Biomedical subjects

G Bandlow

Publications and source records attributed to G Bandlow.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1994

Use of small fragment restriction endonuclease analysis (SF-REA) for epidemiological fingerprinting of Klebsiella oxytoca.

A group of infections caused by Klebsiella oxytoca was observed among preterm neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a pediatric hospital in Osnabrück, Germany. The presence of unique antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among the bacterial isolates prompted an investigation to determine whether a limited spread of one single strain existed. All 4 K. oxytoca isolates from the NICU and, in addition, 50 epidemiologically non-related strains were fingerprinted by small fragment restriction endonuclease analysis (SF-REA). From an analysis of silver-strained EcoR I-generated restriction fragment patterns of whole-cell DNA in polyacrylamide gels, it was evident that the 4 NICU isolates were closely related, whereas all epidemiologically unrelated strains exhibited different patterns. From the results of this study, DNA fingerprinting by SF-REA is proposed as a useful tool for investigating the epidemiological relatedness of K. oxytoca strains of clinical and environmental origin.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

PubMed1994

Genotyping of Staphylococcus epidermidis by small-fragment restriction endonuclease analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic restriction fragments.

Small-fragment restriction endonuclease analysis (SF-REA) was established as a typing tool for Staphylococcus epidermidis. A total of 60 isolates comprising 48 epidemiologically nonrelated strains and 12 putatively linked isolates from 7 patients in 2 wards were analyzed. Nonrelated isolates were characterized by unique fingerprints when DNA was cleaved with EcoRI or ClaI, electrophoretically separated in a polyacrylamide gel, and silver stained. Three blood culture isolates from one patient in an intensive care unit, 4 isolates obtained from a child over a span of 2 weeks, and 5 isolates from 5 newborns in the same ward were grouped into 3 DNA pattern types, indicating identity of sequential isolates from 2 patients and nosocomial transmission of one Staphylococcus epidermidis strain between 5 babies. Results from pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of SmaI and SacII DNA digests and conventional marker systems such as antibiogram and plasmid profile were in accordance with these interpretations, whereas slight variation was observed in the biotypes of several strains. From the results of this study, we conclude that SF-REA is a precise and efficient method for the genotypic characterization of Staphylococcus epidermidis strains that can be used as a rapid and reliable typing tool.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Molecular typing of Enterobacter cloacae by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic restriction fragments.

Eleven multiply resistant Enterobacter cloacae isolates were obtained from eight preterm neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of one hospital in Osnabrück, together with one sensitive strain from another infant. The presence of similar antibiograms and biotypes in 11 isolates prompted further characterization of the isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of NotI generated genomic restriction fragments. For assessment of the discriminatory power of this typing method 50 non-related strains were included in the study. Non-related strains demonstrated a marked variation in restriction fragment patterns and were clearly discriminated one from another. In contrast, 11 of 12 isolates from the NICU exhibited identical restriction profiles, indicating a cluster associated with nosocomial infection. Since the discriminatory power of PFGE is high, reproducibility is good, and all reagents and equipment for DNA fingerprinting are commercially available, this technique is proposed as a useful tool in the microbiology laboratory for investigating the epidemiology of E. cloacae strains.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

PubMed1993

Epidemiological fingerprinting of Enterobacter cloacae by small-fragment restriction endonuclease analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic restriction fragments.

A cluster of infections caused by Enterobacter cloacae was observed among preterm neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a pediatric hospital in Osnabrück, Germany. The presence of similar antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among the bacterial isolates prompted an investigation to determine whether a limited spread of a single strain existed. All 12 E. cloacae isolates from the NICU and 50 nonrelated strains were fingerprinted by small-fragment restriction endonuclease analysis (SF-REA) of EcoRI DNA digests. Selected isolates were further characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of NotI- or XbaI-generated genomic restriction fragments. Epidemiologically unrelated strains were clearly discriminated by both methods. Results achieved by SF-REA and PFGE revealed that of the 12 isolates from the NICU, 11 belonged to the same genotypic cluster. Since all reagents and equipment for both techniques are commercially available, DNA fingerprinting by SF-REA or PFGE is proposed as a useful tool in the microbiology laboratory for investigating the epidemiological relatedness of E. cloacae strains of clinical and environmental origin.

Cross Infection↗

PubMed1991

Subtyping of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 isolates by small-fragment restriction endonuclease analysis.

Whole cell DNA of Legionella pneumophila isolates was examined by small-fragment restriction endonuclease analysis (SF-REA). Fourteen serogroup 1 isolates from tap water in one hospital collected before and after eradication measures had been taken were compared with control strains of serogroup 1 and other serogroups that were not epidemiologically linked. DNA was digested with EcoRI and electrophoresed on polyacrylamide gels. The gel patterns were made visible by silver staining and analysed by direct visual comparison. All 15 epidemiologically unrelated strains of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 and of other serogroups exhibited different restriction fragment patterns. The isolates from the hospital could be clearly subdivided into two groups by SF-REA, suggesting that the hot water supply of the hospital was contaminated with two different strains. SF-REA performed on Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 DNA enabled further subtyping of these organisms and thus appears to be a useful technique for investigating their epidemiology.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

PubMed1991

Epidemiological fingerprinting of Klebsiella pneumoniae by small-fragment-restriction-endonuclease-analysis (SF-REA).

Epidemiological fingerprinting of Klebsiella pneumoniae was performed by restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) of whole cell DNA. 11 isolates from 4 patients in an intensive care unit and 80 unrelated strains were examined in this study. DNA was cleaved with restriction endonuclease EcoR I, electrophoresed on 10% polyacrylamide gels, and restriction fragment patterns were visualized by silver staining. The analysis of small fragments within the cleavage patterns (SF-REA) yielded sufficient information for reliable strain identification. The gel patterns of unrelated strains exhibited marked differences by direct visual comparison. In contrast, the isolates from the ICU could only be subdivided into 2 types, supporting our suspicion of nosocomial infections in some of these patients. SF-REA was evaluated with regard to interstrain discriminatory ability, reproducibility, and practicability. Our results indicate that SF-REA may be used as a rapid, precise and reliable technique in typing K. pneumoniae strains.

Cross Infection↗

PubMed1990

Application of small fragment restriction endonuclease analysis (SF-REA) to the epidemiological fingerprinting of Staphylococcus aureus.

Total cell DNA of 14 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from patients of an intensive care unit (ICU) and 180 unrelated strains was examined by restriction endonuclease analysis (REA). EcoRI-generated DNA fragments were either subjected to conventional REA on agarose gels and stained with ethidium bromide or separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and visualised by silver staining (SF-REA). Both methods were compared for inter-strain discriminatory ability, reproducibility and handling. All DNA-cleavage patterns of unrelated strains clearly differed from each other when subjected to SF-REA. In contrast, all S. aureus isolates from the ICU gave identical restriction fragment patterns. These findings supported the suspicion of nosocomial infection in these patients. Conventional REA proved the identity of the ICU isolates, but it failed to differentiate between some of the unrelated strains. Therefore SF-REA of total cell DNA seemed to be superior. It has proved to be a very useful technique for studying the epidemiology of S. aureus in hospitals.

DNA Fingerprinting↗

PubMed1989

Selection and isolation of a new variant of DBA/2 mastocytoma P 815 X 2.

A tumor model was developed in DBA/2 mice for studying the progression of the mastocytoma P 815 X 2 tumor. Tumor cells obtained from ascites were grown in vitro. The number of cells derived from a single clone was increased by in vitro culture. Cells were then injected either i.v. or i.p. into DBA/2 mice. Large volumes of tumor ascites were observed after i.p. but not i.v. injection. The latter led to tumor growth at multiple sites, especially in the liver. Mastocytoma cells were released from liver tissue and then injected i.p. into other recipients. For cloning of liver invading tumor cells, this procedure was repeated for greater than 20 generations of mice. Tumor infiltration of the liver increased strongly during this period, but ascites volume clearly decreased.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Differential expression of endogenous sugar-binding proteins (lectins) in murine tumor model systems with metastatic capacity.

In order to investigate possible differences in sugar binding activities of strongly versus weakly metastatic tumors, sugar-binding molecules (endogenous lectins) of murine tumor cells differing in metastatic capacity were analyzed by affinity chromatography on supports with immobilized sugars or glycoproteins and compared. After elution with specific sugar in the absence of Ca2+-ions, the proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis. In comparison to a weakly metastatic subline (Eb) spontaneous strongly metastatic variants (ESb) of a murine lymphoma contained additional sugar receptors for N-acetylglucosamine (Mr 30 kDa) and maltose (Mr 64 kDa, 62 kDa, 54 kDa and 32 kDa), and lacked one sugar receptor for myoinositol (Mr 85 kDa), N-acetylglucosamine (Mr 23 kDa) and maltose (Mr 22 kDa), respectively. The strongly metastatic variant ESb expressed the common beta-galactoside-specific lectin to a higher extent and receptors for myo-inositol, melibiose and mannan to a lower extent. In another model system derived from the murine mastocytoma cell line P 815 X 2A, biochemical analysis of the liver-metastasizing variant P 815 X 2B revealed additional characteristic N-acetylgalactosamine- and maltose-specific binding proteins. This variant had reduced amounts of receptors for beta-galactosides and fucose in comparison to the parental clone. In a third tumor system a similar qualitative difference was disclosed: a metastatic variant derived from spleen metastases displayed a sugar receptor profile with 5 additional beta-galactoside-binding proteins when compared to its parental clone 6-6#3 + F, which is a virally transformed fibroblast line. The results show that metastatic variants of 3 murine tumor models consisting of lymphomas, mastocytomas and sarcomas are characterized by qualitative and quantitative alterations in the profiles of sugar-binding proteins.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

[Diagnostic validity of CEA determination in metastasizing breast cancer].

The diagnostic validity of serial CEA determinations in metastatic breast cancer was investigated. First, the CEA values within 8 weeks after start of therapy were correlated with the response to therapy. Second, the CEA levels were used to predict progression after remission or stable disease. These investigations were performed in 150 patients with advanced breast cancer who had clinical follow-ups and serial CEA determinations every one to three months. CEA was not useful for monitoring response to therapy (sensitivity 63%, specifity 58%) or prediction of relapse (sensitivity 61%, specifity 82%) if CEA levels were correlated with clinical course in all patients. However, diagnostic validity of CEA was achieved if the patients were selected and appropriate definitions of significant changes in CEA used. Thus, 83% of the responders (sensitivity) could be identified by a significant decrease of CEA titers in patients with CEA levels of greater than or equal to 10 ng/ml. A decrease of more than 10% of pretreatment levels during the first 4-8 weeks after start of therapy proved to be the appropriate definition of a significant decrease of CEA titers. However, 32% of the nonresponders were misclassified as responders (unspecifity) using these criteria. The positive predictive value of a significant decrease of CEA for response to therapy was 72% (prevalence 45%), the negative predictive value 82% (prevalence 55%). Rising CEA titers specifically predicted progression of disease in patients with remission or stable disease. However, an appropriate sensitivity (86%) was achieved only in patients with baseline CEA levels of greater than or equal to 5 ng/ml.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

PubMed1986

Cytostatic effect of gangliosides present in the membrane of macrophages.

Stimulated macrophages are known to inhibit the growth of certain tumor cells. Using mouse peritoneal exudates as a source of macrophages and the mastocytoma cell line P815 as the target, the inhibition was found to depend on direct contact between the macrophages and the growing cells. Cytostatic activities were detected in extracts of macrophages as well as in membranes of macrophages bound to substances of low molecular weight. Physical and biochemical characteristics of the cytostatic activity hint toward N-acetylneuraminic acid containing glycosphingolipids (gangliosides). The different macrophage gangliosides were separated by thin-layer chromatography. All types showed cytostatic activity, but the most effective gangliosides were identified as monosialoganglioside GM1 and disialoganglioside GD3.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Metastatic breast cancer with constantly low CEA blood levels. A subgroup with unfavorable prognosis?

The capability of breast cancer to secrete CEA might have biological significance. In 105 patients with metastatic breast cancer serial CEA determinations and clinical follow-up data were available during progression of disease up to death. In this series, 39 patients (37%) had constantly low CEA levels (less than 10 ng/ml), whereas 66 patients (63%) showed CEA values exceeding 10 ng/ml with progression. The patients with low CEA levels had significantly shorter median survival times (P = 0.001) after mastectomy (39 versus 65 months) and after recurrence (18 versus 28 months) than the patients with high CEA levels. This difference was due first to a poor-risk group of 13 patients with rapidly disseminating tumors, very short survival (less than 12 months), and low CEA levels. Secondly, there were more patients with pulmonary involvement and unfavorable prognosis and fewer patients with osseous metastases and long survival in the low-CEA group. In conclusion, there might be a subtype of breast cancer with rapid progression and low CEA secretion. This clinical observation has to be confirmed by histological grading and CEA staining of these tumors.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

PubMed1983

[Determination of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) for predicting the success of therapy in metastatic breast cancer].

In 53 patients with metastatic breast cancer and increased CEA serum levels (greater than 10 micrograms/l) the CEA titer within the first 8 weeks after commencement of chemotherapy was compared with results of therapy. Among 30 patients in whom CEA values had decreased by at least 30% of pretreatment values 12 showed remission, 15 no change and 3 progression of the malignancy. Among 23 patients with unchanged or increasing CEA values during therapy 19 had progression, 3 an arrest and one a remission of the disease. In the one patient with remission the course of the disease was unusual inasmuch as the CEA value increased to 240 micrograms/l serum and liver metastases regressed excessively at the same time. This lead to the assumption of CEA release by tumour necrosis during therapy. The results suggest that in metastatic breast cancer and increased CEA values remission generally cannot be expected should the CEA value remain unchanged or rise within the first 8 weeks after initiation of treatment. In contrast, a decrease of CEA within that time may be considered a prognostically favourable sign which, however, does not mean clinically relevant reduction of tumour size in every case. For evaluation of treatment sufficient precision of CEA determinations must be guaranteed.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed1980

Abnormal lysozyme production of peritoneal macrophages from mastocytoma P-815 bearing C3D2F1-mice.

Sodium thioglycollate-induced peritoneal macrophages from C3D2F1 mice were examined for their ability to produce and secrete lysozyme in vitro. Lysozyme was quantitated by use of a "lysoplate assay", in which lyophilized Micrococcus lysodeicticus suspended in agar were lysed by the enzyme. The ability to secrete lysozyme decreased in mice bearing a subcutaneous or intraperitoneal mastocytoma P-815 with progressive tumour growth.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

Cytostatic effect of macrophages from non-immunised mice on mastocytoma P-815 cells in vitro.

Peritoneal macrophages from non-immunised C57/bl, C3H, and DBA/2 mice were examined for their capability of inhibiting the growth of mastocytoma P-815 cells in vitro. The rate of tumour cell growth was measured by the uptake of 125IUDR into the DNA of the tumor cells. Sodium thioglycollate-induced macrophages as well as resident macrophages inhibited the growth of allogeneic tumor cells distinctly, when incubated for 48 h. The effect depended on the effector to target cell ratio. Tumor cell growth was still reduced at a ratio of one macrophage to one tumor cell. A decrease in the proliferative activity of mastocytoma cells was observed in the presence of non-stimulated and non-immune macrophages from DBA/2 mice. This decrease in target cell proliferation, however, occurred more slowly.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

[Herpes simplex causing a therapy-resistant panaritium (author's transl)].

In an eight-month-old child an inflammation developed in the region of the nail bed of the right middle finger. It showed no improvement after immobilisation, extraction of the nail and antibiotics. After ten months unsuccessful treatment electron microscopy of the inflammatory tissue showed numerous Herpes simplex viruses. These increased rapidly in tissue culture and could be neutralised with antibodies against Herpes simplex virus.

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMed1977

[Mononuclear phagocytes in tumors: differentiation by a rosette technique (author's transl)].

Mononuclear phagocytes in tumors cannot be reliably identified and quantified using morphological criteria alone. For this reason an alternative method, which depends on functional properties is described: Macrophages and monocytes derived from tumors from rosettes with antibody-coated sheep red blood cells and can thereby easily be detected and differentiated from tumor cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

An immunoperoxidase method for the identification of B lymphocytes by light microscopy.

Peroxidase-conjugated anti-human immunoglobulin was used to determine the percentage of B lymphocytes in the mononuclear cell fraction of peripheral blood of 100 healthy persons (blood donors). Peroxidase activity was revealed by incubation with the usual mixture of 3'3 diaminobenzidine and hydrogen peroxide. Cells which were peroxidase-positive after incubation with benzidine solution alone were considered to be monocytes. The number of T lymphocytes was estimated by the formation of E rosettes. 19.6% mononuclear cells could be shown to be B cells, 4.1% were monocytes and 57.0% T cells. The use of peroxidase-conjugated anti-human immunoglobulin gives rise to the same percentage of B cells as the use of fluorescein-conjugated anti-human immunoglobulin. The advantage of the method described here is that B lymphocytes can be counted by conventional light microscopy.

3,3'-Diaminobenzidine↗