Role of the D1A dopamine receptor in the pathogenesis of genetic hypertension.

Since dopamine produced by the kidney is an intrarenal regulator of sodium transport, an abnormality of the dopaminergic system may be important in the pathogenesis of hypertension. In the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), in spite of normal renal production of dopamine and receptor density, there is defective transduction of the D1 receptor signal in renal proximal tubules, resulting in decreased inhibition of sodium transport (Na+/H+ exchanger [NHE] and Na+/K+ATPase activity) by dopamine. To determine if impaired D1 receptor regulation of NHE in proximal tubules is related to hypertension, studies were performed in a F2 generation from female Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and male SHR crosses. A D1 agonist, SKF 81297, inhibited (37.6 +/- 4.7%) NHE activity in brush border membranes of normotensive F2s (systolic blood pressure < 140 mm Hg, n = 7) but not in hypertensive F2s (n = 21). Furthermore, a D1 agonist, SKF 38393, when infused into the renal artery, dose dependently increased sodium excretion in normotensive F2s (n = 3) without altering renal blood flow but was inactive in hypertensive F2s (n = 21). Since the major D1 receptor gene expressed in renal proximal tubules is the D1A subtype, we determined the importance of this gene in the control of blood pressure in mice lacking functional D1A receptors. Systolic blood pressure was greater in homozygous (n = 6) and heterozygous (n = 5) mice compared to normal sex matched litter mate controls (n = 12); moreover, the mice lacking one or both D1A alleles developed diastolic hypertension. The cosegregation with hypertension of an impaired D1 receptor regulation of renal sodium transport and the development of elevated systolic and diastolic pressure in mice lacking one or both D1A alleles suggest a causal relationship of the D1A receptor gene with hypertension.

[Phototherapy of parapsoriasis]. / Fototherapie der Parapsoriasis.

The effectiveness of photo(chemo)therapy was tested on 69 patients with different forms of parapsoriasis (parapsoriasis guttata, n = 14; pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta, n = 6; and parapsoriasis en plaques, n = 49). The forms of parapsoriasis differed in their response to phototherapy and in their relapse rates. Whereas parapsoriasis guttata can be regarded as a definite indication for UVA therapy, much higher UVA doses are required for pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis and the probability of relapses is higher. It was not possible to interrupt the relapsing course of parapsoriasis en plaqes in the majority of patients. Relapses occurred within 7 months in 63.2% of the cases. A healing effect that lasted for more than one year was achieved only in 18 patients.

[Intracutaneous tests with phytohemagglutinin for detection of cell-mediated immunity (author's transl)]. / Intrakutane Testungen mit Phythämagglutinin zur Erfassung der zellulären Immunität.

Patients with various forms of dermatosis and healthy control subjects were simultaneously tested intracutaneously with specific antigens (candidin, trichophytin, kabikinase, tuberculin and the mumps skin test antigen) and the non-specificmitogen PHA-P. A positive delayed reaction was observed in 98% of the healthy subjects and 76,6% of the dermatosis patients following intracutaneous application of 2 microgram PHA-P.--The results of these studies suggest that the PHA-P intracutaneous test might be suitable as a screening method for diagnozing cellular immun-defects.

[Re-expression of the sheep red blood cell receptor--a diagnostic marker of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas?]. / Reexpression des SRBC-Rezeptors--ein diagnostisches Merkmal kutaner T-Zell-Lymphome?

T-Lymphocytes of 5 patients with cutaneous T-cell-lymphomas showed after trypsinization and incubation with a purified dialyzable leukocyte extract (DLE) and transfer factor (TF) respectively a decreased and delayed reexpression of the sheep red blood cell (SRBC) receptor. The suitability of these test as diagnostic acid for early recognition of CTCL was investigated.

[Actinic keratoses--sequelae of long-term PUVA therapy]. / Aktinische Keratosen--Folgen einer PUVA-Langzeittherapie.

Multiple actinic keratoses occurred on skin regions that were not exposed to the sun in one (0.15%) of 672 psoriasis patients receiving long term PUVA treatment after receiving a cumulative UVA dose of 883 J/cm2. Apart from skin type II, no risk factors were found. Besides clinical signs of chronic, light-induced skin damage, there were minor indications of epidermal dystrophy. Acantholysis was abnormally common in the regions affected by actinic keratosis.

[Cryptococcosis of the skin]. / Hautkryptokokkose.

In a woman patient who had received a kidney transplant 9 years previously, we diagnosed a cryptococcosis of the skin on the right arm. The results of clinical and mycological investigations and the forms of treatment applied are discussed.

[African histoplasmosis]. / Afrikanische Histoplasmose.

This is a case report of two patients who suffered from African histoplasmosis. Clinical, histological, and mycological characteristics, and the treatment are described.

[North American blastomycosis]. / Nordamerikanische Blastomykose.

We report the case of an African patient with North American blastomycosis. The clinical and mycological results and presented and the therapy explained.

[Precipitating keratin antibodies in psoriasis vulgaris]. / Präzipitierende Keratin-Antikörper bei Psoriasis vulgaris.

A microprecipitation method was used to test sera of psoriasis patients and control persons for precipitating keratin interfilament antibody (KIF-Ab). Precipitating KIF-Ab were detected in 83% of the psoriasis patients. The sera of only 20.5% of controls without dermatological diseases and 40% of nonpsoriatic patients contained KIF-Ab. The mean KIF-Ab titer of the control and psoriasis group did not differ significantly. The different therapy had different effects on the detectability of precipitating KIF-Ab. Upon completion of dithranol treatment and clinical healing, all sera reacted with KIF from psoriasis scales (pso-sc). PUVA treatment lowered the Ab-titer as well as the number of seropositive sera. These results were confirmed by means of immunoblot and immunodot techniques. Sera from psoriasis patients contained Ab of the IgG and IgM-types against 65, 55 and 45 kD proteins. KIF-IgA-Ab were found frequently in the cases of severe forms of psoriasis.

[In vitro proliferation of human bone marrow cells--inhibition by components of Candida albicans]. / In-vitro-Proliferation menschlicher Knochenmarkzellen--Hemmung durch Candida-albicans-Bestandteile.

Candida albicans (CA) components influence the proliferation of human bone marrow cells in vitro (colony-forming assay). Number of colonies per 10(5) bone marrow cells after cultivation with rHuGM-CSF (maximal plateau colony formation): 46.2 +/- 9.1 (n = 6); after cultivation with rHuGM-CSF in combination with CA proteins: 0.05 mg protein/ml: 33.4 +/- 4.6 (n = 3); 0.10 mg protein/ml: 20.8 +/- 3.6 (n = 3).

[3H-thymidine-paper strip-counting of in vitro lymphocyte transformation. II. Specific antigens in the whole blood assay (author's transl)]. / Die 3H-Thymidin-Papierplättchen-Modifikation des lymphozytentransfomationstestes (LTT). II. Vollblut-LTT mit Einsatz spezifischer Antigene.

Erythrocytes did not influence the harvesting procedure or the paper strip counting method in a liquid scintillation counter using the whole blood assay of lymphocyte transformation test. The leucocyte-erythrocyte-ratio influences the blastogenesis in vitro. Only 1--2 ml of peripheral blood are necessary to proof lymphocyte reactivity to mitogens or antigens. The storage of the blood is possible over a period of 24 hours (4 degrees C) if the absolute lymphocytes count remains constant.

[Sézary syndrome. A case report]. / Zum Sézary-Syndrom. Eine Kasuistik.

This paper describes a patient who exhibits all signs of Sézary-syndrome. During the 15 years of sickness, the patient has developed a generalised erythrodermia, skin infiltrations, hyperkeratosis on the palms and the foot soles, changes in pigmentation, and generalised swelling of the lymph nodes. Two modifications of Sézary's cells have been found in the peripheral blood and the specific skin infiltrations by both light and electron microscopy. The serum contains large amounts of a macrophage migration inhibitory factor. The illness does not respond to chemotherapy.

Cell electrophoretic studies on the cellular immune response to Candida albicans in rabbits.

Rabbits were sensitized intracutaneously with Candida albicans total antigen by a series of booster injections. The electrophoretic migration time of lymph node lymphocytes was related to the time after injection. Two lymphocyte sub-populations could be distinguished. The proportion of each, changed during the course of the immune response. Characteristic changes also took place after in vitro incubation with Candidin. The results have been compared with agglutination titers and are discussed in relation to bursa and thymus-derived cells. The electrophoretic method may be valuable for the diagnosis of candidiasis.

[Mycological studies of patients with hemoblastoses]. / Mykologische Untersuchungen bei Patienten mit Hämoblastosen.

40 patients with haemoblastosis were examined clinically and by cultures for presence of yeast mycosis. Moreover, we analyzed specific antibodies with the help of cell agglutination, the passive haemagglutination and the precipitation using Candida antigen. 29 test persons were found having a yeast mycosis, 3 patients without clinical symptoms in pharynx showed presence of yeasts by culture, 8 test persons were clinically and mycologically negative. In cell agglutination we recorded titres of less than 1:20 to 1:5 160 and in haemagglutination titres of less than 1:20 to 1:5 160 and in haemagglutination such of less than 1:20 to 1:320. 5 patients showed positive precipitation reaction with antigen extracted of membranes of Candida albicans cells. We observed different titre motions with these patients: during illness the titre either rised or decreased clearly, or the patients were in a condition of humoral anergy against the Candida albicans antigen. It is hinted at the necessity to watch over susceptible patients mycologically.

[Immunostaging of patients with chronic pancreatitis. I. A study of humoral and cell-mediated immunity (author's transl)]. / Immunstatus bei Patienten mit chronischer Pankreatitis. I. Eine Querschnittsstudie der humoralen und zellulären Immunität.

Immunostaging was performed in patients with chronic pancreatitis of different etiologic groups. Immune responifveness was assessed by immunoglobulin serum levels, non specific autoantibody formation, C3 levels, antistreptolysin reaction, antibody titer against Toxoplasma gondii, E. coli, Herpes simplex-, Mumps- and Cytomegalovirus and screening for soluble immune-complexes (PEG precipitation assay), number of T- and B-lymphocytes, lymphocyte responsiveness to PHA, PPD, tetatoxoid and mumps-antigen in a whole blood assay, skin testing with candidin, trichophytin, tuberculin and streptokinase and HLA-typing. In some cases we found a depressed cell-mediated immune responsiveness. Patients were divided into two groups based on this main finding. Cellular hyporesponsiveness was correlated to the severity of the disease and a high incidence of HLA-B5 but not to any etiologic factor of the disease.