PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Mielke

Publications and source records attributed to M Mielke.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effects of 28 days of beta-alanine and creatine monohydrate supplementation on aerobic power, ventilatory and lactate thresholds, and time to exhaustion.

The effect of beta-alanine (beta-Ala) alone or in combination with creatine monohydrate (Cr) on aerobic exercise performance is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 4 weeks of beta-Ala and Cr supplementation on indices of endurance performance. Fifty-five men (24.5 +/- 5.3 yrs) participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study and randomly assigned to one of 4 groups; placebo (PL, n = 13), creatine (Cr, n = 12), beta-alanine (beta-Ala, n = 14), or beta-alanine plus creatine (CrBA, n = 16). Prior to and following supplementation, participants performed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine VO(2peak), time to exhaustion (TTE), and power output, VO(2), and percent VO(2peak) associated with VT and LT. No significant group effects were found. However, within groups, a significant time effect was observed for CrBa on 5 of the 8 parameters measured. These data suggest that CrBA may potentially enhance endurance performance.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[1974-2004: the Commission for Hospital Hygiene has been working for 30 years. From the "old" to the "new" guideline].

After 2 years of preparation, the Commission for Hospital Hygiene, founded in 1974 by the former German Public Health Service, published the "Guideline for Assessment,Prevention, and Controlling of Nosocomial Infections," which represented an exemplarily complete standard for hospital hygiene. In 1997 within the framework of planning the amendment to the Federal Epidemic Law, a new Commission for Hygiene and Infectious Disease Prevention started work and adapted the guideline to meet today's standards of systematic risk analysis and risk management. The amended Infection Protection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz, IfSG), which came into force in January 2001, installed the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infectious Disease Prevention legally and required it to formulate a guideline to decrease the rate of nosocomial infections, the number of outbreaks, and the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in healthcare facilities by establishing standards of modern prevention. This article describes the political importance of nosocomial infections for public health as well as the working basis, the methods, and the latest guidelines of the Commission.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2004

Activity of an alkaline 'cleaner' in the inactivation of the scrapie agent.

The capacity of a routinely available alkaline cleaner for medical devices to inactivate the causative agent of a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) was tested. The co-incubation of brain homogenates, prepared from terminally ill scrapie-infected hamsters, with the cleaner led to the denaturation of misfolded protein as the proteinase K-resistant prion protein was no longer detectable after such treatment. In addition, intra-cerebral inoculation of hamsters with the alkaline cleaner-treated and subsequently neutralized samples reduced the level of infectivity of the material below the limit of detection. This report shows the possibility that a routinely available alkaline cleaner could reduce the infectivity of TSE agents and so minimize the risk of iatrogenic transmission of TSEs by asymptomatic carriers. This study is intended to encourage further investigations in this field.

Alkalies↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence and role of serum IgE antibodies to the Staphylococcus aureus-derived superantigens SEA and SEB in children with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: The skin of patients with atopic dermatitis exhibits a striking susceptibility to colonization and infection with Staphylococcus aureus. In this context it has been previously shown that S aureus-derived superantigens could function as classic allergens, inducing production of functionally relevant specific IgE antibodies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the role of circulating staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA)- and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-specific IgE antibodies in children with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 58 children with atopic dermatitis, the presence of IgE antibodies to SEA and SEB was correlated with the severity of the disease and the total and other unrelated allergen-specific IgE titers and density of colonization with S aureus strains on atopic skin and episodes of superficial S aureus skin infections. RESULTS: Twenty of 58 children (34%) were sensitized to superantigens (45% to SEB, 10% to SEA, 45% to SEA and SEB). In this group, severity of atopic dermatitis and levels of specific IgE to food and air allergens were significantly higher. The degree of disease severity correlated to a higher extent with the presence of SEA/SEB-specific antibodies than with total serum IgE levels. Density of colonization with superantigen-secreting S aureus strains was higher in the superantigen IgE-positive group. Sixty-three percent of these children experienced repeated episodes of superficialS aureus skin infections. CONCLUSIONS: Sensitization to S aureus-derived superantigens may be involved in disease exacerbation. The presence of SEA/SEB-specific antibodies had additional explanatory value for disease severity and therefore may be helpful in the characterization of children with severe atopic dermatitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Role of the systemic cellular immune response in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori-associated duodenal ulcer.

20 patients colonized by H. pylori (9 with duodenal ulcer, 11 with antral gastritis) were examined for the presence of a systemic cellular immune response to H. pylori using an in vitro lymphocyte transformation assay. Infiltration of the antral mucosa by myelomonocytic cells was assessed by immunohistology as a parameter of local cellular immune response. A systemic H. pylori-induced cellular reaction could be demonstrated in 11 patients all of whom showed an intense myelomonocytic infiltration of the antral mucosa. In this group 7 of 9 duodenal ulcers occurred. The findings support the hypothesis, that a specific cellular immune response might be involved in the pathogenesis of H. pylori-associated gastritis and duodenal ulcer. A protective role of systemic cellular immunity to H. pylori seems rather unlikely.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Protective immunity and granulomatous inflammation is mediated in vivo by T cells reactive to epitopes common to avirulent and listeriolysin-negative mutants of Listeria monocytogenes.

The ability of several listeriolysin O-negative mutants of the EGD and NCTC 7973 strains of Listeria monocytogenes to activate specific T cell responses in vitro and in vivo was determined. T cell lines from different inbred mouse strains and derived T cell clones elicited by L. monocytogenes, strain EGD, which are able to adoptively transfer protection and granuloma formation were examined. Specificity testing revealed no differences between listeriolysin-positive and -negative strains to induce proliferation of the T cell lines and clones. Similar results were obtained when we examined CD4+ T cell-mediated granuloma formation in the livers of mice previously immunized with viable bacteria of the virulent strain. Granulomatous inflammation could be elicited by iv application of heat-killed bacteria of listeriolysin-positive and of -negative bacteria. Protective immunity to listerial infections and granulomatous inflammation therefore appears to be mediated by T cells recognizing epitopes on listerial antigens that are shared by both pathogenic and nonpathogenic Listeria strains.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Tuberculosis of the larynx, oral cavity and pharynx].

A 44-year-old man, a heavy smoker over many years, complained of hoarseness for 8 weeks with weight loss and dysphagia. Malignant tumour of the pharynx was suspected. Examination revealed a swelling of the right upper lip, tumorous changes in the right buccal mucosa, about 6 x 6 cm in size, as well as enlargement of the cervical lymph-nodes. Microlaryngoscopy revealed a three-level tumour of the entire side of the right larynx. Histological examination of biopsies of the right false and true vocal cords as well as the buccal mucosa demonstrated numerous, partly caseous epithelioid granulomas with Langhans giant cells. Ziehl-Neelsen staining showed acid-fast rods. Combined tuberculostatic treatment with isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide achieved regression of all signs and symptoms within two months. This case emphasizes the need for including laryngeal tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of seemingly malignant laryngeal tumours.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The increased frequency of cervical dysplasia-neoplasia in women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus is related to the degree of immunosuppression.

Cytologic and histologic investigations of the uterine cervix and studies of the lymphocyte functions were performed in human immunodeficiency virus-infected and human immunodeficiency virus antibody-negative women to study possible linkages between human papillomavirus-induced dysplasia and degree of human immunodeficiency virus-induced immunosuppression. Cytologic smears of the uterine cervix of 111 human immunodeficiency virus-infected women were compared with findings in 76 female intravenous drug users negative for human immunodeficiency virus antibodies and in a group of 526 women of the outpatient population of the hospital. Cervical dysplasia-neoplasia (including five cases of invasive carcinoma) was seen in 41% of the human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. In human immunodeficiency virus-negative intravenous drug users dysplasia-neoplasia was seen in 9%, and in the sample from outpatients in 4%, including two cases of invasive carcinoma (p less than 0.01). Cytologic features that were attributable to infection with human papillomavirus were observed in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women four times more often than in the sample from the outpatient population (p less than 0.01). Frequency and severity of dysplasia appear to increase with diminishing numbers of CD4+ helper/inducer T lymphocytes and correlated significantly (p less than 0.01) with a loss of blastogenic response to phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, and tetanus toxoid. These results suggest an increased risk for the development of dysplasia of the uterine cervix in women with human immunodeficiency virus infection, which is related to the degree of immunosuppression.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Listeriolysin negative mutants of Listeria monocytogenes specifically stimulate T-lymphocytes mediating protection and granulomatous inflammation.

The ability of several listeriolysin O negative mutants of the virulent EGD strain of Listeria monocytogenes to activate specific T cell responses in vitro and in vivo was determined. A T cell line and a derived clone specific for Listeria monocytogenes, strain EGD, which are able to adoptively transfer protection and granuloma formation were examined. Specificity testing showed no difference between listeriolysin positive and negative strains to induce proliferation of the T cell lines and clones. Similar results were obtained when we examined T cell mediated granuloma formation in the livers of mice previously immunized with viable bacteria. Granulomatous inflammation could be elicited by i.v. application of heat killed bacteria of listeriolysin positive as well as of negative bacteria. Thus, the expression of the heat induced 60KD listeriolysin protein is not a prerequisite for the stimulation of Listeria-specific T lymphocytes mediating protection and granuloma formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[HIV infection in children of seropositive mothers].

Both resolved and still open questions are discussed. The natural course of HIV infection from the time at which a child becomes symptomatic is known. The incidence rate of HI-virus transmission to the child remains uncertain. Likewise the time of transmission and its cofactors as well as data about the incubation and latency periods remain open questions. The greatest problem thus, is the early and reliable definition of HIV infection. Initial results from prospective HIV-perinatal studies are presented, showing that a transmission rate between 20% and 40% is to be reckoned with.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1988

[Pulmonary complications in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Results of a prospective study].

Between 1983 and 1987, a stepwise diagnostic programme was undertaken prospectively in 37 of 100 HIV-positive patients with 40 bronchopulmonary infections. It consisted chiefly of flexible bronchoscopy combined with lavage, transbronchial biopsy and/or removal of bronchial brush cells. Taking into account all examinations performed in life and at autopsy, 25 of the 37 patients had Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (67.5%), 13 had bacterial pneumonia, six of these were mycobacterial infections (atypical mycobacteria in four), eight had neoplasms (pulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma in five, squamous-cell carcinoma in two, and Hodgkin's disease in one), and four patients had cytomegalovirus infection. Total diagnostic success of bronchoscopy was 78%; related to Pneumocystis pneumonia it was 91%.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗