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Biomedical subjects

B Neumann

Publications and source records attributed to B Neumann.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

A clonal analysis of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A.

A typing scheme has recently been developed for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A based on the clonal population structure of these bacteria. An international strain collection consisting of 423 group A strains isolated from 23 epidemics or outbreaks since 1963, as well as from older epidemics and numerous non-epidemic situations was used in the analysis. Strains were first segregated into electrophoretic types, depending on the combined score for the electrophoretic mobilities of 7 cytoplasmic isoenzymes resolved by starch gel electrophoresis and of 2 outer membrane proteins resolved by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The bacteria were subsequently assigned to one of 21 clones after numerical analysis of their electrophoretic types. The epidemiological value of the typing scheme was assessed by examining case and carrier strains isolated during (1982-83) and subsequent to (1984-85) an epidemic in the Gambia, West Africa. The case isolates, all of which were serogroup A, were of a single clonal type. All serogroup A carrier isolates were also of this clone, while carrier strains of other serogroups showed greater clonal diversity. These results indicate that case strains during an epidemic show little clonal diversity and thus that the typing scheme is of value in distinguishing the etiology of epidemics. A retrospective epidemiological analysis of the strains in the international collection showed that most serogroup A epidemics were associated with a single or predominant clone, although some epidemics were of mixed etiology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Africa

Tavern going in Canada: a national survey of regulars at public drinking establishments.

The results of a national survey of tavern going are reported; special attention is paid to the drinking patterns, reasons for attending, types of places frequented and social characteristics of the "regular" (i.e., the person who usually attends the same establishment and with some frequency). Most Canadians make some use of pubs, but only a few are regulars. Regulars are young, unmarried and heavier than average drinkers. Persons going to taverns, lounges, nightclubs and private clubs differ in social characteristics and these attributes are related to the activities and social functions associated with the various types of public drinking establishments.

Adolescent

Breaking the 'detox-loop' for alcoholics with social detoxification.

A significant number of alcoholics do not respond to detoxification as a step on the way to rehabilitation. Instead, they periodically 'dry out' and subsequently return to alcohol abuse. They do not accept the responsibilities inherent in the sick role (cooperation in order to improve status of health by entering and continuing treatment), although they do accept the privileges (care, shelter and asylum). Repeated detoxifications (within medical and non-medical settings) of persons who do not commit themselves to entering rehabilitation, are of minimum benefit to the patient and absorb resources which could be better used by those more amendable to treatment. An appropriate level of care--social detoxification--should be provided for ' detox - loopers '. Such a model can focus on the alcoholic's social welfare needs. Social detoxification provides both respite and basic care. The door to ongoing rehabilitation through professional services, as well as self-help groups, can remain open, without being the main objective of the centre.

Alcoholism

Pharmacokinetics of amezinium in rat and dog.

Using 14C-labelled 4-amino-6-methoxy-1-phenyl-pyridazinium methyl sulfate (ameziniummetilsulfate, LU 1631, Regulton), briefly called amezinium, the time course of plasma level in the rat and of blood level and renal excretion rate in the dog has been followed. The distribution of radioactivity in the organism was investigated by autoradiography of whole-animal sections and by quantitative radioactivity determinations in rat tissue as well as by in vitro experiments. From the results we draw the following conclusions: 1. In the two species investigated here, amezinium is almost completely absorbed after enteral administration. In the rat the absorption proceeds with a half-life of 11 min, after a lag phase of 6 min. In the dog, the lag phase is 30-40 min, after which the compound is absorbed with a half-life of 30 min or less. The small intestine appears to be the site of absorption. 2. Amezinium has a high affinity for tissues. Its transport through the cell membrane, in the case of sympathetic neurons and probably also in the case of other chromaffin cells, is mediated by the noradrenaline carrier; in other tissues, for example the liver, a different active transport mechanism, as yet not elucidated, is operating. The placenta and blood-brain barrier are passed only slightly, if at all. In rat blood amezinium distributes between erythrocytes and plasma with a ratio of 2.7:1; the proportion bound to plasma proteins is about 20%. 3. In the rat amezinium is eliminated from the circulation to the extent of about 3/4 by biotransformation; on enteral administration, about 80% is trapped by first-pass metabolism. In the dog biotransformation accounting for about 40% of the elimination is relatively unimportant; the first-pass metabolism is virtually negligible. 4. Amezinium is eliminated by rats about equally with urine and bile, whilst in the dog the predominant proportion is excreted renally. From plasma level curves the terminal half-life t 1/2 (beta) in the rat was found to be 17 h and 21 h after i.v. and p.o. administration, respectively; blood level data and urinary excretion data in the case of the dog gave 5 1/2 (beta) values between 11 h and 20 h. 5. Renal clearance of amezinium in the dog is not constant: initially it is several times greater than the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreasing subsequently to about the same magnitude or even below the GFR.

Animals

[Pharmacology of "essential" phospholipids (author's transl)].

In an extensive pharmacological screening of "essential" phospholipids (EPL) antilipemic, hepatoprotective, broncholytic, as well as slight choleretic effects were found and the substance decreased capillary permeability. There was practically no influence on other functions or systems including the vegetative system (heart, circulation, respiration).

Animals

[The anti-hyperlipemic and anti-atherogenic effect of "essential" phospholipids: a pharmacologic trial].

To prove antilipemic and antiatherogenic effectiveness several animal species were given "essential" phospholipids (EPL) during different experimental procedures. The following actions were studied: 1. Effect of EPL-substance after prophylactic and therapeutic oral administration (dosage: 50, 150, 450 mg/kg bodyweight daily) in rats with acute and subacute hypelipemia induced by triton. 2. Effect of EPL-substance after prophylactic and therapeutic oral administration (dosage: 50, 150, 450, 1800 mg/kg bodyweight daily) in rats with dietetic hypercholesterolemia. 3. Effect of EPL-substance after daily oral administration (dosage: 50, 150, 450 mg/kg bodyweight) on the development of coronary and aortic atherosclerosis and various biochemical parameters in cholesterol-fed cockerels. 4. Effect of EPL-substance after dialy oral administration (dosage: 50, 150, 450 mg/kg bodyweight) on subacute triton-hyperlipemia in mini pigs. Triton-administration causes a greater or smaller increase in all parameters of the lipid metabolism measured. EPL treatment decreases these parameters during therapeutic and prophylactic administration in some cases even reaching normal values. The effect was clearly dose-dependent. EPL inhibit the increase in total lipids in dietetic hypercholesterolemia during therapeutic as well as during prophylactic administration. The effect was clearly dose-dependent in all doses, being statistically significant at the highest dosage level. In cockerels EPL were effective at all dose levels in counteracting the development of coronary atherosclerosis while the effect in atherosclerosis of aorta was less distinct. Except for non-esterified fatty acids, EPL reduced all biochemical parameters measured.

Animals