Biomedical subjects

L Eckert

Publications and source records attributed to L Eckert.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Titanium dioxide ceramics control the differentiated phenotype of cardiac muscle cells in culture.

A new approach, the cultivation of heart muscle cells on biocompatible scaffolds made from titanium dioxide ceramics was established to provide a mechanism for in vitro engineering of a vital heart tissue. Terminally differentiated ventricular myocytes isolated from hearts of adult rats were kept in primary culture for long periods of time and used as an experimental model. The microenvironmental properties of titanium dioxide ceramics helped to maintain the tissue-like structural organisation of the cardiac cells in vitro. Coating of the cell substrata with fine-grained titanium dioxide ceramics imitating cell surface topography favoured the formation of focal adhesion complexes in the ventral plasma membrane of cardiomyocytes. It also promoted the cellular expression of vinculin, a protein that connects the ECM integrin receptors to the network of cytoplasmic filaments, which define cell shape. This topographical reinforcement of cell-material interactions led to stabilisation of the molecular linkage between the extracellular contacts and the intracellular cytoskeleton and thus assisted the preservation and maintenance of the heart muscle cell differentiated phenotype in long-term primary culture. The results of this work demonstrate a promising pathway for the regulation of cellular organisation in vitro by local geometric control.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

HIV-1 induces cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the cervix of infected women.

Although T lymphocytes are present in the genital mucosa, their function in sexually transmitted diseases is unproven. To determine if cervical T cells mediate HIV-specific cytolysis, mononuclear cells in cytobrush specimens from HIV-1-infected women were stimulated in vitro with antigen. Resultant cell lines lysed autologous targets expressing HIV-1 proteins in 12/19 (63%) subjects, and these responses were detected intermittently on repeated visits. All 8 subjects with blood CD4+ counts > or =500 cells/microl had HIV-1-specific cervical CTL, whereas only 4/11 with counts <500 cells/microl had detectable responses (P = 0.008). Class II MHC-restricted CD4+ CTL clones lysed targets expressing Env gp41 or infected with HIV-1. Class I MHC-restricted CD8+ clones recognized HIV-1 Gag- or Pol-expressing targets, and the epitopes were mapped to within 9-20 amino acids. Comparisons of intra-individual cervical and blood CTL specificities indicate that epitopes recognized by CTL in the cervix were commonly recognized in the blood. These studies provide the first definitive evidence for an MHC-restricted effector function in human cervical lymphocytes.

Cell Line, Transformed↗

PubMed1988

The ability of ethanol extract of propolis to stimulate plaque formation in immunized mouse spleen cells.

Ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) is capable of increasing the number of plaque-forming cells in spleen cell population of immunized male BALB/c mice, demonstrating their ability to produce antibodies. The single EEP dose exerting the maximal plaque formation (a three-fold increase over control) is 500 micrograms/mouse. When this dose is repeated within 24 hours--the plaque-producing effect is even stronger, but further increases in the propolis dose or in the number of its administrations, have an inhibitory effect on the formation of the plaques. The time interval between administration of the EEP and the immunization process should not exceed 48 hours.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

[The use of Biozym as a cleaning and disinfecting agent in gynecology and obstetrics].

This paper outlines the results of investigations about the germicidal behaviour of the protease containing substance Biozym. It has been noted, that a concentration of 2.5 per cent is satisfactory for a definite effect. Biozym shows no significant effect against yeast. By this reason it is possible to clean and to desinfect bacterial contaminated matters.

Bacteria↗

PubMed1982

[Analysis of alpha-amylase activity during pregnancy and labor].

Analyses were applied by the authors to 278 samples of maternal serum, 106 amniotic fluid samples, and 81 samples of umbilical vein serum, since no complex study into alpha-amylase activity in the context of pregnancy and labour had been found in the literature. Rise in amylase activity in amniotic fluid, depending on length of gestation, had been one of the points made elsewhere in a publication and was confirmed by the authors' experiments (17th to 22nd weeks of pregnancy: means = 1,8 +/- 0,8 AU/1; 37th to 41st weeks of pregnancy: means = 10,3 +/- 6,0 AU/1). Somewhat relaxed relationships between amylase activity in maternal serum, on the one hand, and age of the pregnant woman as well as activity in amniotic fluid, on the other, were found to be without any clinical relevance. Additional correlations were not detected, not even those with complications in the course of pregnancy and in labour. Global measurement of amylase activity is of no importance to obstetric diagnosis.

Amniotic Fluid↗

PubMed1976

[Estrogen excretion in patients with peripheral atherosclerotic occlusive diseases].

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Adult↗

PubMed1975

[Determination of bilirubin in the amniotic fluid by means of the chloroform-extraction method].

A reproducible method for the determination of bilirubin in amniotic fluid by measuring the extinction of the the chloroform extract is described. The measurements can be carried out by means of a simple spectrophotometer. In case of extraction of amniotic fluid containing blood informative results are obtained as well. Since the extinction values are equal to the deltaE-values it is possible to determine the degree of morbus haemolyticus fetalis using the schema of Liley.

Amniotic Fluid↗

PubMed1974