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Biomedical subjects

J Vrubel

Publications and source records attributed to J Vrubel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

The influence of age on transfer factor treatment of cellular immunodeficiency, chronic fatigue syndrome and/or chronic viral infections.

A group of 222 patients suffering from cellular immunodeficiency (CID), frequently combined with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and/or chronic viral infections by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and/or cytomegalovirus (CMV), were immunologically investigated and treated with transfer factor (TF). The age range was 17-77 years. In order to elucidate the influence of aging on the course of the disease and on treatment, 3 subgroups were formed: 17-43 years, 44-53 years, and 54-77 years. Six injections of Immodin (commercial preparation of TF by SEVAC, Prague) were given in the course of 8 weeks. When active viral infection was present, IgG injections and vitamins were added. Immunological investigation was performed before the start of therapy, and subsequently according to need, but not later than after 3 months. The percentages of failures to improve clinical status of patients were in the individual subgroups, respectively: 10.6%, 11.5% and 28.9%. The influence of increasing age on the percentage of failures to normalize low numbers of T cells was very evident: 10.6%, 21.2% and 59.6%. In individuals uneffected by therapy, persistent absolute lymphocyte numbers below 1,200 cells were found in 23.1%, 54.5% and 89.3% in the oldest group. Statistical analysis by Pearson's Chi-square test, and the test for linear trend proved that the differences among the individual age groups were significant. Neither sex, nor other factors seemed to influence the results. The results of this pilot study show that age substantially influences the failure rate of CID treatment using TF. In older people, it is easier to improve the clinical condition than CID: this may be related to the diminished number of lymphocytes, however, a placebo effect cannot be totally excluded.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1993

[Infectious complications in patients after heart transplantation].

The incidence of infectious complications was monitored in a group of the first 100 patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine from January 1984 through May 1993. The definition of an infectious complication was a clinically manifest infection requiring treatment. Cytomegalovirus infection and Epstein-Barr virus infection were evaluated by the development of antibody against IgM. A total of 168 infectious complications were detected in 80 patients. The infectious complications were fatal in 11 patients; hence, infections were implicated in 26% of all deaths following heart transplantation. The spectrum of infections markedly varies depending on the interval since the procedure. The most frequent infections within the 30 postoperative days are bacterial (often nosocomial) infections. In the later period (30 days onward), viral infections account for 72% of cases. Of the rarer types of infections, the pulmonary form of aspergillosis was identified in 3 cases, nocardiosis and legionellosis in one case each. Infectious complications were the main cause of deaths in the period of 1 to 4 months post-transplantation, and the spectrum and rate of complications were not different from data reported by other centres.

Heart Transplantation↗
PubMed1993

[Coronary disease in patients after heart transplantation].

Coronary artery lesions are evaluated in a group of 43 patients surviving for more than 3 months after heart transplantation. An angiographic finding was obtained from 35 patients, autopsy findings were available in eight cases. Angiography demonstrated coronary artery lesions in 12 out of the 35 patients whereas autopsy findings were positive in five out of the eight post mortem examinations. Overall, lesions were found in 40% of patients at a mean follow-up interval of 3.5 years. While the finding of a coronary artery lesion was not related to the classic risk factors for atherosclerosis, an association to a previous cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus infection was demonstrated. The data suggest that infection caused by the two above viruses is an important factor in the development of vascular lesions in the heart transplant.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[The effect of cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus infection on immunologic signs].

Patients with active CMV or EBV infection characterized by the presence of specific serum IgM and/or high immunofluorescence in IgG, have higher levels of circulating immune complexes and a lower phagocytic activity of leucocytes than patients with latent CMV/EBV infections or not infected patients. In active infections at the same time the absolute number of lymphocytes with the surface sign CD8 increases. The amount of lymphocytes with differential antigens CD3 and CD4 does not change substantially. Also the levels of the third and fourth component of complement and C-reactive protein remain within the normal range.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1989

[A study of the immune status in patients before heart surgery using the Imunoskintest Sevac kit].

By means of a Immunoskintest Sevac kit the authors examined 99 patients who were subjected to heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation. In the group of patients with an index of more than 1.0 were 7% postoperative infectious complications, in the group with an index smaller than 1.0 there were 19% and in the group of patients with anergy and relative anergy there were 66% infectious complications after operation. The authors consider as risk patients those where anergy or relative anergy was proved, as well as patients with an index lower than 1.0 and a weak response to 2-3 antigens. In risk patients it is essential to make a detailed immunological examination and to correct in a suitable way their immunodeficiency, e. g. by administration of transfer factors. From the results ensues moreover that the immune response of patients, and thus also the development of postoperative infectious complications, is related to the patient's age and the presence of rheumatic disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

[Ensuring ureter viability: experimental study].

1. In experiments on dogs we observed that the remaining of the peripelvic and periureteral tissue in taking from the kidney is not decisive for the blood supply of the ureter. That these findings are important also for the clinic is confirmed by the following fact: in order to draw the ureter through the natireflux tunnel, 2-4 cm of the periureteral tissue must be removed. However, we never observed a necrosis restricted to this place. 2. In all experiments the blood supply of the upper half of the donor ureters was confirmed without any mistake. Therefore we recommend to shorten the ureter to this length for the UNC. 3. The preservation by means of hypothermy or permanent machine perfusion has no negative effect on the blood supply of the ureter.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The use of autologous and allogeneic venous grafts for arteriovenous fistulas in chronic haemodialysis.

The development of haemodialysis treatment and kidney transplantation has brought forth effective therapy and long-term survival in patients with irreversible renal failure. One of the factors limiting successful long-term treatment is the difficulty involved in the patients repeatedly on to the artificial kidney. Once all the routine techniques of creating subcutaneous arteriovenous have been exploited, the use of venous grafts provides further opportunities for vascular access for regular haemodialysis. Evaluation of the immediate results and of long-term average cumulative patency in 24 autologous and 24 stored allogeneic venous grafts revealed fewer complications and better long-term usability in venous allografts. Allogeneic venous grafts appear to offer a suitable replacement for venous autografts in the surgical technique of arteriovenous fistulas. Their advantages include easy availability, low cost, and long-term usability in chronic dialysis.

Angiography↗
PubMed1978

Optimal perfusion parameters in kidney preservation.

The optimal pressure in the renal artery during initial perfusion with Collins' solution by spontaneous pressure in canine kidneys is 40-50 cm H2O and in human kidneys 40-60 cm H2O. An average-sized human kidney can be perfused by a full current which is limited only by the lumen of the infusion set. In smaller than average-sized human kidneys the current must be reduced to diminish the pressure in the renal artery to the optimal value. In prolonged hypothermal perfusion by means of a Gambro apparatus it will be necessary to assess the optimal pressure by direct measurement in the renal artery in intact average-sized human kidneys because the pressure reading on the manometer is not identical with the optimal pressure in the renal artery.

Animals↗