We detected cytomegalovirus DNA in clinical urine specimens after immobilization on nitrocellulose filters and hybridization with a radioactively labeled, cloned fragment of cytomegalovirus DNA. We accomplished the specific detection and quantitation of viral DNA within 24 hours with 39 urine specimens from nine patients with cytomegalovirus viruria, mostly at a tissue-culture infective titer of 10(3) per milliliter or higher. None of 57 urine specimens from 21 patients that were culture-negative for cytomegalovirus gave false-positive results.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt has been shown that all three classes of interferons enhance the expression of the major histocompatibility class I antigens (HLA-A,B,C;H-2) on a wide variety of cell types (1-10). However, their effect on the expression of the class II antigens (HLA-DR, Ia), which play a major part in cellular interactions that initiate an immune response, is more controversial. The predominate findings have been that the interferons specifically increase the synthesis and expression of only the class I antigens (3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Infect Dis
January 1983
Erythrocebus patas monkeys were given placebo or human leukocyte interferon (5 x 10(5) units/kg of body weight per day im) for five days during an epizootic of simian varicella. During the 14 days beginning with the first day of treatment, the attack rate for simian varicella was 14.3% (two of 14) among interferon recipients compared to 70% (nine of 13) among placebo recipients (P less than 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Biol Response Mod
January 1984
Seventeen patients with disseminated cancer were treated with a human leukocyte interferon preparation in doses ranging from 3 X 10(6) to 50 X 10(6) IU daily for 30 days. Doses above 18 X 10(6) IU were considered intolerable in this schedule of administration due to severe fatigue and weight loss. Serum concentrations of interferon were lower than those achieved with either partially pure native or recombinant leukocyte interferon.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmune responses and infections with herpes viruses were studied prospectively in 36 cardiac transplant recipients. Specific lymphocyte transformation and interferon production in response to viral antigens, viral culture results, antibody levels, responses to phytohemagglutinin, and T-cell numbers were determined. Responses to phytohemagglutinin and T-cell numbers were depressed for six to 12 weeks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInterferons have now been used in both prophylaxis and treatment of a number of human viral infections. The major action has been as a prophylactic for sites within the body that are not yet involved by disease. Such a prophylactic effect can be obtained early in the treatment of acute viral infection or even during chronic viral disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThree patients with HBsAg-positive and DNA-polymerase-positive chronic hepatitis were treated with increasing dosages of intravenous acyclovir. A fall in DNA polymerase activity was seen with all courses of acyclovir but no dose-response relationship was evident. In only one patient did DNA polymerase fall to zero where it has remained for five months.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effects of passive immunization on cytomegalovirus infection and interstitial pneumonia in marrow transplants were evaluated in a randomized, controlled trial. Twenty-four patients received cytomegalovirus immune plasma before and after transplantation, and 24 patients were controls. Although the incidence of cytomegalovirus infection was similar in the control and plasma groups, symptomatic infection (12 of 24 versus five of 24, p = 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
May 1982
We report that human leukocyte interferon preparations increase the expression of beta 2-microglobulin by 100-200% on the surface of normal fibroblast and melanoma cell lines sensitive to interferon. This increase in expression can be correlated with an increase in HLA synthesis as measured by incorporation of [35S]methionine in these antigens. This enhanced HLA synthesis, which is 5- to 17-fold, is time dependent and dose related.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSixteen patients with advanced cancer were treated with recombinant-DNA-produced pure leukocyte A interferon (IFLrA) intramuscularly in doses ranging from 3 to 198 X 10(6) units. with interval periods of 72 to 96 hours between doses. At the two lowest doses of 3 and 9 million units, there was a cross-over evaluation between IFLrA and partially pure leukocyte interferon (IFN-C) produced from human cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTen young adult patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and positive hepatitis B e antigen and DNA polymerase (DNAP) levels were treated with alternating courses of seven to 28 days of 5 to 7.5 mg/kg of vidarabine monophosphate (adenine arabinoside monophosphate) and 28 days of human leukocyte interferon (IFN-alpha); three different regimens were given on an outpatient basis. All patients with a fall in their DNAP level, and the DNAP remained undetectable six months after treatment was stopped in one patient.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatients undergoing bone marrow transplantation for acute leukemia or aplastic are a great risk for the development of interstitial pneumonia associated with the cytomegalovirus (CMV). Passive immunization with a CMV immune plasma has been found to be effective for the prevention of interstitial pneumonia after marrow transplantation. Because of the limited availability of high-titered CMV plasma, we studied the kinetics of CMV antibody in bone marrow transplant patients receiving immune globulin intravenous, 5%, in 10% maltose (IGIV).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman leukocyte interferon was evaluated as a treatment for varicella in a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study carried out in two phases. A total of 44 children being treated for cancer were enrolled within 72 hours of the appearance of the exanthem. The mean number of days of new lesion formation was 3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe clinical and immunologic effects of a biosynthetic human leukocyte interferon, recombinant leukocyte A interferon (IFL-rA), are reported in eight patients with advanced cancer. Single escalating doses from 3 X 10(6) units to 198 X 10(6) units were given by intramuscular injection in a phase I study. Major toxic effects included pyrexia, fatigue, myalgia, and headache.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLevels of IgG and IgM antibodies t human cytomegalovirus (CMV) were measured using a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Individuals positive by complement-fixation test consistently had detectable IgG titers by radioimmunoassay, but no quantitative relationship was apparent. An elevated IgM titer was considered specific for CMV infection because sera from individuals with other herpesvirus infections did not cross-react.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntimicrob Agents Chemother
February 1982
Three infants with congenital rubella syndrome were given human leukocyte (alpha) interferon at doses of 2 x 10(5) to 7 X 10(5) U/kg per day for 10 days. A transient decrease in pharyngeal virus excretion was observed with treatment. No significant side effects were associated with the administration of human leukocyte interferon to these infants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTwo patients with extensive warts which were stable for two years or more were treated with human interferon-alpha to assess the ability of interferon to affect this benign tumor of viral etiology. Intramuscular administration of 96.6 and 135 million units over 12-15 weeks produced softening and decreased scaling of each patient's warts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo assess for possible inhibition of cellular transmethylation during adenine arabinoside (ara-A) therapy, S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase activity was analyzed in 10 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. In six patients receiving ara-A, enzyme activity was suppressed to 0-2% of control erythrocyte enzyme activity. This decrease in enzyme activity was evident within 4 h of starting the drug infusion and continued for 7 d after cessation of therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSeveral chemicals and interferons have been utilized in the prophylaxis and the treatment of a number of human herpesvirus infections. For example, adenine arabinoside as well as acyclovir and human leukocyte interferon appear active against acute varicella zoster and herpes simplex infections in controlled trials. Some of these agents have transient in vivo actions against CMV and EBV as well.
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