Anti-avian antibodies and rheumatoid factor in pigeon hypersensitivity pneumonitis

BACKGROUND: Although several immunological abnormalities may be present in pigeon hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), few specific hallmarks have been described. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF) could be useful to discriminate pigeon HP from asymptomatic breeders (AB) and other interstitial lung diseases. METHODS: Fifty-three patients with pigeon HP, 47 AB, 31 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients and a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) group were studied. IgM RF was determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot using human IgG and IgG Fc fragment as antigens. IgG and IgA anti-avian antibodies (AA) against pigeon serum antigen were also measured. The use of F(ab')2 fraction of peroxidase-labelled anti-human immunoglobulins prevented endogenous interferences. Possible cross-binding of RF with avian antigens and the reactivity against human IgG by AA were studied. RESULTS: RF tests were frequently positive in HP (52.8%) in comparison to AB (4.2%) and IPF (12.9%; P = 2.6 x 10-10 and 4.1 x 10-5). Therefore, the presence of RF in pigeon HP showed a sensitivity of 52% and was highly specific considering the results of AB and IPF (95 and 87%, respectively). The RA group revealed positive RF but negative AA tests. RF activity was confirmed through western blot using purified IgG Fc fragment. Overlapping levels of IgG and IgA AA were found in HP and AB. The frequency of AA was low in IPF. The cross-reaction of RF with avian antigens was excluded, and no reactivity against human IgG by AA was detected. Other endogenous interferences were ruled out. CONCLUSION: No single immunological test may definitively distinguish pigeon HP from AB and other interstitial lung disorders; however, positive RF, together with high AA levels, seems to be useful in differentiating the diagnosis.     

对IgM肾病的探讨

50例肾活检的原发性肾小球肾炎中,发现6例IgM肾病。主要病理特点为系膜增殖及IgM荧光沉积。临床表现以肾病综合征为特点,血清IgM升高,蛋白尿及血尿,并呈高凝状态。     

慢性丙型肝炎患者丙型肝炎病毒核酸与IgM抗体关系的研究

本文检测了１４０例丙型肝炎病毒（ＨＣＶ）抗体（抗－ＨＣＶ）阳性的慢性丙型肝炎（ＣＨＣ）的ＨＣＶ核酸（ＨＣＶＲＮＡ）和ＩｇＭ抗体（抗－ＨＣＶＩｇＭ）两项指标。结果表明，原始诊断为不同临床型的肝炎（ＨＣ）患者，８年随访时，ＨＣＶＲＮＡ和抗－ＨＣＶＩｇＭ阳性率分别为８０．７％和９０．７％（ｕ＝２．３９Ｐ＜０．０５）．在原始诊断不同临床型ＨＣ转慢者中，上述两项指标均未发现统计学上的差别（均为Ｐ＞０．０５）。ＨＣＶＲＮＡ与抗－ＨＣＶＩｇＭ配对比较，符合率为７８．６％。基因分型初步结果表明，河北省固安ＨＣＶ以基因Ⅱ型为主。本研究提示，随访８年的ＣＨＣ患者绝大多数仍有传染性；本文方法检测的抗－ＨＣＶＩｇＭ不能代表早期感染标志，但代表慢性感染活动化或带毒，所以，在不具备检测ＨＣＶＲＮＡ的地方更具有实用价值．     

Acute Myocarditis

ABSTRACT In a prospective study, 57 patients with a preliminary diagnosis of myocarditis were investigated. Twenty-four patients were considered to have an acute myocarditis, 14 had a suspected myocarditis, while in 19 patients myocarditis was excluded. Episodes of frequent supraventricular and/or ventricular extrasystoles during hospital stay were seen in 8/24 cases (33%) with myocarditis and in 1/19 cases (5%) without myocarditis. On follow-up 1 month later, no supraventricular extrasystoles were observed in either group. Echocardiographic signs consistent with left ventricular insufficiency were noted in 7/24 cases (29%) with myocarditis, in 1/14 cases (7%) with suspected myocarditis and in no case without myocarditis. With a “routine” serologic test battery covering influenza viruses A and B, adenovirus, Coxsackie virus group B, ECHO viruses, Chlamydia psittaci, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and hemolytic streptococci group A, a possible etiology could be documented in 9/24 cases (38%) with myocarditis and in 4/19 cases (21%) without myocarditis. Enterovirus-specific IgM was detected with solid-phase reverse immunosorbent test (SPRIST) in 12/23 (48%) cases with myocarditis and in 3/16 cases (19%) without myocarditis. In SPRIST-IgM-positive cases, IgM antibodies were detected in 15/20 (75%) of the sera taken on admission. The overall serological results indicated a recent infection in 16/24 cases (67%) with myocarditis and in 5/19 cases (26%) without myocarditis (p < 0.05).     

长沙地区孕妇CMV感染状况及其临床追踪观察

研究了７７例长沙地区孕、产妇的宫颈排毒（ＣＭＶ）情况及母、婴的免疫状态，并对宫颈排毒及ＣＭＶ一ＩｇＭ阳性的母亲所生小孩进行临床追踪。结果显示：孕妇宫颈排毒率为４．５％，抗ＣＭＶ－ＩｇＧ和抗ＣＭＶ－ＩｇＭ阳性率分别为７７％和１３％，５９例脐血ＣＭＶ－ＩｇＭ阴性。宫颈排毒的３例其抗体检测抗ＣＭＶ－ＩｇＧ均阳性，抗ＣＭＶ－ＩｇＭ仅一例阳性。作者认为，对妊娠期活动性ＣＭＶ感染的诊断，仅检测抗ＣＭＶ－ＩｇＧ和抗ＣＭＶ－ＩｇＭ抗体滴度仍不足，尚须结合病毒分离和其它检测手段。     

Prevalence and estimated incidence of Toxoplasma infection among pregnant women in Poland: a decreasing trend in the younger population

This study investigated the prevalence of specific Toxoplasma gondii IgG in pregnancy, the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis and the prevalence trend of T. gondii infection among pregnant Polish women between 1998 and 2003. The study population comprised 4916 women who were admitted to the Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute in Łódź. Their sera were tested for specific IgG and IgM antibodies to T. gondii, and the incidence of T. gondii infection was calculated from the increase in prevalence rates of IgG antibodies in various age groups. Specific IgG antibody was found in 41.3% (95% CI 39.9–42.7) of pregnant women, and the prevalence of IgG increased with age. The linear trend was significant (p <0.001), with an annual seroconversion rate of 0.7% (95% CI 0.004–0.010). The risk of primary infection was estimated to be 0.5% for 9 months, i.e., an incidence of 5/1000 pregnancies. Assuming a 30% maternofetal transmission rate, 1.5/1000 neonates were infected in utero. Seroprevalence during the 6-year study period decreased from 45.4% in 1998 to 39.4% in 2003, with a yearly decline in prevalence of 1.0% (p 0.02). The most important contributory factor to this decline was the group of women aged 19–29 years, among whom seroprevalence decreased significantly (p 0.007). Specific IgM was found in 244 (4.9%) women.     

Serum antibodies to structural proteins of Hantavirus arise at different times after infection.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the quantification of serum antibodies against group-specific epitopes of the glycoproteins (G1, G2) and nucleoprotein (NP) of the genus Hantavirus. This assay was used to study the kinetics of the development of serum antibodies after natural infection with Puumala-like virus in humans. To this end a panel of 34 serum samples collected from individuals at different times after natural infection was tested by the ELISA. The samples were also tested for specific IgM and IgG levels against Puumala-like virus, which provided confirmatory data about the presumed timing of infection. It was shown that serum antibodies against the G1 epitope were present in the acute and early convalescent period just before antibodies to the NP epitope could be demonstrated. In contrast, antibodies to two G2 epitopes were present not earlier than in the convalescent and late convalescent period. Since all these categories of antibodies seem to persist for long periods, antibodies against the G1 epitope and the NP epitope may be of specific diagnostic value. Furthermore, levels of G1-specific antibodies and antibodies to either NP or G2 may allow estimation of the time elapsed following initial infection.     

IgM抗-HD检测及其临床意义的探讨

建立了检测IgM抗-HD的酶联免疫法(ELISA,捕捉法),经验证该检测方法具有良好的特异性。文中还对119例HBV/HDV感染者进行了IgM抗-HD检测并在此基础上对IgM抗-HD的分子类型进行了研究,结果提示IgM抗-HD的检测有助于HDV与HBV同时感染与重叠感染的鉴别;文中所选HDV感染者的IgM抗-HD均发19S IgM抗-HD为主,是HDV感染急性期的标志,反映我省HDV感染者多为近期感染。     

Elevated anti-alginate serum titers in patients with acute cholangitis and gallstones imbedded withPseudomonas aeruginosa

Electron microscopy and bacteriological culture revealed viable bacteria covered with a glycocalyx (biofilm) in choledochal stones recovered from two patients with acute cholangitis. On the cut surface of the choledochal stones, the cholesterol stone component was surrounded with a layer of brown pigment stone. In each case, bacterial culture of the choledochal stone recoveredPseudomonas aeruginosa. Since alginate is the main component of the glycocalyx produced byP. aeruginosa, serum IgM, IgG and IgA anti-alginate antibodies were measured in each patient. The present study is the first to demonstrate acute and transient IgM seroconversion to alginate in cases of acute cholangitis. In one case, the elevation of anti-alginate IgM preceded the elevation of anti-alginate IgG. The authors propose that the bacterial glycocalyx may play a significant role in acute cholangitis.