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Biomedical subjects

R Kastally

Publications and source records attributed to R Kastally.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Presence of in vivo-activated T-cells expressing HLA-DR molecules and IL-2 receptors in peripheral blood of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is associated with two malignant diseases, African Burkitt's Lymphoma (BL) and Undifferentiated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (UNPC). North Africa is a geographical area with a high incidence of NPC. Our purpose in this study was to explore cell-mediated immunity of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients with UNPC and DNPC. We found an elevated percentage of OKT8 cells and of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) (30-35% HNK-I-positive cells) compared to PBL from healthy matched individuals. PBL from NPC patients contained 35% HLA-DR-positive and 30% Interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor-positive circulating lymphocytes. PBL from NPC patients exhibited a normal proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and Concanavalin A (Con A) and an increased response to pokeweed mitogen (PWM). Natural killer (NK) activity towards K562 cells was low in our patients who, in addition, exhibited no lytic activity against HLA-matched EBV-transformed B cells. This lack of cytotoxicity against an EBV-transformed B-cell line cannot be explained by an impairment of IL-2 secretion, and is probably a result of the presence of high numbers of OKT8 suppressor T cells.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1986

[Homocystinuria. A type with vascular thrombosis and factor VII deficiency].

In homocystinuria, thrombosis is frequent (50% of the cases). The authors report a case of cystathionine-synthetase deficiency-induced homocystinuria associated with thrombosis of a common iliac vein. This patient presented with a blood coagulation disorder which was related to severe factor VII deficiency and which was corrected by treatment. Homocystinuria was pyridoxine independent as witnessed by the fact that Brand's reaction remained positive with vitamin B6 therapy and cystathionine. Cystathionine-synthetase activity measured in cultured fibroblasts increased only slightly with pyridoxine therapy. Treatment (Betaine, folic acid, vitamin B 12) induced the disappearance of plasma methionine. Clinically, the patient whose treatment came late in the course of her disease, was only slightly improved. Hypotheses about etiopathogenic mechanisms of this disease are discussed. Difficulties of treatment and diet are reviewed. The relative inefficacy of therapy, even in case with early treatment, makes antenatal diagnosis preferable to neonatal diagnosis.

Child↗
PubMed1986

[Abnormal hemoglobins screened in Tunisia].

We report the complete data we have collected concerning abnormal Hb in Tunisia, and their local repartition. The highest frequencies are observed in the North-West countries.

Genetic Testing↗
PubMed1984

Enzymatic and immunological studies of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase in familial porphyria cutanea tarda and hepatoerythropoietic porphyria.

Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity was measured in hemoglobin-free lysates from two patients with hepatoerythropoietic porphyria (HEP) and from 12 unrelated patients with familial porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). In HEP patients, enzyme activities were 5% of normal, and familial studies clearly confirmed that patients with HEP are cases of homozygous PCT. Immunoreactive uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase was measured by developing a direct and noncompetitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA). For the 12 familial PCT patients, we found an immunoreactive protein decreased (51%) to the same extent as the catalytic activity (48%) [cross-reactive immunological material ( CRIM ) negative]. The children from the HEP family were also CRIM negative, contrasting with another HEP family previously described as CRIM positive; our data support the hypothesis of a heterogeneity in familial uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase deficiency.

Carboxy-Lyases↗
PubMed1984

[Hepatitis B virus infection in Tunisia].

Recent reports show that the frequency of HBsAg varies around 4 to 6% in most Mediterranean and Middle East countries. Those areas are therefore considered as areas of intermediate endemicity for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The purpose of this study is to investigate the HBV global situation in Tunisia, by means of third generation testing methods. Blood samples were obtained from 3 distinct population groups from Tunis: blood donors, consisting of young male adults staff members and patients from 4 haemodialysis units patients with either acute hepatitis or liver cirrhosis They were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc by radioimmunoassay tests. HBsAg was detected in 6.5% of the young male adults, and approximately 60% had either anti-HBs or anti-HBc antibodies. Haemodialysis staff members and patients respectively displayed 9.1% and 19.5% of HBsAg positivity, but an increase of HBsAg positivity and of all HBV serum markers in relation to the amount of time spent in dialysis units was shown among the patients. After 3 years of dialysis sessions, none remained seronegative. HBsAg was detected in approximately two-thirds of the patients with acute hepatitis or liver cirrhosis, and all cirrhosis patients had at least one HBV serum marker. These global results stress the importance of HBV infection in Tunisia. Immunization against hepatitis B virus therefore has to be considered. Nevertheless, the immunization strategy must take into account the epidemiological and economic characteristics of the country.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Africa: anti-HCV antibodies in the general population and in patients suffering from cirrhosis or primary liver cancer.

Anti-hepatitis-C-virus (anti-HCV) antibody was tested for in sera from 410 adults living in Tunisia, Senegal, Burundi and Madagascar, and in 209 Tunisian and Senegalese patients suffering from liver diseases. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 4.2% of the adult population from Africa, in 51% of patients suffering from liver cirrhosis and in 37% of patients suffering from primary liver cancer. However, higher proportions of anti-HCV antibodies were detected in HBsAg+ patients than in HBsAg- patients. To assess the role of HCV in the development of both cirrhosis and primary liver cancer, a confirmation test is needed.

Africa↗