Autoimmune Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; adverse effects ; blood ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of low intensity and very high frequency (VHF) electromagnetic radiation (170 MHz) on nervous system function and serum enzymes and immune function in human subjects with occupational exposure to VHF.

METHODSTo measure the intensity of VHF and other environmental factors on the spot, to hold the questionnaire about chief complaints, to examine the rheoencephalography and the neurobehavior function, to analyze ALT, AST, ALP and LDH, and IgA, IgM and IgG in experimental group and control group.

RESULTSThe intensity of VHF (direction of antenna: 0 degrees, 10 m and 135 degrees, 20 m) was higher than that of national standard on-the-spot. The incidences of symptoms such as headache, insomnia and amnesia etc. was significantly higher in experimental group (P < 0.01). Rheoencephalography indicated that the raising time of both left [(0.155 3 +/- 0.057 9) s] and right [(0.154 1 +/- 0.059 2) s] in the experimental group after exposure were significantly longer than before exposure [(0.104 4 +/- 0.030 2) s, (0.103 2 +/- 0.030 4) s respectively] or in the control [(0.118 5 +/- 0.056 8) s, (0.117 7 +/- 0.057 5) s respectively, (P < 0.01)]. Neurobehavior function test showed that digital symbol, digital span and pursuit aiming test were decreased after exposure in the experimental group (P < 0.01). Serum enzyme analysis showed that AST, ALP and LDH were significantly increased after exposure in the experimental group (P < 0.01). No marked change was found in IgA level, while the levels of IgM and IgG after exposure in the experimental group especially the latter were significantly increased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLow-intensity VHF radiation can decrease the nervous system function in occupationally exposed personnel and induce increase in some kinds of enzymes and immunoglobulins.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Electroencephalography ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Higher Nervous Activity ; drug effects ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; radiation effects ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; radiation effects ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Radiation Dosage ; Radio Waves ; adverse effects ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; radiation effects

Patients who transplanted for non-autoimmune indication may developed de novo autoimmune hepatitis after liver transplantation. It happens about 1.7%-6.6% in liver transplanted population. Most patients with de novo AIH had transplanted for HCV infection, biliary atresia and Cholestatic liver disease. The interval between transplantation and de novo AIH onset is from 3 month to 16 years, mostly more than 1 year. The disease can be seen at any age. More female patients are present in children, while there is no significant difference between male and female in adults. Clinical manifestations of de novo AIH are similar to those of AIH, namely characterized by elevated transaminase with or without bilirubin, as well as elevated serum gammaglobulin (IgG) and positive autoantibodies, while the histological features of an infiltrate rich in plasma cells with interface hepatitis and necro-inflammation and fibrosis. Treatment with corticosteroids and Azathioprine brings good outcomes, but it tends to fluctuate.
Adult ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Bilirubin ; Child ; Female ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is known to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Etanercept is a recombinant soluble fusion protein of TNF type II receptor and IgG, which acts as a specific TNF- antagonist. Anti-TNF-therapy has been an important advance in the treatment of RA. However, induction of autoantibodies in some proportion of patients treated with TNF inhibitors raised concerns for development of systemic autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although new autoantibody formation is common with anti-TNF therapy, there are only rare reports of overt SLE, most of which manifested without major organ involvement and resolved shortly after discontinuation of the therapy. We describe a 55-yr-old Korean woman who developed overt life threatening SLE complicated by pneumonia and tuberculosis following etanercept treatment for RA. This case is to our knowledge, the first report of etanercept-induced SLE in Korea.
Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; Middle Aged ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/*chemically induced ; Immunoglobulin G/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Female ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*drug therapy ; Antirheumatic Agents/*adverse effects

Previous studies suggest that reactive dyes can induce IgE mediated bronchoconstrictions. To evaluate the significance of specific IgE and IgG antibodies in workers exposed to reactive dyes, we studied the prevalence of Black GR-specific IgG by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, as well as Black GR-specific IgE by RAST, in 176 workers employed in 1 reactive dye factory and 4 neighboring factories. Six employees of reactive dye asthma who were working in factories near the reactive dye factories were noted. The prevalence of specific IgE antibodies in the neighboring factories was higher than in that of the reactive dye factory. The prevalence of specific IgG was highest in the reactive dye factory, and those of the neighboring factories were markedly lower. It was suggested that IgE mediated sensitization to reactive dye could have occurred in employees who were working in neighboring factories, and the prevalence of reactive dye-specific IgG antibody could be used as an in direct method of assessing the exposure of workers to reactive dye.
Adult ; Antibody Specificity ; Asthma/*etiology/immunology ; Coloring Agents/*adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases/*etiology/immunology ; Occupational Exposure ; Serum Albumin/immunology

To investigate the role of specific IgE and IgG in the various types of asthmatic reaction, we measured specific IgE and IgG levels to Dermatophagoides farinae (D.farinae) using the D. farinae-radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and Phadebas IgG-RAST in 39 house dust asthmatics (11 early responders, 21 dual responders and 7 isolated late responders) and 12 negative responders on house dust bronchoprovocation. There were significant differences in the D. farinae-specific IgE level and skin reactivity to D. farinae and house dust among the 4 groups (p less than 0.05) and the specific IgE level of dual asthmatic responders was the highest and was significantly higher than that of early responders (p less than 0.05). The specific IgG level showed no differences among the 4 groups. These results suggested that the types of asthmatic reaction in house dust asthmatics were closely related to specific IgE level to D. farinae and the specific IgG level seemed not to be related to an isolated late response.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Animal ; Antibody Specificity ; Asthma/etiology/*immunology ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Dust/adverse effects ; Female ; Human ; Immunoglobulin E/metabolism ; Immunoglobulin G/metabolism ; Male ; Middle Age ; Mites/*immunology

Drug-induced immune haemolytic anaemia (DIIHA) is extremely rare. We herein report a case of life-threatening DIIHA due to levofloxacin. This is the second case reported in the literature. A 51-year-old woman presented with complaints of fatigue after 4-5 days of levofloxacin therapy for a lung infection. At presentation, she was found to have haemolysis with a positive Coombs test and IgG autoantibodies. Levofloxacin was identified as the probable culprit, using the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale. Upon discontinuation of the drug and initiation of steroids, the patient's haematological parameters stabilised. Diagnosis of DIIHA is made through a history of intake of levofloxacin, clinical and laboratory features of haemolysis and a positive Coombs test. An autoantibody screen is most commonly positive for warm antibodies (IgG type). It is essential for clinicians to recognise this rare complication caused by a commonly prescribed medication, discontinue the offending drug and initiate treatment.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; chemically induced ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Female ; Fluoroquinolones ; adverse effects ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Levofloxacin ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Steroids ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo observe the immunologic changes in patients who have complications after polyacrylamide hydrogel (HPG) injection.

METHODSTo compare the patients in the HPG injection group and the control group, the expressions of immunoglobulin IgG, IgM, IgA and complement C3, C4 of serum were measured by immunoturbidimetry.

RESULTSThe expressions of IgG and C3 in the injection group were lower than the control group with extremely significant difference (P < 0.01). The expressions of IgM were higher than the control group with significant difference (P < 0.05). The expression of IgA and C4 had no significant differences between the two groups. The immunologic changes had no relation to the injection doses.

CONCLUSIONSClinical application of HPG as a soft tissue filling material may cause foreign-body rejection reaction. The long-term immunologic effect of HPG needs further observation in more cases.

Acrylic Resins ; adverse effects ; Adult ; Breast ; surgery ; Complement C3 ; analysis ; Complement C4 ; analysis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Male ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; immunology

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an antibody-mediated complication of heparin treatment that can lead to thrombosis and thromboembolism. HIT is mainly caused by immunoglobulin G (IgG) class among anti-heparin/platelet factor 4 antibodies that bind to epitopes on platelet factor 4 (PF4) released from activated platelets that developed when it forms complexes with heparin. Platelet aggregation and hypercoagulation status result from this process. Besides, the reactions between antibodies and vascular endothelial cells and monocytes are involved in HIT. Laboratory detection of anti-heparin/platelet factor 4 antibodies after heparin administration may help diagnose HIT early. Tests for detecting antibodies to the heparin/PF4 complex can be classified into functional platelet assays (which rely on the demonstration of platelet activation) and immunoassays (which detect the presence of an antibody without regard for its functional ability). But there is no simple and effective test available currently. In this article the anti-heparin/platelet factor 4 antibodies, pathogenesis of HIT, clinical laboratory assays and immunoassays are reviewed.
Antigen-Antibody Complex ; immunology ; Heparin ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; immunology ; Platelet Aggregation ; Platelet Factor 4 ; immunology ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; immunology

Animals ; Concanavalin A ; adverse effects ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C