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Biomedical subjects

E J Menzel

Publications and source records attributed to E J Menzel.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

[Electron microscopic and immunohistologic studies of patients with Horton's temporal arteritis].

Temporal arteritis is a systmic disease with a predilecation for the cranio-temporal vascular area. Histologically it is a panarteritis. Diagnosis is based on the presence of lymphocytes, histiocytes and foci of epitheloid cells in the media of the temporal artery. The presence of giant cells is, however not obligatory. The present study emphasizes the value of biopsy of the temporal artery in diagnosing this disease. It, furthermore, also points out the 10-percent possibility of false negative biopsy results based on patchy vascular lesions. Tenderness to touch of the temporal artery, characteristic of temporal arteriitis, can be explained by perineural inflammatory infiltration of nerves in the adventitia of this artery. Examination under the electron microscope reveals almost complete destruction of the smooth muscles of the media by epitheloid cell granulomas. Massive neogenesis of collagen ensues. Furthermore, numerous myofibroblasts, macrophages and histiocytes are observed. Several macrophages close to each other create the impression of giant cells in the light microscope. The electron microscope image allows for clear differentiation between temporal arteritis on one hand and of arteriosclerosis on the other. Using the immunoperoxidase method in temporal arteritis, immune globulines are found intracellularly in plasma cells. Extracellularly, however, neither immune golbulins nor complement deposits are found in the vascular wall. Thus, the assumption that temporal arteritis represents a immune complex disorder cannot be maintained. The most frequent ophthalmologic complication in temporal arteritis is ischemic optic neuropathy. Histologic examination of a bulbus presenting anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in a case of temporal arteritis revealed predominantly lymphocytic infiltrations of the short and long ciliary arteries. No inflammatory infiltration was found in the central retinal artery. The development of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy can be explained by impaired perfusion or by occlusion of the short posterior ciliary arteries. In 60% of patients suffering from temporal arteritis, we found anticollagen antibodies in the serum. Collagenization of the vascular wall as observed in our electron-microscopic examinations must, therefore, be considered the paradoxical consequence of an immune reaction caused by collagen auto-antibodies. Collagen auto-antibodies play a decisive role in the maintenance and chronicity of the inflammatory process in temporal arteritis. In therapy, corticosteroids should not be administered according to rule but rather in doses adjusted to individual requirements.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1984

[Fibronectin in Dupuytren contracture].

The distribution of fibronectin in the palmar aponeurosis of patients with Dupuytren's contracture was compared with that of normal controls, using an immunofluorescent technique. The tissues were also investigated with type-specific anticollagen antisera (anti-type I and anti-type III collagen). Tissues from Dupuytren's contracture patients showed intense fibronectin fluorescence in the whole range studied. Collagen fibre bundles are characterized by a peripherally increased fibronectin concentration. Type I collagen is uniformly distributed, while type III collagen also seems to be enriched around the thickened fibre bundles.

Collagen↗
PubMed1983

[Use of the proteinase inhibitor alpha 2-macroglobulin in synovial fluids of arthritis of different origins and its relation to serologic parameters].

Collagen and proteoglycan are major constituents of the articular cartilage. In rheumatic disorders joint damage is attributed to the excessive action of proteoglycan degrading proteinases (P) and specific collagenases, which are released by connective tissue- and inflammatory cells in the synovial compartment. Collagenase is secreted in a latent form, which requires activation by a variety of serine-proteinases. Thus, several different proteinases are involved in pathogenesis of joint disease. alpha 2-macroglobulin was shown to be the major inhibitor of proteinases in complex biological fluids. To assess the utilization of alpha 2M by proteinases in synovial fluids (SF) from different arthritides we have employed a newly introduced solid phase immuno-sorbent assay, which allows concentration of alpha 2M and its proteinase-complexes from biological fluids. Most pronounced utilization of alpha 2M (up to 50% of total SF alpha 2M) was found in marked joint inflammation as judged from RF, immunocomplexes, C3 complement activation and acute phase reactants. Supported by animal experiments, which revealed that alpha 2M.P complexes but not native alpha 2M induce synovitis in rabbits after repeated intra-articular administration, it is suggested that pathophysiological rise of alpha 2M.P may impair cellular functions in inflammatory connective tissue, e.g. synovial tissue.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1983

[Interaction between fibronectin and aggregated IgG].

The present study shows that plasma fibronectin forms complexes with aggregated human IgG (a model for immune complexes) and that the resulting complexes precipitate spontaneously or after addition of PEG from buffered saline. However, no clearcut interaction was observed in serum or synovial fluid. Two currently-used immune complex assays, the C1q solid phase assay and the conglutinin binding assay in a commercial inhibition variant, were tested as to their reliability in the presence of fibronectin. While the C1q-dependent assay showed low susceptibility to fibronectin, the conglutinin binding assay gave increased immune complex values in the presence of pathological concentrations of fibronectin.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1983

[Circulating immune complexes in uveitis].

The serum of 63 patients suffering from various clinical types of endogenous uveitis with unknown etiology was investigated for the presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC). None of the patients was suffering from a systemic disease usually associated with CIC. Significantly elevated CIC levels were detected in 2 women with chronic cyclitis. One of them was also suffering from paresis of the facial nerve. The investigation reported here indicates that C1q-binding CIC are of no importance in the pathogenesis of endogenous uveitis. On the one hand one should consider the possibility of local IC formation, on the other hand one should be aware of the fact that IC does not always represent a pathogenic factor but that it may also occur as a secondary phenomenon after non-immunologic tissue destruction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Collagen types in keratoconus.

Collagen types in normal human and keratoconus corneas were separated by salt fractionation and thermal gelation in the pepsin-soluble fraction of the lyophilized tissues. Peptic digestion indicated no significant differences between normal and keratoconus corneas. Further collagen characterization was performed using SDS-PAGE. Collagen concentration were determined via hydroxyproline. Soluble collagens from normal human cornea represent 85% collagen type I, maximally 10% collagen type III and 5% collagen type V. Soluble collagens of keratoconus corneas consist of 90% type I collagen and maximally 5% type II and type V collagen.

Chemical Fractionation↗
PubMed1982

HLA antigens in inflammatory bowel disease.

HLA-A, B, C, and DR antigens were studied in 27 Viennese patients with Crohn's disease and 30 patients with ulcerative colitis. The frequency of HLA-B12 was found to be significantly (p less than 0.001, pc less than 0.05) increased in patients with Crohn's disease (52%) as compared with both healthy controls (21%) and patients with ulcerative colitis (10%). The frequency of HLA-Cw5 was slightly increased in Crohn's disease; however, the corrected p value was not significant. With regard to HLA-DR antigens, differences between the study groups and the controls or between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease did not reach statistical significance. However, the concomitant occurrence of HLA-B12 and/or Cw5 and/or DR7 was observed in 11 Crohn's disease and no ulcerative colitis patient (pc less than 0.006); there is a known linkage disequilibrium between these antigens. Although they differ from previous reports, these data in conjunction with the recently disclosed increased HLA recombination frequency in patients with Crohn's disease indicate that genes coding for HLA antigens may play a role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Immunological changes in canine cruciate ligament rupture.

Samples of sera (39) and synovial fluid (36) from 58 dogs suffering from inflammatory arthropathy of the stifle joints, 47 of them in combination with unilateral or bilateral rupture of the anterior cruciate ligaments (CLR), were investigated for C1q-binding immune complexes (IC) using a solid phase radioimmunoassay. In 31 out of 39 sera (79 per cent) and 25 out of 36 synovial fluids (69 per cent) significant IC concentrations could be detected. As controls 21 healthy dogs were used. The radioimmunoassay was standardised with aggregated dog gamma globulin. The sera of the dogs were also investigated for anticollagen antibodies to denaturated type 1 or type 2 dog collagens. No evidence of the presence of these antibodies could be obtained. In a small percentage of sera and, or, synovial fluids rheumatoid factor could be demonstrated. These results indicate that the CLR in dogs is accompanied by immunological mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Human serum inhibitors of collagenase as revealed by preparative isoelectric focusing.

Single step separation of pooled normal human serum by means of preparative isoelectric focusing in the range from pH 3.5--9.8 revealed more heterogeneous inhibition of collagenolytic activity than previously reported. Essentially three inhibition zones were resolved. According to their electrophoretic behaviour the respective serum fractions displaying inhibitory activity were designated alpha-, beta- and gamma-collagenase inhibitors. The main component responsible for collagenase inhibition in the alpha-zone was found to be alpha 2-macroglobulin. In the beta-zone inhibitory activity focused around pH 6.3. In the gamma-range a non-dialysable cationic component focusing at pH 9.2 was also able to decrease collagenolytic activity derived from rheumatoid arthritis synovial culture supernatant. These findings were supported by single step separation of serum on DEAE-anion exchange chromatography.

Acetic Anhydrides↗
PubMed1981

Interaction of collagen with C1q via its collagen-like portion.

Interactions between human collagens type I, II and III with human C1q or its collagen-like fragment (CLF) were investigated with different techniques. It was found that in solution both C1q and CLF form stable complexes with the native collagens. No preferential binding to a specific collagen type was observed. If C1q (CLF) was adsorbed to polystyrene or fixed to erythrocytes, a more efficient interaction with collagen was displayed by C1q than by CLF. If collagen represents the solid phase, the binding of CLF is stronger than that of C1q. Inhibition studies indicate that the interaction between C1q and collagens takes place via the collagen-like part of C1q. Intermolecular attraction due to polar amino acid residues seems to be of major importance for this interaction.

Carrier Proteins↗
PubMed1981

Concanavalin A-induced suppressor cell activity and in vitro immunoglobulin secretion in rheumatoid arthritis: correlation with clinical and immunological parameters.

Concanavalin A-induced suppressor cell activity was found moderately but significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased in RA patients treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (31 +/- 7% suppression) as compared to patients on remission-inducing drugs, such as gold, penicillamine, or chloroquine (51 +/- 6%) or to healthy individuals (50 +/- 6%). Also, lymphocytes from patients with antibodies to collagen mediated lower suppression (33 +/- 7%) than lymphocytes from patients without evidence for these autoantibodies (61 +/- 11%). No significant difference between patients and controls or between individual groups of patients were observed in regard to IgM and IgG secretion induced by pokeweed mitogen. Thus, although no indication for a severe derangement of regulatory cells in peripheral blood of RA patients could be observed in this study, a slight deficiency of ConA-inducible suppressor cells that may be reverted by remission-inducing drugs seems to be present in RA.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Biochemical basis for the determination of soybean protein with immunological methods].

Soy-bean protein loses its immunogenicity by heat treatment through thermal denaturation. Incubation with 6m guanidine-hydrochloride restores the immunogenicity. This reagent causes dissociation of protein aggregates formed during autoclaving of soy protein. This seems to be the major step in the restitution of immunogenicity. These findings are discussed in connection with the quantification of heat-denaturated soy-bean protein by two independent immunologic methods: Solid-Phase Radioimmunoassay and Passive Hemagglutination (inhibition test).

Animals↗
PubMed1981

[Electron-microscopic and biochemical characteristics of pterygia (author's transl)].

Histologically, pterygium is characterized, apart from the presence of typical collagen fibers, by the appearance of fibres which take up elastic stain but differ from normal elastic tissue, as was confirmed by electron-microscopic investigations. Thus, "elastoid degeneration" of collagen is characterized by the loss of the characteristic periodic fibril structure and by the appearance of coiled and knotty fibres. Collagen types in pterygium were identified biochemically for the first time. The main bulk of collagenous tissue consists of 80-90% Type I collagen, while only 10-20% Type III collagen was detected. Type IV collagen (basal membrane collagen) was present in low amounts. Digestion with elastase resulted in 20% solubilization of pterygium, while bacterial collagenase digested up to 40% of the tissue dry weight.

Chemical Phenomena↗