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A Germenis

Publications and source records attributed to A Germenis.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Serum protein groups (Hp, GC, C3) in patients with gastric carcinoma.

The phenotypes and gene frequencies of 3 serum protein systems (Hp, GC and C3) were studied in 114 consecutive patients from all over Greece with gastric carcinoma. Healthy Greeks studied previously in our Department served as controls. No significant differences were found between patients and controls concerning Hp. Significant differences were found in the GC and C3 systems; GC 2-1 and C3F phenotype as well as C3*F gene frequencies were significantly higher in patients than in controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Thalassemic patients are at high risk for transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus infections.

The prevalence of total as well as IgM antibodies against cytomegalovirus (CMV) was determined by enzyme immunoassay in a group of 287 multitransfused thalassemia major patients aged 5-39 years and in another group of 1,220 healthy controls. A significantly higher prevalence of CMV antibodies was observed in thalassemic patients of all age-groups compared with controls. The prevalence among splenectomized thalassemia patients was higher than among nonsplenectomized thalassemics. It is concluded concluded that patients with thalassemia, especially if splenectomized, are at high risk for transfusion-transmitted CMV infections. The high prevalence of CMV infections might be responsible, at least in part, for the immunological disturbances and the susceptibility to other infections observed in thalassemic patients. On the basis of these results, it is suggested that safe blood should be provided for anti-CMV-negative thalassemics, with priority to anti-HIV-positives and those who are to receive bone marrow transplantation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Function of reticuloendothelial system in splenectomised thalassemics.

The activity of reticuloendothelial system (RES) was estimated in 19 patients with beta-thalassemia major, 20 +/- 4 years old, who had undergone successful splenectomy 6 +/- 5 years previously. The kinetics of 125I denatured human serum albumin in low and large doses was applied for this purpose and the parameters derived (effective RES blood flow-ERBF- and maximum phagocytic capacity-PCmax) were compared to those of nonsplenectomized thalassemics, detected in previous works, as well as to those of 13 healthy controls. In splenectomised thalassemics both parameters of RES activity were found significantly lower than those of nonsplenectomized patients (p less than 0.001). Compared to those of healthy controls, PCmax of splenectomised thalassemics was found not to be significantly different, while ERBF was significantly lower (p less than 0.001). No correlation was noted between the above parameters of RES function and the age of the patients, the age at which splenectomy was performed, the time lapsed since the operation, the amount of blood transfused to the patients after splenectomy or their serum ferritin levels. A pilot study performed in 6 out of the 19 splenectomised patients did not reveal any effect of blood transfusion on RES function parameters, by contrast to observations in nonsplenectomized thalassemics. The results of this study suggest that in splenectomised thalassemics the remaining RES reacts to the continuing hemolytic stimulus in a manner different than that of splenic RES of nonsplenectomized patients and account for, at least in part, the predisposition of the former group to infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Assessment of splenic and RES function of patients with thalassemia major long after partial splenic embolization: in vivo clearance study.

The activity of the remaining reticuloendothelial system (RES) and the function of the splenic remnants was estimated in 5 thalassemic patients who had undergone successful partial splenic embolization (PSE) 6 yr previously. The kinetics of 125I-heat-denatured human albumin as well as that of 51Cr-heat-damaged homologous red blood cells were applied for this purpose and the parameters derived were compared to those of nonsplenectomized as well as splenectomized thalassemics with the following results: (a) The parameters of splenic function in embolized thalassemics were found to be within the limits observed in nonsplenectomized patients. (b) Their maximum phagocytic capacity was significantly lower, not only than that found in nonsplenectomized, but also than in thalassemic patients splenectomized at about the same time. It is concluded that, 6 yr after PSE has been performed, a reorientation of the altered circulatory dynamics has taken place in the splenic remnants allowing previously blockaded areas to gain normal function. It therefore seems that, despite the continuing hemolytic stimulus, RES hyperplasia is prevented, resulting in the stable, low-level transfusion requirements that have been observed in embolized thalassemics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Kinetics of heat-damaged homologous red blood cells in patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia in relation to blood transfusion.

The kinetics of heat-damaged homologous red blood cells (HDE) was studied prior to and 7-10 d following blood transfusion in 14 patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia. On the basis of our results, beta-thalassemic patients were classified into two distinct groups. In the first group the pretransfusion HDE extraction efficiency of the spleen was significantly lower than that of the second group and it increased dramatically following blood transfusion. On the contrary, the relatively higher pretransfusion HDE extraction efficiency of the patients of the second group showed a significant decrease after blood transfusion. These differences between the two groups of beta-thalassemics might be attributed to the different qualitative as well as quantitative alterations of the splenic vascular bed occurring in these patients during the course of their disease. Furthermore, there was convincing evidence that part of the HDE mixture was extracted by RES sites outside the spleen, a function which is also affected by blood transfusion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

C3 polymorphism in Greece.

The polymorphism of the third component of the human complement (C3) was investigated in a sample of 1,055 unrelated healthy individuals from nine different areas of Greece. The estimated gene frequencies were: C3S = 0.786 and C3F = 0.211. Three individuals were found to have rare variant C3 types. The allele frequencies resemble those reported for other Caucasian populations.

Alleles↗
PubMed1984

Genetic markers in renal adenocarcinoma.

The distribution of phenotypes and gene frequencies of the 3rd component of complement (C3), group-specific component (Gc), haptoglobin (Hp) and transferrin (Tf) were studied in 50 patients with renal adenocarcinoma. The statistical analysis of our findings in comparison to the frequency of these genes in the general population does not reveal any correlation between the distribution of the Hp and Tf phenotypes and the disease. On the contrary, a statistically significant association was found between renal adenocarcinoma and C3F and Gc2 genes. The relative risk incidence of this malignancy is 2.07 and 1.94 respectively for the carriers of these genes. These data indicate that genetic factors, possibly related to the immune mechanisms and calcium metabolism, play a role in the pathogenesis of renal adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1983

[Genetic markers in benign hypertrophy of the prostate].

The distribution of phenotypes and gene frequencies of the C3 component of complement, group-specific component, transferrin and haptoglobin were studied in 155 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. A statistical analysis of the findings in comparison with the frequency of these genes in the general population failed to demonstrate any correlation between phenotype distribution and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Complement C3↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Latent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections affect immunoglobulin levels of patients with thalassemia major.

The serum levels of IgG, IgA and IgM were measured by radial immunodiffusion in 247 patients with beta-thalassemia major (106 nonsplenectomized and 141 splenectomized) aged between and 5 and 35 years, and in 407 healthy controls. The results were analyzed in relation to the presence of total and/or IgM antibodies against CMV in the sera, as determined by enzyme immunoassay. A statistically significant variation in IgM levels was observed between the seronegatives and the different groups of seropositives (those with recent and those with prior CMV infections) within nonsplenectomized and splenectomized thalassemic patients, as well as within controls. Among seronegative individuals, no significant differences in the levels of immunoglobulins were observed, either between nonsplenectomized and splenectomized thalassemics or between each one of these groups and the controls. On the contrary, when the above mentioned groups of patients and controls appeared with recent or old CMV infections, they presented significantly different levels of immunoglobulins. It is concluded that latent CMV infections are responsible, at least in part, for the disagreement between various published studies concerning the levels of circulating immunoglobulins in patients with thalassemia major.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Complement activation in atherosclerosis: effect of angiography and surgery.

Complement activation in the plasma of patients with severe atherosclerosis (arterial occlusive or aneurysmatic disease) was investigated in this study. The effects of angiography and reconstructive arterial surgery (RAS) were also assessed. Atherosclerosis was not found to be associated with systemic complement activation. Angiography resulted in high levels of C3 breakdown products. Surgery caused a significant degree of systemic complement activation in both patients with atherosclerosis and controls. Post-operative levels of C3 breakdown products were significantly higher in atheromatic patients than in controls, most likely due to the insertion of dacron arterial prostheses in the first group.

Angiography↗