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A Berghold

Publications and source records attributed to A Berghold.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Variable bone mass recovery in hyperthyroid bone disease after radioiodine therapy in postmenopausal patients.

OBJECTIVES: Long-term follow-up of postmenopausal hyperthyroid females after radioiodine therapy, since hyperthyroidism is known to cause impressive bone loss which may increase the risk of bone fractures. METHODS: Bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical parameters of bone metabolism in hyperthyroid postmenopausal patients were investigated before and 2 years after radioiodine therapy and compared with euthyroid age-matched controls. RESULTS: At baseline, the incidence of low BMD with t-scores more than 2.5 S.D. below normal was significantly higher in hyperthyroid patients (54%) than in controls (20%, P<0.001). Regardless of initial BMD values, osteocalcin (OC) was also higher in all hyperthyroid patients (P<0.0001). After 2 years, all treated patients were euthyroid and OC levels were in the upper normal range. In hyperthyroid patients with initially low BMD, bone density values had increased significantly by +6.5% (P<0.008) as compared with baseline values. In contrast, hyperthyroid patients with initially normal BMD showed a further decrease in lumbar BMD values of -4.3% despite radioiodine treatment. BMD in euthyroid controls decreased by -6.5% within 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that hyperthyroid postmenopausal patients with generally increased bone turnover may show individual differences in bone loss and BMD recovery after radioiodine treatment. The mechanisms for this variable manifestation of osteoporosis have still to be elucidated, since this has implications for prophylactic and therapeutic strategies in these elderly patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Longitudinal change of white matter abnormalities.

A three year follow-up of 273 participants (mean age 60+/-6.1 years) of the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study provides first information on the rate, clinical predictors, and cognitive consequences of MRI white matter hyperintensity in elderly individuals without neuropsychiatric disease. Lesion progression was found in a total of 49 (17.9%) individuals. It was minor in 27 (9.9%) and marked in 22 (8.1%) participants. Diastolic blood pressure (odds ratio 1.07/mmHg) and early confluent or confluent white matter hyperintensities at baseline (odds ratio 2.62) were the only significant predictors of white matter hyperintensity progression. Lesion progression had no influence on the course of neuropsychologic test performance over the observational period.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

HLA patterns in patients with nasal polyposis.

The etiology of nasal polyposis is still unknown, although risk factors include Aspirin intolerance, asthma, cystic fibrosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia. We studied frequencies of HLA A, B, DR and DQ in patients with nasal polyposis in order to determine a possible genetic component in the multifactorial pathogenesis of nasal polyps. Previous work has suggested an association of HLA-A1B8 with nasal polyposis and Aspirin intolerance. We investigated 89 patients with nasal polyposis, 11 of whom had Aspirin-intolerance, 19 asthma and 22 allergies to inhalation allergens. HLA patterns of these patients were compared to the ones of 1,070 healthy controls. No significant association of HLA-A1B8 was found with nasal polyps in the Aspirin-sensitive subgroup of our patients, but a significant association was seen with HLA-A74 and nasal polyposis.

Aspirin↗
PubMed2000

Bunk beds--a still underestimated risk for accidents in childhood?

UNLABELLED: A retrospective analysis of 218 bunk-bed accidents and a random sample survey with 991 family interviews were performed in order to establish guidelines for bunk-bed accident prevention. Falls from the top bed during sleep (35.1%) or while playing (34.4%) and falling off the ladder (23.2%) are the leading causes of bunk-bed accidents. Of the 218 children, 91 (41.7%) had sustained major injuries, including 3 polytrauma, 7 skull fractures, 44 cerebral concussions, 33 long bone fractures, 2 Lisfranc injuries, and 2 lacerations of the spleen. Of these accidents, 58.3% resulted in minor injuries with 18 fractures in other locations than the long bones or cranial vault, 89 contusions and sprains, 18 skin lacerations and 2 tooth fractures. A total of 23.8% of the accidents occurred in children under 3 years of age. The random sample survey demonstrated that in relation to age groups of children 30.8% (0%-45.8%) of families interviewed had been using bunk beds, with peaks at 3 years (29.8%), 7 years (36.5%) and 11 years (45.8%) of age. Of these bunk beds, 75.3% were equipped with side-rails, 57.3% had placed carpets alongside the bunk bed and 43.0% had used night lights. CONCLUSION: There is only one recommendation: no bunk beds!!!

Accidents↗
PubMed2000

Morphologic characteristics of disciform scarring after radiation treatment for age-related macular degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of radiation therapy on the development of disciform lesions in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN: A prospective, nonrandomized, comparative trial (patient self-controlled). PARTICIPANTS: Forty eyes with exudative AMD involving the central fovea in 40 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study. INTERVENTION: Radiation was administered to the posterior pole with an 8-mV photon beam from a linear accelerator. A dose of 14.4 Gy, 1.8 Gy per day, five fractions per week was delivered through a single port. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The visual acuity and the morphologic characteristics, demonstrated by fundus photography, fluorescein, and indocyanine green angiography, were investigated before treatment and every 3 months after treatment over a period of 24 months. In 10 patients with bilateral disease the disciform lesions were compared. RESULTS: Twenty five patients could be followed regularly over the period of 24 months. The disciform lesions occurring after radiation were classified in three types. Type I (10 patients) was characterized by being smaller than 2 DD in size, with little fibrotic tissue underneath the retina, but pronounced retinal pigment epithelial changes. Type II (seven patients) showed extensive growth of the choroidal neovascularization (CNV) extending to and beyond the arcades with angiographically active loops in the peripheral parts. Eight patients had type III lesions develop characterized by a size greater than 2 DD but fewer than 6 DD and by a different amount of fibrotic tissue, hemorrhage, and lipid. Type I scarring was significantly associated with occult CNV without pigment epithelial detachments, whereas type II scarring was associated with classic CNV at the initial presentation (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although no severe side effects have been reported after radiation therapy for AMD, a subgroup of patients may experience extensive growth of CNV after radiation, causing greater functional damage than occurs spontaneously.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Synthesis pattern of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inhibitors (TIMPs) in human explant organ cultures after treatment with latanoprost and dexamethasone.

PURPOSE: To determine changes in production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in the ciliary body, the trabecular meshwork and the retinal pigment epithelium induced by both prostaglandins and corticosteroids. METHODS: Explant organ cultures were removed by a scleral incision 3 mm posterior to the limbus. Retinal pigment epithelium was grown to confluence. Organ and cell cultures were treated with latanoprost and/or dexamethasone for 72 h. The activity of MMP-2, -3 and -9 was assessed using zymography. The synthesis pattern of MMPs and TIMP-1 and -2 was identified using immunostaining. RESULTS: Treatment of explant organ cultures with 10 micrograms/ml of latanoprost induced a mean upregulation of MMP-2 by 36%, MMP-3 by 112% and MMP-9 by 156% as seen by zymography. Dexamethasone 500 nm reduced the amounts of secreted MMP-2 by 13%, MMP-3 by 69%. MMP-9 was not detectable in the media of corticosteroid-treated explant organ cultures. The addition of 10 micrograms/ml of latanoprost to dexamethasone-treated cultures increased MMP-2 by 14%, MMP-3 by 43% and MMP-9 by 49%. Using immunohistochemistry we found staining with antibodies against MMP-2, -3, -9 and TIMP-1 and -2 within the ciliary body, and only to a lesser degree in the trabecular meshwork. Latanoprost treatment caused an increase of 29% in MMP-2 (p < 0.0001), 98% in MMP-3 (p < 0.0001) and 108% in MMP-9 (p < 0.0001). Dexamethasone reduced the staining for MMP-2 by 32% (p < 0.0001), for MMP-3 by 33% (p < 0.0001) and for MMP-9 by 83% (p < 0.0001). Almost no change in staining for MMPs was detectable in the trabecular meshwork. Neither latanoprost treatment nor dexamethasone induced significant changes (p < 0.93) in the secretion of TIMPs. In the media of non-treated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells the only MMP detected was MMP-2. RPE cells in culture did not respond to either treatment with a change in their MMP secretion. CONCLUSION: We detected a profound upregulation of both MMP-3 and MMP-9 and a mild induction of MMP-2 through latanoprost in the ciliary body, but not the trabecular meshwork or RPE cells. Corticosteroids, on the other hand, downregulated MMP expression in both tissues. This inhibiting effect of corticosteroids on MMP production was reversed by latanoprost.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Association of the vitamin D receptor genotype BB with low bone density in hyperthyroidism.

Bone mineral density (BMD) is modulated by genetic and environmental factors or certain diseases. In several conditions such as low calcium intake, an influence of vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms on BMD has been suggested. In the present study, we investigated the relationship of Bsm I and Fok I polymorphisms of the VDR gene and BMD in patients with hyperthyroidism, a disease that often results in low BMD. Bsm I and Fok I genotypes were determined in 76 postmenopausal hyperthyroid patients and 62 healthy postmenopausal women as controls. Patients and controls were matched for age, time since menopause, and lifestyle factors and were free of estrogen medication. BMD evaluation included axial dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (PQCT). Low BMD was defined as -2.5 STD below the young adult mean value. Biochemical parameters investigated were thyroid hormones, osteocalcin, and 25-(OH)-vitamin D3 as well as routine laboratory data. Low BMD was found in 61% of hyperthyroid patients and in only 23% of euthyroid controls. In the group of hyperthyroid patients with low bone density, the BB genotype (VDR Bsm I polymorphisms) was significantly more frequent (39%) than in controls (13%; p = 0.003) and hyperthyroid patients with normal BMD (6%; p = 0.013). The odds ratio (OR) for low BMD in patients with BB genotype was 5.7 (95% CI, 1.7-19.1; p < 0.005) as compared with the Bb and bb genotypes and 5.5 (95% CI, 2.3-13.2; p < 0.0001) for hyperthyroidism alone. The cumulative risk for low BMD in patients with hyperthyroidism and BB genotype was 31.4 (95% CI, 3.9-256; p < 0.0003). VDR Fok I genotypes showed no significant relationship with BMD or other general or bone-specific parameters. Thus, hyperthyroidism and the genetic background of a BB genotype may promote synergistically the development of low BMD in hyperthyroid patients. Screening for the BB genotype in these patients therefore could help to identify those with particularly high risk for the development of low BMD and allow early treatment.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1999

CD44 expression in sinonasal melanomas: is loss of isoform expression associated with advanced tumour stage?

The expression of the adhesion molecule CD44 was examined in 14 primary sinonasal melanomas (SMs), aggressive neoplasms with short survival times, as CD44 overexpression has been linked to poor survival in human cancers. Immunohistochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections with CD44 isoform-specific monoclonal antibodies to the CD44 standard (s) and variant isoforms (v) v5 and v6. CD44s, v5, and v6 were strongly expressed in a membranous pattern in SM in situ, early invasive SM, and in uninvolved respiratory/squamous epithelium. In invasive SM, membranous CD44s expression was identified in a large proportion of melanoma cells. Membranous staining of CD44v5 and v6 was lost in invasive SM, independently of the histological subtype. Diffuse cytoplasmic staining was observed focally in invasive SM and loss of cytoplasmic expression of CD44v6 and v5 was associated with advanced tumour stage in the linear-by-linear association test (p = 0.042 and 0.066, respectively). CD44s may not be important for malignant transformation, as it is expressed in both benign and malignant melanocytes. Loss of membranous CD44 isoform expression in widely invasive SM suggests that loss of cellular adhesion facilitates matrix and vascular infiltration and dissemination of sinonasal melanoma cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Methodological problems and the role of statistics in cluster response studies: a framework.

More and more citizens urge public health authorities to investigate reports of disease excess in their neighbourhood. These environmental concerns are legitimate and it is part of good public health practice to respond to these complaints. However, the methodological and practical problems are severe and a lot of controversy exists about the usefulness of these investigations. To clarify the possibilities and limitations in this situation, this paper proposes a typology of cluster studies. According to this framework, cluster response is distinguished from two other types of cluster studies: Cluster monitoring. screening proactively for clusters to act as an early warning system, and cluster research, scrutinizing clustering to generate and test aetiological hypotheses. To each of these three types of cluster studies corresponds a different public health context; respectively public health action, public health surveillance and public health research. Probably, part of the controversy mentioned stems from not acknowledging sufficiently the corresponding intrinsic differences in rationality and practical constraints. Cluster response is crisis management and not scientific research. In a relatively short time, an informed decision should be taken by a multidisciplinary team of experts using readily available information and knowledge. In accordance with this point of view, cluster reports should be handled stepwise and the role of statistics is to quantify a cluster exploring different points of view as an input to the decision process.

Cluster Analysis↗
PubMed1999

Cystic lymph node metastases of squamous cell carcinoma of Waldeyer's ring origin.

We analysed in a retrospective study the frequency of cystic lymph node (LN) metastases in neck dissection specimens of 123 patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising in the palatine tonsils (62 M/14 F), the base of the tongue (38 M/5 F) and the nasopharynx (2 M/2 F). Eighty-two per cent of patients had metastases (64 tonsillar SCC, 33 base of tongue SCC and all four nasopharynx SCC) in 368 LN of a total 2298 sampled LN. Thirty-nine per cent of patients had exclusively solid metastases and 37% of patients had exclusively cystic metastases. A total of 62 patients had some signs of cyst formation in one or more metastatically affected LN (27 with only histological evidence of cyst formation with luminal diameters < 5 mm, 35 with clinically detectable cyst with luminal diameter > 5 mm). Cystic metastases were more common in patients with SCC of the base of the tongue (P = 0.005), while solitary clinically evident cystic metastasis with lumina > 5 mm were found exclusively in tonsillar carcinoma (P = 0.024). In comparison with solid metastases, cyst formation was associated with N-categories (N2b and N3, P = 0.005) in SCC of the base of the tongue origin. No such association was observed for tonsillar SCC (P = 0.65). The primary mechanism of cyst formation was cystic degeneration.

Branchioma↗
PubMed1999

Undescended testicles: an epidemiological review.

In a retrospective study the records of 447 boys (median age 5 y, age range 2 wk to 12 y) undergoing orchidopexy in a university hospital paediatric surgical department over a 2-y period were analysed for epidemiological factors related to disturbed testicular descent by comparison with the notes of an equal number of otherwise healthy male trauma patients matched for age. There were higher rates of peripartal asphyxia and intrauterine growth retardation (reflected by lower birthweights in combination with equal gestational age distribution), more complicated deliveries, an increased incidence of congenital malformations and more frequent occurrence of a number of chronic diseases in the families of affected boys. First- and second-born boys were over-represented in the study group. A cyclical pattern for the month of birth is suggested by the data, but this did not reach statistical significance. Neither was any statistical difference found for premature delivery, the incidence of extra-uterine fertilization, hormonal treatment of the mother while pregnant, twin pregnancies, threatened or imminent abortions or parental age. The literature dealing with this topic was reviewed. Discrepancies between different studies can be explained, at least in part, by considering different forms of undescended testicles as different nosological entities that should be assessed separately in forthcoming research.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1999

Plasma adrenaline concentrations during functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Vasoconstrictors (i.e., epinephrine) are routinely applied before functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) but may have significant cardiac side effects. The controversy concerning clinical application of adrenaline is discussed. STUDY DESIGN: In a prospectively controlled study of 51 patients undergoing FESS we evaluated the absorption of adrenaline from standard cotton pledgets and submucous infiltration and the incidence of related side effects during surgery. Additionally, a control group of 12 patients undergoing tonsillectomy was investigated. METHODS: Plasma adrenaline concentrations were measured 1) before anesthesia, 2) after intubation, 3) after nasal packing with adrenaline soaked pledgets (adrenaline 1:1000) and submucous infiltration with 2 mL lidocaine with adrenaline 1:100,000 in each side, and 4) at end of surgery. The catecholamines were determined with a Merck-Hitachi Catecholamine Analyzer, model II (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). Pulse, electrocardiogram (ECG), and blood pressure were monitored. RESULTS: In the FESS group, we found a remarkable decrease in systolic (S) as well as diastolic blood pressure (D) (P < .001), whereas the heart frequency was unaffected during surgery. All patients in the adrenaline group showed significant increase in plasma adrenaline (AD) concentrations in the third and fourth sample (P < .001). The control group, however, showed a significant rise in blood pressure only at beginning of surgery (P < .001) with cardiac pulse and plasma adrenaline concentrations unaffected by surgery or anesthesia. The often described severe side effects of adrenaline in combination with general anesthesia were not seen in any of our patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although systemic absorption of locally injected vasoconstrictors occurs, adrenaline-related side effects during FESS are extremely rare when the patient is monitored exactly.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed1999

Primary unit for statistical analysis in morphometry: patient or cell?

In a series of 16 oxyphilic follicular neoplasms of the thyroid (8 adenomas and 8 carcinomas), three different approaches for the analysis of morphometric data were evaluated. It was shown that the statistical design of morphometric studies is by nature nested due to subsampling of cells within each patient. Therefore, the most appropriate analysis would be to account for this hierarchical structure. However, related statistical methods are not at present well established, especially as far as classification rules are concerned. Therefore, the nested design is converted into the simple factorial one by considering only one kind of statistical unit - either patients or cells. The results of the study presented indicate that ignoring the patient as unit of analysis leads to a substantial error in statistical output, regardless of the particular procedure applied. Moreover, the size of the error can be neither diminished nor controlled. Choosing patients as primary units assures accurate results and also has an advantage of gaining some additional information by calculating several distributional estimates in each patient. However, this approach often requires a reduction of dimensions and, furthermore, is not encouraged in certain fields of quantitative cytology. Advantages and disadvantages of all approaches have been summarized and practical recommendations for their use have been worked out.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗
PubMed1998

[Epidemiologic and statistical interaction models and consequences for regression analysis].

Different ways to define interaction between exposition factors in epidemiological studies as well as the choice between additive and multiplicative no interaction leads frequently to confusion during data analysis. In their standard form methods of event data analysis such as Poisson or logistic regression assume a multiplicative parameterization of no interaction. However, evidence from empirical investigations as well as causal models of disease etiology, e.g. the simple independent action model of Finney or the sufficient-component-causes model of Rothman, suggest additive or other kinds of non-multiplicative concepts of no interaction. For additive structured data we illustrate the asymptotic bias ("interaction-bias") of main effect estimates which are based on inappropriate data analysis using multiplicative models and omitting significant or non-significant interaction terms. We show that both the epidemiological study design as well as the underlying causal model are determinants of the interaction structure of the data and should be considered in the model selection process. The definition of interaction should distinguish between risk, rate and odds if risks are not very small. Using generalized linear models with parametrical link functions we are able to analyze non-multiplicative interaction structures.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Intraocular pressure difference in Goldmann applanation tonometry versus Perkins hand-held applanation tonometry in overweight patients.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) caused by anatomic and physiologic factors in overweight patients when using Goldmann applanation tonometry. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy average-weight individuals who had no difficulties with IOP measurements at the slit lamp and 12 obese patients with suspected glaucoma who could position the head at the slit lamp only with great effort participated. INTERVENTION: The authors compared IOP values between slit-lamp-mounted Goldmann applanation tonometry and Perkins hand-held tonometry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The difference in Goldmann and Perkins IOP measurements was examined. RESULTS: In the group of obese patients, the mean IOP was 20.9+/-2.28 mmHg (mean +/- standard deviation; range, 18-26 mmHg) for the right eye and 21.4+/-3.16 mmHg (range, 16-28 mmHg) for the left eye when determined by Goldmann tonometry and 16.3+/-2.39 mmHg (range, 13-20 mmHg) for the right eye and 16.3+/-2.42 (range, 11-19 mmHg) for the left eye when determined by Perkins tonometry. The mean decrease was 4.5+/-1.3 mmHg (range, 3-7 mmHg) for the right eye and 4.9+/-1.9 mmHg (range, 2-9 mmHg) for the left eye. In the control group, the mean difference between the two types of tonometers for the right eye was 0.34+/-0.69 mmHg and for the left eye was 0.33+/-0.82 mmHg. Patients who had a falsely elevated IOP on Goldmann tonometry had an average body mass index of 34+/-3.82 (range, 28.5-41.9); most were female (5:1 ratio). CONCLUSION: The authors believe simultaneous breath-holding and thorax compression, with subsequent increase in venous pressure, may be a causative factor for transitory elevations of IOP. Perkins tonometry in obese patients may help avoid a false diagnosis of glaucoma caused by transitory elevations in IOP.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Soluble CD44 v5 and v6 in serum of patients with breast cancer. Correlation with expression of CD44 v5 and v6 variants in primary tumors and location of distant metastasis.

Primary breast cancers were shown to overexpress CD44 v5 and v6 at the plasma membrane. However, the clinical significance of this overexpression remains unclear. Overexpression of CD44 v5 and v6 in primary breast cancers was found to correlate with metastasis and poor prognosis by some investigators, yet this correlation could not be confirmed by others using different antibodies. In this study the influence of metastatic disease, the site of metastasis, and the amount of CD44 v5 and v6 expression in the primary tumor on serum levels of the soluble forms of CD44 v5 and v6 (sCD44 v5 and v6) in breast cancer patients was investigated. Soluble CD44 v5 and v6 serum levels were measured by enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay in a group of breast cancer patients who developed metastases in various organs and in another group of patients with single organ metastasis. For control, sCD44 v5 and v6 levels were measured in breast cancer patients who remained free of metastasis and in healthy blood donors. Expression of plasma membrane bound CD44 v5 and v6 in the primary tumors of the patients with metastasis in various organs was correlated to sCD44 v5 and v6 levels in serum. Furthermore the size of sCD44 v6 was analyzed by immunoblot using a monoclonal antibody directed against CD44 v6. When metastases were detected, sCD44 v5 and v6 serum levels were increased as compared to levels measured one month after tumor surgery in patients free of metastases (p= 0.0025 and p=0.0004). Six of 19 and 6 of 20 patients had sCD44 v5 and v6 serum levels above a cut-off level of 85 and 275 ng/mL, respectively. In these cases expression of CD44 v5 and v6 in the primary cancers was also elevated. Low sCD44 v5 and v6 serum levels were associated with weak expression of CD44 v5 and v6 in the respective primary cancers. As shown by statistical analysis of sCD44 v5 and v6 levels in 57 patients with single organ metastases, elevated sCD44 v6 levels but not sCD44 v5 levels were associated with metastases in liver or bone (p=0.0025). Immunoblot analysis of soluble CD44 proteins in serum revealed two CD44 v6 specific signals of approximately 120 and 170 kDa. Increased sCD44 v5 and v6 serum levels in patients with breast cancer were influenced by the amount of CD44 v5 and v6 expression in the primary tumor by the site of metastasis. Elevated sCD44 v6 serum levels were preferentially found in patients with metastases in liver or bone.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Loss of corneal Langerhans cells during storage in organ culture medium, Optisol and McCarey-Kaufman medium.

PURPOSE: This study compares the influence of different corneal preservation media on HLA-DR positive corneal Langerhans cells (LCs). METHODS: Using fluorescence-associated immunohistochemistry, corneal sections were stained for HLA-DR antigens after preserving corneal-scleral discs in three different storage media: organ culture medium. Optisol and McCarey-Kaufman medium. HLA-DR positive LCs were present in corneal epithelium and upper stroma of fresh corneas. RESULTS: A storage period of even 3 days had a significant influence on the number of HLA-DR positive corneal LCs. The number of LCs decreased at the limbus from 15.3 +/- 4.1 LCs/ 0.25 mm2 to 11.8 +/- 1.2 LCs/0.25 mm2 (p < 0.01) during preservation in McCarey-Kaufman medium, to 11.2 +/- 1.9 LCs/0.25 mm2 (p < 0.01) during preservation in organ culture medium and to 12.7 +/- 3.4 LCs/0.25 mm2 (p < 0.01) during preservation in Optisol. A greater loss was detected after 7 days and we found a cell number of 1.6 +/- 1.1 LCs/0.25 mm2 (p < 0.001) after storage in organ culture medium and of 1.4 +/- 1.5 LCs/0.25 mm2 (p < 0.001) after storage in Optisol. The donor tissues entirely lacked HLA-DR positive LCs, regardless of the preservation medium used, when stored for up to 14 days. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that loss of HLA-DR antigens is mainly related to storage period and is independent of the type of preservation medium and preservation temperature.

Cell Count↗