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Biomedical subjects

U F Haustein

Publications and source records attributed to U F Haustein.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro analysis of adhesion molecule expression and gel contraction of human granulation fibroblasts.

The objective of this study was to determine whether human fibroblasts obtained at different times from normally healing wounds were phenotypically distinct with respect to cell-matrix interactions. We cultured human granulation fibroblasts obtained from repeated biopsies from the same punch area. On days 3, 6, 9, and 14 the expression of key adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix components at the protein level by flow cytometry analysis were compared with quiescent fibroblasts. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels were significantly elevated only around day 3, which implies a phenotypic change during the early phase of wound healing. Homing cell adhesion molecule, as well as the alpha4 integrin subunit (CD49d), were essentially unaltered. The alpha5 integrin subunit (CD49e), which imparts the specificity of the fibronectin receptor and alphav (CD51), a vitronectin receptor component, are upregulated around days 3 and 6; the alpha2 and 3 integrin subunits (CD49b/c) were only increased on day 6. In granulation fibroblasts, at days 3 and 14, the level of the beta1 integrin subunit was enhanced. In addition, collagen gel contraction with granulation fibroblasts increases constantly from day 3 to day 14. These results show that human granulation fibroblasts differentially express cell surface adhesion molecules depending on the age of the healing wound. Further, changes in the ability of these cells to contract collagen gels indicate a synchronicity between wound bed contraction and different stages of wound healing.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Longitudinal case analysis in atopic dermatitis.

The current knowledge on atopic dermatitis comes mainly from cross-sectional studies, which are not suited to establish time-courses or causal links in complex diseases. As an alternative approach, the method of longitudinal case analysis by the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) method has been introduced to investigate the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. The method was applied to the investigation of 2 patients suffering from severe and moderate atopic dermatitis. Disease activity, peripheral blood parameters (differential blood count, lymphocyte subpopulations, immunoglobulin E, eosinophilic cationic protein, soluble interleukin-2 receptor), mental stress and environmental factors were determined daily for 50 days. Both patients showed a positive correlation between CD4+ and CD25+ T-cells, a negative correlation between CD16/56+ natural killer cells and CD4+ T-cells, a negative correlation between eosinophils and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and a time-shifted positive correlation of up to 2 days between scores quantifying mental stress and disease activity. A positive correlation between T-cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, CD4+ T-cells and the CD45RA+ subtype, as well as a negative correlation between stress and eosinophils, sports and eosinophils, and sports and disease activity were found only in one patient with more severe atopic dermatitis. In conclusion, longitudinal time-series analysis might represent an interesting and adequate method to generate and test new hypotheses on biomedical problems which cannot be addressed by cross-sectional studies.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Systemic sclerosis-related Raynaud's phenomenon: effects of iloprost infusion therapy on serum cytokine, growth factor and soluble adhesion molecule levels.

Microvascular damage occurs in systemic sclerosis and is associated with increased serum levels of endothelial adhesion molecules and endothelium-associated cytokines, including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin, endothelin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Iloprost, a prostacyclin analogue, induces clinical benefit in patients suffering from scleroderma-related Raynaud's phenomenon. This study was performed to investigate the effect of iloprost infusions on endothelium activation. Serum samples from 12 patients with systemic sclerosis were examined using specific enzyme-linked immunoassays. The serum levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and soluble E-selectin were initially elevated and significantly reduced after iloprost infusions. The serum concentrations of VEGF and endothelin-1 revealed decreased levels after therapy too. These results indicate that the well-known clinical benefit of iloprost infusions on Raynaud's phenomenon is serologically detectable by a reduction of serum levels of endothelium-associated adhesion molecules, cytokines and growth factors reflecting an improvement in endothelial function.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The equatorial fibronectin band (EFB) on human spermatozoa--a diagnostic help for male fertility?

Spermatozoa were prepared by swim up technique in the same way as for in vitro fertilization of human eggs and incubated with antihuman fibronectin antibodies in the immunofluorescence technique. Fibronectin mediates adhesive interactions between cells. 69 p.c. of spermatozoa with a normal shape and only 17 p.c. of them exhibiting a pathological shape showed a positive fibronectin-fluorescent band on the equatorial segment, called equatorial fibronectin band (EFB). The cryopreservation of semen did not influence the EFB. The significance of EFB for the sperm-oocyte-binding is discussed in connection with the sperm morphology and epididymal function.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Peracute disseminated fatal Aspergillus fumigatus sepsis as a complication of corticoid-treated systemic lupus erythematosus.

Immunocompromised and granulocytopenic patients and those receiving long-term or high-dose corticoid treatment are predisposed to disseminating Aspergillus infections. However, Aspergillus infection has been described only rarely in patients with autoimmune diseases. We report on a woman suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus treated by antibiotics and high-dose corticosteroids, a primary risk factor, who developed a peracute disseminated fatal Aspergillus fumigatus infection involving the central nervous system. The present case is compared with 10 previous reports of invasive aspergillosis in systemic lupus erythematosus found by a literature search.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Disseminated mycosis due to Scedosporium prolificans in an AIDS patient with Burkitt lymphoma.

A case of fatal disseminated infection caused by the dematiaceous hyphomycete Scedosporium prolificans diagnosed post mortem is reported in a 60-year-old male patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who additionally suffered from Burkitt's lymphoma. The patient was significantly granulocytopenic following aggressive chemotherapy and irradiation. He developed dyspnoea at rest and chest pain despite a normal chest radiograph. Fluconazole treatment was carried out empirically because no sign of a fungal infection was detected ante mortem, either by mycological cultivation or by serological investigation. First post-mortem examination revealed a disseminated fungal infection involving the central nervous system. Scedosporium prolificans was cultured from the kidney, spleen and myocardium. In vitro, the fungal isolate was found to be highly resistant to all available systemic antimycotics.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pulmonary nocardiosis with cutaneous involvement mimicking a metastasizing lung carcinoma in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukaemia.

We report a unique case of a man suffering from chronic myelogenous leukaemia who presented with clinical symptoms, X-ray, and bronchoscopical findings consistant with a bronchopulmonary space-occupying process which was suspected to be a central lung carcinoma as a secondary de novo malignancy. In addition, the patient developed several subcutaneous nodular livid red lesions on the left forearm which were considered to be cutaneous metastases of the presumptive lung malignancy. Treatment was started with percutaneous radiation of the mediastinum over a period of ten days with a total dose of 25 Gray. The patient died from circulatory and respiratory failure. Only post mortem pathological examination was indicative of a nocardiosis of the lungs with haematological spread to eosophagus, pleura, and subcutaneous skin of the left forearm. Unfortunately, diagnosis of nocardiosis could not finally proven by culture or molecular biological methods. A lung carcinoma or an infiltrate of residual or relapsing chronic myelogenous leukemia in the lung could be definitely ruled out.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cutaneous breast angiosarcoma after conserving treatment of breast cancer.

Cutaneous angiosarcoma is a rare malignancy that sometimes occurs as a late sequela of breast conservation therapy. We report on a 79-year-old female who developed well-differentiated angiosarcoma in a lymphedematous left breast 5.5 years after surgery and radiotherapy for early invasive ductal breast cancer. The initial appearance was very similar to late radiation dermatitis, and histologically interpreted as scar tissue with atypical vascular lesion. The lesion progressed further, and was clinically suspicious for angiosarcoma. Thus, a second biopsy was taken which confirmed the diagnosis. A complete mastectomy removed all the tumor with clear margins. However, within a period of 16 months she presented four local recurrences which were treated by wide local excision. At present, the patient is free of locally recurrent tumour for 7 months. The few cases of breast angiosarcoma after breast conservation therapy reported so far demonstrate that these lesions are difficult to diagnose due to their rarity and their highly variable and benign appearance, which sometimes may mimic radiation-induced cutaneous changes. Since chronic lymphedema possibly contributes to the development of angiosarcoma, long-term clinical surveillance of these patients is recommended. Biopsies should be taken if new skin lesions occur.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Scleroderma and scleroderma-like diseases caused by environmental pollutants].

For the stimulation of research on scleroderma and the prophylaxis of occupational scleroderma-like diseases and the prevention of iatrogenic injuries, respect., it is important to know the inducing environmental substances. Plastics (vinyl chloride, epoxy resins), solvents (chlorinated, aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons), drugs (bleomycin, pentazocine), cocaine (abuse) and contaminated rapeseed oil are more or less able to induce scleroderma-like diseases. Vinyl chloride disease is the best known among these. The toxic oil syndrome represents the most inglorious example of the recent time. Paraffin and silicon can act as adjuvants and induce a progressive systemic sclerosis. In our studies it could be shown, that silica is able to induce not only a silicosis, but also a true progressive systemic sclerosis after long term exposure. Acknowledgment of such cases as an occupational disease is justified and regulated by law in the German Democratic Republic.

Bleomycin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Phagocytic activity of granulocytes after UV-irradiation].

The effect of UV-irradiation on three functions of human isolated granulocytes (viability, phagocyte activity and capacity to reduce nitrotetrazolium blue) was investigated. The phagocytosis appeared to be the most sensitive function. The number of phagocytic cells was decreased under UV-doses as low as 0.63 kJ.m-2. Cell lethality was increased under UV-doses 4.32 kJ.m-2 and higher. The capacity to reduce nitrotetrazolium blue was uneffected even at the dose as high as 10.17 kJ.m-2.

Granulocytes↗