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Biomedical subjects

W H Hitzig

Publications and source records attributed to W H Hitzig.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

[Antibody-deficiency syndrome].

Antibody deficiency syndromes (ADS) are defined by the inability of the organism to maintain sufficient concentrations of specific antibodies in circulation. The carriers of antibodies, the immunoglobulins, are a well-defined class of plasma proteins. Some of the pertinent knowledge on their structure and function is briefly summarized. Clinical classification of ADS may be based on different criteria: etiological and pathogenetic views are here used according to needs. Primary ADS are the result of deficient synthesis, and secondary ADS are due to increased catabolism and/or loss of antibodies. Etiological factors in primary ADS are congenital disturbances (hereditary deficiency, e.g. agammaglobulinemia), regulatory imbalances (e.g. infantile hypogammaglobulinemia) or acquired disease (e.g. malignant monoclonal lymphoma). Among the causes of acquired ADS as one example diseases leading to protein loss, are discussed. However, the whole problem may not be summarized so briefly, and this is exemplified in two illustrative examples of genetically determined diseases (hereditary deficiency of transcobalamin II and of adenosine deaminase). Patients with congenital metabolic deficiences may be considered as "experiments of nature". Their extensive study has essentially contributed to new knowledge and insights into normal physiological mechanisms. This is also true in immunology where the discovery of fundamental facts is connected with such studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Biologic activity of transfer factor tested in vitro with cord blood lymphocytes.

Cord blood lymphocytes, generally believed to be immunologically uncommitted, were used for investigating the possible conversion by transfer factor (TF) of non-immune to immune lymphocytes in vitro. TF was prepared from pooled buffy coats of normal blood bank donors by ultrafiltration and lyophilization, and it ability to influence lymphocyte transformation was assessed by measuring increases in 3H-thymidine uptake into DNA after stimulation with purified protein derivative of tuberculin and/or streptokinase-streptodornase in 23 experiments with cord blood and 15 adult controls. TF stimulated cord blood lymphocytes nonspecifically when added to the medium alone. In the presence of antigen, TF acted in a synergistic, antigen-dependent way with either amplifying or inhibitory effects in adult good responders. These effects were negligible in adult low responders and in cord blood. From our observations no specific conversion of lymphocytes by TF in vitro can be deduced.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Production of migration inhibitory factor and blast cell transformation by cord blood lymphocytes.

Cord blood lymphocytes from 29 normal infants of 28-41 weeks gestational age were tested for blast cell transformation and migration inhibitory factor (MIF) production. Cultures were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) for transformation; with purified PHA, soluble and insoluble concanavalin A as well as PPD for MIF production. 3H-thymidine incorporation by cord blood and by adult lymphocytes were similar in magnitude after PHA stimulation, but differed significantly after PPD stimulation, with negligible increased incorporation by the former and marked increased incorporation by the adult lymphocytes. With the exception of PPD, the stimulating agents used led to MIF production by cord blood lymphocytes. No dissociation was observed between proliferative response and MIF production. Both functions seem to be fully developed at birth.

Concanavalin A↗
PubMed1976

Hereditary sever combined immunodeficiency and adenosine deaminase deficiency.

A retrospective study aiming at detection of heterozygous carriers of blood adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency was carried out in nine families known to us because children had died of combined immunodeficiency (SCID). The trait was found in 3 of 9 parent couples, and in 14 other relatives. In two families one homozygous patient was identified. A total of 54 family members and 60 healthy control subjects were tested. Clinically, the patients were all characterized by marked lymphopenia, nearly normal immunoglobulin levels, and inability to produce antibodies. One homozygous patient recovered after transplantation of fetal liver and thymus and is immunologically normal 1.5 years afterwards.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed1976

Studies on the immune status of children with acute lymphocytic leukaemia. I. Early phase before and after first remission.

Seventeen children of 2-15 years of age with newly diagnosed untreated acute lymphatic leukaemia (ALL) were evaluated with a number of immunological tests: for humoral immunity serum immunoglobulins and reactive antibody formation against three antigens (diphtheria, tetanus, KLH); for cell-mediated immunity in vitro response of blood lymphocytes against PHA; membrane characteristics of blood lymphocytes and lymphoid blasts for both B and T cells. The tests were repeated in thirteen patients who attained full remission. In the majority (twelve cases) no surface markers were detected (null-cell leukaemia), one patient fulfilled the criteria for a T-cell leukaemia with thymoma. Four patients had rather high absolute B-cell counts, but did not fulfill all the criteria for B-cell leukaemia; three of them died before remission. Immune globulin concentrations were only slightly changed, antibody formation, both primary and anamnestic, was possible. PHA response was extremely low in the initial phase, but normal immediately after remission. During remission all patients were markedly depleted in both their B- and T-cell compartment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Studies on the immune status of children with acute lymphocytic leukaemia. II. In remission with and without cytostatic treatment.

In eleven children with acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL), cytostatic treatment was stopped after sustained remission lasting for 9 months--6 1/2 years. Their immunological status was monitored every 6--12 weeks during the first year after cessation of therapy. Rebound of depressed parameters was observed for absolute lymphocyte, B-cell and T-cell counts and for immunoglobulins. A simple follow-up scheme for such patients is proposed.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1976

An inherited defect in granulocyte function: impaired chemotaxis, phagocytosis and intracellular killing of microorganisms.

The neutrophil granulocytes of a 1-year-old boy with severe recurrent infections were found to have almost no chemotactic responsiveness, impaired phagocytosis and reduced intracellular killing of Candida albicans "in vitro". During the course of a febrile illness of unknown etiology which was accompanied by a leukemoid reaction, phagocytic activity became normal; the chemotactic response was also increased but still remained slightly subnormal. Family studies suggested that the defect was an inherited autosomal recessive one.

Chemotaxis↗
PubMed1975

[Childhood leukemias].

Acute leukemias of childhood differ considerably from the adult type with regard to clinical and laboratory findings as well as prognosis (Tables 1-3). Therapeutic progress (Table 4) within the last two decades has resulted not only in remarkable palliation, but increasingly also in true cure. However, this development appears to be far from complete, and to think in terms of a definitive scheme of treatment is therefore misleading and dangerous. On the contrary, work in cooperative study groups aiming at further therapeutic improvement must continue. All children with leukemia in Switzerland may benefit from the advances offered by such studies if they are initially admitted to one of our centers of pediatric oncology. Further control and follow-up, however, can continue to be carried out on a decentralized basis by practicing pediatricians and hematologists.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Normal values of immunoglobulins in premature and in full-term infants, calculated as percentiles.

Immunoglobulin values were determined in carefully selected healthy, normal children of different gestational and chronological ages. Criteria for "normality" were eutrophy (length, weight, head circumference) and absence of obvious malformation, infection or other disease. Immunoglobulin concentrations were measured in radial immunodiffusion, calibrated by a standard serum according to WHO recommendations. Since the distribution patterm of the individual values was found to be asymmetric in certain age groups, percentiles were calculated. They represent a physiologically more meaningful pattern than the arithmetic mean with standard deviation. Especially at the critical chronological age around 3 months the low values are closer together and the high values wider spaced than is the case with the standard deviations. In premature infants the transplacentally acquired IgG supplement is reduced in inverse relation to the duration of gestation. However, the IgG levels of all prematures equal those of term babies at the chronological age of 14 weeks. IgM can, in contrast, be adequately synthesized by all age groups within the first week of life.

Age Factors↗