[Serum antibodies to hepatitis C virus: analysis of risk factors of seropositivity in a population of blood donors in metropolitan France].

Risk factors were analyzed in a group of 117 blood donors seropositive for hepatitis C virus antibody. One risk factor, at least, was found in 63 (53.8%) subjects.

[HLA class II DP antigens and bone marrow transplantation].

The biochemical structure of the HLA class II DP antigens is close to that of the remainder DR and DQ isotypes. Nevertheless, they may play a peculiar functional role. Their importance in bone marrow transplantation, where a complete HLA class II identity between graft donor and recipient is requested, is not yet known.

[Advantages and limits of programmed autologous transfusion in cardiovascular surgery. Apropos of 524 patients].

Between October 1987 and July 1989, 544 patients, candidates for cardiovascular surgery, were included in a trial of programmed autologous autotransfusion. Five hundred and twenty four patients underwent one or several (maximum 4) blood donation sessions in the 3 weeks before surgery with no complications. Overall, 57% of patients benefited from homologous blood transfusion, thereby avoiding all risk of contamination.

Prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, thrombin-antithrombin III complexes and D-dimers in acute deep vein thrombosis: effects of heparin treatment.

Plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F 1 + 2), of thrombin-antithrombin III complexes (TAT) and of D-dimers were evaluated at several time intervals in 15 patients affected by acute proximal deep vein thrombosis, complicated or not by pulmonary embolism, and treated by conventional heparin therapy for 9 d. The mean levels of the three markers remained significantly increased throughout the period of observation, except for F 1 + 2 on day 9, when compared to normal values established in a population of normal healthy blood donors. However, whereas heparin significantly decreased the plasma levels of F 1 + 2 and of TAT complexes in less than 3 d.

Reactivity patterns of anti-phospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus sera in relation to erythrocyte binding and complement activation.

We studied 51 sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus to determine the relationship of their anti-phospholipid activity to their anti-erythrocyte and complement activation properties. Forty-nine per cent of the sera had anti-phospholipid activity as demonstrated by ELISA using a panel of anionic phospholipids, and most of these also bound to neutral phospholipids, albeit to a lesser extent. A cellular radioimmunoassay was used for the detection of immunoglobulin and C3 binding to normal erythrocytes (intact, enzyme-treated or glutaraldehyde-fixed) following incubation with patient sera.

[Transient episode of erythrocytic autoimmunization in a patient alloimmunized at the end of multiple transfusions].

Delayed hemolytic reaction is a well recognized hazard of blood transfusion and occurs mainly in recipients with alloantibodies, due to sensitization to red cell antigens by previous transfusion or pregnancy. Less frequently, such a reaction may be associated with the presence of red cell autoantibodies appearing after alloimmunization. We report the observation of a patient with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, who presented a transitory episode of delayed hemolysis after multiple transfusions.

[Modification of in vitro hematopoiesis induced by addition of GM-CSF in long term normal human bone marrow cultures].

We have studied the effects of GM-CSF on cell growth in Dexter's type normal human long-term bone marrow cultures. Non adherent and adherent cells were weekly harvested and studied all over the time of culture up to 10 weeks: number, cytology, hematopoietic granulocyte-macrophage progenitors content (CFU-GM). Control consisted of cultures without growth factor.

[Prevalence of antibodies to cytomegalovirus in a population of blood donors from the Paris region].

Prevalence of antibody to cytomegalovirus (CMV) was determined in a parisian population of blood donors. Among 7,729 subjects, 3,048 are men (39.4%), 4,681 are women (60.

D-Dimers, thrombin antithrombin III complexes and prothrombin fragments 1+2: diagnostic value in clinically suspected deep vein thrombosis.

This study was performed to determine the accuracy of D-Dimer fibrin derivatives, thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) complexes and prothrombin fragments 1 + 2 (F 1 + 2) determinations for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). One hundred and sixteen consecutive patients referred to the angiology unit of our hospital for a clinically suspected DVT were investigated. They were submitted to mercury strain gauge plethysmography and to ultrasonic duplex scanning examination; in cases of inconclusive results or of proximal DVT (n = 35), an ascending phlebography was performed.

Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: 17 Cases. Report of the EBMT.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was performed in 17 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): 15 resistant and 2 untreated forms; 12 males and 5 females with a mean age of 40 years (32-49). The conditioning regimen and graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis were varied. Successful engraftment was obtained in 15 evaluable cases.

Alloimmune neonatal neutropenia.

In three neonates, the diagnosis of anti-NA1 alloimmune neutropenia related to maternal immunization against fetal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) antigens was achieved by serum antibody screening and PMN phenotyping. All the children were small for date and exhibited bacterial infection within days 2-13. Neutropenia persisted until days 20-50.

Cystic fibrosis in the population of Reunion Island.

The frequencies of the delta F 508 mutation and haplotypes linked to the cystic fibrosis (CF) gene and detected with DNA probes XV-2C and KM-19 have been studied in the population of Reunion Island, a French province located in the Indian Ocean. The deletion was present in 41.3% of CF chromosomes, whereas this proportion is about 70% in the French population.

Determination of plasma dermatan sulfate at relevant pharmacological concentrations.

1. Routine clotting assays and tests used for monitoring heparin therapy are not suitable for measuring plasma DS in most clinical conditions. 2.

High-resolution two-dimensional protein electrophoresis of pathological plasma/serum.

The potential usefulness of an optimalized high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE) protocol was studied by comparative analysis of plasma/serum obtained from apparently healthy individuals and from patients with a few selected known diseases. Despite their apparent complexity, patient electrophoretograms revealed readily detectable modifications of the 'reference' protein profile for those selected diseases (listed below). Abnormal profiles were characterized by presence or absence of particular spots, by reduction or enlargement of spot size, or by alterations of spot microheterogeneity.

Membrane cell permeabilization with saponin and multiparametric analysis by flow cytometry.

Saponin, a detergent like molecule, can permeabilize cell membranes without destroying them, and thus can be used for the detection of intracellular antigens on intact cells with a flow cytometer. First experiments were reported that demonstrated the detection of intracytoplasmic antigens such as intermediate filaments and CD3 in T acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Further experiments were also performed to prove that intranuclear structures were equally accessible: dyes such as propidium iodide (PI) and monoclonal antibodies (mAb) such as Ki67 could penetrate the nucleus and lead to the analysis of DNA content and to the discrimination between the different cell cycle phases (G0, G1, S, G2-M).

In vitro effects of recombinant hemopoietic growth factors on progenitor cells from patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

The effects of four recombinant hemopoietic growth factors (HGF) and of the impure factor HTB9 on proliferation and maturation of marrow myeloid (CFU-GM) and erythroid (BFU-E) progenitor cells were studied in 22 cases of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In most cases, IL-3, GM-CSF and G-CSF increased significantly the number of myeloid colonies, the best combination being IL-3 + GM-CSF. A significant increase in the myeloid colony/cluster ratio was also noted, but cytological examination of colony cells showed little maturation.

IgM anti-idiotypes that block anti-HLA antibodies: naturally occurring or immune antibodies?

Using dithiothreitol (DTT) technique, IgM anti-HLA anti-idiotypic antibodies were detected in a multiparous multitransfused woman. These antibodies were able to inhibit the binding of specific IgG anti-HLA antibodies on their corresponding antigen. The recognized determinants were cross-reactive determinants since they were partially found on anti-HLA antibodies from unrelated individuals.

Limitations of the chronometric assays to determine plasma antifactor Xa activity during low molecular weight heparin therapy.

The most convenient way to estimate low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) concentration in the plasma is to determine its antifactor Xa activity. This is usually performed with specific chromogenic assays. Chronometric methods, easy to perform, have recently been introduced in clinical laboratories.

A human monoclonal IgM with autoantibody activities against heparan sulphate and the mitotic spindle.

A monoclonal IgM kappa from a patient with Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia (IgM-Rod) was found to react at temperatures below 28 degrees C with all tissue basement membranes and the cell coat of non-haematopoietic cells. IgM-Rod antibody was directed against heparan sulphate side chains of heparan sulphate proteoglycans as shown by binding in a solid-phase ELISA to heparan sulphate glycosaminoglycans but not to other purified subcomponents of the extracellular matrix; and by specific inhibition of the observed reactivity by heparitinase treatment. IgM-Rod showed cross-reactivity by indirect immunofluorescence with an as yet unidentified structure expressed in the nucleus during cell division and becoming associated with the mitotic spindle apparatus.

Localization of the structural domain responsible for the chemotactic properties of thrombin on polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Human alpha thrombin at 1.1.10(-5) M is chemotactic for human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Coagulation impact on chemotactic activity generation for polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Chemotactic technique in agarose gel has exposed the attractive properties of human alpha thrombin with respect to human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The observed chemotaxis is maximal between 1.4.

Antithrombotic potencies of heparins in relation to their antifactor Xa and antithrombin activities: an experimental study in two models of thrombosis in the rabbit.

Our purpose was to determine the relative contribution of the antifactor Xa and antithrombin activities of heparin to its antithrombotic potency. The antithrombotic activities of unfractionated heparin (UH), two low molecular weight heparins (LMWH, CY 216 and CY 222) with increasing anti-factor Xa/antithrombin ratio and a synthetic pentasaccharide (PS) with high affinity to antithrombin III and no antithrombin activity were evaluated. In the Wessler-thromboplastin model, the most potent antithrombotic agent, on a weight basis, was UH followed by CY 216, CY 222 and the PS which was 40 times less potent than UH.

[The medical interview motivated by the discovery of markers of viral hepatitis permits the identification, in blood donors, of behavior at risk for HIV infection].

From December 1988 to September 1989, 973 blood donors, deferred for anti-HBc reactivity, Ag-HBs positivity, elevated ALT, isolated or associated, but negative for anti-HIV, were interviewed in our blood center in the weeks after donation. Among these 973 donors, 53 (5.4%, 46 males, 7 females) were found at risk for HIV infection: intravenous drug abuse: 24 cases; heterosexuality with multiple partners: 17 cases; homosexuality: 8 cases; sexual relations with persons at risk: 4 cases.

Specific elimination of alloreactive T cells by an anti-interleukin-2 receptor B chain-specific immunotoxin.

Graft-versus-host disease and graft rejection remain the two principal causes of morbidity and mortality after major-histocompatibility-complex-mismatched bone marrow transplantation. Human and animal models suggest that both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets present in the donor inoculum are responsible for their initiation. Since the human mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) and the HLA-restricted cytotoxicity may reflect cellular interactions occurring during GVHD and graft rejection, inhibitions of these responses may represent useful approaches for screening functional T cell depletion in experimental bone marrow transplantation studies.