Biomedical subjects

K Wicher

Publications and source records attributed to K Wicher.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1982

Immunochemical analysis of streptococcal group A, B, and C carbohydrates, with emphasis on group A.

Streptococcal group A, B, and C carbohydrates were analyzed by counterimmunoelectrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, and inhibition of immunoprecipitation. Extracts of streptococci group A or C were shown by counterimmunoelectrophoresis to contain both anodic and cathodic migrating components. In immunoelectrophoresis, group A and C substances formed a continuous precipitation line stretching from the anode to the cathode, suggesting a heterogeneous population of molecules with immunochemical identity. This identity was confirmed by inhibition of immunoprecipitation, in which both anodic and cathodic immunoprecipitates were inhibited by the same constituent sugars: group A-anti-A was inhibited by N-acetylglucosamine, and group C-anti-C was inhibited by N-acetylgalactosamine. Extracts of group B showed only anodic migration in counterimmunoelectrophoresis and a narrow, anodic arc in immunoelectrophoresis. The group B-anti-B reaction was inhibited by rhamnose. Carbohydrates of variant strains of group A streptococci were also analyzed by the same methods. The results suggest that the heterogeneity of group A carbohydrate may have resulted from attachment of various amounts of N-acetylglucosamine to the polyrhamnose backbone.

Acetylgalactosamine↗

PubMed1981

Relative values of laboratory assays in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The sensitivities and the specificities of Crithidia luciliae immunofluorescence, (CL-IF), counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as aids to the clinical diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were compared to determine which was the single most useful test in the management of this disease. The patients who had SLE were further divided into those with active or inactive disease and those with and without nephritis in an attempt to determine whether any of these tests could reliably differentiate these groups. Results obtained by these tests, together with those of a nonspecific antinuclear antibody assay used as a screening test, were compared with results for other autoimmune diseases. Although the ELISA was more often positive than CIE and CL-IF in cases of SLE, CL-IF had the highest specificity for SLE, giving no positives in any of the other autoimmune diseases examined. None of the tests satisfactorily differentiated active from inactive SLE or consistently detected the presence or absence of nephritis in SLE.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1981

Minimum number of bacteria needed for antigen detection by counterimmunoelectrophoresis: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Threshold concentrations of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and Streptococcus sp. group B type Ib required for positive counterimmunoelectrophoresis reactions were determined in vivo and in vitro. Animals were infected intraperitoneally with various concentrations of microorganisms: adult mice with S. pneumoniae, suckling rats with H. influenzae, and 3-week-old mice with Streptococcus sp. group B. At 24 h after infection a minimum blood concentration of 10(3) colony-forming units (CFU)/ml was needed for S. pneumoniae or H. influenzae before antigen was detected in the serum. A minimum concentration of 10(6) CFU/ml was needed for Streptococcus sp. group B at 10 h after infection. Larger threshold concentrations (10(4) CFU/ml for S. pneumoniae, 10(5) CFU/ml for H. influenzae, and 10(7) CFU/ml for Streptococcus) were required in broth-grown cultures before cell-free antigens could be demonstrated by counterimmunoelectrophoresis in the medium. Marked levels of antigen release by group B streptococci were observed as the cultures entered early stationary phase. This study provides evidence of a long-accepted, though poorly substantiated, hypothesis that a threshold concentration of microorganism is necessary before counterimmunoelectrophoresis reactions become positive. Counterimmunoelecrophoresis results for clinical specimens should be interpreted cautiously in light of this evidence.

Animals↗

PubMed1980

Comparison of the venom immunogenicity of various species of yellow jackets (genus Vespula).

Venoms from various yellow jacket species were examined by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography (TDTLC), double-diffusion gel precipitation (DDGP) using rabbit antisera, and the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). Comparison of representative venoms by the TDTLC showed that the venoms of V. vulgaris and V. maculifrons have a larger number of Ninhydrin (triketohydrindene hydrate)-positive substances than the venom of V. squamosa. The results of the DDGP confirmed the differences; venoms of V. vulgaris, V. maculifrons, V. flavopilosa, and V. germanica have one or more major components with immunogenic identity. The venom of V. squamosa has a species-specific major component and some minor components immunologically identical to the other venoms examined. Sera from 21 patients with a history of anaphylaxis following yellow jacket stings were examined by the RAST. Using the venoms of V. maculifrons, V. vulgaris, V. flavopilosa, and V. germanica as coupling antigens, most sera reacted similarly. The sera did not react with V. squamosa. These results suggest that the major component in venom obtained from the four yellow jacket species has immunogenic identity. Venom of V. squamosa differs from the remaining venoms. As a practical corollary, with the exception of venom from V. squamosa, common sensitivity appears to exist among the yellow jacket venoms examined.

Animals↗

PubMed1980

Anaphylactic reaction to penicillin (or penicillin-like substance) in a soft drink.

An acute anaphylactic reaction occurred in a patient known to be highly sensitive to penicillin following ingestion of the soft drink Wink. Bacteriologic studies showed the presence of penicillin or a penicillin-like substance in the Wink, suggesting it as the cause of the anaphylaxis. The source of this contaminant could not be identified.

Anaphylaxis↗

PubMed1980

Effect of Treponema pallidum-infected testis supernatants on the cellular response of normal rabbit lymphocytes.

This report presents evidence indicating that both Treponema pallidum and the T. pallidum-free supernatant from T. pallidum-infected rabbit testes exert an immunosuppressive effect on the spontaneous proliferation and mitogenic response of normal rabbit lymphocytes. This effect seemed to be on the level of clonal expansion since antigenic recognition and blastogenic factor production occurred in spite of the presence of the immunosuppressive substance(s). The implication of this finding for T. pallidum multiplication in rabbit testes is discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

Biochemical parameters of normal rabbit serum.

An attempt was made to establish the normal range of 27 different parameters in the serum of 45 healthy, purebred, New Zealand White rabbits (3-5 kg). The reproducibility of the results was acceptable. Sensitive isoenzyme patterns (LDH, CK) could change, however, significantly if different methods were used in the bleeding procedure. Isoenzyme patterns (LDH and CK) of rabbit sera were different from that of human sera. All obtained results were compared with earlier data sporadically published in literature on rabbits.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

Kinetics of cellular and humoral response of rabbits immunized with mycoplasma pneumoniae.

The cellular and humoral responses of rabbits immunized with Mycoplasms pneumoniae antigen in saline or incorporated in Freund's complete adjuvant were examined. Peripheral blood leukocytes were used for the leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) test. Both groups of animals showed significant LMI activity in the presence of M. pneumoniae as well as cross-reacting M. salivarium antigens but response to M. pneumoniae antigen was more pronounced. In the humoral response no such cross-reactivity was observed. Although some of the animals (3/8) demonstrated antibodies to M. salivarium prior to immunization the titers were not influenced by the immunization with M. pneumoniae antigen. Both groups of animals produced antibodies to M. pneumoniae antigen only, but significantly higher titers were observed in the adjuvant group. Cold hemagglutinins in both groups appeared earlier than the specific antibodies to mycoplasma. The adjuvant had no effect on the production of the cold agglutinins.

Agglutinins↗

PubMed1978

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay for detection of human antibodies. I. Measurement of IgG antibody to bee venom antigens.

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay (SPRA) has been developed to measure IgG antibodies to bee venom (BV) and phospholipiase A2 (PLA) in human sera. The principle of the test is similar to that of the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) measuring IgE antibody. Cyanogen-bromide-activated paper discs coupled with BV or PLA followed by supplementary coupling with human serum albumin were incubated with standard or test sera, washed, and incubated with 125I-labeled anti IgG. The serum levels of the IgG antibody have been temporarily expressed in arbitrary units. the reaction between the antigen and antibody was specific and the results were reproducible. Sera from 19 beekeepers, 42 beesting-sensitive patients and 20 blood donors (controls) were assayed by the SPRA. IgG antibodies to BV and PLA could not be detected (less than 4 U/ml) in all control sera, in 25 of the 42 patients and in one beekeeper. The IgG antibodies in 17 patients ranged between 5 to 58 U/ml (mean 7.6 U/ml), and in the 18 beekeepers ranged between 8 to 160 U/ml (mean 59 U/ml).

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Host response to Treponema pallidum infection. III. Demonstration of autoantibodies to heart in sera from infected rabbits.

Sera from rabbits infected intratesticularly with Treponema pallidum but not from animals injected intratesticularly with other bacteria or with extract of normal rabbit testes demonstrated autoantibody to heart tissue. The antibody was organ-specific with cross-reactivity to skeletal muscle but was not species-specific. It could not be absorbed by T. pallidum, T. reiteri, Veneral Disease Research Laboratory reagent or rabbit mitochondrial preparation. The antibody had a transitional pattern of appearance; it could be demonstrated between 30 and 60 days after infection but it decreased or disappeared thereafter. In many instances, it could be shown between 2 and 3 years after infection. The finding of the heart-reacting antibody strongly suggests an autoimmune phenomenon associated with T. pallidum infection.

Absorption↗

PubMed1977

Laboratory evaluation of an automated antimicrobial susceptibility system.

A newly introduced automated method for antibiotic susceptibility testing, AUTOBAC 1, has been evaluated by comparison with the disk agar diffusion method (Bauer-Kirby). A total of 2,518 strains of gram-positive (540) and gram-negative (1,978) organisms isolated from clinical specimens was examined by both methods with eight or ten antibiotics, including Tobramycin. An overall agreement of 97.4% was obtained when results were compared by individual antibiotic. However, many discrepancies were observed when individual genera or species were analyzed. Of 2,518 strains examined, 651 (26%) showed discrepancies in response to one or more antibiotics. Strains, showing discrepancies were re-examined by the broth dilution susceptibility method. The results obtained favored the disk agar diffusion method. Reproducibility experiments revealed a greater inconsistency in the AUTOBAC 1 system than in the agar diffusion test. It is concluded that although a rapid automated system for antibiotic sensitivity testing is desirable, the conventional disk agar diffusion method is easier to perform, more reliable, and a less expensive procedure for antibiotic sensitivity determination.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1977

Nitroblue tetrazolium test in experimental syphilis.

The reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) by phagocytic leucocytes in peripheral blood has been examined in rabbits injected intratesticularly with Treponema pallidum, T. pallidum-free supernatant of orchitic testes, or normal rabbit testes supernatant. A significant (P less than 0.01) increase in NBT reduction was observed only in the infected animals.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

In vitro cell response of Treponema pallidum-infected rabbits. III. Impairment in production of lymphocyte mitogenic factor.

Production of mitogenic factor was examined in rabbits infected intratesticularly with T. pallidum and in control animals injected with saline or saline extract of normal rabbits' testes. Lymph nodes and spleen from animals killed 2, 6 and 12 weeks after injection were used as the source of lymphocytes, cultured in serum-free medium in the presence of Reiter antigen. The active supernatants of lymph node cells (LNAS) and spleen cells (SPAS) were examined for the presence of mitogenic factor using normal rabbit peripheral lymphocytes. The LNAS of control animals showed a mitogenic index (MI) between 4 and 6 and the infected animals less than 2. The SPAS of infected and control rabbits showed an MI of less than 2. The lower mitogenicity in LNAS of infected and that of SPAS of infected and control animals seems to be due to the presence of inhibitors of DNA synthesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

In vitro cell response of Treponema pallidum-infected rabbits. I. Lymphocyte transformation.

Lymphocyte response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), Treponema pallidum, cultivable Reiter strain and cardiolipin reagent were examined using peripheral lymphocytes of T. pallidum-infected rabbits and control animals injected intratesticularly with saline extract of normal rabbit testes mixed with T. pallidum-free saline extract of infected testes. The response to PHA was significantly suppressed only in the infected animals, reaching the lowest level at 30 days after infection. A substantial increase of lymphocyte stimulation in the presence of cardiolipin reagent at 20 days after infection correlated well with the appearance of the maximum titre of Wassermann antibodies. Significant (P less than 0.02) increase in spontaneous response of cells incubated for 5 days made the response to T. pallidum and the Reiter strain difficult to interpret. An explanation for the spontaneous response is offered.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Host response to treponema pallidum infection. II. Rabbit leukocyte migration inhibition in the presence of homologous organ extracts.

Peripheral leukocytes of 67 rabbits infected intratesticularly with Treponema pallidum, Nichols' strain for various lengths of time were examined by the migration inhibition test for their response to extracts of normal rabbit heart, skin, brain and T. pallidum antigen. A control group of 14 animals injected intratesticularly with extract of normal rabbit tests was similarly examined for the leukocyte response to the same antigens except the brain extract. The percentage of infected animals responding to T. pallidum antigen with significant migration inhibition varied from 13 to 31. Transitional cellular response to heart and skin but not brain was observed (12-28%). Leukocytes of all but 2 control rabbits responded to the organ extracts within the limit of 2 SD. The response of the infected animals to the homologous organ extracts may suggest that during infection, lymphocytes are activated by the host tissue antigens.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

In vitro cell response of Treponema pallidum-infected rabbits. II. Inhibition of lymphocyte response to phytohaemagglutinin by serum of T. pallidum-infected rabbits.

Serum inhibitors of lymphocyte response to PHA were found in T. pallidum-infected rabbits. The humoral inhibitors could be detected as early as 10 days after infection and persisted for at least 6 months. The factors also suppressed the allogeneic lymphocyte response. Control, or normal, rabbit sera likewise contain serum inhibitors, but in much lower concentration. The detection of the humoral inhibitors depended on the susceptibility of the indicator lymphocytes. Cells of some rabbits were more sensitive to the inhibitors than others. In addition to serum inhibitors, lymphocytes of T. pallidum-infected animals seem to be impaired and responded to PHA less vigorously than cells of normal rabbits. The inhibitory activity is most likely the result of a complex group of substances with different physicochemical characteristics; some pre-exist and others are newly formed after infection. Problems associated with the detection of such inhibitors are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Host response to Treponema pallidum infection. I. Quantitative changes of lipids in rabbit organs.

Levels of phospholipids, glycolipids and cardiolipin were determined in various organs of Treponema pallidum-infected rabbits. The phospholipid levels on the second week of infection decreased significantly in the spleen but remained unchanged in other organs. During the same time, glycolipids decreased significantly in both kidney and heart. 3 days after infection, a brief but significant increase of cardiolipin in the spleen was observed. Heat-killed T. pallidum but not Treponema reiteri caused a similar effect. The possible implication of these changes in the immunopathology of syphilis is discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1976

Inhibition of antigen-induced histamine release by ouabain.

The effect of ouabain, a specific sodium-potassium dependent adenosine triphosphatase (Na+-K+-ATPase) inhibitor, on antigen-induced histamine release was studied using guinea pig lung fragments sensitized in vitro with rabbit antibodies against bovine serum albumin. Histamine was assayed spectrofluorometrically. When sensitized tissue had been preincubated with ouabain (less than or equal to 1.0 x 10(-4) M) for 10 min prior to antigenic challenge, release of histamine was significantly inhibited (maximum 54%, p less than 0.001, N=9, paired t test). The most significant inhibition was obtained near the optimal concentration of antigen. The inhibition was dependent on the length of preincubation (less than or equal to 20 min), and was partially reversible upon washing the tissue removing the ouabain. Ouabain did not seem to prolong the duration of the histamine release process. Increase in potassium ion (less than or equal to 1.1 x 10(-2)M) inhibited the histamine release and had additive effects to ouabain action. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (less than or equal to 5 x 10(-3) M), which could enhance the release, strongly antagonized the inhibition. Glucose removal from the medium did not abolish the ouabain effect. The results seem to indicate that immunologic release of histamine is under the influence of the membrane Na+-K+-ATPase activity.

Animals↗