International journal of clinical & laboratory research最新文献

{"title":"Determination of antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens by commercial kits: a multicenter study.","authors":"P Cordiali Fei,&nbsp;G D'Agosto,&nbsp;F Ameglio,&nbsp;G Valesini,&nbsp;C Alessandri,&nbsp;A Farsi,&nbsp;M P Domenighetti,&nbsp;A Passaleva,&nbsp;F Scamardella,&nbsp;R Neri,&nbsp;S Bombardieri,&nbsp;M Quinzanini,&nbsp;F Franceschini,&nbsp;F Chiarotti","doi":"10.1007/s005990050014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990050014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Several enzyme immunoassays for serum antibodies to extractable nuclear antigen have recently become available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results obtained with: (1) the same kit under different conditions; (2) different enzyme immunoassays; (3) Western blot and enzyme immunoassays. Twenty-five sera from patients with autoimmune disorders were tested in five different laboratories by one Western blot and four enzyme immunoassay commercial kits. The different methods produced comparable qualitative results. However, semiquantitative evaluation, based on a cut-off value (index), yielded different results due both to laboratory conditions and to the kits employed. Standardization of commercial products and methods should be improved so that the results of different laboratories can be compared and large-scale and follow-up studies conducted. Western blot analysis could also be useful to analyze complex reactivities, although greater experience is necessary to interpret these results correctly.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"28 1","pages":"29-33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990050014","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20514389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Different pattern of cytokine production and mRNA expression by lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells isolated from human palatine tonsil.","authors":"G Lisignoli,&nbsp;C Pozzi,&nbsp;S Toneguzzi,&nbsp;M Tomassetti,&nbsp;M C Monaco,&nbsp;A Facchini","doi":"10.1007/s005990050013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990050013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To investigate the cytokines involved in the interaction between circulating (B and T lymphocytes) and non-circulating (stromal cells) elements present in lymphoid tissue, highly purified populations were isolated from human tonsils and the cytokine production and mRNA expression (interleukin-1 alpha, -2, -4, -5, -6, -8, -10, leukocyte inhibitory factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interferon-gamma) were assessed both by immunoassay and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction under resting conditions and after activation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Under basal conditions most cytokines were not detected, except for interleukin-8 which was produced by T lymphocytes and lymphoid cells. Activation by tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced interleukin-8 production by B lymphocytes. Tonsillar T lymphocytes expressed mRNA for interleukin-1 alpha, -8, -10, -4, leukocyte inhibitory factor, and interferon-gamma, only interleukin-4 was expressed by resting peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Tonsillar B lymphocytes were mRNA positive for interleukin-1 alpha, -8, -10, leukocyte inhibitory factor, and interferon-gamma, these were not expressed by peripheral blood B lymphocytes. Stromal cells constitutively produce interleukin-6 whose levels increased 5 times upon tumor necrosis factor-alpha activation Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-8 were detected only after tumor necrosis factor-alpha activation. Only stromal cells constitutively express interleukin-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and show a cytokine pattern different from that described for other non-lymphoid cells, such as follicular dendritic cells. These data indicate that in the human tonsil population, lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells can be distinguished by different patterns of cytokine expression.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"28 1","pages":"23-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990050013","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20514387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Alterations of cerebral blood flow and antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.","authors":"A Postiglione,&nbsp;S De Chiara,&nbsp;A Soricelli,&nbsp;A Oriente,&nbsp;A Ruocco,&nbsp;G Spadaro,&nbsp;S Montefusco,&nbsp;G Marone,&nbsp;A Genovese","doi":"10.1007/s005990050015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990050015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Twenty-two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 13 healthy controls were included in a cerebral blood flow study and underwent brain-dedicated single-photon emission computed tomography using 99m technetium-d, l-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime together with a brain computed tomography scan. Plasma levels of antiphospholipid antibodies (lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin IgM and IgG antibodies) were also determined. Brain computed tomography showed signs of focal cerebral ischemia in 4 patients (18%), whereas cerebral blood flow by single-photon emission computed tomography was abnormal in 13 of 22 patients (59%), who showed bilateral or monolateral hypoperfusion in the temporo-parietal regions. Patients with abnormal cerebral blood flow had a longer duration of disease than those with normal blood flow (8.9 +/- 1.9 years vs. 5.3 +/- 1.5 years, P < 0.05). Plasma antiphospholipid antibodies were present in 15 patients (68%), but the prevalence was similar in those with normal (6/9, 66%), or abnormal (9/13, 69%) cerebral blood flow. No statistically significant difference in lupus anticoagulant or anticardiolipin antibodies was observed between patients with and without cerebral blood flow abnormalities. Our study shows that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus frequently have cerebral blood flow abnormalities, which could precede those observed by computed tomography. Plasma lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin titers were not correlated with normal cerebral blood flow.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"28 1","pages":"34-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990050015","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20514391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Use of reticulocyte cellular indices in the diagnosis and treatment of hematological disorders.","authors":"C Brugnara","doi":"10.1007/s005990050011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990050011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Automated counting of reticulocytes has markedly increased the precision and accuracy of this assay compared with the traditional manual counts. In addition, several new reticulocyte parameters are now available to clinicians and pathologists. This review examines the potential role of these parameters in the diagnosis and management of anemias. Reticulocyte maturity can now be assessed based on the staining intensity of reticulocytes, which is proportional to their RNA content. However, the clinical value of the numerical estimate of the immature reticulocyte fraction has not been yet demonstrated. In the bone marrow transplant setting, there is no clear evidence that the use of this index results in improved care of these patients, and many studies have failed to show its superiority compared with the traditional white cell count, especially for autologous transplants. Direct measurement of reticulocyte volume, hemoglobin concentration, and hemoglobin content are now available. Studies have shown that these parameters, and hemoglobin content in particular, allow a real-time assessment of the functional state of the erythroid marrow. In the setting of recombinant human erythropoietin therapy, studies of hemoglobin content have shown that this index allows an early detection of functional iron deficiency. Preliminary studies have also shown that this index may be helpful in the diagnosis of iron deficiency and in the monitoring of iron replacement therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"28 1","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990050011","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20514460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early endothelial alterations in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.","authors":"S Neri,&nbsp;C M Bruno,&nbsp;C Leotta,&nbsp;R A D'Amico,&nbsp;G Pennisi,&nbsp;D Ierna","doi":"10.1007/s005990050027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990050027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The high incidence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with albuminuria cannot be fully explained by the presence of standard cardiovascular risk factors. We assessed some pathogenic factors of diabetic vascular atherosclerotic damage in 72 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients controlled by diet alone and 60 healthy controls. Our study aim was to assess the early onset of these alterations and to correlate them with the presence of microalbuminuria. We determined their incidence in two carefully selected groups of diabetic patients without clinical signs of cardiovascular risk and complications, where diet alone achieved glycometabolic balance. Microalbuminuric patients had an alterated oxide-reductive balance and elevated values of plasminogen activator inhibitor, tissue plasminogen activator, von Willebrand factor, endothelin-1 and betathromboglobulin compared with the normoalbuminuric diabetics and controls. Our findings support the hypothesis that a state of endothelial dysfunction characterized by altered oxide-reductive balance, modified hemostasis and changes in the endothelial barrier properties occurs much earlier in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patient especially in diabetics with microalbuminuria. In addition, alterations in the oxide-reductive balance, and hemostasis occur early and may be an underlying cause of microangiopathic complications in microalbuminuric diabetics.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"28 2","pages":"100-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990050027","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20606141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lipoprotein disorder in brain infarction and hemorrhage.","authors":"A Sato,&nbsp;Y Asakura,&nbsp;C Yokota,&nbsp;M Suzuki,&nbsp;M Tsushima,&nbsp;Y Kuriyama,&nbsp;T Sawada,&nbsp;T Yamaguchi,&nbsp;M Kobayashi,&nbsp;Y Harano","doi":"10.1007/s005990050016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990050016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The cholesterol, triglyceride, and apolipoprotein B content of very low-, intermediate-, low-, and high-density lipoprotein fractions (separated by ultracentrifugation) and plasma were measured in healthy controls and patients with atherothrombotic infarction (26), lacunar infarction (26), and brain hemorrhage (14). In both atherothrombotic and lacunar infarction, increased plasma and low-density lipoprotein apolipoprotein B and a decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/apolipoprotein B ratio were noted. In brain hemorrhage patients, a decreased ratio was also observed. These findings suggest that increased small dense low-density lipoprotein is a characteristic risk factor for atherothrombotic and lacunar infarction.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"28 1","pages":"39-46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990050016","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20514392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immunopharmacology of human mast cells and basophils.","authors":"G Marone,&nbsp;G Spadaro,&nbsp;V De Marino,&nbsp;M Aliperta,&nbsp;M Triggiani","doi":"10.1007/s005990050012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990050012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human mast cells and basophils play a key role in the pathogenesis of several immunological and inflammatory disorders, not only by producing inflammatory and fibrogenic mediators, but also by directly (CD40 ligand) and indirectly secreting various cytokines and chemokines. Studies carried out to evaluate the effects of drugs that modulate the release of mediators and cytokines from these cells have contributed to clarifying the biochemical mechanism by which immunological and non-immunological stimuli activate these cells. Significant differences have been documented between human mast cells and basophils as regard the pharmacological agents that modulate the release of mediators, between mast cells isolated from different anatomical sites, and between compounds of the same class of drugs. Efforts to gain insight into the biochemical events occurring during immunological activation of mast cells and basophils could lead to the identification of new biochemical targets for therapeutic interventions in several immunological disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"28 1","pages":"12-22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990050012","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20514462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interleukin-10 increases mannose receptor expression and endocytic activity in monocyte-derived dendritic cells.","authors":"D Longoni,&nbsp;L Piemonti,&nbsp;S Bernasconi,&nbsp;A Mantovani,&nbsp;P Allavena","doi":"10.1007/s005990050037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990050037","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human monocyte-derived dendritic cells were differentiated in vitro for 7 days with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor and interleukin-13. These cultured dendritic cells are at an immature stage of differentiation and exhert high endocytic activity via surface mannose receptor and via fluid-phase macropinocytosis. We have investigated the modulation of endocytosis by interleukin-10 in these cells. When added during the last 24 h of the 7-day culture, interleukin-10 significantly stimulated the uptake of fluorescein-labelled dextran (39 +/- 16% increase, mean +/- SD of 6 experiments), a sugar binding to the mannose receptor. This effect was dose dependent and correlated with the length of exposure to interleukin-10, with a maximal effect (more than seven-fold increase) when the cytokine was added at the beginning of the culture (day 0). The interleukin-10-increased fluorescein-labelled-dextran endocytosis was mostly mediated via the mannose receptor, as unlabelled mannose and specific antimannose receptor monoclonal antibody inhibited most of the uptake. Moreover, interleukin-10-treated cells expressed increased levels (up to four-fold) of mannose receptor. Interleukin-10 also increased, although to a lesser extent, the fluid-phase endocytosis (macropinocytosis) of fluorescein-labelled albumin. Interleukin-10 had the opposite effect on the differentiation and functional activity of monocyte-derived dendritic cells; cells having a very low stimulatory capacity and reduced expression of MHC class II and CD1a after a 7-day exposure. Thus interleukin-10 had a strong immunosuppressive effect on the differentiation and functional activity of monocyte-derived dendritic cells and yet strongly stimulated endocytosis in these cells. We speculate that an increased endocytic activity would eventually result in a decreased availability of antigens in the external milieu, thus contributing to the immunosuppressive and tolerogenic activity of interleukin-10.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"28 3","pages":"162-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990050037","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20712908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Expression of receptor Fc gamma RIII and phagocytic capacity of neutrophils in septic children.","authors":"T Woźniakowska-Gesicka,&nbsp;M Wiśniewska-Ligier,&nbsp;K Zeman,&nbsp;M Banasik,&nbsp;E Plewińska","doi":"10.1007/BF02874116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02874116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sepsis and its complications remain a frequent cause of death, but the pathogenesis of sepsis has not been thoroughly investigated. Ineffective elimination of the pathogen may be important in the development of a generalized inflammatory response. In this study, phagocytosis and the expression of Fc gamma RIII on neutrophils in peripheral blood from 25 children with sepsis and 25 healthy children were analyzed. The study was conducted in the initial phase of sepsis and then repeated 2-3 months after resolution. In the course of sepsis, a decrease in the percentage of neutrophils with Fc gamma RIII and the number of phagocytozing neutrophils compared with the control group were observed. Even after resolution, there was a decrease in the neutrophil phagocytic capacity. The persistent dysfunction of phagocytic cells in children after resolution of sepsis suggests the possibility of serious recurrent infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"28 4","pages":"242-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/BF02874116","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20786117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of various agonists on nitric oxide generation by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.","authors":"R Stolarek,&nbsp;P Kula,&nbsp;Z Kurmanowska,&nbsp;D Nowak","doi":"10.1007/s005990050028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990050028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nitric oxide generation is involved in a range of diseases involving polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The aim of this study was to determine whether human polymorphonuclear leukocytes are able to generate nitric oxide and to investigate the time course of its generation after stimulation with 10(-7) M N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, 60 ng/ml phorbol myristate acetate, 10(-7) M concanavalin A, and 10(-7) M platelet activating factor. Stimulation of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes with N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and phorbol myristate acetate caused sustained nitric oxide generation, reaching maximal values of 1,105 +/- 361 nM (n = 32) and 628 +/- 119 nM (n = 30), respectively. Platelet activating factor did not affect nitric oxide production (maximal value 29 +/- 7 nM, n = 8), whereas concanavalin A caused only a slight increase (102 +/- 24 nM, n = 8) when compared with resting cells control (26 +/- 6 nM, n = 8). Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes were able to respond to both consecutive and alternate N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and phorbol myristate acetate stimulation with nitric oxide generation. Nitric oxide generation was inhibited by specific inhibitors (N omega-nitro-L-arginine and N omega-monomethyl-L-arginine) and restored with L-arginine. We provide, to our knowledge, the first direct evidence that human neutrophils generate nitric oxide.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"28 2","pages":"104-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990050028","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"20606142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}