Colon cancer and the p53 oncogene.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H Gerdes.
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Fifty patients with esophageal cancer proved by means of biopsy underwent preoperative staging with endoscopic ultrasonography (US); in 42 of the patients, dynamic CT of the chest and abdomen was also performed. All results were compared with the findings at pathologic examination of resected specimens. In staging the depth of tumor growth, endoscopic US was significantly more accurate (46 of 50 tumors [92%]) than CT (25 of 42 tumors [60%]) (P less than .0003). In staging regional lymph nodes, it was more accurate (44 of 50 patients [88%]) than CT (31 of 42 patients [74%]), but this was not statistically significant. In staging distant metastases, however, CT was more accurate (38 of 42 patients [90%]) than endoscopic US (35 of 50 patients [70%]) (P less than .016). The highest concordance with surgical and pathologic findings in overall stage (36 of 42 tumors [86%]) occurred with the combined use of CT and endoscopic US, which was significantly more accurate than use of CT alone (27 of 42 tumors [64%]) (P less than .008).
Fifty consecutive patients with gastric adenocarcinoma proved by means of biopsy underwent preoperative staging with endoscopic ultrasonography (US). Dynamic computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen was performed before surgery in 33 of the patients. In all 50 patients, the TNM classification of the American Joint Committee on Cancer was used to compare the imaging findings with pathologic findings in specimens resected at surgery. When the depth of tumor penetration was evaluated, the findings at endoscopic US and those at pathologic examination were concordant in 46 of 50 patients (92%), and the findings at dynamic CT and those at pathologic examination, in 14 of 33 patients (42%) (P less than .00042). Evaluation of regional lymph node metastases showed a concordance of 78% with endoscopic US and 48% with dynamic CT (P less than .038). Overall determination of stage with both dynamic CT and endoscopic US showed a concordance of 73%, compared with a concordance of 45% for dynamic CT alone (P less than .028).
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Enteral feeding is often required in patients with cancer of the head and neck. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies (PEGs) and jejunostomies (PEJs) can facilitate enteral feeding in patients who require this treatment. The endoscopic technique allows for the placement of feeding gastrostomies and jejunostomies without a surgical procedure and eliminates the need for nasal tubes for long-term enteral feeding. Forty-two patients with head and neck tumors were referred for placement of PEGs because of severe dysphagia induced by tumors, surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. The procedure was performed in the gastroenterology suite. Patients were sedated with intravenous meperidine and diazepam, and local anesthetic with lidocaine was applied to the area of incision. Average procedure time was approximately 20 minutes. The procedure was successful in 39 patients in whom tubes were placed ranging in diameter from 15F to 22F. PEGs were placed in 36 patients with intact stomachs and PEJs in three patients with previous gastrectomies. The remaining three procedures were unsuccessful because of technical reasons. There were three localized skin infections, and all responded to antibiotic therapy. Neither peritonitis nor any other immediate complication occurred. In 16 nonhospitalized patients, the procedure was performed on an outpatient basis. After a mean followup of 4.5 +/- 6 months of enteral feeding in the home, there was only one case of aspiration and subsequent pneumonia, and this case responded to antibiotics. No other long-term complications were noted. Thus feeding gastrostomies and jejunostomies can be placed safely and easily in patients with cancers of the head and neck by endoscopic methods without abdominal surgery. These tubes can be used for enteral feeding and eliminate the need for nasogastric tubes. They are better tolerated, are of a wider diameter, and have a reduced risk for migration, clogging, and aspiration-related complications.
Experiments were carried out in vivo and in vitro to study the flux of Ca2+ across the sheep rumen wall. Buffer solutions with five different Ca2+ concentrations in the range 0.2-3.6 mmol l-1 were introduced into the isolated, emptied and washed reticulo-rumen for 1 h to determine Ca2+ net flux. Phosphate concentrations were either kept constant at 8 mmol l-1, or varied so as to maintain a constant phosphate/Ca2+ ratio of 2:1. Under both conditions there was a Ca2+ net secretion into the rumen at Ca2+ concentrations below approximately 1 mmol l-1 whereas Ca2+ net absorption occurred at higher Ca2+ concentrations and linearly increased with increasing Ca2+ concentrations. When phosphate concentrations were reduced to 4.3 and 0.6 mmol l-1 (Ca2+, 3 mmol l-1) Ca2+ net absorption was reduced by about 50% and completely abolished, respectively. The unidirectional (mucosal-to-serosal or serosal-to-mucosal) Ca fluxes in vitro, JCams and JCasm, were measured in Ussing chambers with computer-controlled voltage clamp. Under short-circuit current conditions (Ca2+ and phosphate, 2 mmol l-1) there was a significant net flux of Ca2+ from the mucosal to the serosal side. This net flux of Ca2+ was abolished when ouabain was added to the serosal solution, indicating that the unidirectional Ca2+ flux JCams and, hence, the net flux of Ca2+ was dependent upon active Na+ transport accomplished by the Na, K-ATPase system. Under voltage clamp conditions, the net flux of Ca2+ was greatly increased at a potential difference PD = -25 mV (serosa negative) but disappeared at PD = +25 mV (serosa positive). Analysis of the unidirectional Ca2+ fluxes JCams and JCasm under varying potential differences indicated that both Ca2+ fluxes consisted of a PD-dependent and a PD-independent component. The results show that the reticulo-rumen participates in Ca2+ absorption in sheep.
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It is known that in most cases of transmural acute myocardial infarction a platelet clot originates within a coronary artery. In acute myocardial infarction patients increased levels of the plasma catecholamines adrenaline and noradrenaline as well as the platelet release proteins platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin have been reported. In this study, significantly higher values were found of platelet factor 4 (P less than 0.0001) and beta-thromboglobulin (P less than 0.002) in 17 acute myocardial infarction patients as compared to 17 control patients (on intensive care due to non-cardiac disorders), while the plasma levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline were not different. Positive correlations were obtained between the two catecholamines and the platelet products in the control group and between adrenaline and both platelet factor 4 (r = 0.715, P less than 0.01) and beta-thromboglobulin (r = 0.547, P less than 0.05) in the acute myocardial infarction patients. The data suggest that a stimulation of the platelets by adrenaline may facilitate in vitro activation during sampling in patients with high catecholamine load. On the other hand, a "preactivation" of the platelets by an increase of adrenaline might be of significance for thrombus formation in acute myocardial infarction.
We compared cefoperazone with chloramphenicol in a randomized trial involving the treatment of 25 children with severe typhoid fever. The clinical characteristics of the two treatment groups were comparable on entry into the study. Four patients died (three receiving chloramphenicol, one cefoperazone), and an additional two patients received dexamethasone (one per group). Excluding these six patients, the response of the cefoperazone group was comparable or superior to that of the chloramphenicol group in terms of the number of days from initiation of therapy to becoming afebrile (P less than .055) and the number of days until negative blood cultures were obtained (P less than .19). There were no relapses or treatment failures in either group. We conclude that cefoperazone is as effective as chloramphenicol in the treatment of severe typhoid fever.
In two consecutive partial studies conducted under double-blind conditions the potential effects of the antihistamine 1-(4-fluorophenylmethyl)-N-[1-[2-(4-methoxypenyl)ethyl]-4-piperidinyl]- 1H-benzimidazole-2-amine (astemizole) on the ability to drive and the safe operation of machinery was tested in a total of 85 volunteers. The test was performed with psychometrical methods and included the activation level (= objective tiredness), the subjective feeling of tiredness as well as their impact on concentration and reactivity. It was shown, that after a single administration (first partial study) there was no difference in performance between astemizole and placebo, whereas under the influence of the reference substance ketotifen concentration and reactivity were significantly impaired. It should be mentioned that the volunteers of the reference group did not yet experience a subjective feeling of tiredness, while their performance had already fallen off. Also after seven days of treatment (second partial study) with astemizole or placebo the active group did not exhibit any decline in performance. The authors advise against the generalized reference to a "possibly impaired reactivity" in the case of antihistamines.
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Liver changes were demonstrated in six elderly patients with giant-cell arteritis (temporal arteritis, three with polymyalgia). Histologically there was fatty infiltration in four and pericentral congestion in five, star-cell nodules in one and non-specific hepatitis in one. Bromsulphalein test was abnormal in all, but rapidly became normal as the arteritis was successfully treated with corticoids. The pathogenesis of the liver changes is unclear. The authors' observations and published reports suggest that they are typical of giant-cell arteritis; it is of importance in the diagnosis of underlying disease.
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In patients with chronic liver disease a dissociation of the two most important partial functions of the adrenal cortex may be observed. A widening of the zona glomerulosa is associated with an increased aldosterone secretion and an atrophy of the zona fasciculata with a decreased cortisol production rate. In acute alcoholic liver damage there are sometimes remarkable special features concerning the adrenal function. The pathogenesis of the altered C21-steroid hormone metabolism is nonuniform and depends upon the etiology of the liver disease. Following factors may play role: 1. Decreased activity of specific hepatic enzymes a)direct enzyme damage b)indirect enzyme activity decreasing processed by deficiency of hydrogen from NADPH 2. Decreased hepatic blood flow 3. Disturbance of intracellular transport of substrates (e.g. cholestasis 4. Changes of transport proteins. 5. Direct or reactive changes of other factors of hormonal feedback systems (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal or gonadal-system; renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system).
The effect of 6-methylprednisolone (GCC) was studied on erythropoietin (ESF) levels and on the metabolic functions of erythrocytes (RBC). GCC (U mg/kg/day for 15 days) was administered to 6 patients with the haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (group B) and to 6 patients with non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia due to hereditary pyruvate kinase enzyme deficiency (group C). 6 healthy persons served as control (group A). The metabolic functions of RBC were investigated by assaying HMPS activity, GSH/GSSG and lactate/pyruvate ratios, relevant glycolytic intermediates, 2,3-DPG, ATP, and key enzymes. A significant increase in ESF was observed in group B patients after GCC therapy, correlating with an improvement in the haemolytic state, and consequent rectification of the secondary disturbances of RBC metabolism. Group C patients already had raised ESF levels before GCC therapy; no further increase occured in response to treatment and no other clinical or haematological change was recorded. Hence, no harmonal influence of GCC on the disturbed RBC metabolic process was detectable in the cases.