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Biomedical subjects

D Fink

Publications and source records attributed to D Fink.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Stewart-Treves syndrome after breast carcinoma].

The Stewart-Treves syndrome is an angiosarcoma that occurs due to chronic lymphoedema which in most cases is a complication after mastectomy with axillary node dissection and postoperative radiation. Prognosis for this rare tumour is poor. The best therapy is early and radical excision. Chronic lymphoedema seems to be an important pathogenetic factor. We report on a 70-year old patient with early stage lymphangiosarcoma who had a lumpectomy with axillary node dissection and postoperative radiation five years ago.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Ovarian metastasis of extragenital tumors at the Zurich University Gynecologic Clinic 1978-1990].

37 cases of extragenital tumours metastatic to the ovaries are analysed from a clinicopathological viewpoint. In 25 out of 334 patients who were operated on between 1978 and 1990 because of a palpable malignant ovarian tumour, ovarian involvement from extragenital cancer was diagnosed. The most frequent primary sites were the stomach (n = 7), colon (n = 6) and breast (n = 6). 4 of the 6 patients with metastatic colon carcinoma had previously documented diagnosis of colon cancer with a time interval between diagnosis of primary tumours and secondary ovarian tumour ranging up to 11 years. Only one patient had a previously known stomach cancer, operated on 32 months earlier. All our patients with gastrointestinal primary tumour died within 1 year (gastric origin) of detection of metastases and 2 years (colon carcinoma) except for one patient with metastasis of colon carcinoma, who is still living after more than 4 years and one patient with gastric carcinoma who survived 34 months after oophorectomy. Surprisingly, ovarian metastases of breast cancer were detected before the primary tumour in 2 out of 6 cases. The other 4 patients were operated on because of an ovarian tumour but had a known and previously operated breast cancer. 27 patients had therapeutic ovarian ablation in metastatic breast cancer without a palpable pelvic mass. None of these patients had symptoms related to the ovaries. In 12 (40%) patients we found microscopic metastases which were bilateral in 9 cases. Metastases to the ovary may not infrequently mimic primary ovarian tumour and are difficult to diagnose preoperatively. We hope that some clinical features described by us (nationality, patient's history, bilateral ovarian tumours in young women) will alert the clinician to investigate further in order to achieve the best possible therapeutic management, because some patients may benefit from adequate treatment and survive for a long time.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Identification of nitric oxide synthase in human and bovine oviduct.

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is responsible for the biological production of nitric oxide (NO) in several organs. NOS activity has also been localized in the reproductive tract, although direct evidence for its presence in the human or bovine oviduct is still lacking. In the present study, four different techniques were used to identify the presence of NOS activity in human (n = 11) and bovine (n = 9) oviduct: (i) conversion of [3H]-L-arginine to [3H]-L-citrulline; (ii) production of nitrite/nitrate (NO2/NO3; stable NO metabolites); (iii) identification of NADPH-diaphorase activity; and (iv) immunostaining with antiserum to endothelial NOS. Cytosolic extracts from human ampullary segments of the Fallopian tube, obtained from post-partum patients (n = 4), converted [3H]-L-arginine to [3H]-L-citrulline (21.0 +/- 8.8 fmol/mg protein/min). This conversion rate was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in the presence of either EDTA or N-monomethyl-L-arginine monoacetate (L-NMMA), an inhibitor of NOS activity. When bovine (n = 3) ampullary segments were incubated for 36 h in Hanks' balanced salt solution, the concentration of NO2/NO3 in the medium was increased (P < 0.05) if segments were pretreated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; an inducer of inducible NOS), but not after treatment with LPS + L-NMMA. Additionally, epithelial cells cultured from ampullary segments showed positive staining both for NADPH-diaphorase activity and with antiserum to endothelial NOS. The results of the present study provide direct evidence for the presence of both the Ca(2+)-dependent constitutive form of NOS, as well as the inducible form of NOS activity in human and bovine oviduct. Since the oviduct plays a key role in the reproductive process, it is possible that the two forms of NOS may be involved in the physiological regulation of oviduct function.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Differential expression of Na,K-ATPase isoforms in oligodendrocytes and astrocytes.

Using Western blot and immunocytochemistry to detect protein, and in situ hybridization and Northern blot to detect RNA, we studied the expression of Na,K-ATPase subunit isoforms in cultured astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in vitro, and in glial cells in the brain. We found that astrocytes in culture express alpha 1 and alpha 2 isoforms of the catalytic subunit and both beta 1 and beta 2 isoforms of the regulatory subunit. Oligodendrocytes in culture express only alpha 1, but in vivo high levels of alpha 2 are seen in oligodendrocytes of white matter tracts. These results suggest that expression of the alpha 2 isoform in mature oligodendrocytes may be regulated by axonal contact and related to myelination.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Incorporation of nuclear matrix attachment regions into the herpes simplex virus type 1 genome does not induce long-term expression of a foreign gene during latency.

The nuclear matrix plays a critical role in DNA replication, gene transcription and RNA processing. Transcriptionally active genes are usually associated with the nuclear matrix through DNA sequences, matrix attachment regions or MARs, which tether looped DNA to the matrix. In stable transfection and in transgenic mice MAR elements placed at the flanks of genic constructs may enhance expression and insulate against position effect variability, suggesting that independent units of transcription are established insulated from the regulatory controls of their neighbors. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) establishes lifelong latency in the infected host. Latency repression of viral genes extends to foreign genes incorporated into the viral genome. We report here a test of the hypothesis that MAR elements, flanking a foreign gene in the HSV-1 genome, would act to insulate it from latency repression, achieving long-term expression. A recombinant virus was produced which has an expression construct inserted into the HSV-1 genome at the Us3 locus. The expression construct consists of the A MAR element on one flank, an HIV-LRT driving the lacZ gene and the B MAR element on the other flank. The A MAR element is a 3 kb pair fragment of the 5' portion of the chicken lysozyme gene and the B MAR element is a 2.6 kb pair fragment from the 5' end of the human beta-globin gene locus control region. The LTR is derived from a human immunodeficiency virus isolated from the brain of an AIDS patient. Virus was stereotactically injected in the hippocampus, olfactory bulb and striatum of rat brains. Intense blue reaction product indicating beta-galactosidase activity was found in cells in each injected area at 2 days after injection. At 14 days after injection beta-galactosidase activity was no longer detected at any of the injected sites. We conclude that the MAR element construct did not escape latency repression.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Female incontinence: work-up and therapy].

Female incontinence is a more frequent disorder than sometimes realized. The patient should be asked about urinary incontinence symptoms. Depending on her degree of suffering, the appropriate diagnostic examinations and therapy can be chosen. With simple procedures, such as anamnesis, gynecological examination with testing, Valsalva maneuver with a full bladder, and a review of miction diaries, the kind of incontinence can be reliably determined, and first therapeutic steps can be initiated. For stress incontinence this would be pelvic floor reeducation or physical therapy with electric stimulation and bio-feed-back; only if these conservative measures fail, one should operate. For urge incontinence, it is important to strive for a change in drinking and miction habits (bladder training), i.e., to increase the amount of liquid intake and the miction volume (checked by miction diaries). This therapy can be further supported by medication. Urodynamic diagnostic examinations are indicated when primary therapy (pelvic floor reeducation, bladder training) fails, before any incontinence operation and when the type of incontinence is not clear.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Evaluation of perineal ultrasound examination--are the results reproducible?].

UNLABELLED: Perineal ultrasound was used with a new measurement method that locates the urethrovesical junction. The aim of this study was to test the reproducibility of this examination. Two different investigators examined 40 patients at rest and during Valsalva's manoeuvre. Using a rectangular coordinate system, the bladder neck was located by means of distance measurements. In addition, the retrovesical angle beta was measured as described by Green, and certain anatomical signs were noted. There was a good inter-examiner correlation (r values 0.77-0.92) both at rest and during Valsalva for the distances and angle beta. There was good agreement in the analysis of the anatomical signs. CONCLUSION: Perinatal ultrasound, together with the measurement method described in this paper, is a reliable technique for determining the bladder neck position, for measuring angle beta and for analysing anatomical signs. This method permits a quantitative evaluation and quality control of therapeutic procedures.

Female↗
PubMed1995

[Multivariate analysis of clinico-pathologic predictors of axillary lymph node metastasis in invasive breast carcinoma].

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to find both predictors of axillary lymph node involvement and predictors of level II or III involvement. With these predictors patients should be selected who can be spared axillary lymph node dissection or who qualify for removal of only first-level lymph nodes. 239 consecutive patients with invasive breast cancer stage I-III treated with total axillary dissection were evaluated. In multiple logistic regression analysis 17 clinical and histopathological variables were included. We found 4 multivariate significant predictors for metastatic axillary involvement: Clinically positive axilla, peritumoural lymphatic vessel invasion, multicentric or multifocal tumours and a large number of past pregnancies. Multivariate significant predictors of involvement of level II or III were peritumoural lymphatic vessel invasion, younger age, larger tumour size, multicentric or multifocal tumours and postmenopausal patient. The metastatic involvement of more than 3 nodes was associated with young age and clinically positive axilla. With these easily available predictors a reliable assessment of risk of metastatic involvement of the upper levels of the axillary nodes could be defined. The binary logistic regression model to axillary node involvement had a rather unsatisfactory predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: The risk calculation of level II or III involvement with these predictors may help the surgeon to find the adequate extent of axillary clearance needed in the individual patient. Multiparity proved to be an independent predictor of metastatic axillary node involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Systemic methotrexate therapy of persistent trophoblast after tube saving surgery for extrauterine pregnancy].

Is single-drug methotrexate therapy for persistent trophoblastic tissue after conservative laparoscopic surgery an effective medical treatment? Here we report and discuss a case of apparent persistent trophoblastic tissue after salpingotomy and removal of an ectopic pregnancy treated with methotrexate and review the published cases. Single drug-therapy with methotrexate is an alternate approach to a persistent trophoblast after conservative surgery for ectopic pregnancy. Having recently undergone surgery, these women suffer when operated again due to anesthesiologic, surgical and psychological stress. The current case and the published data demonstrate that methotrexate is a simple, efficacious, successful and by now established therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Uptake of trace amounts of aluminum into the brain from drinking water.

Throughout the world, alum (aluminum sulfate) is used in municipal water treatment plants to clarify water. Alum treatment usually removes aluminosilicate particles from drinking water but can substantially increase its soluble aluminum content (Zhang et al., 1994; Tran et al., 1993; Kopp, 1970). Soluble aluminum is the more bioavailable and potentially toxic form. We gavaged simulated tap water, containing a low level of radioactive soluble aluminum (26Al), into the stomachs of rats. Measurements with accelerator mass spectrometry showed that trace amounts of 26Al from this single exposure directly entered their brain tissue. Uptake of a comparable level of aluminum into the human brain, from alum-treated drinking water over a prolonged period of time, may contribute to long-term health consequences for some people.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1994

Primary cultures of normal and tumoral human ovarian epithelium: a powerful tool for basic molecular studies.

To begin delineating the cellular and molecular events that are important in ovarian carcinogenesis, we have developed a simple and rapid method for the establishment of primary cultures derived from benign tumors, malignant tumors, and ascites of the ovary that are representative of the original clinical material from which they are derived. From 23 ovarian epithelial ascites collected, 13 were successfully established in culture and cells survived an average of 7 to 8 passages. From 65 solid epithelial ovarian tumors (benign and malignant) 36 were cultured for an average of 6 passages for cultures derived from benign tumors and 11 or 12 passages in the case of malignant tumors. Cells were scored as epithelial in nature by morphology and histochemical analysis using anti-cytokeratin antibodies. Cultures, especially those derived from solid tumors, sometimes displayed fibroblastic-like contamination which was quickly resolved. We include limited molecular analyses both to characterize the origin of the populations we have established as well as to demonstrate the usefulness of these cultures in molecular studies.

Ascites↗
PubMed1994

[Value of the lateral urethrocystogram in perineal ultrasound-- are there differences? A prospective study].

In the case of 81 patients, we conducted a perineal ultrasound and a lateral chain urethrocystography under standard conditions. The data collected were compared. The object of this prospective study was, to estimate the comparability of both methods. We also compared, whether the ultrasonically measured values were different between the supine and upright position. The measured values of both methods corresponded at rest, while during strain the values are different. During Valsalva's manoeuvre, the ultrasound method reflects the mobility of the bladder neck better, while the funnelling of the bladder neck can be examined better by lateral chain urethrocystography. The differences between the supine and upright positions were minor in the ultrasound examination, although the funnelling of the bladder neck could be detected better in the upright position. Our study shows that all important measured values can be collected with perineal ultrasound. Except for the funnelling of the bladder neck, typical findings of incontinence can be better shown with perineal ultrasound.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Tissue disposition of 26aluminum in rats measured by accelerator mass spectrometry.

A trace quantity of 26aluminum (26Al) was administered intravenously to 1 normal and 1 uremic rat. After a 3-week period, the animals were sacrificed and samples of bone, muscle, kidney, liver, heart, and brain were analyzed for their 26Al content. In the normal and uremic rats, most of the tissue 26Al was found in bone amounting to 0.9% and 2.0%, respectively, of administered dose/g dry weight of tissue. Much smaller amounts of isotope were found in the other tissues in both animals. In the normal rat, the descending order of 26Al content in other tissues was: kidney, 0.2% > liver, 0.06% > heart, 0.03%, > brain and muscle, 0.02%. In the uremic rat, the same order of tissue 26Al content was found with kidney, 0.37% > liver, 0.06% > heart, 0.02% > brain and muscle, 0.01% per g dry weight of tissue. When expressed per g wet weight of tissue in the 2 animals, a similar order of tissue 26Al content was found. In comparing the amount of 26Al in the bone of the 2 rats, the uremic animal was found to have more than twice that found in the bone of the normal rat when expressed either per g dry or wet weight of bone. However, 26Al content of other tissues was similar in the 2 animals. This suggests that uremic bone may have a greater affinity for aluminum than normal bone, but kidney, liver, brain, heart, and muscle appear to behave similarly in uremic and normal rats in regard to incorporation of a single trace dose of isotope in the 3-week time frame of the present study.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1994

Rethinking the comparison of borderline personality disorder and multiple personality disorder.

This article has made a number of points that assert what is today a minority position within the fields of MPD/DID and BPD. We hope our views will stimulate attempts by others to rethink their positions and test our assertions, so that issues surrounding these two disorders can be sharpened. For the sake of the clarity of future work, we summarize in outline form the essence of our viewpoint. 1. BPD and MPD/DID have similar appearing symptoms, such as identity problems, unstable affect modulation, self-destructive behaviors, chaotic impulse control, and troubled interpersonal relationships, but they have decisive differences in underlying dynamics, process, and structure. 2. DSM tends to blur these two disorders by its emphasis on phenomenology over inner structure, thus fostering misleading conclusions when DSM criteria are used to test for comorbidity or overlap between BPD and MPD/DID. 3. BPD and MPD/DID are both described dynamically as using the defense of splitting, but we contend that the splitting in each disorder is fundamentally different from the splitting in the other. BPD uses a polarization form of splitting, whereas MPD/DID uses ego splitting or identity division. 4. Both disorders partake in the process of dissociation, but the quality of dissociation in BPD is a "low-tech" spaced out type, whereas that of MPD/DID is a "high-tech" waking dream. 5. BPD structure is also "low tech," with polarization of self, object, and relationship. MPD/DID structure is "high tech," with heavily symbolic, highly nuanced variations of self, object, and relationship. 6. Although both conditions have etiologic elements of trauma, BPD has a larger degree of developmental deficiency, with a failure to complete the task of entering a repression hierarchy of defenses. MPD/DID, by use of primary process-linked symbolic dissociation, is able to continue development to the repression hierarchy, although at a profound cost of simultaneous suspension of reality testing. BPD patients suffer from the rigid use of too few defenses; MPD/DID patients suffer from the obsolete use of too many defenses. 7. BPD patients grow up in homes in which overtly expressed aggression is more tolerated, or at least more openly experienced. MPD/DID patients grow up in homes in which the fact of aggression is kept a secret. This has consequences for the formation of psychic structure in each disorder.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aggression↗