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Biomedical subjects

H Wehner

Publications and source records attributed to H Wehner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Immunohistochemical detection of methadone in the human brain.

To develop a method of detecting methadone in the human brain by immunohistochemistry, brain tissue of frontal cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, basal ganglions and brain stem from victims of a lethal methadone overdose was examined. The staining was performed with a monoclonal anti-methadone antibody from the mouse, originally developed for immunochemichal purposes (ELISA). With the help of the DAKO((R)) Catalyzed Signal Amplification (CSA) System, a specific positive immunoreaction was obtained in the neurons of the frontal cortex and hippocampus, as compared with specimen from deaths without exposition to methadone. Thus, along with metamphetamine, phenobarbital, morphine and insulin, immunohistochemical detection is also possible for methadone and the intake of this medicament can now be proven morphologically.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A secondary school outbreak of mumps following the childhood immunization programme in England and Wales.

Since the introduction of routine measles, mumps and rubella immunization for children in England and Wales in 1988, the incidence of mumps has declined steadily. We describe an outbreak of mumps in 1996 attacking 34 of a cohort of 98 schoolchildren born in 1982 and 1983. This is the largest outbreak in the UK since the introduction of the vaccine into the childhood immunization schedule. Salivary IgM assay was used as a simple, minimally invasive test to confirm the diagnosis. The occurrence of the outbreak demonstrates that British children who were just too old to receive mumps immunization in 1988 continue to be at risk of this disease as a result of diminished natural exposure. Further cases and outbreaks in this cohort are to be expected. Cohorts born before 1982 appear to be at less risk, presumably because of naturally acquired infection before the introduction of immunization.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Suicide and unemployment in young people. Analysis of trends in England and Wales, 1921-1995.

BACKGROUND: The influence of the macro-economic climate on suicide is unclear. During the recent recession, rates have increased in young males but declined in females. AIMS: To investigate associations between unemployment and suicide in 15- to 44-year-old men and women over a period spanning two major economic recessions (1921-1995). To minimise confounding by changes in method availability, analyses are restricted to suicides using methods other than poisons and gases. METHOD: Time-series analysis using routine mortality and unemployment data. RESULTS: There were significant associations between unemployment and suicide in both males and females. Associations were generally stronger at younger ages. CONCLUSIONS: Secular trends in youth suicide may be influenced by unemployment or other factors associated with changes in the macro-economic climate. These factors appear to affect women to the same extent as men. Although it is not possible to draw firm aetiological conclusions from time-trend data, our findings are in keeping with those of person-based studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Are HIV lookbacks worthwhile? Outcome of an exercise to notify patients treated by an HIV infected health care worker. Incident Management Teams.

This report describes the management and outcome of one of the largest exercises undertaken in the United Kingdom to notify patients exposed to an HIV infected health care worker. Eighty-six per cent (1597/1852) of patients on whom the infected junior doctor in obstetrics and gynaecology had performed surgical procedures were contacted and 1180 women (64% of those exposed) elected to be tested. None was found to be positive. Of those tested, 651 had undergone procedures classified as 'higher risk' and 529 'low risk' procedures. These data provide further evidence that the overall risk of transmission from an infected health care worker to patients is likely to be very low. HIV lookbacks may be worthwhile but we consider that it would be justifiable to notify and offer HIV testing only to patients who have undergone higher risk procedures. The estimated cost to the NHS of this exercise exceeded 200,000 Pounds.

Disease Notification↗
PubMed1998

Hepatitis caused by antidepressive therapy with maprotiline and opipramol.

There are few published reports of antidepressive therapy induced hepatotoxicity. In most cases antidepressants cause only slight elevation of liver enzymes without clinical relevance. However, our patient with recidivation of unipolar depressive disorder developed severe laboratory abnormalities and clinical symptoms during therapy with maprotiline (Ludiomil) and opipramol (Insidon). To our knowledge, this is the first case report of bioptically proven severe acute hepatitis caused by these antidepressants. After their withdrawal, the patient's fatigue symptoms, scleric jaundice, and marked increase of liver enzymes completely disappeared. Hepatic side effects should be considered during antidepressive therapy with maprotiline and opipramol especially when additional clinical symptoms emerge.

Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation↗
PubMed1993

[Are there metastatic angiomyolipomas?].

An angiomyolipoma is now mostly diagnosed by sonography due to sonographically typical criteria, such as abundant echoes and clear delineation, or via CT, since it is a process rich in fat and hence hypodense. Laying bare by surgery will only be required in case of an atypical localisation or expansive tumour growth. Two case reports are presented with ipsilateral lymph node infiltration in multifocal angiomyolipoma and expansion of the tumour into the vena cava via the renal vein.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Morphometric investigations on intrarenal vessels of streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

We have investigated 975 different grazing sections of vessels in kidney preparations of 20 rats of the Wistar strain. Half of these genetically identical animals had an insulin-deficiency diabetes induced by injection of streptozocin. The kidneys were removed for investigation after 2 and 12 weeks duration of diabetes. The vessel cross-section, wall, lumen and endothelial surface area were determined in renal arteries, arterioles and preglomerular afferent arterioles in a blind experiment. Statistically detecteable changes were found in the diabetic vessels in the early stage of the diabetes. Preglomerular afferent arterioles showed a highly significant and increasing lumen dilatation commencing after 2 weeks. Diabetic arteries and arterioles developed narrower lumina. A significant thickening of the endothelium took place at the same time in both vessel types. All three vessel regions became smaller and had thinner walls than healthy vessels as the diabetes progressed. The findings on the afferent vessels indicate that haemodynamic effects on the glomerulus are to be expected. Familial diabetic gloermulopathy begins with a reversible hyperfiltration. However, the mechanism has not been clarified in the context of the diabetic metabolic disorder, and this change is probably the haemodynamic consequence of the substantial dilatation of the preglomerular afferent arterioles. With their renin-positive segment, these arterioles are the centre of intrarenal regulation. The increase of the capillary glomerular pressure associated with the dilatation of the preglomerular afferent arterioles is a crucial factor in the development of diabetic glomerulopathy.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Role of steroid hormones and related biological substances in the etiology of endometrial carcinomas].

Synthetical oestrogens, as well as gestagens may cause metaplastic changes of the endometrial epithelia. While squamous and tubal metaplasia are most often due to oestrogenic stimulation and develop in hyperplastic endometria, mucinous and clear cell metaplasia are stimulated by gestagens and tamoxifen. Tamoxifen seems to act gestagen-like on the endometrium. We present data of 31 patients, who were treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer disease. 3 of these 31 developed endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

[Fundamental research in ultrasonic surgery. IX. Splenic surgery using cavitation ultrasound--an experimental animal study of aspiration and sealing technics with ligament FIMOMED].

A farther alternative for the conservation of the spleen represents the ultrasonic aspiration and sealing technique by means of the monomeric tissue adhesive Ligament Fimomed. The effectiveness of the method was proved by histomorphologic investigations in animal experiment with the porcine spleen. The method was effective in nearly all injuries across to the longitudinal axle of the organ even with a larger parenchymal defect and also in case of splenic tumor. The control of hemorrhage succeeded promptly and surely. Not any postoperative complication appeared.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Biodegradation of crude oils.

Petroleum from well sites in the Gifhorn Trough (Lower Saxony, NW-Germany) and the Maracaibo Basin (Venezuela) contained various types of microorganisms capable of degrading crude oils. Genetically related oils were inoculated with the isolated microorganisms and the degradation of the oils was followed by chromatographic techniques. Parameters important for the reactions (pH, supply of oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus, reaction medium) were monitored and optimized. The degradation of n-alkanes was followed closely. Microorganisms active in degradation (yeast, bacteria) easily survived a period of inactivity due to missing nutrients and were reactivated within hours to degrade newly added crude oil. Under substrate-limiting conditions selectivity of degradation was found, destroying medium-chain n-alkanes (C20, C21) at a faster rate than long-chain n-alkanes (C30, C31). During degradation the physical parameters of the crude oils (e.g. density, viscosity, average molecular weight) were altered and shifted into the direction of heavy oil. In vitro degraded oil is very similar to oil degraded in nature. Aromatic hydrocarbons and biomarker molecules (steranes and triterpanes) were not degraded under the conditions used. Pyrolysis-GC analysis of asphaltenes revealed no significant changes in the composition of pyrolyzates during biodegradation. There is sufficient evidence that heavy oils - besides some other effects - are generated by the in situ-biodegradation of conventional oils.

Alkanes↗
PubMed1986

Renal vessel changes in diabetic KK-mice.

Glomerular hyperfiltration is thought to be of pathogenic importance in the structural abnormalities seen in diabetic nephropathy but its cause is not known. It has been suggested that the changes in the preglomerular vascular system may lead to a disturbance of glomerular blood flow in diabetes. We therefore examined the potential role of changes in the vascular system supplying the glomerulus in diabetic mice. The kidneys of 15 diabetic KK-mice (aged 2, 5 and 12 months) were studied and compared with those of 15 non-diabetic NMRI-mice. We determined vessel cross-sectional, wall and lumen areas of 408 small intrarenal arteries, 5,140 arterioles and 518 preglomerular afferent arterioles using a morphometric method. At 2 months, diabetic arteries and arterioles were considerably smaller than the controls, while preglomerular afferent arterioles were the same size. At 12 months, however, all diabetic vessels measured were much larger than the controls. This was chiefly due to an excessive increase in lumen area: in the diabetic arteries the mean (+/- SEM) lumen area at 12 months was 1,057 +/- 142 vs 616 +/- 72 sq mu in controls (P less than 0.001), in arterioles 176 +/- 7 vs 115 +/- 4 sq mu (P less than 0.001) and in preglomerular afferent arterioles (at 5 months) 131 +/- 8 vs 95 +/- 7 sq mu (P less than 0.001). The dilatation of small intrarenal arteries and arterioles in diabetic mice may result from progressive impairment of vasoconstriction and may be a cause of the glomerular hyperfiltration in diabetes.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Urinary tract morphometry. An overview.

An overview is presented of the application of morphometry to conditions in the urinary tract, with the work of a number of researchers briefly summarized. The data discussed show that morphometric techniques are already being successfully applied in the differential diagnosis and grading of some diseases of the prostate, urinary bladder and kidney. In the prostate, nonneoplastic changes can be differentiated from neoplasms and prostatic carcinomas can be more precisely graded. Both cytologic and histologic preparations of bladder carcinomas can be graded by morphometric techniques. Morphometry has found another application in assisting in the distinction between normal kidneys and those with "minimal-change" disease. The specific criteria pertaining to the use of morphometric methods in each of these situations are also discussed.

Humans↗