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Biomedical subjects

C Müller

Publications and source records attributed to C Müller.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources

[The development of the assortment and requirements of the tissue bank of the District Institute for Blood Donation and Transfusion Leipzig].

Since the foundation of the tissue bank at the District Institute for Blood Donation--and Transfusion Service of Leipzig in 1966 the range of production and the assortment of nonvital tissue transplants has considerably increased. The amount of clinical establishments and their requirements is considerably increased, in which the realization of demands is not always possible without waiting periods. The main tissue conservation method is the cryo-drying. Besides the extreme cooling and cryo-preservation were used. Problems of transportation of cooled tissue conserves were discussed.

Freeze Drying↗

[Diagnosis of the aortocoronary bypass--a comparison of MRT and CT].

Complaints of angina pectoris after aortocoronary bypass surgery can be due to the obturation of one or more bypasses. The aim of our study was the evaluation of magnetic resonance tomography for the investigation of bypass patency in comparison with computed tomography. We investigated 18 patients. 33 of 35 bypasses were safely detectable with spin-echo techniques and 32 with fast-scan-techniques and presentation in cine-mode. 25 of 33 bypasses were identified as open with the SE-technique, 27 of 32 with the "fast" technique. No safe decision was possible for 4 bypasses with SE-technique and for 1 bypass with the "fast" technique. The results are in good agreement with the reference investigation by CT. For the investigation of bypass patency with MRT neither x-rays nor contrast media are necessary. It is therefore recommended for patients with allergy to contrast media and cases with high radiation risk.

Adult↗

Effects of adjuvant chemotherapy on specific and non-specific immune mechanisms.

Adjuvant chemotherapy is a well accepted concept in the treatment of breast cancer and has resulted in most clinical studies in a significant prolongation of the disease-free interval in certain subgroups of patients. However, very little is known about the late effects of adjuvant chemotherapy and its influence upon the function of a series of physiologic mechanisms. In the present paper, a review of our studies on the influence of adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluoruracil (CMF) upon the function of B, T and natural killer (NK) cells is given. It is shown that CMF adversely influenced primary antibody production following vaccination for a prolonged period of time after the termination of CMF treatment. In investigating T cell function, it was found that the administration of CMF led also to a similarly prolonged impairment of phytohemagglutinin (PHA-)stimulated soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) production and to a decrease in the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells following mitogenic stimulation with PHA. Finally, NK cell activity was found to be decreased for such a prolonged period of time after the termination of CMF treatment, too. We thus conclude that the administration of CMF in the adjuvant setting leads to a pronounced and prolonged impairment of certain immune mechanisms.

Antibody Formation↗

[Prostaglandin interaction in the human liver].

The binding of prostaglandin (PG) E1 and Iloprost, a chemically stable PGI2-analogue, to purified plasma cell membranes (LPZM) from liver tissue samples obtained at surgery revealed heterogeneity of the binding sites identifying high and low affinity subpopulations. In contrast to these findings only high affinity binding sites were characterized for PGE2. Displacement studies exhibited the highest competition for the PGE1-sites by PGE1 and subsequently by PGE2, Iloprost, PGD2 and PGF2 alpha. The binding of PGE2 to the hepatic receptor could be best displaced by PGE2 and subsequently by PGE1 and Iloprost, PGD2 and PGF2 alpha. In addition, PGE1, PGE2 and Iloprost enhanced cAMP-production dose-dependently over baseline. Clinical studies revealed a remarkably lower binding capacity for PGE1 in hepatocellular cancer tissue than in normal liver parenchyma. The different binding behaviour of PGE1 (Iloprost) and PGE2 for the first time provides evidence that PGE1 and PGI2 like at platelet membranes occupate the same receptor also at human LPZM. Since a reasonable number of binding sites for these substances and an enhanced cAMP-production were shown in the liver, the study indicates a regulatory role of PGs in hepatic function.

Alprostadil↗

[Non-invasive detection of asymptomatic coronary disease].

The prevalence of silent ischemia is reported to be 1.5-2.5% in middle-aged men. We have calculated the incidence of silent ischemia in a low-risk population consisting of all Norwegian male pilots. During the period from January 1983 to May 1988 54 pathological exercise-ECG were found among 3,430 recordings made on 3,800 individuals. The risk estimate for coronary artery disease was calculated on the basis of clinical history and findings, exercise-ECG, tallium myocardial scintigraphy and measure of the ejection fraction by technetium scintigraphy by means of conditional probability analysis. 30 persons had a low probability estimate, whereas 24 had a high probability estimate. The findings show that non-invasive criteria for coronary artery disease are observed infrequently in a male low-risk population. In our material the annual incidence was 0.10%.

Adult↗

[Vasospastic angina pectoris].

The authors discuss the pathogenesis and treatment of variant angina pectoris, and illustrate the condition by describing nine cases. Alertness for the presence of coronary spasms is recommended, and also the more frequent use of provocative diagnostic tests.

Angina Pectoris, Variant↗

Lysis of human melanoma cells by autologous cytolytic T cell clones. Identification of human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen A2 as a restriction element for three different antigens.

From the peripheral blood of the melanoma patient (AV), we derived cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones that lysed the autologous tumor line SK-MEL-29, but not autologous EBV-B cells, K562, and other tumor targets. By immunoselection experiments it was shown that the CTL clones recognized at least three different antigens on the autologous tumor cells. We demonstrate here that these melanoma antigens are presented to the CTL in association with HLA-A2. First, HLA-A2-reactive pregnancy sera as well as an mAb against HLA-A2 inhibited the CTL lysis. Second, immunoselected melanoma subclones that were resistant to lysis by CTL clones against the three antigens described were found to lack expression of HLA-A2. By sensitizing the patient's lymphocytes against an HLA-A2- melanoma clone, we established a new series of CTL clones recognizing autologous AV melanoma cells. However, efficient lysis was only seen when target cells were pretreated with IFN-gamma. The lytic activity of these CTL was selectively inhibited by an mAb against a common HLA-B determinant. These results indicate that in addition to HLA-A2, other class I antigens are involved in the recognition of AV melanoma cells by autologous CTL.

Adult↗

[Long-term results following fundus plication and vagotomy in reflux disease. Complaints after 10-20 years].

In 109 patients with primary reflux disease in whom combined fundoplication and vagotomy had been performed, the clinical results were evaluated by questionnaire 10-20 years (median 15.7 years) after operation. Indication for additional vagotomy was severe reflux disease and/or increased gastric acid output in 56 (A) and coexistent ulcer disease in 53 (B) patients. Vagotomy was truncular (with pyloroplasty) in 49, selective gastric (with pyloroplasty) in 50, and proximal gastric in 10 patients. Follow-up was available from 64 patients (59.6%). The results were as follows: 17.2% (A 19.4%, B 7.1%) had reflux symptoms, while 9.5% (A 11.4%, B 7.1%) needed medical antireflux therapy. Dysphagia was present in 28.2% (A 13.9%, B 35.7%), and gas-bloat in 54.7% (A 55.5%, B 53.6%). Typical postvagotomy symptoms were diarrhea in 23.5% (A 30.6%, B 14.3%) and dumping in 25.0% (A 22.2%, B 28.6%). Using the Visick classification criteria we found grade I and II in 73.4%, grade III in 17.2% and IV in 9.4%. Symptoms are frequent after fundoplication and vagotomy. The clinical result is more favourable in group B and for the combination of fundoplication with proximal gastric vagotomy.

Deglutition Disorders↗

Association of increased lytic effector cell function with high estrogen receptor levels in tumor-bearing patients with breast cancer.

Tumor-bearing patients with breast cancer were assayed for their natural killer (NK) cell activity and for the function of activated cytotoxic T-cells, as assessed by lectin-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (LDCC). Tumor-bearing patients with breast cancer had a significant increase in NK activity and in LDCC, as compared with healthy control individuals. Although the enhanced NK cell activity and LDCC were closely associated with high levels (greater than 31 fmol/mg) of estrogen receptor (ER) content in the primary tumor, no other clinical or histologic correlation between the increase in either parameter of cytotoxic effector cell function could be found. Thus, ER levels greater than 31 fmol/mg might be associated with increased cytotoxic effector cell function in tumor-bearing patients with breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Detection of perforin and granzyme A mRNA in infiltrating cells during infection of mice with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

The analysis of gene expression in cytotoxic T cells by in situ hybridization of serial liver and brain sections from mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and immunostaining with T cell marker- and virus-specific antibodies revealed a close histological association of infiltrating lymphocytes expressing the perforin and granzyme A genes with virally infected cells. Maximal frequency of perforin and granzyme A mRNA-containing cells on liver sections preceded by about 2 days maximal LCMV-specific cytotoxicity of the lymphoid liver infiltrating cells. These results are most consistent with an involvement of perforin and granzyme A in cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vivo.

Animals↗

Soluble interleukin 2 receptor in acute viral hepatitis and chronic liver disease.

Serum levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor were determined in patients with acute viral hepatitis and patients with various chronic liver diseases. In addition, the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis to generate soluble interleukin 2 receptor following mitogenic stimulation was studied in vitro. Serum soluble interleukin 2 receptor concentrations in all patients with acute viral hepatitis were found to be significantly elevated (1,319 +/- 527 units per ml) during the first week after onset of disease, as compared to healthy control individuals (375 +/- 102 units per ml; p less than 0.0005) and declined toward normal levels during the course of the illness. Similarly, patients suffering from chronic liver disease such as alcoholic liver cirrhosis (1,172 +/- 507 units per ml), primary biliary cirrhosis (619 +/- 190 units per ml) or chronic active HBsAg+ hepatitis (941 +/- 357 units per ml) showed increased serum soluble interleukin 2 receptor concentrations (p less than 0.0005 vs. controls, respectively). In vitro mitogen stimulation of peripheral mononuclear cells derived from patients with alcoholic cirrhosis resulted in a soluble interleukin 2 receptor production not different from that seen in healthy individuals, suggesting that elevated soluble interleukin 2 receptor serum levels seen in this disease are not the result of an increased synthesis by circulating lymphocytes. Due to the ability of soluble interleukin 2 receptor to bind free interleukin 2--thus making it a potential immunoregulatory molecule--its high serum levels could explain some of the immunologic abnormalities observed in acute and chronic liver disease.

Acute Disease↗

Defective interferon-augmented natural killer cell activity in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma.

Unstimulated and interferon (IFN)-stimulated natural killer cell (NK) activity was investigated in patients with malignant melanoma prior to the removal of the primary melanoma (stage I disease) or in patients with melanoma metastases. Unstimulated as well as IFN-stimulated NK activities, directed against the primarily NK-sensitive K562 cell line, were found not to differ significantly from the NK activity of healthy control subjects. In contrast, IFN-stimulated NK activity directed against the primarily NK-insensitive Chang hepatoma and JY cell lines was significantly lower in patients with metastatic melanoma than in patients with non-metastatic disease (Chang hepatoma cell line: P less than 0.02; JY cell line: P less than 0.0017) and - in experiments using the JY cell line - than in healthy controls (P less than 0.01). Stage I melanoma patients did not differ in their IFN-induced NK activity from healthy control subjects using Chang hepatoma and JY cell lines. Finally, the IFN-induced increase in NK activity directed against primarily NK-insensitive target cell lines was significant in stage I melanoma patients and in healthy controls (P less than 0.01, respectively), but not in patients with metastatic melanoma (P greater than 0.5). We thus conclude that patients with metastatic malignant melanoma exhibited a defect in IFN-augmented NK activity directed against primarily NK-insensitive targets.

Adult↗

Human DC scalp potentials during vestibular and optokinetic stimulation: non-specific responses?

In normal subjects transient horizontal body rotation in the dark (vestibular stimulation) elicited a DC potential change with the maximum at Cz. The response appeared to covary with stimulus velocity, which is the most relevant stimulus parameter transferred by the horizontal semicircular canal system. A similar response was obtained during optokinetic stimulation. However, the following findings suggested that the responses are related to 'high' perceptual functions rather than representing a visuo-vestibular evoked cortical potential: (a) the visual response was found independent of whether the subjects perceived, as a task, self-motion in a stationary environment or 'object' motion about the stationary body; its amplitude depended on the subjects' subjective compliance to the task; (b) when presenting various combinations of optokinetic and vestibular stimuli, the response amplitude depended on the subjective and objective intersensory conflict in the combinations; (c) sinusoidal stimulation yielded a negative shift of the DC potential, but the potential was not modulated along with the waxing and waning of stimulus velocity or of the self-motion sensation evoked; (d) patients with loss of vestibular functions showed a similar Cz response during body rotation in the dark.

Cerebral Cortex↗

Behavior and heart rate of heifers housed in tether stanchions without straw.

The effect of tether housing without straw was studied in eight heifers over a 12-week period. Resting behavior was recorded in the first and the twelfth week and heart rate (HR) in the twelfth week and compared to that of eight control heifers kept in a group on deep straw. Tethered heifers changed body position from standing to lying and vice versa significantly less often, and frequency of lying intention movements prior to lying down was significantly increased in tethered heifers. Correspondingly, latency between first intention movement and actually lying down was markedly increased in tethered heifers. HR was significantly higher in tethered heifers in all situations studied. During the lying procedure, HR increased in all animals so that the difference between the two groups remained unchanged. The biggest difference between groups was measured during the first lying intention, when HR was 125.2 +/- 9.4 in tethered heifers and 76.8 +/- 6.1 in controls. The results indicate that lying down in tether stanchions is aversive to the heifers and avoided as much as possible.

Animals↗