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J C Hoffmann

Publications and source records attributed to J C Hoffmann.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Effects of adrenalectomy and constant light on the rat estrous cycle.

Adult female ARS/Sprague-Dawley rats were allowed to acclimatize to a a lighting schedule of 12L:12D (LD) for 5 weeks. At that time, half the animals were adrenalectomized, and all rats remained in LD for an additional 4 to 5 weeks. Subsequently, half of the control and half of the adrenalectomized rats were exposed to constant light (LL) for an additional 8 weeks, at which time all animals were sacificed. Operated rats with regenerated adrenal tissue, determined either by macroscopic examination or serum corticosterone assay (about 50% of the rats), were excluded from all data calculations. Acute disturbances of estrous cycle length were minor. The long-term effects revealed a significant increase in 5-day cycles among the adrenalectomized rats, although the majority of cycles recorded (80%) were still 4 days in length. None of the rats in LD showed spontaneous persistent estrus. Adrenalectomy did not affect the number of ova shed. When placed in LL, the adrenalectomized rats continued to cycle longer than the unoperated controls, but all rats showed persistent estrus (5 or more consecutive days of vaginal cornification) within 7--8 weeks. Adrenalectomized rats had significantly higher body weights than controls. Relative uterine weight was decreased in these animals in both lighting regimens but only reached statistical significance in LD. Ovarian weight, by contrast, was significantly increased among adrenalectomized rats in LD but was identical in both groups in LL. Adrenal weight of intact rats was not altered by LL. Since estrous cycles can continue for at least 6 months in the absence of the adrenal gland, the persistent estrus that occurs in LL is not merely due to the loss of a diurnal rhythm of corticosteroids. Indeed, when adrenalectomized rats are placed in LL, they continue to show estrous cycles longer than do intact rats. Adrenalectomy does appear to increase the length of the cycle in some animals, and the hormonal basis for this warrants further study.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Quality of life assessment in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): German version of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ-D; disease-specific instrument for quality of life assessment) -- first application and comparison with international investigations].

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome-parameter in health research and care. The aim of the working group Quality of Life in the Competence Network Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD; in the original German: "Kompetenznetz chronisch entzündliche Darmerkrankungen") is to generate instruments for assessment of HRQOL and its implementation as standards in clinical trials, health care and research in IBD. METHODS: The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) is an international validated disease specific instrument for HRQOL-assessment. A German version of the IBDQ was elaborated and tested in 415 outpatients with Crohn's disease (CD, n = 306) and ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 109). The aim of the study was to compare the results of HRQOL-assessment (IBDQ-D) with international investigations, to correlate HRQOL results with disease activity and to preform a pretest of psychometric properties. RESULTS: International data suggest that the IBDQ-D is a suitable instrument for HRQOL-assessment in CD and UC. For both disease a statistically significant negative correlation with disease activity was found. Tested psychometric properties do not suggest that a revision of the IBDQ-D is required. The IBDQ-D offers the HRQOL-assessment as an primary or secondary outcome in clinical trials in IBD in Germany.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of Crohn's disease.

The treatment of Crohn's disease depends on disease location and disease activity. It can be divided into medical and surgical treatment. While surgery is reserved for complications such as abscesses or failure of pharmacological treatment (fistulae, perianal disease, or strictures) medical treatment aims at induction and maintenance of remission. In order to achieve these goals supportive and therapeutic strategies must be used. Supportive measures include substitution of vitamins, particularly fat-soluble vitamins, and minerals in deficiencies due to resection or disease involvement of the small bowel. All patients on long-term steroids should receive calcium and vitamin D in order to prevent osteoporosis. Therapeutic options include drug treatment (corticosteroids, antibiotics, salicylates, and immunosuppressives), nutrition (parenteral or enteral), and endoscopy (dilatation of strictures). Depending on disease location different pharmacologic preparations of salicylates or corticosteroids should be used, e.g., enemas for distal colitis. The most potent drugs for long-term control are immunosuppressive agents, particularly azathioprine. It is the most widely investigated immunosuppressive agent in Crohn's disease and should be the first line treatment for patients with steroid refractory, chronic steroid dependent, fistulating, and stenosing courses. In the future, more potent drugs and better risk stratification criteria should improve the treatment of Crohn's disease.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Decreased levels of a soluble form of the human adhesion receptor CD58 (LFA-3) in sera and synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Soluble forms of adhesion molecules (sAM) can block cellular interactions and potentially prevent the adhesion of mononuclear cells to inflammatory tissue. We therefore wondered whether levels of a soluble form of the CD2-ligand CD58 (sCD58) are decreased in patients with different types of joint disease. METHODS: SCD58 concentrations were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of sera from 60 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 13 patients with osteoarthritis (OA), 16 patients with psoriatic arthropathy (PsA), 15 patients with spondylarthropathy (SpA), and 61 age-matched normal controls (NC). SCD58 was also determined in synovial fluid samples (SF) from 42 patients with RA, 12 with PsA, and 12 with SpA. Concentrations of sCD58 were correlated with clinical and laboratory measures of disease activity. Binding of biotinylated human albumin to recombinant CD58 or casein was assessed by a modified ELISA: RESULTS: SCD58 levels were significantly reduced in sera from RA patients compared to NC (p < 0.0001), OA (p = 0.019), and SpA (p < 0.0001). Normal concentrations were found in sera from patients with OA, PsA, or SpA. SF sCD58 concentrations were generally lower than serum concentrations (between 18 and 28%). RA SF had significantly lower sCD58 levels than SpA SF (p = 0.01). Reduction of serum sCD58 levels correlated significantly with the ESR (r = 0.56; p < 0.0001), CRP (r = 0.4; p = 0.003), and TJS (r = 0.47; p = 0.0001). In addition, sCD58 serum levels correlated significantly with the reticulocyte count (r = 0.47; p = 0.02) and serum albumin (r = 0.42; p = 0.002). Accordingly, biotinylated human albumin bound to recombinant CD58 in a dose dependent fashion, but not to casein. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that serum and SF sCD58 levels in patients with RA are reduced compared to the levels in normal controls and patients with OA or SpA. Decreased albumin concentrations due to systemic inflammation may lead to reduced sCD58 levels. Since sCD58 may normally mediate de-adhesion, such a reduction could result in increased T cell adhesiveness.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗