[Infection/immunity by hepatitis B virus in an adult population of Havana City. Cuba 1995]. / Infección/inmunidad por el virus de la hepatitis B en una población adulta de Ciudad de La Habana. Cuba 1995.

The results of a study of markers of infection/immunity by hepatitis B virus in a community of the health area in "Cristobal Labra" polyclinics, City of Habana in 1995. The studied healthy adult population was not included in any vaccination strategy with hepatitis B vaccine. Two markers were studied: Hepatitis B surface antigen and its corresponding antibody (anti-HBs). HBsAg-positivity was 1.05% and anti-HBs positivity was 13.39%. Of anti-HBs-positive cases, 13.39% had titers from 10-50 UI/L and the rest (43.68%) had titers over 50 UI/L.

[Filter paper sampling for the detection of anti-hepatitis A IgM antibodies]. / Toma de muestra en papel de filtro para la detección de anticuerpos IgM antivirus de la hepatitis A.

The usefulness of the whole sample taking in filter paper for the detection of anti-HAV IgM is described. 168 serum and filter paper samples were simultaneously compared. No alterations were observed in the specificity of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the catchment of IgM in the 52 samples of the control group or in the other 116 from patients with clinical suspicion of acute viral hepatitis. A sensitivity, specificity and coincidence of 100% was obtained on comparing the filter paper with the dilution 1:500 with the serum. The correlation established between the values of optical density of the positive results to anti-HAV IgM, the filter paper at dilution 1:500 and the serum was of 0.895. On applying this type of sample taking in a group of hospitalized patients, 100% of coindicence with clinical suspicion was attained. Besides, it was proved its usefulness for the diagnosis of a viral hepatitis outbreak. According to our results, it is recommended the introduction of this type of sample taking in the diagnosis of hepatitis A.

[Infection by hepatitis B and C viruses in high-performance athletes]. / Infección por los virus de la hepatitis B y C en deportistas de alto rendimiento.

It is reported the possible relationship between the infection caused by viral agents of predominantly parenteral transmission, such as the hepatitis B virus (HBV), the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the sports practice. It was conducted a study of seroprevalence of the infection by HBV and HCV in Cuban high performance athletes. Only 1.3% of positivity to the HBV infection was found. This positivity is related to the sports discipline they practice and some considerations are made on this regard.

[Purification and proteic characterization of a Cuban strain of the hepatitis A virus]. / Purificación y caracterización proteica de una cepa cubana del virus de la hepatitis A.

The purification and protein characterization of one of the Cuban isolated strains of hepatitis A virus was carried out. For this, it was necessary to separate the virus from the infected cell by extraction steps with detergents, concentration by ultrafiltration and finally, ultracentrifugation in saccharosoglycerol discontinuous gradient. Protein concentration, as well as the antigenic activity in the different fractions of the gradient were determined. For the protein characterization of the microorganism, those fractions with the greatest specific activity were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by Western blotting. It was shown that the viral material was purified and concentrated in the last fractions of the gradient. Bands corresponding to the structural proteins of hepatitis A were observed through electrophoresis and Western blotting.

[Report pf the first case of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in an HIV seropositive patient in Cuba]. / Reporte del primer caso de linfogranuloma venéreo (LGV) en un paciente seropositivo para VIH en Cuba.

The most important clinical and epidemiological aspects of the lymphogranuloma venereum as a sexually-transmitted disease are described. We present a summary of the clinical history of an HIV-positive patient who presented with a tumoral lesion in the inguinal region presumptive of lymphogranuloma venereum. The diagnostic value of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for the establishment of an accurate diagnosis is stressed the epidemiological importance of the report of this sexually-transmitted disease in an HIV-positive patient for the first time in Cuba is also pointed out. A good response was attained with Doxycycline.