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Biomedical subjects

J Barth

Publications and source records attributed to J Barth.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Determination of serum concentrations of type III procollagen peptide in mechanically ventilated patients. Pronounced augmented concentrations in the adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Type III procollagen peptide (PCP) is a byproduct of type III collagen synthesis and a potential marker of collagen secretion. In chronic diffuse interstitial lung diseases, elevated PCP concentrations have been found in serum as well as in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. It has been proposed that PCP is a marker of early, active stages of fibrosis. As severe fibrosis is a frequent complication in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), we investigated PCP in patients with ARDS and compared the results with those from patients requiring mechanical ventilation because of heart failure and after neurosurgical and surgical interventions, and those from spontaneously breathing patients, including healthy volunteers and patients with pneumonia, liver cirrhosis, and renal failure. PCP concentrations in patients with ARDS were extremely elevated compared with those in control subjects (p less than 0.001) and correlated positively with FiO2 (r = 0.71, p less than 0.01). These results support the pathophysiologic concept of early fibrogenesis in ARDS. As preventing pulmonary fibrosis in ARDS is essential in improving survival rate, we believe PCP can be a valuable diagnostic tool in ARDS.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Proliferation, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor-receptor expression of alveolar macrophages in active sarcoidosis.

Alveolar macrophages (AM) in sarcoidosis display an enhanced mitotic activity. Immunocytochemical detection of the proliferation-associated Ki-67 antigen revealed significant increase in the number of proliferating AM in active sarcoidosis as compared with inactive stages of disease. Macrophage proliferation may provide an additional marker of disease activity. Since growth of macrophages is regulated by hematopoietic growth factors, we examined the expression of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte M-CSF, and interleukin-3 by bronchoalveolar lavage cells in active sarcoidosis. Expression of granulocyte M-CSF or interleukin-3 genes could not be detected. AM in active sarcoidosis displayed M-CSF RNA to a comparable level like normal AM. They differed, however, in about 50% of cases analyzed, from normal AM by an enhanced level of c-fms proto-oncogene (M-CSF-receptor) expression. The enlarged proportion of proliferating AM in active sarcoidosis may be the result of an increased influx of strongly fms expressing macrophage precursors into the alveoli and autostimulation of macrophages by M-CSF.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Proliferation of alveolar macrophages in pulmonary sarcoidosis correlates with markers of lymphocyte activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid].

The proliferation of alveolar macrophages in 47 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis was investigated using immune peroxidase stains with the monoclonal antibody Ki-67. In patients suffering from sarcoidosis, a significantly elevated number of Ki-67-positive alveolar macrophages was observed. The number of proliferating alveolar macrophages showed a significant positive correlation both with the number of lymphocytes in the BAL fluid and with the T4/T8 quotient in the BAL fluid of sarcoidosis patients.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

[Effectiveness of combination treatment with H1-(Tavegyl) and H2-antagonists (Altramet) in chronic/chronically-recurrent urticaria].

Histamine H1 receptor antagonists are a mainstay in the management of chronic/chronic recurrent urticaria (c./c.r.U.). Since experimental studies have confirmed the presence of cutaneous H2 receptors partially conflicting results have been reported on the use of H2 antagonists in c./c.r.U. 20 patients with c./c.r.U. of idiopathic type were treated with cimetidine plus clemastine or placebo plus clemastine in a double-blind crossover study. Before this treatment traditional H1 antagonists alone failed to show any satisfying therapeutic effect. The results reveal that combined therapy is statistically more effective than corresponding H1 antagonists alone (P = 0.001). The addition of cimetidine is proposed in patients with c./c.r.U. if conventional therapy has been tried and proven ineffective.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Therapy of psoriasis with the Philips TL-01 ultraviolet lamp].

22 patients suffering from exanthematic psoriasis were irradiated with the UV-lamps UVS 65-2 (Narva, Brand-Erbisdorf) or TL-01 (Philips Company, Eindhoven, Niederlande) respectively. The latter one emits a narrow-band UV-spectrum at 311 nm which seems to be most suitable for the treatment of psoriasis. On our condition the clearing rate was higher and the cumulative irradiation dose was significantly lower with the TL-01 lamp.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Ultraviolet exposure in the environment of welding work sites].

It has been checked if the "limits of the acceptable doses of ultraviolet radiation of monochromatic radiation at the workplace" (NIOSH-standard of USA) are adhered to in the vicinity of welders' work stations in a factory hall. For recording of UV-doses polysulphon films have been used. According to these investigations non-welders are exposed to doses of UV-radiation which exceed the limits recommended by about eight times. Clinical examinations of these persons showed chronic damage of the external parts of the eyes in a higher percentage than in a control group. It is pointed to the necessity of taking protective measures to shield persons working in the vicinity of welding job sites from ultraviolet radiation.

Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation↗
PubMed1990

[Functional and morphological characterization of alveolar macrophages from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis].

Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in 28 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. Enzyme cytochemical staining with the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase revealed a significantly increased portion of sarcoidosis macrophages showing a monocyte-like phenotype. Immunocytochemical staining with the proliferation-associated monoclonal antibody Ki-67 showed an increase of proliferating monocyte/macrophages related to disease activity in sarcoidosis. A functional activation of alveolar macrophages in sarcoidosis is indicated by spontaneous interleukin-1 secretion and increased release of oxygen free radical in sarcoidosis alveolar macrophages.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗
PubMed1990

[Interleukin 1 secretion from alveolar macrophages in pulmonary sarcoidosis].

Alveolar macrophages obtained from 28 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis were investigated to determine their ability spontaneously to release interleukin 1. In 14 of these patients, a significant spontaneous liberation of interleukin 1 was observed; the BAL parameters of these patients pointed to an elevated activity of the disease.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗
PubMed1990

[Interstitial lung fibrosis in rheumatoid arthritis--comparison of lung function and bronchoalveolar lavage].

In fibrosing alveolitides that are associated with rheumatoid arthritides, the BAL fluid reveals a characteristic cell pattern. These cellular changes occur at an earlier date than do the radiological signs of pulmonary fibrosis. Together with a measurement of the CO diffusion capacity, BAL is a suitable monitoring parameter for fibrosing alveolitides in rheumatoid arthritis.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Bronchoalveolar lavage in cytostatic drug-induced lung changes].

Fibrosing alveolitides are associated with a characteristic cellular pattern in the BAL fluid. In contrast, acute interstitial fibrosing pulmonary changes in patients receiving cytostatic drug treatment cannot be detected in the BAL fluid, since the direct influence of cytostatic agents on the cellular constitution of the BAL fluid predominates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Prognostic significance of macroscopic and microscopic findings in acute inhalation damage in the most severely burned patients].

The bronchoscopic examination of the upper respiratory tract is thought to be of major value recognizing and determining the severity of an inhalation injury in burn patients. From clinical observation however it can be questioned if the initial bronchoscopic aspect has indeed any prognostic significance concerning soon or later developing pulmonary complications in those patients. In 15 burn patients with inhalation injury the endoscopically evident lesions of the respiratory tract were classified and documented by photography. Additionally bronchus biopsies for histological examination were taken from different levels of the bronchus tree and a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to gather lung cells of peripheral lung areas. Summarizing the results no firm relations between macroscopically classified degrees of respiratory damage and histopathological diagnosed destructions were found; patients, however, whose differentiation of BAL cells showed an extreme neutrophilia developed progressive lung insufficiency (ARDS) a few days later.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Effect of acoustic stress on immunoregulatory cells in female patients with systemic lupus erythematodes (SLE), patients with sarcoidosis and normal comparative subjects].

14 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 12 with sarcoidosis and two age- and sex-matched groups of healthy subjects were exposed to a 10-minute acoustic stress test. Healthy subjects and patients with sarcoidosis showed significant increases in leukocyte and lymphocyte counts (p less than 0.01), relative elevations of B and Tsc lymphocytes (p less than 0.01) and a relative reduction of Th lymphocytes (p less than 0.01). Patients with SLE showed the same characteristic alterations (p less than 0.01) but the degree of this cell mobilization was significantly less pronounced as compared with the healthy subjects (p less than 0.01). No dependence was found between corticosteroid therapy or disease activity and the cellular reaction in SLE patients. In SLE patients there thus seemed to be an attenuated immune response due to stress which may play an etiopathogenetic role in this disease.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1989

Detection of an alteration of the alpha 2-macroglobulin gene in a patient with chronic lung disease and serum alpha 2-macroglobulin deficiency.

alpha 2-Macroglobulin (A2M) is a major human plasma protease inhibitor capable of inhibiting most endopeptidases tested so far. In the case of the other major plasma protease inhibitor, alpha 1-antitrypsin, genetically determined deficiency states are known to increase the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 20- to 30-fold in affected individuals. No defects of the A2M gene have been described as yet, but A2M may play a role in the regulation of protease activity in the lung, especially with respect to those proteases not inhibited by alpha 1-antitrypsin. We report here the molecular genetic detection of an alteration of the A2M gene in a patient with serum A2M deficiency and chronic lung disease since childhood. The alteration involves restriction sites detected with 10 different enzymes and is most probably caused by a major deletion or rearrangement of the gene. Nine of the restriction enzymes used detected no polymorphisms in 40 healthy control subjects and 39 COPD patients. The polymorphism detected in this patient with the enzyme PvuII was different from another described previously, and was found in this patient only. The patient is heterozygous for an alteration in the A2M gene; this may be responsible for his serum A2M deficiency and may be relevant to the early onset of pulmonary disease in his case.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Changes of immunoregulatory cells induced by acoustic stress in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, and in healthy controls.

In order to determine whether the characteristically attenuated cell mobilization after physical stress in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or sarcoidosis is disease specific or the result of lower tolerance for such stress, SLE and sarcoidosis patients as well as healthy volunteers were subjected to an acoustic stress model, independent of physical capacity. After a 10-min period of intermittent acoustic stress, healthy subjects showed significant increases in leucocyte and lymphocyte counts, marked relative elevations of B and T suppressor cytotoxic lymphocytes (P less than 0.01), and a relative reduction in T helper lymphocytes (P less than 0.01). By contrast, this degree of change was significantly less pronounced in the 14 female SLE patients studied (P less than 0.01) as compared with the healthy controls, but not in the 12 sarcoidosis patients tested. No dependence was found between the severity of disease or administration of corticosteroid therapy and cell mobilization. It is yet to be determined whether the attenuated response of SLE patients to stress is a consequence of pathophysiological mechanisms or plays an aetiopathogenic role in the course of the disease.

Adult↗