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Biomedical subjects

G Frank

Publications and source records attributed to G Frank.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Contamination of heparin by histamine: measurement and characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay.

Plasma samples which were collected in the presence of heparin contained 12.83 +/- 0.34 ng/ml histamine-immunoreactive material (n = 10). In contrast, histamine-immunoreactive material in plasma samples which were collected in the presence of EDTA/phenanthroline contained 0.32 +/- 0.01 ng/ml (n = 10). Histamine-immunoreactive material was found as a contaminant in three different heparin formulations with unrelated batch numbers. The concentrations of the histamine-like material were 32.82, 81.93, and 280.23 ng/ml, respectively. Octadecasilyl-silica (ODS) cartridges were used to purify histamine from other constituents in the heparin preparations. The histamine-immunoreactive material in the three preparations could be characterized as histamine with cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a TSK SP-5 PW column with NaH2PO4, pH5.0, as a mobile phase and gradient elution. For the accurate measurement of histamine in plasma samples with heparin as an anticoagulant, one should be aware of a possible contamination of heparin formulations by histamine.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1994

Socioeconomic status and the Rorschach.

People from lower socioeconomic status are making increasing use of mental health facilities. Surveys have indicated that the Rorschach is still one of the more frequently used instruments by psychologists in such facilities, but research has also shown that clinicians tend to misinterpret Rorschachs of people from the lower socioeconomic group as reflecting greater psychopathology than the same Rorschachs identified as being given by people from the middle class. Research has also shown that growing up in conditions of poverty significantly affects how people perform on tests of abstract thinking, tests of intelligence, and tests of academic achievement; the question was raised as to whether this extends to the Rorschach. The lack of sufficient research on the effect of socioeconomic status on responsiveness to the Rorschach precluded that question being answered. The kind of research still needed was discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

On the prediction of suicide from the Rorschach.

The last extensive and comprehensive reviews of research on whether the Rorschach can be used to predict suicide were done in the 1970s. All of these reviews concluded that there was not much support for this assumption; however, all of the reviewers pointed to methodological issues which might have obscured or diluted that relationship. Little research has been done in this area of study since the 1970s and that which has been done did not address the methodological issues to which reviewers point. The present paper, then, is less a review of new research since the last reviews and more an opportunity to remind investigators of the research which still needs to be done before a final assessment can be made as to whether the Rorschach can be useful in the detection of suicidal potential.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

On the prediction of aggressive behavior from the Rorschach.

Research on predicting aggressive or hostile behavior from the Rorschach was reviewed. This overview suggested that the propensity for acting aggressively or in a hostile manner seemed less related to the quantity or quality of aggressive content than to indicators of impoverished control, e.g., CF+C > FC, F + % < 70, what some Rorschachers refer to as 'ego control.' However, methodological issues in the research on content which could have compromised these results were also discussed as was the kind of research still needed.

Aggression↗
PubMed1994

On the assessment of thought disorder from the Rorschach.

While the Rorschach has been proven useful in assessing severity of thought disorder, the assessment of extent of thought disorder evidenced in any one protocol is made subjectively, that is, on the basis of clinical impression. Objective methods for assessing thought disorder on the Rorschach were reviewed and evaluated. Problems in the development of such methods which have limited their psychometric efficiency were discussed, and possible solutions of these problems were suggested. Since severity of thought disorder relates to prognosis and treatment, the further exploration of more effective ways of assessing thought disorder by the Rorschach seems warranted.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

Future time perspective and daily occupations of persons with chronic schizophrenia in a board and care home.

OBJECTIVES: An ethnographic approach was used to study the relationship between temporal perspective in persons with chronic schizophrenia and their ability to function in chosen occupations and participate in the routines of a board and care home. Components of future time perspective (extension, coherence, and density) are associated with the ability to organize and implement goal-directed activities. The study focused on how future time perspective occurs in a board and care home, with particular emphasis on how the institution influences temporality. METHODS: Participant observation and interviewing were used to gather data on 10 subjects. RESULTS: The pervasive influence of the facility's institutional rules and expectations is revealed in the findings of subjects' present time orientation and limited future time perspective. CONCLUSIONS: An examination of the fit between the demands of available roles within one's environment and occupations is proposed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

On form level on the Rorschach.

Research has established the clinical value of form level assessment. An issue remaining to be addressed involves the scoring of form level. Currently, several systems of scoring form level are in use, e.g., Rorschach's (and, hence, Beck's, Hertz's, and Piotrowski's) 2-category scale (F+, F-), Klopfer's 3-category scale (F+, F, F-), Exner's 4-category scale (F+, Fo, Fu, F-), and Rapaport's 7-category scale (F++, F+, Fo, F +/-, F -/+, Fv, F-). Further, Rorschach scored form level only for responses scored: F; Klopfer, on the other hand, scored form level for any response on which form was dominant, e.g., M+, FC+, F shading +). The question can be raised as to how refined a scaling of form level is needed to yield the most useful information and whether deriving a percentage form level for each determinant yields any more information than an assessment based only on responses scored F or an over-all R + %. The question was raised whether assessing the quality of organizational activity and detailing might contribute more information about personality than the current system of scoring form level in terms of goodness of fit between percept and blot. These questions need to be answered by research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1993

[Long-term follow-up of anti-tachycardia surgery in patients with ventricular tachycardia].

From March 1980 to May 1992 mapping guided surgery was performed in 132 patients with drug-refractory recurrent ventricular tachycardia. There were 121 patients (group I) with coronary disease and 11 patients (group II) had noncoronary ventricular tachycardia. Patients in group I underwent subendocardial resection and cryoablation was performed in group II patients. Perioperative mortality (< 30 days after surgery) was 8% (10/132 patients). During the mean follow-up of 41 +/- 24 months, 37/122 patients (30%) died, 35/111 patients in group I (32%) and 2/11 patients in group II (18%) (p = 0.29). In group I, sudden death occurred in 8/111 patients (7%) and cardiac death in 23/111 patients (21%); in group II, 1/11 patients (9%) died from sudden and 1/11 patients (9%) from cardiac death. Nonfatal recurrences occurred significantly more frequently in group II (6/11 patients, 55%) than in group I (16/111 patients, 14%) (p < 0.01). During the follow-up functional class of heart failure improved in 69 patients (57%), remained constant in 27 patients (22%) and decreased in the remaining 26 patients (21%). The surgical approach to control ventricular tachycardia has low rates of sudden death and nonfatal recurrences in patients with drug-refractory ischemic ventricular tachycardia. Patients with noncoronary disease had a high incidence of nonfatal ventricular tachycardia after surgery and should be considered for other therapeutic approaches in the future.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Use of the hydrogen clearance technique for measurements of pancreatic blood flow.

The hydrogen clearance technique (HCT) was employed for measurements of local pancreatic blood flow (PBF) in dogs, opossums, and rats under normal conditions and in opossums during biliary pancreatitis. Local PBF (ml/min/100 g) in dogs was 57.6 +/- 10.4, in opossums 60.6 +/- 9.5, and in rats 144.7 +/- 23.4, under resting conditions. Regional distribution of local PBF in dogs showed no statistical differences. Technical aspects of the HCT were described in detail. Under physiological conditions parenchymal trauma following electrode implantation was negligible in nearly all cases. More than 95% of registered clearance curves were monoexponential and showed excellent reproducibility of PBF values in repeated measurements (percentage deviation < or = 6.7). Five days after initiating biliary pancreatitis by common channel ligation in opossums local PBF was 72.1 +/- 14.7 after implantation of new electrodes. Chronically implanted electrodes, however, recorded only 39.7 +/- 15.8, due to massive fibro-proliferative alterations around the implanted electrode tips. We therefore conclude that the HCT as described is a useful tool for measuring local PBF in acute experimental settings only. Biliary pancreatitis in our model causes no significant alterations of PBF after 5 days.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Spark erosion procedure: a method for extensive combined fixed and removable prosthodontic care.

Restoration that uses a combination of fixed and removable partial dentures, which involves precision attachments and telescopic procedures, represents one of the highest levels of functional and esthetic therapy. In the past, these restorations were mostly made with high gold-content alloys. The dental spark erosion procedure offers a sophisticated method for using base metal alloys for these complex restorations. This procedure combines the functional and esthetic advantages of precision restorations with the advantageous properties of base metal alloys such as low thermal conductivity, high strength, and lower cost.

Copper↗
PubMed1993

Immunoreactive dynorphin A-like material in extracted human hypothalamic-hypophysial plasma.

Immunoreactive dynorphin A-like material (ir-dyn A) in human plasma was measured by a validated radioimmunoassay. In peripheral plasma extracts mean concentrations between 20 and 40 fmol/ml were determined in volunteers and in patients with pituitary adenomas. In this latter group superimposable levels were detected three days before and during transsphenoidal microsurgery. Interestingly, ir-dyn A levels evaluated in extracts of hypothalamic-hypophysial plasma obtained during surgery, just after tumor removal, were 4-5 times higher than in peripheral plasma. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (rp-HPLC) of extracts of peripheral plasma samples revealed two immunoreactive peaks. The major form had the same retention time of dyn A-(1-32); whereas a second, more lipophilic, peak eluted later and was not further characterized. In contrast, rp-HPLC analysis of extracts of plasma collected from the suprapituitary region displayed only one peak eluting in the position of synthetic dyn A-(1-17). The presence of dyn-related peptides in hypothalamic-hypophysial plasma supports the hypothesis that they may play a part in the regulation of hypothalamic and/or pituitary functions in humans.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1993

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas of the central nervous system. Clinico-pathologic and immunohistochemical study of 147 cases.

We report on data gathered from five European centres regarding 147 primary non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHLs) of the Central Nervous System (CNS) in HIV-negative patients. The results lead us to make the following considerations: i) there has been a significant and progressive increase in the frequency of observation of this pathology during the course of the last two decades; ii) the pathology lacks specific characteristic symptoms; iii) the radiological profile, as observed by CAT and/or MNR, most frequently corresponds to an isodense or slightly hyperdense lesion which has clear margins and is capable of assuming the contrast medium homogeneously; iv) the tumour most often has a single supratentorial localisation; v) high grade B-cell lymphomas account for 66% of the observations, low grade B-cell varieties being relatively rare and cases of T-cell derivation exceptional (6/147); vi) immunohistochemistry allows the differential diagnoses with respect to primitive or secondary non-lymphoid tumours, and provides confirmation of the histogenetic assessment made on morphological grounds; vii) the course of the disease is not significantly influenced by the histotype, the phenotype, the number of lesions present or the chemotherapy regimen, but rather by the employment of combined surgery and radio- or radiochemotherapy. This study represents the largest series of CNS NHLs so far reported, and as such, provides precise clinico-pathological indications which were only partially obtainable from the relatively small previously published series. Some concluding remarks are made as to the genesis of CNS NHLs, along with some practical suggestions for reaching a better understanding of their complex biology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Surgical treatment of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome--experiences in 120 patients.

Since January 1984, 120 patients (78 male, 42 female; aged 3 to 66 years) with the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome have been operated upon. The indication for surgery was documented recurrent, paroxysmal tachycardia refractory to medical treatment in 118 cases. Twenty-two patients (18%) had additional heart disease. One hundred and twenty patients had a total of 140 accessory pathways (AP). AP were localized at the left free wall in 63% (87 AP), at the right free wall in 24% (35 AP), and septally in 13% (18 AP). Sixteen patients (13%) had multiple AP (12 patients had two and four patients had three AP), 124 AP were known pre-operatively (88%), 133 were localized intra-operatively (94%) and seven were diagnosed during re-operation (6%). Surgery in 28 patients with left lateral AP was via the epicardial approach and the endocardial approach in 59. Of 15 patients with right lateral AP, the surgical approach was epicardial in two and transmural in 13. A cryosurgery was also used in 117 patients. Fifteen patients suffered recurrences, in 12 of whom repeat surgery was required. One hundred and thirty-six AP (97%) were dissected successfully, of which 14 (10%) were ablated during re-operation. All patients survived the initial operation, but two patients died after re-operation. One patient is pacer-dependent due to persisting postoperative atrioventricular (AV) block. We conclude that surgical dissection of accessory pathways can be offered as an alternative to non-surgical treatment modes, at a low risk and with a high success rate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Is the hydrogen clearance technique a useful tool for measurements of pancreatic blood flow during acute experimental pancreatitis?

Changes of pancreatic blood flow (PBF) during acute pancreatitis (AP) have been under investigation by means of electromagnetic flowmeters, radioactive microspheres, isotope fractionation, radioactive gas clearance, and venous outflow techniques. All methods, however, have certain drawbacks, which make the application of other techniques desirable. In this study, the hydrogen clearance technique (HCT) was tested for the first time in a well-established foxhound model of AP. PBF, systemic blood pressure, and heart rate were monitored over 90 min after the onset of AP and 60 min after therapeutic infusion of Dextran-40 (10 ml/kg body wt). Our results fully agree with the data found by other techniques in this experimental model. Sixty-five of 73 electrodes implanted into the pancreas of eight foxhounds were found working. From 1,024 registered clearance curves, 876 were identified as monoexponential. In the other cases, and only then, we found either dislocation of the electrode tips (n = 6) or perielectrodal hemorrhage during histological examination (n = 4). We believe that the HCT is a feasible and reliable tool for measuring PBF in experimental settings like AP.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Ventricular tachycardia surgery in 1992: did the automatic defibrillator change this approach?

The role of ventricular tachycardia (VT) surgery has been changed since the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is available. We studied the follow-up of 131 patients who underwent mapping guided surgery due to recurrent VT refractory to antiarrhythmic drug treatment. There were 65 patients operated upon between 1980-1985 (group I) and 66 patients between 1986-1991 (group II). Ten patients (8%) died perioperatively (< 3 weeks after surgery) [7/65 patients, 11%, in group I and 3/66 patients, 5%, in group II (P = 0.15)]. During a mean follow-up of 41 +/- 24 months, 38 of 121 patients died (31%), significantly more patients in group I (24/58 patients, 41%) than in group II (14/63 patients, 22%) (P < 0.05). In group I, there was a higher incidence of sudden (7/58 patients, 12%) or cardiac death (15/58 patients, 26%) than in group II (sudden death 4/63 patients, 6%, cardiac death 7/63 patients, 11%) (P < 0.05). There was a similar incidence of VT recurrences between group I (9/65 patients, 14%) and group II (9/66 patients, 14%). Our data show that the indication for VT surgery has changed since the ICD is available because of better patient selection.

Cardiac Catheterization↗
PubMed1993

Adeno-pituitary hormones in human hypothalamic hypophysial blood.

An in vivo technique for collecting blood from the pituitary stalk using transphenoidal microsurgery has recently been developed in men with nonfunctioning pituitary disease. To determine the origin of this blood and the direction of the stream, we measured contemporaneously the levels of LH, FSH, PRL, GH, TSH, and ACTH in hypothalamic-hypophysial blood (HHB) and peripheral blood (PB). Eleven patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas entered the study. The surgical procedure used for collecting HHB consisted of periodically aspirating small amounts of blood using a microsuction apparatus, just after tumor removal, kept in the postero-superior corner of the sella turcica at the junction of the diaphragm with the dursum sellae. The data show clearly the existence of a dramatic concentration gap in HHB vs. PB in all adeno-pituitary hormones (P = 0.003). The HHB/PB ratio varied from 50-600 in the different hormones. The secretion of adeno-pituitary hormones in blood drawn at the pituitary stalk level in man was reported for the first time. The dramatic HHB/PB ratio of the hormone levels has been emphasized. The most likely explanation for the markedly elevated hormone concentration gradient between central and peripheral blood was sampling of peri- and/or suprapituitary blood. To consider the origin and direction of the HHB stream, two hypotheses have been further advanced: 1) a retrograde bloodflow from the pituitary, and 2) a central-hypothalamic secretion.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1993

Use of the Rorschach with Hispanic Americans.

The rationale for and overview of research on the performance of Hispanic Americans on the Rorschach was addressed. Recommendations for further research were made.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗