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Biomedical subjects

P Fessas

Publications and source records attributed to P Fessas.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

A subpopulation of lymphocytes with T and B cell characteristics. Observations on two different cases of immunodeficiency.

We present the immunological studies on 2 patients, one with the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and another with common variable hypogammaglobulinemia. Although these patients represent two different immunodeficiency defects, both had a subpopulation of peripheral lymphocytes which had simultaneously T and B characteristics. Their peripheral blood mononuclear cells had a low responsiveness to polyclonal mitogens. We suggest that these unusual cells represent a subpopulation of suppressor cells or of immature T cells, which may have an essential role in the pathogenesis of these immunodeficiencies.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the red cells of patients with thalassemia.

L-alpha-Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.8) has been reported to be absent in the erythrocytes of normal adults, but can be found in those of cord blood and of thalassemia major. The aid of this study was to investigate whether there is any relation between GDH and gamma-chain synthesis. Erythrocyte GDH activity was determined on 118 different blood samples. It was undetectable in normal adult erythrocytes and definitely high in cord blood cells (23.6 UI/10(11) RBC). Considerable GDH activity was also noted in patients with thalassemia major (11.0 IU10(11) RBC) as well as in cases with pronounced reticulocytosis (11.4 IU/10(11) RBC). Red cells from beta-thalassemia heterozygotes exhibited moderate but distinct GDH activity (5.2 IU/10(11) RBC). After fractionation into young and old erythrocyte populations, clearly higher GDH activity was found in the younger cells; however, there was no significant correlation with the reticulocyte count. Presence of reticulocytes alone appears insufficient to explain the values obtained in cord blood and the thalassemias, especially heterozygous. Furthermore, no direct correlation between GDH and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) was obtained in cord and thalassemic erythrocytes.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Fluorescent labelling of proteins of lymphocyte plasma membranes.

Fluorescamine has been used for labelling proteins present on the surface of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Under the conditions of study, 12 labelled proteins could be detected by SDS gel electrophoresis. This method may be of value in biochemical studies of lymphocyte membranes.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1979

Prolonged effect of Corynebacterium parvum stimulation on granulopoiesis.

An intravenous injection of 548 microgram of killed Corynebacterium parvum (C. parvum) into C57BL mice led to a significant increase in the number of both committed stem cells (GM-CFC) and proliferating cells of bone marrow granulocytic series. This increase appeared 24 h after the injection of the bacterium, persisted in varying levels until the 4th week and was accompanied by a marked and prolonged granulocytosis. The proportion of GM-CFC in DNA synthesis was found to be increased 1, 2, and 5 d after injection of C. parvum. Increased serum lysozyme levels were observed on the 9th and 15th d. These findings suggest that C. parvum can stimulate granulopoiesis in the animal system. This property of the bacterium should be considered when a combined chemo-immunotherapy schedule has to be applied.

Allergy and Immunology↗
PubMed1978

A unique thalassaemic syndrome: homozygous alpha-thalassaemia + homozygous beta-thalassaemia.

The disturbed balance of globin chain synthesis is a major factor in the pathophysiology of the thalassaemic disorders; this concept is strongly supported by the study of a patient displaying an extreme but symmetrical deficit of both major types of chains alpha and beta. The patient had a mild clinical picture but presented a striking hypochromia (MCH 10 pg) with compensatory erythrocytosis (RBC 10(12)/l.). Study of the propositus and his family by haematological, biochemical and biosynthetic techniques indicates that the patient carries two alpha- and two beta-thalassaemia genes resulting in balanced globin chain synthesis; in addition, several members of the family carry two or three abnormal genes. During observation a change in the haematological pattern occurred with a shift towards more intensive beta-chain and away from gamma-chaim synthesis; this appeared with be associated with improvement of his anaemia through more effective erythropoiesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy terminating as Hodgkin's disease.

The clinical course of a 33-year-old man with generalized lymphadenopathy bearing all physical, laboratory and histologic characteristics of "angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia" (AILD) is described. Therapy was without significant benefit and the patient died 22 months after initial diagnosis. At autopsy in addition to the characteristic cellular polymorphism of AILD, numerous Hodgkin's cells and Sternberg-Reed cells were identified in the lymph nodes and spleen. Pleomorphic cellular infiltrates containing an increased number of immunoblasts and some giant cells were found also in the portal spaces of the liver. The evolution of Hodgkin's disease (H.D.) from AILD suggests that the latter may have represented a reaction to the agent which causes H.D..

Abdomen↗
PubMed1977

Beta-glucuronidase activity of lymph node imprints from malignant lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

beta-Glucuronidase activity was semiquantitatively estimated in the cells of lymph node (LN) imprints from patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD), diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), normal lymph nodes, and benign lymphadenopathies. In addition, in some of these cases beta-glucuronidase activity was semiquantitatively determined in peripheral blood smear lymphocytes. The beta-glucuronidase score (betaGS) was very low in the cells of the LN imprints from patients with diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The LN lymphocytes of HD had a normal betaGS independently of the histological subtype of the disease, while in the LN imprint of CLL the enzyme activity was low, normal, or high. The betaGS of the lymphocytes in LN imprints of normal controls and HD were in general significantly lower compared with he lymphocytes of the peripheral blood smears in the same cases. The relation of our findings to the B and T cell origin of malignant lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is discussed.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1969

Urinary beta-aminoisobutyric acid excretion in thalassaemia.

The quantity of beta-aminoisobutyric acid (BAIB) excreted in the urine of patients with an intact spleen suffering from thalassaemia major appears to be proportional to the number of the circulating normoblasts and inversely proportional to the haemoglobin level. After splenectomy only minute amounts of BAIB are excreted. Transfusion constantly, but temporarily, reduces urinary excretion of beta-aminoisobutyric acid. Other anaemic but non-thalassaemic patients may excrete low levels.

Aminoisobutyric Acids↗