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Biomedical subjects

H Nolte

Publications and source records attributed to H Nolte.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The histamine content of allergen extracts.

The histamine content of 108 inhalant, food, and venom extracts from four commercial sources was measured by chemical (glass fiber-based) and immunologic (competitive RIA) methods. Histamine was present in 64 of 76 inhalant extracts (range, 0.005 to 7.4 micrograms/ml), 20 of 26 food extracts (range, 0.16 to 23 micrograms/ml), and six of six venoms, 100 micrograms/ml (range, 1.0 to 38 micrograms/ml). Histamine was removed by treatment with diamine oxidase or dialysis of an extract. Repeat assay of selected extracts after addition of known amounts of histamine in the glass fiber-based method produced additive results, and glycerin- or phenol-extract preservatives did not affect assay performance. Timed extractions of dried-pollen grains demonstrated maximal histamine content at 30 seconds, suggesting that histamine is an inherent component of at least some pollens. Histamine found in some allergen extracts could, under extreme circumstances, produce false-positive results in skin testing and in basophil histamine release assays, and could affect the result of research that uses intact pollen or allergen extracts.

Allergens↗
PubMed1992

[Long-term medication with acetylsalicylic acid--a problem in regional anesthesia?].

In patients medicated with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and undergoing regional anaesthesia there is a risk of traumatically induced haematoma, particularly near the spinal cord. The increased bleeding tendency following aspirin administration is due to a change in thrombocyte aggregation caused by irreversible inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. In order to assess the bleeding risk, it was investigated whether and how much subaqueous bleeding time (SBT) and aggregation inhibition (AGI) change under low-dose medication, and when these values return to normal after the end of administration. RESULTS. 1. SBT increased significantly with daily ASA medication of 100 mg or of 300 mg. However, only 4.5% of the values measured were within a pathologic range. After discontinuation of the medication SBT significantly dropped on the 2nd day, reaching the initial level on the 4th day at the latest. 2. AGI was significantly reduced, to 20% of the normal value. Depending on the dosage, the 100-mg group reached full aggregation capacity on the 4th day and the 300-mg group on the 7th day following discontinuation of medication. 3. AGI returned to normal 2-3 days later than SBT. CONCLUSIONS. 1. In the case of pathologically increased values (greater than 6 min), the determination of SBT may indicate an increased bleeding risk. 2. If SBT is within the normal range during or shortly after ASA administration, thrombocytic function is still disturbed. Whether there is a correlation between inhibition of thrombocyte aggregation and the occurrence of spinal haematomas is not yet known. 3. In view of these results, the effect of ASA should be investigated by determining SBT prior to scheduled regional anaesthetic procedures near the spinal cord. 4. If SBT is increased (greater than 6 min) and regional anaesthesia near the spinal cord is indicated, the procedure involving the slightest trauma (spinal anaesthesia) should be chosen [31]. Careful postoperative follow-up (1-2 days) should be guaranteed with regard to neurological disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Determination of the spread of epidural anesthesia. A comparison between pin-prick and a new method using a metallic roller].

A new method (metal roller) for testing the spread of analgesia in regional anesthesia is introduced. The possible advantages of testing with a metal roller (cold sensation) in comparison to the pinprick method are investigated and discussed to determine whether loss of cold-sensation is comparable to loss of pinprick-sensation and thus reliable in clinical practice. METHOD AND MATERIAL. Spread of analgesia was tested with both the metallic roller and the conventional pinprick method in 40 patients (20 epidural and 20 spinal blocks), and pain perception or cold perception were compared. RESULTS. In epidural as well as in spinal anesthesia, similar levels of loss of pain perception and cold perception were found. DISCUSSION. Testing the spread of analgesia after nerve bock by the pinprick method is sometimes unpleasant for the patient. The metal roller is not unpleasant, and the possible danger of contamination or pinprick pain is virtually impossible because physical integrity is preserved and the feeling of "cold" is not harmful.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗
PubMed1992

[Does an injection filter modify the cranial spread of a sensory blockade in epidural anesthesia?].

UNLABELLED: In a prospective study we compared the spread of sensory blockade in epidural anaesthesia with and without Micropore filter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 patients undergoing varicose vein stripping under epidural anaesthesia were randomly assigned to two groups of 16 each. Bupivacaine 0.75% and POR 8 (0.1 IU/ml) were administered by means of a constant-velocity perfusor. In group A a Micropore filter was inserted between the perfusor syringe and the epidural catheter. In group B the epidural catheter was connected to the syringe without the filter. The puncture was performed at the L3-4 interspace with the patient in a sitting position. An epidural catheter was advanced 3 cm cephalad. Using the pin-prick method, the sensory level of the blockade was tested 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 and 30 min after injection of the local anesthetic solution. Statistical evaluation was performed with the t-test for unpaired samples. RESULTS. After 10 min the spread of analgesia was 5.75 +/- 1.26 segments in group A and 8 +/- 1.89 segments in group B; after 15 min it was 7.06 +/- 1.62 segments and 9.56 +/- 1.54 segments; after 20 min, 7.87 +/- 1.62 segments and 10.62 +/- 1.45 segments; and after 30 min 8.12 +/- 1.66 segments and 11.12 +/- 1.45 segments in group A and B, respectively. At any time sensory blockade was higher in group B (without Micropore filters) than in group A. The mean difference between the two groups amounted to 2-3 segments. The differences were significant at any time (P less than 0.001). These results show that the use of a Micropore filter in epidural anaesthesia leads to a reduced spread of sensory blockade. In our own examinations we found lowering of the pressure of the local anaesthetic solution that passes through the Micropore filter compared with the pressure of the solution injected without the filter. This seems to be the reason for the reduced spread of sensory blockade. Using these filters the onset of analgesia is delayed, and a given spread of analgesia needs a larger dose of local anaesthetic and is thus accompanied by a higher toxicity.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Subdural and epidural hematomas following epidural anesthesia. A literature review].

Of 434 cases of epidural, subdural, and intracranial haematomas published in the last 2-3 decades, 61 had developed following spinal, epidural or caudal anaesthetic procedures; 29 haematomas were around the spinal cord and 32, within the cranium. The most frequent secondary cause of this complication was pre-, intra-, or postoperative administration of drugs influencing blood coagulation. Simultaneous traumatic and haemorrhagic punctures may favour the development of a haematoma. The most common primary symptom of lumbothoracic haematomas was back pain with and without radicular symptoms, while intracranial haematomas were predominantly accompanied by persistent headache. Continuous postoperative follow-up of such patients is essential. Postoperative results of laminectomies for lumbothoracic haematomas has been found to on the time interval between the first symptoms and the start of surgery. If surgery is performed within 8 h after the onset of paraplegia the prognosis is relatively good. Compared with the frequency of spinal, epidural, and caudal anaesthetic procedures throughout the world, haematomas of the lumbothoracic or cranial region are extremely rare complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Biochemical signal transduction of mechanical strain in osteoblast-like cells.

The responses to mechanical loading of two types of osteoblast-like cells and skin fibroblasts were investigated using two new devices for applying defined and homogeneous strains to cells. The results indicate that only periostal (bone surface) osteoblasts are sensitive to strains within the physiological range and that a specific strain mechanism is responsible. Osteoblasts derived from the haversian system and skin fibroblasts do not respond except at higher, unphysiological strains. The mechanism is located in the cytoskeleton and activates the membrane phospholipase C within milliseconds and may react to distension of a strain sensitive protein. Activation of phospholipase C can account for only some of the observed responses of bone to mechanical loading such as stimulation of cell division, increase in collagen and collagenase production. Application of over 10,000 mu strains results in a de-differentiation of the osteoblasts and a change in cell morphology to become fibroblast-like.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Suppressive effect of loratadine on allergen-induced histamine release in the nose.

It has been speculated whether the recently developed non-sedating antihistamines may possess other properties than merely being antagonists at the H1-receptors. To investigate this suggestion 12 patients with strictly seasonal allergic rhinitis participated in a double-blind placebo controlled randomized cross-over study outside the pollen season. At steady state levels of 10 mg loratadine, a new non-sedating antihistamine, the patients were challenged with methacholine. This was followed by a nasal challenge with increasing doses of allergen. 24 h later the patients were rechallenged nasally with the same methacholine dose as the day before. The volume of the methacholine-induced nasal secretion was measured and the response to allergen was determined by scoring technique. In returned nasal lavage fluid the levels of histamine and TAME-esterase activity were measured. It was found that loratadine significantly reduced the immediate allergic nasal symptoms compared with placebo (P less than 0.01). Loratadine also reduced the allergen-induced release of histamine into the nasal cavity after the strongest allergen dose, from 9.6 +/- 1.5 (mean +/- SEM) to 6.4 +/- 1.4 ng/ml (P less than 0.05). A similar decrease in the TAME-esterase activity after treatment with loratadine was observed. The TAME-esterase activity decreased from 11.6 *10(3) +/- 2.47 *10(3) to 5.60 *10(3) +/- 1.45 *10(3) CMP (P less than 0.05). There were no significant changes between the active and placebo treatments regarding the methacholine-induced secretory response. This was true for the initial methacholine challenge as well as the secretory response 24 h later.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[An attempt at a mathematical prediction of the depth of insertion of the needle in peridural anesthesia].

The purpose of the investigation was to correlate the distance from the skin to the flaval ligament with the individual data of patients such as bodyweight, height, sex and age with the aim of predicting the depth of insertion of the needle. In a retrospective study we examined 448 patients (217 men and 231 women). In the anaesthetic records the depth of insertion of the needle was noted together with the patients' personal data. Evaluation of the material showed that there is no correlation of statistically significant relevance between the depth of insertion and the bodyweight and age of the patient, but there is a correlation between depth of insertion on the one hand and the variables bodyweight, overweight and the quotient body height/weight on the other. This correlation showed a somewhat higher significance in women than in men. The correlation can be expressed in a formula like y = K + fx, whereby for the relation between depth of insertion and body weight the equation for men is y = 1.87518 + 0.02761x. The equation for women is y = 2.23985 + 0.03559x. With these formulae a rough prediction for the depth of insertion can be made, with x representing the bodyweight and y the expected depth in cm. The measured values fluctuated between 3.5 and 7.4 cm in the 217 men, with the medium value at 4.08 cm. In the 231 women the measured values fluctuated between 3.3 and 6.9 cm with the medium value at 4.67 cm.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Immunochemical cross-reactivity between albumin and solid-phase adsorbed histamine.

For production of an antibody against histamine, this was coupled to human serum albumin (HSA) and used for immunization of rabbits. To test the antiserum, an immunoradiometric assay was developed comprising solid-phase bound histamine, antisera and radiolabelled protein A. Titration and inhibition experiments revealed that histamine adsorbed onto a solid-phase could bind the antiserum. However, neither free histamine nor histamine coupled to unrelated carriers could inhibit the binding of antiserum to the solid-phase histamine. Cross-reactivity was demonstrated between HSA and solid-phase bound histamine, as the immunoradiometric assay was inhibited by HSA. This unexpected cross-reactivity was established, as a commercially available antiserum with specificity to HSA without histamine also bound to the solid-phase bound histamine. It is suggested that preparations of antibodies against histamine are tested for this possible cross-reactivity.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1990

Measurement of histamine in nasal lavage fluid: comparison of a glass fiber-based fluorometric method with two radioimmunoassays.

The determination of histamine in nasal secretions and nasal lavage fluid may be of importance to monitor activation of histamine containing cells in the nasal cavity. However, such studies have been besieged by controversy, specifically to findings of changes in histamine levels in relation to allergenic stimulation. This controversy may be due to the specificity and accuracy of the various methods used to determine histamine in the nasal fluid. We have therefore applied and compared three new methods to determine histamine in nasal lavage fluids obtained before and after allergen challenge in normal subjects and patients with allergic rhinitis. We used a fluorometric glass fiber-based histamine method (FHR) and two RIAs, I and II. The FHR (detection limit, 7.0 nmol) and the RIA II (detection limit, 0.2 nmol) are specific for histamine itself, whereas the RIA I (detection limit, 18.0 nmol) measures mainly methylhistamine and cross-reacts to some extent with histamine. The histamine levels in the nasal lavage fluids from the nasal challenges demonstrated histamine values between 100 and 2000 nmol/L of histamine with significantly higher levels in the postallergen challenges for the allergic subjects as compared to the normal control subjects. The FHR correlated well with the RIA I and RIA II methods with correlation coefficients of 0.77 to 0.88 (p less than 0.001), respectively. However, the RIA I (methylhistamine antibody) always demonstrated absolute histamine values 5% to 20% of values measured by the RIA II (at the level of cross-reactivity to histamine).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Diagnostic value of a glass fibre-based histamine analysis for allergy testing in children.

The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic value of common allergy tests with basophil histamine release in 124 children with symptoms of asthma. The patients were evaluated by case history, skin prick test, RAST-analysis, and basophil histamine release using a glass fibre-based histamine assay to 10 common inhalant allergens. The bronchial provocation test was used as a reference of "true" IgE-mediated asthma. To compare the various diagnostic parameters each absolute test value was classified into a scoring system. The concordance between the tests varied between 85-97%. In general, the best concordance was found between basophil histamine release and RAST. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were calculated on the basis of 104 bronchial provocation tests. It was found that histamine release was the best single analysis, followed by RAST and prick testing. The sensitivity of RAST and histamine release was very high (1.00) for pollen and house dust mites. Histamine release showed a predictive value between 0.91 and 1.00 for pollen and house dust mites, thus indicating the possibility of omitting the bronchial provocation test. In the dander group histamine release gave the best sensitivity (0.91), however at the expense of specificity (0.64), whereas RAST and skin prick test gave a specificity of 1.00. In the mould group histamine release also showed the best diagnostic value. The combination of skin testing with histamine release or RAST was of no additional diagnostic help. It is concluded that the glass fibre-based histamine analysis, which makes routine histamine release testing possible, is a reliable diagnostic test in children.

Asthma↗
PubMed1990

Basophil histamine release in the diagnosis of house dust mite and dander allergy of asthmatic children. Comparison between prick test, RAST, basophil histamine release and bronchial provocation.

The aim of the study is to compare the glass fibre-based basophil histamine release test with skin test (Phazet), RAST (Phadebas) and bronchial provocation test in children with allergic asthma. The study comprised 68 selected children with a case history of extrinsic allergic asthma to danders (cat and dog) and house-dust mite. Skin prick test, RAST, and histamine release were performed in all children and the bronchial provocation test was used as a reference of "true allergic asthma". A total of 81 allergen bronchial challenges were performed and 44 children experienced 49 positive provocations. In 2.9% (2/68) of the children histamine release could not be performed due to technical difficulties (low histamine release with anti-IgE). Concordances in the range 76-87% were observed with no significant difference between the tests. The highest concordance (87%) was found between histamine release and bronchial provocation test followed by skin prick test vs bronchial provocation (84%) and RAST vs bronchial provocation (80%). The sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each test. All tests showed sensitivities in the range 90-94% and no significant difference between them was observed. The specificity of histamine release, skin prick test, and RAST was 0.78, 0.69, and 0.63, respectively. The specificity of histamine release was better than RAST demonstrated by 95% confidence intervals. In conclusion, it was found that the histamine release test is a convenient diagnostic method and the study indicates a diagnostic value comparable to the common diagnostic methods in clinical allergy.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Passive sensitization and histamine release of basophils. IgE and cellular factors regulating histamine release.

This study had two purposes. First, to examine a possible functional heterogeneity of IgE regulating basophil histamine release and the effect of using two different donor cells for passive sensitization experiments. Second, to investigate basophils not releasing histamine to anti-IgE by stimulating protein kinase C with the addition of the phorbol-ester, TPA. In consecutive experiments responding donor basophils were passively sensitized with plasma from non-responding subjects. Thus, the first set of experiments included passive sensitization of acid treated donor basophils from one atopic and one non-atopic patient with plasma from 29 children with exogenous asthma to grass pollen, cat dander, or dust mites. Different secretagogues (anti-IgE, Concanavalin A, and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine) induced different histamine release responses due to a cellular property of the basophils not related to the type of IgE bound to the cell membrane. It was demonstrated that the allergen-induced histamine release did not depend on the extract or type of IgE when the biological activity of each extract and serum-specific IgE levels were similar. However, the atopic donor cells released significantly (P less than 0.05) more histamine than non-atopic donor cells. Thus, histamine release depends on the type of secretagogues and a cellular property which is maybe influenced by the presence of serum factors and a certain type of IgE in the serum of atopics. The second set of experiments included 10 patients (6 atopics and 4 non-atopics) with non-histamine releasing basophils. In the presence of 10 ng/ml TPA, however, seven of 10 patients released histamine at anti-IgE challenge. Three months later two additional patients became responsive in the presence of TPA. By passive sensitization of responding donor basophils the non-responding patients were shown to possess functionally intact IgE. Thus, the discrepancies sometimes observed between clinical symptoms, serological IgE-antibody measurements and histamine release testing in allergic patients may be related to a cellular property of basophils.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Histamine release from gut mast cells from patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Inflammatory mediators from intestinal mast cells may serve as initiators of acute and delayed inflammation. Mast cell histamine release was measured in 19 patients with inflammatory bowel diseases using gut mast cells from enzymatically dispersed endoscopic forceps biopsy specimens of macroscopically inflamed and normal tissue. Mast cells and corresponding basophils were challenged with anti-IgE, anti-IgG, subclass anti-IgG4, and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) and results were compared with those from nine patient control subjects. The mast cell count in patients with ulcerative colitis was increased compared with that in control subjects and patients with Crohn's disease, and the mast cell count obtained from inflamed tissue was greater than that of normal tissue. The study also shows the heterogeneity of the responsiveness of the histamine releasing cells to various secretagogues. Thus, mast cells released 0.4 (0.0-2.0) (median (range)) ng histamine per sample at anti-IgE challenge, and basophils were also anti-IgE responsive. In contrast, mast cells did not respond to FMLP but the corresponding basophils did. Gut mast cells released 0.3 (0.0-1.0) (median (range)) ng histamine per sample at anti-IgG4 challenge; however, the corresponding basophils did not respond to anti-IgG4. In addition, the anti-IgG4 mediated histamine release was primarily confined to patients with inflammatory bowel disease. This study substantiates previous histopathological findings that mast cells may play a functional role in the inflammatory process of inflammatory bowel diseases and provides evidence for a possible role of subclass IgG4 as a reaginic antibody.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Histamine release from skin mast cells and basophils in patients with urticaria pigmentosa.

Histamine release from dispersed skin mast cells may be used for functional studies on the mast cell. However, technical difficulties have hampered such studies. In the present study a new fiberglass-based histamine assay was applied to previously described dispersion techniques, using excision biopsies from 7 patients with urticaria pigmentosa, 3 with psoriasis as well as 4 with urticaria. However, sufficient mast cell numbers for performing histamine release could only be obtained from patients with urticaria pigmentosa. The average mast cell yield was 935 +/- 470 cells (mean +/- SD) per mg wet weight of tissue. The skin mast cells from these patients responded with dose-dependent histamine release to anti-IgE, calcium ionophore A23187, and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine challenge without previous passive sensitization. The pattern of histamine release of mast cells and corresponding blood basophils did not indicate substantial differences between the two cell types.

Basophils↗