Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Weber.
A case of unexplained intermittent hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria in a patient with a prolonged critical illness is presented. The differential diagnosis and workup of this disorder under such circumstances are discussed. The influences of immobilization and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) are explored.
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During the period from 1975 to 1982, there were 132 patients who had encapsulated thyroid lesions diagnosed by Tru Cut needle biopsy. One hundred and nineteen patients have had operations and 20 had cancer. The 20 cancers occurred in a group of 86 lesions that were classified as microfollicular. No cancers were seen in lesions classified as macrofollicular. The incidence of cancer in the microfollicular group was 23%. This incidence of cancer was the same in Hürthle cell and non-Hürthle cell microfollicular lesions.
An animal model was used to investigate the most effective way to create autoimmune thyroiditis. Several modified forms of thyroglobulin (TG) with and without Freund adjuvant were tested. TG altered with the diazonium derivatives of arsanilic and sulfanilic acids was found to be the most effective immunizing agent for inducing autoimmunity. Human TG altered in the same manner was used to induce autoimmune thyroiditis in humans with untreatable metastatic thyroid cancer. There was minimal toxicity during the therapy and it was possible to create autoimmune thyroiditis in three of eight patients. Antibodies to TG were induced in five of eight patients. The clinical response to the immunotherapy was minimal, however, and it was not possible to demonstrate any significant measurable response to therapy.
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An electroretinogram (ERG), evoked by light stimuli, was recorded from ocelli of Polyorchis penicillatus (Hydromedusae). The ERG is a polyphasic response with a positive potential change at the onset of illumination followed by a slower biphasic pulse, and a positive deflection at the cessation of illumination which is followed by a series of high-frequency pulses. The most striking features of the initial pulse are its latency-log intensity relation and the gradation of pulse amplitude with respect to the intensity of the light stimulus and to different wavelengths. Maximum spectral sensitivity lies around 530 nm. Response patterns induced by shadowing and repeated stimulation of light- and dark-adapted ocelli are described. Morphological structures which could give rise to the mass response of the ocellus are discussed.
The hydrozoan medusa Aglantha digitale (Müller 1776) has eight syncytical giant motor axons, up to 40 micrometers in diameter, running from the margin, up the inside of the bell towards the apex. Giant motor axons injected with Lucifer Yellow CH are connected with lateral neurons running circumferentially across the subumbrellar muscle. These processes fill with the dye. Bundles of 20 to 50 small dye-coupled neurons extend circumferentially along the margin for up to 0.85 mm. Giant motor axons injected with horseradish peroxidase divided into a few short branches on entering the inner nerve ring. Here the giant motor axon forms both chemical synapses and gap junctions with neurons that also send their axons into the inner nerve ring. In this region the inner and outer nerve ring are connected by axons passing through openings in the intervening mesoglea.
In pig fetuses (19 of 8 dams) developed by Caesarean section the dry matter and protein content of the kidneys and their PEPCK activity remain constant during the last third (from 80th to 112th day) of gestation. After birth the dry matter content of the kidneys rises slowly, but their protein content remarkably. In the kidneys of suckling piglets (17 animals of 3 offsprings) the FDPase activity remains at the same level from birth to the 9th day of life, while in the same time the G6Pase activity rises 1.5-2 times. In the kidneys of newborn piglets the total PEPCK activity increases 3-4 times and the activity of the cytosolic enzyme 2-3 times during the first 12 hours of life. At the end of the first week of life the total PEPCK activity decreases by one-third, while the activity of the cytosolic enzyme remains stable. In the kidneys of slaughter pigs (n = 7) the dry matter content and the FDPase activity are significantly higher, the protein content and the G6Pase activity are the same as in the kidneys of piglets. The total PEPCK activity is one-half, the activity of the cytosolic enzyme one-third lower than in the kidneys of piglets. In the kidneys of adult pigs the PEPCK activity is localized to equal parts in the cytosol and in the mitochondria, but in some development stages the mitochondrial part exceeds that of the cytosol. In adult pigs the PEPCK activity of the renal cortex is 2.5-3 times higher than that of the renal medulla.
The purpose of this study was to compare the results of fine-needle biopsy (FNB) and coarse-needle biopsy (CNB) in evaluating patients with dominant thyroid nodules. Five hundred twenty-six patients were seen because of solitary thyroid nodules. Three hundred of these underwent satisfactory CNB and FNB. Using the incidence of cancer found at operation as a guide to the specificity of the biopsy, CNB was better than FNB in determining underlying pathologic condition. The main difference between the two techniques was the inability of FNB to distinguish adenomatous hyperplasia from true adenoma. FNB, however, was as good as most older techniques in selecting patients for surgery. The main limitation of CNB was that it could only be applied on 69% of solid lesions.
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1. Transverse sections of two muscles of 20 pigs and 20 laboratory mice were studied methodically to ascertain a histochemical technique of differentiating fibre types suitable for routine-investigations. 2. The best results of four applied histochemical methods were obtained by the reaction for reduced disphosphopyridine nucleotide tetrazolium reductase (DPNH-TR). The comparison of the methods based on valuation-criterions as quality of reactions, expenditure of time and cost and requirements to the user. 3. The calculation of the variance-components showed for the evaluation of two samples (pigs) and one transverse section of muscle (mouse) per animal a good repeatability of the quantitative parameters of muscle fibre type composition.
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The article reports on experiences collected by the Psychosocial Working Team Darmstadt with its special form of organizations. Basing on a description of its origin, structure and development, problems of the concrete work done by the team are discussed which partly stem from its internal structure and partly from the status of such a team as a panel on a voluntary basis without being competent in respect of taking and implementing any decisions. There are specific limitations regarding the chances offered to a psychosocial working team in assisting in psychosocial care and welfare work on a regional level. It has been found particularly imperative to expect the team to continually reflect on its working methods and points of emphasis in order to cope with the continually changing pattern of facts governing regional care and welfare work.
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The amplitude and duration of motor unit action potentials, the rise time, peak tension, and half relaxation time of an isometric twitch, the force-velocity relationship, and tetanic tension were measured at the beginning (fresh muscle) and at the end of a fatiguing isometric contraction at a tension of either 40 or 70% of the initial strength in the soleus (a slow twitch muscle) and the medial gastrocnemius (a fast twitch muscle) of the cat. These same parameters were also measured at set intervals following these contractions to assess their rate of recovery to pre-exercise values. At The end of a fatiguing contraction at either tension examined, Vmx, twitch tension and tetanic tension, were all reduced while there was a prolonged twitch duration and duration of the motor unit action potential for both types of muscle. The height of the motor unit action potential was only marginally effected by muscle fatigue. Following the fatiguing contraction, the endurance required several hours to recover in the medial gastrocnemius muscle but recovered fully within 15 min after either tension in the soleus muscle. Tetanic tension and twitch tension both required less than 10 min for full recovery in the medial gastrocnemius muscle but recovered fully to the pre-exercise values within 3 min following fatiguing isometric contractions in the soleus muscles. Vmx, and the height and duration of the motor unit action potential both recovered within 1 min following the end of the exercise.
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