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Biomedical subjects

E Kuwert

Publications and source records attributed to E Kuwert.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1985

[Incidence of hepatitis B virus infection in the medical personnel of physicians' offices].

Serological examination to determine anti-HBc antibodies in 1487 medical personnel working with practitioners in Essen revealed a hepatitis B virus incidence rate of 12.8%. The incidence rate depended on age, years of service, and nature of duties. Anti-HBc examination of medical personnel is cost-saving in view of high cost of vaccination. It can be omitted only in beginners if certain conditions are fulfilled (anti-HBc rate below 5%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

T lymphocyte populations in multiple sclerosis.

In 36 patients representing different clinical stages of multiple sclerosis (MS) (9 patients with acute exacerbations; 21 patients in remission; 5 patients with chronic progressive MS) determinations of T lymphocyte populations using monoclonal antibodies against surface antigens (OKT3 (pan T cells), OKT4 (helper T cells), OKT8 (cytotoxic/suppressor T cells] were performed. Compared to the control group (40 healthy individuals) a clear elevation of the T4/T8 ratio was found in acute exacerbations and to a lesser degree in patients with inactive phases of MS. Patients with chronic progressive disease did not show increased T4/T8 ratios. Serial determination of lymphocyte populations after corticosteroid therapy in 10 selected patients revealed no significant changes which could be attributed to this therapeutic modality. Pathogenetic and clinical implications of the shifts in surface antigen expression of T lymphocyte populations mirroring the clinical course of MS are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Immunity against influenza virus types A and B in the Ruhr region].

Haemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies against influenza virus types A and B were determined in the sera of 733 healthy persons among the population of the Ruhr region. The receptivity rate for the total population to strains A/Philippines 2/82 (H3N2) and A/Brazil 1/78 (H1N1) was 60% and 80%, respectively. It was as high as greater than 95% with respect to type B (Hongkong). These findings support the call for more widespread anti-influenza vaccination during the winter half-year.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Demonstration and occurrence of IgM-type hepatitis A viral antibodies].

Hepatitis-A antibody of the IgM class can be demonstrated in serum by radio-immunoassay quickly, relatively cheaply and simply. The diagnosis of fresh or recent hepatitis-A virus infection can be made from a single serum sample in a single test. Epidemiological analysis of the positive findings obtained in 1981 gave the following results: 1. Hepatitis-A is, in Germany, largely a disease of young adults, with an average age of 24 years. But cases still occurred above the age of 50.2. Among foreigners positive results were obtained already in children (average age 7 years). 3. While in foreigners the disease predominantly occurred in the last four months of the year, among Germans the distribution had three peaks related causally to the holiday months of April, July and October.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Regulatory T-lymphocytes in the immune deficiency syndrome].

A 25-year-old patient presented with hypogammaglobulinemia diagnosed at the age of 7, causing recurrent infections of the gastrointestinal and bronchial tracts. He was treated with gammaglobulins and infusions of fresh human plasma. At admission he had an exacerbation of his chronic enteric symptoms. X-ray investigation and coloscopy showed mucosal changes as in enteritis regionalis . A biopsy of rectal mucosa showed accumulations of amyloid. Routine examination of humoral and cellular immune parameters revealed a pattern characteristic for common variable immunodeficiencies. Analysis of T-cell subsets with monoclonal antibodies of the OKT series showed unusually high relative numbers of OKT8+ cells (suppressor-T-lymphocytes) and a comparatively low number of OKT4+ cells (helper-T-lymphocytes). Suppressor-T-cells exert inhibitory effects on B-lymphocyte function (i.e. antibody production). The numerical excess of T-lymphocytes with suppressive properties could be a pathogenetically important factor with immunotherapeutic implications in a number of non-classifiable immunodeficiency syndromes.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[A radioimmunoassay for the determination of human myoglobin: lower detection limit, precision and use in control of myoglobinuric kidney failure].

The lower detection limit of a radioimmunoassay for human myoglobin was determined by two "precision from day to day" methods (90% and 3 s methods), and by two "precision in series" methods (95% confidence range and the method of Markowetz & Munz). According to Markowetz & Munz, the lower detection limit (as a measure of sensitivity) is the lowest myoglobin concentration which, in 15-fold assays, shows no binding value in common with that of the next highest concentration, and no activity value in common with that of the reference binding value. On theoretical grounds (precision in series) and from a practical standpoint (determination of the lower detection limit using one sample assay), this method is the most suitable for the determination of the lower detection limit as a measure of sensitivity. It remains to be seen whether this is a valid generalization for other methods.

Creatinine↗
PubMed1983

[Age- and sex-dependent changes in human T-lymphocyte subpopulations].

Changes in the expression of T-lymphocyte membrane antigens are seen in many diseases, particularly in autoimmune diseases. The reliability of these parameters, as well as their changes associated with age and sex, were examined in 232 healthy subjects using monoclonal antibodies of the OKT series. The precision of the indirect immunofluorescence method for determining the T3, T4 and T8 antigens (corresponding antibodies OKT 3, OKT 4, OKT 8) is within a range expected for biological testing methods (median variation coefficients 7-20%). In both sexes a statistically significant reduction of the T3+ cells (P = 0.0001; T-lymphocytes) and of the T8+ cells (P = 0.0004; T-suppressor lymphocytes) was seen with increasing age. In women (n = 115) the rate of T3+ and T4+ cells was 2-5% higher on the average (the T4+ cell population contains T-helper lymphocytes). According to these findings there is a statistically significant increase of the T4+ to T8+ cell ratio (P = 0.0001); due to the greater number of helper cells, the average T4/T8 quotients are greater in women than in men (P = 0.0076). The changes in the ratio of T-helper to T-suppressor cells are discussed as predisposing factors in the genesis of autoimmune diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

[Bone marrow transplantation for aplastic anaemia and acute leukaemia (author's transl)].

Twenty-six bone marrow transplantations were performed at the West Germany Tumour Centre at Essen between December 1975 and December 1981. Three patients had aplastic anaemia, 23 acute leukaemia. Of the leukaemia patients 13 had a recurrence and ten were in full remission at the time of the transplantation. Two of the patients with a recurrence received deep-frozen autologous marrow from the remission phase. One patient with aplastic anaemia had an identical twin as donour, while all other patients received allogeneic marrow from histocompatible family members. Eleven patients are still alive, all three of those with aplastic anaemia, one of those with leukaemia in a recurrence, and seven of those with acute leukaemia in full remission. Two of the survivors have a chronic graft-host reaction, but the others are symptom-free, after an observation period of up to four years. Main causes of death were leukemic recurrence (6), infection (5), and graft-host reaction (2). It would seem that at present bone marrow transplantation offers the best chance of a cure for severe aplastic anaemic and acute leukaemia in adults, but only if transplantation is undertaken early and not in the end-stage of the disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

[Chronic, nonpathogen-related orchitis].

Chronic non-infectious orchitis was found in 8.1% of fertility-patients, who underwent testicular biopsy because of severe disturbances in spermatogenesis. The histopathological findings were characterized by a membraneous and interstitial orchitis. In these cases, the cause of the disease was unknown; but immunological abnormalities were found suggesting an imbalance of cell-mediated immune responses: all cases of chronic non-infectious orchitis showed a significant T-cell-deficiency.

Biopsy↗