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Biomedical subjects

B Brand

Publications and source records attributed to B Brand.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Adjuvant therapy of lung cancer.

This article reviews the basic principles and the results with modern adjuvant therapies in resected non-small cell lung cancer, the role of preoperative chemotherapy in locally advanced, inoperable non-small cell lung cancer and the value of surgical resection as an adjuvant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of small cell lung cancer. At the time being these therapies are experimental and should not be used outside clinical research.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗

Convenient preparative synthesis of [14C]trehalose from [14C]glucose by intact Escherichia coli cells.

At high osmolarity, Escherichia coli synthesizes trehalose intracellularly, irrespective of the nature of the carbon source. Synthesis proceeds via the transfer of UDP-glucose to glucose 6-phosphate, yielding trehalose 6-phosphate, followed by its dephosphorylation to trehalose (H.M. Giaeyer, B.O. Styrvold, I. Kaasen, and A.R. Strøm, J. Bacteriol. 170:2841-2849, 1988). This reaction was exploited to preparatively synthesize [14C]trehalose from exogenous [14C]glucose by using intact bacteria of a mutant (DF214) that could not metabolize glucose. The total yield of radiochemically pure trehalose from glucose was routinely more than 50%.

Biological Transport↗

Hyperlactataemia, hyperkalemia and heart block in acute iron overload: the fatal role of the hepatic iron-incorporation rate in rats on ferric citrate infusions.

An animal model is presented that provides constant and controllable conditions for approaching gradually, and within reasonable time, different stages of iron overload and, probably, an iron-induced mitochondrial disorder. Thirty-five rats were infused with ferric citrate, sodium citrate and saline at constant rates for 6-24 h. In the 200-3200 micrograms Fe h-1 loading range, the iron-incorporation capacity of the liver was not saturable and the fractional iron uptake by the liver remained at approximately 30% even at a loading rate of 3200 micrograms Fe h-1. Up to a loading rate of 200 micrograms Fe h-1, iron storage was not associated with toxic effects. Beyond this loading rate, however, the liver was no longer able to prevent a massive plasma iron increase on one side and hyperlactataemia on the other. These signs most probably represent hepatocellular decompensation with respect to a critical iron-storage rate. The product of plasma iron x exposition time was significantly correlated with increased plasma lactate levels (r = 0.89, P less than 0.005), whereas increased plasma iron levels per se were not. Hyperlactataemia was associated with hyperkalaemia and progressive cardiac conduction defects leading to cardiac arrest at lactate concentration of 9.1 +/- 4.3 mmol l-1. The hypothesis is discussed that toxicity in acute iron overload may entirely be due to hepatocellular (mitochondrial) damage, and not to multiple organ iron overload.

Animals↗

Principles of hand ontogenesis in man.

Human hand anlagen of different developmental stages are studied light and scanning electron microscopically. The findings are compared with experimental and ultrastructural results obtained from avian limb anlagen. Shaping, cell differentiation and the spatial arrangement of different cells are found to be the basic processes of hand development. The shaping of the arm and hand seems to anticipate future grasping movements. Factors controlling this developmental process are on the one hand the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) that maintains in the underlying mesoderm a high level of mitotic activity, and on the other hand a species-specific pattern of cell death in different zones of arm and hand. Interdigital cell death, microfilament bundles included in the basal compartment of AER cells, and local anchorings of the AER ectoderm by collagen fibrils are involved in finger separation. The flexion creases are genetically fixed and their development cannot be explained by mechanical factors. It is found that the early hand anlage is already composed of relatively autonomous founder cells committed to different lineages. This is true for the muscle precursor cells which originate from the brachial somites. These migrating somite cells are determined to belong to the myogenic lineage. However, their distribution, mitotic activity and later arrangement in single muscles are controlled by factors localized within the hand itself. Tendons develop autonomously from somatopleural cells. Other already committed cells are the angioblasts forming the endothelial lining of the blood vessels, the neural crest cells differentiating into melanocytes and Schwann cells, and the blood-derived cells like chrondro- or osteoclasts. The differentiation of somatopleural cells into cartilage, connective tissue or smooth muscle depends on their position within the hand anlage. Possible mechanisms leading to the specific pattern are discussed.

Animals↗

Otorhinological brain abscess therapy--past and present.

In the past several years a concensus approach has been reached in diagnosis and therapy of brain abscess. The ease and accuracy of evaluation of intracranial lesions afforded by third generation computerized tomography scanners has lead to reliable, quick, non-surgical diagnoses and monitoring which is relatively non-invasive. The use of multiple agent, increased spectrum, antimicrobials has resulted in acceptable reduced morbidity and mortality. This has decreased the need for therapeutic surgical intervention. The non-surgical approach was preceded by several other modes of management which were acceptable in their time. During the past 21 years, 17 patients have been under the care of one or more of the above authors. A review of these cases is presented with instructive and informative histories. A knowledge of past therapeutic modalities and their attendant complications compared with present medical therapy assures an acceptance of the latter as the method of choice. A search of the general literature shows wide acceptance in other fields; however, no reference could be found in the recent otolaryngological literature to support a non-surgical approach.

Adult↗

Investigation of huge negative circular dichroism spectra of some nucleoproteins.

Under certain conditions of preparation, DNA, whether free or complexed with polylysine or histone KAP (I, fl), produce huge negative circular dichroism (CD) spectra with maxima at about 270nm. In order to investigate the cause of these spectra, reconstituted polylysine-DNA complex was used as a model system. It was found that the CD change of DNA in the complex is not a linear function of the fraction of base pairs bound. Such a CD spectrum is not changed despite dilution up to 128 folds for as long as 12 hours. Difference CD spectra taken between free DNA and any of the complexes are qualitatively the same, and are similar to those of free DNA and nucleohistone KAP (Fasman et al., Biochemistry 9, 2814-2822, 1970), free DNA and direct mixed polylysine-DNA complexes, or free DNA in high salt (Chang et al., Biochemistry12, 3028-3032, 1973). The suggestion is made that this CD spectrum might be caused by specific conformational changes in DNA, perhaps belonging to the family of B to C transitions followed by a further structural distortion of DNA due to aggregation of the nucleoprotein molecules.

Animals↗

Thermal denaturation of calf thymus DNA: existence of a GC-richer fraction.

In 2.5 x 10(-4)M EDTA buffer, the derivative melting curve of calf thymus DNA shows a major band at 47 degrees with a shoulder at about 54 degrees . The fraction of melting area of this shoulder is about 13%. For reconstituted polylysine-calf thymus DNA complexes, in addition to the melting of free DNA regions at about 50 degrees (T(m)) there is another melting at about 106 degrees (T(m)) of polylysine-bound regions. The melting band of the complex at T(m) is not symmetrical. As more polylysine is bound to DNA the melting amplitude is diminished greatly on the major band at 47 degrees but only slightly on the shoulder at 54 degrees . The insensitivity of this shoulder appears to result from the existence of a 13% fraction of calf thymus DNA containing 55% GC. It is not favorably bound by polylysine. It remains in the supernatant after centrifugation and melts at about 54-56 degrees . This conclusion is further supported by two facts: the reconstitution method provides a condition for selective binding of polylysine to AT-rich DNA, and it yields a fully symmetric melting band at T(m) for complexes of polylysine with homogeneous bacterial DNA such as the one from M. luteus.

Animals↗

Prophylactic perioperative antibiotics in contaminated head and neck surgery.

Controversy remains regarding the use of prophylactic antibiotic therapy in contaminated head and neck surgery. In an attempt to clarify this issue, a prospective double-blind randomized study has been undertaken in patients who were to undergo major contaminated (skin to mucosa) oncologic surgery. The drug combination gentamicin plus clindamycin was compared with cefazolin. One day of therapy was compared with five days. Results showed a statistically significant higher rate of infection with the use of cefazolin. In addition, preliminary results indicate that the longer duration of therapy decreases infection rates.

Cefazolin↗

Intensified ESWL of gallstones: dissociation of pulverisation, pain relief and stone-clearance.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, intensified shock wave lithotripsy for gallstone pulverisation and subsequent clearance without bile salt medication has been advocated. We report our first 44 patients treated by this regime: Patients with intact gallbladder function and symptomatic gallstones of any size, number and composition. METHODOLOGY: Forty-four consecutive patients who received intensified shock wave lithotripsy for gallstone pulverisation and clearance were included in this study. The patients all had intact gallbladder function and presented with symptomatic gallstones of any size, number and composition. RESULTS: Pulverisation was achieved in 75% of all cases (12 months), but only 34% were stone free. The proportion of patients with stone pulverisation compared to subsequent complete clearance was 93% versus 60% in small (</ = 20mm) solitary stones and 67% versus 15% in two or more stones. The pain intensity was markedly reduced within the first month of treatment, irrespective of complete pulverisation or definite stone clearance. CONCLUSIONS: The approach of stone pulverisation by multiple shockwave treatments is effective in solitary stones but does not achieve adequate stone clearance in multiple gallstones. Despite the low stone clearance rates in multiple stones, intensified ESWL used alone may be effective for these patients, if they are not eligible for surgery and the purpose of treatment is pain relief.

Cholelithiasis↗