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Biomedical subjects

L D Frenkel

Publications and source records attributed to L D Frenkel.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Rapid culture confirmation of herpes simplex virus by a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay.

Rapid confirmation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) is essential in many clinical settings. Viral isolation in cell culture is the standard method for diagnosing HSV infection, with confirmation by specific immunological staining. The performance of the Rapid Absorbent Matrix Pad (RAMP) HSV culture confirmation test was evaluated with specimens obtained from 71 patients with suspected HSV infection and inoculated into African green monkey kidney cell lines. Forty-one culture-positive specimens were confirmed to be HSV by both the RAMP HSV test and the Bartels HSV immunoperoxidase test. Thirty immunoperoxidase-negative specimens were also negative in the RAMP HSV test. The sensitivity and specificity of the RAMP HSV test were 100%. Twelve specimens positive for cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, or enterovirus tested negative by the RAMP HSV test. Thus, the RAMP HSV test was faster than, easier to perform than, as sensitive as, and as specific as other well-documented confirmation methods.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1977

Characteristic early electroencephalographic changes in herpes simplex encephalitis.

We review electroencephalograms taken from 17 patients with severe meningoencephalitis within seven days of onset of CNS symptoms and prior to cortical brain biopsies. All patients had CNS disease clinically compatible with the diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). The diagnosis was demonstrated by the isolation of virus from the brain in five patients (group 1) but considered highly unlikely in the other 12 patients (group 2) by negative immunofluorescent studies and failure of viral isolation from the brain tissue. Abnormal but nonspecific EEGs with diffuse or focal slowing were found in all patients. Distinctive high-voltage, 1-cycle-per-2-to-3 seconds periodic sharp waves from unilateral temporal lobes were seen only in three of the five patients with virologically proved HSE but in none of the 12 patients without viral isolation. This EEG pattern is strikingly similar in all three patients, regardless of their age, and may be specific for the early diagnosis of HSE prior to brain biopsy. The EEGs of the other two patients with proved HSE did not contain such abnormalities. Athough periodic EEGs with some resemblance to those previously described may occur in other CNS disorders, their presence strongly suggests the diagnosis of HSE when recorded from patients with viral meningoencephalitis. Moreover, EEGs may help locate the best site for cerebral biopsy since maximal yield of the virus in this study was from unilateral temperoal lobes corresponding with the site of local EEG changes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Specific impairment of cell-mediated immunity in mothers of infants with congenital infection due to cytomegalovirus.

Specific lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity to cytomegalovirus (CMV) in eight infants (six to 27 months old) with congenital CMV infection and in the mothers of six of these infants was evaluated with use of a 51chromium (51Cr)-release microassay. The control population consisted of 25 normal newborns, children, and adults. The titers of indirect hemagglutinating (IHA) antibody to CMV in the infected infants ranged from 1:16 to 1:1,024. All of these infants had detectable specific immune release of 51Cr that ranged from 3.3% to 48.9% (mean +/-SE, 21.0%+/-5.6%). The mothers of these infants demonstrated significantly elevated titers of IHA antibody to CMV (geometric mean titer, 1:410) as compared with a mean titer of 1:22 in controls (t = 5.71; P less than 0.001) but showed significantly depressed specific immune release (9.2% +/- 3.2%) compared with that of normal seropositive controls (24.8% +/- 2.8%; t = 3.31; P less than 0.001). In addition, two adult nulliparous women with persistent CMV viruria were also found to have depressed specific immune release to CMV (10.8% and 16.2%). These data suggest that a specific impairment in cell-mediated immunity to CMV occurs in mothers of infants with congenital CMV infection and in some persons who persistently excrete CMV.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Ascorbic acid for the common cold. A prophylactic and therapeutic trial.

Three hundred eleven employees of the National Institutes of Health volunteered to take 1 gm of ascorbic acid or lactose placebo in capsules three times a day for nine months. At the onset of a cold, the volunteers were given an additional 3 gm daily of either a placebo or ascorbic acid. One hundred ninety volunteers completed the study. Dropouts were defined as those who missed at least one month of drug ingestion. They represented 44% of the placebo group and 34% of those taking ascorbic acid. Analysis of these data showed that ascorbic acid had at best only a minor influence on the duration and severity of colds, and that the effects demonstrated might be explained equally well by a break in the double blind.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Antiviral chemotherapy and neonatal herpes simplex virus infecition: a pilot study--experience with adenine arabinoside (ARA-A).

Among 13 neonates with herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, eight had disseminated disease, one localized CNS disease, and in four the infection was confined to the skin and eyes. Ara-A, a purine nucleoside with anti-viral activity against DNA-VIRUSES, WAS GIVEN (10 TO 20 MG/MG/DAY) BY A CONTINUOUS 12-HOUR INTRAVENOUS DRIP FOR 10 TO 15 DAYS. In all, ara-A administration was begun within three to eight days after the appearance of skin vesicles which represented the hallmark of the disease. Both diagnosis and ara-A treatment were much delayed in one infant without skin vesicles and four infants whose skin vesicles appeared late, long after the occurrence of CNS damage. In this group of infants with disseminated disease, four died and one infant was left with severe neurological deficits. Eight infants (four with disseminated and four with localized skin disease) with skin vesicles as the earliest sign of infection received ara-A early, within three days after the onset of neurologic signs. All survived with no neurologic deficit at 6 months to 1 year of age. There was no apparent toxicity of ara-A to the bonemarrow, liver, or kidney.

Adolescent↗