Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Braun

Publications and source records attributed to B Braun.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Schwannoma of the gastric wall].

Clinical and ultrasound examination showed a tumor adjacent to the posterior gastric wall in two patients with noncharacteristic upper abdominal pain. The structure of the at least fist-size masses was partly solid, partly cystic and on palpation appeared soft and spongy with a smooth surface. Colour ultrasound showed a high vascularity. All these factors were confirmed by computerized tomography. History as well as clinical and ultrasound examination suggested the diagnosis of schwannoma and this was confirmed by histopathology following laparotomy.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Color Doppler sonography-guided percutaneous alcohol instillation in the therapy of functionally autonomous thyroid nodules].

In a prospective study, 26 patients (18 women, 8 men; mean age 74 [51-92] years) with clinically and biochemically confirmed hyperthyroidism and autonomous thyroid nodules, as proven by scintigraphy and colour Doppler ultrasound (CDUS), the nodular tissue was destroyed by alcohol injection. All patients had multinodular goitre, eleven with solitary adenoma and 15 with two or more adenomas. Under continuous CDUS monitoring 2-4 ml of 96% ethanol per injection were instilled in a total of 87 sessions (mean of 3.3 injections per patient). Minor side effects (pressure sensation, pain, reddening) occurred with five injections. The effect of the treatment was a reduction in size and cystic degeneration of the nodule, as well as decreased vascularization as demonstrated by CDUS. A euthyroid state was achieved, without any additional thyrostatic drugs, within 5 weeks in 18 of the 26 patients, while in eight the initial carbimazole dosage could be reduced to a quarter. After 6 weeks 11 nodules had become scintigraphically inactive. In 12 patients the technetium uptake had been reduced and initially suppressed paranodular tissue again showed functional activity. These observations indicate that the described method is an efficacious and cost-effective out-patient procedure with few side effects for the treatment of hyperthyroidism associated with single or several autonomous thyroid nodules. The localization of the hyperactive adenomas should be done together with scintigraphy and CDUS.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Ultrasound-guided alcohol instillation in treatment of autonomous thyroid adenoma].

In 16 patients with unifocal thyroid autonomy suffering from hyperthyroidism and in 2 patients and euthyrosis 2-4 ml 96% alcohol was instilled to destroy the autonomous thyroid tissue while permanently monitoring the procedure by means of sonography. 17 of the patients were suffering from struma nodosa. Localization of the focally autonomous adenoma was possible, together with differentiation against concomitant thyroid nodes with normal or reduced function, by coinciding the findings obtained via colour Doppler sonography and scintiscanning. In one female patient local pain occurred during instillation that had to be alleviated by means of analgetics; there were no other noticeable side effects. 12 of 16 patients suffering from hyperthyroidism were euthyrotic 5 weeks after the first alcohol instillation; the thyrostatic dose had to be reduced in 4 patients. B-image sonography showed a reduction in size of the instilled adenomas and echo-poor and partly cystic transformation. Colour Doppler sonography revealed a marked reduction of internal vascularisation with preserved marginal vessels. Scintiscan control no longer visualised the autonomic foci (n = 10) or only with reduced activity (n = 7). Sonographically monitored on-target instillation of alcohol into autonomic thyroid adenoma is an effective, low-risk and low-cost procedure that can also be applied to outpatients by physicians well-versed in colour Doppler sonography and sonographic puncture technique. Colour Doppler sonographic localization of autonomic foci is methodically mandatory in patients suffering from struma multinodosa.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1994

[Polycystic and cavernous course of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in AIDS].

We observed a polycystic and cavitating presentation of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia as primary manifestation of AIDS in a patient with previously unknown HIV-infection. Pneumocystis carinii was histologically proved by transbronchial biopsy but not by bronchoalveolar lavage. A nearly complete resolution of all pulmonary lesions could be achieved with cotrimoxazole. Pneumocystis carinii must be considered in differential diagnosis of cystic and cavitating pulmonary disease in patients with unknown or positive serology for HIV-infection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1993

Mosses do express conventional, distantly B-type-related phytochromes. Phytochrome of Physcomitrella patens (Hedw.).

We have screened a cDNA library of the moss Physcomitrella patens (Hedw.) for phytochrome sequences. The isolated sequences turned out to encode a phytochrome dissimilar to the phytochrome type postulated for the moss Ceratodon [(1992) Plant Mol. Biol. 20, 1003-1017] Physcomitrella phytochrome was completely alignable to fern phytochrome (Selaginella) and phytochromes of higher plants. The frequency of clones encoding this phytochrome indicated that a Ceratodon-like type should only be expressed, if at all, with lower frequencies than the sequenced phytochrome cDNA. Sequence differences between lower plant phytochromes are small as compared to phytochrome types of higher plants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Use of a latex cover sheath for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) instead of regular disinfection of the echoscope?

Better visualization of cardiac structures is an advantage of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Because of this, the transesophageal approach is an essential window in the assessment of various cardiovascular disorders. Quick consecutive access to this instrument should not be delayed by time-consuming cleansing procedures of the probe. In this study we used a sterile latex condom in routine TEE examinations as a barrier to contamination of the echoscope, observing practical use and the incidence of perforations. Defects were detected after the procedure by visual inspection and by an airtightness test. Maneuvers or situations associated with an increased likelihood of injury were checked for. In 180 studies a total of 168 patients were consecutively examined; insertion was feasible in all but one case (99.5%). We found 8 of 181 (4.4%) sheaths defective following the procedure. Visual inspection was less sensitive (only 3 of 8) for finding defects than an airtightness test (8 times). Teeth in situ and/or a bite guard are the only sharp edges during insertion and removing the probe; these seem to be the main risk factors in latex perforation. Application of a cover sheath for each examination saves approximately two-thirds of the time otherwise necessary for a cleansing bath, and easy handling of cover sheaths for TEE make them an alternative to regular disinfection in general. For reasons of safety we recommend checking each used cover sheath after examination for holes so as not to jeopardize the following patient by the possible spread of germs from contaminated probes. Not only visual inspection but also a second method, for example, an airtightness test, is mandatory.

Disinfection↗
PubMed1993

Patency and morphology of fibrous polyurethane vascular prostheses implanted in the femoral artery of dogs after seeding with subcultivated endothelial cells.

A cell culture line was established from enzymatically-derived canine jugular endothelial cells and further cultured. Whenever sufficient cells were present, fibrous polyurethane vascular prostheses, impregnated with gelatin and coated with fibronectin, were seeded with 4.8 x 10(5)/cm2 cells, sufficient to establish a confluent monolayer, and implanted in the femoral arteries of 16 dogs. A non-seeded prosthesis on the contralateral side served as control. Eight dogs received antiplatelet aggregation medication: 250 mg aspirin together with 25 mg dipyridamole, orally three times daily, starting 2 weeks prior to the implantation operation and continued for the duration of the experiment. Results show that in the non-medicated dogs all control prostheses become occluded within 3 weeks after implantation, whereas five out of eight seeded prostheses remained patent. In the medicated group, two out of eight control prostheses occluded and all seeded prostheses remained patent. Scanning and light microscopy revealed that seeded prostheses were completely lined with endothelial cells (Factor VIII positive stain) week 3 (n = 3) and 12 (n = 3) after implantation, while endothelialisation in control prostheses had advanced only 5 mm into the prostheses in 12 weeks. Two dogs of each group were included in long-term patency studies. We conclude that prostheses seeded with a confluent monolayer of endothelial cells result in superior patency rates for both medicated and non-medicated dogs. No immunological reaction against the (allogeneic) seeded endothelial cells were noted.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1993

[Gas in the portal vein system of the liver. Value of ultrasound].

We report on 9 patients presenting with different diseases of varying severity, who were found to have hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) identified by diagnostic ultrasonography. Intrahepatic gas was a shortlasting phenomenon, which could not be seen radiologically in most cases. Earlier beliefs that HPVG is a poor prognostic sign associated with high mortality, should be revised.

Abscess↗
PubMed1992

Seeding of enzymatically derived and subcultivated canine endothelial cells on fibrous polyurethane vascular prostheses.

Fibrous polyurethane (FPU) prostheses with or without fibronectin coating and gelatin impregnation and FPU prostheses with or without fibronectin coating were seeded with 4.8 x 10(5) subcultivated dog endothelial cells per cm2 prosthesis. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) prostheses with and without fibronectin coating served as controls. The numbers of cells retained on uncoated polyurethane prostheses were minimal but increased with fibronectin coating and/or gelatin impregnation. Adhering cells were predominantly round in shape and few cells were seen stretched over the prosthetic fibres. Optimum numbers of cells were found in prostheses impregnated with gelatin and coated with fibronectin, where almost all the cells were stretched forming a confluent monolayer. In ePTFE prostheses only minimal numbers of cells were retained but in the fibronectin-coated prostheses a high cell count was noted. Gelatin-impregnated and fibronectin-coated FPU prostheses, as well as ePTFE prostheses coated with fibronectin, were additionally perfused in vitro after seeding under nearly physiological conditions for 1 h. Cells in the FPU prostheses were still present after perfusion, whereas all the cells in the ePTFE prostheses were lost from the inner surface. It is concluded that FPU prostheses impregnated with gelatin and coated with fibronectin are a suitable substrate for subcultivated endothelial cells to be seeded on. The cells remained at the surface even after 1 h in vitro perfusion with tissue culture medium under nearly physiological conditions. Further research including in vivo implantations is indicated.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Characterization of two porcine proinsulin reactive monoclonal antibodies by immunostaining of beta-cells in pancreatic sections of different species.

Murine monoclonal antibodies against porcine proinsulin were generated by somatic cell hybridization. As detected by radioimmunoassay, 2 monoclonal antibodies KSPI14D4 and KSPI13G10 showed a strong binding to 125I-labelled porcine proinsulin but not to insulin. The species specificity of these 2 monoclonals was found to be different as shown by indirect immunofluorescence using sections of Bouin-fixed pancreata of different species. The KSPI14D4 recognized the proinsulin of pig, mouse, man, cattle, rat, dog, and cat but not that of guinea pig, whereas the KSPI13G10 bound to porcine proinsulin only. From these results it is concluded that KSPI14D4 effectively recognizes a wide-spread epitope located in one of the insulin-C-peptide junctions of the proinsulin molecule, whereas KSPI13G10 is directed to a species-specific epitope of the porcine connecting peptide.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Phytochrome evolution: a phylogenetic tree with the first complete sequence of phytochrome from a cryptogamic plant (Selaginella martensii spring).

We have sequenced cDNA and genomic clones coding for phytochrome of the fern Selaginella. On the amino acid level, this phytochrome shares sequence homologies with phytochromes of higher plants which range between 62 (phytochrome B of Arabidopsis) and 55 (56)% [phytochrome C of Arabidopsis (Avena)]. Introns in the Selaginella gene are short and occupy positions known from phytochrome sequences of higher plants. A rooted phylogenetic tree based on mutation distances puts Selaginella phytochrome closest to the hypothetical ancestor. A similar tree arises if the tree is constructed with partial sequences (about 200 amino acids) around the chromophore attachment site. An extension of this tree by sequences of other cryptogamic plants (Mougeotia, Ceratodon, Psilotum) shows all these sequences including those of the phytochromes B and C of Arabidopsis on a branch, well separated from the branch formed by phytochromes known to accumulate in etiolated plants. The rooted phytochrome phylogenetic tree, however, is difficult to reconcile with the fossil record.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

[Diffuse cholangiofibromatosis--incidental findings in sonography, ERCP and laparoscopy].

Diffuse cholangiofibromatosis is a rare and asymptomatic abnormality. Its clinical significance results from problems that occur in differential diagnosis to granulomatous hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, multiple microabscesses or diffuse tumour infiltration of the liver, when it is incidentally found in ultrasound, ERCP or laparoscopy. The characteristic findings in these examinations are described in two case reports. The ultrasonic pattern of multiple intrahepatic double structures, microcystic areas and surrounding hyperechoic reflexes are in accordance with multiple intrahepatic microcystic and hazy areas in ERCP x-rays and multiple white-yellowish areas that retract liver surface in laparoscopy. Final diagnosis is confined by the characteristical microscopic finding of von Meyenburg-complexes in liver biopsy.

Bile Duct Neoplasms↗