Claire Farber

Spontaneous apoptosis and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Increased programmed cell death (PCD) or apoptosis has been detected in the T cells of HIV-infected subjects; it is held partially responsible for the continuous loss of CD4+ T cells during the natural course of HIV infection. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) decreases the viral load and leads to an increase of CD4+ count in vivo. In this study we evaluated PCD in total peripheral blood mononuclear cells, CD8+ and CD4+ lymphocytes before and four weeks after initiation of HAART. Seven HIV-1-infected patients were investigated. Viral load was assessed by RT-polymerase chain reaction and PCD by flow cytometry using apoptosis by 7 amino actinomycin D (7AAD) and propidium iodide (PI). After four weeks of HAART, CD4+ T and CD8+ T cell levels were stable, and plasma HIV-RNA copies were significantly decreased. In four of the patients (4/7), HIV-RNA levels were reduced to undetectable levels (fewer than 400 copies per milliliter). A statistically significant reduction of apoptosis among CD4+ cells was observed (P < 0.03), though neither in the CD8+ T cell population nor in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCS). These results demonstrate the beneficial effect of HAART on apoptosis of CD4+ cells in the early treatment stage.

Demonstration of spontaneous XX/XY chimerism by DNA fingerprinting

SummaryThe M13 bacteriophage probe, which makes possible the establishment of DNA fingerprints, was used to study a phenotypically normal woman with a 46XY karyotype and her twin brother. Identical fingerprints and positive hybridzation with a series of Y-specific probes were obtained on blood samples from the siblings. DNA from a skin biopsy of the woman yielded a clearly different pattern and displayed no Y-specific hybridization, indicating that she is a spontaneous chimera. This study illustrates the use of DNA fingerprinting as a powerful and simple aid to the diagnosis of natural chimerism.

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous CD34-positive blood stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma in an HIV carrier.

The epidemiology and clinical outcome of multiple myeloma in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients is poorly documented. There are uncertainties concerning the optimal management of this rare disorder. We report on the use of myeloablative chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation in an HIV-positive patient with multiple myeloma.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2002) 29, 273–275. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1703348

Acute sjögren-like syndrome as the first manifestation of a generalized cmv infection in a patient with aids

We report the first case of generalized cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in an AIDS patient who presented with an acute Sjögren-like syndrome and was diagnosed by parotid gland biopsy. All symptoms disappeared after a few days of intravenous ganciclovir therapy.

Detection of H-Y in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

SummaryWe have developed a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for determination of H-Y phenotype in the human. This assay, which measures the inhibition of the reaction of a monoclonal anti-H-Y antibody and a mouse testis extract as a source of H-Y antigen, was applied to the supernatant of lymphocytes from ten normal male and ten normal female subjects. Introduction of supernatant from male cells gave reading of 69%–78% of those obtained with testis supernatant alone; female-cell supernatant did not inhibit the reaction (89%–102%).

Exceptional stroke-like episodes in a patient with type I autosomal angioedema

We report on a man with type I hereditary angioedema (HAE) who presented with repeated transient neurologic deficits, totally regressive after a specific C1-inhibitor (C1 INH) injection. Hereditary angioedema, first described in 1888,1 is an autosomal dominant disease, affecting up to 1/50,000 persons, defined in type I as a C1 INH deficiency.2 It is clinically characterized by recurrent edematous crisis at various body sites: mainly relapsing skin swellings, abdominal pain attacks, and life-threatening upper airway obstructions. Neurologic manifestations are exceptionally reported in this affection.3 ### Case report. A 61-year-old man was admitted for the sudden onset of a right sensory-motor deficit. Since childhood, he had had serpiginous erythema and recurrent abdominal pain attacks. The diagnosis of HAE type I was established when he was 14 years old. The disease was still active in 2008 (2 abdominal or respiratory attacks during 3 or 4 days/month), despite a high dose of prophylactic treatment with danazol (600 mg/day). He was an active smoker (40 packs/year) and had a dyslipidemia probably due to danazol. He had no arterial hypertension. At admission, the deficit was …

Use of immunoglobulins in adults in a university hospital: a retrospective study.

Abstract New applications are always being developed for immunoglobulins; new recommendations are regularly published. We wished to know the indications used in a large hospital. A hundred and thirty-six adult patients were prescribed immunoglobulins from January to December 2008. Three preparations in intravenous immunoglobulins were available (one liquid, 2 freeze-dried). Fourteen charts were rejected for clerical errors. A hundred and twenty two charts were available for statistical study. Thirty-six patients were on immunoglobulins for antibody deficiency, 19 were followed in haematology for chronic lymphoid leukaemia or multiple myeloma, 19 were treated after lung transplantation, 17 had received a kidney transplant, 1 after heart transplantation: these indications were substitution. Twenty for Guillain Barré and chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy, 10 in immune thrombocytopenic purpura: this was for immunomodulation. Recommendations were followed by the prescribers; charts were reviewed in March and November 2009. Side-effects were rare. (0.6%) (1).