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Biomedical subjects

S Vernace

Publications and source records attributed to S Vernace.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1983

In vitro synthesis of IgG and IgM in patients with HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative chronic active hepatitis.

Spontaneous and PWM-driven IgG and IgM synthesis was investigated in the PBMC of 15 patients with HBsAg-negative CAH and six HBsAg-positive patients with CAH. PBMC from patients with HBsAg-positive CAH show an impaired IgG synthesis upon stimulation with PWM but an IgM increase similar to that of control subjects. In contrast, PBMC from HBsAg-negative patients with CAH show a trend to spontaneous increased synthesis of IgG and a decrease or lack of IgG and IgM synthesis upon PWM stimulation. Steroid treatment seems to ameliorate these alterations. No differences were found among the three groups of HBsAg-negative chronic active hepatitis (autoimmune, HBsAg-related and cryptogenic). These results indicate that differences of B-cell functions may exist in the two groups of CAH patients, not only in spontaneous B-cell activation or PWM-induced Ig synthesis but also in the different classes of Ig.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Radioimmunoassay for hepatitis B core antigen.

Serum hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) is an important marker of hepatitis B virus replication. We describe an easy, sensitive radioimmunoassay for determination of HBcAg in detergent-treated serum pellets containing Dane particles. Components of a commercial kits for anti-core determination are used, and HBcAG is measured by competitive inhibition of binding of 125I-labeled antibodies to HBcAg with HBcAg-coated beads. We assayed of HBcAG in the sera of 49 patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive chronic hepatitis, 50 patients with HBsAg-negative chronic hepatitis, and 30 healthy volunteers. HBcAg was detected in 41% of patients with HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis but not in patients with HBsAg-negative chronic hepatitis. Hepatitis Be antigen (an antigen closely associated with the core of Dane particles) determined in the same sera by radioimmunoassay, was not detected in 50% of HBcAg-positive sera.

Cross Reactions↗
PubMed1981

Cell-mediated immunity to HBcAg and HBsAg in patients with chronic hepatitis.

The leukocyte adherence technique (LAT) has been utilized to assess cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to HBcAg and HBsAg in patients with chronic (CH) and acute viral (AVH) hepatitis. All patients with AVH type B and 91.6% of patients with HBV-related CH displayed reactivity to both HBcAg and HBsAg, whereas healthy controls and patients with liver disease not related to HBV failed to show reactivity to these antigens. Four of 6 laboratory workers who had been exposed to HBsAg and had no signs of hepatitis and 2 of 17 patients with CH unrelated to HBV who received multiple transfusions exhibited reactivity to HBsAg, while reactivity to HBcAg was seen only in 2 laboratory workers and in 1 patient with CH unrelated to HBV. These results suggest that according to the LAT, reactivity to HBcAg is present in patients with AVH and CH and may be related to the etiology of the disease, whereas reactivity to HBsAg alone indicates previous exposure to HBV.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1975

Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody. A prospective study in asymptomatic drug abusers.

The course of reactivity of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) in 238 asymptomatic heroin addicts entering methadone maintenance was followed up for periods of one to four years. On initial determination, HBsAg was seen in 39.1%, anti-HBs in 10.5%, and HBsAg and anti-HBs in 9.2%; only 41.2% of persons tested had no detectable titers of either antigen or antibody. Abnormal liver function was found initially in 83% with no significant difference between those with or without HBsAg and anti-HBs. At the conclusion of each study year, 50% to 60% of persons initially HBsAg-positive reverted to negative with HBsAg absent in all persons followed up through the fourth year of treatment. Anti-HBs persisted in two thirds of persons during the entire study. These results suggest that the HBsAg carrier state in addicts is not maintained if exposure is eliminated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Immunological studies in patients with chronic active hepatitis. Cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes to autochthonous liver cells grown in tissue culture.

The cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes against autochthonous liver cells was studied in patients with chronic liver diseases and in controls. Cytotoxicity of lymphocytes was observed in eight of ten patients with chronic active hepatitis, two patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, one patient with primary biliary cirrhosis, one patient with alcoholic hepatitis and carcinoma of the pancreas, and in three of five patients with acute viral hepatitis, but not in seven patients without liver alteration or with miscellaneous liver diseases. Serum was not cytotoxic, but in three patients it decreased the cytotoxicity of lymphocytes. Cytotoxicity was seen in both HBAg-positive and HBAg-negative patients, appears to be influenced by therapy, and does not correlate with autoantibodies. These data support the hypothesis of an aggressive activity of lymphocytes in certain liver diseases.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1975

Incidence and nature of cytoplasmic hepatitis B antigen in hepatocytes.

Hepatitis B antigen (HB Ag) in the hepatocytic cytoplasm is detected by immunofluorescence after reaction with fluoresceinated antiserum to HB Ag or by electron microscopy as numerous 20- to 30-nm. tubular and circular structures in dilated cisternae of excess endoplasmic reticulum. On light microscopy, these hepatocytes can be recognized because their cytoplasm has a ground-glass appearance and stains with Gomori's aldehyde fuchsin. Aldehyde fuchsin-positive ground-glass hepatocytes were detected in all 14 asymptomatic carriers of HB Ag and in 16 of 60 HB Ag-seropositive patients with chronic hepatitis, but not in HB Ag-seropositive acute viral hepatitis or in various other HB Ag-seronegative liver diseases. These cells are helpful in identifying on light microscopy HB Ag carriers and a portion of patients with HB Ag-positive chronic hepatitis. Nuclear HB Ag did not stain with aldehyde fuchsin. Nucleic acids were not detected in the ground-glass cytoplasm by special stains at the light or electron microscopic level. We suggest that the tubular and circular structures in the hepatocytic cytoplasm are coat material of the hepatitis B virus or virally coded host cell reaction product rather than the complete hepatitis B virus.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Randomized controlled trial of quinacrine for the treatment of HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis.

Several drugs which react with DNA decrease hepatitis B viral (HBV) DNA polymerase activity in vitro. Because such an alteration of viral replication, if produced in patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive chronic hepatitis, may lead to elimination of viral infection, we conducted a controlled trial of the use of the intercalating agent, quinacrine hydrochloride, in treatment of HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis. No patient converted from HBsAg positive to negative during the trial and no consistent effect on HBV DNA polymerase activity was noted. Following treatment, elevated transaminase values and alterations of HBV markers were observed in several patients. Fluctuations of transaminase values and HBV markers may reflect alterations in host immunity and viral replication. Quinacrine alone is ineffective in therapy of chronic HBV infection. Additional study with intercalating agents, perhaps in conjunction with other drugs, is suggested.

Adult↗