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Biomedical subjects

E Köhler

Publications and source records attributed to E Köhler.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Beta cell destruction of pancreatic islets transplanted into diabetic BB/OK rats may be reflected by increased antibody-mediated anti-islet cytotoxicity.

Neonatal rat pancreatic islets can be affected in vitro by ADCC mediated by serum and mononuclear cells from diabetic BB/OK rats or complement-dependent antibody-mediated cytotoxicity (C'AMC) of BB rat serum as revealed by enhanced 51Cr-release. Using a syngeneic islet transplantation system in BB/OK rats this study addressed the question whether the destruction of islets of Langerhans in vivo is reflected by the appearance of ADCC or C'AMC in vitro. The frequency of the appearance of enhanced anti-islet ADCC in newly diagnosed diabetic BB/OK rats amounted to 33% whereas ADCC was not detectable in long-term diabetic rats with a diabetes duration in a range between 50 and 90 days. After transplantation of syngeneic islets beneath the kidney capsule of long-term diabetic BB/OK rats held without immunosuppression the destruction of the islet graft and the persistence of hyperglycaemia was accompanied by an increase of anti-islet ADCC in 66.6% of the animals. While only 18.7% of the long-term diabetic BB/OK rats showed C'AMC against islet cells before transplantation this frequency raised after transplantation and 62.8% of the animals exhibited increased C'AMC within a period of 21 days but with a pronounced individual variability of the time-course. Increased anti-islet cytotoxicity (ADCC or C'AMC) parallels newly initiated or reactivated beta-cell destruction after transplantation and thus seems to reflect this process.

Animals↗

Lipoprotein(a) is an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction at a young age.

We quantified lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] immunochemically in young (less than 46 y) male survivors of myocardial infarction and in age-matched controls recruited from participants of the Prospective Cardiovascular Münster (PROCAM) study. We further determined apolipoprotein E polymorphism and measured triglycerides, total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL and LDL), and apolipoproteins AI, AII, and B in the serum of these subjects. Lp(a) concentrations in serum were not correlated with other well-recognized risk factors for early myocardial infarction such as apolipoproteins AI and B, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol. Apolipoprotein E polymorphism did not affect Lp(a) concentrations, but had a major influence on apolipoprotein B concentration. Lp(a) concentrations were not influenced by age. Our data suggest that (a) an increased concentration of Lp(a) constitutes an independent risk factor for early myocardial infarction and (b) the concentrations of Lp(a) and LDL cholesterol (apolipoprotein B) in serum are under separate metabolic control.

Age Factors↗

[Possibilities and limits of echocardiography].

Echocardiographic imaging (two-dimensional and M-mode technique) with extrathoracal transducer positioning is, in addition to other echocardiographic methods (transesophageal scanning, contrast-enhanced echocardiography, Doppler ultrasound), an important diagnostic tool for determining the morphology, function, and hemodynamics of the heart and the large vessels. It is a safe diagnostic procedure and is, therefore, an important basis for further cardiac evaluation by invasive techniques. Echocardiography in general is not only of high diagnostic value for the noninvasive evaluation of cardiac disorders, but it is also often the basis for an adequate therapeutic procedure, as well as for evaluation of clinical follow-up, prognosis, and exercise performance of the cardiac patient.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

[Initial experiences with "Oranienburg" slow-release theophylline in asthma therapy of children and adolescents].

Experiences in 50 patients show that Theophyllin retard Oranienburg (280 mg theophylline) could be used as an effective bronchospasmolytic drug on conditions of mono- and combination-therapy. Advantages of this preparation are improvement of the compliance and an undisturbed night-sleep in patients. However an optimum dosage is hardly maintained in children by the present dose of a single tablet of 280 theophylline content. The effectiveness in therapy of childhood asthma could be improved by stronger sustained release effect and different doses of tablets.

Adolescent↗

[Interactions of theophylline and nifedipine].

We analyzed theophylline serum levels in steady state of 10 subjects (out of them 7 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) and 3 volunteers). Serum theophylline concentrations were measured after oral application of 3 X 280 mg theophylline (Theophyllin retard 280 mg) and in a second condition after accessory administration of 3 X 20 mg nifedipine (Corinfar). No significant difference was found concerning theophylline levels before and after nifedipine application. The ventilation parameters FVC (forced vital capacity) and FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) were not altered during nifedipine dosing. The results are discussed in comparison with data of literature.

Adult↗

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray studies of an aspartate aminotransferase mutant from Escherichia coli.

Mutant aspartate aminotransferase V39L (Val39 replaced by Leu) from Escherichia coli has been crystallized into a monoclinic cell from a polyethylene glycol solution (pH 7.5) by vapor diffusion. The space group and the unit cell dimensions have been determined using a precession camera, a CAD4 diffractometer and a Nicolet Xentronics area detector to be P2(1) with a = 86.8 A, b = 79.9 A, c = 89.4 A, beta = 118.74 degrees. The crystals diffract to better than 2.3 A and are suitable for X-ray structure analysis.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗

Covalent modification of proteins in Bacillus subtilis during the process of sporulation, germination and outgrowth.

Cells of Bacillus subtilis 168+ were labeled with 32P-orthophosphate during the process of sporulation, germination and outgrowth. By two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, at least 30 protein species were found to be radioactively labeled; 30% of these were modified by phosphorylation. Significant changes in the protein phosphorylation pattern during growth and cellular differentiation could be demonstrated. Using gamma-32P-ATP evidence for an ATP-dependent protein kinase was also obtained. Under these conditions 4 proteins with a molecular mass of 109,600; 103,100; 73,300 and 32,200 Da were found to be phosphorylated.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Ciamexone suppressed anti-islet ADCC of mononuclear cells and serum from type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients.

ADCC (Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity) against xenogenic islets has frequently been found in newly diagnosed Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetics suggesting that when combined with autologous serum in vitro, the destruction of islet cells caused by mononuclear cells (MNC) reflects islet destruction in vivo. In this study the ability of Ciamexone to suppress the anti-islet ADCC in vitro was investigated. We selected both ADCC positive and ADCC negative subjects from a group of Type 1 diabetics. The targets, islets from neonatal rats, were incubated for one hour with the probands serum. The ADCC was then measured by the 51Cr-release of the serum-treated islets after a 6h-incubation with MNC of the same donor. Results both with and without co-incubation of Ciamexone were compared. Ciamexone does not influence the spontaneous 51Cr-release from neonatal rat islets treated with the probands serum but significantly suppresses the anti-islet ADCC. The fact that Ciamexone suppresses anti-islet ADCC may explain its possible effectiveness in Type 1 diabetes.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Persistence of anti-islet ADCC after manifestation of type-1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes.

ADCC (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity) against xenogenic islets in vitro has frequently been found with mononuclear blood cells and heat inactivated autologous serum from newly diagnosed Type-1 diabetics. Anti-islet ADCC, as measured by enhanced 51Cr-release of islets after a 6h-incubation, leads to functional alteration of islets such as a decrease in insulin content and in leucine incorporation. In a follow-up investigation over at least three years it was demonstrated that anti-islet ADCC in vitro disappears, if there is no more C-peptide secretion in vivo. Furthermore, anti-islet ADCC has also not been found in long-term Type-1 diabetics who had no C-peptide secretion but an acutely stimulated immune system due to infectious diseases. An acute immunocytolytic process against pancreatic beta cells in vivo seems to be the precondition for anti-islet ADCC in vitro.

Adolescent↗

Phagocytic activity of blood cells in diabetic risk probands and newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics.

The phagocytic activity of granulocytes and mononuclear blood cells was compared in probands at risk for insulin-dependent Type 1 diabetes mellitus and in newly diagnosed diabetics before and during short-term insulin treatment. Healthy persons without family history of Type 1 diabetes were used as controls. Furthermore, the relationship between phagocytic activity and the proportion on monocytes in the granulocyte- and mononuclear blood cell fractions was estimated. The phagocytic activity of the mononuclear cells from the risk subjects was reduced. This observation suggests that defective phagocytosis might be important in the pathogenesis of Type 1 diabetes. But the phagocytic activity of mononuclear cells from newly diagnosed diabetics was not severely impaired and was fully normal under insulin treatment. We found no differences in the phagocytic activity of the granulocytes between patients and healthy probands. The proportion of monocytes in the mononuclear cell fraction was significantly enhanced in newly diagnosed diabetics and remained high throughout the 6-month period of insulin therapy. We assume that the increased monocyte level and the phagocytic activity of mononuclear cells in diabetics are not related to each other. But the increased monocyte level could also be interpreted as a compensatory reaction against the impaired phagocytic activity observed in the risk probands.

Adolescent↗

Effect of lymphocytes and serum from probands before and after manifestation of type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes on rat islets in vitro.

In a two-year follow-up study neonatal rat islets have been shown to be affected in vitro by lymphocytes and complement-inactivated serum obtained from newly diagnosed Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients and probands who are at high risk for developing the disease. The effect was measured by 51Cr-release of the islets treated with the proband's serum after a 6 h-incubation with lymphocytes of the same donor. Nineteen newly diagnosed diabetic patients, 23 persons at risk and 11 control probands were studied. There was no appreciable cytotoxic activity in the control probands (with one exception) and in 7 out of the 19 newly diagnosed diabetics. Five of the diabetes-susceptible probands developed diabetes mellitus during the investigation period. Anti-islet cytotoxicity of lymphocytes was found in these individuals at least 8 months before diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. The cytotoxic effect disappeared at various time intervals after disease manifestation. Islet cytotoxicity was intermittently found with lymphocytes from further 13 probands at risk, sometimes for more than one year. Our data indicate that mononuclear cells from probands who are at high risk for developing Type 1 diabetes can exert cytotoxicity on xenogenic neonatal islets in the presence of their own serum.

Adolescent↗

[Peculiarities of theophylline therapy in childhood].

Profound knowledge of the pharmacokinetics of theophylline is a prerequisite to successful therapy. In children the clearance of theophylline is considerably greater than in adults. The required higher dosage in relation to body weight results in more pronounced oscillations of drug levels in serum. Investigations in 280 children in the age of 1 to 18 years with bronchial asthma, treated with theophylline compounds, confirm the necessity of individual dosage and surveillance of the drug level in serum. Instead of the determination of the drug level in serum, its measurement in saliva is sufficiently reliable and less molesting. Checks of drug level are also a valuable educational measure to improve patients' compliance with drug intake. The effectivity of asthma therapy in children could be decisively improved by an adequate formulation of a slow release preparation of theophylline.

Adolescent↗

Biological effects of a proglumide derivative as cholecystokinin antagonist in conscious dogs.

In conscious dogs we studied the effects of a new cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist (coded CR 1505) on CCK8-stimulated exocrine pancreatic secretion and release of pancreatic polypeptide (PP). Graded doses of CCK8 (25-400 ng kg-1h-1) were infused i.v. Experiments were repeated against a background infusion of CR 1505 at different doses (0.1, 1 and 10 mg kg-1h-1). The lowest dose of CR 1505 had no biological effects. However, at the upper two doses the compound significantly inhibited the CCK8-stimulated PP release. Furthermore, a significant inhibition of exocrine pancreatic protein secretion was observed with 10 mg kg-1h-1 of CR 1505 (P less than 0.05). The results suggest that CR 1505 could be a useful tool in defining the physiological role of CCK in vivo.

Animals↗

Absorption of an aqueous solution of a new synthetic somatostatin analogue administered to man by gavage.

To determine the local gastrointestinal absorption of a new synthetic somatostatin analogue (SMS 201-995 = Sandostatin), an intestinal tube was passed in eight healthy volunteers and on different days an aqueous solution was administered at four different locations: stomach, proximal duodenum, ligament of Treitz and jejunum. In a follow-up study, an oro-ileal tube was passed in six of the original volunteers and the drug solution was administered in to the terminal ileum. The aqueous solution of SMS was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after local application, and it was well tolerated. Absorption of the drug from the different sites was comparable, although there was a tendency to decreased peptide absorption after ileal administration. Absorption of the drug was quite variable between the subjects and the different locations. The dose-corrected systemic availability relative to subcutaneous administration in another study was 0.28%. However, significant plasma SMS concentrations were achieved, suggesting that oral delivery of the polypeptide may eventually be possible for long-term treatment of a variety of disorders.

Adult↗

Genetic control of diabetes induction by complete Freund's adjuvant combined with subdiabetogenic doses of streptozotocin in Lewis rats--evidence for transient cytotoxicity against beta cells.

The non-specific activation of the immune system by administration of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) was examined in two congenic Lewis rat strains LEW. 1A (RT1a) and LEW. 1W (RT1u) as a possible mean of amplification of the specific immune response, directed to pancreatic beta cells induced by multiple non-diabetogenic injections of streptozotocin (STZ). Rats were given intraperitoneally 0.5 ml CFA and 1 day later 25 mg/kg body weight STZ. This combined treatment was repeated twice at weekly intervals. Control groups received vehicle, STZ or CFA only with the same doses and at the same times. Only CFA/STZ-treated rats developed a persisting hyperglycaemia (greater than 15 mmol/l glucose) namely 3/18 (17%) LEW. 1W and 47/76 (62%) LEW. 1A rats. The pancreatic insulin content in these hyperglycaemic rats was reduced by 96.6% in LEW. 1A rats and by 93% in LEW. 1W rats measured 8 weeks after the last CFA/STZ treatment. The response to CFA indicated by an increase of number of peripheral leucocytes and relative spleen weight gain at 7 days after CFA administration, was higher in LEW. 1A rats compared with those of LEW. 1W rats. Spleen cells harvested 72 h/48 h after the first and second CFA/STZ administration showed a cytotoxic reaction to isolated syngeneic islets as measured by 51Cr-release in vitro. Control rats receiving vehicle, STZ or CFA only showed no cellular anti-islet cytotoxicity. The anti-islet cytotoxicity of spleen cells was only transient and disappeared after the third CFA/STZ administration. Anti-islet cytotoxic antibodies were not detectable in this short-term study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Cell-mediated immune reactions against islets of Langerhans in diabetes-prone BB rats.

The intact pancreatic islet can be destroyed by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). T cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) might additionally be important in the pathogenesis of IDDM. However, in vitro alterations of islets due to CMC have so far not been demonstrated. For the evaluation of the cytotoxic attack caused by ADCC and CMC against the islets in the development of IDDM we used a BB rat line with a high incidence of the disease (dp BB/OK). Cytotoxicity tests were carried out on autologous and on nonsyngeneic islets with mononuclear spleen cells and serum from non-diabetic BB rats of different ages. The cytotoxic action of the mononuclear cells was quantified by the specific 51Cr-release from the islets after pretreatment with serum. It was found that an anti-islet cytotoxicity appears with a peak incidence between 40 and 60 days of age. The frequency of cytotoxicity in vitro was related to the incidence of diabetes as normally observed in this rat line. Furthermore, it was shown that both autologous, allogeneic and xenogeneic islets can be destroyed by mononuclear spleen cells and serum of dp BB/OK rats.--The frequency and the strength of anti-islet cytotoxicity in vitro were higher in these dp BB/OK animals than in a control group of non-diabetes prone BB/PhiK rats. There was an association between cytotoxic 51Cr-release in the positive assays and a reduction in the hormone content of pancreatic islets.--This report provides evidence of cell-mediated immune damage of islets during the prediabetic state of BB rats suggesting that both CMC and ADCC are involved in islet cell killing.

Animals↗

Gastrin is not a physiological regulator of pancreatic exocrine secretion in the dog.

The role of gastrin as a regulator of exocrine pancreatic secretion has not been proven adequately. In the present study we therefore compared the relative molar potencies of sulfated and unsulfated gastrin 17 with structurally related CCK peptides (synthetic CCK-8 and natural porcine CCK-33) in stimulating exocrine pancreatic secretion in conscious dogs. Dose response curves were constructed for pancreatic and gastric acid secretion. Plasma gastrin levels after exogenous gastrin 17-I and -II were compared with postprandial gastrin concentrations (meal: ground beef 20 g/kg body wt). The molar potency estimates calculated with synthetic CCK8 as standard (potency = 1.00) for pancreatic protein secretion were natural porcine 50% pure CCK-33 1.60, gastrin 17-I 0.12, and gastrin 17-II 0.16. All four peptides induced a dose-dependent increase in pancreatic bicarbonate output. However, the blood concentrations needed to stimulate pancreatic secretion were above the postprandial gastrin levels. Our data indicate that both gastrin 17 peptides are not physiological regulators of pancreatic enzyme secretion in dogs.

Animals↗