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W Jilg

Publications and source records attributed to W Jilg.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Active immunization against hepatitis A. Comparison of various immunization schedules].

Three different immunization schedules were compared in 144 young, healthy adults (81 men, 63 women; mean age 28.5 years). They were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group 1, immunization shots on day 0 and day 14 (n = 47), group 2, on day 0 and day 28 (n = 50), and group 3, on day 0, 14 and 28 (n = 47). All participants had a booster shot after one year. The seroconversion rate was 40-46% after first shot, 95-100% after the second one; all were anti-HAV positive after the booster injection. All subjects had specific antibodies in a mean concentration of > 400 IU/l two weeks after the second shot. In almost all subjects antibodies were demonstrable up to the 12th month after the first immunization (> 20 IU/l). Mean antibody concentration during the interval between the second and third immunization after basal immunization on day 0 and 14 or 0 and 28, respectively, was comparable. Three initial immunizations 14 days apart did not achieve much higher anti-HAV levels. The vaccine was equally well tolerated in all three groups. Thus basal immunization shortened to two injections two weeks apart presents a good alternative to the standard scheme of two injections four weeks apart. Three injections two weeks apart bring no demonstrable advantage.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Adult use of hepatitis A vaccine in developed countries.

In the industrialized countries of Europe, North America and Australia, the incidence and prevalence of hepatitis A decreased significantly during recent decades. In the high-endemicity areas of Africa, Asia and South America, hepatitis A is still transmitted during infancy or early childhood and usually leads to asymptomatic infection or only mild disease. The majority of infections in developed countries, however, now occur in young adults of whom 70-80% develop more severe icteric disease. Main risk groups in the latter regions are travellers to less-developed areas and drug addicts; an occupational risk of hepatitis A virus infection exists for individuals working in paediatric wards, in day-care centres, in medical laboratories/kitchens as well as for sewage workers. These individuals comprise the target group for active hepatitis A vaccination. Consequent use of these vaccines should not only prevent an often severe disease but also save significant costs.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The immune response to different doses of inactivated hepatitis A vaccine.

The immunogenicity and reactogenicity of different doses of hepatitis A vaccine was studied in healthy adult volunteers. Vaccinees (105) were immunized with 6.25, 12.5 or 25 ng of HAV antigen, each dose administered at 0, 1 and 6 months (groups B, C and D); one group (group A) obtained three 6.25 ng doses at 0, 1 and 2 months. After one single dose high seroconversion rates ranging between 63 and 85% were observed in all four groups. All participants had seroconverted after the third dose, irrespective of the antigen content per dose and the vaccination schedule. Geometric mean titers after three doses were 439 IU/l (group A, month 3) and 1492, 963 and 2772 IU/l in groups B, C and D at month 7. One year after the first injection all vaccinees tested still showed antibody levels well above 10 IU/l. The vaccine was very well tolerated. Minor localized symptoms were observed mainly such as slight pain at the injection site. These symptoms were not dose related; no serious side effects occurred.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Hepatitis-B vaccination: unresolved questions].

There is no doubt about the efficacy and safety of hepatitis B vaccines; however, problems regarding the duration of protection, the nonresponders or the optimum vaccination strategies are not yet completely solved. It has been shown recently that the duration of protection is longer than initially assumed; a revaccination after 5 years seems to be sufficient for all who responded well to the vaccination initially. There is no other measure available to treat nonresponders than by further vaccinations, which, however, is successful in more than half of these individuals. The present strategy in industrialized countries to vaccinate only risk groups has influenced the hepatitis B incidence in these countries only marginally; only the vaccination of all children will reduce the burden of hepatitis B significantly.

Hepatitis B↗
PubMed1992

Vaccination against hepatitis A: comparison of different short-term immunization schedules.

A total of 114 healthy young adults were immunized with hepatitis A vaccine using different vaccination schedules. Individuals received either a single dose (group 1), two doses given simultaneously (group 2), two doses at days 0 and 14 (group 3) or at days 0 and 28 (group 4), or three doses at days 0, 7 and 21 (group 5). Two weeks after a single dose, seroconversion rates between 77 and 85% were achieved (groups 1, 3, 4). All individuals immunized with two doses within two weeks (groups 2, 3, 5) had antibodies to hepatitis A vaccine (anti-HAV positive) by week 3; these participants also showed clearly higher mean anti-HAV values (geometric mean titres, GMTs) at this time than those individuals vaccinated only once. GMTs at week 8 were 560 IU/l in group 5, 236, 339 and 428 IU/l in groups 2-4 and 102 IU/l in group 1. Of participants with anti-HAV at week 8, 82 were again tested 4 months later; all were still seropositive. Ten individuals were tested during the first three weeks at 3-4 day intervals for anti-HAV immunoglobulin M (IgM); specific IgM responses were not detectable before day 10 but were present in eight of 10 vaccinees by day 14.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Expression of proteins encoded by Epstein-Barr virus trans-activator genes depends on the differentiation of epithelial cells in oral hairy leukoplakia.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immediate early gene product BZLF1 was localized by indirect immunofluorescence to the cytoplasm of the basal epithelial layer at the lateral border and dorsum of tongue in human immunodeficiency virus-infected and -seronegative patients. Two biopsies of oral hairy leukoplakia revealed a sporadic cytoplasmic staining of the BHRF1 and BRLF1 gene products in the basal epithelial layer. The widespread presence of BZLF1 in the basal epithelial layer indicated that this cell layer contained EBV DNA and was probably directly infected by EBV. Nuclear localization of the immediate early and early gene products BZLF1, BHRF1, BRLF1, and BMLF1 was limited to oral hairy leukoplakia in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive patients and revealed a codistribution with the virus capsid antigen. Our results indicate that the epithelium of the tongue is a potential reservoir for EBV and that in heavily immunocompromised patients EBV may move from the cytoplasm to the nucleus with increasing differentiation and be coactivated there during the terminal differentiation of epithelial cells at the lateral border and dorsum of tongue.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1991

[Possible long-term prognosis in epidemiologically significant virus infections].

The long-range prognosis of viral diseases must be assessed differently according to their geographical occurrence. The genetic disposition, environmental factors and additional infectious diseases play a decisive part here. Vaccinations are the most important measures in the prevention of these infections. The spectrum of possible chemotherapeutic intervention for viral infectious diseases is very small, which usually makes specific treatment impossible. The most important infective viruses epidemiologically, which lead to persistent complications, are discussed in detail as follows: influenza virus, measles virus, human T-cell leukaemia virus, human immuno-deficiency virus, hepatitis B and C virus. In a discussion conclusions are drawn from the virologist's point of view for a possible long-range prognosis, which depends on the one hand on the infective agent and on the other on individual reactivity. The last chapter talks about insurance medical aspects of the most important infective viruses, which have already been discussed virologically. Some scientific developments are shown which could be future solutions of problems in diagnosis and prognosis. Such new developments could help insurance medical officers to important decision parameters for long-range prognosis, which are still largely missing at present.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1991

Expression of class I major histocompatibility complex antigens in Epstein-Barr virus-carrying lymphoblastoid cell lines and Burkitt lymphoma cells.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) carrying lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) and EBV-positive Burkitt lymphoma (BL) cells were compared for their expression of class I antigens of the major histocompatibility complex. Five common BL lines, LCLs, pokeweed mitogen-stimulated blasts and resting B-cells from healthy donors, and eight pairs of BL cells and LCLs, each pair originating from one patient, were tested. Quantitative analysis was performed using a radioimmunoassay; qualitative aspects were studied by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. In general, LCLs expressed significantly higher amounts of class I antigens than BL cells, the latter showing class I densities similar to or lower than peripheral resting B-cells. From analysis of the expression of class I-specific RNA, there is some evidence that class I antigen expression is regulated on the transcriptional level. In two BL cells studied, class I expression could be enhanced by gamma-interferon, whereas the corresponding LCLs seemed to be refractory to this treatment. One- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that in some BL lines, in addition to the generally lower class I expression, distinct class I specificities were down-regulated. None of these alterations in class I expression was EBV specific; however, they may well play a role in the recognition of BL cells and LCLs by cellular immune mechanisms. Thus, down-regulation of class I antigens may contribute to the resistance of BL cells to cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, whereas their enhanced expression may improve the recognition of EBV-infected LCLs.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, and Treponema pallidum in Mauritius.

A seroepidemiological study on the prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Treponema pallidum was conducted in various groups of the population of the state of Mauritus (Islands of Mauritus and Rodrigues). 618 sera were tested. The overall prevalence of anti-HAV was 86.1% and yielded and age-dependent increase. Serological evidence for acute or chronic HBV infection was found in 3.8%; 4.5% were positive for anti-HBc alone, and in 12.6% past HBV infection was detected. No age- or sex-dependent increase in the prevalence of anti-HBc was found. There were differences in the anti-HBc prevalence among the various groups of population ranging from 5.9 (flight personnel) to 58.3% (prison inmates). Treponemal antibodies were detected in 6.0% and showed a fairly marked age-dependent increase. Our study suggests that vaccination programmes against HAV and HBV would be beneficial for the Mauritian population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Inoculation failure following hepatitis B vaccination. The effect of additional vaccinations].

One to three repeat vaccinations were undertaken in 63 persons (32 males, 31 females; mean age 29 [17-59] years) who had not or inadequately responded to basal immunization with hepatitis B vaccine (47 non- and 16 hyporesponders). After re-vaccination, 12 of the 47 nonresponders and 11 of 16 hyporesponders formed specific antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-HBs, at concentrations above 10 IU/l. Six of 14 persons who had not responded to the first repeat vaccination reached anti-HBs concentrations above 10 U/l after a further injection. Vaccination response was age-dependent. The median age of those subjects who responded to the first re-vaccination was 27 (19-45) years, while the non-responders' median age was 34 (22-59) years (P less than 0.05). Re-vaccination also raised initially low anti-HBs values. These results indicate that some of the nonresponders can obtain reliable protection by revaccination(s).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Identification of type A and B isolates of Epstein-Barr virus by polymerase chain reaction.

A method is described for the identification of type A and type B isolates of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) by means of the polymerase chain reaction. The use of three pairs of primers specific for genomic sequences coding for the two forms of EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA), 2A and 2B, and for a DNA sequence from the BamZ/BamR region allows the reliable and rapid detection of type A and B viruses in as little as 1000 EBV positive cells.

Antigens, Nuclear↗