[Occurrence of free receptor for interleukin 2 in serum and quantitative determinations of CD25+ in patients infected with HIV].

Serum soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) concentration and the percentage of lymphocytes presenting this receptor (CD25+) were investigated in 28 asymptomatic HIV carriers or patients with lymphadenopathy only and in 15 AIDS patients. The levels of sIL-2R were found to be higher in AIDS patients (mean 1060 U/ml) than in persons during the initial stages of infection (mean 750 U/ml) or controls (mean 470 U/ml). No significant differences in the quantity of CD25+ lymphocytes between these groups were observed, with the means of 1.

[Evaluation of humoral immune response in patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV infection. Analysis of titers of anti-Hbs, antibodies against cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus type I, rubella virus and toxoplasma gondii].

40 asymptomatic HIV carriers and 45 AIDS patients were tested for anti-HBs (Hepatitis B Virus surface antigen), anti-RV (Rubella virus), anti-Toxo (Toxoplasma gondii), anti-CMV (Cytomegalovirus) and anti-HSV-1 (Herpes simplex virus type 1) antibody titers and compared with 83 persons characterized by risk behaviours but seronegative for HIV. The prevalence of these antibodies was very high and similar in all three groups studied, however, patients with AIDS had generally lower antibody titers when compared with asymptomatic carriers. The only exception being anti-HSV-1 which was present in high titre even in gravely ill patients.

[Appearance of thrombocytopenia in patients infected with HIV].

Results of quantitative determinations of thrombocytes and selected, basal immune parameters in 263 HIV infected subjects are presented. A decrease in the platelet count was observed more frequently in symptomatic subjects, including AIDS patients, than in asymptomatic HIV carriers or patients with generalized lymphadenopathy only. A significant correlation between thrombocyte number and percentage and number of CD4+ lymphocyte and CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte ratio was found only in the group of symptomatic subjects.

[Mycobacterial infection in patients with AIDS].

Bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculosis was performed in 104 HIV-positive patients, in majority AIDS patients hospitalized in AIDS Clinic of Infections and Parasitic Diseases Institute of Medical Academy. 390 samples were examined, e.d.

An interim report on the effect of natural human interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) lozenges in patients seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

Oral mucosal administration of natural human interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) lozenges has previously been applied to the treatment of HIV-1 seropositive patients with benefits including weight gain and amelioration of clinical signs and symptoms of disease. These previous studies have been of short duration and employed treatment at a constant dosage. In this interim report, we describe the positive effects of long-term administration of IFN-alpha lozenges given in increasing dosages over the time.

[Quantitative assay of CD8+ (cytotoxic and suppressor) lymphocytes in patients with both asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV infection].

Lymphocytes CD8+ have been assayed prospectively in 245 individuals infected with HIV. Percentage and number of CD8+ have been nearly two-fold higher in asymptomatic patients or patients with lymphadenopathy than those in the control group. The number of CD8+ lymphocytes has been rapidly decreasing parallel to the progression of HIV (ARC and AIDS), while their percentage has increased--however insignificantly.

[Prevalence of HIV antigens in cerebrospinal fluid and in serum of patients with both asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV infection].

Prevalence of HIV-Ag in both serum and CSF has been determined in 19 HIV infected patients, including 7 patients without any symptoms or only generalized lymphadenopathy, 5 patients with ARC and 7 patients with AIDS. The results have been correlated with clinically evident neurological disorders. HIV-Ag have been detected in 9 out of 12 patients with ARC (AIDS Related Complex) and AIDS.

[N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and diurnal excretion of hydroxyproline in chronic viral hepatitis].

In 37 patients with chronic active hepatitis, in 14 with chronic persistent hepatitis and in 11 with normal histological pattern of the liver the serum activity of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and the 24-hour excretion of hydroxyproline with urine were determined. The 24-hour excretion of hydroxyproline was similar in all groups of patients, while the activity hepatitis and higher than in those of chronic persistent hepatitis (36.9 +/- 12.

[Hepatitis B virus infection in alcoholics].

Chromosomal analysis has been carried out in 4 patients with the symptoms of hepatic coma. An analysis included lymphocytes cultured from peripheral blood. Chromosomal disorders have been assessed with two techniques: structural chromosomal aberrations test, and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test.

Plasma protein C as a marker of hepatocellular damage in alcoholic liver disease.

The synthesis of a number of clotting factors takes place in a hepatocyte. Therefore, measurement of these factors in the blood have proved to be of additional value in the diagnosis and follow-up of liver diseases. In the present study we evaluated protein C level in the plasma of patients with liver cell damage due to chronic alcohol consumption.

[Titer of anti-P24 and anti-GP41 antibodies as a diagnostic parameter in patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV infections].

Anti-p24 and anti-gp41 antibody titers were determined in sera from 20 asymptomatic HIV carriers and 15 AIDS patients. Anti-p24 titer was found to be significantly lower in AIDS patients than in asymptomatic HIV carriers and anti-gp41 titer was similar in both investigated groups. A correlation was found between T4/T8 lymphocyte ratio and anti-p24 antibody titer in patients with AIDS.

[Occurrence of HIV antigens in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

A total of 74 serum samples from 37 AIDS patients were analysed for HIV antigen and results were correlated with duration of the disease, predominant symptoms, T4 lymphocyte count in peripheral blood, and antiviral therapy. The prevalence of HIV-Ag increased with duration of AIDS and T4 lymphocyte depletion. It was also higher in patients who were not treated with antiviral therapy than in treated persons.

[Influence of therapy with glucocorticosteroids on clinical status, t4 lymphocyte count and t4/t8 lymphocyte ratio in people infected with AIDS].

The influence of glucocorticosteroids (GKS) therapy on clinical status, T4 lymphocyte count in peripheral blood and T4/T8 lymphocyte ratio was investigated in five HIV infected patients: two were asymptomatic, while three had clinically overt disease. The reasons for GKS therapy were: thrombocytopenia in two patients, pancytopenia in two and sepsis with severe endocarditis in one. No influence of GKS on the clinical course of HIV infection was observed.

[Prospective studies of T4 and T8 lymphocyte subpopulations and beta 2-microglobulin in patients with HIV infection].

Sequential changes of percentage and number of T4 (helper) and T8 (cytotoxic/suppressor) lymphocyte subsets and serum beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2m) level were observed in 23 HIV infected patients for a period of 4 months to 3 years. 10 subjects were asymptomatic HIV carriers, 9 had already AIDS at the beginning of the study and 4 patients developed clinically overt disease during the observation period. T4 lymphocyte number remained in normal range in asymptomatic HIV carriers but in 4 patients its decrease preceded the development of clinical symptoms of infection.

[T4 lymphocytes (helper cells) and T8 lymphocytes (cytotoxic and suppressor cells) in patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV infection].

250 determinations of lymphocyte T subsets in 130 HIV infected patients (79 asymptomatic carriers or with lymphadenopathy, 31 ARC- and 20 AIDS-patients) were analyzed as to the percentage, number, and ratio of T4 (helper) and T8 (cytotoxic/suppressor) lymphocytes in sequential clinical stages of HIV infection. Asymptomatic HIV carriers or patients with lymphadenopathy were found to have statistically significant higher counts of erythrocytes, platelets, total lymphocytes, percentage and number of T4 lymphocytes and T4/T8 lymphocyte ratio than the ARC-patients. Persons with ARC in comparison with AIDS-patients were found to have significantly higher values of erythrocytes, platelets, leucocytes, total lymphocytes, T4 lymphocytes, percentage and count of T8 lymphocytes and T4/T8 lymphocyte ratio.

[Neuropsychological disorders in patients with symptomatic AIDS treated in 1990 at the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Clinic, Medical Academy, Warsaw].

Material of this study consists of data collected during treatment of HIV infected patients admitted to AIDS Clinic in Warsaw. This unit, as the first in Poland, hospitalized seropositive patients with various infectious problems. Psychiatric complication of HIV infection (which needed psychotropic medication) was already observed in the first patient, who died with AIDS diagnosis (in February, 1987).

[Procollagen type III peptides in chronic viral hepatitis].

Blood serum concentration of procollagen type III peptides was assayed in 37 patients with chronic active hepatitis, 14 patients with persisting chronic hepatitis, and 11 normal subjects. Mean concentration of these peptides was significantly higher in patients with chronic active hepatitis than in those with persisting chronic hepatitis (25.6 +/- 11.

[Beta-2 microglobulin as a non-specific marker of immunodeficiency in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)].

Beta-2-microglobulin (beta 2m) is a polypeptide composing HLA antigens on the surface of nucleated cells. Its serum concentration is increased mainly in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders and during viral infections, and reflects probably accelerated activation and turnover of T cells. In this paper we report on abnormalities of beta 2m serum levels in HIV-infected patients.

[Serological markers of hepatitis b and hepatitis d among individuals with symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV infection].

Serological markers of present or past HBV infection were looked for in 69 persons infected with HIV. 40 out of them were clinically asymptomatic, while 29 showed evidence of clinically overt disease related to HIV infection. Most of them were homo- or bisexual men, prostitutes or intravenous drug abusers.

[Affinity of anti-HIV antibodies in patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV infection].

A novel method based on the dose-response curve of antibodies was used for the assessment of the affinity of anti-HIV antibodies in 15 males with asymptomatic or symptomatic HIV infection. The subjects were followed up for a period of 1 to 5 years. No significant correlation between antibody affinity and the clinical stage of infection was observed, however, the computed affinity values increased slightly in most of the asymptomatic HIV carriers and remained relatively constant in AIDS patients.

[AIDS and tuberculosis].

From Jan. 1, 1989, through July, 1, 1991, 193 patients with HIV infection were treated at the Department of Acquired Immunodeficiency, Infectious diseases Hospital in Warsaw. Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 11 (5.

[Central nervous system (CNS) in patients with AIDS].

We had analysed central nervous system disorders in 30 AIDS patients with neurological signs and symptoms. 17 out of them (56.7%) showed abnormal EEG where CT scan revealed organic changes in 13/17 of them.

[Infections with hepatitis B, C and delta viruses in patients with AIDS].

To analyse the prevalence of liver viral infections we tested sera of drug abusers HIV+ (23 persons), sera of drug abusers HIV--(30 persons) and sera of homosexuals HIV+ (18 persons). We looked for antigens delta and antibodies anti-HBcoreAg, anti-HCV, anti-HDV. Results showed the prevalence of HBV infections among drug abusers (in Warsaw) and lower prevalence of HBV infections among homosexuals.

[Value of routine biochemical investigations for detection of liver injury in alcoholics during abstinence].

In 42 alcoholics biopsy of the liver was done during the period of abstinence and the following biochemical investigations were carried out at the same time: AspAT, A1AT, GGTP, alkaline phosphatase activity, total serum protein level, protein electrophoretic fractions, levels of urea and fibrinogen, prothrombin index and white blood cell count. In these investigations determination of transaminase activity was found to be most sensitive in the detection of hepatocellular damage. In some patients no abnormalities were found in biochemical investigations despite presence of high-grade changes in the liver in histological examination.