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Biomedical subjects

L L Minnich

Publications and source records attributed to L L Minnich.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Age-related changes in mitogen-induced lymphocyte function from birth to old age.

This study examines the relationship between age and mitogen-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis. Lymphocytes were stimulated with PHA; Concanavalin A (Con A), and PWM in 156 normal, healthy subjects ranging in age from birth to 75 years. The findings indicate a gradual but significant decrease in PHA- and Con A-induced blastogenesis with increasing age. The decrease in Con A and PHA induced in vitro lymphocyte function begins in early childhood and young adulthood, respectively, and continues throughout the age range studied. In addition, there appears to be a decreased range of lymphocyte functional capacity among the 50-75-year-old subjects. The clinical and laboratory implications of these observations are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Age-related changes in T- and B-lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood.

Quantitation of T and B lymphocytes in infants and children is an important test in the diagnosis of a suspected immuno-deficiency. Previous studies indicated that the absolute and relative numbers of lymphocyte subpopulations vary with age, but these data in the pediatric age group are incomplete and often contradictory. We reviewed the literature and investigated the relationship between age and lymphocyte subpopulations in healthy infants and children using common methods and recent methodologic improvements. We found that absolute numbers of T and B cells followed the same trend as the total lymphocyte count, which was elevated at birth, increased in the first six months, and then gradually decreased to adult levels at approximately 13 years of age. Compared with adult values, the percentage of B cells also was higher at birth and continued to increase for six months, followed by a gradual decrease to adult levels by late childhood or early adolescence. The percentage of T cells gradually increased to adult levels by the same age range.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Acute polyarthritis associated with active Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Nine patients with an initial onset of symptoms of acute arthritis within the preceding four weeks were enrolled in a prospective serological study with clinical follow-up for six months to two years. Four adults with chronic rheumatoid arthritis and ten healthy adults were similarly studied. Serial titers measured included antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigens, group B coxsackieviruses, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus. Serological evidence of active EBV infection was found in four of the patients with acute arthritis, none of the patients with chronic arthritis, and one of the ten healthy adults. There was no similar correlation between acute disease and presence of antibodies to the other viruses tested. We suggest that EBV may cause acute rheumatic illnesses more commonly than is currently appreciated but is probably not involved in the etiology of typical chronic rheumatoid arthritis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1982

Pleomorphic, enveloped, virus-like particles associated with gastrointestinal illness in neonates.

Pleomorphic, enveloped, virus-like particles were detected by electron microscopy in the stools of symptomatic infants during an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in a neonatal intensive-care unit. To determine the incidence of virus-like particles in the stool and their relation to gastrointestinal symptoms, eight surveys of stools for the particles were conducted over 40 weeks. The incidence of virus-like particles in the stool decreased from 69% to less than 10% over the study period. Most infants surveyed were premature; overall, 32 (36%) of 88 neonates were positive for virus-like particles. Statistically significant associations were found between virus-like particles in the stool and gastrointestinal symptoms within one week of each survey. These symptoms included water-loss stools, blood in the stool, gastric retention, bilious gastric aspirates, and abdominal distention. Several infants with virus-like particles whose mothers had gastrointestinal or "flu-like" symptoms before delivery were identified in the community (not part of the survey study).

Coronaviridae↗
PubMed1982

Comparison of direct and indirect immunofluorescence staining of clinical specimens for detection of respiratory syncytial virus antigen.

Immunofluorescence staining methods for respiratory syncytial virus antigen detection were compared. Of 50 specimens originally positive for respiratory syncytial virus by direct immunofluorescence and culture, 49 were positive by repeat direct immunofluorescence and 32 were positive by indirect immunofluorescence. Additional results obtained on specimens originally negative for respiratory syncytial virus by direct immunofluorescence, culture, or both indicate that direct immunofluorescence staining for respiratory syncytial virus antigen was more sensitive than was indirect immunofluorescence.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1981

Treatment of childhood combined Epstein-Barr virus/cytomegalovirus infection with oral bovine transfer factor.

An illness lasting for two years, with recurrent fever, rash, abdominal pain, and arthralgia, developed in a four year old boy. He was found to have a combined Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. His symptoms, CMV in his urine, and an absent in vitro lymphocyte response to CMV antigen persisted for two years. After treatment with orally administered bovine transfer factor clinical symptoms and viruria disappeared and specific immunity to CMV developed. Evaluation of this treatment in chronic virus infections is warranted.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1981

The effect of lymphocyte recovery on lymphocyte typing results.

This study examines the relationship between percent recovery of lymphocytes and T- and B-cell typing results. Lymphocytes were recovered from heparinized whole blood by density gradient centrifugation. T- and B-cells were enumerated by spontaneous sheep rosetting and direct fluorescent antibody staining for surface immunoglobulin, respectively. The findings indicate that at low recovery levels ( less than 80%) there is a significant increase in variability of lymphocyte typing results and a significant increase in IgG-bearing B-lymphocytes. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed. These results suggest that lymphocyte typing results should be interpreted in relation to recovery level and that recovery levels of greater than or equal to 80% are desirable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Variable susceptibility of mice to group B coxsackievirus infections.

Laboratory strains of group B coxsackievirus serotypes 1 to 6 were inoculated intraperitoneally into newborn mice of differing genetic backgrouns. Of the four genetic strains investigated, C3H mice appeared to be resistant to all six serotypes, whereas BALB/c mice were most susceptible. Swiss mice and a random-bred Swiss strain (COH) were intermediate in susceptibility. The findings underscore the fact that clinical isolation attempts and experimental studies involving group B coxsackieviruses must take into account both the virus strain used and the genetic background of the host. For clinical isolation of these viruses, the BALB/c mouse may be the most suitable of th strains tested.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Selective polymyositis inducted by coxsackievirus B1 in mice.

A high-passage laboratory strain of coxsackievirus B1 produced a unique myositis that predominantly and profoundly affected hip extensors and, to a lesser extent, hindquarter knee flexors when inoculated into a strain of random-bred newborn mice of Swiss origin (COH mice). The effect was not observed in BALB/c or C3H mice similarly inoculated. In addition to the differences in susceptibility of the mouse strains, it was found that six different low-passage "field" isolates of coxsackie-virus B1 isolated from infected patients varied considerably in their capability to induce these lesions. Thus, selective myositis which is muscle group-specific can be induced in a mouse model with coxsackievirus B1, and both genetic factors of the host and characteristics of the virus strain play a significant role in the pathogenesis of the myositis.

Animals↗