Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D Fuchs.
The proposed isocratic liquid-chromatographic method for uric acid has good performance characteristics. Results by this procedure and by an enzymic method for uric acid correlated well (r = 0.986). Our method is inexpensive, rapid, and considerably simpler than other techniques for determining uric acid in urine.
A simple, specific method is described for the determination of creatinine in urine by HPLC. A C18-reversed-phase column is used for the separation. Detection is with a spectral UV-absorption photometer at 235 nm. The results for the precision and the accuracy meet the guidelines of the statistical quality control. Comparative investigations using the method by Lim et al. ((1978), J. Chromatogr. 67, 182-187) matched well with a coefficient of reference of 0.994. The specificity of the method was confirmed by the UV-absorption spectrum of creatinine isolated by HPLC. In addition, 28 urinary constituents were tested for possible interference.
Cytostatics- and radiation-induced alterations of the parenchyma of the lung were investigated in 30 children with malignomas before, during and after therapy by means of lung perfusion scintigraphy. Before the tumour-therapy (2 children) lung-scintigrams were regular. 16 children (Hodgkin- and non Hodgkin-lymphoma, acute lymphocytic leukemia with mediastinal tumour, intrathoracal neuroblastoma and Ewing-sarcoma) received epidiaphragmatical radiation and cytostatics. All 35 lung-scintigrams of these patients (1-60 months after beginning of therapy) were abnormal. Within 6 months after radiation obstructions to perfusion could be demonstrated in ray-treated parenchyma of the lung only. Subsequent to 6 months after radiation, during cytostatics, disturbances of perfusion were diffusely spreading in the lung parenchyma. 12 children (acute lymphocytic leukemia, Histiocytosis X and osteogenic sarcoma) received cytostatics only. All 18 lung-scintigrams of these patients (1-55 months after beginning of therapy) were pathological. After cessation of therapy (radiochemotherapy or chemotherapy only) scintigraphically improvement of perfusion occurred in the majority of patients. Obviously the diffusely spreading obstructions to perfusion represent alterations during the early phase of their development induced by chemotherapy.
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The analysis of statistical data on the incidence of leukemia in children in the German Democratic Republic between 1968 and 1973 gives no evidence for increasing risk of disease. Incidence in the G.D.R. is about the same as reported in literature. It seems that in the etiology and natural history of malignant tumors and hemoblastosis in children, constitutional and genetic as well as environmental factors are involved. They may work single or combined. Probably, malignant tumors or malignant systemic disease arise if the immune system fails to destroy endogenous or transplanted tumor cells.
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Elevated neopterin levels in blood or urine have been shown to be a marker for the activation of cell-mediated immunity in vitro and in vivo. To evaluate whether neopterin levels are elevated in patients with acute viral hepatitis, we measured urinary levels in 13 patients with hepatitis A, 26 with hepatitis B, 12 with non-A, non-B hepatitis, 8 with jaundice and/or cholestasis due to biliary and pancreatic disorders and 3 with alcoholic hepatitis and in 62 apparently healthy HBsAg carriers. Neopterin levels in patients with virus-induced hepatitis were significantly higher than those in patients with other diagnoses. Urinary neopterin levels were above normal in 49 of 51 patients with viral hepatitis and elevations during the course of hepatitis showed a pattern similar to that of the usual liver biochemical tests, suggesting that neopterin levels were related to the clinical activity of the viral disease. In patients with nonviral biliary and hepatic disorders, neopterin levels were usually normal and did not correlate with other liver biochemical tests. These findings suggest that cell-mediated immune mechanisms are activated during viral hepatitis and that neopterin measurement may be of value as an additional surrogate marker for non-A, non-B hepatitis.
Elevated (greater than 3.0 nmol/l) cerebrospinal fluid neopterin concentrations were observed in 20 of 21 patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis compared with three of 11 control patients with headache, back pain or psychoneurotic disorders. Neopterin concentrations were correlated to mononuclear cell counts and protein concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Following antibiotic treatment, CSF neopterin levels decreased. Serum neopterin levels were not significantly raised in patients with neuroborreliosis when compared to control subjects. Neopterin levels as well as cell count and protein concentration in the CSF are valuable inflammation markers of disease activity in Lyme neuroborreliosis.
The effect of zidovudine on beta 2-microglobulin and neopterin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was studied in ten HIV-seropositive neurologically healthy individuals. CSF concentrations of neopterin decreased by 53% (from 20.3 to 9.5 nmol/l, p < 0.01) and beta 2-microglobulin by 36% (from 2.8 to 1.8 mg/l, p < 0.01) four to eight months after initiation of therapy.
To reinvestigate the viral hypothesis of schizophrenia as well as possible immunological dysfunction, neopterin, which is an indicator of the activity in the cellular immune system, was determined in acute and chronic schizophrenics. Both diagnostic groups showed neopterin levels within the normal range. Patients with chronic schizophrenia of the residual type presented a significant dependency between neopterin concentrations and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) total scores. In a long-term observation of 14 acute schizophrenic (paranoid type) inpatients, neopterin levels were found to be lowest at day 0. During the first week of treatment neopterin concentrations increased significantly whereas a concomitant decrease of the psychopathological symptoms could be observed. In comparison to healthy controls patients showed significantly lower neopterin levels at baseline. These findings will be discussed referring to the viral hypothesis of schizophrenia as well as to possible immunological alterations caused by stress or by changes in neurotransmitter synthesis.
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