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E Mendes

Publications and source records attributed to E Mendes.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

In vitro cellular immunity in Chagas' disease.

In vitro delayed hypersensitivity was studied in patients with either the chronic or the indeterminate phase of Chagas' disease. Normal healthy individuals were used as controls. The leucocyte migration inhibition test was applied using an antigen an extract of culture forms of T. cruzi or an extract of normal rat heart. The results showed that patients with the chronic phase of the disease reacted significantly with both antigens, whereas most patients with the indeterminate phase did not react with heart antigen and only five out of fourteen (35%) reacted with T. cruzi antigen. It is suggested that these individuals may represent patients about to develop the chronic phase of the disease. The relevance of these findings to the immune mechanism influencing the onset of the chronic phase of Chagas' disease is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Cellular immunity in chronic Chagas' disease.

The cellular immune response was assessed in 20 patients with chronic Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis). Thymus-derived lymphocyte function was determined in vivo by cutaneous reactivity to several antigens including a soluble preparation derived from Trypanosoma cruzi and sensitization to 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene. The in vitro T-cell reactivity was investigated by the proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin and to T. cruzi antigen and by inhibition of leukocyte migration with the specific antigen. In addition, the proportion and absolute numbers of peripheral blood T and B-lymphocytes were determined by rosette formation. This research indicates that the general and specific cellular immune response, evaluated by the tests herein mentioned, is well preserved in patients, with Chagas' disease. We conclude that chronic Chagas' disease is not associated with deficiency in cellular immunity, nor does it lead to it. Conceivably, the active participation of delayed hypersensitivity may play an important role in the expression of the human chagasic lesions.

Adult↗

Autoimmunity in patients with Pemphigus foliaceus.

The presence of conventional autoantibodies in the sera from 28 patients with Pemphigus foliaceus (South American pemphigus) was investigated. Gastric parietal cell antibody was found in six patients (21.4 per cent); and in two of them mitochondrial antibody was also detected. Antibody to smooth muscle was found in one patient. Based on the above results, the role of autoimmunity in Pemphigus foliaceus was discussed. Nuclear and rheumatoid factors were not detected, and antibodies against glomerular components, salivary duct and thyreoglobulin were not found.

Adult↗

Immunological studies on bronchial secretion. I. Antigenic relationship between bronchial secretion and serum: bronchial secretion constituents detected in human sera.

Rabbit anti-human bronchial secretion serum yielded, by double gel-diffusion, 5 precipitation bands with the homologous antigen. This anti-bronchial secretion serum reacting with 150 human sera (86 from patients with asthma, 17 from patients with tuberculosis, 25 from patients with other diseases and 22 normal sera) showed 1 to 3 precipitation bands in 136 sera, 4 precipitation bands in 13 sera and 5 precipitation lines in 1 serum. Precipitation bands with identity reactions were obtained when the anti-sputum sera reacted simultaneously with human sera and bronchial secretion. Identity reactions were also obtained when the anti-bronchial secretion serum absorbed with normal human sera reacted with bronchial secretion and human sera from six patients and one normal individual. The number of precipitation bands in some sera was not the same after 1 or 2 years. Based on these immunological data, the physiological concept of expectoration, according to which part of the bronchial secretion may be absorbed, was discussed.

Animals↗

Immunological studies on bronchial secretion. II. Antibodies against bronchial secretion in systemic lupus erythematosus and asthmatic patients.

Bronchial secretion was tested by double gel-diffusion with sera from 100 asthmatic patients, 72 systemic lupus erythematosus patients, 29 patients with other diseases and 31 normal individuals. Positive gel-diffusion reactions were observed only in the sera from two patients with S.L.E. Sera from 100 asthmatic patients, 29 non-allergic patients and 31 normal individuals, tested with bronchial secretion by the passive haemagglutination and inhibition test, showed only three positive reactions with sera from asthmatic patients. Two problems were discussed: the immunological relationship between antigenic determinants found in the sputum and serum in S.L.E. patients; and the possibility that the bronchial secretion being reabsorbed might act as an auto-antigen.

Antibodies↗