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Biomedical subjects

P Brain

Publications and source records attributed to P Brain.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Red cells, serum iron and total iron-binding capacity in three population groups in Natal.

Male blood donors from three population groups (Indian, Black, White) who showed neither microcytosis nor levels of serum ferritin or transferrin saturation suggestive of iron deficiency were matched in 3's 1 from each population, for age, number of previous blood donations, and serum ferritin. Three groups of individuals of similar iron status were thus obtained, in whom mean serum iron and total iron-binding capacity as well as red cell indices were compared. The Indian group had smaller red corpuscles, and more of them, than either of the other groups; they also had significantly higher mean total iron-binding capacity. The Black group had a lower mean level of serum iron than the other two, coupled with a total iron-binding capacity greater than in the Whites but less than in the Indians; as a result, both the Indian and Black groups had a lower mean transferrin saturation than the White. The mean level of haemoglobin was significantly lower in the Black group than in the other two. It is unlikely that any of these differences is due to iron deficiency.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1981

Heterophile antibodies, immunoglobulin levels, and the evaluation on anti-T activity in cancer patients and controls.

In a study of human agglutinin response to multideterminant ABH-like antigens, such as sheep red blood cells (SRBC), a significant correlation was found between the presence of high antibody levels to such red cells (titres of 1:20 and higher) and total serum concentrations of IgM and IgA.. Individuals with lower levels of SRBC agglutinins (titres of 1:10 and lower) generally have reduced concentrations of these two classes of immunoglobulin. High or low levels of antibody to SRBC did not correlate with the development of several kinds of malignant tumour (cervix uteri, breast and oesophagus). It was found, however, that procedures of high levels of agglutinins for SRBC, whether cancer patients or normal subjects, also more often produce higher levels of antibodies to the cryptantigenic T (Thomsen-Friedenreich)-antigen structure of human red cells. The only significant difference is that cancer patients have persistently depressed levels of anti-T. This provides further evidence that malignant tissue may have exposed T-Antigen structures on their membranes.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1979

In defence of ancient bloodletting.

The ancients used bloodletting extensively in infectious and other diseases. When recent work on iron and bacterial infection is taken into account, it is possible to argue that bloodletting, which reduced plasma iron and transferrin saturation, might have been of value in increasing resistance to infection by bacteria or plasmodia. Galen's bloodletting methods are summarized, and their probable effect on plasma iron is considered. The ancient physicans who had no specific remedies for infection whatsoever, may well have been justified in making responsible use of bloodletting, both for the treatment and for the prophylaxis of infectious disease.

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1979

Haematological differences in three population groups.

The increased absolute lymphocyte counts of Indians and Blacks in comparison with Whites, observed in a former study, were shown, in a study on blood donors, to occur in women rather than men of these two groups. Neutrophil counts showed no sex differences, but were significantly highest in Whites and lowest in Blacks. Indians of both sexes had significantly higher mean red cell counts, together with smaller red cells, than subjects in the other two groups. In no group was a significant correlation observed between body mass and haemoglobin level.

Black People↗
PubMed1979

HLA and cancer in South African Indians.

Two-hundred-and-forty-nine Indian cancer patients were tested for 39 HLA antigens and the antigen frequencies were compared with those of 603 control subjects. Comparisons were also made between cancer patients and controls for each ethnic group and for each site of cancer. There was an increase in the frequency of the HLA antigens A11 and Bw52 in patients with malignancies. Heterozygosity at the B locus was significantly increased in patients with cancer of the breast. The Aw24, B17 haplotype was also associated with breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1978

Immunological events in acute measles influencing outcome.

77% of 30 children with measles who had severe lymphopenia (less than 2000/mm3; less than 2.0 x 10(9)/1) within 2 days of appearance of rash (group A) subsequently died or progressed to chronic chest disease. This was significantly worse than the outcome in 30 children with measles who had lymphocyte counts more than 2000/mm3 (more than 2.0 x 10(9)/1) (group B) of whom 67% recovered. In group A children the persistence of severe lymphopenia (caused by a reduction in T- and B-cells) for at least 15 days after onset of rash, remained a good predictive index of morbidity and mortality. Reversal of immunoparesis in group A was slower and incomplete 42 days from appearance of the rash in those who subsequently died or developed chronic chest disease compared with those who recovered. All patients who died failed to produce adequate measles antibodies. The therapeutic implications and immunopathological significance of these findings for chronic complications after acute measles are discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1978

Alterations in immune responsiveness in acute measles and chronic post-measles chest disease.

Immune responses in 24 children with acute measles (AM) were compared with those in 20 children who had chronic pulmonary complications (CPMC) following measles. The immuno-suppressive effects of acute measles were extensive: total white cells were reduced and this reduction was accounted for entirely by lymphopenia which was equally expressed among the major lymphocyte sub-populations studied; the function of 'T' cells, assessed by radio-isotope incorporation into phytohaemagglutin (PHA) transformed lymphocytes and delayed skin hypersensitivity (DHR) to dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), was depressed. Serum IgA was reduced in AM patients. In contrast there was a relative sparing of the measured indices of immunity in patients with chronic post-measles chest disease, with the major defect being an impaired DHR to DNCB. There were minor alterations of complement components in both groups of patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1977

Immunoparesis and outcome in measles.

In five children with measles who subsequently died and in one with measles in whom chronic bronchopneumonia developed (group A), immunosuppression was more pronounced during the acute rash (i.e., 3-20 days before death) than in six children with measles who recovered (group B). The absolute total lymphocyte-count (T and B cells) was significantly lower in group A. Mean serum-C3 was also lower in group A than in group B. There were no significant differences between the two groups for other complement factors or for serum-immunoglobulins. The mean phytohaemagglutinin stimulation index (S.I.) for lymphocytes from patients in group A resembled that in group B, although the S.I. in both groups was significantly lower than that in healthy controls. S.I.S were lowest in two patients who died. Counts of total white cells, neutrophils, null cells, and those with both B and T cell markers were not significantly different in groups A and B. The total lymphocyte-count (mean 2117 +/- S.E.M. 375 cells/mm3) in a further nineteen patients with measles who had died, studied retrospectively, was significantly lower than that (4487 +/- 540 cells/mm3) in twenty-seven patients with measles who recovered.

Bronchopneumonia↗
PubMed1977

HLA and cancer in South African Negroes.

Five hundred patients with cancer were tested for 32 HLA antigens and the antigen frequencies compared with those of 500 control subjects matched for race, sex and age. Although the overall frequencies showed no significant differences, detailed analysis with regard to site of cancer, age and the number of antigens detected at each locus revealed significant differences. Phenotype tables and haplotype frequencies have been included.

Black People↗
PubMed1977

Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis in the vervet monkey.

Autoimmune thyroiditis was induced in two vervet monkeys by immunizing them with human thyroid extract. As expected, both animals developed cytotoxic antibodies which were active against human thyroid and other human cells in tissue culture. In addition, a second serum factor was detected. This was capable of sensitizing human thyroid (and other) cells and rendering them susceptible to killing by normal lymphocytes. This finding implicates antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroiditis.

Animals↗