Transient hydrops fetalis associated with intrauterine cytomegalovirus infection: prenatal diagnosis.

Background: Intrauterine cytomegalovirus infection is usually unrecognized during pregnancy. However, in some cases, ultrasound abnormalities can be observed in association with cytomegalovirus infection.

Case: The prenatal diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in a fetus with transient hydrops is reported.

Rapid detection of human cytomegalovirus viraemia from small volumes of heparinized whole blood.

Rapid detection of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) from blood was performed in parallel using inoculation into human fibroblastic cells of both 500 microliters of whole blood and of buffy coat derived from 9.5 ml of blood. Of the 46 samples tested, 20 were positive for HCMV, 18 when the buffy coat was inoculated (90%) and 17 (85%) when whole blood was used.

Cytomegalovirus antigenemia assay: therapeutic usefulness and biological significance.

The cytomegalovirus antigenemia test is based on immunocytochemical detection of HCMV early structural protein pp65 in the nuclei of polymorphonuclear blood leucocytes of patients with systemic infection. Specificity and sensitivity are > or = 90% and positivity correlates well with HCMV disease, allowing better monitoring than isolation from buffy coat of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Polymorphonuclear cells appear as a main site of initial HCMV infection and reactivation.

[Chlamydia trachomatis: risk factors in women in the Parisian region. Importance of smoking and cervical ectropion].

A study of chlamydial infection and its clinical correlates was undertaken collaboratively among french women attending sexually transmitted disease (STD, prenatal, and teen clinics (n = 148). A complete sexual and gynecologic history and pelvic exam was performed on all women. Endocervical and urethral cultures were obtained for C.

[4 new cases of neuromyositis, one of them associated with HTLV-I infection].

Neuromyositis is a very rare type of polymyositis where, beside the usual muscular manifestations, there are signs of peripheral neuropathy which can be found at clinical, electromyographic and/or pathological examination. We have seen between 1983 and 1990 four cases of neuromyositis. The neurological disorder was an axonopathy in two cases which is usual in neuromyositis; in the other two cases, there was a polyradiculoneuritis which seems to be very rare in this syndrome.

Comparison of MRC-5 and continuous cell lines for detection of cytomegalovirus in centrifugation cultures.

Continuous cell lines were assessed for use for rapid human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) detection procedures combining tissue culture, centrifugation, and immediate early antigen (IEA) immunostaining. Human cells (MRC-5 embryonic fibroblasts, U-373MG astrocytoma cells, differentiated teratocarcinoma (Tera-2) cells), murine cells (BALB/c-3T3 and Y-1 cells), BHK21 hamster cells, and mink lung (ML) cells were first inoculated with HCMV laboratory strain. IEA synthesizing cells were detected by immunoperoxidase assay using a monoclonal antibody.

The effect of treatment with zidovudine with or without acyclovir on HIV p24 antigenaemia in patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex.

Objective: To evaluate changes in serum HIV p24-antigen levels in a subset of patients who participated in a European/Australian double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of zidovudine (250 mg every 6 h) alone or in combination with acyclovir (800 mg every 6 h) in patients with AIDS, AIDS-related complex (ARC) or Kaposi's sarcoma (KS).

Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of less than or equal to 6 months' therapy.

Setting: Samples were obtained from patients attending teaching hospital outpatient clinics in seven European countries and Australia.

Evaluation of a new chemiluminometric immunoassay, Magic Lite Chlamydia, for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis antigen from urogenital specimens.

The chemiluminometric sandwich immunoassay, Magic Lite Chlamydia by Ciba Corning (Medfield, MA), using one Chlamydia trachomatis-specific monoclonal antibody conjugated with acridinium ester and one polyclonal immobilized to magnetic particles, was compared to cell culture in 291 urogenital specimens from 92 men and 102 women tested both in the cervix and urethra. The proportion of patients with positive culture results ranged from 11.8% among the women to 15% among the men, using microculture plates and peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining procedure with genus-specific monoclonal antibody (Orthodiagnostics, Raritan, NJ).

Use of PCR amplification for diagnosis of HTLV-I infection after blood transfusion.

We studied the seroconversion to human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-I) in two immunocompromised patients after transfusions of cellular blood components. One patient produced IgM antibodies against the viral p19 protein 149 days post-transfusion (a serum on day 43 was negative). Both patients showed indeterminate Western-blots (IgG anti-p19 and anti-gp46 but no anti-p24).

[Comparative study of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal lethal concentration (MLC) values for tetracycline, monocycline, erythromycin and rokitamycin against eleven strains of Chlamydia trachomatis].

We evaluated the efficacy of tetracycline, minocycline, erythromycin and rokitamycin (rikamycine, TMS-19Q) in controlling in vitro propagation of Chlamydia trachomatis in HeLa 229 cells. Ten recent clinical isolates of Chlamydia trachomatis and one fast-growing strain were tested with inocula of 100-1,000 inclusion forming units per well of a 96-wheel microculture plate. Chlamydia trachomatis inclusions were detected by an immunoperoxidase-antiperoxidase procedure (PAP), including a genus-specific monoclonal antibody.

The use of labeled fusion protein for detection of B19 parvovirus IgM antibodies by an immunocapture test.

A new anti-B19 IgM ELISA was developed taking advantage of antibody-capture with biotinylated fusion protein as antigen. Specificity was examined using serum IgM antibody positive for rubella, hepatitis B core antigen, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus as well as with sera positive for rheumatoid factors or antinuclear antibodies. The specificity was found to be 96%.

Prophylaxis of bacterial infections after bone marrow transplantation. A randomized prospective study comparing oral broad-spectrum nonabsorbable antibiotics (vancomycin-tobramycin-colistin) to absorbable antibiotics (ofloxacin-amoxicillin).

Bacterial infection is a common complication after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. It is related to the toxic effects of the conditioning regimen on mucosal surfaces, to bone marrow aplasia and to the prolonged lymphopenia with immune deficiency that lasts for several weeks after bone marrow transplantation. We have performed a prospective randomized study comparing two methods of prophylaxis.

[Prevalence of HIV-1, HIV-2 and HTLV-1 infections. Experience in a Parisian center for sexually transmitted diseases].

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is, to a great extent, a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Its diffusion among the heterosexual population is still limited. STD treatment centres are particularly well organized to watch this diffusion.

[Microbiological study of male genital ulcers. Apropos of 75 cases].

Between November 1986 and June 1987, the microbial aetiology of genital ulcers was assessed in 75 male patients attending the Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) clinic in Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris. Evidence of Haemophilus ducreyi was found in 18 patients (24%), Herpes simplex virus in 19 (25.3%).

Development of an IgM antibody capture test using labelled fusion protein as antigen for diagnosis of B19 human parvovirus infections.

A new anti-B19 IgM ELISA was developed using the antibody-capture principle. Biotinylated fusion protein was used as antigen. The specificity of the test was analysed using sera IgM positive to rubella, hepatitis B core antigen, cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr virus as well with sera positive for rheumatoid factors, antinuclear antibodies and with sera from normal blood donors.

Opportunistic agents in bronchoalveolar lavage in 99 HIV seropositive patients.

During a ten month period, 117 fibreoptic bronchoscopies and bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) were performed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients suspected of having opportunistic pulmonary infections. The BAL were classified into 3 groups, according to clinical manifestations related to HIV infection at the time of fibreoptic bronchoscopy: pre-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (n = 54), AIDS with Kaposi's sarcoma (n = 37), AIDS without Kaposi's sarcoma (n = 26). On chest X-ray, diffuse infiltrates were most common (54%), followed by normal X-rays (24%) and localized infiltrates (18%).

B19 chronic bone marrow failure: a persistent parvovirus infection of humans.

The human parvovirus B19 may produce persistent infections with chronic bone marrow failure in immunocompromised hosts. Despite poor data on the pathophysiologic basis of such infections, it is likely that immune humoral response plays an important part. Indeed, administration of immunoglobulin preparation may help to control the course of B19 chronic infections.

In-vitro activity of azithromycin against Chlamydia trachomatis.

We evaluated the efficacy of azithromycin, erythromycin and doxycycline in controlling in-vitro propagation of Chlamydia trachomatis in HeLa 229 cells. Eight recent clinical isolates of C. trachomatis and two fast-growing strains were tested with inocula of 10(3)-10(5) inclusion forming units per well of a 96-well microtitre plate.

Cat-scratch disease bacteria.

Cat-scratch disease is a benign inoculative lymphoreticulosis, related to the presence of a polymorph bacillus, Warthin-Stary silver stained, Gram negative as assessed by Brown-Hopp staining. It is found in the capillary walls and in macrophages bordering the lymph node sinusoids at the site of inoculation, in regional subacute adenopathy before softening, in internal organs and blood cultures of systemic infections, occurring more often in immuno-compromised patients. These bacteria have been demonstrated in subcutaneous vascular nodules, near to histiocytoid hemangioma in AIDS patients; these lesions are very similar to early stage Kaposi's sarcomas.

Lymphogranuloma venereum: 27 cases in Paris.

Twenty-seven men with laboratory-confirmed lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) were identified among 211 patients tested for LGV or chancroid during a 6-y period. The patients with LGV ranged in age from 17 to 73 y; most were from countries other than France. Twenty-five sought care because of inguinal adenopathy (with spontaneous draining fistulae in two patients) and two because of proctitis.