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Biomedical subjects

H Schmitz

Publications and source records attributed to H Schmitz.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Therapeutic local anesthesia in acute back pain].

Therapeutic local lidocaine analgesia in the treatment of acute low back pain of functional or degenerative genesis was investigated in 310 patients, with account being taken of additional treatment with NSAIDs. In the overall group, an assessment of the evolution of five typical symptoms revealed response rates of between 85.2% and 91.1% with symptom elimination being achieved in 44.6% to 69.7%. The finger-to-floor test and Schober's sign improved in 87.6% and 81.2% of the patients, respectively. No side effects were observed. In 90 patients (29%), additional treatment, mainly with NSAIDs, was recorded. A comparative analysis of the subgroups with and without additional treatment revealed no evidence of therapy-relevant differences in results that would support the additional administration of NSAIDs. For the treatment of acute low back pain, lidocaine administered alone is adequately effective in most cases, and is well tolerated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Isolation of normal human follicular dendritic cells and CD4-independent in vitro infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1).

Immunohistological and electron microscopy studies of lymph nodes from patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) demonstrated that follicular dendritic cells (FDC), the antigen-presenting cells of the B cell system, contain and may produce the virus. To elucidate the mode of infection of FDC with HIV-1 in vitro we developed an improved method for the preparation of single-cell suspensions of viable FDC with high purity (greater than 90% FDC). These isolated FDC were subjected to human T cell leukemia virus IIIB infection, which was monitored after 4 days in culture using the polymerase chain reaction. We were able to demonstrate that normal human FDC are highly susceptible to infection by HIV-1. Inhibition experiments with the monoclonal antibody OKT4a demonstrate that this infection is independent of the CD4 molecule.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1991

Effect of the calcium antagonists nifedipine, nitrendipine, nimodipine and nisoldipine on oesophageal motility in man.

Nifedipine has been proven to be effective and safe in the treatment of primary oesophageal motility disorders which can cause angina-like chest pain and/or dysphagia. The effects of the calcium channel blockers nifedipine, nitrendipine, nimodipine and nisoldipine on oesophageal smooth muscle function in healthy male volunteers were studied by oesophageal manometry using the rapid pull-through-technique, in two randomized, double-blind crossover studies. Lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, oesophageal contraction amplitude and duration after a wet swallow (measured 5 cm and 10 cm above the lower oesophageal sphincter) were determined 30 min before and at 10 minute intervals up to 90 min after the administration of nimodipine and up to 120 min after nifedipine, nitrendipine and nisoldipine. The plasma drug concentration was measured at baseline (-15 min) and in parallel with the manometric measurements. Compared to placebo, lower oesophageal sphincter pressure was significantly decreased by 24% by nifedipine and 17% by nimodipine, whereas the effects of nitrendipine (decrease of 15%) and nisoldipine (9%) were not significant. Nifedipine significantly decreased by 17% the oral contraction amplitude compared to placebo and nimodipine by 11%. The duration of the contraction amplitudes was not altered. The decrease in sphincter pressure was correlated with the corresponding plasma drug levels of nifedipine r = 0.92, nitrendipine r = 0.80 and nisoldipine r = 0.79. Nimodipine showed no such correlation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

Progression of HIV-1 infection. Monitoring of HIV-1 DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by PCR.

We present data on the distribution of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) proviral DNA in different subsets of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) over an observation period of eight months. Eleven patients with well documented HIV-1 infection were studied. The PBMCs were obtained at two intervals and purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) after staining with FITC-labelled monoclonal antibodies. Varying numbers of FACS-sorted CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells and peripheral monocytes were assayed for HIV-1 proviral DNA (env and gag region) by PCR. Samples from patients at CDC stages II or III had to contain 10(3)-10(4) cells in order to allow detection of proviral HIV-1 DNA. At CDC stage IV, however, HIV-1 DNA was detected in as few as 100 CD4+ T-lymphocytes. In contrast, in peripheral monocytes HIV-1 DNA was not regularly found. CD8+ cells did not harbor detectable amounts of proviral DNA. During an observation period of eight months, the rate of infected CD4+ T-lymphocytes increased significantly in three patients while staying constant in the remaining eight patients. This increase of the infection rate was paralleled by clinical progression in one patient and by a decrease of the absolute number of CD4+ cells in another patient. The percentage of CD4+ cells harboring the viral genome increases in the course of the disease. These results may help to explain the decrease in CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts during HIV-1 infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Dextran sulphate reduces diphenylhexatriene anisotropy in human peripheral blood lymphocytes: impact on plasma membrane fluidity and HIV-cytopathogenicity.

Cytopathogenicity of HIV and other enveloped viruses is reduced by membrane fluidizing agents and by dextran sulphate (DS). To investigate whether DS exerts its antiviral action via plasma membrane fluidization of host cells, we performed anisotropy measurements on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) using the fluorescent marker diphenylhexatriene. Anisotropy was decreased in DS-exposed PBL indicating increased fluidity in the hydrophobic membrane interior.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Diagnosis of human cytomegalovirus-induced retinitis in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected subjects by using the polymerase chain reaction.

In 13 of 16 AIDS patients with retinitis, a herpesviruslike infection was diagnosed by clinical investigation. In 12 of the 13 patients, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA was detected in 5 microliters of aqueous humor by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the aqueous humor of 12 control patients HCMV DNA could not be detected by PCR. PCR may be used to monitor specific antiviral long-term therapy in HCMV retinitis.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

[Detection of HCMV-DNA in aqueous humor for diagnostic confirmation of viral retinitis].

The differential diagnosis of viral retinitis is mainly based on the evaluation of the clinical findings by the ophthalmologist; for confirmation of the diagnosis, immunohistological testing is necessary. We present the method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a new diagnostic tool in the examination of viral retinitis. The method is based on the selective amplification of a defined segment of viral DNA, which can in a second step be specifically detected by hybridization. Five patients with the typical clinical picture of a fresh cytomegaloviral retinitis of recent origin due to Aids and ten normal healthy controls were included in the study. We looked for CMV-genome in conjunctival and corneal epithelium, anterior chamber punctates, urine and sputum. Serum samples from the same patients were tested for CMV-IgM antibodies as sign of systemic immune response. They were all negative due to the systemic immune deficiency syndrome of these patients. We did not find CMV genome in any case in the control group or in any of the conjunctival and corneal epithelial samples, but we did find it in four of five anterior chamber punctates of patients with the clinical picture of CMV retinitis. We found CMV-DNA additionally in the urine of one patient and in urine and sputum of another. These results show the high value of the method of polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of uveitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Immunorestitutive action of hydrolysates and ultrafiltrates of bovine spleen].

Investigations with different spleen extracts of varied composition and purity have shown immunomodulatory effects. In the present study the in vivo effect of a bovine spleen hydrolysate (Prosplen) on a radiation-induced immunodeficiency model is demonstrated. Intraperitoneal application of 1 mg/g bw hydrolysate 3/times a week caused a highly significant acceleration of the restitution of the humoral and cell-mediated immunoreactivity towards sheep erythrocytes in sublethally (600 cGy) radiated mice: plaque-forming cells in the spleen, hemagglutination, hemolysistiter of the serum, delayed type of hypersensitivity = DTH reaction. The immunoreactivity of the treated groups reached normal levels within 6-8 weeks, whereas in the groups receiving placebo this was observed after 10 weeks at the earliest. Cytofluorometric investigations revealed an accelerated restitution of the B-lymphocyte fraction in the spleen. Mice that was not irradiated showed no effect after treatment with the hydrolysate. Similar results were obtained using an ultrafiltrate of the hydrolysate.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1991

[Heterotopic pancreatic cyst of the stomach wall].

A 28 year old female was admitted to the hospital with dolorous postprandial swelling of the left upper epigastrium, occurring since the recent death of her husband. After an asymptomatic interval of eight years pains similar to biliary colics occurred increasing in duration, intensity and frequency during the following year. Sonography and computer-tomography indicated a pseudocyst of the pancreascauda adjacent to the left lobe of the liver, spleen and gastric wall. Laparotomy revealed the diagnosis of a heterotopic cyst of the pancreas of fist-size localized intramurally in the gastric corpus which was totally resected. Histologically a granulomatous partially transformed cyst in a heterotopic pancreas was identified. The patient became symptom-free after the operation.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells are not a major reservoir of the human immunodeficiency virus.

Hematologic abnormalities occur in the majority of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Infection of the hematopoietic progenitor cells has been proposed as a potential explanation. In this study, different bone marrow cell populations, including the CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells, were purified by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) and analyzed for the presence of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) proviral DNA using the polymerase chain reaction. A group of 14 patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex (ARC) was studied (11 with peripheral blood cytopenias). The CD4+ helper cells in the bone marrow were found positive for HIV-1 DNA in all patients. In contrast, CD34+ progenitor cells were positive in only one patient. Two monocyte samples and two samples of CD4-/CD34- lymphocytes/blasts (mainly B and CD8 lymphocytes) were positive. Proviral DNA could not be detected in granulocytes. FACS analysis showed that the percentage of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells was not altered in the bone marrow of AIDS patients in comparison with the HIV-1 seronegative controls. In contrast, the number of CD4+ lymphocytes was markedly reduced in the bone marrow of AIDS patients. These results show that the hematologic abnormalities in AIDS patients are neither explained by direct infection of the hematopoietic progenitor cells with HIV-1 nor by a depletion of progenitor cells.

Antigens, CD34↗
PubMed1990

Studies on the structure and regulation of the human hepatic interleukin-6 receptor.

Affinity cross-linking of 125I-labeled recombinant human interleukin-6 (IL-6) to human hepatoma cells (HepG2) allowed the detection of three IL-6-containing complexes with molecular masses of 100 kDa, 120 kDa and 200 kDa. Treatment of HepG2 cells with dexamethasone led to a time- and dose-dependent up-regulation of IL-6-receptor mRNA levels. By the use of cross-linking this effect was also seen at the protein level, where all three IL-6-binding complexes increased upon incubation of HepG2 cells with dexamethasone. Under conditions of IL-6-receptor up-regulation by dexamethasone, gamma-fibrinogen mRNA induction by IL-6 is stronger and occurs earlier than without dexamethasone. We propose therefore that the expression of the IL-6 receptor might be a rate-limiting step in acute-phase-protein induction.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1990

Effects of membrane lipid and fluidity modifications on HIV-1 infectibility of primate lymphocytes in vitro.

Although most non-human primates, except the chimpanzee and the gibbon in vivo are not infectible by HIV-1, lymphocytes of several of these species can be infected by HIV-1 in vitro. In order to investigate whether the in vitro infectibility of primate lymphocytes might be attributed to plasma membrane adaptation processes or to serum factors, we compared HIV-1 infectibility of cultivated peripheral blood lymphocytes of macaques and of baboons on day one and on day ten of cultivation. These data were correlated to plasma membrane lipid composition and membrane fluidity. We found a correlation between increased HIV-1 in vitro infectibility and changes in plasma membrane lipid composition resulting in decreased membrane fluidity of cultured primate lymphocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Do infections induce monoclonal immunoglobulin components?

The incidental finding of monoclonal immunoglobulin components (MC) in some infections prompted us to study this phenomenon more systematically. Using isoelectric focusing with immunoblotting (detection limit for MC 0.1 mg/ml), the following infections were studied for the presence of MC: visceral leishmaniasis, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, echinococcosis and infectious mononucleosis. MC were found in 16 of 20 leishmania patients and in eight of 18 CMV patients, but in only one of 20 echinococcosis patients and in none of 30 infectious mononucleosis patients. The MC were mostly transient, where tested. A minority of the MC found in the leishmaniasis patients was shown to bind to leishmania antigens. The specificity of the majority of the MC remains unknown. Further study is required to explain the high incidence of MC in CMV infection and visceral leishmaniasis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Detection of Lassa virus RNA in specimens from patients with Lassa fever by using the polymerase chain reaction.

Suitable oligonucleotide primers and probes were synthesized to amplify Lassa virus (Josiah strain)-specific nucleoprotein and glycoprotein gene fragments by using reverse transcription combined with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Our primers did not amplify the related lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. By using PCR, about 50 50% tissue culture infective doses could be detected in the supernatant of infected cells. Furthermore, in all five serum specimens and four of five urine specimens of patients with acute Lassa fever, viral RNA could be demonstrated. Negative results were obtained with all serum and urine specimens of healthy subjects. Our data suggest that PCR may be applied as an alternative to virus isolation in the rapid diagnosis of Lassa fever.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

[Ultrasound diagnosis of benign teratoma of the thyroid gland].

We report about a six-year old girl who underwent a hemithyroidectomy because of a teratoma in the right thyroid gland. In ultrasonography, the teratoma shows a rather well limited tumor in the right thyroid gland. It shows no signs of infiltration or compression of adjacent structures. The inner structure of the teratoma is characterized by an inhomogeneous and mixtured picture of high density echos, low density echos and areas without echos. Although the localisation of the tumor was possible by ultrasonography, the specific diagnosis of a teratoma remains difficult.

Child↗