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Biomedical subjects

K Thestrup-Pedersen

Publications and source records attributed to K Thestrup-Pedersen.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

In vitro secretion of immunoglobulin in early syphilis evaluated with the plaque forming cell assay.

We have studied the secretion of immunoglobulin in vitro from blood lymphocytes in twenty-one patients with primary or secondary syphilis before and after treatment of their disease. Polyclonal activation of B lymphocytes with pokeweed mitogen is dependent upon T lymphocytes. Using the inversed haemolytic plaque cell assay we found a normal secretion in vitro of immunoglobulin in both primary and secondary syphilis. Our results indicate that patients with syphilis retain a normal immune regulation of B lymphocyte immunoglobulin secretion in vitro.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Modulation of natural killer cell activity in patients with atopic dermatitis.

The peripheral blood lymphocytes of 36 adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis had reduced natural killer (NK) cell activity when measured against 51Cr-labeled K 562 cells. The decrease in NK cells activity was not related to the serum IgE level, but was related to the severity of the skin disease. Addition of autologous monocytes of the assay reduced the NK cell activity and concealed the enhancing effect of gamma-interferon addition in a 4-h assay. The NK cell activity of lymphocytes could be reduced in vitro by addition of prostaglandin E1, or increased by addition of gamma-interferon similar to lymphocytes from persons without atopic disease. Our present findings raise the possibility that the reduced NK cell activity may be secondary to the skin disease, and due to in vivo interaction between NK cells and monocytes, or to low numbers of NK cells in peripheral blood.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Establishment of T and B cell lines from patients with mycosis fungoides.

Eighteen patients with mycosis fungoides were studied in order to establish cell lines that might be associated with the human T cell leukaemia-lymphoma virus (HTLV). Three T cell lines were established, two from affected skin and one from a lymph node showing dermatopathic lymphadenopathy. The T cells expressed OKT3 and OKT4 antigens. They temporarily expressed an HTLV p19-like antigen in up to 5% of the cells during culture. None of our patients had lymphocytosis or abnormal lymphocytes, except one patient with Sézary's syndrome. We could not establish T cell lines from peripheral blood, but five B lymphoblastoid cell lines were obtained, all positive for the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen. Our finding that T cell lines can be established from skin biopsies and lymph nodes of patients with mycosis fungoides, but not from the blood, supports the concept of a malignant T lymphocyte primarily localized in the skin. The temporary expression of HTLV p19 antigen may indicate the presence of retrovirus, but further studies are needed.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Eosinophilic granuloma associated with a 16q22 chromosomal defect of cutaneous T lymphocytes.

A 61-year-old woman presented with circumscribed eczematous eruptions with maceration, erosions and patchy infiltration in the perineum and inframammary regions. A diagnosis of eosinophilic granuloma (cutaneous histiocytosis X) was established. T lymphocytes from a skin biopsy were grown in vitro for three weeks after which chromosomal studies revealed a break or gap at chromosome 16q22 in 15% of the lymphocytes. The addition of alpha-interferon increased the percentage of affected cells to 28%. T lymphocytes from the patient's blood did not show the defect. The biological significance of the chromosomal defect is uncertain. It has been described before in healthy persons, malignant lymphoma, cold urticaria and IgA deficiency, and mental retardation. It has not been seen in patients with eosinophilic granuloma.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1984

Patients' acceptance of etretinate therapy. A retrospective survey of long-term etretinate therapy in chronic keratotic and pustular skin diseases.

From January 1976 to April 1982 etretinate was used to treat patients with morbus Darier (25 patients), pustulosis palmo-plantaris (72 patients), psoriasis (79 patients), and hyperkeratotic eczema of hands and feet (eczema keratoticum; 41 patients). Dosage of etretinate ranged between 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg/day. In a retrospective survey at April 1, 1982, we observed a beneficial effect of the drug in all patients with morbus Darier, in 85% of patients with pustulosis palmo-plantaris, in 69% with psoriasis, and in 93% with eczema keratoticum. Many patients experienced side effects. Within 9 months more than half of the patients had stopped treatment primarily due to side effects, except patients with morbus Darier, whose median duration of treatment was 34 months with a range from 7 to 60 months. We will recommend that etretinate is used during short-term or intermittent courses of therapy, except in patients with morbus Darier, where a low dosage of etretinate is able to give a beneficial clinical effect.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Modulating effects of enzymes on T gamma and T mu cells in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Ten patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis had increased levels of IgE in the blood and a reduced level of T cells with Fc receptors for IgG (T gamma). After pronase and trypsin digestion of Fc receptors, cultured T cells regenerated the Fc receptors, but preserved the difference between patients and controls. Neuraminidase treatment increased the T gamma-cell level in both patients and controls. Serum from patients with atopic dermatitis could not reduce the T gamma-cell expression in the controls. With regard to Fc receptors, no qualitative difference was observed between patients and controls, but a genuine quantitative difference accounts for the observed reduction of T gamma cells in blood.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Fluctuations in natural killer cell activity in early syphilis.

The natural killer cell activity was studied in 25 patients with primary, secondary, or latent syphilis before and after treatment. In primary syphilis natural killer cell activity was increased, especially in patients lacking circulating lipoidal antibodies. In patients who had become seroreactive in the lipoidal tests it was depressed in those with secondary and latent syphilis. The natural killer cell activity thus becomes activated by the syphilitic infection but is significantly reduced during progression of the disease. The importance of the natural killer cell activity in controlling syphilitic infection is questionable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Leprosy in Vietnamese refugees: a case report.

A 41-year-old Vietnamese refugee was found to have tuberculoid leprosy. Dapsone treatment cleared her skin lesion, but did not remove the paraesthesia in the right ulnar nerve. Immunological investigations revealed a strongly positive lepromin test and a significant change in the ratio of T-y and T-mu lymphocytes in peripheral blood. The incidence of leprosy in Vietnamese refugees in Scandinavia is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Bestatin therapy of patients with atopic dermatitis.

Ten adult patients with severe atopic dermatitis were treated for three months with estatin, which is a metabolite of Streptomyces olivoreticuli. Bestatin has been shown to increase tumor resistance in mice, augment a variety of immune responses and to reduce the level of IgE in non-atopic healthy persons. During bestatin therapy we were not able to see any clinical change of the atopic dermatitis. No influence was found on the concentration of IgE in serum and the number of eosinophils in blood. The percentage of T lymphocytes and the Con A-induced suppressor cell activity was not changed. (Received June 18, 1983.)

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1983

Phenotypical, functional and chromosomal studies of lymphocytes from patients with infectious mononucleosis.

The present study describes the T lymphocytosis in infectious mononucleosis (IM), using rosette techniques, lymphocyte transformation tests, Con A suppressor tests, and chromosomal analysis. Blood was drawn from twelve patients with IM during acute illness and during convalescence. We found a T lymphocytosis with a normal sheep erythrocyte receptor affinity of T cells, using three different E-rosette techniques. The percentage of T cells with Fc receptors for IgM (T mu) was reduced during acute illness, but normal in convalescence. The percentage of T cells with Fc receptors for IgC (T gamma) was normal during illness and slightly reduced afterwards. Owing to the T lymphocytosis the total number of T gamma lymphocytes was significantly increased during IM. The lymphocyte reactivity in vitro after mitogen stimulation (PHA, Con A, PWM) was in the lower end of the normal range. We found no evidence of increased suppressor-cell activity activity during IM, using a Con A suppressor cell assay. No chromosomaL defects were observed in lymphocytes from blood.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Immunological studies in patients with alopecia receiving dinitrochlorobenzene and cimetidine therapy.

Twenty-one patients with alopecia were screened for the immune reactivity of their peripheral blood lymphocytes. Generally, patients had only eczematous reactions when rather strong solutions of dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) were applied. One-third of the patients had lymphocytes with in vitro reactivity towards dinitrofluorobenzene-albumin in a lymphocyte transformation test. The percentage of T lymphocyte subpopulations in blood was normal, together with a normal in vitro function after mitogen and antigen stimulation. Six of the patients were treated with 1 g cimetidine daily for 6 weeks. We could not find clinical or immunological changes during the therapy. The findings are discussed in relation to other immunological studies of patients with alopecia and the eventual effect of cimetidine on the immune system.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Depression of natural killer cell activity by syphilitic serum and immune complexes.

Consecutive serum samples were obtained from patients with syphilis before and on three occasions after treatment. The sera contained immunosuppresive factors associated with the immunoglobulin fraction, which could depress the natural killer cell activity of healthy controls. There was no evidence that allogeneic or lymphocytotoxic antibodies played a role in immuno-suppression, which could be reproduced with both soluble and insoluble antigen-IgG-antibody complexes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Precautions for personnel applying topical nitrogen mustard to patients with mycosis fungoides.

An increased awareness among staff personnel of the potential damaging effects of cytostatic drugs has lead us to take specific precautions when nitrogen mustard is used as topical therapy in mycosis fungoides. This report deals with the risks involved in using nitrogen mustard, and how to take steps against such risks. The exposure of healthy staff personnel to potential risks from cytostatic drugs can, and should, be avoided.

Accidents, Occupational↗