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Biomedical subjects

U Unger

Publications and source records attributed to U Unger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Male aerial display and reversed sexual size dimorphism in the dunlin

Reversed sexual size dimorphism, with males smaller than females, is common in waders. The aerial display hypothesis suggests that sexual selection in males favours aerial agility, and hence small size, in species with male display flights. We tested this hypothesis in the dunlin, Calidris alpinaDisplay flights were uncommon in the early breeding season but increased markedly when females began laying. Male display areas were largely overlapping, and display flight seemed to be mainly an advertising signal to potential mates. Display rate, as well as proportion of time spent in aerial display, increased with decreasing male size. During aerial display, small males also performed costly hovering flights more often and for relatively longer than large males. These results support the aerial display hypothesis.Copyright 1997 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour1997The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

[The specificity of so-called "smoker cells" in lung tissue].

A simple test for demonstration of smoker cells was verified on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and cytological smears of lung tissue. Alveolar macrophages exhibit in 81% (BAL) respectively 86% (surgical material) of the smokers with Fettrot 7B a red colouring of the cytoplasm. Only few non-smokers show a positive reaction for smoker cells. In ex-smokers this positive reaction disappears after 7 month. We conclude, that this method is very sensitive but not absolutely specific for detecting smokers with a simple cytological test.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Effect of antioxidants on the production of reactive oxygen metabolites by stimulated alveolar macrophages].

Reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) (O2-, H2O2, 1O2, .OH, OX-) which are produced by stimulated alveolar macrophages (AM), neutrophils and eosinophils, play an important role in the pathogenesis of many acute and chronic lung diseases. With regard to a therapeutic application the influence of the antioxidants ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and alpha-tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E acetate) on the production of ROM by AM was investigated. The AM were isolated by bronchoalveolar lavage from patients with different lung disorders. The ROM were determined by means of chemiluminescence-measuring. alpha-Tocopheryl acetate solved in peanut oil causes a little increase of the yeast cell wall-induced chemiluminescence. Pure alpha-Tocopheryl acetate has no effect on the chemiluminescence. In contrast to alpha-Tocopheryl acetate the addition Vitamin C to the stimulated AM results in a strong diminution of the chemiluminescence signal. This result suggests that Vitamin C reduces the generation of ROM by AM. Therefore Vitamin C could be a suitable scavenger of radicals and oxidants in different lung diseases.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1987

[Value of bronchoalveolar lavage in assessing the activity of sarcoidosis].

BAL was performed in different courses of sarcoidosis in order to evaluate the importance of this examination. We found a higher degree of lymphocytosis in Löfgren's syndrome and in relapses than in the others. Probably there is a direct connection between high intensity alveolitis and reduction of diffusing capacity. There could not be found any correlation to other markers of activity (lung function, SACE, 67-Gallium-Scan).

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗
PubMed1987

[Determination of macrophage activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with lung diseases].

In order to investigate the metabolic activity of alveolar macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with extrinsic allergic alveolitis, pulmonary sarcoidosis, bronchogenic carcinoma, chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, bronchial asthma and from sensitized asymptomatic persons, the quantitative and qualitative Nitroblue-tetrazolium test was used. There was observed a significant increase of the alveolar macrophage activity in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma, chronic bronchitis, sarcoidosis and extrinsic allergic alveolitis. The results of the investigation emphasize the central role of the alveolar macrophages in the triggering and regulation of the inflammatory reaction in the lung and consequently play an important role in the elucidation of pathogenic mechanisms in lung diseases.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗
PubMed1987

[Chemiluminescent measurements of alveolar macrophages in sarcoidosis patients].

The phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages (AM) in a group of patients with stage I, stage II and stage III pulmonary sarcoidosis (gradation according to Wurm) has been investigated. Additionally a classification in different forms of the course of sarcoidosis was made (acute = Loefgren's syndrome, latent = primary-chronic, and relapses). Patients with other lung diseases and healthy subjects were recruited as control group. The phagocytic activity (stimulation with opsonized yeast cell wall particles) of AM, which were isolated by bronchoalveolar lavage, was determined by means of chemiluminescence (CL)-measuring using lucigenin and luminol, respectively, as amplifiers. The investigations showed that the lucigenin-dependent yeast cell wall-induced CL of AM in patients with sarcoidosis is significantly increased in comparison to the control group. No significant changes of the luminol-dependent CL of AM from sarcoidosis patients could be detected. The lucigenin-dependent CL-response of AM is obviously an indicator of the intensity of the alveolitis and thus of the activity of the pathological process in sarcoidosis. The results suggest that in pulmonary sarcoidosis there is a hyperreactive AM/lymphocytes-system.

Acridines↗
PubMed1986

[The effect of ambroxol and bromhexine on the "respiratory burst" of alveolar macrophages].

The effect of ambroxol and bromhexine on the yeast cell wall- and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced luminol-respectively lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) of alveolar macrophages (AM) of patients with lung diseases has been investigated. Both drugs cause a suppression of the induced CL. These results suggest that ambroxol and bromhexine reduce the generation of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) by AM. The mechanism of action is thought to involve the activation of the acyl-CoA: lysophosphatide acyltransferase. The increase of this enzyme activity lowers probably the intracellular concentration of free AA and consequently also the production of ROM. The investigations show a new possibility for the influence of biosynthesis of ROM and likely of eicosanoids, which play an important role as pathogenetic mediators in different lung diseases.

Acridines↗
PubMed1985

[Modulation of alveolar macrophage activity by ambroxol, bromhexine and exogenous arachidonic acid].

The increased generation of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) (O2-, H2O2, 1O2, X OH, OX-) by alveolar macrophages (AM) and neutrophils has been proposed as an important step in the pathogenesis of many acute and chronic lung disorders. With regard to a possible therapeutic application in this context the effect of bromhexine and ambroxol on the activity of AM of of guinea-pigs and of patients with lung diseases was investigated. The activity of AM, which were isolated by bronchoalveolar lavage, was determined by means of chemiluminescence (CL)-measuring. Ambroxol and bromhexine cause a depression of the spontaneous as well as of the induced CL [yeast cell walls, yeast glucan, exogenous arachidonic acid (AA)] of AM. AM from guinea-pigs and in some cases also from patients show primarily an increase of the CL-signal under the influence of bromhexine. These results suggest that ambroxol and bromhexine reduce the production of ROM by AM. The mechanism is possibly due to the activation of acyl-CoA-lysophosphatide acyltransferase. The increase of this enzyme activity lowers the intracellular concentration of the free AA, whereby the generation of ROM is diminished too. The investigations exhibit a new possibility of influence of respiratory burst and thus indirectly of AA-liberation from phospholipids. The probable reduction of AA-liberation by these drugs could also be of importance for other lung cells especially concerning the biosynthesis of eicosanoids (AA-metabolites), which play an important part as pathogenetic mediators in different lung diseases.

Ambroxol↗
PubMed1985

[Bronchoalveolar lavage].

The incidence of interstitial lung diseases is increased during the last years. A possibility for improvement the diagnosis of these lung diseases is the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). In a critical review the performance of the BAL, same properties of the isolated macrophages and the determination of biochemical parameters in lavage fluid are described. In this context especially problems of diagnosis of sarcoidosis are discussed. There are new fields of application of BAL (diagnosis of occupational lung diseases, control of therapy). In order to improve the comparability of different results a standardization of BAL is necessary.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗
PubMed1984

[Lymphocyte populations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in various interstitial lung diseases].

Differential cell counts, T-, Tactive-, Tstable-, and B-lymphocytes were studied in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and in peripheral blood from patients with thoracic sarcoidosis (S), extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In patients with S and EAA the total number of lymphocytes, the percentage of T-, Tactive-, and Tstable-lymphocytes were increased in BAL-fluid, especially in cases of active S and of acute EAA. Contrary to the BAL-fluid the peripheral blood values for T-lymphocytes were decreased in S and in the range of the control group (healthy volunteers) in EAA. The BAL-fluid of patients with IPF is characterized by a high number of polymorphonuclear cells, especially neutrophils. Current concepts of pathogenesis of interstitial lung diseases are discussed and the possible key role of alveolitis in this process is elucidated.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗
PubMed1983

[Malta fever in a brucellosis free region: analysis of a malta fever outbreak in the Göttingen area 1982].

During April/Mai 1982 15 patients were affected with acute Malta fever around Goettingen an area known the be brucellosis-free until then. The source of infections were local flocks of sheep. The infections were mainly acquired when assisting at lamb birth or abortions. Between onset and diagnosis of the disease intervals up to 3 month occurred. Diagnostically crucial were blood cultures and serological tests. Therapy with tetracyclines or co-trimoxazole were effective in all cases. In patients with status febrilis and anamnestic contact with brucellosis-prone animals brucellosis should be considered, even if the local area appears to be brucellosis-free.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

[Results of studies on dogs after unilateral allogeneic lung transplantation without immunosuppression].

The observations and the results after allogenic lung transplantation in 24 receivers were reported. The animals were not treated immuno-suppressively. They survived 6.2 days on an average and died in consequence of the rejection. The transplant is progressively threatened of bacterial infections after the beginning of the rejection even in case of an operation under sterile conditions. The investigations confirmed a narrow correlation between the leucocyte count and the course of the rejection. However, the condition of the transplant can be estimated approximately certainly by means of complex clinical methods of examination.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Site and type of impaired lung function in extrinsic allergic alveolitis.

We investigated 109 persons exposed and sensitized against organic antigens. 46 of them (group I) are affected with the typical clinical and roentgenological signs of allergic alveolitis. The other 59 subjects (group II) were sensitized only. Included in all examinations were immunological diagnosis by means of counterimmunoelectrophoresis, systematic interviewing for case histories, and registration of respiratory symptoms. Pulmonary function was recorded by means of the following techniques: analysis of ventilation (flow-volume indices), respiratory mechanics of the larger airways and lung (body plethysmography, esophageal balloon technique), respiratory mechanics of the small airways (closing volume, amplitude of cardiogenic oscillations), distributional analysis, diffusion analysis, blood gas analysis, and right heart catheterization. Extrinsic allergic alveolitis caused changes in lung mechanics, in airways as well as in lung tissue. The most impressive findings in allergic alveolitis are mechanical inequalities of ventilation. These inequalities may be caused by changed mechanics of overall airways indicated by obstruction parameters and by changed structure of lung tissue reflected in decreased compliance, transfer factors and increased pulmonary arterial pressure. Not only a restrictive but also an obstructive disturbance of ventilation is found. Impairments are less in sensitized persons. We find slight mechanical and ventilatory inhomogeneities. An overall airway obstruction is obvious but not to such a large extent as in allergic alveolitis. On the contrary, here the lung tissue is not affected. Compliance and diffusion are within the normal range. There is no typical functional pattern specific for the diagnosis of allergic alveolitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

[Differential diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases].

It is reported on the different forms of the interstitial pulmonary diseases. Apart from the clinical examination the establishment of the professional and hobby anamnesis play an important part for the differential diagnosis. Allergologic and immunologic examination methods may contribute to the etiologic clarification. In unclear findings a bioptic ascertainment is necessary, though histologically not all cases are to be clarified. The author enters the most important clinical pictures and refers to the difficulties of the radiological differential diagnostics. Questions of therapy are briefly discussed.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗