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Biomedical subjects

E Hiller

Publications and source records attributed to E Hiller.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Effect of molsidomine infusion on thrombocyte function in acute myocardial infarct].

In 10 patients with acute myocardial infarction i.v. molsidomine was given over 48 h and a number of platelet functions was evaluated before and 3, 24, and 48 h after therapy. There was a significant prolongation of template bleeding time from 290 s to 400 s. The amplitude of spontaneous and induced platelet aggregation remained unchanged. In four of the 10 patients initially high plasma concentrations of beta-TG and PF4, and high serum concentrations of TxB2, decreased, indicating an effect of molsidomine in states of hyperreactive platelets.

Aged↗

Treatment of aGVHD with OKT3: clinical outcome and side-effects associated with release of TNF alpha.

Monoclonal antibodies are increasingly used for treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in bone marrow transplantation. We treated seven patients with steroid resistant aGVHD with the monoclonal anti-T cell antibody OKT3. Though five patients showed improvement of aGVHD, only two became long-term survivors. OKT3 treatment was accompanied by deterioration of microangiopathy and prolonged increase of tumor-necrosis-factor alpha serum levels indicating activation of monocytes/macrophages in vivo, as this was not observed in a control group of patients receiving anti-T cell globulin. These findings may be related to immunostimulatory activity reported for OKT3 in vitro. Strategies interfering with cytokine release should improve clinical results of OKT3 treatment.

Acute Disease↗

Prognostic significance of glucocorticoid receptor determination in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and immunocytoma--lack of a positive correlation between receptor levels and clinical responsiveness.

Glucocorticoid receptors (GR) have been suggested to have prognostic significance in patients with CLL treated with chemotherapy containing glucocorticoid. In this study, the GR levels in 65 patients with advanced CLL and immunocytoma (clinical stages III and IV according to Rai) were determined by means of a whole cell assay. The median GR-level was 1,920 bs/c with a range from 0 to 9591. The patients were subsequently treated according to a prospective, randomized trial with either a combination of chlorambucil and prednisolone, or with prednimustine. No significant difference in receptor levels was found between responders (median = 1940 bs/c; n = 47) and nonresponders (median = 1950 bs/c; n = 14). To assess the influence of receptor content on prognosis we have analyzed the relationship between GR content and survival time and duration of response. There was no significant difference in duration of response and in survival between those patients with high (greater than 1920 bs/c) and those with low GR levels (less than 1920 bs/c) (log-rank test). Our data suggest that determination of GR provides no reliable indicator for clinical response to regimens with glucocorticoid as a component in patients with CLL and immunocytoma.

Adult↗

Microangiopathy in patients on cyclosporine prophylaxis who developed acute graft-versus-host disease after HLA-identical bone marrow transplantation.

Severe microangiopathy has been reported as a rare complication of cyclosporine A (CsA) prophylaxis in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We found morphological and biochemical changes indicative of generalized endothelial damage in 49 of 66 allogeneic marrow graft recipients receiving cyclosporine, but none in 11 patients treated with methotrexate for prophylaxis of graft-v-host disease (GVHD). Changes occurred after engraftment of bone marrow and consisted of intravascular hemolysis with red cell fragmentation and de novo thrombocytopenia. They were preceded by a decrease in activated partial thromboplastin time and fibrinogen indicating activation of coagulation. Endothelial damage as the central lesion of microangiopathy was confirmed by a simultaneous increase of factor VIII related antigen. Severe microangiopathy was observed in ten patients and was fatal in seven. Risk factor analysis revealed a highly significant association of microangiopathy with severity of acute GVHD (aGVHD) (P less than .001) and use of CsA prophylaxis (P less than .001). Our data suggest endothelial damage as a result of cellular activation and subsequent release of cytokines in the course of a aGVHD, which is not inhibited by CsA prophylaxis.

Adult↗

Risk factor adapted treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma: strategies and perspectives.

In a national multicenter trial in the Federal Republic of Germany, patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma in stages I, II and IIIA presenting with large mediastinal tumor (MT), extranodal (E), or massive spleen (S) involvement received a combined modality treatment with 2x (COPP + ABVD) followed by 20 or 40 Gy EF radiation (HD1 protocol). By October 1987, 89 patients aged 15-60 years had finished therapy and were evaluable for response. Of these 74 (83%) achieved complete remission (CR). After 3 years freedom from treatment failure (FFTF) is 80% (+/- 8%, 95% confidence interval) and survival (SV) 92% (+/- 6%, 95% confidence interval). In a univariate and multivariate analysis using FFTF as endpoint we could not identify any particularly prominent prognostic risk factor among the following examined: stage, constitutional symptoms, MT, E stage, S involvement, age, sex, histology, laparotomy, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), leukocytes, lymphocytes, and alkaline phosphatase (AP). These data suggest that the inclusion criteria have selected a fairly homogeneous group of patients with respect to prognosis. In a separate trial (HD3 protocol) patients in stages IIIB/IV received induction chemotherapy with 3x (COPP + ABVD). Patients in complete remission (CR) received consolidation therapy by either radiotherapy (20 Gy IF) or further chemotherapy (COPP + ABVD). Patients not in CR received salvage therapy (40Gy in the case of persisting nodal disease, or else 4x CEVD chemotherapy). By October 1987, 137 patients had finished therapy and were evaluable for response. Of these 86 (63%) achieved CR after induction chemotherapy. Including salvage therapy a total of 104 patients (76%) achieved CR. After 3 years FFTF is 56% (+/- 10%, 95% confidence interval) and SV 84% (+/- 8%, 95% confidence interval). Univariate and multivariate prognostic risk factor analyses were performed using FFTF as endpoint. Sex, age, stage, splenectomy, bone marrow, and liver and bone involvement had no prognostic impact. In contrast, a pretreatment erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) above 80 mm/h and a serum alkaline phosphatase (AP) above 230 IU/ml each appeared as significant prognostic factors (P less than 0.01; relative risk, 2.3). The two parameters can be combined to separate two groups (A: ESR and AP both low; B: ESR and/or AP high) which differ significantly for FFTF (P less than 0.001) and survival (P less than 0.04). The decision for risk-adapted treatment requires identification of groups of patients in the frame of specified diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Chemotherapy of Hodgkin's lymphoma with alternating cycles of COPP (cyclophosphamide, vincristin, procarbazine, prednisone) and ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine). Results of the HD1 and HD3 trials of the German Hodgkin Study Group.

Untreated patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma in stages I-IIIA with risk factors (large mediastinal mass, massive splenic involvement, extranodal disease) were entered into the HD1 protocol and received a combined chemo-radiotherapy [2 X (COPP + ABVD) + 40 Gy extended field irradiation (EF) vs 2 X (COPP + ABVD) + 20 Gy EF]. Patients in stages IIIB/IV (HD3 protocol) received induction chemotherapy [3 X (COPP + ABVD)] and were randomized into consolidation by radiotherapy [20 Gy involved field irradiation (IF)] vs chemotherapy [1 X (COPP + ABVD)]. Seventy-three of 89 evaluable patients (82%) treated according to the HD1 protocol achieved a complete remission. Freedom from progression and survival of patients in stages I-IIIA with risk factors treated according to HD1 were no worse than those of patients in stages I and II without risk factors who received only radiotherapy. Eighty-six of 137 patients (63%) treated according to the HD3 protocol achieved complete remission after induction chemotherapy with COPP + ABVD. This is significantly better than the 31% complete remission rate observed in a previous pilot study with COPP alone (P less than 0.01). Including salvage therapy (radiotherapy in case of persisting nodal disease; chemotherapy with 4 X CEVD in case of persisting disseminated disease), a total of 76% complete remissions in stages IIIB/IVAB were achieved. A high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (greater than 80 mm h-1) was the most significant risk factor for achieving freedom from progression.

Adolescent↗

[Modification of blood coagulation by the anti-arrhythmia drug prajmalium bitartrate in vivo].

We studied the effects of prajmaliumbitartrate (PBT, Neo-Gilurytmal, Giulini Pharma, Hannover, FRG), an antiarrhythmic drug on some parameters of blood coagulation in patients. PBT, 20 mg given three times a day, significantly prolonged template bleeding time and ex vivo thrombus formation time in a modified Chandler's loop. Ex vivo platelet aggregation using different agonists and tests of the plasmatic coagulation system remained unchanged.

Ajmaline↗

[The effect of the antiarrhythmic, prajmalium bitartrate, on human thrombocyte function].

Studies of the in vitro effects of the antiarrhythmic drug prajmalium bitartrate (PBT, Neo-Gilurytmal) showed inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation and thromboxane production. PBT inhibited the primary and secondary phases of aggregation induced by adrenaline (epinephrine) or adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Platelet aggregation stimulated with collagen, platelet activating factor (PAF), and the thromboxane mimetic 9,11-azo-prostaglandin H2 (U 44064) was inhibited. The secondary phase of aggregation induced by ristocetin and aggregation caused by arachidonic acid (AA) were inhibited in samples from some donors (responders) but not in others (nonresponders). Platelet aggregation by the ionophore calcimycine (A 23187) was not inhibited, but small doses of calcimycine abolished the PBT-induced inhibition of aggregation caused by ADP. Thromboxane production of platelets with collagen of ADP was inhibited by higher concentrations of PBT, whereas AA-induced thromboxane synthesis remained unchanged. The observed antiplatelet activities of PBT are thought to result from calcium and sodium channel blocking properties of the drug.

Ajmaline↗

[Value of preoperative thrombocyte marking in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].

51Cr-platelet kinetic studies were performed in 77 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. The sequestration site was splenic for 63, splenic/hepatic for 7 or hepatic for remaining 7 patients. In 20 patients platelet survival was extremely shortened to 0-3 h, whereas only 26 patients had a survival time of more than 24 h. Those patients with low platelet counts also had a very short platelet survival time, whereas patients with higher platelet counts (greater than 50 x 10(9)/l) had longer platelet survival times. 51 patients (66%) were splenectomized following the kinetic studies. 25 patients who had a splenic sequestration site had normalized platelet counts and 6 patients had platelet counts between 80-149 x 10(9)/l 12 months after splenectomy (i.e. in 92% of cases with splenic sequestration site a full or partial remission). Of the 11 patients with a hepatic or splenic/hepatic sequestration site, 2 patients had full remission, 1 partial remission, 3 patients had minimal improvement and 5 other patients were treatment failures in respect to the splenectomy.

Adolescent↗

Characterization of the gene for fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Sequence, protein homology, and expression during growth on glucose.

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the gene for fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase from both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The predicted protein sequence for fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase from S. cerevisiae contains 347 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 38,100; that from S. pombe, contains 346 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 38,380. Comparison of these amino acid sequences with each other and that of pig kidney fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase shows several regions of strong homology separated by regions of divergence. These homologous regions are likely candidates for functional domains. A gene cassette was constructed for fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase from S. cerevisiae and the gene cassette expressed from the regulated PHO5 and GAL1 promoters of yeast. Yeast cells expressing fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, while growing on glucose, accumulated large amounts of enzyme intracellularly, suggesting that glucose-regulated proteolytic inactivation does not operate efficiently under these conditions. Growth on glucose was not inhibited by the expression of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Properties of phospho and dephospho forms and of two mutants in which serine 11 has been changed by site-directed mutagenesis.

The properties of dephospho- and phosphofructose-1,6-bisphosphatase from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and of two mutant enzymes in which the phosphorylatable Ser11 had been changed by site-directed mutagenesis (Ser----Ala and Ser----Asp) were studied to clarify the role of cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of yeast fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. The mutant enzymes and wild type Ser11 fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase were overexpressed and purified to homogeneity. Phosphofructose-1,6-bisphosphatase was prepared by in vitro phosphorylation. The comparison of the properties of the above enzymes demonstrated that all four had similar maximum activity. However, the phosphoenzyme was about 3-fold more sensitive to AMP and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate inhibition than the dephosphoenzyme, suggesting that regulation operates in vivo by this mechanism, leading to decreased enzyme activity. The purified mutant enzymes Ala11 and Asp11 exhibited properties closely similar to those of dephospho- and phosphofructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, respectively. These results indicate that the functional group at residue 11 is an important factor in the regulation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activity and that Ser(P) can be functionally substituted by Asp in this enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Prognostic risk factors in advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma. Report of the German Hodgkin Study Group.

In a national multicentre trial in the FRG patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma in stages CS/PS III B/IV were entered into the HD 3 protocol and received induction chemotherapy with 3 x (COPP + ABVD). Patients in complete remission (CR) received consolidation therapy by either radiotherapy (20 Gy IF) or chemotherapy (COPP + ABVD). Patients not in CR received salvage therapy (40 Gy in case of persisting nodal disease, else 4 x CEVD chemotherapy). Between July 1983 and May 1987 230 untreated patients aged 15 to 60 qualified for this HD 3 protocol. This analysis is based on the first 137 patients evaluable for response. Of these, 86 (63%) achieved CR after induction chemotherapy. Including salvage therapy a total of 104 patients (76%) achieved CR. Univariate and multivariate prognostic risk factor analyses were performed using freedom from treatment failure (FFTF) as endpoint. Sex, age, splenectomy, bone marrow, liver and bone involvement had no prognostic impact nor had stage according to the Ann Arbor classification. In contrast, a pretreatment erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) above 80 mm/h and a serum alkaline phosphatase (AP) above 230 IU/ml appeared as significant risk factors (p less than 0.01, relative risk 2.3). The two parameters were not independent. Comparing a group A (ESR less than or equal to 80 and AP less than or equal to 230) versus a pooled group B (ESR greater than 80 and/or AP greater than 230) increased the difference (p less than 0.001, relative risk of 2.8) which was also significant for survival (p less than 0.04).

Adolescent↗