Publications by authors named "Maria Schulz"

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious-contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This disease can act acutely or in latent form as granuloma. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease more common in the Central Nervous System (CNS).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is associated with human morbidity and mortality, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD and lung cancer. Although direct DNA-damage is a leading pathomechanism in active smokers, passive smoking is enough to induce bronchial asthma, especially in children. Particulate matter (PM) demonstrably plays an important role in this ETS-associated human morbidity, constituting a surrogate parameter for ETS exposure.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Up to 30% of liver transplants will develop graft cirrhosis within 5 years after liver transplantation (LT) due to recurrent HCV-infection forwarding accelerated graft damage. Genetic variants of cytokines involved in the immune response may contribute to the degree of graft inflammation, fibrosis progression, and antiviral therapy outcome. The aim of our study was to analyze biochemical and histological inflammation extent based on protocol liver biopsies and to evaluate the role of genetic variants of IL-28b in HCV-related graft disease and antiviral treatment response.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Colonisation of cystic fibrosis (CF) lungs with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is facilitated by two lectins, which bind to the sugar coat of the surface lining epithelia and stop the cilia beating.

Objectives: We hypothesized that P. aeruginosa lung infection should be cleared by inhalation of fucose and galactose, which compete for the sugar binding site of the two lectins and thus inhibit the binding of P.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF