[Angiotensinogen gene T174M polymorphism: opposite relationships with essential hypertension and obesity in a homogeneous population from Majorca (Baleric Islands, Spain)].

Numerous association studies have been performed to evaluate the relationship between the angiotensinogen gene and the essential hypertension, but their results are conflicting. The conflicting results may be explained by methodological reasons, particularly genetic differences in the population samples, phenotypic differences in the hypertensive populations analyzed, lack of appropriate control for other hypertension risk factors in some studies, or limited statistical power among many studies. Furthermore, hypertension is a public health issue of great relevance in Baleric Islands (Spain).

Association of HLA-DRB3*0202 and serum IgG antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae with essential hypertension in a highly homogeneous population from Majorca (Balearic Islands, Spain).

Separate studies investigating the relationship of essential hypertension (EH) with the HLA system and with Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) infection have given conflicting results. Our aim was to clarify these relationships and determine whether the HLA system and C.

Increased levels of activated subsets of CD4 T cells add to the prognostic value of low CD4 T cell counts in a cohort of HIV-infected drug users.

Objective: To identify subsets of CD4 T lymphocytes that can predict the development of AIDS and to assess whether increased levels of these cellular markers could provide additional independent prognostic information to the CD4 T cell count and plasma HIV-1-RNA levels.

Design And Methods: In a prospective study, a cohort of 85 HIV-positive intravenous drug users [clinical categories of the CDC classification A (n = 48) and B (n = 37)] were followed for a period of 37+/-13 months. Memory and activated CD4 and CD8 T cells were quantitated by three-colour flow cytometry at baseline and expressed as a percentage of total CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes.

[Intrathecal synthesis of IgG evaluated using different formulas: importance of multivariate analysis in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis].

Introduction: Synthesis of IgG is useful data for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, and different formulas, both direct and indirect, are used to quantify this. We analyze these formulas with the objective of finding whether certain combinations of them would give better results than the individual formulas on their own.

Patients And Methods: We studied the cerebrospinal fluid of 45 patients with neurological disorders and determined the results of the two formulas which are most effective, according to some studies (Reiber's formula and IgG index) together with a direct formula (IgG ratio) and another indirect formula (the 'classical' formula of Tourtellotte).

Immunological abnormalities in primary APS evolving into SLE: 6 years follow-up in women with repeated pregnancy loss.

We have performed a prospective study to determine the prevalence of immunological abnormalities and the evolution from primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) into systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in women who had had unexplained repeated pregnancy loss (PL) and APS. Of 105 women with abortions or fetal deaths, 33(31%) fulfilled criteria for APS. Among these patients with primary APS, 24% had antinuclear antibodies (ANA), 91% had elevated circulating immune complexes (CIC), 70% had low total haemolytic complement (CH100), 52% had low levels of complement 4 (C4) and 30% had low levels of complement 3 (C3), in a significantly higher prevalence than women whose pregnancies were successful (control group).

Quantitative alterations of the functionally distinct subsets of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes in asymptomatic HIV infection: changes in the expression of CD45RO, CD45RA, CD11b, CD38, HLA-DR, and CD25 antigens.

We determined the representation in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of the CD45RO+ and CD45RO- CD45RA+ subsets of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, CD11b+ and CD11b- subsets of CD8+ T cells, and activated populations of these subsets. Three-color flow cytometry was used to quantitate the different CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations in 116 asymptomatic HIV+ individuals. In asymptomatic HIV+ infection there was a significant relative increase in the CD4+ CD45RO+ and CD8+ CD45RO+ T cell subsets, which express CD38 and DR antigens, that correlated strongly with the decline in total CD4+ T cells.

Quantification of low levels of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 RNA in P24 antigen-negative, asymptomatic, HIV-positive patients by PCR.

A nested PCR was used to quantify small numbers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 (HIV-1) RNA particles in the serum specimens of 26 p24 antigen-negative, asymptomatic, HIV-positive patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy. Fifteen patients received zidovudine (ZDV) and alpha interferon, and 11 patients received ZDV monotherapy. After PCR, the amounts of RNA were quantified by comparing the endpoint dilutions of serum samples with a standard curve with known amounts of viral particles.

Serum beta 2-microglobulin and prediction of progression to AIDS in HIV-infected injection drug users.

Several immunological and serological variables have become established in recent studies as valuable markers to identify human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals at the highest risk for rapid disease progression. These studies have been performed mainly in cohorts of homosexual men. In this study, we assessed the usefulness of CD4 lymphocyte count, serum beta 2-microglobulin concentration, and the presence of p24 antigen as predictors of AIDS in a cohort of 130 HIV-positive injection drug users (IDUs) followed-up for 1 to 67 months.

Altered production of PGE2, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha by peripheral blood monocytes from HIV-positive individuals at early stages of HIV infection.

We analyzed the in vitro synthesis and release of PGE2, IL-1 beta, and TNF-alpha by peripheral blood monocytes from HIV-infected injection drug users at the early clinical stages of HIV infection. We investigated whether there is a concomitant altered production of PGE2 and proinflammatory cytokines by HIV-positive monocytes. We also evaluated T-cell subsets and lymphocyte transformation response to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in HIV-positive patients and healthy controls.

Cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase arachidonic acid metabolism by monocytes from human immune deficiency virus-infected drug users.

Prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2 and leukotriene B4 monocyte production have been determined in human immune deficiency virus (HIV)-infected drug users (n = 36) and healthy subjects (n = 29). Eicosanoids were extracted from the incubates using C18 solid-phase cartridges and determined by radioimmunoassay. An enhanced production of prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 was detected in monocytes from HIV-positive drug users whether or not they had been previously stimulated with zymosan.

Immunological and serological markers predictive of progression to AIDS in a cohort of HIV-infected drug users.

We have performed a prospective 33-month follow-up of the evolution of HIV infection in a cohort of 76 HIV-positive intravenous drug users (IVDUs). We report on immunological and serological variables that proved to be highly predictive of development to AIDS. In a stepwise multivariate analysis of the actuarial progression rate we found the number of CD4+ lymphocytes to be the most powerful predictor of progression to AIDS.

Progressive cellular immune impairment leading to development of AIDS: two-year prospective study of HIV infection in drug addicts.

We have studied immunological, serological and clinical abnormalities in 264 HIV-positive and HIV-negative drug abusers. Ninety percent of the 264 drug addicts (mean age 26 +/- 0.8 years) were found to have HIV antibodies and there was a significant increase (P less than 0.

Severe combined immunodeficiency with T lymphocytes retaining functional activity.

Two cases of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) with normal numbers of T cells are reported. Studies of T-cell subsets showed an absence of TQ1+ lymphocytes and a very low percentage of CD4+ cells in Patient 2. Functional studies of T cells from this patient showed a normal suppressor activity.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma. A clinical, histologic, and immunologic study of five cases.

The authors describe five white patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Four patients were older than 65 years. All cases presented with a short clinical course and advanced stage at the time of diagnosis.

Abnormal B cell function in haemophiliacs and their relationship with factor concentrates administration.

The present study was performed to evaluate B cell function in haemophiliacs. Spontaneous and pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-induced immunoglobulin (Ig) production was determined by ELISA in the supernatants of cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 14 haemophiliacs and 17 normal donors. Spontaneous IgM, IgA and IgG production was three times higher in patients than normal controls, while PWM-induced IgM, IgA and IgG production was markedly reduced in patients compared to normal donors (P less than 0.

Disorders of regulatory T cell function in patients with the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

Three patients with the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome were studied. One of them had no past history of relevant infections. The other two presented different degrees of humoral and cellular immunodeficiency and their T cells in vitro showed a defect in regulatory activity of Ig production in PWM stimulated cultures.