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Biomedical subjects

A C Jones

Publications and source records attributed to A C Jones.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Is deficiency of interferon gamma production by allergen triggered cord blood cells a predictor of atopic eczema?

Peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferative responses and interferon-gamma production to anti-CD3, cat fur extract, betalactoglobulin and ovalbumin were determined at birth in a group of 34 babies born to families where at least one parent was atopic. The development of atopic eczema with positive allergy skin-prick tests to cows' milk and egg at 1 year of age, where the symptoms improved on an egg and milk-free diet, was significantly associated with raised proliferative responses and defective IFN-gamma production to stimulation with betalactoglobulin with a trend for similar responses to ovalbumin. This was not observed in those who did not develop atopic eczema or those with atopic eczema not associated with foods. Responses to cat fur extract were not significantly different between those with and without atopic eczema. This has important implications for the prediction at birth, not only of the probability of being allergic, but also of the specific allergens which will cause problems. The implementation of specific targeted allergen avoidance during the critical period in infancy, therefore, should be more easily applied and should facilitate attempts to prevent disease.

Allergens↗
PubMed1994

Altered T lymphocyte phenotype at birth in babies born to atopic parents.

Flow cytometry was used to analyse the cord blood T cells of 33 babies at high risk 'HR' for developing allergy (born to at least one atopic, asthmatic parent), and 10 low risk 'LR' babies (born to non-atopic parents), following normal term deliveries. Significantly lower numbers of CD25+, (activated) T cells (p < 0.005) were seen in the cord blood of the HR babies who had developed both allergic symptoms and positive skin prick tests by one year of age when compared with the LR group. CD45RO+ (memory) T cells were detected in both HR and LR babies with a trend for lower numbers of memory cells to be detected in HR infants who later developed allergic symptoms and/or positive skin prick tests. Significantly lower numbers of CD4+/CD45RO+ were seen in the cord blood of HR babies who developed allergic symptoms compared to HR babies who showed no sign of allergy by one year and to the LR babies (p < 0.05 and p < 0.005). The presence of activated and memory T cells at birth implies intra-uterine priming. The significantly lower numbers of memory T cells in the HR babies suggests a suppression of T cell activation or lack of antigenic priming in this group. This prenatal influence on babies born to atopic parents may have important implications with regard to the mechanisms underlying atopic sensitisation.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1994

Variations in serum soluble IL-2 receptor concentration.

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) concentrations were measured in the sera of 18 healthy adult volunteers, 40 healthy children aged 5 months -16 years 8 months and cord blood from 10 babies, using two commercially available ELISA kits (T-cell Sciences and Serotec). In the presence of normal C-reactive protein (CRP) children (aged 0-16 years 8 months) had significantly higher sIL-2R concentrations than adults aged (18-37 years). In children up to the age of 16 years there was a significant negative correlation between age and sIL-2R (r = -0.725 p < 0.0001 T-Cell Sciences, r = -0.646 p < 0.0001 Serotec). A comparison was also made between the two kits, which indicated that both kits yielded reproducible results but the T-Cell Sciences kit had a larger working concentration range than the Serotec kit. Following 12-h sampling in adult volunteers, a lower concentration of sIL-2R was observed at 4 am compared with 10 am (p = 0.0052) which indicates diurnal variation. These observations emphasize the importance of the study of normals as part of any research, and raises further questions regarding the many factors which influence immune function.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The Cytobrush Plus cell collector in oral cytology.

The Cytobrush Plus cell collector (cytobrush) was compared with the wooden tongue depressor during oral exfoliative cytology. The degree of patient discomfort, the convenience to the clinician, and the quantity and distribution of epithelial cells collected were evaluated. Two-factor analysis of variance and parametric and nonparametric analyses were performed. Because of the favorable findings revealed in this study, we recommend that the cytobrush be considered for use when obtaining diagnostic cytologic smears from the oral mucosa.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1993

Use of exfoliative cytology in the diagnosis of oral hairy leukoplakia.

The possibility of diagnosing oral hairy leukoplakia by means of exfoliative cytology and the Papanicolaou stain was investigated. Exfoliative cytology and punch biopsy specimens were obtained from 10 lesions that demonstrated clinical features of hairy leukoplakia. All biopsy specimens demonstrated the characteristic histopathologic features of hairy leukoplakia whereas all Papanicolaou-stained cytologic smears demonstrated condensation and margination of the nuclear chromatin (nuclear beading). All biopsy specimens and cytologic smears displayed positive Epstein-Barr virus deoxyribonucleic acid in situ hybridization. We conclude that routine exfoliative cytology may be a reliable, noninvasive, and inexpensive technique for the diagnosis of hairy leukoplakia.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Multiple idiopathic mandibular bone cysts in a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Although the most common oral manifestation of osteogenesis imperfecta is dentinogenesis imperfecta, several authors have described jaw fractures and radiolucent bone lesions associated with this disease. We report a case of a 23-year-old white woman with osteogenesis imperfecta and dentinogenesis imperfecta who developed multiple unilocular, bilateral, radiolucent lesions of the mandible 5 years after presenting with a condylar fracture. This is the first documentation by surgical and histopathologic examination that the radiolucent lesions in this particular case represent multiple idiopathic bone cysts.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Mucormycosis of the oral cavity.

Mucormycosis (phycomycosis, zygomycosis) is an acute opportunistic infection caused by a saprophytic fungus found in soil, bread molds, and decaying fruits and vegetables. Numerous predisposing risk factors are associated with mucormycosis, although most cases have been reported in poorly controlled diabetics or in patients with hematologic malignant conditions. This report presents two cases of oral mucormycosis. One case occurred in the maxilla in a patient with well-controlled diabetes. The other involved the mandible and overlying gingiva in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia. A review of the literature concerning oral mucormycosis is also presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Cytomegalovirus infections of the oral cavity. A report of six cases and review of the literature.

Cytomegalovirus is responsible for a significant percentage of asymptomatic viral infections worldwide. Although virtually any cell or organ may be infected, involvement of the oral cavity is uncommon. Only nine well-documented examples of intraoral cytomegalovirus infections were found in a review of the English-language literature. We report six additional examples, five of which possessed unique clinical and histopathologic characteristics. The light and electron-microscopic features of cytomegalovirus are discussed, as well as diagnostic adjuncts such as immunohistochemistry and deoxyribonucleic acid in situ hybridization.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Carcinoma of the scrotum associated with rubber urinals. Case report.

A paraplegic patient, who had worn a rubber urinal in close contact with the scrotum for over 40 years, developed carcinoma of the scrotum. It is likely that this is a previously unsuspected example of chemical carcinogenesis, and in view of this, we believe that the use of rubber urinals should be discontinued.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1993

Urine neopterin as a parameter of disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: comparisons with serum sIL-2R and antibodies to dsDNA, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and plasma C3, C4, and C3 degradation products.

OBJECTIVES--To investigate urine neopterin as a parameter of disease activity in an unselected group of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to study the relation between urine neopterin and certain patterns of organ disease and differing drug regimens in the treatment of SLE. METHODS--Neopterin was determined by high performance liquid chromatography in 115 early morning urine samples from 68 patients with SLE. Serum soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) and antibodies to double stranded DNA (dsDNA) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), plasma C3, C4, and C3 degradation products (C3dg) were measured in corresponding blood samples. Disease activity was scored using the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) index. RESULTS--Urine neopterin was significantly increased in patients with active and inactive SLE compared with the control group and was significantly higher in patients with active than in those with inactive SLE. Urine neopterin did not distinguish between subsets of patients with SLE with particular patterns of organ disease, as defined by the BILAG index, nor was its level primarily influenced by differing drug regimens. Levels of serum sIL-2R, antibodies to dsDNA, the ESR, and plasma C3, C4, and C3dg were also significantly different between the patients with active and inactive SLE. Unlike urine neopterin there was considerable overlap in the values of these parameters between the two activity groups. Highly significant correlations found between urine neopterin and serum sIL-2R, ESR, and plasma C3, C4, and C3dg suggest the close association of neopterin with clinical activity in SLE. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that urine neopterin > 300 mumol/mol creatinine was a highly significant predictor of disease activity with an odds ratio of 3.51. CONCLUSIONS--Determination of urine neopterin, a non-invasive, relatively simple and inexpensive measurement, appears to be the best parameter for assessing and monitoring disease activity and treatment in patients with SLE.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Radiographic assessment of patellofemoral osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the feasibility of assessing patellofemoral osteoarthritis using the 'skyline' view and to compare its reproducibility with the standard lateral view. METHODS: Fifty patients attending a rheumatology outpatient department with osteoarthritis of the knee had standard radiographs taken of both knees: standing weightbearing anteroposterior; lateral supine radiograph in 30 degrees of flexion; and a skyline view of the patellofemoral joint. After an initial training period using 20 sets of films the remaining 30 sets were read blind by five observers. Intraobserver and interobserver variability was assessed using the kappa statistic. The minimum joint space in each compartment was measured using a ruler. Two views of a single normal subject were measured to determine the effect of knee flexion. RESULTS: The final 30 study films were from 20 women and 10 men, median age 72.5, range 18-91 years. A grading system comprising assessment of osteophytosis, joint space narrowing, sclerosis, cysts, and attrition could easily be applied to the skyline patellofemoral view. Intraobserver reproducibility was better than the interobserver reproducibility for all features. The skyline view performed more reproducibly and over a wider range of categorisation for joint space narrowing than the lateral radiograph. Measurement using a ruler was easy to perform and precise to within 1 mm for the medial tibiofemoral and lateral facet of the patellofemoral joint. In normal knees the degree of flexion significantly affected the measurement. CONCLUSIONS: Radiographic grading of the skyline patellofemoral view is readily achieved, is more reproducible than assessment of the lateral view, and allows more precise localisation of change. Such views should be considered in radiological surveys of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Eosinophilic fasciitis with late onset arthritis responsive to sulfasalazine.

We describe a patient with eosinophilic fasciitis in whom there was a late onset of inflammatory polyarthritis. Response of the arthritis to sulfasalazine was demonstrated, both initially and after a flare of synovitis which followed dose reduction. Sulfasalazine may be of benefit in this rare condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Adjuvanted oral vaccines should not induce allergic responses to dietary antigens.

Oral vaccines may contain adjuvants which might elicit allergies against dietary proteins. Four antigens were used to measure such an effect--ovalbumin, soya bean protein, lactalbumin and gluten. Neither guinea pigs nor mice showed IgE responses after oral administration of adjuvanted vaccines containing lactalbumin and gluten. No IgE responses were detected in mice with any of these antigens after oral immunization, but, in the guinea pig, nine out of 18 animals reacted to either ovalbumin or soya bean protein and none reacted to lactalbumin and gluten. It is concluded that the risk of allergy induction against normal dietary proteins is low but such tests should be applied to potential adjuvanted oral vaccines to measure any possible contraindication, especially with atopic individuals.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

Increased levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors in the sera and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatic diseases.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, 2 classes of cytokine inhibitors have been defined at the molecular level. The largest group comprises the extracellular domains of cell surface cytokine receptors, and includes both tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNF-R). The present study was conducted to investigate the role of TNF inhibitors in arthritis. METHODS: We measured p55 and p75 soluble TNF-R (sTNF-R) in serum and synovial fluid (SF) samples from patients with rheumatic diseases and compared their levels with levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R). Sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), specific for p55 and p75 sTNF-R and for sIL-2R, were used. RESULTS: Serum levels of p75 sTNF-R were 3-4-fold higher than levels of p55 sTNF-R, and both were significantly elevated in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with healthy controls. RA SF levels of sTNF-R were 4-5-fold higher than levels in serum, suggesting local production in the joint, and were significantly higher than levels in the SF of patients with seronegative arthropathy or OA. Furthermore, levels of p55 and p75 sTNF-R, but not sIL-2R or TNF alpha measured by ELISA, were increased in the SF of patients with clinically active RA. The soluble TNF-R in RA and OA SF were functional since they inhibited TNF activity in a cytotoxicity assay in proportion to the levels of inhibitor present. Evaluation of serially obtained serum samples suggested that sTNF-R may be a useful parameter for monitoring RA disease activity. CONCLUSION: Biologically active soluble TNF-R are up-regulated in patients with rheumatic disease and are produced locally in the joints. Measurement of serum levels of TNF-R may be useful for monitoring of disease, and determination of SF levels could be of diagnostic value.

Adult↗