Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G Ebinger.
The case history of a 59-year-old man with neuromyopathy and sicca syndrome, preceding the discovery of a small cell bronchial carcinoma for 16 months, is reported. This paraneoplastic neuromyopathy , resistant to steroid therapy, dramatically improved with cyclophosphamide treatment.
This article describes a case of osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis. The patient also has multiple sclerosis. The symptomatology includes a right sided conduction deafness and a left maxillar nerve deficit, which were both attributed to the bone disorder. The authors review the literature of this rare genetic syndrome and pay special attention to the neurological manifestations. These mainly consist of hearing loss, mental subnormality and occasionally the involvement of other cranial nerves. The bone scan in their patient shows hyperactivity in the left skull base region. This finding provides further evidence that, at least in some instances, the bone disorder has a progressive course.
A case of MEN type IIa is described showing among other symptoms, three attacks of transient neurological symptoms. These were attributed to a localized, transient cerebral ischemia. The latter probably developed as a consequence of the concomitant occurrence of different phenomena: the existence of hypercalcemia and on the other hand the secretion of vasoactive substances by one of the three tumours forming the MEN type IIa syndrome. The pheochromocytoma played an essential role because the symptoms did not recur after the bilateral adrenalectomy.
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The effect of exogenous prostacyclin (PGI2) on the rabbit eye was investigated. During intravenous infusion, intraocular pressure readings and changes of the luminal diameters of choroidal veins were recorded simultaneously. 5 ng/kg/min induced a reduction of intraocular pressure and no blood flow changes. 25 ng/kg/min resulted in a considerable vasodilatation in the posterior uvea paralleled by an increase in intraocular pressure. These results suggest the explanation that exogenous prostacyclin in high doses causes an augmentation of posterior uveal blood flow and thereby a rise in intraocular pressure. Low (2.5 mg/kg BW) or high (17.5 mg/kg BW) aspirin caused no changes in intraocular pressure, indicating a minor role of endogenous prostaglandins in regulating intraocular tension.
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Solitary vertebral osteochondromas with spinal cord compression are very rare. Here we report a case of an osteochondroma of the 5th cervical vertebra protruding into the spinal canal. The therapeutic approach is discussed in relation to the natural evolution and the favourable prognosis of these lesions. The usefullness of the C.T. scan is shown both in diagnosis and post-operative follow-up.
3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylbenzoic (vanillic) acid was previously shown to be one of the endogenous metabolites of adrenaline and noradrenaline. Using thin-layer chromatographic methods for identification and quantification of phenolic acids and phenolic alcohols, the authors identified vanillic acid in different regions of the human brain. The concentration of vanillic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid was also determined and compared to the concentration of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol. The identification of VA in the human brain suggests that the vanillic acid of the cerebrospinal fluid originates, at least in part, from the catecholamines in the brain. The authors discuss other possible origins of vanillic acid besides the noradrenaline catabolism of dopamine. As the concentration of vanillic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid was found to be greater than the concentration of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol, it might be important for clinical biological studies to measure vanillic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid as well as the other alcoholic and acid catabolites of the catecholamines.
Coupling of diazotized p-nitroaniline to catecholamines and their metabolites in urine has been proposed for use in screening for secreting neuroblastoma in childhood. We have coupled diazotized p-nitroaniline to catecholamines, derivatives, and metabolites and examined the reaction products by thin-layer chromatography and physico-chemical methods (ultraviolet spectra, mass spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance). We conclude that during diazotization, products containing a p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol or a p-hydroxybenzoic acid structure (e.g., vanillic acid, vanilmandelic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl-ethyleneglycol, metanephrine, normetanephrine, synephrine, and isoproterenol) react with a diazonium cation, with release of their alcohol or acid moiety. Therefore the mentioned qualitative screening methods are very nonspecific. In contrast, thin-layer chromatographic screening methods provide complete separation and unambiguous identification of those metabolites and are to be preferred for use in detecting secreting neuroblastoma in childhood.
A thin-layer chromatographic technique for separation and identification of urinary phenolic acids is described. The method is simple enough to be used in the clinical laboratory and from it, an easy biochemical diagnosis of secreting neuroblastoma. The technique is also of interest for research in catabolism of catecholamines. Results obtained in 125 patients, including 8 patients with neuroblastoma are reported.
By means of thin-layer chromatographic methods, iso-homovanillic acid (iso-HVA), iso-vanillactic acid (iso-VLA) and iso-vanilmandelic acid (iso-VMA) were determined in the urine of 10 children with neuroblastoma. The mean excretion of iso-HVA was 10.1% of total HVA excretion. Three patients excreted VLA; in their urine no iso-VLA was detected with certainty. All patients excreted high amounts of VMA; there was no detectable excretion of iso-VMA. Those results suggest that para-O-methylation could be limited to dopamine catabolism.
Cortical calcifications, ween on X-ray in the brain of achild suffering from leukaemia, were submitted to morphological and chemical analysis. The morphology was studied by a combination of low teperature ashing and microscanning. The calcification principally affected axons and capillary walls and consisted of spherules amalgamated into hollow cylinders. The results of chemical analysis of the calcified material were compared and structure of both types of calcification were similar, but the Mn concentration washigher in case of Fahr's disease. X-ray diffraction showed that the calcification consisted of amorphous calcium phosphate and acid calcium orthophosphate, most probably precursors of hydroxyapatite..
A thin layer chromatographic screening test is reported for the determination of urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol. The concentration in any sample is estimated by visual comparison with a range of 10 standards of different concentrations. The urines of five children with positively diagnosed hormonally active neuroblastoma showed values of 19.0-32.4 mg 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol/g creatinine, whereas control urines contained only 0.4-1.7 mg/g creatinine.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.