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Biomedical subjects

E Fischer

Publications and source records attributed to E Fischer.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Sulfonated dextran inhibits complement activation and complement-dependent cytotoxicity in an in vitro model of hyperacute xenograft rejection.

In the present study, we demonstrate that a substituted soluble dextran derivative bearing 73% carboxylic groups and 15% benzylamide sulfonate groups, termed CMDBS25, inhibits complement activation and complement-mediated damage in an in vitro model of xenogeneic rejection. Incubation of porcine aortic endothelial cells with normal human serum resulted in time-dependent complement consumption as assessed by C3a generation in the fluid phase and deposition of activated complement fragments C3, C5 and of C5b-9 on target cells. The presence of C5b-9 membrane attack complex was associated with 51Cr release from prelabelled endothelial cells. The addition of 5-25 mg of CMDBS25/ml under the experimental conditions used, inhibited complement activation and C3a generation in a dose-dependent fashion. CMDBS25 (25 mg/ml) totally suppressed iC3b, C5 and C5b-9 cytolytic complex deposition on cells and inhibits by 42% lysis of target endothelial cells. Native dextran had no effect. Our observations document the anti-complementary properties of sulfonated dextran derivatives and their potential as therapeutic agents for the prevention of complement-dependent hyperacute xenograft rejection.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The determination of toxic metals in simulated stomach contents by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis and a fatal case of mercury poisoning.

Soup is used as a simulated stomach contents matrix to determine the lower level of detection for 16 metals. All of the metals can be detected at the levels which might be expected for acute fatal doses even if the stomach contents are considerably diluted. However where small doses are administered over a prolonged period this method may not be sufficiently sensitive. A case of fatal poisoning by the ingestion of mercuric chloride is described to illustrate the effectiveness of the method. In this case mercury was also detected and determined at highly significant levels in blood and liver by the same technique. This energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) method is easy to use, rapid and non-destructive.

Gastrointestinal Contents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Appendiceal CT in 140 cases. Diagnostic criteria for acute and necrotizing appendicitis.

Computed tomography (CT) was performed in 140 patients with suspected acute appendicitis. Thin collimation (5 mm), intravenous contrast enhancement, 1-second scan times, and supplementary cecal air insufflation were emphasized. CT accuracy was 98% overall (137/140), and 99% in the 124 cases with early surgery. Necrotizing appendicitis was diagnosed by CT with 86% accuracy and 90% positive predictive value.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Differentiation of hepatic hemangiomas from metastases by dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging.

Twenty-nine patients with hepatic hemangiomas (n = 14) and hepatic metastases (n = 15) underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging prior to and after an intravenous bolus injection of Gd-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (0.2 mmol/kg). Before contrast application, a T2-weighted spin echo sequence (SE 1,600/105) and a T1-weighted gradient echo sequence (GE 315/14/90 degrees pulse angle) were performed. Beginning with injection of the contrast agent, a dynamic study was conducted for 10 min using a moderately T1-weighted gradient echo sequence (GE 40/14/40 degrees) with an acquisition time of 10.2 s per image. Delayed (11 min) and late (60 min) postcontrast images were obtained using a T1-weighted sequence (GE 315/14/90 degrees). In the dynamic study (0-10 min) the hemangiomas were characterized by peripheral contrast enhancement and a subsequent hyperintense fill-in. The metastases showed very mixed patterns of enhancement after contrast administration, and their signal intensity remained low compared with that of the hepatic tissue. In the delayed postcontrast examination (11 min) the hemangiomas had a very high and homogeneous signal intensity and the metastases were characterized by an inhomogeneous, hypointense to isointense signal. The contrast between tumor and liver [signal-difference-to-noise ratio (SD/N)] was higher for all hemangiomas than it was for the metastases. In the T2-weighted precontrast examination, on the other hand, five hemangiomas and seven metastases showed an overlap in the SD/N. The late postcontrast images (60 min) did not yield any further diagnostic information. We conclude that the combination of a dynamic MR study with delayed postcontrast T1-weighted imaging is a useful method of diagnosing hepatic hemangiomas.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Harry M. Vars award. Glutamine or fiber supplementation of a defined formula diet: impact on bacterial translocation, tissue composition, and response to endotoxin.

Despite provision of adequate calories, defined formula diets in rats lead to bacterial translocation (BT), fatty infiltration of the liver, and an increased susceptibility to endotoxin. These deleterious effects may be due in part to a loss of intestinal barrier integrity resulting from bowel atrophy. Defined formula diets lack both glutamine and fiber, substances which may help maintain intestinal mass. To determine whether supplementation of defined formula diets with either glutamine or fiber might prevent bowel atrophy and, thus, BT, hepatic steatosis, and the altered response to endotoxin, Wistar rats were fed (1) defined formula diet ad libitum (DFD), (2) (DFD + 2% (w/v) glutamine, (GLUT), or (3) DFD + 2% (w/v) psyllium (FIBER). Rats given standard food isocalorically pair-fed to DFD were used as controls. Nutritional status was assessed by daily weight gain, as well as the ability to maintain serum albumin, hematocrit and white blood counts. After 2 weeks of these feeding regimens, animals were sacrificed, and organ weights and composition were determined, with rates of bacterial translocation determined by mesenteric lymph node, abdominal viscera, and cecal cultures. Additional animals receiving the same experimental diets were subsequently challenged with endotoxin and observed for mortality with rates of post-endotoxin BT and the responses of acute phase proteins and cytokines measured. All dietary regimens resulted in equivalent weight gain and other nutritional parameters. Both glutamine and fiber supplementation maintained small bowel mass, but only GLUT preserved normal jejunal mucosal architecture. Neither fiber nor glutamine supplementation prevented cecal bacterial overgrowth or BT, resulting from the DFD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Excessive nonspecific acral bone resorption of the margin of the distal phalangeal tuberosity of individual fingers].

The margin of the ungual tufts corresponds to an enthesis at which, besides the dominant formation of bone, a minimal reduction of bone is also possible. This bone resorption at individual digits may concern the distral part of this margin in an augmented degree and remains stationary after a certain extent. It is not connected to any definite disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Fabry disease, a disease with rheumatic aspects: radiology of soft tissue and bone changes in the hand].

Fabry's disease is a hereditary lipid storage disease with deposition of ceramides in nearly all tissues. The lipid deposition in the skin and the synovial compartments causes an enlargement of the skin, the joint capsules and the tendon sheaths, which are recognizable by low KV radiography. The bones of the hand mainly show multiple enthesopathic ossifications of a peculiar kind at the insertions of fibrous structures and few intra- and extraarticular erosions. The clinical picture often simulates an inflammatory rheumatic disease.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of some pharmacokinetic factors in the biliary excretion of exogenous organic anions.

The role of plasma and liver concentrations of exogenous organic anions and the significance of biotransformation of bromsulfphthalein (BSP) in the biliary excretion rate have been studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-250 g. No parallelism was found between plasma concentration and liver concentration after administration of the same dose of drugs to bile duct-ligated rats. A comparison of the values of hepatic concentration with the biliary excretion rate of drugs seemed to show a negative correlation between these parameters. Biotransformation of BSP (conjugation with glutathione) plays an important role in the biliary excretion of this drug, because the pharmacokinetic parameters of conjugated BSP are quite different from those of unconjugated BSP.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of estrone on the biliary excretion of xenobiotics.

The effect on the biliary excretion of exogenous organic anions and the mechanism of action of estrone has been studied. Female Wistar rats weighing 180-200 g were pretreated with estrone (2.5 mg/kg ip daily for 4 days). This produced a significant decrease in the biliary flow and biliary excretion of bromcresol green and amaranth. Administration of taurocholate did not abolish the depressing effect of estrone; however, phenobarbital given in combination with estrone decreased or prevented the effects of estrone on the biliary excretion rate of bromcresol green and amaranth. These results indicate that changes in the bile salt independent fraction might be responsible for the effects of estrone on the biliary flow and biliary excretion of xenobiotics.

Amaranth Dye↗