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Biomedical subjects

E Wolf

Publications and source records attributed to E Wolf.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Prosthetic rehabilitation of elderly bilateral amputees.

A retrospective evaluation of vascular amputees, all over 55 years of age, found that 18 underwent bilateral lower limb amputation. The ages of patients ranged from 55 to 83 years, mean age at the time of second amputation was 65.9 years, 13 men and 5 women. Out of the 18 patients, 12 underwent bilateral below knee amputation (BK-BK), 3 below knee and above knee (BK-AK), and 3 bilateral above knee (AK-AK). Six patients (50%) of the 12 with BK-BK were fitted with prostheses. They therefore became users of two prostheses and have achieved a high functional level of rehabilitation despite a high mean age of 67.8 years. Five of these patients had been successful prosthetic users after the first leg amputation. The sixth patient underwent double BK amputation almost at the same time. He was fitted and rehabilitated with two prostheses simultaneously. Patients with BK-AK and AK-AK amputations had not been fitted with two prostheses. Deciding about prosthetic prescription and type of rehabilitation of elderly bilateral amputees is very difficult. Age alone is not a factor in success or failure of prosthetic rehabilitation. The type of rehabilitation for these patients is related mainly to the level of amputation, associated diseases and successful prosthetic use after the first leg amputation. Careful evaluation by a multidisciplinary team is the key for the right treatment decision and successful rehabilitation of this group of patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1989

Multiple consequences of human growth hormone expression in transgenic mice.

Transgenic mice harbouring growth hormone gene constructs have been produced by DNA microinjection into pronuclei of fertilized oocytes. We examined transgenic mice carrying a mouse metallothionein I-human growth hormone (mMT I-hGH) fusion gene. Here, we present our results concerning gene integration, gene expression, and phenotypical, clinical and pathomorphological alterations found in mice expressing the hGH transgene. Body and organ growth was significantly increased in transgenic mice, whereas fertility was found to be reduced. The life-span was markedly shortened indicating detrimental side-effects of the high levels of circulating hGH. Lesions of kidneys, liver and heart were the predominant pathological findings. Our own results are compared with those obtained by other authors who have investigated mice carrying rat, bovine or ovine growth hormone fusion genes. GH-transgenic mice may serve as a model system to investigate ectopic expression of hormone genes thus circumventing endogenous feedback control mechanisms in complex hormonal cascades.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Uric acid serum concentrations in CF-children after pancreatic enzyme supplementation.

In 16 CF-patients (age: 7-23 years; 7 females, 9 males) we analysed the serum concentration of uric acid after a standard meal and pancreatic enzyme supplementation by PANKREON FORTE or PANGROL 400 "neu" (both 2800-3000 U lipase/kg body mass/meal). Simultaneously we measured the uric acid excretion into the urine. We found an effective digestion and subsequent resorption of triglycerides and glucose but no significant changes of the uric acid serum levels during the 8-hours-test period. The uric acid excretion was lower than in the nocturnal period before the test. We conclude that a dangerous hyperuricemia and/or hyperuricosuria do not usually occur in pancreatic enzyme supplementation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Unusual emission conditions and treatment cases at a central emergency and intensive care department].

Any increase of daily requests for care at a hospital emergency room in Berlin (capital of the GDR) were not reported during the days of extraordinary immission situation (Smog) in January 1982 and 1985. But a special attention is necessary for people over 75 years. The information is based on the analysis of 13,000 acute internal affections from 1981 to 1985 recorded in a hospital emergency room.

Berlin↗
PubMed1988

Prevalence of ischaemic ECG abnormalities according to the diabetes status in the population of Fiji and their associations with other risk factors.

The prevalence of ECG abnormalities indicating the presence of coronary heart disease was examined in the Melanesian (444 men and 457 women) and Asian Indian (408 men and 435 women) population living in Fiji. The aim of the present analysis was to determine the levels of coronary risk factors in people with diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or normal glucose tolerance. The prevalence of ECG abnormalities suggesting coronary heart disease (Q-waves, ST-depression or T-wave changes) was higher among women than men and among Asian Indians than Melanesians. The prevalence of ECG abnormalities was highest in diabetic subjects, intermediate in people with IGT and lowest in people who had normal glucose tolerance. People with IGT were more likely than others to have high risk factor levels. In people with IGT the increased levels of other coronary risk factors might explain a great deal of the increased prevalence of the ECG abnormalities as compared with the prevalence in those with normal glucose tolerance. Also in diabetic subjects, the levels of other coronary risk factors were increased in those who had ECG abnormalities, but not more than was the case with IGT, so that diabetes itself seemed to remain as the major identified risk factor for ECG abnormalities. The prevalence of diabetes in our study populations, especially in Asian Indians, was very high. This suggests that diabetes is the major risk factor for coronary heart disease in such populations.

Black People↗
PubMed1988

[Local intra-arterial fibrinolytic therapy in acute vascular occlusions in the area of the internal carotid artery].

Report on the first experiences with the local intraarterial streptokinase therapy in 5 patients with acute obliteration processes of the vascular system of the internal carotid artery. Two peripheral obliterations (occlusions of the main branch of the media) could be completely recanalised, with complete regression of the neurological symptomatology. In one of the three complete occlusions of the internal carotid artery (region of the siphon) a considerable partial recanalisation could be achieved. A fourth patient could be dismissed with an essential clinical improvement 11 days later despite angiographic persistence of the occlusion. Two patients died. As directive value for the dosage from 50,000 to 100,000 units streptokinase are proposed as short-term infusion in 30 to 60 minutes.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Dietary calcium. A method of lowering blood pressure.

Previous work in this laboratory has shown that supplemental dietary calcium using milk as the source can lower blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels. Attempting to circumvent lactose intolerance, a 6-month crossover study of blood pressure and serum lipids in 50 free-living volunteers was done comparing 1,150 mg/day of supplemental calcium via yogurt, cottage cheese, and milk to 32 oz/day of orange juice. Systolic blood pressure responded dramatically initially to calcium supplementation and continued lower than on orange juice at 6 months, 120 +/- 1.5 to 115 +/- 1.5 mm Hg, P less than 0.2, vs. 118 +/- 1.7 to 117 +/- 1.6 mm Hg. Diastolic blood pressure and serum lipid changes were not significant. Dietary calcium supplementation may prove beneficial in lowering systolic blood pressure in the long term.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Plasma uric acid level and its association with diabetes mellitus and some biologic parameters in a biracial population of Fiji.

Plasma uric acid was investigated in a population survey on diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors among Melanesians and Asian Indians in Fiji in 1980. Plasma uric acid levels were elevated in men and women with impaired glucose tolerance in both ethnic groups. The lowest plasma uric acid levels were found in diabetic patients, especially in diabetic men. Even though obesity was positively associated with plasma uric acid, it did not explain the high plasma uric acid level in persons with impaired glucose tolerance. Body mass index had a significant and independent impact on plasma uric acid levels both in nondiabetic and diabetic men and women. The strongest predictor of plasma uric acid in the multiple regression analysis in our study populations was plasma creatinine: it alone explained 9% of the variation in men and 2% in women; and 24% in Melanesians and 5% in Asian Indians. Our findings suggest a strong renal involvement in the balance of plasma uric acid and may also reflect certain dietary patterns, such as a high intake of protein, fats, and certain local vegetables. Although the prevalence of hyperuricemia was high, 27% in both Melanesian men and women, 22% in Asian Indian men, and 11% in Asian Indian women, clinical gout was uncommon. Many predictor variables and their interactions were analyzed along with the reasons for the high plasma uric acid levels in persons with impaired glucose tolerance and for the low plasma uric acid levels in diabetic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[The effect of fixation, dehydration and polymethacrylate imbedding on the results of immuno- and enzymehistochemical studies on lymphatic tissue and bone marrow].

The influence of formaldehyde fixation, dehydration and polymethacrylate embedding on the results of immunofluorescence staining of immunoglobulin and enzymehistochemical demonstration of hydrolases, especially acid phosphatase and alpha-naphthylacetate esterase in human tonsils and bone marrow were studied. The best results were achieved by using 2% formaldehyde and 5% sucrose in 0.02 M phosphate buffer (ph 7.4) for fixation and ethyleneglycol monobutylether for dehydration. The procedures were carried out at 4 degrees C. For tissue embedding we used the commercially available polymethacrylate Kalloplast R. The polymerisation was carried out at -20 degrees C for 18 hours. This method permits a good preservation of morphological details and the survival of antigenic determinants and enzyme activity. Trypsin, pepsin and alpha-chymotrypsin were used to "unmask" the antigenic determinants in methacrylate sections. Trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin revealed comparable results, but because of better practicability we used alpha-chymotrypsin. Using the described fixation, dehydration and embedding procedures it was possible to demonstrate both intracellular immunoglobulins (gamma, alpha and mu heavy chains; kappa and lambda light chains) and surface-bound immunoglobulins (mu and delta heavy chains; kappa and lambda light chains). Comparable results were achieved in human bone marrow biopsies. The results of histochemical demonstration of both enzymes were better in bone marrow sections than in that of the tonsils. We think, that the presented method is suitable in the diagnosis of myelo- and lymphoproliferative disorders on both the bone marrow and lymphatic tissue.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1988

[Immuno- and enzymehistochemical studies of methacrylate-embedded biopsy material, especially iliac crest biopsies].

Immunohistochemical and histochemical methods are increasingly used and their application in surgical pathology is obvious. Especially we used these methods on bone marrow core biopsies. Optimal and comparable results have been obtained by using different methods after halving the biopsy cores longitudinally and/or transversally. The two halves were used for cytologic imprints. Two parts of the biopsy cores were embedded in polymethacrylate at low temperature (-20 degrees C). The methacrylate-embedded biopsy part for routine histology was fixed in Schaffer's solution (methanol-formalin-fixative). The methacrylate-embedded undecalcified section of 4 microns may be stained by most stains commonly employed in routine histopathology after removal of the plastic. The sections are virtually free of artefacts such as shrinkage and swelling in the light microscope. The second methacrylate-embedded part of biopsy cores was fixed in 2% paraformaldehyde with 5% sucrose in 0.02 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and dehydrated in ethyleneglycolmonobutylether. All procedures were carried out at 4 degrees C. This method permits the use of immunohistochemical and histochemical procedures. The immunohistochemistry was carried out at sections of 4 microns after removal of the plastic with methoxide and use of proteolytic enzyme (0.1% alpha-chymotrypsin) to unmask antigens in sections. Surface and intracellular immunoglobulins were very well detected with the indirect FITC method. The histochemical procedures are carried out at sections of 7-8 microns after removal of plastic with xylene and toluol. The sections were incubated for specific esterase and nonspecific esterases, acid and alkaline phosphatase and then examined by light microscopy. A third part of biopsy cores may be immediately frozen, and cryostat sections are stained and evaluated for rapid diagnosis and used for immunohistologic analysis with mono- and polyclonal antibodies (FITC method) and/or histochemical investigations. Imprints of biopsy cores are evaluated for cytological, cytochemical and/or immunocytological analysis with mono- and polyclonal antibodies (FITC method). The cryostat sections and the imprints are fixed for all methods with 2% paraformaldehyde and 5% sucrose in PBS (0.02 M, pH 7.4) at 4 degrees C for 30 minutes. The best diagnostic results were obtained in the myelo- and lymphoproliferative disorders using the combination of methods described here. Examples were demonstrated.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1987

Body weight and risk of myocardial infarction and death in the adult population of eastern Finland.

Body mass index (weight (kg) divided by height squared (m2] and its association with the risk of myocardial infarction and death from all causes were studied prospectively in a randomly selected population sample in eastern Finland aged 30-59 at outset in 1972. The study population consisted of 3786 men and 4120 women. The participation rate in the survey in 1972 was over 90%. All deaths and admissions to hospital in the sample were obtained from the National Death Certificate and Hospital Discharge Registers. During the seven years of follow up until 1978, 170 men and 52 women had acute myocardial infarction, and during the nine years up to 1980, 223 men and 92 women died. Independent of age, men with a body mass index of 28.5 or more had a significantly higher incidence of acute myocardial infarction. This effect was also independent of smoking but not independent of biological coronary risk factors--that is, serum cholesterol concentration and blood pressure. In the analysis stratified for smoking in men the body mass index total mortality curve was J shaped among non-smokers, whereas smoking entirely outweighed body mass index as a predictor of death. Body mass index did not contribute significantly to the risk of either acute myocardial infarction or death in women. It is concluded that a body mass index of around 29.0-31.0 or more is not only a marker for coronary risk factors but is also a predictor of acute myocardial infarction in men.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Separation of the enantiomers of substituted putrescine and cadaverine analogues by gas chromatography on chiral and achiral stationary phases.

Capillary gas chromatography (GC) on chiral stationary phases, i.e., Chirasil-Val [L-valine-tert.-(R)-alpha-butylamide] and XE-60-S-valine-(R)-alpha-phenylethylamide, has been applied to the resolution of various substituted analogues of putrescine as their N,N'-perfluoroacyl derivatives. The influence of the nature of the substituent on the retention behaviour and on the resolution of the enantiomers was studied. The results are discussed in terms of volatility and interaction with the chiral stationary phase. The 1,4-disubstituted putrescine analogues with two chiral centres were also clearly resolved into their corresponding stereoisomers. When the chain length between the two amino groups was increased, no clear resolution was obtained of the monosubstituted cadaverine analogues as their N,N'-perfluoroacyl derivatives. However, resolution was obtained after derivatization of the cadaverine analogues with (-)-alpha-methoxy-alpha-trifluoromethylphenylacetyl chloride, followed by GC analysis on an achiral phase.

Cadaverine↗