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Biomedical subjects

J Schmitz

Publications and source records attributed to J Schmitz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

[Topical methylprednisolone vs lidocaïne for the prevention of postoperative sore throat].

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the efficacy of topical methylprednisolone or lidocaine for prevention of postoperative sore throat. STUDY DESIGN: Randomised, prospective in single blind study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty patients ASA 1 or 2 undergoing tracheal intubation for dental surgery received before intubation either topical lidocaine 5% (15 puffs) or aerosolized methylprednisolone (80 mg). Postoperative pain was assessed by the patients using a VAS and a specific scoring system for sore throat, cough and hoarseness. Evaluations were performed immediately after emergence from anaesthesia, 1 h later, at time of the first postoperative drink, at time of the first postoperative meal and 24 h after surgery. RESULTS: Patients receiving methylprednisolone showed slightly better scores for sore throat and cough 1 h after surgery. CONCLUSION: Topical methylprednisolone may therefore be a useful adjuvant in the prevention of sore throat after intubation.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Placement of wild animals in sanctuaries].

In Germany and other european countries some sanctuaries for wild animals in hardship exist. For some species however the lack of available places is striking. As a consequence, not only is it impossible to help the animals, but also legislative rules are not enforceable in these cases. This situation can be remedied by a) increasing the number of places, which would require governmental measures as well as the engagement of zoological gardens, b) decreasing the necessity for the use of sanctuaries by measures, which prevent wild animals from falling into unsuitable conditions, and c) improving the availability of information about placement possibilities. If a place is found numerous points must be settled previous to the actual transfer, especially concerning the suitability of the facility and the conditions for the placement.

Animal Welfare↗
PubMed2002

[Study of psychological repercussions of 2 modes of treatment of adolescents with Crohn's disease].

UNLABELLED: No study has yet compared the respective psychological impact of corticotherapy and enteral nutrition in the treatment of Crohn's disease, and especially, the psychological problems linked to the wearing of a nasogastric tube 24 hours a day. The goal of this study was to collect comparative information regarding the real-life experience and the feeling of these two treatments. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From September 1997 to February 1998 at the clinic of inflammatory bowel diseases of the hospital Necker-Enfants malades, 51 patients aged 12 to 18 (average 15) participated in this study. Thirty [15 on corticotherapy (CT); 15 on enteral nutrition (EN)] answered a questionnaire inspired by a similar Canadian questionnaire (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire), and 21 passed Spielberger's anxiety tests, Beck's depression tests and a psychological interview. RESULTS TREATMENT: According to the 30 questionnaires the appreciation of the therapeutic results was similar in the two treatments, the majority of patients respected their treatment (only one patient on EN ate secretly and two on CT stopped their corticotherapy). Of the 15 EN questionnaires: nine out of 15 patients responded well to the suspension of oral feeding, two were hungry, nine experienced cravings and ten avoided meals during their treatment. From a cosmetic point of view, six/14 (43%) found it difficult putting up with the nasogastric tube 24 hours a day, and eight/15 (53%) on CT found the facial swelling difficult to bear. According to the 21 psychological interviews, eight patients deemed EN efficient, while only four felt the same about CT. Of the 11 EN psychological interview, no adolescent patients were hungry, eight had cravings and nine avoided meals during their treatment, seven mentioned they felt different and seven described how EN had upset the family's routine. Nine (82%) talked about how difficult it was to put up with the nasogastric tube 24 hours a day from a cosmetic standpoint while eight/ten (80%) on CT found the facial swelling difficult to live with. Seven complained that they had been the victims of verbal abuse. Quality of life: According to the 30 questionnaires, eight/15 patients on EN missed an average of 15 days of school against five/15 patients on CT, ten patients judged that EN restricted their daily lives and nine mentioned the daily difficulties to wear a tube 24 hours a day. TESTS: Spielberger's test of anxiety revealed that on average, the 11 patients on EN who were interviewed suffered the first level of anxiety, while the ten patients on CT felt the second level. As for the Beck's depression test, the 11 patients on NE suffered the first level of depression on average, while those on CT were subject to the second level. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that EN was perceived as being more disruptive to patients daily lives than CT and defines the difficulties linked to the suspension of oral feeding and the wearing of a naso-gastric tube. The study also describes the difficulties involved in coping with the side effects of CT, one example being facial swelling which can be as unpleasant from a cosmetic point of view as wearing of a naso-gastric tube.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Detection and characterization of plasma cells in peripheral blood: correlation of IgE+ plasma cell frequency with IgE serum titre.

In atopic patients and patients with hyper-IgE syndrome (HIE) highly elevated IgE serum levels can be detected. Due to their very low frequency little is known about IgE-producing plasma cells (PC) in peripheral blood. We used CD138 MACS microbeads to enrich plasma cells from peripheral blood of normal donors, atopic patients and one HIE patient. CD138+ cells were mainly CD45+, CD44++, CD19dim, CD38++, CD27++, CD86+, HLA-DR+/++, CD71dim, VLA-4+, VLA-5-, CD28-, CD25-, CD69-, CLA-, CD20-, CD21- and CD22-. They show weak expression of surface Ig but high levels of intracellular Ig and they secrete Ig in culture. Thus CD138+ cells from peripheral blood show characteristics of early plasma cells. IgE+ CD138+ plasma cells could be detected in 19 of 24 normal donors with an average frequency of 0.06% IgE+ cells among CD138+ cells. Higher frequencies were detected in atopic patients, atopic patients with markedly elevated serum IgE levels and the hyper-IgE patient with an average of 0.32%, 7.21% and 6.54%, respectively. Additionally, using the recently developed cellular affinity matrix technology, we were able to detect IgE secreting plasma cells and thereby could demonstrate that most of the IgE secreting cells express CD138. The frequency of IgE+ CD138+ cells among PBMC correlated highly significantly with serum IgE titres (r = 0.8532***), indicating that IgE secreting CD138+ cells in peripheral blood are directly related to the plasma cell pool contributing to the IgE titre.

Antibody Affinity↗
PubMed2002

[Can costs be lowered by post-hospital patient management with telecare].

The idea of Televisite is to equip the patients with a camera and a communication panel at the time of their discharge from the hospital. In that way patients and physicians are able to continue the treatment and the rehabilitation program. An easy to handle interface helps the patient to answer simple questions or to send voice recordings, pictures or videos via a service centre to the doctor in attendance. This concept has the great advantage that the patients has to visit the physician in the office or in the hospital only when absolute required. Routine checks can be done by telecommunication. Thus the efficiency of the system may significantly contribute to lower costs in the health care system.

Computer Communication Networks↗
PubMed2001

BDCA-2, a novel plasmacytoid dendritic cell-specific type II C-type lectin, mediates antigen capture and is a potent inhibitor of interferon alpha/beta induction.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells are present in lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissue and contribute substantially to both innate and adaptive immunity. Recently, we have described several monoclonal antibodies that recognize a plasmacytoid dendritic cell-specific antigen, which we have termed BDCA-2. Molecular cloning of BDCA-2 revealed that BDCA-2 is a novel type II C-type lectin, which shows 50.7% sequence identity at the amino acid level to its putative murine ortholog, the murine dendritic cell-associated C-type lectin 2. Anti-BDCA-2 monoclonal antibodies are rapidly internalized and efficiently presented to T cells, indicating that BDCA-2 could play a role in ligand internalization and presentation. Furthermore, ligation of BDCA-2 potently suppresses induction of interferon alpha/beta production in plasmacytoid dendritic cells, presumably by a mechanism dependent on calcium mobilization and protein-tyrosine phosphorylation by src-family protein-tyrosine kinases. Inasmuch as production of interferon alpha/beta by plasmacytoid dendritic cells is considered to be a major pathophysiological factor in systemic lupus erythematosus, triggering of BDCA-2 should be evaluated as therapeutic strategy for blocking production of interferon alpha/beta in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

[Intestinal malabsorption in the child].

Intestinal malabsorption in the child usually manifests by chronic diarrhoea and (or) deficiency of growth and weight gain. Given the wide diversity of causes, diagnosis is primarily based on history-taking and clinical examination, which subsequently directs investigations. Stool examination was long the reference to confirm malabsorption and to determine its mechanisms: impaired digestion (external pancreatic insufficiency), malabsorption (intolerance to cow's milk proteins or to gluten), fermentation (intolerance to primary or secondary sugars). Presently, however, the diagnosis is usually made on the basis of several simple examinations.

Child↗
PubMed2001

[Incidence of symptomatic celiac disease in French children].

OBJECTIVE: The study was carried out by the GFHGNP to determine the annual incidence of symptomatic celiac disease in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The diagnostic criteria were: symptomatic patients diagnosed under 15 years of age during 1996, villous atrophy and positivity of antigliadin and/or other antibodies. Cases were collected from referral centers, general hospital pediatric departments and private pediatricians with endoscopic practice. RESULTS: The study involved roughly half of the French pediatric population in 41 out of the 95 French districts. In all, 124 patients were collected: 76 girls and 48 boys. By geographical areas, in 30 districts where collection of data was complete which counted 186,285 births, the yearly incidence varied from 1/1731 births to 1/3110. (0.57@1000 to 0.32@1000). On the whole there were 77 cases i.e. an annual incidence of 1/2419 or 0.41@1000 (confidence interval 95%: 0.32 to 0.50@1000). Lower incidences were observed in the district of Paris: 1/4865 (0.21@1000) and Lyon: 1/3310 (0.27@1000). Those lower incidences could be explained by the difficulties of collecting the data in the biggest urban areas. The first signs occurred before one year of age in 73% of the cases, during the second year of life in 20.5% and after 3 in only 6.5%. The diagnosis was made before 2 years of age in 77% of the cases and after 3 in only 13%. In order of frequency symptoms were: failure to thrive (80%), diarrhea (59%), anorexia (59%), abdominal distension (57%), weight under 2 standard deviations (43%), short stature (43%). CONCLUSION: Compared with previous studies in two French districts between 1975 and 1990, the annual incidence of symptomatic celiac disease in children appears to be on the rise. The usual clinical signs continue to be observed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Rapid enrichment and detection of melanoma cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by a new assay combining immunomagnetic cell sorting and immunocytochemical staining.

Commonly used methods for detection of melanoma cells in blood, including RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry, display only a limited sensitivity and specificity. Reliable detection of less than one melanoma cell per ml of blood is hardly possible using these methods. To obtain greater sensitivity so that a single melanoma cell in up to 25 ml of blood can be detected (5 x 10(7) peripheral blood mononuclear cells, or PBMC), we developed a new assay for combined enrichment and immunocytochemical detection of disseminated melanoma cells from PBMC of patients with malignant melanomas. Melanoma cells are directly magnetically labeled using colloidal superparamagnetic microparticles approximately 60 nm in diameter conjugated to the anti-melanoma monoclonal antibody 9.2.27, with no reactivity to normal cells in blood. Magnetically labeled melanoma cells are enriched from PBMC by magnetic cell separation and detected by a new approach for immunocytochemical staining with monoclonal mouse anti-melanoma antibodies (anti-MelanA and HMB-45). The efficiency of this assay was demonstrated in a model system in which 5-500 tumor cells from the melanoma cell line SK-MEL-28 were seeded into PBMC samples from healthy donors containing 5 x 10(7) leukocytes. Mean recovery of the seeded tumor cells was 47.4 +/- 13.99% (n = 15). Applying the assay to 20-50 ml blood samples of patients with stage III-IV malignant melanomas, we were able to detect melanoma cells in two of eight patients (25%).

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2001

Interleukin-6-induced proliferation of pre-B cells mediated by receptor complexes lacking the SHP2/SOCS3 recruitment sites revisited.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) induces B-cell proliferation by binding to receptor complexes composed of a specific alpha-receptor (gp80; CD126) and the signal transducing receptor subunit gp130 (CD130). Immediately after receptor complex activation, signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) 1 and 3 and the Src-homology domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2) are recruited to gp130 and subsequently tyrosine phosphorylated. The activated dimerized STATs translocate to the nucleus and bind to enhancer elements of IL-6-inducible genes. SHP2 acts as an adapter and links the Jak/STAT pathway to the Ras/Raf/MAPK cascade but it is also involved in signal attenuation. Whereas STAT3 activation appears to be crucial for all biological activities of IL-6, the requirement of SHP2-activation depends on the individual biological response analyzed. The requirement of SHP2 activation for the pre-B cell (Ba/F3) proliferation has been reported previously [Fukada, T., Hibi, M., Yamanaka, Y., Takahashi-Tezuka, M., Fujitani, Y., Yamaguchi, T., Nakajima, K. & Hirano, T. (1996) Immunity 5, 449-460]. In contrast, we have recently demonstrated that the presence of a single STAT-recruitment site within gp130 is sufficient for IL-6- induced proliferation of Ba/F3 cells [Schmitz, J., Dahmen, H., Grimm, C., Gendo, C., Müller-Newen, G., Heinrich, P.C. & Schaper, F. (2000) J. Immunol. 164, 848-854]. To unravel this discrepancy we analyzed the IL-6-induced dose-dependent proliferation of Ba/F3 cells mediated by receptor complexes lacking SHP2/SOCS3 recruitment sites. Surprisingly, pre-B cells, after stimulation with low amounts of IL-6, proliferate much more efficiently in the absence of the activated SHP2 than in the presence of the tyrosine phosphatase. Therefore, SHP2 activation appears to be relevant for IL-6-induced proliferation only after stimulation with very large amounts of IL-6.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Apolipoprotein B48 glycosylation in abetalipoproteinemia and Anderson's disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Abetalipoproteinemia and Anderson's disease are hereditary lipid malabsorption syndromes. In abetalipoproteinemia, lipoprotein assembly is defective because of mutations in the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein. Here, we evaluated the intracellular transport of apolipoprotein B48 to localize the defect in Anderson's disease. METHODS: Asparagine-linked oligosaccharide processing of apolipoprotein B48 in normal and affected individuals was determined by the endoglycosidase H and F sensitivities of the protein after metabolic labeling of intestinal explants in organ culture. Cell ultrastructure was evaluated with electron microscopy. RESULTS: In Anderson's disease as in normal individuals, there was a time-dependent transformation of high mannose endoglycosidase H-sensitive oligosaccharides, of endoplasmic reticulum origin, to complex endoglycosidase H-resistant oligosaccharides, added in the Golgi network. In contrast, despite the translocation of apolipoprotein B48 into the endoplasmic reticulum in patients with abetalipoproteinemia and in biopsies treated with Brefeldin A, which blocks anterograde transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi network, there was no transformation of endoglycosidase H-sensitive oligosaccharides. CONCLUSIONS: In abetalipoproteinemia and Anderson's disease, apolipoprotein B48 is completely translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum, but only in Anderson's disease is the protein transported to the Golgi apparatus. This suggests that Anderson's disease is caused by a post-Golgi cargo-specific secretion defect.

Abetalipoproteinemia↗
PubMed2001

SINE insertions in cladistic analyses and the phylogenetic affiliations of Tarsius bancanus to other primates.

Transpositions of Alu sequences, representing the most abundant primate short interspersed elements (SINE), were evaluated as molecular cladistic markers to analyze the phylogenetic affiliations among the primate infraorders. Altogether 118 human loci, containing intronic Alu elements, were PCR analyzed for the presence of Alu sequences at orthologous sites in each of two strepsirhine, New World and Old World monkey species, Tarsius bancanus, and a nonprimate outgroup. Fourteen size-polymorphic amplification patterns exhibited longer fragments for the anthropoids (New World and Old World monkeys) and T. bancanus whereas shorter fragments were detected for the strepsirhines and the outgroup. From these, subsequent sequence analyses revealed three Alu transpositions, which can be regarded as shared derived molecular characters linking tarsiers and anthropoid primates. Concerning the other loci, scenarios are represented in which different SINE transpositions occurred independently in the same intron on the lineages leading both to the common ancestor of anthropoids and to T. bancanus, albeit at different nucleotide positions. Our results demonstrate the efficiency and possible pitfalls of SINE transpositions used as molecular cladistic markers in tracing back a divergence point in primate evolution over 40 million years old. The three Alu insertions characterized underpin the monophyly of haplorhine primates (Anthropoidea and Tarsioidea) from a novel perspective.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Dextroamphetamine for cocaine-dependence treatment: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.

A properly implemented agonist treatment regimen should improve retention and reduce illicit drug use. Cocaine-dependent subjects (N = 128) were enrolled in a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. In the multistage dosing design, subjects initially received placebo (PBO) or 15 to 30 mg of dextroamphetamine sulfate, sustained-release capsules. At week 5, the dose doubled to 30 mg or 60 mg for active groups. Subjects attended the clinic twice a week, provided urine samples, obtained medication, and had one behavioral therapy session a week. Retention was best for the 15- to 30-mg group, whereas the proportion of benzoylecgonine-positive urine screens was, from lowest to highest, 30 to 60 mg, 15 to 30 mg, and PBO at study end. Dosing must be refined. The results provide support for additional examination of the agonist model in psychostimulant-dependence treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

A broad spectrum of clinical presentations in congenital disorders of glycosylation I: a series of 26 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG), or carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein syndromes, form a new group of multisystem disorders characterised by defective glycoprotein biosynthesis, ascribed to various biochemical mechanisms. METHODS: We report the clinical, biological, and molecular analysis of 26 CDG I patients, including 20 CDG Ia, two CDG Ib, one CDG Ic, and three CDG Ix, detected by western blotting and isoelectric focusing of serum transferrin. RESULTS: Based on the clinical features, CDG Ia could be split into two subtypes: a neurological form with psychomotor retardation, strabismus, cerebellar hypoplasia, and retinitis pigmentosa (n=11), and a multivisceral form with neurological and extraneurological manifestations including liver, cardiac, renal, or gastrointestinal involvement (n=9). Interestingly, dysmorphic features, inverted nipples, cerebellar hypoplasia, and abnormal subcutaneous fat distribution were not consistently observed in CDG Ia. By contrast, the two CDG Ib patients had severe liver disease, enteropathy, and hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia but no neurological involvement. Finally, the CDG Ic patient and one of the CDG Ix patients had psychomotor retardation and seizures. The other CDG Ix patients had severe proximal tubulopathy, bilateral cataract, and white matter abnormalities (one patient), or multiorgan failure and multiple birth defects (one patient). CONCLUSIONS: Owing to the remarkable clinical variability of CDG, this novel disease probably remains largely underdiagnosed. The successful treatment of CDG Ib patients with oral mannose emphasises the paramount importance of early diagnosis of PMI deficiency.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2001

Expression of suppressors of cytokine signaling during liver regeneration.

The cytokines TNF and IL-6 play a critical role early in liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy (PH). Since IL-6 activates signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs), we examined whether the suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) may be involved in terminating IL-6 signaling. We show here that SOCS-3 mRNA is induced 40-fold 2 hours after surgery. SOCS-2 and CIS mRNA are only weakly induced, and SOCS-1 is not detectable. SOCS-3 induction after PH is transient and correlates with a decrease in STAT-3 DNA binding and a loss of tyrosine 705 phosphorylation. This response is markedly reduced in IL-6 knockout (KO) mice. TNF injection induces SOCS-3 mRNA in wild-type mice (albeit weakly compared with the increase observed after PH) but not in TNF receptor 1 or IL-6 KO mice. In contrast, IL-6 injection induces SOCS-3 in these animals, demonstrating a requirement for IL-6 in SOCS-3 induction. IL-6 injection into wild-type mice also induces SOCS-1, -2, and CIS mRNA, in addition to SOCS-3. Together, these results suggest that SOCS-3 may be a key component in downregulating STAT-3 signaling after PH and that SOCS-3 mRNA levels in the regenerating liver are regulated by IL-6.

Animals↗