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Biomedical subjects

G Pauli

Publications and source records attributed to G Pauli.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

[Clinical aspects of occupational asthma].

Although on the increase overall, the actual prevalence of occupational asthma is difficult to assess because of variations seen according to periods, countries, jobs, and the agents responsible. In the authors' experience, this prevalence is slightly less than 10%. Three principal mechanisms, sometimes present together, not always elucidated: immunological, reflex and irritative, are responsible for such asthma. Whilst a positive diagnosis raises few problems, the aetiological diagnosis is difficult and involves two stages: recognition of the occupational characteristic of the asthma and attribution of this asthma to an allergen or substance in the occupational environment. Skin tests and in vitro tests, but above all exposure tests, make an important diagnostic contribution. Personal examples are used to illustrate the principal aetiological factors in occupational asthma of animal, vegetable or chemical origin.

Asthma↗

[Recurrent sarcoidosis in skin scars disclosing repeated thoracic sarcoidosis].

Recurrence of thoracic sarcoidosis after spontaneous regression is extremely rare. Its existence is proven by two new cases associating sarcoidosis with L ofgren 's syndrome and sarcoid in skin scars, the latter facilitating the recognition of the presence of thoracic disease. Surveillance of the behaviour of scars forms part of routine examinations in the sarcoid patient. Even when there has been total spontaneous regression, subsequent clinical and radiological follow-up every two years must be continued.

Adult↗

The functional activity of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from healthy human smokers and non-smokers.

Cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for pulmonary emphysema. In vitro experiments document cigarette smoke-induced inactivation of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, a protein which is thought to protect the lung interstitium against the deleterious action of neutrophil elastase. To assess the relevance of this in in vitro findings, we have measured the functional activity of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor collected by bronchoalveolar lavage from twenty healthy volunteers (10 heavy smokers and 10 non-smokers). The total inhibitor concentration was measured by radial immunodiffusion. The active inhibitor concentration was determined by virtue of its elastase inhibitory capacity. We used pure and active site-titrated porcine pancreatic elastase and a kinetic assay with succinyl-trialanine-p-nitroanilide in order to get reliable and accurate results. In smokers and in non-smokers the percentage of functionally active alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid is 54 +/- 12 and 38 +/- 14%, respectively. This difference is not significant. Serum alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor is 100% active in both groups. Our data disagree with previous reports suggesting the presence of fully active alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of non-smokers and of partially active inhibitor in the lavage fluid of smokers.

Adult↗

[5-year survival of resected bronchial cancer. Multifactorial analysis of its prognosis].

Prognosis in patients having undergone surgery for a bronchial carcinoma (oat cell. carcinoma excluded) was studied by comparing, with two statistical methods, a group of 178 patients surviving five years and more (group I) and a group of 178 patients who died within five years (group II). The two groups had undergone treatment during the same period. Comparison of the two groups suggested that the following factors were indicators of a good prognosis: ratio weight-height within normal limits without recent weight loss, fortuitous detection of the carcinoma; normal aspect on bronchoscopy; T1 N0 type without vascular extension, limited exeresis. Recurrences of the carcinoma were generally observed in group II but could be present in group I. The differential prognosis between pulmonary metastases and a "new" bronchial carcinoma was difficult. Survival was finally determined by the frequency of recurrences and metastases. By a correspondences factorial analysis it was possible to separate and to define the main characteristics of the patients with a good prognosis and a long survival and of those with a poor prognosis and a short survival. However this proved to be exact in only 30% of the individual cases because occurrence of metastases was generally unforeseable. From these data it appears that surgery alone is indicated in only one kind of tumours; T1 N0 carcinomas detected by routine examinations.

Aged↗

HLA antigens and primary bronchial carcinoma.

A comparative study of HLA, A, and B antigens frequency was undertaken on patients with primary bronchial carcinoma. A prospective study was carried out on 103 patients admitted for the first time to the hospital, and a retrospective study was done on 53 patients who survived at least five years. Forty-seven patients died early while on the prospective study. The results show an increased frequency of B12 antigen both in patients of the prospective study and the retrospective study. This would suggest that the increase is associated with susceptibility to the disease rather than resistance to it. There was no finding in favor of an association between a HLA antigen and survival.

Bronchial Neoplasms↗

The structure of the Rous sarcoma virus glycoprotein complex: in vitro phenotypic mixing of rous sarcoma virus.

Gp 85 the major envelope glycoprotein of Rous sarcoma virus can be released from intact by virus treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol. Attempts were made to reassociate released gp 85 to 2-mercaptoethanol treated virus. In order to study the biological activity and to analyse the reaction product with biochemical methods gp 85 from a subgroup different from the recipient virus was used. Successful in vitro phenotypic mixing could be shown. The biochemical analysis, however, revealed that no reassociation of gp 85 and gp 35 could be obtained. The biological activity was due to a strong association of whole gp 85-gp 35 molecules derived from the gp 85 preparation to the recipient virus. These molecules were present as a minor contamination in the gp 85 preparation.

Avian Leukosis Virus↗

[Proteases, antiproteases and pulmonary emphysema].

A deficiency of alpha 1 antiproteases is associated with severe and early emphysema. This emphysema can be experimentally produced in animals by endotracheal instillation of elastolytic proteases. Thus it would seem that emphysema is linked to an imbalance between proteases and antiproteases at the pulmonary level. This work studies the proteases, whose role in the genesis of emphysema is highly probable in view of the data in the literature (leukocyte elastase), disputed (macrophage elastase) or transitory (microbial elastases). We contrast the main agents capable of inhibiting these proteases (alpha 1 antiprotease and bronchial inhibitors) or of changing their activity (alpha 2 macroglobulins). The relative importance of these antiproteases is discussed in the light of studies made on bronchial secretions and bronchoalveolar lavage. These irritants may influence the protease - antiprotease equilibrium and favour the development of emphysema by increasing the proteases or decreasing the antiproteases. It appears that tobacco, as well as infection and anything which sets in motion the pulmonary phagocytes favour the liberation of leucocyte elastase. These attacks inactive the alpha 1 antiproteases in addition to the bronchial inhibitor. They may be recognized by a change in elastolytic and anti-elastolytic activity observed in bronchial secretions and in bronchoalveolar lavage (which is more disputed in the latter).

Animals↗

Local and serum IgE in vasomotor rhinitis.

Total and specific IgE in serum and nasal secretions were measured in twenty five subjects with vasomotor rhinitis without asthma (21 perennial vasomotor allergic rhinitis and 4 seasonal vasomotor allergic rhinitis) after Carbacholine nasal challenge-test. The level of total and specific IgE was lower in the pure, non diluted nasal secretions than in the serum. The diagnostic usefullness of these measurements and the concept of "localized allergy" are discussed.

Humans↗

Evidence for a Gp85-related glycoprotein in cells transformed by the Bryan high titer strain of Rous sarcoma virus.

The Bryan High Titer strain of Rous Sarcoma Virus (BH-RSV) is a deletion mutant in the env-gene coding for the viral envelope glycoproteins gp35 and gp85. In this report experimental evidence is described that cells, transformed by BH-RSV, express a glycoprotein immunologically related to gp85. Animals bearing BH-RSV induced tumors produce antibodies reacting with gp85 of nondefective RSV. Lysates of a BH-RSV transformed quail cell line, R(-):Q, inhibit the immunoprecipitation of gp85 by antibodies against the group-specific determinant of gp85. In R(-):Q cell lysates and in the culture supernatant a glycoprotein of an apparent molecular weight 40,000 (gp40) is found that reacts with monospecific antisera against gp85 of nondefective RSV. In newly synthesized BH-RSV a gp40 associated with the virion is detectable but is easily lost during purification of the virus. Further, a 95k glycoprotein and a 95k phosphoprotein are specifically precipitated from R(-):Q cells by an antiserum against gp85. From these results we conclude that the deletion of the env-gene is incomplete such that part of gp85, bearing group-specific antigenic determinants, is expressed in BH-RSV transformed cells. Analysis of BH-RSV particles freshly harvested from R(-):Q cells reveals that they contain almost exclusively the gag-precursor pr76 and little or no processed gag-proteins. Therefore the R(-):Q cell line seems to be suitable for the study of virus maturation occurring after the budding process.

Animals↗

Inhibition of antigen-induced histamine release from rat mast cells by a cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterase inhibitor and sodium nitrite.

Antianaphylactic properties have been attributed to cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitors through increase of cyclic AMP levels, according to the concept that increases in cyclic AMP reduce release and increases in cyclic GMP enhance release. However, Coulson et al. [3] showed that the inhibition of histamine release from human lung is correlated to the inhibition of cyclic GMP hydrolysis. We studied the effect of specific inhibitors of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP hydrolysis on the antigen-induced mediator release from rat mass cells and human basophils and on airways relaxation [4]. The results suggested that the modulation of mediator release was different from one cell type to the other, enhancement of cyclic AMP levels leading to the inhibition of release from basophils, while cyclic GMP appears to be predominantly involved in mast cells. The present paper shows that high concentrations of sodium nitrite, a stimulating agent of guanylate cyclase, inhibit histamine release from rat mast cells in the presence or absence of M&B 22948, a selective cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Grass pollen hyposensitization versus placebo therapy. I. Clinical effectiveness and methodological aspects of a pre-seasonal course of desensitization with a four-grass pollen extract.

The present work reports the results of a double-blind clinical trial, comparing the effects of hyposensitization treatment versus placebo in 33 patients with allergic rhinitis, sensitive to a crude extract of the pollen of four different grasses (Dactylis glomerata, Lolium perenne, Secale cereale, and Phleum pratense). The distribution of these patients in the two groups was done randomly and gave two comparable groups, as far as clinical and biological features are concerned. The treatment course included five low doses of the aqueous extract followed by 12 injections of Al(OH)3-adsorbed aliquots of the same extract. Evaluation of the clinical scores was based on diary cards on which symptoms and medications were recorded. A reevaluation of the significance of the symptom and medication scores is presented and the link between both scores is studied. Particular attention is given to the methodological and statistical problems raised during this study. The non-parametric tests reveal a significant difference (P less or equal to than 0.03) in the total clinical score between the treated and the placebo groups for the second half of the observation period, when the pathology was most intense.

Adolescent↗

Effects of cyclic AMP- and cyclic GMP- phosphodiesterase inhibitors on immunological release of histamine and on lung contraction.

1 Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP)- and cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP)-phosphodiesterase activities from rat lung were selectively inhibited by ZK 62711 and M & B 22948, respectively. Theophylline and papaverine inhibited both activities. 2 Rat lung strips contracted by carbachol were relaxed by 4-(3-cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-pyrrolidone (ZK 26711, EC25 = 7 x 10(-8)M) and 2-O-propoxyphenyl-8-azapurin-6-one (M & B 22948, EC25 = 5 x 10(-7)M) indicating relaxant properties of both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP. 3 The antigen-induced histamine release from human basophils was inhibited by ZK 62711 (IC25 = 8 x 10(-7)M), whereas M & B 22948 had no effect. On the contrary, the release from rat mast cells was inhibited by M & B 22948 (IC25 = 10(-6)M), while ZK 62711 had no effect. 4 These data show an inhibitory effect of cyclic AMP on histamine release to be involved with basophils, whereas cyclic GMP is predominantly involved with mast cells. Is is suggested that the antianaphylactic properties of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitors are mainly linked to the increase of cyclic GMP.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Suppression of melanoma development and regression of melanoma in xiphophorine fish after treatment with immune RNA.

In xiphophorine fish suffering from a genetically caused melanoma, both suppression of melanoma development and regression of the existing melanoma were observed after treatment of the fish with an "anti-melanoma immune RNA." This RNA was extracted from the lymphoid organs of guinea pigs immunized with fish melanoma. RNA from guinea pigs immunized with fish skin or liver and RNA from nonimmunized guinea pigs were ineffective. RNase treatment of the anti-melanoma immune RNA diminished its activity, although Pronase treatment did not. Analysis of antisera obtained from guinea pigs and rabbits immunized with either melanoma or normal skin of xiphophorine fish revealed differences in the immune responses induced by these tissues. The anti-melanoma sera recognized antigens in melanoma extracts, which were not present in skin extracts. These antigens were not recognized by the anti-skin sera. The results suggest specificity of the anti-melanoma immune RNA.

Animals↗

[Pleural effusion as the presenting feature of rheumatoid disease. The value of the level of complement in the pleural fluid. A propos of 2 cases].

The authors report two cases of rheumatoid pleural effusion where the pleural syndrome preceded the joint manifestations. From a clinical standpoint, there was an effusion of moderate volume, pseudo-purulent in one case and straw coloured in the other. Signs of rheumatoid arthritis developed after a period of seven weeks in the first case and after a few days only in the second. Amongst the various characteristics of the pleural fluid which were analysed, the authors noted the value of a fall in glucose level, the lack of specificity of anti-gamma globulin factors, and the diagnostic value of the fall in pleural complement and its fractions. In view of the difficulty in obtaining specific histological proof by pleural biopsy, the reduced complement level is of valuable assistance in the aetiological diagnosis of rheumatoid pleural effusion, exceptional as a presenting feature.

Aged↗

[Silicosis with a rapid and pseudo-tumoral course occurring in a case of pre-existant progressive and treated pulmonary sarcoidosis in a miner little exposed to silicosis risk : sarcoido-silicosis (author's transl)].

The authors report the case of a miner suffering from pulmonary and nodal sarcoidosis treated with corticosteroids where during a multivisceral exacerbation with iritis and erythema nodosum there developed rapidly progressive pseudo-tumoral silicosis. Pulmonary and nodal biopsies by thoracotomy revealed silicotic masses in the upper lobe, penetrated and bordered by sarcoid granulomas. In the middle lobe and hilar nodes, only sarcoid process was present. This new entity, sarcoido-silicosis, follows its own course, insensitive to corticosteroids. By virtue of its immune status, sarcoidosis favourised the rapid development of silicosis, the latter being unexpected since exposure had been moderate. Deficiency in the elimination of silica particles from the lungs is discussed. A trial of treatment using aluminium hydroxy-allantoinate did not lead to any conclusion.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

[Transbronchial lymph node biopsy in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis (author's transl)].

Two hundred and fifty eight transbronchial lymph node biopsies using a Menghini type needle 1.5 mm in diameter were performed in 193 patients with a radiological and clinical picture suggestive of sarcoidosis. In 73 cases, the histological argument for the diagnosis was provided solely by this technique. The combination of two methods of obtaining material (multiple biopsies and transbronchial puncture) during rigid bronchoscopy led to a histological diagnosis in 77.7% of patients. The authors emphasize the relative safety of the method, as well as its value when material obtained by fibroscopy has proven to be unsatisfactory.

Biopsy↗