Search

The paper presents the comparative use of algorithms to identify the causes of deficiency of coagulation factors in patients with a prolonged APTT, including the definition of the index of circulating anticoagulant (ICA) and the factor-parallelism (FP) method. The results obtained in children with hereditary hemophilia and adults with acquired hemophilia. It is shown that ICA is an effective method for pre-selection of patients with hereditary hemophilia if you suspect an inhibitor to subsequent confirmation test Bethesda. The method the FP has just proved itself in the diagnosis of acquired forms of hemophilia. The use of FP method is most expedient at the stage of screening to identify inhibitors in the laboratory. Method FP loses diagnostic value if the results of the activity factor in all dilutions is close to zero, which is characteristic for individual variants of hereditary hemophilia., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The paper presents modern idea of regulatory role of the human immune system in performing a number of physiological functions including intercellular interactions, reproductive process, and forming of protection against external and internal aggression. Significance of the immune system is considered and substantiated, that of genes of the human immune response in particular in provision of human survival as a biological species.

This paper provides the first (as is known from the literature analysis) results of the use of specific egg yolk IgY from immunized hens to prepare immune reagents to tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). The IgY preparations are shown to possess a high specific activity in ELISA and can be used as reference reagents, and also for the construction of ELISA systems to detect TBEV antigen.

Along with regenerated interest in passive immunization during flavivirus infections, there is an increase in the number of reports with negative opinions as to the expediency of postexposure immunoglobulin prophylaxis (IGP) of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Analysis of the publications (since 1959) on this problem has indicated that more than half of them, including all papers with negative opinions as to IGP, contain the results of studies whose design are unsuitable for the solution of the problem associated with the efficiency of medical interventions in the context of evidence-based medicine. Analysis of the results of cohort studies has established that the timely single administration of an immunoglobulin (IG) preparation against TBE in a dose of 0.05 ml/kg body weight ensures protection on average in 79% of cases. Increasing the single dose to 0.1 ml/kg, as re-administration of IG, provides no additional protective effect. The preventive efficacy of IG preparations against TBE varies under the influence of factors, such as the infectious virus dose inoculated from tick suckling, the age of a victim, the antiviral activity of preparations with a antihemagglutinin titer of 1:20 with high infectious virus doses and the absence of reliable rapid tools for its determination on tick suckling, it is necessary to use IG with a titer of at least 1:80 and, desirably, more active in children, for postexposure prophylaxis of TBE.

Emergency specific prevention of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) by using homologous immunoglobulin is an important element in the package of controlling measures against this viral natural and focal infection. There are annually a few hundred thousand referrals for health care facilities for tick bites. Their maximum coverage tactics via immunoglobulin prevention is medically unreal and unjustifiable. The paper presents the results of a long-term application of another approach based on preliminary rapid studies of the ticks taken from victims or the blood of patients in the period of possible development of virusemia and preventive immunoglobulin use only in the persons bitten with TBE virus-infected ticks. Examination of the material available from more than 56 thousand referrals indicated the high epidemiological (more than 99%) and economic effectiveness of the target administration of an immunological drug. By taking into account the accumulated data on a wide spread of combined foci of TBE and other tick-borne infections and the authors' own experience, it is suggested that it is necessary to organize a comprehensive differential laboratory diagnosis and emergency prevention against the whole complex of Ixodes tick-borne infections.

Selection of primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as used in detection of the reconstructed genes of immunoglobulins and T-cells receptor in tumor cells in children with acute lymphatic leukemia is described in the paper. PCR potentialities and limitations in characterizing the monoclonality observed in primary acute lymphatic leukemia are demonstrated. Cross linkages of the heavy chain of immunoglobulins and of T-cell receptor were found between T- and B-linear acute lymphatic leukemia forms, but not between acute lymphatic leukemia forms and myeloleukemia in children.

New data concerning biological properties of polyreactive immunoglobulins (PRIG) were obtained as a result of treatment of mouse serum immunoglobulins by 4 M KSCN and are presented in the paper. In particular, the capacity of PRIG to bind C1q, the subunit of the first component of complement was studied. It was shown that PRIG's binding capacity to C1q is similar to that of intact immunoglobulins. Intravenous administration of PRIG into mice together with either sheep red blood cells or heat-inactivated staphylococcal bacteria did not affect the immune response to these antigens. Meanwhile, the same administration of PRIG together with the purified protein derivate of tuberculin resulted in 10-fold increase of mouse antibody response to PPD. These results demonstrate that PRIG can have some immuno-modulating properties concerning low-immunogenic antigens.

The thesis about importance of specific immunoglobulin preparations in treatment of infectious diseases of viral and microbial etiology, uncontrollable infections, caused by representatives of herpes viruses family in particular, is developed in the paper. The types of immunoglobulin preparations, their advantages, technology peculiarities has been considered; the experience of application, including that of the authors have been analyzed. The necessity and expedience of intensive development of this branch of immunobiotechnology in Ukraine is proved, especially in connection with a high level of infectious morbidity in this country, concrete recommendations are given.

The paper summarizes the data concerning the production and study of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to the diagnostically significant glanders and melioidosis bacillus antigens. It evaluates the efficiency of using MAb in the gel immunodiffusion and agglutination tests as a basis of new-generation preparations for fluorescent antibody assay, indirect hemagglutination test which are used while detecting and identifying pathogenic pseudomonads. The paper defines the quality indices for monoclonal luminescent immunoglobulins and provides evidence for the benefits of monoclonal diagnostic agents over polyclonal analogues.

The paper presents the results of comprehensive studies of quantitative and functional parameters of cellular immunity in 283 patients with chronic liver diseases, using various rosette tests and monoclonal antibody phenotyping of immunocompetent cells. The pattern of changes in blood immunocompetent cells and immunoglobulins allows prediction of the natural history of chronic active hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis of viral and alcoholic origin. The data on autorosette-forming and hepatic-specific lipoprotein-sensitive rosette-forming cells were found to be the most informative. As compared to health, there were substantial changes in the subpopulation composition of immunocompetent cells and immunoglobulins in hepatic cirrhosis. The changes in immunoregulatory theophylline-resistant (OKT4+, OKT8+, T mu and T gamma) and theophylline-sensitive E-rosetting, as well as effector (ICO11+ and ICOHM1+) cells were the leading immunopathogenetic link of hepatic cirrhosis. In the latter, the subpopulation composition of immunocompetent cells depended on the activity of a pathological process, the state of compensation, as well as the levels of HBsAg and blood anti-delta-antibodies. The subpopulation analysis of immunocompetent cells enabled the author to outline the specific features of the immune status of etiological types, as well as predictive types of chronic active hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis, which may serve as evidence for goal-oriented immunomodulating therapy.

Formerly unknown variable gene of the heavy chain of immunoglobulin (VHTF) was studied in our preceding works in detail. In this paper, we present the results of defining the structure of N-terminus of the heavy chain which confirm the presence of unusual first codon corresponding to threonine. The structure of the VHTF gene is being compared with that of other genes of the 36-60 family, topology of the tree of their evolutionary divergence is being established with the help of empirical algorithm. Its advantages, as compared with the conventional methods, are under discussion.

This paper presents results of testing pregnant women for staphylococcal antigen sensitization using immunothermistography (ITG). The ITG is based on registration of environmental heat conduction change with a microthermistor resistor during antigen-antibody reaction. The study group comprised 75 pregnant women immunized by staphylococcal anaphylotoxin and nonimmunized pregnant and nonpregnant women. Blood alfa-antistaphylolysin levels showed a close direct correlation with ITG findings. Combined use of these methods identified a population of pregnant women requiring immunization.

The paper is concerned with interaction of the immune, endocrine and nervous systems in patients with multiple sclerosis. Dexamethasone and vasopressine tests were made. Lymphocyte sensitivity to hydrocortisone and thymalin, the main protein of myelin, was detected. It is advisable that arginine-vasopressine combined with thymalin be used for correction of homeostatic abnormalities and secondary disease prophylaxis.

The paper is concerned with the results of studying the level of specific IgG, IgA and IgM in people with different forms of brucellosis. Immunoglobulins belonging to different classes were identified by means of IEA. Examination of 514 patients with different forms of brucellosis and 122 controls demonstrated the high specificity and sensitivity of IEA for detecting antibodies of different physiochemical nature. The use of IEA made it possible to establish definite regularities of the synthesis of specific IgG, IgA, IgM in people with brucellosis, which can be used for assessing the activity of the infectious process.

Introduction. Improving technologies and providing young farm animals with high-quality feed are the primary tasks for successful reproduction and maintenance of dairy cattle. The research objective was to assess the quality characteristics of colostrum and milk replacers, as well as their technological prospects. Study objects and methods. The research featured colostrum, calf milk replacers (CMR), processing methods, and quality characteristics. The paper introduces an analysis of various sustainable processes of obtaining new CMRs. Results and discussion. The article describes colostrum: recommended intake for young calves, qualitative characteristics, and control methods. It focuses mostly on the microbiological characteristics of colostrum, as well as on its role in developing the immune system of calves and the prospects of enzymatic regulation of its functional properties. Enzymatic regulation is based on deep proteins hydrolysates and a highly active serine protease (alcalase). The authors studied variants of using various enzyme preparations and bacterial starter cultures for obtaining hydrolyzed and fermented colostrum, analyzed the main process indicators of milk replacers with intermediate moisture content, and tested various methods for assessing the fatty acid and protein composition of concentrated milk replacers. Production methods proved to have a significant impact on the indicators in question. Conclusion. Reproduction of the dairy herd genetic potential depends on the diet of the young farm animals, and so does the economy of agricultural production. Enzymatic processing of raw materials proved to be the most promising approach for obtaining products with improved functional properties. Deep colostrum hydrolysates can also be an important part of functional foods for children, athletes, in dietary foods, etc.

The paper is concerned with studies of the T- and B-immunity systems in the CSF in 37 patients, in whom the CSF was extracted in order to perform spinal anesthesia. This was necessary for surgical operations because of cryptochidism (16 patients aged from 16--30) and hypertrophy of the prostate (21 patients aged from 60 and over). The patients of both groups showed no signs of nervous system lesions. A comprehensive immunomorphological analysis of the CSF cells permitted to detect the medium indices of the T- and B-immunocompetent cells of individuals depneding upon the age.

The paper presents the results of an immunological screening of patients with facial vegetative neuralgia, Horton's syndrome, and migraines prior to and following therapy. The patients with migraines were found to have an activated local humoral immunity. Those from all the groups showed lower serum immunoglobulin A concentrations after therapeutic interventions.

Catalytic properties of immunoglobulins are widely studied within recent years. It was found that nuclease activity of immunoglobulins is increased in systemic autoimmune diseases. Given some pathogenetic features of rheumatoid arthritis and reactive arthritis, it is appropriate to clarify the nature of nuclease activity in these diseases. Determination of DNAse activity of immunoglobulins with different DNA substrates, and search for specific substrates for distinct clinical entities could serve these purposes. The aim of present work is to determine DNase activity of the polyclonal class G immunoglobulins in rheumatoid and reactive arthritis using various methods.Different methods are used to evaluate nuclease activity. In this paper we present newly developed and modified techniques for determination of DNAse activity of polyclonal IgGs. Particular attention was paid to the electrophoretic method of DNase activity assessment. Polyclonal IgG isolated from blood serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and reactive arthritis were used for assays. In this study, we demonstrated the presence of an inhomogeneous DNase activity of immunoglobulins in relation to different substrates.Along with calf thymus DNA, we used bacterial plasmid DNA and PCR products based on bacterial gene sequences. Levels of DNase activity by rivanol clot method with calf thymus DNA as substrate proved to be higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than the control values (p < 0.01). DNase abzyme activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was elevated, as compared to the patients with reactive arthritis (p < 0.01).When examining ability of the IgG to hydrolyze procaryotic DNA (bacterial plasmid DNA and PCR products, based on bacterial genes), we obtained heterogeneous results. Different Ig samples showed varying degrees of DNA hydrolysis. Abzyme hydrolysis of DNA substrates longer than 700 bp was more pronounced, as compared to short DNA substrates (100 base pairs).Conclusions: 1) antibodies having deoxyribonucleic activity are present in serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis; 2)DNase abzymes exhibit heterogeneous ability to hydrolyze various DNA substrates; 3) Abzyme-medicted hydrolysis of DNA substrates longer than 700 base pairs is more pronounced, as compared to a short DNA substrates (100 bp) length.

Introduction. The development of immunological confl ict in the form of host-versus-graft reaction has always been main problem in transplantation. The worst case is the development of humoral rejection with the presence of circulating immune complexes and antibodies. There are several methods for quick removal of antibodies; among those are traditional plasmapheresis (PA) and double fi ltration plasmapheresis (DFPF). In this paper we present our experience with these two methods and give a comparative evaluation of the effectiveness in the treatment of acute humoral rejection in renal allograft. Aim: to compare the effectiveness of traditional and double fi ltration plasmapheresis while processing different volumes of plasma in the treatment of host-versus-graft disease after kidney transplantation.Methods. The study included 58 patients after kidney transplantation. All patients had increased activity of humoral immunity, which was confi rmed by immunofl uorescence with luminescence C4d complement component. In 26 patients we performed DFPF, in 32 patients – traditional PA. We divided the DFPF patients into 4 subgroups depending on the amount of processed plasma: > 50% (5 patients), 50–100% (8 patients), 100–150% (7 patients), 150–200% (6 patients) of circulating plasma volume. We also divided PA patients into four subgroups depending on the volume of plasma removed: >50% (8 patients), 50–70% (12 patients), 70–90% (7 patients), 90–110% (5 patients) of the volume of circulating plasma. We monitored the immune status with markers of humoral immunity activation IgM, IgG before and after each of the procedures.Results. Each procedure of traditional PA and DFPF was accompanied by a marked decrease in blood concentrations of IgM and IgG antibodies. Their level decreased by an average of 30–55% of the original. However, some patients in both groups showed an increase in the concentration of these immunoglobulins in 1–2 days after the fi rst and the second procedures. The effect of rebound was observed during DFPF if in one procedure less than 100% of the circulation plasma volume was processed and during traditional PA if less than 70% was removed. Upon reaching the target values and increasing the processing volumes we managed to avoid growth of IgM and IgG.Conclusions. DFPF and traditional PA can effectively reduce the high titers of circulating antibodies, which is accompanied by a decrease in the activity of humoral immunity of the recipient. In the case of double fi ltration plasmapheresis at least one volume of circulating plasma should be processed and in traditional plasmapheresis – at least 70% should be removed.

The paper gives a case history of a patient with common variable hypogammaglobulinemia (СVHGG). Its clinical picture was characterized by frequent inflammatory airway diseases, pansinusitis, and periodic rises in temperature up to febrile ones. The diagnosis was established on the basis of the decreased serum concentrations of immunoglobulins (IG) A, M, and G, the unusual small intestinal (SI) wall relief created by large lymphoid follicles, as well as the characteristic sign of CVHGG, namely, the lack of plasma cells in the lamina propria of the SI mucosa. Antibacterial therapy was noted to have a good effect that confirmed the leading role of excessive bacterial growth in the pathogenesis of chronic diarrhea and fever, which are the major clinical manifestations of CVHGG in this patient.

The paper describes two patients (a 50-year woman and a 72-year man) in whom the clinical manifestations of ulceronecrotic vasculitis had long preceded before the diagnosis of multiple myeloma was made. In the former, monoclonal cryoglobulinemia type I induced ulcerative lesions with the development of dry toe gangrene and paraproteinemic renal lesion. In the latter, ulceronecrotic vasculitis with the development of dry toe gangrene was a manifestation of monoclonal paraproteinemia without signs of cryoglobulinemia. Both patients were found to have monoclonal blood secretion (РIgGλ и РIgGκ) and urine Bence Jones protein (BJλ+BJκ, BJκ) in the absence of immunological markers of vasculitis developing in patients with rheumatic diseases. Immunochemical study of serum/urine and, when monoclonal secretion of PIg+BJ is detected, further examination for plasma cell dyscrasia should be performed in all cases of vascular disorders (cold allergy, Raynaud's syndrome, purpura, ulcers of cruses, and gangrene of distal phalanxes of the hands/feet) in patients with atypical vasculitis. The timely immunochemical study of blood and urine will make it possible to diagnose plasma cell dyscrasia (different types of myelomic disease, Waldenstrцm macroglobulinemia, primary amyloidosis) at the early stage of the disease and to rule out unjustifiably diagnosed vasculitis in patients with atypical vascular lesions.

Background : Infections attributed to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) involve almost half of the world's population. One of the effects is auto-antibody induction and cross-reaction with numerous proteins in the body. As a result of its widespread prevalence and importance, this study evaluates the associations between H. pylori and thyroid auto-antibodies. Materials and Methods: This study enrolled 100 patients who were candidates for gastroesophageal endoscopy that referred to the Yazd Gastrointestinal Clinic. Patients underwent the following laboratory analyses: urease test, anti-H. pylori (IgG), TSH, T4, T3 and thyroid auto-antibodies (anti-thyroglobulin, anti-thyroid peroxides). Patients were divided into two groups of H. pylori positive and negative according to the results of the anti-H. pylori IgG and urease tests. The level of thyroid auto-antibodies and thyroid function tests were compared between groups. Data were analyzed with chi-square and t-tests. SPSS software version 17 was used for data analysis. Results: Overall, 61% of patients were H. pylori positive. The mean anti-Thyroid peroxidase level in the H. pylori positive group was significantly more than the negative group (p<0.01). In addition, 19.7% of H. pylori positive patients and 5.1% of H. pylori negative patients had positive anti-TPO levels, which the difference between both groups was significant (p<0.04). There was no significant difference in thyroid function between the two groups. Conclusion: Although no significant difference in thyroid function was seen in the two groups more patients tested positive for anti-TPO levels in the H. pylori positive group, which was suggestive of thyroid auto-antibody induction by H. pylori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]