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Serological Results (serological + result)
Selected AbstractsHigh diversity of HHV-8 molecular subtypes in the Amazon region of Brazil: Evidence of an ancient human infection,JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 10 2007Marluísa de Oliveira Guimarães Ishak Abstract The present study describes the molecular epidemiology of Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) among four Indian tribes (Kararao, Arara Laranjal, Tiriyo, and Zo'e) of the Amazon region of Brazil and a group of HIV-1-infected subjects from the urban population of Belem, Para. Infection was characterized by the presence of antibodies using ELISA (measuring antibodies to ORF59, ORF65, K8.1A, K8.1B, and ORF73), and molecular assays (gene amplification of the regions ORF26 and the variable region VR1). Antibodies to HHV-8 were detected in 66 samples of the 221 Brazilian Amerindians, namely, 6 (25%) in the Kararao, 18 (19.6%) in the Arara Laranjal, 24 (42.9%) in the Tiriyo, and 18 (36.7%) in the Zo'e. Among the 477 HIV-1-infected subjects, antibodies to HHV-8 were present in 74 (15.5%) persons. The ORF26 region was amplified in seven samples, one of the Arara Laranjal, one of the Tiriyo, two of the Zo'e, and three of the HIV-1-infected group. Subtyping of HHV-8 described a high multiplicity of molecular subtypes, including C (Zo'e), E (Tiriyo), and B (HIV-1 infected). Serological results confirm the high prevalence of HHV-8 among Amerindians and the presence of three subtypes in the Amazon region of Brazil, including a unique subtype, which favors the idea of HHV-8 as an ancient human infection within this particular geographical region. J. Med. Virol. 79:1537,1544, 2007. © Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Incidence of community-acquired pneumonia in children caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae: Serological results of a prospective, population-based study in primary health careRESPIROLOGY, Issue 1 2004Matti Korppi Objective: The objective of the present study was to assess the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Methodology: During 12 months in 1981,1982, all CAP cases in a defined child population were registered. M. pneumoniae aetiology, initially measured by complement fixation (CF) test, was in 1999 supplemented by measurement of IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme immunoassays (EIA). Results: M. pneumoniae was detected in 61 (30%) of 201 paediatric CAP cases, being the most common aetiological agent in those 5 years of age or over. At that age, M. pneumoniae was responsible for over 50% of cases, and over 90% of mycoplasmal cases were treated as outpatients. The EIA detected 17 new cases over and above the 44 detected by CF, while CF alone revealed 10 cases. The incidence of M. pneumoniae CAP increased with age, being over 10/1000 children at the age of 10 years or more. Co-infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae were present in over 30% and 15%, respectively, of mycoplasmal CAP cases. Conclusion: M. pneumoniae is a common cause of paediatric CAP in primary health care, and co-infections with S. pneumoniae are common. Both S. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae should be taken into account when starting antibiotics for children with CAP. [source] HTLV-II infection associated with a chronic neurodegenerative disease: Clinical and molecular analysisJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 2 2002Edimilson A. Silva Abstract HTLV II is a retrovirus endemic in some Amerindian tribes and spread worldwide with a high prevalence among intravenous drug abusers. It has three different genetic subtypes a, b, and d, defined mainly by the long terminal repeat (LTR) region. HTLV II has been associated with a neurodegenerative disease in few cases. We describe the first well-documented case in Brazil where the virus is endemic in isolated ethnic groups. The patient is a 55-year-old woman with a chronic and painful syndrome characterized by spastic paraparesis, hyperactive reflexes and spastic bladder. Somatosensory evoked potential indicates a thoracic spinal cord lesion. Computer tomography showed periventricular demyelination. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was positive for HTLV I/II whereas the discriminatory Western blot was indeterminate. Molecular analysis of the Tax region revealed a HTLV II pattern that was also confirmed through sequencing the LTR region. Phylogenetic analysis of the LTR sequence shows an HTLV IIa subtype that clustered with the virus isolated from Kayapo Indians and Brazilian urban intravenous drug users. Indeterminate Western blots are frequently found using commercial kits, therefore we recommend that all cases in which a myelopathy is associated with an indeterminate serological result should be evaluated by PCR to determine the actual number of HTLV II associated myelopathy cases. J. Med. Virol. 66:253,257, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Quantitative Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serology in lung transplant recipients with primary EBV infection and/or post-transplant lymphoproliferative diseaseJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 2 2003Erik Verschuuren Abstract The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific antibody response was studied in lung transplant patients to assess their value in the diagnosis and prognosis of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. Recently developed synthetic peptides representing Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1), diffuse early antigen (EA(D)), and virus capsid antigen (VCA) were studied in a semiquantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to study antibody patterns in 12 seronegative lung transplant patients, of whom four developed a post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease, and seven seropositive lung transplant patients, all of whom developed a post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. Immunoblot technique was used as a control. All 12 EBV-seronegative patients had a very limited antibody response that was restricted mainly to VCA antibodies. EA(D) antibodies became detectable in only two patients. Antibody response never preceded clinical diagnosis of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease in the four EBV-seronegative patients who developed post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. In the seven seropositive lung transplant patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease, we found a rise in antibody titer in only two patients. Immunoblot analysis confirmed the serological results. In conclusion, EBV-specific antibody patterns after lung transplantation are highly restricted and variable and of limited value for the diagnosis or prognosis of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. J. Med. Virol. 69:258,266, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Review of positive direct antiglobulin tests found on cord blood samplingJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 9-10 2005Dorothy Dinesh Until recently, all babies born in Wellington had umbilical cord blood sampling for direct antiglobulin test (DAT). It is considered to be an important test in identifying babies who are at risk of haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). Objective: The aim of this review was to examine the utility of positive DAT results and ascertain: , How many cases required phototherapy? , Were any babies readmitted for phototherapy? , Did the positive DAT influence the detection and treatment of HDN? Methods: The clinical records of all newborn babies found to have positive DATs by Wellington Hospital Blood Bank, over a 6-month period (January 2001,June 2001) were reviewed. Blood group serological results of all babies that received phototherapy during this period were also reviewed. Results: Ninety-four babies had a positive DAT, of which 22 (23%) received phototherapy. The incidence of a positive cord blood DAT was found to be 5.5%. In total, 1724 cord blood samples were analysed by Blood Bank over the first 6 months in 2001. Overall 145 babies received phototherapy, 117 were DAT-negative and six were not tested. Six of the 22 (27%) DAT-positive babies that received phototherapy were alerted by a positive DAT, leading to measurement of serum bilirubin (SBR). Twelve of the 22 (55%) were initially alerted by clinical jaundice, leading to measurement of SBR. Two DAT-positive cases were diagnosed antenatally, both were due to anti-D. Overall 10 babies were readmitted for phototherapy, two had a positive DAT. One baby received an exchange transfusion in addition to phototherapy. Two babies that received phototherapy had SBRs in the exchange transfusion range. Eighty-six per cent of the DAT-positive cases treated with phototherapy were due to anti-A. There were four cases of DAT-negative ABO HDN. Conclusions: The positive predictive value of a positive DAT for HDN is 23%. The sensitivity was estimated to be 86%. Ten babies required readmission for phototherapy, two of these were DAT-positive. Jaundice, rather than the positive DAT, was the first alert in the majority of cases of HDN requiring phototherapy. Recommendations for testing are discussed but remain controversial in practice. Assessment for hyperbilirubinaemia in all infants early in life is fundamental. [source] Malaria Antibodies and Mefloquine Levels among United Nations Troops in AngolaJOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2001Eli Schwartz Background: The United Nations deployed about 8,000 soldiers in a peacekeeping mission in Angola. Malaria is the most common disease there and consequently it was the major risk to the UN troops. Most of them are from malaria free areas. As a result of improper prophylactic measures there were many cases of malaria, including some deaths in 1995. In February,March 1996, an Israeli team was sent to Angola to evaluate the malaria situation among UN soldiers. This paper deals specifically with some aspects of chemoprophylaxis and diagnosis. The efforts were concentrated in one particular area where malaria incidence had been reported as the highest. Methods: Blood samples were collected from nonimmune soldiers who were using mefloquine as a prophylactic drug and were exposed to malaria. The mefloquine and the antimalarial antibody plasma levels were monitored. Results: While the local laboratory indicated that about 80% had a malaria episode, the serological results revealed that only 5 soldiers of the 56 (9%) examined had antimalarial antibodies, of which 3 were Angolans. Despite a controlled prophylactic regimen there was considerable variability in mefloquine plasma levels: 46% of the samples were below the required prophylactic level and 26% above it. All patients who were proven positive with malaria by both microscopic and serologic observation had a low level of mefloquine. Conclusions: In field conditions, a kit which identifies plasmodial antigens, is preferable, to a microscopic diagnostic method. Controlled mefloquine prophylaxis may not prevent malaria, especially when blood levels are low. The reason for the low mefloquine blood levels is not clear and needs further evaluation. [source] Occult hepatitis B virus infection: a covert operationJOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS, Issue 1 2010F. B. Hollinger Summary., Detection of occult hepatitis B requires assays of the highest sensitivity and specificity with a lower limit of detection of less than 10 IU/mL for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and <0.1 ng/mL for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). This covert condition is relatively common in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) that seems to exert some influence on the replicative capacity and latency of HBV. Detection of virus-specific nucleic acid does not always translate into infectivity, and the occurrence of primer-generated HBV DNA that is of partial genomic length in immunocompetent individuals who have significant levels of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) may not be biologically relevant. Acute flares of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) that occur during the early phase of therapy for HCV or ALT levels that remain elevated at the end of therapy in biochemical nonresponders should prompt an assessment for occult hepatitis B. Similarly, the plasma from patients with chronic hepatitis C that is hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) positive (±anti-HBs at levels of <100 mIU/mL) should be examined for HBV DNA with the most sensitive assay available. If a liver biopsy is available, immunostaining for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) should be contemplated and a portion of the sample tested for HBV DNA. This is another reason for optimal collection of a specimen (e.g. two passes with a 16-guage needle under ultrasound guidance). Transmission of HBV to immunosuppressed orthotopic liver transplant recipients by donors with occult hepatitis B (OHB) will continue to occupy the interests of the transplant hepatologist. As patients with OHB may have detectable HBV DNA in serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and/or liver that can be reactivated following immunosuppression or intensive cytotoxic chemotherapy, the patient needs to be either monitored or treated depending on the pretreatment serological results such as an isolated anti-HBc reaction or a detectable HBV DNA. [source] Liver Transplantation from Deceased Donors Serologically Positive for Chagas DiseaseAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 3 2007L. A. C. D'Albuquerque The high mortality rates among patients waiting for liver transplantation has motivated the use of ,marginal livers', among which are included livers from deceased donors serologically positive for Chagas disease (CD). The present work describes the outcome of orthotopic liver transplantation in six patients with severe liver disease (Child Pugh C), with livers from donors serologically positive for CD. Transplantations were performed from November 2000 to January 2005, and the patients received prophylactic treatment with benznidazole for 60 days, as a recommended by the Brazilian Consensus in Chagas Disease. The transplantation procedures presented no technical problems, and all the patients were discharged from hospital. Five of them did not present side effects demanding interruption of the prophylactic treatment. Four of the patients were clinically well over 1 year after transplantation (mean follow-up of 42.1 months), with negative serological results for CD. Two patients died, one of them 6 months post surgery of sepsis due to biliary complication and other one due to pulmonary (tuberculosis) complications. They were both serologically negative for CD. These results suggest that liver transplantation from CD donors, followed by benznidazole prophylactic treatment, is an important therapeutic alternative for severe liver disease. [source] 4132: Factors influencing donor cornea utilization in a tertiary care centre: results from 5-year dataACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010P SANKARAN Purpose To evaluate utilization of corneal tissue procured by the eye bank of a tertiary care centre in north India, to determine factors that were responsible for labeling corneas unsuitable for transplantation, and to identify methods to improve donor tissue utilization. Methods We retrospectively reviewed records from our eye bank from May 2005 to April 2010. We compared donor demographics, death- enucleation interval, and biologic contamination of utilized and non- utilized corneal tissues. Results 3951 corneas were received during the study period. Of these, 2561 donor corneas (65%) were used for surgical purposes. Of the 1390 corneas not utilized for transplantation, 703 corneas (50.6%) were excluded due to poor tissue quality. Other causes were logistical reasons, such as no suitable recipient, in 267 (19.2%), bacterial growth on culture in128 (9.2%), contraindication in the donor's medical history in 102(7.3%), and serological results in 83(6%). Mean age of donors in the utilized cornea group was 58.9 years (± 21.57 years) as compared to 67.52 years (± 19.82 years) in the non-utilized cornea group. The difference was statistically significant (P=0.000). Mean death-enucleation interval was comparable in the 2 groups (5.38 hours versus 4.62 hours; P=0.54). Conclusion Increase in age of donors results in poorer tissue quality and emerges as a significant factor in non,utilization of donor corneas for transplantation. [source] | ||||||||||