PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Sarov

Publications and source records attributed to B Sarov.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

IgG and IgA antibodies specific for Chlamydia trachomatis in acute epididymitis.

The possibility of using elevated Chlamydia trachomatis-specific serum IgG and IgA as a screening test for Chlamydia-associated epididymitis was analyzed in 28 acute epididymitis patients and 42 apparently healthy men by the single antigen (L2) immunoperoxidase assay. The prevalence rates of C. trachomatis IgG antibody titer greater than or equal to 64 and elevated C. trachomatis IgG titers (greater than or equal to 128) were significantly higher in the epididymitis patients (75 vs. 40%, p less than 0.01, and 39 vs. 14%, p less than 0.025, respectively) than in controls. The prevalence rate of C. trachomatis IgA antibodies (titer greater than or equal to 8) was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in epididymitis patients as compared to controls (46 vs. 10%, respectively). The potential application of elevated serum C. trachomatis IgG and IgA antibodies as a noninvasive screening marker in epididymitis patients is discussed.

Adult↗

Treatment of the burned hand: early surgical treatment (1975-85) vs. conservative treatment (1964-74). A comparative study.

Our experience with early tangential excision and grafting for burns of the hands is presented. The advantages of the early surgical approach are proven by comparing this technique with the 'old' conservative treatment in two different populations. It is clearly concluded that early excision and grafting, combined with adequate physiotherapy and pressure garments, offer favourable results for the burned hand. Early excision of the burn eschar, before the appearance of contamination, may prevent infection, long and unfavourable delay in healing, scar formation with its incapacitating sequellae and a non-aesthetic appearance. Such a delay was characteristic of the 'conservative period', which was dominated by 'fibroblast', 'good granulation tissue', and hypertrophic scarring. Early surgery, as described and advocated here, shortens the healing time, lessens the hospital stay, minimizes reconstructive surgery and leads to a good functioning hand with a reasonable aesthetic appearance, enabling the affected patient to return quickly to work and normal routine life.

Adolescent↗

Involvement of infants, children, and adults in a rotavirus gastroenteritis outbreak in a kibbutz in southern Israel.

An outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in a kibbutz in southern Israel, characterized by diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain, involved 32 kibbutz members of all ages. Nineteen percent of the children and 3.5% of the adults were ill. Transmission of the illness occurred in direct proportion to the degree of close contact, involving first infants, then mothers and nursery staff, and only later youngsters, adolescents, and fathers. Stool samples obtained from 32 kibbutz members with clinical illness and from 44 asymptomatic close contacts were examined for the presence of rotavirus antigen. Fifty-six percent of symptomatic members were positive for rotavirus antigen as compared with 4.5% of asymptomatic close contacts. Positivity of stool samples correlated inversely with the number of days elapsed after onset of illness until the sample was obtained. Serologic studies carried out on acute and convalescent sera of symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects further supported a rotavirus etiology for the outbreak. RNA profiles of stool sample extracts obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining indicate that one electropherotype may have been responsible for the outbreak.

Adolescent↗

Significance of specific Epstein-Barr virus IgA and elevated IgG antibodies to viral capsid antigens in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

The feasibility of using elevated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) specific-IgG antiviral capsid antigen (VCA) and IgA anti-VCA antibody levels as an aid in diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was analyzed by determination of serum antibody titers to EBV in 54 NPC patients, 114 healthy blood donors, and 40 family members by the immunoperoxidase assay (IPA). No significant difference was found in the prevalence rate of EBV IgG anti-VCA antibodies (titer greater than or equal to 20) between the patient group and the control and family groups (100% vs 92% and 90%, respectively). The prevalence rate of elevated EBV IgG anti-VCA titers (greater than or equal to 80, greater than or equal to 160, greater than or equal to 320, greater than or equal to 640) was significantly higher in the NPC patients than in controls. For example, at an IgG titer of greater than or equal to 320, the prevalence rate was 82% in the NPC patient group and 1.7% in the controls (P less than 0.0001). The prevalence of EBV IgA anti-VCA antibodies (greater than or equal to 10) was significantly higher in the NPC patients than in control and family groups (82% vs 6.1% and 0%, respectively). The prevalence rate for elevated EBV IgA anti-VCA (greater than or equal to 20) was found to be significantly higher (P less than 0.0001) in NPC patients than in the control group (70% vs. 1.7%). A significantly high proportion (P = 0.0004) of NPC patients who had serum EBV IgA anti-VCA titers of less than 20 had elevated IgG titers to VCA greater than or equal to 320 (21% vs 1.7% among controls). It appears that testing for IgG antibodies at a serum dilution of 1:320 and for IgA antibodies at a dilution of 1:20 by the IPA technique comprises the best combination for the differentiation between NPC patients and health controls (91% vs 3.4%), and it is suggested that these be used as screening markers for NPC patients.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Epidemiological aspects of idiopathic peripheral facial palsy.

Four hundred and twenty seven idiopathic peripheral facial palsy (IPFP) patients admitted to the Otolaryngology Department of the Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel between 1978 and 1982 were characterized and analyzed by age, sex and season of illness. An average annual incidence rate of 33.6 patients per 100,000 inhabitans was calculated which is considered to be the highest incidence reported so far, and may be explained by the very high coverage of the "Sick Fund" insurance in the region and by the warm arid climate that prevails in the area. Knowledge of the demographic characteristics of the patients and the population in the catchment area, allowed the calculation of age-specific incidence rates and it was found that this rate increases with age, reaching a peak of 68.2/100,00 in the older age group (greater than 65 years of age). Peak morbidity in young patients (less than 30 years of age) occurs in the winter while elderly patients lack seasonal variability.

Adolescent↗

Serum IgG and IgA antibodies specific for Chlamydia trachomatis in salpingitis patients as determined by the immunoperoxidase assay.

The feasibility of applying elevated Chlamydia trachomatis specific IgG antibody and serum IgA antibodies as a non-invasive screening test for C. trachomatis associated salpingitis was analysed in 54 salpingitis patients and 294 apparently healthy women by the single antigen (L2) immunoperoxidase assay (IPA). The prevalence rate of C. trachomatis IgG antibody (titre greater than or equal to 64) was significantly higher in the salpingitis patients in comparison to control (67% versus 23%). The prevalence rate of elevated C. trachomatis IgG titres (greater than or equal to 128, greater than or equal to 256 and greater than or equal to 512) was significantly higher in the salpingitis patients as compared to the controls. For example, at an IgG titre of greater than or equal to 128 the prevalence rate was 57% in the salpingitis patients and 8% in the healthy controls (p less than 0.0001). The prevalence of C. trachomatis IgA antibodies (titre greater than or equal to 16) was significantly higher in salpingitis patients in comparison to controls (37% versus 4%). The prevalence of elevated IgA titres (greater than or equal to 32 and greater than or equal to 64) was found to be significantly higher in salpingitis patients as compared to controls. All the IgG seropositive salpingitis patients were also found to have C. trachomatis IgG antibodies. It appears that testing for IgG antibodies at a serum dilution of 1:128, and for IgA antibodies at a dilution of 1:16 by the IPA test comprises the best combination for the differentiation between the salpingitis patients and apparently healthy controls, and it is suggested that this be used as a marker of active C. trachomatis infection.

Adolescent↗

Coping with health services disruption. Perceiving need and utilizing available services during a doctors' strike.

This study examined utilization of health services during a 118-day doctors' strike. A total of 1,663 members of 423 families were home-interviewed 1 month after the beginning of the strike. A total of 39% (649 people) perceived a subjective need for health care at least once during the month preceding the interview. A total of 813 episodes of "need" were recorded. Forty-six percent of those with perceived "need" sought medical care in all episodes of need, 6% in some episodes, and 49% sought no medical advice for any of their morbidity episodes. It was found that the socioeconomic status made a major contribution to the variation in the proportion of met needs. The relevance of socioeconomic status was supported by the finding that financial constraints were the most frequently cited reason for not utilizing services. The proportion of the subjectively perceived unmet needs for medical care was lower among people from the higher socioeconomic strata.

Adolescent↗

Specific IgG and IgA antibodies to herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus in acute peripheral facial palsy patients.

The role of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) in acute peripheral facial palsy (APFP) was evaluated in 153 patients. The sera of patients were examined for IgG and IgA antibodies to HSV and VZV by the immunoperoxidase antibody-membrane antigen (IPAMA) technique. The prevalence of IgG and IgA seropositivity to HSV was significantly higher in the APFP patients than in the matched control group. No significant difference was found in the geometric mean titer (GMT) to HSV antibodies in the APFP patients compared to the matched control groups. The prevalence of IgA antibodies to VZV was significantly higher in the APFP patients group than in the matched control group. The GMT for VZV IgG antibodies was significantly higher in the APFP patients than in the matched control group. No significant difference was found in the GMT of VZV IgA antibodies. Eleven of 83 patients for whom paired sera were available had significantly increased or decreased IgG and IgA antibody titers to VZV on subsequent examination. Four of these patients did not show any evidence of zosterian eruption. These studies support the concept that VZV and HSV might have a role in the etiopathogenesis of APFP in some of the patients.

Acute Disease↗

Rickettsial antibody prevalence in southern Israel: IgG antibodies to Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia typhi, and spotted fever group rickettsiae among urban- and rural-dwelling and Bedouin women.

A retrospective serological survey was carried out using sera obtained from women at childbirth in the southern desert region of Israel to determine exposure experience to three rickettsial agents: Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia typhi, and spotted fever group rickettsiae. Using the indirect fluorescent antibody method for determining IgG antibodies, it was found that about 40% of all sera examined demonstrated antibodies to one or more rickettsiae. Bedouin women appeared to be at greater risk of having antibodies to C. burnetii and spotted fever group rickettsiae than did Jewish residents of Beersheba, agricultural settlements, and development towns. The residents of development towns appeared to be at lower risk of developing antibodies to spotted fever group rickettsiae than did other populations sampled. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Early acquisition of cytomegalovirus infection in kibbutz children in comparison with urban and Bedouin children in southern Israel.

Prevalence of antibody to human cytomegalovirus (CMV) was determined in healthy children aged 1 to 13 years in Beer Sheva, in the Negev region in Israel. Kibbutz children showed a significantly higher rate of CMV seropositivity by the second year of life than did urban Jewish and Bedouin children. Kibbutz children live in close contact from the sixth week of life under high standards of hygiene and good socioeconomic conditions. Among children living in urban populations, as significantly higher prevalence of CMV seropositivity by the second year of life was associated with crowding, but not with other socioeconomic indicators (place of residence, country of origin, educational level of parents). A marked rise of CMV seropositivity with age was found in urban Jewish children in the 2- to 5-year age-group, during which time they attend nurseries, and in Bedouin children in the 6- to 9-year age-group, when they first attend school. These data suggest that close contact is of major importance in CMV infection in childhood.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence of antibodies to human cytomegalovirus in urban, kibbutz, and Bedouin children in southern Israel.

Prevalence of antibody to human cytomegalovirus (CMV) was determined in a sample of 860 healthy children aged 1-13 years in Beer Sheva, in the Negev region of Israel. Three groups of children were tested: (1) urban Jewish children of low, middle, and high socioeconomic levels; (2) 8 rural communes (kibbutz) in which children live in close contact with each other from the 6th week of life under good hygienic conditions and a high standard of living; (3) Bedouin, seminomadic Arabs living in relatively poor hygienic conditions in the desert. Kibbutz children showed a significantly higher rate of CMV seropositivity by the second year of life than urban Jewish and Bedouin children (76% versus 44% and 54% respectively) with a gradual increase to 94% in the 10-13-year age group. Among children living in urban populations a significantly higher prevalence of CMV seropositivity was associated with crowding, but not with other socioeconomic indicators (place of residence, country of origin, or education level of parents). A marked rise of CMV seropositivity with age was found in urban Jewish children in the 2-5-year age group during which time they attend nurseries (44% to 67%) and in the Bedouin children in the 6-9-year age group (59% to 86%) when they first attend school. The data suggest that close contact is of major importance in CMV infection in childhood. The clinical implications of early acquisition and high prevalence of CMV antibodies in the kibbutz setting are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Antibody pattern to human cytomegalovirus in patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon.

The role of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) was examined according to serological patterns in 37 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon (ACC). The sera were examined for the presence of IgG antibodies by the immunoperoxidase antibody to membrane antigens (IPAMA) method and by the complement-fixation (CF) test. Antibody determinations were also performed by the IPAMA method for three other members of the herpesvirus group: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Comparison groups included normal subjects, ACC patients treated with chemotherapy, and patients operated on for benign diseases. No significant difference was found in the geometric mean titers (GMTs) for CMV and the other herpesviruses in the sera of nontreated ACC patients when compared with the control groups. However, a significantly elevated antibody titer to CMV was found in chemotherapy-treated ACC patients by both the IPAMA and CF methods. In this group, elevated titers were found by the IPAMA method for EBV and HSV, but not for VZV. The significance of serological studies in elucidating the role of CMV in ACC patients is discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Viral infection and acute peripheral facial palsy. A study with herpes simplex and varicella zoster viruses.

The role of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) in acute peripheral facial palsy (APFP) was evaluated according to clinical symptomatology and serologic findings in a series of 70 patients seen over a one-year period. Peak morbidity of APFP occurred in the 21 to 30 years age group. Most patients were under 40 years of age and there were more female than male patients. Concomitant dysfunction of one or more other cranial nerves was present in most patients. The sera of patients were examined for IgG antibodies to HSV and VZV by the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. The geometric mean titer for VZV antibodies was significantly higher in the VZV-seropositive APFP patients than in the seropositive matched healthy control subjects. Nine APFP patients had increased or fourfold-rising VZV antibody titers on subsequent examinations, although six of them had presented without any evidence of zosterian eruption. The proportion of APFP patients with HSV antibodies at the time of admission was significantly higher than that of matched control subjects. No significant difference was found in the geometric mean titer for HSV antibodies between seropositive APFP patients and the seropositive control subjects. Only one patient in the series showed a fourfold rise in HSV antibodies, although the clinical symptomatology was compatible with this infection in 17 patients. The significance of serologic studies in determining the etiology of APFP is discussed.

Adolescent↗