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R Sänger

Publications and source records attributed to R Sänger.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

The influence of major histocompatibility complex class II genes and T-cell Vbeta repertoire on response to immunization with HBsAg.

Nonresponsiveness to HBsAg vaccination is observed in 5-10% of vaccine recipients and is possibly caused by a defect in the T helper cell compartment. The immune response to HBsAg is influenced by genes of the major histocompatibility complex. We have investigated MHC class I and class II antigens in 53 adult responders and 73 nonresponders. Results obtained in this first study were tested in a second study with 56 responders and 62 nonresponders from an infant vaccination trial. In addition, the peripheral Vbeta-chain T-cell receptor repertoire was investigated using monoclonal antibodies and flow-cytometry in 26 adult responders and 38 nonresponders. As previously reported, nonresponsiveness to HBsAg vaccination was associated with DRB1*3 and DRB1*7. In addition, DRB1*13 was significantly increased among vaccine responders (35.2% vs 5.4%;p < 0.0001) suggesting an immune response promoting effect for this allele whereas the closely related allele DRB1*14 was associated with nonresponse in the infant study. There was no evidence for a hole in the T cell receptor Vbeta repertoire. In conclusion, in agreement with results obtained in mice there appears to be a hierarchy of DRB1* genes in the HBsAg immune response. The possible differential association of DRB1*13 and DRB1*14 may allow the identification of differences between responsiveness and nonresponsiveness to a few amino acid differences in the beta1-domain of the class II heterodimer.

Adult

Booster immunization of low- and non-responders after a standard three dose hepatitis B vaccine schedule--results of a post-marketing surveillance.

Seventy-nine low-responders and 83 non-responders after a previous three-dose hepatitis B (HB) vaccine course at 0.1, and 6 months were enrolled to receive additional 20 micrograms recombinant HB vaccine doses every 2 months until all had anti-HBs levels > or = 100 mIU ml-1. After the first booster, 65.4% had anti-HBs levels > or = 100 mIU ml-1, 17.9% were low-responders (10-99 mIU ml-1), and 16.7% remained non-responders (< 10 mIU ml-1). All complying non-responders developed anti-HBs levels > or = 100 mIU ml-1 after the third booster at the latest, whereas all low-responders reached this level after the second booster. Although body mass index affected the response to the first hepatitis B booster, when full compliance to regular revaccination was ensured, all non- and low-responders eventually reached sufficient anti-HBs levels.

Adolescent

Immunogenicity of a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in adults.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in health care staff under routine use and unselected conditions and to investigate factors that influence the response to vaccination. METHODS: This prospective postmarketing surveillance study was performed in unselected health care staff and their relatives (age range, 12-60 years) at 58 hospitals. Overall, 880 subjects were administered a 20-microgram dose of a vaccine at 0, 1, and 6 months according to the prescribing information and under routine hospital practice, and they were tested for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen after the third dose at the hospitals routine laboratory. The principal outcome measures were antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen titers that were expressed as the seroprotection rate (SPR) (SPR [given as a percentage], > or = 10 mlU/ mL), spontaneously reported adverse events, and geometric mean titers (in milli-international units per milliliter). RESULTS: The compliance to the 3-dose schedule under routine hospital practice was 98.1%. The immune response was good in all age groups, and the overall SPR was 97.8% at 1 month after the third dose in field conditions with unselected health care workers. The SPR in vaccinees (age range, 40-59 years) was close to 95%. Age (P < .001), smoking (> or = 10 cigarettes per day) (P < .001), Broca index (> 110%) (P < .001), antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen testing (> 8 weeks after the last dose) (P = .03), chronic underlying disease (P = .04), and male gender (P = .04) were factors associated with lower geometric mean titers in routine vaccine use. No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: The large immune response that was elicited by this hepatitis B vaccine in adults under daily routine field conditions reflected reality, with a high SPR also found in elderly and other persons with risk factors associated with a lower immune response.

Adolescent

Accelerated Schedule for Hepatitis B Immunization.

Background: A considerable number of people remain unprotected against hepatitis B. These people may require immunization at short notice before being exposed to situations or locations where a risk of infection is present. Currently, full active immunization against hepatitis B, when administered according to recommended schedules, takes 2-6 months. This open, randomized multicentric study evaluated the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in adults when it was administered according to three different rapid vaccination schedules. Methods: Five hundred and twenty four healthy adults (aged 18-59 years) were randomly divided into three groups. Hepatitis B vaccine was given intramuscularly in the deltoid muscle at months 0, 1, and 2 (group A); weeks 0, 14, and 28 (group B); and weeks 0, 7, and 21 (group C). Symptoms were recorded by the subjects on individual diary cards. AntiHBs were measured using radioimmunoassay (Ausab-Abbott); a seroprotective titer was defined as 10 IU/L. Results: At day 28, no significant difference in seroprotection rates (SPRs) i.e., seroconversion >= 10 IU/L,was observed, between groups B (55.6%) and C (65.2%), but both these groups had significantly greater SPRs than group A (15.0%). Although not significant (p=.07), groups B and C also had higher SPRs than group A (78.5% and 76.4% versus 65%) at day 56. One month after completing the three dose schedules, the SPRs were as follows: 89.0% (group A); 78.5% (group B); and 76.4% (group C), increasing to > 94% at month 7 to 8 in all three groups. The SPRs at month 13 were 95.8%, 98.9%, and 98.6%, respectively. Among the three groups, no significant differences were observed from month 2 onwards in either SPRs or geometric mean titers. In groups A, B, and C, 3.7%, 5.0%, and 7.1% of the vaccine injections were associated with local symptoms. Also 8.3%, 6.2%, and 6.3% of subjects exhibited general symptoms following each vaccine dose; all symptoms were transient and resolved spontaneously. Conclusions: This recombinant hepatitis B vaccine administered at weeks 0, 7, 21, or at weeks 0, 14, 28, rapidly elicits high rates of seroprotection, which persist at least until month 12.

Journal Article

[Short term cultivation of Plasmodium for the determination of chloroquine resistance].

The in-vivo-test of Plasmodium drug resistance is one of the essential basic controls, assisting therapeutic measures in tropical malaria. An initial in-vitro-check up of drugs provided for antimalarial therapy is another useful help to the clinician. Even when manufactured WHO test kits are not available, the analysis of drug resistance can be performed under simple working conditions. Its application is demonstrated in a patients history.

Animals

[Hemobilia after Menghini puncture].

In 100 patients before and after a percutaneous blind puncture of the liver after Menghini biliary juice was received with the help of a duodenal sound and this was investigated for blood admixtures microscopically and chemically. In 21 out of 100 punctures patients blood was proved in the duodenal juice: In 11 cases the proof of blood was positive before and after the puncture and in 10 patients only after the puncture blood was found in the duodenal juice. A macrohaemobilia was never observed. The influence of thromboplastin time, number of thrombocytes, time of haemorrhage, age and basic disease on the development and support of microhaemobilia was examined. In about 10% of the patients is to be reckoned with a microhaemobilia taking into consideration the indication and contraindication, also in exact performance of the blind puncture of the liver. However, the clinical importance is little in general.

Adult

[The spontaneous mediastinal and skin emphysema].

A report is given on four patients with spontaneous mediastinal and skin emphysema. In three cases younger patients from 14 to 21 years were concerned, in the fourth case a 63-year-old patient was concerned. Two of the younger patients revealed a long lasting malnutrition. As favouring or triggering factor, respectively, for the pathogenesis of the mediastinal emphysema in accordance with Macklin an increase of the intrathoracic pressure by retching, pressing or vomiting is regarded. Apart from this a vasoconstriction of the alveolar vessels (due to decrease of the plasma volume) and nutritional disease might be of importance. In all patients the mediastinal and skin emphysema receded under symptomatic therapeutic measures within some days.

Adolescent