Tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces hepatic steatosis in viral hepatitis and after alcohol intake.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in transformed cells and is considered as an agent for cancer therapy. As there is evidence that TRAIL is also essential for apoptosis in animal models of liver injury, we investigated the role of TRAIL in viral hepatitis and after alcohol consumption. METHODS: Expression of TRAIL was determined by western blot analysis in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as well as in experimental acute adenoviral hepatitis and after alcohol intake in the liver of mice. To investigate the effect of FasL and TRAIL expression, we used low dose adenoviral gene transfer. Apoptosis and steatosis were assessed by TUNEL and fat red staining, and by caspase assays. RESULTS: TRAIL was overexpressed in the liver of patients with HCV associated steatosis while acute adenoviral hepatitis resulted in upregulation of TRAIL-DR5. In contrast with FasL, TRAIL expression was harmless to healthy livers. However, in virally infected livers, TRAIL expression induced apoptosis and steatosis whereas expression of FasL only resulted in apoptosis of hepatocytes without steatosis. After alcohol intake, TRAIL expression led to hepatic steatosis, without apoptosis of hepatocytes, indicating that TRAIL mediated apoptosis and steatosis may be independently modulated after viral infection and alcohol intake. In viral hepatitis and after alcohol intake, Ad-TRAIL mediated steatosis can be inhibited by injection of a neutralising TRAIL antibody. CONCLUSIONS: We identified TRAIL as a new mediator of hepatic steatosis in viral hepatitis and after alcohol intake. Consequently, TRAIL mediated hepatotoxicity has to be considered in patients with viral hepatitis and alcoholic liver disease.

Dissociative experiences and psychopathology in conversion disorders.

The concepts of dissociation and conversion are historically linked with the first psychodynamic ideas on hysteria. However, the abolition of "hysterical neurosis" from current nosology has led to independent developments of these theoretical models. Recent studies found a high degree of somatization in dissociative disorders. However, little is known about dissociation in conversion disorders. We assessed 72 patients with conversion disorders for their dissociative and general psychopathology using the German version of the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES) and the Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R). They were compared with a control group of 96 psychiatric patients suffering from various neurotic disorders, who were matched for gender and age. Dissociative symptoms were significantly more frequent in conversion disorder patients than in controls. There were no differences in the SCL-90-R scores between the two groups. Our findings support the theory of similar psychological processes underlying conversion and dissociative disorders despite their descriptive differences.

Effect of adjuvant formulations on the induction of virus-neutralizing and virus-binding antibodies by chemosynthetic peptides of VP1 of foot-and-mouth-disease virus.

Synthetic peptides corresponding to the 141-160 amino acid sequence of the protein VP1 of virus type O1 Kaufbeuren (O1K) and A5 Riems (A5R) were conjugated to thyroglobulin and mixed with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) together with Quil A. Although the peptide of A5R, together with IFA and Quil A, or with CFA, elicited a high antibody response to the virus in the ELISA, formula containing both IFA and Quil A induced only high titres of virus-neutralizing antibodies in rabbits. These adjuvant formulas did not display significant differences with regard to side effects.

[A simple method for semiquantitative assessment of thermesthesia]. / Eine einfache Methode zur semiquantitativen Prüfung der Thermaesthesie.

A technically simple method based on the Peltier effect was employed to determine semiquantitatively thermesthesia in normal individuals, patients with functional disorders, and patients with cortical and spinal complaints and peripheral affections of the CNS. The results demonstrate the suitability of the method in principle for use in routine examination.

[Seizure episodes and death by drowning]. / Anfallsereignisse und Ertrinkungstod.

473 cases of death by drowning were examined for evidence of previous neurological disorders linked with the occurrence of epileptic fits. It was found that 16 persons (3.4%) were undergoing medical treatment for epilepsy. In a further 10 cases there was evidence of the possibility of previous disorders in which epileptic fits and syncopal attacks played a dominant part. Besides the risks from the previous disorders, additional risk factors are discussed.

[Loss of smell and taste within the scope of vitamin B 12 deficiency]. / Geruchs- und Geschmacksverlust im Rahmen eines Vitamin-B12-Mangel-Syndroms.

The article deals with the case of a patient who had a partial gastrectomy and developed a vitamin B12 deficiency syndrome with anemia, myelopathy and complete loss of the senses of taste and smell. Regression of the symptoms followed liberal dosing with vitamin B12.

[Problems in the topographic diagnosis of bilateral abducens pareses]. / Probleme der topographischen Diagnostik doppelseitiger Abduzensparesen.

It is not possible to exactly differentiate bilateral abducent paralysis case topographically into those arising peripherally and those from the brain stem by means of clinical data. The application of electrophysiological methods, especially the acoustically evoked brain stem potentials and the oculo-auricular phenomena, greatly increases the accuracy of topographical diagnosis. If the oculo-auricular reaction can be triggered in the normal way, a lesion of the brain stem may be practically excluded, whereas changed acoustically evoked potentials at an early point may indicate a disturbance of function in the core region of the 6th cranial nerve.

[Thermographic studies with fluid crystals in peripheral nerve damage]. / Thermografische Untersuchungen mit Flüssigkristallen bei peripheren Nervenschädigungen.

Common peripheral neurogenic lesion in various locations and of different origins were examined thermographically and the results were compared with those obtained by clinical and electromyographic methods. Lesions in the regions of the N. ulnaris and N. medianus can, except in the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, be identified without difficulty by thermography. The results obtained in the case of paresis of the radialis are non-specific, and thermographic examination of radicular lesions are also sometimes ambiguous. Damage in the plexus-brachialis and root region yield impressive results which, however, are not particularly useful.

[Oculo-auricular phenomenon and its value in neurologic diagnosis]. / Das Okulo-aurikular-Phänomen und seine Aussagefähigkeit in der neurologischen Diagnostik.

The oculoauricular phenomenon is a synergism between an external eye muscle, the m. rectus lateralis, and the facialis innervated m. retroauricularis. In the neurological diagnostic this phenomenon permits a differentiation between the abducens nerve paresis of peripheral and of nuclear origine. In addition to this electromyographic examination from the m. retroauricularis can discover disturbances of the neuromuscular transmission and facilitate an early prognostic estimation of peripheral facialis paresis.

[Potency determination of horse anti-human-lymphocyte serum (ALS) by means of the lymphocyte resistance test, a modification of Schroder's leukocyte resistance test]. / Zur Wertigkeitsbestimmung von Pferde-Antihumanlymphozytenseren (ALS) mit dem Lymphozytenresistenztest, einer Modifikation des Schröderschen Leukozytenresistenztests

The leukocyte resistance test of Schröder was used for the purpose of modifying the in vitro determination of cytotoxic potency of ALS during the course of immunization. In contrast to the original method, where the test was carried out with whole blood, the incubation was made with pure lymphocyte cell suspensions. The results obtained show that the extensive procedure of examination enables the cytotoxic effectiveness of antilymphocytic antibodies to be evaluated.