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Biomedical subjects

F Wojnarowska

Publications and source records attributed to F Wojnarowska.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

The significance of an IgM band at the dermo-epidermal junction.

We studied 190 patients with an IgM band at the dermo-epidermal junction demonstrated by direct immunofluorescence. In 55% of patients the final diagnosis was lupus erythematosus, 49% discoid lupus erythematosus, and 6% systemic lupus erythematosus. In 45% of patients the presence of an IgM band was associated with a number of other diagnoses. The finding of an IgM band at the dermo-epidermal junction in a cutaneous biopsy is not sufficient evidence to make a diagnosis of lupus erythematosus without supporting clinical, histological and serological evidence.

Biopsy↗

Hepatic injury in dermatitis herpetiformis.

Liver function tests were performed in 60 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis. Abnormalities of bilirubin or elevated liver enzyme levels were found in 17% of the patients. 13% had abnormal liver enzymes or elevated bilirubin levels not due to haemolysis. In 8% of patients bilirubin levels were elevated as a result of dapsone-induced haemolysis. The incidence of liver function abnormalities was higher (19%) in those on a normal diet than those on a gluten-free diet (9%). The abnormalities were not associated with the presence of immune complexes, anti-mitochondrial or anti-smooth muscle antibodies.

Dapsone↗

A comparison of IgA positive and IgA negative dapsone responsive dermatoses.

A study of thirty-three patients with a clinical diagnosis of dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) referred to our DH clinic over the las 11 years is reported. Twenty-six were referred by other consultant dermatologists. The diagnosis had been made by the clinical features and response of the rash to dapsone. Seventeen patients were found to have IgA in the uninvolved skin (IgA positive) and in sixteen no IgA was found (IgA negative). The duration of the rash prior to referral to the DH clinic was 3 months to 19 years (mean 5.0 years) for the IgA negative patients and 2 months to 22 years (mean 5.2 years) for the IgA positive group. The length of follow-up was 3 months to 11 years (mean 5.0 years) for the IgA negative, and 2--11 years (mean 5.6 years) for the IgA positive group. During follow-up the rash cleared completely and required no treatment in seven of the sixteen IgA negative patients. Thirteen of these sixteen patients no longer required dapsone, but six patients were receiving alternative treatment. In the three patients still taking dapsone IgA has not been found on subsequent biopsy. Of the seventeen IgA positive patients only three were able to stop dapsone during follow-up and in these three the IgA was still detected in the skin. Small intestinal mucosa was abnormal in eight of eleven IgA positive patients, but was normal in all thirteen IgA negative patients in whom jejunal biopsies were performed. An alternative diagnosis to DH has subsequently been made in thirteen of the sixteen IgA negative patients. Although the significance of IgA in the skin in DH is not known it appears to be part of the disease process. Patients who have a rash suggestive of DH and which is dapsone responsive, but in whom IgA is not found in the uninvolved skin, usually turn out to have a dermatosis other than dermatitis herpetiformis. Referral to a unit with expertise in immunofluorescence techniques of skin biopsies would appear to be helpful.

Adolescent↗

The potassium iodide patch test in the dermatitis herpetiformis in relation to treatment with a gluten-free diet and dapsone.

The potassium iodide patch test was studied in twenty-six patients with dermatitis herpetiformis. Histological assessment was found more sensitive than clinical. All of five patients with active disease and not on treatment had a positive test, whereas only two of six patients taking a gluten-free diet (GFD) and one of eight taking dapsone were positive. In another two patients taking a GFD, but in whom the diet had not been strict, the test was positive. All three patients in remission and both patients with the linear pattern of IgA (but with active disease) were negative. Immunofluorescence studies showed no difference in the presence, quantity, or distribution of immunoglobulin, complement or fibrinogen between the patch test site and uninvolved skin, or in the uninvolved skin between patients with and without active lesions.

Dapsone↗

Comparison of immunoglobulin and complement deposition in multiple biopsies from the uninvolved skin in dermatitis herpetiformis.

The distribution of immunoglobulins and C3 component of complement (C3) in the skin of twenty-four patients with dermatitis herpetiformis was studied. Skin biopsies were taken from three sites, the extensor surface of the elbow, the flexor surface of the forearm and from the thigh. Twenty-two (90%) patients showed variation in deposits of immunoglobulins and C3 at the three sites. IgA was present in all patients, but differed in quantities deposited at the three sites in nineteen (80%) patients. Similar variation between sites was observed with IgG, IgM and C3. There was variation within three biopsies, IgA being absent from some sections and present in others. Three patients had a continuous pattern of IgA deposition. One had both continuous and papillary deposits within a single section. There was no difference in the incidence or quantity of immunoglobulin and C3 between the elbow, forearm and thigh. There was observed to be a diminution in quantity of IgA and incidence of C3 in patients taking a gluten-free diet. Deposition of IgA, IgM, IgG and C3 is not uniform throughout the skin and conclusions drawn from the quantity of immunoglobulin and C3 in a single biopsy may not be reliable.

Adult↗

IgA and C3 complement in the uninvolved skin in dermatitis herpetiformis after gluten withdrawal.

IgA deposits in the skin in 53 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) have been studied in relation to treatment. In 19 patients the disorder was controlled by a gluten-freen diet (GFD) alone, in 13 patients by dapsone and GFD and in 18 by dapsone alone. In 3 patients the skin disorder became insignificant and required no treatment. Of the patients taking a GFD alone, six had been clear of skin lesions for 7 years, 5 for 3--5 years, and 8 for periods of 6 months--3 years. IgA deposits were found in all patients in an initial biopsy in a second biopsy after treatment for periods varying from 1 to 7 years. There was no difference in the quantity of IgA, as assessed by the amount of fluorescence, whether patients were controlled with a GFD alone, GFD and dapsone, dapsone alone, or in those in clinical remission. The C3 component of complement was present in the skin in 3 of the 19 patients (16%) controlled by a GFD alone, 6 of the 13 patients (46%) of those controlled by a GFD and dapsone, and in 12 of 18 (66%) of the patients taking dapsone alone, and in one of the patients in clinical remission.

Adult↗

Intestinal surface peptide hydrolases: identification and characterization of three enzymes from rat brush border.

Peptide hydrolases were solubilized from rat small intestinal brush border by papain and separated by Sephadex G-200 chromatography, velocity gradient ultracentrifugation and polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis and designated according to approximate molecular size from sedimentation studies. Peptidases I (apparent Mr 230 000) and II (apparent Mr 160 000) are oligopeptidases with maximum specificity for tripeptides with identical pH optima (7.5) and similar apparent Km with L-Leu-Gly (I, 0.60 MM; II, 0.76 mM). L-Leucyl-beta-naphthylamide is a competitive inhibitor of both enzymes. Concentration of peptidase II produced partial conversion to peptidase I on polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis. The third peptide hydrolase (III, Mr 120 000) is a dipeptidase with pH optimum 8.5 and apparent Km for L-Leu-Gly of 0.65 mM. These peptide hydrolases were inhibited appreciably (37-59%) by 0.2 M glycine/NaOH, Tris - HCl or Tris - glycine buffers. EDTA (5 mM) completely inhibited these enzymes but all activity was restored by dialysis against buffer without divalent ions. Subsequent addition of Mg2+, Mn2+, Co2+ or Zn2+ (1-2 mM) inhibited peptidases I and II variably (4-81%) depending upon the substrate and buffer used. In contrast peptidase III was activated slightly by metal ions (5-20%). These peptide hydrolases are strategically located at the intestinal lumen-cell interface and possess biochemical characteristics making them ideally suited to play a pivotal role in the final stage of protein digestion.

Aminopeptidases↗

Oligopeptidases of brush border membranes of rat small intestinal mucosal cells.

1. The properties of peptidases located in the brush borders of rat small intestinal mucosal cells have been investigated using a new method for the assay of peptidase activity. In this method amino acids produced by hydrolysis of peptides are oxidized by ophidian L-amino acid oxidase and the hydrogen peroxide produced during reoxidation of the reduced enzyme is estimated spectrophotometrically.2. 10-20% of the total cellular peptidase activity and 50% of the leucylnaphthylamidase (LNAase) activity were found to be tightly bound to the brush borders and to possess different substrate specificity from the supernatant peptidase activity.3. Evidence from kinetic and competition studies indicates the presence of more than one peptidase in the brush borders. The peptidases exhibit pH optima of 8.0-8.5, are inhibited by EDTA, but are not usually activated by divalent metal ions. The brush border peptidases hydrolyse di- and tripeptides, some oligopeptides, leucinamide and leucyl-beta-naphthylamine. On the basis of the Michaelis constants, these substrates differ in their affinities for the enzymes.4. It is proposed that the brush border peptidases serve an analogous function in the terminal stages of protein digestion to that of the disaccharidases in the case of carbohydrate digestion and absorption.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗