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Biomedical subjects

B Abraham

Publications and source records attributed to B Abraham.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Immunogenicity of a recombinant Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface protein A vaccine against Lyme disease in children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A recombinant lipoprotein vaccine against Lyme disease, containing 30 microg of Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface protein A (OspA) with aluminum adjuvant, has been shown in a large US field trial of subjects >/=15 years of age to offer 76% efficacy against clinical Lyme disease after 3 injections given at 0, 1, and 12 months. Lyme disease is also an important problem in children; thus, OspA vaccine trials in children are needed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of 2 different doses of lipoprotein OspA with aluminum adjuvant vaccine in healthy children 5 to 15 years of age in a double-blind, randomized study. STUDY DESIGN: In a double-blind study, 250 children from the Czech Republic were randomly assigned to receive 15 microg or 30 microg of OspA vaccine at 0, 1, and 2 months. Serum samples, obtained before vaccination and 1 month after the second and third doses, were analyzed for antiOspA antibody. Solicited and unsolicited symptoms were collected from diary cards. RESULTS: Local pain at the injection site was reported by approximately 76% of the 250 children. Headaches (after 5% to 18% of the injections) and malaise (after 2% to 16% of the injections) were the most frequently reported general symptoms. Local and generalized symptoms were not different between the 15 microg and 30 microg groups, and all symptoms resolved within 4 days. Both doses were highly immunogenic, with the 30 microg dose eliciting higher antibody levels. Seroconversion occurred in 99% of the 250 children. CONCLUSIONS: The OspA vaccine against Lyme disease was well tolerated and highly immunogenic in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Ganciclovir resistance and UL97 gene mutations in cytomegalovirus blood isolates from patients with AIDS treated with ganciclovir.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) diseases with protracted administration of ganciclovir can promote the development of resistant CMV that is associated with a poor response to therapy. It has been shown that the majority of ganciclovir-resistant CMV isolates carry mutations in the UL97 phosphotransferase gene. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency of CMV resistance to ganciclovir in patients with AIDS treated with ganciclovir and to identify the UL97 gene mutations associated with ganciclovir resistance. STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of CMV blood isolates obtained over 1 year from patients treated with ganciclovir. CMV susceptibility to ganciclovir was determined by an immediate early antigen plaque reduction assay; UL97 gene mutations were identified by restriction enzyme digest analysis and sequencing. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were followed-up; 17 CMV blood isolates were obtained from 10 ganciclovir-experienced patients. Thirteen (76%) of these isolates, obtained from seven (24%) patients after a median treatment duration of 5.5 months, were resistant to ganciclovir. Five of the seven patients who had a ganciclovir-resistant CMV in blood showed retinitis progression. UL97 gene mutations were identified in nine CMV isolates at codons 460 (M --> V), 594 (A --> V and A --> T), and 595(L --> S). Three patients developed a ganciclovir-resistant virus after a ganciclovir treatment shorter than 60 days (28-58 days). In another patient, we observed that ganciclovir resistance persisted 4 months after discontinuation of ganciclovir therapy. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that ganciclovir resistance due to UL97 gene mutations is common in subjects with AIDS-related CMV diseases treated with ganciclovir. Detection of these mutations represents a tool for the management of patients with ganciclovir therapy.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1998

[Acquired cytomegalovirus infections in immunocompetent adults: 116 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse retrospectively the clinical, biological and epidemiological features of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in the immunocompetent host. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 116 cases of CMV infection (74 inpatients, 42 out-patients) collected from 1981 to 1997 in a university hospital. Diagnostic was established on serological criteria in all cases. RESULTS: Fever was observed in all cases but one (mean duration: 21 days). The most frequent symptoms were headache (51%) and myalgia (46%). Splenomegaly was the most frequent sign (36%). Pulmonary interstitial opacities on chest x-ray were found in 8.5% of patients. Pulmonary (1 case) and neurological (2 cases) complications occurred. Concomitant HIV primary infection was observed in 2 patients. Mononucleosis and ALAT and LDH elevations were observed in 95%, 85% and 95% of cases respectively. Viremia was positive in 79% (30/38). pp65 antigenemia was useful to establish the diagnosis in 9 patients. Antibiotics were prescribed in 46% before diagnosis was established. CONCLUSION: CMV infection in the immunocompetent host is a frequent and rarely complicated disease. pp65 antigenemia should be evaluated more in this setting. Most hospitalizations due to this affection could be avoided.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

A tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate regulating transcription of a chloroaromatic biodegradative pathway: fumarate-mediated repression of the clcABD operon.

The ortho-cleavage pathways of catechol and 3-chlorocatechol are central catabolic pathways of Pseudomonas putida that convert aromatic and chloroaromatic compounds to tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates. They are encoded by the evolutionarily related catBCA and clcABD operons, respectively. Expression of the cat and clc operons requires the LysR-type transcriptional activators CatR and ClcR, respectively, and the inducer molecules cis,cis-muconate and 2-chloro-cis,cis-muconate, respectively. The regulation of the cat and clc promoters has been well studied, but the extent to which these operons are repressed by growth in TCA cycle intermediates has not been explored. We demonstrate by transcriptional fusion studies that the expression from the clc promoter is repressed when the cells are grown on succinate, citrate, or fumarate and that this repression is ClcR dependent and occurs at the transcriptional level. The presence of these organic acids did not affect the expression from the cat promoter. In vitro transcription assays demonstrate that the TCA cycle intermediate fumarate directly and specifically inhibits the formation of the clcA transcript. No such inhibition was observed when CatR was used as the activator on either the cat or clc template. Titration studies of fumarate and 2-chloromuconate show that the fumarate effect is concentration dependent and reversible, indicating that fumarate and 2-chloromuconate most probably compete for the same binding site on ClcR. This is an interesting example of the transcriptional regulation of a biodegradative pathway by the intracellular sensing of the state of the TCA cycle.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1994

[Difficulties in diagnosing idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome in Black Africa. A case report observed in Senegal].

A combination of febrile malaise with adenopathy, massive hypereosinophilia (62678 components/mm3) and visceral, cutaneous, central nervous and digestive infiltration suggesting essential hypereosinophilic syndrome was observed in a 42-year-old male Senegalese. Diagnosis was confirmed after excluding all other possible causes in particular parasitic infection and by the rapidly fatal outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of essential hypereosinophilic syndrome in West Africa. Because of the high incidence of parasitic hypereosinophilia in this region and the non-specific nature of the symptoms, diagnosis of this syndrome can be difficult. In Africa more than elsewhere, diagnosis must be made after elimination of all other possible causes based on the criteria of Chusid. Although uncommon, essential hypereosinophilic syndrome has an unfavorable prognosis even when immunosuppressor therapy is administered.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

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Anesthesia, Dental↗
PubMed1991

Rifampin in drug-incorporated diet: effect of duration and temperature of storage. Relevance to drug-susceptibility testing in mice inoculated with M. leprae.

This paper is in two parts. Plasma concentrations of rifampin were assayed at 11 time points in 24 hr in mice fed one of three dosages of rifampin, either by gavage or by dietary incorporation. The drug-mixed diets had been stored for a maximum of 3 weeks at 4 degrees C or at room temperature (30 degrees C-35 degrees C). The peak concentration of rifampin produced by gavage was approximately 11/2 times higher than the maximum plasma concentration of the corresponding dosage in fresh diet. Plasma concentrations decreased with the increasing duration of storage of the drug-mixed diet, irrespective of whether the diet was stored at 4 degrees C or at room temperature. This decrease was less when the diet was stored at 4 degrees C than at room temperature. Drug levels were also assayed in another set of mice selected from ongoing drug-susceptibility experiments; these mice were fed a rifampin-incorporated diet stored at room temperature. The plasma concentrations in these mice, assayed at the time of foot pad harvest, were generally higher than in the 24-hr experiment. The harvest results from these mice were compared with the harvest results from a third set of mice, also from ongoing drug-susceptibility experiments, but fed a rifampin-mixed diet stored at 4 degrees C. Multiplication of Mycobacterium leprae in mouse foot pads was prevented by rifampin mixed in the diet at a dosage of greater than or equal to 0.003%, whether stored at room temperature or at 4 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

Inter- and intra-laboratory variation in the reporting of skin smears in leprosy.

This paper defines the variations in the reporting of skin smears between a base and field laboratory in a leprosy control program. Ten percent of all slides read by the field laboratory in a control area were re-read by the base laboratory. There was almost no variation in the reporting of negative slides, but a variation of 1 + was present in approximately 92% of positive slides. Thus, there was agreement in approximately 8% of positive slides. This paper also defines the variations in the reporting of positive slides under "ideal" conditions by describing the results of a study on intra- and inter-observer variations among technicians at the base laboratory. There was between 45% and 55% agreement within observers and about 36% agreement between observers. The results of both studies are compared. Simple guidelines are derived to monitor the reporting of skin smears in leprosy control programs.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

The impact of group therapy for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

This article reports on 95 women who were referred to an outpatient psychiatry clinic for group therapy for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Criteria for exclusion in group therapy are outlined and the format of the group therapy is described. Those who completed the groups are compared to dropouts. The group's effectiveness was evaluated using measures of psychiatric symptomatology (SCL 90), depression (Zung Self-Report Depression Scale), and self-esteem (Texas Social Behaviour Inventory) with a pre/post test design. Clients' evaluation questionnaires were also used. Group therapy was found to be effective in reducing symptomatology and change was in the expected direction in terms of depression and self-esteem.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1989

Thought disorder: current assessment, techniques, and future trends.

The early accounts of thought disorder were based primarily on abnormalities in the speech patterns of schizophrenic patients. Researchers have attempted to study and assess this phenomenon based on the verbal behaviors of individuals believed to experience disordered thinking. However, verbal dysfunction may not be the most accurate means of assessing thought disorder in psychiatric patients. A review of studies which have attempted to examine aspects of schizophrenic symptomatology suggests that the self-report technique may be a viable alternative for assessing disordered thought. Schizophrenic patients are able to give accurate accounts of experiences relating to their illness. We believe that the self-report technique may provide a reliable method for thought disorder assessment. Based on this assumption, we are currently in the process of developing a self-report scale which assess 13 constructs we believe to be associated with thinking. In a small sample of subjects, the questionnaire was able to differentiate schizophrenic subjects from normals.

Cognition Disorders↗