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B F Germain

Publications and source records attributed to B F Germain.

61 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Possible involvement of group A streptococci in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis.

Bacteria have been implicated in the form of Reiter's syndrome, known as reactive arthritis. If bacteria are important in the related spondyloarthropathy psoriatic arthritis, they may be those comprising skin flora. We found elevated levels of antibody to the streptococcal exotoxin antideoxyribonuclease-B in psoriatic arthritis patients in comparison to patients with psoriasis without arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, other forms of dermatitis, and normal controls. Patients with peripheral arthritis were more likely than psoriatic spondylitis patients to be antideoxyribonuclease-B positive. Streptococci or streptococcal products may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis in some patients.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The major histocompatibility complex.

The major histocompatibility complex on the sixth chromosome controls expression of a complex series of cell surface antigens which comprise the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. These markers, beyond their importance in human organ transplantation, have been demonstrated to occur with an increased prevalence in certain disease states. The group of conditions showing the closest association with specific HLA antigens are the "spondyloarthropathies." These include ankylosing spondylitis (AS), Reiter's syndrome (RS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and the arthritis of inflammatory bowel disease (AIBD). Clinical and radiographic studies were made of 310 unrelated caucasoid patients with seronegative arthritis. HLA-A, B, C, and DR typing were performed using the microdroplet lymphocyte cytotoxicity test. Statistically increased prevalences of A26, B27, and Bw38 were observed, while B27 was associated with spinal involvement regardless of diagnosis (90 percent in AS p less than 0.0001). Experiments found A26 (23 percent p less than 0.001) and Bw38 (38 percent p less than 0.0001) in patients with PsA. Spondyloarthritis patients with spinal involvement who lacked B27 frequently had B7. The HLA DR typing for seven specificities was carried out in 196 patients. It was found that DRw4 (52 percent p less than 0.03) and DRw7 (39 percent p less than 0.04) were increased in the PsA patients. This study further confirms the close association of HLA antigens and the spondylarthropathies.

Arthritis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reactive arthritis associated with brucellosis: HLA studies.

HLA typing studies were performed on a group of 16 patients with acute Brucella-induced reactive arthritis and results were compared to those obtained in 16 patients with acute brucellosis but without arthritis and to 55 normal control subjects. No increased prevalence of any HLA antigen was noted between patients and control groups. HLA-B27 frequency was diminished in the Peruvian population studied. The most interesting finding was the presence of a statistically significant low frequency of HLA-A2 in the disease group suggesting that this antigen may play a protective role for the development of brucellosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intraarticular fragmentation of a new Parker-Pearson synovial biopsy needle.

An attempt to obtain a synovial biopsy with a previously unused Parker-Pearson needle resulted in intraarticular fragmentation of the tip of the biopsy needle. Since gross inspection of the needle carried out before the procedure did not show any abnormalities, we believe that the manufacturer's material might be defective and that the inner part of this instrument must be made stronger to avoid this complication.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗