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Biomedical subjects

J Peter

Publications and source records attributed to J Peter.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Autoantibodies in human chronic graft-versus-host disease after hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are thought to have common immunopathologic features and previous studies have reported that 5.2 to 81% of patients with chronic GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant have antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA). We studied a total of 89 patients with chronic GVHD and 60 controls for AMA reactivity by ELISA and immunoblotting using recombinant PDC-E2, BCOADC-E2, and OGDC-E2, immunoblotting of beef heart mitochondrial proteins, and reactivity to nuclei, smooth muscle (ASMA), ribonucleoprotein JO-1, extractable nuclear antigen, nuclear proteins SSA/ SSB, ribonucleic P proteinase III, cardiolipin (ACA), liver kidney microsomal, thyroid microsomal, myeloperoxidase, and the reactivity of rheumatoid factor. A subset of 60 chronic GVHD sera were tested for reactivity to gp210 and LBR. Finally, liver tissue from patients with chronic GVHD and PBC was studied by immunohistochemistry to determine whether there was comparable abnormal apical staining of biliary epithelial cells using PDC-E2-specific monoclonal antibodies. Surprisingly, there were no AMA found in the sera from the 89 patients with chronic GVHD. Review of published data on AMA in GVHD suggests that previous results were primarily false positives. In contrast, sera from the patients with GVHD did have a variety of other autoantibodies and, in particular, 20/89 (22.4%) positive ANA, 23/89 (25.8%) positive ASMA, and 9/89 (10.1%) positive ACA. The other autoantibodies assayed were not statistically different from controls. Finally, abnormal biliary epithelial luminal staining of bile ducts was found, as expected, in liver tissue of patients with PBC but was absent in chronic GVHD.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Increased adherence of fluconazole-resistant isolates of Candida species to explanted esophageal mucosa.

The adherence of fluconazole-resistant and fluconazole-susceptible isolates of Candida albicans to explanted rabbit esophageal mucosa was examined in vivo. Among six Candida albicans isolates collected from HIV-infected patients, three fluconazole-resistant (MIC > 64 microg/ml) isolates attached more avidly than three fluconazole-susceptible strains (MIC < or = 0.5 microg/ml) to esophageal mucosa (P < or = 0.05). When three strains each of six different Candida spp. were compared, the more inherently fluconazole-resistant isolates adhered more avidly in the following order: Candida glabrata>Candida krusei>Candida albicans fluconazole-sensitive>Candida tropicalis>Candida parapsilosis. Nonetheless, fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans demonstrated the greatest degree of adherence in comparison to all fluconazole-susceptible Candida albicans (P<0.001) and to all Candida spp. tested (P<0.001). Thus, the refractoriness of esophageal candidiasis in patients infected with fluconazole-resistant isolates may be related to both in vitro drug resistance and increased mucosal adherence.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Liposomal nystatin against experimental pulmonary aspergillosis in persistently neutropenic rabbits: efficacy, safety and non-compartmental pharmacokinetics.

The activity of liposomal nystatin against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis was investigated in persistently neutropenic rabbits. Treatment groups included liposomal nystatin at dosages of 1, 2 and 4 mg/kg/day intravenously, or amphotericin B deoxycholate 1 mg/kg/day administered intravenously after normal saline loading. As compared with untreated controls, liposomal nystatin administered at 2 and 4 mg/kg/day prolonged survival and reduced fungus-mediated tissue injury and excess lung weight at post-mortem in a similar manner to amphotericin B. Although amphotericin B was superior in clearing infected lung tissue, treatment with all regimens of liposomal nystatin led to a significant reduction in pulmonary fungal tissue burden. During treatment, ultrafast CT-scan demonstrated ongoing resolution of pulmonary lesions at 2 and 4 mg/kg/day, but not at 1 mg/kg/day. With the exception of mild increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine values during treatment at 2 and 4 mg/kg/day, which were similar to those found in amphotericin B-treated rabbits, liposomal nystatin was well tolerated. Preliminary pharmacokinetic studies in non-infected animals established linear drug disposition of liposomal nystatin in plasma over the investigated dosage range and peak plasma levels above the MIC for the test strain after multiple daily dosing for 7 days. Liposomal nystatin increased survival and provided reduced tissue injury, effective microbiological clearance and tolerable side effects in experimental pulmonary aspergillosis in persistently neutropenic rabbits, thus providing a rational basis for further investigations in clinical trials.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed1999

Fungal lethality, binding, and cytotoxicity of syringomycin-E.

Syringomycin-E (SE) was significantly lethal to Aspergillus and Fusarium species at between 1.9 and 7.8 micrograms/ml. SE complexed with the following fungal wall constituents (in order of binding): beta-1,3-glucan > chitin > mannan > ergosterol = cholesterol. Cytotoxicity in HeLa cells was proportional to the SE concentration, while the amount required for cytotoxicity was 3 to 20 times that needed to kill 95% of the fungi tested.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1999

Transmission of an azole-resistant isogenic strain of Candida albicans among human immunodeficiency virus-infected family members with oropharyngeal candidiasis.

We report transmission of an azole-resistant, isogenic strain of Candida albicans in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected family of two children with symptomatic oropharyngeal candidiasis and a mother with asymptomatic colonization over a 5-year period. These findings were confirmed by three different molecular epidemiology methods: interrepeat PCR, Southern hybridization with a C. albicans repetitive element 2 probe, and electrophoretic karyotyping. This study contributes to an evolving understanding of the mode of transmission of C. albicans, particularly in children, and underscores the importance of monitoring specimens from family members of HIV-infected patients.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1999

Serologic and clinical response to treatment of systemic vasculitis and associated autoimmune disease with intravenous immunoglobulin.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune vasculitides cannot always be controlled by steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment was found beneficial in several vasculitides including systemic and organ-specific diseases. In this article we tested whether the beneficial clinical response of IVIg treatment in vasculitides was accompanied by a decrease in vasculitis-associated autoantibody levels. METHODS: Ten patients diagnosed as having vasculitis were treated with high-dose (2 g/kg) IVIg monthly, in a 5-day schedule. In all the patients, other therapeutic measures failed to control disease progression prior to IVIg treatment. Each patient received between 1 and 6 treatment courses. All patients were evaluated for the levels of 5 autoantibodies (Abs) related to vasculitis before and after each treatment course. RESULTS: In 6 out of the 10 patients, a beneficial clinical response followed IVIg treatment. Moreover, no treatment-related adverse effects were observed in any of the patients. Anti-myeloperoxidase antibodies and cytoplasmic-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies levels decreased concomitantly with the clinical improvement observed in the patients with Churg-Strauss vasculitis and Wegener's granulomatosis, respectively. Levels of cytoplasmic-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) with specificity for bacteridial/permeability-increasing protein and human lysosomal-associated membrane protein increased after each treatment course, but returned to normal values before the following one. CONCLUSIONS: When other therapeutic measures, such as immunosuppressive therapy, fails to control disease manifestations in patients with vasculitides, IVIg is a possible effective intervention method with a high response rate. IVIg probably exerted its effects on disease progression via different mechanisms. Among these mechanisms, a decrease in relevant Ab levels is often found (probably by anti-idiotypes in IVIg), and thus ANCA levels are expected to associate with disease activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Primary stenting for acute myocardial infarction.

Primary stenting for acute MI has been shown to be an improvement over PTCA alone. As with primary PTCA however there is an obligate delay in restoration of TIMI flow due to the time necessary for mobilization of the cath lab team. It is possible that a hybrid approach using partial thrombolysis plus early IIB/IIIA inhibitor administration followed by urgent angiography and stenting of the culprit lesion will be the ideal approach.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

A comparison of autoantibody production in asymptomatic and symptomatic women with silicone breast implants.

OBJECTIVE: We previously reported an increased preponderance of a broad range of autoantibodies in symptomatic women with silicone breast implants. The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency of autoantibody production in asymptomatic compared to symptomatic women with silicone implants. One hundred twenty-two asymptomatic women were recruited to our center for autoantibody detection through an advocate dealing with breast implant liabilities. METHODS: Autoantibody detection in 86 asymptomatic women was done blindly on a panel of 15 different antibodies (dsDNA, ssDNA, histones, SSA/Ro, SSB/La, RNP, cardiolipin, phosphatidylserine, pyruvate dehydrogenase, Scl-70, NC-1, silicone, collagen I, II, and IV). Clinical variables, specific questioning about related silicone implant symptoms, and a rheumatological examination were performed blindly by a certified rheumatologist. The findings were recorded and at a later stage compared with positive autoantibody detection. The normal control group consisted of age and sex matched Israeli women without known autoimmune disease. In the positive control group were symptomatic women previously tested for antibody production. The autoantibodies were assessed by ELISA. Values from individual patients were considered positive only when greater than 3 standard deviations above the control mean. RESULTS: The mean ages of 86 asymptomatic and 116 symptomatic women were 46.2+/-11.2 and 45.7+/-8.3 years, respectively. Breast implants were in place for a mean period of 8.2+/-5.0 years in the asymptomatic group and 15.0+/-5.6 years in the symptomatic group. The incidence of increased titers of autoantibodies ranged from 2 to 13% for 13 different autoantibodies among asymptomatic women. Among symptomatic women, 20% harbored 4 autoantibodies and 8% had 6 autoantibodies. The most common antibodies in the asymptomatic group were: dsDNA 8%; ssDNA 9%; SSB/La 13%; silicone 9%; collagen II 9%. No autoantibodies were found for NC-1, Scl-70, or RNP. Among the symptomatic group, the most common autoantibodies were histone ribosomal phosphate, SSA, SSB, Scl-70, cardiolipin, phosphatidylserine, GM2-ganglioside, and NC-1. Comparison of autoantibody incidence in asymptomatic and symptomatic women with silicone breast implants revealed an increased incidence of anti-SSB/La and anticollagen II in both groups. Polyclonality was more prominent in the group of symptomatic women with silicone breast implants, but also evident in 3 asymptomatic women. CONCLUSION: The mean duration of implant in the asymptomatic group was significantly less compared with the symptomatic group (p<0.01). The development of autoantibodies may be related to implant duration.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Identification of carbohydrate deficient transferrin forms by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and lectin ELISABiochim Biophys Acta 1998 Aug 24;1381(3):356.

Transferrin was isolated from sera of patients with severe alcohol abuse and from control sera by affinity chromatography using an immobilized polyclonal antibody from sheep, followed by gel filtration. The purified transferrin was then separated by MonoQ chromatography. Compared to the controls, sera from heavy alcohol consumers showed two additional transferrin peaks, eluting earlier than the three main transferrin forms present in all sera. Further analysis of the isolated transferrin forms by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with different digoxigenylated lectins (lectin ELISA) revealed that the main carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) forms are lacking either one or both of the N-Glycan chains.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1998

Frameshift mutants of beta amyloid precursor protein and ubiquitin-B in Alzheimer's and Down patients.

The cerebral cortex of Alzheimer's and Down syndrome patients is characterized by the presence of protein deposits in neurofibrillary tangles, neuritic plaques, and neuropil threads. These structures were shown to contain forms of beta amyloid precursor protein and ubiquitin-B that are aberrant (+1 proteins) in the carboxyl terminus. The +1 proteins were not found in young control patients, whereas the presence of ubiquitin-B+1 in elderly control patients may indicate early stages of neurodegeneration. The two species of +1 proteins displayed cellular colocalization, suggesting a common origin, operating at the transcriptional level or by posttranscriptional editing of RNA. This type of transcript mutation is likely an important factor in the widely occurring nonfamilial early- and late-onset forms of Alzheimer's disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Histamine receptors in the skin melanophores of Indian bullfrog Rana tigerina.

Histamine and 2-methyl histamine caused dose-dependent aggregation of the integumental melanophores of Rana tigerina both in vitro and in vivo. The aggregating effects were antagonised by mepyramine and metiamide, specific H1 and H2 receptor blockers, respectively. Compound 48/80 and EDTA augmented the melanin-aggregating effects of exogenously applied histamine and 2-methyl histamine in in vivo experiments. 4-Methyl histamine, a specific H2 receptor agonist, dispersed the frog melanophores in in vitro studies, the dispersing effects were blocked by metiamide.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Novel entry pathway of bovine herpesvirus 1 and 5.

Herpesviruses enter cells by a yet poorly understood mechanism. We visualized the crucial steps of the entry pathway of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) and BHV-5 by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, employing cryotechniques that include time monitoring, ultrarapid freezing, and freeze substitution of cultured cells inoculated with virus. A key step in the entry pathway of both BHV-1 and BHV-5 is a unique fusion of the outer phospholipid layer of the viral envelope with the inner layer of the plasma membrane and vice versa resulting in "crossing" of the fused membranes and in partial insertion of the viral envelope into the plasma membrane. The fusion area is proposed to function as an axis for driving the virus particle into an invagination that is concomitantly formed close to the fusion site. The virus particle enters the cytoplasm through the opened tip of the invagination, and the viral envelope defuses from the plasma membrane. There is strong evidence that the intact virus particle is then transported to the nuclear region.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Expiratory flow limitation and intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure in obesity.

Breathing at very low lung volumes might be affected by decreased expiratory airflow and air trapping. Our purpose was to detect expiratory flow limitation (EFL) and, as a consequence, intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPi) in grossly obese subjects (OS). Eight OS with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 44 +/- 5 kg/m2 and six age-matched normal-weight control subjects (CS) were studied in different body positions. Negative expiratory pressure (NEP) was used to determine EFL. In contrast to CS, EFL was found in two of eight OS in the upright position and in seven of eight OS in the supine position. Dynamic PEEPi and mean transdiaphragmatic pressure (mean Pdi) were measured in all six CS and in six of eight OS. In OS, PEEPi increased from 0.14 +/- 0.06 (SD) kPa in the upright position to 0.41 +/- 0.11 kPa in the supine position (P < 0.05) and decreased to 0.20 +/- 0.08 kPa in the right lateral position (P < 0.05, compared with supine), whereas, in CS, PEEPi was significantly smaller (<0.05 kPa) in each position. In OS, mean Pdi in each position was significantly larger compared with CS. Mean Pdi increased from 1.02 +/- 0.32 kPa in the upright position to 1.26 +/- 0.17 kPa in the supine position (not significant) and decreased to 1. 06 +/- 0.26 kPa in the right lateral position (P < 0.05, compared with supine), whereas there were no significant changes in CS. We conclude that in OS 1) tidal breathing can be affected by EFL and PEEPi; 2) EFL and PEEPi are promoted by the supine posture; and 3) the increased diaphragmatic load in the supine position is, in part, related to PEEPi.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Infectious mononucleosis.

EBV-induced IM is a generally self-limited infection characterized by fever, pharyngitis, and adenopathy. Management consists of basic supportive measures and treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis when present. Corticosteroids may be considered for individuals who exhibit evidence of significant upper airway obstruction. To date there is little evidence to support the use of antiviral agents in immunocompetent patients. Complications of IM may arise, which can be life-threatening, but these are relatively rare.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Multicenter evaluation of proposed standardized procedure for antifungal susceptibility testing of filamentous fungi.

A multicenter study was conducted to expand the generation and analysis of data that supports the proposal of a reference method for the antifungal susceptibility testing of filamentous fungi. Broth microdilution MICs of amphotericin B and itraconazole were determined in 11 centers against 30 coded duplicate pairs of Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., Pseudallescheria boydii, and Rhizopus arrhizus. The effect of inoculum density (approximately 10(3) and 10(4) CFU/ml), incubation time (24, 48, and 72 h), and procedure of MIC determination (conventional and colorimetric [Alamar Blue] evaluation of growth inhibition) on intra- and interlaboratory agreement was analyzed. Based on intra- (97 to 100%) and interlaboratory (94 to 95%) agreement for both drugs, the overall optimal testing conditions identified were determination of colorimetric MICs after 48 to 72 h of incubation with an inoculum density of approximately 10(4) CFU/ml. These testing conditions are proposed as guidelines for a reference broth microdilution method.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1996

Midline developmental abnormalities of the posterior fossa: correlation of classification with outcome.

Fifty children with developmental retrocerebellar cysts of the posterior fossa, treated over an 11-year period, were assessed. The cysts were classified according to a morphological classification based on axial computerized tomography scans in order to assess the usefulness of this classification with regard to treatment and outcome. There were 35 patients with the Dandy-Walker complex and 15 patients with posterior fossa cysts. All surgically treated patients had cerebrospinal fluid shunting as the only form of treatment. Cystoperitoneal shunts were the treatment of choice. Although the morphological classification has relevance with regard to the embryological development of the cyst, it does not influence the selection of treatment nor the surgical outcome following shunt insertion.

Cerebellar Diseases↗