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Biomedical subjects

R Dubs

Publications and source records attributed to R Dubs.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

TGF-beta is elevated in the CSF of patients with severe traumatic brain injuries and parallels blood-brain barrier function.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces local and systemic immunologic changes, release of cytokines, and cell activation. Perpetuation of these cascades may contribute to secondary damage to the brain. Therefore, the ability of the antiinflammatory mediator transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) to downregulate intrathecal immunoactivation may be of fundamental value for diminishing the incidence and extent of secondary insults. In this study, the release of TGF-beta into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 22 patients with severe TBI was analyzed with respect to the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for 21 days. Levels of TGF-beta in CSF increased to their maximum on the first day (median, 1.26 ng/mL), thereafter decreasing gradually over time. Median TGF-beta values in serum always remained within the reference interval (6.5 to 71.5 ng/mL). Daily assessment of the CSF-serum albumin quotient (QA) and of the CSF-serum TGF-beta quotient (QTGF-beta) showed a strong correlation between maximal QTGF-beta and QA, indicating a passage of this cytokine from the periphery to the intrathecal compartment across the BBB. However, calculation of the TGF-beta index (QTGF-beta/Q(A)) suggested a cerebral production of TGF-beta in 9 of 22 patients. Levels of TGF-beta could not be correlated with extent of initial injury by computed tomography (CT), CD4/CD8 ratios, acute lung injury, or clinical outcome as rated by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Although increased levels of TGF-beta in CSF seem to parallel BBB function, a partial intrathecal production is suggested, possibly modulated by elevation of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Thus, TGF-beta may function as a factor in the complex cytokine network following TBI, acting as an antiinflammatory and neuroprotective mediator.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[Liver diseases in children and their relatives with homozygous and heterozygous alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency].

Over a 6-year period 26 infants and children with homozygous (2 Z and 6 ZZ) or heterozygous alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (12 MZ, 6 MS) were observed prospectively and their families investigated. 7 of 8 homozygous patients had neonatal hepatitis, whereby 3 of these showed maximum transferase activities during the 5th to 9th months of life. At the age of 7 years 2 of these patients were clinically normal, but only one patient had normal transferases. One patient had cirrhosis with portal hypertension at the age of 16 years 6 months; her nephew showed hypersplenism. Family studies revealed a further 5 relatives of phenotype Z, 16 of phenotype MZ, 3 of phenotype SZ and 1 of phenotype MS; 6 of these had slightly elevated serum transferase activities. 6 patients of phenotype MZ and 2 patients of phenotype MS had neonatal hepatitis but generally with a much better prognosis than in homozygous patients. The other heterozygous patients (6 MZ and 4 MS) had a variety of additional factors determining the disease and the prognosis. Family studies showed a further 7 family members of phenotype MZ, and 2 of phenotype MS; 2 of these had slightly elevated transferase activities, 3 parents had hereditary hyperbilirubinaemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Glia cell stimulating factor (GSF): a new lymphokine. Part 1. Cellular sources and partial purification of murine GSF, role of cytoskeleton and protein synthesis in its production.

The effect of activated-lymphocyte supernatant on glia cells was investigated. When treated in vitro with Concanavalin A (ConA), murine spleen cells released a soluble product, termed glia cell stimulating factor (GSF), which stimulated RNA and DNA synthesis in cultured murine glia cells. Furthermore, GSF appeared to promote the maturation of undifferentiated glia cells to astrocytes having a high content of glial fibrillary acidic protein. GSF secretion occurred after a lag period of 16 hours and proceeded at a constant rate for more than 48 hours. This GSF produced by ConA-stimulated murine lymphocytes has an apparent molecular weight between 60,000 and 80,000. Antigenic stimulation of primed lymph node cells with BGG resulted in a similar GSF production. Cellular sources of mitogen-induced GSF were investigated by using isolated lymphoid populations. GSF release by ConA-activated pure T-lymphocytes reconstituted with peritoneal macrophages was equivalent to that of unseparated spleen cells, whereas GSF production by T-lymphocytes alone was low. Macrophages alone did not elaborate detectable levels of GSF. GSF was also secreted by enriched -B-lymphocytes populations stimulated by Protein A. Formation of GSF was suppressed when cytochalasin B or cyclo-heximide was added to the cultures, while colchicine failed to have any effect. DNA synthesis is not required for GSF production as determined by resistence to treatment with mitomycin C. The data indicate that the GSF production and secretion mechanism is much like that described for other lymphokines.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Production of prostaglandin E and an interleukin-1 like factor by cultured astrocytes and C6 glioma cells.

When treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), cultured murine astrocytes released significant amounts of prostaglandin E, which caused an inhibition of the in vitro proliferative response of C3H/HeJ thymocytes to mitogen. In addition, an interleukin 1 (IL 1)-like factor secreted by LPS-treated glia cell cultures and by C6 glioma cells was detected. The characterization of the factor as an IL 1-like mediator is based on the findings that the factor 1) enhances the mitogen-induced thymocyte proliferation, 2) exhibits no interleukin 2 (IL 2) activity, but 3) augments IL 2 production by mitogen-stimulated thymocytes, and 4) has a m.w. between 13,500 and 18,000 when generated in serum-free conditions. These observations suggest that astrocytes may interact with the immune system by elaborating nonspecific factors that modulate lymphocyte proliferation. This property of astrocytes may be important in the generation of specific immune responses in the brain, which is considered to be an immunologically privileged organ as it is anatomically sequestered from the immune system.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

[An indirect method to improve the anthelix fold for the correction of prominent ears. The technique of adduction (author's transl)].

The technique of adduction for the correction of prominent ears endeavours to improve the anthelix fold by an indirect method. This is achieved by fixing the eminentia triangularis by means of a traction suture to the lower edge of the temporal muscle. Thus the cymba conchae is reduced and the angle of the anthelix fold sharpened. At the same time the cartilage relief in the region of the cavum conchae is not influenced despite the excision of a strip of cartilage. This method is relatively uncomplicated and can be performed by the less experienced surgeon also.

Child↗
PubMed1980

An immunological basis of schizophrenia and affective disorders?

In 48 patients with schizophrenia and 32 patients with affective disorders, different immune parameters were tested. Compared to blood-donors, IgG and IgM serum concentrations were increased in both the schizophrenic and affective disorders. However, these abnormalities did not differ from hospital control populations. The patients failed to show an association of antibodies considered to be characteristic of autoimmune diseases. In addition, no increased incidence of circulating immune compexes was detected. The only substantial serologic abnormality froun was an elevation of C4 levels in patients with biopolar psychosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The brush border membrane in hereditary sucrase-isomaltase deficiency: abnormal protein pattern and presence of immunoreactive enzyme.

In a child with hereditary sucrase-isomaltase deficiency immunoreactive enzyme was present in the intact duodenal mucosa. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis carried out with membrane fragments of an intestinal biopsy showed an abnormal protein band without enzyme activity. The mucosa had a relatively high residual isomaltase activity which was recovered from the gel in a position suggesting higher than normal molecular weight. The results indicated that in this patient the primary structural defect was in the sucrase moiety which was enzymatically inactive. The isomaltase subunits may have aggregated into a large molecular weight complex because of unavailability of their partners. The observation also provided evidence for separate biosynthesis of the two moieties of the sucrase-isomaltase complex.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1975

Catalytically inactive sucrase antigen of rabbit small intestine: the enzyme precursor.

By immunofluorescence microscopy using a specific antibody to the active rabbit sucrase-isomaltase complex, a catalytically inactive sucrase antigen was discovered on the small intestinal mucosa of young rabbits still lacking sucrase activity. In adult rabbits, the same antigen was demonstrated on enterocytes of mucosal crypts devoid of sucrase. Catalytically inactive antigen was isolated by means of immobilized antibody to active sucrase, and it was compared with the active sucrase-isomaltase complex. From structural similarities between the 2 proteins and from the fact that active sucrase succeeds the inactive antigen in both the maturing and the mature rabbit, it is concluded that the inactive antigen is the enzyme precursor. In some patients with hereditary sucrase-isomaltase deficiency, abnormal persistence of sucrase precurosr due to a faulty activation mechanism may be the underlying defect.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1975

[Meteorological observations concerning haemorrhages after tonsillectomy (author's transl)].

Based on the observation of 929 patients who had to be subjected to tonsillectomy within a period of twelve months, the authors concluded that the vast majority of post operative haemorrhages occurred during the beginning of a good weather period (clearing from the west), not quite so often during a "Föhn"-period (warm winds from the south). This contrasts somewhat with the observations of other authors who found a connection between haemorrhages and the beginning of a period of bad weather (close and stuffy, increasing humidity, high clouds). The dependence of postoperative haemorrhages on meteorological influences would perhaps give a reason for the hitherto medically unexplainable 40 per cent bleedings. Based on these observations it would be desirable for the meteorologic stations (or the media) to inform the doctors and hospitals about the weather phases.

Hemorrhage↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of student achievement with performance ratings of graduates and state board examination scores.

For a study concerned with investigating relationships between the on-the-job performance of 1971 graduates of a diploma school of nursing, their achievements as students in the school, and their state board scores, the school's curriculum objectives were used in developing an instrument for measuring graduates' competence. Findings indicated how well the learning experiences provided by the school prepared the students for first-level positions in nursing. The three-year cumulative grade point averages and nursing theory and grades were best predictors of success on state board examinations, and nursing practice grades were best predicators of performance as registered nurses.

Achievement↗