[Inactivation of HTLV-III/LAV by UV irradiation and chemical disinfection].

The principle and technical design of a simple UV sterilization device for applanation tonometer bodies is described. Time-dose relations effective against HTLV-III-LAV are given.

[Ovarian stimulation by a new therapeutic principle for the treatment of complications of the climacteric. Results of a double-blind crossover study with a defined spleen dialysate].

In a placebo-controlled double-blind cross-over study (test period 8 weeks) the spleen dialysate Solcosplen is tested for effectiveness and tolerance in 40 women, i.e. 14 pre- resp.

Specific enzyme immunoassay for the detection of antibody to HTLV-III using rheumatoid factor-coated plates.

A 1-step method was developed to detect IgG antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III). The supernatant of T-lymphocyte cultures infected with HTLV-III was incubated for several days with peroxidase-labelled anti-HTLV-III F(ab')2 antibody fragments. During this incubation period an enzyme-labelled immune complex (ELIC) was formed which could be stored at -20 degrees C.

Regression of valvular aortic stenosis due to homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia following plasmapheresis.

A 39-year-old male with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia confirmed by tissue culture suffered from mild aortic insufficiency and valvular stenosis with a gradient of 20 mm Hg across the aortic valve. Plasmapheresis carried out every 2 weeks for 4 years resulted in a marked reduction in the serum cholesterol level and in a regression of the valvular stenosis, as shown by echocardiography and by left heart catheter.

Differentiation between primary and recurrent cytomegalovirus infections.

Two blocking tests were applied simultaneously to detect antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) in human serum specimens. Two different peroxidase-labelled tracers were prepared from human sera taken either early during a primary CMV infection or late after recurrent infection. Sera of acute primary CMV cases effectively competed with the labelled antibodies of the "early" tracer but a rather weak inhibition was observed with the "late" tracer.

Abnormal B-cell response to T-cell-independent polyclonal B-cell activators in homosexuals presenting persistent generalized lymph node enlargement and HTLV-III antibodies.

B-cell functions were investigated in a well-defined high-risk group for the development of AIDS/AIDS-related complex (ARC). Stimulation of mononuclear cells (MNC) with T-cell-independent polyclonal B-cell activators failed to increase high spontaneous IgG levels observed in vivo and in vitro. The secretion of IgM following stimulation with Klebsiella M (Klebs M) or Salmonella (Salm) membrane preparation increased by a factor of 4 to 6 and thus ranged between the results of the control group and those of AIDS/ARC patients; the response to a T-cell-independent B-cell mitogen, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC), showed profound abnormalities as well in this group.

New technology considerations in system selection.

To get the most from their investment, persons choosing hospital information systems today should keep in mind technological trends affecting future system standards. This article describes specific hardware and software developments and outlines factors increasing the need for system flexibility and integration.

Sequential intervention procedures after intracoronary thrombolysis; balloon dilatation, bypass surgery, and medical treatment.

After successful intracoronary thrombolysis of an acute myocardial infarction in 145 patients subsequent intervention procedures were evaluated. In 48 of 62 patients (43%), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed successfully (success rate 77%), 41 patients (28%) were operated on and 56 patients (39%) were treated only medically. During the hospital phase in the angioplasty group, 4 reinfarctions were noted and 3 repeat angioplasties were required, while 41 of the 48 successfully treated patients (85.

Simple detection of antibodies to different viruses using rheumatoid factor and enzyme-labelled antigen (ELA).

A new one-step method was developed to detect IgG antibodies to different virus antigens. Human serum specimens were mixed with different enzyme-labelled antigen (ELA) preparations in microtitre plates coated with rheumatoid factor (RF). During the incubation in the wells of microtitre plates immune complexes form which are specifically bound to the RF on the solid phase.

Detection of coronavirus-like particles in homosexual men with acquired immunodeficiency and related lymphadenopathy syndrome.

Coronavirus-like particles were identified by electronmicroscopy in the feces of homosexual men. The particles banded at a density of 1.21 g/ml after cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation.

Muzolimine as monotherapy in the treatment of patients with congestive cardiac failure.

The efficacy of muzolimine (BAY g 2821) in doses of 30 or 60 mg/day was studied over an observation period of 4 weeks in 48 patients with mild to moderate heart failure (NYHA stage 2 or 3) in a biometrically planned, multicentre study. Eleven of these patients were excluded from the evaluation of efficacy for various reasons. All 37 patients who remained (23 men and 14 women; mean age 59.

[AIDS fatalities in Hamburg (status: February 1985)--legal medicine aspects].

The registration of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS deaths is centralized for medical research. A short review of the epidemiological state of AIDS in Hamburg is given (situation as of February 1985), and the autopsy results of seven postmortem examinations are referred to. Kaposi's sarcoma was seen in four patients and opportunistic infections in all cases, especially as a result of Pneumocystis carinii and cytomegalovirus.

Antibodies to adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV/HTLV-I) in AIDS patients and people at risk of AIDS in Germany.

A total of 2048 serum samples from Germany were examined for antibodies to adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV) structural polypeptides with an enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmative immuno precipitation. The origin of the sera samples was: 850 samples taken for virological or protozoal diagnosis; 626 samples from male homosexuals, about 20% of whom had lymphadenopathy syndrome; 164 from hemophiliacs; 184 were from multiple transfused, mostly dialysis patients; 9 from intravenous drug abusers; 182 from suspected cases of acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 33 from AIDS-patients. In none of these sera did we detect antibodies to ATLV, except in the serum of one patient who had been on hemodialysis for over 11 years.

Comparative study of isomalt and sucrose by means of continuous indirect calorimetry.

Isomalt (Palatinit) an equimolar mixture of alpha-D-glucopyranosido-1,6-sorbitol and alpha-D-glucopyranosido-1,6-mannitol, was compared to sucrose in a prospective double-blind controlled crossover study. The acute effects of oral ingestion of 30-g loads of isomalt or sucrose on plasma glucose, insulin, free fatty acids (FFA), lactic acid, and carbohydrate (CHO) and lipid oxidation were studied over six hours by means of continuous indirect calorimetry in ten healthy normal-weight subjects. Unlike sucrose, whose ingestion was followed by significant changes in plasma glucose, insulin, and lactic acid during the first 60 minutes of the test, no significant changes in these parameters were observed following the administration of isomalt.

Evaluation protocol for information system planning.

Although some believe that electronic management information systems in the health care setting are of questionable value, I cannot support that position. There are undoubtedly health care institutions with management information systems (MISs) that are of dubious value, just as there are institutions in which the MIS is of enormous value. The question of the value of an MIS to an institution has more to do with an understanding of what an MIS is, what the institution's information needs are, and what the MIS can and should be doing for an organization, than it does with any inherent benefits that the system displays in and of itself exclusive of its environment.

Iron overload in cardiac valvular disease and pure red cell aplasia: treatment with desferrioxamine.

A patient was noted to have mitral stenosis in 1969, which by 1982 had progressed to grade III severity. In 1980 she was found to have pure red cell aplasia which was treated by transfusion. In this report we describe the control of iron overload using desferrioxamine and discuss the role of this drug in the treatment of hemosiderosis.

Detection of specific immunoglobulin M antibody to different flaviviruses by use of enzyme-labeled antigens.

An enzyme immunoassay was developed for the detection of human immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody to different flavivirus antigens. The IgM antibody of human sera was selectively bound to anti-IgM antibody-coated solid-phase plates. Flavivirus IgM antibodies were then detected by use of various enzyme-labeled antigens.