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Biomedical subjects

G Vogel

Publications and source records attributed to G Vogel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The effect of storage in liquid nitrogen on the isolation of oral yeasts in human saliva.

Stimulated whole saliva samples were collected from a group of 127 6-yr-old schoolchildren. Each sample was divided into three parts. The first two, one of which contained added glycerol, were immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -196 degrees C for 2 months. The third part was transferred to the laboratory and plated on selective medium for yeasts. Colony counts of the frozen and non-frozen samples were then compared. Statistical analysis showed a highly significant correlation between the counts for frozen and unfrozen samples. A high (40.1%) prevalence of yeast carriers was found, and Candida albicans was the most frequently recovered yeast.

Candida

Clinical uses and advantages of low doses of benzodiazepine hypnotics.

The most common adverse effects associated with the use of benzodiazepine hypnotics are residual daytime effects (daytime sedation and daytime performance decrements), anterograde amnesia, and rebound insomnia. Studies show that these adverse effects are related to dose. Hence, benzodiazepine hypnotics should be used in low doses so as to minimize or prevent these common adverse effects. It is now generally accepted that benzodiazepines should not be administered long-term for the treatment of chronic "idiopathic" insomnia. Two noncontinuous sleep disturbances, insomnia in the elderly and transient insomnia in young and middle-aged adults, are probably the most acceptable indications for the use of benzodiazepines. Low doses of short- and intermediate-acting benzodiazepines (triazolam and temazepam) are efficacious in the treatment of insomnia in the elderly, and preliminary evidence suggests that they are efficacious in the treatment of transient insomnia in young and middle-aged adults.

Adult

Treatment of coronary heart disease with diet and exercise--problems of compliance.

The effects of low fat diet and intensive physical exercise were examined in a randomized prospective study in patients with angiographically documented coronary heart disease. In addition to supervised regular physical exercise, patients of the intervention group (n = 18) were subjected to intensive dietary counselling with the aim of a low fat, low cholesterol diet to be maintained for at least 12 months. The control group (n = 27) received relevant advise only and usual care by private physicians. In the intervention group there was significant lowering of plasma triglycerides (202 +/- 82/141 +/- 74 mg/dl) and body weight (78.2 +/- 9.5/73.7 +/- 10.4 kg) while total and LDL cholesterol did not change significantly. There was a tendency for a rise of HDL-cholesterol (35.6 +/- 9.0/40.4 +/- 14.8 mg/dl, p = 0.07). According to 24-hour diet protocols there was a significant lowering of energy intake (2.298 +/- 697/1.602 +/- 758 kcal/day), of fat intake (111.7 +/- 44.4/52.0 +/- 23.9 g/day) and of intake of dietary cholesterol (402.8 +/- 186/161.3 +/- 100.3 mg/day) as well as of saturated fatty acids (42.5 +/- 20.4/14.3 +/- 8.1 g/day). Fatty acid composition of adipose tissue was not correlated with the patients' 24-hour dietary protocols. In the control group there were no changes of plasma lipids, body weight or diet composition according to 24-hour protocols after 1 year compared to data at the beginning of the study. There was, however, a marked correlation of adipose tissue composition and dietary information given by the patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue

Predictive value of fibrin monomers in postoperative deep vein thrombosis.

Intravascular activation of the coagulation system produces disseminated intravascular coagulation or deep vein thrombosis and is characterized by the occurrence of circulating soluble fibrin monomer complexes (FM) in plasma. In order to evaluate the prognostic and diagnostic value of this parameter in 156 patients with fractures of the femur, neck of the femur, tibia, and fibula, and with knee-joint or elective hip surgery, soluble fibrin monomer complexes (FM) were determined using the FM Test from Boehringer Mannheim/Diagnostica STAGO (erythrocyte agglutination test according to Largo). Plasma samples were taken prior to and on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th postoperative day. Diagnosis of DVT was carried out by 125-I-labelled fibrinogen test in parallel. Positive results were checked by phlebography on the 7th or 9th postoperative day. Positive FM results were obtained in only 26% of patients without DVT. In 34 of 36 patients (94%) with postoperative DVT confirmed by phlebography, on the other hand, elevated FM levels were detected 2-4 days before the 125-I-labelled fibrinogen test gave positive results. The predictive value calculated on the basis of elevated FM levels is 63-73%. These results show that the FM Test allows early detection of a prethrombotic state in the development of postoperative DVT.

Blood Coagulation Tests

[Early and late results after local streptokinase administration in massive lung embolism].

In a total number of 44 patients with acute massive lung embolism 42 patients survived the acute phase. The treatment was carried out by thrombolysis with streptokinase. The application was performed as near to the thrombus as possible, in several patients after preceding balloon dilatation or also as multiphase treatment using urokinase. We altogether obtained favourable early results concerning the recanalisation got as well as also with regard to the clinical state and the subjective condition, particularly for patients with single acute occurrence and a latency period of less than 72 hours up to the beginning of the treatment. In follow-up examinations of 17 patients after more than 9 months (on an average after 32 months) without exception a good and further on ameliorated condition, respectively, was stated. Under long-term anticoagulation with phenprocoumon no recidivation embolisms appeared. Ergooxytensiometric investigations had as result a clear to extreme hypoxia on exertion as limiting factor for 12 out of 17 patients. Apart from this the majority of the patients a hyperdynamic regulatation of the circulation was to be observed. Therefore the ergooxytensiometry is recommended for the judgment of the result of the treatment as to the demandable exercise tolerance.

Adult

Development of a double antibody radioimmunoassay for quantitation of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.

A sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1 alpha,25(OH)2-D] with a double antibody (DAB) separation technique to separate free from bound antigen has been developed. The hormone was extracted from 1 ml serum or plasma by Extrelut columns and normal phase high performance liquid chromatography and quantitated in the DAB-RIA. The detection limit of the assay was 3.75 ng/l. The intraassay variation coefficients were 15.9% and 10.5% for samples with 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 concentrations of 54 ng/l and 130 ng/l, respectively. The interassay variation coefficients were 18.0% and 16.7% for these two concentrations. Mean (and SD) values for 1,25(OH)2D in serum of 40 healthy subjects and 38 patients with chronic renal failure who did not receive 1,25(OH)2D3 were 62.8 ng/ml (22.2) and 12.4 ng/ml (9.8), respectively. The mean value for 7 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism was 66.5 ng/ml (35.8) before surgery. These results compared well with those of an established charcoal-based RIA. Compared to charcoal-based RIAs, the DAB-RIA is faster and requires less laborious assay procedures.

Adult

Rebound insomnia: its determinants and significance.

Rebound insomnia is a sleep disturbance that occurs on discontinuation of benzodiazepine hypnotic drugs. It has been reported in both patients and healthy normal subjects and is characterized by increased wakefulness above the person's baseline levels. This article reviews that available information regarding determinants, possible mechanisms, and clinical significance of rebound insomnia. It is concluded that rebound insomnia is a disturbance of one or two nights' duration that primarily follows discontinuation of short- to intermediate-acting benzodiazepines. It occurs at high doses of a given drug, beyond which no additional hypnotic efficacy is evident. There seem to be clear individual differences in the experience of rebound insomnia, but no prospective studies have established which differences predict rebound. It is likely to be avoided by initiating treatment with the lowest effective dose and tapering the dose upon discontinuation.

Anti-Anxiety Agents

A new method of bacterial identification using gold immunolabelling and scanning electron microscopy.

This study sought to develop an immunolabelling technique to identify specific bacteria by scanning electron microscopy. Bacterial suspensions were prepared of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) gingivalis and mixtures of these species with other genera of common oral microorganisms. This method was also used to examine subgingival plaques from 6 subjects with chronic adult periodontitis. Sample preparation consisted of prefixation of the bacterial suspensions with 0.2% glutaraldehyde, incubation with species-specific rabbit antisera and goat anti-rabbit IgG conjugated with colloidal gold particles, postfixation in 2% glutaraldehyde and dehydration in ethanol. Finally, the samples were dried, coated with evaporated carbon and examined by scanning electron microscopy. Pure cultures and artificial mixtures of A. actinomycetemcomitans and Bact. gingivalis were specifically labelled by gold probes as demonstrated by both secondary and back-scattered imaging. These species were also evident in samples of subgingival plaque. The findings indicate that this new technique can be used to identify specific microorganisms both in plaque samples and on the root surface of extracted teeth.

Actinobacillus

Decreased intracranial self-stimulation in a new animal model of endogenous depression.

Neonatal treatment of rats with clomipramine may produce adult animals which model endogenous depression. We report here that a major factor of depression in humans, the diminished capacity for pleasure, appears present in these rats. At age 7 months, bar-press responding for rewarding hypothalamic stimulation is reduced across a range of intensities. At age 4 or 5 months this effect is not seen, although other behavioral abnormalities are present at the younger age. The delayed onset of diminished intracranial self-stimulation may relate to the gradual insidious onset of endogenous depression in humans.

Animals

Procedure- and age-dependent hyperactivity in a new animal model of endogenous depression.

We have replicated the findings of Mirmiran and colleagues that neonatal administration of the antidepressant clomipramine (CLI) to male rats results in hyperactivity in open-field tests in adulthood. We report that this effect does not reliably occur in a "Digiscan" activity device. The difference in effect between the two activity measuring devices may be due to more stress being present in the open-field test, and we propose that the CLI-treated rats may be more reactive to stress. This hypothesized enhanced reactivity to stress may be similar to the proposed vulnerability of depressed humans to stress. In addition, we have found that the open-field effect does not occur until the rats are at least 4 months old; this delayed effect may be analogous to the progressive onset of endogenous depression in humans.

Aging

Diminished sexual activity in a new animal model of endogenous depression.

Our laboratory has proposed a new animal model of endogenous depression. The proposal is that in rats neonatal clomipramine (CLI) produces adult animals that model endogenous depression. Diminished sexual activity is a salient behavioral abnormality found in endogenous depression. This suggests that an animal model of endogenous depression should show diminished sexual activity. We report here a test of the prediction that after neonatal treatment with CLI, adult male rats show decreased sexual activity. We found that after neonatal CLI, adult male Long-Evans rats had a pervasive diminution of sexual activities including decreased mounts, intromissions, ejaculations, and increased mount latencies and postejaculatory pause. Sprague-Dawley and Wistar strains also tended to show decreased intromissions and ejaculations, but their baseline sexual activity was too low to give interpretable data. The results with the sexually active Long-Evans strain are consistent with the hypothesis that neonatal CLI produces adult rats that model human endogenous depression.

Animals

REM sleep abnormalities in a new animal model of endogenous depression.

Endogenous depression has reliable REM sleep abnormalities. These include a short REM latency, frequent sleep onset REM periods, and after REM sleep deprivation (RSD), an abnormal temporal course of REM rebound in the presence of a normal total REM rebound. The reliability of these abnormalities suggests that they ought to be present in an animal model of endogenous depression. In 1982, we proposed a new animal model of endogenous depression. Our hypothesis is that in rats neonatal clomipramine (CLI) will produce adult animals that model endogenous depression. In this study we tested the prediction that after neonatal treatment with CLI, adult rats will show the above three REM sleep abnormalities of human endogenous depression. We found that neonatal treatment with CLI produced rats that at age 6 months had shorter REM latency, more sleep onset REM periods than control rats, and after RSD, had an abnormal temporal course of REM rebound in the presence of a normal total REM rebound. The finding of these REM sleep abnormalities supported the validity of the animal model of endogenous depression.

Animals

A new animal model of endogenous depression: a summary of present findings.

In 1982 our laboratory proposed a new animal model of endogenous depression. The proposal was that in rats, neonatally administered clomipramine (CLI) will produce adult animals that model endogenous depression. We summarize here several tests of the validity of the model. Results were that after neonatal CLI, adult male rats showed behavioral abnormalities of the human disorder: decreased sexual, aggressive, and intracranial self-stimulation activities, as well as motor hyperactivity in a stressful situation. Preliminary evidence suggested that behavioral abnormalities in rats (sexual, aggressive, and motor) briefly treated with antidepressant treatments (imipramine, REM sleep deprivation) begin to normalize. Lastly, after neonatal CLI, the adult rats showed REM sleep abnormalities of endogenous depression, viz, low REM latency, frequent sleep onset REM periods, and abnormal temporal course of REM rebound after REM sleep deprivation. These results supported the hypothesis that in rats neonatal CLI produced adult animals that modelled endogenous depression.

Animals

The chronic efficacy of midazolam.

The chronic efficacy of midazolam 15.0 mg was studied in 2 male and 10 female subjects. Only subjects with a complaint of sleep latency insomnia which was verified by polysomnography were included in the study. Following a screening and adaptation period, subjects spent 3 consecutive nights in the laboratory during the weeks of the study. Placebo was administered 15 min before lights out on the initial 8 and final 2 nights, and midazolam for the intervening 35 nights. Midazolam significantly reduced sleep latency parameters and significantly increased total sleep time the entire 5 weeks of nightly administration. No within-night rebound insomnia, residual daytime effects, or rebound effects upon discontinuation appeared.

Adult

Pharmacokinetics of fluoride in man and its clinical relevance.

A large number of parameters will influence and mediate the activity and the pharmacological response of dental fluoride products after systemic or topical treatment. This report reviews some aspects of the pharmacokinetics of fluoride in man, fluoride bio-availability, plasma kinetics, and kinetics of fluoride in saliva and plaque fluid. Pharmacokinetic studies in growing dogs show that 90% of a single injected fluoride dose is retained shortly after birth, but at maturity it decreases to about 50%. The degree of fluoride accumulating in calcifying tissues seems to be strongly related to age. The bio-availability of fluoride from swallowed fluoride toothpaste is shown to be decreased if the toothpaste is ingested close to a meal. Several studies show that fluoride exerts its cariostatic effects through the liquid phase surrounding the enamel. The importance of fluoride in the fluid environment of the teeth and the kinetics of fluoride in saliva are discussed. Clinical studies using different slow-release fluoride systems indicate that they are promising cariostatic agents--in particular intra-oral slow-release devices and lozenges. A new micro-analytical method to study the kinetics of fluoride in plaque fluid collected from single tooth sites has been developed. Preliminary studies show that the clearance of fluoride from plaque fluid is slowest in the upper incisor region, followed by the molar region, and faster in the lower incisor region. A site-by-site study of the concentration of fluoride in plaque fluid after topical fluoride administration could be extremely beneficial in optimization of the methods and recommended safety regimens for fluoride therapy.

Biological Availability