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Biomedical subjects

M R Escobar

Publications and source records attributed to M R Escobar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

Correlation of immunoglobulin and C reactive protein levels in ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Serum C reactive protein (CRP), IgG, and IgA levels were measured in 22 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and in 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to study the regulation of these proteins in inflammatory disease states. In both RA and AS the mean CRP, IgG, and IgA levels were raised above normal values. Although IgA and CRP levels showed a significant positive correlation in RA (r = 0.53, p = 0.02), there was no correlation between these values in AS (r = 0.24, p = 0.29). The difference in correlation coefficients between the AS and RA groups was significant at a p = 0.05 level. In RA the raised IgA levels may be another manifestation of the acute phase response, as shown by the good correlation between IgA and CRP in that disease. In AS, however, the IgA levels, although raised, do not correlate with CRP levels, suggesting that the mechanism of increase of IgA in the two diseases is different. Gut mediated immune stimulation has been proposed as a cause of raised IgA levels in AS.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

A practical cytopathic effect/dye-uptake interferon assay for routine use in the clinical laboratory.

The clinical value of interferon (IFN) level determinations has been demonstrated, but a practical assay procedure for routine use in the diagnostic laboratory has not been available. The authors examined the susceptibility of five cell lines (WISH, HEp-2, Vero, A549, and WI-26VA4) to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), and compared the response of these cells to the inhibitory activity of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma for the respective viral cytopathic effect (CPE). The WISH-EMCV system was the most sensitive for IFN-alpha, and was approximately as sensitive as the HEp-2-VSV system for IFN-gamma. WISH cells were found to be significantly more sensitive for both IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma when EMCV, instead of VSV, was used (P less than 0.001). Therefore, the latter system served as the basis for developing a CPE dye-uptake procedure that was found to be considerably more rapid but slightly less sensitive than the conventional technic. However, both procedures were equally reproducible and should be suitable for automation.

Amnion↗
PubMed1983

Failure of preexisting antibody against hepatitis B surface antigen to prevent subsequent hepatitis B infection.

We studied a patient who developed acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection despite the presence of preexisting antibody to the surface antigen of HBV (anti-HBs). Anti-HBs has been reported to consist primarily of antibody against the common a determinant of HBV. Antibody directed against this major determinant appears to confer protection against HBV, regardless of the subtype. Our patient was shown to have had preexisting anti-HBs of anti-d but not anti-a specificity. She subsequently developed non-A, non-B viral hepatitis followed by an episode of acute hepatitis B after exposure to HBV of the ayw subtype.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Determination of immunoglobulin M antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen and hepatitis A virus by reorienting sucrose gradient high-speed centrifugation for diagnosis of acute viral-hepatitis.

Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) were determined in 41 cases of acute viral hepatitis. In sera positive for anti-HBc or anti-HAV, IgM was separated from IgG by reorienting sucrose gradient high-speed centrifugation, and the IgG- and IgM-containing serum fractions were tested for the presence of specific antibody by radioimmunoassay. At the onset of illness, 4 of the 41 cases were classified as hepatitis A, 31 were hepatitis B, and 6 were non-A, non-B hepatitis, based on the results of these tests and of assays for hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody and hepatitis B e antigen and antibody. Fourteen of these 41 patients (34%) required IgM anti-HBc or IgM anti-HAV testing or both for appropriate classification. IgM anti-HBc persisted for at least 7 weeks after onset but no longer than 17 weeks in all patients tested with transient hepatitis B surface antigen-positive acute hepatitis. IgM anti-HAV persisted up to but not longer than 62 days in the patients with hepatitis A. Therefore, IgM anti-HBc and IgM anti-HAV determinants are valuable tools for the differential diagnosis of acute A, B, and non-A, non-B hepatitis.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1980

Hepatitis B virus surface and core antigens in the liver of primary hepatocellular carcinoma cases in Virginia.

Zenker-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of biopsy liver tissue from 64 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) were stained for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and for hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) by histochemical and/or immunohistochemical techniques in a retrospective study. PHC arose in livers with postnecrotic cirrhosis in 30 (46.9%) cases. Controls included liver biopsy sections from 123 miscellaneous liver disorders and from 67 randomly selected autopsy specimens, none of which were known to be associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HBsAg was detected in tumorous hepatocytes in only one of the 64 cases of PHC. HBsAg was identified in nontumorous hepatocytes of 8 (20%) of 40 specimens that contained adequate nontumorous liver tissue. All of these HBsAg positive cases of PHC were associated with cirrhosis. Thus HBsAg was detected in 8 (33.3%) of 24 cases of PHC with cirrhosis, but in none of the remaining 16 cases without cirrhosis. HBcAg was not detected in the hepatocytes of those HBsAg positive PHC cases tested. Our results suggest that HBV infection may successively lead to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and ultimately PHC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Fatal cytomegalic inclusion disease. Associated skin manifestations in a renal transplant patient.

A case of cytomegalovirus-induced vasculitis led to skin ulcerations in a renal transplant patient. Light and electron microscopy revealed inclusion bodies and viral particles, respectively, characteristic of cytomegalovirus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of cytomegalovirus-induced vasculitis producing skin ulcerations, and it illustrates another of the protean manifestations of cytomegalovirus inclusion disease that may have important clinical implications.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Biphasic local reaction to a new insulin (U-100).

The phenomenon of localized insulin reaction is described and illustrated by the report of a case. The patient's unusual response consisted of an "early" and a "late" phase to single-peak and single-component insulins. No definite immunologic mechanism was established on the basis of immunologic studies or from histologic examination of skin biopsies.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Transportation delay and the microbiological quality of clinical specimens.

An in-use study was done to determine the effect of transportation delay on the microflora of clinical specimens collected for microbiological analysis in a 1,000-bed university hospital. Portions of wound, respiratory, and urine specimens were planted for bacterial isolation on the wards immediately after collection. The remainder of each specimen was kept at room temperature without or without holding medium until it was picked up by messengers and taken to the bacteriology laboratory. The results of immediate planting on the ward were compared with those obtained by planting in the laboratory. Alterations in microflora were observed in all three types of specimens after averages of 2 to 4 hours of delay in planting.

Humans↗
PubMed1975

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis of the skin. A new clinocopathologic entity.

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis is a necrotizing arteritis primarily affecting the lungs but also found in the skin, kidneys, central nervous system, and other extra-pulmonary sites. Cutaneous involvement occurred in 45% of the cases described by Liebow in his original series. Light microscopy studies were performed. The IgA and IgG levels were slightly decreased and the IgE level was elevated. Cell-mediated immunity was impaired. No viruses were isolated or identified by immunofluorescence. A man had cutaneous lesions as the first sign of lymphomatoid granulomatosis.

Aged↗