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Biomedical subjects

F Gschnait

Publications and source records attributed to F Gschnait.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

[Economic aspects of serologic syphilis tests in routine screening in Viennese hospital facilities].

971, 786 patients in Viennese municipal hospitals were routinely screened by serological testing for syphilis between January 1980 and December 1984, leading to the detection of 28,090 cases of untreated latent infection. The annual incidence varied between 7463 and 4623 cases. Roughly one third of patients with untreated syphilis develop severe late manifestations: 10.4% show cardiovascular involvement, 6.5% get neurosyphilis and 15.8% have a gumma. The mortality rate is 85% in cardiovascular disease and 64% in neurosyphilis, whilst irreversible incapacity is the fate of the remaining 15% and 36% of these patients, respectively. Calculations on the basis of the current costs for treatment of the acute diseased and for nursing of incapacitated patients reveal that routine screening of all in- and out-patients of the Viennese municipal hospitals is completely justified from the medical and the economic point of view and should, therefore, be reinforced.

Austria↗
PubMed1987

[HIV (HTLV III/LAV) serology: experiences based on more than 42,000 tests].

1,032 sera of diverse origin (AIDS risk groups, prostitutes, inpatients, blood donors) exhibiting a positive HIV (HTLV III/LAV) ELISA result (Organon and/or Abbott) were investigated with different HIV confirmation assays (Western blot, WB; immunofluorescence, IF; competitive enzyme immunoassay against cloned gp41- and p24-antigen). Sera were finally evaluated as positive if at least two confirmation assays turned out positive (IF and WB; IF and p24, gp41; WB and p24, gp41; IF and WB and p24, gp41). Test results were considered false if the respective finding (IF or WB or p24, gp41) differed from two other confirmatory assays. 1,001 out of 1,032 sera (97%) yielded corresponding results in IF and WB. The remaining 3% of the investigated sera showed false positive, false negative, non-interpretable IF results and non-interpretable WB findings. The present study demonstrates that a positive HIV test should be confirmed by at least two confirmatory tests, one of which should be the WB. Non-corresponding results in confirmatory tests necessitate a third test system.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

[Lichen ruber planus--lupus erythematosus/overlap syndrome].

Lichen planus/lupus erythematosus/overlap syndrome (OS) comprises those dermatoses which show the clinical, histologic, and immunopathologic characteristics of both diseases. On account of this heterogeneity, the diagnosis of OS may be difficult. About 35 cases have been reported on in the literature so far. We are going to discuss the clinical, histologic, and immunofluorescence findings in OS in detail.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1987

UV-irradiated epidermal cells produce a specific inhibitor of interleukin 1 activity.

UV irradiation of epidermal cells (EC) in vitro and in vivo leads to an enhanced synthesis of the immunostimulating cytokine interleukin 1 (IL 1). However, UV exposure in vivo also results in local as well as systemic immunosuppression. Therefore, it was tested whether UV-exposed murine EC in culture in addition to IL 1 release an inhibitor of IL 1 activity. Supernatants of UV-irradiated BALB/c EC and of a transformed keratinocyte cell line (Pam 212) were evaluated for their ability to suppress IL 1-mediated thymocyte proliferation. Crude supernatants derived from either UV-exposed or unirradiated EC did not interfere with IL 1 activity. When supernatants were subjected to HPLC gel filtration, fractions eluting at approximately 40 kD significantly blocked the activity of EC-derived IL 1 and murine recombinant IL 1. The release of this inhibitory cytokine (EC-derived contra-IL 1 [EC-contra-IL 1]) was confined to UV-exposed BALB/c or Pam 212 keratinocytes, since no inhibitory activity was detected in supernatants of unirradiated cells. EC-contra-IL 1 also blocked IL 1-induced fibroblast proliferation but did not suppress IL 2 or IL 3 activity. Moreover, EC-contra-IL 1 did not inhibit spontaneous proliferation of a variety of cell lines (Pam 212, P388D1, L 929, EL 4). With the use of chromatofocusing EC-contra-IL 1 exhibited a pI of 8.8, and upon reversed-phase chromatography it eluted within three distinct peaks. Therefore, murine UV-exposed EC, in addition to the production of immunoenhancing cytokines, also may release immunosuppressing mediators and thereby participate in UV-induced immunosuppression. These findings further support the notion that the epidermis may not only be considered as a simple barrier against harmful agents but represents an active element of the immune system.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Chronic lichenoid keratosis].

A 34-year-old female patient presented with the classical features of keratosis lichenoides chronica, a very rare dermatosis. Typical hyperkeratotic papules in a linear and reticular pattern were located on the upper extremities and the trunk. The nails and the perionychial areas showed marked vegetating lesions. After administration of a combined retinoid-PUVA therapy impressive remission was observed. The clinical picture, the differential diagnosis, in particular from lichen ruber planus, and the therapeutic aspects are discussed.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1987

[Dowling-Degos disease: unsuccessful therapeutic trial with retinoids].

A patient with the typical features of Dowling-Degos disease (reticulate pigmented anomaly of the flexures) is described; the clinical picture and differential diagnosis are discussed. Systemic retinoids were used for treatment, but no essential improvement could be observed.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1986

[Acanthosis nigricans in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx].

Acanthosis nigricans maligna represents a true paraneoplastic syndrome being most frequently associated with adenocarcinoma of the stomach. We present the second case of the world literature of malignant acanthosis nigricans due to an early invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cord.

Acanthosis Nigricans↗
PubMed1986

[Genital chlamydial infections].

Chlamydia trachomatis is today the most frequent cause of sexually transmitted diseases. In spite of their usually mild, sometimes even asymptomatic course, urogenital infections with Chlamydia trachomatis can lead to severe complications (infertility, adnexitis) if not treated properly. Clinical features, complications, diagnosis and therapy are discussed in detail.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1986

Inhibition of the induction of contact hypersensitivity by a UV-mediated epidermal cytokine.

UVB exposure (290-320 nm) of mice has been shown to cause systemic suppression of contact hypersensitivity (CHS). Because UVB radiation hardly penetrates the epidermis, epidermal cells have been anticipated to be the site of the initiation of immunosuppression. Supernatants derived from UV-irradiated BALB/c epidermal cell cultures and a keratinocyte cell line (Pam 212) were evaluated for the ability to induce suppression of CHS after i.v. injection to BALB/c mice. Injection of supernatants derived from UV-treated epidermal cells and Pam 212 cells significantly blocked induction but not elicitation of CHS. In contrast, i.v. application of supernatants derived from unirradiated cells did not inhibit CHS. Using high-performance liquid chromatography gel filtration this mediator was shown to be a low-molecular-weight protein (15-50 kD). Moreover UV-mediated inhibitor production seems to be confined to epidermal cells since neither P 388 macrophages nor L 929 fibroblasts released this inhibitory cytokine. Therefore UV radiation may induce epidermal cells to produce an inhibitor of CHS which is distinct from prostaglandins and leukotrienes and may participate in the regulation of UV-mediated local as well as systemic immunosuppression.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Erythromelanoderma with eosinophilic spongiosis and epidermal intercellular antibodies. Differentiation from pemphigus.

A patient with figurated, erythematous skin lesions which histologically showed eosinophilic spongiosis and an epithelial intercellular staining with IgG, but no acantholysis, developed erythromelanoderma. This case and a review of the pertinent literature indicate that the diagnosis of pemphigus does not seem to be justified even in the presence of eosinophilic spongiosis and epidermal intercellular antibodies, when the clinical signs of this disease and the typical histological feature, i.e., acantholysis, are lacking.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Colchicine treatment of urticarial vasculitis.

A patient with clinically and histologically typical urticarial vasculitis has been treated with 0.5 mg of colchicine three times per day. This treatment resulted in both disappearance of urticarial skin lesions and amelioration of severe systemic symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever and arthralgia. Colchicine is proposed as an effective therapeutic agent for urticarial vasculitis if other drugs are ineffective, poorly tolerated or contraindicated.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1986

Lymphomatoid papulosis: remission following intravenously administered acyclovir.

In a 54-year-old male patient suffering from Hodgkin's disease, lymphomatoid papulosis occurred. Complete clearing of the skin lesions was observed immediately after intravenously administered acyclovir. The patient had numerous relapses of his skin eruption with complete responses after each course of intravenously applied acyclovir. This striking therapeutic effect parallels reports of regression of mycosis fungoides and chronic generalized lymphadenopathy after acyclovir application. The mode of action of acyclovir in these disorders is not known. They all are characterized by involvement of the T cell system, and in all these diseases, a virus etiology has been proved or is suggested. Thus, a specific effect of acyclovir on T lymphocytes or selectively on helper T cells is discussed. Alternatively, the virustatic effect of acyclovir could be responsible for the therapeutic success.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1986

[Genital Chlamydia infections].

Chlamydia trachomatis represents an important infectious agent for sexually transmitted diseases. In the USA more than 3 million new cases are recorded per year. The clinical picture and late complications are similar to those of gonorrhea; however, infections from C. trachomatis have relatively mild symptoms. This group of diseases may therefore be overlooked, and complications and late sequelae due to C. trachomatis thus occur more frequently in comparison to N. gonorrhoeae. From the viewpoint of general health in a population, chlamydial infections seem to be more important than the classic venereal diseases. The number of infections may be underestimated as infected individuals may be asymptomatic and are therefore not diagnosed and the disease recorded. Knowledge about chlamydial infections has increased significantly, and C. trachomatis today can easily be diagnosed by routine laboratory methods; this report deals with current knowledge regarding the epidemiology, clinical symptoms, complications, diagnosis, and treatment of genital chlamydial infections.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1985

[Chlamydia infections].

Chlamydia trachomatis represents one of the most common causative agents of sexually transmitted diseases. Clinically, genital chlamydial infections are similar to gonorrhoea. Although the clinical symptoms in chlamydial infections are usually milder than those in gonorrhoea, late complications are more common and more dangerous, because the carriers may easily escape notice. The knowledge of chlamydial infections has increased during the last few years. The present report deals with recent developments in this field.

Bacteriological Techniques↗