Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Kastelan.
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OBJECTIVES: Coeliac disease (CD) has one of the strongest class II HLA association of any human disease. The goal of this study was to establish the frequency of HLA-DR and DQ antigens, as well as common HLA-DR-DQ haplotypes among CD patients. No similar study has previously been done in Croatian patients. PATIENTS AND CONTROLS: There were 58 biopsy proven patients with CD. The control groups comprised 502 and 118 healthy person for HLA-DR and HLA-DQ typing, respectively. METHODS: The class II HLA-DR and DQ antigens typing were carried out by standard microcytotoxicity assay for B cells. Only antisera to three specificities (DQ1, 2 and 3) were available to us at the time of the study. RESULTS: We confirmed the high frequency of HLA-DR3 (84.48%; RR = 23.7; p < 0.00001) in our patients with CD. As reported in other populations, most of the patients negative for DR3, were heterozygous for DR7 and DR5 (10.34%) or DR4/DR5, DR4/DR6 (3.44%). CD was significantly correlated with the presence of HLA-DQ2 (96.55%, RR = 75.9; p < 0.00001). Correlation with CD was strongly dependent on homozygosity, 15 out of 58 (25.86%) of the patients and 4 (2.87%) of the controls being homozygotes for DQ2 (RR = 11.9; p < 0.00001). The remaining two patients were DR4-DQ3 positive. Among extended haplotypes only DR2-DQ1 was under-represented (RR = 0.3; p < 0.0033). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that in Croatia CD is primarily associated with HLA-DQ2 specificities on the DR3-DQ2 haplotype.
From 1973 to July 1990, 183 kidney transplantations were performed at the Transplantation Unit of the Department of Urology--Faculty of Medicine--University of Zagreb. Out of these, 57 were from the living related donors. The research included 50 (88%) living related donors (28 mothers, 12 fathers, 5 brothers and 5 sisters) followed up from 1 to 15 years after donor nephrectomy. The donors' health conditions were evaluated by clinical-laboratory examinations (biochemical tests, renal function tests, urinoculture, ultrasound, isotopic renal studies, arterial blood pressure). In 48 (96%) neither morphological nor functional changes of the urinary system were found. A certain number of donors requested a transfer to less physically strenuous jobs. Except for the grafts functioning well in the recipients, the results also showed that the quality of donors' lives remained unchanged.
In the evaluation of the immunological state of a kidney transplant there is no reliable diagnostic test. Therefore, several various tests should always be applied. The aim of this study was to define the type of immunological reaction (cellular or humoral) that causes the rejection of transplanted kidney. A group of 45 patients with a kidney transplant were tested 175 times, in various phases of the kidney transplant, starting on the day of transplantation up to several months posttransplant. Specific antibodies (SA) and specific cytotoxic lymphocytes (SCL) directed against donor cells in lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis tests in the presence of antibodies (ADLMC) or without them (LMC) were determined. LMC was significantly correlated with acute rejection (85%). In the phase of clinical quiscence of the kidney transplant LMC was positive in 4% of the cases. During the period of chronic rejection it was positive in 75% of the cases. ADLMC test is significantly correlated with chronic rejection (88%). In the period of acute rejection it was positive in 27% while in clinical quiscence in 11% of the cases. Twenty-two patients with non-immunological disorders of the kidney transplant were tested 62 times. LMC test was always negative, while ADLMC test was positive in 6.4% of the cases. These tests prove to be good parameters for defining immunological reaction. Thus, they can be of great importance in determining adequate immunosuppressive therapy. Negative results of tests in non-immunological disorders of graft function are highly significant.
The detection of heterozygotes among the family members of the patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OH) can be done by means of two methods: typing of HLA as the first and measuring of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) concentrations before and 60 or 360 minutes after ACTH stimulation as the second one. In general population, however, heterozygotes can be revealed only by means of the latter method. Nowadays, the shorter, 60-minute ACTH test predominates, because of being fast and simple test to perform. Thus, with the certain degree of reliability healthy homozygotes can be distinguished from heterozygotes for CAH due to 21-OH deficiency. This study presents the results obtained by measuring concentrations of 17-OHP before and 60 minutes after ACTH stimulation in 69 examinees ranged in four groups: patients with classic type of CAH due to 21-OH deficiency (7 examinees), heterozygotes revealed by means of HLA typing (parents, brothers and sisters of patients--29 examinees), healthy homozygotes proved by means of HLA typing (brothers and sisters of patients--5 examinees) and finally examinees chosen from general population of unknown genotype (28 examinees). The results obtained by measuring concentrations of 17-OHP before and 60 minutes after ACTH stimulation are presented in form of a nomogram and represent the referred data for our population. By using a computer programme and the estimation method it is estimated that 15% of heterozygotes could be by mistake declared as healthy homozygotes (false negative results) and 15% of healthy homozygotes, respectively (false positive results). It should be included in interpretation of the results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Prenatal diagnosis of the "classical" forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) which is a result of 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) deficiency either complete, with salt-wasting or incomplete without salt wasting, is performed in two ways: by measuring concentration of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and androstendione (delta 4) in amniotic fluid and by HLA typing of fetal cells from amniotic fluid. Having ones own normal values is the basic condition for the safe prenatal diagnosis of CAH 21-OH deficiency by measuring steroid concentration in amniotic fluid. Normal concentrations of 17-OHP in amniotic fluid achieved by amniocentesis in 85 pregnant women from 16-23 gestation week have been measured, as well as concentrations of delta 4 in 66 pregnant women in the same period of gestation. It has been proved that there are no differences between the concentrations of delta 4 in amniotic fluid regarding the sex. As far as 17-OHP is concerned, the same was confirmed earlier. The results of 9 prenatal diagnosis in 8 families, having already one child with "classical" form of CAH with salt-wasting, have been presented. It was achieved by combination of two methods: by measuring concentration of 17-OHP and delta 4 in amniotic fluid and HLA typing of fetal cells from amniotic fluid. In 8 fetuses at risk the birth of healthy children was correctly predicted, which was confirmed after the birth in three cases by HLA typing and measuring concentration of 17-OHP and delta 4 and from the blood of newborn babies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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We have investigated whether C. parvum (CP)-induced stimulation of hematopoiesis affects the survival of mice exposed to the whole body irradiation (WBI). C3Hf/Bu mice treated with CP exhibit an increased hematopoietic colony forming activity in their spleens and blood, but not in their bone marrow, as determined by the exogenous spleen colony assay. Also, CP-treated C3Hf/Bu as well as CBA mice show an increase in their endogenous colonies. This increased hematopoietic activity caused by CP treatment did not protect mice from the consequences of the WBI ranging from 650 to 950 rads. In fact, more mice died if they had been treated with CP. A decrease in the number of erythrocytes was more pronounced in mice treated with CP and irradiation than in those given irradiation alone.
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