Sarcoidosis and tuberculosis: a connection to the human leukocyte antigen system.

Infectious, genetic factors, and autoimmunity have been considered as potential causes of sarcoidosis (SA). Pathological similarities between SA and tuberculosis (TB) suggest M. tuberculosis antigen(s) as causative agent(s).

Changed phagocytic activity and pattern of Fcγ and complement receptors on blood monocytes in sarcoidosis.

We have recently revealed that mycobacterial heat shock proteins (Mtb-hsp), involved in forming of immune complexes (CIs), can induce immune response in sarcoidosis (SA). The complexemia may result from inappropriate phagocytosis and clearance of CIs by monocytes with following persistent antigenemia and granuloma formation. Because an aberrant expression of receptors for Fc fragment of immunoglobulin G (FcγR) and complement receptors (CR) on monocytes can be involved in this process, we have evaluated the expression of FcγRI (CD64), FcγRII (CD32), FcγRIII (CD16) and CR1 (CD35), CR3 (CD11b), CR4 (CD11c) receptors on blood CD14(+) monocytes and its phagocytic activity in 24 patients with SA and 20 healthy volunteers using flow cytometry.

[The short- and long-term motivational effects of a patient education programme for patients with coronary artery bypass grafting].

Purpose: An important rehabilitation aim following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is to modify cardiovascular risk factors positively. Among the most potent possibilities for improvement of these factors is a lifestyle change in terms of increasing sports exercise, changing diet patterns, stress reduction, etc. An indispensable condition for these changes is the motivation to implement the necessary changes.

[Nisoldipine in the treatment of essential hypertension. Efficacy and tolerance].

The antihypertensive effect after a single dose of one tablet of Nisoldilpine (Bay k 5552) containing 5 mg, 10 mg or 20 mg respectively, was tested in a double-blind cross-over trial with intra-individual comparison on 60 patients with stable essential hypertension. Mean age was 51.6 +/- 7.