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Biomedical subjects

J Lang

Publications and source records attributed to J Lang.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Immunogenicity, safety and lot consistency in adults of a chromatographically purified Vero-cell rabies vaccine: a randomized, double-blind trial with human diploid cell rabies vaccine.

The immunogenicity and safety of a chromatographically purified rabies vaccine (CPRV) was evaluated using US veterinary medical students. In the first study, 242 healthy adults were enrolled in a randomized, modified double-blind, multicenter trial and received five doses of either CPRV or human diploid cell vaccine (HDCV) by intramuscular injection on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28 concurrently with human rabies immunoglobulin in a simulated post-exposure prophylaxis regimen. Post-immunization titers in the CPRV and HDCV groups reached 0.5 IU/ml (the WHO-recommended minimally acceptable titer) or greater in all subjects in both vaccine groups by day 14 and remained above that level through day 90. In the second study, 438 healthy adults were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial and assigned to receive five doses from one of three lots of CPRV by intramuscular injection on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28 in a simulated post-exposure prophylaxis regimen to evaluate lot consistency. Post-immunization titers rapidly increased to over 0.5 IU/ml by day 14 for all subjects and remained above that level through day 42 when the study was terminated. The three lots were considered equivalent. The percentage of subjects with at least one local reaction during the five-dose regimen was slightly lower in the CPRV group than in the HDCV group (P=0.06). The most frequently reported local reaction for all doses of vaccine was pain at the injection site. Headache, myalgia, and malaise were the most frequently reported systemic events. The percentage of subjects with at least one systemic event was significantly lower for CPRV (P=0.0084). No vaccine-related serious adverse reaction was reported in these studies. The results of these studies indicate that CPRV administered intramuscularly to healthy adults is immunogenic and is associated with fewer local and systemic reactions than HDCV.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Dynamics of an inclusion complex of chloroform and cryptophane-E: evidence for a strongly anisotropic van der Waals bond.

The motional dynamics of a van der Waals inclusion complex of cryptophane-E and chloroform has been investigated by a combined NMR exchange and relaxation study. The kinetics of exchange of chloroform between the bulk solution and the complex was investigated by means of proton EXSY measurements. The carbon-13 relaxation of the cryptophane-E host and of the bound chloroform guest was analyzed using the Lipari-Szabo "model-free" approach. For interpretation of the carbon-13 relaxation measurements for chloroform, the chemical-exchange process of complex formation and dissociation had to be taken into account in terms of the modified Bloch equations. It was found that the complex behaves as a single molecule without any significant guest chloroform motion inside the host's cavity.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

A rescue factor abolishing neuronal cell death by a wide spectrum of familial Alzheimer's disease genes and Abeta.

Through functional expression screening, we identified a gene, designated Humanin (HN) cDNA, which encodes a short polypeptide and abolishes death of neuronal cells caused by multiple different types of familial Alzheimer's disease genes and by Abeta amyloid, without effect on death by Q79 or superoxide dismutase-1 mutants. Transfected HN cDNA was transcribed to the corresponding polypeptide and then was secreted into the cultured medium. The rescue action clearly depended on the primary structure of HN. This polypeptide would serve as a molecular clue for the development of new therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease targeting neuroprotection.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed2001

[Pregnancy and its outcome in women with malformed uterus].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of fertility and pregnancy in women with congenital uterine malformations and explore optimal treatments to improve the prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on the fertility and obstetric outcome in 153 in patients with uterine malformations treated in our hospital from January 1984 to December 1998. Twenty-seven cases with other kinds of genital and/or urinary anomalies but with normal uterus was used as the control group. RESULTS: The infertility rate was 22.2% (34/153). The miscarriage rate was 44.3% (86/194), preterm labor rate was 9.3% (18/194). Abnormal fetal presentation rate was as high as 28.4% (29/102), the cesarean section rate was 61.8% (63/102), perinatal mortality rate was 11.8% (12/102). CONCLUSION: Women with congenital uterine malformation usually have higher incidence of infertility and complications during pregnancy and delivery. Bicornuate and septate uterus could be associated with poorer obstetric outcome.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed2001

Pre-exposure rabies vaccination: strategies and cost-minimization study.

An alternative strategy for pre-exposure rabies vaccination to the institutional recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is proposed based on recent long-term follow-up of post-vaccinal seroconversion rates. The alternative strategy uses the same primary series (i.e. vaccination in the deltoid area on D0, D7, and D28), but is completed by a scheduled booster vaccination at D365. The frequency of recommended subsequent booster injections depends on the serological test results obtained by a RFFIT on D379 and 3 years later. The objective of this study was to compare the efficiency of the two pre-exposure strategies. A cost-minimization analysis was carried out to compare the two rabies pre-exposure vaccination and serological test strategies based on the data from two published studies on the long-term evolution of the immunity achieved using the different recommendations. For a theoretically equivalent immunogenicity, the cost of the alternative strategy ranged from 1.7 to 5.2 times lower than that of the institutional recommendations. A sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results. The alternative strategy should be validated externally under field conditions. This approach would compare its real efficiency to the institutional recommendations.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed2001

Synthesis and in vitro antibacterial activity of cephalosporins with a pyridinium substituent carrying an isoxazole moiety at the C-3 position.

Several quaternary pyridinium cephalosporin analogues were prepared and evaluated in vitro for antibacterial activity against selected gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Most of the synthesized analogues were either as effective or less effective against the tested bacterial organisms than the reference compounds, Cefpirome and Ceftazidime.

Cephalosporins↗
PubMed2001

Retained surgical sponges, a denied neurosurgical reality? Cautionary note.

Surgically acquired foreign bodies are well known but not widely reported. Only seven articles pertaining to this subject were found in the current neurosurgical literature. Are they a denied neurosurgical reality? In this report with a concededly provoking title, the authors elucidate clinical and medicolegal aspects of retained surgical sponges, with emphasis on spinal procedures. To highlight particulars, a case is presented in which a retained surgical sponge was encountered as the cause of progressive low back pain and tender swelling in the scar area after instrumented posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion combined with pedicle screw fixation for lumbosacral spondylolisthesis 4 years earlier. However, until today, no reported neurosurgical patient has suffered a serious complication due to a retained surgical sponge. The authors wish to remind the neurosurgical community to learn from unpleasant clinical and medicolegal experiences in other specialties before serious complications occur, and we suggest rigorous standardization of intraoperative habits to avoid this hazardous complication.

Abscess↗
PubMed2001

Prophylactic use of pentoxifylline on inflammation in elderly cardiac surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of organ injury after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Elderly patients appear to be especially prone to develop general inflammation. Use of pentoxifylline (PTX) before surgery may be a promising approach to minimize the negative effects of CPB in these patients. METHODS: In a prospective, randomized study, patients more than 80 years old undergoing aortocoronary artery bypass grafting received either PTX (n = 15) after induction of anesthesia (initial bolus of 300 mg followed by a continuous infusion of 1.5 mg.kg(-1).h(-1) during the next 2 days) or saline as placebo (control group; n = 15). Polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) elastase, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukins (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10) were measured from arterial blood samples before surgery (T0), at the end of surgery (T1), 5 hours after surgery (T2), and at the morning of the first (T3) and second (T4) postoperative day. RESULTS: Postoperatively, PTX-treated patients less often needed catecholamines and were extubated earlier than the control patients (p < 0.05). On the intensive care unit, cardiac index inceased more in the PTX-treated (from 1.95 +/- 0.3 to 3.26 +/- 0.4 L.min(-1).m(-2)) than in the control patients (from 1.89 +/- 0.2 to 2.78 +/- 0.3 L.min(-1).m(-2)). Increase in CRP and PMN-elastase was significantly higher in the untreated control than in the PTX patients. After CPB, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 increased in both groups showing a significantly higher increase in the untreated control patients (IL-8 control: from 11.3 +/- 2.6 to 154.4 +/- 57 pg/mL [T1]); IL-8 PTX: from 10.9 +/- 2.7 to 71.8 +/- 23 pg/mL [T1]). CONCLUSIONS: In elderly cardiac surgery patients, use of PTX before surgery and continued after CPB resulted in less inflammatory response than in an untreated control group. The value of attenuating the inflammatory process by PTX on outcome in this patient population needs to be evaluated in further controlled studies.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

[The Goldmann Memorial Lecture--historical and current aspects of stereopsis].

According to Goldmann stereopsis is the highest performance of binocular recognition. A historical review shows that binocular stereopsis was explained only in 1838 by Wheatstone, whereas the monocular clues for stereopsis e.g. size, position and covering of the objects, light and shadow, perspective of the air, parallax and linear perspective were known long ago. The denomination depth perception is ambiguous: "depth" is the opposite of "height". Stereopsis means natural recognition of distance and objects in space, stereoscopy means recognition by the aide of an instrument. Natural and dichoptic stereopsis and the influences of vertical structures, of pupillary distance and of astigmatism are discussed. Examination of stereopsis is discussed, among others the two pencil test, the stereo-modification Bagolini-glasses, the combination of the plano-cylinders of W. R. Hess with random dots without glasses, the disk stereopsis etc. Goldmann's theory of binocular vision helps to understand different forms of strabismus, e.g. the statistical interplay of fixation and fusion for microtropia, the fixation mechanism for the congenital strabismus syndrome, the use of binocular stereopsis only for near explains intermittent divergence.

Depth Perception↗
PubMed2001

Expression and localisation of synaptotagmin isoforms in endocrine beta-cells: their function in insulin exocytosis.

Exocytosis of insulin containing Large Dense Core Vesicles (LDCVs) from pancreatic beta-cells and derived cell lines is mainly controlled by Ca(2+). Several lines of evidence have demonstrated a role of the Ca(2+)- and phospholipid-binding protein synaptotagmin (syt) in this event. Synaptotagmins form a large protein family with distinct affinities for Ca(2+) determined by their two C(2) domains (C(2)A/B). Except for the well-characterized isoforms I and II, their role is still unclear. We have used here insulin-secreting cells as a model system for LDCV exocytosis to gain insight into the function of synaptotagmins. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that of the candidate Ca(2+) sensors in LDCV exocytosis, syt III was not expressed in primary beta-cells, whereas syt IV was only found adjacent to the TGN. However, syt V-VIII isoforms were expressed at different levels in various insulin-secreting cells and in pancreatic islet preparations. In streptolysin-O permeabilized primary beta-cells the introduction of recombinant peptides (100 nM) corresponding to the C(2) domains of syt V, VII and VIII, but not of syt III, IV or VI, inhibited Ca(2+)-evoked insulin exocytosis by 30% without altering GTP gamma S-induced release. Our observations demonstrate that syt III and IV are not involved in the exocytosis of LDCVs from primary beta-cells whereas V, VII and VIII may mediate Ca(2+)-regulation of exocytosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Estimation of genetic population variables for six radiographic criteria of hip dysplasia in a colony of Labrador Retrievers.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate genetic population variables for 6 radiographic criteria of canine hip dysplasia (CHD). ANIMALS: 664 full- and half-siblings from a colony of Labrador Retrievers. PROCEDURE: Heritability estimates and genetic correlations were calculated for 6 radiographic criteria of CHD. Two evaluation protocols were compared: the grade of the most severely affected hip joint and the sum of the scores for both hip joints. The predictive performance of estimated breeding values was also evaluated. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CHD (Federation Cynologique Internationale grades C, D, and E) was 29.6%. Median age at radiographic examination was 377 days. Heritability for the total CHD grade, Norberg angle (NA), coverage of the femoral head (COV), craniodorsal acetabular rim (ACR), subchondral bone sclerosis (SUBCH), shape of the femoral head and neck (FHN), and osteoarthritic changes at the insertion site of the joint capsule (JC) was estimated as follows: 0.44, 0.43, 0.46, 0.37, 0.32, 0.21, and 0.05, respectively. Heritability estimates were slightly higher for the sum of the scores for both hip joints. If NA and COV were included as fixed effects in the model for the dependent variables ACR, SUBCH, FHN, and JC , then heritability of these traits significantly decreased (0.08 to 0.15). High scores of NA and COV lead to a significant increase of the scores of the remaining criteria. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Canine hip dysplasia is heritable to a moderate degree. Signs of subluxation revealed the highest heritability estimates. The criteria ACR, SUBCH, FHN, and JC were strongly influenced by NA and COV.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Paradoxical vestibular disease with trigeminal nerve-sheath tumor in a dog.

A thirteen-year old spayed female poodle was referred because of atrophy of temporal and masseter muscles on the left and head tilt and episodical circling to the right side. Additionally, decreased facial sensation, absent menace reaction, palpebral and corneal reflexes on the left side, as well as ipsilateral hemiparesis and tongue palsy were noticed. Generalised vestibular ataxia and hypermetria in the front limbs were present. Based on the clinical signs, the presumptive anatomical localization of the lesion was the cerebellopontine angle including parts of the caudal brainstem with involvement of the trigeminal, facial and hypoglossal nerves. Involvement of either flocculonodular lobe or the caudal cerebellar peduncle on the left side causing paradoxical vestibular disease was suspected. On magnetic resonance imaging a large enhancing lesion in the area of the left cerebellopontine angle involving the trigeminal nerve and compressing cerebellum and brainstem was seen. Because of the poor prognosis the dog was euthanized on the owner's request. This space occupying lesion could be identified as a trigeminal neurofibrosarcoma/schwannoma on post mortem histopathological examination.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of hepatic metastasis of pure immature ovarian teratoma.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of hepatic metastasis of pure immature ovarian teratoma and explore its proper diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Eighteen cases of hepatic metastasis of pure immature ovarian teratoma were included in this study. The clinical stage, operation, chemotherapy and histopathology of primary and secondary tumors as well as the data from long term follow-ups were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: All of the hepatic metastatic tumors were located on the surface of the liver. 61.1% (11/18) of them were clinical stage III and 44.4% (8/18) were grade 1 at first operation. The hepatic metastatic rate was 16.7% (3/18) in the standard adjuvant chemotherapy group but increased markedly to 31.2% (15/48) in the irregular chemotherapy group. Auxiliary diagnostic methods could not indicate the correct results. The surgical resection rate of hepatic metastasis of pure immature ovarian teratoma was 94.4% (17/18). There were less complications in the group with tumor diameter less than 15 cm. The follow-up time ranged from 3 to 205 months with a mean of 20.9 months. The 3-year-survival rate was 77.8% (14/18), and mortality rate was 22.2%. The 5- and 10-year-survival rate was 55.6% (10/18) and 38.9% (7/18), respectively. The rate of loss in follow-up was 22.2% (4/18) and 38.9% (7/18), respectively, and one patient has survived for more than 17 years. CONCLUSIONS: The hepatic metastatic rate of pure immature ovarian teratoma could be decreased using standard adjuvant chemotherapy. Suitable surgical treatment could reduce complications and improve the prognosis for patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Treatment of childhood genital malignancies].

OBJECTIVE: To present the clinical profile and the result of treatment in childhood genital malignancies. METHODS: Twenty seven childhood patients (< 12 years) with genital malignancies diagnosed and treated in Peking Union Medical College hospital were analyzed retrospectively focusing on the clinical characteristics and outcome of the treatment. RESULTS: Patients ranged in age from 2 to 12 years with mean 6.5 years at diagnosis. Of the 27 patients, 23 had ovarian malignancies including 21 (77.8%) germ cell tumor. Four of the patients had extragonadal tumors with 2 endodermal sinus tumor of the vagina, and 2 embryonic rhabdomysarcoma. In ovarian malignancies, abdominal mass and abdominal pain were main clinical features accounting for 77.8% and 74.1% respectively. In vaginal malignancies, vaginal bleeding and polypoid tumor of the vagina were important clinical manifestations. 91.3% (21/23) of the patients underwent only unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with preservation of contralateral ovary and the uterus. Childhood genital malignancies were very sensitive to the chemotherapy. Postoperative vincristine, actinomycine, cyclophosphamide (VAC) or cisplatine, vincristine, blyomycine (PVB) chemotherapy was individualized according to the tumor site, International Federation of Gynecology and obstetrics stage and histopathology. Survival rate in our series was 71.4% during the follow-up time (mean 47.4 months). CONCLUSIONS: Malignant germ cell tumor of the ovary is the most common tumor in the childhood genital malignancies. Principle of primary surgery is preservation of fertility and chemotherapy is also considered as a very important treatment modality.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed2001

[Expression of monocyte chemotacticp protein-1 in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in the endometrium of patients with and without endometriosis. METHODS: A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was utilized to examine and quantitate MCP-1 mRNA expressions and levels in the eutopic endometrium. Thirty patients with endometriosis were included as study group, and 20 patients without endometriosis selected as control group. RESULTS: 26 (87%) of 30 samples of endometrium from patients with endometriosis expressed MCP-1 mRNA, 19 of which were strong expression, while 15 (75%) of 20 samples of endometrium from patients without endometriosis express MCP-1 mRNA (P > 0.05). When endometriosis were grouped by Revised American Fertility Society (RAFS) stages, there was no obvious correlation between stage and MCP-1 mRNA expression level (P > 0.05). Semi-quantitative PCR showed the expression level of MCP-1 in endometrium of patients with endometriosis were higher than those of patients without endometriosis (0.746 +/- 0.345 Vs 0.460 +/- 0.341 respectively, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The MCP-1 mRNA is over expressed in the eutopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis, which may play some roles on the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[A cross-sectional study on the promotion and execution of "the practiced guidelines for the management of common malignant gynecological tumors"].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the promotion and execution of "the practice guidelines for the management of common malignant gynecological tumors (draft)" (guidelines). METHODS: Cross sectional study was applied. All obstetricians and gynecologists (Obs/Gyns) who attended the Chinese Medical Association's Senior Workshop for Department Chairmen of Obstetrics and Gynecology were included. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty Obs/Gyns were inquired, while two hundred and eighty-one questionnaires were available. Ninety percent (253/281) of Obs/Gyns declared that they had read the guidelines, and 96.4% (271/281) of them thought it necessary to establish the guidelines. In those Obs/Gyns who read the guidelines, 87.7% (222/253) of them managed gynecological tumors according to the guidelines. In those who did not read the guidelines, most were obstetricians or worked in special hospitals, while all gynecological oncologists read the guidelines. In addition, there were still many suggestions on the guidelines. CONCLUSION: The guidelines has been playing a role in the management of common malignant gynecological tumors and need to be revised regularly.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2001

[Evaluation of cervical conization in diagnosis and management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cervical conization can be instead of colposcopic multiple biopsies and to evaluate the clinical value of cervical conization in diagnosis and management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. METHODS: Fifty four patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) diagnosed and treated at Peking Union Medical College hospital were retrospectively analyzed focusing on the comparative study in pathology between cerical conization and colposcopic multiple biopsies. RESULTS: Of the 54 patients, there was a correlation in pathology between cervical conization and colposcopic multiple biopsies in 22 cases (40.7%), but there was not much correspondence between cervical conization and colposcopic multiple biopsies in 32 cases (59.3%). In 31 cases conization performed for ruling out invasive cancer, there was a correlation in pathology between cervical conization and colposcopic multiple biopsies in only 13 cases (41.9%). After conization radical hysterectomy was performed in 2 cases (3.7%) because of early invasive carcinoma and simple hysterectomy was performed in 13 cases (24.1%) because of CINIII involved the gland and microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix. 39 cases (73.2%) were closely followed-up postoperatively with preservation of fertility. During the mean follow-up time of 18.3 months, no cytology abnormality was detected and 3 patients had pregnancy and delivery. Postoperative hemorrhage was main side effect for conization. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical conization plays a very important role in diagnosis and treatment of CIN and it can not be instead of colposcopic multiple biopsies. Cervical conization is a good choice for patient with CINIII and desired childbearing.

Adult↗