One case of immunotactoid glomerulopathy: morphological-ultrastructural aspects.

Starting from a group of 736 renal biopsy patients, evaluated by ultrastructural studies over a period of 22 years, the authors present a rare case of immunotactoid glomerulopathy, suggesting that these forms, until a few years ago considered in the same group as fibrillary glomerulonephritis, are in fact a separate entity; moreover, they may represent a very early manifestation of plasmacellular dyscrasia still at the initial stage.

Fatal sepsis from Vibrio vulnificus in a hemodialyzed patient.

Vibrio vulnificus, a particularly virulent halophilic vibrio, has been isolated from the blood and skin necrotic lesion of a hemodialyzed patient with sepsis. The patient has had exposure of the skin to seawater. Various chronic conditions including renal failure have a great risk for developing septicemia due to V vulnificus.

Adverse food reactions in patients with grass pollen allergic respiratory disease.

The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of reported food-induced symptoms, and of food allergy or intolerance in 169 allergic patients monosensitized to grass pollen and in a control group of 50 patients who were monosensitized to Dermatophagoides. This study clearly demonstrates that patients with grass pollen-allergic respiratory disease report adverse food reactions more frequently than patients allergic to Dermatophagoides. This increased incidence is due to a high percentage of adverse reactions to some vegetable foods, especially peanut, garlic, tomato, onion; and fruits, such as peach; and animal foods, such as egg (white) and pork.

T-cell phenotypic profiles in the cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood of multiple sclerosis patients.

Thirty-nine patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) entered the study. Of 28 subjects with a relapsing-remitting course, 19 were classified in acute relapse, 9 in remission; 11 patients had a progressive course without remissions. Furthermore, 6 subjects with inflammatory neurological disease (IND), and 10 with non-inflammatory and non-neoplastic neurological disease (NIND) were investigated.

Comparative evaluation of RAST and MAST-CLA for six allergens for the diagnosis of inhalant allergic disease in 232 patients.

The aim of this study was to compare a recent multiple allergosorbent chemiluminescent assay (MAST-CLA) with the RAST for the diagnosis of inhalant allergic disease in 232 patients with rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma. As judged by concordance of clinical history, skin prick tests to a range of six allergens common to our geographic area, and by nasal provocation tests, 70 patients were non-allergic and 162 allergic: 70 to grasses, 46 to mites, four to mugwort, eight to pellitory, and 34 were sensitive to several allergens. In our patient sample that, among other things, comprises subjects with fairly rare monoallergies, MAST-CLA testing gave results which closely corresponded to positive RAST for the allergens studied, and demonstrated a close correlation with the diagnosis of inhalant-specific allergy.

Does intravenous streptokinase therapy facilitate the formation of anti-heart antibodies in acute myocardial infarction?

Streptokinase (SK), a nonenzymatic protein produced by group C beta haemolytic streptococci, is a potent antigen. It is used worldwide as a thrombolytic agent in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Specific antiheart antibodies (AHA) have been found with a significantly high incidence in patients with AMI, and after streptococcal infection as a result of stimulation by constituents of the group A streptococci antigenically cross-reactive with sarcolemmal portion of the muscle fiber of the heart.