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Biomedical subjects

H Mensing

Publications and source records attributed to H Mensing.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Decline of fibroblast chemotaxis with age of donor and cell passage number.

Human dermal fibroblasts have a limited life span in culture, which is manifested by a progressive decline of their proliferative activity. Here we show by the Boyden Chamber assay that the chemotactic response of human fibroblasts to fibroblast-conditioned medium and fibronectin declines during cellular aging in vitro and in vivo. The chemotactic response of human embryonic fibroblasts (HEF) declined progressively after the 25th passage. Virtually no chemotactic activity could be observed after the 40th passage in culture. Fibroblasts cultures from donors aged between 70-90 years had lost chemotactic activity by the 15th passage. Cells from patients suffering from progeroid syndromes of premature aging showed, even in early passages, a very low chemotactic response (20% of the HEF) and lost their chemotactic activity after a few subcultures. The response to the chemoattractant fibronectin also decreased with aging. Immunofluorescence studies indicated that the decline in chemotactic activity was accompanied by the formation of a thicker fibronectin network in the extracellular matrix of senescent human fibroblasts and progeroid cells than that observed in early passage embryonic cultures. Since fibroblast chemotaxis and synthesis of connective tissue components probably play an important role in tissue repair, our results could contribute to an understanding of age-related differences in the healing of skin wounds.

Aged

Clofazimine in dermatitis ulcerosa (pyoderma gangrenosum). Open clinical trial.

Five patients suffering from dermatitis ulcerosa (a variant of pyoderma gangrenosum) were treated with clofazimine in a daily dosage of 200 mg orally. Complete healing was noted in 2 patients, partial response in 2, no effect in 1. Side effects were mild and transitory in form of a red coloring of the skin (all patients) and mild ichthyosis (2 patients).

Adult

Are nailfold capillary changes indicators of organ involvement in progressive systemic sclerosis?

Nailfold capillary abnormalities in 40 patients suffering from progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma; PSS) were studied by widefield nailfold capillary microscopy. Capillary enlargement and loss were graded using the rating scales of Maricq and Minkin. Capillary changes were correlated with organ involvement and immunological abnormalities. A high correlation was found between the grade of nailfold capillary changes and the clinical severity of PSS. Nailfold capillary microscopy seems to be a useful method to get quick information in order to predict organ involvement in PSS.

Adult

[Neck appendages--branchiogenic surplus malformations (choristoma)].

Congenital cartilaginous rests of the neck are branchiogenic surplus malformations that are very rare. They arise from epithelial growth in a false place and frequently contain elastic cartilage. Congenital cartilaginous rests of the neck are only rarely associated with other congenital malformations.

Adult

[Estrogen-induced gynecomastia following use of estrogen-containing local agents].

Loss of libido, decreased hair growth and gynecomastia developed in a 61-year-old man after six months of applying an estrogen-containing hair tincture for diffuse alopecia areata of the head hair. All these signs disappeared within four weeks of stopping the application, and hormone levels were again normal. Locally applied estrogen preparations are in general contraindicated in males because of their potential systemic effects. If they have to be given, hormone levels (testosterone; estradiol) must be checked.

Alopecia

[Nuclear antibodies as serologic markers in progressive systemic scleroderma].

In all, 36 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (29 women, 7 men) were studied clinically and immunologically; 15 patients had acrosclerosis (type I) and 21, sclerosis extending beyond the wrist (type II). The sera of all patients were evaluated for ANA (HEp-2-cells), Scl-70, centromere and other ENA antibodies. The centromere antigen was characterized by immunoblotting. All patients had high-titer ANA antibodies (100%); 36% of patients had the Scl-70 antibody (a marker antibody for PSS); and in 22% of our patients a centromere antibody was detected. In all cases the anti-centromere sera reacted with a 19.5-kd polypeptide and in 2 cases they reacted with 23- and 25.5-kd proteins in addition. In patients with centromere antibodies there was increased organ involvement (heart, lung, kidney) compared with patients who had anti-Scl-70 or other nuclear antibodies.

Antibodies, Antinuclear

[Leukocytoclastic vasculitis].

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis is one of the more frequent syndromes of the spectrum of vasculitis. It represents a heterogeneous group of diseases, characterized by the cutaneous phenomenons of palpable purpura and persistent urtica, and the histologic patterns of vessel wall necrosis, leukocytoclasia, and hemorrhage. Pathogenetic and clinical aspects, just as therapeutic approaches are discussed in this report.

Humans

[Capillary microscopy in connective tissue diseases].

Based on the results of a capillary microscope study on 43 patients with connective tissue disorders, the characteristic morphological abnormalities observed in the capillaries of the nail fold are presented. A high correlation was found between the pattern of changes in the capillaries and the individual connective tissue diseases. The diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of this easily performed in vivo technique is discussed in particular with regard to patients with Raynaud's phenomenon.

Capillaries

[Jadassohn type anetoderma--case report].

A 19-year-old patient suffering from Jadassohn's anetoderma with progressive dermatrophia showed positive reaction to treatment with chloroquin diphosphate.

Actin Cytoskeleton

[Infantile acro-localized papulovesicular syndrome].

Papular acrodermatitis (Gianotti-Crosti syndrome) was seen in a six-year-old girl. The disease was marked by the characteristic triad of a papular-vesicular rash, lymphadenopathy and liver damage. Serological findings suggest an infection with Epstein-Barr virus as the causative factor. In such cases hepatitis-B induced papular eruptive acrodermatitis should be considered in differential diagnosis.

Acrodermatitis

[Oral hairy leukoplakia--early symptom of HTLV-III/LAV infection].

Epstein-Barr virus was demonstrated electronmicroscopically in a leucoplakic area of the tongue of a man infected with HTLV-III/LAV. Oral "hairy" leucoplakia, diagnosed from the clinical findings, histology and by electronmicroscopy, in this patients is to be interpreted as the initial sign of an HTLV-III/LAV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Generation and characterization of a neutrophil-derived inhibitor of fibroblast chemotaxis.

During in vitro chemotaxis, human embryonic fibroblasts migrate toward the leukotriene B4 (LTB4) contained in ionophore-induced human mononuclear-cell supernatants, but they do not migrate toward the LTB4 contained in ionophore-induced neutrophil supernatants. We further analyzed and characterized this inhibitory effect. The inhibitor was found to be present in stimulated, but not in unstimulated, neutrophil supernatants. The inhibitor was also shown to be heat labile, to interfere with the chemotaxis of the tumor cell lines HT 1080 and L 929, and to be effective during chemotaxis stimulated by LTB4, conditioned medium, or fibronectin. At Sephadex-G-200 chromatography, the inhibitor eluted in a region corresponding to a molecular mass of 16,000 daltons. Preincubation experiments showed that its mechanism of action is not cell directed, and it had no effect on random migration, cell spreading, and cell attachment. Furthermore, the inhibitor does not interact with the binding of fibronectin to its specific antibody; thus, an interaction of the inhibitor with nonspecific sites which are common to several chemotactic factors must be postulated instead. The biological role of the inhibitor may be related to the regulation of cell migration during wound repair.

Chemotactic Factors

[Results of treatment of bacterial inflammation of the skin with enoxacin].

In a microbiologically controlled, open study the 4-quinolone derivative enoxacin was tested in 51 patients suffering from infectious dermatoses. Clinical cure or improvement was observed in 91% of the patients, microbiological cure occurred in 65%. According to the results of our trial enoxacin is recommended as a therapeutic alternative, especially for the treatment of dermatitis caused by gram-negative bacilli.

Adolescent

Type III collagen aminopropeptide levels in serum of patients with progressive systemic scleroderma.

Sera from 101 patients with progressive systemic scleroderma were analyzed for circulating aminopropeptides of type III collagen using a radioimmunoassay which measures the intact and degraded forms (Fab assay). About 41% of the patients were found to have values above the normal range. A good correlation was observed between elevated levels of aminopropeptides and the degree of involvement of the skin and internal organs in the patients. Most patients (89%) with an active progression of the disease but not those in a stationary phase showed increased serum levels of aminopropeptides. Treatment with corticosteroids apparently normalized the levels of aminopropeptides. Only minor changes were observed with an antibody-based radioimmunoassay which measures primarily the intact form of the aminopropeptide.

Adult

Failure of etretinate in epidermodysplasia verruciformis.

In a patient suffering from benign lesions of epidermodysplasia verruciformis due to human papillomavirus type 5 little clinical improvement could be observed after 6 months of oral etretinate. The drug was given 75 mg/day for 1 month before dosage was reduced to 50 mg/day. Control biopsy after 3 months of treatment still revealed large quantities of virions and typical cytopathic effects in light and electron microscopic examination.

Adult

[Clinical aspects of progressive systemic scleroderma (PSS). Multicenter studies of 194 patients].

Patients from five German Departments of Dermatology (Düsseldorf, Erlangen, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Munich) affected with progressive systemic scleroderma (PSS) were classified and examined. The results of the clinical investigations are presented. In order to guarantee a uniform classification of all patients, the patients were divided into three groups according to the distribution of the affected skin: type I consisted of those with acrosclerosis distal to the wrist, type II had scleroderma extending along the wrist in a proximal direction, and type III had diffuse scleroderma beginning on the trunk. Altogether, 194 patients with PSS were investigated, and the following distribution was found: type I, 32%; type II, 60%; type III, 7%; 1% of the patients could not be classified. The distribution according to the patients' sex and age was in good agreement with published reference data. The incidence, significance, and localization of the major symptoms were investigated. The Raynaud symptom could be identified as being the main clinical symptom in 90% of the patients. Joint involvements (10%-73% depending in the applied parameters), dysphagia (51%), and rest dyspnea (30%) contributed to the main internal symptoms. The extensive clinical, chemical, and immunological results are summarized. In 80% of the cases, high ANA titers could be detected, but these were not correlated to the type of disease.

Adult