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W Eisenmenger

Publications and source records attributed to W Eisenmenger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Immunohistochemical localization of fibronectin as a tool for the age determination of human skin wounds.

We analyzed the distribution of fibronectin in routinely embedded tissue specimens from 53 skin wounds and 6 postmortem wounds. In postmortem wounds a faint but focal positive staining was exclusively found at the margin of the specimens which did not extend into the adjacent stroma. Vital wounds were classified into 3 groups. The first comprising lesions with wound ages ranging from a few seconds to 30 min, the second comprising those with wound ages up to 3 weeks, and the third group with lesions more than 3 weeks old. Ten out of 17 lesions with a wound age up to 30 min showed a clear positive reaction within the wound area. Three specimens in this group were completely negative, while in 4 additional cases the result was not significantly different from postmortem lesions. These 7 cases were characterized by acute death with extremely short survival times (only seconds). In wounds up to 3 weeks old fibronectin formed a distinct network containing an increasing number of inflammatory cells corresponding to the wound age. In 2 cases with a survival time of 17 days and in all wounds older than 3 weeks fibronectin was restricted to the surface of fibroblasts and to parallel arranged fibers in the granulation tissue without any network structures. We present evidence that fibronectin is a useful marker for vital wounds with a survival time of more than a few minutes. Fibronectin appears before neutrophilic granulocytes migrate into the wound area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent

Comparison of the solophenyl-red polarization method and the immunohistochemical analysis for collagen type III.

In the present study, we have compared the staining pattern of the Solophenyl-Red 3 BL-method for the visualization of collagen type III with the immunohistochemical staining in serial sections from 7 skin wounds (wound age 3 days up to 4 weeks) to elucidate the specificity of the histochemical staining method. Large amounts of collagen type III were clearly detectable in the investigated wounds using the immunohistochemical technique. In the sections stained with Solophenyl-Red, however, only 3 out of 7 skin lesions showed a significant positive red staining at the wound margin or in the granulation tissue, while the adjacent normal connective tissue revealed a typical intensive staining. Using polarization microscopy no characteristic bright green fibrils, as reported for collagen type III, could be seen in the wound areas without positive Solophenyl-Red staining. Since the localization of collagen type III detected by immunohistochemistry and the presumed distribution of this collagen type by the Solophenyl-Red method was not identical, the histochemical polarization method has to be regarded as non-specific for visualization of this collagen type.

Adult

Time-dependent pericellular expression of collagen type IV, laminin, and heparan sulfate proteoglycan in myofibroblasts.

Human skin wounds (n = 62) with a wound age between 5 h and 6 weeks were investigated. The appearance of cell-associated pericellular basement membrane components collagen type IV, laminin and heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) in myofibroblasts was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Laminin and HSPG were first detectable around myofibroblasts approximately 1.5 days after wounding. Collagen type IV did not appear before the 4th day after wound infliction. In wounds more than 7 days old, 94% of the cases showed fibroblastic cells positively staining for laminin, 70% of the wounds contained fibroblastic cells positive for HSPG and in 63% a positive reaction for collagen type IV was obtained around these cells. The numbers of the cases as well as of the cells positively stained for laminin exceeded the corresponding values for HSPG and especially for collagen type IV. The pericellular appearance of laminin or HSPG around myofibroblasts, therefore, indicates a wound age of at least approximately 1.5 days. The pericellular localization of collagen type IV indicates a survival time of approximately 4 days or more. Since these proteins are still detectable in the pericellular region of myofibroblasts in skin wounds with advanced wound age (6 weeks) further information for the time-estimation of older human skin lesions cannot be obtained. A semiquantitative analysis revealed no significant correlation between the number of positively stained cells and the wound age, rendering this parameter unsuitable for a practicable time-estimation of human wounds.

Collagen

The time-dependent rearrangement of the epithelial basement membrane in human skin wounds--immunohistochemical localization of collagen IV and VII.

In 62 human skin wounds (surgical wounds, stab wounds and lacerations after surgical treatment) we analyzed the immunohistochemical localization of collagen IV in the epithelial basement membrane. In 27 of these wounds the distribution of collagen VII, which represents a specific component of the basement membrane of stratified epithelia, was also analyzed. We were able to demonstrate a virtually identical co-distribution of both collagen IV and VII in the wound area with no significant time-dependent differences in the appearance of both collagen types. Fragments of the epithelial basement membrane could be detected in the wound area from as early as 4 days after wounding and after 8 days a complete restitution of the epithelial basement membrane was observed. In all cases with a wound age of more than 21 days the basement membrane was completely reformed over the former lesional area. The period between 8 and 21 days after wounding was characterized by a wide variability ranging from complete restitution to deposition of basement membrane fragments or total lack of the epidermal basement membrane.

Adolescent

Time-dependent appearance of myofibroblasts in granulation tissue of human skin wounds.

Human skin wounds (66) inflicted between 20 h and 7 months prior to biopsy were studied. In order to identify the type of cellular differentiation of the fibroblastic cells in the granulation tissue, alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin were immunohistochemically localized. The value of any presumed time-dependent appearance and/or disappearance of positively stained cells was tested for the estimation of wound age. In skin specimens with a wound age less than 5 days (n = 15) no typical granulation tissue had developed and no alpha-actin-positive myofibroblasts could be detected. The first appearance of positively reacting myofibroblasts was noted in a 5-day-old wound. In 57% of the lesions with a wound age between 5 and 31 days (25 out of 44 cases) typical granulation tissue formation was present and myofibroblasts with positive reaction for alpha-smooth muscle actin could be identified. Numerous positively reacting cells could generally be found in wounds aged between 16 and 31 days, but also in wounds less than 16 days old. In 29% of the cases with a wound age of more than 31 days (2 out of 7 cases) alpha-sma-positive myofibroblasts also occurred. Fibroblastic cells positive for desmin could not be seen at all in our series. Our results demonstrate the appearance of alpha-sma-positive myofibroblasts with the initial formation of typical granulation tissue in human skin lesions as early as approximately 5 days after wounding. In contrast to recent experimental results these cells remained detectable in wounds aged more than 2 months in some cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evaluation Studies as Topic

Expression of the insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose-6-phosphate receptor in multiple human tissues during fetal life and early infancy.

The insulin like growth factor-II/mannose-6-phosphate (IGF-II/M6P) receptor has been detected in many cells and tissues. In the rat, there is a dramatic developmental regulation of IGF-II/M6P receptor expression, the receptor being high in fetal and neonatal tissues and declining thereafter. We have systematically studied the expression of the human IGF-II/M6P receptor protein in tissues from 10 human fetuses and infants (age 23 weeks gestation to 24 months postnatal). We have asked 1) whether there is differential expression among different organs, and 2) whether or not the human IGF-II/M6P receptor is developmentally regulated from 23 weeks gestation to 24 months postnatal. Protein was extracted from human tissues using a buffer containing 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate and 2% Triton X-100. Aliquots of the protein extracts were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting using an anti-IGF-II/M6P receptor antiserum (no. 66416) and 125I-protein A or an immunoperoxidase stain. IGF-II/M6P receptor immunoreactivity was detected in all tissues studied with the highest amount of receptor being expressed in heart, thymus, and kidney and the lowest receptor content being measured in brain and muscle. The receptor content in ovary, testis, lung, and spleen was intermediate. The apparent molecular weight of the IGF-II/M6P receptor (220,000 kilos without reduction of disulfide bonds) varied among the different tissues: in brain the receptor was of lower molecular weight than in other organs. Immunoquantitation experiments employing 125I-protein A and protein extracts from human kidney at different ages revealed a small, albeit not significant, difference of the receptor content between fetal and postnatal tissues: as in other species, larger amounts of receptor seemed to be present in fetal than in postnatal organs. In addition, no significant difference of the receptor content between human fetal liver and early postnatal liver was measured employing 125I-protein A-immunoquantitation in three fetal and five postnatal liver tissue samples. The distribution of IGF-binding protein (IGEBP) species, another abundant and major class of IGF binding principles, was also measured in human fetal and early postnatal lung, liver, kidney, muscle, and brain using Western ligand blotting with 125I-IGF-II: as with IGF-II/M6P receptor immunoreactivity there was differential expression of the different classes of IGFBPs in the various organs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Blotting, Western

The expression of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins is tissue specific during human fetal life and early infancy.

The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are bound to multiple IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) that are present both in the circulation and in extracellular fluids. There are at least six different IGFBP species that have been fully characterized in terms of molecular structure and amino acid sequence. The tissue distribution and local production of these proteins as well as the regulation of IGFBP production in different tissues have not been elucidated. We have studied the distribution of multiple IGFBP species in protein extracts from human kidney, skeletal muscle, lung, liver and brain by ligand blotting employing [125I]IGF-2 as the radiolabeled hormone. Five distinct IGFBP species with a respective molecular weight of 43, 38, 34, 30 and 20 kDa were detected on the ligand blots in tissues from human fetuses and infants (23 weeks of gestation till 24 months of postnatal age). The 34 kDa species and a 30-32 kDa IGFBP species were predominant in brain, whereas a 30 kDa IGFBP species was mainly detected in skeletal muscle. Immunoblotting experiments using an anti IGFBP-2 antiserum showed that the 34 kDa IGFBP species from human brain was presumably related to IGFBP-2. We conclude that IGFBPs are differentially expressed in different tissues throughout human fetal life and early infancy. Local production or accumulation of the different IGFBPs could modulate IGF action at a local level or alternatively have differential functions during development.

Brain

Clinical and morphological findings on mustard gas [bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide] poisoning.

In 1984 and 1985, a total of eleven Iranian patients were transferred to hospitals in Munich, Germany, after a reported gas attack in the Iran-Iraq war. The initial symptoms and pretreatment in Teheran, Iran, as well as the admittance examination data, the clinical courses of the patients, and the clinical laboratory data in Germany, are reported. The main injuries were to the skin, the eyes, and the respiratory tract. One patient stopped breathing suddenly on the third day of treatment (eight days after the exposure). A large piece of mucous membrane blocking a bronchus was removed during an immediate bronchoscopy, but attempts at resuscitation failed. The most important autopsy findings in this case were severe pseudomembranous inflammation of the trachea and the bronchial tubes. The histological findings are reported. Chemical proof of the poison (mustard gas) was established. A review of the history of chemical warfare, the physical and chemical properties of mustard gas, and a literature survey of clinical findings (including, especially, experiences from World Wars I and II) contribute to the understanding of the actual cases.

Adult

[Breath alcohol in relation to blood alcohol: problem with deviant values].

We report 23 cases of considerable differences of the results of breath alcohol analyses and the corresponding blood alcohol analyses observed by seven Institutes of Forensic Medicine in Germany and Austria. The usefulness of breath alcohol analysis on forensic casework at the courts will have to be evaluated on the bases of the possibility of such grave deviations.

Alcohol Drinking

[Short-stop ammunition].

Now and again ammunition is offered emphasizing its "less deadly" or "not at all deadly" effects. On application, however, these types of ammunition contrary to the manufacturer's allegations turn out to be a real threat. On the one hand results can be rather harmful while on the other side at court a remonstration on the grounds of not knowing such outcome beforehand may be successful. Under these aspects construction and effects of a special small shot ammunition for revolvers (Speer 38/357 Shot Shells, manufactured by CCI), of the cartridge "Short-Stop", manufactured by MB Associates in San Ramon (California) and, in connexion with own casework, a "shock-defense" sort of ammunition, manufactured by Rauchalles (Offenburg, West Germany) are compared and discussed with respect to their construction and effects.

Adult

[Corpora amylacea of the brain and their significance for forensic medicine].

In this study 66 section--cases have been examined in order to verify a possible coherence between the frequency of corpora amylacea (CA) of the brain and the age respectively the duration of mortal agony. The study was confined to the hippocampus, which is a zone of predilection for CA. The exploration with the light microscope showed a coherence between the frequency of CA and the biological age, but not with the duration of mortal agony.

Adult

[Micromorphology of rigor mortis in human skeletal muscle].

Following our examination on rat muscle, it was investigated, whether alterations, observed in semi thin sections and by TEM could be used for forensic purposes. Investigated were extension of stiffened muscles. Samples of various muscle groups were taken at different time intervals before and after breaking the rigor muscle fibers. They were examined by light and electron microscopy. Results on the development and spontaneous disappearance of rigor mortis during the early and intermediate post mortem period are almost equivalent to those found by experiments on animals. Results concerning the breaking of rigor mortis, however, are sometimes considerably more discrete and diverge substantially. Because of artifacts, especially during the transport of the corpse, the interpretation is more difficult. The use of other techniques combined with drawing out muscle samples immediately at the place, where the corpse is found, may optimize the results.

Humans

[Expert assessment of decubitus ulcers].

After the Supreme Federal Court (Bundesgerichtshof; BGH) has commented on the liability in civil law in occurrence of decubital ulcers in two judgments in 1986 und 1987, requests for expert reports on this problem area are to be expected more frequently in the future. Thus three forensic autopsies in which the appraisal of decubiti was the reason for the request were already performed in 1988 at the Munich Institute of Forensic Medicine. The priorities of the forensic appraisal are specified on the basis of the criteria enunciated by the BGH. Essentially, care must be taken with regard to exact documentation of whether a risk patient is involved, what prophylactic measures were instituted and that their implementation was checked. The minimum requirements of prophylaxis which have been exactly prescribed by the BGH are described.

Expert Testimony

[Traumatic rupture of the anterior communicating artery].

After a violent blow with the first into the face with fracture of the zygomatic bone, there was traumatic rupture of the only rudimentary anterior communicating artery owing to a rotation movement of the head. This resulted in fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Aneurysms and pathological wall lesions were not present. The appreciable alcoholization may have led to a reduction of the reflex functions of the head.

Alcoholism

[The significance of collagen in determining the age of a wound].

The aim of the present study was to find out whether the quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of collagen can be useful in the determination of the age of healing skin wounds in various body regions of patients of different ages and sex. The quantitative measurement of total wound collagen revealed no clear time-dependent changes. Immunohistochemical staining for collagen types I and III demonstrated the presence of type III as early as 2 days after injury. Procollagen type I was found in wounds beginning from 4 days on, while type I collagen was not present before 6 days after the injury. Immunohistochemical analysis of specific basement membrane proteins, collagen type IV and laminin, showed a reconstruction of the epithelial basement membrane beginning from on day 5, while a completely rebuilt basement membrane was found in most cases after more than 14 days, depending on the dimension of the wound and its treatment.

Adolescent

Monoclonal antibodies against human astrocytomas and their reactivity pattern.

The establishment of hybridomas after fusion of X63-Ag8.653 mouse myeloma cells and splenocytes from BALB/c mice hyperimmunized against human astrocytomas is presented. The animals were primed with 5 X 10(6) chemically modified uncultured or cultured glioma cells. Six weeks after the last immunization step an intrasplenal booster injection was administrated and 3 days later the spleen cells were prepared for fusion experiments. According to the specificity analysis of the generated antibodies 7 hybridoma products (MUC 7-22, MUC 8-22, MUC 10-22, MUC 11-22, MUC 14-22, MUC 15-22 and MUC 2-63) react with gliomas, neuroblastomas and melanomas as well as with embryonic and fetal cells but do not recognize non-neurogenic tumors. The selected monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) of IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes are not extensively characterized but these antibodies have been demonstrated to be reactive with a panel of glioma cell lines with varying patterns of antigen distribution. Using the McAbs described above and a series of cryosections of glioma biopsies and paraffin sections of the same material as well as glioma cultures established from these, variable antigenic profiles among glioma cell populations could be demonstrated. From these results it is evident that there is not only a distinct degree of antigenic heterogeneity among and within brain tumors, but also that the pattern of antigenic expression can change continuously. Some of the glioma associated antigens recognized by the selected antibodies persist after fixation with methanol/acetone and Karnovsky's fixative and probably are oncoembryonic/oncofetal antigen(s). The data suggest that the use of McAbs recognizing tumor associated oncofetal antigens in immunohistochemistry facilitates objective typing of intracranial malignancies and precise analysis of fine needle brain/tumor biopsies in a sensitive and reproducible manner.

Animals