PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

D Neumann-Haefelin

Publications and source records attributed to D Neumann-Haefelin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Recombinant HuIFN-gamma prevents herpes simplex keratitis in African green monkeys: demonstration of synergism with recombinant HuIFN-alpha 2.

Human interferon gamma (HuIFN-gamma) was found to prevent herpes-simplex virus (HSV 1) induced keratitis in monkey eyes, when administered topically at concentrations of greater than or equal to 3 X 10(5) reference units/ml. Protective efficacy demonstrated with lower concentrations of HuIFN-gamma in combination with low titers of HuIFN-alpha provided evidence of synergistic interferon activity in vivo. Tolerance problems observed in eyes affected by virus inoculation seem to be attributable to the experimental conditions including species heterology.

Animals

[Herpes simplex encephalitis in the newborn infant--a review].

Neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis is a rare, but very threatening disease which leads to death or to severe cerebral damage with only a few exceptions. In the past few years antiviral agents have become available which have proved to influence the course of the disease in a positive manner. Therefore the problem is a challenge for neonatologists and pediatric neurologists. The virologic and epidemiologic aspects of neonatal herpes encephalitis and its prophylactic, diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities are reviewed. The efficacy of virustatic therapy is related to the onset of therapy which should be started as soon as possible. The typical EEG- and CT-changes are due to an already advanced stage of the disease. Virologic examinations in the first days are of limited value. Brain biopsy should not be performed in this age group. Therefore the indication to start antiviral chemotherapy depends exclusively on the clinical picture.

Antibodies, Viral

[Persistent (chronic active) Epstein-Barr virus infection and arthritis in childhood].

Between 1981 und 1983 some 1300 patients with the primary diagnosis of juvenile chronic arthritis were admitted. In 9 of them a persistent EBV-infection was simultaneously evident. The course of disease was primarily systemic with the characteristic criteria: high septic intermittent fever, rheumatic exanthema, hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. It is still unclear whether a replication of virus in the synovia or a precipiation of immune complexes is involved. A common cause for the persistent EBV-infection and arthritis via an immune-suppressive agent is possible.

Antibodies, Viral

Characterization of a foamy virus isolated from Cercopithecus aethiops lymphoblastoid cells.

A virus derived from cells of a lymphoblastoid line originating from the lymph node of a healthy African green monkey was characterized as a typical member of the foamy virus subgroup of retroviridae by its morphological, physicochemical, biological and biochemical properties (reverse transcriptase activity). Besides the usual host range of foamy viruses, the isolated strain revealed a remarkable T-lymphotropism, distinguishing it from the prototypes of foamy viruses previously isolated from African green monkeys. Two foamy virus infections are demonstrated in human contacts of the African green monkey colony, with the animal harbouring the isolate.

Animals

[Immunity against poliomyelitis in the German Federal Republic (author's transl)].

The immunity of the populations of several countries of the GFR against poliovirus 1, 2 and 3 was investigated in 11 laboratories. Sera of 4707 persons aged 0 to 30 years were assessed for neutralising antibodies (serum dilution 1:4) against the 3 types of poliovirus. 34.5% of the 4707 investigated sera had no neutralising antibodies at least against one type of the poliovirus, 4.7% showed no antibodies against all 3 types of the virus. Especially children aged 0 to 4 years were protected incompletely against the 3 types of poliovirus. In comparison with similar investigations of 1969 and 1972 no decisive change of immunity of the population of the GFR against poliomyelitis has occurred.

Adolescent

Strain characteristics and features of ocular infection of herpes simplex virus type 1 isolates.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 isolates from 63 patients with herpetic keratoconjunctivitis were investigated. For the purpose of detecting strain differences neurovirulence was determined in mice, and viral DNA's were analyzed by digestion with EcoRI and Hind III restriction endonucleases. Neurovirulence differed by a factor up to 10(5) between individual strains and proved to be independent of the ratio between infectious and noninfectious particles in the stocks used. The endonuclease cleavage patterns revealed differences of the viral DNA structure which permitted us to distinguish seven clusters of strains. Correlations between neurovirulence and DNA markers could not be established nor could correlations be found between these markers and features of disease. The main reason for not finding a relationship in the latter case may be attributed to the significant role of host factors in the course of herpetic diseases.

Adolescent

[Herpes simplex virus isolations from the aqueous humor of patients suffering from focal iritis, endotheliitis, and prolonged disciform keratitis with glaucoma (author's transl)].

Aqueous humor from 33 herpes patients, 4 zoster patients, and 14 patients with etiologically unclear anterior uveitis was cultured for the presence of herpes viruses. Nine taps from 8 herpes patients with corneal endothelial disease and/or anterior uveitis yielded herpes simplex virus. In the case of one patient two taps were positive at 14 days' interval. Control cultures from the surface of conjunctiva and cornea were consistently virus-negative. Analysis of the virus-positive cases displayed three remarkable features: 1. Secondary glaucoma was uniformly present. This in itself is an indication for culturable herpes simplex virus in the aqueous. 2. Three clinical pictures could be differentiated biomicroscopically: focal iritis, peripheral endotheliitis, and prolonged disciform keratitis. 3. In a proportion of cases, tissue damage resulting from associated immune reactions seems to be more important for the functional outcome than tissue damage by viral cytolysis itself. After having tried several antiviral substances (trifluorothymidine topically, adeninearabinoside-monophosphate intravenously, human leukocyte interferon intramuscularly and intracamerally) we presently favour a topical combination therapy consisting of trifluorothymidine and steroids. This must be complemented by cycloplegics and--in cases of high intraocular pressure--by acetazolamide.

Adolescent

Human leukocyte and fibroblast interferon in a combination therapy of dendritic keratitis.

Thirty-eight patients with virologically proven dendritic keratitis were treated using either debridement plus human leukocyte interferon (HLI) or debridement plus human fibroblast interferon (HFI) in a randomized, double-blind study. We administered one drop of HLI or HFI (1 X 10(6) reference units/ml) daily and found no significant difference in the action of either type of interferon.

Electrocoagulation

[Rubella in pregnancy: experimental studies on the value of gamma-globulin after rubella wild virus infection (author's transl)].

Rubella infection was produced with a wild rubella virus in 24 volunteers by intranasal application. Some of the subjects were given gamma-globulin intramuscular 24 hours later. In the control group clinically manifest rubella with massive viral excretion in the throat occurred in all in whom infection had taken place. In the majority of subjects rubella virus could be demonstrated in blood shortly before the skin rash appeared. High antibody titres occurred already 20 days after the infection. In subjects who were given gamma-globulin there were no clinical signs of rubella, viral excretion in the throat was diminished and shortened and viraemia was never demonstrated, antibody response was delayed and lower. But there was no significant decrease in the infection rate after gamma-globluin administration. It is concluded that early administration of a sufficient amount of rubella antibodies achieves inhibition of rubella virus multiplication and thus decreases significantly the risk of damage to the fetus.

Adult

Role of debridement and interferon in the treatment of dendritic keratitis.

In a controlled clinical study, 42 patients with dendritic keratitis were treated either with thermocautery plus human leukocyte interferon (HLI) or with minimal wiping debridement plus HLI. The results show that the efficiency with which primary debridement was carried out, determined the success of further therapy using interferon. We conclude that interferon works basically as a prophylactic agent and needs the support of further antiviral measures to be effective against dendritic keratitis.

Debridement

Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in ocular disease.

In a continuous series of 457 patients with presumed herpetic eye disease, virus isolation and typing revealed 154 patients with herpes simplex virus type 1 and three patients with type 2 infections. In 219 isolates that were examined for neutralization by specific antisera, for growth in human fibroblasts, and, in part, for temperature sensitivity, there were found substantial strain differences in addition to the type-specific characteristics. The clinical features of each of the three type 2 infections are described in detail. A suggestive correlation found between clinical courses and virus growth characteristics of the type 1 strains indicates that further virologic differentiation of these strains would be useful.

Adult

[Rubella immunization--immunity after 4 years (author's transl)].

The rubella antibody titres were evaluated in 158 girls who had been seronegative prior to immunization and had been immunised 4 years previously (1971) with the rubella vaccine HPV77DE5. In 138 girls (87%) the 1975 titres were unchanged in comparison with 1971. Only in 5 girls (3.2%) the titres had decreased by up to 2 log2 steps. In two patients the titre reached the critical value of 1:8 which must be considered negative due to the high sensitivity of the haemagglutination inhibition test. A titre increase by two or more steps was observed in 15 girls (9.5%). A third of the titre increases might be due to reinfection with rubella wild virus which would correspond to a reinfection rate of less than 1% per year. Present knowledge indicates that reinfection during pregnancy does not endanger the unborn child.

Adolescent