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Biomedical subjects

C Schmidt

Publications and source records attributed to C Schmidt.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Differences in color discrimination between three cardioactive glycosides.

Color discrimination ability of 100 in-patients suffering from congestive heart failure and treated with digitoxin (D), pengitoxin (P), or digoxin (Dg) was determined with the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue test (FM 100) and compared with the color discrimination of 72 in-patients who were not treated with digitalis glycosides (control group C). Parallel to the performance of the FM 100, the glycoside plasma level was measured by radioimmunoassay. The total error score (TES) of the FM 100 was correlated with the glycoside plasma level and the patient's age. In the C as well as in the D or P groups up to 172 errors and in the Dg group up to 586 errors were observed. With the exception of Dg, no differences were observed between the regression lines indicating an age-dependent increase in TES even under D or P treatment. In contrast to the two glycosides, Dg enhances the TES in therapeutically relevant plasma concentrations. The differences between the glycosides are due to differences in their volume of distribution and their plasma protein binding.

Acetyldigoxins↗
PubMed1988

[Treatment of systemic scleroderma using plasma exchange. A study of 19 cases].

Generalized scleroderma (GS) is associated with dysimmunity anomalies suggesting possible benefits of plasma exchange (PE) therapy. Nineteen patients with GS were treated by PE (volume of plasma exchange equivalent to 5-6% body weight and replacement by 4% human albumin), initially three times weekly, then weekly, bi-monthly and monthly (total duration 12-18 months). Clinical and paraclinical follow up was for an average of more than 2 years after the end of PE (mean number 17 per patient). Clinical results were assessed as positive and lasting in 11 cases (57.9%), two cases remaining stable and three cases worsening (one death from heart failure). The remaining three cases were failures in application of treatment (difficult venous approach). Improvement was noted in cutaneous sclerosis (62% of cases), trophic disorders (recovery in 6 of 7 cases) and articular manifestations. Vasomotor disorders were improved in only 20% of cases and visceral lesions unaltered. Results of capillaroscopy showed improvement in 5 of 11 cases. Biological values could not be correlated with either the course or the therapeutic efficacy. General tolerance to PE was good but the venous approach must be of good quality. These findings suggest the need for a randomized trial to define the place of PE in the treatment of GS.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

A phase I study of T101-ricin A chain immunotoxin in refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Four patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia refractory to alkylating agents were treated with T101-ricin A chain immunotoxin (T101-RTA) as part of a phase I study. Over a 4-week period, each patient received eight intravenous infusions of 3 mg/m2 T101-RTA over 1 h. All infusions were well tolerated. Patients had mild fevers but no other systemic toxicities. In vivo binding of T101-RTA was detected by FACS analysis using anti-mouse Ig-FITC or anti-A chain-FITC antibody conjugates. Saturation of circulating leukemic cell-associated target antigen was achieved in three of the patients. Available CD5 sites per cell dropped precipitously at the completion of infusions in all four patients, returning to within 30% of baseline by 24 h. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed rapid clearance of T101-RTA, with wide interpatient variability in peak serum levels (the highest levels in those patients who saturated their circulating CD5 antigen with immunotoxin). Although no patient developed detectable levels of antimurine antibodies, one patient did have a rising titer of anti-ricin A chain antibody associated with declining peak serum levels of immunotoxin. All patients had a rapid fall in WBC count of less than 24-h duration after each T101-RTA infusion, most likely secondary to the antibody portion of immunotoxin. No sustained benefit could be demonstrated in any patient, possibly because in the absence of an enhancing agent the leukemic cells of all four patients were resistent to T101-RTA at concentrations up to 2,000 ng/ml in vitro.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

[Effectiveness of bronchial lavage with a new double-lumen catheter].

The effectiveness of tracheobronchial lavage in the traditional manner with application of a rinsing solution into the endotracheal tube of artificially ventilated patients is unsatisfactory. In order to improve this a new double lumen catheter was developed. Beside the suction channel with a normal diameter is another very small channel, through which a rinsing solution or drugs can easily be applied endobronchially. The rinsing solution can be poured with high speed through this small channel into the peripheral bronchi. In comparison with the traditional method, endobronchial saline instillation and suctioning can be done more quickly during continuous artificial respiration. The tube was compared with a common suction catheter in 16 patients. These patients were intubated and given artificial respiration. Endobronchial rinsing and suctioning were done periodically. The suctioned bronchial secretion was measured and arterial blood gases were evaluated. Using the dual lumen probe, the suctioned volume was 3.8 times higher. In a short time the arterial oxygen pressure rose from 100% to 123%. An obvious improvement in ventilation could be seen even after 1 h. There was a positive correlation between the suctioned volume and the rise in oxygen pressure. Only suctioning of more than 3.7 ml was accompanied by a rise in the arterial oxygen pressure. Because of continuous artificial respiration, the arterial carbon dioxide pressure was kept constant. Therefore, there is a catheter available that makes it possible to perform a much more effective endobronchial lavage in a shorter period of time.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Nuclear suppression of a mitochondrial RNA splice defect: nucleotide sequence and disruption of the MRS3 gene.

A mitochondrial RNA splice defect in the first intron of the COB gene (bI1) can be suppressed by a dominant nuclear mutation SUP-101. Starting with a gene bank of yeast nuclear DNA from a SUP-101 suppressor strain cloned in the YEp13 plasmid, we have isolated a recombinant plasmid which exerts a suppressor activity similar to the SUP-101 allele. The N3(2) insert of this plasmid contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 1014 bp which is transcribed to a 12 S RNA. Deletion of the 5' end of this ORF and its upstream sequences abolishes the suppressor activity. The N3(2) insert thus carries a functional gene (called MRS3) which can suppress a mitochondrial splice defect. The chromosomal equivalent of the cloned gene has been mapped to chromosome 10. Disruption of this chromosomal gene has no phenotypic effect on wild-type cells.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Amplification of the yeast nuclear gene MRS3 confers suppression of a mitochondrial RNA splice defect.

The MRS3 gene cloned in the multicopy plasmid YEp13 suppresses the mitochondrial splice defect exerted by mutation M1301 in the group II intron bI1. In this article we report on the behavior of the MRS3 gene cloned in the integration vector pEMBLYi27 and in the CEN4-ARS vector YCp50. Transformation of mutant M1301 cells with these recombinant vectors produced transformants, the majority of which showed the original splice defect and contained the recombinant vectors in single or low copy; a minority, however, was splicing competent and showed exceptionally high copy numbers of the MRS3 gene. These latter transformants had either the pEMBLYi27/MRS3 sequence repeated at least 20 times in tandem at the chromosomal site of the MRS3 gene or they had the YCp50/MRS3 sequence established as a multicopy plasmid lacking the copy number control usually exerted by the CEN4 sequence in this plasmid.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1987

Three nuclear genes suppress a yeast mitochondrial splice defect when present in high copy number.

A gene bank of a yeast wild type DNA in the high copy number vector YEp13 was screened for recombinant plasmids which suppress the mitochondrial RNA splice defect exerted by mutant M1301, a -1 bp deletion in the first intron of the mitochondrial COB gene (bI1). A total of 17 recombinant plasmids with similar suppressor activity were found. Restriction mapping and cross-hybridization of the inserts revealed that these 17 plasmids contain three different inserts, all lacking any extended sequence homology. Each of the inserts, when present in high copy number, has a similar suppressor activity: high in the presence of mutation M1301 in bI1, a group II intron, and low but significant with the presence of few mutants in bI2 and bI3 of the COB gene, both of which are group I introns.

Alleles↗
PubMed1987

Phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and the RES in endotoxemia.

The reticuloendothelial system (RES) and the polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are thought to play a major role in defense against sepsis. Disturbances in the function of these two phagocytic systems during a septic event is associated with the development of lung capillary injury. Endotoxemia is said to lead to similar changes. Our study examined the function of the RES and PMNs after bolus injection of endotoxin (2 micrograms/kg BW) in a standardized sheep model. For up to 24 hr after endotoxin, blood samples were drawn and PMN function was followed by chemiluminescence, chemotaxis, and adherence as well as the phagocytosis and killing of bacteria. RES function was determined by the blood clearance of a labeled Tc99 colloid. We found an increase of RES clearance directly after endotoxin. Chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and killing were reduced. Adherence was increased. Chemiluminescence peak maximum (CLPM), representing the metabolic activity of the PMNs, was initially increased but shortly thereafter showed a significant decline (at 1 hr: 0.52 +/- 0.13 X 10(6) cpm with P less than 0.05 compared to baseline). The chemiluminescence peak time (CLPT), a measure of membrane receptor function, was significantly reduced (10.0 +/- 2.2 min with P less than 0.001 compared to baseline). Endotoxin led to a reduction of intracellular PMN functions (phagocytosis, killing, CLPM) within 1 hr. Membrane localized functions (adherence, CLPT) were increased. The changes in PMN function might be the reason for the development of lung capillary injury, in spite of undisturbed RES clearance.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Does elevated glutathione protect the cell from H2O2 insult?

Utilizing glutathione ethyl ester (GSH-EE), the glutathione (GSH) level of lens epithelial cells can be increased as much as 1.9-fold. The epithelial cells maintain the additional GSH in the reduced form. This system was utilized to examine the relative effectiveness of cells with elevated GSH to withstand H2O2 insult. Three parameters were investigated, 86Rb accumulation, a measure of membrane function, ATP levels, an indication of overall metabolism and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) activity, indicating intracellular enzyme susceptibility to oxidative insult. Under oxidative stress, much of the GSH is in the oxidized form but upon removal of the stress, rapidly returns to the reduced state. However, a loss of approximately 20% in GSH equilibrium levels has been consistently observed. Elevated GSH does not significantly increase the cells' ability to withstand or recover from oxidative stress. Indeed, elevated GSH was found to be somewhat deleterious, causing a decreased ability to recover from oxidative insult. However, in the case of GPD, a significant protection of activity was observed. The overall conclusion is that elevating intracellular GSH concentration does not increase the cells' overall ability to withstand oxidative damage.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1987

[Ophthalmia neonatorum].

Silver nitrate prophylaxis against ophthalmia neonatorum due to Neissera Gonorrhoeae was introduced by Crédé in 1884, when he instilled a drop of 2% silver nitrate into the cul-de-sac of a newborn. Today, the prime cause of ophthalmia neonatorum is infection by Chlamydia trachomatis. The high incidence of this type of conjunctivitis is due to the frequent exposure of the newborn during delivery and to the ineffectiveness of silver nitrate as a prophylaxis against Chlamydia. In the study reported here, 198 infants less than one month old were examined because of severe bilateral conjunctivitis. In the first week of life a chemical irritation caused by Crédé's prophylaxis was found in the majority (59.7%), but in the second and third weeks infections with Chlamydia trachomatis were found in 27% of all cases. Bacteria were responsible for the infection in 52% of the cases. No gonococci were found in any of the patients examined in the course of the study.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1987

[Functional exploration and post-phlebitic surveillance. Reproducibility of venous plethysmography].

Fifty-five patients with unilateral deep thrombophlebitis of lower limbs were followed up for a mean duration of 15 months after the acute onset (178 series of plethysmographic measurements). Statistical analysis showed excellent reproducibility of venous plethysmographic parameters (capacitance and emptying rate) both on healthy and affected sides. Best values for emptying were observed after thrombolysis in situ but the difference was not significant in relation to heparin therapy. The application of a filter or a caval clip provoked bilateral, symmetrical slowing of venous emptying during the first few months, with a tendency for normal values to be restored after one year. The ratio of emptying rates (affected side/healthy side) was less than 60% if venous obstruction persisted with or without deep devalvulation. A lack of significant correlation existed between clinical course and plethysmographic parameters, 15 months after the initial episode, capacitance and venous emptying remaining pathologic allowing retrospective diagnosis. A longer follow up (5 to 10 years) with the same protocol is projected.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Legionellosis in a sample of pneumonia patients at a lung clinic].

The Legionellaceae as agents causing pneumonias are widespread distributed and lead to partially very serious diseases, particularly in predisposed persons with impaired resistance. Two of 12 cases observed are reported casuistically. Erythromycin as the drug of choice should be given already at suspicion. Since Legionellosis cannot be differentiated from pneumonias of other etiology on the basis of clinical findings alone, the authors refer to the importance of the relevant microbiologic methods.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Sustained release and standard methylphenidate effects on cognitive and social behavior in children with attention deficit disorder.

Two studies were conducted to investigate the relative effects of sustained release methylphenidate (Ritalin [SR-20]) and standard methylphenidate (Ritalin, 10 mg, administered twice daily). In the first study, 13 boys with attention deficit disorder participating in a summer treatment program went through a double-blind, within-subject trial of each form of methylphenidate and placebo. Measures of social and cognitive behavior were gathered in classroom and play settings. Although group analyses of the data showed that both drugs were effective and there were few differences between them, standard methylphenidate was superior to SR-20 on several important measures of disruptive behavior. Furthermore, analyses of individual responsivity showed clearly that most boys responded more positively to standard methylphenidate than to SR-20. The second study involved a partially overlapping group of nine boys with attention deficit disorder participating in the same summer treatment program. Also double-blind, within-subject, and placebo controlled, this study tracked the time courses of the two forms of methylphenidate. Both were shown to have similar time courses on the Abbreviated Conners Rating Scale and other measures, but SR-20 had a slower onset than did the standard drug form on a continuous performance task. Effects of SR-20 were still evident eight hours after ingestion.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
PubMed1987

[Lattice structure antacids and antacid mixtures].

In the last years the importance of the evaluation of antacid compounds according to their neutralizing capacity decreased. Clinical investigations have shown that antacid mixtures of aluminum-magnesium hydroxide healed gastric an duodenal ulcers (neutralizing capacity 100-150 mmol/day) as well as H2 receptor antagonists and better than a placebo. By this the necessary daily dosage could be reduced essentially. This paper presents studies showing that lattice like structured antacids (e.g. Magaldrate) healed gastric and duodenal ulcers (neutralizing capacity 100-350 mmol/day) as well as Ranitidine (150 mg b.d.). Maintenance therapy should be evaluated critically because sufficient data are not available and mineral metabolism is changed significantly by extremely small dosages of aluminium-magnesium hydroxide antacids even in patients with normal kidney function.

Aluminum Hydroxide↗
PubMed1987

[Lymphogranulomatosis and pregnancy].

A long period of full remission after successfully treated Hodgkin's disease set more and more in our concern problems of pregnancy and parturition in these patients. There are no exact informations about an unfavourable influence of pregnancy on the course of Hodgkin's disease. Although in cases of severe disease the treatment of the mother goes first we will restrain from therapeutical activities in patients with favourable histology and missing B-symptoms. It is reported on 3 cases of Hodgkin's disease with succeeding pregnancy and delivery. The stage IV of Hodgkin's disease in one patient is apparently followed by an uncomplicated course of pregnancy and lack of recurrent disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Is running associated with degenerative joint disease?

Little information is available regarding the long-term effects, if any, of running on the musculoskeletal system. We therefore compared the prevalence of degenerative joint disease among 17 male runners (mean age, 56 years; height, 180 cm [5 ft 11 in]; and weight, 73.02 kg [161 lb] with 18 male nonrunners (mean age, 60 years; height, 178 cm [5 ft 10 in]; and weight, 78 kg [171 lb]). Running subjects (53% marathoners) ran a mean of 44.8 km (28 miles)/wk for 12 years. Pain and swelling of hips, knees, ankles, and feet and other musculoskeletal complaints among runners were comparable with those among nonrunners. Radiologic examinations (for osteophytes, cartilage thickness, and grade of degeneration) also were without notable differences among groups. We did not find an increased prevalence of osteoarthritis among the runners. Our observations suggest, within the limits of our study, that long-duration, high-mileage running need not be associated with premature degenerative joint disease in the lower extremities.

Aged↗