Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Wagner

Publications and source records attributed to L Wagner.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Increase by tri-iodothyronine of endothelin-1, fibronectin and von Willebrand factor in cultured endothelial cells.

Hyperthyroidism is associated with elevated plasma levels of endothelium-derived proteins such as von Willebrand factor (vWF), fibronectin (FN) and endothelin-1 (ET-1). This study was designed to characterize the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon at the cellular level. vWF, FN and ET-1 secretion and mRNA expression were measured in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to tri-iodothyronine (T3) for 13 +/- 1 days, using ELISA, Western blot, RIA and Northern blot analysis respectively. Exposure of HUVECs to T3 significantly increased vWF secretion (50 ng T3/ml: 117 +/- 5%, P < 0.01; 100 ng T3/ml: 127 +/- 26%, P < 0.01) as well as vWF mRNA expression (50 ng/ml: 116 +/- 13%, P < 0.001; 100 ng/ml: 136 +/- 30%, P < 0.002) (results are means +/- S.D. analysed by the Wilcoxon signed rank test). FN secretion was significantly affected by 50 (145 +/- 42% of control, P < 0.05) and 100 (116.8 +/- 16% of control, P < 0.05) ng T3/ml, and FN mRNA expression by 50 ng T3/ml (123 +/- 20%, P < 0.05). Long-term incubation with T3 increased both ET-1 secretion (25 ng/ml: 124 +/- 25%, P < 0.001; 50 ng/ml: 165 +/- 53%, P < 0.05; 100 ng/ml: 116 +/- 17%, P < 0.05) and prepro-ET-1 mRNA expression (25 ng/ml: 112 +/- 16%, P < 0.05; 50 ng/ml: 134 +/- 43%, P < 0.02; 100 ng/ml: 120 +/- 20%, P < 0.02). Protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms epsilon and beta II were not significantly affected by T3, whereas PKC alpha was increased in whole cell lysates and in membrane fractions of cells incubated with 100 but not 50 ng T3/ml. Prepro-ET-1 mRNA stability, cell numbers and proliferation, measured by [3H]thymidine assays, remained unaffected in HUVECs after exposure to T3. These data indicate thyroid hormone-induced upregulation of mRNA expression and protein synthesis of vWF, FN and ET-1, by PKC alpha-, beta II- and epsilon-independent pathways, explaining, at least in part, increased plasma concentrations of endothelial proteins and peptides in the hyperthyroid state.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1997

Long-term care in the Danish health care system.

Because of a declining birth rate and increased life expectancy, emphasis in the Danish health care system has shifted from child care to care of the elderly. The author examines the social, medical, governmental, and financial implications of this shift, focusing on an experimental scheme in the rural community of Skaevinge. By shifting from institutional to community-based services, the Skaevinge project created a new interdisciplinary structure that turned a nursing home into apartments and introduced 24-hour services for the entire community.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Haptoglobin phenotyping by newly developed monoclonal antibodies. Demonstration of haptoglobin uptake into peripheral blood neutrophils and monocytes.

We have generated two IgG murine mAbs that recognize native human haptoglobin (Hp). These mAbs, 3A8 and 4B2, efficiently bind to the Hp complex regardless of the serum donor's phenotype. The specificity of mAb 3A8 was confirmed by immunoaffinity purification of 3A8-binding material from human serum and subsequent N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the invariant 40-kDa chain. mAb 3A8 and 4B2 were also reactive with cell-associated Hp when studied by immunocytochemistry. When human peripheral blood leukocytes were tested, 90% of the granulocytes and a lesser (and variable) fraction of monocytes displayed an intense intracytoplasmatic granular staining. This was confirmed by flow cytometric analysis of permeabilized leukocytes and by demonstrating the presence of Hp (of the expected Hp serum phenotype) in extracts of washed granulocytes by immunoblotting. Leukocytes obtained from a Hp phenotype 2-2 donor, incubated in culture medium supplemented with 10% serum from a donor possessing the Hp 1-1 phenotype, contained both Hp phenotypes when analyzed by immunoblotting after a 6-h incubation period. In addition, Hp was actively exocytosed by granulocytes following their exposure to Candida albicans. These observations suggest that exogenous Hp is concentrated within granulocytes and not synthesized de novo and is, in turn, exocytosed following neutrophil activation. Northern blotting analysis is consistent with the lack of haptoglobin gene transcription in granulocytes. These findings together with the earlier observations that Hp modulates granulocyte activity suggest that Hp levels may be enhanced locally at sites of inflammation to modulate granulocyte activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Long-term bladder dysfunction in boys with posterior urethral valves.

We report a series of 60 children operated on for posterior urethral valve (PUV) before the age of 5 years and followed up for 10 years. This work aims to study the vesico-sphincteric sequelae of this malformation. 38 patients showed early urinary incontinence post-operatively. Of them, 20 were re-evaluated 10 years later by pelvic ultrasonography, pressure flow studies combined with EMG and assessment of renal function. 8 patients refused to undergo these investigations and 10 were lost to follow-up. Of the 28 evaluable patients, 22 are currently continent and a complete urodynamic study was performed for the 6 (10%) incontinent patients. Of them, 3 showed uninhibited detrusor contractions. The vesical compliance was frequently within the normal limits. No case of detrusor-sphincteric dyssynergy or urethral hypotony was found. 2 were successfully treated by oxybutinin and biofeedback reeducation, 2 were partially improved but their prostates are still in growth and the possibility of implanting an artificial sphincter was discussed in the remaining 2. The urodynamic evaluation of those patients in the long-term is encouraging.

Child↗
PubMed1996

Do intestinal hyperpermeability and the related food antigens play a role in the progression of IgA nephropathy? I. Study of intestinal permeability.

Intestinal permeability was investigated by using 51Cr-EDTA as a probe molecule in 29 patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgA NP) and 20 healthy controls in 1990. Intestinal permeability was significantly higher in the IgA NP patients than in the controls (IgA NP, 3.86 +/- 0.29%; controls, 2.72 +/- 0.23%, p < 0.005). There was a significant relation between the manifestations of the disease (proteinuria and/or microhematuria) and the increased intestinal permeability (p < 0.05). By 1994, after an interval of 4 years, average intestinal permeability in the 21 patients available for study had not changed (3.80 +/- 0.36 vs. 4.57 +/- 0.63%) and was significantly higher than in the controls (p < 0.02). In patients with elevated serum IgA levels (serum IgA > 3.2 g/l; n = 15) there was a significant correlation between serum IgA levels and the degree of intestinal permeability (p < 0.02). During the 4-year period, the patients' kidney function deteriorated (n = 25; creatinine clearance in 1990, 92.4 +/- 6.1 ml/min; in 1994, 73.9 +/- 7.6 ml/min; p < 0.0002), the deterioration being greater in patients with increased intestinal permeability. There was no relation between the histologic grade of the biopsy specimen, hypertension and intestinal permeability. These data collected over a 4-year period suggest that in IgA NP increased intestinal permeability may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease and adversely influence its progression.

Adult↗