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Biomedical subjects

B Krause

Publications and source records attributed to B Krause.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

[Communication center in public health].

The Communications Center's portfolio covers areas such as marketing, contacts, distribution of information, sales activities and collection of bills by telephone (encashment). A special emphasis is Customer Care Management (Customer Relationship Management) to the patient and his caregivers (relatives), the customers, especially the physicians who send their patients to the hospital and the hospital doctor. By providing communication centers, the hospital would be able to improve the communication with the G.P.s, and identify the wishes and requirements more accurately and easily from the beginning. Dealing effectively with information and communication is already also of special importance for hospital doctors today. One can assume that the demands on doctors in this respect will become even more complex in the future. Doctors who are involved in scientific research are of course fully aware of the growing importance of the Internet with its new information and communication channels. Therefore analysing the current situation, the demands on a future information management system can be formulated: A system that will help doctors to avoid dealing with little goal-oriented information and thus setting up effective communication channels; an information system which is multi-media oriented towards the interests and needs of the patients and patient's relatives and which is further developed continually and directly by those involved.

Communication↗
PubMed2002

The comparability of quality of life scores. a multitrait multimethod analysis of the EORTC QLQ-C30, SF-36 and FLIC questionnaires.

This study investigates whether similarly named subscales of three quality of life questionnaires, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Medical Outcome Study Quality of Life Questionnaire Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the Functional Living Index Cancer questionnaire (FLIC) assess similar aspects of the patients' quality of life. A multitrait multimethod analysis on the answers of 234 cancer patients showed that subscale correlations as indicators of convergent validity significantly exceed corresponding correlations of discriminant validity in five of the seven dimensions analysed (physical functioning, emotional functioning, pain, fatigue/vitality and nausea/vomiting). The results of the social functioning and overall health subscales are less clear. Content analysis of the social functioning scales reveals that this domain is differently operationalised in the three questionnaires. Linear regressions of the overall health subscales suggest that patients interpret overall health questions of the three questionnaires differently. The results show that overall health subscales of these three questionnaires cannot be equated, while most specific subscales provide valid results.

Female↗
PubMed2000

Developmental toxicity of the HIV-protease inhibitor indinavir in rats.

BACKGROUND: Indinavir is an antiviral agent used for the treatment of HIV infection. We studied its developmental toxicity in rats. METHODS: Pregnant animals were treated orally with 500 mg indinavir/kg body weight (bw) from day 6 to 15 of gestation (once daily) or from day 9 to 11 (twice daily). Fetuses were evaluated for external and skeletal anomalies on day 21 of gestation. In addition, 19 rats were treated from day 9 of gestation to day 24 postnatally with 500 mg indinavir/kg bw once daily; a control group of 17 rats was treated with the vehicle accordingly. Developmental landmarks were recorded. Sixteen offspring each were studied on postnatal days 7, 14, 21, and 35 for hepatic enzyme activity. Liver tissue was examined by electron microscopy. RESULTS: Fetal examination on day 21 of pregnancy showed no treatment-related effects on number, weight, and viability of the fetuses; however, an increased incidence was noted in the supernumerary ribs and variations of the vertebral ossification centers in both indinavir-treated groups. Postnatal evaluation showed delayed fur development, eye opening, and descensus testis. The most striking finding was unilateral anophthalmia, observed in 7 pups (3%) from 2 out of 19 litters exposed to indinavir, but not in controls. Only minor changes in hepatic monooxygenase activities occurred in dams. Electron microscopy of liver samples showed hepatocellular inclusions of lipids and myelin figure-like structures in maternal livers and infiltration with granulocytes in offspring livers. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies on reproductive toxicity, including combinations of three or more antiretroviral agents as used therapeutically, are needed to determine the hazards of such a treatment.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed2000

Monocytes from systemic lupus erythematous patients are severely altered in phenotype and lineage flexibility.

OBJECTIVE: Cells of the myeloid lineage comprise a very heterogeneous population with many phenotypes and functional activities including macrophages and dendritic cells. To investigate the status, differentiative potential and lineage commitment of monocytic cells in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, this study isolated and cultured peripheral blood monocytes from patients and healthy donors. METHODS: Monocytes were isolated by gradient centrifugation and adherence to plastic dishes. The cells were then cultured for three days, partially supplemented with GM-CSF and interleukin 4 (IL4) to obtain dendritic cells. The differentiation status was monitored by the expression of surface markers using flow cytometry and cytokine secretion. RESULTS: Monocytes from SLE patients expressed significantly lower numbers of the monocytic marker CD14 and HLA-DR while secreting significantly more tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) than monocytes from healthy donors. The addition of GM-CSF and IL4 resulted in an inhibition of TNFalpha secretion, but was not sufficient to generate monocytederived dendritic cells. CONCLUSION: Monocytes from SLE patients are severely altered in phenotype and function and have a limited differentiation flexibility towards the accessory type of monocytic cells.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

On the relation between brain images and brain neural networks.

The relationship between brain images observed by PET and fMRI and the underlying neural activity is analysed using recent results on the detailed nature of averaged and synchronised activity of coupled neural networks and on a simplifying model of the level of blood flow caused by neural activity. The conditions on the coupled neural systems are specified that lead to structural equation models, giving support to analysis of the covariance structural equation modelling of brain imaging data. The relation between the resulting models and possible neural codes are analysed. Furthermore, a new form of structural equation model is derived, in which all neuronal activity arises as hidden variables. We discuss how the results of such analyses can be transported back to the domain of coupled temporally dynamic neural systems in the brain appropriate to EEG and MEG observations.

Brain↗
PubMed1998

Frequency of abdominal CT findings in AIDS patients with M. avium complex bacteraemia.

BACKGROUND: Use of blood culture studies for early diagnosis of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection has become important due to the recent development of effective antibiotic therapy for this condition. This study assessed the abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with AIDS who presented with bacteraemic MAC infection. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of abdominal CT scans was performed in 24 patients who presented with MAC-positive blood culture. CT images were reviewed specifically to evaluate for lymph node enlargement and attenuation, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, bowel wall abnormality and for any other pathological changes. Comparison was made to prior reports of the CT findings in this disease process. RESULT: Enlarged intra-abdominal mesenteric and/or retroperitoneal lymph nodes were found in 10 patients (42%). These nodes were characterized by homogeneous, soft-tissue attenuation in eight of the 10 patients. Hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and small bowel wall thickening were noted in 12 (50%), 11 (46%) and four (14%) patients, respectively. CT findings were evaluated as normal in six (25%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Enlarged mesenteric and/or retroperitoneal lymph nodes in AIDS patients with bacteraemic MAC were observed much less frequently on CT than previously reported in AIDS patient populations. Normal abdominal CT findings do not exclude this diagnosis and may reflect a trend towards earlier detection of MAC disease.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1998

Preoperative chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiation therapy based on hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy and definitive surgery in locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: mature results of a phase II trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of an intensive multimodality approach with combination chemotherapy, hyperfractionated accelerated chemoradiotherapy, and definitive surgery in prognostically unfavorable subgroups of locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer stages IIIA and IIIB (LAD-NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Following staging, including mediastinoscopy, 94 patients with inoperable LAD-NSCLC were treated preoperatively with chemotherapy (three courses of split-dose cisplatin and etoposide [PE]) followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (one course of PE combined with 45 Gy hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy). After repeat mediastinoscopy, patients underwent surgery 4 weeks postradiation. RESULTS: Of 94 consecutive patients (52 stage IIIA [> or = two lymph node levels involved] and 42 stage IIIB [no pleural effusion, no supraclavicular nodes]), 62 (66%) completed induction and underwent surgery. Complete resection (R0) was achieved in 50 (53% of all patients) and pathologic complete response (PCR) in 24 (26%). After a median follow-up of 43 months, the median survival time was 20 months for IIIA, 18 months for IIIB, and 42 months for R0 patients. Calculated survival rates at 4 years were 31%, 26%, and 46%. Two patients died of sepsis preoperatively and four died postoperatively of pleural empyema (n = 1), stump insufficiency (n = 2), and cardiac failure (n = 1). Other toxicities were acceptable-mainly hematologic during chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy and esophagitis during chemoradiotherapy. CONCLUSION: This intensive multimodality treatment is feasible and demonstrates high efficacy in prognostically unfavorable LAD-NSCLC subgroups with high R0 rates and improved long-term survival compared with historical controls

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Three-dimensional polyethylene wear of a press-fit titanium prosthesis. Factors influencing generation of polyethylene debris.

Between 1985 and 1990, 108 consecutive Harris-Galante I (Zimmer, Warsaw, IN) total hip arthroplasties were performed by four surgeons at a single hospital. At the time of follow-up evaluation, 80 hips were available for review. The mean rate of linear wear was 0.15 mm/y, mean rate of three-dimensional femoral head displacement was 0.21 mm/y, and mean rate of volumetric wear was 121 mm3/y. Eight hips (10%) in this series had radiologic osteolysis around either the femoral or acetabular component. A significantly greater volumetric wear rate was found in patients who were younger, those with a higher activity level, those who received a 32-mm-diameter femoral head, and those with vertical orientation of their acetabular component. No relationship could be made with patient weight, gender, Harris hip score, or cup diameter.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Physiology and enzymology involved in denitrification by Shewanella putrefaciens.

Nitrate reduction to N2O was investigated in batch cultures of Shewanella putrefaciens MR-1, MR-4, and MR-7. All three strains reduced nitrate to nitrite to N2O, and this reduction was coupled to growth, whereas ammonium accumulation was very low (0 to 1 micromol liter-1). All S. putrefaciens isolates were also capable of reducing nitrate aerobically; under anaerobic conditions, nitrite levels were three- to sixfold higher than those found under oxic conditions. Nitrate reductase activities (31 to 60 micromol of nitrite min-1 mg of protein-1) detected in intact cells of S. putrefaciens were equal to or higher than those seen in Escherichia coli LE 392. Km values for nitrate reduction ranged from 12 mM for MR-1 to 1.3 mM for MR-4 with benzyl viologen as an artifical electron donor. Nitrate and nitrite reductase activities in cell-free preparations were demonstrated in native gels by using reduced benzyl viologen. Detergent treatment of crude and membrane extracts suggested that the nitrate reductases of MR-1 and MR-4 are membrane bound. When the nitrate reductase in MR-1 was partially purified, three subunits (90, 70, and 55 kDa) were detected in denaturing gels. The nitrite reductase of MR-1 is also membrane bound and appeared as a 60-kDa band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels after partial purification.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1996

Structure and properties of novel inclusions in Shewanella putrefaciens.

Cytoplasmic inclusions surrounded by a bilayer membrane were seen in thin sections. negatively stained and freeze-fractured preparations of Shewanella putrefaciens. Cells harvested from the late exponential and early stationary phase showed a higher number of these vesicles than bacteria isolated from early exponential or late stationary phase. Chemical dyes for polyphosphate or poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate did not stain the material enclosed within these vesicles. Elemental analysis of the material indicated that the content was organic in nature and might be a protein. HPLC analysis of the material showed that it was probably not a carbon source, nor an electron acceptor used by S. putrefaciens.

Culture Media↗
PubMed1995

Debranching of arabinoxylan: properties of the thermoactive recombinant alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase from Clostridium stercorarium (ArfB).

The gene arfB encoding alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase B of the cellulolytic thermophile Clostridium stercorarium was expressed in Escherichia coli from a 2.2-kb EcoRI DNA fragment. The recombinant gene product ArfB was purified by fast-performance liquid chromatography. It has a tetrameric structure with a monomeric relative molecular mass of 5200. The optima for temperature and pH are 70 degrees C and 5.0 respectively. The enzyme appears to have no metal cofactor requirement and is sensitive to sulfhydryl reagents. It hydrolyzes aryl and alkyl alpha-L-arabinofuranosides and cleaves arabinosyl side-chains from arabinoxylan (oat-spelt xylan) and from xylooligosaccharides produced by recombinant endoxylanase XynA from the same organism. The identify of the N-terminal amino acid sequences indicates that ArfB corresponds to the major alpha-arabinosidase activity present in the culture supernatant of C. stercorarium.

Amino Acid Sequence↗