Biomedical subjects

B Summer

Publications and source records attributed to B Summer.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

[Allergy towards bone cement].

Bone cements based on polymethylmethacrylate are typically used for fixation of artificial joints. Intolerance reactions to endoprostheses not explained by infection or mechanical failure may lead to allergological diagnostics, which mostly focuses on metal allergy. However, also bone cement components may provoke hypersensitivity reactions leading to eczema, implant loosening, or fistula formation. Elicitors of such reactions encompass acrylates and additives such as benzoyl peroxide, N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine, hydroquinone, or antibiotics (particularly gentamicin). Upon repeated contact with bone cement components, e.g., acrylate monomers, also in medical personnel occasionally hand eczema or even asthma may develop. Therefore, in the case of suspected hypersensitivity reactions to arthroplasty, the allergological diagnostics should include bone cement components.

Bone Cements↗

PubMed2003

Immuno-allergological properties of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) ceramics and nickel sulfate in humans.

For more than 30 years aluminium oxide (Al(2)O(3)) ceramics have been used for implants in maxillofacial and orthopaedic surgery. Up to now, there are no reports and also no investigations on hypersensitivity reactions. In order to evaluate the aspects of immuno-allergological reactivity to aluminium oxide ceramics, skin testing and in vitro lymphocyte activation studies were performed. The patch test reactivity to a standard series of contact allergens and to an aluminium oxide (Al(2)O(3)) disk was examined in a consecutive series of 250 patients frequenting a University Dermatology Clinic. Furthermore, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 15 nickel-allergic and 15 non-allergic individuals were cultured with medium alone, with the pan T-cell mitogen phytohemagglutinine (PHA) or with nickel sulfate (NiSO(4)). By additional presence/absence of Al(2)O(3) disk its influence on the cytokine secretion pattern and proliferative response was investigated. The results show that in contrast to a high frequency of delayed-type hypersensitivity to standard contact allergens, no allergic skin reactions to Al(2)O(3) ceramics occured. The IL-4 and IFN-gamma production in vitro remained almost unchanged by the presence of Al(2)O(3) disk as well as the proliferative response of PBMC of non-allergic individuals. Cellular reactivity of nickel allergic and non-allergic donors was partly enhanced upon contact to Al(2)O(3) disks.

Allergens↗

PubMed2001

Molecular analysis of T-cell clonality with concomitant specific T-cell proliferation in vitro in nickel-allergic individuals.

BACKGROUND: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of individuals with nickel contact allergy are reported to proliferate to a varying degree upon nickel stimulation in vitro. Different phenotypes of the T cells involved are described. With regard to preferential use of the T-cell receptor (TCR), analysis of the several families of the TCR-gamma gene allows rearrangement evaluation of all T cells regardless of predominant surface expression of TCR alpha/beta. METHODS: The PBMC of 10 nickel-allergic and five nonallergic individuals were cultured for 4 days in the presence of either medium, PHA, NiSO4, or tetanus toxoid (TT). Proliferation was measured by radioactive thymidine uptake and expressed as stimulation index (SI). T-cell clonality was assessed by analysis of the TCR-gamma chain gene, including the use of PCR with a primer combination covering the four main groups (Vgamma1-8, Vgamma9, Vgamma10, and Vgamma11) of the variable region of the TCR-beta chain gene. RESULTS: In the allergic individuals, proliferation to NiSO4 was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in nonallergics (mean SI: 18.05/17.87 vs 0.67/2.27). In unstimulated and PHA-stimulated cultures, there was a random TCR spectrum in both groups. In contrast, in nickel-allergic individuals or individuals with recent TT-booster, oligoclonality could be observed in the correspondingly stimulated cultures. CONCLUSION: In addition to proliferation assay, analysis of T-cell clonality may be a further means to characterize clinical hypersensitivity reactions on the basis of antigen-dependent oligoclonal T-cell expansion, as in the case of tissue-infiltrating lymphocytes.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Intolerance of osteosynthesis material: evidence of dichromate contact allergy with concomitant oligoclonal T-cell infiltrate and TH1-type cytokine expression in the peri-implantar tissue.

BACKGROUND: We report on a 37-year-old man without history of previous allergic disease who developed an aseptic intolerance reaction to a chromium-cobalt alloy, with local discomfort, loosening, and absence of fracture healing. Both in vivo and in vitro allergoimmunologic diagnostic tests were performed. METHODS: Patch testing was done with a European standard series. Specific serum IgE was measured by CAP-FEIA. In addition to immunohistology (APAAP method), peri-implantar tissue was further analyzed by PCR to determine T-cell-receptor-gamma rearrangement and thus the potential clonal (antigen-driven) T-cell repertoire. The actual tissue mRNA expression for IL-4, IL-6, and IFN-gamma was visualized by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Skin testing gave a delayed-type reaction to dichromate. Specific serum IgE to natural rubber latex and grass pollen was found--but without clinical symptoms. Immunohistology revealed a monocytic and dense T-cell infiltrate. The latter, instead of being random, showed an oligoclonal T-cell receptor rearrangement. In addition, there was TH1-type mediator expression (IL-6 and IFN-gamma, but not IL-4). CONCLUSIONS: Skin test, examination of peri-implantar tissue, and the prompt healing after replacement of the osteosynthesis material suggest an allergic reaction. PCR analysis of peri-implantar tissue can further help to identify and understand allergy-mediated implant intolerance reactions.

Adult↗