Changing patterns of iron deficiency anaemia in the second year of life.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗
Biomedical subjects
J A James
Publications and source records attributed to J A James.
Immunoglobulin epitope spreading and autoimmune disease after peptide immunization: Sm B/B'-derived PPPGMRPP and PPPGIRGP induce spliceosome autoimmunity.
Autoantibodies from many patients with systemic lupus erythematosus bind the Sm autoantigen B/B' polypeptide. The binding of serial serum specimens to the 233 overlapping octapeptides of Sm B/B' have shown that of the B/B'-derived octapeptides, PPPGMRPP and PPPGIRGP are early targets of the autoimmune response in some lupus patients. Rabbits immunized with PPPGMRPP and PPPGIRGP develop antibodies which not only bind these octapeptides, but also subsequently bind many other octapeptides of Sm B/B'. Eventually, the rabbits immunized with one octapeptide develop autoantibodies that bind other spliceosomal proteins including D, 70K, A, and C. Any mechanisms that operate to maintain tolerance or anergy for the spliceosome are thus overcome. Features considered typical of human systemic lupus erythematosus are also found in these peptide-immunized animals, such as antinuclear antibodies, anti-Sm precipitins, anti-double-stranded DNA, thrombocytopenia, seizures, and proteinuria. This disease model provides access to a mechanism for the development of humoral autoimmunity and may provide a basis to explain the immunopathogenesis of lupus in humans.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
The efficacy of a herbal-based toothpaste on the control of plaque and gingivitis.
A double-blind controlled clinical trial with parallel groups was designed to investigate the effectiveness of a herbal-based toothpaste in the control of plaque and gingivitis as compared with a conventional dentifrice. 70 subjects with gingivitis completed the 6-week study. All participants had at least 20 natural teeth with no probing depths greater than 3 mm and a plaque index of 2 or more at baseline. At baseline, both groups were balanced for the parameters measured: plaque index, plaque vitality, gingival index, bleeding on probing and gingival crevicular fluid flow. At the end of the trial, there were reductions within both groups, however, there were no significant differences between the groups. It was concluded that the herbal based toothpaste was as effective as the conventionally formulated dentifrice in the control of plaque and gingivitis.
Adolescent↗
The effects of culture environment on the response of human gingival fibroblasts to cyclosporin A.
In contrast to monolayer cell culture, the use of a 3-dimensional culture system creates an environment which is more physiologically comparable to conditions in vivo. This study aimed to investigate the effects of culture environment on growth and protein biosynthesis by 6 human gingival fibroblast cell lines exposed to cyclosporin A (CsA). Fibroblasts were grown both in monolayer culture on plastic and embedded within collagen gel. Cyclosporin A was added to cultures at a range of concentrations between 10(-5) and 10(-9) g/ml. Under both culture conditions CsA had little effect on cell growth at low concentrations but at the highest concentration of 10(-5) g/ml, there was a significant inhibitory effect on growth (P < 0.05). Protein production was not significantly affected by CsA in either culture system. Total collagen production appeared to be inhibited at high concentrations of CsA when cells were grown on plastic but remained unaffected when the cells were grown in collagen gel. Total protein and collagen production per cell in collagen gel was substantially greater compared with cells grown on plastic. We conclude that under the conditions of this investigation CsA did not directly stimulate growth or matrix-synthesis by normal human gingival fibroblasts cultured in 3-dimensional collagen gel or as monolayers on plastic.
Adult↗
Immunization with vesicular stomatitis virus nucleocapsid protein induces autoantibodies to the 60 kD Ro ribonucleoprotein particle.
BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder of unknown etiology that is characterized by antibodies binding ribonucleoprotein complexes. The epitopes of SLE associated 60 kd Ro (or SSA) autoantigen share sequence with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) nucleocapsid (N) protein and SLE patients with anti-Ro are more likely to bind the N-protein than anti-Ro negative patients. METHOD: We immunized New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits with purified VSV N-protein to examine the relationship between the immune response to N-protein and anti-Ro. RESULTS: After multiple immunizations with VSV N-protein, NZW rabbits produced not only IgG antibodies to VSV N-protein but also an autoimmune response to Ro antigen. The IgG fraction of the rabbit immune serum precipitates 60 kd Ro protein as well as its associated Y RNAs. Antibodies elicited by 10 immunizations of VSV N-protein bind to at least 20 linear epitope groups on VSV N-protein and over 25 linear epitope groups on 60 kd Ro protein. These antibodies also bound 5 of the 6 shared sequences between 60 kd Ro protein and VSV N-protein. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that an immune response initiated towards a foreign antigen, selected on the basis of sharing short sequence similarity with the autoantigenic epitopes of an autoantigen, can lead to an autoimmune response.
Animals↗
Sequential autoantigenic determinants of the small nuclear ribonucleoprotein Sm D shared by human lupus autoantibodies and MRL lpr/lpr antibodies.
Autoantibodies directed against the Sm proteins of the spliceosome complex are found in approximately 25% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients sera. To determine which regions of the Sm D polypeptide are involved in the lupus autoimmune response, binding to overlapping octapeptides of Sm D has been evaluated with sera from nine Sm D-positive patients, six patients with other autoimmune serology, and five normal human sera. Lupus patient sera which are Sm precipitin-positive bind various combinations of five regions of the peptide. The major antigenic region, Epitope 5 (REAVA(GR)10GGPRR), is bound by eight of nine Sm precipitin-positive sera tested. This region of Sm D shows significant sequence homology with Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1. To determine the fine specificity of the murine Sm response, four unique Sm D MoAbs derived from MRL lpr/lpr mice and three adult anti-Sm-positive MRL lpr/lpr mouse sera have been analysed. Two of these monoclonals, KSm 4 and Y12, as well as the MRL lpr/lpr sera tested, show binding with Epitope 5. Another of these monoclonals, KSm 2, binds octapeptides 84-91, DVEPKVKSKKREAVAG, which corresponds to Epitope 4 of this study. Antibodies from SLE patients with autoimmune serology other than anti-Sm bind the carboxyl glycine-arginine repeat (GR)10 peptides of Sm D. However, none of the antibodies tested from patients who do not have lupus and who have different autoimmune serology binds any of the Sm D octapeptides. Normal controls did not significantly bind any of the Sm D octapeptides. These results describe two major regions of shared antigenicity of Sm D between sera from SLE patients and MRL lpr/lpr mice, thereby establishing a basis for the cross-species similarity of autoimmunity to the Sm autoantigen in SLE.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Basic amino acids predominate in the sequential autoantigenic determinants of the small nuclear 70K ribonucleoprotein.
Autoantibodies binding the 70K nRNP polypeptide are commonly found in the serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. IgG antibodies binding overlapping octapeptides of 70K nRNP have been evaluated in 10 patients with anti-nRNP precipitins, seven patients with other autoimmune serology, and four normal human sera. Neither normal controls nor patients without an anti-nRNP precipitin significantly bind any of the 70K nRNP octapeptides. Sera containing an anti-nRNP precipitin strongly bind various combinations of eleven different regions of the 70K nRNP protein. One antigenic region is consistently the most reactive in nine of ten nRNP precipitin positive sera tested. This sequence, KDKDRDRKRRSSRSR, is highly charged and has a similar pattern of alternating basic amino acids also present in seven of the other purported humoral autoimmune epitopes of the 70K nRNP polypeptide. The closely related DRKR and ERKR are important components of two of these epitopes. All regions of the 70K peptide bound by human anti-nRNP precipitin positive sera are very rich in the basic amino acids, especially lysine (chi-square = 23.03, odds ratio = 13.3, P < 0.000001).
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Mammary stimulation test predicts preterm birth in nulliparous women.
OBJECTIVE: This prospective clinical trial was designed to assess the ability of the mammary stimulation test to predict preterm birth in a private nulliparous population. STUDY DESIGN: The mammary stimulation test was performed between 26 and 28 weeks' gestation by 267 nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies. Test results were blinded to both patient and referring physician. Pregnancy outcome data were collected from the perinatal database and medical records. RESULTS: The mammary stimulation test was positive in 45 of 266 (17%) patients. Delivery occurred at < 37 weeks in 27 patients (10.2%) and at < 34 weeks in five (1.9%). The mammary stimulation test demonstrated a sensitivity of 37%, a specificity of 84%, a positive predictive value of 20%, and a negative predictive value of 92% for delivery at < 37 weeks' gestation. For delivery at < 34 weeks' gestation the mammary stimulation test had a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 82%, a positive predictive value of 6%, and a negative predictive value 99%. The odds ratio for delivery at < 37 weeks was 3.0 (95% confidence interval 1.3, 7.1), and for delivery at < 34 weeks the odds ratio was 7.0 (95% confidence interval 1.1, 43.0). One third of preterm deliveries were secondary to idiopathic preterm labor, and the mammary stimulation test was positive in 77.8% (seven of nine) of these pregnancies. Patients with a positive test were more likely to require observation in labor and delivery for preterm uterine contractions (34% vs 4.3%, p < 0.01), and they were more likely to demonstrate change at cervical examination (14% vs 2%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In this population traditionally considered to be at low risk for preterm birth a positive mammary stimulation test was useful in identifying patients at risk for preterm uterine activity and preterm birth. Equally important was the identification of women who were at low risk for preterm birth.
Adult↗
Linear epitope mapping of an Sm B/B' polypeptide.
Autoantibodies binding the Sm B/B' peptides are commonly associated with SLE. IgG antibodies binding overlapping octapeptides of Sm B/B' have been evaluated in 10 patients with anti-Sm and anti-nRNP precipitins, 5 patients with other autoimmune serology, and 4 normal human sera. Neither normal controls nor patients without an anti-Sm precipitin significantly bind any of the Sm B/B' octapeptides. All sera tested containing an anti-Sm precipitin strongly bind octapeptides from eight regions of the Sm B/B' sequence. Three of these eight regions share the same octapeptide sequences (PPPGMRPP) that are consistently the most immunoreactive octapeptides from Sm B/B'. Binding of the similar PPPGIRGP, as well as binding to deletion and substitution peptides, suggest that the motif PPPG(I,M) (R,K) appears to best define this binding. Interestingly, PAPGMRPP in the nRNP C peptide is as antigenic as PPPGMRPP and may provide a partial explanation for the cross-reactivity shown between Sm and nRNP autoantibodies. However, the sequence, PPPGMIPP, from nRNP A is not antigenic. These data define the linear sequence autoantigenicity of the Sm B/B' protein. They also demonstrate that the predominant autoimmune epitope is a proline-rich sequence from which limited variance is permitted before antigenicity is destroyed.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Is trichomoniasis often associated with bacterial vaginosis in pregnant adolescents?
The same criteria for identifying bacterial vaginosis are often present in women with trichomoniasis. These criteria include elevated vaginal pH, vaginal odor, homogeneous discharge, increased anaerobic bacteriologic vaginal flora, and elevated levels of bacterial enzymes. Clinically mixed vaginal infections occur, and because the treatment for these two conditions can be different, it is important to distinguish between them. Trichomoniasis can interfere with a Gram stain diagnosis or the proline aminopeptidase test for bacterial vaginosis. Clue cells are not generally found in women with Trichomonas vaginalis, but when present, they strongly indicate the concomitant presence of bacterial vaginosis.
Adolescent↗
Simplified gram stain interpretive method for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.
OBJECTIVE: Two methods which only consider bacterial morphotypes and require counting various types of bacteria, for interpreting Gram stains of vaginal secretions for the purpose of diagnosing bacterial vaginosis were previously described. A new interpretative method, which combines clue cells with bacterial morphotypes as diagnostic markers, is offered. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred twenty patients were tested with the new interpretative method and clinical criteria of bacterial vaginosis as the reference standard. RESULTS: The new method was found comparable to older methods when all were compared with clinical diagnostic methods. The sensitivity of the clue cell method was 86.1% and the specificity was 92.8%. The predictive value of a positive test was 83.7% for a population with a prevalence of bacterial vaginosis of 30%. The negative predictive value was 94.0%. CONCLUSION: If clue cells are present and the nonlactobacilli morphotypes exceed lactobacilli morphotypes, bacterial vaginosis can be diagnosed without the need for exact bacterial counts.
Adolescent↗
Nifedipine-induced gingival hyperplasia.
This case study reports on the management of a woman suffering from thrombocytopenic purpura who was referred to the periodontal clinic with gingival swelling and bleeding. This condition was related to nifedipine therapy for hypertension.
Aged↗
A common autoepitope near the carboxyl terminus of the 60-kD Ro ribonucleoprotein: sequence similarity with a viral protein.
The Ro ribonucleoprotein is composed of hY RNA and a 60.7-kD peptide that is antigenic for autoantibodies produced by many patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or Sjögren's syndrome and mothers of newborns with complete congenital heart block. A major immunoreactive fragment (13 kD) of the 60-kD Ro is bound by 28 of 45 (62%) of the anti-Ro sera tested. Amino acid sequence analysis localizes this fragment to the carboxyl end of the 60-kD Ro peptide. All possible overlapping octapeptides of this 13-kD peptide of 60-kD Ro have been assessed for antigenicity. Sera that bind the 13-kD peptide fragment in immunoblot generally also bind the octapeptides of Ro spanning the sequence AIALREYRKKMDIPA (P less than 0.01). Inhibition studies with synthetic peptides and purified Ro have established specificity for reference serum antibody binding to an antigenic octapeptide, EYRKKMDI, from this region. The closely related sequence EYRKKLMD is found in the nucleocapsid protein of vesicular stomatitis virus and may portend an immunologic link to this or a related viral antigen. These results also demonstrate that despite fine specificity variation between human sera, there are recurring patterns of anti-Ro binding shared by some patients who have precipitating anti-Ro autoantibodies.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Antigenicity of a recombinant Ro (SS-A) fusion protein.
The antigenicity of the 60-kd human Ro (SS-A) synthesized in vitro from its complementary DNA as a beta-galactosidase fusion protein (beta-gal-Ro) was evaluated by Western blotting. In this analysis, almost all the anti-Ro (SS-A)-positive sera that bound beta-gal-Ro also bound affinity-purified 60-kd human Ro (SS-A) (P less than 0.005). Three of the 27 anti-Ro (SS-A) precipitin-positive sera, however, did not show reactivity on Western blot analysis, which suggests that in some sera, antigenicity to Ro (SS-A) is destroyed by denaturation. Of the 22 sera that were reactive with beta-gal-Ro, 2 were not reactive with affinity-purified human Ro (SS-A). Two serum samples that did not react with beta-gal-Ro were also reactive with affinity-purified human Ro (SS-A). Nevertheless, except for a small percentage of Ro (SS-A) precipitin-positive sera, the frequency of antibody binding to the fusion protein was similar to the frequency of binding to the purified antigen in Western blots. Recombinant Ro (SS-A) antigen may therefore be valuable in the serologic evaluation of anti-Ro (SS-A) autoantibodies.
Autoantigens↗
Is pH test paper as accurate as the electronic measurement of the pH of vaginal secretions?
A comparison was made of two brands of pH test paper and electronic instrumentation for measuring the pH of vaginal secretions. When the pH of vaginal secretions was greater than 4.5 (abnormal), there was no significant difference between the methods, showing that pH test paper is reliable for pH determination of vaginal secretions.
Electrodiagnosis↗
Growth of Trichomonas vaginalis in commercial culture media.
There are only two commercially available, ready-to-use culture media which are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for clinical diagnosis of vaginal trichomoniasis: Kupferberg's STS and Diamond's medium (modified). Diamond's medium (Klaas modification), recommended by the Centers for Disease Control for the isolation of Trichomonas vaginalis, was compared in vitro to Kupferberg's (STS) medium. Growth studies using six fresh clinical isolates, all from different patients, showed that while generation time was about 6 h in both STS and Diamond's, the period of exponential growth was longer in Diamond's. More important, in STS there was a 4-h lag period during which the population significantly decreased prior to exponential growth. This did not occur in Diamond's medium. Three hundred organisms inoculated into Diamond's reached a population of over 10(5) organisms in 72 h. In STS, the same inoculum could multiply to only 6 x 10(3) organisms. The fact that there is a lag phase in STS which is not seen in Diamond's could explain why low numbers of T. vaginalis do not multiply in STS but do multiply and can be detected in Diamond's. We conclude that because Diamond's medium (modified) allows more prolific growth over a shorter period of time, it is more suitable than Kupferberg's (STS) for detecting T. vaginalis in patients with vaginitis.
Animals↗
Vaginitis in reproductive-age women.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adult↗