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Biomedical subjects

F Heinz

Publications and source records attributed to F Heinz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Hydrolysis of low-molecular-weight oligosaccharides and oligosaccharide alditols by pig intestinal sucrase/isomaltase and glucosidase/maltase.

The ability of purified pig intestinal sucrase/isomaltase (SI; EC 3.2.1.10/48) and glucosidase/maltase (GM; EC 3.2.1.20) to hydrolyze di- and oligosaccharides consisting of D-glucose and D-fructose residues and the corresponding alditols was studied. The products, after incubation, reflect different binding patterns at both catalytic sites of SI. The active site of the sucrase subunit cleaves alpha,beta-(1-->2) glycosidic bonds, and only two monomer units of the substrates bind with favorable affinity. Oligosaccharides and reduced oligosaccharides containing alpha-(1--6) and alpha-(1-->1) glycosidic bonds are hydrolyzed by isomaltase, and for the active site of this subunit more than two subsites were postulated. Moreover, different binding sites for various aglycons seem to exist for isomaltase. Oligosaccharide alcohols are cleaved at lower rates if the reduced sugar residue occupies the aglycon binding site. GM also hydrolyzes alpha-(1-->1) linkages, but at a lower rate. The enzyme has the ability to bind compounds containing residues other than D-glucose. There are indications for similarities between GM and the isomaltase subunit of SI in the binding mode of oligosaccharides.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Antibodies to human coronaviruses 229E and OC43 in the population of C.R.

Of 1200 human sera tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 53% contained antibodies to human coronavirus (HCV) 229E and 88% to HCV OC43. The sera were from persons aged 13 months to 80 years, both males and females, and were collected in four different regions in 1986. The percentage of positives increased with increasing age and tended to vary according to the geographic area. Additional paired human sera from 218 patients with acute respiratory diseases (ARD) were collected between October 1986 and June 1987 in Prague. Significant antibody rises to HCV strain 229E were detected in 7 (3.2%) patients 9 months to 17 years old, to HCV strain OC43 in 4 (1.8%) patients under 2 years of age.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Clinical diagnosis and laboratory study of acute respiratory diseases of viral origin in children].

The authors analyzed retrospectively a group of 477 children aged two months to 16 years (mean age 6 years and 5 months), hospitalized on account of acute respiratory disease and subjected to virological examination. The aetiology was revealed in 53% of the sick children. In the elucidation of the aetiology participated a number of respiratory viruses, in particular the respiratory syncytial virus. The clinical picture of the disease was very varied. It was confirmed that the clinical picture does not make it possible to express in a considerable proportion of patients suspicion of an actual infectious aetiology. A mixed aetiology of acute respiratory diseases and a varied clinical picture indicate the necessity of a rapid virological and bacteriological examination in hospital practice.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

[Surveillance of acute respiratory diseases in the 1988/1989 season in Czechoslovakia].

The authors submit an analysis of results of surveillance of acute respiratory diseases during the 1988/1989 season in the CSSR. The influenza epidemic took place between the 4th and 11th calendar week with a peak in the 7th week. During the epidemic 19.7% of the population in the CSR contracted the disease. The influenza epidemic was preceded by a high incidence of infections caused by a respiratory syncytia virus. As to the aetiology, influenza viruses subtypes A/H1N1/, A/H3N2/ and type B participated practically equally in the epidemic. The authors discuss the observed changes in the influenza epidemiology in recent years in Czechoslovakia and neighbouring countries.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

Epidemiological analysis of acute respiratory disease (ARD) and characteristics of the influenza epidemic in Bohemia during the season 1986/1987.

The authors analyze the findings of epidemiological and virological surveillance of ARD in Bohemia during the season 1986/1987. In all, 57.5% of the Czech population was affected by acute respiratory disease (ARD). There were 5,950,832 cases reported, 124,444 complications (2.1% of the overall morbidity rate) and 5,374 deaths due to influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia and chronic pulmonary affection. The influenza epidemic commenced during the 48-th calendary week (CW) and lasted 5 weeks till the 52-nd CW. The epidemic was due to an influenza virus strain of the subtype A(H1N1) antigenically related to the drift variant A (Singapore) 6/86. Within an extremely short period of the epidemic, 1,094,865 influenza cases were reported and 22,313 cases of complications. 10.7% of the CSR population were affected during the epidemic in whose etiology noninfluenza respiratory viruses were significantly implicated, especially adenoviruses (41.7%) and the RS virus (26.9%). There was no excessive mortality in the course of the epidemic. The authors discuss the atypical nature of this particular influenza epidemic and the etiological role of respiratory viruses.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

Some epidemiological characteristics of pneumonia in Czechoslovakia and several neighbouring countries from the aspect of mortality rates.

The authors evaluated the dynamics of mortality rates due to pneumonia in Czechoslovakia and several neighbouring countries over the period of 1974 to 1985. The relative risk of death and proportional mortality rates were calculated and epidemiological curves plotted using data provided by the World Health Organization. It is concluded that during the period in question there was no positive change in the dynamics of mortality rates in Czechoslovakia. Particular attention should be paid to persons in the age group of 75 and more years, where the relative risk of death is at least 4 times greater than in the general population.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Influenza epidemics in the USSR and Czechoslovakia in 1979-1984].

In this work materials characterizing the appearance and development of influenza epidemic at the territories of the USSR and the Czech Socialist Republic are presented, the common features and differences of the epidemic process in both countries are recorded. The work shows that in both countries the appearance of this epidemic is caused by the same virus. In most cases the epidemic started earlier and lasted longer in the USSR, but morbidity rate during the epidemic was, on the whole, higher in the Czech Socialist Republic. Similarity in the course of the primary period of the epidemic processes from their appearance to their maximum rise was observed. In both countries the maximum rise of morbidity rate was registered on weeks 3-4 from the beginning of the epidemic.

Czechoslovakia↗
PubMed1990

Do influenza epidemics spread to neighbouring countries?

This study compares the main causes of influenza epidemics reported in Czechoslovakia (CSR) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) during the 9 seasons between 1980 and 1988. The influenza epidemics due to identical virus types were experienced in the two countries in the 1980, 1984 and 1986 seasons, and of these only the 1984 epidemic associated with A-strain influenza A/Chile/1/83 (H1N1) virus could be demonstrated to spread from the eastern parts of the CSR to the northern areas of the GDR. This implies that influenza epidemics due to identical drift variants spread only exceptionally from one country to the other during the period of observation, in spite of a busy tourist activity across the borderline.

Czechoslovakia↗
PubMed1989

High risk of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and of AIDS related complex (ARC) in hemophiliacs seropositive for more than 5 years.

A group of 90 hemophiliacs who had been regularly treated with non virus-inactivated factor VIII or IX concentrates were studied in 1983. At that time 50 patients were HIV-1-antibody positive, 6 additional seroconversions occurred until 1985. 26 of the 50 patients seropositive in 1983 are currently asymptomatic. 4 patients have developed the lymphadenopathy syndrome, 9 patients AIDS and 11 patients ARC (CDC IV C 2). 6/9 cases of AIDS and 10/11 cases of ARC have occurred only after 1985. Patients, who subsequently became symptomatic, had significantly higher IgG levels in 1983, otherwise no predictive laboratory tests were identified. Patients with T4 counts above 500/microliters became symptomatic later, but after 5 years the incidence of AIDS was comparable in patients with original T4 counts of more than or below 500/microliters.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1989

[Acute respiratory disease caused by coronaviruses].

Serological evidence of coronavirus aetiology was found in 11 patients out of 218 persons examined (5%) in the period of 1986-1987, and in 23 cases out of 311 patients (7.4%) in the period of 1987-1988. Antibody titres with a minimum of four-time elevated values in paired sera using the ELISA method were considered conclusive. Coronaviruses 229E and OC43 were employed. During the first period, more persons were infected by coronavirus 229E, while in the second period, by coronavirus OC43. The disease was equally spread over all the months of the years. For example, in the 1987-1988 period, most infections occurred in February, when out of 60 examined patients, 9 were coronavirus positive (15%).

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

[A nosocomial epidemic caused by adenovirus type 3 at a clinic for children and adolescents].

The authors describe an epidemic of acute viral respiratory diseases with a nosocomial character at a clinic for children and adolescents, caused by adenovirus type 3. Of 80 exposed children 26 fell ill (attack rate 32.5%). The disease took a clinical course typical for adenovirus type 3. The authors discuss the problem of respiratory infections with a viral aetiology at paediatric departments and their possible prevention.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Occurrence and aetiology of acute respiratory diseases: results of a longterm surveillance programme.

Totals of 58,661,000 acute respiratory disease (ARD) cases, 1,376,651 bronchitis and pneumonia complications, and 93,042 deaths from influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia or chronic pulmonary affection were notified during 11 years of ARD surveillance from 1975 to 1986. All ARD seasons started with the first phase in September-December; this increase in morbidity was caused chiefly by adenoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, rhinoviruses and M. pneumoniae. Second wave of ARD morbidity occurring in January-April used to be explosive and was associated with an influenza epidemic in 9 of the 11 seasons; only in 1978/79 and 1984/85 the ARD epidemics were caused by adenoviruses and especially RSV, the share of influenza being minimal. Pneumonia and bronchitis excesses occured during epidemics caused by M. pneumoniae in 1975/76, 1980/81 and 1985/86. Particularly high mortality excesses occurred in 1976, 1977 and 1983 during epidemics elicited by a new drift variants of influenza A(H3N2). Identification of viral agent of M. pneumoniae attempted in 5474 ARD cases was successful at 37.4%. The respective contributions of parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, influenza A virus and RSV to overall aetiologically identified morbidity were 14.2, 13.9, 13.8, and 12.0%. Mixed infections (2-3 agents identified simultaneously) accounted for 14.6% of cases. Type B influenza virus, rhinoviruses, enteroviruses and herpes simplex virus contributed only by 5.6-7.8%. In ordinary seasons the share of M. pneumoniae in aetiologically identified ARD morbidity was 0.6-3.8%; this agent displayed predominance at 5-year cycles, when accounting for 20.5-38.9% of cases. The most frequently detected agents in individual age groups were as follows: in preschool children parainfluenza (18.6%), RSV (16.6%), and adenoviruses (17.4%); in school children M. pneumoniae (26%), influenza A and B (10.2 and 14.7% respectively), and adenoviruses (10.7%); in adolescents and young adults influenza type A (20.2%), M. pneumoniae (15.0%), and rhinoviruses (13.3%); in adults above 25 years age influenza A virus (38%), and other respiratory viruses at a frequency lower than 10% each.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Epidemiological analysis of acute respiratory diseases (ARD) of viral etiology in the Czech Socialist Republic (CSR)) and German Democratic Republic (GDR) over the period 1979 to 1984.

An analysis is made of the ARD reported in CSR and the GDR over the period July 1st, 1979 to June 30th, 1984. During that time, there were 27,810,000 cases reported in CSR in the framework of ARD epidemiological surveillance, representing 2.67 cases per one inhabitant, whereas in the GDR, the total number of reported ARD was 28,900,000 yielding 1.73 cases per person. However, the GDR reported higher morbidity per one child of preschool age. The authors believe that the differences in the reported incidence of ARD between the two countries are due to differences in the reporting systems and medical officers' activity during an epidemic and in the interim period. Approximately one third of ARD reported annually in the two countries falls to the period of influenza epidemics. The authors also analyze the etiology of the influenza epidemics which affected the two countries in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984. In most seasons, the causative agents and morbidity excesses were different in the two countries. The drift variant B/USSR/100/83, which caused a major epidemy in CSR in 1984, has not to date been implicated in the DGR in the etiology of ARD. The cyclic epidemic due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae occurred in the GDR already in 1979-80, while CSR experienced it a year later. There was a temporal and territorial correlation between the course of A(H1N1) influenza epidemic in the two countries in 1984.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

[Acute viral respiratory diseases as a cause of work disability in miners during an inter-epidemic period].

During the interepidemic period between October 1 and November 20 1987 96 miners from a coal mine were examined who suffered from diseases of the upper airways which caused their work incapacity. In paired sera the rise of antibodies against M. pneumoniae and respiratory viruses were examined (adeno, influenza virus A and B, Coxsackie A21, corona 229E and OC43, parainfluenza type 1, 2 and 3, rhino type 13 and 44, RS). A viral aetiology was confirmed in 31 patients (32.3%). An evident rise of antibodies against the following viruses was found: adenoviruses 3X, Coxsackie A21 5X, coronaviruses 229E 1X and OC43 2X, parainfluenza virus type 1 1X and type 2 5X, rhinovirus type 13 11X and type 44 4X, RS virus 1X. As to the period of work incapacity and clinical manifestations, there was no difference between the diseases caused by different agents. The results of the investigation indicate that also viruses which are not used in common diagnostic practice may frequently evoke diseases which cause work incapacity.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1989

[Specific and nonspecific indicators of activation of influenza viruses before an epidemic caused by influenza viruses subtype A/H3N2 and type B in Czechoslovakia in 1986].

The authors submit an aetiological and epidemiological analysis of the influenza epidemic which occurred in the CSR between the 4th and 14th week of 1986 and was caused by the influenza virus subtype A/H3N2/ and type B. The epidemic affected a total of 27.1% of the population, in the age group of 0-5 years 63.7%, in the age group 6-14 years 52.7% and in the age group above 15 years 17.1%. In the course of the epidemic 77,458 cases of pneumonia and bronchitis were reported and 1,412 deaths with the diagnosis influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia and chronic affection of the lungs. The authors analyze also specific indicators of the activation of influenza viruses and reach the conclusion that serological evidence of the circulation of influenza viruses in the population was detected already in the third quarter of 1985, the first isolations were made six weeks before the influenza epidemic. Activation of the influenza viruses is indicated already during the pre-epidemic period by some non-specific indicators which include the rising number of patients with acute respiratory affections in surgeries and the rising number of children absent from nurseries and nursery schools on account of these diseases. The most sensitive non-specific indicator is the rising number of patients with respiratory diseases in surgeries of the First aid medical service.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[AIDS: possibilities of active immunization].

The development of an AIDS vaccine represents a major challenge for medical research. Efforts are undertaken for the production of appropriate immunogens in sufficient quantity and purity, especially by the use of recombinant DNA technology. Unfortunately, all immunization experiments using chimpanzees were negative so far, since in no case infection could be prevented by vaccination. Nevertheless, immunization trials were started in humans, although it is unclear which type of immune response could mediate protection. It is at present not possible to predict at which time and if at all an AIDS vaccine will become available.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗