[Smallpox--has the danger passed? The history of the disease and the war against it].
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Humans↗
Biomedical subjects
A Morag
Publications and source records attributed to A Morag.
Cytokines, "depression due to a general medical condition," and antidepressant drugs.
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Animals↗
Influence of socioeconomic status on behavioral, emotional and cognitive effects of rubella vaccination: a prospective, double blind study.
A double-blind prospective design was used to investigate the immediate and prolonged psychological effects of a specific viral infection, and the role of immune activation in mediating these effects. Subjects were 240 female teenager girls who were vaccinated with rubella vaccine. Based on analysis of levels of antibodies to rubella, subjects were divided into two groups. An experimental group (n = 60), which included subjects who were initially seronegative and were infected following vaccination, and a control group (n = 180), which included subjects who were already immune to rubella before vaccination. Compared with the control group and to their own baseline, low socioeconomic status (SES) subjects within the experimental group showed a significant increase in the severity of depressed mood, social and attention problems, and delinquent behavior. Ten weeks post-vaccination there were no differences between the experimental and control groups in serum levels of interleukin-1 beta, interferon-gamma, soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2r), and cortisol. However, a significant negative correlation was found between fatigue-related symptoms and sIL-2r levels in the experimental (r = -0.325), but not the control group (r = -0.046). These findings suggest that viral infection can produce prolonged behavioral, emotional and cognitive problems mainly in subjects belonging to the low SES.
Adolescent↗
Isolation of influenza C virus during an outbreak of influenza A and B viruses.
During the winter of 1996 to 1997 two cases of influenza C were confirmed, one by isolation and the second by serology (fourfold increase in hemagglutination inhibition antibodies). The cases of influenza C occurred during an outbreak of influenza A (H3N2) and B viruses. The positive isolation was from one of three throat washings sent to the laboratory, and the other case was from a group of 51 students participating in a study of influenza virus vaccination. It seems, therefore, that influenza C virus should also be considered when examining patients with respiratory infections during the influenza season.
Adult↗
Herpes simplex virus-1 and varicella virus infections in familial dysautonomia patients.
Familial dystautonomia (FD) patients are deficient in type C fibers, suggesting that there may be a different pattern of infection and clinical presentation when infected by Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV). These viruses infect and are reactivated in the periphery of the body through type C sensory nerve fibers. HSV-1 infects epithelial cells, penetrates into type C fibers, and migrates to the ganglia to generate latent infection. In reactivation, the viral DNA migrates through type C fibers, infecting the epidermis at the entry site. VZV infects through the respiratory tract, causing systemic viral infection and latency in the ganglia, from which it is reactivated and reaches the skin. The study was carried by clinical questionnaire and by HSV and VZV IgG antibodies on fifty-one FD patients and eighty matched controls. The questionnaire revealed that no FD patient had a history of clinical HSV-1 infection, compared to 15% in the control group (P < 0.05), while 50% FD patients had been infected by varicella, compared to 66% in the VZV control group. However in FD, VZV clinical manifestations were mild in comparison to controls. There was no difference in infection rates for some other viral diseases. HSV-1 antibodies were detected in 24% of the FD patients, compared to 38% in the control group (P < 0.1). VZV antibodies were similar in FD and controls (66%, 63%). We concluded that the rate of HSV infection in FD is low and clinical reactivation is rare. The rate of varicella infection appears to be the same for patients and controls, but in FD the clinical presentation is mild. We suggest that these differences are due to the lack of type C fibers in FD patients.
Adolescent↗
Antibodies to cytomegalo and Epstein-Barr viruses in human saliva and gingival fluid.
The prevalence of antibodies to EBV and CMV was studied in 34 samples of whole saliva and gingival crevicular fluids (GCF) obtained from clinically healthy volunteers and compared to the corresponding antibodies present in the serum of each individual. Higher prevalence of serum antibodies was found to EBV (85.2%) than to CMV (64.7%) (P < 0.04). The percentage of saliva samples containing IgG and/or IgA antibodies was not significantly different for the two viruses (79.4% for EBV and 58.8% for CMV). However, in the GCF the percentage to EBV was lower-32.3% as compared to 70.5% for CMV (P < 0.002). The prevalence of CMV in serum saliva and GCF was similar. However, while in the saliva similar levels of IgG and IgA were found, in the GCF IgA prevails. The picture for EBV is different: a similar percentage of antibodies was noticed in serum and saliva, but it was significantly lower in the GCF. However, antibodies to EBV were mostly IgA both in the saliva and the GCF. Although a similar number of samples were positive to both viruses in the saliva, the IgA response to EBV was higher than to CMV (P < 0.05), while in GCF IgA response was higher to CMV (P < 0.05). Passive transudation rather than active transport of plasma-derived Ig is probably responsible for the presence of IgG, while the IgA found in saliva and GCF is derived from local synthesis by plasma cells rather than from selective transport from blood.
Adult↗
HIV infection and AIDS in Jerusalem: a microcosm of illness in Israel.
During the decade 1985-94, 158 individuals (124 males, 34 females) with HIV/AIDS were seen at the AIDS clinic of Hadassah University Hospital. They comprised 10% of the total reported number of HIV-infected Israelis and included 6% of all reported HIV-infected Ethiopians and all HIV-infected West Bank Palestinians. Most individuals (82%) were self-referred; 12% were detected through the local HIV screening clinic. Risk groups for AIDS were homo/bisexuality (39%), heterosexual relations (30%), intravenous drug abuse (15%), contaminated blood transfusions (9%), born to HIV+ mothers (1%), and hemophilia (< 1%). In 5% (all males) no risk factor was given. Of the 158 individuals 29 were Ethiopian immigrants, 25 West Bank Palestinians, and the rest were local Israelis and tourists. Of the 34 females seen, 21 acquired HIV heterosexually, 6 were intravenous drug abusers, 5 were recipients of contaminated transfusions, and 2 were infants. An initial clinical presentation with full-blown AIDS was observed in 30% of the individuals. The range of clinical presentations was similar to that seen in western countries, with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, cytomegalovirus retinitis, mycobacterial infections and Kaposi's sarcoma seen most frequently. One case of disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis was observed. The mortality rate during the follow-up was 55%. In 35% of individuals the immediate cause of death was severe bacterial infections. The Palestinian subpopulation presented at an advanced stage of the disease with a high incidence of transfusion recipients, while most HIV-infected Ethiopians presented with asymptomatic disease transmitted heterosexually. HIV/AIDS as seen at Hadassah University Hospital during 1985-94 exhibited the mixed form of Euro-American AIDS with additional facets of recently introduced African infection.
Adult↗
Enteric viral infections in Gaza children--incidence and associated factors and phenomena.
Regular administration of live attenuated polio vaccine (TOPV) to babies in Gaza failed to give adequate protection against infection and disease with wild polio viruses. The possible interference of the "take" of the vaccine was investigated by obtaining demographic, socioeconomic and virological data. More than 100 babies during their first year of life, and their families, were followed. Enteroviruses were isolated in 25.3% and 7.9% of stool samples obtained from healthy babies and babies with diarrhea, respectively. In the same cases, rotaviruses were detected in only 1.9% and 1.4% respectively. It appears that the most common candidates for viral interference in this population are enteroviruses and not rotaviruses, either in healthy babies or in babies suffering from diarrhea.
Adult↗
Underutilization of influenza vaccine in Jerusalem.
BACKGROUND: Influenza is an annual winter disease which causes considerable morbidity in the general population and may be lethal in defined high-risk groups. A killed vaccine, recommended for the high-risk groups as well as for several occupational categories, is moderately protective against the disease, but vaccine sales suggest that use is low. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a hospital-based convenience survey of 295 persons belonging to groups for whom influenza vaccine is recommended, 78 (26.4%) reported having received the vaccine in 1989, and 74 (25.1%) in 1990. All vaccine recipients belonged to the 244 subjects eligible because of advanced age and/or chronic illness, giving vaccination rates in this group of 32.0% in 1989 and 30.3% in 1990. None of the 51 hospital doctors and nurses interviewed had received vaccine. Among the 244 eligible because of age or illness, vaccine receipt in 1990 was related to older age and number of risk factors, but even in subjects with three separate indications for receipt of vaccine, the vaccination rate was only 48%. Among persons advised by anyone to have influenza vaccine, 62.7% received vaccine in at least one of the two years, compared to a rate of 16.4% among subjects never advised to be vaccinated. Vaccine recommendation by a medical professional increased the vaccination rate to 69.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza vaccine uptake in vaccine eligibles in Jerusalem is low, about 30% in the sick and elderly and considerably lower in medical personnel. Since influenza vaccination can save lives, it would be worthwhile to convince the medical profession to enthusiastically recommend this vaccine to high risk individuals and to explore novel ways of increasing uptake in the high-high risk groups such as persons in hospital or those residing in institutions.
Adolescent↗
Prevalence of viral antibodies in gingival crevicular fluid.
The prevalence of antibodies to CMV, Mumps and Coxsackie virus strains 1, 3 and 4 was studied in 39 samples of gingival crevicular fluids (GCF) obtained from clinical healthy patients and compared to the corresponding antibodies present in the serum of each individual. In spite of the high prevalence of humoral antibodies to CMV (75%), only 24% of the gingival crevicular fluid samples exhibited IgG or IgA antibodies to this virus. The differences in the prevalence of antibodies against Mumps virus in the sera and GCF were even greater: whereas 87% of the patients exhibited serum antibodies, not even a single gingival fluid sample was found to be positive. Antibodies to Coxsackie B strains 1, 3 and 4 were found in 72%, 63% and 52% of the sera and in 25%, 19% and 33% of the gingival fluid samples (IgG only). The presence of the antibodies and their profile in GCF and serum is different. The mechanism of possible permeation is not clear but it seems that viral antibodies in this milieu are not derived from the serum solely by passive transudation, and that the antibodies are produced locally at least in some of the GCF specimens.
Adolescent↗
Israel: rethinking of entry restrictions.
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Carrier State↗
Antibody response to a two-dose regimen of influenza vaccine in allogeneic T cell-depleted and autologous BMT recipients.
Induction of protective hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies in response to influenza virus vaccine and the effectiveness of two doses versus a single dose of vaccine were studied in 48 BMT recipients. The patients were 1-50 years old (median 21 years), 33 with malignant and 15 with non-malignant disease. Thirty-five of the patients underwent allogeneic, T lymphocyte-depleted, BMT and 13, autologous BMT. Nine patients had GVHD at initial immunization. The time interval from BMT to influenza vaccination ranged from 2 to 82 months (median 14.5 months). Two doses of vaccine, administered 1 month apart, consisted of trivalent influenza subunit inactivated vaccine with the following strains: A/Singapore/6/86 (H1N1), A/Sichuan/2/87 (H3N2), and B/Beijing/1/87. There was a statistically significant association between development of protective antibody level (> or = 1:40) and the time interval between BMT and initial vaccination (p < or = 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that longer time interval between the BMT and immunization was positively correlated with seroconversion (a fourfold or greater rise in titers). In the presence of GVHD, there was reduced seroconversion to H1N1, but not to H3N2 or B strains. Influenza vaccination within the first 6 months following BMT was totally ineffective. The efficacy of the vaccine was similar to that described in non-immunocompromised hosts initiated 2 years following BMT. As, overall, specific response was only marginally enhanced by the second dose of vaccine, its indication is questionable.
Adolescent↗
Detection of herpes simplex virus in gingival tissue.
The presence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigens was shown by immunofluorescence staining in 26 of 66 (39.3%) specimens of clinically healthy gingiva, but only one sample contained infectious virus. HSV DNA sequences were clearly identified in intact gingival cells by dot blot hybridization in one specimen, and a weak pattern in a second one. Both specimens harbored viral antigens. These findings of viral genome and protein expression suggest that the virus is present in the latent form in the gingiva.
Adult↗
Safety and immunogenicity of Haemophilus type b-tetanus protein conjugate vaccine, mixed in the same syringe with diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine in young infants.
As new vaccines are developed there is increasing interest in reducing the number of injections given to children by combining vaccines in one syringe. We studied the safety and immunogenicity of Haemophilus influenzae type b-tetanus protein conjugate vaccine (PRP-T) administered at ages 2, 4 and 6 months mixed in the same syringe with DTP vaccine and its effects on the seroresponse to DTP vaccine. A group of 112 healthy 2-month-old infants received DTP-PRP-T or DTP-placebo mixed immediately before immunization in the same syringe. The addition of PRP-T to DTP did not increase the rate of local or systemic reactions. After the first, second and third dose, the PRP-T recipients showed a geometric anti-PRP antibody mean of 0.13, 2.31 and 6.40 micrograms/ml vs. 0.07, 0.05 and 0.05 micrograms/ml among the DTP-placebo recipients, respectively. Of the PRP-T recipients, 94 and 98% attained antibody concentration of greater than or equal to 0.15 micrograms/ml protein after the second and third dose, respectively, and 65 and 94% attained a concentration of greater than or equal to 1.0 micrograms/ml after the second and third dose, respectively. At the age of 1 year 94 and 52% of the DTP-PRP-T recipients vs. 12% and 0% of the placebo recipients still maintained titers of greater than or equal to 0.15 and greater than or equal to 1.0 micrograms/ml, respectively. The administration of DTP in the same syringe with PRP-T did not affect significantly the antibody response to diphtheria and tetanus toxoid and to pertussis agglutinins. It is concluded that PRP-T vaccine could be administered in the same syringe as DTP.
Antibodies, Bacterial↗
Poliomyelitis outbreak in Israel in 1988: a report with two commentaries.
An outbreak of 15 cases of paralytic poliomyelitis caused by type 1 poliovirus between July and October, 1988, prompted mass vaccination of the whole Israeli population under the age of 40 years. The focus of the outbreak (12 cases) was the Hadera subdistrict, one of two subdistricts where enhanced inactivated poliovaccine (eIPV) had been the only poliovaccine used for infants since 1982. 9 of the 15 victims were 15 years or older, and 9 had previously been immunised with at least three doses of oral poliovaccine (OPV). The authors are divided in their interpretation of the findings. One group considered that the likely causative factors were the greater susceptibility of young adults previously vaccinated with OPV as well as transmission of wild poliovirus to susceptible people by children with low gut immunity against poliovirus after vaccination with eIPV; they concluded that a vaccination programme combining eIPV with OPV is the best option for Israel in future. The other group believed the causative factors were exposure to contaminated sewage or close social contact within the epidemic foci, the presence of an epidemic strain differing from the wild Mahoney and Sabin type 1 vaccine strains, and the lower seropositivity rates and geometric mean titres of neutralising antibodies to the epidemic than to vaccine strains; they believe that eIPV is the means to achieve effective control of poliomyelitis in Israel.
Adolescent↗
Antibodies to polioviruses in an Israeli population and overseas volunteers.
A seroepidemiological survey of prevalence of antibodies to poliovirus types 1-3 was carried out in 1,800 residents of 30 agricultural settlements (kibbutzim) in Israel during 1980 and 1981. The survey showed that in 1980 84%, 90%, and 79% of the kibbutz residents exhibited antibodies to poliovirus types 1-3, respectively. In 1981 the figures were 81%, 91%, and 73%. Significantly lower levels of antibodies for poliovirus type 3 in 1980/1981, and for poliovirus type 1 in 1981, were noticed in the age group 6-17 years compared with the age group of greater than 18 years. Infants and young children of the kibbutzim received the Salk polio vaccine during 1957-1961 and the Sabin oral polio vaccine since 1961. Among overseas volunteers from Western countries who came during 1980 and 1981 to work in the kibbutzim for a limited period of time, 88% exhibited antibodies to poliovirus type 1, 94% to poliovirus type 2, and 75% to poliovirus type 3. No significant differences in the level of antibodies were detected between males and females or between residents in those kibbutzim using or not using wastewater for irrigation.
Adolescent↗
Rotavirus infection and rotavirus serum antibody in a cohort of children from Gaza observed from birth to the age of one year.
Rotaviruses were studied in a cohort of children from Gaza, during their first year of life. Surveillance was effected through visits to the local health clinic by parents and infants, and to a lesser extent, field workers' home visits. The observed rate of diarrhoea (all causes), and of rotavirus-associated diarrhoea was 1.25 and 0.1 episode per child-year, respectively. Of the 130 diarrhoea episodes in the cohort, only 6.9% were rotavirus-associated. Only nine (37.5%) of 24 children in whom rotavirus antigen was detected experienced a bout of diarrhoeal illness. However, 59.2% of cohort children had rotavirus serum antibodies by one year of age. The data indicate that rotavirus excretion in Gazan children tends to be asymptomatic during the first year of life.
Antibodies, Viral↗
How to predict the immune status of poliovirus vaccinees? A comparison of virus neutralization at a very low serum dilution versus ELISA in a cohort of infants.
A cohort of children from Gaza was observed from birth to the age of one year. Blood specimens were collected at birth, before and after poliovirus vaccination and at one year of age. Poliovirus immunity before and after vaccination was assessed by ELISA and virus neutralization (NT). Positive predictive values for ELISA were between 81.5% and 90.8%. However, ELISA revealed a high frequency of false negatives, and unacceptably low negative predictive values between 28.6% and 55.4%. The history of poliovirus immunity in the cohort was further investigated by NT. A high level of seropositivity to poliovirus type 1 (PV-1) was found. In cord blood, 83.3% had a NT titre greater than or equal to 4 and 99.0% had a titre greater than or equal to 2. Similarly, by one year of age, 85.7% had a titre greater than or equal to 4 and 90.5% had a titre greater than or equal to 2. Seropositivity to PV-2 and PV-3 were slightly lower, ie 80.8% of children had a PV-2 titre greater than or equal to 4 and 75.4% had a PV-3 titre greater than or equal to 4. As for other developing areas, poliomyelitis eradication in Gaza will come about when universal vaccination fills all 'immunity gaps' and improved sanitation and housing reduces the endemicity of wild polioviruses.
Antibodies, Viral↗