Prevalence of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus RNA and anti-E2 glycoprotein antibodies in homosexual men with HIV coinfection.

Background: The objective of this cross-sectional, nonrandomized, prospective study was to generate data on the prevalence of GB virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) in a cohort of HIV-infected homosexuals from Munich.

Patients: A total of 71 HIV-infected homosexual men were analyzed for prevalence of GBV-C RNA and antibodies to the E2 envelope glycoprotein (E2Ab). 475 healthy volunteer blood donors in southern Bavaria served as a control group.

On the prognosis of IDDM patients with large kidneys.

Background: Approximately 10-30% of IDDM patients develop diabetic nephropathy depending on the metabolic control. Previous examinations on the significance of the kidney size prior to the manifestation of nephropathy produced varying results.

Methods: The present study, therefore, was designed to assess the correlation between sonographically determined kidney size and kidney function over 8 years in a follow-up examination, and to evaluate a potential risk pattern.

HLA-DQ-restricted, islet-specific T-cell clones of a type I diabetic patient. T-cell receptor sequence similarities to insulitis-inducing T-cells of nonobese diabetic mice.

We established a T-cell line and 20 CD4+ T-cell clones from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of a type I diabetic patient using a membrane preparation of a rat insulinoma cell line (beta membrane antigen [BMA]) as a source of antigen. The T-cell line and three selected clones proliferated specifically to stimulation with BMA and to membranes prepared from human islets, rat pancreas, and NOD pancreas, but not to control antigens. Proliferation-inhibition studies using human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-specific monoclonal antibodies revealed HLA-DQw1-restricted recognition of BMA.

Stabilized human insulin prevents catheter occlusion during continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion.

Obstruction of infusion sets is a major cause of metabolic deterioration or even ketoacidosis during continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). 21 type I, CSII-treated patients were studied in a prospective, randomized cross over design during two periods of three months to assess the effects of Genapol stabilized human insulin (HOE 21 PH H-TRONIN) on obstruction frequency of PVC catheters in comparison with a neutral preparation of biosynthetic human insulin (BHI). In a total observation time of 9.