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Biomedical subjects

G Kaiser

Publications and source records attributed to G Kaiser.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

HLA phenotypes in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and their gene carrier mothers.

Typing of HLA A, B and C locus antigens was carried out and the frequency distribution calculated in 32 hemizygous children affected by DMD, in 11 mothers who were either obligatory gene carriers or had increased CPK activity, and in 222 healthy blood donors. For typing peripheral blood lymphocytes and the standard NIH lymphocytotoxicity test were used. The HLA-B7 antigen had a tendency to be more frequent, being 31% in the group of hemizygous children with DMD as against 13.5% in the control group (p less than 0.04). In the gene carrier mothers the frequency of HLA-B7 was 36% (p less than 0.12). In the group of DMD hemizygotes the HLA-Aw24 antigen showed a tendency to higher frequency (p less than 0.05).

Adult↗

CSF protein values in infants and children.

Total protein, albumin and gamma-globulin values were determined in CSF of 139 children. They had been referred to the emergency department of the Children's Hospital of the University of Berne during the last year because of suspected meningitis which, however, was not confirmed. In newborns and infants the normal range of protein values was wide, 0.1-0.65 g/l. It fell to minimal values at age 3-4 years, and increased gradually thereafter to adult levels which were reached at age 6-8 years. The observed changes during early childhood are mainly due to variations in the albumine fraction. The results are different from the ones reported by Ammon and Richterich [1] who claimed constantly falling protein levels during childhood up to adult values. Similar results in comparison to ours were obtained by other laboratories using the same method [6,7]. Our study therefore supports the usefulness of Bradford's [2] method for routine CSF work-up.

Adolescent↗

Clinical determination of the volume of the neurocranium in infancy. A presentation of two new methods.

Two useful methods for the exact volumetric measurement of the neurocranium are introduced. Using these methods in a transversal study, mean ratio and range for normal boys and girls from birth to six months can be defined. Longitudinal studies and comparative literature research confirm the accuracy of these standard values. The application to pathological cases shows that hypogenesis of the neurocranium can be recognized earlier and more accurately by measuring the volume than by measuring the circumference of the head. Both methods are easy to apply and can be expected of every child. However, method B (dipping in the neurocranium and measuring the displaced water on a scale) has proved to be more accurate, simpler and faster.

Cephalometry↗

Pulsed Doppler echocardiographic detection of coronary artery to right ventricle fistula.

The pulsed Doppler echocardiographic (PDE) findings in a case of coronary artery right ventricle fistula are described. The PDE examination revealed normal flow patterns within the right atrium, pulmonary artery, and left ventricle, thus excluding these structures as the distal site of the fistula. Sampling within the right ventricular inflow revealed a turbulent, continuous, systolic-diastolic flow pattern that suggested the right ventricle was the distal end of the fistula. Postoperatively, the PDE examination of the right ventricle reverted to a normal, nonturbulent, phasic flow pattern. We conclude that PDE may be a useful noninvasive method of defining the site of drainage in cases of coronary artery fistula.

Child, Preschool↗

[Preliminary experiences with the lateral canthal advancement of the supraorbital margin (author's transl)].

Out of 10 infants with uni- or bilateral craniostenosis of the coronal suture 5 had a craniectomy of the involved suture and 5 a lateral canthal advancement of the supraorbital margin. On the basis of the parents' opinion, of the clinical assessment of 7 different criteria and of the evaluation of the pre- and postoperative x-rays (tracings of the outlines of the neurocranium, orbita and base of the skull), the results of lateral canthal advancement are superior to those of a simple craniectomy. Therefore, lateral canthal advancement is indicated in any severe form of craniostenosis of the coronal suture. However, a few cases with severe scoliosis of the head and unilateral underdevelopment of the face are still a therapeutic problem.

Cranial Sutures↗

Association of sex, physical size, and operative mortality after coronary artery bypass in the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS).

The Collaborative Study in Coronary Artery Surgery (CASS) is a large multi-institutional study of the medical and surgical treatment of coronary artery disease. Fifteen cooperative institutions have carried out isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on 6,258 men and 1,153 women during the period August, 1975, through May, 1980. The operative mortality in men was 1.9%, while the operative mortality for women undergoing CABG in the same institutions during the same time period was 4.5%. In an effort to explain this result, we used multivariate analysis to identify factors associated with increased mortality in women after CABG. The hypothesis that smaller physical size might be contributing to increased mortality was considered. Basic clinical and angiographic variables, size variables, including the average diameter of the grafted vessels, and gender were examined separately for patients who underwent elective and urgent and emergency procedures. Using multivariate information theory, we found that the most information regarding survival after operation is contained in basic clinical and angiographic variables. The physical size of the patient, including coronary artery diameter, helps predict operative mortality even after adjusting for differences in risk predicted by the basic variables and gender. However, the patient's sex is not statistically significantly related to the risk of surgical death given the information available from clinical and angiographic variables and from knowledge of patient size. One possible explanation of the excess risk for coronary artery operations in women is the smaller stature and the smaller diameter of the coronary arteries in this group of patients.

Adult↗

Sinus and atrioventricular nodal function: Preoperative and early postoperative assessment in children.

Ninety-three rapid atrial pacing studies were performed in 38 children to compare preoperative and early postoperative function of the sinus and atrioventricular (AV) nodes. The interval between the preoperative and postoperative studies was under 6 months in the majority of patients. Postoperative studies were performed within 48 hours of operation and between 4 and 8 days after operation. Sinus nodal function as measured by sinus nodal recovery time (SNRT) was an unreliable index in determining depression since the number who improved postoperatively (10/55) was nearly equal to the number that worsened (12/55). The majority who had abnormal function postoperatively demonstrated a junctional rather than sinus recovery focus. This finding appears a more definitive and more reproducible indicator of sinus node depression in the postoperative patient. Postoperative AV nodal function was decreased (as measured by the cycle length [CL] at which Wenckebach periodicity occurred) in 15 of 55 studies (27%) of the entire group. There was nearly an equal chance for improvement (24%) in function. This also applied to those patients who had sequential studies. Therefore, this method of assessment for AV nodal function was unreliable, or else the operation did not affect the node significantly. The latter is unlikely in view of late postoperative data. The greatest utility of this test was to determine the capability for AV conduction in certain patients with slow escape rhythms in the absence of surface P waves, and to differentiate complete heart block from AV dissociation when atrial activity was absent. Despite the variability of effects on the sinus and AV nodes in these patients, those who demonstrated depression had a significantly higher incidence of dysrhythmias (80% of patients with sinus nodal depression and 100% of patients with AV nodal depression).

Adolescent↗

HLA antigens in bullous epidermolysis, congenital ichthyosis and ectodermal dysplasia.

HLA-ABC antigen typing was carried out in 4 homozygous patients and 10 family members from three families with bullous epidermolysis, 7 homozygous patients and 19 family members of six families with ichthyosis, and 4 homozygous patients and 8 family members of 4 families with ectodermal dysplasia. The type of heredity was established on the basis of genetical evidence and the clinical picture. In bullous epidermolysis cases autosomal recessive heredity was detected in two families with congenital bullous epidermolysis, and autosomal heredity in two families with dystrophic bullous epidermolysis. The HLA-Aw 24, B5 combination, which was thought to be significant in epidermolysis bullosa, was found in one, B5 alone in two, out of the four families. In congenital ichthyosis autosomal recessive heredity was detected in two families out of five. In one, X-linked recessive heredity was found, and in two families X-linked recessive heredity could be supposed. In three families out of the five with congenital ichthyosis, the A2, B18 antigen combination was found. In a family where two infants died from the most severe form of ichthyosis, epidermolysis and psoriasis also occurred. In this family two grandfathers were brothers, and one of the two was a carrier of the Aw24, B5 combination. In the case of ectodermal dysplasia, in one out of four families X-linked recessive heredity, in another autosomal recessive heredity was detected. In two families X-linked recessive heredity could be supposed as only the male children were affected and also on the basis of data in the literature. The HLA-A26, B38 antigen combination occurred in three of these four families.

Child↗

Congenital systemic arteriovenous fistula between the descending aorta, azygos vein, and superior vena cava.

Various congenital systemic arteriovenous fistulas have been described. An unusual case of congenital systemic arteriovenous fistula arising from the descending aorta and draining separately into the superior vena cava, the azygos vein, and the innominate vein is reported. Clinically, this case simulated a patent ductus arteriosus. To our knowledge, this particular anomaly has not been described before.

Angiography↗

Cellular immune functions after heart operations.

Eight patients were observed by mitogen stimulation and E-rosetting after heart operations with and without cardiopulmonary bypass. The first sample of blood was taken before surgery, the second on the afternoon of the same day and for a week daily examinations were carried out. A depression of mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte transformation was observed, parallel with a simultaneous T cell depression and a general decrease in the total WBC count. The lowest values were found during the first three days after both open and closed heart operations. After open heart surgery it took a longer time until the values had returned to normal. In two other cases the lymphocytes were examined for suppressor activity. The suppressive effect exerted on the response to mitogenic and allogeneic stimulation was not uniform. Suppressor activity was more affected by surgery than the helper effect in these two cases.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗

HLA haplotypes in children with adrenogenital syndrome and their parents.

HLA-A and B antigen typing was carried out by the standard NIH lymphocytotoxicity test in children with adrenogenital syndrome (AGS) from 11 families, further in 3 healthy siblings and 20 obligatory gene carrier parents. Of the children 7 had the salt-losing form. The AGS homozygote group was examined for the geno- and haplotypes of the HLA antigen and the heterozygote group for HLA antigen genotypes. Two AGS-affected children of the same family proved to be HLA-identical, while in other families the haplotypes of the healthy siblings were different from those of the affected children. As compared with the data of 222 healthy blood donors, the antigens of the HLA-A and B loci in the homo- and heterozygote groups showed no significant difference.

Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital↗

Purification and chemical characterization of melittin and acetylated derivatives.

Melittin, the main basic and hydrophobic peptide of bee venom, displays marked detergent-like properties. At high peptide concentration, and depending on salt and pH, it forms a tetramer. This is prevented by using urea. A purification procedure in presence of 4.0 M urea was developed to prepare melittin in its monomeric form, free of other venom constituents such as N alpha-formyl melittin, degradation products of peptides and phospholipase A2. NH2-residues on the melittin molecule were modified by reaction with acetic anhydride to alter the asymmetrical charge distribution supposed to confer detergent-like properties to the molecule. This gave rise to di- and mono acetyl derivatives which could be used, once isolated, to study further the melittin structure-activity relationship.

Animals↗