IgG, IgA and IgM rheumatoid factors in patients with glomerulonephritis.

Rheumatoid factors (RF), autoantibodies to IgG, have been postulated to have some pathogenetic role in the development of some types of glomerulonephritis. A simple and sensitive solid-phase fluorescence immunoassay was employed to determine whether IgG, IgA and IgM RF were detectable in sera from patients with various types of glomerulonephritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and those with various streptococcal infections. IgG, IgA and IgM RF were significantly increased in the majority of patients with RA, lupus nephritis (SLE), acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) and various streptococcal infections.

A case of mesangial IgM nephropathy with decreased renal function.

A case of mesangial IgM nephropathy associated with chronic renal failure is described. The patient did not reveal nephrotic syndrome during the clinical course. Renal biopsy specimens revealed typical features of mesangial IgM nephropathy when studied by light microscopy, electron microscopy and immunofluorescence staining.

Participation of peroxisomal beta-oxidation system in the chain-shortening of a xenobiotic acyl compound.

A drug, (E)-3-[4-(1-imidazolylmethyl)phenyl]-2-propenoic acid, was metabolized to 4-(1-imidazolylmethyl)benzoic acid in isolated hepatocytes of rats, which was enhanced markedly by the pretreatment of rats with clofibrate. With liver homogenates, the formation of the CoA-ester of this drug and its subsequent chain-shortening were demonstrated. In the series of these reactions, acyl-CoA synthetase, CoA, ATP and NAD were required, whereas cyanide did not inhibit the reaction.

Antitumor activity of lentinan in murine syngeneic and autochthonous hosts and its suppressive effect on 3-methylcholanthrene-induced carcinogenesis.

The antitumor effect of lentinan in syngeneic and autochthonous tumor-host systems and its suppressive effect on 3-methylcholanthrene (MC)-induced carcinogenesis were confirmed using DBA/2 and SWM/Ms hosts. The regressive activity of lentinan against the solid form of Sarcoma 180 was the most effective in DBA/2, SWM/Ms, or A/J mice and less effective in C3H/He or C57BL/6 mice. The growth of a syngeneic MC-induced DBA/2.

Two cases of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis superimposed on rheumatoid arthritis.

Recently, the rheumatoid factor (RF) has been postulated to play a role in the development of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). However, there are few reports in which APSGN is superimposed on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Two patients are reported in this paper who showed atypical renal histopathological findings as APSGN.

Cold reacting anti-nuclear factor (ANF) in families of patients with IgA nephropathy.

The emergence of cold reacting anti-nuclear factor (ANF) in families of patients with IgA nephropathy was examined to determine whether some immunological alterations among family members affect the development of this disease. The procedure for the detection of the cold reacting ANF was reported previously. Fifty-five per cent of sera from 66 relatives of IgA nephropathy 24 patients was found to have the IgM cold reacting antibody.

Solubilization of intraglomerular deposits of IgG immune complexes by human sera or gamma-globulin in patients with lupus nephritis.

A study of the solubilization of glomerular deposition of IgG immune complexes by sera from patients with lupus nephritis is described. Renal biopsy specimens were obtained from 11 patients with lupus nephritis, five patients with IgA nephropathy and one patient with minimal change nephrotic syndrome. These renal specimens were incubated with fresh, stored or heated sera from the same patients or healthy adults and human gamma-globulins at 37 degrees C for 1 h in plastic test tubes.

Effect of danazol on solubilization of immune deposits in patients with IgA nephropathy.

A study on the solubilization of glomerular immune deposits by administration of danazol in patients with IgA nephropathy is described. A clinical trial on danazol was performed in seven patient with IgA nephropathy. Administration of danazol was effective in improving proteinuria in patients with IgA nephropathy.

In vivo alteration of antibody production in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Augmentation of IgA production has been postulated for the development of IgA nephropathy. An influenza HA vaccine was administered to healthy adults and patients with IgA nephropathy to elucidate if there was any in vivo alteration of antibody production in response to antigenic stimulation in these patients. The vaccine was administered s.

A case of Behçet's disease associated with membranous nephropathy.

A 35-year-old female patient with Behçet's disease associated with nephrotic syndrome is described. Renal biopsy specimens revealed typical features of membranous nephropathy in light microscopical, electron microscopical and immunofluorescent microscopical examinations. Circulating immune complexes (IC) phagocytized by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in this patient were significantly increased compared with those in healthy adults.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis associated with a pheochromocytoma.

A 22-year-old male patient with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis(FSGS) associated with a pheochromocytoma is reported. Immunofluorescence study of the kidney biopsy specimen demonstrated segmental depositions of IgM, C3 and fibrinogen. Alteration of glomerular basement membrane(GBM) with fibrin strands and platelet aggregates was observed by electron microscopic examination.

Effects of long-term vitamin E deficiency and restoration on rat hepatic peroxisomes.

Effects of vitamin E deficiency and its restoration on biochemical characteristics of hepatic peroxisomes were studied. Rats were maintained on the vitamin E-deficient diet for 25 weeks and then on a diet supplemented with vitamin E for 5 weeks. Blood hemolysis by hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation in the liver increased markedly in vitamin E-deficient rats.

Detection of polymeric IgA in sera from patients with IgA nephropathy determined by thin-layer gel filtration.

Polymeric IgA in sera was determined by thin-layer gel filtration in patients with IgA nephropathy, other glomerular diseases, IgA myeloma and healthy adults to determine whether serum IgA is composed of a monomeric and/or larger polymers in these patients. The levels of IgA in sera were also quantitated by laser nephelometer in these patients. Eleven patients with IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease), six patients with other glomerular diseases, three patients with IgA myeloma and four healthy adults were examined.

Increase in proteinuria and/or microhematuria following upper respiratory tract infections in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Exacerbation of urinary abnormalities after upper respiratory tract infections in patients with IgA nephropathy was examined. Twenty patients with IgA nephropathy and fourty patients with other glomerular diseases were evaluated in this study. The incidence of exacerbation in microhematuria after upper respiratory tract infections was significantly higher in patients with IgA nephropathy than those with other glomerular diseases.

Aberration of B and T cell subsets in patients with IgA nephropathy and membranous nephropathy.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 15 patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), 10 patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) and 15 healthy adults were examined to investigate whether there are any aberrations in B and T cell subsets in these diseases. F (ab')2 portions of heavy chain specific anti human IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies were used to determine isotypes of B lymphocytes, and monoclonal antibodies directed at human T cells termed OKT3, OKT4 and OKT8 antibodies were used to assay subsets of T cells. Quantitation of B and T cell subsets was performed by flow cytometry.

Solubilization of intraglomerular deposits of serum proteins by fresh human sera or gamma-globulin in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

The solubilization of renal deposits of IgG and other serum proteins by fresh human sera or human gamma-globulin was studied in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Renal biopsy specimens were from 10 patients with diabetic nephropathy. These specimens were incubated with fresh sera obtained from the same patients and healthy adults or human gamma-globulin at 37 degrees C for 1 hr in plastic test tubes.

Two adult cases of ectopic kidney.

Two patients with ectopic kidney are described here. One was a 33-year-old male with hypertension and heavy proteinuria. The other was a 30-year-old male who had hypospaedia complained of dysuria for 30 years.

Effects of a "single shot" of urokinase on fibrinolytic activities in patients with IgA nephropathy.

A study on the clinical effects of urokinase in patients with IgA nephropathy is described. Three different methods of administration, including single, continuous, and mixed administration, were employed in this study. Measurements of plasminogen, plasmin and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor levels in plasma were performed during the course of urokinase administration in patients with IgA nephropathy and chronic proliferative glomerulonephritis.

The noninvolvement of MDH as NAD-oxidoreductase shuttle in rat liver peroxisomes.

Subcellular localization of malate dehydrogenase and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in rat liver was studied by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The specific adsorption of cytosolic malate dehydrogenase to the peroxisomes was observed. This phenomenon was eliminated by washing peroxisome-rich fraction with 100 mM potassium chloride.