[Ileus caused by tuberculosis].

We report on a 30-year old patient suffering from acute abdomen. X-ray examinations (abdomen photograph, passage of contrast medium) showed an obstructive ileus of the small bowel. Exploratory laparatomy revealed an obstruction of the small bowel by means of masses of lymphatic nodes as part of a mesenteric lymphadenopathy.

[Guidelines for environmental contact tracing in tuberculosis. German Central Committee for control of tuberculosis].

These guidelines were initiated by and worked out in cooperation with physicians of the public health service. Numerous publications and relevant legal regulations, particularly the Federal Law against Epidemics were taken into consideration. The responsibilities of the public health service in the fight against tuberculosis includes case finding, detection of the routes of infection and prevention of transmission.

Combined exposures of human ciliated cells to different concentrations of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

In the present study we investigated the influence of two common air pollutants, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on ciliary beat frequency (CBF). Ciliated cells were obtained by nose brush from 12 healthy volunteers and placed on a polycarbonate membrane which was in contact with Ringer's electrolyte solution. This allowed the supply of the cells by capillarity in parallel to the reaction of the pollutants with the cell surfaces.

Modulation of TNF-alpha secretions by alveolar macrophages and blood monocytes after soot-particle or asbestos fibre exposure.

Activated monocytes secrete tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), whose inflammatory and fibroblast activating characteristics may play a role in the maintenance of pulmonary inflammatory processes and subsequent fibrosis. Human alveolar macrophages (AM) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were exposed to soot particles or asbestos fibres in concentrations ranging from 5-50 micrograms/1 x 10(6) cells for 8 hrs in RPMI medium. A culture was established with the exposed monocytes and the remaining cells were used to determine TNF-alpha.

Effect of sulfur dioxide on cytokine production of human alveolar macrophages in vitro.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and transforming growth factor-beta are cytokines synthesized by alveolar macrophages. We investigated the effect of sulfur dioxide, a major air pollutant, on the production of these cytokines by alveolar macrophages. The cells were layered on a polycarbonate membrane and exposed for 30 min to 0.

Modulation of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, and TGF-beta secretions by alveolar macrophages under NO2 exposure.

Activated alveolar macrophages (AMs) secrete interleukine (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), whose inflammatory and fibroblast-activating characteristics may play a role in the maintenance of pulmonary inflammatory processes and subsequent fibrosis. Human AMs were transferred to a gas cylinder and exposed to NO2 in concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.

Chemotactic response of human alveolar macrophages and blood monocytes elicited by exposure to sulfur dioxide.

An experimental study was undertaken to investigate the in vitro effect of sulfur dioxide on the chemotactic activity of alveolar macrophages (AM) and blood monocytes (BM). The cells were placed on a polycarbonate membrane and exposed to SO2 0.5, 1.

[Therapy and prognosis of tuberculosis].

Treatment and prognosis of tuberculosis. Worldwide the so-called short-course chemotherapy has become the standard treatment for tuberculosis. The 6-month regimen consists of isoniazid, rifampin, and pyrazinamid given for 2 month followed by isoniazid and rifampin for 4 month.

[Equivalence of methacholine and carbachol in a nonspecific provocation test (dose-response relationship)].

Within the framework of unspecific inhalation provocation tests with pharmacological substances for the purpose of diagnosing bronchial hyperreactivity, the cholinergics methacholine and carbachol are often used besides histamine. We examined 21 patients with known bronchial hyperreactivity in the symptom-free interval using the methacholine inhalation provocation test and 15 hyperreactive patients using the carbachol inhalation provocation test with the purpose of determining the extent to which methacholine and carbachol differ from each other in respect of their effect. Standard reference values were the provocation doses PD100/0.

[Experimental determination of equivalent percentage changes in measurement parameters of dose-response relations with the inhaled methacholine provocation test].

For the experimental determination of equivalent changes of the measurement parameters in the non-specific inhalative provocation test with metacholine, 26 persons with exogenous allergic asthma bronchiale were examined during the symptom-free interval. The inhalative provocation test was performed as dose-response relationship. Linear regressions were calculated with the data obtained.

[Lung function in chronic persistent pulmonary embolism].

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is characterized by widespread obstruction of the pulmonary arteries with organized thrombus. Typically, the afflicted patients present with complaints of progressive dyspnea and exercise intolerance. The typical functional picture of the 22 patients in this series revealed normal lung volumes.

[Solitary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, a rare vascular tumor of the lung].

The following case report describes a solitary epithelioid haemangioendothelioma of the lung as an uncommon radiomorphologic differential diagnosis of an aspergilloma. Epithelioid haemangioendotheliomas are rare low-grade malignant mesenchymal tumours that typically appear multifocally in the body.

[Clinical late manifestation of Ondine's syndrome with pronounced primary, especially sleep related alveolar hypoventilation].

We report on a very rare case of a primary, alveolar hypoventilation syndrome (Ondine's Curse syndrome) in a female patient who was first treated at the age of 26 years as a result of an influenza infection; however, the case history revealed a decreased performance in comparison to similar aged children from earliest childhood onwards as well as an intermittent zyanosis of the lips and distal extremities. Other diseases which could explain a global respiratory insufficiency and/or pulmonary arterial hypertension were excluded.

[New approaches to evaluation of nonspecific inhalation provocation (dose-response relationship) in the comparative evaluation of bronchial hyperreactivity within the scope of clinical trials].

For the performance of clinical drug trials in the therapy for bronchial hyperresponsiveness, unspecific inhalatory provocation tests are generally employed to judge therapeutic success. In particular, the parameter-specific provocation doses are considered to be the main target values. However, it must be considered that these provocation doses are not equally calculable for every patient in the same way and at any examination time.

Nitrogen dioxide-induced reactive oxygen intermediates production by human alveolar macrophages and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Alveolar macrophages located on the alveolar surface have contact with air pollutants. We evaluated the dose-dependent effect of nitrogen dioxide exposure on the oxidative metabolism of alveolar macrophages and peripheral blood mononuclear cells by measuring the spontaneous and stimulated reactive oxygen intermediates production. Alveolar macrophages or peripheral blood mononuclear cells were placed on a polycarbonate membrane, which was in direct contact with the surface of a nutrient reservoir.

[The chemotactic behavior of alveolar macrophages and blood monocytes after exposures to different NO2 concentrations].

The chemotaxis of alveolar macrophages (AM) and blood monocytes (BM) is important in the elimination of particles and microorganisms which have invaded the lung. The effect of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on chemotaxis was tested on AM obtained by diagnostic bronchoscopy from five patients suspected of having bronchial carcinoma (four men, one woman; mean age 59 +/- 10 years). Blood monocytes were also studied with blood from seven healthy subjects (five men, two women; mean age 32 +/- 10 years).

[In vitro studies of modification of mucociliary clearance by guinea pig tracheas by exposure to air pollutants of sulfur or nitrogen dioxide].

We studied the effect of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on mucociliary activity (MCA) and ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in 63 guinea pig tracheas. The tracheas were placed in a gas cylinder and exposed for 30 minutes to SO2 concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 12.

[Toxic lung damage caused by mitomycin C].

Lung toxicity is one of the rare side effects of mitomycin C (MMC), an effective antineoplastic agent. There have been only few reports on pulmonary damage after MMC monotherapy. We describe a case of a pulmonary reaction following MMC monotherapy.

[Development of tuberculosis in Germany--a comparison between former West and East Germany].

The development of tuberculosis in both parts of Germany between 1950 and 1990 is compared. From 1950-1965 morbidity and mortality were significantly greater in the former GDR than in the FRG. Figures have somewhat increased in the FRG since 1965; a breakdown according to indigenous and alien population shows that the development of the disease among Germans has been approximately the same in both parts of Germany.

An experimental model for the exposure of human ciliated cells to sulfur dioxide at different concentrations.

Mucociliary transport is an important nonimmunological defense mechanism of the respiratory tract. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sulfur dioxide (SO2) at different concentrations on ciliary beat frequency (CBF). Ciliated cells were obtained from 12 volunteers by nose brush.