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Biomedical subjects

W Hunstein

Publications and source records attributed to W Hunstein.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

[Bronchial asthma, eosinophilia and lung infiltrates (Churg-Strauss syndrome)].

In a patient suffering from bronchial asthma of several years' standing, recently worsening physical condition, marked eosinophilia and pulmonary infiltrates, the clinical diagnosis of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) was confirmed histologically. The patient improved impressively after the initiation of immunosuppressive therapy, in contrast to the often lethal course of this disease. Therefore, the possibility of CSS should be considered in every case of bronchial asthma with progressive worsening of the physical condition or in presence of leukocytosis with significant eosinophilia.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Long-term observations of Wegener's disease. Results of treating recurrences].

Four patients with Wegener's disease (three women; one man) were followed from three to eleven years. Patient 1 has been free of recurrence for 11 years, six of them without treatment. Patient 2 had a probable recurrence after seven years, six of them without treatment. Patient 3 had a recurrence after 11 years (ten without treatment) requiring renewed treatment, with good response. Patient 4 (male) has required continued treatment with cyclophosphamide and prednisone for the last three years.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Respiratory distress as primary symptom of relapse in a patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

A report on a 74-year old woman with high-grade malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma in clinical remission, who suddenly developed episodes of severe dyspnea and wheezing. Clinical and roentgenographic investigations including tomography of the trachea failed to demonstrate any lesion. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed and endotracheal, polyp-like lymphoma 3 cm above the carina, which was immediately operated. Other sites of relapse (submandibular lymph-nodes) were found 2 weeks after the operation. Second-line chemotherapy (IMVP 16) was able to induce a second remission.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia developing after a myelodysplastic phase with low dose arabinosyl cytosine.

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) secondary to myelodysplastic phase respond poorly to standard chemotherapy designed for AML. As arabinosyl cytosine (Ara-C) at low-dose has been reported to achieve promising results in certain forms of AML, we have applied the low-dose (10 mg m-2/12 h subcutaneously for 14-24 days) regimen in 11 patients with AML secondary to myelodysplastic syndromes. Though a complete remission could be achieved in 2 patients and a short partial remission in 2 further patients, complications are severe and often life threatening. The amount of hematological supportive care required often exceeded that needed for patients treated by conventional TAD regimen. Moreover, survival of the responders did not seem to be longer than that of non-responders. A review of the literature showed that the results of this low-dose Ara-C regimen might be more promising in patients in the myelodysplastic phase and in those with de novo acute leukemia.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Terminal differentiation of cord blood lymphocytes induced by thymosin fraction 5 and thymosin alpha 1.

Cord blood lymphocytes (CBL) have been shown to be functionally immature compared with normal circulating adult lymphocytes (NAL). Differentiation of T cells is associated with changes in surface antigenic markers and in the pattern of purine degradative enzymes. Previous studies have demonstrated that thymosin fraction 5 (TMS-F5) and thymosin alpha 1 (TMS-alpha 1) can induce in vitro differentiation of murine T-cell precursors and human thymocytes. We have investigated the effects of TMS-F5 and TMS-alpha 1 on the pattern of the purine degradative enzymes adenosine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, and ecto-5'-nucleotidase (5'NT) of CBL and on the phenotypic markers from the OKT series 3, 4, 8 and 11. Other than a significantly reduced level of 5'NT activity (P less than 0.001) and an elevated percentage of OKT4+ cells (P less than 0.01), CBL demonstrated the same immunological and biochemical patterns as NAL. Incubation of CBL with TMS-F5 (150 micrograms/ml) and TMS-alpha 1 (1 microgram/ml) for 40 h caused a significant rise in 5'NT level and decrease of cells positive for OKT4, resulting in a pattern characteristic of NAL. Thus TMS-F5 might induce the terminal differentiation of CBL, and TMS-alpha 1 seemed to be the active component.

5'-Nucleotidase↗
PubMed1985

Enhanced prostanoid release from monocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and active systemic lupus erythematosus.

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis high levels of prostaglandin E1 have been found in the joint fluid, and its increased production by adherent synovial cells and macrophages clearly supports the notion that this arachidonic acid metabolite is involved in the pathology of the disease. Besides its known inflammatory qualities and the suppressive effects on various lymphocyte functions prostaglandin E2 has proved to be an essential cofactor in the secretion of the lymphokine osteoclast activating factor. In this study we have discovered an enhanced release of prostaglandin E1 and thromboxane B2 from a subpopulation of blood monocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and active systemic lupus erythematosus. No correlation between prostanoid release from monocytes and inflammatory activity of the disease was found. However, even monocytes from patients with early stage or mild inflammatory activity displayed a 'stimulated' arachidonic acid metabolism. In contrast only patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus showed in this respect comparable secretory activity or monocytes. Our findings may point to a possible pathogenic role of prostanoids in rheumatoid arthritis, which may also have some implication for the early diagnosis of this disease and for its differentiation from other chronic inflammatory rheumatic conditions.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1984

Peripheral effects of thyroid hormones: alteration of intracellular Na-concentration, ouabain-sensitive Na-transport, and Na-Li countertransport in human red blood cells.

To investigate the effect of thyroid hormones on erythrocyte cation transport systems and intracellular electrolyte content we have measured the activity of Na-K ATPase, Na-Li countertransport, as well as red cell sodium and potassium contents in patients with hyperthyroidism and in euthyroid controls. Intracellular Na- and K-concentrations were determined in erythrocytes washed three times in isotonic MgCl2 solution. Ouabain-sensitive Na-transport was estimated as the increase of Na before and after addition of ouabain in an erythrocyte suspension in isotonic Na-free medium. Na-Li countertransport was measured according to the method described by Canessa et al. [2]. The patients with hyperthyroidism exhibited a significantly elevated intracellular sodium content as well as a highly increased Na-K ATPase activity. Intracellular potassium content was not altered in the hyperthyroid subjects, but Na-Li countertransport was markedly decreased as compared to the controls. The results indicate that different ion transport systems of the erythrocyte membrane are influenced by thyroid hormones. We suggest that the elevation of Na-K ATPase activity might be due to the increased intracellular sodium concentration which is caused by the diminished countertransport pathway. Furthermore, the activity of Na-K ATPase, Na-Li countertransport, and intracellular sodium content in erythrocytes might be a useful peripheral indicator of thyroid hormone excess.

Biological Transport, Active↗
PubMed1984

Plasma and intracellular levels of lactate dehydrogenase, phosphohexose isomerase and lysozyme activity in acute leukemia.

Plasma and intracellular levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), phosphohexose isomerase (PHI) and lysozyme activities were investigated in 20 patients with acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), 18 patients with acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL) and 10 patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia in blast transformation (CML/BT). Though the plasma levels of LDH and PHI in all patients with acute leukemia were elevated as compared to control persons there was no distinctive pattern which could be of use in the classification of acute leukemia. On the other hand the intracellular levels of these enzymes could be of value in classifying acute leukemia. The leukemic lymphoblasts were characterized by low levels of PHI and lysozyme as compared to leukemic myeloblasts or to normal lymphocytes (p less than 0.01). The LDH/PHI ratio is also significantly higher in leukemic lymphoblasts than in leukemic myeloblasts or in normal lymphocytes (p always less than 0.01). These characteristics might also be made use of in identifying the blasts of CML/BT als "lymphoid" or "myeloid" in corresponding cases.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1984

The influence of radiation therapy on T-lymphocyte subpopulations defined by monoclonal antibodies.

We studied the influence of radiation therapy on lymphocyte subpopulations in 17 patients undergoing adjuvant radiation therapy for primary breast cancer, and eight patients receiving brachytherapy and external beam irradiation for primary cancer of the uterus. Radiation therapy reduced B- and T-lymphocytes in proportion to the total lymphocyte population so that their percentages remained unchanged. Determination of helper and suppressor T-lymphocytes before, during and 6 months after completion of radiotherapy revealed that in both groups of patients suppressor T-lymphocytes were more resistant to and recovered faster after radiotherapy. This resulted in a decline of the "immunoregulatory balance" (helper/suppressor ratio). Although this ratio had been higher in both groups of patients than in healthy age- and sex-matched controls before therapy, it became normal and subnormal during and after radiotherapy. The clinical significance of the differential influence of radiotherapy on T-lymphocyte subpopulations remains to be determined.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Glucocorticoid receptor level, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity and initial responsiveness to prednisone and vincristine in leukemia.

We have investigated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) level, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) activity and the initial responsiveness to prednisone and vincristine in 31 patients with acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL) and with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast transformation (CML/BT). All 11 patients with low levels of GR (5,000 binding sites per cell) were resistant to this initial treatment whereas 13 of the 20 patients with high levels of GR responded readily. The correlations between clinical responsiveness and TdT activity were significant to the p less than 0.005 level but there was no linear correlation (r = 0.3427) between GR-level and TdT activity. High levels of both GR and TdT seemed to be associated with better prognosis in patients with these leukemias. Thus the determination of GR and TdT might help selection of patients likely to respond to prednisone and vincristine in ALL and CML/BT.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Effect of neuraminidase treatment on serum reactivity to autologous leukemic blast cells.

The sera of 35 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) were tested for reactivity against cell surface antigens of autologous leukemic blast cells by protein A assay (PA), immune adherence assay (IA), and anti-C3 mixed hemadsorption assay (C3-MHA). Autologous serum reactivity was detectable by PA in four cases and by IA and C3-MHA in about half the patients. Autologous serum reactivity occurred more often in ALL than in ANLL. Absorption studies revealed that in one patient only the autologous reactivity was directed against a restricted antigen, which could be detected only on the individual T-ALL blast cells. All other autologous antibodies detected unspecific antigens. Neuraminidase treatment had two effects: first, it increased antibody attachment to antigens which are also present on untreated cells; secondly, after neuraminidase treatment an antigen was detectable on the cell surface which could also be demonstrated on neuraminidase-treated non-leukemic cells (e.g., erythrocytes). Neither of these two effects of neuraminidase treatment seems to be tumor-specific. Possible therapeutic effects of neuraminidase are probably caused by unspecific adjuvant effects of the enzyme.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Autologous transplantation of a bone marrow graft manipulated by chemoseparation to eliminate residual tumor cells.

An autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) was performed in a 45-year-old male patient with AML in therapy-resistant first relapse including CNS-disease. The marrow graft was harvested 18 months before, at the beginning of first remission, and was subjected to an in-vitro incubation with 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) prior to cryopreservation to eliminate residual clonogenic tumor cells. After myeloablative therapy with high-dose Cyclo-phosphamide (CY), total body irradiation (TBI) and intrathecal application of Methotrexate (MTX), the manipulated marrow graft was reinfused. The myelopoietic reconstitution started already 6 days after ABMT and was completed 40 days thereafter. There is evidence for a complete remission in marrow and spinal fluid observed over a period of 4 months.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1983

Characterization of blood mononuclear cells of rheumatoid arthritis patients. II. Depressed PPD presentation by monocytes to T lymphocytes.

Purified blood monocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were significantly less capable of presenting purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) to autologous lymphocytes than monocytes from patients with osteoarthritis, degenerative spine diseases, or healthy controls. Since lymphocytes from RA patients exhibited a normal response to soluble PPD or concanavalin A, the lowered T-cell reactivity had to be attributed to a diminished antigen-presenting capacity of monocytes. Several reasons may be responsible for this altered monocyte function in rheumatoid arthritis: a shift of monocytes to subpopulations expressing less Ia-like antigens, an inherent monocyte disorder, or a "preactivation" of monocytes associated with a reduced antigen-presenting capacity.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Effect of cytotoxic drugs on the function of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis.

We measured the serum concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), its response to exogenic TSH-releasing hormone (TRH), as well as cortisol plasma levels before and after stimulation with adrenocorticotrophic hormone in 15 patients before, during and after a chemotherapeutic cycle. 3/6 patients receiving only cytotoxic drugs developed a marked suppression of the TSH response to TRH and 1 of these patients showed an impairment of the adrenal function under chemotherapy. This was also observed in 7/9 patients receiving both cytotoxic drugs and corticosteroids; however, the individual pattern of the impairment was quite variable. 5/9 patients in this group developed a suppression of the TSH response to TRH. Impairment of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis function under cytotoxic drugs and/or corticosteroids occurs with great variability and the mechanisms involved in its etiology are not yet fully understood.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗