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Biomedical subjects

A I Pick

Publications and source records attributed to A I Pick.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Complete amino acid sequence determinations demonstrate identity of the urinary Bence Jones protein (BJP-DIA) and the amyloid fibril protein (AL-DIA) in a case of AL-amyloidosis.

The complete primary structures of both the main amyloid fibril protein component (AL-DIA) and the soluble Bence Jones protein (BJP-DIA) obtained from the same patient with AL-amyloidosis are reported for the first time. The amino acid sequences were determined by automated Edman degradation following proteolytic digestion of the isolated proteins and HPLC separation of the resulting fragments and by amino-terminal sequencing after treatment with pyroglutamate aminopeptidase. Sequencing data were confirmed by amino acid analysis and plasma desorption mass spectrometry (PDMS). Molecular weights of the complete proteins were determined by laser desorption mass spectrometry. The amyloid fibril preparation contained a complete monoclonal lambda immunoglobulin light chain (subgroup 1.2) as well as different-sized fragments thereof which were identified by immunoblotting and amino-terminal sequencing following immobilization of electrophoretically-separated proteins on poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) membranes. The soluble urinary Bence Jones protein (BJP-DIA) was a dimer of monoclonal L-chains with a primary structure identical to that of the amyloid L-chain (AL-DIA) and thus represented the amyloid precursor protein.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Immediate adverse reactions to immunotherapy in allergy.

We report our experience of adverse reactions to immunotherapy (IT) in patients with insect venom allergy and inhalant respiratory allergy. Adverse reactions included large local reactions, generalized cutaneous reactions or systemic reactions. Among 87 patients treated for venom allergy, 43% had adverse reactions during the course of IT, averaging 2.5 reactions per patient and per course of IT. Nine had systemic reactions, of which 7 required adrenaline administration. Among 52 patients treated with inhalant allergen extracts, 40% had adverse reactions averaging 3 reactions per patient per course of treatment. Ten patients had systemic reactions but only 2 required adrenaline administration. There was no difference between the rate of adverse reactions in the venom and the inhalant treatment groups. IT has an inherent risk which has to be weighed against its benefits.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Olive pollen induces asthmatic response.

We provide evidence that olive pollen extract can induce asthmatic response. The pattern of airway response to olive pollen is investigated. Nineteen patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma, suspected to be due to olive pollen, all of whom had positive skin-prick test, were investigated. Bronchial challenge with olive pollen extract were performed and the peak flow rate was followed for 20 hr. Eight patients developed dual asthmatic response (DAR), six patients developed early asthmatic response (EAR) and five patients had no asthmatic response. The early maximal fall in FEV1 and the PD15 were not different between the group with DAR and the group with EAR only. We conclude that olive pollen can induce dual asthmatic response.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Prognostic factors in multiple myeloma].

There have been major advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma in the past 20 years, but for the individual patient the prognosis still remains uncertain. As the length of survival varies from several months to over 10 years, definition of prognostic parameters at the time of diagnosis, and early detection of disease activity are most important. In our study, median survival was 42 months with very good quality of life. Factors not helpful in prognosis were sex, WBC and platelet counts, BUN, serum M protein type, extent of osteolytic lesions, percentage of plasma cells in bone marrow and plasma cell asynchrony. However, age, hemoglobin, calcium, uric acid, Bence-Jones proteinuria and polyclonal Ig concentrations had a certain degree of prognostic importance. Due to more sensitive and more specific laboratory methods, peripheral blood findings are lately gaining in importance. With new "salvage" protocols, the detection of additional prognostic parameters and sensitive indicators of disease activity may be most important for further improvement in the survival of patients with multiple myeloma.

Bence Jones Protein↗
PubMed1990

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 potentiates the decreased response of lymphocytes from atopic subjects to agents that increase intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate.

The inhibitory effect of prostaglandin E2, histamine, isobutylmethylxanthine, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-[OH]2D3) on the mitogenic stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal and atopic subjects was studied. We found that lymphocytes from atopic patients were less susceptible to inhibition by the three agents that elevate intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentrations and by the active metabolite of vitamin D (inhibition of 27%, 14%, 12%, and 36% for the atopic patients as compared with 40%, 20%, 22%, and 46% for the normal donors, by the four agents, respectively; p less than 0.02). The inhibitory effect of the cAMP-elevating agents was potentiated by the addition of 1,25-(OH)2D3 to the lymphocyte cultures. The potentiation was more pronounced on lymphocytes from the atopic donors, increasing their responsiveness to levels comparable to levels of lymphocytes from normal donors. The synthetic corticosteroid, dexamethasone, had a similar potentiating effect on the inhibitory action of prostaglandin E2. In view of the beneficial action of beta-agonists, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and corticosteroids in the treatment of allergy, the potentiating effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on the action of cAMP-elevating agents may be of therapeutic interest.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1989

Corneal subepithelial monoclonal kappa IgG deposits in essential cryoglobulinaemia.

A 60-year-old man suffering from photophobia and visual disturbances was found to have bilateral superficial corneal grey-white gelatinous deposits. An abnormal cold-precipitable serum component was found and characterised as homogeneous IgG-kappa immunoglobulin. Corneal immunohistochemical examination revealed subepithelial IgG-kappa deposits, focally replacing Bowman's layer. The patient underwent superficial keratectomy in both eyes with satisfactory visual results.

Cornea↗
PubMed1988

Immunological response to immunotherapy for immediate hypersensitivity: clinical relevance.

Immunotherapy, also called desensitization, is effective in treating allergic rhinitis, insect sting venom hypersensitivity and probably allergic asthma. Administration of gradually increasing doses of the sensitizing antigen induces several immunological changes. The humoral responses include an increase in specific IgG titer, a decrease in specific IgE titer with blunting of its seasonal rise, and an increase in the specific anti-idiotype antibody titer. Cellular changes include diminished responsiveness of the patient's lymphocytes to stimulation by allergen as measured by thymidine incorporation. This is accounted for by the generation of suppressor cells specific for the allergen. These suppressor cells also induce suppression of IgE production by mononuclear cells. An additional effect that is attributed to IT is a decrease in basophil sensitivity to the allergen as measured by histamine release. The clinical correlates of these changes are not clear. Currently, none of the responses can be used as a tool for assessing the response in the treated individual patient. Although the increase in specific IgG was shown to correlate with the clinical response in patient groups, it is not applicable to the individual patient. Currently the best parameter for assessing clinical response is probably the increase in the ratio between the specific IgG and the specific IgE. However further studies are warranted to evaluate the significance of the change in anti-idiotype antibodies, basophil histamine release and perhaps immunological changes yet to be discovered.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Immunologic studies in Darier's disease.

Humoral and cellular immunity were evaluated in 10 patients with Darier's disease. The mean levels of serum immunoglobulins, serum complement, peripheral macrophages, and peripheral B and T lymphocytes were within normal limits. Secretory IgA was present in all patients studied. Skin tests for delayed hypersensitivity revealed complete anergy in one of the eight patients tested. Lymphocyte transformation tests revealed statistically significant enhanced responsiveness to both PHA and ConA mitogens in several concentrations studied. These findings may suggest either the existence of alterations in immunoregulation of lymphocyte subpopulations in Darier's disease or may be limited to alterations in membrane functions of certain lymphocyte subpopulations which can be detected only in vitro. The role that such immunologic aberrations may play in the pathogenesis of Darier's disease is still obscure.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Anti-platelet and anti-DNA IgM in Waldenström macroglobulinemia and ITP.

We describe a monoclonal IgM that was purified from the serum of a patient with Waldenström macroglobulinemia and thrombocytopenia. The binding and idiotypic characteristics of the patient's macroglobulin were similar to those of a human monoclonal IgM secreted by a hybridoma established from peripheral blood lymphocytes of a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and immune thrombocytopenia. In the absence of other causes for thrombocytopenia in this patient, our results suggest an autoimmune mechanism for destruction of platelets by the monoclonal IgM. This is the first report of a Waldenström macroglobulinemia with anti-platelet activity of monoclonal IgM. Although the study involves a single patient, the results suggest that there may be a common origin for autoantibodies in autoimmune diseases and monoclonal immunoglobulins having autoantibody activity in monoclonal gammopathies.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Detection of anti-histone activity in sera of patients with monoclonal gammopathies.

Sera from 249 patients with monoclonal gammopathies (85 multiple myeloma, 92 benign monoclonal gammopathies, 53 cryoglobulinemia, 19 Waldenström's macroglobulinemia) were examined for the presence of anti-histone activity. Thirty-four sera were found positive. In 12 of these cases the serum monoclonal immunoglobulins were purified and in all, the anti-histone activity appeared to reside in the monoclonal component. None of the patients had symptomatology of lupus despite high titers of anti-histone activity. This study demonstrates an anti-histone activity of monoclonal components of patients with monoclonal gammopathies.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMed1987

Serum immunoglobulin levels in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and patients with Klebsiella infection.

Serum immunoglobulins levels were determined in 42 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis as a prototype of chronic infection and 41 patients with Klebsiella infection representing acute infection, using a radial immunodiffusion technique. The mean serum concentration of IgG, IgA and IgM of the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (1980 +/- 688, 314 +/- 152 and 222 +/- 123 mg/dl, respectively) were found to be significantly higher than normal control levels (P less than 0.005). The mean serum IgG, IgA and IgM concentration of the patients with Klebsiella infection (1102 +/- 340, 287 +/- 133 and 168 +/- 105 mg/dl, respectively), were also higher than normal levels but only IgM level differed significantly from the normal control levels (P less than 0.05). The difference in serum IgG and IgM between the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and Klebsiella infection was statistically significant (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.05, respectively). These findings reflect the polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia found in chronic infections, on the one hand, and the rise of IgM of the primary immune response in acute infection, on the other.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Immunologic alterations in MRL/lpr mice after chronic dimethyl sulfoxide administration.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in 1 and 2% concentration was added to the drinking water of 30-100 day MRL/lpr mice. In comparison to control mice, the DMSO treated mice had a 78% increase in their response to exogenous IL-2 and a 64% increase in production of IL-2. Con A stimulated cells had a net help effect in the untreated mice, which was suppressed from 82-26% after DMSO treatment. There was no marked change in Thy 1.2, Lyt 1 and Lyt 2 percentages after treatment. The anti-DNA decreased from 29.0 +/- 17.0% to 13.2 +/- 7.8% after DMSO treatment. We conclude that chronic DMSO administration to MRL/lpr mice can induce immunologic alterations with possible clinical implications.

Animals↗