A patient with the hyperviscosity syndrome exhibited very high concentrations of intermediate to small circulating immune complexes (CIC), involving 40-50% of the IgG present, with IgG rheumatoid factor activity. We demonstrate that precipitation of CIC by polyethylene glycol in the reaction mixture caused interference with nephelometric methods for measuring IgM and IgA, and that failure of im...

Activation of the alternate complement pathway in human serum by several bacterial components was compared. Peptidoglycan from group A streptococcal cell walls was the most active material, on a weight basis, followed by cell walls, protoplast membranes, and whole cells. The group-specific carbohydrate was inactive. Treatment of peptidoglycan with low concentrations of lysozyme or short periods...

A deficiency of free protein S, known to increase the risk of peripheral venous thrombosis, has not been well described in patients with cerebrovascular disease. In a pilot study of 35 patients with symptomatic cerebrovascular disease, using a qualitative crossed immunoelectrophoresis assay we found eight patients with a free protein S deficiency. A Laurell immunoelectrophoresis assay was used ...

Abstract Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is the most frequent malignant plasma cell disorder with proliferation of neoplastic cells in bone marrow or other tissue, commonly upper aerodigestive tract. The invasion thymus exceptional. Neurological complications are usual, but represent exceptionally revealing symptom. Case presentation We report a case polyneuropathy thymic plasmacytoma as media...

The methods currently in use for the detection and quantitation of complement activation products are slow and time consuming. We describe a method utilising immunofixation after agarose or cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis which allows large batches of samples to be screened rapidly for the presence of activation products of C3 and factor B. Further, after immunofixation on agarose th...

Human origin determination is an important aspect of blood grouping analysis in forensic science laboratories. In the present study, protein extractants like gel buffer, ammonia and saline employed for origin determination were evaluated and compared qualitatively and quantitatively for their role in the extraction of proteins from dried blood stained materials of human origin at regular time i...

Five membrane proteins from Acholeplasma laidlawii have been previously purified on a large scale. These proteins have been used to establish the relationship between the precipitation lines obtained by crossed immunoelectrophoresis of solubilized cell membrane proteins from A. laidlawii in the presence of the neutral detergent Tween 20 or those obtained in the presence of the anionic detergent...

In a study of 188 patients and 109 controls, the detection of antibody by counterimmunoelectrophoresis was used as a diagnostic aid in human infections with Bacteroides fragilis. It was found that positive results indicated current infection and negative results were not conclusive. The method used was simple, rapid, and easily performed in a routine laboratory, but further work is needed to en...

Counter-current immunoelectrohporesis is a rapid sensitive method for detecting pneumococcal capsular antigens in sputum. A result can be obtained within 45 minutes. The optimum conditions for performing the test are given. Counter-current immunoelectrophoresis works with all the 33 pneumococcal antigens tested except type 14. Better precipitin lines are obtained when the gel-support is acid (p...