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Biomedical subjects

G Pauli

Publications and source records attributed to G Pauli.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Bovine herpesvirus 1: differentiation of IBR- and IPV-viruses and identification and functional role of their major immunogenic components.

Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) and Infectious Pustular Vulvovaginitis (IPV) virus strains of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) can be differentiated by restriction endonuclease digestion of their DNAs. Antigens and polypeptide patterns of isolates of these different clinical entities are almost identical. Page analysis of immunoprecipitates revealed three major immunogenic components in BHV-1 infected cells. These are glycoproteins with apparent molecular weights of 93,000 (GP93), 74,000 (GP74) and 69,000 daltons (GP69), respectively. Bovine convalescent sera and antisera, which are directed against individual precipitates derived from crossed immunoelectrophoresis, contain antibodies reacting with one or more of these glycoproteins. The experiments with these antisera demonstrate that GP74 and possibly GP93, both structural components of the BHV-1 virion, induce neutralizing antibodies, whereas GP69, a non-structural protein, does not.

Animals↗

Increase of virus yields and releases of Borna disease virus from persistently infected cells.

Borna disease virus grows to low titres in persistently infected cells with an infectious particle to cell ratio of 0.01 to 0.05. Inclusion of n-butyrate in the growth medium enhances infectivity yields up to 1 log. This effect is time and concentration dependent. In hypertonic medium with an excess of NaCl, KCl or Na2SO4 up to 50% of the total infectious virus yield is released from the cells. Released supernatant virus (buoyant density in sucrose rho = 1.22 g/cm3) is more heat stabile than cell-bound virus (rho = 1.18 g/cm3). The access to cell-free (released) virus opens new possibilities for the characterization of this neurotropic agent.

Animals↗

[Cellular histamine liberation and mediators of anaphylaxis].

A study of the release of histamine from basophils and mast cells is clearly important to understand the mechanisms of activation of these cells and the anti-allergic mechanisms of the drugs in use. Important information has been gained through the study of highly purified rodent mast cells as well as human mast cells and basophils of low purity, in many fields: morphology, triggering mechanisms, degranulation and mediator release. Recent findings obtained with purified human mast cells and basophils could better identify the specific potential mediators of these two cells. Many biochemical events have been associated with anaphylactic mediator release: recent evidence suggested that an elevation of intracellular calcium level was an essential event in the processes by which mediators are released.

Anaphylaxis↗

Celery sensitivity: clinical and immunological correlations with pollen allergy.

The authors studied twenty patients with celery allergy and concomitant hypersensitivity to certain pollens (mugwort, birch). The specific symptoms induced by eating celery were attacks of urticaria and angio oedema (seventeen out of twenty) respiratory complaints (eight out of twenty), systemic anaphylaxis with vascular collapse (three out of twenty). A strong association between clinical reactions to celery and mugwort sensitization, and to a lesser degree between celery allergy and birch pollen sensitization was established. Celery allergy is mediated by IgE antibodies and can be easily diagnosed by cutaneous tests using fresh material and/or by adequate RAST test. RAST inhibitions performed on individual sera suggest the existence of common antigens in celery and mugwort, and in celery and birch pollen. However, the exact nature of these common antigens has not yet been determined.

Adolescent↗

Abnormalities of in vitro responses to polyclonal activation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with active sarcoidosis.

A variety of immunological abnormalities have been described in patients with sarcoïdosis. At the blood level, both hypo and hyper immune responsiveness seem to coexist and were related to abnormal T cell and macrophage functions by using allogenic cocultures and/or lymphocyte fractionation. We tested several components of cell mediated responses with two in vitro models: (a) the pokeweed mitogen activation of B cells which is T cells and macrophage dependent; (b) the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activation of B cells which is T cell- and macrophage-independent. We confirm previous data showing that PWM induced Ig Production of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of patients with sarcoïdosis is significantly reduced compared with normal PBL. However, this is associated with an increase of IgG, IgM synthesis of EBV-infected PBL in these sixteen patients. Thus, there is no evidence for a complete B cell defect in sarcoïd PBL. Furthermore, by using limiting dilution analysis of antibody secreting cells, there is an increase of precursor B cells EBV infectable in PBL of sarcoïd patients but T cells are effective in reducing EBV-induced B cell proliferation. Finally, these abnormalities are concomitant to the disease, disappear with it, and are apparently not correlated with the stage or the activity of sarcoïdosis.

Adult↗

The concentration of leukocyte elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from healthy human subjects.

Although alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-antitrypsin) is widely thought to protect lung elastin against the elastolytic action of leukocyte elastase, there is only circumstantial evidence for such a protective role. We have demonstrated and quantified elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from healthy smokers and nonsmokers using a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relative concentration of complex is 0.36 +/- 0.48 mmol/mol albumin in nonsmokers and 0.33 +/- 0.29 mmol/mol albumin in smokers. Less than 1% of lavage fluid alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor is complexed with elastase (0.31% in nonsmokers and 0.34% in smokers). This proportion is, however, much higher than in normal plasma where only approximately 0.006% of inhibitor is bound to elastase. Our data confirm that alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor efficiently acts as an antielastase barrier in the lower respiratory tract.

Bronchi↗

[Invasive aspergillar pneumopathy during the treatment of microcellular bronchial cancer. Efficacy of early antifungal treatment].

The invasive aspergillus pneumonias have been described particularly in chemotherapy for patients with haematological disorders. In respiratory disorders such cases are exceptional. The authors report a case of invasive aspergillus pneumonia, occurring during treatment of a small cell cancer; the rapid commencement of anti-fungal treatment by Amphotericin "B" and Flucytosine enabled an apparent cure of the tumour by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The authors stress the difficulty of definitive diagnostic criteria at the beginning of the disorder and also the need to start anti-fungal treatment as soon as possible.

Amphotericin B↗

A study of the criteria used for clinical evaluation of prophylactic treatment in bronchial asthma.

In an attempt to find better criteria for the evaluation of prophylactic treatment of asthma, we have studied the significance and the correlations of the 3 parameters usually measured: symptoms, bronchodilator requirements, changes in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF). We have collected these data daily over a 16 week period in 13 adult asthmatics allergic to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. For each patient, the 3 scores were compared graphically. Linear regression was used to analyze the individual relationship between 2 daily scores. Incomplete cards mostly revealed unexpected behaviour (e.g. normal lung function but many symptoms recorded) and cannot of course be taken into account in a trial protocol. We found a good correlation between PEF and symptom scores in 10 out of 13 patients and we could point out the poor correlation between medication score and the other scores. To our knowledge, it is the first time such an objective result has been shown in asthmatic adults. Our analysis provides data which should improve the studies of prophylactic treatment efficacy in asthma.

Adult↗

Plaque/focus immunoassay: a simple method for detecting antiviral monoclonal or other antibodies and viral antigens in cells.

A new, simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is described which is performed directly on infected and fixed cell cultures in microtitre plates. It permits large scale screening of antiviral monoclonal antibodies and differentiation of specific antibodies from those usually responsible for high background reactions in other ELISA techniques. Time consuming purification of antigens is thus avoided. The plaque/focus immunoassay is also applicable to titration of antibodies in patients' sera and antigens in lytically or non-lytically virus-infected cells. It may also be used to localize antigens in different cell compartments. This immunoassay requires no special equipment and results may be evaluated either with the naked eye or using a light microscope.

Animals↗

Clinical and immunologic evaluation of tyrosine-adsorbed Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

We evaluated the clinical efficacy and immunologic changes associated with the administration of tyrosine-adsorbed Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) extract. The study was carried out in a double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion in 18 patients with Dpt-induced asthma during a trial period of at least 12 mo. Patients initially received six increasing doses once a week; the top dose of 400 Noon units was repeated at monthly intervals. Clinical response was on the basis of diary cards on which symptoms and medication scores were recorded; daily lung function measurements were made by use of a mini Wright's peak flow meter. The entire spectrum of physiologic measurements, medications, and symptoms were taken into account by computing daily scores over a 2-week period. Total IgE, Dpt-specific IgE antibodies, and leukocyte histamine release were measured before treatment and during hyposensitization. Changes in Dpt-specific IgG were evaluated with a double antibody antigen-binding assay by use of the purified fraction of mite extract F4P1. All patients had measurable levels of IgG antibodies to F4P1 before treatment. Treatment with tyrosine-adsorbed Dpt extract resulted in a significant increase of specific-IgG antibodies in the treated group at 2 and 6 mo only (nonparametric rank sum test). Variations relative to the pretreatment values of total and specific IgE were not significantly different in the treated and in the control patients after 2.6 and 12 mo. No significant decrease in leukocyte sensitivity was observed after treatment. It was only possible to demonstrate a significant diminution in the mean medication score (nonparametric sign test) in the first 6 mo for the treated group; independently of the beginning of the treatment, the treated group demonstrated a reduction of the mean medication score and an improvement in peak expiratory flow rate lung function before the midsummer months when seasonal increase in mite density can occur. Particular attention was paid to the methodological problems raised during this study and inherent in a trial in house dust-mite asthma.

Adsorption↗

Transbronchial needle aspiration in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

A total of 258 patients with suspected sarcoidosis underwent transbronchial needle aspiration lymph node biopsies and forceps bronchial biopsies during rigid bronchoscopy. Transbronchial needle aspiration biopsies revealed noncaseating granulomas in 66.3 percent of patients. When transbronchial needle aspiration biopsies were combined with forceps bronchial biopsies, the positive rate increased to 77.7 percent. No major complication occurred when using transbronchial needle aspiration. Rigid bronchoscopy with transbronchial needle aspiration biopsies appears to offer a sensitive and specific alternative to more invasive techniques used in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

Adolescent↗

[Practical value of the assay of serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity in sarcoidosis].

Serum levels of angiotensin conversion enzyme (A.C.E.) are increased in 60 to 80% of cases of sarcoidosis. A.C.E. levels were measured as part of the initial assessment of 70 patients with the disease, with repeated measurements in 18 of them. The subsequent course of sarcoidosis was evaluated over a minimum period of 7 months, in relation to initial serum A.C.E. levels. A high serum A.C.E. level is indicative of the secretion of the cells of the epithelioid and giant cell granuloma and reflects the activity of the disease at the particular time without providing any definite prognostic information. Study of 6 patients treated with corticosteroids showed that serum A.C.E. levels rose again when treatment was reduced or stopped in 4 of them, this renewed rise appearing to precede the radiological recurrence. Whilst the prognostic value of alveolar lymphocytosis is greater than that of serum A.C.E. levels in sarcoidosis, measurement of serum A.C.E. is easier in the context of therapeutic surveillance.

Humans↗