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Biomedical subjects

H Jans

Publications and source records attributed to H Jans.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Circulating immune complexes in rheumatoid arthritis with extra-articular manifestations.

Circulating immune complexes (CIC) and complement C4, C3 and CH50 levels in serum were monitored during 6-30 months in 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and extra-articular manifestations (EM). A total of 58 observations were made, 17 at times when new EM emerged, 41 at times when the patients were in a steady state. CIC were demonstrated by two methods, viz. a complement consumption test (CCT) and a polyethyleneglycol (PEG) precipitation assay. The precipitates were analysed for their content of IgG, IgM and IgA. The CCT titre decreased significantly at the time of a new EM, whereas PEG precipitates were found most often at this time. Two types of precipitate could be demonstrated. One consisted of IgG only, which was found most often when the patients were in a steady state. The other one was composed of IgG and other immunoglobulins, most often IgA. The latter type was found most often at the time when the patients developed new EM. Subnormal serum complement levels were demonstrated frequently. The level of C4 was significantly lower at the time of a new EM, compared with the level of patients with RA but without EM. The decrease in anticomplementary effect and the signs of complement activation suggest that the qualitative and quantitative changes in CIC observed at the time of new EM were the cause rather than the consequence of the clinical manifestations.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Circulating immune complexes and complement in the course of multiple sclerosis.

To evaluate the reactions of the humoral immune response in the course of multiple sclerosis (MS), 21 patients were examined approximately 10 times at regular intervals for 1 year. The study included concomitant investigations of the total neurological deficit (TND) and laboratory analyses of the complement profile, detection of circulating immune complexes (CIC) and heterophilic antibodies (HPA). CIC were found in 58.7% of the investigations, often with simultaneous activation of C4 and C3. The mean values of the complement levels of the MS patients, however, did not differ from the values in a normal population. The consecutive investigations demonstrated a negative regression of TND on C4 from one month previously, a concomitant negative regression of TND on C3 and a positive regression of CIC from one month subsequently on TND. No significant relation between the clinical type of the disease and the occurrence of CIC was demonstrated, but the occurrence of attacks seemed to correlate with development of HPA.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Circulating immune complexes and complement concentrations in patients with alcoholic liver disease.

A prospective evaluation of circulating immune complexes (CIC) and the activity of the complement system was undertaken in 53 alcoholic patients just before diagnostic liver biopsy. Circulating immune complexes were detected in 39% of patients with alcoholic steatosis (n = 26), 58% of patients with alcoholic hepatitis (n = 12), and 60% of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 15). No significant difference was found between the three group of patients. The activity of the complement system was within reference limits in the majority of patients and only slight differences were detected between the three groups. No significant differences were observed in liver biochemistry and complement concentrations in CIC-positive and CIC-negative patients. Detection of CIC in patients with alcoholic liver disease does not seem to be of any diagnostic value or play any pathogenic role. The high prevalence of CIC in these patients may be due to a depressing effect of ethanol on clearance of CIC or to increased immunological reactivity, or to both.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Circulating immune complexes in healthy persons.

The prevalence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) and C4 and C3 activation products (C4 and C3 A.P.) was investigated in sera from 106 blood donors, 100 hospital staff-members, 63 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and active synovitis, and in 25 hospital staff-members who had monthly tests performed during one year. CIC were detected by means of a complement consumption test and a polyethylene glycol precipitation test. C4 and C3 A.P. were demonstrated by means of crossed immunoelectrophoresis. No significant differences in the prevalence of CIC were found between blood donors and hospital staff-members (3 and 9%, respectively) and no age and sex differences were observed. In the longitudinal study of hospital staff-members, a significantly increased incidence of CIC was found during the winter months. CIC were found in 86% of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis. C4 and C3 A.P. were found significantly more often in sera with than without CIC. The significance of CIC detection may be increased by the simultaneous demonstration of C4 and C3 A.P. and by making allowance for seasonal variations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

The prognosis of the healthy HBsAg carrier state. A 5- to 8-year follow-up study.

Thirty-six persons found to be healthy HBsAg carriers by routine donor screening from 1970 to 1973 were offered a follow-up examination in 1978. A total of 21 out of the 34 still living carriers were reexamined clinically, serologically, and biochemically. Seventeen of the 20 still HBsAg-positive carriers had anti-HBe, and 2 were HBeAg-positive. Liver biopsy in these two carriers showed chronic persistent hepatitis. No biochemical abnormalities were found in any but one who was HBeAg-positive and one who was negative for both HBeAg and anti-HBe. Anti-HBc titers varied between 1:3,600 and 1:83,000. Circulating immune complexes were demonstrated in 30% of the healthy HBsAg carriers. On the basis of 5-8 years' follow-up it is concluded that the healthy HBsAg carrier state is a benign condition that has not affected the carrier's quality of life. Progression to a severe, chronic liver disease was not observed in any of the healthy carriers. The importance and nature of circulating immune complexes in healthy HBsAg carriers was unknown and need further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

C3 polymorphism and circulating immune complexes in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The phenotypes of the complement factor C3 have been evaluated in 60 patients with multiple sclerosis (M.S.), and the results correlated to the occurrence of circulating immune complexes (CIC). A significantly increased frequency of the C3F-gene was found among the patients, and closely associated with the occurrence of CIC. A relative risk incidence of 4.1 was found for C3F-positive individuals among M.S. patients with detectable CIC. Low C3 levels in serum were found in 30% of the patients, almost all belonged to the group without CIC and showed a C3-type distribution similar to normal controls. A different immunological reaction pattern (type II reaction) in these patients seems possible, and a genetically determined immunological abnormality predisposing to M.S. is therefore suggested.

Alleles↗
PubMed1979

Precipitating antibodies against pseudomonas aeruginosa in serum from dialysis patients.

Hemodialysate in our facility was found contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. By means of crossed immunoelectrophoresis, series of serum samples from 20 patients in regular dialysis treatment have been investigated for development of precipitating antibodies against P. aeruginosa during dialysis treatment. In 6 patients antibacterial antibodies occurred during the observation period but were, in all 6 occasions, in close relation to acute intercurrent bacterial infections and not related to the dialysis treatment. It is therefore concluded that P. aeruginosa antigens from the dialysate do not pass the dialysis membranes in quantities sufficient to evoke a humoral immune response.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1979

Deposits of immunoglobulins and complement in skin of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Influence of anti-rheumatic treatment.

Immunopathological studies on skin biopsies from 88 patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed that one-third of them had deposits of IgM and/or C3 in the walls of small vessels immediately underneath the dermal-epidermal junction. The deposits in the vessel walls which may reflect subclinical immune complex vasculitis could be correlated to the occurrence of IgG-rheumatoid factor in the serum, but not to IgM-rheumatoid factor, other extra-articular manifestations, or to the occurrence of circulating immune complexes demonstrated by the complement consumption test or the thrombocyte aggregation test. Two untreated patients had granular deposits in the dermal-epidermal junction. Five out of 50 patients developed deposits in the dermal-epidermal junction during treatment with levamisole, penicillamine, or azathioprine, as observed by serial skin biopsies.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed1978

Bacteriological contamination of dialyzers. Clinical, bacteriological and scanning electron-microscopic evaluation of different dialysate mixing systems.

Membranes from Gambro Lundia Nova dialyzers were investigated for presence of bacteria after hemodialysis with centrally and peripherally mixed dialysate. Centrally mixed dialysate was found contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and bacterial cultures as well as electron scanning micrographs showed the presence of these bacteria on the dialysate side as well as on the blood side of membranes from dialyzers perfused with this dialysate during hemodialysis. No bacteria were found on membranes used with peripherally mixed dialysate, in which very few bacteria were found. Despite this the frequency of febrile episodes in patients submitted to hemodialysis with the two different dialysate mixing systems showed no significant difference in our material.

Bacteria↗