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Biomedical subjects

M Klink

Publications and source records attributed to M Klink.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

[Neutrophil activation by bacterial endotoxins].

The endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS), major component of Gram-negative bacteria cell wall, activate numerous types of cells, neutrophils included. The chemical compositions of polysaccharide (O-specific polysaccharide and core oligosaccharide) and hydrophobic lipid A parts of LPS are presented. The bindings of LPSs to neutrophils resulted in signal transduction and neutrophils activation. Neutrophils, under LPS stimulation, generate oxygen radicals, nitric oxide and other components of inflammatory processes.

Endotoxins

Listeria monocytogenes infection in pregnant mice: abnormalities in the function of non-adherent accessory light density dendritic cells.

Pregnant A/J mice were found to be more susceptible to the lethal effect of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria than virgin females. However, during the first four days of post-infection there was no difference in the elimination of Listeria from the spleens of pregnant and virgin mice. This suggests that the increase in the susceptibility of pregnant mice to pathogenic activity of L. monocytogenes was related to the diminution in Listeria-specific cellular reactions. Indeed, we found that non-adherent light density dendritic cells (DCs) from pregnant mice showed a marked reduction in the ability to form clusters with L. monocytogenes immune T lymphocytes and it is known that cell cluster formation between antigen presenting cells (APC) and responding T cells is required for antigen recognition as well as for cell proliferation. DCs from pregnant mice also demonstrated the decrease and an instability in the expression of H-2 class II molecules which play a crucial role in the recognition of exogenous antigens. The abnormalities demonstrated in the function of the light density dendritic cells from the spleens of pregnant mice could compromise cellular reactions to L. monocytogenes bacteria possibly resulting in increased susceptibility of pregnant mice to experimental listeriosis.

Animals

[Feto-maternal immunoregulation].

One of the great mysteries in modern immunology is how extraembryonic membranes escape rejection by maternal immune response, although they express paternal genes/anti-genes which should stimulate allogenic recognition and rejection. Generally, two theories try to explain the pregnancy phenomenon. One of the emphasizes the role of immunosuppressive reactions in the protection of the fetus. On the contrary, the "immunotropism" theory insists on the importance of mother's immune response to paternal antigens of the conceptus. Moreover, the last years abound in discoveries on molecules regulating cell-cell interactions at the level of the initiation and effector stage of the immune response. The best examples of such molecules could be extracellular matrix proteins, integrins, interleukins and various growth factors. The discussion on those molecules as regards their role in the protection of the fetus was the main aim of this article.

Animals

Specific cellular and humoral reactions as markers of Listeria monocytogenes infections.

The purpose of the study was to test in experimental mouse model if some immunological parameters could be helpful in recognizing Listeria infections. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) and ELISA tests carried out with soluble fractions of L. innocua (serotype 6a) or L. monocytogenes (serotype 4b) seem to be useful in detecting listeriosis at an early stage. Although crude antigen fractions were used in this study, very weak only nonspecific DTH reactions were observed in unifected animals and they could be easily distinguished from the DTH reactions developed by the animals infected with Listeria. However, genetic factors influenced specific anti-listerial reactivity and it was especially observed when DTH test was used as an indicator of Listeria infection. In contrast to DTH and ELISA tests, determination of antibodies active in agglutination or passive haemagglutination assay seem useless in detecting listeriosis at an early stage of infection.

Agglutination Tests

[Weakness of cellular response to Listeria antigens in pregnant mice].

It was found that pregnant mice exhibit increased susceptibility to lethal action of Listeria monocytogenes, although there was no correlation between increase of susceptibility of animals to lethal effect of bacteria and weakening of elimination of microorganisms from the spleen. Increased susceptibility of animals to listeriosis was accompanied by weakening of some parameters of cellular immunity. In pregnant mice of strains C57Bl/6, naturally resistant to infections, inhibition of II-1 by macrophages was found which at the same time exhibited depression of chemotaxis. Weakening of these macrophage functions did not influence the development of delayed hypersensitivity to Listeria antigen (LA) in C57Bl/6 mice--the reaction which was suppressed in pregnant mice of A/J strain which is characterized by natural susceptibility to listeriosis. Inhibition of development of delayed hypersensitivity to LA in A/J pregnant mice was caused by defective function of dendritic cells and T lymphocytes. Dendritic cells of A/J pregnant mice exhibited limited ability of presentation of LA to immune T lymphocytes isolated from animals infected with L. monocytogenes or L. innocula. On the other hand, immune T cells of A/J mice cultured with LA exhibited inhibition of proliferation and production of MIF.

Animals

Effects of gonadotrophin on resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice.

It was demonstrated that exogenous GH suppressed the resistance to L. monocytogenes infection in Listeria resistant C57Bl/6 and susceptible A/J mice. However, different parameters of the immunological reaction to Listeria were affected by GH treatment in these mouse strains. In C57Bl/6 mice GH decreased accumulation of macrophages at the inflammatory site. On the contrary, a depression of anti-listerial activity of the phagocytes and a reduction of DTH reaction to Listeria antigen was demonstrated in GH treated A/J mice.

Animals

Problems in defining normal limits for serum IgE.

Recommended "normal limits" for serum IgE generally assume that a single upper limit of normal can be applied to all adults. The present article describes the distribution of IgE levels in 2657 subjects in a general population sample in Tucson, Ariz. Limits of IgE defining the lower 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90%, and 95% in 1569 subjects with negative allergy skin tests and without current asthma, considered a reference group, are provided by age and sex. These cutoffs are then used to compare groups with asthma and with positive allergy skin tests with the reference population. Distributions of IgE levels in these groups are vastly different, but defining an upper "limit of normal" for serum IgE is of doubtful clinical value because there is no single level of IgE that distinguishes different groups with any precision. The spread of IgE values is extremely wide in subjects with and without known allergic diseases.

Adolescent

A hypertensive emergency following cataract extraction and cornea transplantation.

We report a hypertensive crisis resulting from an unsuspected pheochromocytoma following a routine anterior segment procedure. Although pheochromocytomas are rare, ophthalmologists should be aware of the signs and symptoms of this tumor as well as of the possible role that postoperative administration of timolol may have in pheochromocytoma-triggered hypertension.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms

Prognostic factors of adult metastatic renal carcinoma: a multivariate analysis.

In order to define the prognostic factors for metastatic renal carcinoma, we reviewed 134 patients who were treated from 1971 through 1986. Survival rates were 72, 45, and 25% at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively. Seventeen variables were tested using the logrank test. Improved survival was correlated with normal performance status, and an absence of fever, weight loss, hepatic metastasis, and lung metastasis (or, if lung metastasis was present, less than 2 cm in diameter and limited to one site), a disease-free interval, sedimentation rate less than 100, and renal surgery. Four variables retained significant value in the multivariate analysis: hepatic metastasis, lung metastasis, disease-free interval, and a variable combining the sedimentation rate and the weight loss (SWRL). Predictive survival rates based on these variables were calculated from the Cox model. Six subgroups of patients were identified. The estimation of survival is clinically of value for future phase II trials of chemotherapy in patients with adult metastatic renal carcinoma.

Adolescent

Twelve-year experience with chemotherapy in adult metastatic renal cell carcinoma at the Institut Gustave-Roussy.

One hundred fifty-three adult patients with metastatic renal carcinoma were treated over a 12-year period. Five successive chemotherapeutic protocols were used: vincristine or teniposide plus CCNU, elliptinium weekly or monthly, ifosfamide, and lastly, a multidrug regimen with adriamycin, vindesine, cyclophosphamide, cisplatinum, and dacarbazine. Results obtained with these different consecutive protocols were very disappointing with only ten (7%) objective responses encountered.

Adult

Prevalence of reported sleep disturbances in a general adult population and their relationship to obstructive airways diseases.

In order to determine the prevalence of reported sleep disturbances in a general adult population and the relationship of these complaints to age, gender and coexistent obstructive airways disease, 2,187 subjects in the Tucson Epidemiologic Study of Obstructive Airways Disease were surveyed in 1985 regarding their sleep symptoms. At least one symptom of disturbed sleep was present in 41.4 percent of all subjects. Women generally reported a significantly higher prevalence of both disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS) and nightmares (NM)(p less than .001). Before age 64 years, the prevalence of complaints of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) among men and women were similar. However, the frequency of EDS was significantly higher in men than women after age 64 years. Prevalence of at least one sleep symptom and DIMS increased with advancing age. The prevalence of nightmares appeared to be age-related only among women, who displayed a declining prevalence with advancing age. EDS increased only after age 64 years. There was a significant relationship between DIMS and EDS with coexistent chronic bronchitis, concomitant asthma and chronic bronchitis, and emphysema, but not asthma as a solitary diagnosis. Nightmares were reported with much greater frequency among subjects with asthma, asthma and chronic bronchitis, and emphysema but not in subjects with chronic bronchitis alone. The presence of coexistent asthma and chronic bronchitis was associated with particularly high prevalence of complaints of DIMS, EDS and nightmares. We conclude that, in the general adult population, sleep disorder symptoms increase with age and usually are greater in women. Furthermore, there is an increased prevalence of sleep symptoms among adults with chronic airways obstructive disease, especially those with coexistent asthma and chronic bronchitis.

Adult

Phonological process usage by young EMR children and nonretarded preschool children.

Phonological skills of 20 mentally retarded children (IQs 50 to 75) were compared with those of 10 communication handicapped, nonretarded children and 10 normally speaking nonretarded children. All groups were matched on mean length of utterance scores obtained in a spontaneous speech sample. The Weiner Phonological Process Analysis Tool was administered to reveal phonological process usage. Retarded and communication handicapped children used a significantly greater total number of phonological processes more frequently than did nonhandicapped preschool children, but all the children used the processes in a specific order. Certain processes predicted the existence of others in children's speech patterns.

Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilitie