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Biomedical subjects

H Finger

Publications and source records attributed to H Finger.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

[Hepatitis B virus infections in hospitals].

Subclinical and clinical cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in hospital personnel were recorded over a five-year period. Although our data indicate the existence of "high-risk areas" like laboratories, dialysis units or surgical wards, it was found that 50% of all HBV infections were observed outside these areas. During the same period, most of our inpatients were monitored for HBs-antigenemia. It could be demonstrated that more than 50% of all cases of HBs-antigenemia were not known before and were treated primarily for other reasons than for hepatitis B. As a consequence from our data and from the screening for environmental HBs-antigen on laboratory surfaces it may be concluded for the hospital routine: Even minimal contaminations with blood should be avoided, all personnel should be vaccinated against HBs-antigen, HBs-antigen should be determined in every inpatient to detect inapparent virus carriers.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1983

Course of infection and development of immunity in experimental infection of mice with Listeria serotypes.

NMRI mice were experimentally infected with Listeria monocytogenes serotypes 1/2b, 3a, 4b, and 4d and Listeria innocua serotype 6b by different means. The course of infection was monitored, using bacteriological and histological methods. The following typical features of experimental infection with the various L. monocytogenes and L. innocua serotypes were observed. (i) On the basis of the mean lethal dose, L. monocytogenes 4b, 4d, and 1/2b proved to be mouse pathogenic, although to different degrees, L. monocytogenes 3a and L. innocua can be regarded as nonpathogenic for NMRI mice. The virulence of L. monocytogenes serotype 4d was increased 1,000-fold after adaptation to mice. (ii) Primary infection with any serotype of L. monocytogenes or L. innocua resulted in protection against a lethal challenge with the most virulent serotype, 4b. This protective immunity could be transferred by spleen cells. Compared with the duration of immunity achieved by infection with L. monocytogenes serotype 4b, the protection induced by infection with L. innocua was short lived and dose dependent. The data obtained also suggest that immunity after experimental infection with any serotype of L. monocytogenes or L. innocua is produced only when the animal host is filled with bacteria. (iii) The distribution of the germs in the internal organs of the mouse shortly after infection was dependent on the route of infection rather than on the serotype used. (iv) The main difference among the Listeria serotypes tested was their ability to multiply within the host and to induce a granulomatous inflammation. The results indicate that mouse pathogenicity and virulence of Listeria spp. cannot be defined only by the capacity of the bacteria to infect or kill conventional mice. Such a definition should include an analysis of the immune system of the host, a kinetic study of experimental infection, and a histomorphological evaluation of the lesions induced.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1982

Macrophage function in senescence.

Although the parenteral injection of dextran sulfate 500 (DS 500; 50 mg/kg body weight) into 22-month-old NMRI mice resulted in a complete loss of resistance when administered 1 day before the sublethal (4.5 X 10(3)) infection with Listeria monocytogenes, the consequences in aged animals were less dramatic than in young adult (2- to 3-month-old) controls. This was documented by prolonged survival times as well as reduced numbers of Listeriae in spleen. This indicates that aged mice possess an increased paghocytic capacity, as compared to young adult animals. In aged mice the DS 500-induced loss of resistance could be completely abolished by pretreatment with 3 X 10(9) heat-killed Bordetella pertussis organisms 4 days before the DS 500 injection, i.e., 5 days before listeric infection. This indicates that aged NMRI mice possess remarkable reserves in phagocytic activity.

Aging↗
PubMed1981

Detection of IgG antibodies against Bordetella pertussis with 125I-protein A.

A method for the detection of IgG antibodies against Bordetella pertussis is described, based on the principle of 'sandwich' radioimmunoassay. 125I protein A is used as radioactive tracer. The influence of amounts of antigen, antibody, radioactive tracer, incubation time and temperature were tested and the optimal conditions for the assay are described. The procedure offers a simple, quick, and sensitive method for detecting antibodies against B. pertussis. Application and limitation of the test are discussed.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1981

Biological activity of Bordetella pertussis in lipopolysaccharide-resistant mice.

Effects of Bordetella pertussis organisms, such as adjuvanticity, induction of hypersplenia, and leukocytosis as well as modification of nonspecific resistance to infection and typical morphological response of lymphatic organs, were studied in the lipopolysaccharide-resistant C3H/HeJ mouse strain. It was shown that B. pertussis exerted all of these effects in C3H/HeJ mice, although the morphological response, hypersplenia, and modification of resistance to infection with Listeria monocytogenes in such animals were less pronounced than those in lipopolysaccharide-sensitive mouse strains. This indicated that the biological activity of B. pertussis as determined in the present studies, is due partly to structural components other than lipopolysaccharide.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1980

Failure of synthetic muramyl dipeptide to increase antibacterial resistance.

Synthetic muranyl dipeptide, which potentiates antibody production and cellular immune responses at a dosage of 100 to 500 micrograms, did not enhance resistance to intravenous infection with a sublethal dose of 2 X 10(3) to 4 X 10(3) viable Listeria monocytogenes cells in mice when intraperitoneally injected either 20 min or 5 days before infection. Similarly, blockade of the mononuclear phagocyte system by dextran sulfate 500 could not be overcome by pretreatment with muramyl dipeptide. In contrast, dextran sulfate 500-induced loss of antibacterial resistance was found to be completely abolished by intraperitoneal injection of 3 X 10(9) killed Bordetella pertussis organisms when given 4 days before injection of dextran sulfate 500, i.e., 5 days before infection. B. pertussis were also effective in enhancing antibacterial resistance when administered 5 days before infection. The different behavior of the two adjuvants tested is assumed to be due to their different nonspecific proliferative capacities. Thus, B. pertussis are assumed to act by direct stimulation of the mononuclear phagocyte system whereas muramyl dipeptide does not.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗
PubMed1979

[Influence of maternal antibodies on the primary and secondary immunoresponse of the juvenile organism (author's transl)].

The immunization of mice with sheep erythrocytes served as model for the materno-fetal transfer of specific antibodies. It could be shown that passively transferred antibodies are able to induce a long-lasting suppression of the primary and secondary immuno-response in the offspring. This holds true both for active immunization before pregnancy and for passive immunization shortly before term. As it can be supposed that similar effects also apply to the human organism, this phenomenon must be considered for the vaccination during pregnancy as well as for the first immunization of children.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Age-related defense against infection with intracellular pathogens.

Young adult (6--12 weeks old) and aged (20--24 months old) NMRI mice were infected with various intracellular parasites. The following results were obtained: (1) After a sublethal infection with Listeria monocytogenes, aged mice were found to show a resistance similar to that of young adults. A challenge infection with this pathogen was followed by specific immunity of long duration in both age-groups. (2) On the other hand, young animals were significantly more resistant to Salmonella typhimurium than aged mice. It was concluded that this was due to the LD50 which was 14 times greater for 2-month-old than for 20-month-old mice. Furthermore, during 7 weeks after infection there were more S. typhimurium in the spleens of senescent mice than in those of young adult controls. (3) Aged mice showed highly increased susceptibility to the weakly virulent DX strain of Toxoplasma gondii. Almost all aged animals died whereas the control mice survived. When death of the aged mice was prevented by treatment with sulfadiazine after infection with the DX strain, the aged mice were found to be as well protected against subsequent infection with the strongly virulent BK strains as the young adult mice. These results suggest that the susceptibility of the aged animal to infectious agents may considerably vary from one pathogen to another.

Aging↗
PubMed1979

[Immunoglobulins and other plasme proteins in late pregnancy (author's transl)].

Serum levels of immunoglobulins, alpha-2-macroglobulin and complement component C3 were measured from 490 pregnant women shortly before date and compared with the serum concentration of the same proteins in a group of female blood donors. Concentration of immunoglobulin G was found to be significantly (2 p less than 0.001) reduced during late pregnancy, while the serum level of immunoglobulin M in the group of pregnant women was significantly (2 p less than 0.01) increased. No difference between the serum concentration of immunoglobulin A could be observed between both groups. A significant increase (2 p less than 0.01) could also be observed regarding the serum levels of the complement component C3 and of alpha-2-Macroglobulin in the group of pregnant women. The findings are discussed with respect to the alterations during late pregnancy.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1979

[Serum proteins and specific antibodies in a German and an alien population (author's transl)].

Serum concentrations of immunoglobulins A, M and G, of alpha 2-macroglobulin, complement component C 3 and of specific antibodies against streptolysin O, staphylolysin, influenza/parainfluenzavirus and measles virus were measured from 323 German and 167 alien pregnant women. Except from a statistically significant increase of IgG and alpha 2-macroglobulin in the alien group, no measurable differences could be seen. It is concluded that the evaluation of all measured parameters can be equal for both populations.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1978

[Concentration of specific antibodies in commercially avaialable immunoglobulins (author's transl)].

Not significant differences in the composition or concentration of specific antibodies against microbial antigens could be measured in five commercially available human immunoglobulin preparations for intravenous use. Prediction of prophylactic or therapeutic efficiency of such preparations according to their antibody content seems to be only partially possible. Human immunoglobulins for intravenous use should be free from irregular antibodies against erythrocyte antigens of the Rh-systems, as found in one of the specimens tested.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1978

Reversion of dextran sulfate-induced loss of antibacterial resistance by Bordetella pertussis.

Parenteral injection of dextran sulfate 500 (DS 500; 50 mg/kg of body weight) into mice caused a complete loss of resistance to a sublethal (2 X 10(3) to 5 X 10(3)) infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Such loss could be prevented by pretreatment of animals with 3 X 10(9) heat-killed Bordetella pertussis organisms (PO) 5 to 30 days before the administration of DS 500. The increased phagocytic capcity induced by PO was only exhausted when a fourfold dose of DS 500, effecting complete loss of antibacterial resistance (50 mg/kg ob body weight), was administered. Listeriosis in mice treated with DS 500 is characterized by rapid-progressive necro-purulent inflammation of liver and spleen, lack of mononuclear phagocyte response, and 100% lethality within 72 h after infection. In contrast, the time course, extent, and morphological characteristics of listeriosis in animals pretreated with PO before the DS 500 application were not significantly different from those of nonpretreated controls. Evidence is presented that the protective effect of PO is due to activation of the mononuclear phagocyte system, which without such treatment is blocked by the DS 500 administration. The data presented indicate that the protective effect of PO is due only in part to the endotoxic moiety of these bacteria. Differences in the course and morphology of listeriosis in animals with dysfunction of the mononuclear phagocyte system and in animals with deficiency of the cellular immune system are discussed.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1978

Postnatal development of resistance against infection in an experimental model.

The postnatal development of resistance against infection was monitored by the treatment of juvenile mice with a virulent strain of Listeria monocytogenes. It could be shown that until day 10 after birth, young mice succumbed to an infection with even minimal doses of bacteria. Between day 15 and 30, the resistance against infection gradually increases until the rather constant level of grown-up animals is reached (Fig. 1). Juvenile mice that survive the primary infection are able to build up a state of immunity, which is rather similar to that of grown-up mice (Fig 3). Immunity against L. monocytogenes is mainly expressed by a functionally active T-cell system; the maturity of these cells in 15 days old mice could be demonstrated by the transfer of cells to "nude"-mice, which lack a thymus (Fig. 4). A significant increase of the non-specific resistance can be achieved even in 10 days old mice by the injection of adjuvants like pertussis organisms or endotoxin of Salmonella typhi some days before infection (Fig. 5, Fig. 6). Our findings suggest that a deficiency of functionally active macrophages is responsible for the insufficient resistance against infection with L. monocytogenes in young mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

[Influence of killed Bordetella pertussis cells on the resistance against infection with Listeria monocytogenes (author's transl)].

The influence of killed Bordetella pertussis cells (B.p.) on the cell-mediated resistance of mice against infection with virulent germs of Listeria monocytogenes has been studied. Resistance of mice was decreased, when 3 X 10(9) B.p. were injected 1 day before, simultaneously with or 1 day after infection, resulting in augmented amounts of viable Listeriae recovered from the spleens 3 days after infection (figure 1). The LD50 was strongly reduced (Table 1). Transfer of immune spleen cells to recipient mice, which had been treated 1 day previously with 3 X 10(9)B.p., did not support resistance definitely (Table 2). Therefore, it can be concluded that probably the macrophage system was impaired just after B.p. injection. When, however, B.p. were given several days before infection, resistance was increased. A maximum of resistance enhancement was seen 7-14 days after B.p. treatment. Thereafter, this beneficial effect gradually decreased but persisted for at least 67 days (figure 1). This resistance enhancing effect of B.p. was surely not due to adjuvant effect of B.p. on the T-lymphocyte-mediated immune reaction to Listeriae, since in B.p.-pretreated mice the development of immunity during the primary infection to a secondary listeric infection has even been lacking (Table 3). It is more likely that the macrophage system was stimulated at this time by B.p. In mice treated 7 days prior to infection the elimination of Listeriae from the spleens was supported from the very beginning of the infection (figure 2).

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗