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Biomedical subjects

C Meisel

Publications and source records attributed to C Meisel.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Ambulatory 24-hour jejunal motility in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Whether small-bowel motility is abnormal in the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a controversy at present. The aim of our study was to compare ambulatory long-term jejunal motility in 35 IBS patients with predominant diarrhea to normal values obtained in 50 healthy controls. METHODS: Twenty-four-hour motility was recorded in the proximal jejunum with a portable datalogger and tube-mounted miniature pressure sensors. Fasting motility in the waking (W) and sleeping (S) state and the motor response to a standardized evening meal of 600 kcal underwent visual and computer-aided analysis. RESULTS: Fasting motility in patients showed migrating motor complex (MMC) cycles of normal length and composition. Uninterrupted runs of discrete clustered contractions during phase II (W) occurred in 57% of patients and 52% of controls but had a significantly longer duration in patients (33 +/- 5 versus 19 +/- 7 min; p < 0.005). During phase II (W) IBS patients had an increase in aborally propagated contractions (41 +/- 2% versus 35 +/- 2%; p < 0.01) and higher contraction amplitudes (26.3 +/- 0.8 versus 23.0 +/- 0.5 mm Hg; p < 0.01). Similar differences were obtained during postprandial motility (47 +/- 3% versus 39 +/- 3%; p < 0.01, and 25.9 +/- 0.9 versus 23.8 +/- 0.05 mm Hg; p < 0.02). In three patients (8.6%) disturbed aboral migration of phase III and irregular burst activity, manometric features of chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, were identified. Whereas 57% of patients had an entirely normal 24-h manometry, 43% had at least one finding not present in any healthy control. CONCLUSION: Small-intestinal motility is frequently but not universally abnormal in diarrhea-predominant IBS. The abnormal manometric findings are heterogeneous and range from subtle quantitative changes to severe qualitative abnormalities resembling chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction in a small subset of patients.

Adult↗

Mechanism of endotoxin desensitization: involvement of interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor beta.

Tolerance of monocytes/macrophages to endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) can be induced both in vivo and in vitro by LPS itself. Exposure to LPS, even at a very low dose, induces a downregulation of cytokine response to a second high dose LPS challenge. To learn more about the unknown mechanisms of this phenomenon, we studied the role of antiinflammatory cytokines in this process. Preculture of human peripheral blood monocytes for 24 hours with low concentrations of LPS induced hyporesponsiveness to high-dose LPS rechallenge with respect to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and interleukin (IL) 10 but not IL-1RA production. These results suggest that LPS tolerance reflects a functional switch of monocytes rather than a general LPS hyporesponsiveness. IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF) beta 1 showed additive effects in replacing LPS for induction of LPS hyporesponsiveness in vitro. Additionally, neutralizing anti-IL-10 and anti-TGF-beta monoclonal antibodies prevented induction of LPS tolerance. In vitro induced LPS tolerance looks like the ex vivo LPS hyporesponsiveness of monocytes from septic patients with fatal outcome: downregulation of LPS-induced TNF-alpha and IL-10 production but not of IL-1RA secretion. LPS hyporesponsiveness in septic patients was preceded by expression of IL-10 at both the mRNA and protein level. In summary, our data suggests that IL-10 and TGF-beta mediate the phenomenon of LPS tolerance in vitro and perhaps in vivo (septic patients), too.

Cells, Cultured↗

Up-regulation of monocytic IL-10 by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and cAMP elevating drugs.

It is well established that endotoxin [lipopolysacharide (LPS)] induces pro-inflammatory cytokine production in monocytes, which is followed by secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10. IL-10 down-regulates inflammatory response [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8] as well as IL-10 synthesis itself. We wondered whether pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha may be involved in the regulation of human IL-10 synthesis. TNF-alpha induced de novo IL-10 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner but no IL-10 protein in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Furthermore, LPS-induced IL-10 gene and protein expression was significantly inhibited by neutralizing anti-TNF-alpha mAb. On the basis of these results, we conclude that TNF-alpha is involved in the up-regulation of its antagonist IL-10. Paradoxically, drugs that effectively inhibit expression of TNF-alpha via the elevation of intracellular cAMP level (iloprost, pentoxifylline, prostaglandin E2 and N6,2-O-dibutyryl cAMP) augmented the endotoxin-induced IL-10 synthesis at both protein and mRNA levels. In order to provide a basis for the analysis of the transcriptional regulation of the human IL-10 gene, we isolated a fragment of the human IL-10 gene containing 1308 bp of the 5' non-coding sequence. It shows remarkable homology to the mouse IL-10 promoter in regions that have been associated with transcriptional regulation, including a cAMP responsive element which could explain the cAMP-mediated effects. The lack of a NF-kappa B-like binding site in the human sequence suggests a NF-kappa B-independent mechanism of TNF-alpha-induced IL-10 gene activation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Multiple sclerosis and other immunologic diseases.

A characteristic feature of immunologic diseases is their association with each other. For multiple sclerosis (MS), several retrospective studies reported increased as well as expected coincidence rates with other immunologic diseases. We conducted a prospective case-control study of MS patients and healthy volunteers and found 13/101 MS patients and 2/97 controls with such diseases (P = 0.009, chi-square test), as well as 47/88 MS patients versus 31/95 controls with a variety of circulating autoantibodies (P = 0.004, chi-square test). These results speak for an increased coincidence of MS with other immunologic diseases and support the idea that MS is also an immunologic disease.

Adolescent↗

Lyme-borreliosis and possible association with HLA-antigens.

The frequencies of HLA A, B, C and DR antigens were evaluated in 220 persons from West Germany with inapparent and manifest Borrelia burgdorferi infections. Thirty-seven forest workers showing elevated antibody titres against Borrelia burgdorferi had asymptomatic infection, and are described as stage 0. One hundred and eighty-three patients presented with the clinical stages 1-3 of the infection. Control persons (n = 655) were typed in the same time period and by identical staff. HLA CW3 was present in 36.3% of patients as compared to 23.2% of the controls (RR = 1.88, pcorr = 0.03) and was significantly associated with manifest infection. In addition, the antigen A2 was found slightly but not significantly more frequent in the patients (55.2% vs 44%; pcorr = 0.41). The phenotype combination HLA A2 and Cw3, however, was significantly elevated in patients (24.6% vs 10.8%; pcorr = 0.0005). In contrast to these class 1 antigens, HLA DR3 showed a tendency of negative association with manifest infection. But this finding was not yet found to be significant (15.3% vs 25.3%; RR = 0.53, pcorr = 0.26). The frequency of HLA DR2 showed a constant decrease from stage 0 to stage 3 (inapparent infection to late complications). Using the rank correlation coefficient of Spearman, this association was found to be significant (-1.00, p less than or equal to 0.05). All other tested HLA antigens and antigen combinations showed no significant differences. The data suggest that HLA CW3 may be associated with Borrelia burgdorferi infection, whereas HLA DR2 and DR3 may be associated with less incidence of severe courses and less complications in this disorder.

Borrelia Infections↗

[The effectiveness of ciprofloxacin in bacterial skin infections].

Ciprofloxacin in a low dosage of 250 mg twice a day was applied in the treatment of bacterial infections of the skin. All cultured staphylococci, streptococci, and pseudomonas proved to be highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin. The cases of pyoderma showed quick healing, but there were relapses of Lyme borrelia within 6 weeks. As the titers of IgM and IgG steadily increased during the following months, additional therapy was necessary. The tolerance of ciprofloxacin was generally very good.

Administration, Oral↗

Treatment of tinea palmaris with Mycospor.

12 patients with tinea palmaris were treated with Mycospor (Bifonazole); the average persistence of disease was 10.5 years and they were treated, on average, 4.5 times. The duration of treatment with Mycospor was between 20 and 300 days. The results show an exceptionally short duration of treatment in some individual cases, in others the usual obstinacy was confirmed. An explanation for this difference cannot be given just like unilateral mycoses in nearly all cases cannot be explained either.

Antifungal Agents↗

[10-day therapy of pityriasis versicolor with ketoconazole].

Apart from the standard treatment of pityriasis versicolor with selenium disulphide preparations, the 30-day-therapy with ketoconazole has been considered an alternative so far. According to our investigations, the duration of treatment may be shortened to ten days. After discontinuation of the drug, the fungal elements are reduced and finally disappear. This effect is attributed to the active substance being deposited in the sebaceous glands and secreted onto the skin. An influence of the product on phagocytosis is also discussed.

Adult↗

[Aldosterone in primary hyperaldosteronism].

The conditions which must be respected to ensure the validity of the biochemical diagnostic criteria of primary hyperaldosteronism, conditions of blood sampling, timing posture and age of the patient, sodium intake and intercurrent drug therapy. As none of the tests is 100 p. 100 specific in distinguishing adrenal adenoma from hyperplasia, an association of several investigations has to be used. In cases of adenoma, the authors recommend the investigations which demonstrate the autonomy of secretion and the prevalence of circadian rhythm over the influence of change in posture. The measurement of aldosterone levels may be completed by that of its precursor, 18-hydroxy-corticosterone (18 OH CS).

Adenoma↗

[The renin-angiotensin system in hypertensive patients with scleroderma and polyarteritis nodosa (author's transl)].

The renin-angiotensin system was studied in 14 normotensive and hypertensive patients with scleroderma and polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). The variations in blood pressure, plasma renin activity (PRA) and serum aldosterone were compared after the Captopril test. Mean arterial pressure fell 15,7 +/- 2,6 p. 100 (p less than 0,01) in hypertensive patients, but no change was observed in normotensive subjects. PRA and serum aldosterone did not change significantly in hypertensives with scleroderma. Large variations in blood pressure, PRA and serum aldosterone were observed in 2 out of 3 patients with PAN, the third one presenting a fall in blood pressure without significant changes in PRA or serum aldosterone. These results suggest that other mechanisms are responsible for hypertension in these patients and that the Captopril acted on other factors than the renin-angiotensin system.

Blood Pressure↗

[New cases of familial generalized cortical hyperostosis with dominant transmission (Worth's type) (author's transl)].

A case of two families with a total of 5 cases of generalized cortical hyperostosis of the cortex of the long bones is clinically latent. It is not accompanied by any osseous fragility and is usually discovered by chance. Mandibular hypertrophy can occur but is not constant. It must be differentiated from the recessive form described by Van Buchen, which is more severe and involves extensive and progressive osteocondensation which can lead to paralysis of the cranial nerves. The small number of cases published (23) leads one to suppose that its diagnosis is frequently missed, undoubtedly because it is mixed up with a minor form of osteopetrosis.

Adult↗

Human melanoma FUHS-1. Description of a new cell line.

Presented is a new established cell line, which was cultivated from a melanoma originating from a melanosis praeblastomatosa circumscripta of the leg. Recently subculture No. 105 was reached after a period of 31 month. Medium of primary culture was TC Medium Eagle spinner modified, followed from subculture No. 1 by MEM/Hanks/0.35 g/l NaHCO3. From subculture No. 6 NCTC 135 was applied simultaneously-each respective supplements. The cells grow as monolayer; absolute plating efficiency of the established cell line lies by 800/0; epithelial-like and dendritic melanin-producing cells are prominent. The number of chromosomes is considerably fluctuating; the karyotype of the established cell line lies within the range of subtriploidy. Sizewise a marker in submedian position of centromer is to be compared with one of group.

Cell Line↗