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Biomedical subjects

I B Hillary

Publications and source records attributed to I B Hillary.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus infection among infants over three winter seasons.

A study involving respiratory syncytial virus was carried out on infants and young children hospitalised with acute respiratory tract infection over the period December 1987 to March 1990. During peak periods of RS virus activity 420 naso-pharyngeal aspirates were submitted to the Virus Reference Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, U.C.D., mostly from the Dublin region. Using immunofluorescence, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and cell culture techniques 206 samples (49%) were identified as positive for RS virus. Over the period of study RS virus seasonal activity was confined to the winter months October to March with peaks of activity occurring during March 1988, December 1988 and January 1990. Bronchiolitis was the most common clinical manifestation of infection accounting for 48% of the total number of positive results. Eighty two point five per cent of positive detections were reported from infants less than or equal to 6 months old and particularly from infants in the 1-2 month old age group. More males than females were found to be affected by RS virus infection.

Female↗
PubMed1989

Changes in incidence of hepatitis B in Ireland from 1970-1987.

This paper analyses data on 2,226 cases of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection detected during the years 1970 to 1987. Of those where information on risk-group was available (1,301), infection among intravenous drug-abusers accounted for the largest proportion (49%). Most became infected during and since an outbreak of hepatitis B and Delta hepatitis which originated in this group in 1980. A comparison of the data before and after the start of the outbreak among drug-abusers shows a marked increase in the number of HBV infections in non drug users, including haemophiliacs, homosexuals and health-care staff, and a dramatic decrease in hepatitis B following blood transfusion. A larger group (165 cases), many of whom are long-term healthy hepatitis B surface antigen carriers, were patients in institutions for the mentally handicapped (IMH). Most were detected recently during pre-vaccination sampling programmes. Others affected included visitors to and from high-incidence areas, tattooed persons, dialysis patients, persons born to infected mothers, and members of the security forces dealing with drug-abusers. In all, 8.4% of the hepatitis B cases detected were found to be carriers and 67% of these remained carriers in 1987 The mean duration of carriage was 3.25 years. Intravenous drug-abusers and IMH patients constituted the two largest groups of carriers. The running-three-yearly mean incidence of new cases of hepatitis B has levelled off below the peak of 1981. Although the number of cases among drug-abusers has apparently decreased, the number of cases among non drug-abusing groups has increased by 50%. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1985

Increased severity and morbidity of acute hepatitis in drug abusers with simultaneously acquired hepatitis B and hepatitis D virus infections.

Hepatitis D virus (delta agent) markers were present in 111 (36%) of 308 intravenous drug abusers who were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), 52 of these having hepatitis D virus antigenaemia. IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc IgM) was present in 92 out of 95 subjects tested, indicating that hepatitis D virus and hepatitis B virus infections had been acquired simultaneously. Hepatitis D virus markers were present in three out of four patients with fulminant hepatitis, and in 80 of 223 (36%) with mild or moderate hepatitis compared with four of 29 (14%) of those who were asymptomatic. These proportional differences were significant (p less than 0.001). Hepatitis D virus markers were present in twice as many patients positive for anti-HBc IgM requiring admission to hospital with acute hepatitis compared with outpatients attending a drug treatment centre. Tests on one patient showed complete disappearance of HBsAg, but hepatitis D antigen (HDAg or delta antigen) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) were still present in serum samples. All five patients with chronic active hepatitis had hepatitis D antibody (anti-HD) compared with seven of 24 (29%) with chronic persistent hepatitis (p = 0.008). Blocking anti-HD persisted for long periods after simultaneous infections with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis D virus but at lower titres than in patients with chronic liver disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Quantitative and qualitative detection of cytomegalovirus-specific antibodies using two types of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

An indirect ELISA and an inhibition ELISA were developed for the detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and CMV-specific total immunoglobulin, respectively. Both assays were more specific than the complement fixation (CF) test, and titres of positive sera were 660 times higher by IgG ELISA and 6 times higher by inhibition ELISA than titres by the CF test. Titres by IgG ELISA were reliably determined using the absorbance obtained at a single serum dilution of 1/1,000 in conjunction with a standard graph. Both ELISAs compared favourably with each other in sensitivity and specificity in determining CMV immune status. The inhibition ELISA, in particular, provides a simple and reliable method of screening sera, which requires no control antigen or predilution of sera. It should prove useful for large-scale screening procedures, such as blood donor testing.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1985

Improved method for isolation and growth of Chlamydia trachomatis in McCoy cells treated with cycloheximide using polyethylene glycol.

The sensitivity of non-replicating McCoy cells pretreated with polyethylene glycol for the isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis from clinical specimens and for the growth of a laboratory strain was compared with the sensitivity of untreated non-replicating cell cultures. The concentration of polyethylene glycol in different solutions and the time of addition to the cell culture medium were critical. A concentration of 35% polyethylene glycol in barbitone added to the cell culture growth medium either immediately before or immediately after infection with chlamydia increased the number of inclusions detected. The rate of isolation obtained from clinical specimens was also increased when cell cultures treated with polyethylene glycol were used.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1975

Persistence of antibody induced by rubella vaccine (Wistar RA 27/3 strain) after six years.

A total of 21 rubella seronegative children vaccinated subcutaneously with Wistar RA 27/3 strain live attenuated rubella vaccine in a family study of vaccine virus transmissibility were reviewed after 6 years. Haemagglutinating inhibiting (HAI) antibody titres of sera collected 46 days, 2 years and 6 years after vaccination were compared. Antibody titres in the vaccinated subjects were not significantly influenced by time, infection in susceptible siblings or revaccination.

Antibodies, Viral↗