Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Möller

Publications and source records attributed to B Möller.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Antihypertensive effect of felodipine or hydralazine when added to beta-blocker therapy.

In a double-blind randomized study, hydralazine (n = 59) or the new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist felodipine (n = 61) was added to previous treatment with beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents in a group of 120 patients with essential hypertension. Active treatment with either hydralazine or felodipine was given for 8 weeks after a 4-week placebo run-in period, at the end of which all patients had supine diastolic blood pressures greater than 95 mm Hg. Assessment of the results according to the intention to treat principle showed that felodipine was significantly more effective than hydralazine at the doses employed, reducing systolic blood pressure 10-19 mm Hg more than hydralazine and reducing diastolic blood pressure 5-11 mm Hg more than hydralazine (95% confidence intervals). The number of patients complaining of side effects, the number of complaints, and the number of patients that had to be withdrawn from treatment were numerically higher during treatment with hydralazine than with felodipine, but these differences were not statistically significant. Against this background it is concluded that felodipine is superior to hydralazine when added to an antihypertensive regimen consisting of beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Expression of Pre-S-encoded proteins in sera of individuals chronically infected with hepatitis D virus.

The sera of 16 individuals chronically infected with the hepatitis D virus were analyzed for hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers. The majority of these patients had a non-replicative form of viral type B hepatitis as indicated by negative tests for HBeAg and HBV-DNA. Pre-S-encoded proteins were detected in 13/16 sera. Sera that were negative for polymerized serum albumin did also not contain pre-S1-encoded proteins. The presence of pre-S-encoded proteins is probably predominantly associated with 22-nm HBsAg forms present in large amounts in sera of individuals with chronic type D hepatitis.

Chronic Disease↗

The significance of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in the clearance of intravenously administered bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in mice.

The direct immunofluorescence technique was used to study the presence of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in the liver, spleen and kidney of mice before and after intravenous administration of purified lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Escherichia coli O 75, Salmonella abortus equi and Salmonella minnesota R 595, as well as free lipid A. Untreated mice had small granules of HDL in the hepatocellular cytoplasm, which appeared more pronounced after oral administration of fat. After intravenous administration of LPS, hepatocellular HDL decreased continuously and was no longer visible 1 hour after injection of LPS or lipid A. Five to ten minutes after administration, smooth-form LPS were located in sinusoidal cells, and rough form LPS and lipid A were found in both parenchymal and nonparenchymal liver cells. All toxins were demonstrated in both cell populations 1-4 hours after injection. The spleen was free of HDL, while there was a strong uptake of LPS into the cells of the reticulo-endothelial system. The kidney of experimental mice had small HDL granules in the epithelial cells of the proximal tubules, with a tendency to move to the lumen 1 hour after LPS injection, while there was a transient granular deposition of LPS in the glomeruli. The results suggest that the early uptake of circulating LPS by cells of the reticulo-histiocytic system in liver and spleen, as well as by hepatocytes, is not mediated by HDL. However, HDL located in hepatocytes or present in the circulation of experimental mice seem to be eliminated through the bile and the urine, induced by LPS.

Animals↗

[Frequency and clinical relevance of delta virus infection in HBsAg carriers in the Berlin area].

The frequency of delta virus infection, immunoserological parameters and degree of liver inflammation were studied in 190 HBsAg carriers in the Berlin area from 1976 to 1986. Delta infection was detected in one of 50 HBsAg carriers (2%) in the period from 1976 to 1980. In contrast 19 of 140 HBsAg carriers (14%) with delta infection were found in the period from 1981 to 1986. This group included 12 Germans, 5 Turks and 2 Italians. Only 6 of these subjects belonged to a so-called risk group: 3 drug addicts, 2 homosexuals and 1 hemophiliac. Eighteen of the 20 patients with HDV infection showed progressive liver disease in the follow-up period. Nine cases developed complete liver cirrhosis over five years. Variable transaminase levels and elevation of immunoglobulin G were recorded. Humoral autoimmune phenomena were rarely observed. The increasing frequency of HDV infection in the Berlin area is presumably related to tourism, national origin and membership in specific risk groups. The data in our study underline the importance of effective prophylaxis by active immunization with HBsAg vaccines.

Adult↗

[Schoenlein-Henoch purpura in chronic HBsAG-positive hepatitis].

We report about a 40-year-old male patient suffering from a recurrent vasculitis with purpura since the age of 18. In 1983, a HBsAg-positive chronic active hepatitis with circulating immune complexes which contained HBsAg, immunoglobulin M and G as well as complement (C) was diagnosed. Serum and liver tissue were negative for HBcAg, HBeAg and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA; there was no evidence for HBV replication. HBsAg, IgM and C3 were demonstrable in the arteriolar walls of the skin. The results support the concept that complement activating immune complexes containing HBsAg and IgM anti HBs play a role in the pathogenesis of vasculitis as described here.

Adult↗

Serological assessment of HBcAg and HBV DNA: its prognostic relevance in acute hepatitis B.

Treatment of serum precipitates with sodium thiocyanate in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication results in liberation of circulating hepatitis core antigen (HBcAg) which can be demonstrated radioimmunologically. Follow-up investigations were performed in 80 patients with acute hepatitis B. Sera were examined for HBcAg. HBV DNA and conventional HBV markers. At the time of admission to hospital 34 of 80 (42%) patients were HBeAg positive. Twenty-six (76%) of the 34 HBcAg positive patients were HBV DNA positive, and circulating HBcAg was detectable in 25 of 34 (73%) HBcAg positive cases. In patients with uncomplicated courses of acute hepatitis B the serological HBcAg assay and HBV DNA became negative 1 to 8 weeks before elimination of HBeAg and up to 12 weeks earlier than the sera became negative for HBsAg. Five patients (6%) showed transition to chronic hepatitis B with persistence of HBsAg, HBeAg, HBV DNA and HBcAg in serum. One patient with acute hepatitis B and development of chronic hepatitis suffered from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and showed delayed formation of anti-HBc. In this case uncomplexed HBcAg was demonstrable during the acute phase of hepatitis B. With the appearance of anti-HBc HBcAg circulated in a complexed form. The data indicate that serological determinations of HBcAg and HBV DNA can serve as prognostic markers in the early phase of acute hepatitis B. The demonstration of uncomplexed HBcAg in serum of a patient with inadequate formation of anti-HBc supports the hypothesis that circulating HBcAg is usually complexed by specific antibodies.

Acute Disease↗

Absence of complement fixing antibodies against lipopolysaccharides from Escherichia coli in a subgroup of patients with Crohn's disease.

Complement fixing antibodies against different Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharides were determined in patients with Crohn's disease and in healthy individuals and compared with antitetanus toxoid antibodies. All healthy individuals had antilipopolysaccharide antibodies, 10 of 27 patients with Crohn's disease had no antibodies and six had rapidly changing antibody titres. These abnormalities were found in patients with disease in the colon, with arthropathy and fistula. Antilipid A was found at lower titres in Crohn's disease. Neither antitetanus toxoid antibodies, nor immunoglobulin concentrations were different in patients with or without antilipopolysaccharide antibodies. There was no evidence for circulating immune complexes in patients lacking antilipopolysaccharide antibodies. Certain subgroups of patients with Crohn's disease have altered antibody levels to typical enteral antigens which most likely can be explained by local antibody binding to lipopolysaccharides at inflammatory sites, or by changes in immunoregulation in this disease.

Adolescent↗

Fc gamma-receptor-mediated changes in the plasma membrane potential induce prostaglandin release from human fibroblasts.

Binding of aggregated human immunoglobulin G (IgG) on diploid human fibroblasts leads to a rapid depolarization of the cells within 1-2 min. We resolved this membrane potential change into its plasma membrane and mitochondrial membrane components by measuring the transmembrane distribution of the lipophilic tritium-labelled cation tetraphenylphosphonium, [3H]Ph4P+. The responsibility of the plasma membrane for the membrane potential change, induced by binding of IgGs, is demonstrated. The IgG-induced membrane depolarization leads to the induction of prostaglandin E2 synthesis. Aggregated immunoglobulins (IgG) are specifically bound via the Fc portion because only binding of Fc fragments, in contrast to (Fab')2 fragments, leads to a stimulation of prostaglandin E2 synthesis comparable to that mediated by IgGs. Depolarization of the plasma membrane by short incubation of the fibroblasts in high-K+ buffer (5 min) results in a stimulation of prostaglandin E2 synthesis comparable to that mediated by either aggregated human IgGs or Fc fragments. Our previous results on Fc gamma-receptor-mediated antigen-IgG-antibody complex internalization showed that a maximum uptake of these complexes could be detected 60-90 min after binding. Therefore, we conclude that not internalisation but binding of aggregated IgGs to the Fc gamma receptors on human fibroblasts is the stimulus for plasma membrane depolarization leading to an enhanced prostaglandin E2 release.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Degradation of various amine compounds by mesophilic clostridia.

From 60 species of the genus Clostridium tested 26 species were able to degrade one to three of the following compounds: betaine, choline, creatine, and ethanolamine. Degradation of betaine and choline was always associated with the formation of trimethylamine as one of the products. Creatine was converted to N-methylhydantoin and with one species (Clostridium sordellii) to sarcosine in addition. The diagnostic value of the ability of clostridial species to degrade the compounds mentioned is discussed. N,N-dimethylglycine, N,N-dimethylethanolamine or sarcosine were not metabolized by the strains tested.

Amines↗

Eclampsia in Sweden, 1976-1980.

Among 480,969 births in Sweden during the period 1976 to 1980, 74 parturients with eclampsia were identified. The clinical characteristics of women developing eclampsia before 37 completed weeks of gestation differed markedly from those with eclampsia at term. In the pre-term group, subjective symptoms nearly always preceded the eclamptic attack, the newborns were generally small-for-gestational-age, the perinatal mortality was high, and the mothers more frequently had complications related to eclampsia. The only maternal death occurred in this group. In the term group the first convulsion often came unexpectedly without typical premonitory signs. The infants were with few exceptions within the average for gestational age. The general outcome for mothers and their babies was favorable and the length of hospital stay was on average 3 days longer than that of the overall obstetric population. Eclampsia cases in Sweden represent a small subfraction of parturients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The incidence (29/100,000) in our material is, to our knowledge, the lowest yet reported. Despite the very regular attendance at the antenatal clinic, weekly from 36 weeks onwards, fewer than half of the patients had hypertension diagnosed 4 days or more prior to the eclamptic convulsion. A shortening of the intervals between the antenatal visits therefore does not seem warranted.

Adolescent↗

Lack of efficacy of dried garlic in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia.

The effects of dried garlic on blood lipids, apolipoproteins and blood coagulation parameters in hyperlipemic patients were studies in two controlled, randomized, double-blind studies. Both studies comprised placebo and therapy periods of 6 weeks each. The doses administered were 3 X 198 mg in Study I (34 patients) and 3 X 450 mg in Study II (51 patients). In both studies, the following serum parameters were measured every 3 weeks: total cholesterol, HDL (high density lipoprotein)- and LDL (low density lipoprotein)-cholesterol, triglycerides and several safety parameters. In addition, apolipoproteins A and B, euglobulin lysis time, fibrin split products, prothrombin time, whole blood coagulation time and fibrinogen levels were determined in the second study only. The results indicated that neither dosage of dried garlic showed any significant effect on any of the parameters measured. It is therefore concluded that, if there is any effect of garlic on the parameters measured, it is not apparent when using a dried preparation in the dosage studied.

Apoproteins↗

[Immunoserologic differentiation of chronic cholestatic hepatitis. Significance of antimitochondrial antibodies and hepatic membrane antibodies].

In 22 of 45 patients with chronic cholestatic liver inflammation and humoral immune phenomena, followed over 15 years with at least one liver biopsy, there was the histological picture of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), stages I to IV, with constantly demonstrable antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) of M2-type. In 12 patients there were signs of PBC and chronic active hepatitis (CAH) in the liver histology, and they were M2-positive. Six of them also had M4-antibodies and were thus classified as 'mixed form'. The other six were seropositive for liver-membrane antibodies (LMA) and (or) antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and thus demonstrated an overlap between PBC and autoimmune or lupoid CAH. In five patients there was autoimmune CAH of lupoid type, in four of them with LMA or ANA without M2- or M4-antibodies. The remaining six patients had pericholangitis with persisting ANA and increased serum concentrations of immunoglobulin M without M2- and M4-antibodies, as well as LMA. Clinically a nondestructive polyarthritis predominated without definite signs of collagenosis. The listed immunoserological parameters make it largely possible to differentiate classical PBC, mixed forms or overlap of PBC and CAH, autoimmune CAH and nonpurulent cholangitis of pericholangitic type.

Aged↗

[Serologic analysis of HBc antigen in patients with HBs-antigen carrier state].

Treatment of serum with sodium thiocyanate in HBs antigen carrier patients leads to liberation of circulating HBc antigen which can be demonstrated radioimmunologically. Investigations were done in 54 HBs antigen carriers, 44 of whom had chronic inflammatory liver disease (22 patients each HBe antigen positive and negative), and in 10 patients who were asymptomatic (so-called healthy HBs antigen carriers). Out of the 22 HBe antigen positive patients 17 were HBc antigen positive serologically. In the HBe antigen negative group of HBs antigen carriers two out of 22 patients with HBc antigen in serum were detected. All 10 asymptomatic HBs antigen carriers were HBc antigen negative. In 11 out of the 40 immunohistologically assessed patients HBc antigen could be demonstrated in hepatocellular nuclei; these 11 patients also demonstrated HBc antigen in serum. The liberated HBc antigen was associated with Dane particles in the density gradient. Serologic demonstration of HBc antigen may thus be considered as direct evidence of presence of hepatitis B virus.

Carrier State↗

Functional impairment of mitochondria from rat livers acutely injured by thioacetamide.

Thioacetamide, when administered in a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight to adult female rats, leads to functional disturbances in mitochondria isolated from livers 24 h after its application. The RCI is significantly reduced due to an increase in state 4 respiration and a lowered state 3 activity. Maximum respiratory activity of the mitochondria is also depressed. The mitochondrial Ca2+-content is significantly increased to 185%. In accordance with the uncoupling effect the Ca2+-transport behaviour of the hepatic mitochondria from thioacetamide-injured rats is altered. The results are indicative of structural alterations of the inner mitochondrial membranes.

Acetamides↗

A case of perazine-induced enteritis--allergy or pseudoallergy?

Almost all adverse reactions to neuroleptic drugs in the gastro-intestinal system can be explained by their peripheral cholinergic blocking action with subsequent inhibition of intestinal tone and peristalsis. As a rare condition, severe diarrhoea due to enteritis may occur. A case with this complication is presented, the etiology and pathogenetic factors are discussed.

Aged↗