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Biomedical subjects

E Schmitz

Publications and source records attributed to E Schmitz.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Feedback inhibition of hepatic DNA synthesis.

alpha-Hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH) and some other xenobiotic inducers were used to elicit adaptive increases in mono-oxygenase activity, size and DNA content of rat liver. After elimination of the inducers, organ size and mono-oxygenase activity returned to normal whereas the DNA content of the liver remained increased. Upon renewed treatment with an inducer the adaptive responses uncoupled. While mono-oxygenase induction and liver enlargement did occur, DNA replication was largely suppressed. These findings show that in the hyperplastic state the liver is resistant to stimulation of DNA synthesis by the inducers. It is concluded that the DNA content of the liver (or the number of liver cells) is controlled by a feedback system which monitors an excess of DNA (cells) and suppresses cell replication if the content of DNA exceeds the normal level. Organ mass has little, if any, effect on the operation of this feedback system.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

[Comparative studies on perioperative infusion therapy in children].

Various infusion solutions--containing different amounts of sodium, potassium, chloride and carbohydrates--were compared within two groups of infants and children from six months to fourteen years of age. Among various parameters particularly blood electrolytes and urinary electrolytes were taken as important parameters to recommend certain types of the basic infusion solutions, to be used for the perioperative period in pediatric surgical cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[Clinical study on the concentration of free amino acids in plasma and urine during postaggression metabolism. I].

We studied the changes in the concentration pattern of free plasma amino acids in 30 surgical patients during standardized parenteral nutrition and exclusive water and electrolyte supply. Distinct reproducible differences were found in comparison to normal subjects. The concentration of branched-chain amino acids continuously increases during the post-operative period. The decrease of alanine is closely related. Phenylalanine also increases continuously due to insufficient transformation in the liver and increased release from the muscles. During post-aggression metabolism, cystine is probably not sufficiently formed from methionine and should be substituted. It may be that tyrosine is also essential for patients in the post-operative post-traumatic period. The glycine concentration of some amino acid mixtures is regarded as too high; the glycine content can be reduced in favour of serine supply.

Amino Acids, Essential↗
PubMed1978

[Clinical studies on the concentration of free amino acids in plasma and urine during post-aggression metabolism. II].

Our first report concerned the changes in the concentration of free plasma amino acids within the framework of postaggression metabolism, resulting from surgical intervention and parenteral nutrition. This study with 23 operated patients is intended to show whether an amino acid mixture is suited for parenteral nutrition if the particular metabolic action mentioned above is taken into consideration in the composition of the solution. We have shown that the change in the concentration of free plasma amino acids is very small during continuous infusion for 4 postoperative days in steady state and insignificant in comparison to the normal pattern of healthy subjects, except for phenylalanine. With a quota of 2.75% of the supply, the renal loss of free amino acids is clinically unimportant. We believe that an amino acid solution of such composition is suited for infusion in the postoperative and posttraumatic phase whereby our recommendation is explicitly limited to this indication.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1977

Plasma prolactin and prolactin release in liver cirrhosis.

A significant increase of basal plasma prolactin levels (radioimmunoassayed) in 75 patients with liver cirrhosis was found in comparison to 50 male controls (8.5+/-4.5 (SD) vs. 5.5+/-1.7 ng/ml p less than 0.001). The extent and incidence of hyperprolactinaemia in 48 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis was more pronounced than in 27 cases of cirrhosis of non-alcoholic aetiologies (mean 9.7+/-4.8 vs. 5.7+/-2.1 ng/ml). No relation to ascites formation as well as to the development of gynaecomastia was apparent. Prolactin release following thyrotropin-releasing hormone was markedly enhanced in alcoholic as compared to non-alcoholic cirrhosis. Possibly hyperprolactinaemia and increased pituitary hormone reserve reflects hyperoestrogenism but changes of the hypothalamic regulation cannot be excluded as yet.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1975

[Improvement of parenteral feeding through the additional administration of a serum protein solution].

On 7 days - 5 postoperative - patients undergoing Billroth I or Billroth II were continuously infused apparatively witn an amino acid mixture of 100% and a glucose-xylitol-solution of 25% (group I). One group (group II) additionally received a serum protein solution. From the first preoperative day to the fifth day of the postoperative period we determined individual parameters in blood and urine. A decrease of serum phosphate level beginning on the first day after starting parenteral nutrition was observed. In the nitrogen balances, in total protein and albumin concentration there were no differences, but serum gamma-globulin concentration of group II was very low at the end of the parenteral nutrition period, a point which at present cannot be explained.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1975

[Influence of hypothyreodism on the quantitative Karyo- and cytoarchitecture of rat hepatocytes. (A morphometrical and cytophotometrical study on rat hepatocytes 3 weeks after thyreoidectomy) (author's transl)].

INTRODUCTION: Thyroid hormoned influence the quantitative cytoarchitecture of hepatocytes by stimulating the membrane synthesis of mitochondria and ergastoplasm. The cellular and nuclear changes produced by thyroidectomy were analysed cytophotometrically and morphometrically. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 21 days after thyroidectomy the liver tissues of 10 male Wistar rats were examined. 5 sham-operated animals served as controls. All rats received Altromin-R-standard diet. The cytophotometric analysis is based on the method described by Sandritter. The morphometric study was carried out following Weibel's methods. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: As a consequence of the changed cellular metabolism, smaller hepatocytes and nuclei (but larger nucleoli) are found in the hypothyroid rats. As compared with controls, hepatocytes hardly show tetraploid nuclei, which is due to inhibited polyploidisation. The mitochondrial content has become considerably smaller in the hypothyroid hepatocytes. The cristal membranes, the mitochondrial and peroxysomal volume per hepatocyte show a similar reaction pattern, which is considered to be a sign of reduced cellular metabolism. The volume loss of the ergastoplasm confirms this assumption.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

[Circulatory changes during preoperative isovolaemic haemodilution with a mixed solution of hydroxyethyl starch and 5% human albumine. A clinical study (author's transl)].

The influence of preoperative isovolaemic haemodilution on the circulation was examined in a clinical study. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, cardiac output as well as haemoglobin and haematocrit values were determined. Stroke volume, total peripheral resistance, and the modified tension-time-index were calculated. A mixture of human albumin 5% and hydroxy-ethyl-starch was used as a solution for dilution. During the dilution phase the cardiac output increased compensatorily to the decrease of haemoglobin and the haematocrit values. While the heart rate and the mean arterial pressure remained unchanged the total peripheral resistance was reduced. Considering the described conditions and contraindications, preoperative isovolaemic haemodilution is a suitable method to replace an intraoperative blood loss of up to 2000 ml autologously. Thus a posttransfusion hepatitis can be avoided. In addition, preoperative isovolaemic hemodilution improves the microcirculation and may have a prophylactic effect on the thrombosis in the postoperative phase.

Blood Circulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term effectiveness of operative procedures for stanford type a aortic dissections.

BACKGROUND: The object was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of strategies for managing the aortic root and distal aorta in type A dissections. METHODS: From 1990 to 1999, 50 patients (32 men (64.07%); 18 women, (36.0%); mean age 57.4 +/- 11.1 years) underwent operation for ascending aortic dissection. Surgical strategies included aortic root replacement with a composite graft (21/50; 42.0%), valve replacement with supracoronary ascending aortic graft (3/50, 6%), and valve preservation or repair (26/50; 52.0%). RESULTS: Overall hospital mortality rate was 18.0%. Follow-up was completed for 47 patients (94.0%) and ranged from 1 month to 10.5 years (mean 28.8 months). Actuarial survival for patients discharged from the hospital was 84% at 1 year, 75% at 5 years, and 66% at 10 years. There was no significant difference between the various procedures regarding mortality, neurological complications, long-term survival, and proximal reoperations. The ascending aorta alone was replaced in 8 of 50 patients (16%), ascending and hemiarch in 30 of 50 patients (60%), and arch and proximal descending aorta in 12 of 50 patients (24%). Hospital mortality (11.5%, 20.0%, and 16.7%, respectively; p > 0.05) and 5- and 10-year survival (p > 0.05) were not statistically dependent on the extension of the resection distally. Residual distal dissection was not associated with a decrease in late survival. With regard to emergency surgery (36/50) there was no significant difference in hospital mortality (p > 0.05) and 5-year survival (p > 0.05) between those who had undergone coronary angiography (19/36; 52.8%) on the day of surgery with those who had not (17/36; 47.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Preservation or repair of the aortic valve can be recommended in the majority of patients with type A dissection. Distal extension of the resection does not increase surgical risk. Residual distal dissection does not decrease late survival. Preoperative coronary angiography may not affect survival in patients undergoing emergency surgery.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Psychosomatic disease in female teachers. Social context, contents and perspectives of inpatient treatment with a goal of rehabilitation and return to work].

Despite the considerable consequences, school teachers treated in psychosomatic in-patient settings, have not yet been the subject of investigations. Whether, for whom and which kind of job related treatment can be helpful for teachers returning to work can only be discussed if the specific stress and the social situation of teachers as public officials ("Beamtenstatus") are taken into consideration. On this point of view a systematic evaluation of 63 psychosomatically ill teachers consecutively admitted in a psychosomatic hospital was performed. The average age was 50, suffering mostly from depression or/and tinnitus. Most teachers rated job related stress as influencing their symptomatologies. A program focusing on discrepancies between personal ideals versus real situations in school, problems in social interactions and time management, should be a valuable part of the teachers' psychosomatic inpatient treatment. This approach was affected by a strong desire for early retirement in about half of the teachers.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chlamydial rRNA in the joints of patients with Chlamydia-induced arthritis and undifferentiated arthritis.

Synovial fluid and synovial membrane specimens of 11 patients with Chlamydia-induced arthritis (CIA), 24 patients with undifferentiated arthritis (UndA), 4 patients with post-enteritic reactive arthritis, 3 patients with Lyme arthritis and 9 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were investigated for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis). A single stranded DNA-probe was used for nucleic acid hybridization with ribosomal RNA (rRNA) from C. trachomatis. In 4 patients (CIA = 1, UndA = 3) chlamydial rRNA was found in the synovial fluid. In one additional patient (CIA) the specimen of a synovial membrane biopsy was positive for chlamydial rRNA. The detection of intra-articular chlamydial rRNA is discussed as an indicator for the presence of viable Chlamydiae in inflamed joints.

Arthritis, Infectious↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Superoxide anion production by monocytes and synovial fluid macrophages of patients with chronic inflammatory joint disorders.

Peripheral blood monocytes (PBMo) and synovial fluid macrophages (SFMO) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), HLA B27-positive reactive oligoarthritis and controls were investigated for their capacity to generate superoxide anions (O2-) upon stimulation with phorbolmyristoacetate (PMA) in a cytochrome c (cyt c) microassay. PBMo of RA patients, patients with reactive arthritis and controls did not reveal any significant differences and also treatment of RA patients with gold salts or immunosuppressive therapy had no effect on the oxidative burst in PBMo. In contrast, in SFMO of RA patients treated only with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) we found significantly enhanced O2- release, compared with PBMo of the same group. Treatment with gold salts had no effect on this enhanced oxidative response, whereas immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprin or corticosteroids significantly reduced the O2- release of SFMO. In patients suffering from reactive arthritis we did not find significant differences between SFMO and PBMo. The O2- release of SFMO of this group was significantly reduced, when compared to that of SFMO of RA patients, treated with NSAID. These results indicated that SFMO but not PBMo in RA in cyt c microassay produce increased levels of activated oxygen species. In comparison to PBMo, SFMO of patients suffering from reactive arthritis do not show such an increased oxidative burst. These findings suggest that in RA, activated oxygen species have a local destructive effect in inflamed joints. This seems to be caused by activation of catalytic enzymes and complement components, as well as induction of release of interleukins or prostaglandins, contributing to the augmentation of the chronic inflammatory process.

Adult↗