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Biomedical subjects

M Simon

Publications and source records attributed to M Simon.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Impairment of some granulocyte functions in Sweet's syndrome.

Chemotaxis, phagocytic and intracellular killing activities of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) were investigated in vitro in 7 patients suffering from the acute phase of Sweet's syndrome. A moderate but consistent impairment of neutrophilic chemotactic activity (NCA) was revealed in all patients. Intracellular killing of blastospores of Candida albicans was diminished in 5/7 patients. Phagocytosis and oxidase activities were within normal levels. These results point to an alteration of some PMNL functions in the acute phase of Sweet's syndrome.

Candida albicans↗
PubMed1992

Expression of beta-2 integrin molecules on human keratinocytes in cytokine-mediated skin diseases.

Integrins are cell surface molecules of importance in a wide variety of cellular functions, including morphogenesis, cell migration and cell matrix interactions. The beta-2 (B2) integrin (leukocyte integrin, CD11/CD18) subfamily comprising three members, each consisting of a shared beta subunit (CD18) non-covalently associated with unique alpha subunits (CD11a, CD11b, CD11c). In the present study, we have analysed the expression pattern of B2 integrins on the surface of human keratinocytes (HKs) in biopsies obtained from healthy volunteers, from positive tuberculin skin tests and from patients with acute urticaria (AU), lichen planus (LP), psoriasis vulgaris (PV), mycosis fungoides (MF) or purpura pigmentosa chronica (PPC). In biopsies obtained from positive tuberculin tests and from the clinically involved skin of patients with LP, PV, MF or PPC, a multifocally occurring, suprabasal peroxidase-positive reaction was observed on the membranes of the HKs when the monoclonal antibodies (MABs) Dako CD11a, Dako-p150, 95 or Dako CD18 were used. In contrast, no specific staining of the HKs was observed with the same MABs in biopsies from healthy volunteers, from patients with AU and in the uninvolved skin specimens obtained from the other patients. The HKs from PV, LP, MF, PPC and AU patients and those from the healthy subjects failed to give a positive reaction when the MAB against CD11b (OKM1) was used. Our present findings provide further evidence that HKs may be actively involved in cell adhesion processes.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1992

Modulation of presynaptic sympathetic activity by kinins and related compounds: influence of converting enzyme inhibition.

Since converting enzyme and kininase II are identical enzymes and probably influences both, the biosynthesis of Ang II and the metabolism of bradykinin we investigated the effects of bradykinin, desArg-bradykinin and some bradykinin antagonists (desArg[9]-Leu[8]-bradykinin, HOE S 890307) on the sympathetic outflow of pithed SHR or Brown-Norway-Rats before and after acute or chronic inhibition of the converting enzyme by ramipril. bradykinin increased dose dependently the noradrenaline and adrenaline release in particular when the converting enzyme was inhibited. DesArg-bradykinin caused a dose-dependent increase in adrenaline release only after converting enzyme inhibition. The bradykinin-antagonists led to an increase in adrenaline release during ramipril administration. The weak but significant stimulation of adrenaline release by the bradykinin antagonists after converting enzyme inhibition might be due to unspecific actions on the adrenal medulla possibly induced by histamine release from mast cells.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed1992

[Ilizarov techniques of leg lengthening. Problems and results].

Leg lengthening procedures have developed rapidly in the last 20 years, especially distraction epiphyseolysis and corticotomy. We have used both methods since 1977 and carried out 22 distraction epiphyseolyses (20 patients) and 33 corticotomies (28 patients). The average lengthening distance was 8.25 cm and 7.8 cm respectively (minimum 4 cm, maximum 18 cm). The time per cm lengthening (lengthening index) was 45.8 days/cm for epiphyseolysis and 52.2 days/cm for corticotomy. The complication rates were similar in both methods (1.18 and 1.21 pro lengthening procedure). Both techniques are preferably performed by a well trained team of physicians, nurses and physiotherapists for correction of leg length discrepancies.

Achondroplasia↗
PubMed1992

Genital injuries resulting from sexual abuse: a longitudinal study.

Three children who incurred genital injuries as a result of sexual assaults were followed up on a longitudinal basis to document the anatomical changes which ensued. The subjects, who were 4 months, 4 years 5 months, and 9 years of age, were followed up for periods ranging from 14 months to 3 years. A multi-method examination approach and a 35-mm camera mounted on a colposcope were used to examine and record their injuries. Signs of the acute damage disappeared rapidly, and the wounds healed without complications. Following the resolution of the acute injuries, the changes created by the trauma remained relatively stable throughout the prepubertal years. The most persistent findings were irregular hymenal edges and narrow rims at the point of the injury. Over time the jagged, angular margins smoothed off. Disruption of the hymen exposed underlying longitudinal intravaginal ridges whose hymenal attachments created mounds or projections. There was little apparent scar formation. Even the injuries to the posterior fourchettes healed with minimal scar tissue and left only the slightest evidence of the trauma. With the onset of puberty, the hymenal changes in the oldest subject were obscured by the hypertrophy of this membrane. An examination technique which used a Q-tip to separate the redundant tissues demonstrated that the signs of trauma had survived.

Child↗
PubMed1991

Antibodies to the alpha q subfamily of guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein alpha subunits attenuate activation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis by hormones.

The subfamily of guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory (G proteins) designated Gq has been shown to regulate the activity of phospholipase C by reconstitution. However, the role of these proteins in hormonal regulation of this activity has not been demonstrated. Two antisera were used in attempts to interrupt this pathway. Antiserum W082, developed against a peptide representing an internal sequence in alpha q, was specific for alpha q by immunoblots but did not recognize the native protein. Antiserum X384 was developed against a peptide representing the 12 amino acids of the common carboxyl termini of alpha q and alpha 11. It had a broader specificity for this subfamily of G protein alpha subunits and recognized the native proteins. Antiserum X384 specifically immunoprecipitated alpha q and its homologs from purified preparations and detergent extracts of membranes. Affinity-purified antibodies attenuated stimulation of phosphatidylinositide 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis by bradykinin, angiotensin, and histamine in membranes derived from NG108-15 cells, rat liver, and 1321N1 cells, respectively. Activation of the phospholipase C activity by guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate alone was also inhibited. Inclusion of the peptide to which the antisera were raised blocked the effect of the antibody. In contrast, affinity-purified W082, which did not recognize native proteins, did not alter regulation of phospholipase C. This indicates that the Gq family of signaling proteins can couple to several receptors and is responsible for the hormonal regulation of phospholipase C in these diverse systems. The further generality of this regulatory pathway remains to be established.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1991

Alteration of heme axial ligands in hemoglobin by organic solvents analyzed by CD, FTIR, and XANES techniques.

The effects of mixed solvents on the ligand binding site in hemoglobin have been investigated though three spectroscopic techniques. Two classes of organic solvents (amides and alcohols) known to increase or decrease the hemoglobin affinity have been chosen for this study. The analysis of the iron CO stretching band shows that the ligand binding sites of alpha CO and beta CO subunits inside the alpha 2 beta 2 hemoglobin tetramer exhibit multiple conformations. From the circular dichroism and X-ray absorption near-edge structure data, it appears that no core deformation or heme reorientation occur with the affinity changes. The iron-ligand average bond angle is the sole parameter that depends on the external solvent. Since cosolvents seem to affect the dynamics rather than the hindrance of the heme cavity, we suggest that the protein affinity could be associated with a hierarchy of subtle dynamic states.

Alcohols↗
PubMed1991

The 3' to 5' exonuclease activity located in the DNA polymerase delta subunit of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for accurate replication.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, DNA polymerase delta (POLIII), the product of the CDC2 (POL3) gene, possesses, in its N-terminal half, the well conserved 3-domain 3' to 5' exonuclease site. Strains selectively mutagenized in this site display a mutator phenotype detected as a drastically increased spontaneous forward mutation rate to canavanine resistance or as an elevated reversion rate to lysine prototrophy. Assays on a partially purified extract of the mutant giving the largest mutator effect indicate that the 3' to 5' exonuclease activity is reduced below the detection limit whereas the DNA polymerizing activity has wild-type level. Therefore, our results provide experimental support for the hypothesis that the exonucleolytic proofreading activity associated with DNA polymerase delta resides on the DNA polymerase delta subunit and enhances the fidelity of DNA replication in yeast.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

In vitro activity of flomoxef and cefazolin in combination with vancomycin.

207 clinical isolates from strains of patients from the University Children's Hospital of Kiel were investigated for their in vitro activity with the agar dilution method against flomoxef and cefazolin (alone and partially in combination with vancomycin). Staphylococci were also tested with other cephalosporins (cefoxitin, cefamandole, cefotaxime, cefotetan and latamoxef). Flomoxef and cefazolin always acted more vigorously on staphylococci than the other cephalosporins. Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus strains against flomoxef and cefazolin did not occur but was found in 15 and 5 of 98 Staphylococcus epidermidis strains, respectively. Enterococcus faecalis strains were always resistant against both drugs; Streptococcus faecium strains were only moderately sensitive. Combined testing of flomoxef or cefazolin with vancomycin showed synergism in almost all staphylococcal strains. Synergism was stronger when S. epidermidis strains were only weakly sensitive to or resistant against flomoxef and cefazolin in comparison to highly sensitive strains. Flomoxef (or cefazolin) acted synergistically in combination with vancomycin on E. faecalis and S. faecium with the exception of two strains of E. faecalis which showed an additive effect of both drugs.

Cefazolin↗
PubMed1991

Fatal B-cell lymphoproliferative syndrome in allogeneic marrow graft recipients. A clinical, immunobiological and pathological study.

We have studied four cases of fatal B-cell lymphoproliferative syndrome (LPS) developing among 333 patients (incidence 1.2%) treated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). All four patients had received a T-cell depleted graft. Onset of the first clinical symptoms (palpable lymph node enlargement in three and IgA-lambda paraproteinemia in two patients) occurred between 41 and 188 days post-BMT (median 76 days). The course of the LPS was rapidly progressive in all cases, leading to death in 2-5 weeks. The peripheral blood showed progressive pancytopenia with disproportionally high numbers of activated NK cells, apparently compensating for the T-cell deficiency. Post-mortem histological studies disclosed polymorphic B-cell proliferations, most pronounced in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, lungs and kidneys. Lymphohemopoietic cells were of donor origin in three patients. In the fourth patient, graft failure suggested a host origin for the proliferating cells. Immunophenotyping and gene rearrangement analysis revealed polyclonal proliferation in one patient, monoclonal proliferation in another patient, and an oligoclonal pattern in the other two patients. The clinical behavior of the LPS was independent of clonality. Immunohistologically, the proliferating cells showed characteristics of relatively mature B-cells in three cases, and pre-B-cell features in one case. Epstein Barr virus (EBV) serology indicated seroconversion (primary infection) in one child, and chronic active EBV infection in both adults. EBV DNA as well as EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) were detected in infiltrated tissues of all four patients. The labeling pattern on in situ hybridization suggested a replicative EBV infection comparable to that in lymphoblastoid cell lines. We conclude that EBV-associated LPS developing as a result of post-transplant immunodeficiency is a distinct clinicopathologic entity, differing from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (including Burkitt's lymphoma) and infectious mononucleosis of the immunocompetent host.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Polymorphism due to variable number of repeats in the human involucrin gene.

The coding region of the involucrin gene in higher primates contains a segment consisting of numerous tandem repeats of a 10-codon sequence. The process of repeat addition began in a common ancestor of all higher primates and subsequent repeats were added vectorially. As a result, the principal site of repeat addition has moved in the 3' to 5' direction and the most recently generated repeats (the late region) are close to the 5' end of the segment of repeats. In the human, most of the late region is made up of two different blocks, each consisting of nearly identical repeats. We describe here five polymorphic forms resulting from the addition of differing numbers of repeats to each block. As the variety and nature of the polymorphic alleles are different in different human populations, we postulate that the process of repeat addition is genetically determined.

Alleles↗
PubMed1991

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae ADR1 gene is a positive regulator of transcription of genes encoding peroxisomal proteins.

Expression of the CTA1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encoding catalase A, the peroxisomal catalase of this yeast, is sensitive to glucose repression. A DNA fragment cloned as a multicopy plasmid suppressing the glucose repression of CTA1 transcription was demonstrated to contain the ADR1 gene. Multiple copies of ADR1 increased catalase A formation not only on 10% glucose, but also on ethanol medium and in the presence of oleic acid, an inducer of peroxisome proliferation. Compared with wild-type cells, adr1 null mutants produced by disruption of the gene exhibit reduced CTA1 expression. This demonstrates that ADR1 is a true positive regulator of CTA1. Further experiments showed that it acts directly on CTA1. Alcohol dehydrogenase II, which is under ADR1 control, was excluded as a mediator of the effect on CTA1; deletion of bases -123 to -168 of CTA1 reduces expression and eliminates the response to the ADR1 multicopy plasmid without eliminating fatty acid induction; and gel retardation experiments demonstrated that ADR1 binds to a CTA1 upstream fragment (-156 to -184) with limited similarity to the ADR1 binding site of ADH2. Northern hybridization experiments further demonstrated that expression of two genes encoding enzymes of peroxisomal beta-oxidation (beta-ketothiolase, trifunctional enzyme) and of a gene involved in peroxisome assembly (PAS1) is also negatively affected by the adr1 null mutation. These findings demonstrate that the ADR1 protein has much broader regulatory functions than previously recognized.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Expression of complement receptor CR2 (CD21) on human subcorneal keratinocytes in normal and diseased skin.

Human keratinocytes are able to synthesize and express cell surface moieties characteristic of effector and/or accessory cells of the immune system (CD16, CD36, HLA-DR, intercellular adhesion molecule-1). In the present study, skin biopsies from healthy volunteers, from patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV), mycosis fungoides (MF), purpura pigmentosa chronica (PPC), acute urticaria (AU) and from positive tuberculin skin tests were investigated with regard to the reactivity with the monoclonal antibodies to complement receptors CR1 CR2 and CR3 by means of a multistep immunoperoxidase method. In the clinically involved skin of all patients with PV, MF or PPC, and in biopsies obtained from positive tuberculin tests, specific epidermal intercellular staining with OKB7 and Leu anti-CR2 was seen on subcorneal keratinocytes. This finding suggests a differentiation-linked expression of CR2 on human keratinocytes in cytokine-mediated skin diseases whereas CR1 and CR3 are apparently not expressed.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1991

Identification of medullary thymocytes by means of a monoclonal antibody.

A monoclonal antibody (IVA-1) reacting with bovine lymphoid cells differentiates the medullary and cortical zone of the thymus in cattle, pigs and sheep. The morphological picture indicates that the identified antigen most likely points out the route of maturation of the thymocytes. The antibody could be of use in studies of the development of thymocytes.

Animals↗