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Biomedical subjects

E Marth

Publications and source records attributed to E Marth.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Detection of Herpes simplex virus DNA by real-time PCR.

Molecular detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA is recognized as the reference standard assay method for the sensitive and specific diagnosis of central nervous system infections caused by HSV. In this study, a molecular assay based on real-time PCR on the LightCycler (LC) instrument was evaluated and compared with a home-brew molecular assay. The detection limit of the LC assay was determined with 10-fold dilutions of plasmid pS4 with the SalI restriction fragment of the DNA polymerase gene and with the First European Union Concerted Action HSV Proficiency Panel. A total of 59 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens were investigated for the comparative study. With plasmid pS4, the detection limit of the LC assay was found to be 10(4) copies per ml, i.e., 12.5 copies per run. When samples of the First European Union Concerted Action HSV Proficiency Panel were tested, 2x10(3) to 5x10(3) HSV type 1 genome equivalents (GE) per ml, i.e., 2.5 to 6.3 GE per run, could consistently be detected. There was a correlation between the LC assay and the home-brew assay in 55 of 59 specimens. In conclusion, the LC assay allows very rapid detection of HSV DNA in CSF. It was found to be laborsaving and showed sufficient sensitivity.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Influence of cadmium on the immune system. Description of stimulating reactions.

Allergic diseases, atopy, bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis are diseases which can directly or indirectly be traced to changes in the function of the immune system. Epidemiological studies have shown that these allergic diseases have increased in the course of time and that the incidence of obstruction of the respiratory system is clearly higher in polluted regions than in comparable control areas. These diseases are mainly the result of a comprehensive influence on the immune system. The present study describes the influence of pollutants on the behavior of cytokines which cannot be directly traced to an allergen or antigen in order to be able to explain various immunological or pseudo-allergic processes. We have isolated and cultivated PBMC from six donors and exposed them to different concentrations (5, 25, 50 and 100 mumol) of cadmium chloride. After incubation of cells with cadmium, different genes of cytokines were detected on the basis of mRNA by RT-PCR. Hsp70 can be detected in a relatively brief period following stress and there is an excellent correlation between heavy metal dose (stress) and expression of hsp70. In the case of IL-1, and TNF-alpha low concentrations of cadmium chloride increase the expression of these genes, whereas this effect is less noticeable with higher amounts of cadmium. After only one hour of exposure to heavy metals, large volumes of mRNA of IL-6 have been detected. IFN-gamma only reacts at high concentrations of cadmium. Heavy metals may influence immunocompetent cells so that they release several cytokines which may act on a large variety of cells in terms of a proinflammatory reaction. The influence of cytokines as well as the pollutants themselves on fibroblasts, endothelial cells as well as macrophages explains a number of processes which cannot be explained by allergical reactions. At low concentrations, cadmium is able to stimulate the immune system, while at higher concentrations inhibitory and suppressive reactions were observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Is IgM of diagnostic value in case of delayed intrathecal production of IgG antibodies?

The neurological manifestations of Lyme borreliosis comprise a wide range of clinical signs. However, these symptoms might have other aetiologies. Therefore detection of intrathecal production of specific antibodies is necessary to confirm the clinical assumption of neuroborreliosis (NB). In case of delayed intrathecal production of specific IgG antibodies, detection of IgM could play a role in the early diagnosis of NB. To clarify whether IgM is of diagnostic value in such cases, paired CSF serum samples from 176 patients with suspected NB admitted to the department of Neurology, Karl Franzens University, Graz, Austria, were tested. Testing was performed with the IDEA Neuroborreliosis Kit (Dako, Denmark) and Enzygnost Borreliosis (Behring, Germany) and results of both methods were compared. According to well defined criteria 63 of the 176 patients had defined NB and 113 were regarded as possible NB. Twelve out of 63 patients with defined NB had delayed intrathecal IgG production. Only one patient with delayed IgG production had an intrathecal IgM production prior to IgG. In all patients with possible NB no intrathecal production of IgM was detected. At the time of the first lumbar puncture IgG intrathecal production could be detected with the IDEA seven times more often than with the Enzygnost Borreliosis. The determination of intrathecal production of IgM does not appear to be of diagnostic value in patients with delayed IgG antibody production. Therefore a consecutive lumbar puncture is more likely to confirm clinical assumption if there is strong clinical evidence of NB.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Species identification of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from tick and human isolates in Styria (Austria) by PCR-RFLP analysis.

Seventy-one isolates of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (B.b.s.l.) derived from Ixodes ricinus ticks (50 strains) and patients (21 strains) were characterised by PCR-RLFP analysis. In four cases the human isolates were obtained from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with clinical symptoms of neuroborreliosis and in 17 cases from skin biopsies of patients with dermatological manifestation of Lyme borreliosis. Ixodes ricinus isolates originated from 14 localities in three regions (Mur valley, eastern and western Styria) in Styria. Thirty six strains of B.b.s.l. were isolated from nymphal ticks, nine strains from female and five strains from male ticks. Species identification of human isolates revealed three B. garinii and one B. afzelii isolates in CSF. In the PCR-RFLP analysis of 17 skin specimens a pattern for B. afzelii was found in ten cases, while six could be identified as B. garinii and one as a mixed infection of B. afzelii and B. garinii. Genetic characterisation of tick isolates resulted in 24 strains of B. afzelii (48%), 11 strains of B. garinii (40%) and 5 strains of B. burgdorferi s.st. (10%); one isolate showed a mixed infection of B. afzelii and B. garinii. Our findings indicate that B. afzelii and B. garinii predominate over B. burgdorferi s.str. in Ixodes ricinus ticks from Styria, which is similar to findings in neighbouring countries. This also reflects the occurrence of different pathogenic Borrelia strains in human samples.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of AMPLILINK software for the COBAS AMPLICOR system.

The use of AMPLILINK version 1.0 software was evaluated for the operation and control of one COBAS AMPLICOR instrument and for two COBAS AMPLICOR instruments run simultaneously to perform and detect nucleic acid amplification reactions. A total of 3,384 results were analyzed. The initial accuracy of the results was 99.91%. Three errors of omission of transfer of data from the COBAS AMPLICOR to the AMPLILINK system were observed. Two of these errors were from a single specimen, where both the analyte and internal control results were not transmitted. These errors did not interfere with the correctness of any other data. There were no interruptions of runs, and no data were mixed. AMPLILINK increased convenience, saved labor, and was found to be a very useful addition for clinical laboratories performing molecular-diagnostic procedures with the COBAS AMPLICOR system.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1999

Comparative investigations of airborne culturable microorganisms in selected waste treatment facilities and in neighbouring residential areas.

The evaluation of airborne microorganisms in waste treatment facilities is complicated by different measuring systems, a lack of measuring standards and large variations between individual counts. In the present study, different sectors of the waste management industry were compared by determining median values of airborne culturable microorganisms from numerous parallel counts over a prolonged time period. The samples were taken during the warm season using the six-stage Andersen volumetric sampler in a large composting plant and its immediate vicinity, in an agricultural composting plant, a waste disposal site, and a sorting facility for recyclable materials. Control samples were taken at a site not influenced by the waste management industry in an open and largely uninhabited area. The highest median values for culturable bacteria (37 degrees C) found were 1.1 x 10(5) CFU/m3, for moulds (25 degrees C) 1.4 x 10(5) CFU/m3, and for A. fumigatus (37 degrees C) 1.7 x 10(4) CFU/m3 in the sorting cabins of the sorting facility (p < 0.001). The highest median values for thermophilic bacteria (actinomycetes and bacillaceae, 50 degrees C) were 7.3 x 10(3) CFU/m3 in the large composting facility. In all other facilities as well as in the neighbouring residential areas of all facilities investigated, all median values were significantly lower and corresponded to the naturally occurring levels: approx. 10(2) CFU/m3 for bacteria, approx. 10(3) CFU/m3 for moulds and approx. 10(1) CFU/m3 for A. fumigatus and thermophilic bacteria. Only in the neighbouring residential area of the large composting plant, the median values for thermophilic bacteria were approx. 10(2) CFU/m3, but an additional impact from farms cannot be excluded in this case. These results show permanent increased loads of the investigated microorganisms inside large composting facilities and especially in the sorting cabins for recyclable materials. The increasing number of reports on potential health hazards in these areas require adequate measures on the part of occupational medicine in order to limit the health risk to a minimum. The most important task is the automatization of the sorting process for recyclable materials.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1999

[Waste management--health: a longitudinal study].

Altogether 256 (148 men and 108 women) employees from manual sorting facilities and 120 (98 men and 22 women) employees from compost facilities were examined The main focus of the investigations was in the assessment of the lung-function and the immune-system. A part of employees (87 in sorting and 34 in compost facilities) was observed over a period of 3 years. The lung-function was in the area of the expected values, decreased however from year to year. The concentration of total-IgE increased over the period of 3 years. The observation is from great interest that the difference of the concentration of the total-IgE fluctuated within the 3 years at the employees of manual sorting facilities from +200% to -100% while it amounted to 0% at employees of the compost facilities.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Comparative studies of airborne, cultivatable microorganisms at selected sites of waste managements, domestic animal husbandry and in the surrounding residential area].

During the last years, sampling of airborne microorganisms (including mesophilic bacteria, moulds, thermophilic bacteria and A. fumigatus) in waste disposal, recycling industry and control sampling locations in the urban and rural districts of Graz was conducted using Andersen 6-stage viable cascade impactors. In the present study additional sampling in livestock buildings has been conducted. Except mesophilic bacteria the emission in the area of waste disposal and recycling industry was significantly higher than in livestock buildings. In the surroundings of the livestock buildings the number of microorganisms was not increased, while the normal background level in the surroundings of the waste proceeding plants was reached from a distance of 150 to 300 meters.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1998

Analysis of hsp70 mRNA levels in HepG2 cells exposed to various metals differing in toxicity.

Human hepatoma cells (HepG2) were exposed to several heavy metal salts and the induction of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) mRNA was analysed by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Metals were added to the cell medium at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 microM and incubation was continued for 4 h. In addition we analysed the time dependence of hsp70 induction by adding each metal at a certain concentration followed by an incubation for 0.5 to 24 h. CdCl2, NaAsO2, AgNO3 could be classified as very strong inducers (20-, 13- and 10-fold above control level) and they reached their maximum level of induction at 1-10 microM after 2 h. CuCl2, MnCl2, Pb(NO3)2, TlNO3, CoCl2 and NiCl2 were also strong inducing agents, giving a 4-6 fold induction at 10-100 microM after 4-8 h. ZnSO4, Hg(NO3)2 and AlCl3 were only weak inducers (1.5-2 fold at 50-100 microM after 4-8 h) of hsp70 mRNA. Cytotoxic effects (measured by release of lactate dehydrogenase) could only be detected for 100 microM Hg2+ after 4 h and when the cells were incubated with 5 microM Cd2+ for more than 8 h. We also tested a few combinations of these heavy metal salts for their hsp70-inducing ability. Zn2+ and Mn2+ were able to diminish Cd2+ induced hsp70 mRNA levels by 65%. Ag+ mediated induction was reduced by 40% when combined with Cu2+, whereas Hg2+ increased induction by Ag+ about 3-fold and led to a dramatic decrease in cell viability. In our study we were able to demonstrate that the analysis of hsp70 mRNA levels in chemically stressed HepG2 cells by RT-PCR can be a valuable tool for studying mechanisms of toxicity associated with elevated expression of hsp70.

Cadmium Chloride↗
PubMed1998

Evaluation of a new assay for HBV DNA quantitation in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND: The Amplicor HBV Monitor Test for quantitative determination of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA has recently been introduced. This assay is based on PCR and a non-radioactive hybridization and detection system on microwell plates. OBJECTIVE: The performance of the Amplicor HBV Monitor Test was evaluated in a routine diagnostic laboratory. The Amplicor HBV Monoitor assay was compared to the Digene Hybrid Capture System HBV DNA assay for the quantitation of HBV in patient sera. STUDY DESIGN: Sensitivity and reproducibility were determined with 10-fold dilution series of two Eurohep HBV reference plasma specimens. Furthermore, 196 sera from 14 children with chronic HBV infection and interferon therapy were tested with both assays. RESULTS: The detection limit was found to be 10(3) copies/ml with the Amplicor PCR assay compared to 10(6) to 10(7) copies/ml with the Digene hybridization assay. Both assays were quasi-linear over the measurable ranges. The new PCR assay proved to be very reliable. With the Amplicor PCR assay, 26.2% of the HBV DNA-positive clinical samples were found between 10(3) and 10(7) copies/ml and all of them tested below the detection limit with the hybridization assay. CONCLUSION: The Amplicor HBV Monitor Test shows excellent sensitivity and provides a valuable tool for the detection of HBV DNA in serum. It can be used for recognizing those patients who might benefit from antiviral therapy, for evaluation of the efficacy of anti-HBV therapy, and for validation of blood products.

Child↗
PubMed1998

Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.I. in Ixodes ricinus ticks from Styria (Austria) and species identification by PCR-RFLP analysis.

A total of 1163 I. ricinus ticks were collected in 3 different regions (15 localities) in Styria (Austria) in June 1997 and examined for the presence of spirochetes by dark field microscopy. The mean infection rate was 20.8%. Among 310 adults, 24.2% were positive and among 853 nymphs, 19.6% were positive. All 15 collection areas were shown to harbour infected nymphs with a positivity rate ranging from 5.8% (3/52) to 32.1% (18/56). Isolation attempts in BSKII medium resulted in 29 isolates. Species identification by PCR-RFLP analysis revealed 16 strains of B. garinii, 10 strains of B. afzelii and 2 strains of B. burgdorferi s. s. One isolate showed a mixed population of B. garinii and B. afzelii. In two collection areas, all three major Borrelia species were shown to be present in the tick population.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

In-vitro susceptibility of group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (GABHS) to penicillin, erythromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin in Styria, Austria.

248 Strains of group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (GABHS) were tested against penicillin and the macrolide antibiotics, erythromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin. 213 (85.9%) GABHS isolates were taken from throat swabs from patients with pharyngotonsillitis, 35 isolates (14.1%) were from other body sites or from invasive infections. The age of the patients ranged from 9 months to 89 years, 155 of the patients (62.5%) were below 10 years of age. The results of the E-test method and a disk diffusion assay were compared; to classify the phenotype of the erythromycin-resistant strains, a disk induction test was carried out. None of the 248 GABHS strains showed resistance to penicillin, whereas 53 GABHS isolates (21.4%) were resistant to the macrolide antibiotics included in the test. There were only minor discrepancies between the two testing methods. The MIC data obtained with the E-test method suggested that among the macrolides, erythromycin and clarithromycin had slightly higher antistreptococcal activity than azithromycin in vitro. 50 (94.3%) of the erythromycin-resistant GABHS showed the pattern of novel resistance (M phenotype), 2 (3.8%) strains showed inducible resistance (IR) and 1 (1.9%) strain exhibited consecutive resistance (CR).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Diarrhea in returning Austrian tourists: epidemiology, etiology, and cost-analyses.

BACKGROUND: Between 1995 and 1997, stool samples of 322 Austrian tourists returning from abroad with diarrhea were examined for bacteria, parasites and viruses. METHODS: Epidemiologic data were collected from information furnished by physicians and hospitals and from questionnaires. Moreover, testing expenses and additional cost for treated cases were evaluated. RESULTS: In 97 of 322 patients examined (30%), one or more pathogens were detected in the stool. Bacteria were found in 38 patients (39%), parasites in 33 patients (34%) and viruses in 26 patients (27%). In 6 patients, mixed infections with parasites and viruses were detected and in 5 patients with bacteria and viruses. Among bacteria, Campylobacter jejuni was most frequent; among parasitic infections, Giardia lamblia. Significant correlations were established between the country of destination, age, travel style and length of stay. Forty-four percent of all patients visited Asia (including Turkey), 27% Africa, 18% Latin America, and only 10% southern Europe. The group between 20 and 29 years of age was most frequently affected (p<.001), the group between 0 and 19 years of age least. Fifty-seven percent stayed in a hotel without frequent changes of location; 43% undertook a trekking trip; and of those, 75% belonged to the group aged between 20 and 39. In terms of the correlation between travel style and pathogen, it was found that 74% of patients with bacterial infections stayed in a hotel (avg. 57.9%; p<.05) whereas 64% of all patients with parasitic infections undertook a trekking trip (avg. 42%; p<.001). Thirty-six percent of all patients with parasitic infections spent their vacation in India (avg. 13%; p<.001). The length of stay of patients with bacterial infections was shorter than average (72% spent between 1 and 2 weeks abroad, avg. 49.8%). Patients with parasitic infections spent significantly more time abroad than average (42% more than 2 months; avg. 17.7%; p<.001). Average cost of specific antimicrobial therapy was U.S.$31 whereas the average cost of identifying a patient needing such treatment was almost U.S.$580. CONCLUSION: Optimal detection rate and cost reduction for the diagnosis require precise history, adequate collection of samples using adequate transport media, and rapid transfer to the laboratory.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Automation of polymerase chain reaction-based systems for detection of hepatitis C virus RNA.

Polymerase chain reaction-based molecular assays are gaining increasing importance in the diagnosis and monitoring of infectious diseases. Over the past several years, the development and application of these techniques has initiated a revolution in the diagnosis and monitoring of hepatitis C infection. Presently, molecular assays are exclusively done in especially dedicated laboratories. Advances in automation will bring these technologies into routine diagnostic laboratories and will make them widely used.

Automation↗
PubMed1998

Quantitative detection of hepatitis B virus DNA with a new PCR assay.

The Amplicor HBV Monitor Test for quantitative detection of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA has recently been introduced. This assay is based on PCR and a non-radioactive hybridization and detection system on microwell plates. Evaluation in a routine diagnostic laboratory showed excellent sensitivity and adequate reproducibility; however, a more automated format would be desirable. The Amplicor HBV Monitor Test is useful for recognizing those patients who might benefit from antiviral treatment and for evaluation of the efficacy of anti-hepatitis B virus treatment.

DNA, Viral↗
PubMed1998

Air-borne microorganisms in the metropolitan area of Graz, Austria.

Urban and rural regions are affected by different microorganism loads depending on their structure and utilization. At 7 sampling sites in the metropolitan area of Graz, counts of airborne bacteria as well as yeasts and molds were conducted over a one-year period at two-week intervals. Bacteria and yeasts/molds counts in a village area to the South of Graz dominated by agriculture exceeded the corresponding counts in a suburban residential area fourfold (327 CFU/m3 air-bacteria) and twofold (185 CFU/m3 air-yeasts/molds) respectively. In the vicinity of a composting facility located in the same residential area, microorganism counts exceeded those of the neighboring "unaffected" area by 29% in the case of bacteria and by 54% in the case of yeasts/molds. At an industrial and business site with heavy traffic, the counts are twice that of the area affected by the composting facility (146 CFU/m3 for bacteria and 168 CFU/m3 for yeasts/molds). The proportion of Aspergillus fumigatus is highest in the village area with 23%, compared to 10% in the open land. 49% of the bacteria and 54% of the yeasts and molds can be shown on stages 4-6 of the Andersen-Volumetric-Sampler registering the respirable particle sizes.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1998

The interaction of particulate matter and gaseous automobile exhaust in the city of Graz, Austria.

Aerosol particles collected at urban locations contain a significant portion of automobile exhaust emissions, especially lead and zinc. The most important emitted gases, carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and the nitrogen oxides (NOx) play an important role in the formation of photochemical smog in urban areas. Nitrate formation through heterogeneous reactions on dust particles may provide a removal mechanism for the nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere. As a consequence dust can reduce ozone formation rates by up to 25%. At 47 sites within the city of Graz, Austria dust particles were collected. Two hundred particles with a diameter of about 1 microns were analyzed with a Laser Microprobe Mass Analyzer (LAMMA) for each sampling point: one half for laser generated cations and the other half for anions. The frequencies of occurrence of elements in 100 particles were used as a measure for the air quality. Isolines (lines of equal element frequencies) were employed to outline polluted regions and identify the sources of dust particles. A summation method was used to monitor nitrogen oxides. Particulate nitrate correlates well with lead frequencies in aerosols as well as with NOx levels. This indicates that the NOx emitted by traffic exhaust is at least partially deposited on particulate matter.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1998

Air pollution by particulate matter in the industrialized city of Leoben, Austria.

At seven sites in Leoben, Austria, aerosol particles were sampled in two size fractions by a dichotomous sampler using virtual impaction: the fine fraction (alveolar aerosol) with an aerodynamic diameter dac < 2.5 microns (PM2.5), and the coarse fraction (tracheobronchial aerosol) with an dac between 2.5 and 10 microns. It is believed that these particles are able to reach the lower regions of the human respiratory tract, and thus be responsible for most of the adverse health effects associated with suspended particulate pollution. A second sampling procedure was made collecting the PM2.5 fraction and after leaching with nitric acid, lead, zinc, cadmium, copper, chromium and vanadium were determined with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). For one sample point a third sampling was carried out and both fractions were subsequently leached with water and dilute hydrochloric acid. Pb, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cd, Ni, Cu, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cs, Ba and Tl were determined by ICP-MS.

Air Pollution↗