Asymptomatic renal-vein thrombosis in adult nephrotic syndrome ultrasonography and urinary fibrin-fibrinogen products: a prospective study.

Objectives: The diagnosis of renal vein thrombosis (RVT), a frequent complication of adult nephrotic syndrome (NS), is generally made by means of invasive methods, i.e. renal venography, venous time of renal arteriography and, more recently, computed tomography (CT).

Absence of correlation between graft-versus-host associated immunosuppression and cytotoxic T cell activity in response to major histocompatibility antigens.

Studies in mice suggest that the T cell subset involved in graft-versus-host-reaction (GvHR) across the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) depends on the class of MHC antigens recognized by the donor cells. However, the correlation between phenotype and function is not absolute. Using a functional approach, we investigated in a parent --> F1 hybrid model differing at the whole MHC, whether graft-versus-host (GvH) associated immunosuppression was correlated with donor cytotoxic T cell activity.

Monoclonal immunoglobulins in patients with renal transplants: characterization, evolution and risk factors.

Gammopathies were found to be present in 25 (13%) of 192 HIV-negative renal transplant recipients with more than 30 months follow-up prospectively investigated for monoclonal or oligoclonal immunoglobulins (mIg) by agarose gel electrophoresis and immunofixation. Eleven patients had only one monoclonal band, whereas 14 had two or more bands. Of these bands, 60% were IgG kappa, 29% IgG lambda and 11% IgM lambda or kappa, and 90% did not exceed 2 g/l.

[Immune deficiency associated with experimental graft-versus-host reaction. Lack of correlation with T-cell cytotoxic activity].

Graft-versus-host reactions (GvHR) are initiated by T lymphocytes. In mice, the T cell subset involved depends on the incompatibility for minor or major histocompatibility antigens between donor and host. However, the correlation between phenotype and function is not absolute, and anti-host cytotoxic T cells can be detected in recipients without GvHR.

Na(+)-dependent succinate uptake in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Succinate is effectively taken up by washed cells of Corynebacterium glutamicum. The apparent Km value of uptake is about 150 microM and the Vmax 4-7 nmol (mg dry weight)-1 min-1 and uptake can be competetively inhibited by fumarate and oxaloacetate. The activation energy was determined to be 50 kJ/mol.

Mucosal immunity in primary glomerulonephritis: II. Study of the serum IgA subclass repertoire to food and airborne antigens.

IgA specific for 7 food and 6 airborne antigens were sought in the serum of 30 adult patients with IgA mesangial nephropathy (IgA GN), 23 with membranous nephropathy (MGN), 20 with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), 11 with membranoproliferative GN (MPGN) and 22 healthy controls by means of an enzyme-linked immunoassay. The IgA subclass was determined using monoclonal antibodies. Increased levels of IgA specific for gliadin, bovine serum albumin (BSA), ovalbumin, lysozyme and alpha-lactalbumin were found in IgA GN, while increased levels of IgA to BSA, ovalbumin, lysozyme and alpha-lactalbumin were observed in MGN; IgA specific for alpha-lactalbumin were increased in INS, and MPGN patients had reduced levels of IgA to BSA and increased levels of IgA to beta-lactoglobulin and alpha-lactalbumin.

[Proteinuria selectivity: description of a new index].

An improved simple method for determination of selectivity index has been described. This new index (Creteil index) has been compared to Cameron index. The correlation between both indexes has been 0.

Mucosal immunity in adult primary glomerulonephritis. I. Evaluation of salivary IgA subclasses and components.

Salivary components (proteins, albumin, IgA1, IgA2, IgG, IgM, beta 2-microglobulin, neopterin and peroxidase) were investigated in 3 adult types of primary glomerulonephritis (PGN): IgA mesangial glomerulonephritis (IgAGN; n = 14); idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis (n = 8); idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS; n = 14), and a control group (n = 11). Salivary IgA1 levels were significantly increased in all these PGN whereas salivary IgA2 levels were only higher than controls in INS. Albumin and proteins did not differ between PGN and controls, while the IgA1 + IgA2/protein ratio was significantly increased in these 3 PGN.

Transport of branched-chain amino acids in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

The transport of branched-chain amino acids was characterized in intact cells of Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032. Uptake and accumulation of these amino acids occur via a common specific carrier with slightly different affinities for each substrate (Km[Ile] = 5.4 microM, Km[Leu] = 9.

Serum IgG subclasses and IgM imbalances in adult IgA mesangial glomerulonephritis and idiopathic Henoch-Schoenlein purpura.

Serum IgG subclass levels were investigated in 27 IgA GN and HSP patients and 19 healthy paired controls using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. IgG1 and IgG2 were statistically lower than in the controls in both the non-nephrotic and nephrotic patients, and 80% of the non-nephrotic patients exhibited a partial deficiency for either IgG1, IgG2 or IgG3. Urinary losses of IgG only accounted for decreased levels of IgG4.

[Significance of IGA antigliadin antibodies during primary glomerulonephritis with mesangial IGA deposits].

The association of IgA anti-gliadin antibodies and IgA glomerulonephritis (IgA GN) was first reported in 1987 (Am J Nephrol, 1987, 7, 178-183) and has since been confirmed by other groups. We have developed a second generation ELISA (alkaline phosphatase, biotin-avidin) and used it to test 45 adult IgA GN, 34 idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN), 31 idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), and 11 idiopathic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPG) patients. IgA anti-gliadin antibodies were found in 24 IgA GN (53%), 1 MN (3%), 1 INS (3%), and 1 MGP (9%) patients.

Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy by Danish women and their spouses--a potential source of fetal morbidity.

The relationship between cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption behavior during pregnancy was examined in a select group of Danish women and their spouses. Five-hundred consecutive women who had uncomplicated pregnancies and delivered full-term babies were interviewed 3+ days postpartum. Information was collected about smoking and drinking behavior of all household members during pregnancy.

Focal glomerulosclerosis associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

This report describes a new case of the rare association of focal glomerulosclerosis with a peroneal muscular atrophy of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth type. The young patient was admitted with a nephrotic syndrome. A terminal renal failure rapidly developed.