Humoral immunoreactivity to gliadin and to tissue transglutaminase is present in some patients with multiple myeloma

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal B-cell disorder with many immunological disturbances. The aim of this work was to assess whether some of food antigens contribute to the imbalance of immune response by screening the sera of MM patients for their immunoreactivity to food constituent gliadin, to tissue transglutaminase-2 (tTG-2) and to Ro/SSA antigen. Sera from 61 patients with MM in various stages of disease, before, or after some cycles of conventional therapy were analyzed by commercial Binding Site ELISA tests. The control group consisted of 50 healthy volunteers. Statistical analysis of data obtained was performed by Mann Whitney Test.

Results

The higher serum IgA immunoreactivity to gliadin was found in 14/56 patients and in one of control people. The enhanced serum IgG immunoreactivity to gliadin was found in only two of tested patients and in two controls. The enhanced IgA immunoreactivity to tTG-2 was found in 10/49 patients' sera, while 4/45 patients had higher serum IgG immunoreactivity. The enhanced serum IgG immunoreactivity to RoSSÀ antigen was found in 9/47 analyzed MM patients' sera. Statistical analysis of data obtained revealed that only the levels of anti-tTG-2 IgA immunoreactivity in patients with MM were significantly higher than these obtained in healthy controls (P < 0.02)

Conclusion

Data obtained showed the existence of the enhanced serum immunoreactivity to gliadin, tTG-2 and Ro/SSA antigens in some patients with MM. These at least partially could contribute to the immunological imbalance frequently found in this disease.     

Parallel single molecule detection with a fully integrated single-photon 2x2 CMOS detector array

We present parallel single molecule detection (SMD) and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) experiments with a fully integrated complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) single-photon 2x2 detector array. Multifocal excitation is achieved with a diffractive optical element (DOE). Special emphasis is placed on parallelization of the total system. The performance of the novel single-photon CMOS detector is investigated and compared to a state-of-the-art single-photon detecting module [having an actively quenched avalanche photodiode (APD)] by measurements on free diffusing molecules at different concentrations. Despite the order of magnitude lower detection efficiency of the CMOS detector compared to the state-of-the-art single-photon detecting module, we achieve single molecule sensitivity and reliably determine molecule concentrations. In addition, the CMOS detector performance for the determination of the fraction of slowly diffusing molecules in a primer solution (two-component analysis) is demonstrated. The potential of this new technique for high-throughput confocal-detection-based systems is discussed.     

Solution properties and unperturbed dimensions of poly(pentachlorophenyl methacrylate)

The properties of dilute solutions of poly(pentachlorophenyl methacrylate) in various solvents are studied by measurements of viscosity and osmotic pressure. The unperturbed dimensions are determined in two Θ-solvents: benzene at 40°C, ethylbenzene at 25°C, and several other solvents such as toluene, chlorobenzene, o-xylene and o-dichlorobenzene at 25°C. The results show a variation of the unperturbed dimensions with the solvent nature in good solvents. The flexibility factor, σ, calculated on the basis on the unperturbed dimensions in a Θ-solvent and the dimensions of a freely rotating chain is higher than that of other polymethacrylates with chlorinated aromatic side groups. The polymer-solvent interactions are discussed in relation to some other polymethacrylates.     

Saphenous vein endothelium-dependent relaxation in patients with peripheral vascular disease

In vitro vasomotor responses of saphenous veins of 15 patients undergoing peripheral vascular bypass procedures were studied. Vessels were harvested by standard techniques, sectioned into 4 mm rings, and suspended in organ baths under isometric tension. Stimulation with cumulative doses of norepinephrine revealed a –logED₅₀ of 6.85±0.12 M and maximal tension of 8.64±1.77 g. Patient characteristics suggesting high maximal response (by univariate analysis) included male sex (male 11.69±2.49 g versus female 5.08±1.69 g; p=0.058). Intact and denuded rings were additionally tested for endothelium-dependent relaxation following submaximal norepinephrine precontraction. The vessels relaxed in response to acetylcholine (maximal relaxation 31.1±10.7% at 1 × 10^–6 M), calcium ionophore A23187 (85.3±11.8% at 1 × 10^–5 M), and sodium nitroprusside (150.8±15.2% at 1 × 10^–5 M), but only acetylcholine relaxation was completely endothelium-dependent. Calcium ionophore A23187 relaxation was partially dependent on the endothelium while sodium nitroprusside relaxation was entirely endothelium-independent. Negligible relaxation was observed in response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (12.1±12.8% at 1 × 10^–5 M) while histamine and serotonin caused additional contraction only. We concluded that, in patients undergoing vascular surgical procedures, the saphenous vein (1) demonstrates variable contractile function which appears to be greater in males following spinal anesthesia, and (2) exhibits moderate endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to acetylcholine and calcium ionophore A23187 but not to ADP, histamine, or serotonin.