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Copyright of Neurologie Pro Praxi is the property of SOLEN sro and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Nursing Perspectives / Ošetřovatelské Perspektivy is the property of Silesian University in Opava, Faculty of Public Policies in Opava and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Granuloma annulare is a benign dermatosis. The etiology of granuloma annulare is unclear and the delayed type of hypersensitive reaction to unknown antigen is supposed. We distinguish localized, generalized, perforating, subcutaneous and patch form of granuloma annulare. Localized form is usually self-limited and disappears within two years. Generalized form of granuloma annulare is a therapeutic problem. Many patiens have been treated with many systemic drugs with the poor therapeutic effect. Phototherapy, im-munosuppressants, antibiotics, antimalarials, antileprotic drugs, vitamins, cytostatics and biologic agents have been used for the generalized granuloma annulare treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoclonal antibody-based therapeutic approaches have a significant impact in the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Rituximab in conjunction with chemotherapy is now standard treatment for follicular lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Furthermore, based on our knowledge of antigen expression on the surface of lymphoma cells has led to development of the other monoclonal antibodies. Those, in clinical use or in clinical trials are shortly described. Similarly many monoclonal antibodies have been introduced for the treatment of solid tumors. These are directed against different targets such as growth factors (e.g. bevacizumab) or against the extracellular domain of epidermal growth factor (i.e. trastuzumab, cetuximab). For improving therapeutic efficacy, conjugated antibodies have been developed. Antibodies conjugated with radioisotopes (90Y), cytotoxic drugs (calicheamycin) or toxins (estafenatox) are used or are under investigation. Knowledge gained from molecular and cellular biology over past decades has driven the development of a new generation of monoclonal antibodies (bispecific/trifunctional antibodies, diabodies, peptibodies, intrabodies, immunocytokines). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: New technologies that employ multiplexed bead based immu-noassays have contributed to the improvement in the diagnosis and monitoring of autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the performance of multiplexed bead based immunoassay (AtheNA Multi-Lyte ANA test system) relative to established indirect immunofluorescent analysis (IIF ANA) and enzyme-linked immu-nosorbent assay (ELISA) currently used in our laboratory. Materials and methods: 897 serum specimens were tested with AtheNA Multi-Lyte ANA test system for nine analytes (SSA, SSB, Sm, RNP, Scl-70, Jo-1, dsDNA, Centromere B and Histone), and with IIF ANA. Only positive specimens were tested with single-antigen ELISA and compared with AtheNA Multi-Lyte ANA. Results: There was a complete concordance between multiplexed bead based immunoassay and IIF ANA in 92.3% cases (70% of total cases were negative and 22.3% positive). For specific autoantibodies, sensitivity ranged from 80.0% (Scl-70) to 100% (SSA), and specificity from 92.3% (ds DNA) to 98.3% (Sm) for AtheNA Multi-Lyte ANA and ELISA. All positive sera (200) were tested by single antigen ELISA test and compared with results obtained with AtheNA Multi-Lyte ANA test system. The correlation established for all autoantibodies was significant (P < 0.001), as well as the kappa value (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our results showed that the AtheNA Multi-Lyte test system could replace single antigen ELISA test for the measurement of specific autoantibodies, but not completely the IIF ANA method in an immunology laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a unique therapeutic method, because of its ability to change the natural course of disease. It offers preventive and long-term effects that persist for years after the treatment has ended. The latest form of AIT is sublingual tablet containing grass allergens suitable for patients with allergic rhinitis with or without allergic conjunctivitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is an extracellular pathogen that penetrates the ciliated layer of the respiratory mucus and firmly adheres to the surface of the epithelial cells. It differs from other bacteria by not producing peptidoglycan and thereby not forming a firm cell wall. This close contact of cells and mycoplasmas allows for membrane fusion and the exchange of antigens, which explains many extrapulmonary complications from autoimmune reactions (Such as myocarditis, pericarditis, encephalitis, peripheral neuropathy, haemolytic anaemia, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, mucositis, epidermal necrolysis, myelitis, coagulopathy, erythema multi- forme, macular rash, erythema nodosum, hepatocellular jaundice, acute pancreatitis, acute glomerulonephri- tis, renal failure, cholestatic hepatitis, even coma and others). M. pneumoniae is a common cause of upper respiratory tract infections, but it can take the course of atypical bronchopneumonia. Diagnosis can be confir- med with high probability by serological examination of antibody titre of immunoglobulin M (IgM), where an IgM antibody titre of 1:32 is considered highly significant. However, positivity is manifested in only 50--70 % of pati- ents 7--10 days after the outbreak of disease. A negative result, however, does not exclude a possible ongoing infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemias (AIHA) belong to the acquired diseases with increased consumption of red cells. Autoantibodies bound to the red cells antigens provide an intravascular and/or extravascular haemolysis mediated by monocyte-macrophage system and/or complement. AIHA can be divided into the ones: 1) AIHA with warm-reacting antibodies, 2) AIHA with cold agglutinins, 3) mixed type, 4) paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria, and 5) drug-related immune haemolytic anaemias. Except the general markers of haemolysis, the diagnosis is determined by the recognizing of anti-erythrocyte antibodies. The treatment and its efficacy depend on the type of AIHA. The major aim of therapy is to suppress the activity of autoimmune mechanism leading to the clinically significant haemolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]