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Biomedical subjects

G Goerz

Publications and source records attributed to G Goerz.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Experimental carotenoid retinopathy. I. Functional and morphological alterations of the rabbit retina after 11 months dietary carotenoid application.

beta-Carotene, canthaxanthin, and beta-carotene plus canthaxanthin were administered to "chinchilla bastard" pigmented rabbits in their rabbit diet (approximately 200 ppm carotenoid per group). The effect of the carotenoids on retinal function and morphology was tested against a control group in the course of 11 months. Electroretinography showed that in contrast to the control animals, beta-carotene-treated rabbits produced increasing peak latencies of the scotopic b-waves. In the canthaxanthin-treated rabbits, a- and b-waves showed hypernormal amplitudes at low cumulative dosages (approximately 0.5-2 g) and reduced amplitudes at higher dosages (about 5 g). The peak latencies of the scotopic a- and b-waves increased remarkably. This effect was still stronger in the carotenoid combination. Histology and electron microscopy indicated that in contrast to the control animals, canthaxanthin-treated rabbits showed a reduction in retinal thickness in some samples. In particular, they exhibited alterations in the granular layers and a marked diminuation of the photoreceptor outer segments and morphological alterations of the photoreceptor inner segments with massive deposition of electron-dense material. In all animals treated with carotenoids, lipid droplets of the retinal pigment epithelium were enlarged in size and number.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Specific induction of metallothionein in hairless mouse skin by zinc and dexamethasone.

The stimulation of metallothionein (MT) synthesis in mouse skin after i.p. treatments with various doses of dexamethasone or zinc was demonstrated. Specific MT mRNA induction was determined by Northern analysis. Zinc was a more efficient inducer than dexamethasone. The maximal MT accumulation occurs after i.p. injections of 50-100 mg dexamethasone/kg body weight. The possible role of MT in the skin is briefly discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Retrospective radiographic study of skeletal changes after long-term etretinate therapy.

Radiographic skeletal examinations were performed in eight adult patients who had received the aromatic retinoid etretinate for various disorders of keratinization over periods ranging from 1 to 7 years. Age- and sex-matched controls were also examined. In all patients, alterations of ossification were found to a varying degree, including calcification of the anterior spinal ligament, vertebral hyperostoses at the anterosuperior and anteroinferior margins of the vertebral bodies, unilateral bridging of vertebral bodies, hyperostoses of the calcanei at the insertion of the plantar ligament and bone accretion at the anterolateral lips of the acetabula. All the bone changes were asymptomatic. Serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, calcitonin and parathormone were within normal physiological ranges. In general, the bone changes observed after long-term etretinate treatment closely resembled the effects of isotretinoin on the skeleton.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Nuclear antibodies as serologic markers in progressive systemic scleroderma].

In all, 36 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (29 women, 7 men) were studied clinically and immunologically; 15 patients had acrosclerosis (type I) and 21, sclerosis extending beyond the wrist (type II). The sera of all patients were evaluated for ANA (HEp-2-cells), Scl-70, centromere and other ENA antibodies. The centromere antigen was characterized by immunoblotting. All patients had high-titer ANA antibodies (100%); 36% of patients had the Scl-70 antibody (a marker antibody for PSS); and in 22% of our patients a centromere antibody was detected. In all cases the anti-centromere sera reacted with a 19.5-kd polypeptide and in 2 cases they reacted with 23- and 25.5-kd proteins in addition. In patients with centromere antibodies there was increased organ involvement (heart, lung, kidney) compared with patients who had anti-Scl-70 or other nuclear antibodies.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMed1987

[Penicillamine-induced pemphigus].

D-Penicillamine is effective in the treatment of Wilson's disease, cystinuria and rheumatoid arthritis. However, it may have adverse side-effects by inducing a spectrum of diseases such as myasthenia gravis, lupus-like disease, IgA deficiency and pemphigus vulgaris. A case of D-penicillamine-induced pemphigus is presented. The clinical aspects, pathogenesis, immunology and therapy of D-penicillamine-induced diseases are discussed.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1986

[Malignant melanoma: which examinations are useful in staging and follow-up?].

Data on 378 patients with histologically proven malignant melanoma were analysed. Metastases were demonstrated within a few months to maximally 11 years postoperatively in 41 patients by clinical or biochemical examinations, computed tomography, ultrasound or radiology. At the time of the first postoperative staging examination metastases were found by clinical examination in five, by computed tomography in a further two patients. Later follow-up examinations discovered metastases by clinical examination in 32 patients, by chest X-ray in two. It is concluded that postoperative staging does not require elaborate routinely performed tests. Specific studies, admittedly undertaken only after the occurrence of symptoms, should be aimed at determining metastases and their extent so that indications for operation can be established if isolated organ metastases have been demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Carotinoid retinopathy. III. Reversibility].

Twenty-five patients (erythropoietic protoporphyria 23, polymorphous light eruption 1, "cosmetics" 1) were re-examined 2-10 months after therapy with beta-carotene and canthaxanthine was discontinued. Dark adaptation and ERG parameters had normalized, whereas crystalline retinopathy and pigment epithelial defects showed no signs of reversibility.

Canthaxanthin↗
PubMed1986

Type III collagen aminopropeptide levels in serum of patients with progressive systemic scleroderma.

Sera from 101 patients with progressive systemic scleroderma were analyzed for circulating aminopropeptides of type III collagen using a radioimmunoassay which measures the intact and degraded forms (Fab assay). About 41% of the patients were found to have values above the normal range. A good correlation was observed between elevated levels of aminopropeptides and the degree of involvement of the skin and internal organs in the patients. Most patients (89%) with an active progression of the disease but not those in a stationary phase showed increased serum levels of aminopropeptides. Treatment with corticosteroids apparently normalized the levels of aminopropeptides. Only minor changes were observed with an antibody-based radioimmunoassay which measures primarily the intact form of the aminopropeptide.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Clinical aspects of progressive systemic scleroderma (PSS). Multicenter studies of 194 patients].

Patients from five German Departments of Dermatology (Düsseldorf, Erlangen, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Munich) affected with progressive systemic scleroderma (PSS) were classified and examined. The results of the clinical investigations are presented. In order to guarantee a uniform classification of all patients, the patients were divided into three groups according to the distribution of the affected skin: type I consisted of those with acrosclerosis distal to the wrist, type II had scleroderma extending along the wrist in a proximal direction, and type III had diffuse scleroderma beginning on the trunk. Altogether, 194 patients with PSS were investigated, and the following distribution was found: type I, 32%; type II, 60%; type III, 7%; 1% of the patients could not be classified. The distribution according to the patients' sex and age was in good agreement with published reference data. The incidence, significance, and localization of the major symptoms were investigated. The Raynaud symptom could be identified as being the main clinical symptom in 90% of the patients. Joint involvements (10%-73% depending in the applied parameters), dysphagia (51%), and rest dyspnea (30%) contributed to the main internal symptoms. The extensive clinical, chemical, and immunological results are summarized. In 80% of the cases, high ANA titers could be detected, but these were not correlated to the type of disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Influence of chloroquine on the porphyrin metabolism.

Rats were treated with the well-known porphyrogen hexachlorobenzene (HCB) to induce experimental porphyria. At the same time another group of rats was treated with chloroquine in addition to HCB. The HCB-induced increase of the urinary excretion of porphyrin precursors could thereby be reduced to normal levels and the porphyrin excretion rates were decreased significantly in comparison to those of the other group. The delta-aminolevulinate synthase in the liver of the animals was slightly increased by exclusive treatment with chloroquine, which in the HCB-treated rats chloroquine led to a dramatic decrease in the key enzyme of the porphyrin (heme)-biosynthesis. The influence of chloroquine on the HCB-induced increase of the cytochrome P-450 content and the dependent enzymatic activities were different. The 7-ethoxycumarin deethylase and the arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase activities were not influenced, whereas the increased aminopyrine-N-demethylase activity was reduced to nearly normal levels. Our findings indicate that chloroquine acts by reduction of the delta-aminolevulinate synthase activity, probably by influencing the regulation of the key enzyme of the heme biosynthesis, which is enhanced in human porphyria cutanea tarda, as well as in the HCB-induced porphyria of the rats.

7-Alkoxycoumarin O-Dealkylase↗
PubMed1985

Photodynamic action of uroporphyrin on the complement system in porphyria cutanea tarda.

We investigated the effect of UV light (320-460 nm) on total hemolytic CH50 activity and C3 cleavage in sera obtained from 14 patients with porphyria cutanea tarda. Irradiation with 5, 10, or 50 J/cm2 resulted in a 12%-60% loss of CH50 and a 5%-30% cleavage of native C3 as estimated by planimetric evaluation of the immunoelectrophoretic C3 pattern. The complement changes were most pronounced in sera from patients with active disease and were minimal or absent in patients who were in remission. In all cases, the decrease of CH50 and C3 cleavage was proportional to the plasma-porphyrin concentration and the dose of radiation. After exposure to 320- to 460-nm light, similar changes were seen in normal human serum (NHS) to which exogenous uroporphyrin had been added. Beta-carotene and chloroquine had no inhibitory effect on the photodynamic complement activation. The C3 cleavage in irradiated NHS containing uroporphyrin was not affected by 10 mM EGTA, but was partially inhibited in the presence of 30 mM EDTA, thus indicating that the interaction of photoexcited uroporphyrin with the complement system differs from classical-pathway complement activation.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Intolerance to cisplatin--a case report.

A patient who had a systemic reaction to cisplatin chemotherapy had a reaction to subsequent i.c. and i.v. test doses. Notwithstanding she had a more severe systemic reaction during a further course of cisplatin chemotherapy.

Cisplatin↗
PubMed1985

[Carotenoid retinopathy. I. Morphologic and functional findings].

Thirty patients who had undergone long-term treatment with carotenoids (max. 14 years and 336 g of carotenoids) were examined. Ophthalmoscopy revealed retinal crystals in 20 patients. The retinal crystals were usually located around the macula, forming a ring, and in one case they were even found in the macula itself. No deterioration of visual acuity or visual field defects were found, but there was a markedly dose-dependent prolongation of the duration of dark adaptation.

Adolescent↗