[Cellular and molecular bases of allergic diseases of the conjunctiva]. / A kötöhártya allergiás betegségeinek sejtes és molekuláris alapjai.

The authors review the clinical signs of the five most frequent allergic diseases of the conjunctiva (seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis, atopic conjunctivitis and giant papillary conjunctivitis), and then the immunologic bases of the development of the early-type allergic reaction. In the course of this, they describe the roles played by IgE globulin and the mastocytes in histamine release, and also the possible effects manifested in allergic inflammation in consequence of the metabolic products of arachidonic acid formed in the cell membrane (leukotrienes, lipoxins, prostaglandins and thromboxanes). Following this, they present an account of the process by which the eosinophilic cells that play the main role in the later stages of allergic inflammation emerge from te vascular bed, and the effects of various adhesion molecules. Finally, they discuss a new classification of conjunctivitis (proposed by Bonini), based on the pathomechanisms of the diseases.

[Malignant lymphoma associated with angioedema]. / Malignus lymphomákhoz társuló angiooedema.

The incidence of malignant lymphoma cases in constantly growing. Therefore it is worth-while to consider its presence even in cases where the symptoms do not give a clear indication of the disease. Two cases with angiooema being rare and not carachteristic signs for malignant lymphoma are reported. The authors discuss the supposed paraneoplastic patomechanism in malignant lymphoma, i.e. the possible role of C' 1 inhibition. In the view at the cases discussed the authors propose to consider the possible diagnosis of malignant lymphoma if unexplained angiooedema is present.

[Treatment of atopic dermatitis]. / Az atopiás dermatitis terápiája.

The authors give a survey of the treatment of atopic dermatitis with respect to its extent and severity. Our knowledge about the immunopathology of the disease altered during the past years and thus it was possible to use new medicines. The most important one among them is Cyclosporin A, which is a selective immunosuppressive drug. It effectively decreases the symptoms of atopic dermatitis by blocking T cells which were already activated. Because of the serious side-effects of Cyclosporin A (nephrotoxicity, hypertension) it can only be applied when no other local or systemic treatment proves to be effective. Even a short application of the medicine improves not only the quality of patient's life but also the long-term outcome of the disease.

[Immunopathologic disorders in atopic dermatitis]. / Immunpatológiai eltérések atópiás dermatitisben.

The atopic dermatitis is a multifactorial inheritable disease, in which pathogenesis in addition to environmental factors (climate, allergens, clothing) genetically determined multiplex metabolic differences (arachidonic acids, essential fatty acids) and immunologic alterations play an important role. Within immunologic findings the disturbances of balance in Th1 and Th2 subclasses, the increased degranulation activity of mast cells and the increased antigen presentation activity of Langerhans cells can be stressed. The clinical immunological alterations shown in the diseases, the increased production of IgE and so the type I. allergic reactions (urticaria, gastrointestinal manifestation of food allergy, allergic rhinitis, asthma bronchiale), the difference of cellular immunity of the skin can be explained by the above mentioned main immunological changes. In understanding of immunological origin of atopic dermatitis the IgE receptors expressed on the surface of Langerhans cells (connecting the immediate and delayed type of immune response) mean significant help.

Blood leukocyte responses to extracorporeal circulation. I. Short term extracorporeal circulation in dogs without and with extracorporeal irradiation.

Short term (1 h) extracorporeal circulation without or with irradiation of blood was performed in two normal dogs in a series of experiments. The granulocyte count was constantly diminished, while the lymphocytes did not show any particular change in their concentration. In the majority of the experiments a decrease of the CFU-C content occurred to less than 70% of the initial level. There was no difference in the results of experiments with or without irradiation. In the "bag to bag" procedures, no significant change in the blood leukocyte counts including CFU-C, was established.

Blood leukocyte responses to extracorporeal circulation. II. Medium term extracorporeal circulation without and with extracorporeal irradiation in normal and splenectomized dogs.

Medium term (6-8 h) extracorporeal irradiation without and with irradiation of blood was performed in normal and splenectomized dogs to reveal the changes of blood leukocytes including CFU-C. A regular but transitory decrease of granulocytes and a longer lasting diminution of lymphocytes in the blood were observed. The CFU-C level became and mostly remained very low during the procedure. Splenectomy did not influence significantly the changes of peripheral leukocyte counts. No marked difference of leukocytes was seen in the blood samples taken from the arterial or venous side of the shunt or even from the cubital vein. Also, the irradiation did not produce any difference in the alterations of blood cell counts compared to those without irradiation. The possible explanations of these results are discussed.

Blood leukocyte responses to extracorporal circulation. III. Long term extracorporeal circulation without and with irradiation in normal and splenectomized dogs.

Long term (12-48 h) extracorporeal circulation without and with irradiation of the blood was performed in normal and splenectomized dogs in order to observe the effect of these procedures on blood leukocyte counts including CFU-C. A transient granulocytopenia and a decrease of lymphocyte count were observed. The blood CFU-C level diminished to a very low level and remained low for the whole time of the experiments. There was no significant difference between the results of procedures with or without irradiation. The similar effect of a shortened tubing system on the blood leukocyte count is also reported. Heparin infusion alone did not decrease the peripheral CFU-C concentration. The possible explanations for the observed phenomena are discussed.

Extracorporeal irradiation of dog blood: the effects of a radiostrontium irradiator on blood stem cells (CFU-C).

The radiation sensitivity of dog blood stem cells was measured in vitro and in an extracorporeal circulation passing through a radiation field. It was established that the calculated D0 was as low as 0.45 Gy. Investigating the cell killing rate in our equipment (Buchler type 90Sr device for extracorporeal irradiation), we found an overkill situation; the dose delivered was in excess of that which would be required for the total eradication of all stem cells in the peripheral blood passing through the radiation field. Various other types of devices used for extracorporeal irradiation of blood are also reviewed.

Behavior of leucocytes and colony-forming units (CFU-C) in blood of chronic uremic patients during hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration.

In a comparison of the effects of hemodialysis and diafiltration, we found that the transient decrease of circulating granulocytes seen in hemodialysis did not occur during diafiltration. We assume that this is the consequence of effective removal of a humoral leucotoxin by hemofiltration. The CFU-C changes observed parallelled the alterations in the granulocyte count both in hemodialysis and in hemodiafiltration.

A case of IgD-lambda myeloma.

A case of IgD myeloma is presented. The severe damage of both kidneys resulted in uraemia, and death. Fluorescein angiography failed to reveal a typical paraproteinaemic fundus. The elevated serum IgD level decreased form 1000 mg to 400 mg per 100 ml during cytostatic therapy. The effect of the antineoplastic drugs on the plasmocytes was demonstrated by microphotograms. The caryograms revealed multiple changes.

[Infectious and neoplastic complications in rheumatoid arthritis]. / Uber infektiöse und neoplastische Komplikationen der Rheumatoiden Arthritis

Three cases are reported of rheumatic arthritis protracted over several decades, with reduced immunobiological resistance, who developed infectious arthritis, a syndrome with urticaria and angio-edematous signs and increased monoclonal IgM synthesis, and Hodgkin's disease. The discussion covers the manifold pathogenesis, the common and simultaneous effect of constitutional, local factors of the development of the disease, related to the generally reduced resistance of the organism, and the therapeutical moments (corticosteroids, immunosuppressives); further the establishment of therapeutical measures in the interest of the prevention of the complications mentioned.