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Biomedical subjects

B Ramot

Publications and source records attributed to B Ramot.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

The in vitro effect of thymic humoral factor and levamisole on peripheral blood lymphocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

The in vitro effect of thymic humoral factor (THF) and levamisole on E rosette-forming cells in the peripheral blood of seventeen patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was studied. Patients with active disease showed a low number of E rosette-forming cells. A significant rise in the number of E rosettes was obtained after incubation with both THF and levamisole. No such effect was observed on lymphocytes from patients with inactive disease and normal controls. In seven patients, three with active disease and four with well-controlled disease, short-term cultures were performed. The effect of THF on E rosettes was found to be the same before and after the short-term cultures. Possible mechanisms, by which THF (on the one hand) and levamisole (on the other) may increase the number of E rosettes in vitro, are discussed.

Adult↗

The relation between therapy and herpes zoster in Hodgkin's disease.

The rate of occurrence of herpes zoster (HZ) was analyzed by the life table method in 108 Hodgkin's disease (HD) patients, diagnosed and treated during the years 1969 to 1976. Three groups, divided according to the degree of severity of the disease, were compared. The cumulative rate of occurrence of HZ at the end of the third year after diagnosis was higher in the group with intermediately extensive disease than in that with the most extensive disease (35 vs. 23%), but the difference was not significant. At the end of the fifth year, the rate was almost identical in both groups (35.3 and 35.6%, respectively). The group with the least severe form of HD had a very low HZ rate (2.2%), which was significantly different from the other two groups and close to the rate reported for normal populations. The five-year mortality rate was 0.0, 20.3 and 40.6%, respectively, in the three groups. These findings were interpreted to mean that in more advanced stages of HD, therapy and not the severity of the disease is the main factor determining the incidence of HZ. Extended field irradiation followed by a few courses of combined chemotherapy appear to have an effect similar to that of prolonged chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗

Hodgkin's disease of the lung.

The clinical and radiological findings in 16 patients with Hodgkin's disease involving the lung are reviewed. Lung involvement was evident at initial presentation in 11 patients and appeared during the course of the disease in five patients. All the patients had hilar as well as mediastinal lymphadenopathy; most of them--14 of 16--had the nodular sclerosis type of the disease. Patients with these combined findings are apparently more likely to develop lung lesions. Seven of the 11 patients with lung involvement at presentation were symptomatic and received combined chemotherapy in addition to radiotherapy. The lung lesions responded completely in 10 of the 11 patients, and in one they cleared slowly after more than a year of treatment. The question remains open as to whether an asymptomatic patient in the high-risk group, as described above, should receive either adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy to the lung on the prophylactic basis. Our own policy is to add chemotherapy as an adjuvant to female patients and to males who have children.

Adult↗

Selective splenectomy in Hodgkin's disease, stages I and II. Results of treatment.

Sixty-three patients with Hodgkin's disease, in stages I or II, asymptomatic (A) or symptomatic (B), were diagnosed and followed at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center from 1969 to 1976. Only 14 were staged pathologically. Until 1971, the patients received mantle or "inverted Y" therapy only; thereafter, an extended field that included mantle, upper abdomen and spleen irradiation was given. Symptomatic patients, as well as patients with extranodal involvement, received MOPP chemotherapy (nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisone) after termination of radiotherapy. Of 51 patients who were in stage IA or IIA, six relapsed 20 to 43 months after irradiation. Three had a pelvic recurrence; two of them were surgically staged. Thus, in only 1 of 51 patients could staging laparotomy possibly have detected pelvic disease and resulted in different therapy. Our results suggest that total nodal irradiation and staging laparotomy are not mandatory in stages IA and IIA of Hodgkin's disease. The group of 12 symptomatic patients is too small to allow us to draw definite conclusions as to the role of staging laparotomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. However, in view of the high relapse rate in the upstaged symptomatic patients, it seems that chemotherapy should be given to these patients.

Adolescent↗

Establishment in continuous culture of a new type of lymphocyte from a "Burkitt like" malignant lymphoma (line D.G.-75).

The isolation and establishment in vitro of a hitherto undescribed type of lymphocyte designated D.G.-75 is reported. The original inoculum was derived from the pleural effusion of a child with a primary abdominal lymphoma, which clinically and histologically resembled Burkitt's lymphoma. In addition to the absence of the EBV genome and EBV receptors, this line possesses a number of other properties which distinguish it from previously described lymphoblastoid cell lines. It has different growth characteristics and morphology; does not form EAC or E rosettes (representative of B and T) cell surface markers, respectively); possesses IgM-kappa immunoglobulins on the cell surface (B lymphocyte), has an unusually high cap-forming ability and low agglutinability with fluorescent concanavalin A. One homologue of the No.14 chromosome pair possesses extra chromatin material as revealed on chromosome banding. This abnormal chromosome marker is similar to that described in biopsies and cultured tumor cells from patients with African Burkitt's lymphoma.

Agglutination Tests↗

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in lymphocytes of normal individuals and patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia.

Adenosine deaminase (adenosine aminophydrolase, ADA) activity was found to be low in lymphocytes of chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL) patients compared to normal lymphocytes. This was determined on 42 controls and 49 CLL patients. The mean activity in normal lymphocytes was found to be 4.35 +/- 3.34 mumol/h/10(8) cells while in CLL cells it was 2.45 +/- 2.54 mumol/h/10(8) cells.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

The effect of vincristine on haemoglobin synthesis.

Vincristine in a concentration of 0.5 and 4 X 10--(5) M causes a decrease of 16% and 73% respectively, in the synthesis of globin by peripheral blood reticulocytes. At the higher drug concentration alpha/beta ratio is significantly lower than the normal ratio of unity and is 0.83 +/- 0.09. These effects of vincristine are probably related to the ability of the vinca alkaloids to bind to ribosomes and their subunits.

Depression, Chemical↗

Peripheral blood lymphocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus. Relation to activity.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 20 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 3 patients with drug-induced lupus and 20 normal controls were studied. The absolute number of E-rosette-forming cells (ERFC) and surface immunoglobulin-bearing cells were determined during active and inactive stages of the disease. An attempt was made to establish the relationship between the number of ERFC and the clinical stages of the disease on one hand and treatment on the other. A decrease in ERFC was observed in all SLE patients, but it was most prominent in patients with active disease. No correlation was found between treatment and the decreased numbers of ERFC.

Humans↗

The mutual clonal origin of the lymphoplasmocytic and lymphoma cell in alpha-heavy chain disease.

Biosynthetic studies in alpha-heavy chain disease were performed on the gut tumour which was composed mainly of lymphoplasmocytic cells and on the mesenteric lymph node tumour composed mainly of immunoblasts. The gut tumour cells synthesised alpha-heavy chains and secreted them during 2-5 hr culture, whereas the lymph node tumour cells synthesized alpha-heavy chains which were shed into the culture medium only after 20 hr. These chains were shown to be present on the surface of the immunoblastic tumour cells by enzymatic radioiodination. Both the surface and the secreted alpha-heavy chain of the lymph node and gut tumour were found to be smaller than the alpha-heavy chain of myeloma proteins. These results suggest that the lymphoblasmocytic and the immunoblastic tumour cells originate from the same defective clone.

Adult↗

Extramedullary hematopoiesis with multiple tumor-simulating mediastinal masses in a patient with beta-thalassemia intermedia.

A patient with beta-thalassemia intermedia with massive extramedullary hematopoiesis in the mediastinum is presented. These masses, which simulate tumors, are usually asymptomatic only rarely causing spinal cord compression. The histologic examination showed that they consist of hematopoietic tissue. The importance of correct diagnosis without surgery is stressed.

Aged↗

Ferritin on the surface of lymphocytes in Hodgkin's disease patients. A possible blocking substance removed by levamisole.

Enzymatic radioiodination of surface proteins of Hodgkin's disease peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed the presence of a blocking protein on their surface. This protein shed into the medium after incubation with levamisole, which resulted in the unmasking of surface proteins similar to those on normal monunuclear cells. The blocking substance was identified. It reacted with anti-human spleen ferritin. It had no detectable iron and dissociated into monomeric subunits of 18,000 mol. wt. by reduction and alkylation, and therefore it is most probably apoferritin rather than ferritin.

Apoferritins↗

Effect of levamisole on E-rosette-forming cells in vivo and in vitro in Hodgkin's disease.

Incubation in vitro of lymphocytes from patients with Hodgkin's disease with 40 mug per milliliter of levamisole resulted in a rise in the number of E-rosette-forming cells from 33.6 +/- 12.5 per cent (mean +/- S.D.) to 56.7 +/- 14.6 per cent. The drug had no effect on normal lymphocytes. Ten patients with Hodgkin's disease treated six months previously with levamisole were restudied. The positive skin tests to PPD, candida and mumps persisted. However, the E-rosette-forming cells decreased to the pretreatment levels (34.7 +/- 6.4 per cent). Readministration of 150 mg of levamisole for three days raised the number of E-rosette-forming cells to 54.1 +/- 5.6 per cent. This effect was observed for at least two months. However, the drug had no effect in vitro as long as the in vivo effect persisted. These results demonstrate a clear immunologic effect of levamisole in Hodgkin's disease and indicate that the low number of E-rosette-forming cells is not due to a real T-cell depletion.

Antibody-Producing Cells↗