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Biomedical subjects

E Berg

Publications and source records attributed to E Berg.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

In vivo characterization of the inflammatory properties of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) particulates.

Suburothelial injections of particulate poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) is becoming a widely accepted treatment for a number of urological disorders. Because little is known about the long-term histologic morphology of the injection site, this animal study was performed. Three populations, each consisting of two mongrel dogs, five New Zealand White rabbits, and 10 BALB/c mice, were injected with poly(tetrafluoroethylene) particulate in a glycerine carrier (Polytef Paste) and were followed for a period of 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Mice received one subcutaneous dorsal injection each, rabbits received two subareolar injections each, and dogs received three subareolar injections each in addition to two periurethral injections. Histologic examination of the biopsy sites revealed a persistent chronic inflammatory reaction with progressive growth of the involved tissue volume. In addition to giant cells and macrophages, lymphocytes became apparent at 3 months and constituted up to 40% of the cellular infiltrate by 1 year. Plasma cells were also noted at the 1-year period in the rabbit model. The progressive growth of the inflammatory pseudo-tumors evoked by injected PTFE may compromise the long-term safety of certain urological procedures involving particulate PTFE.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Auranofin treatment in early rheumatoid arthritis may postpone early retirement. Results from a 2-year double blind trial.

The effect of early vs delayed initiation of slow acting antirheumatic drug (SAARD) therapy on the ability to maintain regular work, was evaluated in 83 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a placebo controlled, double blind 24-month study. The estimated probability to maintain working ability was higher in the early treatment group, especially during the second study year. Predicting factors were age, type of work, degree of disability and number of swollen joints. Despite the difficulties in interpreting the results due to the complexity of the underlying socioeconomical and labor market situation, the study supports early treatment in RA with regard to the maintenance of normal life.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1990

Time-dependent modifications of ferric-adriamycin.

The biological and chemical properties of the ferric-Adriamycin complex changed with time after its preparation. Our experiments demonstrated that the toxicity of the iron-chelate in mice decreased as a function of its age. The reduced toxicity can be correlated with changes in the difference spectrum of ferric-Adriamycin vs Adriamycin (ADR), where a peak around 610 nm shifted to the 570 nm region. When ferric-Adriamycin "aged", the affinity of the drug for iron increased. Concurrently, the redox properties of the chelate changed, such that the bound iron was no longer reduced by glutathione or cysteine. The time-dependent changes observed did not involve the formation of polynuclear iron, as shown by electron spin resonance. Thin-layer chromatography showed that ADR undergoes accelerated degradation in the presence of iron. The iron-catalyzed degradation was oxygen independent. The changes evolving in the spectral and chemical properties of the chelate were shown to stem from transfer of the iron from ADR to one of the degradation products.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1990

Primary structure and glycosylation of the S-layer protein of Haloferax volcanii.

The outer surface of the archaebacterium Haloferax volcanii (formerly named Halobacterium volcanii) is covered with a hexagonally packed surface (S) layer. The gene coding for the S-layer protein was cloned and sequenced. The mature polypeptide is composed of 794 amino acids and is preceded by a typical signal sequence of 34 amino acid residues. A highly hydrophobic stretch of 20 amino acids at the C-terminal end probably serves as a transmembrane domain. Clusters of threonine residues are located adjacent to this membrane anchor. The S-layer protein is a glycoprotein containing both N- and O-glycosidic bonds. Glucosyl-(1----2)-galactose disaccharides are linked to threonine residues. The primary structure and the glycosylation pattern of the S-layer glycoproteins from Haloferax volcanii and from Halobacterium halobium were compared and found to exhibit distinct differences, despite the fact that three-dimensional reconstructions from electron micrographs revealed no structural differences at least to the 2.5-nm level attained so far (M. Kessel, I. Wildhaber, S. Cohe, and W. Baumeister, EMBO J. 7:1549-1554, 1988).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Animal model for evaluating bone repair with and without adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO): comparing dose schedules.

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on the healing of standardized metaphyseal defects in the cortices of rat femurs was studied. The question was whether a known total amount of HBO given twice a day (BID) would have a different effect than once a day (QD) treatments. A microvascular casting technique was developed whereby vessel ingrowth at the repair site could be monitored using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Bone repair morphology was evaluated by light microscopy (LM) and various tissue components were quantified by histomorphometry (HM). Animals were sacrificed 1, 2, 3, or 5 weeks postoperatively. SEM revealed that endosteal bone ingrowth was totally responsible for the repair of the cortical defects. Moreover, endosteal vessel ingrowth did not differ between controls and either group of HBO treated animals. LM displayed enchondral ossification in controls and BID treated animals and a pronounced osteoclastic activity in the latter group throughout the repair process. By contrast the QD treated group healed by primary ossification. Judged by the HM data, QD treatment appeared to accelerate bone repair and vessel ingrowth compared to controls, while BID treatment seemed to retard these processes.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Auranofin (SK&F) in early rheumatoid arthritis: results from a 24-month double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Effect on clinical and biochemical assessments.

In a 2-year, randomized, double-blind Nordic multicentre trial, auranofin was compared with placebo in early (disease duration less than or equal to 2 years), active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Efficacy and safety were analysed in 67 patients receiving auranofin and 65 receiving placebo. Life table analysis demonstrated a significantly higher withdrawal rate due to insufficient therapeutic effect in the placebo group, whereas more patients dropped out due to side effects in the auranofin group. More auranofin than placebo patients (35 vs. 24) completed the 2 years. Clinical and inflammatory activity improved in both groups, but consistently more so in the auranofin group, in spite of the greater consumption of local steroids and NSAIDs in the placebo group. The most frequent side effects leading to withdrawal in the auranofin group were cutaneous and gastrointestinal reactions. The study demonstrated that most patients exhibit improvement in clinical signs and symptoms and about half of all patients with early RA continue to take auranofin for at least 2 years.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1989

The use of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen in treatment of orthopedic infections and problem wounds: an overview and case reports.

We summarize indications, contraindications, and therapeutic guidelines for the use of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) in problem wounds and selected orthopaedic infections. Three typical cases that all were successfully treated with HBO are presented: a chronic osteomyelitis which was a sequela to an open tibia fracture, a second- and third-degree burn injury of the entire lower extremity, and a case of chronic osteomyelitis in an insulin-dependent diabetic.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Intraaortic balloon pumping in the treatment of low cardiac output following open heart surgery--immediate results and long-term prognosis.

From 1979 through 1986, 90 patients required intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) due to low cardiac output complicating open heart surgery. Preoperatively, functional class III or IV was present in 92%; in patients with coronary artery disease (n = 54), three-vessel or left main disease was found in 72%; patients with valvular disease (n = 37) generally had multiple surgical procedures or valve re-replacement performed. Intra-IABP mortality was 49% (n = 44) and 30-day mortality 61% (n = 55). The latter figure decreased from 75% in 1979-81 to 53% in 1985-86. Cumulative 5-year survival was 22%. Logistic regression analysis identified as independent predictors of 30 day mortality the necessity for adjuvant treatment with the more powerful "pressure drugs" isoprenaline/noradrenaline, number of DC-defibrillations, functional classes III-IV, and chronic left ventricular failure. Different combinations of these risk factors identified different patient groups with 30-day mortalities ranging from 100% to 0%. The risk factors reflected both acute cardiac failure probably due to severe ischemia and chronic failure due to advanced primary disease. Taking the high-risk composition of the material into account, a 5-year survival of 22% cannot be regarded as discouraging. Continued employment of IABP treatment in open heart surgery, using an aggressive approach coupled with individualized inotropic support, seems justified.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Chemiluminescent responses of macrophages exposed to biomaterials: a biocompatibility screening test.

Chemiluminescence (CL) response of alveolar macrophages (AM) exposed to either phagocytosable or nonphagocytosable particles of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or titanium in vitro was monitored. The results were correlated to known in vivo bone tissue compatibility of the materials. Moreover, the quantity and morphology of adherent AM on titanium and PMMA disks were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Our results with PMMA indicated that a high CL response to phagocytosable as well as nonphagocytosable particles of the biomaterial in question, correlated with poor bone tissue compatibility. By contrast, a low CL response to phagocytosable particles and no response to nonphagocytosable particles correlated with a satisfactory bone tissue compatibility, as in the case of titanium. SEM showed 48% more AM adherent to PMMA than titanium per unit area. Also, the percentage of cells with membrane damage was three times higher on PMMA than on titanium. It appears that the CL response of AM exposed to biomaterials in vitro thus can be used as an easy to do screening test for potential orthopaedic implant materials before in vivo tests are considered.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Auranofin improves outcome in early rheumatoid arthritis. Results from a 2-year, double blind placebo controlled study.

The effect of early initiation of auranofin (AF) therapy on outcome measures was studied in a controlled 24-month double blind trial in 138 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using an intent to treat approach. Patients were randomized to AF or placebo but in case of insufficient effect or intolerable adverse events, they switched to open disease modifying antirheumatic drug therapy. Patients who started AF fared significantly better in improved joint swelling. Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire index, Keitel functional test, and mental depression, and furthermore, radiologic progression was significantly retarded. Our results support a disease modifying beneficial effect of AF in early active RA.se

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗