Intravenous thrombolysis in posterior cerebral artery infarctions.

Background: Approximately 5-10% of all acute ischemic strokes (AIS) occur in the territory of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA). Little is known about intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in this infarct subgroup in terms of outcome and intracerebral hemorrhage rates. The aim of our study was to evaluate differences between supratentorial PCA infarcts and anterior circulation infarcts regarding baseline characteristics, stroke severity, outcome, safety and clinical findings, which would implicate a change in the existing thrombolysis practice in patients with PCA stroke.

The effect of metformin treatment for 2 years without caloric restriction on endocrine and metabolic parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term changes in endocrine and metabolic parameters and body mass index in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who were treated with metformin over 2 years without caloric restriction.

Material And Methods: Twenty-six obese women with PCOS were treated with metformin over 2 years without caloric restriction. Clinical, metabolic and endocrine parameters and the body mass index were measured and an oral glucose tolerance test was carried out to calculate insulin resistance indices at the beginning and at the follow-up after 2 years.

Recommendation for post-exposure prophylaxis after potential exposure to herpes b virus in Germany.

Although the risk of a herpes B virus (Cercopithecine herpes virus 1) infection is low, the clinical course of the infectious disease is generally unfavourable. A high safety standard can be achieved if people with professional contact to primates apply proper organisational, technical and personal safety precautions. The risk can be considerably reduced if animal keepers, laboratory assistants and scientists receive adequate information about the pathology of herpes B virus and are well trained in the necessary procedures and the precautions.

Fatal Herpes simplex infection in a group of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).

An outbreak of classical herpetic infection causing vesicoulcerative stomatitis in a family group (eight animals) of Callithrix jacchus is described. In all eight infected animals, human herpesvirus 1 (HHV-1) was identified as the causative agent. This was confirmed by histologic, immunohistologic, and molecular biologic investigations, as well as by virus isolation.

Molecular cloning and expression of major structural protein VP1 of the human polyomavirus JC virus: formation of virus-like particles useful for immunological and therapeutic studies.

The major structural viral protein, VP1, of the human polyomavirus JC virus (JCV), the causative agent of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), was expressed by using recombinant baculoviruses. Recombinant VP1 formed virus-like particles (VLP) with the typical morphology of empty JCV capsids. Purified VP1 VLP bind to SVG, B, and T cells, as well as to monkey kidney cells.

A rapid and sensitive bacterial assay to determine the inhibitory effect of 'interface' peptides on HIV-1 protease co-expressed in Escherichia coli.

The HIV-1 protease is essential for maturation of virus particles and is, therefore, an attractive target for antiviral drugs. The function of this protease depends on the dimerization of two identical subunits. Commonly used protease inhibitors are directed mainly against the active site of the enzyme which often leads to viral resistance.

Mutations in the SIV env and the M13 lacZa gene generated in vitro by reverse transcriptases and DNA polymerases.

To investigate the accuracy of retroviral in vitro DNA replication we have examined with two fidelity assays the reverse transcriptases (RTs) from SIVagm, HIV-1, MoMLV as well for comparison the Klenow fragment from E. coli and DNA polymerase a from calf-thymus. These forward mutation assays measured the loss of bacteriophage M13 lacZa gene function by mutations.

Expression and characterization of the reverse transcriptase enzyme from type 1 human immunodeficiency virus using different baculoviral vector systems.

To produce the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) in amounts required to study its structure and function, the p66 enzyme subunit was expressed using two different baculovirus vectors in Sf158 insect host cells. Both vectors permitted an efficient HIV-1 RT expression. The resulting products were purified up to 90% homogeneity, characterized, and investigated for their susceptibility to digestion with various proteases.

Chemical modifications of aminonaphthalenesulfonic acid derivatives increase effectivity and specificity of reverse transcriptase inhibition and change mode of action of reverse transcriptase and DNA polymerase alpha inhibition.

The reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibition and the specificity of 15 aminonaphthalenesulfonic acid derivatives were examined with RT of a simian immunodeficiency virus derived from an African green monkey (SIVagmTYO-7). The two compounds with the strongest RT inhibition (NF415) or the highest specificity (NF345), together with suramin, were evaluated against polymerase alpha-primase complex from calf thymus. We have also compared the kinetics of inhibition of the viral and the cellular polymerase by these three compounds.

Characterization of the endogenous reverse transcriptase reaction products of SIVagmTYO-7, a simian immunodeficiency virus isolated from an African green monkey.

The products of the endogenous reverse transcriptase reaction of SIVagmTYO-7 were characterized after the reaction conditions had been optimized. The major reaction product in the presence of actinomycin D and oligo(dT) was a DNA with a size of 300 bases. Without actinomycin D two additional reaction products with 600 or 700 bases appeared.

Expression and frameshifting but extremely inefficient proteolytic processing of the HIV-1 gag and pol gene products in stably transfected rodent cell lines.

Expression, ribosomal frameshifting, and proteolytic processing of HIV-1 GAG and POL proteins were investigated in heterologous mammalian cells in order to elucidate the influence of the cellular background on these events. DNA fragments encoded by the gag and pol region were expressed in two rodent cell lines, LTK- and BHK. Both stably transfected cell lines continuously produce recombinant proteins which react with HIV-specific antisera.

Antibody response to the negative regulatory factor (nef) in experimentally infected macaques: correlation with viremia, disease progression, and seroconversion to structural viral proteins.

The antibody response to structural and regulatory viral proteins was studied in 14 rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and 6 cynomolgus (Macaca fascicularis) macaques experimentally infected with HIV-2 or SIVMAC. To investigate the humoral antibody response to the negative regulatory factor (nef), the recombinant protein was expressed to high levels with recombinant vaccinia virus (VV). nef-specific antibodies were detected in 14 of 20 infected macaques (70%).

Genomic divergence of an HIV-2 from a German AIDS patient probably infected in Mali.

The complete nucleotide sequence of an HIV-2 isolate derived from a German AIDS patient with predominantly neurological symptoms is reported. The HIV-2BEN sequence is highly divergent from those of previously described HIV-2 and SIV strains. Evolutionary tree analysis of eight HIV-2 sequences reveals the existence of three HIV-2 groups.

Experimental infection of macaques with HIV-2ben, a novel HIV-2 isolate.

Ten rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and six fascicularis (Macaca fascicularis) macaques were inoculated with HIV-2ben using three different virus preparations and two routes of inoculation. Thirteen of the 16 inoculated macaques seroconverted 2-6 weeks after infection. Three M.

A novel proviral clone of HIV-2: biological and phylogenetic relationship to other primate immunodeficiency viruses.

Infectious molecular clones of the human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) will be valuable tools for the study of regulatory gene functions and the development of an animal model for the human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). To this end, we have cloned and sequenced a novel HIV-2 isolate, HIV-2BEN. One clone, designated MK6, is infectious for various human T-cell lines and for human and macaque peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), allowing molecular studies of HIV-2 infection and replication.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a German HIV-1 isolate.

The genetic diversity of HIV-1 is well documented. Except for the HIV-1 isolate LAV-1BRU, no nucleic acid sequence of a European isolate of HIV-1 has been published to date. To further investigate the extent of the genetic variability and the evolution of HIV-1, we have isolated, cloned, and subsequently sequenced HIV-1 from a German patient with AIDS-related complex.

Isolation and characterization of HIV-2ben obtained from a patient with predominantly neurological defects.

A HIV-2 strain named HIV-2ben was isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes of a patient who, since 1984, had developed neurological symptoms such as Raynaud's syndrome, followed by paresthesia of extremities and ataxia, and finally paraparesis of the legs and incontinence. This new isolate could be distinguished from HIV-2rod by antibody-binding epitopes, peptide maps of core p24 and p18 polypeptides and restriction endonuclease cleavage pattern.

Partial purification and characterization of the reverse transcriptase of the simian immunodeficiency virus TYO-7 isolated from an African green monkey.

The reverse transcriptase (RT) was partially purified by a newly developed procedure from the simian immunodeficiency virus TYO-7 isolated from an African green monkey (SIVagmTYO-7). The method comprised lysis of the virus with nonionic detergent followed by two centrifugations in isopycnic sucrose density gradients and one velocity sedimentation in a glycerol gradient. The enzyme exhibited a purity of 70-80% and showed an exceptional high specific activity of 135 nmol incorporation of dTMP per milligram of protein in 1 h with poly(rA).

In vitro anti-HIV-1 activity of chondroitin polysulphate.

Three chondroitin sulphates and five chondroitin polysulphates, with molecular weights ranging from 3000 to 30,000 daltons, were evaluated applying the MT-4 cell-culture assay for inhibition of HIV-1 replication. These results were compared with those obtained with compounds of known in vitro antiretroviral activity, namely, dermatan sulphate, heparin, dextran sulphate, pentosan polysulphate, zidovudine (AZT) and suramin. Chondroitin polysulphate with a molecular weight (MW) of 9000 daltons (CPS 9000) was the most effective polyanionic compound studied.

Detection of human immunodeficiency virus and other retroviruses in cell culture supernatants by a reverse transcriptase microassay.

A micromethod for the detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other retroviruses in cell culture supernatants is described which applies a DEAE ion exchanger for recovery of polynucleotides synthesized in vitro by the retroviral reverse transcriptase. Cell culture, sample preparation, and test performance including the washing step are adapted to microtitre plates. Compared to the standard method this technique produced less non-specific reactions, resulting in a more than 3-fold higher sensitivity, a higher reproducibility due to lower intrarun variations and allowed an increase in the daily sample accomplishment per person 3- to 4-fold at lower costs per sample.

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type I reverse transcriptase by suramin-related compounds.

Ninety analogues of suramin have been examined for their ability to inhibit the exogenous reverse transcriptase (RT) of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-I). Of these compounds, 57 inhibited the poly(rC).oligo(dG)-dependent RT activity.

[In vitro studies of amniotic fluid and intrauterine growth retardation].

Until now the intrauterine growth retardation remains as an insufficiently solved problem. The 3H-thymidine incorporation into the DNA of the isolated islets of Langerhans of neonatal Lewis rats was used as a marker for cell dividing activity in vitro. There was no inhibition effect on the 3H-thymidine incorporation in the presence of amniotic fluid from pregnancies with intrauterine growth retardation compared to those of normal pregnancies.

Efficient replication of HTLV-III and STLV-IIImac in human Jurkat cells.

High producer cell lines were established by infecting Jurkat cells with either HTLV-IIIB from H9 cells or with STLV-IIImac from HUT-78 cells. The Jurkat cells produced both viruses at least 10 times more efficiently then the original cell lines; the pelleted virus from Jurkat cells was also less contaminated with non-virion proteins. Accordingly, a higher specificity was attained in an ELISA for antibodies to HTLV-III if the antigenic activity was derived from the virus from Jurkat cells, as opposed to that from H9 cells.

In vitro splicing of the ribosomal RNA precursor in isolated nucleoli from Tetrahymena.

The macronuclear rRNA genes of Tetrahymena thermophila contain an 0.4 kb intervening sequence in the 26S rRNA coding region. The sequence is represented within the primary transcription product.