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Biomedical subjects

G Krieger

Publications and source records attributed to G Krieger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Synergistic DNA damaging effects of malondialdehyde/Cu(II) in PM2 DNA and in human fibroblasts.

Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a product of lipid peroxidation (LPO). In combination with CuCl2 MDA induced single strand breaks in PM2 DNA whereas MDA or CuCl2 alone had no effect. Cu(II) oxidized MDA by a radical mechanism under formation of Cu(I). DNA strand break induction was inhibited by catalase (98%), neocuproine (76%) and DMSO (61%). The synergistic damaging effect of MDA and Cu(II) was also demonstrated in human fibroblasts measured by alkaline elution. The combination MDA/CuCl2 caused extensive DNA breakage while neither MDA nor CuCl2 alone induced DNA damage within the cell. Synergistic cytotoxic effects were observed 18 h after a simultaneous treatment of the cells with MDA and CuCl2 for 1 h.

Administration, Topical

Different DNA damaging species as a result of oxidation of n-butyraldehyde and iso-butyraldehyde by Cu(II).

The isomers n- and iso-butyraldehyde (BuA) in combination with Cu(II) induced single and double strand breaks in PM2 DNA, whereas the aldehydes, or Cu(II) alone had only negligible effect. The DNA damage was the result of radical oxidations of the aldehydes under formation of Cu(I). Cu(I) formation was independent of molecular oxygen. Extensive DNA degradation was only observed in the presence of molecular oxygen. Characterization of DNA damage pointed to different ultimate DNA damaging species. While catalase and neocuproine inhibited strand break formation induced by iso-BuA/Cu(II) to a high degree, these inhibitors were less effective in the n-BuA/Cu(II) reaction. On the other hand, sodium azide showed a high strand break inhibition in the n-BuA/Cu(II) reaction, but low inhibition in the iso-BuA/Cu(II) reaction. 2-Deoxyguanosine was hydroxylated in the 8-position by iso-BuA/Cu(II) but little reaction occurred with n-BuA/Cu(II). Chemiluminescence was detected during both BuA/Cu(II) reactions, whereby the intensity of the luminescence signal was 3.5-fold higher for n-BuA/Cu(II) than for iso-BuA/Cu(II). We suppose that the copper(II)-driven oxidation of n- and iso-BuA proceeds via different pathways with different DNA damaging consequences. Whereas the oxidation of iso-BuA mainly results in damage by .OH-radicals, the oxidation of n-BuA may lead to a radical reaction chain whereby excited states are involved and the resulting DNA-damaging species are not .OH-radicals.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine

Neural network models and the visual cortex: the missing link between orientation selectivity and the natural environment.

Orientation selectivity is a basic property of neurones in the visual cortex of higher vertebrates. Such neurones can be seen to act as 'feature detectors', which provide an efficient cortical representation of the outside world. More recently, the removal of correlations between the signals of cortical neurones has been suggested as suitable theoretical concept for explaining the development of receptive fields. Corresponding neural network simulations yielded oriented 'receptive field' structures resembling those observed by neurophysiologists. The findings suggest that the 'decorrelation approach' can provide a causal relationship between characteristics of the physical world and brain function. However, we were able to reveal a basic deficit of the decorrelation approach which we illustrate by the construction of two artificial 'worlds', a 'Gaussian' one and an 'orientation-only' one. We show that, according to the decorrelation approach, oriented environmental features would be neither necessary nor sufficient for the development of oriented receptive fields. Thus the link between environmental structure and cortical orientation selectivity still awaits a theoretical explanation.

Environment

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for metastatic gastric leiomyosarcoma.

We report a case of metastatic gastrointestinal leiomyosarcoma treated with high-dose combination chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. After incomplete surgical resection, enteral, peritoneal and hepatic involvement remained. Postoperatively, standard-dose chemotherapy with etoposide, ifosfamide, cisplatin and epirubicine, and high-dose chemotherapy with the same agents (carboplatin replacing cisplatin) was given. Treatment was well tolerated and the patient remains in complete remission at 36+ months. We conclude that high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation may be of use as treatment for inoperable residual disease after resection of the primary lesion in gastrointestinal and other soft tissue sarcomas.

Adult

The IPRS Image Processing and Pattern Recognition System.

IPRS is a freely available software system which consists of about 250 library functions in C, and a set of application programs. It is designed to run under UNIX and comes with full source code, system manual pages, and a comprehensive user's and programmer's guide. It is intended for use by researchers in human vision, pattern recognition, image processing, machine vision and machine learning.

Humans

DNA single and double strand breaks induced by aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes in combination with copper (II).

The aliphatic n-butyr-and n-valeraldehyde as well as the aromatic benz- and anisaldehyde induced DNA strand breaks in PM2 DNA in the presence of CuCl2. Neither aldehydes nor CuCl2 alone showed DNA breakage properties. The maximum of single strand breaks (SSBs) induced by the combination of CuCl2 and aldehydes was dependent on the CuCl2-concentration. The aliphatic aldehydes induced SSBs and double strand breaks (DSBs) at lower concentrations than aromatic aldehydes when optimal CuCl2 concentration were used. Catalase and neocuproine nearly completely inhibited strand break formation induced by aromatic aldehydes/CuCl2. The prevention of strand breaks induced by aliphatic aldehydes/CuCl2 was less effective. While the inhibition by neocuproine was only 25%, catalase was totally ineffective. In all aldehydes/CuCl2 mixtures the formation of Cu(I) was observed. The results point to different DNA damaging species produced during redox reactions of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes in combination with CuCl2.

Aldehydes

Effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment on ex vivo blood cytokine response in human volunteers.

We explored the ex vivo alteration in the cytokine release of stimulated blood taken from healthy volunteers treated subcutaneously with 480 micrograms granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). In a double-blind, controlled, randomized study with 21 volunteers who received G-CSF once or twice 24 hours apart, we measured lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-inducible release of various cytokines and soluble receptors at different times after treatment. At day 1 after a single dose of G-CSF, mediator release was also initiated with muramyl dipeptide, Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A, lipoteichoic acid, streptolysin O, complement factor C5a, phytohemagglutinin, or phorbol myristate acetate. In blood from G-CSF-treated subjects, our major findings were (1) a maximal 12-fold increase in interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) release and an increase of both the p55 and p75 soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors; (2) a reduction in TNF release when using all the various stimuli described except LPS; (3) an increase in G-CSF and, to lesser extent, in IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 release; and (4) an attenuation of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF release. Our findings demonstrate that the major effect of G-CSF treatment is a change in the responsiveness of blood towards a variety of stimuli, which we interpret as a shift toward an antiinflammatory cytokine response.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine

[Diagnostic and intensive care problems in hemolytic uremic syndrome].

We observed a young man with apparently septic appendicitis who finally could be diagnosed as suffering from haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) when spuriously normalising platelet counts were identified as a cell counter artifact. This case stresses the fact that automatically counted abnormal thrombocyte numbers should be examined by microscopy. Therapy is empirically based on corticosteroids, plasmapheresis and fresh frozen plasma. The application of thrombocyte concentrates should be avoided because of the risk of aggravating the disease process.

Adult

Binding of fluorescein-labeled anaphylatoxin C5a to human peripheral blood, spleen, and bone marrow leukocytes.

The expression of C5a receptors (C5aR) on human leukocytes was evaluated by flow cytometry using fluorescein-labeled human C5a (C5a-F). Granulocytes and CD14+ mononuclear cells (MNL) but not CD3+, CD20+, CD16+, CD56+, or CD11b+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood and spleen bound C5a-F. C5a-F binding was saturable and inhibitable by anti-C5a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) C17/5 or unlabeled C5a. During hemodialysis, which led to the generation of C5a, only granulocytes and monocytes increased their expression of the adhesion molecule CD11b (CR3). In vitro, C5a induced an increase of CR3 and p 150/95 (CD11c/CR4) only on myeloid cells. However, treatment of leukocytes with phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate increased CR3 and CR4 expression on both myeloid cells and a lymphocyte subpopulation. Stimulation of MNL in mixed lymphocyte cultures or by treatment with conditioned medium or with IFN-gamma did not induce binding sites for C5aR on lymphocytes and reduced the binding of C5a-F to monocytes. The expression of C5aR on low-density bone marrow cells was analyzed by setting appropriate gates during flow cytometry. Cells that bound C5a-F were found in all populations that contained granulocyte and monocyte precursors, but not in lymphocyte precursor populations. All C5aR+ bone marrow cells were CD34 and expressed high levels of CR3, which suggests a late appearance of C5aR during myeloid cell maturation. Our results indicate that C5aR is exclusively expressed on myeloid cells within the hematopoetic cell population.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

The growth capacity of hematopoietic progenitor cells in severe neutropenia induced by famotidine.

In four cases of severe neutropenia of unknown origin we found a strong inhibition of the growth of granulocyte-macrophage (GM) progenitor cells. The development of GM colonies in culture (GM-CFU-c) was more than 80% reduced in comparison to the control group. In particular, the interleukin 3-(IL-3) and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor-(GM-CSF) dependent growth was affected; a combination of growth factors (IL-3, GM-CSF, and G-CSF, the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) resulted in a less reduced growth. The findings were primarily compatible with drug-induced bone marrow failure. Among the medications given to the patients, famotidine, an H2-receptor blocker, was discussed as an agent which possibly triggers off this process. After the withdrawal of famotidine, in three cases a continual increase of the growth of GM precursors was detected, reaching the normal level 7-17 days later. In one case, further investigations of the progenitor cells could not be carried out due to the death of the patient, but the rapid increase of neutrophils in the peripheral blood after withdrawal of famotidine pointed to the recovery of hematopoiesis. In vitro studies showed that famotidine, depending on the dose, inhibits the single growth factor-dependent colony growth (IL-3, GM-CSF, or G-CSF) of bone marrow progenitors from a concentration as low as 10 micrograms/ml. With the combination of all three growth factors only slight inhibitory effects were detectable (up to 150 micrograms/ml famotidine). These results indicate that famotidine, in common with other H2-receptor antagonists, can affect hematopoietic progenitor cells. However, the plasma concentration of famotidine normally used in ulcer therapy does not seem to influence the hematopoiesis. Apparently, the progenitor cells of only a few patients possess a higher sensitivity to the blockade of H2-receptors at this concentration of famotidine. This was demonstrated in one case (patient 3) 2 years after the patient had recovered from famotidine-induced neutropenia. The growth of peripheral myeloid, erythroid, and multilineage progenitor cells of this patient was remarkably reduced even at famotidine concentrations of 0.1-5.0 micron/ml whereas in the control group no inhibition was detected at these famotidine concentrations. Again, the IL-3-dependent colony formation was more affected than in the case of the combination of IL-3, GM-CSF, and G-CSF. After the removal of accessory cells the inhibitory effect of famotidine persisted, demonstrating that accessory cells do not play a major role in this process.

Adult

Frequency and structure of t(14;18) major breakpoint regions in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas typed according to the Kiel classification: analysis by direct DNA sequencing.

We have examined 165 unselected cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas for rearrangements involving the t(14;18) major breakpoint region using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing of amplified major breakpoint region bcl-2/JH junctional regions. The lymphomas, diagnosed according to the updated Kiel classification, consisted of 33 centroblastic-centrocytic, 37 centroblastic, 27 immunocytic, 10 immunoblastic, 10 centrocytic, 2 lymphoblastic, 2 Ki-1-positive anaplastic large cell, 14 peripheral T-cell, and 4 unclassified lymphomas. In addition 18 chronic lymphocytic leukemias, 2 hairy cell leukemias, and 6 plasmacytomas were studied. In 17 cases a bcl-2/JH gene fusion sequence was amplified by PCR. A bcl-2/JH gene fusion was detected only in three lymphoma subgroups: 13 of 33 centroblastic-centrocytic (39%), 2 of 37 centroblastic (6%), and 2 of 27 immunocytic (8%) were positive. In two cases, major breakpoint region bcl-2 rearrangements verified by genomic Southern analysis were not detected by PCR. Direct sequencing of all 17 PCR-amplified, previously uncharacterized t(14;18) junctional regions provided corroborating evidence for the specificity of the assay. The procedure gave sequencing results even from limited amounts of lymphoma cells as obtained by fine needle aspiration of lymph nodes or from clinically uninvolved sites. Clone-specific sequences were identified due to the involvement of different JH segments, the variations among the exact JH and bcl-2 breakpoint positions, and the extensive incorporation of junctional region (D-) N-nucleotides. These clone-specific sequences allow accurate identification of clinically occult lymphoma cells and reduce the threat of false positive results. The finding of exceptionally long intervening sequences in some of the junctions and the partial homology with published DH segments in three cases support the view that some of the putative N-regions harbor DH regions.

Antigens, CD

Clinical characteristics of high-grade lymphomas with immune genes in germline configuration.

In a prospective study of 42 high-grade lymphomas which were categorized according to the Kiel classification, the clinical significance of immune genotyping was studied. Immunoglobulin (Ig) and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements were investigated. In 33 cases the immune genotype confirmed the phenotype. In one case with equivocal phenotype a TCR beta-chain rearrangement proved the T-cell origin of the lymphoma. None of the cases showed a bigenotype. There were eight lymphomas with immunoglobulin and TCR beta-chain and gamma-chain genes in germline configuration, which were divided into a group of immature lymphomas and a group of lymphomas with a more mature phenotype. The immature lymphomas had widespread disease, rapid progression, and favorable prognosis after intensive chemotherapy. The group of T-cell and Ki-1 lymphomas with null-cell genotype was clinically heterogeneous. Three of four cases were secondary lymphomas after lymphomatoid papulosis, lymphomatoid granulomatosis, or Hodgkin's disease. All cases presented with extranodal involvement. Only one of these patients is in continuous remission. In conclusion, the lack of immunoglobulin and TCR beta-chain and gamma-chain gene rearrangements does not exclude the diagnosis of high-grade malignant lymphoma, especially in cases with unusual extranodal involvement. However, the DNA analysis identifies a null-cell genotype subset of high-grade lymphomas which may have clinical significance.

Adolescent

Heterogeneity of immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in B-cell lymphomas.

We have examined 69 B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) for rearrangements of the immunoglobulin (Ig) or T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) genes. The lymphomas were assigned to the categories of the Kiel classification and their B-cell nature was confirmed by immunostaining. Only 2 cases (with CLL) displayed clonal T beta-chain TCR gene rearrangements together with rearranged heavy- and light-chain Ig genes. The remaining 67 lymphomas had a germline beta-chain TCR-gene configuration. Three different patterns of Ig gene rearrangements were identified; (A) presence of both heavy- and light-chain rearrangements (H+L+); (B) rearrangement of heavy-chain gene only (H+L-); (C) heavy- and light-chain genes in germline configuration (H-L-). All the 45 low-grade NHLs and the 4 immunoblastic lymphomas exhibited pattern A and all had their kappa gene rearranged or deleted. Of 24 low-grade lymphomas tested, 13 (54%) had an addition rearrangement of the lambda light-chain gene. In contrast, the 19 high-grade centroblastic (cb) B-NHLs had distinct patterns of Ig-gene rearrangement: 12 with pattern A, 4 with B and 2 with C. In this group only 2 of 17 (12%) cases analyzed had evidence of lambda light-chain rearrangement whereas 12 of 18 (67%) had a kappa gene rearrangement or deletion. In one case expressing sIgM/lambda and with heavy chain Ig-rearrangement, no DNA was available for Ig light-chain analysis.

Adolescent

Sequence analysis of amplified t(14;18) chromosomal breakpoints in B-cell lymphomas.

We have explored different strategies for sequencing of major breakpoint (mbr) junctional regions in t(14;18) chromosomal translocations--the most frequent chromosomal abnormality observed in B-cell lymphomas. We demonstrate that coupling of the preparation of single-stranded DNA by asymmetric polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing is the method of choice for the rapid and precise determination of clone-specific bcl-2/JH fusion gene sequences. The rapidity, relative ease, and accuracy of the technique, described for the nucleotide sequence analysis of mbr t(14;18) breakpoints, permits the analysis of a relatively large number of samples and should be considered as part of the clinical evaluation of lymphoma patients. Furthermore, by providing sequence information of clone-specific DNA regions, the procedure should reduce the risk of false-positive results from PCR.

Base Sequence