PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Monitoring, Immunologic”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Effect of mycophenolate mofetil regimen on peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is growing evidence of the effects of immunosuppressive agents on "immune targets" in renal transplantation. Immunological monitoring could indirectly measure the suppressive effect of these drugs and guide early preventive interventions in transplant recipients. Due to the selective antiproliferative effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on lymphocytes, our goal was to determine whether MMF modulates peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets (PBLS) in kidney allograft patients. METHODS: We assessed absolute CD3(+), CD3(+)CD4(+), CD3(+)CD8(+), CD19(+), CD16(+)CD3(-) PBLS counts and CD4/CD8 ratios for 12 months in three groups of kidney allograft patients stratified according to maintenance immunosuppressive regimen: group A (n = 31), which started MMF with prednisone (P) + cyclosporine A (CyA), and two control groups, B (n = 19) and C (n = 15) on P + CyA + azathioprine (Aza) and P + CyA regimens, respectively. We compared intra- and intergroup lymphocyte counts and ratios. RESULTS: Intergroup comparisons showed a significant reduction in all PBLS in group A (CD19(+) from 3 months and other subsets from 6 months), whereas there were no significant changes in PBLS in the other group analyses or comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that (1) MMF modulates all PBLS in kidney allograft patients, causing a progressive reduction occurring earlier in CD19(+), and (2) we can rule out that these changes were caused by the "natural immunological evolution" of the transplantation. These results could offer a new method for immunological monitoring of transplant patients.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Immunologic prognostication of development of recurrences in patients with acute myeloid leukemia].

Morphological study of the bone marrow and blood, cytochemical examination with evaluation of lysosomal enzymes activity, concentrations of glycogen and acid sulfated mucopolysaccharides, and immunophenotyping were conducted to develop immunomorphological criteria early detecting leukemic clone in patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) in remission based on dynamic immunological monitoring of peripheral blood lymphocytes for recurrence prognostication. Immunological monitoring of lymphoid population of ANLL patients' peripheral blood allowed to predict recurrence in remission, several months before its morphological identification in all the patients. This was accomplished by a significant increase in the levels of (M + 3 sigma) lymphocytes with antigens of early differentiation stages atypical for mature lymphocytes. Practical value of the method is not only in providing immunophenotypical appearance of the blast cells in various ANLL variants, but also in the control by the detected antigens over the residual leukemic population during treatment, and in prediction of the disease recurrence by reversion in the spectrum of differential antigens on the lymphocytes in remission. The latter indicates the increase of the leukemic clone and may be recognized several months before evident clinicomorphological signs of the aggravation.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Caenorhabditis elegans as a biomonitor for immunological stress in nematodes.

An experimental system has been developed using Caenorhabditis elegans (Secernentea: Rhabditida), to monitor immunological stress in nematodes. The transgenic C. elegans strain PC72 carries a lacZ reporter gene fused to a C. elegans hsp16-1 gene, which is inducible for beta-galactosidase activity at the heat stress temperature of 26 degrees C. The investigate the possibility of using PC72 to monitor immunological stress, its surface coat was targeted, to mimic immune attack, by raising immune sera against surface coat components selectively removed by the cationic detergent cetyltrimethylammoniunm bromide. Initially, a highly significant induction of beta-galactosidase activity was seen in PC72 incubated in either surface-reactive or naïve rabbit serum. Complement (C3) was detected over the entire surface of adult PC72 and was thought to be responsible for stress-induction with naïve sera. When the immunoglobulin (Ig)G fraction of naïve sera was used in isolation, no stress-induction was seen. In contrast, a two-fold increase in beta-galactosidase activity was seen in the presence of surface-reactive IgG (SR-IgG) which recognised surface components of between 6 and 40 kDa in western blot. The belief that surface reactive IgG could induce a stress response was reinforced by analysis of hsp-16 protein expression. Cationised ferritin was then used to assess whether stress-induction was truly a surface reactive event; binding of cationised ferritin to the nematode surface also resulted in two-fold induction of beta-galactosidase activity. To investigate the downstream biological effects of stress induction, worm growth and fecundity were measured in the presence of IgG preparations. A significant reduction was seen in both worm length and fecundity only when larvae were incubated in surface-reactive IgG, compared to both naïve IgG and K-medium controls. In conclusion, it would appear that C. elegans is a suitable model to monitor the induction of immunological stress at the level of the nematode surface coat. Given the ability of nematode surface antigens to protect the vaccinated host in animal model systems, and the close phylogenetic relationships which exist between C. elegans and nematodes of medical and veterinary importance, it is conceivable that the immunological targets in or on the surface of C. elegans warrant rapid identification.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

CD4 surveillance in Scotland: perspectives on severe HIV-related immunodeficiency. CD4 Collaborative Group.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse factors that influence the following: the square root of first CD4 cell count; which individuals are severely immunodeficient at or before the start of monitoring; progression from the date of the earlier of two consecutive CD4 counts < or = 200 x 10(6)/l (termed as CD200) to AIDS. SETTING: Scotland's HIV Immunology Laboratories and the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health. PATIENTS: A total of 1679 adult HIV patients in Scotland to 31 December 1994 who had ever had a CD4 cell count < or = 500 x 10(6)/l or who had developed AIDS without any immunological monitoring, of whom 912 had developed severe HIV-related immunodeficiency (i.e., were CD200/AIDS cases). RESULTS: Square-root first CD4 count was higher in women (by 2.1; SE, 0.5), in injecting drug users (IDU; by 1.8; SE, 0.5) and in younger patients (by 1.5 per 10 years; SE, 0.2), but reduced by 1.5 (SE, 0.1) per calendar year of recruitment, although it was relatively higher (by 3.8; SE, 0.8) for Edinburgh patients recruited in 1993-1994: at least 30% (nine out of 28) of new Edinburgh City Hospital patients in 1993-1994 with a first CD4 count of > or = 500 x 10(6)/l had seroconverted within the past 5 years. Two-thirds of non-IDU (67%; 348 out of 517) were already severely immunodeficient at or before the start of immunological monitoring, in contrast with only 31% of IDU CD200/AIDS cases. Overall, the odds on the CD200 date also being the date of first CD4 count have increased in recent times [log(e)(odds per calendar year of CD200 diagnosis), 0.14; SE, 0.05]. Analysis excluding patients whose AIDS diagnosis or follow-up time was within 1 month of the CD200/AIDS date supported a modest prolongation of the CD200/AIDS to AIDS interval for patients diagnosed with severe HIV-related immunodeficiency in the period 1989-1991 (log(e)[relative risk (RR)], -0.46; SE, 0.22). Similarly, year effects were evident on progression from CD500 to CD200/AIDS [log(e)(RR), -0.55; SE, 0.17) for CD500 cases diagnosed in 1989, and these year effects doubled in 1990-1992. CONCLUSIONS: Minimal CD4 data were hypothesis-generating about region, risk group and calendar year. Lower bound for recent HIV incidence can be derived from new patients with first CD4 cell count above 500 x 10(6)/l if seroconversion intervals are available for a proportion.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

CD8+,CD38+ lymphocyte percent: a useful immunological marker for monitoring HIV-1-infected patients.

We investigated the relationship between three prognostic markers, CD4 lymphocyte count, serum beta2-microglobulin (beta2M) levels, and CD8+,CD38+ lymphocyte percent, and the association with the rate of development of AIDS. The markers were measured regularly throughout follow-up in 224 patients. The risk of developing AIDS during follow-up was investigated using Cox proportional hazards models. Time-updated values of the prognostic markers were used, which modelled the risk of AIDS according to the latest measurement of the marker rather than using a single value of the marker at baseline. During a median follow-up period of 13.6 months (range 0.5-31.9 months), 34 cases of AIDS occurred. In a univariate analysis, all three markers predicted the development of AIDS; a 10% increase in the percentage of CD8+ T cells expressing CD38+ resulted in an 88% increase in the risk of AIDS (95% confidence interval: 53-130%; p < 0.0001). After adjustment for the current CD4 count and beta2M, a 10% increase in the CD8+,CD38+ population was associated with a 37% increase in the risk of AIDS (95% confidence interval: 4-81%; p = 0.02). Thus, the percentage CD8+,CD38+ level predicts the development of AIDS independently of the latest CD4 count and beta2M. This assay is therefore potentially useful in conjunction with blood CD4 counts and serum beta2M levels in patient management and clinical trial design.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗
PubMed1989

TdT+/nonlymphoid antigen+ acute leukemias: immunologic and karyotypic monitoring during therapy and at relapse suggests the transformation of a bipotential stem cell.

Immunophenotype and karyotype were monitored in 19 adult acute leukemia patients with blast cell populations expressing terminal transferase (TdT) and nonlymphoid antigens either at presentation or at relapse. Three patterns of immunophenotypic course were observed when following the patients through at least one, sometimes two (six patients), or three relapses (one patient). Induction chemotherapy induced predominantly TdT+ leukemias with a minor monoblastic component to become TdT-negative, purely monoblastic without clinical response or change in karyotype in five patients (group 1). In group 2, relapse was associated with the disappearance (four patients) or the appearance of TdT+/nonlymphoid antigen+ features (four patients). In two instances, new nonrandom cytogenetic abnormalities, in one case, evolution of an initial abnormal cytogenetic clone, were found at relapse. Six patients (group 3) presented and relapsed with identical TdT+ myeloblastic, promyeloblastic, monoblastic immunophenotype and karyotype. In general, FAB classification did not reflect expression of TdT in nonlymphocytic leukemias or the presence of nonlymphoid blast features in lymphocytic leukemias. Lymphoid-specific antigens in addition to TdT were not detected in any of the cases at the time of nonlymphoid antigen expression. In 11 of the 19 patients, simultaneous expression of TdT and myeloid or monocytic antigens could be demonstrated at the single cell level using double-fluorescence staining. These follow-up data are best consistent with a drug-induced maturation drive of a TdT+/monocytic (majority of cases) or TdT+/myelocytic leukemic stem cell with its differentiation commitment being influenced by chemotherapy or by other as yet undefined conditions predisposing to proliferation of the leukemic cell at relapse.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

[The role of immunology in monitoring the effects of environmental pollution].

The paper gives a neat summary of experience acquired from two decades of immunological testing methods used for studying the effect of environmental contamination of the human organism. Immunological examination is part of a series of methods for a systematic follow-up of the state of health of the population. The paper underlines the complicated process leading to the resulting individual immune reactivity, which can be regarded as an outcome of multilateral interaction between the immune genetically conditioned potential and external environmental influences.

Environmental Health↗
PubMed1992

Morbidity study of extruder personnel with potential exposure to brominated dioxins and furans. I. Results of blood monitoring and immunological tests.

The potential for exposure of employees to polybrominated dibenzofurans (PBDFs) and dibenzo-p-dioxins (PBDDs) during extrusion blending of resins containing decabromodiphenyl ether was established through previous air monitoring (area samples) and biomonitoring studies. The findings presented herein are further biomonitoring results for 42 employees and immunological tests for exposed and referent employees. Among potentially exposed men, 2,3,7,8-TBDF and 2,3,7,8-TBDD concentrations in blood lipid ranged from non-detectable to 112 parts per trillion (ppt) and from non-detectable to 478 ppt respectively. Biomonitoring results correlated well with assignments in the extruder work area when adjusted for process changes and engineering improvements and provided biological half life estimates of between 1.1 and 1.9 years for 2,3,7,8-TBDF and between 2.9 and 10.8 years for 2,3,7,8-TBDD. Results for 16 measures of the immune system were examined in relation to exposure (exposed v referent group) and in relation to the biomonitoring data. Some individual trends in immunological parameters with exposure and covariates such as age and cigarette smoking were found (for example, an increase in complement C4 with increasing concentrations of PBDFs and PBDDs, increased lymphocyte subpopulation counts with cigarette smoking); however, the overall clinical assessment was that the immune system of exposed employees was not adversely impacted at these burdens of PBDFs and PBDDs.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

High resolution radiographic and fine immunologic definition of TB disease progression in the rhesus macaque.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in non-human primates parallels human tuberculosis, and provides a valuable vaccine evaluation model. However, this model is limited by the availability of real-time, non-invasive information regarding disease progression. Consequently, we have combined computed tomography scanning with enumeration of antigen-specific T cell responses. Four rhesus monkeys were infected with M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv (1000 cfu) in the right lower lobe via a bronchoscope. All uniformly developed progressive tuberculosis, and required euthanasia at 12 weeks. Computed tomography scanning provided detailed real-time imaging of disease progression. At necropsy, computed tomography and pathohistologic findings were tightly correlated, and characteristic of human disease. Immunologic monitoring demonstrated progressive evolution of high frequency M. tuberculosis-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses. Peripheral blood effector cell frequencies were similar to those observed in tissues. In summary, computed tomography scanning in conjunction with immunologic monitoring provides a non-invasive, accurate, and rapid assessment of tuberculosis in the non-human primate.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

[The selection and surveillance of cadaver kidney recipients. Recent development in graft immunology (author's transl)].

This study, based on results of 252 cadaver kidney transplantations, shows that some factors which reflect individual immune response capacity, such as ability to produce anti-HLA antibodies, sex and response to hepatitis B virus, appear, along with HLA compatibility, to markedly influence renal graft survival and leads us to propose the following new guide-line for cadaver kidney recipient selection: For "good responders" (i.e., patients with anti-HLA antibodies, females and HBs Ag negative individuals) a close HLA compatibility with the donor (3 or 4 antigens in common) is necessary, while this need not be observed for "non-responders" (i.e., patients without preformed anti-HLA antibodies, males and HBs Ag persistent carriers). Furthermore, review of recent methods proposed for detecting early cellular and humoral manifestations of rejection leads to proposal of the following immunological monitoring of the transplant recipient. Systematic and frequent testing for circulating cytotoxic cells and antibodies against donor antigens, regular dosage of complement factors and of the nephretic factor, and investigations for the migration leukocyte inhibiting factor and macrophage arming factor, possibly produced in vitro by lymphocytes. Both these protocols for recipient selection and immunological monitoring can henceforth be applied and may contribute to improve cadaver kidney transplantation prognosis.

Cadaver↗
PubMed1987

Monitoring of immunological parameters before and after heart transplantation.

At the immunological examinations carried out prior to heart transplantation, it is crucial to check the compatibility in the ABO blood group system (regardless of the Rh factor) and to perform the cross match (which must be negative). In time pressure, cross match can be omitted provided the patient does not possess cytotoxic antibodies against a representative panel of lymphocytes. Other immunological tests before transplantation are of an auxiliary nature and should provide information whether the patient is a low or high responder, whether he does not suffer from an autoimmune disease or latent viral infection. In 37 out of 44 potential cardiac graft recipients, a strongly suppressed cell-mediated immune response was observed already in the pre-transplantation period. In the post-transplantation period, patients treated with corticoids and Cyclosporin A display a marked prolonged decrease in the absolute values of T4 positive lymphocytes. The absolute values of T3 and T4 lymphocytes represent a reliable parameter to assess the degree of achieved immunosuppression. Long-term monitoring did not reveal a significant association between the values of the T4/T8 index and the rejection episodes.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1982

Effects of histocompatibility testing versus immunoreactive predisposition on kidney transplant survival.

From January 1979 to August 1981, 76 primary renal transplants were performed at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital. Fifty-five of these were from living, related (LR) donors and 21 were from cadaver (CAD) donors. Histocompatibility typing for HLA-A, -B, and -DR antigens and of mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) were performed. In LR patients the ability to generate donor-specific and nonspecific suppressor cells in vitro was tested preoperatively. Serial posttransplant immunologic monitoring was used in all patients by determining total T-cell numbers (E rosette-forming cells) as well as helper and suppressor T-cell subsets by use of monoclonal antibodies. Overall patient and graft survival was 90% and 87%, respectively. In this study MLC reactivity did not correlate with DR typing in CAD recipients, most of whom had marked reaction despite one or two DR antigen matches. Graft survival was also independent of MLC reactivity in both LR and CAD patients. The ability of LR recipients to generate donor-specific suppressor cells in vitro before transplantation did correlate significantly with absence of rejection episodes. Immunologic monitoring with T-cell subsets had prognostic significance for the detection of patients with excessive immunosuppression and high risk for development of infection (P less than 0.001). Thus, the responder status of many transplant recipients seemed as important as the current assessment of histocompatibility in influencing graft survival.

Antibodies↗
PubMed2004

Component-resolved diagnosis of house-dust mite allergy with purified natural and recombinant mite allergens.

BACKGROUND: Mites belong to the most frequent and potent allergen sources. Immunotherapy with mite allergen extracts is frequently performed if allergen avoidance is not possible or successful. However, highly controversial results have been reported for mite-specific immunotherapy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop diagnostic concepts that may contribute to an improved selection of patients for immunotherapy with Der p allergen extracts and that may be used for immunological monitoring of patients undergoing this treatment. METHODS: The IgE reactivity profiles to Der p extract were determined in a Middle European mite-allergic population by IgE immunoblotting and by using a panel of seven purified natural or recombinant Der p allergens (nDer p 1, nDer p 4, rDer p 2, rDer p 5, rDer p 7, rDer p 8, rDer p 10). Furthermore, we investigated the sensitization and cross-reactivity to house-dust- and storage-mite allergen extracts by CAP FEIA measurements and by IgE competition studies. RESULTS: More than 95% of the patients could be diagnosed with a combination of nDer p 1 and rDer p 2. With the methods used, we could discriminate mite-allergic patients who were mainly sensitized to the major Der p allergens (Der p 1, Der p 2) from patients with a broad sensitization profile, including highly cross-reactive allergens (e.g. Der p 10: tropomyosin) as well as reactivity to storage mites. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic tests containing the major mite allergens (i.e. Der p 1, Der p 2) and highly cross-reactive mite allergens (e.g. Der p 10) may improve the diagnostic selection of patients for immunotherapy with Der p extracts. These tests may also be used for the immunological monitoring of patients undergoing immunotherapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Genotypic resistance and the treatment of HIV-1 infection in Espírito Santo, Brazil.

Before December 1997, in Espírito Santo, Brazil, combination antiretroviral therapy was used without routine virologic or immunologic monitoring. To examine consequences of therapy in this setting, clinical information, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA levels, CD4 cell counts, and protease and reverse transcriptase sequences were determined for consecutive HIV-1-infected outpatients. Of 48 treatment-naive individuals, 11 were started on therapy for HIV-related symptoms; however, 44 (92%) had an RNA level >20,000 copies/mL, a CD4 cell count <500/mm3, or symptoms. Eighteen (51%) of 35 patients on therapy had an RNA level >20,000 copies/mL. Nucleoside-resistance mutations were observed in 21 (68%) of 31 nucleoside-experienced subjects. Protease mutations necessary for high-level protease inhibitor (PI) resistance were present together with permissive mutations in 3 of 10 PI-experienced patients. Inability to identify high-risk individuals and to detect virologic failure may limit the effectiveness of antiretroviral drug programs and may promote the spread of drug resistance where virologic and immunologic monitoring are not available.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Removal of therapeutic anti-lymphocyte antibodies from human sera prior to anti-human leukocyte antibody testing.

Both monoclonal (e.g. Orthoclone (OKT3), rituximab) and polyclonal (e.g. ATGAM, Thymoglobulin (Thymo)) anti-lymphocyte Abs (ALAs) are used extensively in organ transplantation for immunosuppression induction, desensitization, and treatment of acute rejection. ALAs often interfere with post transplant immunologic monitoring. We describe a method that uses magnetic beads to selectively remove ALAs from patient serum. Rabbit anti-mouse Fc-specific (180 mug), or rabbit anti-mouse Fab-specific (180 microg), or rabbit anti-horse heavy and light chain-specific and rabbit anti-horse F(ab')2 (200 microg) (Jackson Immunoresearch) was adsorbed to 6.7 x 10(8) Dynabeads M-280 conjugated with sheep anti-rabbit IgG (Dynal Biotech). Fifty microliters of normal human serum (NHS) with 2 microg/ml of OKT3 or 100 microg/ml ATGAM, Thymo, or rituximab were incubated with conjugated beads for several incubations. NHS containing ALAs before and after treatment by the protocol were incubated with human lymphocytes and labeled with FITC-antibody to immunoglobulin of the species used to produce the particular ALA. Residual ALA was determined using flow cytometry. Average median channel for serum with or without ALA was 11.1 and 0.120, respectively for OKT3; 64.4 and 0.344 for ATGAM; 108.5 and 0.200 for Thymo; and 1022.5 and 11.4 for rituximab. Treatment lowered the median channel for serum with OKT3 to 0.103, 0.309 for ATGAM, 0.199 for Thymo, and 12.1 for rituximab. ALAs can be effectively removed from serum by the use of magnetic beads conjugated with Ab specific for ALA thereby permitting immunologic monitoring without interference.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Monitoring of immunologic status of patients receiving BCG therapy for malignant disease.

BCG immunotherapy in a standard regime was administered by scarification to 26 selected patients with controlled malignant disease, 14 with lung cancer and 12 with melanoma. All were followed for 12 months after the first BCG administration or until death. During the first 3 months, when BCG was given weekly, immune reactivity as determined by skin tests and in vitro lymphocyte responses to phytohemagglutinin and recall antigens was enhanced in all patients except those in whom recurrence or extension of malignancy subsequently occurred. Patients who had received prior radiation therapy for lung cancer also did not manifest significant immunoenhancement. During the following 9 months when BCG was administered at increasing intervals, immune responses were maintained except in those patients who experienced recurrence of malignancy, and those who discontinued BCG therapy. The response to PHA was predictive of a favorable clinical course during the following 9 months, and was significantly impaired in advance of the clinical recurrence of malignancy. Tests of cell-mediated immunity, particularly the in vitro response to HA, are valuable in assessing the efficacy of BCG immunotherapy, prognosticating clinical progress, and predicting the recurrence of malignancy.

BCG Vaccine↗
PubMed2000

Anticonvulsant-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis: monitoring the immunologic response.

BACKGROUND: Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a severe reaction with skin involvement induced by different drugs and other agents. The mechanisms implicated in the induction of the reaction are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study the involvement of T lymphocytes and other immunocompetent cells in the peripheral blood, blister fluid, and affected skin of 3 patients who had a severe reaction after receiving anticonvulsant medication. METHODS: Quantification of T lymphocytes expressing the skin-homing receptor (cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen ¿CLA) in peripheral blood, skin, and skin blister fluid and assessment of other adhesion molecules, activation markers, and inflammatory interleukins by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcription-PCR. RESULTS: An increase in CD3(+)CLA(+) cells paralleling the severity of the disease was observed in both peripheral blood and skin, tending to normalize as soon as patient's conditions improved. E-selectin was detected in endothelial vessels in parallel with CLA expression on lymphocytes. An overexpression of TNFalpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-2 was also observed in PBMCs. The expression of the different markers changed over the course of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: These data show an increase in activated T cells expressing the skin-homing receptor in both tissue and peripheral blood accompanying clinical symptoms, with a recruitment of macrophages and an overexpression of cytokines. All these results suggest an important role for T cells in the production of toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Adult↗