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T Kaufmann

Publications and source records attributed to T Kaufmann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

A comparison of survival of patients treated for AIDS-related central nervous system lymphoma with and without tissue diagnosis.

PURPOSE: This is a retrospective review of the treatment outcome of radiation therapy (RT) in acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with presumed primary central nervous system (CNS) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), with and without tissue verification. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-seven patients with AIDS-related CNS NHL were treated between 1986 and 1992. They were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of nine patients with a positive histology for NHL. They were treated with dexamethasone (DXM) and whole brain RT. Group 2 consisted of 18 patients who, because of unique circumstances, were treated without histologic confirmation of NHL. Rapid clinical and/or radiologic response to DXM and whole-brain RT was interpreted as NHL. RESULTS: For group 1, the response rate was 87.5%, mean survival 6.1 months, and median survival 4.5 months. For group 2, the response rate was 72.2%, mean survival 5.2 months, and median survival 4.5 months. The overall response rate was 76.9%, mean survival 5.8 months, and median survival 4.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: In instances where a tissue diagnosis cannot be established, a positive response to an empiric trial of DXM and RT to 20 Gy may constitute presumptive evidence of NHL.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗
PubMed1996

Case report: Kaposi's sarcoma of the rectum--treatment with radiation therapy.

The number of patients afflicted with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is on the rise. About 30% of AIDS patients develop Kaposi's sarcoma. Although the skin is the most common site of involvement, lesions may encompass the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this report is to describe a patient with AIDS related Kaposi's sarcoma of the rectum, successfully treated with radiation therapy. We believe this to be a useful technique in the treatment of this condition.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

The eighth component of human complement: molecular basis of C8A (C81) polymorphism.

Using an exon-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct DNA sequence analysis we have analyzed the polymorphism of the alpha-chain of the eighth component of human complement (C8) at the DNA level. We found that two common alleles, C8A*A and C8A*B, are characterized by the substitution of a single amino acid (Gln to Lys), which is caused by a point mutation of a single nucleotide (C to A) in exon 3 at position 187 of the mature C8 alpha cDNA sequence. Based on this mutation, an allele-specific PCR was designed detecting the two alleles of C8A. We applied this method to type the C8A polymorphism using DNA samples from a Chinese Han population. The comparison with the data of protein typing of the same samples proved that the described method is efficient and reliable for the identification of C8A genotypes and may be valuable for further application in population studies and forensic science.

Alleles↗
PubMed1995

Interaction of sulfhydryl reactive reagents with components involved in (1,3)-beta-glucan synthesis from Candida albicans.

Glucan synthesis was sensitive to several sulfhydryl reacting compounds: mercurials, reversible disulfides, and an alkylating sulfhydryl reagent (IC50 3-45 microM). Thiol groups associated with glucan synthesis were hydrophilic in nature, since both hydrophilic and hydrophobic reagents were active. Glucan synthase complex consists of at least two components: a peripheral GTP-binding protein that can be solubilized with detergents (supernatant) and the catalytic membrane-bound component (pellet). A rapid separation technique was developed to study sulfhydryl interactions with the complex. The GTP-binding protein was solubilized with 0.6% 3-((3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio)-1-propane sulfonate from isolated microsomes of Candida albicans cells grown at either 10 or 30 degrees C. The residual membranous fraction contained the core catalytic moiety of glucan synthase. Both fractions were devoid of glucan synthase activity until they were reconstituted by mixing the two fractions together. In reconstitution experiments, the pellet lost almost 50% activity when preincubated with 2.5 microM N-ethylmaleimide and combined with an untreated supernatant whereas only 10% activity was lost when the supernatant was treated with N-ethylmaleimide. The catalytic active site of glucan synthase was not protected with UDP-Glc when preincubated with 10 microM N-ethylmaleimide but the GTP-binding fraction was partially protected with GTP gamma S.

Candida albicans↗
PubMed1993

Genetic basis of human complement C8 beta deficiency.

The eighth component of human complement (C8) is a serum protein consisting of three chains (alpha, beta, and gamma) and encoded by three different genes, C8A, C8B, and C8G. C8A and C8B are closely linked on chromosome 1p, whereas C8G is located on chromosome 9q. In the serum the beta subunit is non-covalently bound to the disulfide-linked alpha-gamma subunit. Patients with C8 beta deficiency suffer from recurrent neisserial infections such as meningitis. Exon-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with primer pairs from the flanking intron sequences was used to amplify all 12 C8B exons separately. No difference regarding the exon sizes was observed in a C8 beta-deficient patient compared with a normal person. Therefore, direct sequence analysis of all exon-specific PCR products from normal and C8 beta-deficient individuals was carried out. As a cause for C8 beta deficiency, we found a single C-T exchange in exon 9 leading to a stop codon. An allele-specific PCR system was designed to detect the normal and the deficiency allele simultaneously. Using this approach as well as PCR typing of the Taql polymorphism located in intron 11, five families with 7 C8 beta-deficient members were investigated. The mutation was not found to be restricted to one of the two Taql RFLP alleles. The mutant allele was observed in all families investigated and can therefore be regarded as a major cause of C8 beta deficiency in the Caucasian population. In addition, two C8 beta-deficient patients were found to be heterozygous for the C-T exchange. The molecular basis of the alleles without this point mutation also causing deficiency has not yet been defined.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

The human complement component C8B gene: structure and phylogenetic relationship.

The eighth component of human complement (C8) is a serum protein that consists of three chains (alpha, beta and gamma), encoded by three separate genes, viz., C8A, C8B, and C8G. In serum, the beta-subunit is non-covalently bound to the disulfide-linked alpha-gamma subunit. Using a full-length C8 beta cDNA probe, we isolated several clones from human genomic lambda DNA libraries. Four lambda clones covering the complete cDNA sequence were characterized by TaqI restriction mapping and were "shotgun" subcloned into M13. C8 beta-cDNA-positive clones were partially sequenced to characterize the 12 exons of the gene with sizes from 69 to 347 bp. All intron-exon junctions followed the GT-AG rule. By using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers located in the adjacent intron sequences, all 12 exons of the C8B gene could be amplified from genomic DNA. All fragments showed the expected sizes. The sizes of eight introns could be determined by using primer pairs that amplified two exons and the enclosed intron, and by restriction mapping. These analyses and the insert sizes of the genomic lambda clones indicate that the C8B gene has a total size of approximately 40 kb. The polymorphic TaqI site of the C8B gene localized in intron 11 could be demonstrated by direct restriction fragment analysis of a PCR fragment containing exons 11 and 12, and the enclosed intron 11. Homology comparison of the C8B gene with C8A and C9 on the basis of the exon structure confirmed the ancestral relationship known from the protein level.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Lymphomatoid papulosis: case report of a patient managed with radiation therapy and review of the literature.

Lymphomatoid papulosis is an elusive and very rare skin disorder. It is clinically benign but histologically "atypical," and about 20% of affected patients go on to develop a lymphoreticular malignancy, usually Hodgkin's disease, or mycosis fungoides. A wide variety of treatments to prevent recurrence and improve local control have been suggested, but the results have been poor. We report on a patient with two nonhealing lymphomatoid papulosis lesions treated successfully with electron beam therapy and describe our technique. The need for close follow-up of all patients with this condition cannot be overemphasized.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

The role of radiation therapy in the management of hematopoietic neurologic complications in thalassemia.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis is encountered in some severe anemic conditions. Very rarely it may cause neurologic symptoms, leading to spinal cord or cauda equina compression. Two patients with thalassemia who developed neurologic complications are described. Diagnosis was based on clinical findings, CT scan and magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI). The two patients responded successfully to irradiation and blood transfusion. The prognosis is excellent, if recognized at an early stage. Our experience supports the role of radiation therapy as standard treatment for this complication.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Effect of food characteristics on rate of hemorrhagic complications and early results of endoscopic sclerosing treatment of esophageal varices].

To evaluate the possible influence of the trauma of swallowing solids on the outcome and complication rate of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy we carried out a prospective randomized trial in 46 cirrhotics undergoing sclerotherapy because of recent or acute variceal bleeding. The patients were randomly assigned to mashed food (24 = group A) or normal solid food (22 = group B). Both groups were comparable according to age, sex, Child classes, size of the varices and patients undergoing emergency sclerotherapy (8 in each group). Duration of hospital care (A 26.6, B 27.3 days) (means), number of endoscopic studies (A 4.7, B 4.6), number of sclerotherapy sessions (A 2.4, B 2.5) and required amount of Polidicanol in each patient (A 62.7, B 56.4 ml) were not different. Variceal eradication was achieved in 13 cases in A, in 14 in B. III degrees varices remained in 6 patients in A (3 quit against advice before completing ST) and in 1 case in group B. Staple-gun transection and devascularization because of recurrent bleeding were necessary in 2 cases in A and in 1 case in B. Death occurred in 2 cases in A (liver failure), in 4 cases in B (3 cases of liver failure and in 1 case with recurrent bleeding, without operation because of hepatocellular carcinoma). Episodes of acute massive bleeding from varices or esophageal ulcers occurred 9 times in group A and 10 times in group B. Minor bleedings occurred 10 times in A and 9 times in B. Transfusion requirement was 110 units of packed red cells in A and 106 in B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of DNA extracted from postmortem muscle tissues.

DNA extracted from 33 postmortem muscle specimens was analyzed using MZ 1.3, a hypervariable minisatellite probe, as well as locus-specific minisatellite probes (g3, MS1 and MS43). After storage at -25 degrees C for 10 months, DNA from all the samples was partially (approximately 21% of total DNA) degraded even when autopsy was performed 1 day postmortem. However, more than 90% of DNA samples up to at least 3 days postmortem were suitable to obtain good restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns. When small strips of specimen were stored for 8 days at room temperature in moist chambers, approximately 42% of total DNA was degraded. Only 30% of these DNA samples still showed good RFLP patterns. However, no obvious relation between qualities of DNA analyzed by detection of RFLP and quantities of total and high-MW DNA became apparent. A case of familial relationship was ascertained by DNA fingerprints. Since DNA of good quality can be recovered from muscle tissues in large quantities, DNA extraction from muscle tissues and detection of RFLP patterns should be very useful for individual identification in autopsy cases.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed1990

Rapid and standardized quantitation of hemolytic activity of the fourth component of human complement.

Based on a method that uses the fourth component of complement (C4)-deficient guinea pig serum to quantify the hemolytic activity of C4, we developed an assay that allows the processing of a large number of individual samples with high reproducibility. In contrast to the conventional procedure using titration curves of each sample to be determined, we can show that a single appropriate dilution of the sample allows accurate quantitation of hemolytic activity. The reliability of the procedure is demonstrated using either C4A- or C4B- deficient and normal individual samples.

Complement C4↗