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Biomedical subjects

A Huber

Publications and source records attributed to A Huber.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Neuroanatomical substrates mediating the aversive effects of D-1 dopamine receptor antagonists.

An unbiased place preference conditioning procedure was used to examine the secondary reinforcing effects of selective D-1 dopamine (DA) receptor antagonists and the neuroanatomical substrates mediating these effects. Systemic administration of SCH-23390 or the non-benzazepine D-1 receptor antagonist A-69024 produced dose-related conditioned aversions for the drug-associated place. In contrast, the D-2 antagonists spiperone and (-)sulpiride were without effect. SCH-23390-induced place aversions were also observed after intracerebroventricular administration. The minimum dose producing this effect was significantly lower than that after systemic injection. Aversive effects were also observed after microinjection of SCH-23390 into the n. accumbens. In contrast, microinjections of this antagonist into the ventral tegmental area, caudate putamen or medial prefrontal cortex were without effect. These data confirm that the blockade of D-1 but not D-2 DA receptors induces aversive states. Furthermore, they suggest that D-1 receptors in the n. accumbens may play an important role in the regulation of non-drug induced affective states.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Possibilities of interventional ultrasound (IVUS) in intraoperative diagnostics and quality control in peripheral vascular surgery.

The IVUS system allows for a complete, only slightly invasive assessment of the femoral, pelvic and abdominal vessels in cross-section within the framework of intraoperative diagnostics and quality control. This method provides clear information concerning the vascular walls and internal structure. In our experience so far, it provides an ideal form of intraoperative control in cases of venous thrombectomy, embolectomy in the abdominal and pelvic vessels, following half-closed and open thromboendarterectomy and after intraoperatively performed angioplastic interventions.

Embolism↗
PubMed1991

[Homonymous hemianopsia].

Anatomical principles of the suprachiasmatic pathway. The neuro-ophthalmological examination of homonymous hemianopia: qualitative perimetry (confrontation tests), quantitative perimetry (campimetry on the Bjerrum screen, kinetic perimetry, static perimetry, automatic computer controlled perimetry, perimetry with colours, flickerfusion frequency-perimetry), oculomotor disturbances (gaze strategies, opto-kinetic nystagmus), pupillary disturbances, visual evoked potentials, anosognosia, Riddoch-phenomenom, hemiachromatopsia. Synopsis of different forms of homonymous hemianopsia: Unilateral, total or quadrant, bilateral, temporal half moon preserved or not, homonymous scotomas, horizontal hemianopsia. Pathogenetic analysis: tumors, infarcts, cerebral injuries, neuro-surgical operations, inflammatory conditions, congenital or perinatal brain damages, migraine. Additional disturbances of visual space recognition (hemineglect), of colour vision and of reading ability (alexia). In connection with the above mentioned theme appreciation of the scientific work of Prof. E. Aulhorn (Tübingen) regarding the perimeter apparatus, the perimetric examination technique and the interpretation of the perimetric results.

Brain Mapping↗
PubMed1991

[Spontaneous healing of a carotid-cavernous sinus fistula].

After a fall, a 67-year-old patient was admitted to our hospital. The unique clinical sign was an exophthalmus, which led to the diagnosis of carotid-cavernous sinus fistula. During his stay in our clinic the fistula was verified by CT and angiography. Transfemoral embolization was planned, but the fistula closed spontaneously prior to the intervention.

Arteriovenous Fistula↗
PubMed1991

[Epidemiology of liver injuries in 14 district, urban, regional and canton hospitals in Switzerland].

224 patients with liver injuries treated in 14 District and Regional Hospitals over a 10-year period were retrospectively evaluated. The results were compared to those obtained in 175 patients referred to the Central University Clinic "Inselspital", Berne/Switzerland. In all cases the degree of multiple trauma was assessed by the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and the severity of the liver injury by a Liver Injury Score (modified after MOORE). Blunt injury to the abdomen as a result of road traffic accidents, accidents at work or sporting misadventures were responsible for about 80% of all liver injuries. Peritoneal lavage was the main special investigation and was reliable in the diagnosis of haemoperitoneum. Abdominal ultrasonography proved of additional value. It allowed in experienced hands not only the diagnosis of liver injury but also some assessment of the severity of injury. Additional injuries to other abdominal organs can be assessed. By utilizing abdominal ultrasonography (or computed-tomography) liver trauma were managed conservatively in selected stable patients with minor injuries. The overall mortality was 17% in the 224 patients and compares well with the international figures. The results of treatment revealed a low mortality for liver injuries Grades I to III, whether managed in a District or Regional Hospital or in the Central University Clinic. For more severe injuries (Grades IV or V) the prognosis was worse in the District or Regional Hospitals than in the Central University Clinic. 20% of patients with liver injury Grades I to III in stable circulatory condition could be treated conservatively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Vascular surgery reconstruction in chronic arterial occlusive disease of the lower extremities].

For the assessment of the indication for surgical intervention in chronic arterial occlusive disease, the patients complaints (clinical necessity), local operability and operative risk for the patient have to be considered. In stage II disease (intermittent claudication) the patients demand for symptom-free walking distance is decisive. A young, sporting patient will not accept a distance of 500 m whereas an old patient limited by cardiopulmonary insufficiency will accept less than 50 m. Stages III and IV mean marginal perfusion and endanger the extremity acutely. Persistent severe pain or trophic lesions force to surgical intervention. If vascular reconstruction is impossible amputation will become necessary although lumbar sympathectomy might be attempted before amputation. Because of better collaterals proximal arterial occlusions endanger the extremity less than more peripheral ones, even in the case of operative failure. At the pelvic level endarterectomy or prosthetic replacement are the choice procedures. Allografts are equivalent to autografts. Bypass is best used for the cruro-femoral region. The material of choice is the autologous great saphenous vein. Below the knee it can be used as "in situ" bypass. Artificial prostheses give less favorable results. Inhibitors of platelet aggregation are used for protection of the arterial wall, anticoagulants for prevention of venous thrombosis and arterial re-embolization.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Opsin of Calliphora peripheral photoreceptors R1-6. Homology with Drosophila Rh1 and posttranslational processing.

The rhodopsin and metarhodopsin states of two very distantly related fly species (Calliphora and Drosophila) are found to exhibit no species-specific differences in their absorbance spectra. Isolation and characterization of cDNAs encoding the major opsin of Calliphora reveal a high (86%) degree of amino acid identity with the corresponding Drosophila visual pigment. Completely conserved is the third cytoplasmic loop which displays the major structural differences with the vertebrate photopigments. Other conserved motifs are six potential phosphorylation sites in the C-terminal region of the molecule and two potential glycosylation sites in the extracellular domains at positions Asn18 and Asn194, respectively. Interestingly, unlike vertebrate visual pigments, only newly synthesized fly opsin is N-glycosylated, while the mature protein is not. The conserved structure of the cytoplasmic loops suggests that the molecular mechanism for the activation of the transduction cascade is precisely the same in Drosophila and in Calliphora. Thus, data obtained by investigating the biochemistry of rhodopsin-related processes in larger flies may be integrated with the results of genetic experiments in Drosophila into a common model of invertebrate phototransduction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

[Use of botulinum toxin in ophthalmology].

Botulinum toxin A injection in essential blepharospasmus and hemifacial spasmus is an important alternative to surgical therapy. The toxin is injected into the lateral parts of the lower and upper lid in single doses of one to two nanograms under electromyographic control. The effect is visible after a few days and lasts for several months. The procedure can be repeated several times. A second important application of botulinum toxin A is strabismus. In paralytic strabismus the contracture of the antagonist of the paralyzed muscle can be weakened by local injection of botulinum toxin by means of a needle electrode under electromyographic control. Thus the contracture of the homolateral antagonist can be overcome and not seldom singular binocular vision obtained again. In cases of moderate pareses which recover spontaneously the muscle weakening effect of the toxin on the antagonist helps to restore binocular single vision. In cases of chronic paralytic strabismus the toxin injection into the antagonist facilitates the surgical intervention on the paralyzed muscle. In concomitant strabismus botulinum toxin A is above all valuable in small angle cases, in sensory strabismus, in cases of over- or undercorrection after surgery, and these especially in adults. In congenital esotropia, in commitant squints with large angles and in chronic or intermittent exotropia surgery is the preferred modality of treatment. The best results are obtained with repeated small doses. Generally a 65% reduction of the strabismus angle after two to three injections can be expected. With injections into the lids and the extraocular muscles no general systemic side effects has been observed.

Blepharospasm↗
PubMed1990

[Rupture of a subcapsular liver hematoma in the postpartum period associated with HELLP syndrome].

We describe the case of a 31-year-old woman who underwent a section caesarean and 24 hours later a laparotomy for treatment of a ruptured subcapsular liver hematoma due to a HELLP syndrome. The HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets count) is a serious complication of the pregnancy with or without eclampsia. This complication has a high mortality and morbidity and can occur during the pregnancy or after delivery. The diagnosis of a subcapsular hematoma of the liver should be considered in patients with acute abdominal pain in the last trimenon or just after delivery. Laparotomy must be performed at the first signs of hemodynamic instability.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[IODIDA scanning for functional and morphologic assessment of the liver and bile ducts before and following surgical interventions in bile duct obstruction].

PROBLEM: Full pre- and postoperative assessment is mandatory in the management of complex cases of incomplete biliary obstruction. Investigations should not only define the level of extrahepatic bile duct obstruction but also detect intrahepatic obstruction, give some index of liver function and of the dynamics of biliary flow. Computed tomography, ultrasonography and direct cholangiography are very valuable. IODIDA-scanning provides a non-invasive method which not only complements other studies but also gives information otherwise unobtainable. CLINICAL MATERIAL: In an initial retrospective study 36 patients, 12 of whom had previously undergone operation for biliary obstruction, were fully investigated with particular reference to the use of IODIDA-scanning. PROCEDURE: 2-5 mCi of 99mTc labelled IODIDA were injected intravenously and the liver and upper abdomen scanned at 1 minute intervals and displayed at 5 minute intervals during the first hour. RESULTS: All patients were studied on admission and then postoperatively at intervals. In 31 of 36 patients IODIDA-scanning gave reliable evidence of the level of obstruction of biliary flow and of the patency of biliodigestive anastomosis. Assessment of liver function before and after biliary reconstruction was also possible. CONCLUSION: IODIDA-scanning has proved a valuable non-invasive method for the assessment of liver parenchymal function, intrahepatic abnormalities and of bile flow in cases of complex biliary obstruction. This is particularly valuable with the Roux-Y biliary reconstruction since ERCP is impossible and PTC an invasive method which, although supplying an accurate picture of major biliary obstruction, fails to characterize hepatic function and bile flow.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Value of the elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex in pediatric oncologic patients with fever].

The elastase-alpha1-proteinase inhibitor complex (E-alpha 1-PI) is a well known, sensitive indicator of infection. The significance of this parameter was investigated in 12 febrile paediatric-oncological patients. With neutrophil counts greater than 500/microliters infections caused a definitive increase in E-alpha 1-PI serving as an additional diagnostic parameter. E-alpha 1-PI provided no additional information in situations of sepsis with leukopenia and simultaneous agranulocytosis. In patients with metastatic tumours, the assay of E-alpha 1-PI may differentiate between infection-related and tumour-related serological disturbances.

Child↗
PubMed1989

[Lung function following irradiation in pediatric cancer patients].

Lung function tests were performed in 22 children and juveniles who had received radiotherapy to the lungs, an average of 9.5 years previously, for tumour (14 with Hodgkin's disease [aged 7-22 years], 4 with malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma [aged 6-14 years], 3 with Wilms tumour [4-6 years], and one with Ewing's sarcoma [aged 16 years]). All three patients who, as young children, had had radiotherapy to both lungs because of a Wilms tumour with multiple lung metastases had restrictive disorders of lung function. Four of 12 after treatment of Hodgkin's disease and one of two after malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma and extensive thoracic irradiation developed a restrictive disorder of pulmonary function. But all four patients who had irradiation restricted to the mediastinum had normal lung functions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Surgery of bronchus carcinoma].

UNLABELLED: Indications for surgical treatment of lung cancer are based on histology and staging of the tumour and on the general condition of the patient. HISTOLOGY: The current therapy for non-small cell cancer of the lung is operative excision. Small cell cancer however is best treated by chemotherapy or radiotherapy or by both in combination. Small or peripheral small cell cancer should also be removed surgically, but only in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Stage: Non-small cell tumours, which are assessed to be limited to the thorax and locally resectable have to be removed surgically. If the tumour involves the chest wall, pre- and postoperative radio-therapy is advisable. If lymph nodes in the upper mediastinum or in the contralateral hilus are involved, or if distant metastases are proven, surgical intervention is indicated only in exceptional cases. PATIENT: The patient's general condition should allow tolerance of thoracotomy and extensive resection of lung parenchyma and adjacent tissue. Adequate ventilatory reserve is mandatory. In this regard it is important to realize that part of the lung may already be excluded from ventilation by obstruction, and resection of such parenchyma does not further impede ventilation. Indeed, resection of non-ventilated segments of lung parenchyma will even improve cardio-pulmonary reserve since the procedure might eliminate pulmonary av-shunting.

Carcinoma, Bronchogenic↗
PubMed1989

Four DNA polymorphisms in the LDL-receptor gene and their use in diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia.

To examine the potential usefulness of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) for diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), we determined the genotype of FH patients and their relatives for the Apa1I, NcoI, PvuII and StuI RFLP of the LDL-receptor gene in a sample of German patients attending the Lipid Clinic in Munich. There was no significant difference in the relative allele frequency between the group of FH patients and controls for any of the four polymorphisms. Using linkage analysis, we could determine the four-RFLP haplotypes of 39 defective and 90 normal LDL-receptor genes in 38 FH families. In our sample, defective LDL-receptor genes occur on 6 different chromosomes determined by the four RFLPs. This suggests that at least 6 different genetic defects may cause FH in this sample. RFLPs of the LDL-receptor gene cannot be used to detect FH in individuals; however, appropriate diagnosis can be carried out in more than 90% of families using linkage analysis and these RFLPs.

Gene Frequency↗
PubMed1989

Does stimulant medication improve the peer status of hyperactive children?

Although stimulants improve the social behaviors of hyperactive children, analogous changes in peer status have not been previously demonstrated. We compared peer appraisals of hyperactive boys (N = 25) after placebo, 0.3 mg/kg, and 0.6 mg/kg methylphenidate (Ritalin). With the higher dose generally producing stronger effects, methylphenidate enhanced social standing, increasing nominations of hyperactive boys as best friends, cooperative, and fun to be with. These medication-related improvements, although important, did not normalize peer appraisals, and there was marked interindividual variability in medication response.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗