Michael Katz

Isolation of infectious measles virus in measles encephalitis.

Abstract A 40-year-old man developed encephalitis 3 days after onset of acute measles. He died 6 weeks later. Histopathological findings were consistent with late type of post-infectious measles encephalitis. Direct inoculation of a homogenate of fresh brain tissue obtained at necropsy into susceptible tissue cultures produced no infectious virus. However, co-cultivation of cells derived from this brain tissue with those of a continuous line of African green monkey kidney tissue culture yielded an infectious virus that was identified as measles.

Evaluation of a program supporting scholarly productivity for new investigators.

Purpose Like many groups, the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation has a long-term interest in funding new investigators. This study documents the career outcomes related to scientific productivity, research support, and current faculty positions of new investigators funded by the Foundation. Method All successful applicants from 1983 to 1987 (n = 244) were compared with unsuccessful applicants from 1986 and 1987 (n = 195). Outcomes over a ten-year period were examined. Online databases were used to measure quantity and quality of scholarship, as well as federal grant awards. Institutional prestige was based on the 1982 and 1995 reports from the Conference Board of Associated Research Councils. A follow-up survey of successful applicants identified current employment and research activities. Results Successful and unsuccessful applicants did not differ significantly except that women were underrepresented among successful applicants. Applicants receiving funding were more productive in terms of the quantity and quality of publications as well as federal grant support. A greater proportion of successful applicants came from top-ranked institutions and at follow-up the proportion of successful applicants in top-ranked programs increased. At follow-up, most successful applicants had tenure-track appointments with significant time dedicated to research. Conclusion The findings document the Foundations investment in new investigators to promote scholarly productivity and career development and validate the criteria and process used to select successful applicants. The award provides new investigators with control over resources to facilitate their research programs and enhances the confidence and recognition of recipients.

Intranasally administered rubella vaccine.

Abstract The RA27/3 strain of rubella virus, which is an effective attenuated strain when given subcutaneously, is also immunogenic when given intranasally. Given in a dose of 1000 plaque-forming units (P.F.U.) in the form of nose drops, the virus produced antibodies in 93% of subjects (mainly children); a dose of 100 P.F.U. immunised 50% of subjects. Clinical reaction was absent except for occasional lymphadenopathy. Nasopharyngeal virus excretion was sporadic, and there was no spread to contacts. Antibody responses to intranasal vaccination were equivalent to those obtained after subcutaneous inoculation.

Discussion/Chapter 18

Dr. Johnson commented on the progressive encephalitis of rubella. It resembles subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in the prolonged “incubation period” of some 12 years and the clinical picture of intellectual and motor deterioration, but it lacks the classic myoclonic jerks and the burst suppression pattern on the electroencephalogram. Pathologically the progressive rubella encephalitis also differs from SSPE in that no inclusion bodies are seen in the affected brain tissue. The key point to bear in mind is that the reported cases had had rubella before the 1964 epidemic, and if 12 years is the approximate length of the incubation period, we might expect to see many such cases soon, as the result of the 1964 epidemic.

Treatment of trichuriasis with a new drug, mebendazole.

Effectiveness of mebendazole, a new anthelminthic drug recommended for treatment of Trichuris trichiura infection, was evaluated in 50 children attending a pediatric outpatient clinic in New York City. Mebendazole, 100 mg. administered orally twice daily for three days resulted in an apparent cure of 48 children. Posttreatment stools of the remaining two children had a substantial reduction in the number of eggs. A second course of treatment, identical to the first, led to the elimination of eggs in the stool specimens of these two children. Mebendazole appears to be an effective drug against Trichuris trichiura.

Measles and central nervous system disease. A critical appraisal.

This ia a summary and review of the Workshop, which points out that there is sufficient evidence to relate SSPE to a measles virus. This evidence is both direct-virus isolation- and indirect-immunological data. However the pathogenic process responsible for SSPE has not yet been elucidated. In the case of multiple sclerosis the evidence of the etiologic role of measles virus is only indirect and not as firm as in SSPE. Both diseases have stimulated investigations of the biology of the measles virus or provided ideas for studies in the future.

Current and future directions of research into prematurity: Report of the symposium on prematurity held on 21-22 november 2005

Current and Future Directions of Research into Prematurity: Report of the Symposium on Prematurity Held on 21–22 November 2005

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis: A New Serological Test in the Diagnosis of the Disease

In patients suspected of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) high levels of measles antibody in the serum and CSF have been taken as a supporting diagnostic criterion for the disease. In the present study 14 sera from patients with SSPE, 3 early-measles-con-valescent sera and 100 late-measles-convalescent sera were used for indirect immunofluorescent examination of tissue culture cells infected with wild measles virus and SSPE viruses. All 14 SSPE sera reacted with an antigen in the nuclei and cytoplasm of these infected cells, as did the 3 convalescent sera obtained 3 weeks after the onset of measles. However, no intranuclear fluorescence was detected when the 100 sera obtained 5 months or later after measles infection were used. Thus, SSPE sera derived from patients who had measles many months, or years, prior to the onset of their neurological disorder, behaved like early convalescent sera. Thus unusual characteristic can be applied as a diagnostic test for SSPE. (Supported by USPHS grant NS-6859; Grant MS 596-A-2 from the Nat. Multiple Sclerosis Soc.; DG grants Me270/4 and 270/6; and USPHS grant AI-1475.)

The Compulsion to Circumcise is Constant

Routine non-ritual circumcision stands alone as an allegedly prophylactic procedure that is carried out on an enormous scale for the eventual benefit of only a small minority. Arguments in favor of this procedure have varied with time. They have included prevention of penile cancer, prevention of cervical cancer in sexual partners, and more recently prevention of urinary tract infections in infants and young boys, prevention of AIDS, and cost savings. Yet, no proper epidemiological evaluation of the risk/benefit ratio has been carried out. Instead the arguments have been largely polemical. These will be reviewed and available data assessed.

Adverse Metabolic Effects of Antiparasitic Drugs

Several drugs are available for mass campaigns against enteric helminths. Mebendazole and pyrantel pamoate are quite effective against ascariasis and reasonably effective against the hookworms. Only mebendazole is effective against trichuriasis. Two drugs have recently been introduced for mass therapy of schistosomiasis, but they remain experimental, pending further evaluation. Other drugs are mentioned, and possible adverse metabolic effects are discussed. The fundamental question remaining is whether the eradication of certain parasites will improve the nutritional status of the infected populations.