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Biomedical subjects

E Stephan

Publications and source records attributed to E Stephan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Different expression of cytokine and membrane molecules by circulating lymphocytes on acute mental stress in patients with atopic dermatitis in comparison with healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Mental stress is believed to induce an exacerbation of atopic dermatitis (AD). Until now, however, only few psychoneuroendocrinologic mechanisms underlying the link between psychological stress and exacerbation or maintenance of AD have been described. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to conduct an investigation of immunologic parameters in the form of membrane molecules and cytokines with potential relevance for the cutaneous inflammation in an established psychological laboratory stress model. METHODS: Patients with AD (n = 15) and healthy controls (n = 15) were exposed to mental stress, as described in a previous report. In vitro analyses were completed 1 hour before, immediately after, and 1 hour after mental stress exposure. Lymphocyte subpopulations, the cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA), the membrane molecule CD69(+) (early activation antigen), and intracellular IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma in blood-derived lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. IL-4 in the supernatant of concanavalin-A-stimulated PBMCs was determined by ELISA. RESULTS: An increase in heart rate and blood pressure was demonstrated during psychological stress in patients with AD and healthy volunteers. We found significantly higher stress-induced increase of CLA(+) lymphocytes, T helper cells expressing IL-5, and both CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes expressing IFN-gamma on mitogenic stimulation in patients with AD in comparison with healthy controls. In addition, we observed an earlier increase in the secretion of IL-4 in the supernatant of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes during psychological stress in patients with AD in comparison with healthy volunteers. CONCLUSION: A higher stress-induced increase of CLA(+) cells in the circulation in patients with AD compared to healthy controls might indicate an increased ability of T lymphocytes in AD to migrate to the skin during this psychological condition. In addition, the data of this study suggest a different stress-induced cytokine profile in circulating lymphocytes in patients with AD compared to healthy controls.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

X-linked transposition of the great arteries and incomplete penetrance among males with a nonsense mutation in ZIC3.

We report on a Lebanese family in which two maternal cousins suffered and died very early in life from cardiac malformations. Both presented with a transposition of the great arteries associated with one or several other cardiac defects. Various minor midline defects were also observed, but there were no situs abnormalities other than a persistent left superior vena cava in one. A maternal uncle of these two babies was born cyanotic and died on the third post-natal day. Analysis of the ZIC3 gene, revealed the presence of a mutation in the second exon leading to a truncation of the protein. Surprisingly, another maternal uncle of the two affected cousins also had the mutation but was not clinically affected. To our knowledge, this is the first instance of incomplete penetrance in a male for a mutation in a chromosome X gene.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed2000

Changes in calciotropic hormones and biochemical markers of bone metabolism in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Data on the bone metabolism of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients are still extremely rare. To investigate the influence of HIV infection on the calciotropic hormones and markers of bone metabolism, we therefore performed a cross-sectional study on 100 patients (65 males and 35 females) with proven HIV infection. The following criteria were used for exclusion from the study: age less than 20/more than 50 years, confinement to bed, wasting symptoms, treatment with agents containing ketoconazole, renal or hepatic insufficiency, clinical or echographic signs of liver cirrhosis, endocrine diseases, or treatment with medications known to influence bone metabolism. Bone mineral content (BMC) was determined by single-photon absorptiometry on the left forearm. Reduced BMC was found among the male and female HIV-infected patients. Additional long-term use of heroin resulted in a severe loss of mineralization in the respective females. The markers of bone metabolism were determined in urine and serum samples. Significantly lower osteocalcin concentrations were found, indicating a reduced bone formation rate whose severity showed a significant correlation with the progressive loss of CD4 helper cells and was independent of low vitamin D3 levels (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol) and alterations of protein metabolism. Increased urinary excretion of cross-links as an expression of enhanced bone resorption was likewise significantly correlated with the loss of CD4 helper cells and independent of the vitamin D concentration and protein metabolism. It is therefore concluded that the changes in bone metabolism are mainly due to mechanisms of the impaired immune defense of HIV-infected patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Autosomal dominant secundum atrial septal defect with various cardiac and noncardiac defects: a new midline disorder.

We report on a Lebanese family in which 12 persons had an atrial septal defect and various cardiac and noncardiac anomalies. Cardiac anomalies are left axis deviation of QRS, right bundle branch block, atrial fibrillation, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, nodal atrioventricular rhythm, aortic stenosis, pulmonic valve stenosis, mitral stenosis (Lutembacher syndrome), and low implantation of the tricuspid valve (Ebstein disease). Noncardiac abnormalities consisted specially of the presence of hypertelorism, cleft lip, and pectus excavatum. This combination appears to constitute a hitherto undescribed autosomal dominant midline disorder of the heart and upper half of the body with almost full penetrance and variable expressivity. The mutation does not map to any known locus involved in atrial septal defect or conduction block.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1999

Sphingolipids stimulate cell growth via MAP kinase activation in osteoblastic cells.

Ceramide, ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) sphingosine (SPH) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) effects on proliferation and extracellular-signal regulated kinases, ERKs (also known as MAPKs), activation were investigated in human and rat osteoblastic cells. MAPK activation was sphingolipid-specific in cells from both species. In human osteoblastic cells, S1P and C1P markedly stimulated ERK2 phosphorylation with a slight increase in phosphorylation of ERK1. SPH nor ceramide induced phosphorylation of either ERK isoform. In rat osteoblastic cells, SIP, ceramide and SPH stimulated phosphorylation of both isoforms. C1P did not induce phosphorylation of ERK1 but produced a mild increase in phosphorylation of ERK2. In human cells, only S1P significantly (P<0.05) increased osteoblastic cell proliferation, while in the rat cells all four sphingolipids significantly (P<0.05) induced proliferation. The calcium channel blocker verapamil blocked (P<0.05) these effects in both cell types. The MAPK inhibitor, PD98059, inhibited (P<0.05) the mitogenic effect of SIP in human cells. In rat cells, PD98059 effects were less substantial but significant for S1P and C1P. This study demonstrates that sphingolipids are mitogens for both human and rat osteoblastic cells with the MAPK pathway and calcium mediating in part these effects in a species specific manner.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Evaluation of serum and urinary estrogen levels in male patients with HIV-infection.

Several endocrine functions are described which are altered in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, there is limited information available on estrogens and their function in these patients. The aim of this study was to relate the stage of the disease with urinary and serum estrogens and the influence of heroin consumption on gonadal steroids. Forty human immunodeficiency virus infected outpatients without AIDS or the clinical picture of AIDS were involved in this cross-sectional study. The subjects were divided in two groups: heroin addicts and non heroin addicts. Blood samples were taken and 24 h urines collected. Serum follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, estrone, estradiol, testosterone and urinary total estrogens were measured by commercially available radioimmunoassays. Prolactin levels were not affected in the patients. However, compared with controls, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were significantly higher for both groups tested. In contrast, the elevated serum estrone levels were significantly lower expressed in the patients with heroin abuse compared to those of the other group. Urinary estrogens in human immunodeficiency virus infected patients of both groups were found to be higher than those compared to healthy controls. Since these drugs are known to enhance estrogen levels, we conclude that other factors are modulating estrogen formation and degradation in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Clinical and molecular genetics of familial bundle branch block related to chromosome 19].

Four large Lebanese families were observed for several years and over several generations which enabled the authors to describe the clinical electrocardiographic and prognostic features of a hereditary conduction defect and to locate the culprit gene at 19q 13.3. The ECG showed a healthy group and an affected group (mainly right bundle branch block, hemiblocks or complete AV block) and an undetermined group with minor QRS changes in the right precordial leads. The mode of transmission was autosomal dominant. The estimation of penetration in the observed pedigrees and in previously published pedigrees gave a value of 70% in men and 50% in women. There were, therefore, many healthy carriers of the mutation. The onset was congenital (8 babies aged 15 days to one year were affected). Healthy carriers followed up for 10 to 20 years remained normal. The clinical and ECG features progressed in 19% of subjects in the undetermined group. The changes progressed to complete AV block in 8% of affected subjects, both babies and adults. Several cases of sudden infant death were reported but were not documented. The detection of the culprit gene was made by genetic mapping. Markers situated at q 13.3 on chromosome 19 showed linkage. The haplotype related to the pathology was always present in the affected subjects. The genetic interval was 7 centiMorgans.

Bundle-Branch Block↗
PubMed1997

Elevated serum-calcium and parathormone-levels in HIV afflicted female heroin addicts.

Alterations of calcium and bone metabolisms have been observed in numerous studies of small groups of male HIV-infected patients. However, our knowledge regarding the manifestation of AIDS-associated hypoparathyroidism in female subjects is limited. In order to investigate the influence of heroin on the calciotropic hormones we performed a cross-sectional study on 45 female patients with proven HIV infection. The following criteria were used for exclusion from the study: age less than 20/ more than 50 years; confinement to bed; wasting symptoms; treatment with agents containing ketoconazole, renal or hepatic insufficiency; clinical or echographic signs of liver cirrhosis; endocrine diseases, or treatment with drugs known to influence calcium metabolism. A reduced parathormone (PTH) level was found among the female HIV-infected patients. Additional long-term use of heroin resulted in a significant increase of PTH compared to sex- and age matched controls and a second group of non-HIV-afflicted heroin dependent females. Significantly lowered serum magnesium concentrations were found in all three groups. Both serum calcium and urinary excretion of calcium were elevated in the group of HIV-infected heroin addicts and were independent from low vitamin D3 levels (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol) and alterations of protein metabolism. Therefore, it is concluded that the changes of PTH secretion are mainly due to mechanisms both of the impaired immune defense of HIV-infected females and the additional effect of opiates.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Effect of hot-air balloon crossings on animals in the open air].

Since the middle of the eighties owners of animals increasingly claimed compensation from balloon pilots. They asserted, that their animals got restless due to strange optical and acoustical stimuli caused by low altitude crossing of hot-air balloons and were damaged while trying to get out of the way or to escape. Very low altitude "Contour crossing" of hot-air balloons, mainly forming the basis of complaints, is only left possible in a limited degree in Germany since the air traffic regulations were changed to a higher minimum safety altitude (Air Traffic Act, LuftVO, version of March 21, 1995) and the violating balloon pilot may be disciplined. The paper is dealing with the principle of hot-air ballooning, with the feasibility of the pilot to avoid and restrict damages, with the possibilities to assign damages to a potential cause and with the legal basis.

Aircraft↗
PubMed1996

Smoking produces a smaller increase in heart rate in the natural smoking environment than in the laboratory.

We tested whether the physiological effects of smoking a cigarette under standard conditions in a laboratory are similar to those seen in a room at home. On two separate test days ten healthy smokers were prepared with a small physiological recorder and were then requested to carry out a protocol requiring them to smoke one of their cigarettes in their usual way either (1) in the laboratory where they had never smoked previously, or (2) at home, alone in a quiet room where they regularly smoke. The experiment which counterbalanced the order of testing showed that in both test situations smoking produced a clear increase in heart rate (HR) and in skin conductance (SC); however, when testing was carried out in the home environment the increase in the HR was significantly less than in the laboratory. No significant differences were found for the baseline HR values in the two environments and there were no significant situational effects in the SC data. It was concluded that under conditions of normal smoking, data on the physiological effects of a cigarette in the laboratory may not be fully generalizable to those seen in the natural smoking situation. Several possible mechanisms of this situationally-specific effect of smoking were discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Long-term results of proximal interphalangeal resection-arthroplasty using the Swanson silastic implant].

238 PIP joint arthroplasties with "Silastic" implant were performed between 1969 and 1990. Their results were evaluated after 12 to 24 months. We reviewed 25 patients operated between 1971 and 1988 with a follow-up of 4 to 23 years. The results are evaluated in terms of joint mobility, pain, stability, strength, radiological appearance and patient satisfaction. These results are identical to those observed at short follow-up indicating the absence of any significant deterioration. The result obtained at 12 months postoperatively will therefore be maintained at 12 years. Our conclusion is that unless an ideal arthroplasty with joint prosthesis can be shown to be effective, joint resection-arthroplasty remains a valuable and durable solution for the treatment of PIP joint stiffness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

An isolated cardiac conduction disease maps to chromosome 19q.

Isolated cardiac conduction disease is an autosomal dominant defect that includes various combinations of bundle branch or fascicular blocks. These defects can cause sudden death due to a complete heart block. We used a genome-wide screening approach with polymorphic (CA)n repeat markers to determine the chromosomal position of the gene defect implicated in this disorder. The analyses were carried out on a large Lebanese kindred, which included individuals with either a complete or incomplete right bundle branch block (RBBB) with a vertical-axis deviation (< or = -30 or > or = +100). Linkage to the disease locus was detected with the polymorphic marker D19S604 on the q arm of chromosome 19 (19q13.3) with a multipoint lod score of 7.18. Additionally, we were able to exclude the flanking loci D19S606 and D19S571, which are 13 cM apart because of recombination events in three affected individuals. The histidine-rich calcium-binding protein gene is found in this region and is an attractive candidate gene on the basis of its physiological properties and a tight linkage. There is no expansion in two exon 1 regions known for a variable number of triplet repeats.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Calcium currents in osteoblastic cells: dependence upon cellular growth stage.

Patch clamp physiological techniques were used to characterize the voltage-activated calcium currents (VACC) expressed in the plasma membrane of osteoblastic cells as a function of time in culture and proliferative state of the cell. Osteoblast-enriched preparations were isolated by collagenase digestions of newborn rat calvaria and cultured under different conditions which affected cell proliferation (i.e., low serum in the media to arrest proliferation). VACC were isolated by replacing the intracellular potassium with cesium, and adding 1 microM tetrodotoxin to the bath. Under conditions that favored cell proliferation, low cell density, and media supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), a transient calcium current was not expressed until day 3 in culture. There was a statistically significant relationship between the percentage of cells expressing this current and the time in culture. The magnitude of the current significantly increased as days in culture increased. Under the same conditions, the sustained VACC was detected after 7 or 8 days in culture. However, arresting cell proliferation after 2 days in culture by reducing the FCS concentration to 0.01% induced the expression of the sustained VACC the next day. The data suggest that the expression of VACC in the plasma membrane of rat calvarial osteoblasts depends on the time in culture and the state of proliferation of the cells. These results should prove to be valuable in studying the functional significance of VACC in osteoblastic cells and their regulation by various bone regulatory agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[The relevance of good health to animal welfare--claims, obligations, criteria].

It can be difficult to decide whether or not there was or is an act against the rules of animal protection. Therefore it is important, to determine both on the animal and/or on the existing situation, whether or not the well-being of the animal was or is disturbed. In order to ascertain this several guidelines are recommended.

Animal Welfare↗
PubMed1991

[Noise emissions from animal farms. Causes, effects, measures to reduce them].

Noise output of animal farms may have different reasons and effects and must be judged generally in dependence of the local conditions. It can be influenced by means of organization, technics and construction. Financial compensation in both directions is known in order to preserve good terms with the neighbours.

Agriculture↗