Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Beck

Publications and source records attributed to B Beck.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Trisomy 14 mosaicism in a 2 year old girl.

Trisomy 14 mosaicism with 6% trisomic cells in blood and 16% in skin fibroblasts was found in a 2 year 2 month old girl with mild psychomotor retardation, craniofacial dysmorphism, pectus carinatum, curved fifth fingers, retarded bone age, and signs of an ASD. These findings are consistent with the previously reported cases of trisomy 14 mosaicism and support the suggested existence of a distinctive syndrome. Non-disjunction studies showed that the extra chromosome 14 originated from either a second paternal meiotic error or an early mitotic error.

Adolescent↗

Effect of a 12-hour subcutaneous infusion of somatostatin-14 on blood glucose, insulin and glucagon levels in healthy subjects and insulin dependent diabetics.

We compared the influence of a 12-hour subcutaneous infusion of somatostatin-14 on glucose homeostasis in two normal subjects and two insulin-dependent diabetics (IDD). In all cases, somatostatin infusion led to a decrease of blood glucose during the first hours. The diabetogenic effect of somatostatin was confirmed in normal subjects. Postprandial blood glucose response was exaggerated in one insulin-dependent diabetic while in the other, glucose tolerance was improved. Unexpected high levels of immunoreactive somatostatin were measured in insulin-dependent diabetic patients. They might be due to a decreased somatostatin catabolism.

Blood Glucose↗

Long-term influence of a wheat-bran supplemented diet on secretion of gastrointestinal hormones and on nutrient absorption in healthy man.

Responses of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), gastrin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) to a test meal and also nutrient absorption were measured in five healthy men before and after 1, 3 and 7 weeks of daily ingestion of 20 g of wheat bran added to a normal balanced diet. Basal levels of the three hormones were not affected by bran ingestion. Bran ingestion induced a progressive decrease of GIP response to the test meal which became significant after 7 weeks at 30 min (373.9 +/- 71.4 vs 231.1 +/- 47.8 pg/ml, mean +/- s.e.m., P less than 0.05) and at 180 min (389.4 +/- 43.9 vs 262.2 +/- 37.9 pg/ml, P less than 0.01). Gastrin release did not change except for a slight but not significant decrease after 3 weeks. There was no VIP secretion after meal ingestion and addition of bran caused no change. Blood glucose response decreased with time with the greatest effects during the third week with fibre at 30 min (5.00 +/- 0.50 vs 7.38 +/- 0.05 mmol/l before bran), and at 60 min (3.88 +/- 0.34 vs 5.94 +/- 0.27 mmol/l before bran, P less than 0.05). Wet and dry weight of faeces increased by at least 60 per cent from the first week with bran onwards. Faecal nitrogen and fat also increased from 1.77 +/- 0.16 to 2.44 +/- 0.13 g/d for nitrogen (P less than 0.02) and threefold for fat (from 3.78 +/- 0.58 to 10.35 +/- 0.67 per cent dry weight, P less than 0.005) at the third week. Fat and nitrogen contents remained higher until the end of the experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Glucose↗

[Incidence of chronic bronchitis in foundry workers].

A report about examinations of foundries' workers who live in the destrict Schwarzenberg is given. Hereby the prevalence of chronic bronchitis should be analyzed in comparison to nonexposed controls. In result 21.1% among foundries' workers and 10.2% among controls had symptoms of chronic bronchitis. The differences are significant. As expected it could be shown, that smoking habits and age are further factors for development of chronic bronchitis. Both the observance of occupational limit-values for dusts and other harmful materials at the work place, which have effects on the respiration system, and the medical survey of workers with the use of special methods for examination of respiratory system are necessary. In workers with findings of respiratory system the factory doctors and pulmonary physicians have to decide together the ability to work in the foundry.

Adult↗

Effect of potent antiglucocorticoids on dexamethasone induced enzymes in cultured hepatoma and rat liver cells.

The antagonism by 3 synthetic steroids of the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase and tryptophan dioxygenase by dexamethasone were compared in HTC and FAZA hepatoma cells and in isolated liver cells. It was observed: (i) the sensitivity of liver cells to glucocorticoid agonists and antagonists changed in relation to time of culture; (ii) the extent of the inhibitory effect on enzyme induction depends on the nature of the antagonist; (iii) hepatoma cells, especially HTC cells, appeared more sensitive to glucocorticoid antagonism than liver cells.

Animals↗

Progressive adaptation of the endocrine pancreas during long-term protein deficiency in rats: effects on blood glucose homeostasis and on pancreatic insulin, glucagon and somatostatin concentrations.

Blood glucose, plasma insulin and glucagon, as well as pancreatic insulin, glucagon and somatostatin contents, were measured in control (C group, 18% casein), deprived (D group, 5% casein) and pair-fed (PF) rats at seven intervals during 23 wk after weaning (wk 0). In C rats, plasma and pancreatic insulin showed parallel variations, in D rats, plasma insulin increased normally until wk 3 after weaning, dropped from wk 3 to 8 and was higher in wk 16 and 23 than in wk 8, while pancreatic insulin increased linearly after a significant drop between wk 0 and 1. Insulin variations in D rats were related to protein deficiency until wk 5, but only to energy deficiency thereafter. Circulating and pancreatic glucagon dropped identically for the three groups until wk 5: its role in adaptation to malnutrition is quite irrelevant, although a dysregulation of its secretion was noted. Protein-energy malnutrition induced an increase of pancreatic somatostatin content that was due to the energy deficiency. On the basis of the insulin-to-glucagon ratio, three phases of adaptation to protein-energy malnutrition appeared. From wk 0 to 3, the metabolic priority was growth, whereas glucose homeostasis was secondary, accounting for the early hypoglycemia. From wk 3 to 8 survival was the main priority. After wk 8, the various biochemical parameters stabilized, and growth was parallel to that of normal animals. Protein-energy malnutrition was responsible for a dissociated adaptation of pancreatic hormones.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Mortality, pathological findings and causes of death in the de Lange syndrome.

The mortality of 48 de Lange patients born 1917-82 was found slightly raised compared with the expected number of deaths, and the survival rates appeared to be lowered. No sex differences were observed. The causes of death and the pathological findings were evaluated in 11 patients. Pneumonia was the most frequent cause of death (6 patients). Congenital malformations seemed to be contributory causes of death in 5 patients, the most frequent being congenital heart disease and gastro-intestinal malformations. A wide variety of malformations were found but no consistent macroscopic or microscopic abnormalities could be demonstrated. An incidence figure of 1:50 000 was found for the years 1967-82.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Influence of ingested load on postprandial insulin secretion. Rôle of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP).

Two standard mixed meals including the same ingredients, and with different caloric values were ingested by 10 normal subjects. The plasma gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) as well as blood glucose (BG) were assayed during these meals at 0 (beginning of the meal) and after 30, 60, 120 and 180 min. BG was not significantly different between the two meals. At 30 min, the GIP peak was significantly higher in the case of the meal with the highest caloric (HC) value (499.5 +/- 112.0 vs. 273.4 +/- 57.5 pg/ml). Insulin was higher as well, although not in a significant way. At 120 min, the IRI was significantly higher (63.0 +/- 9.8 vs. 34.4 +/- 6.2 microU/ml) in the case of the HC meal. The HC meal induced a significantly higher insulinogenic index (0.29 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.14 +/- 0.07 mU litre g-1 ml-1). Integrated IRI and GIP responses of the HC meal were significantly higher than those of the meal with the lowest caloric value (IRI : 7.9 +/- 1.1 vs. 4.9 +/- 0.6 mU ml-1 180 min-1; GIP : 53.3 +/- 20.5 vs. 28.2 +/- 9.9 ng ml-1 180 min-1). The early (30 min) augmentation of IRI secretion after the ingestion of a larger meal is related to the insulinotropic action of the enhanced GIP secretion. The reasons for the late IRI increase are not obvious from this experiment. They might be of neural, nutrient, and/or intestinal origin.

Adult↗

[Soot lung as occupational disease].

Lung findings among 13 workers employed in a carbon black plant are presented. The concentrations of respirable dust at the work place exceeded the MAC for dust free of quartz. X-rays show disseminated small irregular and large shadows with slow progress. In two cases lung tissue was examinated histologically. Both accumulation of carbon black and development of collagen fibers were seen. According to x-rays and histological findings the lung disease can be estimated as a pneumoconiosis. Legal recognition of carbon black lung as an occupational disease can be achieved in a special procedure called "Sonderentscheidverfahren".

Aged↗

Effect of sucralfate on gastroesophageal reflux in esophagitis.

Gastroesophageal reflux was assessed in 18 patients with endoscopically and histologically verified esophagitis, and 15 asymptomatic normal subjects, by a portable receiving system. The qualitative evaluation of the frequency of reflux episodes, normalized mean pH, normalized mean [H+] and the acid clearance rate is found to be indicative of gastroesophageal reflux. Twelve weeks of treatment with sucralfate in an open clinical trial resulted in a significant reduction of gastroesophageal reflux and the elimination of esophageal mucosal damage. Barrett++'s epithelium was found in a rather high proportion and proved to be resistant to treatment. It is suggested that the observed improvement is due to the barrier protecting properties of sucralfate restoring the motor function of the distal esophagus.

Adult↗

Intravenous disopyramide: safety and efficacy of a new dosage regimen.

The efficacy and safety of a new dosage regimen of intravenous disopyramide in ventricular arrhythmias were evaluated in 10 patients. Each had at least four premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)/min during a 30-min period before dosing. By the classification of Lown et al., grade III arrhythmia was present in four patients, grade IVA in three patients, and grade IVB in three patients. Disopyramide was injected intravenously as a bolus of 0.5 mg/kg over 5 min. Each patient received two to three additional boluses of same strength with 5-min intervals between each dosing during the first hour. Continuous intravenous infusion was started with the first bolus and continued at a rate of 1 mg/kg/hr for 3 hr and at 0.4 mg/kg/hr for 15 hr. All patients had continuous Holter monitoring throughout the 18-hr treatment period and for 30 to 60 min before treatment. In eight patients the grade of arrhythmia after drug decreased and the frequency of PVCs fell by 70% to 100% (greater than 85% in six patients and less than 85% in two patients), and the response persisted during the continuous infusion. In two patients PVC frequency increased. For the group as a whole, PVC frequency decreased on the average by 68.4%. Therapeutic serum levels (greater than 2 micrograms/ml) were reached after the first or second bolus and were maintained during the continuous infusion period. There were no side effects necessitating termination of disopyramide infusion. The dosage regimen of intravenous disopyramide evaluated was effective in 60% of patients with ventricular arrhythmia, induced no severe toxic effects, and rapidly achieved therapeutic serum levels that were maintained during continuous infusion.

Adult↗

Long-term evolution of the effect of bran ingestion on meal-induced glucose and insulin responses in healthy man.

The long-term effect (7 wk) of the addition in the diet of 20 g of wheat bran was studied in five healthy subjects. Blood glucose and plasma insulin were assayed during test-meals taking place before (I), then 10 days (II), 24 days (III), and 45 days (IV) after daily ingestion of wheat bran. Bran addition leads to a time progressive reduction of meal-induced glucose response. This effect was the strongest during meal III, at 30 min (from 7.38 +/- 0.11 to 5.0 +/- 1.11 mmol/l; p less than 0.05) and at 60 min (from 5.94 +/- 0.61 to 3.88 +/- 0.78 mmol/l; p less than 0.05). Insulin response remained identical during the first three test meals. It increased then in a significant manner during meal IV, at 60 min (From 45.5 +/- 12.3 to 61.8 +/- 8.9 microU/ml; p less than 0.02), and at 120 min (from 41.2 +/- 16.3 to 61.0 +/- 16.0 microU/ml; p less than 0.05). The causes of the reduction of glucose response could be potential gastric emptying and intestinal transit increases. The exact mechanism of the improved long-term glucose tolerance seen in brain is not obvious nor is the reason for the enhanced insulin response seen later.

Adult↗