1/5. Isolated chronic cough with sputum eosinophilia caused by Humicola fuscoatra antigen: the importance of environmental survey for fungus as an etiologic agent.We report here a 35-year-old man with isolated chronic cough associated with sputum eosinophilia in which Humicola fuscoatra (H. fuscoatra) antigen was an etiologic agent. He was admitted for the diagnosis and the treatment of his severe nonproductive cough. Although 80% of the nucleated cells in his induced sputum were eosinophils, he did not have bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine or heightened bronchomotor tone. Bronchodilator therapy was not effective against his coughing. His cough worsened on his return home, suggesting the existence of some etiologic agent in his house. H. fuscoatra was isolated from his house, and the bronchoprovocation test with H. fuscoatra antigen was positive: i.e., development of coughing and decrease in capsaicin cough threshold (capsaicin concentration causing five or more coughs) from the prechallenge value of 31.3 microM to 1.95 microM at 6 and 48 hr, respectively, after the challenge. In addition, repeated environmental survey for fungi was suggestive of the importance of H. fuscoatra in the sputum eosinophilia. This is the first report concerning chronic cough with sputum eosinophilia caused by allergic reaction to H. fuscoatra antigen.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/5. Progressive sinobronchiectasis associated with the "bare lymphocyte syndrome" in an adult.A Japanese adult lacking the expression of HLA-A, HLA-B, and hla-c antigens on the lymphocyte (the "bare lymphocyte syndrome") had recurrent sinopulmonary infections and diffusely progressive bronchiectasis. Class I antigen and beta 2-microglobulin on the lymphocytes of the patient, his siblings, his father, and healthy subjects were assayed by using monoclonal antibodies against these surface markers. Class I antigen and beta 2-microglobulin were not found on the lymphocytes of the patient and the Daudi cells. In addition, lymphocytes of his siblings showed low fluorescence intensity. The HLA molecule on the lymphocyte plays an important role at the stage of recognition of immunogenic antigens. These results might suggest a correlation between sinobronchiectasis and the deficiency of HLA molecules, and the importance of the HLA system in the immune defense mechanism.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.57142857142857keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/5. Herpetic tracheobronchitis: immunohistologic demonstration of herpes simplex virus antigen.A patient with no evidence of underlying malignancy or immunosuppression was found to have herpetic tracheobronchitis by bronchial brushing cytologic examination and bronchial biopsy. herpes simplex type I antigens were localized in infected cells by means of the unlabeled antibody enzyme technique. Occasional cases of herpes simplex viral tracheobronchitis or pneumonitis have been reported in patients with severe burns or with malignancy. This is an unusual finding in otherwise health individuals.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.71428571428571keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/5. Characterization of a chlamydia pneumoniae strain isolated from a 57-year-old man.The isolation of chlamydia pneumoniae, especially from elderly persons, is generally not easy. Recently, we succeeded in isolating a chlamydial strain, which was designated KKpn-15, from a 57-year-old man suffering from acute bronchitis. It was compared with well established strains of C. pneumoniae, C. trachomatis and C. psittaci, and its biological properties, such as the morphology of elementary bodies (EBs) and inclusions, and the immunochemistry of EB proteins, were investigated. Based on the results obtained in the present study, it was confirmed that the new chlamydial strain, KKpn-15, is a member of the C. pneumoniae strain and that the organisms of KKpn-15 are useful as an antigen for the serodiagnosis and epidemiology of C. pneumoniae infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.14285714285714keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/5. Two family outbreaks of chlamydia pneumoniae infection.During autumn 1992, we observed two unrelated family outbreaks of chlamydia pneumoniae infection. family A consisted of grandmother (aged 77 yrs), father (aged 41 yrs), mother (aged 38 yrs), daughter (aged 10 yrs), and two sons (aged 6 yrs and 3 months, respectively). The grandmother and daughter suffered from pneumonia, father from pharyngitis and bronchitis and the older son from mild bronchitis. No symptoms were recorded in the mother and younger son. Symptomatic subjects showed a fourfold increase in immunoglobulin g (IgG) titre for chlamydia pneumoniae, determined by a microimmunofluorescence test with specific antigen (TW-183). Other serological studies against mycoplasma pneumonia, legionella pneumophila, influenza virus type A and B, adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were negative. sputum culture gave a positive result for haemophilus influenzae, colony forming units (cfu) = 10(4).ml-1 in the grandmother. No serum positivity was recorded in the mother and younger son, who remained asymptomatic. All symptomatic patients were successfully treated with macrolides. family B consisted of mother (aged 63 yrs) and daughter (aged 36 yrs). Both suffered from chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonia. diagnosis was made by means of serological microimmunofluorescence test, and direct identification using an indirect immunofluorescence test on pharyngeal swab. sputum culture and other serological tests remained negative. Both patients were successfully treated with macrolides. These observations emphasize the relevance of chlamydia pneumoniae in family cluster respiratory infections.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.14285714285714keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |