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Biomedical subjects

B Weber

Publications and source records attributed to B Weber.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Long-term response to human growth hormone in 36 children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency.

The results of long term treatment with human growth hormone (Crescormon, 12.4 IU/m2/week) in 36 patients with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency are given. Birth trauma--in particular assisted breech delivery (30%)--is the major aetiological cause. Twelve patients had isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD), 24 had multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (MPHD) of which 19 were treated with additional thyroid hormones. The results were judged by the criteria of height velocity, total height gain and change of height prediction (TW2, age based). It is concluded that the growth hormone dose chosen in many cases is insufficient to maintain high growth rates after the first year of treatment, when "catch-up" no loner takes place. The tendency of patients supplemented with thyroid hormone to grow better--without additional bone-age advancement--calls for careful search for hypothyroidism and suggests the use of thyroxin in cases of doubt.

Body Height↗
PubMed1979

Antigenic similarity of morphologic type CIII1 bacteriophages.

The aim of the study was to demonstrate antigenic differentiation among bacteriophages belonging to the same morphologic type--CIII1 according to Krzywy and Slopek or A2 according to Ackermann. Twenty-six bacteriophages which multiplied on various strains of bacteria of the genera Escherichia, Shigella and Klebsiella, were studied. Serologic tests were done by the quantitative complement fixation test. Immune sera against 5 phi E. coli. D8 Sh. flexneri, G35 Sh. sonnei and Kl7 Klebsiella bacteriophages were obtained from rabbits. It was shown that bacteriophages of CIII1 morphologic type, with morphologically identical virion had different antigenic specificity. On the basis of results obtained the phages could be divided into eight serologic groups. The bacteriophages for which antisera were obtained belonged to four different serologic groups. All bacteriophages had some common antigens with 5 phi E. coli phage. The similarity points to a phylogenetic relationship among phages of CIII1 morphologic type.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1979

[Chemotherapy of non-microcellular disseminated bronchial cancer (author's transl)].

Fifty-one patients suffering from non-microcellular bronchial cancer with metastasis were divided at random into two groups: 33 patients received BACFON polychemotherapy, 18 patients did not receive chemotherapy. There was no global significant difference between the two groups (total mean survival time : 22 weeks with good therapy and 18 without), but a significant difference could be observed if there was an early response (M.S.T. : 38 weeks) compared to no response (M.S.T. : 15 weeks). Similar results were obtained when radiotherapy was associated (M.S.T. : 34 weeks) compared to chemotherapy without radiotherapy (M.S.T. : 22 weeks).

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1978

Antibody formation and insulin requirements in diabetic children during treatment with purified commercial pork insulins.

40 diabetic children (20 female, 20 male, mean age 8.5 ys, ranging from 0.8 to 14.3 ys), were treated with either of two purified porcine insulin preparations, Komb-Insulin CS (Hoechst) "CS": n = 21, and Semilente MC (Novo) "MC": n = 19, the latter being further purified by ion exchange chromatography. Circulating IgG-antibodies formed in 39 out of 40 subjects during the observation period of more than 2 years. Insulin binding-capacities below 2 mU/ml (mean value after 12 months: 0.45 mU/ml) were found following MC and considerably higher concentrations (mean value after 12 months: 5.16 mU/ml) following CS administration. However, only 52% of the CS-group (n = 11) showed high individual responses (subgroup II), many of which exceeded 5 mU/ml, while the other half (subgroup I) exhibited values as low as those in the MC-subjects. The ratio of girls to boys was high (8 vs 3) in subgroup II, and low (2 vs 8) in subgroup I. Despite great differences in antibody formation, no differences in insulin requirements were noted between the MC- and the CS-groups. Within the CS-group, however, some positive relationship between these parameters was found 6 months and 12 months after the start of therapy, but this did not necessarily apply to individual subjects. Short-term (metabolic control) and long-term effects of therapy (growth) were not different in the MC- and CS-subjects. From these results it may be concluded that antibody formation does not affect insulin requirements or metabolic control during relatively short-term treatment. Provided that antibodies have no direct relation to future vascular changes, both insulin preparations used in this study are equally well-situated for long-term treatment in children and adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Glucocorticosteroids and growth hormone secretion under physiological conditions and in states of steroid excess.

Cortisol and growth hormone (GH) secretion (spontaneous variations at night and the release induced by insulin hypoglycaemia) were investigated in 69 children and adolescents. Statistical analysis of approximately 600 pairs of cortisol and GH values in this study demonstrated that physiological fluctuations of cortisol do not alter GH secretion. A review of the literature shows that GH secretion is consistently depressed in Cushing's disease of central origin and in Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal carcinoma. When acutely administered, doses higher than 100 mg of cortisol (or equivalent amounts of other steroids) per adult are necessary to block GH secretion and the hormones have to be given several hours previously. In long-term steroid treatment, suppression of GH is observed in only 1 out of 3 patients. The effect apparently does not persist beyond elimination of the last dose, i.e. generally not longer than 12 to 24 h. These data can be taken as a rationale for intermittent or alternating dosage schedules, and for the use of short acting derivatives if long-term, high-dose steroid treatment is necessary in children. It remains to be established whether growth deficiency in exogenous hypercortisolism is due to suppression of GH secretion, decreased production of somatomedins, direct antagonism of the action of somatomedins on growing cartilage, or a combination of these mechanisms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[B.C.G. osteitis after immunotherapy (author's transl)].

A case of B.C.G. osteitis occuring after an attempt at the restoration of immune function in a patient with Hodgkin's disease. The diagnosis was based upon histological study of a biopsy specimen and the discovery of a B.C.G. strain. Tuberculostatic therapy resulted in local healing. The various complications and side-effects of B.C.G. immunotherapy are reported in the discussion: local reactions, regional lymphadenopathy, systemic infections, hypersensitivity phenomena, pulmonary, bone marrow and hepatic involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Wilms' tumor and adrenocortical carcinoma with hemihypertrophy and hamartomas.

A girl with hemihypertrophy and hamartomas, now 14 years old, had Wilms' tumor and subsequently developed adrenocortical carcinoma. The occurrence of the two tumors with the signs of an inborn defect of growth control supports the hypothesis that both tumors can be caused by the same etiologic factors, which are also teratogenic. An alternative explanation of induction of the second tumor by previous radio- and chemotherapy is discussed. Possible relationships between our case and the syndrome of Wiedemann and Beckwith are pointed out.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Metabolic products of microorganisms 167. Cyclopaldic acid from Aspergillus duricaulis. 1. Production, isolation and bioloical properties.

In the course of a screening for new metabolites from fungi we isolated a substance with antimicrobial activity from cultures of Aspergillus duricaulis (CBS 481.65) (Tü 679). It was antagonized by putrescine, spermidine, spermine, arginine, citrulline, lysine, ornithine, in higher concentration by aspraagine and glutamine too. The effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetate on the susceptibility of Streptomyces viridochromogenes (Tü 57) and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051 to this antibiotic has been studied. The substance was characterized and identified as cyclopaldic acid.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1978

[The syndrome of the fifth day (author's transl)].

After operation of uncomplicated forms of appendicitis in children postoperative complications characterised by sudden vehement stomach-ache, quickly increasing tension of the abdominal wall, rise of temperature, pulse and white blood cells as well as vomitus, mostly on the fifth post-operative day could be observed. French authors call it "the syndrome of the fifth day". We observed this syndrome in 12 patients of 2.814 appendectomies in infancy. The treatment demands an immediate introduction of an intensive care by gastric suction intravenous fluid replacement and high doses of antibiotics. If these measures are not followed by an improvement within a few hours, a relaparotomy will be indicated. Then liquid pus is to be found in the abdomen and only a fibrin film in the primary operation field. In single cases we found a partial suture dehiscence. The aetiology of this complication has not been cleared yet.

Abdomen↗