Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to E Fischer.
Soft tissue calcification can occur at the many insertions of ligaments into the phalanges. During their absorption, erosions of the neighbouring bone may develop. This was observed in collagen diseases and hyperparathyroidism.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes changes in the soft tissues in the metacarpal portion of the hand which can be demonstrated by low Kv exposures. Indirect signs of inflammation consist of oedema extending from the synovial compartments to the skin, the subcutaneous tissues, the intermuscular fat septa and the peritendinous tissue. Increased blood flow leads to dilatation of veins. Direct signs of inflammation consists of tenosynovitis and synovitis of the joints, with enlargement of the corresponding compartments. Limited mobility of the hand over a long period, or improvement in motility are paralleled by changes in muscle mass.
The effect of hyperglycaemia on sugar transport was studied by comparing transepithelial permeation and tissue content of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (3-O-MG), beta-methyl-D-glucoside (beta-MDG) and D-glucose in isolated mucosae of guinea-pig jejunum mounted in a flux chamber. Sugars were administered either to the luminal or the blood side of mucosae prepared either from normal animals or those maintained in a hyperglycaemic state by I.V. glucose infusion for 12 h. In control animals, absorptive sugar fluxes increased in the order glucose greater than beta-MDG greater than 3-O-MG. Only beta-MDG was accumulated in the tissue beyond the medium concentration. Permeation of 3-O-MG and beta-MDG in the direction blood-to-lumen was mainly paracellular as indicated by the strict correlation with the simultaneous permeation of polyethylene glycol (mol. wt. 900). Luminal addition of 10(-3) M-phlorhizin increased permeation and decreased tissue content of beta-MDG and D-glucose when administered on the blood side, suggesting that these sugars are recaptured at the brush border even from vigorously mixed solutions. For flux coefficient calculation the preparation was regarded as a three-compartment system. With all three sugars, the influx coefficient was higher at the luminal, but lower at the basolateral membrane than the corresponding efflux coefficient. 3-O-MG displayed the highest basolateral influx coefficient of all three sugars, being even higher than its luminal influx coefficient. The luminal influx coefficient of beta-MDG was 22 times greater, and its basolateral efflux coefficient 2.5 times less than the corresponding values for 3-O-MG, resulting in cellular beta-MDG accumulation. D-Glucose was suited best for transepithelial transport, having a luminal influx coefficient only 1.6 times less, and a basolateral efflux coefficient almost 10 times greater than those for beta-MDG. Prolonged hyperglycaemia increased the lumen-to-blood permeation of all three sugars 1.3-2-fold. No significant differences in tissue content to control values were observed after 45 min (3-O-MG, D-glucose) or 90 min (beta-MDG) incubation. Therefore, flux coefficients increased by the same factors in luminal and basolateral membranes, i.e. 1.7, 1.3 and 1.7 for 3-O-MG, beta-MDG and D-glucose, respectively. These results indicate that changes in both the luminal and basolateral membranes play a role in the increase of sugar transport in hyperglycaemia and that a regulatory mechanism might exist between the transport systems located in both membranes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Mean platelet volume (MPV) and count (PLT) were assessed in patients with moderately affected liver function. PLT was significantly decreased in patients with liver disease (197 X 10(9)l-1 +/- 87 (SD), no. = 79) compared with that of controls (273 X 10(9)l-1 +/- 53 (SD), no. = 37, P less than 0.001). MPV in patients with liver disease (9.25 +/- 1.14 fl) was significantly lower than that of controls (10.52 +/-0.74 fl, P less than 0.001). In control subjects MPV and PLT were inversely correlated (r = -0.48, P less than 0.01), but statistical significance was not found in patients with liver disease (r = -0.2, 0.05 less than P less than 0.1). It is concluded that the low MPV and PLT are compatible with an intravascular activation (loss of granules) and increased consumption of platelets, which may take place in the diseased liver even in patients with a relatively well preserved liver function.
In rheumatoid arthritis, concomitant tenosynovitis causes erosions and different forms of demineralisation close to the margins of the phalangeal diaphyses.
Three sisters with a rare complementation group of classical xeroderma pigmentosum (XP-E) are presented. The patients developed sun-sensitivity and dyspigmentation between the ages of 6 and 9 years and UV-induced skin tumors between 16 and 20. All malignant skin tumors were basal cell carcinomas; no other skin tumors have been diagnosed so far. Measurement of UV-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis in cultivated fibroblasts showed very high residual repair levels: 60 to 70% of controls. In fusion experiments with representative cell strains complementation was found with the XP-A, B, C, D and G complementation group but it was absent when the fibroblasts under study were fused with XP-E group fibroblasts. Thus the cell lines were assigned to the XP complementation group E.
Subungual calcifications in the normal nail bed begin in women during the 3rd decade and obtain an incidence of 47% from the 8th decade. These calcifications appear in men two decades later and obtain in old age an incidence of only 14%. The 1st toe is involved three times as often as the 5th toe. In about 10% the subungual calcifications of the toes are combined with the same subungual calcifications of the digits. Subungual calcifications of the normal nail bed are considered as a normal reaction of ageing, which is not influenced by diseases with a tendency of tissue calcification.
The effect of pretreatment with taurocholate (1.12 mmol/kg per os twice daily for two days) on the biliary excretion of exogenous organic anions (rose bengal, bromcresol green, unconjugated and conjugated bromsulphthalein, eosine and amaranth) has been investigated in rats. Bromsulphthalein was excreted at a higher rate into the bile when its conjugation with glutathione was prevented by diethyl maleate (0.7 ml/kg i.p.). On the other hand, when conjugated bromsulphthalein was given intravenously, the taurocholate pretreatment failed to significantly enhance its biliary excretion rate. The changes found after taurocholate pretreatment in the biliary excretion of rose bengal and bromcresol green were similar to those observed during the excretion of unconjugated bromsulphthalein. However, in the biliary excretion of eosine and amaranth no increase was found following taurocholate pretreatment. The results indicate that taurocholate pretreatment does not exert a uniform stimulatory effect on the biliary excretion of exogenous organic anions.
This paper deals with a spontaneous malignant transformation in one of our XP fibroblast lines. This cell line, designated XP29MA, was derived from a 14-year-old boy who did not show skin tumors or precancerous alterations either at the time of clinical examination or when the biopsy was taken. We have compared the following features in both the malignant and the benign cell line from which the malignant line developed: tumor formation in nude mice, repair capacity, cytogenetic status, light and electron microscopic characteristics. The benign cell line XP29MA had a doubling time of 4.3 d, did not form tumors in nude mice, showed a very low repair capacity (as determined by colony-forming ability, unscheduled DNA synthesis and alkaline elution) but exhibited a normal cytogenetic and ultrastructural status. In contrast, the transformed cell line XP29MAmal grew three times faster, formed colonies in methyl cellulose, gave rise to fibrosarcomas in nude mice, showed a drastically higher repair capacity, and was characterized by an extreme genetic imbalance, resulting from numerical and structural chromosome alterations of Nos. 1, 3, 4, 8, 12, 16, 17, 18, 20 and 21. Ultrastructural examination revealed fusiform and polygonal cells, the latter exhibiting large indented nuclei, vesicular dilatations of the endoplasmatic reticulum and numerous lysosomes. The higher repair capacity in XP29MAmal cells is tentatively explained in terms of reversion, enhancement of post-replication repair and/or expression of SOS-type functions.
42 to 75 pCi cesium-137 and 702 to 903 pCi strontium-90 per kg were found in samples of tobacco of German origin and from commercial cigarette. The presence of these radionuclides in tobacco is attributed to the fallout from nuclear explosions. Taking into consideration mean transfer rates of the radionuclides in the main stream smoke condensate and average consumption of cigarettes, whole body radiation doses for inhalation have been calculated to be in the range 10(-3) to 10(-4) mrem/year and per person. This means, they are in the same order of magnitude as radiation doses by inhalation of ambient air. They are smaller by a factor of 10(-4) than the radiation exposure due to ingestion of these radionuclides from the total diet.
Fluid-phase heparin prevents generation of the C3 amplification convertase of human complement, C3b, Bb most likely by inhibiting the formation of the bimolecular complex between cell-bound C3b and B. The effect of heparin on the binding of B to C3b was examined using 125I-labelled B and C3b-bearing sheep erythrocytes (EsC3b). In the absence of heparin, B bound to EsC3b with an affinity of 0.5-1 X 10(6) M-1 in the presence of 5 mM Mg2+. Incremental amounts of heparin (100-700 micrograms/10(7) EsC3b) inhibited the binding of 125I-B to C3b in a dose-dependent manner. Scatchard analysis of the binding data in the presence of four inhibitory concns of heparin revealed that heparin did not affect the binding affinity of B for C3b but decreased the number of C3b sites recognized by B on the cells. No inhibition of binding occurred in the presence of totally (N- and O-) desulfated heparin which has no anticomplementary activity. These results demonstrate that heparin prevents generation of the C3 amplification convertase by binding to cell-bound C3b and masking the binding site for B on C3b.
Mechanical injuries to the terminal digit with or without bone involvement may lead to delayed changes involving a spongy hyperostosis of the tuberosities and hypertrophy of bone and soft tissues. In its most severe form it may lead to post-traumatic finger clubbing. These late results persist for many decades, despite juvenile growth and bone apposition in adult life.
Soft tissue calcification at the margin of the tuberosity of the distal phalanges of the fingers occurs in 7% of normal adults, varying between 0 and 14.5%, depending on age and sex. This type of calcification is least common in the little finger. The fingers on the right are more frequently affected than those on the left. Presumably this calcification results from mechanical injury ot the collagen fibres close to their insertion into the margin of the tuberosity.
Regulation by H of formation of the C3 and C5 alternative pathway convertases of complement on cells is dependent on such chemical characteristics of the cell surfaces as their membrane content in sialic acid. Properdin-stabilized C5 convertase sites were assembled on the non-activating cells of the alternative pathway, sheep erythrocytes (Es), and on the activating cells, desialated Es and rabbit erythrocytes (Er). C5 hemolytic sites were revealed by incubation of the convertase-bearing cells with limiting C5 and excess C6-C9. H inhibited generation of C5 hemolytic sites in a dose-related fashion on Es, Er, and desialated Es at molar ratios of H/C5 of 0.03 to 0.5. H similarly inhibited C5 utilization by the cell-bound C5 convertase on Es and desialated Es regardless of the cell membrane sialic acid content; however, H was three to five times less effective on Er. Kinetic experiments also suggested that C5 hemolytic sites are generated more rapidly on Er than on Es and desialated Es. The inhibition effect of H was independent of the number of C5 convertase sites per cell on all cell types; two to three times more residual hemolytic sites were found on convertase-bearing Es that had been incubated with C5 and H as compared with cells that had been decayed by H before incubation with C5. Furthermore, H also inhibited C5 interaction with a preformed classical pathway C5 convertase. These results suggest that H interacts with C5 so as to alter C5 binding and/or cleavage by the cell-bound C5 alternative pathway convertase. Sialic acid-independent modulation by H of C5 cleavage by the C5 convertase represents an additional regulatory step in the activation of the human alternative complement pathway.
The effect of pretreatment with exogenous organic anions (rose bengal, amaranth, eosine, bromsulphthalein) on biliary excretion has been investigated in rats. Pretreatment with exogenous nonmetabolized organic anions (rose bengal, amaranth, eosine) had no significant influence on the biliary excretion of rose bengal, amaranth, eosine, bromsulphthalein and bromsulphthalein-glutathione conjugate. Pretreatment with bromsulphthalein, which is metabolized in the liver, significantly enhanced the biliary excretion of total bromsulphthalein due to stimulation of the conjugation of BSP with glutathione. Both the activity of glutathione S-transferase and the glutathione content in the liver were increased following BSP pretreatment. Pretreatment with rose bengal and eosine influenced neither the conjugation of bromsulphthalein with glutathione, nor the biliary excretion of total bromsulphthalein. These results indicate that the biliary excretion rate of exogenous organic anions cannot be increased by pretreatment with substrates of the hepatic transport system. The enhanced biliary output of total bromsulphthalein after bromsulphthalein pretreatment can be explained solely by stimulation of its conjugation with glutathione.
Subungual calcifications in the normal nail bed of the digits are occasionally to be seen in elderly adults, especially women. The frequency is decreasing from the second to the fifth digit. In about 10% the subungual calcifications are combined with the same subungual calcifications of the toes.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.