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Biomedical subjects

A Kramer

Publications and source records attributed to A Kramer.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Detection of antibodies against Brucella in the aqueous humor using ELISA].

In aqueous bulbi of experimentally against Brucella abortus immunized guinea pigs and rabbits specific antibodies could be detected by ELISA-tests. This first demonstration of brucella antibodies in the aqueous shows that aqueous can be used for serological examinations. For practical use more investigations in experimental animals are necessary, e.g. on kinetics of orbital antibodies absence of interfering factors and biomechanics of proteins in aqueous.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[24-hour blood pressure measurement in normal pregnancy in hypertensive pregnant patients].

Noninvasive 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed in 17 normotensive and 19 preeclamptic pregnant women. The normotensive women showed a significant nightly decline in their systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In contrast, the preeclamptic women demonstrated either an attenuated circadian rhythm or no circadian rhythm at all. This result was even more pronounced in patients with severe hypertension, some of whom had a nocturnal increase in blood pressure in spite of being treated with antihypertensive drugs in an evening dose. The lack of nocturnal blood pressure decrease was also found 24 hours post partum. In summary, these results suggest that preeclamptic women are endangered by hypertensive emergencies mostly during the night. Therefore blood pressure controls should be extended into the night, and antihypertensive drugs should also be given in a sufficient evening dose.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1990

Pseudomembranous colitis: how useful is endoscopy?

Clostridium difficile colitis may be diagnosed either by endoscopy or by laboratory tests. To determine the role of endoscopy, we reviewed 59 cases of confirmed C. difficile colitis. In all patients, the etiology was confirmed by stool tests. Twenty-nine underwent lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. In 16 (55%) there was endoscopic confirmation of pseudomembranes while 4 (14%) had only nonspecific colitis. There was no apparent difference in the rate of detection of pseudomembranes between rigid sigmoidoscopy (57%), flexible sigmoidoscopy (50%), and colonoscopy (50%). Vancomycin and metronidazole were equally effective therapy but treatment with vancomycin cost more than 250 times that for metronidazole. There were no patients in whom the diagnosis was made by endoscopy alone. Endoscopy was costly and insensitive, while noninvasive stool tests were cheap and accurate. We conclude that endoscopy should be relegated to a secondary role in the workup of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Colonoscopy↗
PubMed1990

[Experimental and epidemiological studies on the interrelationship of thiocyanate and thyroid function].

The testing of a SCN- dose (32 mg NaSCN/kg oral 21 d long) which is about 100 fold above the alimentary SCN(-)-uptake on guinea pig has shown neither histologic/morphometrical nor clinical clue to thyrostatic effect. In 6 regions of the GDR (1,349 persons) has not been secured epidemiologically any relationship between SCN- serum level as well as SCN- urine level and goiter. The partly in the tendency low increase of SCN- level by patients with bland goiter was always under the levels of smokers without goiter, exceeded indeed the threshold of significance in the area of Werdau. In the industrial agglomeration areas the I(-)-SCN(-)-quotient at the most unfavourable cases ran to 3.5 (Halle, smoker, struma), was consequently close to the critical level of the goiter risk.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

ACTH-induced adrenal hemorrhage: a complication of therapy masquerading as an acute abdomen.

Four patients developed adrenal hemorrhage during treatment with intravenous adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) for severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This complication presented suddenly with upper abdominal and flank pain mimicking an acute surgical abdomen. In each patient the symptoms of the underlying bowel disease had subsided under the ACTH therapy. In our first patient the diagnosis was not made until laparotomy, but in the subsequent three patients the diagnosis was suspected by the strikingly similar clinical presentation. In each of these three latter patients the diagnosis was confirmed by sonography or computed tomography (CT) scan, and surgery was avoided. All four of our patients are doing well at 1-58 months of follow-up. Signs of adrenal insufficiency occurred only in the one of our four patients, and in those six of 11 previously reported patients, who had bilateral adrenal hemorrhage. ACTH-induced adrenal hemorrhage requires stopping ACTH and maintaining corticosteroid support. The diagnosis of adrenal hemorrhage should be considered in the patient treated with ACTH who develops unexplained acute abdominal or flank pain. Failure to recognize this complication of ACTH therapy can lead to unnecessary surgery or the dangerous continuation of the offending agent.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1990

[The importance of the endogenous agent and environmental factor thiocyanate for nonspecific and specific resistance from the hygienic viewpoint].

Thiocyanate (previous designation rhodanide, SCN-) is a physiological substance which is ubiquitously spread in the animate nature. As an essential constituent of cell it participates in important physiological resp. biochemical processes. From the hygienic and microbiological point of view the occurrence of SCN- as environmental factor, its alimentary significance and its vitalizing effect (stimulation of nonspecific and specific warding off, stimulation of proliferation, protective effect at toxic loading) are of interest for the fundamental and applied research.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Promotion of hair growth with thiocyanate in guinea pigs].

The advancement of growth of albino guinea pig hair has been induced by sodium thiocyanate through oral application (32 mg/kg) and more distinctly through balneological use (0.3, 5 resp. 10 g/l). The density of the hair has been increased at 6-38%, the longitudinal growth advanced at 2-14% and the phases of follicle cycle have been changed on behalf of anagenic hair at 11-39%.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1990

[In-vivo corrosion tests of dental alloys in relationship to saliva pH].

The corrosion of four dental alloys and titanium was studied in relationship to saliva pH and plaque accumulation in vivo. Test specimens were scanned for porosities with an image analysis system before and after exposure to the oral milieu. The saliva pH was monitored during the study period. After four days of exposure in the mouth the plaque accumulation and the vitality of the plaque on the alloy surfaces was evaluated. Plaque accumulation and mean saliva-pH were not correlated with the observed surface corrosion. The least surface effects were observed on titanium, which showed the highest plaque accumulation. Different alloys showed different bacteriostatic effects. The least amount of living bacteria was found on titanium. Plaque accumulation and bacteria vitality depended on material and test person.

Corrosion↗
PubMed1989

A phase II study of carboplatin and CHIP in patients with metastatic colon carcinoma.

Fifty-six patients were treated in each arm of a study comparing CHIP and carboplatin for the therapy of previously untreated metastatic colorectal carcinoma. There were one partial response (2%) with CHIP and two partial responses (4%) with carboplatin. Side effects were significantly more severe with CHIP than with carboplatin. The most common side effect for both drugs was vomiting followed by hematologic side effects. Sixteen percent of the patients receiving CHIP and 9% of those receiving carboplatin had life-threatening side effects. Neither drug offers significant activity in metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Mesenteric vascular insufficiency caused by chronic occlusive disease: experience with the surgical management of 9 cases].

We report our experience in the surgical treatment of visceral arterial occlusive disease in 9 patients. The etiology was atherosclerosis in 7 cases and arteritis in 2. Four patients were admitted because of acute mesenteric ischemia, but only two had a previous history of intestinal angina. Four consulted because of chronic mesenteric angina and only 1 asymptomatic patient received prophylactic revascularization. The clinical picture of postprandial abdominal pain, weight loss, bowel habit disturbance, abdominal bruit or signs of occlusive disease elsewhere, should lead to clinical diagnosis. Angiographic evaluation is mandatory to plan the best surgical approach. In this series we revascularized 14 vessels in 9 patients using different technics. Two patients died (42 and 90 days) following revascularization and partial resection of the gut for extensive infarction. All survivors achieved symptom relief and or recovered or stabilized their weight.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[The effect of thiocyanate on bacterial plasmids using the plasmid screening test].

A plasmid screening test (alkaline lysis and agarose gel electrophoresis) was used to assess the effect of thiocyanate on the plasmid replication on two bacterial strains with plasmids of different size, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. At concentrations physiologic for mammals (5-50 mg SCN-/l) no effect on the replication of extrachromosomal DNA was noted. This reaffirms the concept that a physiologic anion may be responsible for biological regulatory processes but will not affect the synthesis of extrachromosomal DNA when applied in vitro in physiologic concentrations.

Acinetobacter↗
PubMed1989

[Mutagenicity testing in the sperm head test/mouse and mutagenic potency of 2 disinfectants on the basis of peracetic acid and phenols, respectively].

For the improvement of the registration of data by assessment of mutagenic risk the analysis of sperm-head abnormalities have been rendered as a suitable at indirect evidence of mutagenic potency. The reproduction of the results is well. The sensitivity of the test is high. The quantitative evaluation of genotoxic effects is possible. By reason of comparatively low methodical expense the screening investigations of species mouse are suitable, before more expensive tests will be accomplished for the elucidation of the mutation type. At 35 day-long intraperitoneal application the double number of sperm head abnormalities was approximately induced through Wofasteril (dose refer to main agent peracetic acid 2.6 mg/kg bw/d) and about 1/3 through cyclophosphamide (dose 25 mg/kg bw/d). With a 50% reduction of Wofasteril dose the mutagenic threshold-concentration was too low. The phenolic disinfectant Wofasept caused only slight no significant increase of the rate of sperm-head abnormalities (doses refer to the content of compounds, for Chlorocresol 1.6 mg/kg bw/d, for Clorofen 0.7 mg/kg bw/d and for detergent 4.8 mg/kg bw/d).

Acetates↗
PubMed1989

[Antisepsis and disinfection: the necessity of a conceptual demarcation].

Increasing international cooperation in the areas of research, teaching, trade and healthcare has called for standardization of the terminology. In disinfection and antisepsis such efforts have been pursued for almost 20 years but without great success. This contribution to the definition of antisepsis and its clear separation from disinfection is supposed to promote international discussion. German terms for skin, mucosa and wound antisepsis are proposed which permit to restrict the term disinfection to the application of antimicrobial measures to inanimate objects and surfaces.

Antisepsis↗
PubMed1989

Effects of nearpoint visual stress on psycholinguistic processing in reading.

To date, there have been few studies to evaluate directly the relationship between binocular visual stress and reading performance. This study employed the cloze procedure to demonstrate the effects of nearpoint stress on performance and efficiency in reading comprehension. Using 19 third year optometry students as subjects, binocular stress was simulated by -2.00 D lenses. Performance, as determined by the time to complete the task, was significantly reduced (p less than .03), but no significant differences in accuracy scores were measured.

Adult↗