Non-specific effects of BCG vaccination on morbidity among children in Greenland: a population-based cohort study.

Background: The potential non-specific effects of BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccination, with reported reduction of infectious disease morbidity among vaccinated children, in addition to the protective effect against tuberculosis (TB), are highly debated. In Greenland, BCG vaccination was introduced in 1955, but temporarily discontinued from 1991 to 1996 due to nationwide policy changes. Using the transient vaccination stop, we aimed to investigate possible non-specific effects of BCG vaccination by measuring nation-wide hospitalization rates due to infectious diseases other than TB among vaccinated and unvaccinated children.

Multiple sclerosis after infectious mononucleosis.

Background: Infectious mononucleosis caused by the Epstein-Barr virus has been associated with increased risk of multiple sclerosis. However, little is known about the characteristics of this association.

Objective: To assess the significance of sex, age at and time since infectious mononucleosis, and attained age to the risk of developing multiple sclerosis after infectious mononucleosis.

Multiple sclerosis is linked to Epstein-Barr virus infection.

The aetiology and pathogenesis of MS are unknown, but environmental agents, genetic susceptibility and stochastic events are likely to be involved. In order to evaluate the possibility that MS is linked to EBV infection, we here evaluate studies on MS- and EBV-epidemiology, prospective and retrospective analysis of EBV-serology, investigations of EBV DNA sequences in blood and tissues, specificity of antibodies in oligoclonal bands in MS patients and results from antiviral chemotherapy of MS patients. It could be demonstrated that EBV is complying with the epidemiological observations in MS and that all MS patients are seropositive to EBV in contrast to healthy controls.

Presence of Epstein-Barr virus and human herpesvirus 6B DNA in multiple sclerosis patients: associations with disease activity.

Objective: To assess the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) DNA in saliva and plasma from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled valacyclovir treatment study.

Methods: DNA was prepared following ultracentrifugation of saliva and plasma. EBV and HHV-6B DNAs were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction.