Sumner Berkovich

In vitro Suppression of the Lymphocyte Response to Tuberculin by Live Measles Virus.

Summary The addition of live measles virus to PPD sensitive lymphocytes has been shown to reduce significantly the mean response of these cells to PPD. The stimulatory effect of PHA in a similar system was not influenced by the measles virus.

Acute glomerulonephritis associated with ECHO virus type 9 infection

The definite relationship of a viral agent to acute glomerulonephritis has not beendemonstrated either virologically or immunologically. The present report is the first to describe an association of acute glomerulonephritis with an infection by a specific virus, ECHO virus type 9.

Transplacental infection due to ECHO virus type 22

Summary Serological evidence of in utero infection with the ECHO 22 virus is presented. Neither the infected infant nor the mother became ill.

Nitroblue tetrazoliumdye test and differential diagnosis of meningitis

Summary The NBT test has been found to be highly useful in the differentiation of bacterial from viral and tuberculous meningitis. The test is of limited value in association with inappropriately treated bacterial meningitis and is not dependable in patients with sickle cell anemia and pneumococcal meningitis.

Exanthem associated with respiratory syncytial virus infection

Infection with respiratory syncytial virus was associated in this patient with both croup and exanthem. This agent has not previously been implicated as a cause of exanthematous disease.

Neonatal Herpes Keratitis.

K E R A T I T I S has frequently been associated with herpes simplex infection in children and adults?, 2 This complicat ion, however, has rarely been observed with neonata l herpes, and the etiology o~ the lesions described has not been established. 8-s Of special interest, therefore, are the findings regarding 2 newborn infants admi t t ed to Kings Coun ty Hospi ta l Cen te r in la te spring and ear ly summer, 1963. Both had superficial corneal ulcerat ions and skin lesions typical of herpes simplex. Skin and conjunct iva l swabbings yie lded the virus in tissue culture.

Effect of live measles virus vaccine on childhood nephrosis

Summary Evidence is presented which indicates that children with nephrosis may have transient improvement of renal status following inoculation with live measles virus vaccine. The difficulty of interpreting these results is briefly discussed.

EFFECT OF GONADECTOMY ON SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE ADULT MOUSE TO COXSACKIE B1 VIRUS INFECTION.

Summary The Coxsackie B1 virus used in this experiment was unusually virulent for adult “Swiss albino” mice; approximately 15% of the infected animals died and the survivors were severely ill. However, following gonadectomy the death rate fell significantly. This protective effect of castration was not sex-linked and was no longer present 30 days after surgery. Possible hormonal mechanisms responsible for this altered susceptibility are discussed.

Effect of live attenuated mumps vaccine virus on the expression of tuberculin sensitivity

A significant depression of the tuberculin skin reaction has been reported in mumps-immune and sussceptible children following inoculation with live, attenuated mumps virus vaccine. 1 Our results with the same virus and similar test groups were quite different. Although a marked depression of skin reactivity was noted in 4 of our 18 vaccinees, all 4 had associated illness unrelated to the vaccine that probably accounted for their altered sensitivity. Two others did develop transient diminution in tuberculin skin reactivity during the observation period, but the ability of their lymphocytes to transform in vitro in the presence of tuberculin was not altered. The skin changes observed, therefore, were probably not of significance and may have represented the known variability in results of tuberculin skin testing.

Effects of X-Irradiation on Susceptibility of Neonatal Rat Brain and Muscle to Goxsackie B1 Virus Infection.

Summary Large doses of X-irradiation primarily to the head of the newborn rat 24 hours prior to infection with Coxsackie B1 virus resulted in an immediate increase in the titer of virus recovered from brain. Six days later a delayed rise was also detected in skeletal muscle harvested from a site distant from the point of maximum irradiation. In brain the increased viral yield was probably related to the simultaneous effects of ionizing radiation on both the head and the body. There is no satisfactory explanation for the delayed effect noted in muscle.