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Biomedical subjects

B Kraus

Publications and source records attributed to B Kraus.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Distribution of lymph nodes and lymph node metastases in esophageal carcinoma].

BACKGROUND: Lymph node metastases are an independent prognostic factor in esophageal cancer. Accurate pathologic work up depends on detailed knowledges of number and anatomic distribution of lymph nodes and metastases. Factors that may determinate metastatic spread are also important. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-six patients with esophageal cancer were included in this study. Number and localization of nodes and metastases were documented and correlated with localization, infiltration deepness and grade of malignancy of the tumor. The effectivity of the search for nodes and metastases was also studied. RESULTS: We found 3869 lymph nodes containing 338 metastases in the 156 specimens (median 25 and 2). 53.2% of the cases exhibited metastases and 15.4% contained only solitary metastasis. The minimal number of lymph nodes for excluding of metastasis was about six nodes. Most of the nodes were found at lower esophagus and on the oral stomach resection. Tumors of the middle and upper thoracal esophagus spread also frequently to the nodes along the lesser curvature of the stomach. Between infiltration deepness and grade of malignancy of the tumors a positive association was found. CONCLUSIONS: Lymph node metastases are a frequent pathological feature in esophageal cancer which depends on infiltration deepness and grade of malignancy of the tumor. This allows the estimation of metastatic spread. For staging a minimum of six nodes must be found in the specimen. In this context the frequent metastases along the lesser curvature of the stomach must be considered.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

Increased incidence of renal cell tumors in a cohort of cardboard workers exposed to trichloroethene.

A retrospective cohort study was carried out in a cardboard factory in Germany to investigate the association between exposure to trichloroethene (TRI) and renal cell cancer. The study group consisted of 169 men who had been exposed to TRI for at least 1 year between 1956 and 1975. The average observation period was 34 years. By the closing day of the study (December 31, 1992) 50 members of the cohort had died, 16 from malignant neoplasms. In 2 out of these 16 cases, kidney cancer was the cause of death, which leads to a standard mortality ratio of 3.28 compared with the local population. Five workers had been diagnosed with kidney cancer: four with renal cell cancers and one with a urothelial cancer of the renal pelvis. The standardized incidence ratio compared with the data of the Danish cancer registry was 7.97 (95% CI: 2.59-18.59). After the end of the observation period, two additional kidney tumors (one renal cell and one urothelial cancer) were diagnosed in the study group. The control group consisted of 190 unexposed workers in the same plant. By the closing day of the study 52 members of this cohort had died, 16 from malignant neoplasms, but none from kidney cancer. No case of kidney cancer was diagnosed in the control group. The direct comparison of the incidence on renal cell cancer shows a statistically significant increased risk in the cohort of exposed workers. Hence, in all types of analysis the incidence of kidney cancer is statistically elevated among workers exposed to TRI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

An imaging filter for biological applications.

A recently developed post-column imaging filter optimized for biological electron microscopy is described. The filter uses a single magnetic prism, four strong quadrupole lenses and five sextupole lenses to form images and spectra free of all important aberrations and distortions of first and second order. The performance of the filter is illustrated with practical applications. It is shown that the filter offers several important advantages over currently existing in-column filters, particularly in the areas of imaging at low magnifications, attainable collection efficiency, energy resolution, and general spectroscopic operation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A novel cyclin gene (CCNF) in the region of the polycystic kidney disease gene (PKD1).

The major locus for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD1) is located in a gene-rich region on chromosome 16p13.3. Recently the identification of the gene responsible for PKD1 has been described. While searching for candidate genes in this region, we isolated a new member of the cyclin family. We have characterized the transcript by sequencing, determination of the exon intron boundaries, and Northern blot analysis. Cyclin F is related to A- and B-type cyclins by sequence, but its function is unknown.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Role of magnetic resonance imaging in the radiological management of musculoskeletal tumors.

The treatment of bone tumors has developed from amputation surgery to refined methods of therapy in the last 20 years. Limb-preserving operations in particular require exact documentation of the intra- and extraosseous extent of the tumors. Our clinical study showed that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is equal to or even superior to computed tomography (CT) in regard to the most important radiological criteria. For this reason, MRI can be considered of great value in the radiological management of bone tumors. While CT is in most cases inferior to MRI, there are still special cases which require angiography.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Expression of the yeast PHR1 gene is induced by DNA-damaging agents.

The PHR1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a photolyase which repairs specifically and exclusively pyrimidine dimers, the most frequent lesions induced in DNA by far-UV radiation. We have asked whether expression of PHR1 is modulated in response to UV-induced DNA damage and to DNA-damaging agents that induce lesions structurally dissimilar to pyrimidine dimers. Using a PHR1-lacZ fusion gene in which expression of beta-galactosidase is regulated by PHR1 5' regulatory elements, we found that exposure of cells to 254-nm light, 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide, methyl methanesulfonate, and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine induced synthesis of increased amounts of fusion protein. In contrast to these DNA-damaging agents, neither heat shock nor exposure to photoreactivating light elicited a response. Induction by far-UV radiation was evident both when the fusion gene was carried on a multicopy plasmid and when it replaced the endogenous chromosomal copy of PHR1, and it was accompanied by an increase in the steady-state concentration of PHR1-lacZ mRNA. Northern (RNA) blot analysis of PHR1 mRNA encoded by the chromosomal locus was consistent with either enhanced transcription of PHR1 after DNA damage or stabilization of the transcripts. Neither the intact PHR1 or RAD2 gene was required for induction. Comparison of the region of PHR1 implicated in regulation of its expression with other damage-inducible genes from yeast cells revealed a common conserved sequence that is present in the PHR1, RAD2, and RNR2 genes and is required for damage inducibility of the latter two genes. These sequences may constitute elements of a damage-responsive regulon in S. cerevisiae.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Absence of anti-human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 seroconversion after the treatment of hemophilia A or von Willebrand's disease with pasteurized factor VIII concentrate.

Patients with hemophilia A or von Willebrand's disease who are treated with concentrated preparations of human factor VIII made from unscreened pooled plasma are at substantial risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether by treating such patients with a pasteurized factor VIII concentrate that had been heated in aqueous solution at 60 degrees C for 10 hours, HIV infection could be avoided. Eleven hemophilia centers in the Federal Republic of Germany and two in Austria identified 155 eligible patients who had been treated exclusively with pasteurized factor VIII concentrate and had not received any other blood products. Between February 1979 and December 1986 they received a total of 15,916,260 IU of pasteurized factor VIII. The United States was the source of 80 percent of the plasma from which the concentrate was made. By September 1988, these 155 patients had been screened for antibody to HIV type 1 (anti-HIV-1) with a total of 657 tests; all were negative. Sixty-seven patients were also tested once for antibody to HIV type 2 (anti-HIV-2); all these tests were negative as well. It appears that pasteurization effectively inactivates HIV, even in plasma that is likely to be highly contaminated with the virus.

Austria↗
PubMed1988

[Ulcerative colitis. Activity index for the clinical and histological classification of inflammatory activity].

According to Truelove and Witts, ulcerative colitis has been rated only by clinical classification without taking into account morphological alterations, and so far (in contrast to Crohn's disease) no activity index has been available for clinical studies. Therefore, we have developed an index during a therapeutic trial with mesalazine (5-aminosalicylic acid) to evaluate the initial state of inflammation and assess therapeutic efficacy. The activity index includes 5 items: stool frequency (score 0 to 3), rectal bleeding (score 0 to 3), endoscopy (score 0 to 3), histology (score 0 to 4), and extension of inflammation (score 0 to 4). In 42 patients with ulcerative colitis treatment with mesalazine (2 suppositories of 250 mg 3 times daily) was monitored for 12 weeks. In 37 patients a clinical improvement was observed, as indicated by a significance decrease in the mean activity index from initially 10.2 to 6.1 (after 6 weeks) and 3.4 (after 12 weeks). The proposed index could be modified by additional parameters.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Absence of hepatitis after treatment with a pasteurized factor VIII concentrate in patients with hemophilia and no previous transfusions.

Post-transfusion hepatitis is frequent among patients with hemophilia who are treated with concentrated factor VIII prepared from pooled plasma, especially if it is obtained from paid donors. In 26 patients with hemophilia A or von Willebrand's disease who had not been treated with blood or any blood product and hence were highly susceptible to the development of post-transfusion hepatitis, we infused 32 batches of a factor VIII concentrate that had been produced from large pools of human plasma (collected from paid plasmapheresis donors) and then heated in solution at 60 degrees C for 10 hours before final lyophilization. Patients were examined clinically and serologically over a period of 12 months after the first infusion of the pasteurized concentrate. Neither hepatitis nor serologic signs of other viral infections were observed. The hemostatic effectiveness of the concentrate appeared to be satisfactory relative to untreated concentrates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Restrictive cardiomyopathy as a late sequel of influenza A2 virus myocarditis].

A clinically acute myocarditis with an increase of the influenza A2-virus titer marks the beginning of a ten year history leading to a restrictive cardiomyopathy, complicated by an exudative enteropathy. Two serial endomyocardial biopsies reveal an increasing interstitial fibrosis. Virus myocarditis as a cause of restrictive cardiomyopathy, which corresponds to the old term "myocardial fibrosis", is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Arterial hypertension in renin-producing retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma].

A case report of an extrarenal retroperitoneal metastatic leiomyosarcoma with associated paraneoplastic renin production is presented. Due to the renin excess syndrome, accelerated hypertension was present combined with the signs of secondary hyperaldosteronism, hypokalemia, and alkalosis. In contrast to other publications of extrarenal malignoma with paraneoplastic renin activity, this case elucidates a histologically close relationship to epitheloid muscle cells of kidney vasa afferentia and derived benign tumors. The retroperitoneal tumor and its brain metastase were morphologically identical. In contrast to histological criteria only the primary tumor exhibited high renin activity, no activity could be detected in the metastase.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Small intestinal function in chronic relapsing pancreatitis.

In a prospective study, several parameters of small intestinal function have been assessed in 20 patients with chronic relapsing pancreatitis with and without steatorrhoea. By and large all routine parameters of small intestinal function were found to be normal. In particular, neither a previously reported high incidence of lactase deficiency, nor D-xylose malabsorption or vitamin B12 depletion was observed. However, there was a high incidence of abnormal 14C-cholylglycine breath tests (40%), suggesting the presence of mild bacterial overgrowth. Occasionally, this condition was associated with diarrhoea and steatorrhoea, thus indicating that steatorrhoea remaining after high-dosage pancreatin supplementation might sometimes be due to bacterial overgrowth.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1985

Galeazzi fractures.

A series of 27 Galeazzi fractures treated by open reduction and rigid internal fixation have been reviewed. The average followup was 32 months. Twenty-five patients obtained a satisfactory result. One patient developed a pseudarthrosis after a fracture through a screw hole, an unsatisfactory result. A second patient sustained a severe open fracture with considerable soft-tissue damage and this result also rated as unsatisfactory. There were no infections. The authors believe that open reduction and rigid internal fixation of the radial fracture is the treatment of choice for this injury.

Adolescent↗