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Biomedical subjects

A Hoffmann

Publications and source records attributed to A Hoffmann.

502 records · Page 28Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Isolation of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) from patients with collagen vascular diseases.

The prevalence and activity of human herpesvirus-6 in patients with collagen vascular diseases (CVD) was determined. One hundred and fifty patients with CVD (56 with systemic lupus erythematosus-SLE, 92 with rheumatoid arthritis-RA, 1 with Sharp's syndrome and 1 with atypical polyclonal lymphoproliferation-APL and rheumatoid features) were screened serologically (IFA and ELISA) for antibodies against human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Virus isolation was attempted from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 25 persons with various disorders. PBL were grown in tissue culture and tested with standard HHV-6-positive antisera for viral antigen expression. Supernatants of the patient's lymphocyte cultures were used to infect HSB2 cells, and virus infection in these cells was proven by IFA, in situ hybridization and by electron microscopy. Fifty-five percent of the SLE patients, 6.5% of the RA patients and both patients with Sharp's syndrome or with APL had antibody titers indicative of active HHV-6 infection. Virus cultures were positive in 9 of the 25 attempts with establishment of stable virus lines. These patients were 5 with SLE or UCVD, and one each with RA, CFS, APL as well as one healthy control. Reactivated and chronic active HHV-6 infections are frequent in SLE like EBV in RA. The role of these viruses in the pathogenesis of the diseases or in their reactivation still needs further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Active human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection associated with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease) is a well defined disorder primarily affecting young adults. The cause of this disease is still unknown. The authors report a case of a 37-yar old woman with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Serologic testing for HHV-6 antibodies revealed an active infection. An excised cervical lymph node contained HHV-6 genome demonstrated by using in situ hybridization. Active HHV-6 infection should be considered in Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Verification of therapeutic levels of procainamide and N-acetyl- procainamide in ventricular arrhythmia].

Therapeutical efficacy was clinically evaluated in 21 patients with ventricular cardiac arrhythmias. The drug was given orally with preceded intramuscular dose. Therapeutic effect was verified by the measurements of procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide concentrations in blood serum to determine the minimal effective concentration of the drug required to obtain satisfactory antiarrhythmic effect. Procainamide proved effective in cardiac arrhythmias in 14 patients (66.7%) with statistical significance in the acute myocardial infarctions; blood serum procainamide plus N-acetylprocainamide levels being were below the therapeutical range. The poor correlation of the dose of the drug and respective procainamide, N-acetylprocainamide concentrations in blood was observed. Relationship of the therapeutical effects blood serum level of the drug should be estimated basing of the assays of both procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide .

Acecainide↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Myocardial infarction in young women--clinical analysis].

Authors studied an incidence of myocardial infarction in women, specially aged below 50 years. Infarct localisation, complications during the treatment, coronary disease risk factors and mortality were estimated. In the most young women with myocardial infarction 2-3 risk factors were found, simultaneously specially cigarette smoking--all studied women aged below 50 years smoked cigarettes. Hospital course of myocardial infarction was as a rule not complicated. Mortality in young and in all observed women was however twice higher in comparison to control group of males.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Value of medical technics in the medical management of elderly patients].

The patient enters the hospital with a certain attitude of expectation. In this context we discuss the suppositions and tasks for physicians and nurses in connection with the medical technique in the carc-regime for patients (diagnosis, therapy and nursing). The medical technique receives a stabil place in the process of improvement of sensoric and affective possibilities of the physician. It remains a mile-stone of diagnosis and therapy. We take into consideration the economical aspects, psychic reservations of patient, but also aims, necessities and application-limits of medical technique.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Educational organization in social gerontology at the Kassel General University, the University of the District of Hessen].

The study of social gerontology today has its practical relevance in its connection with social work/social pedagogics. The precondition to taking up this study is professional experience gained by working as a social worker/social educationalist for the elderly/helping the elderly. The dialogue between practice and experts from universities and the sciences forms the basis of the curriculum. The course lasting for 4 or 6 semesters covers: bases of social gerontology, study of a profession-related main topic, carrying out of a "professional" practice to become better informed, supervision and taking part in research projects which are relevant for practice. The aim is to make the social worker/social educator capable of acting and thinking in an interdisciplinary, social-gerontological manner.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical correlates of infection with human herpesvirus-6.

Human herpesvirus-6 is a lymphotropic virus which infects susceptible individuals during the first year of life and usually causes life-long latency. In a variable percentage primary infections are followed by a short acute disease, exanthema subitum. Older individuals may suffer from infectious mononucleosis-like illnesses or from Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease. In addition, there is a fairly wide spectrum of lymphoid and hematopoietic diseases or autoimmune disorders, which are associated with elevated titers of HHV-6 antibody, and from which replicating virus may be isolated. Such diseases include atypical polyclonal lymphoproliferation, Hodgkin's disease, chronic fatigue syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. The present article reviews the current knowledge of such associations.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bone marrow hypoplasia and fibrosis following interferon treatment.

Interferon treatment is known to cause hematologic changes such as thrombocytopenia, anemia and granulocytopenia or combinations thereof. Patients previously treated with chemotherapeutic drugs followed by alpha interferon treatment developed even more severe pancytopenia and aplasia. Case reports of two patients who received treatment with alpha interferon 2a are reported here. Both patients were previously treated with chemotherapy, but with a long interval before starting IFN administration. Patient one developed life-threatening bone marrow hypoplasia and aplasia after interferon treatment and died. Patient two showed similar but less severe changes in bone marrow, i.e. thrombocytopenia, mild leukopenia and anemia. The clinical course of both patients was followed by routine peripheral blood tests and bone marrow biopsies and permit some reflection on the pathogenesis of marrow hypoplasia. Myelosuppressive effects of interferon treatment are discussed in the context of chemotherapy effects, cytokine actions and potential additional influences of herpesvirus infections.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dairy product analysis: identification of microorganisms by mid-infrared spectroscopy and determination of constituents by Raman spectroscopy.

Identification of microorganisms by traditional microbiological methods is time consuming. The German Federal Health Office has developed a method using mid-infrared spectroscopy to identify microorganisms rapidly. This method has been modified for application to microorganisms important in the dairy industry. Mid- and near-infrared spectroscopies are well-established methods for quantitative measurements of fat, protein, lactose, and solid content in a variety of products. A disadvantage of both methods is the huge absorption due to water; extraction of other components is complicated and can be achieved only statistically. With Raman spectroscopy, water causes less absorption. We investigated the use of Raman spectroscopy as a quantitative method for milk powder.

Clostridium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Digoxin level as a limited drug toxicity indicator in the assessment of post-digitalis arrhythmia].

A clinical-laboratory analysis was carried out in 18 patients on long-term treatment with digoxin in whom toxic arrhythmia occurred, taking into account serum digoxin level measurement. In 11 patients the toxic arrhythmia correlated with high digoxin concentration in blood, in six cases it was observed with the concentration of the drug within the therapeutic level range, and in one patient it was seen below this range. Blood digoxin level in patients with hypokalemia was significantly lower in comparison to those with normal serum potassium level. Severe clinical condition of patients, especially elderly persons with hypokalemia, respiratory acidosis and renal failure contributes to the development of toxic arrhythmia; for this reason it is useful to apply in these patients the therapy monitored by blood level of the drug. Electrocardiographic features of digitalis action and non-cardiac adverse effects were seldom observed in patients with toxic arrhythmia.

Acidosis, Respiratory↗