Therapeutic options for CTLA-4 insufficiency.

Background: Heterozygous germline mutations in cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA4) impair the immunomodulatory function of regulatory T cells. Affected individuals are prone to life-threatening autoimmune and lymphoproliferative complications. A number of therapeutic options are currently being used with variable effectiveness.

Increased Risk for Malignancies in 131 Affected Mutation Carriers.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is a negative immune regulator on the surface of T cells. In humans, heterozygous germline mutations in can cause an immune dysregulation syndrome. The phenotype comprises a broad spectrum of autoinflammatory, autoimmune, and immunodeficient features.

Urinary neopterin reflects clinical activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Neopterin is a marker for activation of cellular immunity. Urinary neopterin levels were measured in 106 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in 45 patients with osteoarthritis. Levels were significantly higher in RA patients than in osteoarthritis patients and were strongly dependent on stage and activity of RA.

Human large granular lymphocytes and their relationship to natural killer cell activity in various disease states.

This study investigated the numbers of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) and their relationship to natural killer (NK) function, as assessed by their capacity to lyse the human tumor target, K562. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 42 normal controls and from 171 patients suffering from various nonmalignant or malignant diseases were evaluated. Also studied were samples from a patient undergoing autologous bone marrow reconstitution following total body irradiation.

Concentrations of prostaglandins D2, E2, F2 alpha, 6-keto-F1 alpha and thromboxane B2 in synovial fluid from patients with inflammatory joint disorders and osteoarthritis.

The concentrations of PGD2, PGE2, PGF2 alpha, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TXB2 in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Reiter's disease (RD), acute gouty arthritis (GA) and osteoarthritis (OA) were measured by radioimmunoassay. PGE2 was found to be the most predominant prostanoid (pg/ml; Mean +/- S.E.

[DNA metabolism in lymphocytes of experimental subjects during thermotherapy (sauna, Turkish bath)].

The unprogrammed DNA synthesis (UDS) in the lymphocytes of the peripheral blood was significantly higher in regular sauna-users than in those who had not had a sauna for some time. Sedimentation velocity of the supercoiled DNA in the lymphocytes was decreased 1 h and 24 h after Turkish bath, but the difference from values before the bath was not statistically significant.

Effects of glycosaminoglycan-polysulfate and two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on prostaglandin E2 synthesis in Chinese hamster ovary cell cultures.

We have studied the influence of a polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (Arteparon) in comparison with indomethacin and piroxicam on the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 in Chinese hamster ovary cell cultures (CHO). The two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAD) were found to be strong inhibitors of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis. The inhibition was found to be dose-dependent.

[Fasciitis with eosinophilia - Shulman syndrome].

Fasciitis with eosinophilia (also Shulman's disease or eosinophilic fasciitis) is characterized by an inflammatory thickening of the fascia, eosinophilia and hypergammaglobulinemia. It has clinical and histopathological similarities with scleroderma, though evidence for systemic involvement is rarely found. In this report, we describe the clinical and laboratory features of two patients with this disease and their response to treatment and we discuss its relationship to scleroderma and the pseudosclerodermatous syndromes and its prognosis.

[Prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha concentrations in the synovial fluid in rheumatoid and traumatic knee joint diseases].

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) concentrations in synovial fluid samples from 15 patients with various knee joint disorders were measured by radioimmunoassay. High concentrations of PGE2 wee found in all the samples obtained from patients with knee effusions due to various inflammatory processes as compared to the very low PGE2 levels in patients with osteoarthritis or traumatic effusions. The highest PGE2 levels were measured in knee joint effusions from patients with severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha levels in human cerebrospinal fluid in normal and pathological conditions.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from normal human subjects and patients with various pathological disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) were measured by radioimmunoassay. The mean PGF2 alpha level in 54 controls with no evidence of organic CNS disease was 67 pg/ml (range: 25-150 pg/ml). A significant increase of PGF2 alpha levels was demonstrated in most samples from patients with CNS diseases.

Efficacy and safety of piroxicam and indomethacin in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. A double blind comparative study.

A total of 17 patients suffering from musculoskeletal disease were included in a double blind study to compare the efficacy and safety of piroxicam and indomethacin. Seven patients received a single dose of 30 mg piroxicam daily for two weeks, an eight patient stopped treatment after two days because of thrombocytopenia of unknown origin. Nine patients received 50 mg indomethacin tid for two weeks although treatment was interrupted for 2 days in one patient when a pulmonary embolus (unrelated to trial treatment) developed.

Prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha levels in human dental cyst fluid as bone resorbing factors?

Prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha concentrations in aspirated cyst fluid of 14 human dental cysts were measured by radioimmunoassay. The mean concentrations were found to be 22.0 ng PGE2/g cyst fluid and 4.

The influence of some prostaglandins on DNA synthesis and DNA excision repair in mouse spleen cells in vitro.

In vitro experiments were performed on mouse spleen cells to establish possible influences of some naturally occurring prostaglandins on DNA synthesis and DNA excision repair. The prostaglandins A1, B1, E1, E2 and F2alpha were tested in concentrations of lopg, 5ng and 2.5microgram per ml cell suspension.

[Behavior of the complement components C3 and C4, C-reactive protein and blood sedimentation rate for activity control in arthritis patients during thermo-hydrotherapy].

21 male patients suffering since years from classical rheumatoid arthritis were treated with daily thermal baths of 37 degrees Celsius temperature during a 3 week period. To control the activity of the rheumatoid inflammation we used the complement components C3 and C4, the C-reactive protein and the blood sedimentation rate. No changes in the different activity parameters could be found during the course of the treatment.

Investigations on supercoiled DNA in various rat cells.

The effect of radiation induced single-strand breaks in nuclear DNA and the repair of this damages on the sedimentation properties of nucleoids obtained from rat spleen, rat thymus and rat Yoshida tumour cells was studied. A dose dependent effect of ethidium bromide intercalation on the behaviour of supercoiled DNA could be demonstrated. The repair process of radiation induced single-strand breaks in the DNA of Yoshida tumour cells was delayed in the presence of prostaglandin E2 in the incubation medium.

[Determination of plasma progesterone using thin layer chromatography during pregnancy and normal menstrual cycle].

Plasma progesterone levels were measured during pregnancy and the normal human menstrual cycle by thin-layer densitometry of a specific fluorescence reaction for delta4-3-ketosteroids. 94 determinations were carried out from the 7th week of pregnancy until term. 84 plasma progesterone concentrations were estimated between day 16 and day 26 and other 10 during the preovulatory phase of the normal menstrual cycle.

A technical and methodical design for differential-thermometry of human incisors.

The technical design and the practical applicability of a thermistor based, highly sensitive, differential temperature recorder is described. Problems and relevance of differential temperature recording of upper incisors are discussed.