Yeast-like fungi and yeasts isolated from healthy breeding horses.

Horses are characterized by a very high incidence of mycoses in comparison with most livestock and companion animals. They are highly susceptible to asymptomatic infections caused by yeast-like fungi, but the carrier state may be disrupted under the influence of autogenic and allogenic factors. The above leads to severe organ mycoses, often with an acute form of infection. "Carrier horses" may also act as vectors which transmit potential pathogens between individuals and species. The aim of this study was to identify yeast-like fungi and yeast colonizing the ontocenoses of healthy horses and to determine the factors which affect the frequency of pathogen isolation. It was noted that the age of the horses influenced the frequency of isolating fungi and the species diversity of obtained isolate. The taxonomical spectrum of fungi also varied depending on the season (in the autumn: 37 species, in the spring: 8 species). The results of the experiment indicate that fungi colonizing the mucosa and skin of animals have a broad taxonomic spectrum. The prevalent fungi were members of the genera Candida, represented by 12 species, and Saccharomyces, represented by 5 species. The most frequently isolated species were: Candida krusei (49 isolates) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (40 isolates). Many species have been isolated from horses for the first time, which indicates the scarcity of research in this area and the need for routine observations of the mycological environment of stables.

HLA-DR antigens in children with mumps meningitis.

The frequency of HLA-DR antigens was studied in 54 patients with mumps meningitis, and in two control groups. The first control group comprised 333 randomly chosen subjects while the second group was composed of 46 subjects who have passed mumps without meningitis. The DR5 antigen was more frequent in patients than in the second control group with relative risk of 2.4 and significance at the level of p < 0.05. The p value became insignificant after the correction for the number of antigens investigated.

HLA-A, B, C, and DR gene and haplotype frequencies in 600 poles by a maximum likelihood method of gene counting.

A population sample of 600 healthy, unrelated persons was used for estimating HLA-A, B, C and DR antigen, gene and haplotype frequencies. The Polish population is characterized by a high value of HLA-A10, B13, B27, DR1 and DR5 gene frequencies. Strong gametic associations between genes A1 and B8, A3 and B7, as well as between B8 and DR3, and B7 and DR2, typical for many European populations, are also present in the Polish population.

[Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2 sisters]. / Ziarnica zlosliwa i chloniak nieziarniczy u dwóch sióstr.

For the first time in the Polish medical literature an appearance is presented of malignant lymphogranulomatosis and of a non-Hodgkin lymphoma in two sisters. A discussion on the etiology of the condition is presented on the ground of the cytogenic studies and tissue compatibilities antigens as well as of the literature of the subject. Genetic background of the two different diseases in two sisters is stressed.

Association of HLA-DR antigens with the development of cytotoxic antibodies in patients on dialysis.

Association between DR antigens and the occurrence of cytotoxic alloantibodies was studied in 251 patients on dialysis. Patients awaiting their first kidney graft were DR typed, and periodically investigated for the presence of alloantibodies. According to the observed peak panel reactive antibodies (PRA) the patients were divided into 3 groups: A, non-sensitized, B, moderately sensitized, and C, highly sensitized. The antigen DR3 was more frequent in sensitized (groups B + C) than in non-sensitized (group A) patients. This difference was significant on the level of P = 0.003, (Pcorr = 0.02). The antigen DR2 was more frequent in highly sensitized (group C) than in moderately sensitized (group B) patients with P = 0.002, not significant after correction for the number of investigated antigens.

Blood transfusions and the development of cytotoxic antibodies in dialyzed patients.

In our work we investigated factors which can influence the alloimmunization and especially the ranges of cytotoxic antibodies that develop in patients on dialysis awaiting their first graft. Up to 15 liters of administered blood the proportion of immunized patients is rather stabile, not exceeding 50%. After further transfusions the percentage of immunized patients is growing rapidly reaching about 85%. Hyperimmunization, marked by cytotoxic antibodies with more than 80% panel reactivity is significantly more frequent in patients who obtained 15 and more liters of blood. In females the hyperimmunization is about 4 times more frequent than in males.

HLA antigens and the antibody response after vaccination to hepatitis B.

The aim of our work was the search for immunogenetic factors that influence the antibody response to HBs antigen. We analyzed the HLA-A, -B, and -DR antigen frequencies in 19 seropositive to HBs and 28 seronegative to HBs healthy persons finding an elevated frequency of B5 in the seropositive group (p value 0.037). After vaccination with Hevac B Pasteur vaccine of the seronegative persons, the low antibody response was associated with B13 (p value 0.041). An association between local side reactions to the vaccine and HLA A3 and B35 were also found (p values 0.042 and 0.022 respectively). The presented p values are not significant after correction for the number of antigens tested and for this reason our findings require confirmation in an independent study.