Elevated tissue polypeptide antigen as a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome in haemodialyzed patients.
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome↗
Biomedical subjects
R Bauer
Publications and source records attributed to R Bauer.
Reactivity of human keratinocytes with the antimonocytic monoclonal antibody anti-Leu M2.
Skin biopsies from 49 patients with 21 different dermatoses and biopsies of normal skin were investigated with regard to the reactivity of keratinocytes with the monoclonal antimonocytic antibody anti-Leu M2 using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. In all excisates, a cytoplasmic reaction of keratinocytes was seen which was regularly weaker in the basal layers of the epidermis than in the upper layers. Marked differences in the labelling intensity were shown between the individual dermatoses. Keratinocytes have now been shown to react with several monoclonal antibodies directed against monocytic antigens; therefore the functional significance of this should be discussed.
Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
[Autoimmunity in alopecia areata. An assessment in 100 patients].
The sera of 100 patients with varying degrees of alopecia areata were examined for the presence of circulating autoantibodies against nuclear, mitochondrial, reticulin-fibril, smooth muscle, parietal cell, thyroglobulin, and microsomal components. Furthermore, in all cases we measured the percentage of total T-lymphocytes, T-helper, and T-suppressor cells. Other diseases were also considered that could cause such antibodies. In addition, the assumption was examined as to whether or not the loss of suppressor cells correlates with the presence of autoantibodies. The incidence of autoantibodies mentioned was not found to be statistically higher in our study; most of the autoantibodies could be explained by other accompanying diseases. Only in the T-suppressor cells was there a significant decrease. Patients with autoantibodies showed no more deficit in T-suppressor cells than patients without autoantibodies.
Adolescent↗
[Induction of puberty in Kallmann syndrome by pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation].
A 23-year-old male, diagnosed as having hypogonadotropic hypogonadism associated with hyposmia (Kallmann syndrome), was given a trial of pulsatile Gn-RH therapy for 100 days. The therapy led to rhythmic secretion of LH and FSH by the anterior pituitary gland. Both the mean and the peak gonadotropin levels rose steadily. Following the 9th day of treatment the previously subnormal gonadotropin levels were found to be within the normal range. After 23 days a pulsatile response of the Leydig cells parallel to the rhythmic LH secretion was noticed. The testosterone level increased significantly and was 2.6 ng/ml 3 months after the initiation of the therapy. At the same time an increasing activity of androgen-dependent glands became apparent and secondary male sex characteristics were noted. The seminal volume rose from 0.1 ml to 2.0 ml, but after 3 months of treatment spermatozoa could still not be detected. In summary, pulsatile Gn-RH stimulation represents a good option in the treatment of hypothalamic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism as the therapy resembles physiological stimulation and is well tolerated by the patient.
Adult↗
[Peripheral pulmonary stenosis: initial manifestation of a malignant teratoma].
A case of acquired pulmonic stenosis is described. The only symptoms reported by the patient, a seemingly healthy woman, were minor chest discomfort and mild dyspnea upon exertion for the last six month. Cardiac catheterization revealed stenoses of both the right and left pulmonary arteries. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mediastinal tumor mass that almost totally compressed the right main pulmonary artery and also encroached upon the left pulmonary artery. Histologically the tumor was a malignant teratoma. The subsequent course of treatment was complicated by cardiac tamponade. With regression of the tumor during therapy the signs of pulmonic stenosis disappeared. In cases with acquired pulmonic stenosis an underlying mediastinal tumor has to be considered.
Adult↗
[Age-related heart function in patients with healthy hearts].
Left ventricular function was investigated at rest and during submaximal exercise in 191 healthy subjects, including 46 women, by means of radionuclide ventriculography (RNV). As global parameters of heart function, ejection fraction (EF) and maximal rates of volume change during systole (VS) and diastole (VD) as well as endsystolic volume (ESV) were determined. These parameters were calculated for four age groups with mean ages of 32, 45, 55, and 64 years, respectively. At rest, heart rate (HR), EF, VS, and ESV were not significantly different in all age groups, whereas VD decreased with increasing age from 3.3 +/- 0.6 s-1 to 2.6 +/- 0.6 s-1. During exercise, HR, EF, VS, and VD increased in all groups, but less in the elderly. The smaller increase of EF and VD could be accounted for by HR alone. VS was both HR- and age-dependent. The age dependence of VD (at rest) and VS (under exercise) may reflect a reduction of myocardial compliance with increasing age. Differences of EF and VS with respect to sex were not observed, whereas VD was slightly lower in males.
Adolescent↗
[Clinico-immunological analysis of the significance of natural killer cells in skin diseases].
Natural killer (NK) cells comprise a heterogeneous subpopulation of mononuclear cells with the capacity to spontaneously lyse neoplastic, virus-infected and special physiological cells. As such, they have been widely implicated in the regulation of immune function by secretion of several cell-specific substances. Measurement of NK-cell activity in vitro and identification of NK-cell subsets using multi-colour immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analysis are helpful techniques for the recognition of abnormalities in the NK-cell system. Experimental and clinical studies have shown that NK cells may play an important role in natural resistance to tumours in vivo, certain viruses and other microbial diseases. Defective NK activity has been described in various dermatological diseases, such as cancer, infections and autoimmune diseases. Recent data have shown that several kinds of therapy influence NK-cell activity. This review describes the relationship between NK cells and dermatological diseases as well as clinical treatment.
Autoimmune Diseases↗
On the nature of IgG dimers. I. Dimers in human polyclonal IgG preparations: kinetic studies.
Human polyclonal IgG for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes is usually prepared from pooled plasmas taken from more than 1000 donors. After storage in solution under physiological conditions for a sufficiently long period, a considerable percentage of dimers (approx. 10-30% [w/w] at a protein concentration of approx. 160 mg/ml) represents the main component of aggregates in contrast to the essentially monomeric IgGs of monoclonal or single donor origin. Analysing the kinetics of monomer-dimer equilibration suggests assuming approx. 10(6) different antibody (ab) populations interacting independently and simultaneously with a specific partner of the reaction. Concerning the average apparent (functional) equilibrium constant of association, Kapp., a distinction could be made between two main populations characterized by values in the range if approx. 2.5-3.0 X 10(10) M-1 and 1.0 X 10(12) M-1, respectively. The results were obtained by computer simulation, taking an association rate constant, k+1, of 5 X 10(5) M-1 s-1 as a basis. Since the main part of the individual populations was found to interact Fc-independently via Fab-located binding sites, we suppose that the dimers are for the most part complexes of idiotypic (Ids) and anti-idiotypic abs (anti-Ids). Moreover, dimerization seems to be mainly a bivalent binding reaction, at least at the experimental concentrations. The results are in line with the concept of an idiotypic network regulation in man.
Animals↗
On the nature of IgG dimers. II. Idiotype--anti-idiotype complexes of polyclonal and monoclonal origin: size distribution patterns and molecular geometries.
Electron micrographs of a fraction containing dimers isolated from pooled human polyclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) suggest essentially a cyclic geometry compatible with bivalently associated monomers. It is obvious that such a structure can be produced by idiotype (Id)--anti-idiotype (anti-Id) interactions where the latter are able to neutralize certain combining site related Id functions. Accordingly, antibody (ab) activities against tetanus toxoid (tt) and rubella antigen (ag) were found to be almost exclusively confined to the monomeric molecules in preparations composed of monomers and dimers only. Moreover, electron micrographs of complexes prepared from a murine monoclonal Id as well as anti-Id reveal the presence of ring complexes, especially of cyclic tetramers. Gel filtration patterns of mixtures containing equimolar concentrations (concns) of such abs (1.6 x 10(-6) M) show, correspondingly for 9 different Id--anti-Id pairs and therefore probably representing a more common feature, mainly the formation of even-numbered complexes, especially tetramers. That is basically in accordance to an equilibrium model developed by Archer and Krakauer but not from a quantitative point of view because non-ideality terms had not been originally included. Despite taking strain energies determined by Schumaker et al. for cyclic complexes of polyclonal rabbit abs and a bivalent hapten into account for computation of size distribution patterns, the predominant formation of dimers was, nevertheless, again predicted by the modified theory in contrast to the experimental results. Fundamental conformity could only be achieved by further decreasing one of the statistical factors, namely the ring closing factor, which theoretically influences the generation of cyclic dimers. Therefore, referring to the experimental results of Schumaker et al., we postulate a strain energy well above 700 cal/mol for cyclic dimers produced by interacting Ids and anti-Ids. In general, the findings confirm predictions based on the interpretation of recent kinetic studies.
Animals↗
[Radiation burden and its measurement].
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Body Burden↗
[Value of pathologic thyroid gland findings in alopecia areata].
As we had frequently found goiters in patients with alopecia areata, we performed specific thyroid diagnostics in 120 patients suffering from this kind of loss of hair. By means of palpatory, sonographic, and scintigraphic examination of the thyroid gland, we found in 18% no goiters, in 70% diffuse goiters, and in 12% nodular goiters. In 115 patients, the metabolic condition showed euthyroidism, 3 patients had subclinical hypothyroidism, and 2 patients subclinical hyperthyroidism. We did not detect any increased incidence of antibodies against thyroglobulin or thyroid microsomes; only one patient showed Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The resected goiter tissue of 3 patients with thyroid enlargement and alopecia areata predominantly revealed the typical regressive changes usually seen in colloid and common goiters. But, contrary to the scalp biopsies, the goiter tissue only showed slight antigen expression of HLA-DR. On account of the high incidence of non-toxic diffuse goiters, we discuss the possibility of a goitrogenic factor associated with alopecia areata.
Adolescent↗
Langerhans cell as primary target and vehicle for transmission of HIV.
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
[Reactivity of conventional and immunologically standardized allergen extracts in the prick test].
In comparison with conventional allergen preparations immunologically characterized allergens were tested by skin-prick-tests for reactions. These results were compared with those of Rasttests.
Allergens↗
Role of activated T lymphocytes in mycosis fungoides.
A patient with mycosis fungoides was treated effectively with the immunosuppressant cyclosporine A. Excretion of urinary neopterin, a marker of activation of the cellular immune system, fell immediately at the start of therapy. This result argues in support of a central role of activated T lymphocytes in this disease as has already been proposed by other authors.
Adult↗
Continuity or incontinuity of orientation columns in visual cortex: a critical evaluation of published and unpublished data.
Orientation columns in the visual cortex of cat and monkey were originally defined as small areas where all cells from layer 2 to 6 had the same preferred stimulus orientation. Large variation in preferred orientation, occasionally observed, were interpreted as biological scatter or artefacts. In contrast to this view, recent experiments revealed frequent abrupt shifts in preferred orientations at the transition from middle to lower layers. This controversial issue is of considerable relevance for models of cortical wiring. Therefore, in this report new and previously published data are quantitatively evaluated. The comparison shows that the large orientation shifts cannot be reconciled as mainly due to deviation of penetrations from the radial cell columns. The present data suggest that, in middle and lower layers of the cat's cortex, two groups of cells with approximately orthogonal orientations coexist. Comparison of results from different authors supports our evidence for the occurrence of orientation shifts. The controversy is reduced to the difference in the proportions of penetrations with and without shifts in different laboratories. A possible explanation for this remaining difference is the lower relative frequency of shifts in heavily sedated animals. Our own data were collected from awake, behaving or lightly anesthetized animals in chronic preparations.
Animals↗
Dark-field electron microscopy of unstained biological materials embedded in Nanoplast.
Extremely thin sections of unstained materials (beef liver catalase, double-stranded calf thymus DNA, horse spleen ferritin and mammalian skeletal muscle), embedded in the water-soluble melamine resin Nanoplast FB101, were studied by dark-field electron microscopy and electron spectroscopic imaging. While ferritin molecules so recorded show 0.4 and 0.9 nm lattice fringes within the crystalline iron core, double-stranded DNA shows a helical repeat with a spacing of 3.4 nm. The gain in resolution of structural detail reported here is probably due mainly to the reduced section thickness as compared to traditional thin-sectioning techniques. As we reported earlier (Frösch & Westphal, 1984), melamine resins can be sectioned extremely thinly (less than 10 nm) and observed without a supporting film, making them especially suitable for dark-field electron microscopy.
Animals↗
Unemployment and mortality: a small area analysis.
It has been claimed that unemployment affects the health and thus the mortality of the unemployed, their families, and other members of their communities. This paper examines the relation between mortality and the unemployment experiences of small areas which vary in the extent to which their unemployment levels have changed in recent years. Quarterly numbers of unemployed, classified by age, sex, duration of unemployment, and unemployment office for 1977-81, have been aggregated to correspond to Family Practitioner Committee areas (FPCs), for which population and mortality data had been collected for a different study. There was little variation in long term (greater than 6 months) unemployment trends prior to July 1980, but subsequently there were large variations between FPCs in the rate of increase in unemployment rates. Mortality data for suicide, ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and all causes were examined for the period 1975-83. When the mortality trends of FPCs with different unemployment experiences were compared, no statistically significant differences in trends were found, although areas with greater increases in unemployment appeared to have slightly worse mortality trends for suicide, ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and total mortality for men in the younger age groups. If changes in the level of unemployment do have an effect on changes in trends in mortality levels, this effect is not of sufficient magnitude to be statistically significant with the sample available, in spite of the fact that it included the whole of England and Wales.
Adult↗
[Clinical and immune-modulating effects of the treatment with unsaturated fatty acids in atopic dermatitis].
The metabolism of essential unsaturated fatty acids seems to show changes in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). A defect or a deficiency of a Delta-6-Desaturase, which transforms cis-linoleic acid into gamma-linolenic-acid will be discussed. We examined the influence of a treatment with unsaturated fatty acids on clinical phenotype and the surface antigens of lymphocytes in peripheral blood. Prolonged recurrence free intervals as well as a faster ability to control relapse were established. Dysbalance in the lymphocytic system was able to be positively influenced. We found an increase of Leu 2 a-antigen carrying T-suppressor-lymphocytes and of the Leu 3+8+- antigen carrying subpopulation of T-helper-lymphocytes, which are responsible for activation of precursor T-suppressor cells into.
Adolescent↗