bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Herion addicts infected by HBV and HIV have a low prevalence of HBV DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Authors: Delfini Carlo , Garbuglia Anna Rosa , Alfani Elena , Caro Antonino Di , Sette Pietro , Benedetto Arrigo 
Published: March 2007

AbstractSeveral reports show that the prevalence of HBV (hepatitis B virus) carriers in HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infected populations is significantly higher than in HIV seronegative individuals, independent of the risk group for HIV, that is, homosexuals or drug abusers. In this context, evaluation of the simultaneous presence of HBV and HIV in PBMCs (peripheral blood monuclear cells) is of particular interest for at least 2 reasons: 1) the possible reciprocal influence of the 2 viruses when they infect the same cell; 2) the possibility that HIV‐iduced hematological disorders could indirectly influence the settling of HBV in blood cell populations.We report data on the frequency of PCR positivity for HBV DNA in PBMCs from 62 HIV infected patients, rigorously selected by risk group, that is, intravenous use of heroin for at least 3 years and syringe promiscuity. Sixtyseven HIV negative individuals who never used any drug formed the control group. The analysis of the cases positive for HBV DNA in PBMCs showed that 1) the overall prevalence of PCR positivity found in HIV infected patients was significantly lower than that registered in the control group; 2) PCR positivity among the subjects who were HBsAg negative and anti‐HBV positive was extremely low in the HIV infected patients (3.7%) but quite frequent in the HIV negative subjects (37.0%). The results support the hypothesis that, unlike the HIV negative individuals, our HIV infected patients exhibited HBV DNA in PBMCS almost exclusively when they presented with active HBV replication.
Novel assay for the detection of immunoglobulin G antihuman immunodeficiency virus in untreated saliva and urine
Authors: Connell Jeffrey A. , Parry John V. , Mortimer Philip P. , Duncan Julian 
Published: March 2007

AbstractEpidemiological evidence and laboratory studies indicate that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV 1) is rarely, if ever, transmitted in saliva or urine. In that both specimens are easy to collect, each may be a useful alternative to serum specimens for anti‐HIV screening. A rapid, simple, and robust IgG‐capture enzyme‐linked immunsorbent assay (GACELISA) suitable for the detection of anti‐HIV 1 and 2 in saliva and urine was developed. Following optimisation of the assay, 177 salivary and 568 urine specimens collected from individuals of known serostatus were investigated. The assay was 100% sensitive on 50 salivary (median OD/CO = 8.9) and 126 urinary (median OD/CO = 8.6) specimens collected from anti‐HIV‐positive patients. The specificity was 100% on 127 salivary specimens (median OD/CO = 0.37) and 422 urinary specimens (median OD/CO = 0.39) collected from anti‐HIV‐negative individuals. These findings demonstrate that GACELISA HIV 1 + 2 tests on saliva or on urine are an accurate alternative to a conventional anti‐HIV test of blood. This assay is satisfactory for surveillance purposes and, with appropriate precautions, could be used clinically.
Cervical HPV infection among HIV‐infected prostitutes addicted to hard drugs
Authors: van Doornum G. J. J. , van den Hoek J. A. R. , van Ameijden E. J. C. , van Haastrecht H. J. A. , Roos M. Th. L. , Henquet C. J. M. , Quint W. G. V. , Coutinho R. A. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractAn investigation into the prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, abnormal cervical cytology and the relationship between HIV‐and HPV infection was done in a group of intravenously (IV) and non‐IV drug‐using prostitutes. From July 1991 through May 1992, hard drugaddicted prostitutes attending a sexually‐transmitted‐disease (STD) clinic in Amsterdam were recruited. A questionnaire was administered to obtain demographic characteristics, and medical and STD history. Apart from routine STD examination, cervical scrapes for cytology and samples for HPV DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were collected. Some of the women included in this study also participated in HIV studies among drug users. Their data on HIV‐ and immunologic status could be combined.A total of 121 women entered the study; 25 women were HIV‐seropositive, 44 women were HIV‐negative, and the HIV status of 52 women was unknown. All 25 HIV‐positive women had normal Pap smears, two of the 44 HIV‐negative women had a Pap smear III A, and in the HIV‐unknown group, two women with Pap III A and one with Pap III B were found. Eight of the 25 (32%) HIV‐positive women were HPV DNA‐positive, three of the 44 (7%) HIV‐negative women and 10/52 (19%) of the HIV‐unknown group. Logistic regression analysis showed that in the total group, presence or cervical HPV DNA was associated with HIV infection (order ratio [OR] for HIV‐positives 7.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8 to 34.6) and with diagnosis of condylomata acuminata at entry to the study (OR 7.5, 95% CI 1.5 to 36.5). The mean of the calculated minimal duration of HIV infection was 6.5 years for HPV‐positive women vs. 4.2 years for the HPV‐negative women (P = 0.001, OR 1.8 per year, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.2). The difference of CD4 T‐cell counts between HPV‐positive and negative women (all HIV‐positive) was statistically not significant (557/mm3 vs. 486/mm3).Our data indicate that in this group of hard drug‐addicted prostitutes, HIV infection is associated with a higher prevalence of HPV infection but not with a higher rate of abnormal cervical cytology. In the group of HIV‐infected women, an association between CD4 T‐cell counts and HPV infection was not established.
Sensitive assays for hepatitis a antibodies
Authors: Miller W. J. , Clark W. , Hurni W. , Kuter B. , Schofield T. , Nalin D. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractTwo commercial assay kits for detecting antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti‐HAV) have been modified in order to increase their sensitivity. These modifications are made by less dilution of the test serum, in the case of Abbott HAVAB‐M assay, or by an increase in the volumetric ratio of the test serum to the labeled anti‐HAV in the case of the Abbott HAVAB assay. These modifications result in 5‐ to 20‐fold increases in test sensitivity and enable the detection of anti‐HAV at 2–3 weeks following vaccination. The earlier detection of anti‐HAV is important to vaccine development in assuring the presence of antibody levels in travelers sooner after vaccination.
Markers of hepatitis C virus infection in sardinian blood donors: Relationship with alanine aminotransferase levels
Authors: Lai Maria Eliana , Mazzoleni Anna P. , Farci Patrizia , Melis Antonello , Porru Antonella , Orgiana Giuseppina , Arnone Michele , Balestrieri Angelo 
Published: March 2007

AbstractSerum samples from 1,765 consecutive Sardinian blood donors, negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (anti‐HIV), were evaluated for the presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti‐HCV) by second‐generation ELISA. Anti‐HCV was detected in 25 (1.45%) of the 1,765 donors examined. Anti‐HCV was found in 15 of the 1,690 (0.9%) donors with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and in 10 of the 75 (13%) donors with elevated ALT (P < 0.0001). Of the 15 anti‐HCV‐positive donors with normal ALT, only five (33%) were confirmed to be positive by second‐generation RIBA, six (40%) were indeterminate, while four (27%) were RIBA negative. HCV RNA, as detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a set of primers from the 5′‐noncoding region, was found in six of the 15 (40%) donors with normal ALT, including five RIBA, positive and one indeterminant. Of the 10 anti‐HCV‐positive donors with elevated ALT, all were RIBA positive and eight (80%) had detectable HCV RNA. Thus, among ELISA‐reactive donors, those with elevated ALT had a significantly higher probability of being positive for secondgeneration RIBA and HCV RNA compared to those with normal ALT levels (P = 0.028). None of the 65 donors with elevated ALT but negative for anti‐HCV by ELISA had detectable serum HCV RNA, as compared to eight of 10 anti‐HCV ELISApositive donors (P < 0.0001). However, although negative for HBsAg, 12 of the 65 (18%) had serum HBV DNA by PCR. This study demonstrates that the combined use of second‐generation ELISA and RIBA anti‐HCV assays is highly effective in identifying HCV infection, whereas the specificity of ELISA alone for the screening of blood donors with normal ALT values appears to be limited. In contrast, in donors with elevated ALT levels, there is a positive correlation between second‐generation assays (ELISA and RIBA) and HCV viremia. The high proportion of inapparent HBV infection in blood donors with elevated ALT levels underlines the importance of this test for the prevention of transfusion‐associated viral hepatitis.
Blood in saliva of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: Possible implication in sexual transmission of the disease
Authors: Piazza Marcello , Chirianni Antonio , Picciotto Ludovico , Cataldo Pietro Tullio , Borgia Guglielmo , Orlando Raffaele 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe presence and concentration of haemoglobin in saliva of anti‐human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive subjects, anti‐HIV‐negative subjects at high risk of infection, and healthy controls were studied. One hundred eighty‐eight subjects were anti‐HIV‐positive intravenous drug abusers (IVDA), 22 were anti‐HIV‐positive homosexual men, 23 were anti‐HIV‐positive heterosexual contacts, 132 were anti‐HIV‐negative IVDA, 35 were anti‐HIV‐negative homosexual men, and 154 were healthy controls. Two milliliters of saliva was collected in the morning before brushing teeth, and the presence and the concentration of haemoglobin were determined. Based on hemoglobin, the data show that the anti‐HIV‐positive IVDA have the highest tendency to bleeding. The difference between this group with respect to anti‐HIV‐negative IVDA (P < 0.05) and compared with healthy controls (P < 0.01) is statistically significant. This is also true of anti‐HIV‐positive heterosexual contacts with respect to healthy controls (P < 0.01). Our data show that all at‐risk groups, both anti‐HIV positive and anti‐HIV negative, have higher haemoglobin concentration than the control group; this difference reaches statistical significance only between anti‐HIV‐positive IVDA and controls (P < 0.01). The concentration of haemoglobin is significantly higher in subjects with CD4+ lymphocytes < 200/mm3 compared to subjects with CD4+ lymphocytes > 200/mm3 (P < 0.01), in subjects with AIDS‐related complex (ARO/AIDS compared to asymptomatic/PGL subjects (P < 0.01), and in subjects with stomatitis compared to subjects without stomatitis (P < 0.05). The possibility that subjects with AIDS, particularly IVDA, could transmit infection through saliva in traumatic and repetitive sexual context (e.g., passionate kissing, insertive fellatio, etc.) is discussed. © 1994 Wiiey‐Liss, Inc.
Investigation of varicella‐zoster virus DNA by the polymerase chain reaction in healthy children with varicella vaccination
Authors: Ozaki Takao , Masuda Susuniu , Asano Yoshizo , Kondo Kazuhiro , Namazue Junko , Yamanishi Koichi 
Published: March 2007

AbstractInvestigation of varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) DNA in 20 healthy children with varicella vaccination was carried out by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested double PCR. Samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and throat swabs were simultaneously collected 3 times (before, 1 week, and 4 weeks after vaccination) for PCR analysis. One sample of PBMC was also obtained from each of the 12 healthy children with varicella during the acute phase as a positive control. VZV DNA was not found by the first PCR in any samples except one PBMC of a control subject. The nested double PCR, which is a more sensitive method for VZV DNA detection, was applied to the same samples. The viral DNA was detected in every PBMC of the controls, and in 2 (16.7%) PBMC at 1 week and in 6 (50%) PBMC at 4 weeks after vaccination in the 12 vaccinees with seroconversion. In 3 of 4 vaccinees who were seropositive before vaccination, VZV DNA was detected in PBMC at 1 or 4 weeks after vaccination. The three vaccinees showed a booster immunization with a significant increase in antibody liters. In contrast, no VZV DNA could be detected in any throat swabs of all the vaccinees nor in PBMC of the vaccinees who did not Seroconvert. © 1994 Wiiey‐Liss, Inc.
Completely or nearly identical hepatitis B virus strains replicate between patients with acute or fulminant hepatitis B and their respective infectious sources
Authors: Aye Thein Thein , Uchida Toshikazu , Becker Sven O. , Shikata Toshio , Mima Satoaki 
Published: March 2007

AbstractFive patients with acute hepatitis B and four with fulminant hepatitis B were selected for sequencing of the precore/core gene of the virus strains. Furthermore, identical sequencing was done with the HBV of the infectious sources, i.e., the sexual partner in eight cases and a natural child (chronic carrier) infecting the mother in one case. Of the subjects responsible for the infection, four were healthy HBV carriers, three suffered from chronic hepatitis B, and one from acute and one from fulminant hepatitis B. The nucleotide sequences of HBV from both the patients and the implicated sources of infection exhibited perfect identity of the precore region and perfect or high identity of the core region. The completely or nearly identical strain of virus seemed to proliferate successively in the patients following the transmission from the infecting individuals regardless of sequence variations and infectious status. In two cases a peculiar pattern of infection and disease was found: In one married couple the husband, during the incubation period of acute hepatitis B, infected his wife, who developed fulminant hepatitis. In another married couple, both partners ultimately developed fulminant hepatitis (the wife being the source of the infection). © 1994 Wiiey‐Liss, Inc.
Sequential change of the hypervariable region of the hepatitis C virus genome in acute infection
Authors: Sakamoto Naoya , Enomoto Nobuyuki , Kurosaki Masayuki , Marumo Fumiaki , Sato Chifumi 
Published: March 2007

AbstractHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by persistence of liver inflammation that often leads to end‐stage liver disease, although the mechanisms are not fully understood. A hyper‐variable region (HVR) has been reported in the E2/NS1 region of the HCV genome, in which striking diversity is found among different HCV isolates. To investigate the association of the HVR alterations with the clinical courses of HCV infection, a longitudinal analysis of the HVR in patients with acute HCV infection was carried out. Plasma samples were obtained at several times in three patients with acute hepatitis C. Plasma RNA was extracted and reverse transcribed, and DNA fragments that included the HVR were amplified by PCR. The sequences of the HVR were directly determined from the PCR products by the dideoxy chain termination method, from which amino acid sequences were deduced. In all cases, plasma HCV‐RNA disappeared with the improvement of the initial alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation, but HCV‐RNA reappeared about 1 year later with or without deterioration of the hepatitis. In a case of sporadic acute hepatitis, the HCV in the recurrent phase had seven amino acid substitutions in the HVR compared with that in the acute phase, although no amino acid changes were noted during the initial acute phase. In a case of posttransfusion hepatitis, a marked difference was observed between the acute and the recurrent phases, with an amino acid homology of 30% (8/27). The mutation rate of the HVR had a tendency to accelerate as the HCV infection progressed to the chronic stage. In conclusion, the HVR changes serially during the course of acute HCV infection, and these HVR changes may play a part in the chronicity of HCV infection. © 1994 Wiiey‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular epidemiological studies of human herpesvirus 6 in families
Authors: Mukai Tetsu , Yamamoto Takeshi , Kondo Toshio , Kondo Kazuhiro , Okuno Toshiomi , Kosuge Haruhiko , Yamanishi Koichi 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe mode of transmission of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) was investigated by molecular epidemiological techniques in four families. HHV‐6 was isolated from the peripheral blood of seven infants with exanthem subitum, including siblings, and from the saliva of two mothers. These isolates were examined for genetic relatedness by means of restriction enzymes analysis of purified DNA. While the profiles of the digestion patterns differed among families, they were very similar in a particular family. These results may suggest that HHV‐6 is transmitted primarily from mother to child. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Seroepidemiology of human T‐lymphotropic virus type I infection among intravenous drug abusers in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Chien‐Jen , Hsieh Shu‐Feng , Yang Czau‐Siung 
Published: March 2007

AbstractIn order to assess seroprevalence of human T‐lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV‐I) infection among intravenous drug abusers in Taiwan, serum samples were collected from 858 male study subjects. Antibodies against HTLV‐I (anti‐HTLV‐l) in sera were tested by enzyme‐linked immu‐nosorbent assay and confirmed by Western blotting. The overall prevalence of anti‐HTLV‐l (2.3%) in drug abusers was significantly higher than that in the general population in Taiwan with a relative risk of 4.9, but it was only slightly higher than that in prostitutes (1.9%). There was a statistically significant increase in prevalence with age. Drug abusers engaged in prostitution had a significantly higher prevalence (18.2%) than those who were not (2.1%). No significant association with anti‐HTLV‐l positivity was observed with marital status and educational level. Tattooed abusers had an increased prevalence (2.7%) compared with the untattooed (1.4%). Drug abusers tattooed before 1980 had a significantly higher prevalence (3.5%) than those tattooed after 1980 (0.8%). Anti‐HTLV‐l prevalence was higher for those who had been blood transfused (4.5%) than untransfused abusers (2.0%). © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Detection of hepatitis c virus rna genome in liver tissue by nonisotopic in situ hybridization
Authors: Lau Johnson Y. N. , Davis Gary L. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA rapid technique for the detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in liver section using noniso‐topic in situ hybridization was described. Only 3 of the 10 patients seropositive for antibody to HCV and HCV RNA had detectable HCV RNA in the hepatocytes (1%, 2%, and 15% of cells positive). No specific signal was detected in sinusoidal, biliary epithelial, and mononuclear cells. The positive hepatocytes were scattered in the liver lobule with occasional clusters. The positive signal was confined to the cytoplasmic compartment. These data support the previous observation of the hepatocyte tropism of HCV. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genotypes and titers of hepatitis C virus for predicting response to interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Hino Kunihiko , Sainokami Shigehiko , Shimoda Kazumi , Iino Shiro , Wang Yu , Okamoto Hiroaki , Miyakawa Yuzo , Mayumi Makoto 
Published: March 2007

AbstractInterferon induces remission in about 50% of patients with chronic hepatitis C, but it is difficult to predict which patients will respond. Host and viral factors were evaluated for correlation with response to interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Recombinant interferon alpha‐2b with a total dose of 480‐560 million units was given to 136 patients, of whom 74 (54%) responded. Genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in sera, I, II, III, IV, and V, were determined by poly‐merase chain reaction (PCR) with type‐specific primers. In 72 patients, pretreatment levels of HCV RNA were titrated by PCR in serial tenfold dilutions of RNA extracted from serum. Response to interferon occurred in 34 (40%) of 85 patients infected with HCV of genotype II, less frequently than in 22 (85%) of 26 with genotype III (P < 0.001) or in 7 (70%) of 10 with genotype IV. Of 51 patients with genotype II HCV, 6 of 8 (75%) with HCV RNA titers <106 responded, more frequently than 4 of 43 (9%) with titers ≥ 106 (P < 0.001). Responders were younger than non‐responders (45.7 ± 11.7 vs. 50.3 ± 9.6 yr) and had received transfusions less frequently (26/74 or 35% vs. 37/62 or 60%, P < 0.01). Response to interferon correlated inversely with the severity of liver histopathology. These results indicate that response to interferon is influenced by HCV genotypes and pretreatment levels of HCV RNA in serum. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hepatitis type E in Italy: A seroepidemiological survey
Authors: Zanetti A. R. , Dawson G. J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe seroprevalence of antibodies to HEV was determined in three different Italian populations (volunteer blood donors, normal healthy individuals, and intravenous drug users [IVDUs]). The seroprevalence in the populations ranged from 0.74% to 1.94%, with higher rates among IVDUs and individuals over 40 years of age. None of 35 patients diagnosed with acute hepatitis A but 10 of 153 (6.5%) patients with acute nonA, nonB, nonC hepatitis were found to be positive for anti‐HEV antibody. One of these antibody positive cases was linked to travel, while the remaining 9 were not associated with travel to endemic areas. These data suggest a possible low circulation Of HEV in Italy. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vivo production of tumour necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐6 in BALB/c mice inoculated intranasally with a high dose of respiratory syncytial virus
Authors: Hayes P. J. , Scott R. , Wheeler J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractIntranasal administration of an inoculum of 107 focus‐forming units (FFU) of respiratory syncy‐tial (RS) virus induced disease in BALB/c mice with signs of anorexia, cachexia, ruffled fur, and pneumonia. Mice displayed mild signs of illness on day 1 postinoculation (PI), followed by a transient recovery phase of 3 days. Disease rapidly reappeared on day 5 PI and worsened on subsequent days, with mortalities by day 7 PI. Mice inoculated with 5 × 106 FFU exhibited milder signs of disease, while those inoculated with 2 × 106 FFU and control mice given only Hep‐2c cell suspension exhibited no noticeable signs of illness. High levels of bioactive tumour necrosis factor‐a (TNF‐a) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) were detected in both lungs and sera of mice inoculated with 107 FFU of virus. Peak levels of both cyto‐kines were detected at day 1 PI but remained detectable throughout the 7 day period studied postinoculation. Cytokine levels were much lower or were undetectable in control mice. These results suggest that the macrophage is stimulated in vivo to produce inflammatory cy‐tokines in response to RS virus infection. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of a human group C rotavirus in Malaysia
Authors: Rasool Nassar B. G. , Hamzah M. , Jegathesan M. , Wong Y. H. , Qian Y. , Green Kim Y. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractStool specimens from 334 infants and young children hospitalized with diarrhea in the General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between August and November, 1987 were analyzed for the presence of rotavirus double‐stranded (ds) RNA by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Of the 334 specimens analyzed, 32 (9.6%) were positive for rotavirus RNA. One specimen (designated G147) exhibited ads RNA electrophero‐type profile characteristic of Group C rotavirus and was selected for further characterization. In Northern blot hybridization studies, the gene 5 segment of strain G147 hybridized with a cDNA probe generated from the cloned gene 5 (which encodes the VP6 inner capsid protein that is group specific) of porcine Group C rotavirus strain Cowden, confirming the classification of strain G147 in Group C. The association of Group C rotavirus with diarrheal illness in Malaysia is consistent with earlier studies that suggest a global distribution of this virus and supports the need for additional epidemiologic studies. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.