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Caucasian Individuals (caucasian + individual)
Selected AbstractsComparative analysis of NK cell subset distribution in normal and lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocyte conditionsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 10 2004Véronique Pascal Abstract We have characterized the heterogeneity of human blood NK cell subsets defined by expression of KIR, lectin like receptors and NK cell differentiation markers within a cohort of 51 healthy Caucasian individuals. High inter-individual variability in cell surface expression of most NK cell markers is observed. Range values defining NK cell subsets in healthy donors were further used as references to characterize 14 patients with NK-type lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes (NK-LDGL). Alterations of the KIR repertoire were noted in all NK-LDGL patients. NK cell expansions were classified as oligoclonal KIR+ or as non-detectable KIR (ndKIR) using anti-KIR2DL1/2DS1, anti-KIR2DL2/2DL3/2DS2, anti-KIR3DL1 and anti-KIR2DS4 monoclonal antibodies. A major reduction in the size of the CD56bright NK cell subset was a constant feature of NK-LDGL. Altered distribution of CD94+, CD161+, and CD162R+ NK cell subsets was also observed in NK-LDGL patients. Considering the potential role of NK cells in eliminating tumors or virus-infected cells, the reference values defined in this study should be valuable to characterize both quantitative and qualitative alterations of the NK cell repertoire in pathological conditions and to monitor NK cell reconstitution following hematopoietic transplantation. [source] Rapid denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) for mutation scanning of the transforming growth factor ,3 gene using a novel proof-reading polymeraseINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMMUNOGENETICS, Issue 5 2003A. Bayat Summary We have utilized a novel variation on the conventional denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) technology, which we term rapid DHPLC, combining changes in instrumentation, cartridge technology and analysis conditions to enable significant increases in throughput to be achieved. In addition, the use of a novel proof-reading polymerase for sample amplification with a low misincorporation rate enables simplification of the DHPLC patterns and hence enhanced mutation detection recognition. This scheme for increasing DHPLC throughput has been tested by scanning the transforming growth factor (TGF) ,3 gene for the presence of mutations for which there is limited published or on-line data available regarding the presence of gene polymorphisms. TGF, isoforms have multiple roles in cell division, growth, proliferation, transformation and differentiation. TGF,3 is a TGF, cytokine isoform, and has an important role in embryogenesis, cell differentiation and wound healing. The TGF,3 gene consists of seven exons and six introns spanning 43 000 bp of the human genome on chromosome 14q23,24. The rapid DHPLC approach enabled scanning of all seven exons and part of the promoter region (1000 bp upstream from exon 1 in the 5,-flanking regions) of the TGF,3 gene in 95 Caucasian individuals in only 8 days, in comparison to the 17 days it would have previously taken. Mutations were clearly identified in the promoter region of the TGF,3 gene but were absent from the exonic regions. Understanding the genetic variations affecting the TGF,3 gene is important as this molecule has multiple regulatory functions on a variety of cell types. [source] Characteristics of HIV-1 non-B subtype infections in Northwest PolandJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 8 2010osz Parczewski Abstract The number of non-B subtype HIV-1 infections in Europe has been increasing even though major regional differences have been observed. This trend was investigated in northwestern Poland using sequence and epidemiological data from a cohort of 102 HIV-1-infected patients from Szczecin, Poland. HIV-1 subtypes were defined by phylogenetic analysis of viral reverse transcriptase- and protease-partial coding regions, and results were compared with online subtyping by Standford and REGA tools. Subtype analysis using on-line subtyping methods produced varying results if compared to phylogenesis, with concordant variant assignment obtained for 98% (100/102) of sequences by Stanford and 85% (87/102) by REGA. In the population studied, non-B subtype infections comprised 21% of the infections and consisted of subtype D (57%, n,=,12), CRF01_AE (19%, n,=,4), A and C clades (9.5%, n,=,2), and the CRF13_cpx recombinant isolate (4.8%, n,=,1). Patients carrying non-B subtypes were predominantly heterosexuals with high percentage (57%) of women observed in the group. All HIV-1 non-B women were Caucasian with majority (83%) of infections acquired in Poland; however, among 12 travelers included in the study a higher proportion of non-B infections was noted (50%, P,=,0.01). Moreover, lower baseline lymphocyte CD4 counts (P,=,0.01), higher baseline HIV-1 viremia (P,=,0.08), and a more advanced stage of the disease (P,=,0.03) were observed among individuals infected with non-B subtypes. The data indicated that the proportion of HIV-1 non-B subtype infections was higher than previously reported in Poland consisting of a high subtype D prevalence. Furthermore, subtype D transmission occurred primarily between heterosexual Caucasian individuals from this region. J. Med. Virol. 82:1306,1313, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Association between TNFA-308 G/A polymorphism and sensitization to para- phenylenediamine: a case,control studyALLERGY, Issue 2 2009B. Blömeke Background:,Para -phenylenediamine (PPD) and related chemicals are common contact sensitizers, frequently causing allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). The cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-,) plays a key role in contact sensitization. Methods:, In this case,control study, we evaluated the distribution of variations in the regulatory region of the gene for TNF-, (TNFA-308 G/A) in 181 Caucasian individuals with a history of ACD and sensitization to PPD and 161 individuals with no history of sensitization to PPD. Results:, The frequency of GA or AA TNFA genotypes was significantly higher in individuals sensitized to PPD than in age- and gender-matched controls giving an odds ratio (OR) of 2.16 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.35,3.47; P = 0.0016). This relation was even more pronounced when restricting cases to females over 45 years (OR = 3.71; 95% CI: 1.65,8.31; P = 0.0017) vs younger females (less than or equal to 45 years; OR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.03,5.65; P = 0.044) or males (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.449,2.47; P = 1.0). In addition, a logistic regression model revealed a significant effect for TNFA-308 AA and AG vs GG genotype (point estimate = 2.152; 95% Wald CI: 1.332,3.477). Conclusions:, These findings suggest a possible role for the TNFA-308 genetic polymorphism as a susceptibility factor for chemically induced ACD. [source] Evaluation of spatial contrast sensitivity after the instillation of diclofenac eye dropsACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009V KARAMPATAKIS Purpose To evaluate if diclofenac eye drop instillation is related with spatial contrast sensitivity (CS) impairment. Methods Thirty ophthalmologically healthy Caucasian individuals (--male, --female), aged from 20 to 59 underwent CS testing. The examination was repeated 20 and 40 minutes after the instillation of diclofenac eye drops unilaterally. The fellow eye served as control. Results All the examined individuals had normal visual acuity, color vision and CS before the diclofenac drop instillation. Four of them complained of a temporary glare at the eye in which diclofenac was instilled. These four individuals had decreased CS in low spatial frequencies (1.5 & 3 cycles/degree), in the examination performed 20 minutes after the instillation. The CS normalized again in the third CS evaluation performed 40 minutes after the instillation. Conclusion The temporary glare that affects visual performance of some individuals after diclofenac eye drop instillation is related with a temporary decrease of spatial CS in low frequencies. Within this time period of 40 minutes after the instillation of diclofenac, individuals who experience visual disturbances should avoid activities that demand high visual efficacy or postpone the instillation for a more convenient time in relation to the duration of glare they have experienced. [source] | ||||||||||