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Biomedical subjects

M Viander

Publications and source records attributed to M Viander.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Depressed lymphocyte transformation by yersinia and Escherichia coli in yersinia arthritis.

Lymphocyte transformation responses were studied in 21 patients with acute yersinia infection followed-up after the acute infection for up to one year. Eight patients had reactive arthritis caused by yersinia. The responses to the causative serotype of yersinia were significantly lower (p less than 0.05) in patients with arthritis than in those without arthritis. Stimulation with Escherichia coli gave lower responses than with yersinia, but with E. coli the difference between arthritic and nonarthritic groups was more significant (p less than 0.02). The responses to yersinia and E. coli were not correlated with the presence of HLA B27. Lymphocyte transformation by purified protein derivative of tuberculin, streptokinase-streptodornase, phytohaemagglutinin, or concanavalin-A revealed no significant differences between the arthritic and nonarthritic groups. The role of the enterobacterial common antigen in the pathogenesis of reactive arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Basic and interferon-augmented natural killer (NK) cell activity in psoriasis.

The natural killer (NK) cell activity of lymphocytes from 24 psoriatic patients was compared with that of 34 normal controls and 19 patients with non-psoriatic dermatoses. In the range of effector/target cell ratios used (6.25 to 100), the basal NK cell activity level was similar in the three groups. Moreover, both interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) augmented the NK cell activity to the same extent in psoriasis as in the two control groups. We conclude that this important natural cancer surveillance mechanism is functioning properly in psoriatic patients.

Adolescent↗

Cross-reactivity of cat and dog allergen extracts. RAST inhibition studies with special reference to the allergenic activity in saliva and urine.

The commercial cat and dog allergen extracts are traditionally prepared from pelt, fur or dander. However, there is increased evidence of the allergenicity of saliva and urine of the animals. We have investigated 25 asthmatic children with a positive cat and/or dog RAST result. All 20 subjects with a positive cat RAST gave a positive skin prick test result to cat saliva, cat urine and cat hair. Analogously, all 20 subjects with a positive dog RAST had a positive skin reaction to dog saliva, urine and dander. In RAST inhibition experiments with dog and cat allergen discs, dog saliva appeared to be at least as potent as a commercial dog dander and hair extract, while cat saliva was less potent than the respective commercial extract. Both dog and cat salivas were clearly more potent than the respective urine. Significant cross-reactivity was observed between cat hair and dog dander in the RAST inhibition, whereas saliva and urine were shown to be more species-specific. An experimental dog dander preparation had about the same specificity as, and even higher allergenic activity than, that of dog saliva or urine. Our results suggest that saliva actually may be the best source of cat and dog allergen preparations. The importance of urine warrants further investigation.

Allergens↗

Natural killer cell activity in atopic dermatitis.

Natural killer (NK) cell activity against K562 cells was studied in 12 male adults with atopic dermatitis (AD). In a 4-h chromium release microcytotoxicity assay normal NK cell function and its augmentation by interferon (IFN-alpha) were observed in AD patients. Slightly higher NK cell activity was observed in patients with allergic respiratory symptoms. The role of NK cells in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Cell-mediated immunity in untreated and PUVA treated atopic dermatitis.

In 22 adult patients with atopic dermatitis, lymphocyte subpopulation counts, mitogenic responses to several PHA and Con A concentrations, nonspecific mitogen induced, and indomethacin sensitive suppressor cell functions and leukocyte migration inhibitory factor production were investigated. Patients with severe atopic dermatitis had normal PHA and Con A responses, although somewhat lower than matched controls, while mild AD patients equalled controls in this respect. No significant differences between AD patients and controls were detected with respect to lymphocyte subpopulations, suppressor cell function or leukocyte migration inhibitory factor production. Methoxalen plus ultraviolet light (PUVA) therapy induced significant clinical improvement in 9 out of 10 treated patients. A concomitant decrease of the mitogenic responses and increase of the Con A induced nonspecific suppressor cell activity was recorded, while other immunological parameters remained unaffected by the therapy. Thus PUVA therapy induces both local clinical and systemic immunological manifestations. The possibility that the observed immunological changes would be operative in the PUVA induced healing process, however, seems unlikely, as the present study did not disclose any obvious relationship between immune parameters and severity of atopic dermatitis.

Adult↗

RAST in the diagnostic of dog dander allergy. A comparison between three allergen preparations using two variants of RAST.

The results of the skin, bronchial or conjunctival provocation tests and of the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) with dog dander and hair extract preparations from two different producers were compared. 202 asthmatic children were included in the study. The clinical tests, Al-RAST and paper RAST, were performed using only one allergen preparation (Hu073), while two allergen preparations (e2 and e5) were used in Phadebas RAST. A good correlation was generally found between the results of the clinical diagnostic tests, the clinical history and the results of RAST. Phadebas RAST e2 was the most specific but the least sensitive: it gave a class 0 result in 18% and class 3-4 in 34.5% of the subjects with a positive provocation test. The corresponding numbers for e5 RAST were 6.0% and 70.2%, respectively. Al-RAST was equally sensitive, but had lower specificity than Phadebas RAST e5. The correlation between Phadebas RAST e5 and paper RAST Hu 073 was excellent, which indicates a remarkable similarity between these allergen extracts. Using sensitive, immunochemically standardized Phadebas RAST e5 or Al-RAST methods, classes 0-1 can be regarded as negative, class 2 as doubtful and classes 3-4 as clinically positive results.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of fluorescent antibody technique and conventional staining methods in diagnosis of cervico-facial actinomycosis.

Eight formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded biopsies with a histopathology suggestive of actinomycosis, were tested with fluorescent antibody technique using antiserum specific against Actinomyces israelii. The method was found effective even in decalcified tissue material. Positive fluorescent staining resulted, not only in the colonies but also in the surrounding cells, suggesting the presence of intracellular Actinomyces antigens. The possibility of retrospective biopsy study is very helpful in cases of prolonged infections. Grocott's stain was found to be most effective conventional method for screening suspected actinomycosis.

Actinomyces↗

Dog serum albumin as an allergen. IgE, IgG and lymphocyte responses in dog dander-sensitive asthmatic children.

To study the allergenicity of dog serum albumin (DSA) in dog-sensitive subjects, we investigated 203 asthmatic children by means of the skin prick test (SPT), the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and the in vitro lymphocyte stimulation test. Significant SPT reactions to DSA were observed in only 9 out of 80 subjects with a significantly positive SPT reaction to dog dander and hair (DDH). Analogously, positive DSA RAST results were observed only in a minority of the cases with a positive DDH RAST. Significant SPT reactions to DSA were not observed in subjects with a negative clinical history of dog allergy, or in subjects with a negative reaction to DDH in the SPT or in the provocation test. DSA induced remarkable lymphocyte stimulation in only 1 subject, who also had a significant SPT reaction to DSA. DSA-specific serum IgG antibody titers measured by ELISA were not found to correlate with DSA SPT or DSA RAST.

Adolescent↗

Puva photohyposensitization in polymorphous light eruptions: evaluation of systemic immunological factors.

Systemic immunological parameters were monitored in 26 polymorphous light eruption (PMLE) patients prior to, during and after photochemotherapy by either an oral or topical (bath) regimen. Pre-therapy investigations showed a normal immune status as regards the numbers of peripheral T-cells as well as the response of peripheral blood lymphocytes to PHA, ConA and PPD. Measurement of the immunological parameters after four PUVA exposures revealed a statistically significant increase in the lymphocyte PHA responses. After the completion of a PUVA course of some 20 irradiations, normalized PHA responses were found. The total lymphocyte count increased slightly during the treatment but the relative numbers of T- and B-cells changed very little. The immunological changes observed were of only moderate strength and it remains doubtful whether they play any major role in the hyposensitizing effect of PUVA irradiations in PMLE.

B-Lymphocytes↗

PUVA treatment in chromium hypersensitivity: effect on skin reactivity and lymphocyte functions.

Two male patients with longstanding contact sensitivity to chromium were treated with PUVA. One patient, suffering from concomitant photosensitivity, reacted very favorably; his skin lesions cleared and light tolerance increased. This was paralleled by a decrease in the photopatch test reactivity and by the extinction of the patch-test reactivity on PUVA-exposed (pigmented) skin. Patch and photopatch tests on PUVA-shielded skin showed no decrease in skin test reactivity. PUVA-treatment caused a decrease in the number of rosette-forming T cells and an increase in lymphocyte stimulation in both patients. In one patient, abnormally high PHA-induced suppressor cell activities were recorded prior to treatment; after PUVA therapy the values were back to normal. In both patients, the PPD-induced suppressor cell activity of PWN response was clearly increased by PUVA-therapy. Other suppressor cell functions were not much affected. It is concluded that while PUVA-therapy may produce some systemic immunological effects, its abating effect on contact sensitivity and photosensitivity is mainly mediated through local mechanisms in the skin.

Adult↗

Skin prick test in the diagnosis of dog dander allergy: a comparison of different extracts with clinical history, provocation tests and RAST.

Skin prick tests (SPT) were carried out on 164 asthmatic children using dog dander allergen preparations (A, B1, B2 and D) from three manufacturers. Bronchial and/or conjunctival provocation tests with allergen A were performed on all patients, as well as the Phadebas RAST (allergen e5). There was a close agreement between the clinical history and the SPT with allergens A and D. The provocation tests and RAST gave results in good agreement with the SPT reactions to all allergens except B1. The overall agreement between the SPT reactions to the different allergens was good. However, significant differences were observed in the allergenic activity of the different preparations and between different batches from the same manufacturer (allergens B1 and B2).

Adolescent↗

Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to fractions of birch pollen extract.

IgE and IgG antibodies (ab) and lymphocyte transformation (LT) were studied in untreated and hyposensitized birch pollen allergic subjects and in non-atopic controls using whole extract and fractions obtained by gel filtration of birch pollen extract. All the allergic subjects had positive IgE ab, IgG ab and LT responses to the whole extract. Both the untreated and the hyposensitized subjects had peak IgE ab and LT responses against the allergenic fractions of the extract, while negative responses were obtained in the non-atopic controls. Only hyposensitized subjects had developed high IgG ab responses to the allergenic fractions. Most of the treated and untreated subjects showed IgG ab and LT responses to the high molecular weight fractions with low allergenic activity. Significantly higher IgE ab responses to these fractions were observed in the treated subjects than in the untreated ones, indicating potentiation of IgE ab responses against some antigens during immunotherapy. Some of the allergic subjects also responded to the fractions of low molecular size (mol. wt. 2000-5000) with low allergenic activity. Both IgE ab, IgG ab and LT responses to these fractions were observed.

Allergens↗

Antigens and allergens in birch pollen extract.

More than 70% of the total allergenic activity of a birch pollen (BP) extract was detected within the first 30 min of extraction. Fractionation of the BP extract by gel filtration and analysis of the eluted antigens by a fused rocket immunoelectrophoresis revealed at least three antigens with molecular weights of about 29 000, and 17 000-10 000, corresponding to antigens Nos. 7-8 and No. 2, respectively, in crossed-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and in crossed-radioimmuno-electrophoresis (CRIE). Gel isoelectrofocusing of the pooled allergenic fractions revealed two major protein bands with pI's around 5.6 and 5.7, probably corresponding to antigens Nos.7-8 and No. 2, respectively. Antigens Nos. 7-8 were thermoresistant, while antigen No. 2 was thermolabile. The allergenic activity was determined by prick skin testing and by the RAST inhibition method. More than 90% of the allergenic activity in the fractions was located in the protein peak C (mol. wt. 10 000-17 000) containing antigens 7-8. About 30% of the total allergenic activity of the extract (1:10 w/v) was recovered in the peak C fractions, and only less than 0.5% outside these fractions. Higher allergenic activity was obtained for the peak B fractions (mol. wt. 29 000) by skin prick testing than by the RAST. Peak B contained allergens (antigen 2) distinct from those of peak C by the CRIE and by the RAST. The allergenic material in the low molecular weight fractions of peak D (mol. wt. 2000-5000) was allergenically similar to that of peak C in the RAST. Only weak and even negative skin reactions were observed with the peak D fractions in allergic subjects.

Allergens↗