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Biomedical subjects

G Niedermaier

Publications and source records attributed to G Niedermaier.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

[Depiction of the structure of the vitreous body in horses without ocular diseases and in horses with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) using transmission electron microscopy].

Neither the ultrastructure of the vitreous body from horses without ocular diseases, nor the pathomorphological changes in the vitreous body associated with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) have been described. However, the vitreous body plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ERU. Ten vitreous body samples obtained from 5 horses without ocular disease, and 38 vitreous body samples from horses with ERU (collected during vitrectomy) were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The vitreous body samples of horses without ocular diseases were characterized by a loose network of unbranched fibrils 10-12 nm in width. In the vitreous body samples of horses with ERU numerous dense bundles of fibrils, mononuclear inflammatory cells and necrotic cells represent the destruction of the vitreous fibrillar network. In this study, equine vitreous body ultrastructure was described for the first time. Thus, demonstrating ultramorphologically, the clinically apparent changes of the vitreous body associated with ERU.

Animals↗

[Detection of leptospira in the vitreous body of horses without ocular diseases and of horses with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) using transmission-electron microscopy].

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is caused by persistent intraocular leptospira, which appear to use the vitreous body as a refuge. The detection of leptospira in the vitreous body of horses with spontaneous ERU by histological methods has not yet been described. Thirty eight vitreous body samples from 36 horses with ERU (collected during vitrectomy), and 10 vitreous body samples obtained from 5 horses without ocular disease (control group) were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Prior to sample collection, 2 ml of a leptospira culture suspension were injected into the vitreous body of 2 eyes enucleated from horses of the control group. The detection of leptospira in samples, experimentally inoculated with these bacteria was uncomplicated; in vitreous body samples from horses with spontaneous ERU the detection was successful in only a few cases (3/38). The morphologically varying envelope of leptospira in vitreous body samples of horses which developed ERU spontaneously suggests the existence of a bacterial masquerade in vivo.

Animals↗

[Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in a, until now, healthy 46-year-old HIV-negative man].

A 46-year-old male patient was referred from a peripheral hospital with a 5 days history of high fever, dyspnea and respiratory deterioration. Direct immunofluorescence examination of bronchoalveolar fluid repeatedly showed clusters of Pneumocystis carinii. High-dose sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim therapy was initiated and the patient recovered promptly during the following days. This otherwise healthy patient's past history was unremarkable in terms of prior infectious diseases. There was no evidence of immunodeficiency and he was not taking medication. Antibodies against HIV-1 were repeatedly negative, as were the assay for p24-antigen, PCR for HIV-DNA and HIV culture. Subpopulations of lymphocytes showed normal values. Analysis of the IgG fractions revealed a decreased subclass 2 fraction. Functional assays showed decreased biological binding capacity of this subclass 2 IgG to polysaccharide antigens. A four-fold increase of cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG titer suggested a concomitant CMV infection or reactivation. As CMV infection is known to cause transient cellular immunodeficiency, reactivated CMV infection, in concert with IgG subclass 2 deficiency, could be a predisposing factor for P. carinii infection in this patient.

Antibodies, Viral↗