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Biomedical subjects

B Hermes

Publications and source records attributed to B Hermes.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Clusters of perifollicular macrophages in normal murine skin: physiological degeneration of selected hair follicles by programmed organ deletion.

In back skin sections from adolescent C57BL/6 mice, regularly distributed, perifollicular inflammatory cell clusters (PICC) were found located around the distal noncycling portion of about 2% of all hair follicles examined. The PICC and the affected hair follicles were characterized during spontaneously developed or induced hair cycle stages, using antibodies against MHC Class II, F4/80, ER-MP23, NLDC 145, CD4, CD8, gammadeltaTCR, IL-1 receptor, and ICAM-1. PICC consisted predominantly of macrophages (MAC), accompanied by a few CD4+ cells, whereas gammadeltaTCR+ and CD8+ cells were absent. During anagen and catagen, some of the PICC+ hair follicles showed variable degenerative phenomena reminiscent of scarring alopecia: thickened basement membrane, ectopic MHC II expression, MAC infiltration into the follicle epithelium, and signs of keratinocyte apoptosis. Loss of distal outer root sheath keratinocytes was detected in 10% of PICC+ hair follicles (0.2% of all hair follicles). Because PICC were located in the vicinity of the bulge region, MAC-dependent damage to follicle stem cells might eventually lead to follicle degeneration. These perifollicular MAC clusters around selected hair follicles may indicate the existence of a physiological program of MAC-dependent controlled follicle degeneration by which damaged or malfunctioning follicles are removed by programmed organ deletion (POD).

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Medium dose isotretinoin for the treatment of acne.

BACKGROUND: Although the efficacy of isotretinoin in the treatment of acne is unquestioned, improvement of patient tolerance and acceptance of the drug are desirable. Furthermore, no data on acne-induced scarring during isotretinoin treatment are available. AIM: In the present study, we have evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of an initial stepwise incremental (n = 83) or an initial high dose (n = 11) and a subsequent medium maintenance dosing of isotretinoin in outpatients treated for acne over a 7 year period. METHODS: Ninety-four patients with moderate to severe acne were treated for a mean duration of 8.3 months, at a mean daily dose of 31.4 mg. Follow-up and final evaluation were done during outpatient visits and with a standardized patient questionnaire. RESULTS: Response to treatment was very good in 62.8% and good in 31.9% of patients, with only one treatment failure. Of the patients, 21.3% required retreatment after a mean interval of 7.7 months. Four patients refused or dropped out from treatment, 27% noted initial mild worsening of their acne, and none experienced severe adverse effects. Scars were present in 89.4% of patients, with improvement occurring in 67.9% during treatment. CONCLUSION: The altogether good to excellent clinical response of acne lesions and acne scars, with a low side effect profile, warrants further study of this simple, modified treatment regimen in patients with acne and acne-induced scarring.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1997

Monitoring serum concentrations of clomipramine and metabolites: fluorescence polarization immunoassay versus high performance liquid chromatography.

This study compared fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) with a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method from the point of view of their applicability to therapeutic drug monitoring of patients treated with clomipramine alone. Blood was withdrawn from 20 depressed inpatients (54 +/- 14 years) under steady state conditions. The FPIA determined total tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) concentrations with day to day variability below 11%. The automated HPLC method separated clomipramine, N-desmethylclomipramine, 8-hydroxyclomipramine and 8-hydroxydesmethylclomipramine with interassay coefficients of variance below 12%. The concentrations measured by FPIA were similar to HPLC results. Total TCA concentrations measured by FPIA and the sum of clomipramine and desmethylclomipramine measured by HPLC correlated significantly (r = 0.780 and p < 0.01). However, 40% of individual FPIA determinations yielded results that differed by more than 50% from the HPLC concentrations. Changes in clinical rates were related only to TCA serum concentrations that had been analyzed by HPLC. It is concluded that the semiquantitative FPIA is unsuitable for therapeutic drug monitoring in patients under clomipramine treatment, whereas the differential analysis of clomipramine and metabolites by HPLC is informative and can be used to improve the antidepressant drug treatment.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗
PubMed1997

Phacomatosis pigmentokeratotica: a patient with the rare melanocytic-epidermal twin nevus syndrome.

We describe a 10-year-old girl affected with a speckled lentiginous nevus and an epidermal nevus of the organoid type on corresponding parts of the body. On histopathological examination, the lesions showed epidermal hyperpigmentation and melanocytic hyperplasia on the one hand and verrucous epidermal acanthosis with sebaceous hyperplasia on the other hand. Except for a minor deviation of the spine, the patient had no obvious extracutaneous symptoms. Happle et al. have recently interpreted the rare co-occurrence of these two types of nevi in spatial proximity as an example of twin spotting in human skin and proposed the name 'phacomatosis pigmentokeratotica'. In most cases, additional skeletal or neurological anomalies are found. These are dissimilar from the extracutaneous symptoms of the sebaceous nevus syndrome, from which phacomatosis pigmentokeratotica should be distinguished. Molecular studies are needed to prove the concept of twin spotting and to reveal a link to the extracutaneous manifestations.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Immunopathological events of adverse cutaneous reactions to coumarin and heparin.

We here describe a female patient with thromboembolic disease, who exhibited allergic reactions to heparin and who developed a large necrotic area on the abdomen when coumarin treatment was instituted. On immunohistology of the necrotic lesion, tumour necrosis factor alpha was markedly expressed, with decreasing intensity towards the central necrotic part of the lesion. Furthermore, endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression was upregulated, particularly in the haemorrhagic zone at the periphery of the lesion. These findings suggest that the pathology of coumarin necrosis is mediated via tumour necrosis factor alpha-associated inflammatory events, after activation of the coagulation pathway due to an inherited or transiently induced, acquired protein C-deficiency. In view of these findings, we propose that patients be treated in the future with tumour necrosis factor alpha antagonists such as pentoxifylline.

Coumarins↗
PubMed1997

Upregulation of CD40 and CD40 ligand expression in IgE-associated cutaneous diseases.

In order to better understand the immunological processes connected with IgE-associated cutaneous disease, we have examined the expression of CD40 and its ligand CD40L, required for the induction of IgE synthesis in B-cells, as well as of IgE and its receptors in various dermatoses (atopic dermatitis (AD), scabies, chronic recurrent urticaria) versus normal skin, and in one dermopathic lymph node versus normal lymphatic tissue by immunohistochemistry. Compared to normal skin, cells expressing IgE, Fc epsilon RI, Fc epsilon RII, CD40, CD40L and L26 were increased in the dermis, partly also in the epidermis, from patients with AD and scabies, but not in chronic urticaria. CD40 and CD40L were detected on numerous cells in lymphatic tissue from both normal donors and a patient with AD, whereas large numbers of IgE- and Fc epsilon RI-positive cells were only found in the dermopathic lymph node from the AD patient, in contrast to very few in normal lymphatic tissue. These results with selectively increased IgE/Fc epsilon RI and associated CD40/CD40L expression in the skin of AD and scabies suggest that cutaneous tissue, in addition to dermopathic lymphatic tissue, might contribute to IgE synthesis.

Antigen Presentation↗
PubMed1996

[Women in dermatology. German and other European clinics in a comparison].

The situation of women in dermatology was evaluated with the aid of questionnaires in spring 1994. A questionnaire was sent to 33 clinics in Germany and 46 in other European countries, asking about the proportions of male and female physicians in each department. In addition, individual department members were asked in another questionnaire about their reasons for choosing dermatology and about possible sex discrimination. The clinic questionnaires were returned from 22 German and 37 other European clinics and the individual questionnaires by 548 German physicians and 1164 physicians from the other countries (overall 52% women). We found that 41.8% of the dermatologists in German clinics were women, as against 43.4% in the other countries. Women made up about half of the fully qualified specialists, but accounted for only a small percentage of those in higher positions (10.8% in Germany, 27.9% in other countries). Of the 1712 physicians who answered the individual questionnaire, the majority had chosen dermatology because of their interest in the specialty. Slightly more women than men gave other reasons, such as more free time--mostly for family matters--or less physical strain. Clearly more women than men felt they were discriminated against professionally because of their sex. The reasons for this related primarily to the biological and social role of women in society. Overall, women are thus well represented in our specialty, except in leading positions.

Career Choice↗
PubMed1996

[Plasmapheresis and immunopathogenetic aspects of toxic epidermal necrolysis].

Drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare but frequently lethal disease of the skin and mucosa of unknown etiology. Toxic metabolic and immunologic products in the serum have been discussed as possible causes. For this reason we have performed plasmapheresis on these patients for many years. Results regarding survival and healing of the lesions are quite favorable, as exemplified with two patients described here who benefited from the procedure despite their old age. In order to gain insight into possible disease mechanisms that would explain the beneficial effect of plasmapheresis, we did immunohistochemical studies on these patients before and in one case after the procedure. In dermis and epidermis, there was a striking increase of macrophages and a relative increase of CD8-positive lymphocytes which might act as cytotoxic effector cells; these findings can be interpreted as the result of an immunological reaction. An increased staining of lesional epidermis with TNF alpha, as previously noted by other authors, should be interpreted with caution since necrotic cells are involved. On the basis of the clinical results, the pathogenetic considerations, and in view of the lack of specific treatment modalities, clinical studies concerning plasmapheresis for the treatment of toxic epidermal necrolysis are recommended, particularly since this procedure is widely available and generally well tolerated.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Successful treatment of chronic discoid lupus erythematosus with argon laser].

We report on a patient with chronic discoid lupus erythematosus who was treated with argon-laser. The patient suffered from long-standing lesions and had been pretreated with various drugs; with no or slight improvement. After a few argon-laser applications, the treated skin lesions improved dramatically while the untreated lesional skin showed continuous disease activity. Histological and immunohistological investigations of biopsies from treated and untreated lesional skin suggest that endothelial mechanisms play a role in the generation and maintenance of discoid lesions in lupus erythematosus. This is the first reported case of successful treatment of chronic discoid skin lesions of a lupus erythematosus patient with argon-laser.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Psychosocial stress in tree shrews: clomipramine counteracts behavioral and endocrine changes.

Male tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) provide an animal model to study the neurobehavioral consequences of chronic psychosocial stress. When living in visual and olfactory contact with a male conspecific by which it has been defeated, the subordinante tree shrew shows dramatic behavioral, physiological, and neuroendocrine changes. Because the over all pattern of these changes resemble a depression-like symptomatology, we investigated to what extent the behavioral and endocrine changes in subordinate animals can be reversed by treatment with the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine. In the present study, animals were subjected to a 10-day period of psychosocial conflict to elicit stress-induced behavioral and endocrine alterations before the onset of drug treatment, and psychosocial stress continued throughout the treatment period of 30 days. Clomipramine was administered orally once daily at a dose of 50 mg/kg. The drug had a time-dependent restorative influence on marking and grooming behavior, locomotor activity, risk assessment, as well as on urinary cortisol and norepinephrine excretion. It, thus, appears that the clomipramine treatment counteracts the behavioral and endocrine effects of chronic psychosocial stress in tree shrews, and the time course of recovery corresponds closely to that observed when treating depressed patients in the clinic.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma with a spontaneous healing tendency].

Annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma is mostly found in middle aged women in skin areas exposed to sunlight. Our 17-year-old female patient had a widespread reddish-brown lesion on the abdomen that met the histological criteria for annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma. However, the clinical findings and the localization were uncommon. UV light was excluded as a trigger. Other, still unknown, factors that might change antigenicity of elastic fibres must be considered. Spontaneous resolution suggests a transient influence of such factors. Differential diagnosis includes skin disorders with elastolysis; discrimination especially from mid-dermal elastolysis is not well defined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Day- and nighttime content of monoamines and their metabolites in the pineal gland of rat and hamster.

Day- and nighttime content of catecholamines, serotonin and their metabolites were measured in the pineal gland of Sprague-Dawley rats and Djungarian hamsters. In addition, monoamine turnover rates were determined in the hamster pineal gland following administration of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. Animals were decapitated in the middle of the light or dark period, respectively, and pineal tissue was analysed by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Pineals of both species exhibited day/night-differences in serotonin, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid and dopamine content. The hamster pineal gland further showed day/night differences in its content of epinephrine and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol. The dopamine turnover rate was augmented at night, while norepinephrine turnover was constant. Immunohistochemical incubations of pineal paraffine sections showed fibers and terminals stained by antisera to tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, and a few perikarya-like structures exhibiting TH immunoreactivity. The results support the view that dopamine, rather than only functioning as a norepinephrine precursor, is actively involved in the control of melatonin synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Automated determination of paroxetine and its main metabolite by column switching and on-line high-performance liquid chromatography.

An automated column-switching method coupled to isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography has been developed for simultaneous determination of blood levels of paroxetine and its nonconjugated main metabolite BRL 36610. The lower limits of detection were 9-15 nmol/L (3-5 ng/ml) and linearity between drug concentration and detector response was found for 0-1,500 nmol/L (0-500 ng/ml). The method could be applied to the analysis of serum samples obtained from depressed patients who were treated with daily oral doses of 20 or 40 mg of paroxetine. After the 20-mg dose, the mean blood level of paroxetine was 69 nM (23 ng/ml), whereas the metabolite BRL 36610 was detectable in only one of 5 samples. Co-medication of paroxetine with imipramine increased the blood levels of imipramine, desipramine, and paroxetine thus indicating drug interactions.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1994

Foreign-body granuloma and IgE-pseudolymphoma after multiple bee stings.

We report a patient with an unusual combination of an eosinophilic foreign-body granuloma and a pseudolymphoma, with recurrent severe oedema on the forehead, after multiple bee stings. On immunohistology the foreign-body granuloma and lymphoid follicles reacted with monoclonal antibodies against the high- and low-affinity IgE receptors, and against IgE. Prick and intradermal tests with whole-body bee extracts showed positive immediate-type reactions. The eosinophilic granuloma formation and lymphoid follicles may have been induced by a combination of immune complex and cell-mediated hypersensitivity following antigen persistence. Although bee stings are common, as far as we are aware, this complex reaction pattern has not been reported previously.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Strain differences in the ratio of synaptic body types in photoreceptors of the rat retina.

In the retinal outer plexiform layer of seven different rat strains, synaptic bodies (SB) were counted and, according to their morphology, characterized as synaptic ribbons (SR), synaptic spheres (SS) or intermediate structures. It was found that absolute SB numbers showed relatively small variations while SR/SS ratios differed considerably between the strains investigated. These results are discussed with respect to retinal pigmentation and to formation and degradation, respectively, of synaptic ribbons.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Synaptic ribbons, spheres and intermediate structures in the developing rat retina.

The present study was conducted to investigate the qualitative and quantitative development of synaptic bodies in retinae of Wistar rats during postnatal days 4-28. In addition, the effects of different light regimens and of eye pigmentation on SB numbers were studied. Synaptic bodies were counted and measured in the outer plexiform layer of retinal tissue fixed and processed by routine electron microscopical techniques. At postnatal days 4 and 5, retinae showed only few synaptic bodies. The main numerical development of synaptic bodies occurred between postnatal days 4 and 9, numbers remaining more or less constant thereafter. The intracellular location of synaptic ribbons changed from predominantly cytoplasmic sites to positions at the membrane. In Wistar rats of postnatal day 15 held under a light/dark regimen, synaptic ribbon numbers and lengths were found to be significantly larger at night than at daytime. This was not observed in animals kept under constant darkness. In retinae of a pigmented rat strain, Brown Norway, total numbers of synaptic bodies were similar to those of Wistar rats, whereas the relative proportions of synaptic ribbons and spheres or sphere-like structures, respectively, differed between strains. These results are discussed with regard to synaptic body formation and regulation under the influence of light and eye pigmentation.

Aging↗
PubMed1975

[Esterase XX. Disc-electrophoretic investigations on the polymorphism of the esterases of the house mouse (author's transl)].

For the further clarification of the polymorphism of mouse-esterase and its hormonal control, which in part have not yet been fully comprehended, disc-electrophoretic analyses of eight organs were made, using a strain with the Tfm-mutation. In addition, quantitative assays of esterase activity as well as histochemical studies were performed. The individual organs are characterized by a specific banding pattern of esterase, which is essentially conditioned by the diverse activity of a limited number of bands. Partly these may be regarded as primary gene products, partly they seem to be secondary modifications. The few incidences of band-linkage justify the expectations, that further gene loci will be discovered. In four organs of Tfm-mutants a lower esterase activity was found than in the controls, which was especially distinct in the kidney. The behaviour of the testosterone-dependent bands in the kidneys of Tfm-mutants seems to indicate two different mechanisms of the effect of testosterone on these bands.

Animals↗