PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

I Yust

Publications and source records attributed to I Yust.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Predominance of the autoimmune response to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) in multiple sclerosis: reactivity to the extracellular domain of MOG is directed against three main regions.

Our previous analysis of the T cell reactivity to myelin antigens in a group of 24 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 16 control individuals revealed that the autoimmune response to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) predominates in MS over that to myelin basic protein (MBP), proteolipid protein or myelin-associated glycoprotein, suggesting a prevalent role for the autoimmune response to MOG in the pathogenesis of MS. Using a recombinant human MOG (rhMOG) preparation corresponding to the extracellular immunoglobulin-like domain of the MOG molecule, we have now analyzed another group of 52 MS patients and 49 control individuals for reactivity of their peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to rhMOG and to MBP concomitantly. Of the 52 MS patients tested 24 responded to MOG and 10 out of 49 responded to MBP, whereas only 5 MOG-reactive and 4 MBP-reactive control individuals were detected out of the 49 tested. These results are therefore highly confirmatory of the predominant reactivity to MOG in MS. The analysis of the primary proliferative response to 11 synthetic overlapping peptides (phMOG) spanning the extracellular domain of human MOG by PBL from 9 MS patients and 15 control individuals (9 healthy controls and 6 patients with neurological diseases other than MS) further supports a prevalent role for the autoimmune response to MOG in MS, as only 1 of the 15 controls tested showed reactivity to any of the phMOG, whilst 5 out of the 9 patients studied reacted to at least 1 of the phMOG. PBL from 10 MS patients, and from 4 controls, were selected in vitro with each of the phMOG. Of the 10 patients studied 7 reacted to at least 1 phMOG upon secondary stimulation and the reactivity was mostly directed to epitopes localized within three main regions (amino acids 1-22, 34-56 and 64-96), as was observed for the primary response of PBL. The predominant response to MOG of PBL from MS patients as demonstrated in two separate studies using native MOG and rhMOG as antigens, and the high incidence of reactivity of these PBL compared to the lack of response to phMOG by control PBL, emphasize the relevance of MOG in MS pathogenesis and support a primary role for the autoimmune T cell response to MOG in disease development.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with AIDS in Europe. AIDS in Europe Study Group.

The incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis and risk factors associated with the condition were studied in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a multicenter retrospective cohort study of 6458 patients from 52 centers in 17 countries in Europe. Cytomegalovirus retinitis was diagnosed in 154 patients (2.4%) at the time of AIDS diagnosis, the probability of this diagnosis being significantly higher for those with CD4+ cell counts of < 100/mm3 (3.4%) than with counts of 100-200/mm3 (1.3%) or > 200/mm3 (0.8%). The rate of developing CMV retinitis after AIDS diagnosis was 9.4 per 100 patient years of follow-up. Multivariate analysis showed that risk behavior was significantly associated with the risk of developing CMV retinitis: lower for intravenous drug users [relative risk (RR) 0.47] and those engaged in "other risk behavior" (RR 0.58) than for homosexual men. The risk of developing CMV retinitis after AIDS diagnosis was significantly associated with CD4+ cell count at the time of AIDS diagnosis: for counts < 100/mm3 (RR 2.90) and from 100 to 200/mm3 (RR 2.13), there was a higher risk than for counts > 200/mm3. Patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, toxoplasmosis, or extraocular CMV infection at time of AIDS diagnosis exhibited an increased risk of developing CMV retinitis. Patients treated with zidovudine exhibited an increased rate of CMV retinitis: RR was 1.75 during and 2.87 after the second year of treatment as compared to those who had not received zidovudine. Median survival after CMV retinitis at time of AIDS diagnosis was eight months.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1997

Primary biliary cirrhosis associated with antiphospholipid syndrome.

A 47-year-old female was admitted for severe pain of 1 month's duration in the third and fourth toes of the right foot, culminating in gangrene. Laboratory findings revealed liver enzyme abnormalities, and anti-mitochondrial, anti-phospholipid and antinuclear and doubtful anti-DNA antibodies. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was excluded on clinical grounds after a 6-year follow-up. Therefore, a diagnosis was made of the primary antiphospholipid syndrome, complicated by microvasculopathy, and associated with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome↗
PubMed1996

High-dose intravenous magnesium attenuates complement consumption after acute myocardial infarction treated by streptokinase.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to detect changes in complement levels following acute myocardial infarction and to test whether magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) administration interferes with the complement response that follows acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN: Twenty-nine patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with streptokinase were included and randomly assigned to three treatment groups. In groups A and B, a bolus of 1 g MgSO4 was infused intravenously followed by 4 g (group A) and 14 g (group B) MgSO4 for 24 h while normal saline was administered in group C (control). Blood samples for C3, C4 and CH-100 were obtained at baseline and repeatedly during the 48 h following the initiation of magnesium infusion. RESULTS: In groups A and C, a remarkable decrease in the levels of C3, C4 and CH-100 was observed when measured 1 h after the end of streptokinase infusion and thereafter for the ensuing 48 h compared to baseline values (P < 0.05). In group B, the decrease in these complement elements was attenuated, and a significant (P < 0.05) delayed decrease of C3 and C4 was observed only at 24 h and later up to 48 h. The mean level of CH-100 in group B was significantly depressed compared to baseline from 3 h and thereafter up to 48 h. Mean C3 values plotted against observation time differed between the three groups (P = 0.021). A similar trend was observed for C4 (P = 0.133) but not for CH-100 (P = 0.46). CONCLUSION: (1) Complement elements are being consumed following acute myocardial infarction treated by streptokinase. (2) High-dose intravenous magnesium attenuates the complement process following acute myocardial infarction. (3) These results might signify that magnesium modulates the inflammatory response that follows infarction.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Organ-specific autoantibodies are possible markers for reproductive failure: a prospective study in an in-vitro fertilization-embryo transfer programme.

This study was conducted to investigate the usefulness of organ-specific autoantibodies as possible markers for reproductive failure. Antithyroid and antiovarian autoantibody concentrations were measured in 78 patients with mechanical or unexplained infertility that were enrolled in an in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/embryo transfer programme with follow-up of the outcome. In all, 16 patients (20.5%) were positive for antithyroid antibodies, nine (11.5%) were positive for antiovarian autoantibodies and two (2.6%) were positive for both autoantibodies. All 23 patients who were positive for either antithyroid or antiovarian autoantibodies, or both, were defined as the study group, and 55 who were negative for autoantibodies were considered as the control group. No statistical difference in the incidence of autoantibodies was found between the patients with mechanical infertility and those with unexplained infertility. No differences were found in the mean number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rates or mean numbers of transferred embryos between the study and the control groups. The pregnancy rate per cycle was 10.8% (7/65) in the study group, compared with 25.0% (24/96) in the control group (P < 0.05). We conclude that organ-specific autoantibodies such as antithyroid and antiovarian antibodies may serve as possible markers for reproductive failure. Further investigation is required to understand the possible immunopathological mechanism for reproduction failure in patients with organ-specific autoantibodies.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

HIV-2 infection in Israel: a new epidemic?

AIDS may be caused by two different retroviruses, HIV-1 and HIV-2. Hitherto only HIV-1 has been reported in Israel. We recently discovered HIV-2 as a solitary pathogen in the blood of two foreign workers from West Africa. In view of the relative ease of travel to Israel, it is essential to perform screening for both HIV viruses in all subjects with an enhanced risk, including visitors from countries with a high incidence of HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection and their contacts.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Clinical, epidemiological and natural history study of HIV-1 infection among seropositive homo/bisexuals in Israel, 1986-92. A collaborative study in three medical centers.

The clinical and epidemiological aspects of HIV-1 seropositive homo/bisexuals at three AIDS screening clinics in Israel were analyzed retrospectively for the 4-year period 1986-92. Of 1,526 individuals who attended the clinics a total of 238 (15.5%) were found to be HIV-1 seropositive; 182 seropositives were followed for a mean of 3.3 (+/- 2.6) person-years. The incidence of AIDS in this cohort was 33% over 4 years, a rate of 9.8/100 person-years. Half of all HIV-1 seropositives are estimated to have been infected outside Israel. On initial presentation 144 (62%) were asymptomatic and 94 (38%) were symptomatic. CD4 levels were > 500 ml3 in 87 (36%), 200-500 ml3 in 66 (28%) and < 200 ml3 in 45 (19%) individuals. The pattern of clinical presentations was similar to that seen in the West, but mycobacterial infections were rare. A cohort of 86 homo/bisexuals with full-blown AIDS was followed for a mean of 2.2 person-years. The mortality rate in this group was 53.5% over 4 years, a rate of 26/100 person-years. Thus, HIV infection among Israeli homosexuals ceased to be a rarity as it took the pattern of AIDS in the West, with some special features such as the late presentation of patients for medical treatment and the paucity of mycobacterial diseases complicating the disease.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1992

Fatal necrotizing esophagitis due to Penicillium chrysogenum in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Although blue-green molds of the genus Penicillium are ubiquitous in the human environment, invasive penicilliosis is uncommon and primarily encountered among immunosuppressed patients. A patient with HIV infection who died of severe necrotizing esophagitis caused by Penicillium chrysogenum is reported and the relevant English language literature on human penicilliosis is reviewed. Although infectious esophagitis is commonly associated with AIDS, Penicillium esophagitis has not been described in such patients.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1991

Platelet antibody binding and spontaneous aggregation in 21 lupus anticoagulant patients.

In order to ascertain the role of the antiphospholipid antibody in the pathogenesis of thrombotic disorders, a study of 21 lupus anticoagulant-positive patients was done by a number of serologic and functional platelet tests. In immunofluorescent studies, we found that 80% showed a mitochondrial pattern on HEp cells and all patients gave an ubiquitously intense staining of donor platelets. By a microscopic spontaneous aggregation test, all lupus anticoagulant-positive patients showed accelerated platelet aggregation which was calcium-independent. The results show that the plasma of lupus anticoagulant-positive patients contains a platelet-binding antibody and causes spontaneous agglutination of platelets. These properties may play a role in the thrombogenesis common to the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Atopic dermatitis provoked by AL721 in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A 40-year-old patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) had an atopic dermatitis-like skin eruption and elevated serum IgE levels after therapy with AL721. This agent is a mixture of egg yolk lipids used for the treatment of AIDS. The relationship between the drug and the eruption has been based on circumstantial evidence and confirmed by the positive results of skin tests. Although an almost unlimited amount of materials have been reported to be responsible for atopic manifestations, cases of drug-induced atopic dermatitis are rare. AL721, however, can be regarded as a food product; therefore, the appearance of the eruption following intake of this agent should not be considered exceptional.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Poliovirus vaccination responses in HIV-infected patients: correlation with T4 cell counts.

HIV infection is known to impair both cellular and humoral immunity. The antibody levels to poliovirus were measured in 17 HIV-infected and 3 HIV-seronegative homosexual men before and after vaccination with enhanced inactivated poliovirus vaccine (eIPV). The subjects were tested for neutralizing antibodies to poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3; the number of peripheral blood T4 cells and lymphocyte responses after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen were measured. Before vaccination, all subjects demonstrated neutralizing antibodies to the three types of poliovirus. After eIPV administration, a rise in anti-poliovirus antibody titer was noted in subjects whose T4 cell count was greater than 200/ml, whereas the group with low T4 cell counts failed to respond. The response to eIPV immunization correlated with the number of circulating T4 cells and the mitogen-induced lymphocyte stimulation index.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Transferrin in seminal plasma and in serum of men: its correlation with sperm quality and hormonal status.

Transferrin concentrations in the seminal plasma and in serum were measured and correlated with sperm quality (concentration, motility and morphology) and hormonal status (FSH, LH and testosterone) of 75 men aged from 21 to 46 years. A significant positive correlation was found between the seminal plasma concentration of transferrin and the sperm concentration (r = 0.69, P less than 0.0001) and motility (r = 0.39, P less than 0.0001). No other correlations were found. These data confirm that seminal plasma levels of transferrin can be used as a reliable index of sperm quality, and possibly as a Sertoli cell marker.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Vibrio cholerae bacteremia associated with gastrectomy.

Bacteremia due to Vibrio cholerae is rare. Each of 15 cases previously reported in the English language literature occurred in the setting of immune deficiency. We describe an instance of non-serogroup O1 V. cholerae septicemia in an otherwise healthy patient. Susceptibility to such infection may have been enhanced by a prior gastrectomy for duodenal ulcer.

Cholera↗