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Biomedical subjects

H Haas

Publications and source records attributed to H Haas.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

A monoclonal antibody detecting dipeptidylpeptidase IV in human tissue.

Dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP IV) occurs among others in exocrine epithelia, hepatocytes, renal tubuli, endothelia, and myofibroblasts of man and laboratory animals. Also T mu lymphocytes and their varying differentiated neoplastic counterparts reveal this enzyme activity. The present paper describes a new monoclonal antibody recognizing DPP IV. Additional efforts have been taken to detect the subcellular localization of DPP IV and its isoelectric focusing pattern in different tissue types. The monoclonal antibody anti-DPP IV (clone II-19) shows a reaction pattern indistinguishable from the corresponding enzymehistochemical reaction. These findings were further substantiated by immunoblotting analysis. In line with the results of direct enzyme measurements in different subcellular fractions a considerable portion of the enzyme is localized in the membrane fraction.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Analysis of allergen components in grass pollen extracts using immunoblotting.

Sera of 60 allergic persons and 20 healthy RAST-negative control persons were examined using immunoblotting to establish the presence of grass pollen-specific antibodies. These antibodies were depicted by an enzymatic, immunoglobulin class-specific indicator system. Seven bands of the timothy pollen extract proved to be major allergens. One of the 4 grass pollen-specific monoclonal antibodies tested (Bo 1) recognized the 7 major allergen bands. The possibility of employing monoclonal antibodies for the isolation of allergens is discussed.

Animals↗

Effect of oral penicillin on pneumococcal carriage in elderly men with chronic bronchitis.

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken to evaluate the effect of penicillin on the pneumococcal carrier state of 32 men with chronic bronchitis. Treatment consisted of 250-mg phenoxymethyl penicillin or placebo tablets taken by mouth twice daily for periods of one to three years. Penicillin eradicated Streptococcus pneumoniae from the respiratory tracts of all carriers and prevented colonization with pneumococci for the duration of treatment, whereas placebo had no discernible effect on the carrier state (P = 0.0015). The conclusion is that daily penicillin orally in low doses eliminates pneumococci from the oropharynx of elderly patients with clinically stable chronic bronchitis.

Administration, Oral↗

Statistical analysis of a liquid phase radioimmunoassay for immune complex determination.

A computer program is presented which enables iterative determination of the weighted standard curve and the quality control parameters calculation for the liquid phase radioimmunoassay which employs binding of labelled C1q as a measure of the presence of immunological complexes in serum samples. 22 independently performed laboratory tests were evaluated with respect to the presence of relationship between the dose (standardized human IgG aggregates) and response (fraction of radiolabelled C1q bound). On 14 occasions the plotted curve was sigmoidal in shape, the rest of the curves did not reach lower or upper asymptote. When the logistic transformation of this data was used the dose-response curve was linear and could be plotted with the use of the least square method. This allows calculation of the two other parameters of the sigmoidal curve (slope and midpoint). The slope of the weighted regression line, intercept point with the axis of ordinates and correlation coefficient were determined by means of the least square method for weighted linear regression with repetitions. When the iterative procedure was completed, content of immunological complexes in sera was calculated. The program is written in Fortran for the ODRA 1300 computer series. The printout consist of three parts. First part contains the original data, parameters and information about the form of input data. The second part of the printout consist of the results, obtained from non-weighted and weighted regression lines and the plotted regression line. The third part of the printout contains the final results of immune complexes determination.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Increasing frequency of penicillin-resistant pneumococci: epidemiological aspects and case-control study.

At the Hadassah University Hospital, Mt. Scopus, Jerusalem, the frequency of patients with relatively penicillin-resistant pneumococci (RPRP) isolates has increased from 0.9 to 10.8% during the years 1979-82. Infants and children were particularly involved. Significantly more RPRP isolates were found in those less than 14 years old than in those who were older (P less than 0.005). The determination of susceptibility or relative resistance to penicillin was based on the disk sensitivity method, which remained unchanged throughout the study period. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) to penicillin G was also determined for 20 RPRP isolates and was found to be in the range of relative resistance to penicillin (0.25 to 0.50 micrograms/ml) in all 20 isolates. A case-control study of 16 index patients examined antibiotic usage during the 60 days preceding pneumococcal isolation. Total antibiotic usage was high in both groups (18.8 vs. 8.8 days, P = 0.2); beta-lactam antibiotic usage was significantly higher in the RPRP group than in the control group (13.3 vs. 4.2 days, 0.01 less than P less than 0.02). General prescribing practices, even in nonisolated areas where there is no need for public health programs to dispense prophylactic antibiotics, may produce sufficiently high antibiotic exposures to aid the emergence of RPRP strains.

Age Factors↗

[Pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency in a child with persistent lactic acidosis].

Evidence is presented for defective pyruvate dehydrogenase (EC 4.1.1.1) in leukocytes and muscle tissue from a 10-year old child with persistent lactic acidosis, suffering from myasthenia and growth retardation. The defect is expressed in vitro by a depressed stimulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase catalytic activity by exogenous phosphoprotein phosphatase, and in vivo by a lack of response to muscle work, in comparison with healthy controls. Pyruvate dehydrogenase activity is in the normal range when measured without addition of phosphoprotein phosphatase in cells obtained from the resting patient. The defect reported here represents a new, hitherto undescribed form of a pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency. The insufficient catalytic activity explains the observed accumulation of pyruvate, lactate, oxaloacetate and alanine and the decrease of citrate concentration in the blood of this patient. Electron microscope studies of the muscle tissue show an enhanced number of enlarged mitochondria with bizarre shapes and high densities of cristae.

Acidosis↗

Electrophysiological studies on benzodiazepine antagonists.

The actions of the benzodiazepine (BDZ) antagonists 3-hydroxymethyl-beta-carboline (3-HMC), Ro 14-7437 and Ro 15-1788 were tested on single cell activity of rat hypothalamic neurons in tissue cultures and on membrane properties of CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons in transverse slices. In addition, we examined the interactions of some of these agents with inhibitions elicited by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as well as the ability of Ro 14-7437 to reverse the GABA-enhancing action of the BDZ agonist flurazepam. BDZ antagonists did not alter patterns of spontaneous activity of hypothalamic neurons and did not affect resting membrane potential or membrane conductance in CA1 pyramidal cells. Ro 14-7437 either partially or totally reversed the potentiation by flurazepam of GABA-elicited depression of hypothalamic neuronal activity. Small and inconsistent actions on GABA-mediated inhibitions of hypothalamic neurons were noted. Electrically-elicited inhibitions of hypothalamic neurons were either not altered or slightly reduced. In the hippocampal slice, the frequency of spontaneous IPSPs, the amplitude of stratum-radiatum evoked IPSPs and the conductance increase caused by stratum-radiatum stimulation were either not altered or slightly reduced. These findings demonstrate that non-convulsant BDZ antagonists block the action of BDZ agonists in facilitating GABA and further that the presence of a BDZ agonist is not required for these GABA-mediated events to occur. However, these experiments do not exclude a modulatory role for an endogenous BDZ agonist on GABA-mediated events.

Animals↗

Generalized lymphadenitis following B.C.G. vaccination in an immunocompetent 12-year-old boy.

An immunocompetent, healthy 12-year-old boy was presented with generalized large lymphadenopathy in the left side of the body, 1 month after a BCG vaccination with a regular dose. A Mantoux test before vaccination was negative. Histological and bacteriological findings from the largest lymph node biopsy revealed BCG'itis. The patient recovered spontaneously after 7 months. He was confirmed as being immunocompetent by normal serum immunoglobulin levels, normal B and T cell function tests, and a conversion of Mantoux test. BCG infections including lymphadenitis are rare and have been described hitherto mainly in infants, in immune deficient patients, or related to overdose. Such a complication must be taken into consideration when dealing with lymphadenopathy in healthy school-age children, who now undergo BCG vaccinations in many countries.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Disseminated mycobacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium szulgai.

Disseminated mycobacterial disease due to Mycobacterium szulgai occurred in a previously healthy young man. The clinical picture included fever, mediastinal and generalized lymphadenopathy, hemoptysis, and skin lesions but was dominated by progressive multifocal osteomyelitis. Immunological studies revealed a decrease in T-lymphocyte reaction to mitogens, but this was tested late in the course of the disease and may have been secondary. In spite of repeated surgical drainage and treatment with multiple antituberculous drugs for a period of two years, new lesions continue to appear mainly in the bones. Mycobacterium szulgai was isolated from 28 bone specimens, as well as from skin lesions and sputum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of disseminated disease due to this organism.

Adolescent↗

[Circulating immune complexes and NK activity in systemic lupus erythematosus].

NK-activity of normal mononuclear cells is inhibited in vitro by addition of immune complexes or aggregated IgG. We therefore studied 20 sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in order to investigate whether there is any correlation between the presence of circulating immune complexes and suppression of NK-activity. A correlation was not found.

Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity↗

History of antipyretic analgesic therapy.

The use of naturally occurring plant materials for the relief of pain dates back to 3,000 B.C., although rapid advances in antipyretic analgesic therapy have been made more recently. Salicylic acid was synthesized in 1860, and the pyrazolone group, first represented by antipyrine, in 1883. Phenacetin was developed in 1886. Acetaminophen has been in use since the 1890s.

Acetaminophen↗

Mycobacterium fortuitum granulomatous synovitis caused by a dog bite.

Mycobacterium fortuitum was isolated from the synovial tissues of the dorsum of the hand after a dog bite. Caseating granulomas with Langhans' type giant cells were demonstrated microscopically. Healing followed prolonged treatment with antituberculosis drugs. It is suggested that the organism was forced into the patient's tissues by the dog's bite.

Animals↗