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Biomedical subjects

L R Espinoza

Publications and source records attributed to L R Espinoza.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Transient monoclonal proteins in drug hypersensitivity reactions.

Two patients were studied in whom monoclonal (M) immunoglobulin G (IgG) proteins developed during the course of a serum sickness-like drug hypersensitivity reaction to cloxacillin (Orbenin) and sodium cephalothin (Keflin), respectively. The clinical evidence and time sequence of events support this association. In both patients there was evidence of an active antibody response to the given antibiotic and to the benzylpenicilloyl group as well. However, protein fractions obtained by agar gel preparative electrophoresis failed to show a higher antibody concentration where the M peak was located, and absorption experiments performed with penicillin G-, cloxacillin- and cephalothin-coated red cells failed to absorb these M proteins. These transient paraproteins can be seen in association with antibiotic(s) administration in the context of a hypersensitivity reaction and do not apparently represent a specific immune response.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

A double-blind trial of transfer factor vs placebo in multiple sclerosis patients.

A double-blind trial of the effect of transfer factor on multiple sclerosis patients was carried out. In a series of fifty-six multiple sclerosis patients treated with monthly injections of either transfer factor or placebo for 1 year, no beneficial effect of transfer factor was noted. In addition, none of the immunological and serological parameters studied (measles migration inhibition, measles HI titre or CSF immunoglobulin) changed as a result of transfer factor therapy. Histocompatibility typing and CSF IgG/TP ratios were correlated with the disease activity. Of interest was the finding that the presence of the DW2 antigen, when unassociated with HLA-B7 antigen, appeared to correlate with the mildest form of disease activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Immune complexes in psoriasis with and without arthritis.

Two different assays were employed to detect soluble immune complexes in the serum of a large group of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Using a Raji cell assay no evidence of complexes was found. However, with the Clq deviation method, sera from 29% of the patients with psoriasis alone and 35% of those with associated arthritis, exhibited Clq reacting material.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1977

Rheumatoid pericarditis. Rapid deterioration with evidence of local vasculitis.

In a patient with classical rheumatoid arthritis and pericardial involvement, accelerated restriction of cardiac filling resulting from pericardial constriction developed. Pericardiectomy was necessary to relieve this condition. Examination of the synovial and pericardial fluid showed noteworthy decreases in total hemolytic complement (CH50) and C3 levels, while these were normal in the serum. Immunofluorescence staining of the pericardium showed plasma cell infiltration and immune deposit staining of pericardial vessels with IgG, IgM, IgA, or C3. These findings suggest that immune complexes deposition plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Intestinal bypass arthritis: association with circulating immune complexes and HLA B27.

Two patients are described in whom arthritis following intestinal bypass surgery for obesity was associated with the presence of circulating immune complexes (CLC) and HLA B27. The arthritis was characteristically intermittent and controlled by low dose prednisone, indomethacin, and tetracycline therapy. The findings suggest that immune complexes play a role in the pathogenesis of arthritis associated with condition, and that perhaps the association with HLA B27 may predispose to the development of this complication.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Cell-mediated immunity in multiple sclerosis.

The blastogenic response of MS lymphocytes to a group of paramyxovirus antigens and to phytohemagglutinin was investigated. Comparative studies were performed in a selected group of patients before and after transfer factor therapy. There was no blastogenic response of lymphocytes to the paramyxovirus antigens tested in MS patients and normal controls, as measured by the incorporation of 14C thymidine. The stimulation index was below 2.5 even after transfer factor therapy. Lymphocyte transformation induced by PHA appeared significantly depressed in the MS patient group before transfer factor therapy when compared with the normal control group. The presence of serum factors that may depress PHA-induced lymphocyte transformation were looked for and not found. Following transfer factor therapy, an increase of the PHA response was observed in the MS group, such that a statistically significant difference in response compared with the normal control group was no longer present.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Jaccoud arthritis.

Jaccoud polyarthritis is thought to be a rare complication of rheumatic fever. It is characterized by severe rheumatic fever, with repetitive or prolonged attacks, associated with a painless, but deforming arthritis affecting the small joints of hand and feet. Radiologically, erosion of the metacarpal heads may be present. All described cases have shown obvious rheumatic heart disease. Two patients had the clinical and radiographic features of Jaccoud arthropathy who had no antecedent history of rheumatic fever. Jaccoud arthropathy may have diverse causes.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1975

Biological properties of myeloma proteins.

The paraproteins frequently cause major symptoms in patients with plasma cell dyscrasias. This may be due to their quantity in the circulation, to some unusual physicochemical property, or to a biological effect resulting in interaction with other serum proteins. Detection of antibody-combining activity in myeloma proteins has led to important new information on combining-site structure and the kinetics of antigen-antibody-combining activity. Some antibody-combining specificities seem to be present in a higher than expected frequency. As yet, no major therapeutic advances have followed this more precise characterization of the paraprotein, though some interesting possibilities have been explored in animal models.

Amino Acid Sequence↗