The effect of plasmapheresis and the plasmasorption and immunosorption of low-density lipoproteins on the humoral immunity function of patients with hereditary hypercholesterolemia

It has been shown that prolonged use of plasmapheresis with a 7-day interval in patients with hereditary hypercholesterolemia is potentially dangerous because of possible development of immunodeficiency. LDL plasmasorption and immunosorption produce a beneficial effect on the concentration of immunoglobulins. It is assumed that immunosorption permits the elimination not only of lipoproteins but also lipoprotein-containing immune complexes from the blood channel.     

Changes in Morphology of the Paced QRS Complex Related to Pacemaker Output

The influence of pacemaker output on the morphology of the paced QRS complex was studied from standard lead electrocardiograms in 69 patients with bipolar pacemakers. In 40 of the 69 patients (58%), there was a significant (P less than 0.001) change in electrical axis, from -75 degrees at the low output setting (2.7 V, 0.15 msec) to -67 degrees at the high output setting (8.1 V, 2.29 msec). In 30 patients, these changes were also associated with changes in the QRS morphology and in the T-wave. This phenomenon may be explained by additional stimulation from the proximal electrode at high output, thus altering the pattern of depolarization.     

Enhancement of t lymphocyte functions by Fc fragments of immunoglobulins. I. Augmentation of allogeneic mixed lymphocyte culture reactions requires I-A- or I-B-subregion differences between effector and stimulator cell populations

Fc fragments derived from human Ig were found to be capable of enhancing T cell-mediated, antigen-induced proliferative and mixed lymphocyte culture responses. Maximum enhancement occurred when suboptimal amounts of antigen or suboptimal numbers of stimulator cells were employed. Augmentation of the allogeneic mixed lymphocyte culture reaction requires an I-A and/or I-B subregion difference between effector and stimulator cell populations. Although a significant proliferative response was observed with K- or D- region differences, Fc fragments were unable to enhance the response. The T cell population acted upon by Fc fragments in the potentiation of these responses bears the Lyt-1(+)23(-) phenotype.     

Seroprevalence of human T-lymphotropic virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus in Asian American potential bone marrow donors

BACKGROUND: Asian Americans are generally underrepresented both as volunteer blood and bone marrow donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To investigate the risk of transfusion transmission of viruses that is associated with increasing participation by Asian American donors, antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus in Asian American volunteers recruited as potential bone marrow donors were measured. A total of 1354 Asian Americans were enrolled in the study, of whom 54 percent were Chinese, 26 percent Japanese, 9 percent Filipino, 4 percent Korean, 3 percent Indian, and 5 percent of other Asian or mixed Asian and other ethnicity. The majority of the study population was aged 20 through 49 and of high socioeconomic status, as indicated by education and income. Viral antibodies were measured with both screening enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and supplemental testing, and polymerase chain reaction was used to resolve discrepant HTLV results. RESULTS: Confirmed seroprevalence rates for HTLV were 0.15 percent with one manufacturer's Western blot and 0.3 percent with the other; however, no sample was positive for HTLV types I or II in polymerase chain reaction. Confirmed seroprevalence to hepatitis C virus was 0.5 percent. No subject was seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the moderate size and high education level of this study population, it is concluded that Asian American volunteer bone marrow donors do not pose a greater risk for transmission of HTLV type I or II, human immunodeficiency virus, or hepatitis C virus than does the average American blood donor.     

Fusion or Confusion on Holter Recording

Holter recording of a patient with an implanted dual chamber rate responsive pacemaker revealed an electrocardiogram, where ventricular depolarization seemed to be initiated by the atrial stimulus. In a second patient with a VVI pacemaker, Holter recording showed delay of the pacemaker impulse that was registered after the onset of ventricular depolarization. Misalignment in one of the recorder heads of the display system was responsible for this phenomenon, which in case of dual chamber pacing could have been easily misinterpreted as pacemaker malfunction.     

Antibodies reacting with the antigens of the human immunodeficiency virus in systemic lupus erythematosus

A study was made of the level of anti-HTLV-111 using an enzyme immunoassay (Emzygnost-anti-HTLV-111) in 75 donors and 143 patients with various diseases including SLE (57), rheumatoid arthritis (9), Sj?gren's disease (3), Bekhterev's disease (2), polymyositis (2), dilatation cardiomyopathy (30), and acute lymphocytic leukemia (40). Anti-HTLV-111 were detected in 26 SLE patients and in one patient with polymyositis. A study of positive sera using immunoblotting showed no interaction with virus antigens. A conclusion was made that the detection of anti-HTLV-111 in systemic rheumatoid diseases was a false-positive result.     

The clinical importance of the dynamic determination of the serum neopterin level in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy]

Serum neopterin was measured over time (from 3 to 24 months) by RIA in 15 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Comparison with the clinical data revealed that the initially normal concentration of neopterin (less than 9 nM/l) was associated with a stable disease course on a long-term observation (group I). The second group with an initially high neopterin concentration showed an objective improvement of the health status together with normalization of the neopterin level. The third group of patients were characterized by an increase of the neopterin level measured over time, coupled with a disease progress. It should be noted that 5 out of 8 patients died. In addition to neopterin measurements, the patients with dilated cardiomyopathy were examined for serum beta-2-microglobulin (beta-2M). Analysis of the data obtained has demonstrated a similar relationship between the level of neopterin and beta-2M and the clinical course of dilated cardiomyopathy. Still, neopterin is a more sensitive marker. Therefore, the data obtained attest to a possibility of the use of serum neopterin as a prognostic marker in patients suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy.