Nonionic agents: okay, they're safer--now what?
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Contrast Media↗
Biomedical subjects
G Wolf
Publications and source records attributed to G Wolf.
[Formation of interleukin-2 and interferon alpha by mononuclear leukocytes of swine after in vitro stimulation with different virus preparations].
A new model was established to investigate the release of cytokines by porcine peripheral mononuclear leukocytes (MNL). Thereafter, this model is suitable to test paramunity inducers (biological response modifiers) and might replace animal models. The paramunity inducers Pind AVI and Pind ORF as well as other preparations of pox- and paramyxoviruses were employed. Production of both Interleukin 2 (IL2) and Interferon alpha (IFN alpha) was evaluated. Virus containing fluids induced an increase in IL2 activity (CTLL-2 proliferation assay) and IFN alpha (MDBK-cell line, VSV-virus) was noted. The release of IFN alpha and IL2 is caused by viral components. Pind AVI and Pind ORF induce production of IFN alpha in porcine MNL to a similar amount as ND-virus does. All virus preparations caused an increase in IL2 activity in supernatants of resting as well as mitogen-activated MNL without prior sensitization of the cells. The highest IL2-activity was measured after co-stimulation of the MNL with Concanavalin A and ND-virus.
Animals↗
Stromal degradation in vitamin A-deficient rat cornea. Comparison of epithelial abrasion and stromal incision.
Epithelial abrasions (3-mm diameter) and linear stromal incisions (50-75% depth) were made in vitamin A-deficient (A-) rat corneas to investigate what are contributory factors to the development of keratomalacia. Sixty-four rats were killed at various times after injury, and the corneas were histologically examined. In pair-fed control corneas, wounds healed without stromal degradation. Although abraded A- corneas were infiltrated by numerous polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes (PMNs), reepithelialization eventually occurred and severe stromal degradation was not evident, suggesting that PMN infiltration alone cannot cause keratomalacia. In incised A- corneas, six (20%) exhibited marked stromal degradation, of which three (10%) were infected. Two other corneas studied shortly after incision were in the initial stages of infection. The results suggest that stromal injury importantly contributes to the development of keratomalacia. Bacterial infection might also be contributory. Cytochrome oxidase staining showed that metabolic functional levels of incised A- corneas were accelerated only in the wound zone, whereas abraded A- corneas were metabolically accelerated throughout.
Animals↗
[Automatic microscopic image analysis of semithin sections of peripheral nerves using the program Image-C/Nerve-Neuropathy].
Visiomanual morphometric analysis of peripheral nerve fibres has proved to be error-laden and inadequate. An automatic interactive programme was, therefore, developed for microscopic image analysis and feature extraction. Contours of myelin sheaths were properly identifiable, but an interactive programme component was found to be required to measure the remainder of two to 5% of fibres. Image analysis is shown to generate descriptive statistical features.
Humans↗
Pathologic changes in the exorbital lacrimal gland of the vitamin A-deficient rat.
Histologic changes in lacrimal glands of vitamin A-deficient (A-) and pair-fed control rats were compared. In A- lacrimal glands, secretory granules were strikingly diminished, and rough endoplasmic reticulum appeared somewhat atrophic. Nuclei of acinar cells were hyperchromatic and pleomorphic. Using alcian blue-PAS, no positive staining was present in acini of A- lacrimal glands, whereas in controls apical portions of acini were intensely stained. Thus, lacrimal tissues of A- rats were thought to be poorly differentiated as a glandular epithelium. When A- rats were supplemented with retinyl acetate, secretory granules reappeared, rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae greatly dilated, and mitochondria proliferated, indicating accelerated secretory activity. Resupply of vitamin A can induce glandular differentiation in A- lacrimal tissues. Tear volume was not decreased in A- rats compared with pair-fed controls. Regression of secretory organelles in A- lacrimal tissues may lead to a decrease in protein and mucoprotein secretion and subsequent changes in tear composition.
Animals↗
Urinary excretion of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase i.v. in patients with renal diseases.
Enzymuria is a frequent finding in patients suffering from various kidney diseases. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical value of the determination of tubule-brush-border-associated dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV (DAP IV) in the urine of patients with acute and chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis (n = 12), chronic glomerulonephritis (n = 15), essential arterial hypertension (n = 30), after kidney transplantation (n = 20), and of healthy control persons (n = 68). DAP IV was measured in spontaneously voided mid-stream morning urine ("second morning urine"), and was expressed as enzyme activity in units/liter. In order to account for variations due to urine concentration without collecting 24-hour specimens, a urinary DAP IV/creatinine ratio (DCR) was calculated. Furthermore, patterns of proteinuria were assayed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Urinary DAP IV activity of healthy controls was 4.94 +/- 0.12 U/l (DCR: 0.46 +/- 0.30 U/mmol creatinine) with only small day to day variations. Urinary DAP IV activity in patients with tubulointerstitial nephritis was significantly higher (15.5 +/- 15.6 U/l, p less than 0.05 vs controls; DCR: 1.67 +/- 0.97 U/mmol creatinine, p less than 0.001 vs controls). In patients with chronic glomerulonephritis urinary DAP IV activity was 9.6 +/- 5.6 U/l, p less than 0.05 (DCR: 1.22 +/- 0.75 U/mmol creatinine, p less than 0.05 vs controls). Increased urinary DAP IV activity in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis was associated with a mixed glomerulo-tubular pattern of proteinuria (as determined by SDS-PAGE).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adolescent↗
Recurrent sinusitis and impairment of eustachian tube function in air passengers and crew.
Chronic and recurrent sinusitis, and thus impaired tubular function, are usually caused by isolated lesions of the ethmoid cells. Purulent nasal secretions are transported over the openings of the tubes into the epipharynx. Inflammation and swelling of the mucosa of the tube openings causes stenosis or blockage. Inflammatory foci, usually hidden in the anterior ethmoid cell system, are not always apparent in a plain film of the paranasal sinuses. They appear only in a computed-tomography scan or in a conventional tomogram. Once the diagnosis has been made, a simple, guided endoscopic procedure suffices to alleviate a stenosis, open inflamed ethmoid cells, and restitute ventilation of the nasal sinuses and, thus, tubal function. Radical procedures on the maxillary and frontal sinuses, and plastic operations on deviated nasal septa (which impair the function of the nose and the nasal sinuses only in extreme cases), are thus often unnecessary. Septum deviations are irrelevant to the fitness-to-fly of air personnel as long as the tube and the ventilation of the sinuses function freely. The Valsalva maneuver with otoscopic visualization of the excursion of the eardrum is the most reliable test of tubal function. Tympanometry is used mainly for documentation.
Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
Long term follow-up after enucleation and resection for autonomously functioning thyroid nodules.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the operative method (i.e. std. resection vs. enucleation) on postoperative function of the thyroid. Uni- or multifocal thyroid autonomy was resected (group I & III) or selectively enucleated (group II & IV). Postoperative function was determined after 6 and 12 months and again after 3-5 years. "Selective" treatment showed minor postoperative hypothyroidism, but goitrous, nodular or functional disorders are more often present compared to resection cases (4.4% vs 12%).
Adenoma↗
Inhibition of the mitochondrial phosphate carrier by a reaction with a carboxyl group reagent.
The effect of N-ethyl-5-phenylisoxazolium 3"-sulfonate (Woodward's reagent K, WRK), a reagent forming covalent bonds with protein carboxyl groups, on the activity of the mitochondrial phosphate carrier was investigated. Treatment with WRK of mitochondria or of extracted carrier incorporated into liposomes, inhibited phosphate transport in a reconstituted liposomal system. Increasing the binding of WRK resulted in increased inhibition: the modified carrier protein showed a reduced affinity for phosphate, but binding of WRK had no effect on the Vmax of phosphate transport. It was concluded that WRK caused a conformational change in the carrier protein not involving the phosphate or H+ carrier sites such that its affinity for phosphate was lowered.
Animals↗
Fibronectin and corneal epithelial wound healing in the vitamin A-deficient rat.
The time course of the appearance of fibronectin (Fn) on wounded corneal surfaces was studied in vitamin A-deficient (A-) and pair-fed control rats. At various times following a central epithelial abrasion, the tissue was harvested, and Fn was localized on frozen corneal sections by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. There was no detectable Fn in intact, nonwounded control or intact A-corneas, except for Descemet's membrane. Within a half hour after abrasion, a band of Fn appeared on the denuded corneal surface of pair-fed control rats and became a continuous, prominent layer at four hours. This layer remained until 16 hours but disappeared at 24 hours when the epithelium had resurfaced over the defect. In severely A- rats, reepithelialization following central epithelial abrasion was delayed, and no Fn band was discernible at any time from one to 32 hours after injury. Light microscopy revealed a progressive increase in polymorphonuclear neutrophil infiltration with time in the underlying stroma in severely A- rats. This study indicated that in severe vitamin A deficiency, delayed epithelial migration is associated with an inflammatory cell layer and occurred in the absence of Fn.
Animals↗
Comparison of single-shot localization methods (STEAM and PRESS) for in vivo proton NMR spectroscopy.
Two single-shot localization techniques, STEAM and PRESS, are analyzed with regard to specifications for in vivo localized proton NMR. In particular, attention is paid to optimum signal intensity per unit volume, sensitivity to motion and diffusion, shortest attainable echo time, water suppression and editing possibilities. Experimental results are shown for cat brain at 4.7 T and human brain at 1.5 T. Both STEAM and PRESS are highly effective localization methods. For long echo times, PRESS is the method of choice, because it offers a factor of two gain in signal intensity. In addition, the method is less sensitive to motion and diffusion, and not susceptible to multiple-quantum effects. STEAM offers advantages for observation of (coupled) metabolites with short T2, because (a) shorter TEs can be attained and (b) effective water suppression sequences can be implemented without penalty in echo time. Differences relating to editing possibilities and B1 dependence, possibly important in choosing a method, are discussed.
Animals↗
Glutaminase in the postnatally developing rat cerebellum: comparison of staining and immunocytochemistry activity.
Distribution patterns and developmental profiles of phosphate activated glutaminase (PAG) in the cerebellar cortex of the rat were demonstrated by enzyme activity staining (tetrazolium salt technique) and immunolabeling. Histochemical evaluation of enzyme activity stained sections revealed in the molecular and granular layer (i.e. premigratory zone and external germinal zone in neonate rats) an increase from postnatal day 2 to day 50 by 350 and 400%, respectively. The smallest elevation was found in Purkinje cell bodies (140%). Maximum rise of PAG-activity was observed for all of the areas examined between day 12 and 15. The immunocytochemical visualisation of PAG-like immunoreactivity resulted in spatial and developmental patterns which differed from those of PAG-activity staining and displayed, to some extent, dependency on the way of tissue preparation, especially the fixation procedure.
Animals↗
Control of vascular permeability and vascular smooth muscle in the respiratory tract by multiple neuropeptides.
Recent evidence suggests that a population of primary afferent neurons which terminate in the upper and lower airways contains several coexisting peptides. Thus, substance P was found to coexist with at least three structurally related tachykinins, viz. neurokinin A, neuropeptide K and an eledoisin-like peptide. Furthermore, calcitonin gene-related peptide which is structurally not related to tachykinins is also present in the same neurons which innervate a variety of peripheral tissues. Substance P, neurokinin A, eledoisin-like peptide and calcitonin gene-related peptide can simultaneously be released from central and peripheral branches of primary sensory neurons, whereas a release of neuropeptide K could not be demonstrated. Local inflammatory mediators like bradykinin or histamine also released multiple peptides in the airways and caused vascular protein leakage which is partly dependent on intact sensory nerves. In experimental animals, tachykinins as well as calcitonin gene-related peptide caused vasodilatation, whereas tachykinins but not calcitonin gene-related peptide caused an increase in vascular protein leakage. In humans, intranasally administered substance P (but not calcitonin gene-related peptide) lead to nasal obstruction as measured by rhinomanometry, and to secretion. It is suggested that activation of peripheral endings of perivascular primary sensory neurons causes vasodilatation and increase in vascular protein leakage by simultaneous action of several neuropeptides including tachykinins and calcitonin gene-related peptide.
Animals↗
[Experimental detection of the paraspecific effects of purified and inactivated poxviruses].
The paraspecific effect of pox viruses i.e. stimulation of the nonspecific part of the complex immune system, was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo for 3 different types of virus (vaccinia virus, avipox virus, parapox virus). By means of purification, concentration and inactivation, it was possible to prove that the paraspecific effect is brought about by the pox virus particle per se. The effect is induced by certain epitopes in the complex structure of the virus and is independent of virus multiplication. Both purified pox viruses and inactivated, purified pox viruses stimulate NK cell activity, the CSA and the formation of interferon, and reach higher efficacy indices in a challenge test with baby mice using stomatitis vesicularis virus than non-purified and non-inactivated cell culture material. The degree of purity of the pox virus preparations was established using the electron microscope and monoclonal antibodies. The purified and concentrated pox virus preparations proved to be pyrogen-free; they were not toxic to baby mice in vivo. An endotoxin-induced effect could be ruled out. The broad paraspecific effect of pox viruses and their structural components lends itself to use as paramunity inducers in prophylaxis and therapy.
Animals↗
[Clinical significance of regulatory peptides in nasal mucosa].
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Airway Obstruction↗
[The effect of lithium carbonate on the leukocyte count following ionizing radiation. 4. The effect of lithium carbonate on the activation of granulocytes].
From numerous investigations it is known that lithium carbonate promotes granulocytopoiesis by stimulation of CSF (colony stimulating factor) in bone marrow. To prove if no immature, in their functions restricted cells are delivered from bone marrow, the activity of granulocytes was tested in vitro in patients with lithium therapy. It could be seen that granulocytes of peripheral blood show an increased in-vitro-activation after lithium influence in vivo.
Dysgerminoma↗
Hysterosalpingography with a new contrast medium.
This article reports on the use of iotrolan--a new contrast medium and the first dimeric, nonionic, hexaiodinated, water-soluble preparation--in hysterosalpingography. This randomized, double-blind study compared an ionic and a nonionic monomeric preparation. The better results were achieved with iotrolan. Its unusual lack of local irritation and its high contrast quality, especially definition of contrast, merit particular mention.
Adult↗
The PARTICLE expert system for tumor grading by automated image analysis.
While automated microscopic image analysis of histologic sections has been helpful in objectivizing histologic tumor grading and investigating the relationships between grading and prognosis, expert systems have the potential of linking image analysis and other data for statistical analysis and application to a wider range of tumors. One such expert system is PARTICLE, whose development was based on many years of experience in resolving histologic problems by image analysis. This paper discusses the philosophy of expert system for tumor grading and describes its implementation in the PARTICLE system. The system's structure, operations and applications are briefly presented. PARTICLE is essentially based on the evaluation of karyometric data.
Cell Nucleus↗