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Biomedical subjects

W Hunstein

Publications and source records attributed to W Hunstein.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

[Long-term observations of Wegener's disease. Results of treating recurrences].

Four patients with Wegener's disease (three women; one man) were followed from three to eleven years. Patient 1 has been free of recurrence for 11 years, six of them without treatment. Patient 2 had a probable recurrence after seven years, six of them without treatment. Patient 3 had a recurrence after 11 years (ten without treatment) requiring renewed treatment, with good response. Patient 4 (male) has required continued treatment with cyclophosphamide and prednisone for the last three years.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Respiratory distress as primary symptom of relapse in a patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

A report on a 74-year old woman with high-grade malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma in clinical remission, who suddenly developed episodes of severe dyspnea and wheezing. Clinical and roentgenographic investigations including tomography of the trachea failed to demonstrate any lesion. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed and endotracheal, polyp-like lymphoma 3 cm above the carina, which was immediately operated. Other sites of relapse (submandibular lymph-nodes) were found 2 weeks after the operation. Second-line chemotherapy (IMVP 16) was able to induce a second remission.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia developing after a myelodysplastic phase with low dose arabinosyl cytosine.

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) secondary to myelodysplastic phase respond poorly to standard chemotherapy designed for AML. As arabinosyl cytosine (Ara-C) at low-dose has been reported to achieve promising results in certain forms of AML, we have applied the low-dose (10 mg m-2/12 h subcutaneously for 14-24 days) regimen in 11 patients with AML secondary to myelodysplastic syndromes. Though a complete remission could be achieved in 2 patients and a short partial remission in 2 further patients, complications are severe and often life threatening. The amount of hematological supportive care required often exceeded that needed for patients treated by conventional TAD regimen. Moreover, survival of the responders did not seem to be longer than that of non-responders. A review of the literature showed that the results of this low-dose Ara-C regimen might be more promising in patients in the myelodysplastic phase and in those with de novo acute leukemia.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Terminal differentiation of cord blood lymphocytes induced by thymosin fraction 5 and thymosin alpha 1.

Cord blood lymphocytes (CBL) have been shown to be functionally immature compared with normal circulating adult lymphocytes (NAL). Differentiation of T cells is associated with changes in surface antigenic markers and in the pattern of purine degradative enzymes. Previous studies have demonstrated that thymosin fraction 5 (TMS-F5) and thymosin alpha 1 (TMS-alpha 1) can induce in vitro differentiation of murine T-cell precursors and human thymocytes. We have investigated the effects of TMS-F5 and TMS-alpha 1 on the pattern of the purine degradative enzymes adenosine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, and ecto-5'-nucleotidase (5'NT) of CBL and on the phenotypic markers from the OKT series 3, 4, 8 and 11. Other than a significantly reduced level of 5'NT activity (P less than 0.001) and an elevated percentage of OKT4+ cells (P less than 0.01), CBL demonstrated the same immunological and biochemical patterns as NAL. Incubation of CBL with TMS-F5 (150 micrograms/ml) and TMS-alpha 1 (1 microgram/ml) for 40 h caused a significant rise in 5'NT level and decrease of cells positive for OKT4, resulting in a pattern characteristic of NAL. Thus TMS-F5 might induce the terminal differentiation of CBL, and TMS-alpha 1 seemed to be the active component.

5'-Nucleotidase↗
PubMed1985

Enhanced prostanoid release from monocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and active systemic lupus erythematosus.

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis high levels of prostaglandin E1 have been found in the joint fluid, and its increased production by adherent synovial cells and macrophages clearly supports the notion that this arachidonic acid metabolite is involved in the pathology of the disease. Besides its known inflammatory qualities and the suppressive effects on various lymphocyte functions prostaglandin E2 has proved to be an essential cofactor in the secretion of the lymphokine osteoclast activating factor. In this study we have discovered an enhanced release of prostaglandin E1 and thromboxane B2 from a subpopulation of blood monocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and active systemic lupus erythematosus. No correlation between prostanoid release from monocytes and inflammatory activity of the disease was found. However, even monocytes from patients with early stage or mild inflammatory activity displayed a 'stimulated' arachidonic acid metabolism. In contrast only patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus showed in this respect comparable secretory activity or monocytes. Our findings may point to a possible pathogenic role of prostanoids in rheumatoid arthritis, which may also have some implication for the early diagnosis of this disease and for its differentiation from other chronic inflammatory rheumatic conditions.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1984

Peripheral effects of thyroid hormones: alteration of intracellular Na-concentration, ouabain-sensitive Na-transport, and Na-Li countertransport in human red blood cells.

To investigate the effect of thyroid hormones on erythrocyte cation transport systems and intracellular electrolyte content we have measured the activity of Na-K ATPase, Na-Li countertransport, as well as red cell sodium and potassium contents in patients with hyperthyroidism and in euthyroid controls. Intracellular Na- and K-concentrations were determined in erythrocytes washed three times in isotonic MgCl2 solution. Ouabain-sensitive Na-transport was estimated as the increase of Na before and after addition of ouabain in an erythrocyte suspension in isotonic Na-free medium. Na-Li countertransport was measured according to the method described by Canessa et al. [2]. The patients with hyperthyroidism exhibited a significantly elevated intracellular sodium content as well as a highly increased Na-K ATPase activity. Intracellular potassium content was not altered in the hyperthyroid subjects, but Na-Li countertransport was markedly decreased as compared to the controls. The results indicate that different ion transport systems of the erythrocyte membrane are influenced by thyroid hormones. We suggest that the elevation of Na-K ATPase activity might be due to the increased intracellular sodium concentration which is caused by the diminished countertransport pathway. Furthermore, the activity of Na-K ATPase, Na-Li countertransport, and intracellular sodium content in erythrocytes might be a useful peripheral indicator of thyroid hormone excess.

Biological Transport, Active↗
PubMed1983

Effect of neuraminidase treatment on serum reactivity to autologous leukemic blast cells.

The sera of 35 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) were tested for reactivity against cell surface antigens of autologous leukemic blast cells by protein A assay (PA), immune adherence assay (IA), and anti-C3 mixed hemadsorption assay (C3-MHA). Autologous serum reactivity was detectable by PA in four cases and by IA and C3-MHA in about half the patients. Autologous serum reactivity occurred more often in ALL than in ANLL. Absorption studies revealed that in one patient only the autologous reactivity was directed against a restricted antigen, which could be detected only on the individual T-ALL blast cells. All other autologous antibodies detected unspecific antigens. Neuraminidase treatment had two effects: first, it increased antibody attachment to antigens which are also present on untreated cells; secondly, after neuraminidase treatment an antigen was detectable on the cell surface which could also be demonstrated on neuraminidase-treated non-leukemic cells (e.g., erythrocytes). Neither of these two effects of neuraminidase treatment seems to be tumor-specific. Possible therapeutic effects of neuraminidase are probably caused by unspecific adjuvant effects of the enzyme.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase in malignancies.

The leukocyte alklaine phosphatase (LAP) levels were determined in 183 patients with malignant diseases and 71 normal controls. The median LAP scores were 64 units (range 0 to 290) for the patients and 55 (range 2 to 158) for the controls, respectively, and no significant difference could be established. When analyzed according to primary malignancy, only in patients with Hodgkin's disease (n = 14) was the median value higher than normal (p less than 0.001). In patients with distant metastases (n = 48), higher LAP levels were demonstrated (M = 76, range 21 to 290) as compared to patients with no evidence of metastases (M = 53, range 0 to 229), (p less than 0.01). Thus, LAP activity has very limited value in the diagnosis of malignancies. Its elevation in the presence of malignant disease might, however, indicate metastases.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

[Intestinal yersiniosis: 25 cases of infections with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia enterocolitica (author's transl)].

Yersinia infections in 16 adults and 9 children are reported. 15 cases were caused by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, 8 of them were proved by serological findings. In 4 cases the infection by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis was likely, in 3 other cases possible only. Real infections caused by serotype IV are demonstrated too. Furthermore there were 10 cases caused by Yersinia enterocolitica, 3 of them were proved by bacterial, the other ones by serological findings. Both germs caused identical symptoms: fever (80%), abdominal pains (56%), diarrhoea (52%), erythema nodosum (44%), arthritis (40%), vomiting (16%), weight loss (16%), lymphoma (12%) and others. In children 50% of erythema nodosum was produced by intestinal yersiniosis. The beginning with gastroenteritis and fever mostly was followed by a second phase with returning fever, abdominal pains, erythema nodosum and/or arthritis. Antibiotic therapy had a definite effect only in the first phase of gastroenteritis and in the two possibly relapsing cases. In two of 5 patients with long standing arthritis the HL-AB 27 was present.

Adolescent↗