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Biomedical subjects

R L Humbel

Publications and source records attributed to R L Humbel.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Viral infection and fibromyalgia].

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a very frequent syndrome of unknown cause, characterized by generalized pain, fatigue and a number of tender points to palpation. Among the several etiopathogenic hypotheses discussed, the association of FM with some viral infections has been the object of multiple studies due to its relation and similarity with the chronic fatigue syndrome, acknowledges as being related, although not exclusively, with the chronic infection by the Epstein-Barr virus. Many individual descriptions of association between infection with the human parvovirus B19 and FM led us to carry out this study, comparing the serology for that virus in 52 patients with FM and 39 healthy controls. The titers of specific IgG anti-parvovirus B19 antibodies, indicating previous infection with that virus, were determined in all 91 individuals through ELISA method and at the same laboratory. Results revealed, though not significantly, a greater prevalence of positive titers, of which the mean was also higher, in patients than in controls. When comparing the women from both groups, this tendency was even less perceptible. These data imply that there is no etiologic association between infection with the human parvovirus B19 and FM.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

An antigen in metaphase chromatin and the midbody of mammalian cells binds to scleroderma sera.

Antibodies from 5 patients with systemic sclerosis reacted with an antigen localized to the metaphase chromatin, the cleavage furrow and the midbody of anaphase and telophase HEp-2 cells. The titer of antimidbody antibodies ranged from 1:160 to 1:1280. Four patients had systemic sclerosis and one had idiopathic Raynaud's phenomenon. In situ biochemical characterization of the antigen revealed that it was resistant to DNase I, micrococcal nuclease and RNase A, but was sensitive to trypsin treatment. The antigen remained insoluble in 400 mM acetic acid but was extracted from the cells with 400 mM hydrochloric acid. The antibody was not seen in sera from 2500 normal female blood donors, 120 patients with systemic lupus, 60 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 15 patients with linear scleroderma or 25 patients with Raynaud's disease.

Antigens↗
PubMed1986

The detection of autoantibodies on HEp-2 cells using an indirect immunoperoxidase kit (Colorzyme).

An indirect immunoenzyme (IIE) kit to detect autoantibodies in the sera of patients with systemic rheumatic diseases has been evaluated and compared to a conventional indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay. Both IIF and IIE were performed on a human epithelial cell line (HEp-2) using sera categorized on the basis of their autoantibody specificity. The correlation coefficient between the two assays was greater than 0.77 for all autoantibodies except antimitochondrial antibodies, which had higher end-point titers with the IIE kit. The inter- and intratest variability of IIE and IIF was comparable, differing by no more than one tube dilution. The IIE test had less background staining, allowing for better resolution and easier interpretation of staining patterns. IIE assay in the form of a commercially available kit is a reliable alternative to IIF.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Autoantibodies and human immunodeficiency viruses infection: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of organ-specific and non-specific autoantibodies in HIV-infected patients. DESIGN: A multicentric collaborative case-control study including 105 HIV patients and 100 sex- and age-matched HIV-negative healthy volunteers. METHODS: Antinuclear, anti-ds DNA, anti-histone, anti-Sm, rheumatoid factor(IgM), anti-beta 2 glycoprotein 1, antineutrophil cytoplasmic, anti-LKM1, anti-LCA1, anti-gastric parietal cell, antiplatelet, anti-intermediate filament, anti-mitotic spindle apparatus, anti-Golgi, anti-ribosome and anti-thyroid autoantibodies were screened in six European laboratories. RESULTS: Only IgG and IgM anticardiolipin, IgG antiplatelet, anti-smooth muscle and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies were statistically more frequent in HIV patients. There was no correlation with the numbers of CD4+ cells except in the case of anti-smooth muscle antibodies. We were unable to find specific autoantibodies such as anti-ds DNA, anti-Sm, AMA, anti-LKM1, anti-LCA1 or anti-beta 2 GP1 antibodies in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the autoantibody profile of HIV infections is comparable to those of other chronic viral infections. HIV does not seem to be more autoimmunogenic than other viruses.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-pm/scl antibodies in connective tissue disease: Clinical and biological assessment of 14 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Anti-PM/Scl antibodies (Anti-PM/Scl) represent a rarely encountered type of antinuclear antibodies. They have mainly been reported in association with idiopathic inflammatory myositis - systemic sclerosis overlap syndromes (also called scleromyositis or sclerodermatomyositis) but also with polymyositis, dermatomyositis and systemic sclerosis without features of overlap syndromes. Studies concerning characteristics of patients with anti-PM/SCl are rare and include small numbers of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of clinical and biological characteristics of 14 patients with anti-PM/Scl in two University Hospitals: one in Belgium (Erasme Hospital, Bruxelles) and one in France (Hautepierre Hospital, Strasbourg). RESULTS: Seven patients were identified in Erasme and 7 in Strasbourg: 5 with systemic sclerosis-(dermato)myositis overlap syndromes, 4 with dermatomyositis, 1 with polymyositis, 3 with systemic sclerosis, 1 with primary Sjögren's syndrome. The most frequently observed clinical characteristics (85% of patients) were: pulmonary interstitial disease and arthralgia or arthritis. No patient of our series died or developed cancer (mean follow-up:6.1 years). CONCLUSIONS: Our study failed to identify an homogeneous clinical pattern in patients with anti-PM/Scl, except for 2 characteristics shared by 85% of the patients. This lack of homogeneity is in agreement with preceding literature. We confirm the favourable prognosis associated with the presence of anti-PM/Scl, despite the high incidence of interstitial pulmonary disease. The absence of cancer associated with presence of anti-PM/Scl represents a partial explanation. Finally, we report herein the second case of primary Sjögren's syndrome associated with anti-PM/Scl.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

First clinical results with Enzymun-Test for free PSA.

BACKGROUND: Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is widely used for the detection and monitoring of prostate cancer (CAP) but PSA is elevated in many patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The measurement of free PSA may improve the discrimination between CAP and BPH. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Free PSA (F-PSA) and total PSA (T-PSA) were measured using kits based on the Enzymun-Test principle. The patient population was composed of 38 untreated CAP patients, 76 BPH patients and 29 prostatitis patients. RESULTS: At cut-off levels of 0.15 for the F-PSA/T-PSA ratio and 10 ng/ml for T-PSA the specificity and sensitivity for detecting CAP were respectively 87% and 84% for F-PSA/T-PSA ratio and 80% and 63% for T-PSA. CONCLUSION: The F-PSA/T-PSA ratio is more powerful at discriminating between CAP and BPH than T-PSA alone and may contribute to a reduction in unnecessary invasive techniques.

Aged↗