Search results for "Sorbent"
showing 10 items of 635 documents
Human toxocariasis: a report of nine cases
2008
Aim: Human toxocariasis is caused by infection with the larval stage of nematode parasites of dogs and cats, Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati. These helminths are not able to complete their life cycle in undefinitive hosts and so undergo aberrant migrations in the tissues causing a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms. Eosinophilia is often severe and sometimes represents the only sign of infection, except in ocular and neurological forms. Methods: We describe the clinical features of nine children affected by toxocariasis admitted to our Infectious Diseases department from 2004 to 2006. Results: Fever and hepatomegaly were the most common clinical findings. In two cases eosinophilia was not …
Hepatitis C virus replication in ‘autoimmune’ chronic hepatitis
1991
Abstract Both high and low anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) prevalence has been reported in autoimmune chronic active hepatitis. Therefore, we studied 15 consecutive HBsAg-negative, ELISA anti-HCV-positive, autoantibody-positive patients with biopsy proven chronic active hepatitis in order to confirm ELISA specificity by immunoblot test (RIBA-HCV), and to evaluate HCV replication by serum HCV-RNA. Nine patients were anti-nuclear, three type 1 anti-liver-kidney microsomal and three anti-smooth muscle antibody positive. None had associated autoimmune disease. All cases showed mild clinical disease and only moderate necroinflammatory activity. Response to prednisone was poor. RIBA-HC…
Evaluation of an automated chromogenic substrate assay for the rapid determination of hirudin in plasma.
1995
Abstract A fully mechanized chromogenic substrate assay method for the rapid and specific determination of recombinant hirudin (r-hirudin) in citrated plasma on clinical chemistry analyzers (Hitachi 911 and Cobas Mira) is described. In a first step, 12 μl sample volume is mixed with the chromogenic substrate. Due to the almost immediate action of hirudin the inhibitory reaction and the cleavage of the substrate is started simultaneously when bovine thrombin is added in excess. This excludes interferences by antithrombin III or heparin cofactor II. The change in absorbance/min is recorded at 405 nm. The measuring range is about 0.2 – 4.0 mg/l r-hirudin on both analyzers. Precision is charact…
Isolation of a high spin form of cytochrome P-450 induced in rat liver by 3-methylcholanthrene.
1983
Abstract A form of cytochrome P-450 (P-450 MC1) has been isolated from the livers of 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats. The molecular weight is 54,500 and the heme iron is in the high spin configuration which clearly differenciates this form from the other major cytochrome induced by 3-methylcholanthrene (P-450 MC2). Whilst MC2 actively dealkylated 7-ethoxycoumarin and 7-ethoxyresorufin, MC1 was only active with 7-ethoxyresorufin. Ouchterlony immunodiffusion analysis and ELISA showed that anti MC1 and anti MC2 reacted with both MC1 and MC2 but preferentially with the homologous antigen. Both anti MC1 and MC2 cross-reacted strongly with microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene, Aroclor 1254 and …
Reciprocal stimulation of gammadelta T cells and dendritic cells during the anti-mycobacterial immune response.
2004
Gammadelta T cells and dendritic cells (DC) are two distinct cell types of innate immunity that participate in early phases of immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Here we show that a close functional relationship exists between these cell populations. Using an in vitro coculture system, Vgamma1 T cells from Tcrb(-/- )mice were found to be activated by DC infected in vitro with BCG, as indicated by the elevated CD69 expression, IFN-gamma secretion and cytotoxic activity. This activation process was due to a non-cognate mechanism since it required neither cell to cell contact nor interaction between the TCR and a specific antigen, but was mediated by DC-derived IL-12…
Quality and potency profile of eight recombinant isoallergens, largely mimicking total Bet v 1-specific IgE binding of birch pollen.
2019
Background To date, only limited information on structure, expression levels and IgE binding of Bet v 1 variants, which are simultaneously expressed in birch pollen, is available. Objective To analyse and compare structure and serum IgE/IgG binding of rBet v 1 variants to Bet v 1.0101. Methods Recombinant Bet v 1 variants were studied with sera of 20 subjects allergic to birch pollen. Folding, aggregation and solubility of the rBet v 1 variants were analysed to attribute diverging IgE binding to either allergen structure or methodological features. IgE/IgG binding was studied with rBet v 1 in solution or adsorbed to solid phases. Allergen-mediated cross-linking of FceRI receptors was determ…
Elevated blood Hsp60, its structural similarities and cross-reactivity with thyroid molecules, and its presence on the plasma membrane of oncocytes p…
2014
The role Hsp60 might play in various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases is under investigation, but little information exists pertaining to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). With the aim to fill this gap, in the present work, we directed our attention to Hsp60 participation in HT pathogenesis. We found Hsp60 levels increased in the blood of HT patients compared to controls. The chaperonin was immunolocalized in thyroid tissue specimens from patients with HT, both in thyrocytes and oncocytes (Hurthle cells) with higher levels compared to controls (goiter). In oncocytes, we found Hsp60 not only in the cytoplasm but also on the plasma membrane, as shown by double immunofluorescence performed on …
DNA repair protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in testis and testicular tumors as determined by a novel nonradioactive assay
2003
The DNA repair protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT, alkyltransferase) is an important suicide enzyme involved in defense against O6-alkylating endogenous metabolites and environmental carcinogens. It also plays a pivotal role in primary and acquired resistance of tumors to alkylating anticancer drugs targeting the O6-position of guanine (i.e., methylating and chloroethylating agents). MGMT can thus be considered a crucial biomarker for individual susceptibility to alkylating carcinogens and tumor drug resistance. This implies a need for a fast and convenient method for determination of MGMT. Routinely, MGMT is being quantified by radioactive assays which are relatively labo…
Evaluation of the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a DTPa-HBV-IPV combination vaccine Co-administered with a hib conjugate vaccine either as a si…
2004
A combined DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccine containing diphtheria (D), tetanus (T), acellular pertussis (Pa), hepatitis B (HBV) and types 1, 2 and 3 inactivated polioviruses (IPV) extemporaneously mixed with a conjugated Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine (Group 1) was compared to the DTPa-HBV-IPV and Hib vaccines (Group 2) administered separately at 3, 5 and 11 months of age (n = 440). A microneutralization assay was used to detect antibodies against the 3 polio virus types (cut-off 1:8 dil), RIA for anti-HBs antibodies (cut-off 10 mIU/ml) and ELISA for antibodies against all other vaccine antigens (cut-off: 0.1 IU/ml for anti-tetanus and anti-diphtheria antibodies; 5 El.U/ml for antibodi…
Seroepidemiology of Pertussis in Italy
1991
During 1988 and 1989 the prevalence of serum IgG antibodies to pertussis toxin in a sample of 3,875 unvaccinated, apparently healthy persons between the ages of 1 year to 19 years was estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The participants were recruited by means of systematic cluster sampling from public and private schools in five geographic areas of Italy. The overall prevalence of IgG antibodies was 80.8%, with a steady increase from 33.5% among 1- to 3-year-old children to 95% among 17- to 19-year-old individuals. The prevalence of natural immunity was 50% and 75% at the ages of 4 and 6 years, respectively. No gender-related difference in immunity was observed. For children gr…