Study of the HLA antigen in Arab children with paralytic poliomyelitis

In 1974 and 1976, two outbreaks of paralytic poliomyelitis occurred in a vaccine-protected infant population in the Gaza Strip. To test the possibility of an increased susceptibility to the disease, the frequency of HLA antigens was studied in 58 of the affected children and compared with 113 control subjects. HLA-AW19 and -B7 were found more frequently in the affected children. These differences were not statistically significant but are consistent with the possibility that patients with the paralytic disease may have an HLA genetic makeup different from that of the rest of the population.

HLA antigens in the Arab population of the Gaza Strip

The HLA antigen system was studied in the Arab population of the Gaza Strip. The lymphocytes of 113 individuals were typed for 13 and 16 antigens at loci A and B, respectively. The distribution of the HLA antigens was found to be similar to that of an average Caucasoid Middle Eastern population. This was more marked when the tested population was compared with Arab populations living in northern Israel or originating from Lebanon, suggesting that they probably all share a common gene pool. The only noteworthy variation in the Gaza population was the high frequency of BW21, previously found only in Eritreans and Turks.

Histocompatibility (HLA) antigens in heterotopic ossification associated with neurological injury

Twenty patients with heterotopic ossification were HLA typed. The group consisted of 12 patients with severe cranio-cerebral injury and 8 with spinal cord injury. No significant differences in the frequency of any HLA antigens were found in these patients when compared to 631 healthy matched controls. None of the patients was B27 positive.

Familial leukopenia among Yemenite Jews

Benign familial leukopenia was found in 75 of 200 healthy Yemenite Jews examined. The leukopenia was not a constant finding and was not associated with a tendency toward infection. HLA typing showed no significant differences in the frequency of the various HLA antigens between the subjects with and without leukopenia. No similarity was found between the HLA of the Yemenite Jews with leukopenia and that reported in black Africans with benign familial leukopenia. The suggestion of a genetic contribution from African blacks to Yemenite Jews is not supported by these results. The question remains to be answered whether the familial leukopenia in Yemenite Jews and black Africans is the result of a mutation.

HLA antigens in patients with psoriasis

Tissue typing was performed on lymphocytes of 46 Jewish patients with psoriasis vulgaris. HLA B13, B17, B37 and Cw6 were found increased. It is suggested that the increase in the B and C locus antigens is inter-related and may determine the genetic predisposition for the development of this disease.

HLA polymorphism in Israel. 4. Israeli Jews originating from Rumania

The frequencies of 29 HLA antigens of the A amd B loci were studied in 130 Israeli Jews originating from Rumania. The antigens A1, A2, Aw19 and B14, Bw16 and Bw35 occurred with the highest frequencies. The most common haplotypes were (A1, B17), (Aw26, Bw16) and (A28, Bw22). These results are similar to those observed in Polish and Russian Jews.

HLA polymorphism in Israel. I. Jews of Polish extraction

One hundred and twenty seven randomly selected Polish Jews were studied for their HLA polymorphism. Gene frequencies exceeding 0.1 were detected for A1, A2, Aw19, B14, Bw16 and Bw17. Significant gametic association was observed for (A1, Bw17), (A2, B27), (Aw26, Bw16), (Aw19, B13) and (A28, B14). Although a predominantly Caucasoid population, the Polish Jews show greater resemblance to Middle Eastern rather than to Northern European Caucasoids.

HLA polymorphism in Israel. 5. The Moroccan Jews

One hundred and forty one unrelated Moroccan Jews living in Israel were studied for their HLA polymorphism. Gene frequencies exceeding .1 were found for A1, A2, A3, Aw19, B5, B12, and B13. Significant linkage disequilibrium occurred for (A1, B8), (A2, B5), (A2, Bw21), (A3, Bw40), (A9, B7), (A10, Bw16), (A29, B18) and (Aw19, b14). they represent an intermediate population between Europe and the Middle East.

HLA polymorphism in Israel. 9. An overall comparative analysis

HLA gene frequencies in 11 Israeli populations and nine other relevant populations were used to calculate genetic distances in a quantitative assessment of their similarities and differences. The shortest distance found is between Polish and Rumanian Jews, while the largest is between Russian Jews and Black Africans. Estimates of "average" distances within major population groups suggest that the Ashkenazi Jews (Poles, Russians, Rumanians and Germans) are a more homogeneous population than East European non-Jews or than Middle-Eastern populations (Arabs, Armenians, Lebanese and Turks). A cline of distances between Ashkenazi Jews and other Jewish communities parallels their geographic distribution; however, the relatively large distance between the two North African communities (Libyans and Moroccans) demonstrates that geographic proximity is not necessarily correlated with genetic similarity. The Jewish populations, especially the Ashkenazi, show a clear divergence from their neighboring non-Jewish populations, among whom they have lived for many centuries. There are indications in the HLA data of a common origin for the diverse Jewish populations.

HLA polymorphism in Israel. 7. The Babylonian Jews

One hundred and twenty three Iraqi Jews, now living in Israel, were studied for their HLA polymorphism. Gene frequencies exceeding .1 were found for A1, A3, Aw19, B5, B12, and Bw35. A28, B8 and B14 were relatively rare whereas Aw25 and Bw37 were not found at all. Significant gametic associations occurred for (Aw23, Bw21), (Aw26, Bw16), (A11, B5), (A28, B8) and (A28, B7). The Iraqi Jewish population was found to be typical of Asiatics and Middle Easterners.

HLA polymorphism in Israel. 2. Israeli Jews originating from Russia

HLA typing of 123 Israel Jews of Russian origin showed a high frequency for HLA--A1, A2, Aw19 and B14, Bw16 and Bw35 of the A and B loci, respectively. The most frequently occuring haplotypes were (A1, B17), (Aw25, B18), (Aw26, Bw16), (Aw19, B13), (Aw23, B5) and (Aw25, Bw35). This study reveals a striking resemblance in the distribution of frequencies of HLA alleles and haplotypes between Russian Jews and two other East European Jewish communities (presented in this issue) of Polish and Rumanian origin.

Quantitation of renal antigen excretion in the urine of normal children and of children with various renal diseases. I. Quantitation of renal antigens in random urine samples

This study reports a serologic method for the measurement of kidney-derived antigens in the urine of healthy children and of children with renal diseases. Two hundred twenty patients were studied. Four groups were recognized: group A, patients with no evidence of renal disease; group B, patients with past history of active urinary tract infection; group C, patients with active urinary tract infection; group D, patients with other renal diseases. Urinary renal antigen concentration was tested by the complement fixation method, in which titers of antigens in the urine were compared with a standard human renal antigen extract. The distribution of renal antigen concentrations in group C differed significantly (P(X2Y less than 0.001) from the other three groups. About 85% of patients in groups A, B, and D had levels below 0.6 mg/ml, whereas in group C only 53% of patients had similar concentrations. After factoring the results by the urinary concentration of creatinine, 85% of patients in group C had antigen levels above 0.6 mg/ml as opposed to 24%, 44%, and 27% in groups A, B, and D, respectively. The results of the study are consistent with the assumption that the rate of discharge of renal antigenic material in the urine is accelerated in certain renal diseases.

Effect of systemic antibiotics on the microbial flora of the external ear canal in hospitalized children

The effect of antibiotic therapy and hospitalization on the external ear canal flora was investigated in 131 children. Fifty-eight percent of the patients receiving antibiotic therapy had Gram-negative bacilli or yeasts in their external ear canal, compared with 17% of the patients who were hospitalized for ten days or longer and only 3% of the patients who were hospitalized for short periods. Antibiotic therapy is the major factor in determining the colonization rate of the external ear canal with potentially pathogenic flora. Children under 1 year of age seem to be the most susceptible group to this shift of flora.

The association of HL-A-B8 and childhood celiac disease in an Israeli population

The frequency of histocompatibility antigens (HL-A) was studied in 33 children with celiac disease. HL-A-B8 phenotype was detected in 27.3% of the celiac patients and 7.5% of 395 carefully matched control subjects (X2 for heterogeneity=14.23; P less than 10(-4)). HL-A typing, especially in children, is advocated both as a diagnostic and a prognostic measure. The importance of ethnically matched control subjects is discussed together with a proposal for the construction of such control groups.

HLA antigen in Jewish patients with juvenile diabetes mellitus

Fifteen diabetic families and fifty non related diabetic patients were studied for their HLA antigen pattern. The patient group was compared to controls matched to compensate for ethnic variations. In this group the data analysis revealed a decrease in HLA-A1 as opposed to increased HLA-A2 frequency, both of no statistical significance; HLA-Aw26 was found significantly increased (p less than .0005; corrected p less than .015); HLA-B8 was found to be increased (p = ,0025) but not significantly after correction (p = .075). Family analysis revealed that whenever B8 was present it was inherited to the affected sib only. Where B8 was not present, the same haplotypes were shared by healthy and affected sibs. Bw16 although not significantly increased, was found in all patients but one, when part of the family pattern, although non affected sibs shared it as well,

Acquisition of typing serum from post partum blood clots

The proposed technique provides an inexpensive, totally harmless and rapid procedure for the collection of pregnancy serum having either HLA or anti B-cell cytotoxic activity, Its disadvantages are the necessity for large storage space and the relatively small volume of the obtainable serum.

Immunologic studies in phenylketonuria

Significantly reduced immunoglobulins were found in 22 patients with phenylketonuria. Tests of cellular immune function which included delayed skin hypersensitivity, T rosettes and PHA transformation were normal. Escherichia coli antibodies and the booster response to tetanus toxoid were also normal.