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Biomedical subjects

H Wolff

Publications and source records attributed to H Wolff.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[The immotile cilia syndrome. A rare form of male infertility].

A man presented with 100% immotile spermatozoa. Transmission electron microscopy showed the absence of both central tubules in all sperm tails; the nine peripheral tubules, dynein arms, radial spokes and other structures of the sperm tail were normal. Immotile cilia syndrome of the 9 + 0 tubular pattern was diagnosed. Other anomalies frequently associated with immotile cilia syndrome, such as recurrent airway infections, bronchiectases and situs inversus (Kartagener's syndrome), were not present in this case.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in semen by antibody-enzyme immunoassay compared with polymerase chain reaction, antigen-enzyme immunoassay, and urethral cell culture.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results obtained by four different techniques for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in the male genital tract. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Andrology unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Male infertility patients. INTERVENTIONS: Analysis of semen samples and urethral swabs for the presence of C. trachomatis by recombinant antibody-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (rELISA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), antigen-enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and McCoy cell culture. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Detection of C. trachomatis. RESULTS: In 57 of 205 semen samples (27.8%) immunoglobulin A-antibodies against C. trachomatis were found. In contrast, only 1 of 56 semen samples (1.8%) was positive for C. trachomatis-DNA by PCR, only 1 of 139 semen samples (0.7%) was positive by antigen-EIA, and only 4 of 173 urethral swabs (2.3%) grew C. trachomatis in cell culture. CONCLUSIONS: The discrepancy of positive results found by the antibody-rELISA and direct methods for the detection of C. trachomatis indicates successful eradication of the microorganism in > 90% of antibody-positive men. Therefore, detection of antibodies against C. trachomatis in seminal plasma appears to be of limited diagnostic value.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Anti-CD45 augments response of a Th2 clone to TCR cross-linking.

The CD45 molecule is a transmembrane tyrosine phosphatase that may be associated with the T-cell receptor (TCR). This has led to the suggestion that CD45 may be important for the regulation of signal transduction in T cells. This idea is supported by the finding that antibodies against CD45 are comitogenic in proliferation assays. In the present work, we have examined the comitogenicity of CD45 antibodies by studying the effect of CD45, CD45RA, and CD45RB monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) on proliferation of D10 cells induced with T-cell receptor (TCR) MoAbs. In addition interactions with some other proliferation inducing agents namely CD3 antibodies, lectins, and IL-2, are examined here. We have found that in general the CD45 MoAbs would significantly enhance proliferation induced by a wide spectrum of TCR MoAbs and other proliferation inducing agents, with some minor quantitative differences. The CD45 and CD45RB MoAbs were equally potent in their comitogenic activity while the CD45RA antibody was somewhat less potent. The comitogenic effect was maximal when CD45 antibodies were added simultaneously with the TCR MoAb, but significant comitogenicity could be detected when CD45 MoAbs were added up to 24 h after the initiation of the culture indicating that the CD45 antibodies also affect other processes than the initial signal transduction cascade.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The effects of various indwelling JJ stents on renal pelvic pressure and renal parenchymal thickness in the pig.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether indwelling JJ stents significantly alter renal pelvic pressure and consequently have deleterious effects on renal function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen piglets were used totalling 26 renal units. Using an open, sterile surgical procedure, 23 renal units were stented with 6 F JJ catheters of eight different types: three renal units were not stented and served as controls. Intra-pelvic pressure values during diuretic stress were measured before and after 6 weeks of intubation. The kidneys were then removed and sent for pathological evaluation of renal parenchymal thickness. RESULTS: A marked increase in intra-pelvic pressure values was found in two of the 19 stented renal units suitable for this measurement. A significant reduction (more than one third with respect to the control values) in renal parenchymal thickness was found in six of the 21 stented renal units suitable for this measurement, three of which had been intubated with a Cook polyurethane stent and three with an Angiomed Puroflex stent. CONCLUSION: In the present experimental study some JJ stents seemed to cause long-lasting changes in renal pelvic pressure and consequently to have deleterious effects on renal function. Although experimental findings are not always fully related to clinical practice, a knowledge of the potential effects of these prostheses is essential to minimize complications related to their use.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Co-stimulatory signal delivered by CD73 molecule to human CD45RAhiCD45ROlo (naive) CD8+ T lymphocytes.

CD73 is a molecule expressed by a subset of CD8+ human T lymphocytes and is involved in T cell activation. CD73 expression and function were analyzed in peripheral blood CD45RAhiCD45ROlo (naive) and CD45RAloCD45ROhi (memory) CD8+ cells. We found that CD73 was expressed by a majority of naive cells (74 +/- 12%), whereas fewer memory cells were CD73+ (29 +/- 10%). Moreover, CD73 was selectively expressed by the CD11b- subset of naive CD8+ cells, which were almost all CD73+. The same result was found on CD8+ cord blood lymphocytes, which prevalently display the naive phenotype. Naive CD8+ CD11b- cells were almost unresponsive to CD3 engagement, but this apparent anergy was completely overcome when CD3 and CD73 were simultaneously cross-linked by plastic-immobilized CD73 and CD3 mAb, showing that CD73 delivers an accessory signal that allows their activation via the CD3/TCR. This costimulatory signal was tenfold more potent than that induced by CD28 ligation. A phosphotyrosine analysis by Western blotting showed that cross-linking of CD73 induced the phosphorylation of two proteins with a molecular mass of approximately 28 and 100 kDa respectively, whereas ligation of CD3 induced phosphorylation of many substrates. When CD3 and CD73 were simultaneously triggered these substrates were hypophosphorylated. Because CD73 is linked to the cell surface by a GPI anchor, the transduction of this signal is probably mediated by a lateral interaction with transmembrane molecules. This hypothesis was assessed by cocapping, which showed that CD73 associates strongly with CD45RC, moderately with CD8, and weakly with CD3. These data suggest that CD73 signaling is coupled to both tyrosine kinase and phosphatase activities.

5'-Nucleotidase↗
PubMed1993

In vitro stimulation of human fetal lymphocytes by mitogens and interleukins.

Human lymphocytes derived from fetal spleen and liver were studied for their capacity to respond to mitogens and interleukins using different in vitro models (cell volume increase, [3H]thymidine incorporation, Ig secretion). Although the number of mature B and T cells in the fetal liver preparations remained nearly constant [Settmacher et al. (1991) Immunobiol. 182, 256], only lymphocytes obtained from fetal organisms before the 25th week of gestation could respond to some of the polyclonal stimulators (PWM, anti-CD3 + IL-2, SAC + IL-2, SAC + IL-4) tested, whereas cells obtained after that period failed. In the fetal spleen, however, with increasing percentages of mature B and T cells during fetal development, a growing ability to respond to mitogens was registered, which, however, did not achieve the values found for the adult spleen material.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Adherence of Escherichia coli to sperm: a mannose mediated phenomenon leading to agglutination of sperm and E. coli.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of adherence between Escherichia coli and sperm. DESIGN: Experimental study performed with donor sperm and male genital tract-derived E. coli. SETTING: Andrology unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS: None. INTERVENTIONS: Monitoring of sperm-E. coli agglutination; addition of sugars to block adherence; electron microscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Sperm-E. coli agglutination. RESULTS: Escherichia coli readily adhered to and agglutinated sperm. The phenomenon was observed at E. coli to sperm ratios as low as 1:20; maximum sperm agglutination involving approximately 90% of spermatozoa was seen with ratios of 1:5 or higher. By transmission electron microscopy, E. coli adherence was observed both on sperm heads and tails. Heteroagglutination could be blocked by D-mannose and alpha-methyl-mannopyranoside but not by other sugars. Preincubation of sperm or E. coli with mannose resulted in block of agglutination, indicating mannose-binding structures both on sperm and E. coli. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence of E. coli to sperm is mediated by mannose and mannose-binding structures present on both cell types. Agglutination of sperm by E. coli may be relevant in male and female infertility.

Bacterial Adhesion↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of methods to enumerate white blood cells in semen.

Seminal WBC counts obtained by an mAb-based immunohistologic method correlated well with seminal granulocyte counts obtained with a simple peroxidase method (rho = +0.70; P < 0.0001). However, total WBC counts were significantly higher than granulocyte counts for most samples. With the immunohistologic method, 17 of 112 samples (15.2%) contained > 10(6) WBC/mL semen, whereas the peroxidase method resulted in only 10 samples (8.9%) with > 10(6) WBC/mL. When the threshold defining leukocytospermia was set at 1 x 10(6) positive cells/mL for both methods, the specificity of the peroxidase test compared with the immunohistology technique was 100% (10/10), but the sensitivity was only 58.8% (10/17). When the threshold for leukocytospermia in the peroxidase test was lowered to 5 x 10(5) positive cells/mL semen, the sensitivity relative to the immunohistology technique increased to 94.1% (16/17), and specificity remained 100% (16/16). Likewise, good interassay sensitivity and specificity values were obtained with thresholds of 10(6) WBC/mL for the peroxidase assay and 2 x 10(6) WBC/mL for the immunohistology assay. We conclude that either peroxidase or immunohistology assays can be used to screen for leukocytospermia, but that more research is needed to establish thresholds for pathological levels of WBC in semen using these two approaches. Total round cell counts are of no value for enumerating WBC in semen.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1992

High levels of IL-2 alter signal transduction in cloned IL-4-producing CD4 T cells.

Cloned CD4 T cells of the Th2 type make IL-4 and related cytokines upon receptor cross-linking, whereas cloned CD4 T cells of the Th1 type make IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF-beta. These two types of CD4 T cell are also reported to use distinct mechanisms of signal transduction. It has been reported that Th1 cells flux Ca2+ upon receptor cross-linking, whereas Th2 cells do not. We have noted that when cloned Th2 cells are exposed to high levels (20 U/ml) of IL-2, they show an altered phenotype. Such cells are much more sensitive to activation by certain antireceptor antibodies, they flux calcium upon receptor ligation without additional cross-linking with anti-Ig antibodies, and they make much larger amounts of IL-4. In addition, the organization of their TCR is altered, with increased levels of the TCR-eta chain and an increase in the extent of association of CD4 with CD3 and CD45, changes similar to those found in Th1 cells. These results suggest that there is no fundamental difference in the signal transduction apparatus of Th1 and Th2 cells; rather, the IL-2 made by Th1 cells may create similar phenotypic changes in these cells and thus create the impression of altered signal transduction mechanisms. These results do show that exposure to high levels of IL-2 can profoundly affect signal transduction in T cells. Furthermore, we found that the Ca2+ signal caused by CD3 antibodies seemed to differ in character from that caused by TCR antibodies suggesting that the use of CD3 antibodies is not always a good model for activation through the TCR.

Biological Assay↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of three methods to detect white blood cells in semen: leukocyte esterase dipstick test, granulocyte elastase enzymeimmunoassay, and peroxidase cytochemistry.

Comparison of three methods for the detection of WBC in semen revealed a low concordance of positive test results. Among 557 semen samples, most positives were observed with the leukocyte esterase dipstick test (n = 95; 17.1%) followed by the peroxidase test (n = 51; 9.2%). There was little overlap between positives in the esterase-dipstick and the peroxidase method (29/117; 24.8%). With only 4 of 557 samples (0.7%), the PMN-elastase ELISA showed a surprisingly low incidence of positives. Because of lack of a gold standard, none of the three methods could be identified as superior. Because of its simplicity, specificity, and cost-effectiveness, the peroxidase method appeared most suited for clinical application.

Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases↗
PubMed1992

[Experiences with surgical therapy of Budd-Chiari syndrome].

The obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow tract with or without involvement of the inferior vena cava results in the Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). With its very heterogenous etiology and variable epidemiology the rare disease either takes a chronic or an acute foudroyant clinical course. In general the prognosis is poor. Together with the clinical signs the diagnosis is based on radiological measures and the histology of the hepatic parenchyma. The exact etiological investigation of the BCS is of great significance. Typical findings are discussed and a diagnostic scheme is developed. Between 1979 and 1991, altogether 16 operations were carried out in 13 patients with a BCS. Predominantly there were undertaken a porto-systemic shunt procedure or an orthotopic liver transplantation, respectively, in 6 cases each. The need for an always individually tailored therapeutic strategy of the BCS is underlined by a case history. An overview analyzes the different therapeutic modalities of the BCS and their differential indications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

A comparison of HIV-1 antibody classes, titers, and specificities in paired semen and blood samples from HIV-1 seropositive men.

Twenty-eight paired blood and semen samples obtained from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) seropositive men at various stages of disease progression were evaluated for titer and immunoglobulin (Ig) class by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Blood antibody titers ranged from 40,000 to 4,000,000 with a median of 40,000. Semen titers ranged from 400 to 40,000 with a median of 400. HIV-1 antibody titers in matched semen and blood samples showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.963). The ratio of semen:blood titers ranged from 1:1000 to 1:10 with a median of 1:100. There was no correlation between blood or semen antibody titer and stage of disease of the patients. However, there was a trend toward higher (greater than or equal to 4000) semen antibody titers in men with evidence of genital tract inflammation greater than 10(6) white blood cells/ml semen; 3/5 versus 5/23, p greater than 0.1 Fisher exact test). All HIV-1 antibodies detected were of the IgG class; no IgA or IgM class antibodies of titers greater than or equal to 40 were found in either blood or semen. Thirteen paired blood and semen samples from individual patients were analyzed for antibody specificity by Western blot. In some cases antibody profiles in semen were different from those in blood; strong antibody reactivity against the gp160 viral coat antigen band was consistently detected in semen and blood, whereas the prevalence of detectable antibody reactivity against the p55 and p17 HIV-1 antigen bands was significantly reduced in semen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed1991

[Pancreas transplantation with exocrine bypass to the gallbladder as receiver. Experimental results and the first clinical case].

A new procedure for intraperitoneal pancreas transplantation, donor-pancreatoduodenectomy/receiver-cholecystectomy, is described. The pancreas, with a segment of the duodenum, is placed dorsally in the peritoneal cavity. The portal vein is anastomosed to the sub-hepatic caval vein and the long aortic segment of the graft is anastomosed with the receiver's aorta. Pancreas exocrine excretion is deviated to the receiver's gallbladder via a duodenobladder bypass.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗