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Biomedical subjects

G Sunder-Plassmann

Publications and source records attributed to G Sunder-Plassmann.

116 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

[Cyclosporin therapy in minimal change nephritis].

In 5 cases with minimal change nephritis Cyclosporine A has been added to the conventional steroid therapy, when relapse of nephrotic syndrome occurred while reducing the daily prednisolone dose. The intended cyclosporine trough level ranged from 250 ng/ml to 450 ng/ml whole blood, estimated by the RIA method. Proteinuria disappeared in 4 out of the 5 cases, in the other one urinary protein excretion was strikingly reduced. In the 4 cases with complete remission of proteinuria prednisolone was tapered. These patients have cyclosporine A as the sole immunosuppressive drug since 56 weeks and do not show proteinuria. Side effects of cyclosporine therapy have been slight deterioration of kidney function in 2 out of the 5 cases and the occurrence of hypertension in 4 patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Molecular genetics of homocysteine metabolism.

Recent genetic studies have led to the characterization of molecular determinants contributing to the pathogenesis of hyperhomocysteinemia. In this article we summarize the current insights into the molecular genetics of severe, moderate and mild hyperhomocysteinemia. We will consider deficiencies of the trans-sulfuration enzyme cystathionine beta-synthase (gene symbol: CBS), and the disturbances of the remethylation enzymes 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (gene symbol: MTHFR), methionine synthase (gene symbol: MTR), and the recently identified methionine synthase reductase (gene symbol: MTRR). Furthermore, we will focus on clinically important genetic polymorphisms which are highly prevalent and thus of potential general interest.

5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltran↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pathophysiology and clinical importance of hyperhomocysteinemia: clinical intervention studies.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a cardiovascular disease risk factor in the general population and in patients with renal failure. This article summarizes the results of recent total homocysteine-lowering intervention studies in individuals without renal failure and in patients with renal failure. Although almost all of the published studies mainly focused on the total homocysteine-lowering effect and not on cardiovascular disease outcomes of folic acid and vitamin therapy, recent work has gained important insights into this area of developing concern.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quantification of leukocyte migration: improvement of a method.

Eighteen different permeable membrane supports with and without confluent endothelial cell monolayers were incubated with normal donor derived neutrophils in the upper chambers of a 24 multiwell double chamber system. In order to study transmembrane or transendothelial leukocyte migration leukocytes were stimulated by chemoattractants, or endothelial cells were activated by IL-1. After coincubation the membrane supports building the upper chambers were discarded. Using this technique, leukocytes that had migrated into the lower chamber were exposed to the fluorescent dye calcein AM without additional washing or transfer steps. Absolute cell counts were determined computer assisted using dilution series of calcein AM labeled leukocytes as standards. Serial dilutions of neutrophils exposed to calcein AM showed reproducible linear fluorescence intensity, and relative fluorescence intensity correlated significant with cell counts (r2 = 0.974, p < 0.0001). Out of 18 membrane supports only one was suitable for our assay set up. Best technical and optical performance was achieved with a membrane made of polyethylene terephtalate with a pore size of 3 mm at a pore density of 0.8 x 10(6)/cm2. Stimulation of leukocytes or endothelium by FMLP or IL-1 revealed an increase of transendothelial migration to 7.2 +/- 1.8 x 10(5) PMN and 5.1 +/- 0.7 x 10(5) PMN respectively if compared with medium (0.6 +/- 0.2 x 10(5) PMN). IL-1 induced migration of neutrophils was inhibited by anti IL-1 autoantibodies derived from chronic renal failure patients (IL-1: 100% of PMN migrated, anti IL-1 antibody: 39% of PMN migrated, control antibody: 84% of PMN migrated). In summary, a simple fluorimetric assay was established for the quantification of transmembrane and transendothelial leukocyte migration.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Molecular biology of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) plays a central role in the folate cycle and contributes to the metabolism of the amino acid homocysteine. It catalyzes the reduction of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, thus generating the active form of folate required for remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. Deficiency of MTHFR may be associated with an increase in plasma homocysteine, which in turn is associated with an increased risk of vascular disease. This article summarizes the biochemistry, the function in the folate cycle, and the molecular genetics of this enzyme. Particular emphasis has been given to the role of two common polymorphisms (MTHFR 677C-->T, 1298A-->C) in cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, venous thrombosis, longevity, neural tube defects, pregnancy/preeclampsia, diabetes, cancer, psychiatry, renal failure and renal replacement therapy. Finally, the rare genetic defects underlying severe MTHFR deficiency are also considered.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗