bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethiopian national hepatitis B study
Authors: Kefene Hailu , Rapicetta M. , Rossi G. B. , Bisanti L. , Bekura D. , Morace G. , Palladino P. , Di Rienzo A. , Conti S. , Bassani F. , Bertolaso G. , Pasquini P.
Published: March 2007

A nationwide seroepidemiological study of hepatitis B markers prevalence was conducted in Ethiopia on 5,270 young males from all regions of the country.

Overall prevalence rates were 10.8% for HBsAg and 73.3% for “at least one marker positive”; a remarkable geographical and ethnic variability of marker prevalence was observed, reflecting the wide differences existing in Ethiopia in sociocultural environment and activities such as tribal practices and traditional surgery. Sexual practices and medical exposure also play some role as determinants of hepatitis B marker prevalence in Ethiopia. General preventive measures, with particular reference to health education, by affecting incriminating habits and practices could have some impact on infection rates in Ethiopia, in the absence of a vaccination strategy presently unrealistic in this region of the world.
Immune response to hepatitis B revaccination
Authors: Jilg Wolfgang , Schmidt Marion , Deinhardt Friedrich
Published: March 2007

Two hundred and twelve individuals who failed to respond or responded poorly to hepatitis B vaccination or whose anti‐HBs levels had dropped below 10 IU/L at follow‐up were revaccinated. Only 18% of initial nonresponders, but 96% of those who responded initially, developed anti‐HBs above 10 IU/L after revaccination. In 85% of vaccinees, anti‐HBs titres after a fourth immunization were significantly higher than after completion of the first full immunization course, and despite a steeper decline of antibody levels after revaccination, anti‐HBs seemed to persist better than after the initial course of three inoculations. All individuals who responded initially and in whom anti‐HBs had become undetectable developed antibodies. Response to booster doses was seen after three to five days, and a fifth inoculation given to 23 individuals induced even better responses.
Incidence and significance of hepatitis B core antibody in a healthy blood donor population
Authors: Kitchen A. D. , Harrison T. J. , Meacock T. J. , Zuckerman A. J. , Harrison J. F.
Published: March 2007

To determine the current incidence of hepatitis B core antibody (anti‐HEk) in a healthy blood donor population, 1,893 donors were screened for anti‐HBc. Forty‐one (2.16%) were found to be initially positive and 35 (1.85%) repeatably positive. Sera from the repeatably positive donors were further screened for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti‐HBs), and hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) by dot hybridisation. The repeatably positive donors were subsequently recalled for further investigation, and their peripheral blood lymphoyctes were also screened for HBV DNA by dot hybridisation. Eighteen (51.4%) of the anti‐HBc‐positive donors were also anti‐HBs‐positive. HBV DNA was not detected in the serum or the lymphocytes of any of the anti‐HBc‐positive donors.
Evaluation of different DNA‐DNA hybridisation techniques in detection of HPV 16 DNA in cervical smears and biopsies
Authors: Cornelissen Marion T. E. , Van Der Velden Ko J. , Walboomers Jan M. M. , Briët Maarten A. , Smits Henk L. , Van Der Noordaa Jan , Schegget Jan Ter
Published: March 2007

The sensitivities of dot blot hybridisation and in situ filter hybridisation for the detection of HPV DNA were compared. Dot blot hybridisation was 10–50 times more sensitive than in situ filter hybridisation in detecting HPV 16 DNA in the cervical cancer cell lines SiHa and CaSki. Cervical smears collected from 51 women with a history of one or more abnormal cervical smears were tested by both hybridisation techniques for the presence of HPV 16 DNA; 11 were positive in the in situ filter hybridisation, 35 in the dot blot hybridisation. Thirty‐five cervical biopsies available from this group of 51 women were processed for dot blot hybridisation 30 of the 35 cases the results of this hybridisation corresponded with the results of the dot blot hybridisation on the smears.
Human parvovirus infection in haemophiliacs first infused with treated clotting factor concentrates
Authors: Corsi O. Bartolomei , Azzi A. , Morfini M. , Fanci R. , Ferrini P. Rossi
Published: March 2007

A group of 27 first infused haemophiliacs was studied for association between heat‐treated clotting factor concentrates and transmission of human parvovirus B19. The prevalence rate of B19 antibody, detected by the Immunoelectroosmophoresis (IEOP) reaction, was 55.5% in this group of first infused subjects, significantly higher than the 29.3% of the control group of 58 healthy blood donors but lower than the 93.3% of antibody positive subjects in a group of 30 haemophiliacs multitreated with unheated products. Five of 17 B19 antibody negative patients produced human parvovirus IgM, detectable by radioimmunoassay, after the first treatment with heated concentrates; two of them developed viraemia 6 and 10 days, respectively, after the first infusion dose. These results lead to the conclusion that human parvovirus is transmissible by blood derivatives even when they have been exposed to steam‐ or dry‐heat treatment.
Reactivation of chronic type B hepatitis: The effect on expression of serum HBV‐DNA and Pre‐S encoded proteins
Authors: Hess Georg , Gerken Guido , Weber Christian , Manns Michael , Büschenfelde Karl‐Hermann Meyer Zum
Published: March 2007

Hepatitis B markers were studied in seven patients with reactivated liver disease. Reactivation of chronic type B hepatitis, as indicated by the reappearance of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in the serum, was characterised by the appearance of hepatitis B virus‐DNA (HBV‐DNA) in the serum. The expression of pre‐S 1 encoded protein remained unchanged in five of seven patients, and poly‐HSA as a marker for pre‐S 2 encoded protein remained detectable in six of seven patients before and after reactivation of chronic hepatitis. The level of serum HBV‐DNA correlated well with the level of liver enzymes, which rose from normal to various levels after reactivation of the liver disease. The data suggest that inflammatory activity of the liver disease is not related to the expression of pre‐S encoded protein but to viral replication. Possibly pre‐C and C‐gene encoded antigens, which are produced together with viral nucleic acid and expressed on the surface of HBV‐infected liver cells, play the key role in liver damage believed to be mediated by cytotoxic T cells.
Cytomegalovirus infection and viral‐induced transformation of human endothelial cells
Authors: Smiley M. Lynn , Mar Eng‐Chun , Huang Eng‐Shang
Published: March 2007

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been associated with vascular pathology. In vivo, CMV is present in vessel wall cells during acute and chronic infections as well as in atherosclerotic lesions. CMV nucleic acids and proteins have also been detected within Kaposi's sarcoma lesions. Because of these associations, we studied the interaction of CMV with human endothelial cells with particular attention to its oncogenicity in this cell type. Our data demonstrate that human endothelial cells are permissive to viral replication but that the viral replication cycle is delayed compared with fibroblast cells. Persistent infections can result with minimal cytopathology. CMV can transform these cells to anchorage‐independent growth, and noninfectious virus is still capable of inducing this transforming event. Our results demonstrate that productive or persistent CMV infection of endothelial cells and viral‐induced transformation can occur, thus providing an in vitro correlate of in vivo events.
Junin virus‐induced delayed‐type hypersensitivity suppression in adult mice
Authors: Campetella O. E. , Barrios H. A. , Galassi N. V.
Published: March 2007

Junin virus (JV) infection of suckling mice leads to lethal meningoencephalitis consistent with a delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH)‐like immune response. In contrast, there are no central nervous system (CNS) alterations, and high antibody titers are induced in resistant adult mice. As a possible explanation, JV infection in adult mice may provoke DTH depression. Thus in this work we study the alterations induced by JV in the immune response of adult mice by using sheep red blood cells (SRBC) as an unrelated indicator antigen.

JV infection was found to abrogate DTH significantly, regardless of SRBC priming time, virus strain attenuation, and viral route of inoculation. The effect proved viral dose‐dependent and required live and infectious virus. However, the humoral response to SRBC, as determined by splenic “plaque‐forming cell” count was found higher than controls. These results are consistent with adult mouse response to JV infection. In contrast to the guinea pig model, there is no destruction of immunocompetent cells. T‐cell percentage in the spleen was high, suggesting involvement with DTH‐suppressive action. We suggest that the immune response to SRBC in adult infected mice may be used for understanding the mechanisms involved in resistance.
Effects of long‐term acyclovir chemosuppression on serum IgG antibody to herpes simplex virus
Authors: Erlich Kim S. , Hauer Laurie , Mills John
Published: March 2007

Patients with severe or frequent recurrent genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection can be managed either by treating each recurrence with acyclovir or by suppressing recurrences with daily administration of the drug. To determine the effects of long‐term acyclovir therapy on the immune response to HSV, we studied the change in IgG antibody concentration to HSV in 46 individuals with recurrent genital HSV‐2 infection who received acyclovir for 1 year, Twenty‐seven subjects received daily acyclovir chemosuppression, while 19 subjects received daily placebo (with acyclovir administered intermittently only during recurrences). Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to HSV was determined before medication began, at completion of 1 year of therapy, and 22 weeks following the first untreated HSV recurrence. Daily acyclovir chemosuppression for 1 year reduced mean IgG antibody concentration by 10% from baseline values (P > 0.01), whereas in patients receiving intermittent therapy no significant decline was observed. In both groups, however, the first untreated recurrence produced a rise in mean antibody concentrations. We conclude that prolonged daily acyclovir chemosuppression reduces humoral immunity to HSV, but antibody concentrations increase following the first untreated recurrence.
Acute sporadic non‐A, non‐B hepatitis in Greece
Authors: Tassopoulos Nicolaos C. , Alikiotis Michael , Limotirakis Fragiscos , Nicolakakis Panayiotis , Mela Haroula , Paralogou‐Ioannides Melpomeni
Published: March 2007

The influence of non‐A, non‐B (NANB) agent(s) on the aetiology of acute sporadic viral hepatitis and its possible transition to chronic hepatitis were studied. Acute sporadic NANB hepatitis was diagnosed in 134 (13.5%) of the 993 Greek adults who were admitted consecutively to the Western Attica General Hospital from February 1986 to September 1987. The male to female ratio was 2.1:1, and the mean age of the patients was 39.7 ± 17.5 years (range: 16–77 years). Serological markers of past hepatitis B virus infection were detected in 32.1% of the patients. Possible risk factors occurring within 6 months of the onset of hepatitis were parenteral drug abuse in 43 (32.1%), blood transfusions in 26 (19.4%), possibly iatrogenic in 22 (16.4%), homosexual practice in one (0.7%) and no recognized risk factors in 42 (31.4%) patients. The most common source of infection was parenteral drug abuse (65%) in patients less than 30 years old and unknown (41.9%) in patients older than 30 years old. Chronic hepatitis, defined by biochemical criteria, was observed in 55.6% of the cases irrespective of the risk factor.

These data show that parenteral drug abuse made a significant contribution to the spread of NANB agent(s) but not homosexual practice and that the rate of chronicity was high.
Primary respiratory syncytial virus infection in mice
Authors: Graham Barney S. , Perkins Mark D. , Wright Peter F. , Karzon David T.
Published: March 2007

A mouse model of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is described. A high‐titered, large‐volume inoculum results in replication of RSV to a high titer in lungs of BALB/c mice. Mice older than 15 weeks of age are more susceptible to RSV infection. Titers up to 106.9 plaque‐forming units (pfu)/gram lung can be attained in 32‐week‐old mice. Older mice experience a clinical illness manifested by ruffled fur, reduced activity, and weight loss. Lung histology of older mice infected with RSV shows bronchiolitis and increased number of lymphocytes and macrophages in alveolar spaces compared with that of mice less than 8 weeks old. This model will serve as the basis for investigating immunodeterminants of recovery and protection from RSV infection.
Papillomavirus and cervical cancer: A clinical and laboratory study
Authors: Zhang W‐H. , Coppleson M. , Rose B. R. , Sorich E. A. , Nightingale B. N. , Thompson C. H. , Cossart Y. E. , Bannatyne P. M. , Elliott P. M. , Atkinson K. H.
Published: March 2007

It is now widely accepted that HPV types 16, 18, 31, and 33 are associated with the development of high grade intraepithelial neoplasia and malignant lesions in the cervix. On this basis, the identification of HPV types in cervical scrape samples has been advocated as a supplement to cytological screening tests. However, little is known of the distribution of the virus at different sites in the lower female genital tract or of how this distribution may change during the natural course of HPV infection. In this survey, HPV DNA dot hybridizations and, in some instances, Southern blot hybridizations with mixed HPV 6/11 and 16/18 probes were undertaken to detect HPV DNA in cervical scrapes and biopsies of the cervix, vagina, and vulva. A total of 92 women attending a Sydney hospital were screened: 59 of these patients had cervical disease, either invasive cervical carcinoma (CaCx) or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), grades I‐III. A group of 33 women who lacked evidence of cervical abnormalities served as controls. HPV DNA, predominantly type 16/18, was detected in the cervical biopsies of 96% of the CaCx patients, 80% of the CIN III patients, and 65% of the CIN I‐II patients. In contrast only 9% of the cervical biopsies from the control group contained detectable HPV 6, 11, 16, or 18 DNA. A high proportion of the women with cervical abnormalities had evidence of concurrent vaginal and/or vulval papillomavirus involvement. The significance of these findings for routine screening and subsequent management of patients with HPV‐associated cervical disease is discussed.
Acute and chronic hepatitis delta virus infection: Direct or indirect effect on hepatitis B virus replication?
Authors: Farci Patrizia , Karayiannis Peter , Lai M. Eliana , Marongiu Francesco , Orgiana Giuseppina , Balestrieri Angelo , Thomas Howard C.
Published: March 2007

In a large population of patients, chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection was usually associated with absence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. However, acute HDV superinfection progressing to chronic HDV infection in two hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive HBV carriers and coinfection in two other patients who progressed to chronic HBV (HBeAg‐positive) and HDV infection was associated with continuing high‐level HBV replication for several years. Thus HDV infection does not always inhibit HBV replication. The hypothesis that the different effects of HDV coinfection and superinfection on HBV replication may stem from variability in the capacity of the host to produce and respond to interferon is discussed.
Investigation of hospital‐acquired rotavirus gastroenteritis using RNA electrophoresis
Authors: Clark J. D. , Hill S. M. , Phillips A. D.
Published: March 2007

Rotavirus is a common cause of diarrhea both in the community and in the hospital. Because of this, it may be difficult to determine whether crossinfection has occurred in the hospital, an important finding as review of hygienic techniques and ward closure may be indicated. We therefore investigated the use of Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of the rotavirus RNA genome as a means of distinguishing between rotavirus strains in order to assess its role in the evaluation of apparent hospital‐acquired rotavirus diarrhoea.

Suspected examples of hospital‐acquired rotavirus gastroenteritis were studied on an infectious diseases ward and a general infant ward. PAGE analysis demonstrated that crossinfection had not occurred on the infectious diseases ward, even though this was indicated clinically; a single source outbreak involving 11 patients was confirmed on the general infant ward, as all cases showed an identical rotavirus electropherotype. Following ward closure an endemic rotavirus electropherotype was detected, which affected 17 patients over a 3‐month period.

Electrophoresis of rotavirus RNA is a useful and practical technique in the analysis of hospital‐acquired gastroenteritis and can indicate appropriate clinical action.
Detection of enterovirus RNA in experimentally infected mice by molecular hybridisation: Specificity of subgenomic probes in quantitative slot blot and in situ hybridisation
Authors: Zhang H. Y. , Yousef G. E. , Bowles N. E. , Archard L. C. , Mann G. F. , Mowbray J. F.
Published: March 2007

Subgenomic cDNA clones representing defined regions of the genome of Coxsackie B3 virus were used as hybridisation probes to detect RNA of various enteroviruses in cell culture and mouse model systems. Radiolabelled probes were used in slotblots to quantitate the RNA in samples; biotinylated probes were used to localise virus RNA at the cellular level by in situ hybridisation with monolayers of infected cells or thin sections of tissue samples. Probes derived from the 5′ or 3′ terminal regions of Coxsackie virus RNA, which are highly conserved in the genus Entero‐virus, detected RNA of various serotypes in infected cell cultures, but failed to hybridise with hepatitis A virus (HAV) RNA. Although HAV is clearly a Picornavirus, our data support the view that its taxonomic position within the enteroviruses should be reconsidered. The biotinylated probes were also used to detect in situ virus RNA in paraffin‐embedded tissue samples from experimental mouse models of Coxsackie B3 virus‐induced myocarditis or Coxsackie B1 virus‐induced myositis. Since the integrity of the tissues was preserved during the process, and viral RNA was localised in the affected muscle fibres, this has enabled us unequivocally to relate the infecting virus to the underlying tissue injury.
Inhibition of human hemopoiesis by non‐A, non‐B hepatitis virus
Authors: Zeldis Jerome B. , Boender Piet J. , Hellings Jan A. , Steinberg Howard
Published: March 2007

All etiologies of acute viral hepatitis are associated with a transient suppression of hemopoiesis and, rarely, with the development of aplastic anemia. Both hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses directly inhibit the growth and differentiation of human bone marrow progenitor cells in vitro. We now report a similar effect of a non‐A, non‐B (NANB) hepatitis agent on human bone marrow progenitor cells. Three chimpanzees were inoculated with a putative NANB agent. Coded sera were blindly evaluated for their ability to affect human bone marrow colony formation in vitro. Sera obtained during the acute phase of NANB hepatitis inhibited the in vitro growth of human erythroid (CFU‐E, BFU‐E) and granulocyte‐macrophage (CFU‐GM) progenitor cells, compared with sera obtained before inoculation. Sera obtained after remission of both the biochemical and histological hepatitis and sera obtained from a chimpanzee who underwent biochemical but not histological remission did not inhibit the stem cell assays as much as the acute phase sera. These results suggest an approach to identifying the viremic phase of NANB hepatitis. Inhibition of human bone marrow proliferation appears to be a common property of all known hepatitis viruses.
Restriction to human cytomegalovirus replication in vitro removed by physiological levels of cortisol
Authors: Koment Roger W.
Published: March 2007

Since viral infection is in most cases contrary to the survival of the host cell, it is reasonable to assume that cells possess innate viral replication inhibitory mechanisms. Even between strains of permissive cells, degrees of permissiveness are observed. Restriction to human cytomegalovirus (CMV) replication in vitro is well known, especially in epithelioid cells or cells derived from certain organs. We have studied restriction in a fibroblastic strain of human embryonic kidney cells. By treatment of cell cultures with maximum physiologic concentration of the hormone cortisol (25 μg%) both pre and post virus inoculation, susceptibility to laboratory strain Ad169 CMV and low‐passaged clinical isolate JSS CMV was enhanced by factors of 6.4 ± 0.7 and 11.1 ± 0.4, respectively; effectively converting these cells to a totally permissive state. A linear dose response, which peaks at 25 μg% and declines thereafter up to 300 μg%, is evident for both virus strains in this enhancement system. Breakdown of restriction increases in linear fashion with increasing time of cortisol pretreatment of cells. The characterization of cortisol effects converting restrictive human fetal cells in vitro to the permissive state further indicates that human hormones may play a significant role in CMV susceptibility in vivo.
Antigenic relationships between attenuated and pathogenic strains of junin virus
Authors: Candurra Nélida A. , Damonte Elsa B. , Coto Celia E.
Published: March 2007

Antigenic relationships between attenuated and pathogenic strains of Junin virus (JV) were investigated. Five strains of either human or rodent origin were tested by cross‐neutralization assay with hyperimmune antisera, raised in rabbits, against each strain. Polyclonal antisera could be used to distinguish among these JV strains, as the titer values differed significantly with ratios of homologous to heterologous titers, which ranged from 1.3 to 22.3. This demonstrates, independent of their virulence, a heterogeneity among the JV strains tested. The relatedness among JV strains was expressed quantitatively through a dendrogram based on taxonomic distance coefficients. The field strains of JV were grouped into two clusters, according to their geographic origin.
Quantitation of hepatitis B viral DNA by solution hybridization: Comparison with DNA polymerase and hepatitis B e antigen during antiviral therapy
Authors: Kuhns Mary C. , McNamara Anne L. , Perrillo Robert P. , Cabal Carlos M. , Campbell Carolyn R.
Published: March 2007

Serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication were assessed in a randomized, controlled trial of prednisone withdrawal followed by α ‐interferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. HBV DNA levels in more than 700 serial serum samples from 41 patients were determined by a sensitive and quantitative solution hybridization assay. Results were compared with HBV DNA polymerase (DNAp) activity and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in 21 untreated controls and 20 treated patients.

Among treated patients, the mean pretherapy HBV DNA values were higher in nonresponders than in responders. During prednisone treatment, DNA levels increased an average of 2.1‐fold in responders and 1.4‐fold in nonresponders. During the 2‐week rest interval between prednisone and interferon, DNA values fell an average of 57% in responders. In contrast, the mean DNA values in nonresponders did not change during the same interval. This early distinction between responders and nonresponders was not apparent from DNAp or HBeAg results. During interferon treatment, HBV DNA became undetectable in responders and remained negative during a 1‐year follow‐up. DNA in nonresponders declined to 14% of baseline during interferon treatment but increased to pretherapy levels after treatment.

DNAp values generally paralleled HBV DNA values, but DNAp activity showed more variability and lower sensitivity than did the hybridization assay results. HBeAg values varied independently of HBV DNA and DNAp with a much delayed decline in responders.

These results indicate that HBV DNA, when measured quantitatively by a sensitive solution hybridization assay, is an early predictor of the effects of antiviral agents on replication.
Measurement of avidity of specific IgG for verification of recent primary rubella
Authors: Hedman Klaus , Rousseau Steve A.
Published: March 2007

Sixty‐four subjects' serum samples, positive or equivocal by rubella IgM assays and containing rubella IgG, were examined for the avidity of rubella IgG. Four of the sera originated from rubella reinfections; others had false‐positive IgM results due to interference by parvovirus infection or by other mechanisms; and the remaining were sera from the acute phase or convalescence of primary rubella. A novel IgG avidity test, avidity‐ELISA, and a semiquantitative haemolysis typing assay were used. According to the avidity‐ELIA, 29 subjects had recent primary rubella (low IgG avidity), and another 29 had previous rubella immunity (high IgG avidity), whereas 6 serum samples gave borderline avidity values. Comparison of these results with pre‐existing clinical records and laboratory data showed that all samples with low IgG avidity were obtained during or shortly after acute primary rubella. All sera with high IgG avidity originated from the previously immune subjects; the rubella reinfections were confined within this group. Five of the six sera with borderline avidity values were obtained within 2 months from primary rubella. In conclusion, the measurement of IgG avidity is a powerful tool for the distinction of acute or recent primary rubella from pre‐existing rubella immunity, including rubella reinfections.
Detection and typing of human papillomavirus infection of the uterine cervix by dot blot hybridisation: Comparison of scrapes and biopsies
Authors: Hallam Nicholas , Gibson Patricia , Green Jonathan , Charnock Mark
Published: March 2007

Paired scrapes and biopsies from 100 women attending a routine colposcopy clinic were examined by dot blot DNA hybridisation for infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6/11,16,18, and 31;51% of the scrapes and 50% of the biopsies were positive for HPV infection. Scrapes detected more HPV 18 (10% vs. 2%, P = < 0.05) and HPV 31 (7% vs. 3%, not significant) than did the biopsies, but biopsies detected more HPV 16 (42% vs. 33%, not significant). Comparison of the results for each patient revealed that the correlation between scrapes and biopsies was not very close: only 34 patients were HPV‐positive by both sampling methods, whereas 67 were positive if the results were combined. This report discusses the implications of these findings.
Rapid detection of varicella‐zoster virus in clinical specimens using monoclonal antibodies on shell vials and smears
Authors: Meulenberg Janneke J. M. , Schirm Jurjen , Pastoor Geke W. , Schröder F. Peter , Van Vader Pieter C. Voorst
Published: March 2007

Monoclonal antibodies were used for detecting varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) by immunofluorescence (IF) in clinical specimens inoculated on shell vial cultures. Vesicles of 74 patients with varicella or herpes zoster‐like eruptions were tested by this method and by conventional cell culture. Further diagnostic tests were direct IF on smears (42 patients), the cytological Tzanck test (28 patients), and serology (30 patients). Both IF assays were performed with the commercial VZV‐specific monoclonal antibody 3B3 (Ortho). Using the shell vial technique, we found VZV in 37 (50%) of the patients, on average after 3 days. The conventional culture method yielded 26 positives (35%), on average after 7.5 days.

Twenty‐nine of the shell vial IF‐positive patients were also positive by direct IF on smears (30 tested), while 15 gave positive Tzanck smears (18 tested). The sensitivities of the shell vial IF test, the direct IF test, the conventional culture method, and the Tzanck test were about 95%, 97%, 70%, and 79%, respectively. For the specificities, we found at least 97% for the shell vial IF test, at least 91% for the direct IF test, and about 78% for the Tzanck test. We conclude that both VZV IF tests are much more reliable than the conventional cell culture method and the Tzanck test for the laboratory diagnosis of VZV infections.
Antibodies against varicella‐zoster virus and herpes simplex virus deoxythymidine kinase in heterologous infections
Authors: Källander C. F. R. , Torfason E. G. , Diderholm H. , Gronowitz J. S. , Olding‐Stenkvist E. , Sundqvist V.‐A.
Published: March 2007

Antibody responses to varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) deoxythymidine kinase (dTK) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) dTK in homologous and heterologous infections were studied. Antibodies blocking the enzymatic activity of VZV‐dTK appeared late after varicella and decreased more or less in parallel with the decreasing complement fixing [CF] titre. In herpes zoster, on the other hand, antibodies to VZV‐dTK appeared soon after infection. Antibodies against HSV dTKs appeared long after primary infection, but they were subsequently present in all other HSVCF positive sera. In recurrent HSV, all acute sera were already HSV‐dTK antibody positive, and three of nine persons showed an increase in titer between their acute and convalescent sera. Blocking antibodies to VZV‐dTK appeared rapidly in specimens from three of 18 individuals positive by an immunofluorescence VZV‐immunity test during HSV infection, whereas all other specimens remained devoid of blocking antibodies against VZV‐dTK. A rise in antibody titre against HSV‐dTK during VZV infections was observed in serum specimens from three of 13 HSV‐CF positive patients, whereas an antibody response against HSV‐dTK was not found in HSV‐CF negative individuals in conection with VZV infections. The relevance of the sporadic increase in the titres of antibodies against heterologous viral dTKs is discussed.
Infection by enteric adenoviruses, rotaviruses, and other agents in a rural african environment
Authors: Tiemessen Caroline T. , Erasmus Marietha J. , Kidd Alistair H. , Wegerhoff Frank O.
Published: March 2007

From February 1985 to January 1986, 432 stool samples, 310 from rural African children with diarrhea and 122 from controls, were analysed for the presence of enteric viruses known to be associated with diarrhea. Group A rotavirus ELISA indicated 12.9% positivity among patients and 2.5% positivity among controls. Only 23 of the 43 rotavirus ELISA‐positive stools were also positive by electron microscopy. Nine children, three of whom were controls, were found to be shedding coronavirus‐like particles, detected by electron microscopy. Stools from all but one of the nine children had been taken within 1 month of each other. Dot‐blot hybridization tests for the presence of Ad40 or Ad41 DNA revealed 44 positive stools, 41 of which were from patients (13.2% positivity). Only three of the Ad40‐ or Ad41‐positive stools by DNA hybridization were positive by electron microscopy, and only these three strains could be grown in semipermissive Chang conjunctival cells and their identity checked by restriction enzyme analysis. Further attempts to rescue the other strains using a helper virus failed, but nine of the stools proved positive by ELISA using a subgroup F‐specific monoclonal antibody. On the basis of the DNA hybridization results alone, subgroup F adenoviruses were encountered as frequently as rotavirus in the study and were significantly associated with diarrhea, although the viability and intactness of virus particles by the time of laboratory analysis appeared to be very low.
Electron microscopy of ribonucleic acid in nuclear particulate aggregates of hepatitis d using nuclease‐gold complexes
Authors: Kojima Takashi , Callea Francesco , Shikata Jan Desmyter, Toshio , Desmet Valeer J.
Published: March 2007

The ultrastructural localization of hepatitis delta antigen (HDAg) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) was investigated by immunoperoxidase electron microscopy and by enzyme electron microscopy of RNase‐gold complexes on liver biopsies from seven patients with hepatitis D. HDAg was localized mainly in the nucleus and sometimes in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Ultrastructurally, intranuclear HDAg was found on nuclear particulate structures measuring 20 to 30 nm in diameter. Intranuclear RNA visualized with gold particles was found in high amounts in the nucleolus, to a small extent in the chromatin area, and also on nuclear particulate structures. These findings suggest that intranuclear aggregates of irregular granular particulate structures in hepatitis D are the internal component of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) particles in blood.
Detection of neutralizing igm antibodies in the diagnosis of enterovirus infections
Authors: Gaudin Odette‐Germaine , Pozzetto Bruno , Aouni Mahjoub , Ros Alain
Published: March 2007

Data are presented of IgM detection by a neutralization test used routinely in 1,062 patients. Antigens isolated during the period of investigation were EV4, EV7, EV11, EV18, EV21, EV24, EV33, CA9, CB2, CB4, and CB5. No difference was observed in the distribution of IgM‐positive sera according to age and sex. Total antibodies are at higher titres when IgM antibodies are present. Polytypic IgM responses are not frequent (less than 10%). The frequency of the IgM‐positive sera for a given serotype correlated with the frequency of isolates for the serotype except for CA9. Other than for babies under age 6 months, IgM detection is more frequent than is isolation. The susceptibility of the elderly and the frequency of IgM‐positive sera among adults over age 40 years suggests possible underestimation of enterovirus infections in adults. The duration of IgM remains a major question.
Detection of human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid by filter in situ hybridization during pregnancy
Authors: Czeglédy Judit , Gergely Lajos , Endrödi Imre
Published: March 2007

Samples taken from 101 healthy pregnant women (49 over and 52 under the 20‐week gestational period) and 108 healthy nonpregnant women were tested for human papillomavirus (HPV) types. Using 6, 11, 16, and 18 HPV DNA probes, 3‐5 x 105 exfoliated cells scraped from the cervix were tested by filter in situ hybridization (FISH). Thirty‐five of the pregnant women (34.6%) had evidence of the presence of HPV DNA: with 11.8% (12/101) HPV 6; 7.9% (8/101) HPV 11; 8.9% (9/101) HPV 16; and 5.9% (6/101) HPV 18 positivity. HPV DNA was detected in 20.4% (22/108) of the non‐pregnant women.

Compared with the healthy, nonpregnant group, the higher level of asymptomatic cervical HPV infection was mainly due to the accumulation of HPV 16 and 18 nucleic acids during the gestational period: with detection of HPV 16 in 8/49 cases (16.3%) and of HPV 18 DNA sequences in 4/49 (7.6%) cases. Screening 6‐8 weeks after delivery indicated a decline of HPV positivity.

Of the 4/12 HPV type 16 positive mothers, only one retained the presence of HPV 16 DNA, whereas neither of the 2/12 type 18 positive women reacted after birth with the type 18 radioactive probe.
Diagnosis of hepatitis a and b by testing saliva
Authors: Parry John V. , Perry Keith R. , Mortimer Philip P. , Panday Sohrab
Published: March 2007

The use of salivary samples to diagnose acute viral hepatitis was investigated. Tests for IgM antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti‐HAV) on 29 acute‐phase samples from serologically confirmed cases of hepatitis A were strongly reactive. Follow‐up samples indicated that IgM anti‐ HAV persisted at moderate levels for 2‐4 months and was not usually detectable thereafter. The ratio of IgM to IgG anti‐HAV (RIA index) correlated closely with the interval from onset of infection. Significant levels of IgM anti‐HAV were not detected in the saliva of 103 IgG anti‐ HAV positive and 102 IgG anti‐HAV negative individuals nor of 4 individuals with hepatitis B. Similarly, IgM anti‐HBc was present in the saliva of acute cases of hepatitis B, but not in the saliva of 25 IgG anti‐HBc positive and 85 IgG anti‐HBc negative individuals, nor of 24 individuals with recent hepatitis A.

It is concluded that saliva is a convenient and satisfactory alternative to serum for the diagnosis of hepatitis A infection.
Detection of hepatitis a virus rna in serum from patients with acute hepatitis
Authors: Oren R. , Shouval D. , Tur‐Kaspa R.
Published: March 2007

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) RNA was extracted from the sera of patients with acute hepatitis and then detected by molecular hybridization using cloned HAV complementary DNA (cDNA). HAV RNA was detected in 20 of 85 patients with acute HAV infection, mainly during the prodromal stage, or early during the icteric phase of the disease; it was detected as long as 21 days after its initial detection. Patients with HAV RNA in the serum had a significantly higher titer of anti‐HAV IgM.
Control of HBV and HDV infection in an isolated pacific Island: 1. pattern of infection
Authors: Speed Bryan R. , Dimitrakakis Mary , Thoma Kiki , Gust Ian D.
Published: March 2007

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infections are known to be hyperendemic in Nauru. Because of the consequences of chronic HBV infection, the Nauruan Government has commenced a program that aims to reduce and eventually eliminate hepatitis B infection by immunizing susceptible adults and children on the island and every newborn baby. At the outset of this program, a national seroepidemiological survey was undertaken. Eighty‐eight percent of the population were tested, of whom 69.1% had markers of HBV infection. Evidence of superinfection with HDV was found in 22.7% of HBV carriers, with the highest prevalence in adolescents and young adults. All seronegative individuals were offered three doses of plasma derived hepatitis B vaccine.

A post‐vaccination survey of 64% of those vaccinated showed that 98% had developed circulating antibodies.
Use of anticontamination primers in the polymerase chain reaction for the detection of human papilloma virus genotypes in cervical scrapes and biopsies
Authors: Van Den Brule Adriaan J. C. , Claas Eric C. J. , Maine Marc Du , Melchers Willem J. G. , Helmerhorst Theo , Quint Wim G. V. , Lindeman Jan , Meijer Chris J. L. M. , Walboomers Jan M. M.
Published: March 2007

A reliable application of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of the human papilloma virus (HPV) genotypes in cervical smears and biopsies was developed. Primers flanking the HPV cloning site were used to avoid detection of cloned HPV plasmids. These anticontamination primers were used for the specific detection of HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, and 33 in cervical scrapes that had been tested previously for HPV with a combined modified filter in situ hybridization (modified FISH) and dot blotting procedure. The PCR appeared to be superior. Two groups of women were screened for HPV genotypes. Group A consisted of women belonging to a regularly screened population, and group B contained women attending a gynaecological clinic. It appeared that the overall prevalence of HPV in cytologically normal scrapes in the first group was 6%, whereas in the second group 12% was found. In scrapes with cytological dysplasia, the prevalence of HPV in group A and B was approximately 40% and 60%, respectively. HPV 16 was present predominantly. In biopsies of squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix uteri, an HPV prevalence rate of 90% was found, all of which contained only HPV 16 and 18. These data indicate an important role for HPV detection in the screening of cervical scrapes to identify women with an increased risk of cervical cancer.
Biological response modifier enhances the activity of natural killer cell against human cytomegalovirus‐infected cells
Authors: Murayama Tsugiya , Natsuume‐Sakai Shunnosuke , Xu Bin , Furukawa Toru , Rinaldo Charles R.
Published: March 2007

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from two human cytomegalovirus (CMV)‐seronegative donors and eight CMV‐seropositive donors were cultured for 3 days with or without the biological response modifier OK‐432 and examined for lysis of K562 cells and CMV‐infected MRC‐5 cells. OK‐432–stimulated PBL exhibited significantly greater natural killer (NK) activity than did unstimulated PBL. There was no difference in activity of NK cells in PBL prepared from CMV‐seronegative and ‐seropositive donors. Antibody‐complement depletion studies suggested that OK‐432–stimulated NK activity was associated with Leu‐7–positive cells. The ability of OK‐432 to sustain the NK activity in PBL was decreased when the CD4‐positive population of lymphocytes was eliminated by antibody‐complement depletion prior to OK‐432 stimulation. The ability of OK‐432 to sustain the NK activity of PBL was also significantly decreased in the presence of monoclonal antibody against recombinant human interleukin‐2. The results suggest that the activity of human NK cells against K562 and CMV‐infected MRC‐5 target cells can be sustained in vitro by OK‐432‐stimulated T‐helper cells and that the effect of the T‐helper cells is mediated, at least in part, by interleukin‐2.
Trans‐Regulation and differential cell specificity of human papillomavirus types 16, 18, and 11 cis‐acting elements
Authors: Marshall Trudy , Pater Alan , Pater Mary M.
Published: March 2007

The noncoding region (ncr) of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16, 18, and 11 contains promoter and/or enhancer function. We have localized the sequence containing the constitutive enhancers of HPV types 16, 18, and 11 to 315, 230, and 213 bp fragments, respectively, for comparative studies. The region of homology shared between the enhancers of the three viruses is limited to the sequence ATTTTTGGCTT, which is also present in the ncr of HPV 6b and 33. We have also examined the enhancer activity of the HPV ncrs in three human cervical carcinoma cell lines, one noncervical human carcinoma cell line, and one monkey kidney established cell line. We observed cell‐specific differences in the constitutive expression of the enhancers in the various cell lines. The conditional enhancer activity of the ncr of the viruses is increased in trans by the E2 gene product of HPV 16. Transactivation by E2 is mediated through the E2 binding motif on HPV enhancer plasmids with a heterologous but not with a homologous promoter. Our preliminary studies also indicate a repressor function for the E7 gene of HPV 16.
Isolation of inoue‐melnick virus from human colorectal carcinoma cell lines
Authors: Inouel Y. K. , Nishibe Y.
Published: March 2007

Inoue‐Melnick virus (IMV) was isolated from five of six human colorectal carcinoma cell lines, whereas the virus was not isolated from three normal colon‐derived cell lines, three pancreas carcinoma cell lines, two bladder carcinoma cell lines, one kidney adenocarcinoma cell line, and one cervical carcinoma cell line. IMV synthesis was remarkably enhanced in the colorectal carcinoma cell lines by treatment with 5‐bromodeoxyuridine (BUDR). However, virus was not detected in any of the other cell lines in spite of BUDR treatment. Five strains of virus isolated from colorectal carcinoma cell lines were subsequently identified by the neutralization test as intermediate‐type IMV.
Seroepidemiology of hepatitis a, b, and d viruses and human t‐lymphocyte tropic viruses in japanese drug abusers
Authors: Kiyosawa Kendo , Oofusa Hirokazu , Saitoh Hiroshi , Sodeyama Takeshi , Tanaka Eiji , Furuta Seiichi , Itoh Susumu , Ogata Hiroyuki , Kobuchi Hideko , Kameko Mitsuaki , Kanai Masamitsu
Published: March 2007

To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis virus markers and human T‐cell lymphotropic virus infections among drug abusers in Japan, serum samples were collected from 91 male drug abusers at the Shinshu University Hospital and the rehabilitation facility in Matsumoto and from 519 healthy male blood donors as controls. Sera were tested for antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti‐HAV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg (anti‐HBs), antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti‐HBc), immunoglobuline M anti‐HBc (IgM anti‐HBc), antibody to hepatitis D virus (anti‐HDV), antibody to HTLV type 1 (anti‐HTLV 1), and antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (anti‐HIV). The prevalence of anti‐HAV was 13.2% in drug abusers and 10.8% in controls (not significant). The prevalences of HBsAg, anti‐HBs, anti‐HBc and exposure rate to hepatitis B virus (HBV) were 4.4%, 24.2%, 31.9%, and 35.2%, respectively, in drug abusers and 0.8%,6.7%, 9.6%, and 9.6% in controls. The exposure rate to HBV was significantly different (P < 0.001). IgM anti‐HBc and anti‐HDV were not detected in any sera. Anti‐HTLV I was detected in three drug abusers (3.3%) and in one (0.2%) of the controls (P < 0.01). All sera were negative for anti‐HIV in all subjects. Infection with HBV and HTLV I is more common among drug abusers than in the general population of blood donors in Japan.
Detection of rubella virus antigen by one‐step time‐resolved fluoroimmunoassay and by enzyme immunoassay
Authors: Scalia Guido , Gerna Giuseppe , Halonen Pekka E.
Published: March 2007

A one‐step time‐resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR‐FIA) and a conventional two‐step enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of rubella virus antigen were developed. Two noncompetitive mouse monoclonal antibodies reactive with epitopes on the E1 polypeptide of rubella virus served as immunoreagents. One of the monoclones (7A6) was used for coating the solid phase, and the other (2C3) was labeled with either Europium chelate or with horseradish peroxidase. For TR‐FIA, the specimen was incubated simultaneously with the label at 4°C overnight. EIA required an overnight incubation with the specimen and after washing another 1 hr of incubation at 37°C with the conjugate. The sensitivity of TR‐FIA was 10 pg in an assay volume of 100 μl and the sensitivity of EIA was between 50 and 100 pg. Antigens could be detected by TR‐FIA in supernatant of cultures of Vero cells 48 hr after inoculation with approximately 1 TCID 50, while cytopathogenic effect (CPE) at that time was detected only in cultures inoculated with 105 TCID50 or more. Virus mixed with human amniotic fluid containing antirubella‐specific IgG was detectable after an incubation at 37°C for 5 days. The assays may find applications in prenatal diagnosis of intrauterine rubella infection, in early identification of viral antigens in cell culture and in monitoring production, concentration, and purification of rubella antigen for antibody assays.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 p24 production and antigenic variation in tissue culture of isolates with various growth characteristics
Authors: Sundqvist Vivi‐Anne , Albert Jan , Ohlsson Eva , Hinkula Jorma , Fenyö Eva Maria , Wahren Britta
Published: March 2007

Two monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) reacting with different epitopes of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 core protein p24 (HIV p24) were used either singly or in combination as tracers in enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. The culture supernatant of 215 samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 112 patients were measured for HIV p24 and reverse transcriptase (RT) activity during cultivation. One hundred forty‐one cultures were positive for HIV p24 and 122 for RT after 32 days of cultivation. After 8–9 days, HIV p24 was detected in 50.4% and RT in 27.8% of the cultures later judged as HIV positive. Two patients seemed to have substrains of HIV‐1 not reactive with one of the Mabs.