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Biomedical subjects

E Schmid

Publications and source records attributed to E Schmid.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Blunt abdominal trauma--sonographic findings].

Results of sonographic investigations from 435 patients with blunt abdominal trauma or polytrauma admitted to a traumatology service are given. Complete evaluation of the abdominal organs was impeded in 94 cases by meteorism or other factors like immobility or hyperactivity of inebriated patients. Evaluation of the pancreas was inhibited in most of these cases. In 33 cases lesions of an organ could be verified during surgery. In one case the false positive diagnosis of "spleen rupture" led to operation. Suspicion of free fluid in the abdominal cavity (5 cases) could not be verified in any of the cases during a second investigation and was deemed to be negligible. Rupture of the spleen was diagnosed in 12 out of 14 cases, renal contusion in 7 out of 7 cases. Liver-, bowel- and mesenteric lesions were occasionally diagnosed indirectly (evidence for free fluid). Quality assessment did not reveal a difference between day time or nocturnal work shifts provided the investigators were experienced in sonography.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1990

[Sonographic demonstration of venous thrombosis in the abdominal cavity].

16 cases with abdominal venous thrombosis proven by sonographic exploration, have been collected. The efficiency of present ultrasonographic techniques to venous system has been demonstrated and the importance of routine abdominal ultrasonography for lesions of great abdominal vessels has been stressed.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Absolute bioavailability of pirenzepine in intensive care patients.

The absolute bioavailability (f) of pirenzepine was determined in 27 intensive care patients receiving the drug for prophylaxis and therapy of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. A multiple oral and intravenous dosage regimen and the times of blood sampling were adapted to individual conditions and treatment. Mean f in the patients was 0.28, which was significantly higher than in 12 normal subjects (0.14). It showed no dependence on age (range 20-82 y), nor on the risk factors cardiac insufficiency, renal and hepatic dysfunction, gastrectomy (Billroth II) and bleeding gastrointestinal ulcers, nor on concomitant administration of metoclopramide or antacids. Due to the wide therapeutic index of pirenzepine, it is concluded that individualization of therapy is not necessary for patients in intensive care.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1990

Chromosome aberrations induced in human lymphocytes by 16.5 MeV protons.

In a track segment irradiation experiment with 16.5 MeV protons the induction of dicentrics was studied in human T-lymphocytes. The dose-response relationship was linear quadratic with estimated parameters alpha = (0.44 +/- 0.07) x 10(-1) Gy-1 and beta = (1.95 +/- 0.30) x 10(-2) Gy-2. With respect to X-rays a limiting RBE of 1.1-1.2 exists. The present findings are compared with data from other laboratories obtained with 4.9 and 8.7 MeV protons. It was found that the data do not fit theoretical predictions on a proportional relationship between alpha values and LET. Using the microdosimetric quantity yD (25 nm), the dose average of the lineal energy, for characterization of these proton radiations, at a relevant site diameter of 25 nm the ratio of yD = 1.15 is in accordance only with the observed alpha ratio of 1.0 +/- 0.23 for 8.7 and 16.5 MeV protons. In contrast to the prediction of a constant beta at low LET values, the quadratic coefficients increase with increasing LET between 3 and 8 keV/microns.

Chromosome Aberrations↗
PubMed1990

Phospholipid biosynthesis in Candida albicans: regulation by the precursors inositol and choline.

Phospholipid metabolism in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans was examined. The phospholipid biosynthetic pathways of C. albicans were elucidated and were shown to be similar to those of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, marked differences were seen between these two fungi in the regulation of the pathways in response to exogenously provided precursors inositol and choline. In S. cerevisiae, the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine via methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine appears to be regulated in response to inositol and choline; provision of choline alone does not repress the activity of this pathway (G. M. Carman and S. A. Henry, Annu. Rev. Biochem. 58:636-669, 1989). The same pathway in C. albicans responds to the exogenous provision of choline. Possible explanations for the observed differences in regulation are discussed.

Candida albicans↗
PubMed1990

[Diagnostic value of various laboratory parameters in acute pancreatitis].

In 427 samples of serum and urine, collected during their stay at hospital from 40 patients affected with acute pancreatitis, the sensitivity and the specifity of total amylase and lipase in serum, total amylase and pancreas isoamylase in urine, as well as the amylase-/creatinine clearance were determined. The pancreas isoamylase in serum was used as reference value. It appeared that the sensitivity of the lipase was next to that of the pancreas isoamylase in serum, even in limit ranges. Usually the lipase stayed pathological the longest and could therefore be used to identify in the best way even an easing-off pancreatitis. The diagnostic accuracy of the total amylase in serum and urine, of the pancreatic isoamylase in urine and of the amylase-/creatinine clearance was found to be obviously less reliable. The specifity of all examined tests was reduced in patients with renal insufficiency, liver disease, alcohol abuse and in patients with abdominal pains of non pancreatic origin. Concluding form our results and with regard to the expenditure of laboratory technique and to the time required by the methods of determination, we found that of all the examined parameters, the lipase was the most convenient for both emergency and routine diagnose of an acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

[Long-term follow-up after heart transplantation].

Actuarial survival rate two years after heart transplant in our patients is 90%. The most patients report excellent quality of life (NYHA I) and present definitely improved work load capacity as well as normal cardiac hemodynamic assessment two years after transplant. The major problems in the long follow-up of heart transplant recipients are accelerated coronary disease (graft atherosclerosis), arterial hypertension and renal function impairement.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1989

[Tumor markers and immunomodulator substances in ascites--their value as screening and diagnosis parameters].

The object of this study was to determine the known laboratory parameters, tumor markers and immunomodulatory substances in 69 ascites of various etiology, and to test their diagnostic significance. The usual parameters such as protein content, LDH ratio, albumin quotient and albumin gradient, fibronectin, cholesterol and cell count did not reliably differentiate the etiology in each particular case, although the mean values of the various groups differed significantly. Even cytological investigation was negative in 6 out of 29 malignant ascites. Neither were the immunomodulatory substances such as neopterin, beta 2-microglobulin and interleukin-2 receptors suitable for differentiation. In patients with carcinoma of the prostate the values of prostate-specific antigen were significantly increased in ascites. The best separation between benign hepatic or cardiac ascites and malignant ascites was provided by ferritin (sensitivity 97%, specificity 100%). The values in benign hepatic or cardiac ascites were lower than 150 ng/ml and those in malignant ascites higher than 170 ng/ml.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1989

Time-effect relationship of chromosome aberrations in peripheral lymphocytes after radiation therapy for seminoma.

The time-effect relationship of dicentrics and cells containing unstable chromosome abnormalities (Cu cells) was studied in peripheral lymphocytes of 40 blood samples from 23 patients suffering from seminoma during a time period of 0-1720 days after radiation therapy. Nine patients were studied before treatment. Since the half-time for the disappearance of damaged cells from circulating blood is an increasing function of post-exposure time it can only be expressed as a differential value. The present model discriminates between the mean lifetime m for lymphocytes and a parameter q which is the differential half-time for the decline of damaged cells immediately after exposure (t = 0). If the time t is short compared with m the decline is asymptotically time-hyperbolic rather than exponential and can be described by q only. According to recalculations of previous data, comprising 30 years post exposure, m approximates 10 years. Differential half-times can be derived for any time post treatment within the analysed time period for the decline of the incidence of dicentrics. For example at the end of therapy (t = 0) the differential half-time was calculated to be 0.4 years and at 1720 days post exposure 3.6 years resulted. The corresponding values for the percentage of Cu cells cannot be derived for t = 0; at 1720 days 3.9 years resulted.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Absence of adaptive response to low-level irradiation from tritiated thymidine and X-rays in lymphocytes of two individuals examined in serial experiments.

No adaptation-like response to the induction of chromatid breaks could be demonstrated for lymphocytes of 2 donors pretreated with tritiated thymidine or 0.01 Gy of X-rays and subsequently exposed to a challenge dose of 1.5 Gy of X-rays. The absence of an adaptive response was already observed for these 2 donors in earlier experiments and is confirmed here under various experimental conditions.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1989

Cytogenetic effects of 3,4-dichloroaniline in human lymphocytes and V79 Chinese hamster cells.

3,4-Dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA), an intermediate in various chemical syntheses, has been detected as an environmental contaminant in surface waters and in the effluents from dye-manufacturing plants. Tested for clastogenicity in human lymphocytes in vitro the compound was inactive in the chromosome aberration assay yet exhibited a positive sister-chromatid exchange response in the presence of a mammalian metabolic activation system. Exposure of V79 Chinese hamster cells to 3,4-DCA caused a concentration-dependent increase in the incidence of spindle disturbances, predominantly of the initial c-mitotic type. The results indicate that 3,4-DCA might induce aneuploidy in mammalian cells by interaction with the mitotic apparatus.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed1989

2-Chlorobenzylidene malonitrile (CS) causes spindle disturbances in V79 Chinese hamster cells.

Exposure of V79 Chinese hamster cells to 2-chlorobenzylidene malonitrile (CS), a chemical used as a sensory irritant for riot control, caused a concentration-dependent increase in the incidence of spindle disturbances. A C-mitotic effect with the appearance of C-metaphases, a metaphase block and the concomitant disappearance of ana-telophase figures were observed after a 3-h treatment. The results indicate that CS might induce aneuploidy in mammalian cells by interacting with the mitotic apparatus.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Adaptive response after X-irradiation of human lymphocytes?

The induction of an adaptive response of human lymphocytes from three donors exposed to 0.01 or 0.05 Gy of X-rays at 32 h of culture and to 1.5 Gy at 48 h was studied. There was no evidence for a significant reduction of the incidences of chromosomal aberrations in cultures pre-treated with low doses and subsequently exposed to the higher dose compared with cultures exposed to the high dose alone.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1989

Cytokeratins and cytokeratin filaments in subpopulations of cultured human and rodent cells of nonepithelial origin: modes and patterns of formation.

Using immunofluorescence microscopy, we observed that in several established cell culture lines derived from different nonepithelial tissues and species, cells spontaneously emerge, usually at low frequencies, which contain cytoplasmic structures decorated by antibodies specific for cytokeratins 8 and 18. This phenomenon was further examined at both the protein (gel electrophoreses of cytoskeletal proteins, followed by immunoblotting) and the RNA (Northern blots, "nuclear run-on" analysis, in situ hybridization) level. Positive cell lines included simian virus (SV40)-transformed human fibroblasts (HF-SV80, WI-38 VA13), human astrocytic glioma cells (U333 CG/343MG), rat (RVF-SMC) and hamster (BHK-21/13) cells derived from vascular smooth muscle and murine sarcoma MS-180 cells. In two cell lines (HF-SV80 and BHK-21/13), the frequency of the cytokeratin-containing cells and of the cytokeratin fibril arrays per cell was drastically increased upon treatment with 5-azacytidine. The structural appearance of the cytokeratins was variable in the different cell lines but could also differ among cells of the same culture: While small granular or comma-shaped structures or bizarrely shaped filament arrays prevailed in WI-38, RVF and normally grown BHK-21 cells, most of the other lines revealed extended normal-looking, fibrillar arrays. In one line (MS-180), the appearance of cytokeratins was associated with a morphological change, as it was only found in a subpopulation of cells that had lost their typical elongated and spindle-shaped phenotype and assumed a rounded ("coccoid") shape. Our results show that the expression of the genes encoding cytokeratins 8 and 18 is not necessarily restricted to programs of epithelial differentiation and that factors stochastically effective appear in cultured cell lines that allow the synthesis of these cytoskeletal components. Mechanisms possibly involved in this spontaneous and selective advent of cytokeratins 8 and 18 and implications for tumor diagnosis are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Functional analysis of alternatively spliced tyrosinase gene transcripts.

Three different cDNA clones (pmcTyr1, pmcTyr2 and pmcTyr3) representing mRNAs originating by alternative splicing of the primary transcript of mouse tyrosinase gene, were identified and characterized by sequence analysis and by a functional assay. These cDNAs were subcloned into the newly constructed expression vector pHD. After electroporation of these hybrid clones into tyrosinase negative cells, protein extracts were prepared and tested for tyrosinase enzyme activity. Only the cDNA insert of pmcTyr1 was able to confer tyrosinase enzyme activity. This cDNA encodes a protein 533 amino acid residues in length containing a putative leader peptide of 18 amino acids and six putative glycosylation sites. Comparisons of the deduced amino acid sequence of the cDNA clone pmcTyr1 with the protein sequence of tyrosinases from man, Streptomyces, Neurospora and with haemocyanin subunits from a spider showed two regions of sequence conservation. One of these regions is known to be involved in copper binding. Since this gene with the coding capacity for tyrosinase is absent in all studied c-locus lethal deletion mutant mice, we have evidence that albinism in mice is caused by mutations of the tyrosinase gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Analysis of the cytogenetic effect in human lymphocytes induced by metabolically activated 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene.

Chromosome analyses were carried out in human lymphocytes treated in vitro with 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene (1-MN, 2-MN) in the presence and absence of the mammalian metabolic activation system, S9 mix. Without S9 mix there was no indication of induction of any significant cytogenetic effect by either compound. With S9 mix a weak clastogenic effect was apparent at 4 mM 2-MN only and sister-chromatid exchange frequencies were significantly increased at each dose of 1- and 2-MN, yet always less than twice the control level. The present observations do not indicate that 1- and 2-MN must be classified as potential genotoxic substances.

Biotransformation↗