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V Ziegler

Publications and source records attributed to V Ziegler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Conception, implementation and evaluation of the new general medicine continuing education curriculum in Südbaden].

Since 1994, seminars for the new curriculum in general practice are conducted by the Academy of Continuing Medical Education (consists of the regional medical board and the association of public health insurance in Südbaden). Specialists of different medical disciplines supported by general practitioners in the role of moderators are preparing and teaching a wide range of topics. The general practitioners are supervising the different courses, thus, facilitating the learning process of the participants. Furthermore, the facilitators have to work out the specific needs and requirements of general practice and family medicine. The topics are presented in a form of lessons and clinical cases discussed in small groups (problem-oriented approach). The evaluation of two seminars was carried out in 1994 and 1995 including two thirds of the complete curriculum in general practice. From the positive results of the evaluation, modification and improvement of the didactic concept for future seminars in 1996 are derived.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1995

[Patch testing with the "Austrian standard series"--epidemiologic test values and results].

Patch testing for contact allergies is routinely performed by applying a "standard series" of the most frequently occurring contact allergens. Internationally "established" standard series have to be adapted to country- and population-specific factors (i.e., distribution of gender and age, occupational behavior, environmental factors etc.). In 1992 and 1993 altogether 11,690 patients were patch tested in 14 Austrian test centers with the "Austrian standard patch test series" as recommended by the working group "Contact Allergy" of the Austrian Society of Dermatology. Altogether data on 11,544 patients were complete and are analyzed in this study. 71.5% of the test population were female with an average age of 39 years, whereas the male patients had an average age of 40 years. 38.1% of the patients were younger than 30 years, 47.8% were in the group ranging from 31 to 60 years and 14% of the tested patients were older than 60 years. Cutaneous sensitization was found in 51% of the people tested with the "Austrian standard series". This proportion varied between 40.8 and 61.4% from center to center (with more than 100 tested persons). 15 (60%) of the 25 test substances in 1992 and 17 (68%) in 1993 surpassed the limit of a sensitization frequency of 1%. The "hit list" of substances did not differ qualitatively from those of other international studies, with only one remarkable, well described "Austrian-specific" exception, namely the mercury-containing thiomersal (second place).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Experimentally induced malignant lymphoma due to chronic antigen stimulation.

Animal experiments were started in 1988 with the aim of inducing malignant lymphomas. 52 guinea pigs were exposed to potassium dichromate using the TINA test (plus 39 control animals). Following the sensitization procedure, the test animals and 15 control guinea pigs were exposed daily (5 x a week) epicutaneously to the antigen up to the present time. Currently, 30 exposed and 17 control animals are still in the experiment. In 3 out of 17 post-mortem examinations, histologically evident lymphomas were found. In the control animals, no tumor has been seen. The experiments support lymphoma causation by chronic antigen stimulation. The experiments are continuing.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1993

Induction of type IV hypersensitivity to contact allergens in guinea pigs by in vitro haptenized allogenic peritoneal exudate cells.

The induction of type IV hypersensitivity to contact allergens in guinea pigs has been studied by using allogenic peritoneal exudate cells (> 90% macrophages), which had been incubated primarily in vitro with dinitrochlorobenzene, formaldehyde, potassium dichromate, nickel II sulphate or para-aminobenzoic acid. In these guinea pig sensitization experiments Freund's complete adjuvant was used. In all haptens investigated the sensitization rates of the presented method were parallel to the known contact allergenicity in humans and, apart from the potassium dichromate results, comparable with those of the guinea pig maximization test. Because of its alternative immunization procedure, in which only few or no allergen molecules escape the effective presentation pathway, the authors conclude that this method could be developed into a predictive test assay for the evaluation of the contact allergenicity of water-soluble substances.

Allergens↗
PubMed1992

[Chemically-induced scleroderma].

Scleroderma-like diseases can be induced by a number of chemical compounds, such as plastics, solvents and drugs. Contaminated rapeseed oil was the cause of the toxic oil syndrome and L-tryptophan induces the so-called eosinophilia-myalgia-syndrome. On the other hand, paraffin and silicon can trigger so-called adjuvant disease, while long-term exposure to silica can lead to idiopathic scleroderma (associated with silicosis in some cases). In addition to the clinical features, some pathogenetic data in the literature, such as genetic factors (HLA, chromosomal anomalies, enzyme deficiencies) and the metabolism of chlorinated ethylenes via reactive epoxide intermediate products, and our own findings are reported. Silica-induced scleroderma cannot be distinguished from the idiopathic form by epidemiological, clinical or immunological studies or by parameters referring to the blood vessels or collagen metabolism. In cell culture studies it has been shown that macrophages/monocytes release IL1, IL6 and TNF after ingestion of silica, which affects fibroblasts, T-helper cells and endothelial cells. Comparative results from the silicosis literature are reported. Finally, the possibly stimulating role of ionizing irradiation (uranium mining) in favouring the development of scleroderma is discussed.

Ethylenes↗
PubMed1991

[The mentally ill artist in the work of E. T. A. Hoffmann in relation to psychological theories at that time].

The work of one of the greatest writers of German Romanticism, E.T.A. Hoffmann, incorporates a great deal of current medical knowledge, which Hoffmann used in a skillful and detailed manner in the portrayal of his characters and their motives. Immersed as he was in contemporary medical practice, an interest fuelled by his own deep-seated hypochondria, he was particularly taken with the works of Philippe Pinel, Johann Christoph Reil, Carl A.F. Kluge, and Gotthelf Heinrich Schubert, who were all interested in the working of the mind. This article demonstrates how attention to Hoffmans's medical reading list offers insights useful for critical understanding of his work, using as an example the analysis of the mad goldsmith Cardillac in one of Hoffmann's most famous stories, 'Das Fräulein von Scuderi'.

Creativity↗
PubMed1991

[Contact eczema and "standard test"--do "International Standard Test Series" coincide with Austrian local characteristics?].

Testing with a "standard" group of substances has proved of great value when allergic contact dermatitis is suspected and the offending agent cannot be pinpointed by careful history-taking. But internationally standardized series do not take into account locally important and individual factors, changing consumer habits or economic aspects. We have, thus, compared the suitability of two standard series, the ICDRG-European and the DKG-German standard, for Austrian purposes. 1,478 patients with a clinical diagnosis of contact dermatitis were patch tested between 11/88 and 4/90 with the ICDRG allergens; the second collective of 505 patients was tested between 5/90 and 1/91 with the DKG series. Only 12 out of the 27 substances of the ICDRG series exceeded the critical incidence of 1%; 6 were below this limit but positive in more than 0.5% and 9 hardly ever aroused positive reactions. In the DKG series, 17 out of 23 substances surpassed the limit, 2 were positive in more than 0.5%, and 4 caused virtually no reactions. However, 4 allergens with frequent sensitization rates were included neither in the ICDRG nor in the DKG series and 2 others were missing in the over-dimensioned ICDRG standard. Our results demonstrate that internationally established standard series have to adapted for the local situation in Austria, and that a constant review is essential with replacement of allergens as necessary according to changing production techniques and consumer habits. Suggestions for an "Austrian standard patch test series" are proposed on the basis of our results but in spite of being helpful in general terms interpretation of such a test in the individual patient with eczema remains problematic.

Allergens↗
PubMed1990

[Quartz crystals in the skin as a cause of progressive systemic scleroderma].

There is a close correlation between the systemic sclerosis and the exposure to crystalline silica in the GDR. The silica content was investigated in the skin of the patients. Silica particles were found using phase-contrast and polarizing microscopy. The size of the crystals varied from 1 to 90 micrometer. Below a silica content of 10% in the dust it is unlikely that systemic sclerosis is developing.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1990

Brofaromine (CGP 11 305 A): estimation of plasma concentrations by a biologic technique as compared to liquid chromatography.

In an open clinical trial 13 depressives significantly improved under the reversible and selective type-A monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor brofaromine. The inhibitory potency of deproteinated plasma on a crude MAO preparation from human placenta was measured as a parameter for plasma brofaromine. There were no significant differences in plasma MAO inhibitory potency between responders (improvement greater than 50%; n = 5) and non-responders. MAO inhibitory potency significantly (p less than 0.05) increased parallel to the increase of the dosage from 50 mg b.i.d. to t.i.d. confirming the validity of this technique. The biologic assay, however, overestimated brofaromine by a factor of two in acute kinetic experiments with healthy volunteers as compared to a chromatographic technique, although both methods significantly correlated (r = 0.928).

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Silica-induced scleroderma.

In a survey done in East Germany between 1981 and 1988, we found that 93 of 120 male scleroderma patients had long-term exposure to silica dust. We describe our findings in 12 patients with scleroderma and silicosis. The exposure time to silica dust was between 3 and 34 years; the interval between the beginning of exposure and the onset of scleroderma averaged 27.3 years (range 9 to 40 years). Antinuclear antibodies in titers between 80 and 10,240 with nucleolar and/or speckled patterns were found in 10 patients, antibodies against double-stranded DNA in three, Scl-70 (topoisomerase I) in three, and anticentromere antibodies in five. The following markers of collagen metabolism were increased in serum: beta-galactosidase in 12 patients, laminin peptide-P1 in 10 patients, N-terminal procollagen type III peptide in 10, and urinary sialic acid excretion in 7. We propose that crystalline particles of silica less than 5 microns may be phagocytosed by macrophages and release lymphokines and monokines, which activate fibroblasts and enhance their collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis. In addition, silica may act as an adjuvant to increase immune reactivity.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1990

Brofaromine (CGP 11 305 A) in treatment of depression: biological estimation of plasma concentrations.

In an open clinical trial, 13 depressives were treated with the reversible and selective type-A monoamine oxidase (MAO)-inhibitor brofaromine (CGP 11 305 A), the inhibitory potency of deproteinated plasma on a crude MAO preparation from human placenta was measured as a parameter for plasma brofaromine and possibly active metabolites of brofaromine. Patients significantly (p less than 0.01) improved under brofaromine. There were, however, no significant differences in plasma MAO-inhibitory potency between responders (improvement greater than 50%; n = 5) and nonresponders and no correlations with the change from baseline of the total Hamilton Depression Score (HAMD) or with changes of sleep (change from baseline of the HAMD sleep items). MAO-inhibitory potency significantly (p less than 0.05) increased parallel to the increase of the dosage from 50 mg b.i.d. to t.i.d., confirming the validity of this technique. The biological assay applied is a simple and reliable alternative when estimating the plasma concentrations of brofaromine and, possibly, other reversible MAO inhibitors.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Type III collagen aminopropeptide and laminin P1 levels in serum of patients with silicosis-associated and idiopathic systemic scleroderma.

A group of 191 patients with systemic scleroderma and 12 patients with silicosis-associated scleroderma were investigated for connective tissue turnover. The serum levels of type III collagen aminopropeptide (P-III-P), the laminin PI (Lam PI) fragment and the acid lysosomal beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) were determined by specific radioimmunoassays and spectrofluorometry, respectively. Increased levels of type III collagen aminopropeptide strongly correlated with enhanced activity of beta-galactosidase. Both parameters correlated with the clinical course in idiopathic systemic scleroderma and in silicosis-associated scleroderma. Serum levels of Lam PI were also found to be elevated in both groups, although there was no correlation with the severity of the disease. Autoantibodies directed against the DNA topoisomerase Scl-70 and against centromeric proteins were found in a similar range in patients with idiopathic systemic and silicosis-associated scleroderma. These results suggest that P-III-P, Lam PI and beta-Gal are useful serological markers of fibrotic activity and demonstrate similarities between idiopathic systemic scleroderma and scleroderma associated with silica-dust exposure.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Silica-associated systemic sclerosis is clinically, serologically and immunologically indistinguishable from idiopathic systemic sclerosis.

To determine whether the clinical, immunological and serological features of patients with silica-associated systemic sclerosis are different from patients with the 'idiopathic' form of systemic sclerosis (SS) we studied 22 underground coal miners who were exposed to silica dust (SD), 30 mine workers who later developed silicosis (S) and 17 mine workers exposed to silica dust who subsequently developed a systemic sclerosis-like disease (SA-SS). The patients with SA-SS had features clinically indistinguishable from individual patients with SS. They all had Raynaud's phenomenon, 14 had cutaneous sclerosis identical to that seen in acrosclerosis and three had a generalized cutaneous sclerosis. Sixteen patients had bibasilar pulmonary fibrosis, 10 had necrosis of the fingertip pulps, nine had oesophageal involvement and only one patient had renal involvement. Antinuclear antibodies and circulating immune complexes were detected in three and eight patients with SD, 14 and five patients with S and in 16 and nine patients with SA-SS, respectively. Anti-Scl-70 antibody was detected in eight of the 17 patients with SA-SS. Evidence for in vivo endothelial cell damage, as determined by elevated levels of von Willebrand factor, was found in nine patients with SD, 14 patients with S and in 10 patients with SA-SS. Following incubation of the patient's serum with confluent cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells there was only a significant reduction in calcium ionophore-induced release of prostacyclin with the serum from SA-SS patients compared to that with control serum (NC). The mean +/- SEM release of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (the stable metabolite of prostacyclin expressed as ng/10(4) cells) decreased from 2.90 +/- 0.27 to 2.01 +/- 0.33 (SD), 3.34 +/- 0.42 to 1.76 +/- 0.31 (S), 1.98 +/- 0.12 to 0.64 +/- 0.07 (SA-SS) and 2.28 +/- 0.33 to 1.36 +/- 0.21 (NC) with 1 and 20% serum, respectively. This study demonstrates that immune complex and antinuclear antibody formation and in vivo endothelial cell damage occurs following occupational exposure to silica. The patients who subsequently develop a systemic sclerosis-like disease have clinical, immunological and serological features which are indistinguishable from the idiopathic form of the disease although as a group the SA-SS patients have a higher prevalence of pulmonary involvement and the anti-Scl-70 antibody.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1990

[Early detection of scleroderma in quartz dust exposed workers and workers with silicosis by determining serum beta-galactosidase activity].

Progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) is a rare disease belonging to the collagen diseases. PSS is frequently observed in workers with an intensive exposure to crystalline silica and with silicosis in the GDR. The recognition as an occupational disease is regulated by law. The elevated beta-galactosidase activity in the serum of patients with silicosis and beginning PSS can be used for detecting of early stages of PSS. References are given to medical care of patients with silicosis and exposure to quartz.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Animal experiment studies of the irritative and allergenic potency of Deshisan].

Deshisan (Manufacturer: VEB Leipziger Arzneimittelwerk) was developed to improve the wound healing conditions. Ulcus cruris is the most important dermatological indication. Animal experiments were performed to examine side effects. The guinea pig maximization test was used to evaluate the allergenic potency. All 19 animals used were negative (control with penicilline: 9 positive out of 18). The acute and subacute dermal toxicity was investigated on the rabbit skin and rabbit eyes. The animal experiments confirmed the clinical findings, that Deshisan is well tolerated by the skin. Allergenic or irritative side effects are unlikely.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Occupationally-induced skin tumors in East Germany. Increased risk of basalioma in furriers and hide processors?].

The percentage of occupational cancer is only 0.5% of all tumors in the German Democratic Republic. International estimations are higher (4 to 38%). From 1981 to 1985 49 skin tumors (32 squamous cell tumors and 17 basal cell cancers) were accepted as occupationally induced disease in 47 patients. No tumors were registered in 5 of the 15 counties of the GDR. The occupational histories were analysed in 300 basalioma patients and 600 citizens of the same sex and age. The risk of getting a basalioma was significantly higher in the group of furriers than in the control population. It is recommended to accept a basalioma as occupational cancer in case of contact with carcinogens in furriers.

Aged↗