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H W Doerr

Publications and source records attributed to H W Doerr.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

[Cytomegalovirus diagnosis in blood donors and risk patients].

The transfusion transmitted CMV is a possibly dangerous complication of transfusion therapy in immunodeficient patients. We therefore investigated blood donors and patients at increased risk of CMV-infection for CMV-IgG-and-IgM-antibodies. The following CMV IgG and CMV IgM prevalence rates were observed: blood donors 63.7% (0.98%), organ donors 76.9% (0%), patients on hemodialysis 83.0% (17.0%) and drug abusers 57.7% (1.3%). We conclude from our results that CMV IgG testing is useful at every blood donation to provide a large pool of CMV negative blood donors.

Antibodies, Viral↗

[CMV antibody determination with two enzyme immunoassays in each case].

In each of the two present studies (Frankfurt blood donor center and blood bank of the university of Hamburg) two commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test kits for detecting cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies were compared according to their concordance. In the Frankfurt study, 448 sera of blood donors and patients were tested for IgG- and IgM-specific antibodies by CMV-ELA Test (Medac); IgG-specific antibodies were tested in 3 serum dilutions (1:10, 1:100, 1:1000) of each sample, 221 sera were additionally assayed using the EIA of ABBOTT. Both methods showed the same results in 214/221 (96.8%) sera (p less than 0.001). The determination of CMV-IgG-specific antibody levels were as follows: Out of 294 seropositive individuals, titers greater than or equal to 1:1000 were seen in 81% (238). IgM antibodies to CMV were determined in 22/448 serum specimen, which all had IgG antibodies too; there were 18/22 (81.8%) samples with elevated titers for CMV-IgG (greater than or equal to 1:1000). In the second study, 500 sera of blood donors from Hamburg were tested for CMV-IgG antibodies by two enzyme immunoassays, CMV-IgG-ELA (Medac) and Anti-CMV-IgG-ELISA (Biotest). The results were concordant in 418 (83.6%) of the 500 samples (p less than 0.01). All EIA procedures were found to be convenient test methods for CMV antibody screening and the results showed significant correlations. Furthermore, the determination of CMV-IgG-specific antibodies seems to be sufficient for routine CMV screening in blood donor centers.

Antibodies, Viral↗

[Significance of cytomegalovirus in blood donation].

The subjects of the present study are diagnostic and epidemiologic aspects in the determination of serum antibodies to cytomegalovirus in blood donors, organ donors, dialysis patients and drug addicts (some of whom were HIV-positive); antibodies were determined using the ELA-Test (CMV-IgG ELA and CMV-IgM-ELA). 221 sera were additionally assayed using the CMV total AB EIA which has been used in the Frankfurt blood center since May 1985 for CMV antibody screening of blood donors: both enzyme immunoassays showed the same results in 214 sera (96.8%), which shows a high rate of correlation (requiv = 0.99, p less than 0.001). The groups were found to be CMV antibody positive as follows: blood donors 65/102 (63.7%), organ donors 10/13 (76.9%), dialysis patients 88/106 (83.0%), drug addicts 131/227 (57.7%), and HIV-antibody-positive drug addicts 17/31 (54.8%). There was a significant statistical difference between blood donors and dialysis patients (p less than 0.01); the difference between blood donors and drug addicts was also statistically significant when age was considered (p less than 0.001). There was no statistical significance in the distinction between HIV-negative and HIV-positive drug addicts. IgM-specific antibodies were found in 1/102 (0.98%) blood donors, 18/106 (17.0%) dialysis patients and 3/227 (1.3%) drug addicts, whereas in organ donors no IgM-specific antibodies were determined. The seropositivity rate of a Frankfurt group of regular blood donors (n = 1826) was 55.5%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Antibodies to hepatitis B virus x-protein in sera of patients with acute and chronic active hepatitis.

Sera of patients with acute (AH) and chronic active hepatitis (CAH) were tested for anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) x-protein (HBx) by immunoblotting, using recombinant MS2- and beta gal-HBx fusion proteins as substrate. Antibodies against HBx were detected in 5 out of 17 patients with AH at an early stage of infection, and in 13 out of 35 patients with CAH. Positive sera from AH patients showed a relatively weak anti-HBx reactivity when compared to sera from CAH patients. In follow up studies we tested serial serum samples from patients positive for anti-HBx. Patients with AH were observed for 3 to 6 weeks and CAH patients for up to 51 months. In general anti-HBx reactivities appeared to be stable although significant differences in apparent antibody levels were noted when sera from individual patients were compared. Our data further support an early expression of HBx-antigen in HBV-infected individuals. There was no correlation between HBe-antigen and anti-HBx in CAH.

Blotting, Western↗

The establishment and characterization of mouse L-929 cells in protein-free Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium.

The mouse cell line L-929 was established in protein-free Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium. The cells have been 'adapted' to continuous growth in the medium using stepwise reductions in the concentration of fetal bovine serum. The cells designated L-929-WS have now been propagated in protein-free Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium for two years. The population-doubling time was about 37 h. The addition of serum stimulated cell growth only slightly, but the saturation density was significantly increased. Morphological examination, a study of the secretion of colony stimulating activity and cytochemical investigations for acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase showed that L-929-WS cells, grown in protein-free Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium, did not differ markedly from cells propagated in medium containing serum. The cells provided a simple model for the study of cell growth in the absence of serum or the other macromolecular substances usually added to cell cultures. The general application of the cells for purposes in which the addition of serum or growth factors might interfere, is suggested.

Animals↗

[Molecular epidemiology of rotavirus infections at units of children's hospitals].

From the 16.6. 1983 until the 5.9. 1984 337 stool specimens were collected from 258 patients in the pediatric clinics of the University hospital of Mannheim and of Heidelberg. They were tested for Rotavirus antigen and Rotavirus genome-dsRNA. Of the 192 rotavirus antigen-positive children, 91.1% experienced the infection in their first year of life with a distinct peak during the winter and a noticeably high percentage of newborn babies being affected. Forty-six electropherotypes and three of them as mixed types were found. Of these four predominated in nearly half of the material tested positive, and these four types differed among each other only in a minor way. No sex-related preference was demonstrated. Cases in which serious symptoms developed were not associated with any specific electropherotype. The course of duration and the symptoms of the 67 nosocomial rotavirus infections did not differ from those of the other children.

Age Factors↗

Immunoglobulin class- and subclass-specific HIV antibody detection in serum and CSF specimens by ELISA and Western blot.

Twenty-four homosexual adult patients suffering from LAS or AIDS were investigated for immunoglobulin class- and IgG subclass-specific antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by the indirect ELISA and Western blot using monoclonal tracer antibodies. All patients revealed HIV-specific serum antibodies of IgG subclass 1, and half of them IgG3. Only two had IgG2 and one IgG4 antibodies. IgM-anti-HIV was present in a person who presented a sero-conversion in subsequent blood specimens. In twelve patients who developed signs of an ongoing encephalitis, cerebrospinal fluid specimens were also tested. HIV-specific IgG antibodies were usually restricted to the subclass 1. In two cases specific IgM was found to be present, although lacking in the blood specimens. By comparison with HSV antibody detection in blood and CSF, an intrathecal, possibly pathognomonic antibody formation to HIV could be confirmed, mainly directed to gp120, gp41 and p24.

AIDS-Related Complex↗

Cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common agent of prenatal (peri- and early postnatal) infection of the newborn with an incidence of 0.2-2.0% (5-10%) depending on the socio-economic status. Only one out of 20 congenitally CMV-infected newborns shows serious symptoms. Another two may reveal mental retardation and other significant handicaps in later age. Perinatal CMV infection occasionally causes atypical pneumonia, mostly combined with Pneumocystis carinii infections similar to reports of AIDS cases. The risk of vertical infection has been quantified. About 2-4% of pregnant seronegative women (40-60% of all) pass a primary, 10-20% of seropositives a recurrent CMV infection. Every third primary infection may result in vertical CMV transmission with poor prognosis in about 25% (40%) of the offspring infected (in the first half of pregnancy). Sources of vertical infection are semen, maternal cell-associated viraemia, ascending genital virus (prenatally), cervical secretion (perinatally), breast milk and saliva (early postnatally). Laboratory diagnosis of CMV infection is performed by many virological and immunological techniques for detecting viral infectivity, structural components, humoral and cellular immunoresponses. Routine diagnostic service is mainly established by virus cultivation in human fibroblasts and by ELISAs on antibodies and antigens.

Cytomegalovirus Infections↗

[HIV infections in the Frankfurt area: results of viral serologic laboratory diagnosis].

Basing on routine laboratory diagnosis of serum antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) in the years 1985 and 1986, the monthly detection rate of infection amounts to 50 persons on an average in the region of Frankfurt/FRG. The relation of female to male persons changed from 1:7 to 1:3 during one year. This might be influenced by a screening programme performed with female prostitutes who are found seropositive in about 2.5%. In December 1986, the first case of an HIV-2 infection was recorded. The clinical examination of HIV-infected patients admitted to the City Hospital of Offenbach/FRG revealed striking signs in about 35-40%, of AIDS in 6%. The infected persons belong to risk groups. No positive result was seen in pregnant women (n = 1100), medical staff (n = 405) and patients requiring renal transplants (n = 115) who do not belong to the risk groups.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Status of immunity against poliomyelitis in Germany].

Neutralizing antibodies against poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3 were determined in serum of 4,039 persons of different ages and of 879 persons at the beginning of their training (male recruits at their initial examination; female teaching trainees and student nurses). The sera were supplied by eleven institutions. Compared with similar studies in 1969, 1972 and 1978, the immunity against individual poliovirus types as well as that against the three types in the different age groups has improved. About three quarters of those older than seven years have antibodies against types 1, 2 and 3. The present study, which for the first time used a more sensitive neutralization test, revealed that about 85% of probands had antibodies against all three types. The trivalent immunity of those aged from 0 to six years has improved by 11 percent points since 1978. There was no decrease in immunity among those older than 20 years.

Adolescent↗

Humoral immune response after hepatitis-B-vaccination: kinetics of anti-HBs antibodies and demonstration of HLA antigens.

Three injections monthly of 50 micrograms/ml hepatitis-B-vaccine (Hevac-B-Pasteur) and one booster injection after 12 months from the beginning of vaccination were given to 676 adult recipients. Anti-HBs was detected in 45.9 percent of persons one month after the first dose of vaccine, in 79.3 percent after the third dose and in 98.4 percent after the booster injection. A follow-up of 142 persons 3 years after the first dose of vaccine indicated that protective levels of anti-HBs were maintained in 95.1 per cent of all participants. HLA antigens were typed in 13 vaccine recipients with low anti-HBs titers (less than or equal to 10 ImU/ml) and in 26 recipients with high anti-HBs titers (greater than or equal to 20,000 ImU/ml). Significant differences of antigen frequency (p less than 0.05) were found for HLA A3 (decrease in high responders), and HLA DR7 (increase of in low, decrease in high responders). The results indicate genetic differences between high and low responding recipients of HBV vaccine.

Adult↗

Human cytomegalovirus replicates in primary human bone marrow cells.

As an attempt to elucidate further the pathogenesis of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection the replication of HCMV in primary human bone marrow cells (BMC) has been investigated. It was found that BMC held in culture in general were susceptible to HCMV infection. Compared to human embryonic lung cells, however, the replicative cycle of HCMV AD169 in BMC as determined by the analysis of viral protein and DNA synthesis was delayed and productive virus infection was restricted to a subset of BMC not exceeding 21% of the total cell population. Both of these phenomena may explain the short-term persistence of HCMV in BMC cultures which was observed over 3 months. By experiments with specifically enriched and depleted cell populations and by indirect double immunofluorescence experiments we found that both bone marrow fibroblasts and a subset of bone marrow stem cells supported productive virus infection. The finding that HCMV replicates in early stem cells of the human bone marrow may explain important aspects of the pathogenesis of HCMV infection including the presence of HCMV in peripheral blood leukocytes.

Bone Marrow↗