Infection of peripheral mononuclear blood cells by hepatitis C virus.

We investigated the infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) by hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 5 patients with HCV-related chronic hepatitis. The presence of HCV-RNA-positive and -negative strands was tested with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. In all subjects, HCV-RNA was shown in PBMNC. In 3 cases, HCV-RNA was shown in the T- and B-cell populations, with viral RNA also present in the monocyte-macrophage fraction of two of these. HCV-RNA-negative stranded molecules, indicative of the viral multiplication, were significantly increased in cells maintained in cultures with PHA/PMA stimulation. The results indicate that HCV infect blood mononuclear cells, thus suggesting that this cellular tropism may play a role in HCV infection.     

Dopamine D2 receptor imaging with SPECT: studies in different neuropsychiatric disorders.

The purpose of the present study is to visualize and quantify dopamine D2 receptors in the living human brain using an 123I-labeled ligand and the single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) technique. S-(-)-Iodobenzamide [S-(-)-IBZM] has been shown to be a highly selective ligand with high affinity for D2 receptors in experimental studies. Five millicuries (185 MBq) of 123I-labeled S-(-)-IBZM was administered intravenously to 12 control subjects, 22 parkinsonian patients under L-Dopa therapy, 12 parkinsonian patients without L-Dopa, 10 unmedicated patients with Huntington's disease, and 12 patients under different neuroleptics. Data collection with a rotating double-head scintillation camera started 1 h after injection and lasted for 50 min. In a semiquantitative approach, a ratio was calculated between mean counts per pixel in the striatum and a region in the lateral frontal cortex, which was 1.74 +/- 0.10 in the control group. A marked reduction of this ratio was found in patients with Huntington's disease (1.38 +/- 0.12; p = 0.0001), no significant changes in untreated parkinsonian patients (1.67 +/- 0.14), but a reduction in L-Dopa-treated cases (1.59 +/- 0.13; p = 0.0014). A curvilinear relationship was found between total daily dose of neuroleptics and the reduction of this ratio. Estimated receptor blockade under full neuroleptic treatment was 75-80%. S-(-)-IBZM binding was reduced with increasing age (p less than 0.01). Specific binding was reduced markedly when the racemic mixture of IBZM was used, and no specific binding was seen with the R-(+)-isomer, demonstrating the stereoselectivity of IBZM binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Significance of haemorrhagic lacunes on MRI in patients with hypertensive cerebrovascular disease and intracerebral haemorrhage

Our purpose was to determine the frequency and signifcance of haemorrhagic lacunes (HL) on MRI in patients with a history of, or at risk for intracerebral haemorrhage. We examined 72 patients with old spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) using T1-and T2-weighted spin-echo sequences. MRI studies of 137 consecutive patients with cerebrovascular disease but no known ICH were also reviewed. Both groups showed about the same degree of age-related white matter change and nonhaemorrhagic lacunar infarcts, whereas the ICH group had a higher frequency of HL (12/72 patients) than the non-ICH group (6/131 patients,p<0.01). These results correlate well with reported pathological findings. We conclude that haemorrhagic lacunes found on MRI studies of patients with cerebrovascular disease may suggest a higher risk of intracerebral haemorrhage.     

Detection of circulating anticellular antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cell substrates: study of the clinical value of rare fluorescence patterns

We detected anticellular antibodies (Ab) in 867 sera from patients with inflammatory rheumatic disorders by indirect immunofluorescence technique on HEp-2 cells and searched for clinically relevance of the rare fluorescence staining pattern (n = 133). We could find associations of 1. spekled nuclear pattern and Ab to U1-nRNP and La, 2. nucleolar pattern and scleroderma, 3. peripheral nuclear membrane pattern, Ab to dsDNA and SLE, 4. centromere staining and CRST syndrome, 5. intermedi?r filament pattern and permanent cellular destructions in erosive arthritis, 6. mitochondrial staining and inflammatory hepatic disorders. The anticellular Ab staining patterns on HEp-2 cells might be precious additionally markers for diagnosis and prognosis of inflammatory rheumatic diseases.     

Naturlatexallergie

As a consequence of AIDS prevention strategies, the use of powdered disposable latex gloves in hospitals and private medical practices has increased conspicuously in the past 10 years, and allergic reactions to natural latex have become a frequently observed problem. The clinical picture of type I allergies (immediate hypersensitivity) to natural latex ranges from slight, local allergic symptoms (urticaria, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis) to asthmatic complaints up to severest anaphylactic reactions. In addition to health care employees, patients are being affected with an increasing tendency during a variety of surgical and other medical interventions. Due to its enormous hygienic and economic significance, natural latex has become one of the most frequently studied sources of allergies. Efforts were undertaken to identify the causes and triggering factors, to develop diagnostic tools and continue to improve upon them, and to establish preventive measures and implement them successfully.     

Hereditary deficiency of antithrombin III, protein C and protein S: prevalence in patients with a history of venous thrombosis and criteria for rational patient screening.

Data in the literature on the prevalence of hereditary deficiency of the natural coagulation inhibitors are conflicting. We conducted a prospective study on 680 consecutive patients with a history of venous thrombosis to determine the prevalence of hereditary deficiency of antithrombin III (AT III), protein C(PC) and protein S(PS) and to establish selection criteria for rational patient screening. The mean age of the patients at investigation was 44.3 +/- 15.4 years, while that at the first thrombotic event was 38.5 +/- 14.8 years. The total prevalence of inhibitor deficiency states was 48/680 (7.1%). 19/680 patients (2.8%) had AT III-deficiency, 17 (2.5%) PC-deficiency, nine (1.3%) PS-deficiency and three (0.4%) a combined deficiency. In 37/48 deficient patients family studies were performed and the hereditary nature was established in 19 cases (2.8% of total patient population, six with AT III-deficiency, eight with PC-deficiency, four with PS-deficiency and one with a combined deficiency). Family studies in these 19 patients revealed 46 additional individual patients with a hereditary deficiency state. A positive family history was found in 15/19 (79%) with a proven hereditary deficiency state, in 153/619 (25%) of non-deficient patients and in 11/29 (38%) of deficient patients without established hereditary nature. The mean age at the first thrombotic event was significantly lower in patients with a hereditary deficiency state (26.8 years) compared with the other two groups (39.0 and 39.7 years, respectively). In all patients with a hereditary deficiency the first thrombotic event occurred before the age of 45 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)