PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Polesky

Publications and source records attributed to H Polesky.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Antibody reactivity with HBLV (HHV-6) in U.S. populations.

500 sera representing healthy blood donors and a random representation of the U.S. population collected 10 years ago were screened by ELISA for antibody reactivity with purified, disrupted HBLV virions. In each group, the ELISA results were normally distributed with no evidence of bimodality. All sera were subsequently retested after preincubation of each with well-characterized preparations of disrupted HSB-2 cells or HBLV-infected HSB-2 cells. Sera showing significant levels of HBLV-specific neutralization (50% or more) were found in Minneapolis, Kansas City, and in a random population survey (81, 88 and 97% of donors, respectively). Mean ELISA test values were the same for all groups and for males and females within the same group. Sera from these normal donors reacted preferentially with viral antigens of 120 and 58 kDa by Western blot. In a hospital-based prevalence study, frequent IgM and IgG seroconversions were apparent among infants less than 1 year old, and mean ELISA test values reached the adult level before school age. Antigen preparations used in blocking experiments showed no competitive cross-reactivity with antisera against EBV, CMV, HSV, VZV, HIV, or adenovirus type 2 at levels which reduced antibody binding to HBLV by more than 90%. Antibody cross-reactivities towards HBLV and other human herpesviruses were assessed by cross-correlation of viral antibody titers against all of the viruses and by cross-absorptions of antisera against the other viruses with HBLV. In these experiments no antibody cross-reactivity between HBLV and other human herpesviruses were detected. The significance of these findings with respect to health/disease status is presently unknown. Further seroepidemiologic studies of quantitative levels of HBLV antibody reactivity to measure the age of primary infection and progressive changes in healthy and selected disease populations are needed to determine the risk of disease associated with HBLV infection.

Adolescent↗

No fallacies in the formulation of the paternity index.

In a recent publication, Li and Chakravarti claim to have shown that the paternity index is not a likelihood ratio. They present a method of estimating the prior probability of paternity from a sample of previous court cases on the basis of exclusions and nonexclusions. They propose calculating the posterior probability on the basis of this estimated prior and the test result expressed as exclusion/nonexclusion. Their claim is wrong--the paternity index is a likelihood-ratio, that is, the ratio of the likelihood of the observation conditional on the two mutually exclusive hypotheses. Their proposed method of estimating the prior has been long known, has been applied to several samples, and is inferior (in terms of variance of the estimate) to maximum likelihood estimation based on all the phenotypic information available. Their proposed "new method" of calculating a posterior probability is based on the use of a less informative likelihood ratio 1/(1-PE) instead of Gürtler's fully informative paternity index X/Y (Acta Med Leg Soc Liege 9:83-93, 1956), but is otherwise identical to the Bayesian approach originally introduced by Essen-Möller in 1938.

Humans↗

Gc subtypes identified by isoelectric focusing in baboons (Papio hamadryas).

Phenotyping for Gc variants by conventional electrophoresis in 835 Papio hamadryas baboons demonstrated a monomorphic population. Gc subtyping by polyacrylamide IEF gels, pH 4-6, on 394 of these baboons revealed the existence of two common alleles which we named Gc1Papio and Gc2Papio. Pedigree data confirmed the inheritance of a single locus, two allele system and the observed gene frequencies were 0.593 for Gc1Papio and 0.407 for Gc2Papio.

Alleles↗

Haemolytic anaemia in previously healthy adult patients with CMV infections: report of two cases and an evaluation of subclinical haemolysis in CMV mononucleosis.

Whereas haemolytic anaemia is commonly encountered in infants and young children with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, it is an infrequent complication of CMV-induced infections in previously healthy adults. The data from 2 such patients are presented. One patient's Hb fell to a level of 36 g/l, and she required prednisone and blood transfusions. Her direct antihuman globulin test (DAT) was positive (IgG), and her red blood cell survival (51Cr) revealed a T 1/2 of 5 d. Both saline-agglutinating and low-molecular-weight cold agglutinins (CA) (4 degrees C) that reacted against both cord and adult cells were identified. In the second case, a moderate haemolytic anaemia (lowest Hb 87 g/l) was accompanied by negative DAT and CA studies. 20 other patients with CMV-mononucleosis were evaluated for evidence of subclinical haemolysis. Reticulocyte counts greater than 3.0% were noted in 9 of these patients. Haptoglobin values were below 0.5 g/l in 13 patients, and a positive DAT was recorded in 3/10 cases. This study documents haemolysis in many non-immunosuppressed adult patients with CMV infections. The mechanism responsible remains obscure.

Adolescent↗

Description of six new Gc variants.

Gc subtyping by isoelectric focusing and routine conventional electrophoresis demonstrated six new variants (mutants): Gc1C16, Gc1C23, Gc1C25, Gc2A12, Gc2A13, and Gc2C7. The variants were confirmed by the acknowledged Gc Reference Laboratories of Drs. J. Constans and H. Cleve. Gc1C16, Gc1C23, and Gc2A12 are tentative variants due to absence of family data to confirm their heritability.

Adult↗

Spurious rapid infections mononucleosis test results in non-infectious mononucleosis sera. The role of high-titer horse agglutinins.

The present report-describes serologic data from five individuals without infectious mononucleosis (IM) who had very high levels of horse red blood cell agglutinins (1:896-1:7168) that were unusual in that they were minimally absorbed by either guinea pig kidney or beef red blood cell suspensions. Agglutination of sheep red blood cells was negative, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific serodiagnostic tests revealed evidence for long past primary infections. In one of the five cases, serologic findings suggested a more than usually active EBV carrier state, as evident from persistently high anti-VCA (IgG) levels of 1:1280 and the continual presence of anti-R at 1:40. Sera from all cases predictably interfered with several commercially available IM-specific rapid slide agglutination tests. The incidence of such findings was estimated to be no more than one per one thousand non-IM cases. In three patients adequately studied, the poorly absorbable horse agglutinins persisted in serum samples over periods of five to nine years. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Adult↗

Transferrin (Tf) subtyping on agarose: a new technique for isoelectric focusing.

Isoelectric focusing (IEF) of the serum protein transferrin (Tf) on polyacrylamide gels has been found to be a useful tool in population genetics and forensic medicine. Three autosomal codominant alleles can be subtyped from the TfC allele, TfC1, TfC2, and TfC3. In this report the authors describe the use of agarose as an alternative technique for Tf subtyping. The method is faster, easier to perform and eliminates the use of toxic chemicals used with polyacrylamide gels. Results of subtyping for the three alleles Tfc1, Tfc2, and Tfc3 are described for a population of U.S. whites (n = 392) and U.S. blacks (n = 194).

Acrylic Resins↗

Properdin factor B (Bf) as an exclusion determinate in parentage testing.

Properdin factor B (Bf) was phenotyped on 519 paternity cases. Gene frequencies of BfF = 0.1870, BfF1 = 0.0105, BfS = 0.7985 and BfSO.7 = 0.0040 were observed in Minnesota Whites. Based on these values the exclusion probability is (p) = 0.1442. Bf accounted for 15% of the 88 observed exclusions. A technique is described for simultaneous electrophoresis of Bf and Gc on the same gel.

Complement Factor B↗

Hepatitis B in ward and clinical laboratory employees of a general hospital.

After a sharp increase in viral hepatitis cases, mostly type B, among the 2000 employees of a general hospital during three years, we conducted an investigation which consisted of obtaining data on employee cases and surveying many current employees. Of the 38 cases, 22 occurred in non-physician, ward employees. Of 189 current ward employees, 8% had antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBS) and 1% had hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) seropositivity was highest for employees who worked closely with hemodialysis and renal transplant patients and for those who claimed that their ward was understaffed. Nine of the 38 cases occurred in clinical lab workers. Of 70 current lab employees, 17% were positive for anti-HBS and none for HBSAg. HBV seropositivity was highest for those working in the chemistry section (highest there among those performing blood-gas determinations and those working with the multi-channel autoanalyzers) and those who routinely got blood on their skin and clothes at work. All seropositive employees worked routinely with blood. These data support the hypotheses that many hospital employees contract hepatitis B from exposure to HBSAg-positive patients and many clinical laboratory employees contract it from exposure to HBV-contaminated blood.

Carrier State↗

Cold agglutinins in infectious mononucleosis and heterophil-antibody-negative mononucleosis-like syndromes.

Cold agglutinins (CA) were evaluated prospectively in patients with various mononucleosis syndromes and in a large control group. Cold agglutinins with anti-i specificity were seen mainly in heterophil-positive or -negative Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced infectious mononucleosis (31.8% of cases). Unclassified CA with equal reactivity against cord and adult erythrocytes were seen in 56 of 150 (37.3%) cases of heterophil-antibody-positive infectious mononucleosis (IM), in 1 of 7 (14.3%) cases of heterophil-negative EBV-induced IM, and in 12 of 31 (38.7%) cases of the heterophil-negative mononucleosis-like syndrome due to cytomegalovirus or other unspecified agents. One patient with heterophil-positive IM had a persistent, partially papain sensitive CA with anti-Pr-like activity. Anti-i CA were seen in less than 1.0% of healthy young adults (500) or patients without mononucleosis (500) submitted for heterophil studies. Unclassified CA were noted in 3.2% of the latter 1000 samples.

Agglutinins↗

The specificity of heterophil antibodies in patients and healthy donors with no or minimal signs of infectious mononucleosis.

Over several years sera were collected from 14 heterophil-positive students or patients who did not fulfill minimal hematologic criteria for infectious mononucleosis (I.M.) The specificity of these heterophil reactions for I.M. was investigated by determining antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus-determined antigens, i.e., to viral capsid antigens (VCA), early antigens (EA), and EBV-associated nuclear antigens (EBNA). On the basis of detectable anti-EA and/or the early absence and late emergence of anti-EBNA, four of these 14 individuals showed evidence of a current or very recent primary Epstein-Barr virus infection. The other ten patients showed antibody patterns indicative of Epstein-Barr virus infections in the past, and no firm conclusions could be drawn with regard to the specificity of their heterophil reactions. It was assumed, however, that some represented atypical clinical forms of EBV infection and that timing of specimen collection was a factor in explaining the paucity of Downey cells. In three patients, the absorbed heterophil-positive reactions persisted with little change in titer for at least 22 mo and thus might represent false-positive tests.

Adolescent↗

The comprehensive blood bank survey program of the College of American Pathologists, 1974.

Results of the 1974 College of American Pathologists Comprehensive Blood Bank Survey Program show that ABO and Rh typing are still holding their percentage of excellent (99.48%) accuracy. At least some of the errors still occurring are due to clerical mistakes in filling out the forms and not to technical inaccuracy. Antibody detection shows good accuracy but varies, depending on the complexity of the problems--the easier the problem the higher the rate of concurrence, while the more complex the problem the more variance in results. Crossmatching accuracy is 99% correct or better on any but the most complex problems. Some of the problems involving interpretation of autoimmune hemolytic anemia are discussed.

Blood Banks↗

A comparison of the physical and intellectual development of black children with and without sickle-cell trait.

Sickle-cell trait, a condition present in 7% to 9% of the United States Black population, is usually considered to be a clinically benign condition. However, there is increasing evidence to indicate the contrary, that is, the clinical pathophysiology is variable, ranging from a benign condition in most cases to a relatively few cases of severe pathological involvement. Physical and intellectual growth measures were taken on 19 children with sickle-cell trait (12 boys and 7 girls) from a large study of Black same-sex twin pairs from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and compared to measures taken of a sample of normal Black children from 155 monozygotic and dizygotic same-sex twin pairs. Sickle-cell trait carriers were found to weigh less, have smaller upper arm circumference lesser skinfold thickness, and showed less mature skeletal age, differing significantly from normal children. Sickle-cell carriers tended to score lower on four of five intellectual measures, scoring one fifth to one third of a standard deviation lower than normal children.

Adolescent↗

Post-perfusion syndrome due to Epstein-Barr virus. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

The post-perfusion syndrome is rarely due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), because most adult patients already carry protective neutralizing antibodies in their sera. Data are presented from two patients in whom heterophil-antibody-positive infectious mononucleosis developed 35 and 48 days after open-heart surgery. The diagnoses of their predominantly febrile illnesses were delayed because of late appearance of atypical lymphocytes and heterophil antibodies. EBV-specific antibody responses were also delayed, with peak titers appearing several weeks or months after onset. The differences in evolution of the present cases, compared to those of classic infectious mononucleosis, were presumably due to different portals of entry (blood stream versus oropharynx).

Antibodies, Viral↗