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J Kus

Publications and source records attributed to J Kus.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Lymphocyte activation by house dust allergen in asthma: analysis with monoclonal antibodies.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (MNC) response to house dust (HD) stimulation in cultures was studied in a group of 35 subjects with asthma and a multiple positive skin test (ST) reaction to inhalant allergens including HD, and in 19 healthy controls. The MNC response to allergen stimulation was assessed by interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression identified with an anti-Tac monoclonal antibody. Lymphocyte subpopulations of baseline and cultured cells were also analysed. The percentage of IL-2R presenting cells increased significantly in HD-driven cultures in the asthma group compared to controls. The increase in proportion of IL-2R+ cells was closely related to the increase in CD4+ percentage of cultured cells and was accompanied by a decrease in proportion of CD8+ lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages, suggesting that HD-activated cells were CD4+ lymphocytes. Lymphocyte activation, measured by IL-2R expression, was significantly higher in the group of asthmatics, and positive dual (early and late) skin reaction to HD, as compared to those with single early reaction.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Effect of heparin and prostacyclin/heparin infusion on platelet aggregation in hemodialyzed patients.

The number of circulating platelet aggregates determined according to the method of Wu and Hoak and the platelet morphology revealed by scanning electron microscopy were investigated in 10 patients (8 males, 2 females) age 28-58 years) with end-stage renal failure treated by repeated hemodialysis. The examination was carried out twice: during a 4-hour hemodialysis session with the use of heparin alone and 1 week later during the course of another dialysis in the presence of both heparin and prostacyclin. During each dialysis session the platelet system was examined three times: prior to, after 90 min, and at the end of the procedure. As compared with the situation prior to dialysis, the number of platelet aggregates assessed after 90 min of dialysis and after its termination insignificantly rose following the treatment with heparin, but significantly fell after the use of the prostacyclin/heparin combination. The differences were also significant when the effects of both treatment types were compared. As revealed by scanning electron microscopy, during the course of hemodialysis with the use of heparin alone, the platelets showed signs of activation manifested by increases in number and length of cytoplasmic processes and by a tendency to aggregate. When both prostacyclin and heparin were used during dialysis, platelet activation was minimal or absent. Thus, the combined treatment with prostacyclin and heparin protects platelets from activation induced by their contact with artificial surfaces and may lower the risk of microthrombosis, making thereby hemodialysis safer and more effective.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Lymphocyte sub-populations in patients with allergic and non-allergic asthma.

The subpopulations of peripheral blood lymphocytes were identified using monoclonal antibodies specific for T lymphocytes (T11 antibodies), B lymphocytes (B1 antibodies), helper/inducer T cells (T4 antibodies) and suppressor/cytotoxic cells (T8 antibodies). Ninety-six subjects, including twenty-five patients with allergic asthma, nineteen patients with non-allergic asthma and fifty-two controls without asthma, were studied. There was no significant difference in the lymphocyte subsets between the allergic and non-allergic asthmatics. When comparing patients with asthma as a group with the controls, a decrease in the number of T8-positive suppressor cells and therefore, an increase in the helper/suppressor cell ratio were demonstrated in the asthmatics. A relative deficiency of suppressor T cells may represent another immunological marker of bronchial asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Predictors of bronchial hyperexcitability in grainhandlers.

We have studied bronchial hyperexcitability to methacholine (defined as a fall of at least 20 percent in FEV1 at 8 mg/ml or lower) in 504 white male grainhandlers working in terminal elevators in the Port of Vancouver. There was a significant association between bronchial hyperexcitability and level of FEV1; for a 10 percent decrease in percent of predicted FEV1, bronchial hyperexcitability was twice as common. Among those with bronchial hyperexcitability, the PC20 was significantly related to the FEV1. Grainhandlers with immediate skin reactivity to common allergens were twice as likely to have bronchial hyperexcitability. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of bronchial hyperexcitability with increasing duration of employment. Grainhandlers with chest tightness and breathlessness were over twice as likely to have bronchial hyperexcitability. We did not observe an increased prevalence of bronchial hyperexcitability in smokers, and there was no difference between age groups. We conclude that the determinants of bronchial hyperexcitability in this population include baseline FEV1, immediate skin reactivity to common allergens, some respiratory symptoms, and cumulative exposure to grain dust.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Lymphocyte subpopulations in allergic granulomatosis and angiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome).

We report a case of allergic granulomatosis and angiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome) in which immunologic parameters, including lymphocyte subpopulations, were determined in the acute phase of the disease and during remission. Hyperimmunoglobulinemia E and immune complexes were present. A low proportion of suppressor/cytotoxic (T8+) lymphocytes and a high helper/suppressor ratio were seen throughout the course of the disease, although immunoglobulin levels and circulating immune complex levels decreased with therapy. We hypothesize that the deficiency of suppressor cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of this syndrome.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with allergic rhinitis.

The lymphocyte subpopulations were classified using monoclonal antibodies specific for B lymphocytes (B1 antibodies), T lymphocytes (T11 and OKT3 antibodies), helper/inducer T cells (T4 antibodies) and suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (T8 antibodies). Three groups of subjects were studied: 20 normal controls, 29 patients with allergic rhinitis and a subgroup of nine patients who had received immunotherapy. The proportion of B lymphocytes, total T cells and T4 positive (helper/inducer) cells were not significantly different between the groups, but allergic patients were found to have a decreased proportion of suppressor T8 positive (suppressor/cytotoxic) cells and hence a high helper/suppressor cell ratio. These abnormal parameters were found to be normal in the group of allergic patients who had received immunotherapy. These results imply that a suppressor cell deficiency may be an underlying mechanism of allergic disease, and that immunotherapy could correct the suppressor cell deficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Symptoms, pulmonary function, and bronchial hyperreactivity in western red cedar workers compared with those in office workers.

An epidemiologic health study was carried out on 652 cedar mill workers and a control group of 440 male office workers not exposed to air contaminants. Participants completed a medical-occupational questionnaire with trained interviewers, had allergy skin tests, performed spirometry, and had bronchial reactivity assessed by methacholine inhalation testing. After adjusting for differences in age, race, and smoking, cedar workers were found to have significantly higher prevalences of cough, phlegm, and dyspnea than did office workers. Symptoms of asthma and work-related asthma, but not persistent wheeze or doctor-diagnosed asthma, were reported in a significantly higher proportion of cedar workers than of office workers. Cedar workers also had significantly lower lung function test results than did office workers after controlling for height, age, race, and smoking. Bronchial hyperreactivity, defined by a methacholine PC20 less than 8 mg/ml, was more prevalent among cedar workers than among office workers, with the increase being limited to the nonatopic subgroup of workers. The prevalence of bronchial hyperreactivity increased with duration of employment among cedar workers but not among office workers. We conclude that exposure to western red cedar dust is harmful to the respiratory health of the workers, causing asthma and other respiratory symptoms, bronchial hyperreactivity, and lower levels of lung function.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Absence of day to day variation in lymphocyte subpopulations in healthy humans.

Lymphocyte subpopulations were determined by indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies T11, T4, T8 and B1 on three different days in a group of thirteen normal subjects. Although there was considerable intersubject variation, the percentages of lymphocyte subpopulations as well as absolute numbers did not differ within the same subject over the three days tested, showing that lymphocyte subpopulation proportions and absolute numbers are stable characteristics of the healthy subject.

Adult↗