Beta-2 microglobulin serum levels in maintenance dialysis. What does it mean?

beta-2 Microglobulin levels (beta-2M) were analyzed at four month intervals in sera of 237 patients on various forms of dialysis over a 2 year period; twelve patients volunteered to participate in short-term kinetics studies. Duplicate beta-2M measurements in biologic fluids were performed using an RIA kit. The data presented confirm elevated serum beta-2M in dialyzed patients whatever the dialysis method used and give an overview on various factors affecting circulating serum beta-2M.

Genetic polymorphism of alpha 2HS-glycoprotein in a French population. Description of two new rare variants.

A French population was investigated for genetic polymorphism of alpha 2HS-glycoprotein (A2HS; nomenclature according to Human Gene Mapping 7, Los Angeles, 1983) using isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting. Three variants were observed together with two common alleles A2HS 1 and A2HS 2, whose frequencies were significantly different from the data in Canadians and Egyptians. An anodal variant to A2HS 1 was identical to a variant with two different nomenclatures reported by three different groups, indicating that there is a confusion in the A2HS nomenclature.

Factor I (C3b inactivator) polymorphism among five populations in Eurasia.

Factor I (C3b inactivator) polymorphism in the Japanese (in Western and Southern Japan), Taiwanese, Nepalese and French was studied using isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels. The exposure of passively blotted nitrocellulose membranes to glutaraldehyde vapor facilitated the subsequent immunodetection of a low concentration of factor I and permitted the reliable identification of the three phenotypes determined by two codominant alleles FI*A and FI*B. The data indicated a west-to-east genocline, ranging from France to Western Japan, in which FI*A changed from 0.

Orosomucoid (ORM) typing by isoelectric focusing: evidence for gene duplication of ORM1 and genetic polymorphism of ORM2.

It has been demonstrated that the genetic polymorphism of human serum orosomucoid (ORM) is controlled by polymorphic ORM1 and monomorphic ORM2 loci. In this study a Japanese family was encountered in which several members had puzzling electrophoretic patterns consisting of four bands. The ORM patterns were due to the products of a duplicated ORM1 locus haplotype (ORM1 2.

Immunofixation improves the detection of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (M.G.U.S.) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) was detected by immunofixation (IFX) in 6% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), whereas it was detected by immunoelectrophoresis in only 1% of these patients. Most of the patients with both RA and MGUS had polyclonal B cell activation, together with their monoclonal band, extra-articular features and long-lasting disease, which suggests a direct relationship between MGUS and RA status.

Combination of passive and active immunization in honeybee venom immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy with honeybee venom (HBV) is effective under optimal conditions, but many untoward systemic reactions are observed when venom doses are increased, especially with rush protocols. Although there were large interpatient variations, the levels of serum been venom specific IgG were found to significantly correlate with the protection of the allergic patients. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was carried out to determine whether passive immunization with fractionated IgG from a beekeeper's serum pool was able to protect patients undergoing a rush immunotherapy program with HBV against untoward systemic reactions, and to observe if the active immunization with HBV could elicit an active IgG immune response toward venom allergens.

[What does circulating beta 2 microglobulin signify in uremic patients on maintenance dialysis?].

The authors report a 2 years prospective study on s beta 2M variations observed in a large uremic population (237 patients, 159 M, 78 F, age: 51.1 +/- 5.9 y.

Orosomucoid (ORM) typing by isoelectric focusing: evidence of two structural loci ORM1 and ORM2.

Orosomucoid (ORM) phenotyping was performed by isoelectric focusing and immunoprinting. The band patterns of desialyzed ORM indicated that the ORM system is controlled by two structural loci ORM1 and ORM2. In a total of 253 samples from two Caucasoid populations, five phenotypes determined by three polymorphic alleles, ORM1*1, ORM1*2, and ORM1*3 were identified.

Clinical and immunologic survey in beekeepers in relation to their sensitization.

Beekeepers often present allergic symptoms and represent a natural and experimental model of anaphylaxis and specific immunotherapy. Two hundred BKs were investigated. Both allergic and nonallergic subjects were selected very carefully in terms of immunologic status and exposure to bee stings.

Total serum IgE concentrations in adolescents and adults using the phadebas IgE PRIST technique.

Total serum IgE measured with the Phadebas PRIST technique was titrated in 117 normal non-allergic subjects, 237 allergic adolescents or adults and 89 non-allergic patients who suffered from asthma, rhinitis, or conjunctivitis. All subjects were of Caucasian origin. In normal subjects, mean total serum IgE was 38 +/- 43 kU/l.

Clinical and immunological surveys in bee keepers.

Two hundred and fifty bee keepers in the South of France, working seasonally, were clinically investigated by means of a questionnaire. Forty-three per cent had presented anaphylactic symptoms and 7.0% toxic reactions when stung by bees.

[Serum IgD levels in various dermatoses (author's transl)].

Serum IgD levels were determined by radial immunodiffusion among 349 patients with various dermatoses and 40 normal blood donnors. An increase of serum concentrations was found in atopic patients 62,5 p. 100 of which had levels over 50 mg/1 compared to 20 p.

Comparison of cord blood immunoglobulin E concentrations and maternal allergy for the prediction of atopic diseases in infancy.

Total serum IgE levels were determined in 136 newborns and their mothers and in 54 of their fathers, using the paper radioimmunosorbent test (PRIST) technique. IgE specific antibodies for house dust (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus), orchard grass, timothy grass, and cow's milk were measured with the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). One hundred thirty-three RAST assays were negative in newborns, and in three cases RAST for cow's milk was positive.

Lymphocyte markers, serum thymic factor and IgE in IgA deficiency.

Eleven patients having a selective IgA deficiency had very low T-cell percentages assessed by using E-rosettes, active E-rosetts and an anti-human anti-T-lymphocyte antigen serum. B-cells were normal or slightly decreased. IgE concentrations were often low.

[Role of IgE in the study of the allergic risk of the young child (author's transl)].

Cord blood IgE were determined by using the PRIST and the RAST techniques in 123 cases. The RAST assay was never positive. Total IgE were detectable in 34% of the samples; statistically increased levels were found in babies born from allergic mothers and/or when the mothers were treated with progesterone during their gestation.

Enzyme determination and RAST inhibition assays for orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata): a comparison of commericial pollen extracts.

Pollens release enzymes when they are dropped into water. Orchard Grass extracts were tested by two methods. The Api-Zym System determined 19 enzymes and colorimetric amounts of Leucine Aminopeptidases, Acid phosphatase and trypsin.

[HLA and IgA deficiency].

The distribution of 29 HLA-A and B antigens was compared in 50 Caucasoïds with an IgA deficit and in 300 healthy controls. The patients were divided in 3 groups: 1) Partial selective IgA deficit (40); 2) Total selective Iga deficit (7); 3) IgA deficit associated with hypogammaglobulinemia (3). The patients viewed as a whole, we observed an increased frequency for the antigens HLA-Aw19, HLA-B5 and HLA-BW17.

[IgE and cellular immunity in cutaneous lymphomas (author's transl)].

Serum IgE levels were measured (radioactive radial diffusion or radioimmuno assay) in 21 patients (14 mycosis fungoides or premycosis fungoides and 7 other lymphomas) and 1,019 controls. Elevated IgE levels (greater than or equal to 500 UI/ml) were found in 57 p. 100 of patients and 8,1 p.

[Age and sex of chronic carriers of HBs antigen among 130,000 blood donors].

The frequency of HBs antigen, using radioimmunology is studied in blood donors from Languedoc (70.894 men and 60.760 women are tested, between 18 and 60 years old).

[Hepatitis B and ratio of masculinity].

Among families of blood donors from Languedoc, found to be chronic carriers of HBs antigens, the masculinity ratio of the siblings (number of boys compared to number of girls) calculated on 303 individuals is significantly higher (1,32) than that of the general population (1,05). This rise is still increased when considering only the families where the viral infection is present in the mother (1,73), whereas it is very low when in the father (1,09).

[Family diffusion of HBs antigen].

Systematic investigation for HBs antigen and for HBs antibody in donors carrying HBs antigen evidenced a familial contamination more important in children and first cousins than in husband and wife which confirm various previous studies. Moreover, daughters and sisters of antigen carriers show an abnormaly high antigen frequency and especially an abnormally low antibody frequency.

[The role of immigration in the geographic distribution of the HBs antigen].

The study of HBs antigen frequency among almost 130 000 donors,--according to their place of birth--,shows a significantly higher frequency among foreign residents. The general frequency represents the arithmetic average between that of natives and that of foreign residents. The distribution of ad and ay subtypes is analogous to that observed in the different native countries.