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Biomedical subjects

W Popp

Publications and source records attributed to W Popp.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Increased sensitization to aeroallergens in competitive swimmers.

Chlorine is used to disinfect swimming pools or as a constituent of other disinfection reagents. Pulmonary diseases are occasionally observed after exposure to chlorine. In 14 competitive swimmers and in 14 matched control subjects, we searched for clinically manifest allergies, subclinical sensitization to aeroallergens, imbalance of the cellular immune system, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Conjunctival or respiratory symptoms were found in 11 swimmers (2 cases of conjunctivitis, 4 rhinitis, 2 rhinoconjunctivitis, 1 laryngitis, and 2 bronchitis) and in 3 controls. Sensitization to aeroallergens was confirmed in 9 swimmers by skin test and in 11 swimmers by radioallergosorbent test (RAST), compared to findings in 4 and 5 controls, respectively. An altered cellular immune system, (i.e., imbalance in T-cell system, B-cell system, or natural killer cells) was detected in 7 swimmers and only 2 controls. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine was seen in 11 swimmers and 5 controls. This higher incidence of allergic diseases and subclinical sensitization to aeroallergens, disorders of the cellular immune system, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in competitive swimmers compared with control subjects could be due to repeated exposure to chlorine in swimming pools.

Adolescent↗

Flow-volume curves in obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.

The diagnostic value of flow-volume curves for sleep apnea was studied in 32 patients with obstructive sleep apnea, 40 simple snorers, and 30 healthy nonsnorers. A sawtooth appearance of the flow-volume curve was seen in 22 of the sleep apnea patients (69%), 14 of the simple snorers (35%), and 10 of the nonsnorers (33%). The ratio of midexpiratory flow (FEF 50) to midinspiratory flow (FIF 50) was greater than 1 in 6 of the sleep apnea patients (19%), 3 of the simple snorers (8%), and 2 of the nonsnorers (7%). Thus, only the sawtooth sign was more frequently found in sleep apnea patients than in controls (p less than 0.01). Sleep apnea patients with a sawtooth appearance of the flow-volume curve had a higher apnea index (38.7 +/- 22 vs. 21.5 +/- 12.1; p less than 0.01) and lower nocturnal minimum oxygen saturation (68.1% +/- 16.8 vs. 81.3% +/- 9.97; p less than 0.01) than those without. In symptomatic snorers, sensitivity of the sawtooth sign for sleep apnea was 72% and specificity 61%, for a FEF50/FIF50 ratio above 1 sensitivity was 17% and specificity 83%. In asymptomatic patients, sensitivity of either sign was extremely poor (33%) and specificity was 67% for the sawtooth sign and 85% for FEF50/FIF50 greater than 1. We conclude that abnormal flow-volume curves are of limited value for predicting sleep apnea.

Adult↗

Bronchoalveolar lavage in rheumatoid arthritis and secondary Sjögren's syndrome.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to investigate pulmonary involvement in 39 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in 7 patients with RA and secondary Sjögren's syndrome, and compared to 12 healthy controls. Lymphocytosis (more than 15%) was seen in 25, and more than 3% neutrophil granulocytes in 8 of 39 patients with RA. Lymphocytosis and/or neutrophil granulocytosis was seen in both seropositive and seronegative patients irrespective of clinical or radiologic findings. Patients with RA with or without secondary Sjögren's syndrome had increased DR+ lymphocytes in BAL compared with peripheral blood. In 7 patients with secondary Sjögren's syndrome an increased helper/suppressor cell index (OKT4+/OKT8+: 7.65 +/- 2.10) and increased natural killer cells (OKNK+: 27.3 +/- 5.5%) were found, as compared to 39 other patients with RA (OKT4+/OKT8+: 2.16 +/- 0.33, p less than 0.05; OKNK+: 14.5 +/- 2.3%, p less than 0.05). These BAL data are further evidence of frequent subclinical interstitial pulmonary involvement in RA with differences in the active autoimmune process from those in secondary Sjögren's syndrome.

Aged↗

Risk factors for sensitization to furred pets.

The risk factors for sensitization to pets was investigated in 169 male pupils. A recent or former contact with cats, dogs, and guinea pigs in own home was reported in 52 (30.8%), 42 (24.9%), and 20 (11.8%) study subjects, respectively. Clinically manifested allergy was found in two probands to cats and in two others to guinea pigs, three of them had formerly had pets and one proband with allergic rhinitis to cats had never had any pet. Sensitization to animals and aeroallergens was investigated with Phadezym-RAST. Only owners of cats had a higher incidence of cat sensitization than probands without direct contact (26.9% versus 10.3%, P less than 0.01). No statistically significant difference in sensitization to dogs and guinea pigs was found in groups with and without these pets. A strong correlation existed between sensitization to pets and other aeroallergens (house dust mite: P less than 0.025, birch pollen: P less than 0.0001, mugwort: P less than 0.0001, and grass pollens: P less than 0.0001). No association was found between sensitization to pets and smoking history, bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine or radiological findings of the paranasal sinus.

Adolescent↗

Dependence of maximal sniff generated mouth and transdiaphragmatic pressures on lung volume.

The maximal sniff generated mouth and transdiaphragmatic pressures of six healthy volunteers (three women and three men) were measured at various lung volumes between residual volume and 95% of total lung capacity. At residual volume the mean (SD) maximum transdiaphragmatic pressure was 163 (18) cm H2O (1 cm H2O = 0.0981 kPa). With increasing lung volume the maximum pressures generated declined, so that at 95% of total lung capacity the mean pressure was 68 (15) cm H2O. Mouth pressures showed a similar relation to lung volume. At residual volume the mean maximum mouth pressure was 74 (8) cm H2O, compared with 38 (6) cm H2O at 95% of total lung capacity. The relation between pressure and lung volume was linear for measurements at lung volume levels between residual volume and 85% of total lung capacity; values at 95% of total lung capacity, however, were lower than predicted from the linear regression of the other points. The use of a second order polynomial regression showed a higher coefficient of determination in all cases (0.72 and 0.69 for transdiaphragmatic and mouth pressures on the basis of all pressure values for all subjects). Sniff generated mouth and transdiaphragmatic pressures show a predictable dependence on lung volume, supporting their use as measures of global inspiratory muscle power and diaphragm strength respectively.

Adult↗

[Mold allergies--a challenge in diagnosis and therapy].

Problems in the diagnosis of mould allergies arise from a large number of mould species, different expression of allergens and limited supply of allergens in test systems. Only the use of many different and special diagnostic methods enables an accurate clearing up of diseases. Not until all diagnostic problems are resolved, an adequate therapy is possible and should use new ways.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗

[Obstructive sleep apnea--a risk factor for arterial hypertension].

Obstructive sleep apnea is frequently found in middle-aged men. Usually, these patients are obese and therefore predisposed to hypertension. This study aimed to elucidate the relationships between hypertension, obesity and obstructive sleep apnea in 48 men suffering from sleep apnea. Hypertension was found in 39 of them (= 81%), 27 patients (= 56%) were morbidly obese (Broca index above 125%), 17 patients (= 36%) were moderately obese (Broca index between 100 and 125%) and 4 patients (= 8%) showed normal weight (Broca index below 100%). Severity of sleep apnea did not correlate with obesity or hypertension. Patients with sleep apnea who were hypertensive were significantly (p less than 0.025) more obese than those with normal blood pressure. Compared with an unselected population showing a similar degree of obesity, patients with obstructive sleep apnea showed a higher prevalence of hypertension and this is independent of age. These findings establish sleep apnea as a risk factor for hypertension.

Adult↗

Histologic tumor regression grades in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck after preoperative radiochemotherapy.

Forty-one patients with Stage III and IV squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the head and neck were treated preoperatively with mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil and concomitant radiotherapy. Operation specimen were examined histologically, the percentage of vital tumor cells and devitalized tumor cells were graduated. The grade of regression was classified according to a four-stage scale. Tumor regression was elevated as good (Grades 1, 2) and bad (3, 4) response to combined preoperative therapy. After a follow-up of 18 to 30 months, 14 of 41 patients have experienced a locoregional recurrence; all these patients were bad responders (Grades 3, 4) to preoperative radiochemotherapy. There was a statistically significant correlation between tumor regression grade and probability of survival (P less than 0.001). The authors conclude that the prognosis of patients with pretreated SCC of head and neck depends on the histologic grade of tumor regression.

Adult↗

[Aeromonas hydrophila-related septicemia in the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus].

From diseased wild and cultured Oreochromis niloticus in Lower Egypt, 17 Aeromonas hydrophila isolates were recovered. The mortality was between 10% and 70% in among cultured fish. The course of the disease ran in an acute manner. For cultured fish, the disease outbreaks were found mainly in winter and for the wild Nile fish, mortalities were observed in late spring and summer. Additionally wild fish were affected with ectoparasites. The LD50 values of the isolates ranged between 10(3) and 10(7). Isolates of high virulence were resistant to 1 hr boiling and to the bactericidal effect of fresh normal guinea pig serum. Moreover, they did not agglutinate in acriflavin. Only the virulent isolates could agglutinate tilapia erythrocytes. The above effects were reversed for avirulent isolates while moderately virulent isolates showed no consistency in their reactions. Tube agglutination test using O and WC antisera prepared against 6 isolates versus O and WC antigens of 17 isolates indicated an antigenic heterogenicity of different isolates. While some isolates were identical, 4 antigens out of 17 did not react with any of the sera.

Aeromonas↗

[Immunocytochemical studies in the diagnosis of pulmonary histiocytosis X].

The diagnostic value of immunocytochemical tests was analysed for 19 cases of pulmonary histiocytosis X (PHX) and eight of other types of fibrosing pulmonary disease (sarcoidosis, 3; exogenous allergic alveolitis, 3; chronic pneumonia, 1; fibrosing alveolitis, 1). The cellular, proliferative-fibroblastic and fibrocystic stages in the course of pulmonary changes were differentiated. PHX cells reacted with anti-S 100 protein in all stages. In three cases for which unfixed tissue was available, all PHX cells reacted with antibody Leu-6, and 35% of these cells also reacted with the proliferation marker Ki-67. The few S-100 positive cells from the eight controls were limited to peribronchial tissue. Thus the antibodies Leu-6 and S-100 are useful aids in the diagnosis of PHX.

Antibodies↗

Increased expression of HLA-DR antigen on alveolar macrophages in pulmonary diseases.

The expression of HLA-DR antigen on alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage in healthy controls and patients with different diseases was investigated, using cytofluorographic analysis and phykoerythrin conjugated monoclonal mouse anti-human HLA-DR antibody. Alveolar macrophages in patients with extrinsic allergic alveolitis (n = 4), idiopathic lung fibrosis (n = 4), sarcoidosis (n = 6), rheumatoid lung disease (n = 6) and pulmonary infection (n = 5) showed increased density of HLA-DR antigen expression compared to healthy control subjects (n = 5). The increased expression of HLA-DR antigen on alveolar macrophages confirms the importance of these cells for recognition of antigens and immunological responses in different pulmonary diseases.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗

Histological grading of therapy induced regression in squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity. A morphological and immunohistochemical study.

Squamous cell carcinomas in the oral cavity and the oropharynx were diagnosed in 84 patients. After verification by biopsy, 79 of these patients were treated preoperatively with mitomycin C and 5-fluro-uracil, radiated and operated 3-5 weeks later. The effectiveness of adjuvant preoperative radio-chemotherapy was evaluated histologically. Serial sections of the entire tumor specimen were investigated and the percentage of vital cancerous tissue in the total tumor area was assessed. Regression was classified into four grades. Grades I and II were regarded as good response to adjuvant preoperative radio-chemotherapy, while grades III and IV stood for bad or no response. Morphologically questionable residual tumor infiltrates could be clarified by immunohistochemical methods with antibodies against vimentin, desmin and Lu-5. The histological assessment of the regression grade of operated tumor specimens allows a clinically relevant, morphologically exact and reproducible evaluation of the effect of preoperative radiochemotherapy.

Adult↗

Sensitization to aeroallergens depends on environmental factors.

Respiratory allergies and subclinical sensitization to aeroallergens were investigated in 129 rural and in 222 urban probands. The incidence of respiratory allergies was not significantly higher in the urban residents. Sensitization to aeroallergens was investigated with Phadezym RAST (house dust mite, Cladosporium, orchard grass, birch pollens) and the Phadiatop multi RAST and found to be significantly more frequent in polluted than in unpolluted areas. Allergen-specific IgE was detected n 37.8% of urban probands and in 25.6% of rural probands with Phadezym RAST (P less than 0.025) and a positive Phadiatop multi RAST was found in 43.7% versus 32.6 (P less than 0.05).

Adolescent↗

Effect of short esophageal acidification on airway hyperreactivity.

The influence of short esophageal acidification on the bronchial reaction to methacholine was assessed by quantitative methacholine challenge tests after ingestion of orange-juice (pH 2.7). We studied 15 stable asthmatics and 10 hyperreactive nonasthmatics. After the acidic drink, airway hyperreactivity increased in 6 of the 15 asthmatics and 4 of the 10 hyperreactive nonasthmatics. For the groups as a whole, this response did not reach statistical significance in either group. Nevertheless, the finding that 40% of the patients responded to short esophageal acidification by an increase in airway hyperreactivity points out the importance of low esophageal pH values as a possible triggering factor of asthmatic attacks.

Administration, Inhalation↗

[Invagination ileus--stages and progress of treatment].

Result from the historic development of the treatment of the intussusception was given an epidemiologic study of the different kinds of possible treatment of infantile intussusception from 1963 to 1988 including 246 affected children. Correlations are established between the duration of anamnesis, the general condition, form of intussusception and possible therapies. Besides indications and contraindications are recommended for hydrostatic and operative evagination as well as for treatment by resection. Furthermore, some conservative methods of treatment are briefly introduced, such as hydrostatic reduction by means of barium enema under x-ray control or by means of visotrast under ultrasonic visualisation, as well as pneumatic reduction.

Child↗