A miniaturized agar culture system for cloning human erythropoietic progenitor cells.

The micro-agar-culture technique for cloning early and late erythropoietic progenitor cells (BFU-E and CFU-E) was further modified and miniaturized in order to study the optimal growth conditions with a minimal consumption of erythropoietin (EP). Using microtiter plates, the total incubation volume was lowered from 0.5 to 0.1 ml and thus reduced the necessary amount of EP and cells by a factor of 5. The method consists of a 50 microliter agar layer, in which the mononuclear cells are suspended, and a 50 microliter liquid overlayer containing bovine serum albumin (BSA), transferrin (TF), and EP. After a seven- or 14-day incubation, the whole agar layers were fixed, transferred to microscopic slides, dried, stained using the Pappenheim method, and permanently preserved. The influences of FCS, BSA, and TF in the presence of EP were studied on the proliferation of human bone marrow CFU-E and BFU-E. The variation of FCS concentration showed an optimum at 10%. The addition of BSA in the presence of optimal concentrations of EP markedly increased the number of BFU-E, but not CFU-E. Furthermore, the threshold concentration of EP required for the initial burst formation could be reduced by half in the presence of BSA. By the addition of TF, a further increase in the number of BFU-E was obtained.

[Plasmapheresis treatment in 3 simultaneously occurring autoimmune diseases: Hashimoto thyroiditis with hyperthyroidism, autoimmune thrombopenia and autoimmune hemolytic anemia]. / Plasmapheresebehandlung bei 3 simultan auftretenden Autoimmunerkrankungen: Hashimoto-Thyreoiditis mit Hyperthyreose, Autoimmunthrombopenie und autoimmunhämolytische Anämie.

A 49 year-old women with a 2-year history of a Coombs-positive autoimmune haemolytic anaemia was hospitalized with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and thyrotoxic crisis. The clinical course was further complicated by an autoimmune thrombocytopenia. Primary resection of the thyroid thus seemed to be too risky, so we decided to perform therapeutic plasma exchange. This led to clinical improvement, enabling us to perform a thyroidectomy. The present investigation reveals the high efficiency of plasmapheresis in the treatment of combined autoimmune diseases. Therapeutic plasma exchange resulted in a reduction of both the relevant autoantibodies and the level of circulating thyroid hormones.

[New findings on the effect of azetazolamide (Diamox) on intraocular pressure and acid-base metabolism of the blood following oral administration]. / Neue Erkenntnisse über die Wirkung von Azetazolamid (Diamox) auf den intraokularen Druck und den Säure-Basenhaushalt des Blutes nach oraler Applikation.

The reduction in intraocular pressure following administration of 500 mg acetazolamide (Diamox) per os is less pronounced (17%) than was observed after intravenous injection (38%). The occurrence of metabolic acidosis resulting from the administration of Diamox is not time-related to the drop in pressure and is clearly les severe following oral application. This lowers the risk of metabolic decompensation.

[Plasma filtration treatment in thyreotoxic crisis]. / Plasmafiltrationsbehandlung einer thyreotoxischen Krise.

A 65-year-old man was treated three times in 4 consecutive days with plasma filtration for a severe thyroid storm. During the treatment the serum and filtrate levels of thyroxine, triiodothyronine, free T4, free T3, TBG, albumin and reverse-T3 were measured, and the results showed that, apart from reduction of the total hormone amount, the supply of binding sites for the free hormones is an important aspect in the treatment of thyroid storm.

[Concentrations of the main lipoprotein density classes in disturbances of thyroid function in man (author's transl)]. / Plasmalipoproteine bei Störungen der Schilddrüsenfunktion des Menschen.

The concentrations of the main lipoprotein density classes and the postheparin lipolytic activity (PHLA) were determined in the plasma of 12 hyperthyroid and eight hypothroid patients in comparison with 12 euthyroid, metabolically healthy individuals. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins2 (HDL2) were decreased in hyperthyreosis (p less than 0.01) and increased in hypothyreosis (p less than 0.01). No significant differences could be detected with respect to the concentrations of very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) as well as for HDL3, whereas intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL) were higher in hypothyreotics than in controls (p less than 0.05). PHLA was increased in hyperthyreosis (p less than 0.01) and decreased in hypothyreosis (p less than 0.01). The chemical composition of LDL and HDL2 as well as the apolipoprotein composition of the protein moiety of HDL2 in hyperthyreosis and in hypothyreosis did not significantly differ from those in the control group. When data from all individuals studied were analyzed, no significant relationship could be detected between the concentrations of VLDL and HDL2, whereas HDL2 and PHLA correlated in a negative manner (p less than 0.05). It is suggested that HDL2, in addition to LDL, acts as carrier protein for the cholesterol increasingly yielded in hypothyreosis.