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Biomedical subjects

P Kern

Publications and source records attributed to P Kern.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Abnormal B-cell response to T-cell-independent polyclonal B-cell activators in homosexuals presenting persistent generalized lymph node enlargement and HTLV-III antibodies.

B-cell functions were investigated in a well-defined high-risk group for the development of AIDS/AIDS-related complex (ARC). Stimulation of mononuclear cells (MNC) with T-cell-independent polyclonal B-cell activators failed to increase high spontaneous IgG levels observed in vivo and in vitro. The secretion of IgM following stimulation with Klebsiella M (Klebs M) or Salmonella (Salm) membrane preparation increased by a factor of 4 to 6 and thus ranged between the results of the control group and those of AIDS/ARC patients; the response to a T-cell-independent B-cell mitogen, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC), showed profound abnormalities as well in this group. This indicates that functional B-cell abnormalities can be seen in addition to T-cell dysfunctions in patients at increased risk for the development of AIDS/ARC.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

[Dermatologic diseases in patients with AIDS].

This short review deals with the cutaneous manifestations of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), which comprise Kaposi's sarcoma, as an important marker disease for AIDS, as well as various skin infections caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses. In patients at risk of acquiring AIDS, an extensive immunological investigation should be performed if skin infections are established. In addition, a large number of cutaneous complications encountered in AIDS patients have an immunological background, e.g. an extreme hypersensitivity to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Therefore, the dermatological investigation of patients at risk of acquiring AIDS is urgently recommended as a regular part of the general check-up.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

[Collagen and steroid hormones].

The authors analyse the effects of steroid hormones on collagen, from up to date datas previously published and personal works. Glucocorticoids have catabolic effects; their molecular effects are reviewed. Conversely, oestrogens and androgens have an anabolic effect.

Androgens↗
PubMed1986

A phase I/II trial of recombinant interleukin-2 in AIDS/ARC: alterations of phenotypes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

In the context of a clinical phase I/II trial with recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) surface phenotypes of peripheral blood leukocytes and delayed-type hypersensitivity skin reactions were monitored in four patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and three patients with AIDS-related complex (ARC). The phenotypic alterations during the 14-day course of treatment were characterized by 1. a decrease in the proportion of OKT9 positive lymphocytes in AIDS patients, 2. an increase in the proportion of Leu8-/Leu3a+ lymphocytes in all patients and, in particular, 3. the transient significant decrease of the Leu7+/OKT3+ ratio, which was elevated pretherapeutically in AIDS patients (0.78 +/- 0.21) and ARC patients (0.48 +/- 0.06) compared to healthy controls (0.18 +/- 0.08). In contrast, the T4/T8 ratio of the patients' T-cells was not significantly affected by rIL-2 treatment. Delayed skin reactivity to recall antigens was improved in some patients. In one patient the surface phenotypes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determined on the first day of rIL-2 treatment in the morning before and in the evening after infusion of rIL-2. A rise of HLA-DR positive non-B-lymphocytes was observed. We conclude that the Leu7/OKT3 ratio, OKT9 and HLA-DR may be useful markers for monitoring the effects of biological response modifiers in patients with AIDS/ARC.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1986

Increased type-III/type-I collagen ratios in diabetic human conjunctival biopsies.

The ratio of type-III to type-I collagen is measured in human conjunctival biopsies from control and diabetic subjects. The tissue is digested by CNBr and the resulting peptides are quantified by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The peptides used are alpha 1-(I)CB7 and alpha 1-(III)CB8. In control population, of type-III collagen slightly increases with age. In two diabetic populations, (juvenile onset diabetes and maturity onset diabetes), the percentage of type-III collagen is significantly higher than in age-matched control groups. These data plus those previously obtained on genetically diabetic mice indicate that diabetes mellitus affects the expression of interstitial collagen phenotype. Preliminary results on prediabetic subjects suggest the role of genetic factors in such alterations.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Selective decrease of type I collagen synthesis in Fraser mice skin.

Quantification and biosynthesis of type I and type III collagens were determined in skin of control and Fraser mice (CatFraser mutation), which exhibit a genetically determined cataract. Skin organ cultures were labelled with [3H]proline. Pepsin-solubilized collagens were studied using three different approaches: (a) differential salt precipitation at neutral pH, followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; (b) differential salt precipitation at acid pH followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. (c) CNBr peptide analysis. These methods gave consistent and reproducible results, indicating a selective decrease of type I collagen in Fraser mouse skin as compared to control mouse skin. Metabolic labelling of skin organ cultures showed a decreased specific radioactivity of hydroxy[3H]proline in type I collagen of Fraser mouse skin. The concordant results of these experiments suggest a genetically determined alteration of interstitial collagen metabolism in the Fraser mutation apparently specifically concerning the expression of type I collagen gene(s).

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Detection of coronavirus-like particles in homosexual men with acquired immunodeficiency and related lymphadenopathy syndrome.

Coronavirus-like particles were identified by electronmicroscopy in the feces of homosexual men. The particles banded at a density of 1.21 g/ml after cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation. To determine whether the presence of this virus might be related to clinical symptoms, several patient groups were studied prospectively. In 8 of 16 (50%) homosexual males with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or unexplained lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS), coronavirus particles were found. In contrast, such particles were found in none of 18 heterosexual controls and in only 3 of 20 homosexual males without AIDS or LAS. Thus, coronavirus excretion correlated significantly (2 alpha less than 0.01) with the clinical diagnosis of AIDS or with syndromes belonging to the AIDS-related complex. In addition, such particles identified in the serum of one patient with LAS and diarrhea suggest invasion and systemic spread of the agent and underline that this virus behaves differently from "common cold" human coronaviruses.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

[AIDS fatalities in Hamburg (status: February 1985)--legal medicine aspects].

The registration of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS deaths is centralized for medical research. A short review of the epidemiological state of AIDS in Hamburg is given (situation as of February 1985), and the autopsy results of seven postmortem examinations are referred to. Kaposi's sarcoma was seen in four patients and opportunistic infections in all cases, especially as a result of Pneumocystis carinii and cytomegalovirus. Due to the constellation of groups with an increased risk of acquiring AIDS--homosexual males, intravenous drug abusers and prostitutes--forensic implications have to be expected.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

Preliminary clinical observations with recombinant interleukin-2 in patients with AIDS or LAS.

The toxicity of recombinant Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was studied in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or persistent lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS). Increasing doses of the drug from 10(3) Units/m2 to 10(6) U/m2 were given as an intravenous bolus injection. At the high-dose levels some minor effects, such as fever up to 39.5 degrees C, chills, malaise or vomiting, were observed. The administration of 10(6) U/m2 as a 4-hour infusion showed identical results. No particular alterations of laboratory parameters were found. At the high-dose level the serum concentration of neopterin, which is released from macrophages after interferon gamma stimulation, was significantly (p less than 0.001) elevated above pretreatment levels. The clinical observation of daily infusions of 10(6)/m2 for 14 days revealed the same side effects. All patients developed lymphocytosis and eosinophilia. Two patients had suffered from severe diarrhoea for several weeks presumably due to cryptosporidiosis. In both cases diarrhoea ceased under the treatment with IL-2 and did not occur in the following two months.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

Antibodies to adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV/HTLV-I) in AIDS patients and people at risk of AIDS in Germany.

A total of 2048 serum samples from Germany were examined for antibodies to adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV) structural polypeptides with an enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmative immuno precipitation. The origin of the sera samples was: 850 samples taken for virological or protozoal diagnosis; 626 samples from male homosexuals, about 20% of whom had lymphadenopathy syndrome; 164 from hemophiliacs; 184 were from multiple transfused, mostly dialysis patients; 9 from intravenous drug abusers; 182 from suspected cases of acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 33 from AIDS-patients. In none of these sera did we detect antibodies to ATLV, except in the serum of one patient who had been on hemodialysis for over 11 years. Obviously infection with ATLV or a serologically related agent is very rare in our country and an association with AIDS could not be observed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

Precipitable immune complexes in healthy homosexual men, acquired immune deficiency syndrome and the related lymphadenopathy syndrome.

Increased levels of 3% PEG precipitable circulating immune complexes (CIC) were found in healthy homosexual men, in homosexual patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and in the AIDS related lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS). The degree of CIC elevation increases from healthy homosexual men to LAS and AIDS. Patients suffering from AIDS associated with opportunistic infections had a more pronounced increase in CIC than patients with AIDS associated Kaposi's sarcoma. In LAS and AIDS the amount of CIC correlated with the degree of inversion of the T4/T8 lymphocyte ratio, whereas in healthy homosexual men with increased levels of CIC the T4/T8 ratio was not significantly altered. Laser nephelometric partial components analysis revealed that these complexes were of a complement poor subtype with low component levels of C4, C1q and C3c. IgM and IgG were found to be the major components. It is suggested that these CIC might represent a marker of the total antigenic burden of the immune system. Possibly, they are of prognostic and monitoring value for clinical handling of patients at risk for AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

[Mebendazole treatment of echinococcosis].

Forty patients with echinococcosis were treated with mebendazole (approximately 50 mg/kg body weight) and under observation for up to 8 years. In 8 patients, E. multilocularis-infection was diagnosed whereas 32 patients had liver (n = 19 lung, n = 7) or other infestations of E. granulosus. 23 patients had been treated with mebendazole alone. 20 further patients received the treatment pre- and post-operatively and in the remaining cases mebendazole was given pre- or post-operatively according to the patients' requirements. Besides the clinical and laboratory findings, morphological parameters of organ infestation due to the parasites were examined repeatedly by x-ray, ultra sound, Ct-scan or scintigram. In the course of treatment we noticed that mebendazole had a certain effect in the case of E. multilocularis-infection and in the case of lung infestation due to E. granulosus. Furthermore, patients who were treated with mebendazole and who were under observation for several years, showed improvement of the liver cyst. The analysis of all morphological data available from patients with liver cysts indicated that marked changes had already been observed in the period of one to thirty months after the beginning of therapy.

Echinococcosis↗
PubMed1985

[T and B cell reactions in AIDS and AIDS risk groups].

In addition to T-cell defects AIDS shows a separate B-cell dysfunction. Elevated spontaneous IgG-levels (not IgM) and a lacking proliferative and differentiation response to polyclonal B-cell activators can be demonstrated in vitro.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

Probable hybridization between S. intercalatum and S. haematobium in western Gabun.

Cases of intestinal schistosomiasis due to S. intercalatum were compared in an area of high prevalence of S. haematobium (Palmeveas) with those in an area of low prevalence of S. haematobium (Lambaréné) in the Gabon. The patients with intestinal schistosomiasis in the area with high prevalence of S. haematobium excreted more eggs resembling S. intercalatum in the urine than those in the low S. haematobium prevalence area. It is suggested that the eggs resembling morphologically S. intercalatum might be hybrids between S. intercalatum and S. haematobium.

Child↗
PubMed1984

[Lymphatic diseases specific to the tropics (Burkitt's lymphoma, tropical splenomegaly and Mediterranean lymphoma)].

Certain lymphoproliferative disorders (Burkitt's lymphoma, tropical splenomegaly, and Mediterranean lymphoma) are more frequently observed in the tropical or subtropical areas than in other parts of the world. The polymicrobial exposure of human beings in those areas to viral, bacterial and protozoal infections led to the assumption of a specific connection between these conditions and the lymphoproliferative disease. Some evidence has accumulated that the Epstein-Barr virus might be an oncogenic virus connected with the development of Burkitt's lymphoma. Repeated plasmodial infections were more tenuously thought to be associated with tropical splenomegaly and, similarly, Giardia lamblia or Vibrio cholerae infections with immunoproliferative small-intestinal disease. However, those connections are only speculative and by no means proven. Small-intestinal lymphoma represents an example of a wide spectrum of manifestations covering autonomous pre-malignant immunoproliferative stages, als well as the full-blown malignant stages. Polyclonal activation and proliferation of B-lymphocytes, as well as concomitant immunosuppression are the characteristic features of the pre-malignant situation and may be the basis for the malignant transformation of single cells. Thus, the final clinical picture resembles that of a malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Adolescent↗