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Biomedical subjects

E Ernst

Publications and source records attributed to E Ernst.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Treatment of hypertension--the value of non-drug measures].

METHOD: To investigate the usefulness of non-pharmacological measures in the treatment of essential hypertension, 91 subjects comprising patients attending a physical-medical department and the inhabitants of an old people's home, were asked to complete a questionnaire. RESULTS: Almost all patients were receiving drug therapy (n = 89); in two-thirds treatment had been initiated when the diagnosis was first established. Although two-thirds were well informed about non-pharmacological measures (physical exercise, sodium restricted diet, reduced caloric intake, changes in dietary habits), more than one-half of the patients had neither been informed about, nor instructed in the use of, any of these alternatives by their general practitioners. Some 40% were aware of the benefit of relaxation techniques, but only one in six practiced them. CONCLUSIONS: Although this study revealed a high level of knowledge of non-pharmacological anti-hypertensive therapy, the care-providing doctors clearly attach more importance to prescribing drugs. In view of the potential value of alternative forms of treatment, greater consideration of this point by the physician would be desirable.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Neural therapy in the light of recent data].

In German-speaking countries, local injection of anesthetic is a popular form of treatment, either as "neural therapy", a complementary method intended to stimulate adaptive body functions, or as pure analgesia. While the latter is unquestionably effective, neither the rationale nor the individual mechanisms, nor its therapeutic efficacy have been investigated scientifically. Recent data show that the analgesic effect does not depend on the injection of local anesthetic. It is conceivable that this form of treatment acts via a mechanism known as diffuse noxious inhibition control.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗
PubMed1994

Geographical variations in plasma viscosity and relation to coronary event rates.

Plasma viscosity is reported to be predictive of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. To find out whether regional differences in CHD event rates correlate with differences in plasma viscosity, we compared plasma viscosity in a high-risk area for CHD (Glasgow Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease [MONICA] and Scottish Heart Health Study population surveys, 1985/86; n = 1166) and in a lower-risk area (MONICA Augsburg survey, 1984/85; n = 3258) in men and women aged 25-64 years. Mean plasma viscosity (37 degrees C) was 1.261 (SD 0.067) mPa s in Augsburg and 1.327 (0.093) mPa s in the west of Scotland for men, and 1.248 (0.066) mPa s and 1.318 (0.087) mPa s, respectively, for women. The unadjusted difference of the means between the west of Scotland and Augsburg was 0.066 (95% CI from weighted regression 0.058-0.073) mPa s for men and 0.070 (0.062-0.078) mPa s for women. Adjustment for age, smoking behaviour, total and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and body-mass index had no effect on these differences. Age-standardised coronary event rates in 1985-87 were at least two times higher among men, and four times higher among women, in MONICA Glasgow than in MONICA Augsburg. This large geographical difference in plasma viscosity might partly explain the differences in CHD event rates between these populations. Further studies are needed on the determinants of plasma viscosity, and on its potential roles in atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and ischaemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Fish oils and rheumatoid arthritis].

Dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids--n-3 PUFA or fish oils--has gained increasing interest among patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The biochemical background for the beneficial effects of fish oils in modulating the inflammatory response is briefly described and is partly based on findings from experimental animal models. Ten published double-blind studies evaluating the effect of a daily supplement with three to six grams of n-3 PUFA to patients with active rheumatoid arthritis are reviewed. The studies support a modest effect of fish oil on patient-reported disease parameters without serious side effects. Future research should evaluate effect, tolerance and side effects in long term studies with different daily intakes of n-3 PUFA and should also focus on the effect of n-3 PUFA in combination with standard therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Fish oils and rheumatoid arthritis. A randomized and double-blind study].

The effect of dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) on disease variables in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis was evaluated in a multicentre, randomized and double blind study. Fifty-one patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were included from three Danish hospital Departments of Rheumatology. The patients were allocated to 12 weeks of treatment with either six n-3 PUFA capsules (3.6 g) or six capsules with a fat composition averaging the Danish diet. Small but significant improvements in morning stiffness, joint tenderness and C-reactive protein were observed. There were no serious side-effects. Dietary supplementation with n-3 PUFA in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis has a modest effect on three out of eight disease variables, without effect on other traditional parameters for monitoring disease activity.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1994

Identification of the poly-L-proline-binding site on human profilin.

Profilin is a ubiquitous protein that has been implicated in the signaling pathway leading to cytoskeletal rearrangement in cells. An unusual property of profilin is its high binding affinity for poly-L-proline (PLP). This binding property is conserved in the profilins from diverse species with little sequence homology. We have monitored the binding of PLP to profilin by fluorescence and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. NMR spectroscopy has identified several residues whose amide nitrogen and amide hydrogen chemical shifts are significantly perturbed by binding of PLP. The affected residues are located at various locations throughout profilin's primary structure; however, mapping the location of the affected residues onto the recently determined three-dimensional solution structure of human profilin indicates that the effects of PLP binding are highly localized. Poly-L-proline binds profilin at the hydrophobic interface between profilin's NH2- and COOH-terminal helices and the upper face of its antiparallel beta-sheet. In contrast, residues located on the opposite side of the profilin structure are unaffected. The extent of the potential interaction surface of the PLP-profilin complex suggests that as few as 6 contiguous prolines would be sufficient for binding profilin. Examination of sequence data bases indicates that stretches of prolines of this length and longer occur in numerous regulatory proteins, suggesting that the ability of profilin to bind polyproline may be an important component of its signaling capabilities.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Efficiency of autometallographic detection of mercury in the rat kidney.

The autometallographic silver enhancement method is a method for subcellular localization of some heavy metals, such as mercury. However, no quantitative estimate has been made of the amount of mercury demonstrated by the method. In this study, pellets of autometallographic silver grains were prepared from unfixed kidney slices of rats exposed i.p. to mercury chloride containing trace amounts of 203Hg. The slices were silver-enhanced, and subsequently all organic material was removed by enzymatic digestion. During all stages of the experiment the solutions and tissue were gamma-counted. The analysis showed that the final pellets contained approximately 30% of the mercury compared to that found in the slices prior to development and that the mercury was probably located in lysosomes.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Ice freezes pain? A review of the clinical effectiveness of analgesic cold therapy.

Among the physical treatments to reduce pain, ice has had its place for many years. Experience tells us that ice has a strong short-term analgesic effect in many painful conditions, particularly those related to the musculoskeletal system. Serial applications may also be helpful. The scientific evidence from clinical trials is, however, fragmentary. This applies both for acute and serial cold-induced analgesia. The mechanisms by which cryotherapy might elevate pain threshold include an antinociceptive effect on the gate control system, a decrease in nerve conduction, reduction in muscle spasms, and prevention of edema after injury. It is concluded that ice may be useful for a variety of musculoskeletal pains, yet the evidence for its efficacy should be established more convincingly.

Analgesia↗
PubMed1994

Fibrinogen: its emerging role as a cardiovascular risk factor.

Several epidemiologic studies have produced longitudinal data identifying fibrinogen as a major cardiovascular risk factor. Cross-sectional results show strong associations between fibrinogen and cardiovascular risk factors or diseases. Clinical cohort studies demonstrate that fibrinogen might also be a risk factor for the sequelae of cardiovascular disease. At present, knowledge about the determinants of the plasma level of fibrinogen in health and disease is incomplete. Understanding of the mechanisms that might be involved in the atherogenic action of fibrinogen is also fragmentary. Fibrinogen strongly affects blood coagulation, blood rheology, and platelet aggregation, and in addition it has direct effects on the vascular wall and is a prominent acute-phase reactant. All of these phenomena might provide some insight into the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in the association between fibrinogen and cardiovascular events. Even though many crucial questions await answers, it is concluded that fibrinogen represents a major, independent risk factor that should be considered for screening programs aimed at identifying individuals at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

Adult↗