John Webb

Improved detection of anti-Jo-1 antibody, a marker for myositis, using purified histidyl-tRNA synthetase

The increased detection of anti-Jo-1 antibody afforded by the use of the purified antigen, histidyl-tRNA synthetase, in counterimmunoelectrophoresis is demonstrated. Using purified antigen, anti-Jo-1 antibody was detected in the sera of 16/33 (48.5%) patients with confirmed myositis and in 20/45 (44.5%) patients with confirmed or possible myositis. This rate is approximately double that obtained with commercial thymus extracts both in this study and seven others reported in the literature. The presence of antibody shows marked correlation with the activity of myositis at the time of serum sampling and with the presence of interstitial lung disease. Detection rates are similar in patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis both with and without additional connective tissue diseases.

Partial purification of anti-DNA antibodies from systemic lupus erythematosus serum by dye-ligand chromatography

Purification of anti-DNA antibodies from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) serum is usually achieved by DNA-affinity chromatography. However, using DNA-cellulose, the present study has found that this technique results in very low yields of DNA binding activity, much of which is contaminated with DNA simultaneously released during chromatography. In comparison it has been found that the anionic dyes Cibracon blue F3GA and Procion red HE3B, bound to crosslinked agarose, give more than 80% recovery and purification of DNA binding activity from whole SLE serum of 11- and 7-fold respectively. The majority of serum immunoglobulin did not bind to the dyes, but that which did, including anti-DNA antibody, bound by ionic interaction. Dye-ligand chromatography is therefore suggested as a useful technique for high yield recovery of partially purified DNA binding activity which can be subjected to further purification procedures, such as preparative isoelectric focusing.

Brachial Neuritis with Colitic Arthritis

Excerpt To the editor: Neurologic abnormalities have rarely been described in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, are diverse in nature, and have not been reported in patients with colitic ar...

Case report 445

Fig. 1. A The fight acromioclavicular articulation shows a large, well-defined lytic lesion in the outer (distal) end of the clavicle. B The outer end of the left clavicle is eroded, with a pencilling deformity and distortion of the acromioclavicular joint. Observe the relative lack of any significant juxta-articular osteoporosis when contrasted with the extent of the lesions in each acromioclavicular area

Evaluation of anti-nuclear antibody tests: A report on the workshop of the australian rheumatism association October 1980

*Sutton Rheumatism Research Laboratory, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney; ?Department of Rheurnatology, S t George Hospital, tiogurah;

Antihistone antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis and Felty's syndrome

Department of Rheumatology, Hammersmith Hospital, London; ** Univeixitjof Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver. Colorado; t~ t io l l i ng Institrrtr. of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital. Sydney;

Sjogren's syndrome: clinical and laboratory features.

Uialtoi. and Elizu Hall Institute, Melbourne; and ***Department of Clinical Imnzunologj,, Roj~ i I Perth Hospital