HTLV-III seropositivity is significantly correlated with LAP. Prominent clinical signs are infrequent. Immunological and haematological abnormalities are prevalent, and the retrovirus infection is frequently associated with serological markers of other viruses (hepatitis B, herpes group viruses). Lymphadenopathy as a manifestation of HTLV-III infection is discussed within the context of AIDS-related disorders.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

A glycopolypeptide (gp 100) is the main antigen detected by HTLV-III antisera.

Sera from homosexuals and hemophiliacs in Germany were examined for antibodies to human T-lymphotropic retrovirus type III (HTLV-III) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against purified virus. ELISA positive sera were used to search by immunoprecipitation for HTLV-III related antigens in a persistently infected human T-cell line. A glycopolypeptide with a mol. wt. of 100 000 was regularly recognized by all positive sera. In analogy to glycosylation and high antigenicity of envelope polypeptides of other mammalian retroviruses, gp 100 seemed to be related to the env gen. Two polypeptides with mol. wts. of 24 000 and 22 000 probably representing viral core polypeptides were additionally detected by sera with high ELISA titers.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1985

Antibodies to adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV/HTLV-I) in AIDS patients and people at risk of AIDS in Germany.

A total of 2048 serum samples from Germany were examined for antibodies to adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV) structural polypeptides with an enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmative immuno precipitation. The origin of the sera samples was: 850 samples taken for virological or protozoal diagnosis; 626 samples from male homosexuals, about 20% of whom had lymphadenopathy syndrome; 164 from hemophiliacs; 184 were from multiple transfused, mostly dialysis patients; 9 from intravenous drug abusers; 182 from suspected cases of acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 33 from AIDS-patients. In none of these sera did we detect antibodies to ATLV, except in the serum of one patient who had been on hemodialysis for over 11 years. Obviously infection with ATLV or a serologically related agent is very rare in our country and an association with AIDS could not be observed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

Active immunization against hepatitis B: immunogenicity study in homosexual men.

In a group of 238 homosexual men a hepatitis B vaccine developed at the National Reference Center for Viral Hepatitis (Göttingen/Germany) was evaluated. The vaccine was well tolerated. Three intramuscular injections of inactivated HBsAg (subtype ad; 11300 Natl. Units/dose) induced antibody production in 89.7% of the subjects. Four participants exhibited signs of hepatitis B infection. Vaccine recipients younger than 30 years produced higher antibody levels than older vaccinees. More than one half of the subjects who had only anti-HBs (anti-HBc negative) prior to immunization did not show an anamnestic booster response but formed IgM-anti-HBs. Antibody levels were significantly lower in anti-HBs negative/anti-HBc positive recipients than in subjects who had only anti-HBs or no hepatitis B markers. Immunological studies of T and B cell function did not provide conclusive evidence for the underlying cause of the different immune responses.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Proliferative responses to human cytomegalovirus in lymphocyte cultures of male homosexuals.

29 healthy adults and 32 male homosexuals were investigated for their humoral and cellular immunity against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). In contrast to 30% of the controls, all homosexuals had HCMV serum antibodies. In addition, 84% of the homosexuals reacted positively in HCMV induced in vitro lymphocyte proliferation as compared to 66% of the controls. The study group also showed significantly higher mean reactivities in the lymphoproliferative response towards HCMV. In the group of homosexuals, a correlation could be established between the humoral and cellular immune reactivity to HCMV.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Lymphadenopathy and a lower T-helper/suppressor cell (Th/Ts) ratio in homosexual men in West Germany. Studies of 147 patients to evaluate the individual risk of acquiring AIDS].

Investigations on 147 homosexual men in Berlin-West (17-57 years old, kappa = 32 years) revealed the presence of lymphadenopathy in 90 cases (61.2%). In addition, the Th/Ts-ratio was significantly reduced in the entire homosexual group compared to a control group of heterosexual men (n = 13) of comparable age [2P(z) = 0.0001; Mann-Whitney-U-test]. In homosexual men with marked lymphadenopathy (n = 43) the ThlTs-ratio was found to be lower than in those without lymphadenopathy (n = 57); the difference was significant (P less than 0.01). The reduction of the Th/Ts-ratio in the entire group was mainly due to a significant increase of the number of Ts-lymphocytes (P less than 0.005); Th-lymphocytes showed a trend to decrease which only became significant values in the group of homosexual men with marked lymphadenopathy (P less than 0.05). Similarly, no statistical correlation was found between reduction of Th/Ts-ratio and the age of homosexual men in the entire group (n = 147) as compared to controls; whereas, in the group of homosexuals with marked lymphadenopathy (n = 43) the decrease of Th/Ts became significant with increasing age. No statistical correlation was found between lymphadenopathy, reduction of Th/Ts-ratio and promiscuity (lifetime number of partners, number of partners during the last 6 months). The high prevalence of lymphadenopathy and reduction of Th/Ts-ratio, regarded as parameters of the individual AIDS-risk, indicate that a considerable number of homosexual men in Germany may develop that syndrome.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1984

Syphilis, hepatitis A and hepatitis B seromarkers in homosexual men.

Two hundred homosexual men were investigated for prevalence rates of syphilis, hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis B (HBV). A reactive Treponema pallidum haemagglutination test (TPHA) was found in 56.3% of the participants. In 81.7% HBV seromarkers were detected. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAG) was present in 6.6%. Anti-HAV was found in 51.0%. Risk factors for acquisition of these infections are discussed.

Berlin↗
PubMed1984

[The lymphadenopathy syndrome. Immunologic studies of young homosexual men with and without lymphadenopathy].

Investigations on 147 young homosexual men living in Berlin (West) revealed lymphadenopathy in 61.2% (90 pat.). This finding was prominent in 43.4% of all cases. Evaluation of total T-, T-helper und T-suppressor lymphocytes by means of immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies showed an unchanged total number of T-lymphocytes; in contrast, the T-helper subpopulation was decreased and the T-suppressor subpopulation was increased in the peripheral blood, in comparison to a control group of heterosexual men. Therefore, a significantly reduced Th/Ts-ratio was supposed. These changes were more pronounced in the group with marked lymphadenopathy. Our investigations prove a high prevalence of lymphadenopathy and immune dysfunction among young homosexual men in Germany. Both are correlates of one syndrome characterized by persisting unexplained lymphadenopathy, immune dysfunction, and general clinical symptoms (including loss of weight, fever, diarrhoea, etc.). This so called lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS) with the above mentioned clinical symptoms and reduction of the Th/Ts-ratio may represent a prodrome of AIDS. A long-term and careful follow-up of these patients is therefore necessary.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Protozoal enteric infections in homosexual men.

The prevalence of enteric protozoal infections was examined in a group of 200 homosexual men. Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolyt .) was found in 22.8%, apathogen amoeba in 54.5% and Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia) in 9.1% of the participants. Antibodies against E. histolyt . were significantly higher in subjects carrying E. histolyt . than in the group with apathogen amoeba and in uninfected participants. Clinical symptoms were not associated with protozoal infection. The analysis of a number of variables showed that oral-anal sex and promiscuity were the two most important risk factors for protozoal infection. The clinical significance of protozoal enteric infections and their possible relation to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is discussed.

Adolescent↗