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Biomedical subjects

R Marlink

Publications and source records attributed to R Marlink.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and human T cell lymphotropic viruses among leprosy patients and contacts: correlation between HIV-1 cross-reactivity and antibodies to lipoarabinomannan.

To determine the association between leprosy and human retroviral infections, 57 leprosy patients, 39 leprosy contacts, and 500 pregnant women were investigated serologically for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) and human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) types I and II. Antibodies to Mycobacterium leprae phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I), and lipoarabinomannan (LAM) were also analyzed. A low prevalence of HIV-1 infection was observed among leprosy patients (3.5%), leprosy contacts (0), and pregnant women (3.6%). Antibodies to HTLV-I but not -II were found more often in leprosy patients (8.7%) and contacts (12.8%) than in pregnant women (0). Sera from leprosy patients and leprosy contacts were often false-positive for HIV-1 by ELISA and were indeterminate by Western blot. LAM IgM and PGL-I IgM antibodies in sera from leprosy patients yielded significant cross-reactivities with HIV-1 pol and gag proteins. These data suggest that mycobacterial cell wall antigens may share common epitopes with HIV. Caution should be exercised when interpreting HIV-1 ELISA and Western blot data from regions where leprosy or other mycobacterial diseases are endemic.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Preliminary study of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia diagnosed by induced expectoration in HIV positive patients in Dakar].

Rapid noninvasive diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii from induced liquefied sputum is a very easy and not costly method. It was using for a first time at the Infectious Diseases Department at Dakar in 27 HIV seropositive patients from July to November 1992. Six cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) was diagnosed, with a prevalence of 22.2%. In this study PCP was found in both HIV-1 and HIV-2 patients. Clinical and radiological aspects are not specific. PCP was also found in patients with CD4 below than 200 per cubic millimeter. Co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is possible.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Association of immune activation with intravenous heroin use and methadone treatment in HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative subjects.

This study evaluated the effect of continued heroin use during methadone treatment on serum neopterin levels in 40 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 seropositive (HIV+) and 70 seronegative (HIV-) intravenous drug users (IVDUs). Persistent drug use, determined by urinary evidence of opiates, was more common in HIV+ than in HIV- IVDUs (p = 0.01). Serum neopterin concentration, an indicator of increased probability of progression to AIDS, was elevated in HIV+ IVDUs, p < 0.0001 (mean 16.0 nmol/L) compared to that of HIV- IVDUs (mean 10.0 nmol/L) and in persistent IV drug users compared with abstainers, p < 0.0001. The effect of drug use and HIV status on serum neopterin was not explained by differences in methadone treatment, age, sex, or total years of i.v. drug use. Neopterin decreased in 25 IVDUs, regardless of HIV serostatus, treated with methadone for an average of 1.5 years.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence and risk determinants of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in west African female prostitutes.

The authors studied the prevalence and risk determinants for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) in female prostitutes from Dakar (1985-1990), Ziguinchor (1987-1990), and Kaolack (1987-1990), Senegal, West Africa. Each cohort showed a distinct distribution of HIVs: 10.0% HIV-2 and 4.1% HIV-1 in Dakar, 38.1% HIV-2 and 0.4% HIV-1 in Ziguinchor, and 27.4% HIV-2 and 1.3% HIV-1 in Kaolack. In 1,275 female prostitutes from Dakar, increase years of sexual activity and a history of scarification were associated with HIV-2 seropositivity. In contrast, HIV-1 seroprevalence was associated with a shorter duration of prostitution and a history of hospitalization. In 278 female prostitutes from Ziguinchor, HIV-2 seroprevalence was associated with women of Guinea-Bissau nationality and increased years of sexual activity. In 157 female prostitutes from Kaolack, HIV-2 seroprevalence was associated with increased years of sexual activity and a history of never using condoms. The authors also studied the risk determinants for HIV-2 in the 1,280 Senegalese prostitutes pooled from all three sites. Controlling for ethnic group, women from Ziguinchor and Kaolack were more likely to be HIV-2 seropositive as compared with women from the Dakar site. Increased years of sexual activity were associated with HIV-2 seropositivity, while a history of excision and BCG vaccinations decreased the risk of HIV-2 infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

HTLV among Israeli intravenous drug abusers.

Since human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection was recently described in Israel and other Middle Eastern countries, we have investigated the presence of HTLV type 1 and type 2 in a group of 299 intravenous (IV) drug abusers who were seen at a large methadone clinic in the Tel Aviv area in 1986-1987. We found that 1.3% were seropositive to HTLV. Further testing revealed that HTLV1 was the only HTLV serotype. In addition, no coinfection HIV1/HTLV1 and no HIV2 infection were detected. Since all HTLV seropositives were born in Middle Eastern countries, did not travel outside Israel and were not infected by HIV1 or by HTLV type 2, it is possible that the source of HTLV1 infection in that group was in an endemic reservoir of HTLV1 in Israel. The detection of HTLV1 among IV drug abusers and among other groups in Israel necessitates more extensive HTLV testing in at-risk populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Antigenic characterization of the human immunodeficiency viruses.

As more is learned about the human immunodeficiency viruses HIV-1 and HIV-2, increasingly sophisticated methods of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) treatment and prevention may be implemented. Integral to an understanding of these viruses is an analysis of both the viral antigens and the host-immune responses to these antigens, which may differ from HIV-1 to HIV-2. Because levels of both antigen and antibody vary throughout disease development, knowledge of how and why such changes occur will lend insight into viral pathogenic mechanisms and will facilitate the development of differential diagnostic tests for classifying AIDS patients and their disease states. This task becomes very complex when dealing with HIV viruses because they possess an unprecedented number of regulatory genes for members of the retrovirus family.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

HIV-2 link to AIDS in West Africa.

To date, very little is known concerning the clinical spectrum of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infection, and the question as to whether HIV-2 will ultimately prove to be as pathogenic as human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) remains, as yet, unanswered. We reviewed the currently available reports of HIV-2 infection to assess what is known about the extent of HIV-2 pathogenicity as it compares to HIV-1 pathogenicity. There is evidence that HIV-2 is associated with AIDS. Most of this evidence, however, comes from descriptive case-report type data that do not meet the basic requirements for defining causality. The most significant problems are the lack of control groups and the absence of a documented temporal relationship with HIV-2 infection preceding the development of AIDS. Comparisons of the epidemiology and disease association between HIV-1 and HIV-2 in Africa may suggest relative pathogenic effects. Although certain comparisons between HIV-2 and HIV-1 are difficult to make, we conclude on the basis of existing data that the pathogenic effects and the natural history of HIV-2 are distinct from those of HIV-1.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 4 and the human immunodeficiency virus in West Africa.

A new human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-4) was recently described in healthy people from Senegal. This virus has many properties in common with members of the human T-lymphotropic viruses, particularly the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, the etiologic agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), but does not appear to be associated with immunodeficiency-related disorders. In the present study, serum samples were obtained from 4248 individuals from six West African countries, including Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast. These samples, collected during 1985-1987, were from people categorized as healthy control, sexually active risk, and disease populations. All samples were analyzed for reactivity to HTLV-4 and HIV by radioimmunoprecipitation-sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Evidence for HTLV-4 infection was found in five of the six countries. The seroprevalence varied markedly from country to country. Healthy sexually active individuals in the risk category had the highest levels of HTLV-4 infection compared to individuals in the healthy control category and the disease category, the latter including AIDS patients. The seroprevalence of HIV infection in most of these countries was quite low, although tightly associated with the rare cases of AIDS. The biology of HTLV-4 infection thus differs from that of HIV in Central Africa or the United States and Europe. The presence of these viruses and their different pathogenicities in several countries of West Africa indicate the necessity for serologic assays that will distinguish between them. Further studies of their origin and distribution as well as of their biology will be important in advancing our understanding of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

Transfusion-acquired HIV infection among immunocompromised hosts.

This survey suggests that HIV infection in immunocompromised hosts is characterized by a high attack rate, short incubation time to clinical sequelae, and WB and RIP seropositivity which may precede evidence of antibodies by ELISA by weeks or months. The functional properties of patients' serum antibodies, such as neutralizing activity against HIV in vitro, may correlate with clinical course.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

New human T-lymphotropic retrovirus related to simian T-lymphotropic virus type III (STLV-IIIAGM).

This report describes serologic evidence for a virus similar to that known as simian T-lymphotropic virus type III of African Green monkeys (STLV-IIIAGM) infecting apparently healthy people in Senegal, West Africa, and the isolation of virus from these individuals. Serum samples from selected healthy West African people showed unusual serologic profiles when tested with antigens of HTLV-III/LAV, the etiologic agent of AIDS, and of STLV-IIIAGM. The samples reacted strongly with all of the major viral antigens of STLV-IIIAGM but showed variable or no reactivity with the major viral antigens of HTLV-III/LAV by radioimmunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A new human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-IV) isolated from these people was grown in vitro and shown to have retroviral type particles, growth characteristics, and major viral proteins similar to those of the STLV-III and HTLV-III/LAV group of retroviruses. The gp120/160, gp32, p64, p55, p53, p24, and p15 proteins precipitated were the same size as and reactive with STLV-IIIAGM proteins. The serologic data suggest that this virus shares more common epitopes with STLV-IIIAGM than with the prototype HTLV-III/LAV that infects people in the United States and Europe. Further study of this virus and of the origin of the HTLV-III/LAV group of viruses may expand our understanding of the human AIDS virus.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Bronchoscopic and radiologic features of Kaposi's sarcoma involving the respiratory system.

In a group of 61 patients admitted to New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, with a diagnosis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), 25 were found to have Kaposi's sarcoma involving the skin and mucous membranes. Of these 25 patients, eight had lesions involving the respiratory system. Radiographically, patients with Kaposi's sarcoma had hilar and mediastinal adenopathy with perihilar parenchymal infiltration which progressed to diffuse bilateral infiltrates over a period of months. This pattern and the tempo of its evolution were distinctly different from the diffuse infiltrates seen in patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Bronchoscopy was performed in seven of the eight patients, revealing characteristic lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma in the airways. We propose that parenchymal pulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma can be strongly suspected in a patient with AIDS who has the following features: a characteristic radiologic pattern; endobronchial Kaposi's sarcoma at bronchoscopy; and no evidence of opportunistic infection. In this subset of patients, further diagnostic intervention such as open lung biopsy, a procedure with potential morbidity in these ill individuals, may be unnecessary.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Relation between HIV-2 proviral load and CD4+ lymphocyte count differs in monotypic and dual HIV infections.

OBJECTIVE: To explore and compare the relations between proviral DNA load and CD4+ lymphocyte counts in both HIV-2 monotypic and HIV dual infection. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: In Dakar, Senegal, where the HIV-1 and HIV-2 epidemics overlap, serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) DNA samples were collected from registered female sex workers and hospitalized patients. Sera were evaluated for reactivity to antigens of HIV-1 and HIV-2 by immunoblot; dual reactivity was confirmed with recombinant envelope peptides for HIV-1 and HIV-2. These samples were then subjected to HIV-1 and HIV-2 proviral DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To evaluate the HIV-2 cellular proviral DNA loads, a quantitative competitive PCR (QC-PCR) was developed using nested primers to amplify the gag region of HIV-2. This assay used an internal competitor generated by inserting 25 bp in the first-round PCR target sequence. T-lymphocyte subset counts were estimated by flow cytometry for both HIV-2 monotypic and dually infected persons. RESULTS: 35 HIV-2-infected and 33 dually seroreactive samples were evaluated in this study. The CD4+ lymphocyte counts were similar in both groups, with mean values of 449 +/- 390 cells/mm3 for the HIV-2 monotypic infected persons and 476 +/- 308 cells/mm3 among the dually infected persons. However, the median proviral loads differed significantly, with those in the HIV-2 group ranging from 63.2 to 669.8 copies/10(5) CD4+ cells and demonstrating an inverse correlation with CD4+ lymphocyte count. The HIV dually infected persons showed less variation in viral load, ranging from 9.9 to 43.3 copies/10(5) CD4+ cells. Among the HIV dually infected persons, low HIV-2 proviral load was correlated with low CD4+ lymphocyte counts. CONCLUSIONS: The HIV-2 proviral loads in HIV dually infected persons were significantly lower than those in HIV-2 monotypically infected individuals (P < .0001), despite comparable CD4+ lymphocyte counts. These results suggest that different HIV-2 proviral dynamics prevail in HIV dual infection.

CD4 Lymphocyte Count↗