0000000000079599
AUTHOR
R. Röder
The behaviour of OKT3-, OKT4- and OKT8-positive cells during phases of elevated spontaneous chemiluminescence activity (CL-A) in multiple sclerosis patients. A serial study.
The chemiluminescence activity (CL-A; synonym = burst activity, BA) and the percentage of OKT3-, OKT4- and OKT8-positive peripheral blood cells were serially examined in four control persons and in eight patients with multiple sclerosis. When the OKT values obtained in phases of increased CL-A (clinical remission) were compared with those of the control group, the percentage of OKT3-positive cells was reduced (P = 0.014), and that of OKT4-positive cells increased (P = 0.014); there were no significant changes in the percentage of OKT8-positive cells (P = 0.171). After the CL-A had returned to normal values, the OKT4-positive cells remained elevated (P = 0.029), whereas the OKT3- (P = 0.342)…
Autonomic dysfunction in patients with achalasia.
It has been previously shown that patients with achalasia may have motor abnormalities of the stomach, small bowel and biliary system. This study investigates whether a disturbance of extraintestinal autonomic function occurs. Autonomic function studies were performed in 15 patients with achalasia and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Pupillo-grams were obtained during darkness, light exposure and after pilocarpine administration. Cardiovascular function studies included determinations of heart rate variation during deep breathing and orthostasis. In addition, we determined blood pressure changes in response to sustained handgrip, cold exposure and orthostasis. Neurohormonal functio…
Cranial nerve function in workers exposed to polychlorinated dioxins and furans
OBJECTIVE: To look for possible effects of polychlorinated dioxins and furans (PCDD/F) on cranial nerve function. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical and neurophysiological examinations [visual and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (VEP and BAEP), blink reflex] in 121 PCDD/F exposed workers of one pesticide producing plant. RESULTS: BAEP abnormalities were more frequent in workers with chloracne (6 of 33 workers, 18.2%) than in those without chloracne (7 of 84, 8.3%), but this was not statistically significant (chi2: 2.33). VEP abnormalities were seen in one worker with and two without chloracne. Clinically visual functions were normal except in one worker, who was amaurotic since birth. Blin…
The spontaneous burst activity of peripheral blood monocytes in patients with acute polyradiculoneuritis, lymphocytic meningoencephalitis, and multiple sclerosis
Abstract The course of the spontaneous burst activity (BA) of peripheral blood monocytes was examined in patients with acute polyradiculoneuritis (PN), lymphocytic meningoencephalitis (LE), and multiple sclerosis (MS) and the BA was compared with the clinical course. In 4 patients with postinfectious acute PN the BA was significantly increased up to values around 60000 counts/10 s. The BA and the clinical course were closely correlated in these patients (mean of r = 0.83). In 4 patients with lymphocytic LE the BA initially was moderately increased to values between 4000 and 5000 counts/10 s and showed again a very close correlation with the clinical course (mean of r = 0.99) In 13 MS patien…
Increased risk of sensory neuropathy in workers with chloracne after exposure to 2,3,7,8-polychlorinated dioxins and furans
Objective - The existence of a peripheral neuropathy after exposure to polychlorinated dioxins (PCDD) is still discussed, as studies concerning dioxin effects on the peripheral nervous system are rare and contradictory. Material and methods - Clinical and neurophysiological examinations (motor conduction velocity of the peroneal nerve, sensory conduction velocities of the sural and ulnar nerves) were made in 156 dioxin exposed workers (42 with, 114 without cloracne) from one pesticide producing plant. Because of known risk factors for peripheral neuropathy, 7 workers with and 28 without cloracne were excluded from further analysis. Results - Workers with chloracne had a significantly higher…
Intravenöse und intrathekale Behandlung der schubförmig verlaufenden Multiplen Sklerose mit natürlichem Interferon-Beta
Die Pathogenese der Multiplen Sklerose (MS) ist noch immer ungeklart. Immunologische Mechanismen stehen im Mittelpunkt des Interesses. Das zur Zeit favorisierte Modell zur Immunpathogenese der MS geht von einer T-Zell vermittelten Autoimmunreaktion mit einem nach wie vor unbekanntem Antigen aus. Als Bestandteil der unspezifischen humoralen Abwehr moduliert Fibroblasteninterferon (INF-s) die Entzundungsreaktion. Aufgrund experimenteller Daten ist eine therapeutische Wirksamkeit von INF-s bei MS-Patienten zu erwarten. Jacobs et al. (1982, 1987) konnte eine Senkung der Schubrate nach intrathekaler INF-s Gabe nachweisen. Neuere Arbeiten beschreiben eine vergleichbare Wirksamkeit auch bei subcut…