R S Abraham

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..Therefore, graphical analysis of B cell lineage trees and mathematical quantification of tree properties provide novel insights into the process of B cell clonal evolution in AL...

..This review highlights a few of the laboratory assays available for the diagnostic work-up of broad categories of PIDs, based on immunophenotyping, followed by examples of disease-specific testing...

..This study provides new insight into the molecular profile of clonal plasma cells and its functional relevance in the pathogenesis of light chain amyloidosis...

..Additionally, mutational clusterspots were identified at specific positions in the nucleotide and deduced protein sequence that could potentially contribute to destabilizing interactions resulting in a propensity to form amyloid...

..The presence of renal disease, on the other hand, was associated with improved survival. Therefore, identification of the clonal VL gene in AL has important implications in determining clinical outcome...

..In conclusion, we have identified IA-2 peptides that induce lymphoproliferative responses in DQ8 transgenic and NOD mice and shown that these peptides stimulate production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines...

..These data provide a robust example of the use of graphical quantification methods in delineating the role of neoplastic precursors in the pathogenesis of hematopoietic malignancies...

..Thus, the presence of diabetes-associated genes determines whether immune tolerance is maintained to islet autoantigens, but autoreactivity in itself is not sufficient to induce diabetes...

..This hypothesis was supported by previous pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis showing that RTX levels in the two-dose regimen were 50% lower compared with nonproteinuric patients, which could potentially result in undertreatment...

..5). A variety of clinical situations result in an elevated IgE level, with atopy being the most common cause. In the absence of typical clinical features, elevated serum IgE levels are not predictive of HIES...

..To determine the relative diagnostic contribution of urine assays as part of the screening algorithm for monoclonal gammopathies...

..Achievement of FLC response was a better predictor of survival than achievement of complete hematologic response or normalization of the FLC ratio. FLC measurements both before and after PBSCT are important predictors of patient outcome...

..We evaluated its diagnostic performance in clinical practice...

..This type of on-line assay may prove helpful in elucidating distinguishing features capable of discriminating AL from benign monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance as well as diagnosing AL...

..These diseases are more prevalent in the elderly, and assays to detect and quantify abnormal amounts of FLCs require reference intervals that include elderly donors...

..88%). We report in this study that the A181E mutation is associated with a very heterogeneous clinical presentation along with variability in B-cell numbers and amount of TACI protein on memory B cells...

..The clinical utility of this assay, however, will need to be evaluated in larger prospective studies...

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..CONCLUSION: Monoclonal lambda light chains may present as hexameric aggregates that cannot be cleared by renal excretion...

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..In contrast, comparison of the measurements for tree branching indicated that similar selection pressure operates on autoimmune and normal control clones...

..Additionally, lineage trees from most studies reflect the chronic character of autoimmune diseases...

..In addition, the FLC assay can be used for follow-up of patients with amyloidosis who have undergone stem cell transplantation...