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Biomedical subjects

E A Caspary

Publications and source records attributed to E A Caspary.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The effect of Cop 1, a synthetic polypeptide, on chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in guinea pigs.

Cop 1, a synthetic polypeptide, was evaluated for its effect on a chronic relapsing form of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Pretreatment of juvenile Strain 13 guinea pigs with Cop 1 in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) which were subsequently challenged with guinea pig spinal cord in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) had a marked effect in delaying or preventing the appearance of clinical signs of EAE. Administration of Cop 1 on appearance of clinical signs of EAE prevented progression of the first episode of the disease. Although relapses were not always prevented, they were modified on their duration and intensity both clinically and histologically.

Animals

Multiple sclerosis-associated agent. Failure of MS brain and serum to depress the polymorph count in normal mice and mice inoculated with cells containing C/type particles.

The groups that originally reported and confirmed the demonstration of a multiple sclerosis associated agent (MSAA) are now, along with others, unable to reproduce this effect. In view of this confusion and the potential importance of this work for multiple sclerosis (MS) we have done a strict double-blind trial using larger groups of mice (10) and counting more cells (900) than in previous reports to offset the high variability of mouse polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) counts. Sera from 5 active MS patients and 4 normal subjects were tested in mice, half of which had previously been injected with PAM line cells (containing C-type particles and subject to reduced cell yield when cultured with MS brain extract). No significant PMN depression was found in either MS or normals on any basis of comparison. However, a significant depression was seen following PAM cell injection irrespective of serum origin. Higher counting accuracy did not reduce PMN variability. A single MS brain specimen was also without effect. consequently we have been unable to confirm the existence of an MSAA as defined by PMN depression in mice.

Animals

T lymphocytes in patients with Down's syndrome.

Individuals with Down's syndrome (DS) are thought to have abnormalities in their immune system, and a tendency to infection and malignancy. Studies to quantify the number of T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of 82 unselected institutionalized patients (50 DS, 27 controls matched for sex and age, 2 chronic lymphocytic leukemic, 2 acute leukemic, and 1 Hodgkin's disease) were conducted. The numbers of circulating T cells in DS patients did not differ significantly from the control group, and were in the upper limits of normality. Number of "avid" T cells, however, were significantly higher in the DS than in the control group. The blastogenic response of the T cells to mitogen was significantly depressed. The data did not exclude the existence of qualitative abnormalities. Except for DS patients with congenital heart disease, those older than 15 years were not more prone to upper respiratory infections than other institutionalized mentally retarded patients.

Adolescent

Circulating antibody to myelin basic protein in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis? A comparative group and sequential study by radioimmunoassay.

Sera from multiple sclerosis patients with relapsing-remitting disease and normal subjects were tested for antibody to myelin basic protein by a sensitive radioimmunoassay. The results showed a marginally decreased titre in multiple sclerosis superimposed on a seasonal variation. There was no correlation with the clinical state of the patients. Results are discussed briefly in relation to humoral antibody function in multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalitis.

Adult

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the guinea pig. Failure to suppress with crude human chorionic gonadotrophin.

A single intraperitoneal dose of 3000 IU of crude human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), of proven in vitro immunosuppressive activity, gave only marginal effect on the clinical and histopathological course of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in guinea pigs, which did not reach statistical significance. Treatment 7 and 11 days after immunization significantly reduced the Mantoux reaction concomitant with decreased perivascular inflammation, but with unaltered or (when treated at onset) slightly enhanced clinical disease, with in vitro lymphocyte reactivity increased in accord. Much earlier treatment gave the opposite effect of a marginal improvement. HCG in vitro immunosuppressive potency was dependent on its concentration, intensity of immune response and sequence of addition. While the action of HCG on EAE does not point to an effective therapy for multiple sclerosis, as suggested by the influence of pregnancy on this disease, non-HCG fractions of urine during pregnancy may yet contain highly efficacious immunosuppressants.

Animals

Non-specificity of laboratory test for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

It has been claimed that the inhibiting effect of linoleic acid on the macrophage electrophoretic mobility test provides a specific laboratory method for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (M.S.) and may also enable susceptible relatives of M.S. patients to be identified. Three trials of the method under double-blind conditions have failed to confirm that the test is diagnostically useful.

Animals

A common tumour specific antigen. II. Further characterization of the whole antigen and of a cross-reacting antigen of normal tissues.

Experimental evidence supporting the postulated analogy between myelin basic protein and a previously described common tumour specific antigen is summarized under antigenic cross-reactivity, subcellular localization, molecular size, basicity and proteolipid nature. A third protein antigen, present in all tissues, also shows strong similarities in all these respects.

Antigen-Antibody Reactions

Lymphocyte sensitization in asthma with special reference to nature and identity of intrinsic form.

Studies of lymphocyte sensitization in patients with asthma showed that the intrinsic and extrinsic forms of the disease fell into two distinct groups. Intrinsic disease showed a general sensitization to a number of non-specific antigens, while the extrinsic form had only slight elevation above normal values. These findings suggest that intrinsic asthma results from a defect of general immunity, whereas extrinsic asthma is a specific sensitization.

Adult