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A Many

Publications and source records attributed to A Many.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Lupus anti-DNA antibodies bearing the 8.12 idiotype appear to be somatically mutated.

Anti-DNA antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sera were analyzed using an antiidiotype designated 8.12 which recognizes a determinant on lambda light chains highly expressed in SLE sera. Eight of ten normal individuals had peripheral blood lymphocytes which produced high-titered 8.12-positive antibodies, following transformation with Epstein Barr virus, implying that the 8.12-reactive sequence originates in the germline gene (GLG). Of 58 SLE sera, 32 contained elevated titers of 8.12-reactive antibodies. Twenty-three of these sera had 8.12-reactive anti-DNA antibodies, suggesting a strong correlation between 8.12 idiotype and DNA binding. Moreover, 20 of 26 8.12-reactive IgG antibodies and only 4 of 10 8.12-reactive IgM antibodies bound DNA (P less than 0.05). These observations strengthen our previous findings in myeloma sera that DNA binding is associated with IgG isotype in the 8.12 idiotype system and suggest that the acquisition of anti-DNA reactivity in antibodies bearing the GLG idiotype 8.12 is achieved by somatic mutation, a feature of an antigen-driven response.

Antibodies, Antinuclear

A retrospective study of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia diagnosed and treated at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center during the years 1966-76.

Forty patients with chronic myeloid leukemia diagnosed and treated at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, during the period 1966-76 were reviewed. All the patients were treated initially with busulfan (MYLERAN). Asymptomatic patients or those whose blood counts were stable and remained below 50,000/microliter were not treated. Maintenance therapy was not prescribed as a routine. The median survival time of all the patients was over 60 months--longer than reported in the literature. Prognostic parameters for longer survival were found to be Hb level greater than 10 g/dl at the time of diagnosis (P = 0.04) and duration of first remission in the chronic stage more than six months (P = 0.03). A borderline trend for better survival was found in patients with initial platelet counts above 100,000/microliter (P = 0.07).

Busulfan

The in vitro effect of thymic humoral factor and levamisole on peripheral blood lymphocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

The in vitro effect of thymic humoral factor (THF) and levamisole on E rosette-forming cells in the peripheral blood of seventeen patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was studied. Patients with active disease showed a low number of E rosette-forming cells. A significant rise in the number of E rosettes was obtained after incubation with both THF and levamisole. No such effect was observed on lymphocytes from patients with inactive disease and normal controls. In seven patients, three with active disease and four with well-controlled disease, short-term cultures were performed. The effect of THF on E rosettes was found to be the same before and after the short-term cultures. Possible mechanisms, by which THF (on the one hand) and levamisole (on the other) may increase the number of E rosettes in vitro, are discussed.

Adult

Selective splenectomy in Hodgkin's disease, stages I and II. Results of treatment.

Sixty-three patients with Hodgkin's disease, in stages I or II, asymptomatic (A) or symptomatic (B), were diagnosed and followed at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center from 1969 to 1976. Only 14 were staged pathologically. Until 1971, the patients received mantle or "inverted Y" therapy only; thereafter, an extended field that included mantle, upper abdomen and spleen irradiation was given. Symptomatic patients, as well as patients with extranodal involvement, received MOPP chemotherapy (nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisone) after termination of radiotherapy. Of 51 patients who were in stage IA or IIA, six relapsed 20 to 43 months after irradiation. Three had a pelvic recurrence; two of them were surgically staged. Thus, in only 1 of 51 patients could staging laparotomy possibly have detected pelvic disease and resulted in different therapy. Our results suggest that total nodal irradiation and staging laparotomy are not mandatory in stages IA and IIA of Hodgkin's disease. The group of 12 symptomatic patients is too small to allow us to draw definite conclusions as to the role of staging laparotomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. However, in view of the high relapse rate in the upstaged symptomatic patients, it seems that chemotherapy should be given to these patients.

Adolescent

[Lymphocytotoxins].

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Lymphotoxin-alpha

Peripheral blood lymphocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus. Relation to activity.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 20 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 3 patients with drug-induced lupus and 20 normal controls were studied. The absolute number of E-rosette-forming cells (ERFC) and surface immunoglobulin-bearing cells were determined during active and inactive stages of the disease. An attempt was made to establish the relationship between the number of ERFC and the clinical stages of the disease on one hand and treatment on the other. A decrease in ERFC was observed in all SLE patients, but it was most prominent in patients with active disease. No correlation was found between treatment and the decreased numbers of ERFC.

Humans

The distribution of B and T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with Hodgkin's disease.

The distribution of thymus-dependent (T cells) and bone marrow-derived lymphocytes (B cells) was studied in 74 patients with Hodgkin's disease and 33 normal controls. A T cell deficit was found in untreated patients as well as in long-term survivors in remission. Therapy slightly enhanced the T cell depletion in Hodgkin's disease patients. Concomitant with this finding was slight increase of B cells.

B-Lymphocytes

Coexistence of factor XI (plasma thromboplastin antecedent) deficiency and Gaucher's disease.

The findings of Factor XI (plasma thromboplastin antecedent) deficiency in a patient with Gaucher's disease was investigated. A family study, which included measurements of leukocyte glucocerebrosidase activity and Factor XI levels, revealed that the two genetic disorders segregated independently. One of 12 additional unrelated patients with Gaucher's disease showed a diminished Factor XI level and two of seven unrelated Factor XI-deficient patients showed decreased glucocerebrosidase activity. It is possible that the common occurrence of both genetic disorders results from a high gene frequency of both defects in Ashkenazic Jews.

Adult

Serum immunoglobulins in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Serum immunoglobulin levels were periodically determined in 70 CLL patients and the changes were correlated with several clinical and laboratory parameters. It was found that the IgG and IgA levels decreased significantly as the disease progressed. A low IgG concentration was found at the time of diagnosis in 18.7% and after six years in about 50% of the patients. The IgM concentration, although initially low, increased during the follow-up in 43% of the patients and in four of them a monoclonal fraction appeared in the serum. The changes in the immunoglobulins did not correlate with age, sex or initial leukocyte count. Stage O patients as well as untreated patients also had a decrease in their immunoglobulin levels but advanced disease stage and especially continuous chemotherapy seemed to augment the drop in the immunoglobulin levels. Neither the initial immunoglobulin levels nor the subsequent changes, absolute or relative, had a significant prognostic value.

Agammaglobulinemia

The effect of cyclophosphamide pulses on fertility in patients with lupus nephritis.

The effect of cyclophosphamide pulse therapy given in relatively small doses (10 mg/kg per pulse) in 17 females with lupus nephritis has been studied. Four females developed menopause; in one transient amenorrhea occurred. No changes in menstrual cycle were noted in the other 11 females, four of whom subsequently delivered five normal babies. These data suggest the relative safety of small doses of cyclophosphamide pulse therapy on gonadal function in females under age 40 years.

Adolescent

Treatment of patients with antiphospholipid antibodies during pregnancy.

Most authors agree upon the causal association between antiphospholipid antibodies [lupus anticoagulant (LAC) and/or anticardiolipin antibodies] and adverse pregnancy outcome. Placental insufficiency, caused by thrombosis, infarction and maldevelopment, is thought to be the main cause of fetal loss in patients with LAC. Therapy given thus far to prevent fetal loss can be divided into (1) immunosuppression by corticosteroids, azathioprine, or intravenous gamma globulin (IVGG), (2) anti-aggregants to overcome imbalance of thromboxane/prostacycline production in patients with LAC, and (3) anticoagulants to neutralize the possible impairment of clotting inhibitor systems. Different therapeutic success rates have been reported by various authors who used the same combination of therapy. We report the results of different therapy regimens in 154 pregnancies in 31 women with LAC. These patients suffered from SLE with LAC or from APLA syndrome and experienced either recurrent miscarriages or thromboembolic phenomena in the past. With no therapy there were seven (6.8%) live births and 95 (93.2%) failures. Various combinations of corticosteroids, anti-aggregants and anticoagulants were used for treatment. Of 52 treated pregnancies, 27 (51.9%) were successful. Sixteen (69.1%) of 23 pregnancies treated by all three modalities ended in live births. Four of these successful pregnancies occurred after failure of treatment by prednisone and anti-aggregants only. In order to minimize osteoporosis caused by the combination of steroids and heparin, we have used warfarin in the second trimester and have lately substituted low molecular weight heparin for heparin. In the absence of a therapeutic schedule predicated on a large prospective study, therapy during pregnancy in patients having LAC should be individualized according to their obstetric and medical history.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anticoagulants