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Biomedical subjects

A Engelhardt

Publications and source records attributed to A Engelhardt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A virological survey in migrating waders and other waterfowl in one of the most important resting sites of Germany.

Wild birds are considered a potential reservoir or a carrier of viral diseases and may therefore play a role in the epidemiology of economically important or zoonotic diseases. In 2001 and 2002, a survey with special emphasis on virus isolation in migrating waders and some other birds were conducted. In one of the most important inland resting sites for migratory waterfowl, tracheal and cloacal swabs were collected from 465 waders representing 19 different species, and 165 other birds that were not captured on purpose. A total of 42 avian viruses were isolated, 34 of these were identified as paramyxoviruses (PMVs). The majority of isolates came from waders and wild ducks, and were characterized as PMV-1. In contrast, PMV-4 was found in wild ducks only, PMV-6 was mainly detected in wader species. Four avian influenza viruses (AIVs), belonging to H4 and H3 haemagglutinin subtype, were isolated from wild duck species. Furthermore, four reo-like viruses were isolated from one particular wader species for the first time. The majority of virus positive birds were <1 year old and did not show any clinical symptoms. There was no evidence for the presence of West Nile virus in these birds. These results confirm that the restricted resting sites in Western Europe must be considered as important locations for the intra- and interspecies transmission of avian viruses.

Animal Migration↗
PubMed2003

[Case report: Porcine circovirus type 2 infection in an European wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the state of Brandenburg, Germany].

This case represents the first case of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV-2)--infection in a free living European wild boar associated with morphological lesions, which are regarded as characteristic for Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) in domestic pigs. The animal, an approximately 10 month old male, was found dead in a rural area within the state of Brandenburg, Germany. The closest commercial pig farm is located in 3 km distance from the spot where the carcass was found. At necropsy, the animal was found to be in a runted condition. Morphological investigation revealed two lesion complexes. Firstly, lymphatic depletion was present in different organs. Mainly the white pulp of the spleen was affected, where lymph follicles and periarteriolar lymphatic sheaths were nearly completely depleted of lymphoid cells. The former lymphatic areas could only be identified by the presence of histiocytic cells. Secondly, there were widely distributed lesions indicative of a bacterial septicemia i.e. purulent-necrotizing lymphadenitis, pulpous hyperplasia of the spleen, miliary lytic liver necroses and foci of fibrinous pneumonia. Within the lesions, bacterial colonies were found (short Gram-negative rods). Bacteriology revealed a septicemic Salmonella choleraesuis var. Kunzendorf--infection. Virologically, the animal was tested with negative results for Classical Swine Fever Virus and PRRSV. The unusual depletion of the lymphatic tissue mainly in the spleen led to the suspicion of a PCV-2 infection. Typical circoviral particles were found by negative-contrast electron microscopy in samples from spleen and lymph nodes. Using a commercial antiserum against Porcine Circovirus, positive staining was found by fluorescence microscopy in tonsils, spleen and lymph nodes. Finally, the virus was identified to be PCV-2 by species-specific PCR. The presented case rises the questions if PCV-2 is endemic in the European wild boar population at least in certain areas, if it is of pathogenetic importance for wild boars and if the virus present in wild boars is identical to that present in domestic pigs with PMWS.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Proton dynamics in letovicite, (NH4)3H(SO4)2: a 1H and 14N NMR spectroscopic study.

The improper ferroelastic phase letovicite (NH4)3H(SO4)2 has been studied by 1H MAS NMR as well as by static 14N NMR experiments in the temperature range of 296-425 K. The 1H MAS NMR resonance from ammonium protons can be well distinguished from that of acidic protons. A third resonance appears just below the phase transition temperature which is due to the acidic protons in the paraelastic phase. The lowering of the second moment M2 for the ammonium protons takes place in the same temperature range as the formation of domain boundaries, while the signals of the acidic protons suffer a line narrowing in the area of Tc. The static 14N NMR spectra confirm the temperature of the motional changes of the ammonium tetrahedra. Two-dimensional 1H NOESY spectra indicate a chemical exchange between ammonium protons and the acidic protons of the paraphase.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy↗
PubMed1997

[Hepatitis C-associated vasculitic mononeuritis multiplex].

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 56-year-old woman with hepatitis C had symptoms of a polyneuropathy with asymmetrical distal pareses and painful sensory disturbances in the limbs. INVESTIGATION: In addition to positive serology for hepatitis C cryoglobulins were demonstrated and complement C4 was reduced. Biopsy of the sural nerve showed a vasculitic neuropathy. TREATMENT AND COURSE: The multiple neuropathy (cryoglobulinaemia neuropathy), associated with hepatitis C, was treated with corticosteroids (starting with 60 mg/d prednisolone) and the neurological abnormalities regressed well. CONCLUSION: Vasculitis associated with hepatitis C should be included in the differential diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1996

[Urine test strips for cerebrospinal fluid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis].

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is due to granulocytic pleocytosis of CSF. In developing countries and in hospitals without continuous availability of a clinical laboratory a bedside-method of diagnosing meningitis is desired. METHODS: 75 CSF samples were tested for granulocytes and protein with reagent strips and the results were compared with those obtained from the clinical laboratory. RESULTS: All 48 samples with normal cell count were correctly diagnosed negative using reagent strips. Twenty-five samples of 27 samples with granulocytic pleocytosis were correctly recognised as right positive (sensitivity 92.6%; specificity 100%). All 48 samples with normal protein were correctly tested normal. Twenty-one samples of 27 samples with elevated protein were correctly diagnosed right positive (sensitivity 77.8%; specificity 100%). CONCLUSION: Testing CSF for granulocytes and protein with urine reagent strips is a bedside-method which allows a rapid and reliable decision whether CSF is normal or granulocytically pleocytotic.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins↗
PubMed1996

99m-Tc-HMPAO-SPECT in diagnosis of early cerebral vasculitis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether mild neurological symptoms suggestive of neuropsychiatric involvement may be associated with cerebral perfusion defects as detected by functional brain imaging with 99m-Tc-HMPAO-SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography). SPECT analysis for the early detection of central nervous system (CNS) involvement was evaluated in 40 consecutive patients with systemic vasculitis or with Sneddon's syndrome. Of these, 18 patients showed overt neuropsychiatric symptoms, so-called major symptoms (e.g. motoric or sensible defects); 6 had mild symptoms like headache or cognitive disorders, so-called minor symptoms: 16 patients did not present with any of these symptoms. SPECT abnormalities were detected in 16 of the 18 patients with overt neuropsychiatric symptoms (89%). Five of the 6 patients with minor symptoms (83%) and 5 of the 16 patients without neurological symptoms (31%) also had SPECT abnormalities. There was no relation to disease activity or duration. We concluded that the high sensitivity of SPECT (87.5%) in detecting perfusion abnormalities among the evaluated group of patients indicates its suitability for early diagnosis of vasculitic CNS involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Myositis--a rare complication of Crohn disease].

Crohn's disease is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder primarily affecting the gastrointestinal system. Extraintestinal manifestations such as erythema nodosum, iridocyclitis, arthritis and sclerosing cholangitis are frequent. We report on a 57-year old male patient with the symptoms of Crohn's disease. Clinically he showed signs of a muscle disorder and muscle biopsy demonstrated a perimysial inflammation with lymphocytes and histiocytes. Complete remission was achieved by immunosuppressive treatment. Six cases presented in the literature are reviewed and the autoimmunological aspects of the pathogenesis discussed.

Azathioprine↗
PubMed1996

[Follow-up studies and disorders of endocrinologic function in MELAS syndrome].

The clinical course of MELAS syndrome (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, stroke-like episodes) is described in five cases. The age of onset was 9.2 years on average. Cerebral symptoms occurred at an age of 24.6 years on average. The diagnosis was only made later. Three patients died during the follow-up period. The mean age at death was 33.3 years, the average duration of the disease, 19.6 years. All patients suffered from progressive hearing loss, multiple strokes, and complex-partial and generalized seizures. They all had short stature, normal early development and 'ragged red fibers' in the muscle biopsy. Imaging studies (CT and MRI) showed bilateral calcification of basal ganglia and multiple strokes. One patient, admitted with epileptic status as initial symptom, showed lymphocytic pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid; thus, in her case the differential diagnosis included encephalitis. Four patients were studied by dynamic endocrinological testing. Endocrinological disturbances were detected in three patients. Two of them suffered from hypothalamic-pituitary failure and one patient exhibited hyperprolactinemia. Endocrinological disturbances were considered an expression of the underlying cytopathy. Cerebral symptoms occurred rather late in the course of the disease and indicated poor prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Light-microscopic study of phosphoprotein B-50 in myopathies.

The growth-associated protein B-50, also termed GAP-43, is a membrane-bound phosphoprotein that is expressed in neurons. It is particularly abundant during periods of axonal outgrowth in development and regeneration of the central and peripheral nervous system. In this paper we study the expression of B-50 in inflammatory and dystrophic myopathies. To investigate the state of regeneration, N-CAM and vimentin serial sections were performed, because N-CAM and cytoskeletal protein vimentin are excellent markers for regenerating muscle. Light-microscopic evaluation showed that muscle fiber regeneration in myopathies corresponds closely to B-50 immunoreactivity in satellite cells, myoblasts, myotubes and small regenerating myocytes in cytoplasmatic distribution. In normal muscle and in biopsies of neurogenic muscular atrophy, however, no light-microscopically demonstrable B-50 staining was found. B-50 in muscles apparently plays a role in the growth morphology of regenerating myocytes, and the phosphoprotein B-50 can no longer be regarded as a neuron-specific molecule.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Ascending central nervous spreading of a spinal astrocytoma.

A 43-year-old man died from the complications of astrocytoma metastasis. He first noticed symptoms of a lumbar disc prolapse in 1979. In 1987 a pilocytic astrocytoma (grade I) of the spinal cauda was removed. In 1989 a tumor recidivation at the same site was partially removed. Histology showed a grade II astrocytoma. Two months later the patient developed symptoms of increased intracerebral pressure. CSF cytology showed polymorphic giant tumor cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and a glioblastoma of the cerebral ventricles was diagnosed. The patient died from cardiovascular complications. The post-mortem investigation revealed an astrocytoma of the conus medullaris with an anaplastic ventral area (grade IV). This area was inaccessible to the biopsy. It is believed that tumor metastases from anaplastic parts spread along the spinal cord and brainstem and finally invaded the brain and cerebral ventricles.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Probable Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease after a cadaveric dural graft.

A 26-year old female who had received a cervical cadaveric dural graft 7 years earlier developed psychotic behavior and generalized myoclonic jerks. Following rapid deterioration and appearance of high-charge sharp periodic waves on electroencephalography she died within two months. We believe that this patient is the first German who acquired Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease by dural implant.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Myopathological findings in interstitial myositis in type II polyendocrine autoimmune syndrome (Schmidt's syndrome).

We report on a patient with an interstitial myositis in type II polyendocrine autoimmune disease (Schmidt's syndrome) showing an immunohistochemical demonstrated perifascicular expression of Leu 19 indicating perifascicular denervation, which could not be detected with classical histological methods. In neurogenic muscular atrophy, idiopathic polymyositis and normal muscle we could not find such an exclusive perifascicular expression of the Leu 19 antigen. We conclude that perifascicular denervation is a characteristic feature in IM and thus might have diagnostic value. Furthermore the interstitial myositis is characterized by a complement-mediated angiopathy (vascular deposition of the membranolytic attack complex C5b-9). This pattern is comparable to well-known changes in dermatomyositis. Interstitial myositis and dermatomyositis are evidently pathogenetically similar according to myopathological criteria, but show phenotypic differences. Additional in interstitial myositis and idiopathic polymyositis inflammatory infiltrates surrounding Leu 19 expressing myocytes are regarded as the cause of disseminated intrafascicular muscle fibre denervation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Expression of growth associated protein 43 and neural cell adhesion molecule in congenital fibre type disproportion with interstitial myositis.

We report on the expression of growth associated protein (GAP)43 and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in congenital fibre type disproportion (CFTD) with myopathological additional signs of interstitial myositis. We assume that sarcolemmal GAP43 in developmental disordered myocytes plays a role in maintenance of growth morphology. In muscular dystrophy light microscopical evaluation reveals no GAP43 immunoreactivity in regenerating fibres. The expression of GAP43 seems to be a characteristic feature of CFTD. The expression of NCAM, particularly in the sarcolemma of small muscle fibres of CFTD, indicates a functional state of permanent partial denervation. Whether the steroid-responsive interstitial myositis is pathogenetically related to CFTD or a coincidental inflammation is not known. Because of the clinical and myopathological data the differential diagnosis of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy is considered.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Single-photon-emission computed tomography analysis of cerebral blood flow in the evaluation of central nervous system involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: Single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) scanning was used to detect potential central nervous system (CNS) involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), by determining cerebral blood flow abnormalities. METHODS: SPECT scans were performed on 35 SLE patients, grouped into 3 categories: those without neuropsychiatric symptoms (n = 10), those with definite neurologic or psychiatric disorders (n = 10), and those with mild symptoms such as headache or memory disturbances (n = 15). SPECT scan features were classified as normal or as focal or diffuse defects in uptake. RESULTS: SPECT findings were normal in 9 of the 10 patients without CNS symptoms, and abnormal in 9 of the 10 patients with overt neuropsychiatric disease (with motor or sensory deficits). Interestingly, only 4 of the 15 patients (26.7%) with mild symptoms suggestive of CNS disease had normal SPECT findings; the 11 remaining patients showed focal (53.3%) or diffuse (20%) uptake defects. An association between SPECT findings and disease duration was also observed, but there was no correlation of SPECT results with overall disease activity, serologic findings, or medications used. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that in a substantial proportion of patients, SPECT analysis may provide additional information on potential CNS involvement, and may therefore be useful in therapeutic decision-making and disease monitoring in order to prevent CNS damage.

Adult↗