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Biomedical subjects

G Biberfeld

Publications and source records attributed to G Biberfeld.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

A new human retrovirus isolate of West African origin (SBL-6669) and its relationship to HTLV-IV, LAV-II, and HTLV-IIIB.

A new human retrovirus of West African origin (SBL-6669) has been isolated from a patient with immunological and clinical signs of immunodeficiency. Using radioimmunoprecipitation assays (RIPA) and Western blot (WB) tests with human sera, the new virus isolate has been compared with HTLV-IV, LAV-II, and the HTLV-IIIB prototype strain of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The West African isolates appeared to be members of the same virus group since their glycoproteins were antigenically indistinguishable. West African sera showed no detectable cross reaction with HTLV-IIIB glycoproteins. The external glycoprotein in the different virus strains only showed minor variations in size. The size of the transmembranous protein was not unambiguously defined. In the West African virus isolates a 30-35 kD protein was seen similar to the protein previously described possibly to represent this component. However, in SBL-6669 a distinct 41 kD protein was also identified. There were interstrain variations in the size of several viral proteins among the West African virus isolates. Only minor differences were seen between SBL-6669 and LAV-II. The variations were most pronounced in two core proteins corresponding to the 19 kD and 24 kD proteins of HTLV-IIIB. In addition, West African human retroviruses appear to differ in pathogenicity. LAV-II and SBL-6669 are associated with immunodeficiency, whereas HTLV-IV was isolated from healthy individuals. Since further spread of these viruses to other parts of the world is imminent, it is necessary to consider their antigenic and immunogenic properties in serodiagnosis of HIV infections and in planning for immunoprophylactic interventions.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1987

Histopathology and immunohistology of HTLV-III/LAV related lymphadenopathy and AIDS.

Fifty-nine lymph node biopsies from homosexual men with serum antibodies to HTLV-III/LAV were the subject of a detailed histopathological and immunohistochemical study. The histological findings were correlated to the patients clinical status, and the T4/T8 ratios in blood and lymph nodes. Four histological patterns predominated and were defined as follicular hyperplasia (FH), follicular fragmentation (FF), follicular atrophy (FA), and follicular depletion (FD). Immunocytochemical studies indicated that destruction of follicular dendritic cells is related to the initiation of follicular involution from FH to FF, but the possible role of follicular infiltrating T-cells cannot be excluded. Marked individual variations in lymph node angiogenesis increasing during involution were observed, which suggests that the degree of angiogenic host response may predispose for evolution of Kaposi's sarcoma. The majority of the patients with the clinical diagnosis of persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) were morphologically staged as FH or FF (89%), whereas most of the AIDS patients showed lymph node changes compatible with FA and FD (89%). Patients with AIDS-related complex (ARC) had a wider spectrum of morphological lymph node changes but a majority of cases (62%) were also classified as FA or FD. Clinical follow-up showed progression from PGL to ARC in seven of 21 cases with the FF pattern and only in three of 19 cases with FH, indicating a possible prognostic value in differentiating between FH and FF. Three cases with FD and one with FA progressed to AIDS during the time of observation. T4/T8 ratios in blood and lymph nodes were significantly lower in patients with FD histology compared to patients of the other histological groups. At autopsy, all AIDS cases showed the FD pattern of lymphadenopathy. Autopsy findings in seven patients emphasized the importance of post-mortem studies in clarifying the spectrum of opportunistic diseases, including tumors which afflict the AIDS patients.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1987

Characteristics of the specific cell-mediated immune response in human immunodeficiency virus infection.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific lymphocyte proliferation response was determined for 40 persons at different stages of HIV infection. The specific response to purified HIV virion antigens from strain HTLV-IIIB was poor, occurred in only 9 of the 40 subjects, was not improved with the addition of interleukin-2, and was more frequent in symptom-free individuals (46%) than in patients with lymphadenopathy syndrome (10%). Reactivity to subcomponent p24 was better than that to whole HIV; reactivity was present in five of six infected persons and increased with the addition of exogenous interleukin-2. Reactivities to subcomponents (g)p41 and gp120 were also measured. This is the first evidence of a specific cell-mediated immune response to HIV antigen in HIV-infected persons. Monkeys immunized with purified HIV or with purified p24 displayed cellular immunoreactivity both to whole HIV and to subcomponents. In contrast to the poor reactivity to HIV antigen, the lymphocytes of the patients had good specific cell proliferation responses to cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus challenge and a normal response to the addition of phytohemagglutinin. The results suggest a functional defect in peripheral lymphocytes of some HIV-infected individuals on the basis of their response to whole HIV antigen and a better response to gag protein.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1987

Sexually transmitted viral infections in various population groups in Mogadishu, Somalia.

The prevalence of serum antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) and of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers was investigated in different population groups, including prostitutes, in Mogadishu, Somalia. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in 37% of pregnant women, 4% of neonates, 22% of educated women, and 20% of prostitutes. No significant difference between the groups was observed for HBV. In contrast to figures reported from South East Asia, the prevalence of hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) was 18% in prostitutes and only 3% in all other HBsAg positive subjects. The prevalence of antibodies to HSV (100%) and CMV (90%) was very high, but antibodies against HIV were not detected in any of 471 sera. As the routes of transmission for HBV and HIV infections are considered to be similar, HIV will probably spread rapidly in Somalia once this virus has been introduced into the country.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

The introduction of HIV during 1979-80 in a sexually active homosexual population of Stockholm.

Serological tests for hepatitis A (HA) and B (HB), syphilis and HIV were performed on blood samples from 3 groups of homosexual men: 220 and 124 asymptomatic men being investigated in 1978 and 1980 respectively and another 98 men suffering from HA during the winter 1979-80. The two asymptomatic groups revealed similar test results with respect to HA, HB and syphilis: about 25% had markers for HA, 50% for HB and 10-16% for syphilis. The 1979-80 HA group had a comparatively high frequency of markers for HB (64%) and for syphilis (34%), indicating that these men were sexually highly active. While all of the men in the 1978 test group were free from HIV antibodies, 2% of the 1980 and 6% of the 1979-80 group had antibodies to the virus. The results indicate that HIV was introduced to the gay population of Stockholm during 1979-80.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Oral candida albicans in HIV infection.

The prevalence of oral colonization with Candida albicans was studied in 225 homosexual men, 99 of whom had HIV antibodies and in 175 heterosexual men. Oral candidal carriage was most prevalent among HIV seropositive homosexual men (77.8%). Rich growth of C. albicans in culture and findings of pseudomycelial elements in oral mucosal smear also correlated with HIV seropositivity. Pseudomycelial forms of C. albicans were demonstrated in mucosal smear from all patients with oral mucosal lesions suspected for candidiasis. However, 26/53 patients (49.1%) with positive smear had no clinical signs of oral candidiasis. The oral yeast flora was sampled twice in 85 homosexual men at an interval of 12-18 months. 71/85 patients (83.5%) were grouped into the same category of candidal colonization; carrier or noncarrier state, on both occasions. No statistically significant differences in numbers of CD 4 cells or CD 8 cells were observed between patients with respect to candidal colonization, when HIV seropositive and seronegative homosexual men were considered separately.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1987

HIV infection in a defined population of Swedish haemophiliacs.

The results of a clinical follow-up of 124 Swedish patients with haemophilia A and B or severe form of von Willebrand's disease are reported, especially with regard to HIV infection and complications thereof. 44 of the patients were anti-HIV positive. In this group there was an increasing prevalence of lymphadenopathy (18 cases), diarrhoea and fungal infections. 10 patients had generalized persistent lymphadenopathy. Platelet counts were significantly lower and IgG, IgA and IgM levels significantly higher than in the anti-HIV negative group. Oligoclonal protein bands in the gammaglobulin region were found in 8 of the anti-HIV positive patients. The vast majority of these changes have appeared during the past year, and 1-5 years after seroconversion. Presently 22/44 (50%) anti-HIV positive haemophiliacs have at least one symptom related to this infection. Most of the clinical complications have been possible to treat or to mitigate so far.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1987

Prevalence of HIV infection in healthy subjects and groups of patients in Tanzania.

During 1986 sera from 2508 individuals representing various groups of healthy subjects and patients in Dar es Salaam (the capital city of Tanzania), Bukoba (the capital of Kagera region in the northwest corner of Tanzania), Arusha (in the northeast of Tanzania) and Mbeya (in the southwest of Tanzania) were screened for antibodies to HIV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All ELISA-positive sera were also tested by Western blot analysis. In Dar es Salaam HIV antibodies were demonstrated in 3.6% of 192 pregnant women, 5.2% of 784 blood donors, 29.0% of 224 barmaids, 8.0% of 50 male bar workers, 9.25% of 400 male and 12.2% of 90 female patients attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), 85.7% of 35 patients with herpes zoster and in 97.6% of 84 patients clinically suspected of AIDS. Among the barmaids the seropositivity rate was higher in younger women (45%) than in middle-aged women (11%). Only three (4.6%) out of 65 HIV-seropositive barmaids had HIV-related symptoms. The prevalence of HIV seropositivity among healthy low-risk subjects was highest in Bukoba, namely 16% of 100 pregnant women and 13.9% of 36 blood donors, while in Arusha only one (0.7%) of the 144 pregnant women and none of 41 bar workers, none of 42 blood donors and none of 61 patients with STD were positive. In Mbeya, 3.4% of 118 pregnant women and 11.8% of 34 men with STD were seropositive. Thus the prevalence of HIV infection differs considerably in various population groups and in various parts of Tanzania.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Replicative capacity of human immunodeficiency virus from patients with varying severity of HIV infection.

T-lymphotropic viruses were isolated from 31 patients with different clinical manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Lymphocyte cultures from patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or pre-AIDS yielded virus rapidly, as indicated by high levels of reverse transcriptase (RT) activity in culture fluids. These viruses were able to establish a persistent infection in several T4-antigen-positive tumour cell-lines. In contrast, lymphocyte cultures from patients with mild or no symptoms yielded virus more slowly and the RT activity was low. Co-cultivation of slow/low-yielding lymphocytes with T4-positive tumour cell-lines showed no or only transient virus production. In 14 out of 23 cases virus could be detected by their fatal cytopathic effects on tumour cells. The relation between severity of illness and in-vitro replication potential of the viruses suggests that in the course of an infection selection may occur for HIV variants that replicate efficiently in T4 cells.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Intradermal testing with multiple recall antigens for identification of cell-mediated immune deficiency in homosexual men.

In a health screening project for gay men in Stockholm, delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity was tested in 710 men by a commercial kit (Multitest, Mérieux) containing seven recall antigens and related to past hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, various life style factors, the lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS), and antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III). The multiscore (MS: the sum of all positive reactions) was significantly decreased in men with the following characteristics: HBV markers, greater than 50 yearly sexual partners, regular practice of receptive rectal intercourse, regular sex in gay bathhouses, recent sexual encounters in the US, greater than 50 lifetime exposures to inhaled nitrates, LAS, and positive HTLV-III serology. Anergy to tuberculin (TU) but not to any other antigen was more common in men with greater than 20 yearly partners, regular practice of receptive rectal intercourse, exposure to inhalant nitrates, LAS as well as lesser degree of lymphadenopathy, and HTLV-III seropositivity. HTLV-III antibodies were demonstrated in 61 of 416 (14.7%) men. During the 2-year follow-up four men have developed acquired immune deficiency syndrome. All four had MS less than 10 mm and TU anergy. In a BCG-immunized population Multitest only adds marginal information as compared to intradermal testing solely with TU, but may yield prognostic information in evaluating HTLV-III positive individuals with respect to development of manifest AIDS.

AIDS-Related Complex↗