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Biomedical subjects

Y Levo

Publications and source records attributed to Y Levo.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Association between hepatitis B virus and essential mixed cryoglobulinemia.

In view of a high frequency of liver involvement in patients with essential mixed cryoglubulinemia, we looked for evidence for hepatitis B virus infection in 25 serum specimens and 19 cryoprecipitates obtained from 30 patients. Three of the 25 serum specimens contained Hbs Ag, and 12 had antibody. The frequency of positive results was increased to six and 11 of 19 respectively when cryoprecipitates were examined, and 14 of 19 (74 per cent) of the cryoprecipitates were positive for either HBs Ag or its antibody. Electron microscopy of four cryoprecipitates showed structures resembling the 20-nm and 27-nm spheres, tubules, as well as the Dane particles characteristic of hepatitis B virus infection. Since such infection appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of the syndrome, the term "essential mixed cryoglobulinemia" should be replaced by "mixed cryoglobulinemia secondary to hepatitis B virus" or perhaps to other viral infections.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Liver involvement in the syndrome of mixed cryoglobulinemia.

A study of liver abnormalities in 36 patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia in the absence of underlying infectious, connective tissue, or lymphoproliferative disorders revealed clinical or biochemical evidence of liver dysfunction in 84%. Hepatomegaly was detected in 77%, splenomegaly in 54%, and abnormalities in bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, or serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase in 77%. Only four of the patients had overt liver disease. Of 15 biopsies from 12 patients, there was normal tissue structure in two, minimal nonspecific changes in one, portal fibrosis in three, chronic persistent hepatitis in one, chronic active hepatitis in two, chronic active hepatitis with cirrhosis in four, and postnecrotic cirrhosis in two. These findings, together with the previously reported high incidence of serologic evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, support the view that the syndrome of purpura, arthritis, and nephritis is often a consequence of immune-complex vasculitis secondary to HBV infection.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1977

The interaction of immunoglobulin heavy and light chains in the absence of the VH domain.

Recent studies of the micron- and kappa-chains of the first patient (GLI) with micronHCD indicated that the observed defect was the result of the failure of assembly of the intact kappa-chain to the micron-chain, which lacked the VH domain but had the CH1 Cys normally linked to the light chain. To explore the possibility that the VH region is necessary for the formation of the HL disulfide bond, in vitro studies were performed with GLI micron- and kappa-chains and with the CH1 domain and kappa-chain derived from an IgG3 myeloma protein, KUP, which yields separate VH, CH1, and kappa-chains after papain digestion and reduction. The proteins were reduced and allowed to reoxidize, and the combination products were assessed by gel chromatography under dissociating conditions by SDS-PAGE and by immunoprecipitation techniques. The results suggest that, although in vitro covalent and noncovalent combinations are possible between intact light chains and their autologous heavy chains even in the absence of the VH domain, the efficiency is less than that when the intact Fd region is used. Hence, it seems likely that lack of VH alone is not sufficient to explain the failure of assembly observed in muHCD.

Binding Sites, Antibody↗
PubMed1977

Isolated idiopathic chylopericardium.

The case history of a young asymptomatic patient with primary chylous pericardium is reported. On the basis of this case and those reported in the literature, we suggest that diagnosis should be established by echocardiograms, cardiac angiograms, and pericardiocentesis. Lymphangiograms are useful for the detection of the underlying abnormality of the lymph vessels. Pericardiectomy together with thoracic duct ligation are suggested as the preferred treatment. We propose that generalized lymphatic abnormality is the underlying mechanism of this entity. This lymphatic abnormality could be associated with impaired cellular immunity, although no such impairment was found in our patient.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Clinicopathological study of a patient with procainamide-induced systemic lupus erythematosus.

A patient who developed a multisystem involvement of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) after 9 years of procainamide therapy, during which time he ingested enormous amounts of the drug, is described. The patient first suffered from recurrent episodes of pleuritis and arthritis, after which he developed a characteristic SLE nephritis associated with a high level of antinative DNA antibodies and a low level of complement. He finally died from a complication of a nonbacterial endocarditis. Autopsy showed polyserositis and typical deposits of electron-dense material on the glomerular basement membrane, and confirmed the clinical diagnosis of Libman-Sacks endocarditis. The possibility that procainamide-induced SLE might have all the clinical, immunological, and pathological features of spontaneous SLE, especially in patients exposed to large doses of the drug for many years, is discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1976

Correlation between anti-DNA antibody titre and psychiatric manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus.

A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus with predominant psychiatric involvement was followed during two psychotic exacerbations of her disease. A high correlation was found between disease activity and the titre of anti-DNA antibodies. Disease activity was preceded and accompanied by a high titre, while remission was associated with low titre. The significance of this correlation for the pathogenesis, diagnosis and managment of the psychiatric symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Restoration of cellular immune response by levamisole in patients with Hodgkin's disease.

Cellular responses were studied in patients with Hodgkin's disease before and after levamisole treatment "in vivo" by measuring delayed skin reactivity to various antigens (PPD, Mumps, Candida and SK-SD), and "in vitro" by evaluating lymphocyte capacity to form spontaneous rosettes and to react to the T-cell mitogen PHA. Levamisole was found to significantly increase both the delayed skin reactivity and the number of T-rosette forming lymphocytes. Patients within two years from irradiation had reduced reactivity to PHA and in them levamisole significantly increased this reactivity. On the other hand, patients who had been irradiated more than two years prior to the study had normal reactivity to PHA which tended to decrease under levamisole treatment. It is concluded that levamisole restores the depressed cellular immunity in patients with Hodgkin's disease and its administration might be indicated in patients, especially in the immediate post-irradiation period.

Hodgkin Disease↗
PubMed1975

Association between myasthenia gravis and malignant lymphoma.

A reticulum cell sarcoma was diagnosed in a myasthenic patient 14 years after the first manifestations of myasthenia gravis. The association of myasthenia and malignancy, especially lymphoreticular, is discussed in view of an increasing number of similar reports in the literature. It is suggested that autoimmune diseases, myasthenia gravis and malignant processes might have a common underlying abnormal immune state related to thymic pathology.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Hydantoin immunosuppression and carcinogenesis.

The immunological response of mice submitted to hydantoin treatment was determined. Hydantoin reduced the absolute number of spleen cells in treated animals and did not modify spleen cells reactivity to concanavalin A, although the response to SRBC challenge, as measured by the Jerne plaque-forming cell technique, was significantly decreased. Following these findings, the influence of hydantoin on carcinogenesis was evaluated by using the model of urethane-induced lung adenomas in SWR mice. Treatment with hydantoin significantly reduced the incidence of the induced adenomas. We confirmed that hydantoin modifies the immune response of the host mainly by depressing its humoral function and we have shown that this effect was associated with an inhibitory effect on tumour induction.

Adenoma↗