Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W Cossermelli

Publications and source records attributed to W Cossermelli.

157 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Quantification of serum interference in immune complex phagocytosis in seronegative spondylarthropaties, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid disease].

Pathological samples (55) of serum selected from patients with Seronegative Spondylarthropathies, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Disease were studied. The serum of all these patients showed negative rheumatoid factor by latex fixation reaction. The determination of the interference on the phagocytosis of gamma globulin aggregated by guinea pig's macrophages was obtained by one formula. The serum characterization was determined by selecting the ones that presented the most expressive results in the phagocytosis interference, by facilitation or inhibition. The results, in absolute and percentage values, showed the predominance of the interference phenomenon in phagocytosis, with significant statistical values (p < 0.05), when compared with normal serum. The comparative analysis among the diseases studied in the quantification of the serum interference in the phagocytosis of the immunocomplexes has not showed any significant difference. The phagocytosis inhibition occurred with more preponderance in the serum of patients with Reiter's Syndrome and Psoriatic Arthritis; in serum patients with Reiter's Syndrome there was a statistically significant difference in the inhibition of the phagocytosis (p = 0.0247). The serum characterization did not show that the serum fraction was responsible for the phagocytosis interference. In this stage it has been verified that there has not been an uniformity in the graphic curve of dilutions studied. The possibility of the existence of more than one element with interference in the phagocytosis of the studied immunocomplexes was mentioned.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biochemical properties and study of antigenic cross-reactivity between Africanized honey bee and wasp venom.

Africanized honey bees and the wasp Polistes versicolor are common insects in Brazil; their venoms are composed of a complex mixture of components which present several biological activities. Stinging accidents are very frequent and are generally followed by important clinical reactions, and even deaths are not uncommon. In the present study, venom was extracted from Africanized honey bees and P. versicolor, and it was biochemically characterized and the antigenic cross-reactivity was investigated by Western blot analysis and specific IgE determination by ELISA in the sera of subjects allergic to each venom. The honey bee venom presented higher phospholipase A2 and hyaluronidase activities than P. versicolor venom, which in turn presented higher lipase, acid phosphatase and esterase activities. A high incidence of false-negatives was also observed during determinations of specific IgE for P. versicolor venom when the kits with venoms from wasps of temperate climates were used, suggesting that the diagnosis of allergy to neotropical wasp venom must take into consideration the clinical history and skin tests.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunofluorescence on skeletal muscle and skin biopsy specimens in muscle diseases.

A series of 110 muscle and 40 skin biopsy specimens were examined using direct immunofluorescence aiming to identify features that may differentiate the myopathy of connective tissue disease from other muscle diseases. The skeletal muscle fluorescence was positive in 75% of the patients with muscle diseases. The sarcolemmal staining was higher in mitochondrial encephalomyopathy. Fiber and vascular staining occurred in all muscle diseases, except in cases of myasthenia. Our results showed that 42% of patients with polymyositis and 43% of patients with peripheral motor neuron diseases have vascular deposits of immune complexes suggesting that these two diseases could result from an immune-complex-induced vasculopathy. The IF test in skin specimens was positive in 60% of the patients with muscular diseases. The absence of immunoglobulin deposit at the dermoepidermal junction and at epidermal nuclei in cases of peripheral motor neuron disease suggest that this skin test may be useful in the differentiation of muscle diseases.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Osteopetrosis: report of 2 cases and review of the literature].

Osteopetrosis is a rare inherited disease with incidence of 1:500.000 in north american population and characterized by increased skeletal density and fractures. Clinically three types can be distinguished: infantile malignant form, benign form of adult and intermediate type. We report two cases of intermediate form describing and commenting the clinical and radiological features.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Soft tissue rheumatism: critical approach of clinical aspects].

Soft tissue rheumatism or "non-articular rheumatism" represents a group of diverse entities, the common feature of which is muscular stiffness and pain. It is the major cause of morbidity and loss of productive man-hours at work. There is no internationally accepted classification of the soft tissue rheumatism. On hand of an arbitrary classification of the soft tissue rheumatism the affections are divided in localized, regional and generalized conditions.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Soft tissue rheumatism: therapeutic approach].

The authors review the conventional methods for the management of the soft tissue rheumatism. The success in relieving the patient's chief complaint, i.e. pain, depends on the choice of the appropriate measures that can be used without inconvenience to the patients.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Superposition syndrome of connective tissue diseases: current view with special focus on mixed connective tissue disease].

Attention is called to mixed connective tissue disease which, twenty years after it's original description, has now reached the syndromic individualization with important therapeutic and prognostic implications. In particular the discussion concerns the pulmonary complications (hypertension and fibrosis) responsible frequently for fatal outcome.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Radiological staging index of osteoarthrosis].

The association of joint pain with radiological changes (such as osteophytes, joint space narrowing, and sometimes, bone cysts and erosion) is the most commonly criteria used in daily medical practice for the diagnosis of osteoarthrosis. However, these findings do not allow objective quantification of the intensity of the joint involvement. In an attempt to measure quantitatively the radiological lesions encountered in osteoarthrosis the authors elaborated a radiological index based on the following parameters: I. severity of radiological changes, II. area of the affected joint and III. number of affected joints. The application of this index in the medical practice allows a simple way of quantification of radiological lesions of osteoarthrosis and thus, a better clinical monitorization of the disease.

Arm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Lyme disease. Report of a case observed in Brazil].

Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted by Ixodid tick bite. The geographic distribution of the disease is universal, but the disease has not been identified definitely in South America yet. We report a probable case of Lyme disease in a woman, living in Jagůaré slum (São Paulo), who showed characteristics skin lesions of erythema chronicum migrans, with fever, weakness, headache, muscular pain, cough, arthralgia and sensitive radicular neuropathy in the left arm. The sequential serology made by ELISA method, using Borrelia burgdorferi whole sonicated antigen from Dr. Allen C. Steere laboratory, showed high titers of IgM antibody (1:1600). Because of the persistence of high IgM response for two months, we decided to treat the patient with tetracycline 2g/day during 10 days and the sorology became negative two months. The western blotting confirmed ELISA results showing presence of five bands (IgM). This report fulfills CDC criteria for Lyme disease diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Lyme disease in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil: report of three clinical cases, including the first of Lyme meningitis in Brazil].

The authors report the occurrence of the first three clinical cases of Lyme disease in Mato Grosso do Sul State, including the first case of Lyme meningitis in Brazil. These were identified by clinical and laboratorial criteria. Anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibody search was carried out through ELISA and Western Blotting techniques, the former providing identification of IgG class antibodies alone, in one only of those cases. Through Immunoblotting, the following features were found in serum: 5 IgG and 2 IgM bands for the first case; 7 IgG and 2 IgM bands for the second; and 5 IgG and 6 IgM bands for the third. In the latter, presence fo specific antibodies was searched in liquor, due to lymphomonocitary meningitis occurrence, and one IgM band was detected. After antibiotic therapy, all patients exhibited significant clinical and laboratorial improvement in their conditions along with symptom regression to the present moment.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Intra-articular nitric oxide levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

The aim of this study was the appraisal of the nitrite and nitrate levels in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The synovial fluid of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) was also evaluated by comparison. Demographic characteristics such as age and sex, and clinical and laboratorial parameters like duration of disease, functional class and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were evaluated too. In the synovial fluid of all patients the total and differential leukocyte count, and the nitrite and nitrate levels determined by Griess reaction were analyzed. The results were statistically analyzed by Student's t test and correlation test. We found a significant increase in the intraarticular nitrite and nitrate levels in patients with RA when compared with OA patients (30.68 +/- 2.94 microM x 16.15 +/- 2.73 microM). We did not find any correlation between intraarticular nitrite and nitrate levels and the ESR or the total and differential leukocyte count in the RA synovial fluid. In this study we clearly found an increase in the intraarticular nitrite and nitrate levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hormonal and biochemical parameters in postmenopausal osteoporosis].

In the recent years, many authors had studied the relationship between the calciotropic and gonadotropic hormones actions on postmenopausal bone loss, named calcium negative balance, with different results (Riggs et al 1983; Prince et al, 1995). We evaluated 187 female patients, aged 40 to 80 with the following distribution: 24 normals, 49 patients with osteopenia and 114 patients with osteoporosis, according to WHO classification. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between biochemical parameters (seric and urinary calcium), gonadotropic (seric FSH-foliculi stimulant-hormone and seric oestradiol) and calciotropic hormone (PTH) and postmenopausal bone loss. The results had shown the diminution on bone mineral density was related with elevated levels of FSH (p < 0.00001), lower levels of oestradiol (p < 0.00001) and, however, no differences on seric and urinary calcium (respectively, p > 0.70 and p > 0.52) or PTH (p > 0.70) were demonstrated.

Adult↗