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Biomedical subjects

I Economidou

Publications and source records attributed to I Economidou.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMAs) and anti-cytoskeleton antibodies (ACTAs) in liver diseases: a comparison of classical indirect immunofluorescence with ELISA.

In the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis type I (AIH-I), the routine assay of indirect immunofluorescence (IFL), used for the detection of anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMAs), has a low predictive value. On the other hand, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which detects anti-cytoskeleton antibodies (ACTAs), presents contradictory results concerning their specific antigenic target. In this study, we first looked for the immunological properties (isotypes and antigenic targets) of autoantibodies in AIH-I and two other control liver diseases: primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and viral hepatitis (VH), using ELISA based on cytoskeleton proteins: F-actin, G-actin, myosin, tropomyosin, troponin, desmin, vimentin, keratin, and an extract of HEp-2 carcinoma cells. We also compared the diagnostic value of IFL and ELISA. In contrast to previous studies, we found that actin was not specific for AIH-I. No autoantigen and no antibody class or subclass discriminated AIH-I from the control diseases. IFL is more suitable for AIH-I diagnosis, as 97% of AIH-I sera but only 22% of PBC sera were ASMA-positive. Additionally, 96% of ASMA-positive, and all ASMA-negative sera from all three liver diseases were ACTA-positive. ASMA were mainly IgG, while >50% of ACTA also contained IgA and IgM. These data suggest that ACTAs recognize additional epitopes as compared to ASMAs, and they frequently occur in all liver diseases.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1999

Serum IL-6, TNFalpha, p55 srTNFalpha, p75srTNFalpha, srIL-2alpha levels and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the levels of serum cytokines IL-6 and TNFalpha and of the soluble receptors p55 srTNFalpha, p75 srTNFalpha and srIL-2ac are valuable markers of disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with the established parameters of anti-dsDNA, C3, C4 and CH50. Forty patients with SLE, 19 ambulatory and 21 hospitalised, were included in this study. On the day of blood sampling a clinical examination was performed and SLEDAI and ECLAM disease activity scores were used to assess disease activity. Nineteen patients had inactive disease and 21 patients had active disease. Thirteen patients from the second group developed nephritis. In these patients the blood sampling and disease activity assessment were performed twice (at presentation and 6 months after treatment). Serum levels of cytokines and soluble receptors were measured by ELISA. Serum levels of cytokines and soluble receptors of patients with active disease were significantly higher than in patients with inactive disease (IL-6 p = 0.0004, TNFalpha p = 0.0015, srIL-2c p<0.0001, p55 srTNFalpha p<0.0001, p75 srTNFalpha p<0.0001). Serum soluble receptor levels of patients with inactive disease were higher than those of healthy controls (p55 srTNFalpha p<0.0001, p75 srTNFalpha p = 0.0002, srIL-2alpha p = 0.0012). No significant difference was found for TNFalpha and IL-6 (TNFalpha p=0.015, IL-6 p=0.019). Serum TNFalpha levels and especially srIL-2alpha, p55 srTNFalpha( and p75 srTNFalpha levels correlated strongly with SLEDAI and ECLAM disease activity scores, anti-dsDNA, C3, C4 and CH50 (p<0.0001). Serum soluble receptor (srIL-2alphac, p55 srTNFa, p75 srTNFalpha) levels were higher in patients with nephritis before treatment and decreased significantly 6 months after treatment (p=0.005). The same trend was noticed with SLEDAI and ECLAM disease activity scores (p = 0.005) and anti-dsDNA (p = 0.008). In contrast, no significant differences were observed for C3 and C4 levels before and after treatment, which suggests that soluble receptors of cytokines are more sensitive markers of disease activity than C3 or C4 in predicting improvement. Serum levels of srIL-2alpha, p55 srTNFalpha and p75 srTNFalpha could provide useful information about disease activity in SLE patients, especially in cases where the other markers do not.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Partial splenic embolisation for hypersplenism of thalassaemia major: five year follow up.

Six patients with thalassaemia major were treated by partial splenic embolisation as an alternative to splenectomy and followed up for five years. Results were compared with those in a matched control group of seven patients treated by splenectomy. All patients treated by partial splenic embolisation showed a reduction in blood transfusion requirements comparable with those in the controls and which remained unchanged over the five years. Serious infections that commonly occur in patients splenectomised for thalassaemia did not occur after embolisation, presumably owing to preservation of some immune function by the splenic remnant. By contrast with the change in platelet counts seen after splenectomy, platelet counts remained normal after partial splenic embolisation, so reducing the risk of thromboses. On the other hand, pre-existing leucopenia and thrombocytopenia were corrected after embolisation. It is concluded that partial splenic embolisation provides an alternative to splenectomy for thalassaemia major and is equally effective and much safer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Genetic factors in the population of Plati, Greece.

One-thousand, thirty-eight individuals from Plati, Greece were examined for the following red cell antigens, serum proteins, and red cell enzymes A A1 Ai B H; MNSs Mg Henshaw Nya Mur Vw; CCwcDEeCe; K k Kpa Kpb Jsa Jsb; P1; Lua; Fy1 Fy2; Jka Jkb; Wra; Zt; Vel; Swa; Jensen, Radin, Gerbich, Diego, Gregory, Haptoglobin, Transferrin, Acid phosphatase, Adenylate kinase, Adenosine deaminase, Esterase-D, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, Phosphoglucomutase, 6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, Phosphohexose isomerase, Lactate dehydrogenase, Malate dehydrogenase, and Superoxide dismutase. The results are discussed in detail and compared with other Greek and neighbouring populations. Because of the Plati population's long history of residence in the Cappadocian area of Turkey the data have been compared, whenever possible, with results for that region.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Quantitative determination of immunoglobulins in chronic renal failure.

Immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA in the serum of 61 patients suffering from chronic renal failure of various etiology and not being under hemodialysis treatment were measured. Cases of nephropathy, due to collagen or blood disease or uremia with heavy proteinuria were excluded. No statistically significant difference was found between patients and controls in respect to the serum level of the 3 immunoglobulins studied. No correlation was found between the level of serum immunoglobulins and the blood urea or the amount of protein daily excreted in the urine.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Immunogenetic factors in thalassemia and hepatitis B infection. A multicentre study.

Geographical variations in the prevalence of hepatitis B infection were found in association with an increased opportunity of exposure to this virus in patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia in Cyprus, Greece, Sardinia and the United Kingdom. No association was found between the Gm phenotype of the individuals investigated and susceptibility to hepatitis B virus using HBsAg as a marker, or the ability to make antibody to it. Variation in the distribution of Gm haplotypes does not appear to be a feasible explanation for variation in anti-HBs and HBsAg frequencies in a series of highly transfused populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

The variety of responses within a community to infection with Australia (hepatitis B) antigen.

There is a striking difference in the response of individuals to infection with HBV. Some individuals develop hepatitis, others form antibody which may persist for a long period, and others may become persistent carriers of Australia antigen. These responses may give some indication of the immune status of an individual and of populations relative to this agent. As such, it could provide a guide to the use of vaccines against hepatitis in areas of common occurrence of the disease. We have completed a survey of a community in northern Greece for the three factors. A very large percentage of the population have evidence of exposure and this varies with age and sex. Many responded by forming high titers of antibody but a considerable percentage developed hepatitis and/or became carriers. Some appeared to have complex. Most developed antibody against the prevalent antigenic type (ay) but in many cases antibody against the rare antigenic type (ad) appears to have been formed. Host characteristics appear to have influenced the nature of the response to the infection. The effects of vaccines on carriers is not known and conceivably could be detrimental (i.e. by formation of complexes). It would be important to learn more of the biology of Au in populations and individuals in connection with the widespread use of vaccines.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

HLA antigens in Greek patients with cholelithiasis.

The distribution of HLA-A and B antigens was studied in 100 patients with cholelithiasis and in 202 healthy individuals all of Greek origin. An increased frequency of HLA-Aw19 was found in patients (33 per cent) compared with controls (22 per cent) (p less than 0.05, RR 1.7). The increase of Aw19 was even higher for patients with a family history of the disease (44 per cent, vs 22 per cent, p less than 0.01, RR 2.7) and for patients with cholesterol gall stones (44 per cent vs 22 per cent, p less than 0.01, RR 2.5). No difference was seen in patients without a family history of disease or with mixed gall stones. These results suggest a genetic basis for the development of cholesterol gall stone disease.

Adult↗