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Biomedical subjects

A Vege

Publications and source records attributed to A Vege.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Changes in the concentration and distribution of immunoglobulin-producing cells in SIDS palatine tonsils.

Seventeen sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases and 9 controls, were examined immunohistochemically with regard to the presence of IgA-, IgM-, IgD, and IgG, as well as for the subtypes IgG1-, IgG2-, IgG3-, and IgG4-immunocytes. Differences in compartmentalization were also investigated. Differences were demonstrated between SIDS and controls in total number of IgG cells per 0.1 mm2 tissue area (median: 18.3, range: 12.3-30.2 versus median: 6.3, range: 2.0-14.6) (p < 0.01), and for IgA immunocytes (median: 3.9, range: 2.4-5.0 versus median: 1.5, range: 1.1-3.7) (p < 0.05), while no differences were demonstrated for IgM cells (median: 1.8, range: 1.2-3.3 versus median: 1.8, range: 0.7-5.6) or IgD cells (median: 1.9, range: 0.8-2.9 versus median: 1.6, range: 0.7-2.4). Differences were demonstrated between SIDS and control IgG plasma cells in all the four palatine tonsillar compartments; germinal centre (p < 0.01), mantle zone (p < 0.05), interfollicular area (p < 0.01) and reticular epithelium (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the number of IgA cells was higher in SIDS vs. controls in both the germinal centre (median: 1.4, range: 0.6-2.1 versus median: 0.6, range: 0.3-1.3) (p < 0.05) and in the interfollicular area (median: 2.2, range: 1.1-3.1 versus median: 0.5, range: 0.4-2.0) (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibody-Producing Cells↗

SIDS cases have increased levels of interleukin-6 in cerebrospinal fluid.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 20 infants who died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), 7 cases of infectious death and 5 cases of violent death were examined with respect to concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6). The measurements were performed by ELISA. IL-6 levels in SIDS were significantly lower than in infectious death (p < 0.02), but significantly higher than in violent death (p < 0.02). Since IL-6 plays an important role in immune responses and may induce fever, the findings may suggest that immune activation plays a role in SIDS. The presence of cytokines in the central nervous system (CNS) may cause respiratory depression, especially in vulnerable infants.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗

Is partial deletion of the complement C4 genes associated with sudden infant death?

The two C4 loci C4A and C4B in 61 cases of sudden infant death (SID), 93 living controls and 7 cases of infectious death were studied. In the SID group 13.1% showed deletion of the C4A gene, while 2.5% of the cases showed deletion of the C4B gene. This was not significantly different from neither the controls nor the infectious death group. We were not able to confirm that deletion of the C4B gene is associated with SID. However, in the SID group deletion of either the C4A or the C4B gene was associated with signs of infections prior to death (P = 0.035). This observation may indicate that a proportion of SID victims are more vulnerable to infections than other infants.

Adult↗

Vitreous humor hypoxanthine levels in SIDS and infectious death.

Hypoxanthine concentrations in vitreous humor were determined in 107 cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and compared with levels in 4 cases of borderline SIDS, 26 cases of infectious death and 16 cases of sudden violent death. The hypoxanthine measurements were made using a high-performance liquid chromatography method. The hypoxanthine levels were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in SIDS than in violent deaths, while no significant difference was found between SIDS and infectious deaths. The present report demonstrates a similar distribution pattern of hypoxanthine levels in vitreous humor in SIDS and infectious death. We have previously described signs of immune stimulation both in peripheral organs and in the central nervous system in these conditions. This indicates that the death mechanism in SIDS has some similarities with infectious death.

Age Factors↗

Development of intestinal mucosal immunity in fetal life and the first postnatal months.

Nine premature infants who were either stillborn or who died shortly after delivery (gestational age, 24-32 wk), eight full-term infants who died during the first 3 postnatal wk, and four infants who died in the postneonatal period were studied by immunohistochemistry for duodenal expression of secretory component (SC) and epithelial HLA class I and II determinants and for the presence of IgA-, IgM-, and IgG-producing immunocytes. Only small amounts of SC appeared before the 29th gestational wk, but thereafter it increased rapidly; 1 wk after birth, SC showed an adult distribution pattern. Epithelial class I was expressed throughout the period investigated, whereas class II (HLA-DR) determinants were absent on the duodenal villi until 1 wk after birth. HLA-DP and -DQ were not expressed by the epithelium. No IgA immunocytes were seen before 1 wk after birth, whereas a few IgM- and IgG-producing cells were present throughout the period studied. The intense epithelial HLA-DR expression from the 2nd postnatal wk, along with SC and the appearance of IgA immunocytes, suggests that the intestinal immune system is modulated in response to environmental factors shortly after birth.

Antibody-Producing Cells↗

Wernicke's encephalopathy in an autopsy material obtained over a one-year period.

In a material comprising 279 consecutive autopsies obtained over a one-year period there were four cases of Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE), of which three were inactive (chronic) and one was active (acute). The latter was not related to chronic alcoholism. Our findings show that WE may be regularly present in a routine autopsy series. In only one case was WE suspected clinically and none of the cases revealed macroscopic brain changes indicative of WE. We therefore suggest that sections of the mammillary bodies should be taken routinely to detect all possible cases of WE.

Aged↗

Evaluation of the Anaerobe-Tek system for the identification of Bacteroides and Fusobacterium species.

Reference strains and clinical isolates of Bacteroides and Fusobacterium species were examined by the Anaerobe-Tek System (A/T-system). Of 104 strain, only 57 (54.8%) were identified correctly to species level. 38 strains (36.5%) were incorrectly identified and for 9 strains (8.7%) there were no codes in the manufacturers' data base manual. The results indicate that, in our hands, the A/T-system in its present form, is not suitable for the identification of clinical isolates of Bacteroides and Fusobacterium species.

Bacteriological Techniques↗