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Biomedical subjects

K Horn

Publications and source records attributed to K Horn.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Hormonal profile and glucose tolerance in late pregnancy and postpartum.

Oral glucose tolerance, plasma insulin and basal levels of glucagon, hGH, hPRL, hPL, TSH, T4, T3, thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), cortisol, corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) and estriol were measured in 23 normal pregnant women in late gestation (31 +/- 0.4 weeks of pregnancy). Twelve of these subjects could be re-examined 14 +/- 2 weeks postpartum. Blood glucose was lower basal and after glucose load (100 g) in the pregnant group. Fasting plasma insulin and glucose-induced insulin release were higher in pregnancy. The insulinogenic index and the beta cell response were significantly greater antepartum, while peripheral insulin activity was unchanged. The insulin:glucagon ratio as well as TSH and hGH showed no significant differences between ante- and postpartum values. However, T4, T3, TBG, cortisol, CBG, estriol, hPRL and hPL were significantly higher during gestation than after delivery. T4:TBG and T3:TBG ratios were much lower antepartum, while the cortisol:CBG ratio was comparable ante- and postpartum. To our knowledge this is the first report in which such an extensive hormonal and metabolic analysis was performed in the same women ante- and postpartum. It could be shown that glucose tolerance is not worsened during pregnancy in healthy subjects. The higher gestational insulin values are discussed with respect to the various significant hormonal changes.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1983

The first external quality control survey (EOCS) for antithyroglobulin- and antimicrosomal antibody determination.

Fourteen laboratories participated in an external quality control survey (EQCS) for antithyroglobulin- and antimicrosomal-antibody determination. Seventeen frozen serum samples from individuals suffering from various thyroid diseases were dispatched by mail. Different test systems were used by the participants including the haemagglutinatin test, radioimmunoassay (RIA), enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence test. The different test results of each participant were sized and could be compared by giving place numbers to each test result. Inter-laboratory quality control was performed by evaluation of a rank correlation coefficient. There was close agreement between the haemagglutination test results of antimicrosomal antibody determination with different test kits, and these tests showed good precision. Antithyroglobulin antibody titers from the two haemagglutination test-kits used, however, were not directly comparable. When sized by place numbers, antithyroglobulin antibody results from haemagglutinatin test, RIA and ELISA were in close agreement. The least correspondence was shown by the immunofluorescence test, in the antithyroglobulin antibody determination.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1983

[Importance of atmospheric air pollution in the development of diseases].

Our knowledge on the effects of air pollution to health goes back up to antiquity. Industrialization with its consequences has multiplied the problem, the effects of air pollution to the lungs gaining special significance. The research of the relations is intricate because no simple dose-response relations are existing between environmental influence and population. The great number of harmful factors and of their changing concentration is faced the different susceptibility of the population and the range of response within different population groups and, finally, the multifactorial pathogenesis of chronic diseases, mentioned for assessing the hazards of air pollution. There is distinguished between local and systemic effects of air pollution to the respiratory tract. Chronic respiratory diseases and bronchial carcinoma are discussed as local effects whereas poisonings by carbon monoxide, lead and cadmium (over the human air tract) represent systemic effects.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1983

[Relations between sperm findings and fertility prognosis in childless couples].

In eight andrological centres more than 2,000 childless married men were examined catamnestically. Fertility was compared with the findings of the routine spermatograms. Conception rate is reduced significantly if sperm density is below 10 million, in motility of spermatozoa under 50% and in ejaculates with less than 60% normal-shaped spermatozoa. However, lower values of spermatozoa must not be compared with absolute infertility.

Humans↗
PubMed1981

Thyroxine-binding globulin: investigation of microheterogeneity.

Preparations of T4-binding globulin (TBG) from human serum was performed using only two affinity chromatography steps. Purity of the protein was demonstrated by a single band in overloaded disc and sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis, equimolar binding to T4, and linearity in sedimentation velocity run. The molecular weight was calculated to be 60,000 +/- 3,000 daltons (n = 3), the sedimentation coefficient was 3.95S, and the Stokes' radius was 37 A. The amino acid composition was found to be in good agreement with the calculations of other authors. By isoelectric focussing (IEF), pure TBG showed four main bands at pH 4.25, 4.35, 4.45, and 4.55 together with several fainter bands. The N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) content of the four TBG bands isolated by preparative IEF was found to decrease from 10.2 mol NANA/mol TBG in the band at pH 4.25 to 4.8 mol NANA/mol TBG in the band at pH 4.55. No significant difference in the affinity constants of the TBG bands to T4 was found. The affinity constants for TBG ranged from 3.1 x 10(9) to 7.2 x 10(9) M-1. Sequential kinetic desialylation of pure TBG resulted in a progressive tendency toward one major band at pH 6.0. In native sera, microheterogeneity of TBG was detected after IEF on polyacrylamide gel plates by immunofixation. The typical TBG patterns shown by pure TBG were also found in normal subjects. Characteristic deviations from this pattern were found in the sera of females during estrogen therapy or pregnancy, where there was a gradual increase in density of the band at pH 4.25 and the appearance of an additional band at pH 4.15. In sera from patients with liver disease and elevated TBG levels, there was a fading of the acidic bands, whereas the more alkaline band at pH 4.55 was intensified. It is therefore proposed that microheterogeneity of TBG is caused by differences in NANA content and that variations of TBG patterns in native sera may reflect altered TBG synthesis or degradation. A genetically related microheterogeneity of TBG could not be demonstrated after examination of 800 sera, including 2 families with quantitative TBG deficiency.

Amino Acids↗