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Biomedical subjects

H Permin

Publications and source records attributed to H Permin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Mollaret's meningitis. A rare disease with a characteristic presentation].

We report a case of a 72-year-old woman, who within a six-year period had four episodes of Mollaret's meningitis. Lumbar punctures during each episode revealed moderate leukocytosis with large mononuclear cells. Characteristic manifestations and differential diagnosis are briefly reviewed. There is no established therapy for Mollaret's meningitis. Extensive investigations failed to reveal a specific cause of this disease, although there is some evidence for infection caused by Herpes simplex-virus.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Measurement of histamine release from human lung tissue ex vivo by microdialysis technique.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: Currently no method is available for measurement of mediator release from intact human lung. In this study, a microdialysis technique was used to measure histamine release from mast cells in human lung tissue ex vivo. MATERIAL: Microdialysis fibers of 216 microm were inserted into lung tissue and perfused with Krebs Ringer buffer at a rate of 3 microl/min. After a 15 min period of steady-state perfusion, anti-IgE and vehicle were injected into the lung tissue above individual fibers. Samples from each fibre were collected for 20 min at 2 min intervals. Histamine was assayed fluorometrically. RESULTS: Anti-IgE concentrations of 40-40,000 U/ml dose-dependently released histamine, significant histamine release being demonstrated with anti-IgE concentrations of 400 U/ml and greater. The kinetics of histamine release showed peak values 2-8 min after the injection. Great individual responses were observed but data could be reproduced within individual donors. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, a potent basophil secretagogue, did not induce histamine release in lung tissue which indicated mast cells to be the histamine source. Substance P did not release histamine in the lung tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The microdialysis technique allowed measurements of histamine release from mast cells in intact lung ex vivo. The method may prove useful since a number of experiments can be performed in a few hours in intact lung tissue without any dispersion or enzymatic treatment.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗
PubMed1998

[H.C. Andersen: the story of a mother].

Death is inevitable the end of life. This has been described numerous times in the literature. In the Danish literature Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75) has in The Story of a Mother (1847) described a mother who sacrificed life for her child. According to Andersen death is not an affliction, but a confident faithful Providence favoured by God.

Attitude to Death↗
PubMed1998

The in vivo and in vitro effects of rhG-CSF on allergic, haematological and biochemical variables.

UNLABELLED: The objective was to evaluate the influence of treatment with rhG-CSF on allergic indexes. This was done by open trial of 5 days' treatment with rhG-CSF (5 microg/kg/day s. c.). 10 patients (6 men), aged 28 to 54 years, with rhinoconjunctivitis due to grass pollen allergy, participated in the investigation. Main measures were blood count, basophil histamine release, skin test and conjunctival provocation test. RESULTS: The treatment resulted in significant increases in numbers of neutrophils (590%), basophils (280%), eosinophils (250%) and lymphocytes (71%). Total blood histamine was increased, but basophil histamine releasability was decreased. Serum alkaline phosphatase increased 92% and serum lactate dehydrogenase increased 35% (both significant). There were no significant changes in the skin tests and the conjunctival provocation tests. Two months after the treatment all tests had returned to baseline levels. Five of the patients (50%) reported side effects, one withdrew. In conclusion treatment with rhG-CSF increases the number of circulating blood cells other than neutrophils without causing changes in indexes of allergic reactivity.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1996

Basophil-bound IgE and serum IgE directed against Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae in patients with chronic bronchitis during acute exacerbations.

The investigation includes 12 patients hospitalized with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (CB) and infected in the lower respiratory tract with Haemophilus influenzae (HI) or Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP). Eight patients were infected the HI, three with SP, and one patient with both species. Basophil-bound IgE and serum IgE directed against these species were examined using the patients' own bacterial isolates. All patients showed IgE-mediated histamine release when their peripheral leukocytes were incubated in vitro with the infecting species, indicating basophil-bound IgE directed against their own bacterium. No IgE-mediated response was obtained in the control group of 12 healthy individuals. Bacteria-specific IgE in serum was demonstrated by immunofluorescence assay and further verified by passive sensitization. There was a positive serum titre in seven of nine patients housing HI and in all SP-infected patients but not in the control group. No synchronism was found between a positive response in the histamine release test and the immunofluorescence assay by parallel testing during the test period. This may be due to a time delay between production of serum IgE and its fixation to the cell surface. The results indicate a potential for a bacteria-specific IgE-mediated immune response in CB. Thus, by triggering mediator release, bacteria may be involved in the pathogenesis of exacerbations in CB.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

The pathology of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major in Sudan.

The pathology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sudan, where the disease is caused by Leishmania major, was studied by light and electron microscopy. Lesions were classified into four distinct groups based on the ratio of different cell types, especially lymphocytes, macrophages, and plasma cells in the inflammatory infiltrate, and the formation of compact epithelioid granulomas or the presence of necrosis. In the lesions, there was a positive correlation between the number of lymphocytes and the number of activated macrophages and epithelioid cells. We suggest that the parasites are eliminated from the lesion by two processes: 1) a lytic mechanism in which parasites are lysed within activated macrophages and 2) necrosis of parasitized macrophages. Morphologic evidence for these two mechanisms of parasite elimination was detected by both light and electron microscopy. The evolution of the pathology of the lesions was followed by rebiopsy when the lesion had regressed in size under antileishmanial therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Measurements of proteinase 3 and its complexes with alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor and anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA) in plasma.

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a systemic vasculitis which is diagnosed on clinicopathological findings. The diagnosis may be aided by the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA). In WG, ANCA are primarily directed to proteinase 3 (PR3), a serine protease of the azurophilic granules of the neutrophilic granulocyte. The main plasma inhibitor of PR3 is alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (PI). To study if free PR3 or complexes between the enzyme and PI or PR3 and ANCA could be found in the plasma from patients with WG we have developed three ELISA systems for the detection of these complexes and free PR3. In all three assays monoclonal antibodies against PR3 were used as capture antibodies. After incubation with plasma, free PR3 was detected by affinity purified rabbit anti-PR3 followed by alkaline phosphatase-labelled swine anti-rabbit IgG. Serial dilutions of purified PR3 was used as standard. The detection limit was 3 ng/ml. PR3 complexed with PI was measured by rabbit anti-PI antibodies and alkaline phosphatase-labelled swine anti-rabbit IgG. Pre-formed in vitro complexes of PR3/PI in serial dilutions were used as standard. The detection limit of this assay was 1 ng/ml. PR3/IgG-ANCA complexes were detected by alkaline phosphatase labelled goat anti-human IgG. A positive plasma sample in serial dilutions was used as standard. Plasma samples from nine patients with WG, eight patients with fever of infectious origin without evidence of vasculitis and ten healthy donors were examined by these methods. Free PR3 could not be found in any of the plasma samples. PR3/PI complexes were detected in healthy donors at levels between 41-85 ng/ml. All WG patients, both active and inactive, had PR3/PI concentrations above this level, and so had all patients with fever. PR3/IgG-ANCA was found in three of the patients with WG, two being ANCA negative with inactive disease and one was ANCA positive with active disease. Thus, the developed methods can be useful for future studies of the clinical relevance of these complexes in patients with WG and possibly other vasculitides.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗
PubMed1994

Bacteria-induced IgE-mediated histamine release: examination of patients with chronic bronchitis (CB) during acute exacerbations.

Twelve patients hospitalized with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (CB) and infected in the lower respiratory tract with H. influenzae (HI) or Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) were examined. Bacteria, isolated from the expectorate caused an IgE-mediated histamine release from the patient's own blood leukocytes, indicating that all were sensitized to their own bacteria. Sensitization was only observed in some of the patients when tested with a standard panel of HI or SP obtained from other patients, indicating the importance of using the patient relevant bacterial antigenic determinants. No sensitization was found in twelve controls. The patients showed cellular hyperreactivity to HI and SP, i.e. the releasability was higher than in the control group. The cellular hyperreactivity was not dependent on sensitization since it was also found against the non-infecting species. Both sensitization and cellular hyperreactivity may contribute to the aggravation of the disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Increased numbers of circulating basophils with decreased releasability after administration of rhG-CSF to allergic patients.

Preliminary studies in hematological patients have indicated that treatment with rhG-CSF reduces basophil releasability ex vivo. We examined this phenomenon further, in allergic patients. Ten patients with grass pollen rhinoconjunctivitis were given rhG-CSF (5 micrograms/kg/day s.c.) for 5 days, and examined before and after treatment. Basophil counts increased from 5 to 19 x 10(9)/l (P < 0.01). Total blood histamine increased from 80 to 160 micrograms/l (P < 0.01), corresponding to a decrease in average basophil histamine content from 1.5 to 0.81 pg/cell (P < 0.01). Isolated mononuclear cells showed a significantly decreased histamine release (HR) when stimulated with A23187 and grass. Whole blood experiments showed a similar decreased HR to grass and anti-IgE (P < 0.01). However, we found an increase in total blood histamine. We conclude that treatment with rhG-CSF (1) increases the number of circulating blood basophils, (2) reduces the average histamine content per basophil, and (3) reduces the basophil releasability. These findings could be due to the mobilization of immature basophils from the bone marrow.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

BK and JC viruses in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected persons: prevalence, excretion, viremia, and viral regulatory regions.

Human polyomavirus BK (BKV) and JC (JCV) infections were examined in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). High frequencies of BKV (24%) and JCV viruria (16%) were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). BKV viruria was not found in an immunocompetent control group, in contrast to a frequency of JCV viruria of 20%. The degree of HIV-induced immunodeficiency did not influence the prevalence of BKV viruria, in contrast to cytomegalovirus viruria, suggesting BKV reactivation is an early manifestation in HIV infection as well as a temporal sequence of opportunistic infections. BKV DNA but not JCV DNA was detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in 2 of 42 subjects by a sensitive nested PCR. Sequencing of viral noncoding control regions (NCCRs) revealed predominantly archetypal and TU type BKV NCCRs but only archetypal JCV NCCRs. A new, naturally occurring BKV NCCR variant was detected in 1 urine specimen and 2 PBMC samples, indicating a stable and biologically significant rearrangement. Serum levels of BKV antibodies do not seem to be diagnostically useful in HIV-infected persons.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Clinical use of intravenous immunoglobulin IgG].

Intravenous human immunoglobulins (IVIG) are valuable in the treatment of several immunodeficiency and autoimmune diseases. The classic, well-known indications are primary hypogammaglobulinaemic conditions, immune thrombocytopenia and Kawasaki's syndrome. IVIG's content of specific antibodies toward a series of known, pathogenic microorganisms has led to the treatment of a number of infectious conditions and IVIG has a documented effect on AIDS in children, prophylactically in cases with potentially life-threatening CMV infections in certain types of transplants and prophylactically in hypogammaglobulinaemic patients with the most common variety of leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Immunotherapy with IVIG in diseases of autoimmune character such as acute and chronic demyelinating neuropathy has recently shown promising results and encouraging reports have been published in the treatment of severe, steroid-dependent asthma, juvenile chronic arthritis and systemic vasculitis and dermatomyositis where IVIG possibly has a favourable immunomodulating effect on the patient's immune response. Future treatment will probably consist of polyvalent immunoglobulins as well as monoclonal or recombinant monovalent antibodies.

Autoimmune Diseases↗
PubMed1991

Bacteria-induced histamine release from human bronchoalveolar cells and blood leukocytes.

Histamine release induced by Staphylococcus aureus was examined in cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in non-atopic individuals. Approximately half of the individuals responded with mediator release to the bacterium, and the release was found to be time- and concentration dependent. No difference was found between the patients who responded and those who did not respond in regard to age, sex, smoker/non-smoker, % recovery of BAL-fluid, total cell count, differential cell counts, histamine content per mast cell, or diagnoses. Also stimulation of the BAL-cells with the calcium-ionophore A23187 resulted in histamine release. S. aureus-induced histamine release from basophils was examined in leukocyte suspensions obtained from the same individuals, and in all experiments release was found. The dose-response curves were similar to those obtained with BAL cells. The bacteria-induced mediator release from superficially lying cells in the airways epithelium might be of importance for the precipitation or exacerbation of bronchial asthma in respiratory tract infections.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Cytokine-induced histamine release from basophils of AIDS patients. Interaction between cytokines and specific IgE antibodies.

Basophil leukocytes obtained from AIDS patients, allergic patients and healthy controls were stimulated in vitro with interleukin 4, lymphotoxin, tumour necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma to examine the histamine releasing effect. The cytokines caused histamine release from the basophils of approximately half the AIDS patients and from 8-17% of the allergic patients. No response was obtained in the control group. Removal of cell surface immunoglobulins abolished the response to cytokines, indicating an Ig-dependent mechanism. Passive sensitization with cell-derived Ig, with Ig deprived of IgE, or with IgG, indicated that cell-bound IgE was responsible for the cytokine-induced histamine release in AIDS patients. This response may be mediated by cytokine-selective IgE antibodies.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗