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Biomedical subjects

K de Vries

Publications and source records attributed to K de Vries.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Antibody determination against Aspergillus fumigatus by means of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. II. Physico- and immunochemical properties of the polystyrene-binding components.

Polystyrene-binding antigenic components (PBC) of Aspergillus fumigatus involved in ELISA IgG antibody determinations and the corresponding numbers of precipitates found by double immunodiffusion (DID) and/or crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) were studied using culture filtrate antigenic preparations fractionated by Sephadex G-100 chromatography, concanavalin A (ConA) affinity chromatography, isoelectric focusing (IEF) and TCA precipitation. It is shown that PBC, immunologically active in ELISA, are characterized by high molecular weights and ConA-binding properties. The pI values of these components were 3.5-6 and above 8. The glycoprotein and/or mucopolysaccharide nature is suggested by the binding to ConA and their partial resistance to trichloroacetic acid treatment. By contrast, low-molecular weight components and antigenic components that are not absorbed by ConA being active in DID and/or CIE showed less or absence of binding to the polystyrene surface.

Antibodies, Fungal↗
PubMed1985

Standardization of allergenic extracts of Aspergillus fumigatus. Liberation of IgE-binding components during cultivation.

During cultivation of Aspergillus fumigatus a rapid liberation of IgE-binding components was found reaching maximum values during the logarithmic phase of growth (phase I). After a fall in IgE-binding titers during phase II, appearance of additional IgE-binding components was noted during the period of lysis of the microorganism (phase III). These latter allergenic components are different from the phase I IgE-binding components, as was shown by crossed-inhibition studies. The number of precipitating antigenic components was not related with the corresponding IgE-binding titers and showed an increase during all phases of growth. The rapid changes in both IgE- and IgG-binding properties and the discrepancies between precipitating properties and IgE binding are discussed in relation to standardization and quality control of aspergillus extracts.

Allergens↗
PubMed1984

Protective effect of oral oxyphenonium bromide, terbutaline and theophylline against the bronchial obstructive effects of inhaled histamine, acetylcholine and propranolol.

The protective effects of oxyphenonium bromide, terbutaline and theophylline were compared in 8 asthmatic patients by determination of the degree of non-specific airway reactivity after 1 week of oral treatment according to a fixed dose scheme in a double-blind random order: oxyphenonium bromide 3 X 10 mg; terbutaline 3 X 5 mg; theophylline 2 X 300 mg and placebo. Controlled, standardized inhalation provocation tests were carried out with histamine, acetylcholine and propranolol. The study was monitored by measuring blood concentrations of the 3 drugs, and their effect on the plasma cAMP concentration was also determined. Significant protection by oxyphenonium bromide against the bronchial obstructive effects of acetylcholine and propranolol was observed, but not against the effect of inhaled histamine. The other two drugs provided no significant protection against the inhaled agents. The absence of any protective effect of terbutaline and theophylline might have resulted from too low a blood concentration. The observed differences in protection could not be explained by changes in pulmonary function. The study suggests dissociation between the bronchodilating effect of a drug and its protective effect against inhaled substances.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1984

Measurement of plasma histamine by stable isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: methodology and normal values.

A new method for the determination of histamine by stable isotope dilution mass fragmentography is described. The method is specific, sensitive, and accurate, resulting in a within-day coefficient of variation of 4.1% and a day-to-day variation of 7.9%. It was shown that the first blood sample after a venipuncture can contain an artificially elevated plasma histamine concentration. Platelets contain about 7 pmol histamine/10(9) cells. Serum histamine was elevated about four times in comparison with plasma histamine. This phenomenon was mainly ascribed to degranulation of basophilic leukocytes by complement activation during blood clotting. Normal values for plasma histamine were (n = 25) 2.07 +/- 0.75 nmol/liter (mean +/- 1 SD), which is one of the lowest values reported up to now.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Immunologic studies in bronchoalveolar fluid in a patient with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in a patient during an acute stage of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and repeated 17 mo later during a remission stage and cessation of corticosteroid therapy. Measurement of protein concentrations (albumin, IgG, IgA, and IgM) by laser nephelometry and crossed immunoelectrophoresis indicates that transudation of proteins occurs from the circulation into the lung compartment during the acute stage of ABPA. Furthermore, comparing total Ig concentrations and titers of ELISA IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies against Aspergillus fumigatus with the corresponding values of serum measurements indicates a preferential local production of IgA antibodies and IgM to a lesser extent. No indications were found for a local production of either IgG, total IgE, or IgE against A. fumigatus. During remission of the ABPA, titers of antibodies in the bronchoalveolar fluid (BAF) decreased to normal levels except IgA against A. fumigatus that remained elevated. The elevated titers of IgA in the BAF and IgE antibodies in the serum against A. fumigatus together with the elevated numbers of granulocytes in the BAF during the remission stage indicate that the immunologic situation is not yet normalized.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗
PubMed1984

Immunologic observations in sera of a patient with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis by means of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Titers of IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies against Aspergillus fumigatus were measured by ELISA in sera of a patient with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis during an acute stage, remission, and exacerbation of the disease. Total IgE, specific IgE against A. fumigatus, and number of precipitation lines were also measured. ELISA IgG-, IgA-, and IgM-antibody titers were expressed in percentages of the titer of a strongly positive standard serum by use of the patient's own serum as a standard. The fall in antibody concentration (in percent) and elevations during exacerbation appeared to be similar for these antibody classes and are related with the number of precipitates measured by double immunodiffusion. Furthermore, the changes in antibody titers were also similar to the elevations and decreases in both total IgE and specific-IgE antibodies (also expressed in percentages of a chosen standard serum). The ELISA IgG-antibody titers were higher compared with the ELISA IgA or IgM titers and demonstrated a continuous decline during a period of 2 yr after the acute phase of ABPA. Therefore, IgG-antibody titers are preferred as an indicator of disease activity in follow-up studies over longer time periods and are at least as sensitive as the measurement of concentrations of IgE antibodies.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Urinary N tau-methylhistamine during early and late allergen-induced bronchial-obstructive reactions.

Urinary N tau-methylhistamine, a unique histamine metabolite, was determined in 29 patients with bronchial asthma before and after inhalation of a control solution on 1 day and before and after allergen inhalation on another day. Twenty-eight patients had an early bronchial-obstructive reaction, defined by a decrease in FEV1 of 20% or more within 1 hr after allergen inhalation. A late bronchial-obstructive reaction, 3 to 8 hr after allergen inhalation, was found in 16 patients. The early bronchial-obstructive reaction was attended with a significantly increased N tau-methylhistamine excretion. The fall in FEV1 was correlated with the degree of bronchial hyperreactivity to histamine, but no significant correlation was found with the increase in urinary N tau-methylhistamine excretion. During the late reaction there was no significant difference in the change in N tau-methylhistamine excretion when the change was compared with that of the control day. These results suggest that a renewed degranulation of lung mast cells during the late bronchial-obstructive reaction is unlikely.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Measurement of specific IgE and IgG antibodies against Aspergillus fumigatus antigen in patient sera by use of enzyme immunoassays: influence of different procedures of antigen immobilization.

IgG and IgE antibody titers against Aspergillus fumigatus were measured in patient sera by enzyme immunoassays by use of antigens or allergens immobilized to different carriers. Specific-IgG antibodies were measured by a double antibody-layer enzyme immunoassay; specific IgE was determined by Phadezym -RAST (Pharmacia Diagnostics). In both cases antigens and allergens were immobilized in two ways: first by covalent binding to CNBr-activated paper discs and second by spontaneous binding to polystyrene surface of microtiter plates. Much higher IgE-antibody titers were found with allergens immobilized to paper discs when these discs were compared with microtiter plates, which could be explained by a higher allergen-binding capacity of activated paper discs. On the contrary, higher IgG antibody titers were found with antigens bound to microtiter plates when these plates were compared with paper discs. It is concluded that IgG antibodies are directed against antigenic components that are preferentially bound to polystyrene surfaces.

Ammonium Sulfate↗
PubMed1984

The allergenic and antigenic properties of spore extracts of Aspergillus fumigatus: a comparative study of spore extracts with mycelium and culture filtrate extracts.

The antigenic properties of conidial preparations of Aspergillus fumigatus were compared with mycelial and culture filtrate extracts by use of sera of patients with aspergillosis and hyperimmune rabbit serum. Biologic activities were tested by intracutaneous tests. The immunologic parameters used were: precipitating properties in double-diffusion, IgG binding by ELISA, IgE binding by enzyme inhibition assay, and by enzyme allergosorbent test. It has been demonstrated that the components that are released after disintegration of spores have positive titers in all immunologic assays. The immunologic properties of these spore plasma extracts are comparable with mycelial and/or culture filtrate extracts that are in accordance with the corresponding skin reactivities. Components that are released spontaneously from spores are only weakly positive or negative in the immunologic assays and demonstrate a very low biologic activity.

Allergens↗
PubMed1984

Environmental aerobiological studies in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

An aerobiological pilot study was undertaken to measure airborne concentrations of Aspergillus spores in and around the dwellings of two patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). The aim of the investigation was 1) to find a specific source of Aspergillus antigen, and 2) to find out whether disease activity, or exacerbation, paralleled Aspergillus spore prevalence. In the environment of the first patient heavy spore contaminated air was found in a cow-shed, and the adjacent hayloft and scullery. The patient experienced no typical exacerbation during the study period, probably because she now scrupulously avoided this source. The environment of the second patient contained lower spore concentrations in and around the house, and the patient had no typical exacerbation, possibly due to low-intensity exposure. Both patients, however, had increased bronchial obstruction during periods with high Aspergillus spore content in the outside air. The results suggest that avoidance of Aspergillus spore sources and low overall exposure may play a major role in preventing exacerbation of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Protective effect of choline theophyllinate on histamine, acetylcholine, and propranolol-induced airflow obstruction.

The protective effect of choline theophyllinate, 600 mg orally, was studied by examining the effects on inhaled histamine, acetylcholine, and propranolol in 19 asthmatic patients. Only 9 of them showed a propranolol threshold. This bronchodilator significantly increased the threshold values of histamine and acetylcholine, but showed no protective effect on propranolol thresholds. The histamine threshold changed from 2(2.5 +/- (SD)1.2) to 2(3.8 +/- 1.0) mg/ml (p less than 0.001). With acetylcholine an initial value of 2(4.2 +/- 1.4 mg/ml was determined, which changed to 2(5.5 +/- 1.1 mg/ml (p less than 0.01). The propranolol threshold changed from 1.17% +/- 0.40 to 1.36% +/- 0.40 indicating that theophylline has no statistically significant protective effect on propranolol inhalation. The reproducibility of the challenges was assessed in 8 control patients. A placebo did not significantly change the initial airway reactivity to the three agents. The protective effect of choline theophyllinate on histamine and acetylcholine correlated with the initial degree of reactivity on both agents (r = -0.60; p less than 0.01 and r = -0.84; p less than 0.001, respectively), whereas no significant correlation with the degree of bronchodilation was observed. The latter observation indicates that the protective effect of theophylline does not depend on its bronchodilating activity.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1984

Measurement of N tau-methylhistamine concentrations in urine as a parameter for histamine release by radiographic contrast media.

In a group of 750 patients who were admitted for excretory urography using iodamide, 14 distinct adverse reactions were observed. 2 of these patients exhibited a severe reaction, 4 a moderate reaction and 8 a mild reaction. In the urine portions collected 1 h after the administration of the contrast medium N tau-methylhistamine (an important histamine metabolite) was elevated both in patients showing severe adverse reactions and in those with moderate reactions. There was a rather good correlation between the increase of urinary N tau-methylhistamine concentrations and the severity of the reaction to iodamide.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Dynamics of the lymphocyte beta-adrenoceptor system in patients with allergic bronchial asthma.

It has been proposed that reduced beta-adrenergic responsiveness plays an important role in the increased airway reactivity of asthmatic patients. This hypothesis has been supported by studies showing reduced beta-adrenergic responsiveness in lymphocytes of asthmatic patients, predominantly during the occurrence of active and severe symptoms. Little is known about the mechanism underlying this relationship and its clinical relevance with respect to bronchial hyperreactivity. Therefore, in this study we assessed the status of the beta-adrenergic receptor-adenylate cyclase system in lymphocytes of allergic asthmatic patients in relation to parameters of bronchial hyperreactivity. This was performed before and after challenge with house-dust mite allergen, as a possible modulating factor of beta-adrenergic responsiveness. It was shown that lymphocytes of 'stable' allergic asthmatic patients with increased airway reactivity may have normal beta-adrenergic responsiveness and a normal beta-adrenergic receptor number. After allergen challenge, however, a group of 12 patients developed reduced beta-adrenergic responsiveness, which could be partially attributed to changes in the beta-adrenergic receptor number, while changes distal to the receptor also occurred. The results indicate that reduced beta-adrenergic responsiveness in lymphocytes of allergic asthmatic patients is a consequence of an active disease state rather than the reflection of a primary aetiological factor. A number of the patients concomitantly developed enhanced bronchial reactivity to propranolol after allergen challenge, which might indicate that reduced beta-adrenergic receptor function also occurs at the level of the bronchial tree. In five of the patients it was shown that beta-adrenergic hyporesponsiveness could be restored after environmental control in combination with drug treatment, thus indicating the dynamic character of the lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptor system in asthmatic patients.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1984

A volumetric-aerobiologic study of seasonal fungus prevalence inside and outside dwellings of asthmatic patients living in northeast Netherlands.

Air sampling with an Andersen sampler was carried out over a period of 21 mo, in 28 houses of asthmatic patients with an allergy for moulds. Inside, the livingroom, bedroom, and kitchen were studied, and an additional outside sample was always taken. Indoors, Penicillium showed the highest concentration, especially in the autumn and winter months, while Aspergillus and yeasts were also found frequently. The outside air was dominated by Cladosporium and Alternaria during summer months and Botrytis, Aspergillus, Mycelia sterilia and Basidiomycetes all year round. The patients showed high sensitisation towards Aspergillus, irrespective of the concentrations of the airborne fungi.

Alternaria↗