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Biomedical subjects

G Fruhmann

Publications and source records attributed to G Fruhmann.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase from human erythrocytes by isocyanates.

Four isocyanates, two of which are widely used in industry, were found to be potent inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase from human erythrocytes. Aliphatic isocyanates are stronger inhibitors of the enzyme than are aromatic isocyanates. Incubation at 21 to 23 degrees C for several days leads to slow and limited spontaneous reactivation of the inhibited enzyme. This enzyme inhibition may be a contributing factor in the induction of respiratory disease observed in about 5% of workers exposed to isocyanate vapors.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1982

[Clinical value of bronchoalveolar lavage in progressive systemic scleroderma (author's transl)].

As an enlargement of conventional diagnostic methods the cell spectrum of bronchoscopically obtained bronchoalveolar lavage was investigated in 10 patients with progressive systemic scleroderma. Two cases showed marked lymphocytosis, one increased numbers of granulocytes, two patients had marginally increased percentages of inflammatory cells. Four of these patients were in a progressive active phase of scleroderma with humoral inflammation signs and round cell infiltrates of the skin. In contrast, the lavage cell picture of the other five patients was unremarkable. One of these had advanced pulmonary fibrosis, however without signs of progression. The results show that the lavage cell pattern reflects the acute phase with cellular inflammation of lung parenchyma disease such as occurs in progressive systemic scleroderma. Staging of pulmonary organ manifestation in progressive systemic scleroderma can be markedly improved by low-risk bronchoalveolar lavage.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Clinical symptoms and results of skin test, RAST and bronchial provocation test in thirty-three papain workers: evidence for strong immunogenic potency and clinically relevant 'proteolytic effects of airborne papain'.

Seventeen out of thirty-three workers who have been exposed to airborne papain at their place of work regularly developed asthmatic symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, sneezing, rhinorrhea and conjunctival irritation upon contact with this proteolytic enzyme. Investigations by RAST, skin test and bronchial provocation test proved IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to papain in fourteen symptomatic workers. Ten of these were in a screening investigation involving twenty-nine of the thirty-three workers; i.e. the incidence of IgE-mediated sensitization was 34.5% of this group. Bronchial provocation of as little as 0.001--0.5 mg of papain was shown to elicit immediate or dual asthmatic reactions in all eight tested workers with RAST values greater than 3 u/ml. On the other hand, inhalation of 0.5 mg of papain did not cause any remarkable change in non-exposed asthmatics. Occupation-related blood-stained nasal secretions and/or cutaneous flare reactions in all four heavily-exposed papain workers, of whom three had negative skin test and RAST results, suggest a direct effect of the proteolytically active enzyme on human tissue. There was a significant elevation (P less than 0.001) of serum trypsin inhibitory capacity in papain workers which seems to depend on the degree of exposure. No significant differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic workers in alpha 1-antitrypsin (Pi) phenotype subtypes were found.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Extrinsic allergic alveolitis combined with celiac disease in childhood.

A 13-year-old boy suffering from celiac disease (CD) developed shortness of breath at exercise and episodes of malaise, fever and acute dyspnea following contact with pigeons. Lung function testing and chest X-ray suggested interstitial lung disease. Serum precipitins and a combined systemic and pulmonary reaction 4 h after challenge with an extract of pigeon droppings confirmed bird-fancier's lung. This case exhibits two points of interest. Extrinsic allergic alveolitis was found in childhood in combination with CD and it may be considered that both these diseases are based on one common immunologic disorder; HLA-typing of the boy's family showed that he carried HLA-DR 3 in a double dose and was therefore homozygous for HLA-DR 3. This is of some interest because extrinsic allergic alveolitis and CD are both associated with HLA-DR 3.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

[Occupational asthma. New findings on work related obstructive respiratory diseases (author's transl)].

In baker's asthma, however not in case of sensitization by pelage and epithelia of animal origin, the definite, concordant result of skin test and radio-allergosorbent test (RAST) renders inhalative provocation test under the conditions of working place. Clinical observations have shown persulfates and papain to cause occupational obstructive airway disease. The irritant gas ozone produces an increase in reactivity of the bronchial tree already in the range from 0.3 ppm onwards. Among 195 workmen exposed to isocyanates in the manufacture of plastic materials, 55 suffered from attacks of asthma attributable to the isocyanate exposure. One third of 99 persons investigated, who had manufactured or fed fish food prepared from Chironomus larvae, revealed clinically relevant sensitization of the respiratory tract to hemoglobin molecules contained in these larvae. In fragments of one of these hemoglobins (CCT VI) it was possible to locate four antigen determinants.

Asthma↗
PubMed1981

Follow-up on angiotensin-converting enzyme in serum of patients with sarcoidosis.

Fluorimetrically measured serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity was found to be significantly elevated (p less than 0.001) in 31 untreated patients with sarcoidosis in comparison to 38 healthy controls, 20 corticosteroid-treated patients with sarcoidosis, 15 subjects with resolved sarcoidosis and 100 patients with other lung diseases. ACE values more than 2 SD above the control mean value were seen in 68% of untreated patients with sarcoidosis, but only in 5% of healthy controls, 7% of patients with tuberculosis, 0% of patients with lung tumors, 9% of patients with bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in 17% of patients with pulmonary fibrosis due to hypersensitivity pneumonitis or diffuse idiopathic fibrosis. Resolution of sarcoidosis, spontaneously or induced by corticosteroid therapy, was accompanied by normalization of serum ACE activity in 18 out of 19 cases. In 7 out of 9 patients without clear-cut clinical improvement, changes of serum activity of ACE were not substantiated. Relapse of sarcoidosis seen in 1 case qas associated with a significant increase in ACE levels. Our results suggest that longitudinal studies of serum ACE activity are valuable in assessing the current activity and the course of sarcoidosis. Furthermore, they may contribute to restriction of necessary operative diagnostic procedures.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1981

Sarcoidosis or extrinsic allergic alveolitis?

Of 46 patients with sarcoidosis, there was an exposure to type III allergens in 14 subjects. On closer examination of 2 patients diagnosed as having sarcoidosis there were distinct features suggesting farmer's lung too. Inhalative challenge recording airway resistance, CO transfer factor and other clinical features confirmed farmer's lung disease in these patients. Because there are sometimes poor clinical and uncertain histological differences, inhalative challenge is considered an important diagnostic procedure to differentiate hypersensitivity pneumonitis from sarcoidosis.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗