Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Havemann

Publications and source records attributed to K Havemann.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Demonstration of immunoreactive calcitonin in sera and tissues of lung cancer patients.

In sera of 194 patients with lung carcinoma, calcitonin was estimated by radioimmunoassay with an antibody against human calcitonin. Increased levels of calcitonin-immunoreactive protein were found in 57% of the patients with small cell carcinoma, in 10% of the patients with squamous carcinoma and in only 2 patients with large cell carcinoma. In patients with small cell carcinoma, serial determinations of calcitonin were accomplished during therapy. Significantly decreased calcitonin levels were found in patients who responded to therapy with cytostatics and X-ray. Increased calcitonin levels were measured from 1 to 2 months before clinical symptoms of a relapse were detectable. Investigations on the biochemical nature of this calcitonin-immunoreactive protein were made on both serum of lung cancer patients and tumor tissue. Evidence for the production of calcitonin-immunoreactive protein directly by the tumor was given by immune histology and by determinations of calcitonin in tumor tissue. Three protein fractions, which were immunoreactive with anti-human calcitonin, with molecular weights of about 100,000, 48,000 and 20,000, were separated by gel filtration. The two higher molecular weight fractions were degraded to molecular weights of about 17,000 and about 3400--the molecular weight of physiological calcitonin--by incubation with sodium dodecyl sulphate under reducing conditions. These results led to the conclusion that it may be possible to characterize a tumor-specific calcitonin precursor molecule; in addition to its use in monitoring therapy it may be useful in the differential diagnosis of small cell carcinoma.

Calcitonin↗
PubMed1982

Cleavage of IgG by elastase-like protease (ELP) of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN): isolation and characterization of Fab and Fc fragments and low-molecular-weight peptides. Stimulation of granulocyte function by ELP-derived Fab and Fc fragments.

The elastase-like protease (ELP) from human polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PNM) is able to split human IgG into Fab and Fc-like fragments and smaller peptides. These fragments are similar but not identical to those produced by papain. They differ in their electrophoretical mobility as well as in their molecular weights. Both ELP-Fab and papain-Fab show antigen-binding capacity. In contrast to papain-derived split products of IgG, the ELP-generated Fab and Fc fragments could enhance granulocyte function. Both ELP-Fab and ELP-Fc increase the spontaneous reduction of nitroblue-tetrazolium (NBT) in granulocytes dose-dependent in a homologous as well as in an autologous system. Furthermore, the ELP-derived Fab and Fc induce an active release of ELP by PMN. It could also be demonstrated that Fab as well as Fc increased the peroxidase activity in granulocytes.

Humans↗
PubMed1982

[Chemotherapy of stomach cancer].

In recent years several studies have been performed to improve the chemotherapy of metastatic gastric carcinoma. It is now established that combined chemotherapy for example with 5-Fluorouracil, adriamycin and mitomycin C or nitrosourea derivatives is superior to monotherapy with 5-Fluorouracil. With this combined chemotherapy, response rates of 30-40% can be achieved with prolonged medium survival time in responders. In locally advanced tumors the combined use of radiation and chemotherapy probably will be able to improve the results. Future studies are needed to show the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer patients after surgery.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1981

[Follicular lymphatic hyperplasia of the small intestine in antibody deficiency syndrome (author's transl)].

Selective serum IgA deficiency and follicular lymphatic hyperplasia of the terminal ileum were observed in a 30-year-old patient. Due to the relative ileal stenosis he complained of colicky abdominal pains particularly after flatulant food. There was no malabsorption syndrome or lambliasis. Although immunohistochemically IgA producing plasma cells were demonstrated in the intestinal wall, no immunoglobulin could be demonstrated in the intestinal juice, suggesting a secretory defect. The very high percentage of IgE producing plasma cells was noteworthy, these cells having led to the macroscopical picture of follicular hyperplasia. Due to the relative frequency of IgA deficiency (about 1 : 700) and the known increased incidence of malignant disease regular surveillance of these patients is indicated.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Incomplete fibrin formation and highly elevated Factor XIII activity in multiple myeloma.

Bleeding is a common complication in patients suffering from multiple myeloma. In some cases a defect in fibrin formation has been suggested as one possible cause of haemorrhagic tendency. As shown in this investigation the defect in fibrin formation, ascertained using PAGE, is due to a lack of alpha-chain polymerization of fibrin monomers in 5/11 patients with IgG myeloma and in 2/5 patients with IgM paraproteinaemia. No disturbed fibrin polymerization could be observed in IgA myeloma (n = 6). Factor XIII concentrations of subunit A and to a lesser extent of subunit S (Laurell technique) were highly elevated in all cases with regular fibrin formation. comparable values were obtained by measuring the transamidase activity of factor XIII by incorporation of 14C-labelled purtrescin into casein. Levels up to 600% of normal could be recorded. In contrast, all patients with a lack of alpha-chain polymerization had a factor XIII activity within the normal range. Addition of factor XIII concentrate to plasma from patients with defective fibrin formation led in 5/8 cases to a partial cross-linking of alpha-monomers. we conclude that in some cases paraproteins can inhibit the factor XIII and prevent its action on fibrin.

Blood Coagulation Tests↗
PubMed1981

Fibrinogen degradation by two neutral granulocyte proteinases. Influence of calcium on the generation of fibrinogen degradation products with anticlotting properties.

Degradation of human fibrinogen by elastase-like proteinase, chymotrypsin-like proteinase and plasmin, was done in the presence and absence of calcium ions, respectively. The resulting fibrinogen degradation products were tested for their coagulant and anti-coagulant properties. The results show that 1. fibrinogenolysis is delayed in the presence of calcium ions. Higher enzyme concentrations are required to get unclottable split products when calcium ions are present. 2. The fibrinogen fragments obtained in the presence of calcium are different in their molecular weights and anticoagulant activities compared to those obtained in the absence of calcium ions. This effect of calcium is most striking during fibrinogen cleavage by chymotrypsin-like proteinase. Elastase and plasmin-induced fibrinogenolysis was substantially influenced by calcium only at a late degradation stage.

Blood Coagulation↗
PubMed1980

[Calcitonin as a marker for bronchial carcinoma (author's transl)].

Calcitonin levels were determined in the serum of 126 patients with lung tumours of various histological types before the onset of treatment. High hormone levels were found in 54% of patients with small cell carcinoma and in 17% of patients with squamous cell carcinoma. There was no correlation with the degree of spread of the disease. However, serial determinations of calcitonin before and during cytostatic treatment showed good correlation between hormone levels and the clinical course. Response to treatment led to an equivalent fall in serum calcitonin. A clinically recognisable relapse was preceeded by a rise in calcitonin by 1-2 months.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1980

Ectopic hormones in lung cancer patients at diagnosis and during therapy.

In roughly 10 patients with lung cancer of various histologic types, the levels of hormones adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), calcitonin, parathormone, beta-choriogonadotropin (HCG), human placental lactogen (HPL), growth hormone (HGH), and prolactin were determined by radioimmunoassay. The ACTH level was elevated in 30% of patients with oat cell carcinoma and in 26% of patients with large cell carcinoma. Calcitonin levels were increased in 48% of patients with oat cell carcinoma. Elevated levels of HCG were found in 33% of patients with oat cell carcinoma, in 26% of patients with large cell carcinoma, and in 19% of patients with squamous cell carcinoma. Parathormone was increased in 32% of patients with squamous cell carcinoma in 27% of patients with oat cell carcinoma, and in a few patients with large cell carcinoma. Prolactin, HCG and HPL were present only in single cases. Elevated levels of at least one hormone were found in 65.2% of all patients, and in 78% of the patients with oat cell carcinoma. Serial determinations of ACTH and calcitonin showed that these hormones are useful for monitoring therapy in lung patients. There was no relation between hormone levels and the clinical stage of disease.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1980

[Prenatal diagnosis of alpha-1-antitrypsin phenotype. Case record and prognosis in severe alpha-antitrypsin deficiency Pi ZZ (author's transl)].

A mother had a child with cirrhosis of the liver and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. In a subsequent pregnancy the fetal phenotype Pi MZ was detected by isoelectrofocusing in the amniotic fluid. Quantitative assay of alpha-1-antitrypsin gave results in the normal range. Umbilical vein blood analysis confirmed the antenatal findings. In this case it has been possible to rule out the disease before birth. In this context the clinical importance of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is stressed, its frequency in the European and North-American population and the prognosis with phenotype Pi Z.

Female↗
PubMed1980

Structure of fibrin and fibrinmonomer in renal and hepatic failure.

After reduction and splitting of disulfide linkages the fibrinmonomer and fibrin of 45 patients with histologically confirmed liver cirrhosis and 38 patients with chronic renal failure (serum creatinine greater than 5 mg%) were analysed by SDS-PAA electrophoresis. Furthermore the activity of factor XIII was measured immunologically. The results indicated no polymerization of alpha-chains of fibrin while gamma-dimers were formed regularly in 71% of patients with liver cirrhosis and in 45% of patients with chronic renal failure. In liver cirrhosis and in 45% of patients with chronic renal failure. In liver cirrhosis the lack of alpha-polymerization correlated to the severity of the disease and to the decrease of factor XIII activity (no alpha-polymers formed when below 80% of normal). In renal failure this correlation was not demonstrable since in all cases the activity of factor XIII was within the normal range. After the addition of C14-labelled urea to normal plasma during clotting an incorporation of this tracer could be demonstrated by scintiscanner diamins like urea, forming in the course of renal failure, probably serve as the "wrong substrate" for the transaminidase factor XIII.

Factor XIII↗
PubMed1980

[Diagnostic value of clinical methods in the staging of abdominal Hodgkin's disease (author's transl)].

Explorative laparotomies were carried out on 68 patients with Hodgkin's disease in the University Hospital of Marburg from 1969 through 1978. These laparotomies were preceded by clinical examination, abdominal sonography in 27 cases, lymphography in 55 cases, scintigraphy of liver and spleen in 58 cases, and radiographic examinations of the intestinal tract in 18 cases. Sonography revealed a greater accuracy (90%) for splenic involvement than scintigraphy (74%); the results of sonography and scintigraphy of the liver were comparable. For the detection of para-aortal lymphomas ultrasound and lymphography can be regarded as complementary methods. Our results are compared with findings in the literature on abdominal sonography (n = 50), scintigraphy of liver and spleen (n = 185), and lymphography (n = 465) carried out before explorative laparotomy for lymphogranulomatosis. There was a better correlation for the systemic symptoms of the 68 patients with the clinical stage than with the pathologic stage. The importance of diagnosing different groups, e.g. in stage III, is stressed.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗