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H Huber

Publications and source records attributed to H Huber.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Combined flow cytometric assessment of cell surface antigens and nuclear TdT for the detection of minimal residual disease in acute leukaemia.

To define more precisely the immunophenotype of lymphoid blast cells, a new flow cytometric technique for the simultaneous detection of surface antigens and nuclear terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) was established. After staining for the cell surface marker, mononuclear cells were treated with paraformaldehyde (1%) and methanol to permeabilize the cell membrane. Then the cells were stained by indirect immunofluorescence using a rabbit anti-human TdT antibody. Dilution experiments were performed to reveal the sensitivity of the described flow cytometric assay: 0.02% leukaemic cells could reliably be detected above background level among normal peripheral blood lymphocytes. It is concluded that the double-staining procedure described here is a sensitive tool that contributes to the detection of minimal residual disease in a substantial proportion of acute leukaemias.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1991

Expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule (CD56) by human myeloma cells.

Recent studies in multiple myeloma indicate that molecules associated with different haematopoietic lineages may be expressed aberrantly by myeloma cells. In order to investigate this phenomenon further, we studied the immunophenotype of bone marrow cells from 21 patients with multiple myeloma using a panel of monoclonal antibodies against T,B, myelomonocytic, and natural killer (NK)-cell antigens. Leu-19/NKH1 (CD56), a molecule identical to N-CAM, which is normally expressed by neuroectodermal and NK cells, was found in 13 patients (62%). Dual-parameter flow cytometry was used to correlate N-CAM positivity with DNA aneuploidy or cytoplasmic immunoglobulin expression as markers of myeloma cells. When N-CAM was found positive, other haematopoietic antigens were expressed only in three out of 13 cases (23%). In contrast, myeloma cells not expressing N-CAM frequently exhibited pre-B cell markers, myeloid antigen, and HLA-DR, respectively (seven out of eight cases, 88%). Six out of eight N-CAM-negative myelomas were of the IgG lambda isotype, otherwise no clearcut association with basic clinical and laboratory parameters was noted. We conclude that N-CAM expression is a common finding in multiple myeloma. Whether its expression and the observed antigenic heterogeneity is just a manifestation of malignancy or N-CAM may play a role in the biology of multiple myeloma regarding tumour cell spread, remains to be explained.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1991

Bone marrow diagnosis in lymphoproliferative disorders: comparison of results obtained from conventional histomorphology and immunohistology.

In this study we have investigated 313 bone marrow biopsies from 280 patients with lymphoproliferative disorders. Trephines were sectioned transversely to obtain one cylinder for cryostat sectioning and immunostaining and a second for histomorphological evaluation using a plastic-embedding technique. The results obtained by histomorphological and immunohistological evaluation were compared for their contribution to staging and classification. Using both techniques, bone marrow involvement was seen in 3/43 (7.0%) biopsies from patients with Hodgkin's disease and in 193/270 (71.5%) cases with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, including multiple myeloma and acute lymphocytic leukaemia. Immunohistology proved superior in detecting minimal mainly interstitial bone marrow infiltration in 15 leukaemia/lymphoma cases. Biopsies showing infiltration with both methods (n = 157) were re-examined for classification of lymphomatous infiltrates. Whereas immunohistology did not provide additional information in cases with Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, this method was crucial for establishing the definitive diagnosis in a number of cases with acute lymphocytic leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In all of six leukaemia cases, in which no or inadequate material was available for immunophenotyping of cell suspensions, immunohistology clearly defined the subtype. In the 140 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma the majority of cases (76.4%) were identically classified. In some cases, with important prognostic and therapeutic implications, immunohistology alone provided the definitive diagnosis: T-cell lymphoma (n = 2), hairy cell leukaemia (n = 2) and centrocytic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 3). Bone marrow immunohistology is, therefore, an important supplement for classical lymphoma/leukaemia diagnosis. The differences observed between histomorphology and immunohistology emphasize the importance of lymph node biopsy in lymphoma classification.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1991

Antigliadin and antiendomysium antibody determination for coeliac disease.

The value of IgG and IgA gliadin antibodies (AGA) was compared with that of IgA endomysium antibodies (EMA) for the diagnosis of coeliac disease. Three hundred and six of 340 (90%) children with untreated coeliac disease (flat mucosa) had EMA and 338/340 (99.4%) had IgG AGA and/or IgA AGA. Only 1/340 (a 7 year old boy with selective IgA deficiency) had neither AGA nor EMA. Absence of EMA is more frequent in coeliac patients younger than 2 years than in older patients (32/277 compared with 1/62). EMA were present in 4/211 (2%) of comparison subjects (normal mucosa), IgA AGA in 12/211 (6%), and IgG AGA in 74/211 (35%). The specificity of AGA cannot be calculated from these figures as they are biased. The combined determination of AGA and EMA, taking advantage of the high sensitivity of AGA and the high specificity of EMA, gives an excellent prediction of the condition of the mucosa: 247/248 patients (99.6%) with positive EMA and positive IgG AGA and IgA AGA had a flat mucosa, whereas 136/137 patients (99.3%) with neither AGA nor EMA had a normal mucosa. During a gluten free diet EMA and AGA disappear. Their presence or absence is therefore an indicator of dietary compliance. After reintroduction of gluten into the diet 110/134 (82%) of the patients who had a flat mucosa at diagnosis relapsed, but 24/134 still had a normal mucosa after 2-15 years of challenge. All these patients without a morphological relapse were less than 2 years old at diagnosis so we conclude that patients who are young at diagnosis should be challenged. AGA often reappear earlier than EMA. After one month of challenge 93% of patients are AGA and 69% EMA positive. After more than three years of gluten intake the percentage of AGA positive patients decreased to about 50% whereas the percentage of EMA positive sera was then highest (93%). Therefore EMA are more sensitive for the detection of 'silent' relapse after prolonged periods of gluten intake.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Long-term results of multimodality therapy of small cell bronchial cancer including surgery].

The results of a prospective Phase II study of a multimodal treatment regimen including surgery of operable stages of small cell lung cancer are reported. Of 45 patients 24 received all parts of the projected treatment. The 5-year survival probability is 56% and 8 patients are still living after more than 60 months. Eleven patients with N2 lymph node metastases receiving the complete therapy have a projected 5-year survival of 60%.

Austria↗
PubMed1991

Analysis of IL-2 receptor positive CD8(+)-T-lymphocytes grown from islets of NOD mice.

IL-2 receptor positive T-cells from leukocyte-infiltrated pancreatic islets of diabetes prone or acutely diabetic NOD mice were propagated in vitro by culture in interleukin-2 containing medium. Of 13 lines obtained after limiting dilution all were positive for the T-cell marker Thy-1 and for CD8. Considerable heterogeneity in T-cell receptor usage was noted. Seven lines expressed T-cell receptors using V beta 8, one line was positive for V beta 5 and two lines expressed a non V beta 5, non V beta 8 receptor. Finally, two further lines lacked T-cell receptors. None of the cell lines were cytotoxic to islet cells although 10 lines showed non MHC restricted lysis of one or more tumour cells including rat insulinoma cells. We conclude that IL-2 receptor positive CD8+ T-lymphocytes from NOD islets are heterogenous with respect to V beta T-cell receptor usage. The majority of these cells are not cytotoxic to islet cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Detection of flexor tenosynovitis by magnetic resonance imaging: its relationship to diurnal variation of symptoms.

Fifteen patients with noninfectious arthritis and morning stiffness were examined clinically, and with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the metacarpophalangeal level of one hand in the evening and early the following morning. Our purpose was to determine the prevalence of hand flexor tenosynovitis, and to look for diurnal changes in the swelling state of the flexor tendon sheaths as a possible cause for morning stiffness. MRI showed a higher prevalence of flexor tenosynovitis than clinically suspected by using the pinch test. We could not observe an increase in soft tissue swelling in the morning compared to the evening.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Nuclear spin tomography in synovitis: experimental and clinical results].

We report our experimental and clinical results in the evaluation of synovitis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and discuss them in the light of the literature. Using rheumatoid arthritis in the rat as a model, we have shown that MRI is more sensitive than physical examination and X-ray for the diagnosis of early soft-tissue inflammation in arthritis. On the basis of MRI findings, in patients with morning stiffness we have found an incidence of tenosynovitis higher than that reported in the literature. Because other groups have demonstrated the usefulness of MRI for the evaluation of inflammatory cartilage and bony lesions in arthritis as well, we anticipate that this method will assume increasing importance in the diagnosis and monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis and related diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Stimulation of colony formation of various human carcinoma cell lines by rhGM-CSF and rhIL-3.

We studied the effects human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and human recombinant interleukin-3 on the colony formation of three human solid tumor cell lines. Using a modified double-layer soft agar clonogenic assay rhGM-CSF enhanced colony formation of all cell lines tested in a dose dependent manner (up to twofold for the breast cancer cell line BT-20, up to 163% of the control for the hypernephroma cell line C 94 and up to 147% for the non-small cell lung cancer cell line CCL 185 at a concentration of 100 ng/ml). RhIL-3 stimulated colony formation of the cell lines C 94 and BT-20, whereas on the cell line CCL 185 rhIL-3 had no effect even at the highest dose level tested (100 ng/ml). Combinations of growth factors showed subadditive stimulation on two cell lines tested (BT-20, C 94). These data indicate that haematopoietic growth factors exert a growth promoting activity on certain solid tumor cells in vitro at physiological concentrations. Therefore our results suggest that the application of these factors in immuno- and myelosuppressed cancer patients after high dose chemotherapy should be seen in light of a possible co-stimulation of the malignant cells.

Agar↗
PubMed1990

Value of urinary neopterin in the differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral infections.

Neopterin is released by stimulated macrophages. In this study we analyzed the diagnostic potential of urinary neopterin concentrations in patients with bacterial and viral infection. All but one of 17 patients with viral infection had increased urinary neopterin concentrations. Patients with bacterial urinary tract infection also showed increased neopterin concentrations, whereas patients with bacterial pneumonia had significantly lower neopterin levels. In addition, patients with acute bacterial pneumonia had lower neopterin levels than patients with protracted infection. A significant inverse correlation between urinary neopterin and hemoglobin concentrations was found. Neopterin concentrations could serve as a helpful additional marker of infectious diseases. Combined with other clinical and laboratory parameters it is a useful parameter for distinguishing between viral and bacterial origins of infection, as was shown by multivariate stepwise linear discriminant analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Operation for N2 small cell lung carcinoma.

Of 48 patients with limited small cell lung carcinoma treated by different modes, but always including radical operation, a series of 25 patients with N2 lymph node metastases is reported. In a first period (1970 to 1977) treatment consisted solely of radical resection in 3 patients; chemotherapy was added to operation in 6, and local radiotherapy was added in 2. Since 1977, 14 patients were treated according to a comprehensive therapy protocol including radical resection (six pneumonectomies, one bilobectomy, seven lobectomies), chemotherapy, local radiotherapy, and prophylactic cranial irradiation. Eleven patients, in whom N2 disease was confirmed preoperatively, received chemotherapy as the first step, followed by "adjuvant" resection. Projected 5-year survival rate is 25% for the entire N2 group and 47% for the comprehensively treated group. Seven patients of this latter group are alive 12, 19, 30, 48, 66, 73, and 74 months after comprehensive therapy, equivalent to an observed 2-year survival rate of 38%. This is the largest reported series of patients with resected small cell lung carcinoma in the N2 stage treated at a single institution; the results are so encouraging that we can no longer advocate general refusal of radical lung resection for small cell lung carcinoma in the N2 stage if it is part of a multimodal therapeutic protocol.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Structural chromosomal abnormalities in gynecologic malignancies.

Surgical specimens taken from four patients with gynecologic malignancies were cultured, and metaphase chromosomes were prepared after staining with chromamycin-A, distamycin, and DAPI. Four specially selected karyotypes and their structural aberrations are discussed in this study and compared with those (also from carcinomas) previously described in the literature.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

Correlation between neopterin, interferon-gamma and haemoglobin in patients with haematological disorders.

In this study, we further investigated a possible link between activation of cell-mediated immunity and anaemia in patients with haematological neoplasias. We compared serum concentrations of interferon-gamma and neopterin with haemoglobin levels. Significantly increased interferon-gamma and neopterin concentrations indicated persistent activation of cell-mediated immunity. Neopterin levels correlated significantly to interferon-gamma concentrations and inversely to haemoglobin levels. The data indicate an association between activated macrophages and the development of anaemia in patients with haematological neoplasias.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, a facultative hydrogen oxidizer.

The type strain (ATCC 23270) and two other strains of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans were able to grow by hydrogen oxidation, a feature not recognized before. When cultivated on H2, a hydrogenase was induced and the strains were less extremely acidophilic than during growth on sulfidic ores. Cells of T. ferrooxidans grown on H2 and on ferrous iron showed 100% DNA homology. Hydrogen oxidation was not observed in eight other species of the genus Thiobacillus and in Leptospirillum ferrooxidans.

DNA, Bacterial↗
PubMed1990

[Cytologic molecular detection of oncogene expression: possibilities and prospects in hemato-oncology].

Proto-oncogenes, the normal equivalents to the transforming genes of mammalian tumorigenic retroviruses, are implicated in essential biological processes of normal human cells, like differentiation and proliferation. In vivo and in vitro studies clearly demonstrate that activation of proto-oncogenes with subsequent transformation in tumorigenic oncogenes plays an important role in induction and acceleration of the malignant disease, and also determines metastatic spread and development of resistance to chemotherapy in certain neoplasias. Investigation of these genes and analysis of their activation state should routinely be introduced in staging of hematological neoplasias, thus contributing to refinement of histopathological classification, clearer discrimination between reactive and neoplastic conditions and understanding of pathophysiological processes. Furthermore, impact on definition of high risk patients and novel therapeutic concepts based on a better definition of tumour biology may be expected from these studies. "Molecular cytology" combines detection of oncogenetic mRNA and the relevant oncoprotein on the single cell level by using "mRNA-in situ hybridization" and immuno-histochemistry. Application of this technique will allow to determine the mechanisms regulating the expression of oncogenes to define functional heterogeneity of tumour cell subsets and to clarify the relevance of minimal residual disease.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗