Biomedical subjects
B Houwen
Publications and source records attributed to B Houwen.
[Treating and looking ahead. Acute leukemia following treatment of another malignant disease].
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Erythrocyte superoxide-dismutase deficiency in Fanconi's anaemia.
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IgM-anti-HBc as a marker of persistent and IgG-anti-HBc as a marker of past hepatitis B infection. A longitudinal study over 5 years.
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Hepatitis B surface antigen in environmental samples from hemodialysis units.
For assessment of environmental contamination with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBS Ag), the presence of blood and of HBS Ag was determined in samples from two completely separated hemodialysis units. Samples from mucosal and skin surfaces and samples of saliva from patients were also investigated. The surfaces of both units were divided into epidemiological categories to determine the distribution of environmental contamination with HBS Ag. HBS Ag was determined by radioimmunoassay. Oral samples from all patients seropositive for HBS Ag were psoitive for HBS Ag. The rectum and the skin were positive in three instances. The presence of blood did not coincide with HBS Ag. In the unit in which HBS Ag-positive patients were treated, 4.3% of the total samples were HBS Ag-positive. Of the samples that were free of blood, 1.5% were HBS Ag-positive, whereas 18.5% of the blood-contaminated samples contained the antigen. HBS Ag-positive samples were taken from surfaces in the immediate environment of HBS Ag-positive patients, as well as from surfaces with which patients had no direct physical contact. The data lead to the conclusion that spilled blood and hemodialysis equipment are not the only sources of contamination. This fact implies that HBS Ag-positive patient undergoing hemodialysis should be completely separated from HBS Ag-negative patients.
T-lymphocyte number and function and the course of hepatitis B in hemodialysis patients.
To study the relation between general cellular immunity and the course of hepatitis B within a group of chronic hemodialysis patients, T-lymphocyte number and function were investigated in 13 persistently hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg)-positive patients, in 32 HBSAg-negative patients, and in 11 patients who had recovered from hepatitis B and compared with that of 21 age-matched controls. Phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte stimulation in vitro and the number of circulating T-cells in the HBSAg-positive group were significantly decreased as compared with those of the recovered group and the controls. Lymphocyte stimulation by pokeweed mitogen and by an antigen cocktail showed the same tendency, but no significant differences between the HBSAg-positive and the recovered groups. Uremic sera from the three patient groups had similar depressive effects on phytohemagglutinin induced lymphocyte stimulation of controls. Serum immunoglobulin G, (IgG), IgA, and IgM were normal in the three patient groups. It is concluded that chronic hemodialysis patients, who have become persistent HBSAg-carriers, have a significantly decreased T-lymphocyte number and function as compared with hemodialysis patients who are able to eliminat hepatitis B virus (HBV). The difference could not be ascribed to the HBV infection itself. This indicates that T-cells play an important role in the elimination of HBV in hemodialysis patients.
The value of laparoscopy with multiple splenic punctures for staging procedures in Hodgkin's disease.
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[Letter: Risk of contamination in vacuum blood sampling systems].
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Isolation of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by affinity chromatography on antibody-coated immunoadsorbents.
Hepatitis tb surface antigen (HBsAg) was isolated from human serum by two steps of affinity chromatography on antibody-coated gels. HBsAg-positive serum was passed through a column packed with guinea pig anti-HBsAg antibodies covalently bound to CNBr-activated beaded agarose gel. The majority of non-specifically bound proteins was removed by washing the gel with increased concentrations (0.5 M) of NaCl in Tris buffer. Elution of the specifically bound HBsAg was carried out with 3 M NaSCN. Residual normal human serum proteins present in the eluate were removed by passing the partially purified HBsAg through an immunoadsorbent coated with rabbit antibodies directed against human serum proteins. After this treatment normal human serum proteins could no longer be demonstrated by passive hemagglutination in the isolated HBsAg. Cross-reactions between HBsAg and normal human serum proteins could not be demonstrated. Both antibody-coated immunoadsorbents could be used over ten times without significant loss of their binding capacity.