PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Cernescu

Publications and source records attributed to C Cernescu.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunological mechanisms controlling measles virus infection.

Recent data of the literature are reviewed with reference to : 1) the antigenic determinants of measles virus ; 2) the immunological mechanisms controlling measles infection (neutralization of extracellular and cell membrane-bound virus, immune destruction of infected cells, interference with virus transmission from infected cells during cell division of syncytium formation); 3) particularities of humoral and cell-mediated immunity in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antigenic drift in the course of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).

Neutralization kinetics study performed with measles virus and canine distemper virus (CDV) antigens revealed differences in the behaviour of antibodies contained in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from SSPE patients. Evident differences were observed both between samples from various patients and between CSF samples collected from the same patient in the course of the disease. Hyperimmune sera could be obtained in rabbits and guinea pigs by initial immunization with unpurified measles of CDV antigen, followed by heterologous inoculation of the animals with the other antigen. The data obtained are interpreted as arguments for a pathogenic mechanism consisting in an antigenic drift occurring in the course of SSPE.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Further epidemiological investigations on subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in Romania.

The epidemiological study of 101 SSPE cases revealed the following aspects: a) an increase in the annual SSPE incidence, in relation to the improvement of detection possibilities; b) the preponderent involvement of male children and of children having experienced measles within the first 6-18 months of life; c) the high incidence of SSPE cases in families with several children, the patient being the 2nd or 3rd sibling; d) a mean interval of 50.1 +/- 32 months between acute measles and the onset of SSPE; e) the clustering of cases in terms of the epidemic year when acute measles had occurred. There were no modifications in SSPE epidemiology during the first 6 months after the initiation of mass antimeasles vaccination.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytogenetic modifications induced in human diploid cells by mixed infection with measles and cytomegalic virus.

Chromosome alterations induced in human diploid cells by separate or mixed infection with measles and cytomegalic virus were analyzed. Chromosome changes characteristic of each virus could be made evident in the case of the mixed infection. Of particular interest are the cytogenetic alterations associated with syncytium formation, both in separate measles virus infection and in the mixed one. The cytogenetic consequences of premature chromosome condensation, of the synchronism in division of polykaryocyte nuclei, of chromosome contraction and pyknosis are discussed.

Cell Cycle↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Significance of some immunochemical data for the viral pathogeny of multiple sclerosis.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 124 patients with different neurological diseases (35 having an ascertained diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and 20--of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)) were investigated by immunoelectrophoresis. The correlation between the "secretory" immunoelectrophoretic pattern of CSF proteins in MS and SSPE patients and the incidence of antimeasles HI antibodies in the CSF is analysed. The results point to a different pathogenic significance of the presence of antimeasles antibodies : a) persistent measles virus infection in SSPE and b) a particular genetic constitution, coincident with a hyperreactivity to measles virus, in MS.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiology of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in Romania between 1976-1982.

The analysis of 415 SSPE cases detected between 1976-1982 pointed out a relatively high yearly incidence of this disease: 5-6 cases per 1 million inhabitants. Clusters of SSPE cases were observed in certain counties of Romania. The onset of SSPE occurred mostly at 6-7 years (only 6% of the cases were detected in children over 10 years of age); the mean duration of the interval between acute measles and SSPE onset was of 4-5 years. The following risk factors were made evident in the patients' past histories: male sex, acute measles experienced under the age of 1-2 years, existence of several siblings, long time intervals spent in the rural environment or in child communities, contact with domestic animals. During the first three years of its application on a national scale antimeasles vaccination had no effect on SSPE incidence.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Persistent measles virus infection in a calf kidney cell line. Note II. Study of some biological markers of the measles virus isolated from a selected chronically infected cell line.

The biological characteristics of a measles virus strain (Co-69/pi) isolated from a selected chronically infected calf kidney cell line (K-2) are studied in comparison with those of thw wild parental CO-69 and of the attenuated Schwarz measles virus strain. Co-69/pi is a variant of the parental Co-69 virus and has characteristics of an attenuated strain. Some of the characteristics acquired by the Co-69/pi strain (cytopathogenicity, size of plaques) proved to be stable in the course of passages on a simian substrate. The mechanism having led to the appearance of this variant in the chronically infected cell line are discussed.

Cell Line↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Data on the incidence of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in Romania.

A programme for the active detection of SSPE cases hospitalized in the Clinic for Infantile Neuropsychiatry within the "Dr. Gh. Marinescu" Hospital, Bucharest, was initiated in 1975. The diagnosis relied on clinical, electroencephalographic and seroimmunological criteria. Thirty-three cases were sufficiently documented to be considered as SSPE (mean age on onset: 6.1 years; male/female ratio: 3.7). Clinical, immunological and epidemiological particularities resulting from this investigation are presented and epidemiological parameters of SSPE are discussed in relation to measles mortality data. The incidence of SSPE--a lethal persistent measles infection--points to the necessity of antimeasles vaccination.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chromosome changes in the leukocytes from patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Alterations in chromosome number and structure could be detected in phytohemagglutin-stimulated leukocyte cultures from four patients with an ascertained diagnosis, of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Chromosome changes are polymorphous, involving most frequently the acrocentric group G or D chromosomes. It is suggested that chromosome damage might represent a diagnostic indication before the onset of neurologic symptoms.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Persistent measles virus infection in a calf kidney cell line. Note IV. Electron microscopic observations in the K-2 cell line.

An electron microscopic study was performed in the K-2 calf kidney cell line persistently infected with measles virus. Aggregates of granular filamentous structures 20-30 nm in diameter were detected in the paranuclear zone of the cytoplasm. Rare, isolated smooth filaments 15-17 nm in diameter were also observed. No such structures were seen in the nucleus. The budding process was very active. Many pleomorphic particles ranging in diameter from 100 to 600 nm were observed at the cell surface and in the intercellular space; the particles contained a variable amount of filamentous nucleocapsid structures and had an envelope with discontinuous fuzzy material.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serological diagnosis of chronic viral hepatitis.

Chronic viral hepatitis must be distinguished from other chronic liver disorders. The clinical picture associated with typical biochemical findings provides no definite information about the causative agent. An important factor, both for the patient and for the individuals in contact with him, is the evaluation of his infectivity. From 172 chronic hepatitis disorders the serological diagnosis confirmed the viral etiology in 120 patients (69.7%). HBsAg was present in 33.7% (with HBeAg in 5%), anti-HCV antibodies 22.6% and markers for both viruses in 13.4% of cases. The HCV etiology was more frequently found in chronic hepatitis (44.9%) in liver cirrhosis (50.7%). The smaller number of patients displaying simultaneously anti-HBs and anti HCV antibodies did not confirm the recent suggestions that HCV would be the most important hepatotropic virus which enhances HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Studies on the intermolecular forces involved in the antibody-antigen interactions, using V3 synthetic peptides and sera from HIV1 seropositive patients.

The nature of physical forces responsible for the antibody-antigen (Ab-Ag) reaction was analyzed in an original system, represented by synthetic peptides derived from the V3 consensus sequences of some HIV1 subtypes gp 120 and HIV1 positive human serum. For locating antigenic determines, flexibility, hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity profiles of the V3 peptides were analysed. The hydrophilicity indicates that V3 apex borders are involved in the first stage of the reaction. The flexibility and hydrophobicity suggest that the apex of the V3 loop (GPGR/Q) is involved in the stabilization of the complex by hydrophobic interactions. Further, we followed up the influence of the dielectric constant and of the pH upon the forces established between Ab and Ag. Modifications in the dielectric constant and pH reveal a significant contribution of electrostatic and van der Waals forces in securing the intermolecular complementarity. D2O produces the highest augmentation of the antibody affinity for the most hydrophilic peptides, while a very slight one was recorded for the most hydrophobic sequence. A high affinity of antibodies for the peptides MN, R and Z was registered at an acid pH, when their His residue was protonated. On the contrary, no influence was recorded in the case of the peptide A, which does not contain any His residue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗