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Biomedical subjects

M Lange

Publications and source records attributed to M Lange.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Preferred use of primary radiolabeled anti-platelet monoclonal antibodies. Comparison of immunoblotting methods for the analysis of functional domains on human platelets.

Several methodologies used for the identification and characterization of platelet receptors for antiplatelet monoclonal antibodies are compared. Two antiplatelet monoclonal antibodies, are investigated due to their potent effects on human platelet function. A platelet-activating monoclonal antibody, called M.Ab.F11, is able to induce platelet aggregation and granular secretion. A platelet-inhibitory monoclonal antibody, named G10, strongly blocks the platelet aggregation and granular secretion induced by M.Ab.F11, as well as by physiological agonists. In order to identify the specific antigens recognized by these monoclonal antibodies, we tested a number of immunostaining methods. Comparison of various procedures revealed that a high degree of nonspecific interactions with platelet proteins occurred when the commonly used secondary reagents, protein A and radiolabeled or enzyme-conjugated secondary antibodies interacted with the platelet proteins either in the presence or absence of primary monoclonal antibodies. On the other hand, we observed a high degree of specificity and selectivity when only radiolabeled anti-platelet monoclonal antibodies were used as single reagents. It is established that M.Ab.F11 interacts with the platelet membrane proteins of 32 and 35 Kd, and M.Ab.G10 recognizes 100 Kd protein, which corresponds to GPIIIa molecule.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Management and prognosis of intracranial giant aneurysms. A report on 58 cases.

Between 1975 and 1989, 58 patients, 32 females and 26 males, mean age 50 years, with intracranial giant aneurysms with a diameter more than 2.5 cm were treated at our clinic. 48% of the patients presented with subarachnoidal hemorrhage. The most of the other 30 patients presented with cranial nerve dysfunctions. The most common site of the aneurysm was the internal carotid artery (25 cases, 43%), followed by the anterior cerebral artery (14%), and the vertebro-basilar region (11 cases, 19%). In 14 patients direct surgery was not performed because of the poor general condition of the patient, the high risks, or non-consent. In seven patients (12%) the aneurysm had been misdiagnosed as meningeoma, pituitary-adenoma, craniopharyngeoma or glioblastoma. 47% of all patients were discharged as "independent" and 19% died. Patients without SAH had better chance of survival: 7% of patients without SAH died and 29% of patients with hemorrhage. 50% of patients without hemorrhage were discharged as "independent" but only 18% of patients with SAH. Because of the high incidence of hemorrhage and the better prognosis for patients without hemorrhage, we recommend routine surgical treatment of patients with giant aneurysms.

Adult

Long term monitoring of immunoreactive endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 in ventricular cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, and 24-h urine of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Endothelins (ETs), peptides that were originally isolated from endothelial cells, have extremely potent and long-lasting vasoconstricting effects on cerebral vessels in vitro and in vivo. Observations that astrocytes produce these peptides and that their ET production can be stimulated, e.g. by thrombin, and potentiated via a self-enhancing autoregulatory mechanism may have shed new light upon the pathogenesis of cerebrovasospasm (CVS). ETs are present at low levels in normal human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Few and contradictory reports exist on ET levels in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-associated CVS. We monitored ventricular CSF, plasma, and 24-h urine levels of immunoreactive endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelin-3 (ET-3) in seven patients with SAH, who did (five) or did not (two) develop CVS in the course of their disease, as well as in two patients with different conditions (acoustic neuroma/postoperative meningitis; hydro-/hematocephalus) over 7-19 days. A distinct peak of both ET-1 and ET-3 in CSF of patients with SAH coincided with clinically documented signs of CVS and was absent in CSF of patients with SAH but no CVS. CSF levels of ET-1 and ET-3 displayed a striking parallelism in all subjects. Plasma ET-1 levels were essentially in the normal range. ET-3 was not detectable in plasma under our assay conditions. The excretion profiles of ET-1 and ET-3 in 24-h urine revealed again a predominantly parallel behavior of the two peptides. Interestingly, patients with high ET levels in CSF showed simultaneous peaks in urinary ET excretion, expressed as nanograms per gram of creatinine. Our findings support an association of ETs with the pathogenic events following SAH. The well-documented effects of these peptides on cerebral vessels suggest they are mediators rather than markers of disease.

Adult

Changes in acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in Alzheimer's disease resemble embryonic development--a study of molecular forms.

The pattern of molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, EC 3.1.1.8) separated by density gradient centrifugation was investigated in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid in Alzheimer's disease (AD), in human embryonic brain and in rat brain after experimental cholinergic deafferentation of the cerebral cortex. While a selective loss of the AChE G4 form was a rather constant finding in AD, a small but significant increase of G1 for both AChE and BChE was found in the most severely affected cases. Both in normal human brain and in AD a significant relationship could be established between the AChE G4/G1 ratio in different brain regions and the activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). A similar decrease of the AChE G4 form as observed in AD can be induced in rat by experimental cholinergic deafferentation of the cerebral cortex. The increase in G1 of both AChE and BChE in different brain regions in AD is quantitatively related to the local density of neuritic plaques which are histochemically reactive for both enzymes. In human embryonic brain, a high abundance of G1 and a low G4/G1 ratio for both AChE and BChE was found resembling the pattern observed in AD. Furthermore, both in embryonic brain and in AD AChE shows no substrate inhibition which is a constant feature of the enzyme in the adult human brain. It is, therefore, concluded that the degeneration of the cholinergic cortical afferentation in AD as reflected by a decrease of AChE G4 is accompanied by the process of a neuritic sprouting response involved in plaque formation which is probably associated with the expression of a developmental form of the enzyme.

Acetylcholinesterase

Interleukin-2 and interleukin-2 receptor expression in human corticotrophic adenoma and murine pituitary cell cultures.

The production of IL-1 and IL-6 by pituitary cells has recently been demonstrated. In this study we investigated the expression of IL-2 and its receptor (IL-2R) by pituitary cells of different species. In Northern blots, a single hybridizing band of 1 kb, identical to that in normal stimulated lymphocytes, was obtained with specific IL-2 probes. In the mouse AT-20 pituitary tumor cell line, IL-2 mRNA expression was detected after stimulation with corticotropin-releasing hormone or phorbol myristate acetate. In human corticotrophic adenoma cells, basal IL-2 mRNA expression as well as IL-2 secretion were further stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate. Both adenoma and AtT-20 cells showed detectable amounts of IL-2R mRNA and by immunofluorescence, IL-2R membrane expression. In addition, dual immunofluorescence studies in rat anterior pituitary cells demonstrated colocalization of IL-2R with ACTH-positive cells and other cell types expressing the receptor. In addition to the action of lymphocyte-produced IL-2, this cytokine may have a paracrine or autocrine regulatory role within the pituitary. It remains to be established whether IL-2 production occurs in the normal pituitary or is intrinsic to the process of tumor development of these cells. IL-2 may be involved in the growth control of pituitary cells.

Adenoma

Effects of loperamide on the human hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in vivo and in vitro.

Loperamide, an opiate agonist of high specificity for mu-receptors, was recently reported to suppress ACTH and cortisol levels in normal subjects, but not in patients with proven ACTH-dependent Cushing's disease. However, there is little information on the site of action of loperamide in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis of man. We investigated the effect of loperamide on pituitary hormone secretion in vivo and in vitro. In seven normal subjects, basal ACTH plasma levels were significantly suppressed 3 h after loperamide administration (16 mg, orally) from 5 +/- 1 to 2 +/- 0 pmol/L (P less than 0.0001). After the combined pituitary stimulation test (100 micrograms human CRH, 100 micrograms GnRH, 100 micrograms GH-releasing hormone, and 200 micrograms TRH), the ACTH peak (maximum increase at 30 min) was significantly blunted by loperamide from 9 +/- 1 to 4 +/- 1 pmol/L (P less than 0.001) and the area under the curve of ACTH from 0-120 min was reduced from 35 +/- 5 to 23 +/- 4 pmol/L.2 h (P less than 0.05). In the insulin-hypoglycemia test (0.15 IU/kg BW), neither the ACTH peak nor the area under the curve of ACTH was affected by loperamide. In six patients with Cushing's disease and one patient with secondary adrenal insufficiency due to hypothalamic failure, neither basal ACTH and cortisol levels nor CRH-stimulated levels were influenced by loperamide. In four cultured human corticotropic adenomas, loperamide was not able to reduce basal and CRH-induced ACTH secretion. In summary, loperamide is able to reduce basal and CRH-induced ACTH and cortisol levels in normal subjects, but not in patients with Cushing's disease or secondary adrenal failure of hypothalamic origin. Loperamide has no significant effect on insulin-hypoglycemia-induced ACTH and cortisol levels and, therefore, no effect on stress-induced elevation of cortisol levels. Loperamide might act at a suprapituitary site in man in vivo, but, nevertheless, a pituitary site cannot be excluded.

Adenoma

Mechanistic aspects of radiation-induced free radical formation in frozen aqueous solutions of DNA constituents: consequences for DNA?

Frozen aqueous solutions of 1 M thymidine-5'-monophosphate were X-irradiated 77 K. The free radicals formed were analyzed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy between 77 K and about 260 K and were shown to result nearly exclusively from electron reaction at 77 K forming the thymine base anion, which converts into the well known 5-thymyl radical upon annealing. Primary oxidation of the substrate was not detectable. A minority species denoted TOH., which appeared at about 200 K, was suggested to result from OH. addition to carbon C6 of the base, perhaps via intermediate oxidation involving H2O2 or from direct reaction of OH. with the base. Another minority species at 77 K up to about 150 K, which was strongly enhanced by H2O2, was shown to be the allyl radical formed by reaction of the OH. with the methyl group. Support for this was given from experiments using BeF2 glasses. The possible spectral features for the cation of dTMP were extracted from aqueous pastes of the Ca2+ salt at 77 K. The mechanistic aspects derived from the results are in conflict with previous assumptions and are discussed for DNA model compounds and DNA.

DNA

Compact mock loops of the systemic and pulmonary circulation for blood pump testing.

Mock loops are an important tool for in vitro investigations of artificial blood pumps. The simple windkessel, throttle, and atrium principle was used for the mock loop design presented. The components of the systemic and the pulmonary mock loop were designed according to calculated numerical simulation parameters. The loops offer a compact design and simple handling. For simulating biventricular assist or total artificial heart (TAH), both loops can be coupled correspondingly. The numerical simulation and the first results with the loops show very good similarity to physiological data of systemic and pulmonary circulation. The measurements of pump characteristics are significant for quantitative comparison of different pump sizes and types, or driving systems.

Blood Circulation

Modulation of alpha interferon levels by AZT treatment in HIV-seropositive patients.

The effect of AZT on serum HIV p24 antigen and endogenous serum alpha interferon levels was studied in AIDS and ARC patients. Following administration of AZT there was a rapid decline in the serum levels of both HIV p24 antigen and alpha interferon. When AZT treatment was interrupted, the levels of both HIV p24 antigen and of interferon rapidly increased. These findings suggest that HIV or some other AZT sensitive microorganism is the inducer of interferon which is characteristically found in the serum of AIDS and symptomatic HIV infected patients. They also suggest that the rapid decline in interferon levels may underlie some of the symptomatic benefit that follows administration of AZT.

HIV Antigens

Multidisciplinary baseline assessment of homosexual men with and without human immunodeficiency virus infection. I. Overview of study design.

Although much is known about the virus believed by most experts to be the cause of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and about its pathogenic actions, major areas of ignorance remain. Among these are the reasons for the varying time between infection with human immunodeficiency virus and development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the relationship between neurologic and medical aspects of the disease, the time course of neuropsychological findings, and the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity. We assessed 124 homosexual men who were positive for human immunodeficiency virus and 84 who were negative for the virus. In this article we describe the study design, method of recruitment, and medical and demographic characteristics of the cohort, which will be followed up for 5 years.

Adolescent

Effects of ethidium bromide on the production of ribosomal RNA in cultured mouse cells.

A treatment of primary mouse kidney cell cultures with 5 microM Ethidium Bromide (Eth Br) reduces the transcription of nuclear-coded genes and especially of ribosomal RNA genes. This effect was consistently observed when comparing drug-treated and control cells for (i), the incorporation of 3H uridine into total nuclear and B RNA polymerases as determined in isolated nuclei. It became more pronounced with exposure time; however, after removal of the drug, there was a progressive recovery of RNA synthesis culminating in the complete reversal of the drug effect. That this effect is probably not due only to the suppression of mitochondrial protein synthesis by the drug, is shown by a comparative study of the effects of chloramphenicol treatment. In addition, in the cytoplasm Eth Br depresses the labeling of 28 S rRNA more than that of 18 S whereas no abnormal accumulation of 28 S rRNA is observed in the nucleus. It is suggested that Eth Br may affect either the stability of the 28 S rRNA or its rate of formation from the 32 S precursor.

Animals

Combination chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer: a randomized trial comparing the use of adriamycin to that of Vinblastine.

Two regimens of chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer were compared in a randomized controlled fashion. Regimen 1 consisted of cyclophosphamide, vinblastine, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CVMF). Regimen 2 consisted of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CAMF). The patient population consisted of both black and white postmenopausal females who had not received any prior chemotherapy. Objective responses were observed in 25/57 patients treated with CVMF and in 28/51 patients treated with CAMF. Neither race nor choice of chemotherapeutic regimen affected prognosis, although there were differences in the pattern of metastatic involvement between the two racial groups. The median duration of survival of patients who responded to therapy has not yet been reached but will be in excess of 12 months.

Adult

Biotransformation of chloroform by rat and human liver microsomes; in vitro effect on some enzyme activities and mechanism of irreversible binding to macromolecules.

The effects of chloroform on some rat microsomal enzyme activities were studied in vitro. Maximum inhibition of oxygen consumption, NADPH oxidase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase was observed at 0.5 mM chloroform; prior metabolization of CHCl3 by microsomal monooxygenases increased inhibition by about 50% at 0.2-0.5 mM chloroform. Higher concentrations produced a paradoxical reversal of inhibition, whereas p-nitroanisole demethylase was steadily inhibited by about 50% up to 10 mM chloroform. Irreversible binding of 14CHCl3 was confirmed to depend on chloroform metabolization by monooxygenases. The increased irreversible binding due to phenobarbital induction is accompanied by a diminished affinity towards chloroform as shown by increased KM of irreversible binding, and a higher spectral dissociation constant KS. Aminoacids with nucleophilic functions (histidine, cysteine) partially prevented the irreversible binding of chloroform metabolites to microsomes; non-volatile radioactive derivatives were recovered in trichloracetic acid supernatants when microsomes were incubated with cysteine, but not with histidine. Phosgene has been demonstrated as a biological metabolite of chloroform: its possible reactions with nucleophilic groups of macromolecules, water and added aminoacids partly explain these experimental data. Similar results were obtained with human microsomes, showing that chloroform hepatotoxicity in man could involve the same mechanisms.

Animals

Correlation between prognosis and bone marrow chromosomal patterns in children with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia: similarities and differences compared to adults.

The chromosomal complement of 28 children with the diagnosis of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) were examined. An abnormal cytogenetic pattern was found in 50% of these patients, which is similar to the results in adults with ANLL. Unlike the reports in adult patients, however, no specific chromosomal changes were found. This observation may imply that the etiology and mechanisms by which abnormal clones develop in ANLL could differ significantly between children and adults. Those patients with chromosomal abnormalities in their initial bone marrow sample had a median survival of 7.1 mo, whereas those with a normal diploid pattern in their bone marrow had a median survival of 20.5 mo (1-sided, p = 0.04). If all metaphases were abnormal, the median survival was only 3 mo.

Adolescent

Xerographic parenchymal patterns and breast cancer.

The xerographic mammography records of 3,002 patients with breast disease were reviewed and classified according to the criteria of Wolfe. The parenchymal P2 pattern occurred in 59% of patients with cancer and in only 16,9% patients under the age of 40 without cancer, but the incidence of the DY pattern was much the same in patients with cancer and in those without cancer in almost all the age groups studied. The incidence of the P2 pattern tended to rise slightly in patients without cancer, whereas the incidence of the DY pattern tended to remain the same in all groups. The findings of Wolfe and others have been confirmed by this study, which also supports the suggestion that women under the age of 40 undergo a baseline xerographic examination of the breasts for cancer and that subsequent screening be based on the presence of a P2 pattern. This will involve a selection of 16,9% of the under 40-year-old subjects without cancer who might, on screening be expected to show 60% of the cancers in each decade after the age of 40. This information coupled with other factors indicating a high risk for the development of breast cancer, such as florid epithelial dysplasia, a previous history of breast cancer or a family history of breast cancer, should increase the yield of early carcinomas at a preclinical stage and reduce costs of a screening programme.

Adult