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Biomedical subjects

H Ludwig

Publications and source records attributed to H Ludwig.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Reduced menstrual blood loss by release of an antifibrinolytic agent from intrauterine contraceptive devices.

Lippes Loop and Multiload intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) were fitted with silicone rubber sleeves which either did not contain any compound (blank) or contained the antifibrinolytic agent, epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA. In vitro measurements showed that the antifibrinolytic agent was released from the sleeves for a period of 20 days. After insertion into women, the blank Lippes Loop IUDs and Multiload IUDs as well as copper-containing Multiload IUDs caused a significant increase in blood loss beginning with the first menstrual cycle after insertion. The enhanced blood loss was generally retained during subsequent menstrual cycles. By contrast, the menstrual blood loss induced by IUDs containing EACA sleeves was not significantly greater during the first menstrual cycle after insertion that the preinsertion levels. When no more EACA was released, menstrual blood loss increased to approximately the same level as that observed with the blank and copper IUDs. Thus, release of EACA from an IUD retains menstrual blood loss at approximately physiologic levels. These results encourage the development of IUDs that are capable of releasing antifirbrinolytic agents over a long period so that the antimenorrhagic effect is maintained.

Aminocaproic Acid↗
PubMed1981

Borna disease in rhesus monkeys as a models for uveo-cerebral symptoms.

Borna disease, a naturally occurring encephalomyelitis of horses and sheep, was induced in rhesus monkeys after intracerebral infection with virus containing rabbit brain suspension. The animals developed neurological disorders followed by a severe encephalomyelitis which was accompanied by a retinopathy. In all the analyzed brain and retina tissue pieces, virus-specific antigen could be demonstrated by immunoelectrophoretic techniques. Antibodies could be demonstrated by the intermediate gel technique as well as by the immunofluorescence test in the serum and the cerebrospinal fluid of all the monkeys. The histopathological findings in the brain and the eye might be comparable to certain types of encephalitis in man and to pathological changes in the eye of human patients, the etiologies of which are still obscure. An attempt was also made to study cell-mediated immunity by a chromium release assay in infected animals, the results of which might provide, together with the histopathological observations, strong evidence for the role of lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of BD infection in rhesus monkeys.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Borna disease virus-induced retinouveitis treated with immunosuppressive drugs.

Borna disease occurs naturally in horses and sheep and causes an encephalomyelitis which is fatal. Little is known about the etiologic agent. There is evidence, however, that this neutrotropic virus belongs to the conventional enveloped RNA viruses. Experimentally infected rabbits exhibited a highly reproducible multifocal retinochoroidopathy. Clinical, histologic, as well as virologic results suggested that immunologic events gave rise to the characteristic clinical, histologic, as well as virologic results suggested that immunologic events gave rise to the characteristic clinical expression of the disease. To investigate possible immunpathologic factors, infected rabbits were treated with immunosuppressive drugs. As compared with controls three outstanding features were observed in the treated group: (1) The time interval between infection and the occurrence of inflammatory ocular foci was considerably prolonged; (2) confluency of retinal lesions was not noted in the early course of the disease; and (3) a lack of ocular lesions or a nonprogression over several days, never observed in controls, occurred in a small percentage of treated animals. These observations indicate that the clinical course of virus-induced inflammatory lesions of the retina and choroid can be changed by treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. It can be assumed that the appearance of the individual fundus lesion depends on the immuno-logic status of the infected host.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Influence of immunosuppressive treatment of Borna Disease in rabbits.

A total of 72 Borna Disease virus infected rabbits were treated with different concentrations of cyclophosphamide, glucocorticoids or both in combination. Comparison with untreated, infected rabbits showed a drastic alteration in the clinical picture, a considerable prolongation of the survival time, and differences in weight and body temperature during the course of the disease. The immunosuppressed animals had no or low amounts of antibodies in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid, but they harbored infectious virus and high amounts of specific antigen in the brain. A quotient of the relative amount of antibodies and antigen never exceeded 0.20 and was significantly lower than in untreated rabbits. Immunohistologically, differences in location and distribution of antigen as compared to positive untreated animals could not be detected. In the immunosuppressed animals perivascular infiltrates were not observed in the different regions of the brain.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Hemoconcentration and pre-eclampsia.

We measured erythrocyte aggregation and hematocrit in 155 uncomplicated pregnancies and in 55 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia. In the later group we found increased erythrocyte aggregation and a higher hematocrit than in normal patients of comparable gestational age. Erythrocyte aggregation correlated well with plasma fibrinogen levels (r = 0.74) but other high molecular weight proteins such as alpha-2-macroglobulin, IgM and lipoproteins were not measured. Hematocrit showed correlation with mean arterial blood pressure (r = 0.69) and peripheral vascular resistance (r = 0.73). The possible effects of changes in hematocrit and erythrocyte aggregation on blood flow through the intervillous circulation are discussed as are the clinical implications of our findings.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Flow properties of blood in women on oral contraceptives (author's transl)].

Erythrocyte deformability, whole-blood viscosity, haematocrit as well as fibrinogen and plasminogen concentrations were checked in 39 clinically intact women of whom 22 had been on oral contraceptives for upto five years. Also determined were several serum proteins, such as transferrin, coeruloplasmin, alpha-2 macroglobulin, alpha-1-trypsin, beta-lipoprotein, and inactivated complement component C3. -Seventeen women with intra-uterine devices were chosen to form a control group. Proteins with sensitivity to oestrogen as well as whole-blood viscosity were found to be increased whereas erythrocyte deformability was decreased. Yet, no haemodynamic manifestation took place ot those rheological parameters, since haematocrit declined or remained constant, and no change occurred to fibrinogen and plasminogen concentrations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Individualized chemotherapy in multiple myeloma by cytostatic drug sensitivity testing of colony-forming stem cells.

Chemotherapy for patients with multiple myeloma was individually selected on the basis of antiproliferative drug sensitivity determined in vitro by a clonogenic assay. Myeloma stem cells were preincubated with various cytostatic drugs and allowed to form colonies in a plasma clot culture system. In 21 out of 24 prospective trials on 14 patients, clinical improvement corresponded to the cytostatic drug sensitivity determined in vitro amounting to a predictive accuracy of 87.5% for the test system. Repeated cytostatic drug sensitivity testing in five untreated patients and in seven patients under intensive chemotherapy during the test intervals indicated the emergence of resistant tumor cell clones in both groups, but the loss of sensitivity was much more pronounced in the cells of patients receiving therapy. Selection of cytostatic drugs according to the results of in vitro antiproliferative drug sensitivity testing of myeloma stem cells should improve the efficacy of subsequent chemotherapy. Furthermore, the surveillance of evolving tumor cell clones by periodical reevaluation of the patient's sensitivity status may add a new dimension to the treatment regimens for multiple myeloma.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1980

"Benign" monoclonal IgE gammopathy.

So far IgE monoclonal paraproteins have been found only in patients with malignant diseases, though there are benign monoclonal paraproteins of other immunoglobulin classes. A patient with osteoporosis first seen in Paris in 1965 was found to have a paraprotein type lambda. In 1977 immunoelectrophoresis identified this as IgE lambda paraprotein, and immunodiffusion studies showed precipitin bands identical with those in patients with IgE myeloma. This patient seemed to have a benign monoclonal IgE gammopathy which had existed for 14 years. Though the possibility of transition into multiple myeloma cannot be excluded, this case suggests that a monoclonal expansion of IgE lymphocytes need not produce malignant change.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

[Acquired agammaglobulinaemia: clinical and immunological aspects (author's transl)].

Chronic recurrent bacterial infections, especially sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia, frequently taking a fulminating course, were the characteristic leading clinical symptoms of acquired agammaglobulinaemia in three women. This abnormally increased susceptibility to infection had previously caused numerous hospitalisations, operations and punctures as well as high-dosage antibiotic treatments. Analysis for immunological defects provided evidence of a lymphocyte-inherent defect in two patients, while in the third there was an abnormally increased suppressor-cell activity as a cause for the humoral immunodefect. Gammaglobulin substitution was tried in all three patients, but in one it had to be discontinued because of severe intolerance to homologous serum proteins. In the other two a high dosage substitution regimen, undertaken at 14-day intervals, has resulted in almost complete normalisation of antibacterial defences and of the clinical state.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Morphology of Fallopian tubes removed from a patient after failure of clip sterilization.

A bilateral salpingectomy was performed at the time of vaginal hysterectomy in a pregnant patient sterilized 20 months earlier by application of Bleier clips to the fallopian tubes. Clip application to the left tube had been incomplete. Undisturbed tissue (left tube) and clipped tissue (right tube) were examined and compared by light and scanning electron microscopy. The segment of tube fully grasped by the clip had a completely detached lining epithelium with coarse and flattened mucosa, a loose stroma, and disorganized muscular bundles. The left tubal mucosa was normal, whereas the right tube was stenosed at the site of clip placement, with rigid walls and a 0.175 mm luminal diameter. With progressively greater stenosis toward the clip site, mucosal destruction increased. Polypoidal mucosal folds were seen, as well as fibrous adhesions between mucosal folds. These observations indicate that tissue damage is extensive enough after clip application to require excision of the damaged segment of tube and microsurgical re-anastomosis for reversal of sterilization.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Increased monocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) in Hodgkin's disease.

Monocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) was tested in 23 patients with histologically proven Hodgkin's disease and 29 healthy normal controls. Seven patients presented with active and 16 with inactive disease. The lytic capacity of the individual monocytes was significantly (P < 0.02) higher in patients with Hodgkin's disease than in normals. However, no significant difference was found between the numbers of monocytes in both groups of individuals, as determined by non-specific esterase staining. No correlation was found between the lytic capacity of monocytes and the activity of the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) and pregnancy (author's transl)].

A case report concerning paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is presented. The role of hemorheologic factors in perfusion of the placenta is clearly demonstrated. Fetal monitoring and the application of hypervolemic hemodilution enabled prolongation of the pregnancy until a healthy neonate could be delivered by Ceasarean section at the 34th week of gestation.

Cesarean Section↗