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Biomedical subjects

E A Donadi

Publications and source records attributed to E A Donadi.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Augmented plasma and tissue kallikrein like activity in synovial fluid of patients with inflammatory articular diseases.

We studied some of the components of the kininogen-kallikrein-kinin system, simultaneously, in plasma and synovial effusions of patients with inflammatory articular diseases. Plasma and tissue kallikrein like activity and kininogen levels were evaluated. Active plasma and tissue kallikreins in plasma and synovial fluid were detected by their amidase activity upon specific chromogenic substrates. Kininogen levels were determined by a bioassay. Both specific amidase activity of plasma and tissue kallikreins were augmented in synovial effusions in relation to their own plasma activity. Kininogen levels in synovial fluid tended to be diminished in relation to plasma, however statistical significance was not reached. The consumption of kininogen is probably related to kinin production. This finding together with increased activities of plasma and tissue kallikreins reinforce the involvement of kinins in pathogenesis of inflammatory articular diseases.

Adolescent

Is immunogenetic susceptibility to neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) different from non-neuropsychiatric SLE?

OBJECTIVES: To analyse frequency of HLA class II antigens (DR and DQ) and lymphocytotoxic autoantibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and subsets with or without neuropsychiatric involvement. METHODS: Ninety three patients with SLE (42 with neuropsychiatric features) were typed for HLA class II antigens and investigated for the presence of lymphocytotoxic autoantibodies by a complement dependent microlymphocytotoxicity assay. A total of 191 controls of similar ethnic background were also typed for HLA antigens. RESULTS: HLA-DR3 antigen was increased in the total group of patients with SLE (p = 0.003) and in the neuropsychiatric group (p = 0.002). HLA-DR4 antigen frequency was increased in non-neuropsychiatric patients (p = 0.001) and decreased in patients with neuropsychiatric SLE (p = 0.0005). Comparisons of HLA frequencies between subgroups of patients showed decreased HLA-DR4 (p < 0.0001) and increased HLA-DR9 and HLA-DQ2 antigens (p = 0.0008 and 0.005 respectively) in the neuropsychiatric group. The frequency of lymphocytotoxic autoantibodies was increased in neuropsychiatric patients with SLE having HLA-DR9 specificity (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: HLA-DR4 may have a protective specificity for the development of neuropsychiatric features of SLE and HLA-DR9, in addition to HLA-DR3, and the presence of lymphocytotoxic auto-antibodies may predispose to neuropsychiatric abnormalities.

Adolescent

HLA antigens in Brazilian patients with paracoccidioidomycosis.

Eighty patients with paracoccidioidomycosis were typed for 43 HLA specificities from loci A, B, C and DR. A highly significant increased frequency of HLA-B40 (relative risk 29.2) and HLA-Cw1 (relative risk 8.8) were found in patients compared to control subjects. The frequencies HLA-A2, B7 and B21 were also increased in patients and haplotypes-B40-Cw1 and -A2-B40 were positively correlated with the disease. DR antigen frequencies were not significantly altered in the patients and evidence of a protective effect was not found for any of the 43 antigens tested. These findings further support the involvement of the HLA system in the genetic susceptibility to paracoccidioidomycosis and the importance of ethnic variability in this association.

Adolescent

Circulating immune complexes after splenectomy.

Circulating immune complexes were evaluated in 25 patients (age range 10 to 46 years) who had undergone splenectomy for non-malignant conditions by studying a polyethylene glycol insoluble serum fraction. Although the extent of binding to Clq was within normal limits, these patients had increased concentrations of factor B in the immune complex serum fraction. These findings indicate that an unusual type of circulating immune complex may be detected after splenectomy, suggesting a possible role for the spleen in the removal of circulating immune complexes.

Adolescent

Circulating immune complexes in sickle cell anaemia.

A polyethylene-glycol insoluble serum fraction was studied in patients with sickle cell anaemia during the steady state of the disease. The levels of C1q-precipitins were normal but increased amounts of proteins, IgM C3 and factor B were detected in this immune complex enriched serum fraction. These findings are a sign that circulating immune complexes can be detected even in the asymptomatic period of the disease.

Adolescent

Circulating immune complexes in sickle cell-beta zero thalassemia.

A serum fraction from patients with sickle cell-beta zero thalassemia prepared by treatment with polyethyleneglycol showed increased amounts of C1q-precipitable immune complexes, i.e., 216 micrograms/dl (range, 141-266 micrograms/dl) vs 181 micrograms/dl (range, 152-228 micrograms/dl) for controls (P less than 0.05), as well as increased amounts of protein. Levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4 and factor B in the same fraction were within the normal range.

Adolescent

Are the changes of lymphocyte subsets in sickle cell anemia due to the loss of splenic function?

Lymphocyte subsets and K cell activity were evaluated in sickle cell anemia (SCA) and in splenectomized patients. Results showed that the number of total lymphocytes, T lymphocyte subsets and B lymphocytes were increased in SCA. However, individuals who had undergone splenectomy did not exhibit all these abnormalities, suggesting that the lack of the spleen apparently was not the unique factor responsible for the lymphocyte abnormalities seen in SCA patients.

Adolescent

Neutrophil chemotaxis in sickle cell anaemia, sickle cell beta zero thalassaemia, and after splenectomy.

Neutrophil chemotaxis was evaluated in 28 patients with sickle cell anaemia, 10 patient with sickle cell beta zero thalassaemia, 25 patients who had undergone splenectomy, and 38 controls. The mean distance migrated by patients' neutrophils was not significantly different from that of neutrophils from controls. Although several immunological variables have been reported to be changed after loss of splenic function, we were unable to show a defect in neutrophil chemotaxis that could account for the increased susceptibility to infection.

Adult

Age-associated changes of T lymphocyte subsets.

The percentage and the absolute number of T3, T4, T6, T8, and T10 lymphocytes of the peripheral blood were determined in 100 children (3 days to 10 years), 29 adults (18 to 59 years), and 30 elderly individuals (60 to 98 years). The percentage of the various T lymphocyte subsets and T4/T8 lymphocyte ratio for the children and elderly did not differ statistically from adults, except for the proportion of T4 lymphocytes which was higher in the subgroup with 3 days of age. The absolute number of total lymphocytes, T3 and T8 lymphocytes was increased in children up to the age of 6 years while the number of T4 lymphocytes was increased up to the age of 2 years. Increased numbers of T6 lymphocytes were detected in children from 1 to 2 years of age while the number of T10 lymphocytes was increased in children up to the age of 2 years. Finally there was no difference between the results observed in elderly individuals and adults.

Adolescent

Lymphocyte subpopulations and neutrophil function in chronic human Chagas' disease.

The absolute numbers of total leukocytes, lymphocytes. T cells, helper/inducer, suppressor/cytotoxic and B cells were decreased in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic Chagas' disease. Since antilymphocyte antibodies were present only in a minority of patients they probably cannot account for the abnormalities in lymphocyte subsets. Patient neutrophils stimulated with endotoxin-treated autologous plasma showed depressed chemotactic activity and this seems to be an intrinsic cellular defect rather than plasma inhibition. Random migration of neutrophils was normal. Reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium by endotoxin-stimulated neutrophils was also decreased. These findings further document the presence of immunosuppression in human Chagas' disease. They may be relevant to autoimmunity, defense against microorganisms and against tumor cells at least in a subset of patients with more severe abnormalities.

Antilymphocyte Serum

Immunological studies in sickle cell-beta zero thalassemia. Comparison with sickle cell anemia.

Despite genetic differences, patients with S-beta zero thalassemia or sickle cell anemia present several clinical and hematological similarities. In this study we present evidence that they can also show similar immunological profiles. Both hemoglobinopathies exhibited increased total lymphocyte counts as well as B, CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte subset counts. The CD4/CD8 ratio and the determination of the activity of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity were within the normal range for patients with both diseases. The levels of IgG and IgA were also increased for both conditions, but the amount of factor B of the complement system was elevated only in sickle cell anemia patients.

Adolescent

[Infection and immunity in sickle cell disease].

There is a high incidence of bacterial infections in sickle cell disease, particularly in sickle cell anemia. Pneumonia, urinary tract infections, osteomyelitis, meningitis and pneumococcal septicemia occur mainly in younger patient. The pathological basis for this susceptibility to infections is complex. Defective splenic function is the most important factor. There are also abnormalities of opsonization, alternate complement pathway, antibody production, leucocyte function, and cell-mediated immunity. Pneumococcal immunization and prophylactic penicillin are indicated in the prevention of pneumococcal infections.

Adolescent