PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C R Wang

Publications and source records attributed to C R Wang.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Measurement of anti-endothelial and anti-cardiolipin autoantibodies and intercellular adhesion molecules-1 in patients with systemic and cutaneous vasculitis.

Two types of autoantibodies and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were measured in patients with vasculitis. There were 13 patients with systemic vasculitis, and 12 with cutaneous vasculitis. The measured antibodies included antiendothelial cell antibodies (AECA) and anti-cardiolipin (ACL) antibodies of three isotypes. Results showed that patients with systemic vasculitis had elevated levels of ICAM-1 and IgG isotype ACL antibodies. Higher levels of ICAM-1 and IgG isotype ACL antibody were found in patients with systemic vasculitis than in those with cutaneous vasculitis. Levels of ICAM-1 and IgG isotype ACL antibodies also decreased after disease activity subsided in patients with systemic vasculitis. Measurement of ICAM-1 and autoantibodies may be useful in evaluating the extent of involvement, and for following the disease course.

Adolescent↗

Myopathy associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection: report of a case.

Neuromuscular manifestations, including a variety of peripheral neuropathies and myopathies, can occur either as isolated clinical phenomena or concurrently with other clinical manifestations, and are common in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A 33-year-old male patient had a four-year history of increasing proximal muscle weakness of the extremities. Elevated muscle enzymes, a muscle biopsy and interstitial lung disease all suggested a diagnosis of polymyositis with lung involvement. However, a transbronchial lung biopsy revealed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, and serology for HIV infection disclosed positive results. Zidovudine and cotrimoxazole were instituted and the patient improved. HIV-associated myopathy should be considered by practicing clinicians in cases presenting with myopathy, since the number of patients with HIV infection is increasing in Taiwan.

Adult↗

Non-excretory myeloma with diffuse osteolytic lesions caused by tumor necrosis factor: report of a case.

A 63-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital after a six-month complaint of low back pain. Anemia, hypercalcemia and 5 to 18% giant abnormal binucleated plasma cells infiltrations in the bone marrow suggested a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. However, repeated serum and urine immunofixation electrophoresis failed to demonstrate any abnormal monoclonal band. Diagnosis of non-excretory myeloma was verified by immunocytochemical stains demonstrating intracellular kappa chain in these neoplastic cells. Some authors have claimed that there were fewer bone lytic changes, less bone marrow infiltration, more preservation of normal immunoglobulin but with more neurological presentations among non-excretors. However, this patient had severely generalized bone lytic lesions and high serum level of tumor necrosis factor. The former might be attributed to the latter. Literatures about multiple myeloma and the tumor necrosis factor are also reviewed.

Humans↗

H-2M3 presents a Listeria monocytogenes peptide to cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

We report evidence that a major histocompatibility complex-encoded nonclassic class I molecule presents a foreign peptide to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) during an infection. Mice immunized with virulent Listeria monocytogenes generate CD8+ CTL with alpha beta receptors specific for a bacterial peptide presented by a conserved class I molecule encoded in the M region of the major histocompatibility complex. The Listeria peptide is digested by carboxypeptidase Y but resists aminopeptidase M, and only peptides with N-formyl methionine competitively block its presentation to CTL. Transfection with the H-2M3d gene enables a negative (H-2w17) cell line to present the bacterial peptide. One function, therefore, of H-2M3 is to present bacterial peptides to CTL during infection.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Monoclonal gammopathies and the related autoimmune manifestations in Taiwan.

A total of 50,000 patients were surveyed for the presence of monoclonal immunoglobulins during the past two decades. There were 411 cases of monoclonal gammopathies including 243 cases of plasma cell neoplasms and 168 cases of secondary plasma-cell dyscrasia. Among the 227 cases of multiple myeloma and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, there were 49.3% IgG class, 22.9% IgA class, 9.7% IgM class and 13.2% light chain type. In addition, there were 1.3% of nonexcretory myeloma including an IgM type. A relatively high frequency (4.8%) of IgD M-proteins was detected but heavy chain disease was not encountered in the present series. Purified M-components from patients with possible autoimmune manifestations were subjected to immunofluorescence studies. Autoimmune activity of M-proteins was found in a patient of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia with peripheral neuropathy, and another patient of cryofibrinogenemia with recurrent purpura and gangrene. In conclusion, a high frequency of IgD myeloma is found in Chinese patients of this area. M-components may have autoimmune activity resulting in unusual clinical manifestations.

Adolescent↗

Autoantibodies and related immunity of leprosy patients from leprosarium in Taiwan.

Autoantibodies and related immunological examinations were measured in 60 leprosy patients from a leprosarium in Taiwan. Thirty-one lepromatous type, 24 tuberculoid type and 5 borderline type patients were identified. The measured autoantibodies included antinuclear antibodies, anti-nDNA, anti-cardiolipin and rheumatoid factor. Serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation were also performed to detect the monoclonal and polyclonal status of immunoglobulins. Circulating immune complex and complements were also quantitated. Delayed type skin tests were performed during patients' visits. A higher frequency of autoantibodies, especially the antinuclear antibodies and anticardiolipin antibodies, were detected in lepromatous type patients. Higher levels of circulating immune complex and frequency of polyclonal and monoclonal gammopathy were also noted in lepromatous type patients. Anergy skin tests were only noted in lepromatous type patients. It was concluded that the more impared cell-mediated immunity in leprosy patients, with lepromatous type in particular, the greater the production of autoantibodies.

Adult↗

Increased production of interleukin-6 and autoantibodies in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

The occurrence of autoantibodies including antinuclear antibody, anti-nDNA, anti-Sm, anti-RNP, anti-SSA, anti-SSB, anticardiolipin (aCL) antibody, M-Proteins, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and circulating immune complex (CIC) were studied in 18 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and 20 patients with secondary SS. Another 15 healthy individuals were served as a control group. The differences between primary and secondary SS in these autoantibodies, IL-6 and M-protein were also compared. The result showed a high incidence of autoantibodies and CIC in patients with SS. Higher frequencies of anti-nDNA and anti-Sm antibodies were noted in patients with secondary SS. There were also elevated levels of IL-6, much higher in primary than in secondary SS. In addition, higher frequencies of M-protein were detected in patients with primary SS. In conclusion, through immune dysregulations, higher levels of IL-6 were found in patients with SS. Autoantibodies produced in these patients might be derived from IL-6 stimulated B cells.

Adult↗

Status and trend of HIV-1 infection and AIDS in Taiwan, December, 1991.

From May 1, 1985 to December 31, 1991, a total of 4,962,707 serum samples from 8 population groups in Taiwan were tested for anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (anti-HIV-1). In total, 256 samples were seropositive; of these individuals, 43 developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): 29 were homosexuals; 5 were hemophiliacs; 8 were heterosexuals and 1 was of unknown risk. Although the prevalence of HIV-1 infection and AIDS remains low compared with other countries, since 1988 the increase has been rapid. Before 1977 the majority were homosexuals and hemophiliacs; thereafter the risk groups diversified, with a trend away from homosexuals and hemophiliacs towards heterosexuals and intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs). A few patients have caused serious social problems for the public, health care workers and families. Active community efforts are needed to achieve future success in the control of HIV-1 infection and AIDS in Taiwan.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Immunochemical characterization and therapeutic effect of house dust extract in bronchial asthma.

The immunochemical characteristics of house dust extract used in hyposensitization were studied by SDS-polyacrylamide gel, isoelectrofocusing, counterimmunoelectrophoresis and Western blot. The gel electrophoregram and isoelectrofocusing plate demonstrated a complex mixture of acid proteins with molecular weights ranging from 56 to 12 KD and isoelectric point distributing from 4.6 to 5.6. The counterimmunoelectrophoresis revealed as many as five precipitating bands in sera from 60% asthmatic patients after hyposensitization. The Western blot showed heterogeneous IgE reaction bands varied from 45 to 22 KD, including a strong 27 KD reaction band found in 40% of the asthmatic patients not receiving hyposensitization. The efficacy of house dust extract hyposensitization was evaluated in 102 asthmatic patients, followed up at the Allergic Clinic since 1980. There were 42 malea and 60 females with a mean age of 30.8 (16 to 60), and the total follow-up patient-year was 512.6 with a mean of 5.0 year per patient (1 to 11). Complete remission of asthmatic symptoms and medication was found in 5% patients, and 12% patients had little or no improvement. The majority of patients (83%) had improvement in asthmatic symptoms and medication dosage. The average serum IgE levels and total eosinophil count dropped significantly after hyposensitization (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the immunochemical characteristics of house dust extract were analyzed and mite allergens, especially Group I antigens, may be the important constituents. Good therapeutic effect, both clinically and with laboratory evaluation, was obtained with more than 80% of the asthmatic patients achieving improvement under house dust hyposensitization.

Adolescent↗

Pancreatitis related to antiphospholipid antibody syndrome in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A 39-year-old woman was admitted with abdominal pain and dyspnea, and a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus with renal involvement was established. Laboratory tests revealed highly elevated anticardiolipin antibody, thrombocytopenia and false positive VDRL. Generalized thrombus formation and Libman-Sacks endocarditis were found at postmortem examination. The pancreas showed chronic inflammation with thrombi in pancreatic arteries, but no vasculitic change was observed. Lowering of pancreatic blood flow because of arterial thrombi was a possible cause of pancreatitis in this patient. The spectrum of antiphospholipid antibody associated diseases may be extended to include pancreatitis as a thrombotic complication.

Adult↗

[Anesthetic management of patients with pre-excitation syndrome].

The authors reviewed the experience of anesthesia in 30 patients under extracorporeal circulation for surgical interruption of Kent's bundle. The key points of anesthetic management are to prevent and control supraventricular tachycardia, which had 35 episodes in 20 of the 30 patients, and disappeared after appropriate treatment. In this group, 18 patients had mild pre-excitation syndrome. After discontinuation of cardiopulmonary bypass, fifteen of the 18 patients were free from pharmacologic support, while 8 of the remaining 12 associated with other cardiac anomalies often necessitated positive inotropic agents.

Adolescent↗

H-2M3 encodes the MHC class I molecule presenting the maternally transmitted antigen of the mouse.

Mta, the maternally transmitted antigen of mice, is a hydrophobic, N-formylated mitochondrial peptide, MTF, presented on the cell surface to cytotoxic T lymphocytes by a novel major histocompatibility complex class I molecule, encoded by H-2M3. We have cloned and sequenced two alleles of M3, which differ in their ability to present MTF despite greater than 99% identity in the coding regions. M3 is as divergent from classical, antigen-presenting H-2 molecules as from other class I genes of the Hmt and the Qa/Tla regions. Amino acids critical for folding of class I molecules are conserved in M3. Noncharged amino acids lining the peptide-binding groove and phenylalanine 171 may explain the unique interaction with MTF, and leucine 95 appears critical for immunological activity.

Alleles↗

Production and characterization of antibodies against nivalenol tetraacetate.

Antibody against nivalenol tetraacetate (tetra-Ac-NIV) was prepared by immunization of rabbits with triacetyl-15-pimelate-NIV conjugated to bovine serum albumin. By using tritiated tetra-Ac-NIV as the test ligand, antibody titers were demonstrated as early as 4 weeks after immunization. Useful antibody for radioimmunoassay (RIA) of tetra-Ac-NIV was obtained 7 weeks after immunization, with one booster injection. Results of competitive RIA revealed that the antibody was most specific to tetra-Ac-NIV. The relative cross-reactivity of this antibody with tetra-Ac-NIV, deoxynivalenol triacetate, and neosolaniol triacetate was found to be 100, 2.2, and less than 1, respectively. Practically no cross-reaction was found with deoxynivalenol, fusarenon X, and NIV. The detection limit for tetra-Ac-NIV by RIA was about 5.0 ng/ml (0.5 ng per assay). The use of this antibody for quantitation of NIV in cereals after acetylation of sample extracts is proposed.

Acetylation↗

Maternally transmitted antigen of mice: a model transplantation antigen.

Molecular identification proved Mta, the maternally transmitted antigen of mice, to be a model minor histocompatibility (H) antigen. It consists of a peptide, MTF, that is presented on the cell surface by an H-2 class-I molecule, HMT. MTF is derived from ND1, a mitochondrially encoded protein, and the amino-terminal N-formyl-methionine is essential for binding to HMT; conservative substitutions at the sixth residue causes MTF to be a minor H antigen. HMT is encoded by the M3 gene at the telomeric end of the H-2 complex. The peptide-binding site of HMT is hydrophobic, and allelic forms of the mature protein differ by only three amino acids. Homologues and analogues of the mouse Mta system have recently been identified in rats.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The diagnostic value of IgM to natural trisaccharide phenylpropionyl bovine serum albumin in leprosy patients: a preliminary report from Taiwan.

An evaluation was made of the serum anti-phenolic-glycolipid-I (PGL-I) IgM levels of leprosy patients in the Taiwan area by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a specific synthetic PGL-I antigen and natural trisaccharide phenylpropionyl bovine serum albumin (NT-P-BSA). Fifty-five blood samples were collected from 24 tuberculoid and 31 lepromatous leprosy patients and 21 healthy age- and sex-matched subjects. Among these groups, lepromatous patients had the highest levels of IgM and anti-NT-P-BSA IgM with a good correlation between these two levels (p less than 0.01). Tuberculoid patients also had higher levels than normal subjects. Wide variation in the standard deviation and decreased levels within the cutoff value of some lepromatous patients may be due to various periods of anti-leprosy treatment. Serial anti-NT-P-BSA IgM assessments in response to anti-leprosy treatment may provide more information and serve as a guideline for therapy.

Adult↗

Biclonal gammopathy--report of a case with primary gastrointestinal lymphoma.

A 61-year-old female patient had had abdominal pain for two months; primary gastrointestinal lymphoma of diffuse, large cell type histology was diagnosed. Bone marrow study was negative. Bimodal gamma globulin was found on serum protein electrophoresis. Immunoelectrophoresis and immunofixation confirmed the nature of biclonal gammopathy with a fast-migrating IgM-kappa band and a slow-migrating IgG-kappa band. Biclonal gammopathy is unusual, and only rarely have cases been reported. The immunologic and molecular implications of biclonal gammopathy are discussed.

Female↗

Anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Fifty-six consecutive patients, 53 males and 3 females aged from 36 to 83 with a mean age of 61.0, all with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), were screened for anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) by single sampling at time of admission to the medical intensive care unit; results were compared with those for age-matched, healthy controls. IgM and IgG-ACA were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay technique. IgG-ACA were detected in 9 patients (16.1%); IgM-ACA were detected in 9 patients (16.1%). Only one of the patients had raised ACA of both isotypes. There was on difference in either ACA levels or frequency of ACA elevation between patients and controls. Risk factors of coronary artery disease showed no significant difference between patients with and without ACA. Low titer of IgG-ACA was found in one of ten patients with reinfarction and/or previous cerebral infarction. In conclusion, single measurements of anticardiolipin antibodies in general AMI patients are unlikely to yield diagnostically important information. The implication of occasional significant elevation of such antibodies in a general AMI population remains to be speculated.

Adult↗