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Biomedical subjects

C Meier

Publications and source records attributed to C Meier.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Human oligodendrocytes in dissociated cell culture.

Human oligodendrocytes have been successfully maintained in cell cultures for 14 weeks using a modification of a method used previously for animal brain cell cultures. Dissociated cell cultures from spinal cords of human foetuses of 10 to 20 weeks gestional age were investigated for up to 98 days. Oligodendrocytes were identified by monoclonal human antiserum specific for myelin-associated glycoprotein, by polyclonal rabbit antiserum against myelin basic protein, and by the mouse monoclonal antibody I6G1. Astrocytes were identified by polyclonal antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein. Immunocytochemical cell identification was corroborated by electron microscopy, by which glial cells were investigated both in situ and in culture. Immunocytochemical staining of myelin-associated glycoprotein showed specifically labelled oligodendrocytes on electron microscopy. The present study indicates that human oligodendrocytes, a putative target in demyelinating disease, can be studied in dissociated cell culture of human foetal spinal cord for several weeks in vitro under stable conditions.

Astrocytes↗
PubMed1989

Meningoradiculoneuritis mimicking vertebral disc herniation. A "neurosurgical" complication of Lyme-borreliosis.

We report on 3 patients with meningoradiculoneuritis (MRN) due to Lyme-borreliosis (LB), which presented clinically as vertebral disc herniation. In 2 cases the underlying infection was discovered only after unsuccessful neurosurgical treatment. In the differential diagnosis between MRN and disc herniation the following criteria are suggestive of MRN and should raise suspicion of a non-discogenic aetiology: History of tick bite or erythema chronicum migrans, fever or general malaise, mono- or oligoradiculopathy with absent or insignificant lumbar pain and complaints of a burning character of the radiating pain. In suspicious cases we recommend blood investigations including antibody determination against borrelia burgdorferi and CSF investigations including cell count and cytology, protein and glucose determination, nephelometry and isoelectric focusing to exclude MRN and other conditions that may mimic disc herniation.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Envelope glycoprotein of HIV induces interference and cytolysis resistance in CD4+ cells: mechanism for persistence in AIDS.

Masking of host cell receptors following retroviral infection is the basis for the phenomenon of virus interference. Amphotropic retrovirus vectors were used to express the HIV envelope glycoprotein in a human CD4+ cell line. Envelope expression is accompanied by a reduction in the level of surface CD4 receptor molecules and correlates with the presence of intracellular envelope-CD4 receptor complexes. Cells expressing the HIV envelope acquire a cytolysis-resistant phenotype such that infection with HIV leads to a non-cytopathic persistent virus infection. Furthermore, phorbol ester-mediated stimulation of viral replication in persistently infected cells results in renewed cytolytic effects which, due to the absence of CD4 in the cell population, are absolutely independent of syncytium formation. This study elucidates the mechanism by which viral persistence is initiated and maintained in the course of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

[Vasculitic neuropathy in the Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth syndrome. A contribution to the understanding of the pathology and pathogenesis of the neurological complications in Lyme borreliosis].

Clinical examinations and nerve biopsies were performed on four patients with meningoradiculoneuritis and positive serology for Borrelia (Garin-Bujadoux-Bannwarth syndrome). Three patients had a painful multiplex mononeuropathy, while one presented with a picture resembling a Guillain-Barré syndrome. Nerve biopsy in two patients revealed marked perivasculitis, in part with thrombosis of the epineural vasa nervorum. In the other two patients there were small pericapillary infiltrates in the endoneurium with strikingly many plasma cells. These findings speak, on the one hand, for angiopathic-ischaemic nerve damage, but on the other for a local immune reaction to the causative microorganism, because of the plasma-rich endoneural infiltrates. The authors suggest that angiopathic-ischaemic tissue lesions and/or local immune reactions may play a role also in the pathogenesis of CNS complications of Lyme disease.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1988

CA-125 serum concentrations during the menstrual cycle.

CA-125 is an antigenic determinant expressed on ovarian cancer cells and serves as serum marker in patients with ovarian cancer. It has also been detected, however, in serum of healthy women and in patients with benign gynecologic diseases. Previous studies in patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome suggested that the production of CA-125 is correlated with proliferative ovarian activity. In this study, we describe the pattern of CA-125 secretion in 13 healthy women during menstrual cycle and during hormonal contraceptive treatment. That pattern is characterized by an increase of CA-125 serum concentrations parallel to the growth of the dominant follicle. It was not observed during hormonal contraceptive treatment. We conclude that CA-125 serum levels during menstrual cycle seem to be dependent upon the cyclic changes in the female genital tract.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Specific antibody activity against neuroendocrine tissue in a case of POEMS syndrome with IgG gammopathy.

Specific antibody binding activity directed against pituitary tissue was demonstrated in a typical case of POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, and skin changes) syndrome with paraproteinemia of IgG lambda type. IgG binding against various other tissues could not be detected by immunoelectroblotting and immunocytochemistry. We propose that POEMS syndrome is an antibody-mediated immune disorder, in which the hypophysis is the primary target of the pathologic myeloma antibodies. The immunopathogenetic lesion of the hypophysis could induce secondary disturbances of other organs, thus explaining the multisystemic disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Lipid myopathy: a heterogenic familial case].

A case is reported of lipid storage myopathy in a 24-year-old patient and her family. In the patient and an aunt, muscle biopsy disclosed intrafibrillar lipid depositions, and electron microscopy revealed lipid vesicles in the sarcolemma border. In the father, no lipid depositions were observed but electron microscopy showed alterations to mitochondria compatible with a mitochondrial myopathy. In the patient muscular biochemistry revealed a major reduction in NADH oxydase activity and in the aunt a diminished level of carnitin compatible with carnitin deficiency. The heterogeneity of these lipidic myopathies is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies. A contribution to the differential diagnosis of multiplex mononeuropathy].

Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies could be diagnosed in two families. This little-known, dominantly inherited disorder is clinically characterised by recurring, spontaneously regressive palsies of peripheral nerves, mostly after minimal mechanical compression of the nerve concerned. It can be clearly differentiated from mononeuropathies of different pathogenesis even in clinically not involved nerves, by means of pathological neurographic findings and by the detection of pathognomonic myelinic thickenings in nerve biopsies. Prognosis is favourable if recurrences are avoided. This means that counselling of the patients and their families is of prophylactic significance.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Complications of anesthesia in elderly patients].

Progress in surgery and anesthesia has contributed to lowering operative risk and expanding the indications for operations in higher age groups. The goal of treatment in the elderly is to achieve the best possible degree of reducing discomfort and increasing personal independence. Methods. A brochure with a clinical study on 1,021 patients chosen at random shows the frequency of complications arising during the peri- and post-operative course in patients around 60 years of age and older. Operative areas were general and emergency surgery, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, and urology. Operations were carried out in regional or general anesthesia. Patients were divided into groups below and above age 60. Evaluation of the data was carried out according to an integrated data processing concept. This program enables quantitative and qualitative data to be combined at will, taking into consideration that evaluating criteria can be varied considerably. Results. The results demonstrate that patients over 60 have significantly more complications than patients under 60. Analysis of the influence of the factors associated with surgical risk reveals that factors related to the operation such as type, length, and extent do not increase the risk as much as the numerous accompanying illnesses in both age groups. As far more elderly patients are affected by multimorbidity, the conclusion may be drawn that the increased risk observed is not due mainly to age, but rather to the patient's condition prior to surgery. The results indicate clearly that an exact analysis of the initial condition as well as avoiding failure or malfunction of certain organs must have priority in both age groups.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

[Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy and skin changes in a case of solitary myeloma].

The case is reported of a 32-year-old woman with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, edema, endocrinopathy, dark skin and solitary myeloma with monoclonal gammopathy of IgG/lambda type. More than 100 cases of this rare disorder have been observed up to now, mainly in Japan. In recent reviews the terms POEMS-syndrome or Crow-Fukase-syndrome have been used. Local radiotherapy of the myeloma led to lasting regression of symptoms. Studies with immunocytochemistry and immunoelectroblotting revealed specific antibody activity against hypophysis, suggesting that the pathologic monoclonal myeloma antibodies may damage the neuroendocrinic centers in hypothalamus and hypophysis as the primary target. Most of the multisystemic symptoms would thus be explained as secondary alterations.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Neuropathy of vasculitic origin in a case of Garin-Boujadoux-Bannwarth syndrome with positive borrelia antibody response.

A 42-year-old man suffered from erythema chronicum migrans on different parts of the body after repeated tick bites. A few months after the last tick bite he developed a painful neuropathy in both legs with patchy disturbance of sensibility, mild weakness of the feet and loss of the right ankle jerk. Repeated determinations of antibodies against borrelia spirochetes revealed increasing IgG titres. Biopsy of the left sural nerve, which was clinically and electrophysiologically affected, showed a vasculitis of epineurial vasa nervorum and severe angiopathic lesions of the perineurium and the neural parenchyma. Parenteral high-dose penicillin treatment resolved the clinical symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Perhexiline-induced lipidosis in the dark Agouti (DA) rat. An animal model of genetically determined neurotoxicity.

Perhexiline maleate, an antianginal compound, may cause severe adverse effects such as weight loss, hepatic dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy in a small proportion of patients. Since present evidence suggests that poor debrisoquine hydroxylators are at risk, we designed an experimental study comparing its neurotoxic effects in dark Agouti (DA) rats, with poor hydroxylation of debrisoquine with that in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, which are vigorous hydroxylators. Light and electron microscopic investigations revealed neurotoxic changes in DA rats after cumulative doses which did not cause any changes in SD rats. Although there was no evidence of hepatic disturbance, morphological examination disclosed a heavy lipid deposition in neurons of dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia in DA rats. This was correlated with increased plasma and tissue concentrations of the drug. The lipid accumulation was similar to that observed in man with perhexilene-induced neuropathy. Our results suggest that perhexilene neurotoxicity in the DA rat is related to a genetically determined impairment of hydroxylation. The DA rat may serve as an animal model for investigating the potential neurotoxicity of drugs which are metabolized by hydroxylation of the debrisoquine type.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

[Polyneuropathy after cisplatin treatment].

Polyneuropathy developed in 7 of 87 women who had been treated with cis-platinum for ovarian carcinoma. Distal disturbances of sensitivity were clinically prominent, the emphasis being on disturbed vibratory perception and acrognosis. No relevant signs of motor dysfunction were noticed, neither clinically nor neurophysiologically. Sural biopsies taken from two women revealed a primary axonal degeneration, mostly affecting the myelinic fibres of large diameter. In 3 cases mild reversion was seen, and in 4 cases no definite reversion, of the disturbed functions - uncertain gait and clumsiness of the hands - during the follow-up period of 6 to 30 months.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Polyneuropathy in paraproteinaemia.

Paraproteinaemias are frequently associated with peripheral neuropathies. "Benign" paraproteinaemia, myeloma and Waldenströms macroglobulinaemia may present clinically as polyneuropathy. Therefore immunoelectrophoresis is strongly recommended in the routine diagnosis of polyneuropathies of unknown origin. Peripheral neuropathies associated with paraproteinaemia are clinically, electrophysiologically, pathologically and probably also pathogenetically heterogeneous. There are subgroups such as demyelinating neuropathy associated with IgM paraproteinaemia, which show quite distinctive features. This survey describes the different types of paraproteinaemia and their associated peripheral neuropathies. The incidence, pathogenesis and therapy of peripheral neuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathies are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

A monoclonal antibody that binds to both astrocytes and myelin sheaths.

A monoclonal antibody designated III 5H8 was shown to bind both to astrocytes and to myelin sheaths as studied with immunocytochemical techniques on brain sections and cell cultures. Binding to astrocytes was confirmed by double immunofluorescent labelling of frozen sections and cell cultures with anti-GFAP, and appeared to be sensitive to formalin treatment. Binding to myelin sheaths was confirmed by comparing sections labelled with III 5H8 with sections labelled with antibodies against axons and myelin basic protein as well as by staining of sections of hypomyelinated spinal cord with III 5H8. On immunoblots of separated white matter III 5H8 revealed two bands, while on immunoblots of purified myelin only one band was seen. The findings are discussed with respect to the function of astrocytes in white matter and shared antigenic determinants between astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.

Animals↗