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Biomedical subjects

K Kunze

Publications and source records attributed to K Kunze.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Lead concentrations in blood, plasma, erythrocytes, and cerebrospinal fluid in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The purpose of the investigation was to elucidate the repeatedly discussed relationship between chronic lead intoxication and ALS. The following mean lead concentrations were determined in 9 patients with ALS: 8.65 +/- 3,91 micrograms/100 ml in the blood, 0.97 +/- 0.78 microgram/100 ml in the plasma, 19.15 +/- 5.0 micrograms/100 ml in the erythrocytes, and 0.89 +/- 0.44 microgram/100 ml in the cerebrospinal fluid. These values did not differ appreciably from the controls with 7.91 +/- 3.83 micrograms/100 ml (n = 14) in the blood, 1.13 +/- 0.46 microgram/100 ml (n = 10) in the plasma, 18.96 +/- 12.63 micrograms/100 ml (n = 10) in the erythrocytes, and 0.85 +/- 0.91 microgram/100 ml (n = 15) in the cerebrospinal fluid. These findings do not support the assumption of lead poisoning as a pathogenetic factor in ALS.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗
PubMed1983

[Treatment and results in malleolar fractures].

The authors compared the therapy results of 100 conservatively treated malleolar fractures and 100 malleolar fractures operated upon with the therapy results of the malleolar fractures registered at the documentation centre of the A. O. (working association for osteosynthesis) in Bern. The comparison shows that after surgical treatment, the therapy periods are scarcely shorter than after conservative treatment, the therapy results, however, are significantly better. There is a smaller rate of complications and subjective troubles after surgical treatment. The results of clinical and X-ray check-up examinations were essentially better after surgical treatment than after conservative treatment. The ability of patients concerning their professional and private activities was less disturbed after surgical treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Electrocardiographic alterations in subarachnoid haemorrhage. Correlation between spasm of the arteries of the left side on the brain and T inversion and QT prolongation.

In a retrospective study of 89 patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), the frequency and specificity of changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG) were determined, as well as electrocardiographically established arrhythmias. The ECG changes were correlated with neurological as well as angiographic findings (localization of the aneurysm and vascular spasm). Abnormal ECGs were found in about 80% of the patients. The following abnormalities were found with decreasing frequency: depression and elevation of the ST segment, prolongation of the QT interval, flattening and inversion of the T wave, U waves and TU fusion waves, and arrhythmias (sinus tachycardia and bradycardia, extrasystole). A verified correlation (chi-square test) was shown between angiographically demonstrated spasm of the brain arteries of the left side and negative T waves as well as a prolongation of the QT interval. These results are related to the causal role of the left stellate ganglion in the generation of ECG changes and arrhythmias (animal experiments, and the success by blockade or surgical removal of the stellate ganglion in hereditary QT prolongation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

[Results of surgical treatment of recent capsular ligament lesions of the knee joint (author's transl)].

During the period from 1971 to spring 1981, 85 patients with recent ruptures of the knee ligament were operated at the Hospital of Accident Surgery of Giessen. After 38.3 months on an average, 55 patients could be submitted to a follow-up examination. This examination comprised subjective troubles, clinical and X-ray examination of the injured knee joints. Above all, the full loading capacity of the operated extremity with a good mobility of the joint was evaluated. A good result was achieved in more than half of all cases. Only five patients showed an unsatisfactory results. A good result can only be achieved by an exact reconstruction of all injured structures carried out during the first few days following the accident. A later treatment of capsular ligament lesions will bring worse results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Thymectomy in the treatment of myasthenia.

Thymectomy has been performed in 69 patients, 58 females and 11 males, age range 14 to 70 years, with a maximum in females between 20 to 30 years. Twenty-seven percent of the patients were older than 40 years. Considerable improvement resulting from remission and partial remission occurred in 89% of females and in about 50% of males, the figure for thymomatous myasthenia was about 65% in the first year after thymectomy. In the following years, improvements increased partially and the number of remissions rose as well. By chance the duration of the disease was longer than 6 years in 20% of our patients and in these a benefit from thymectomy was also found. There were 7 early deaths and 4 late deaths. Thymectomy cannot be called a cure but is an essential part of the whole treatment procedure of myasthenia comprising the administration of anticholinesterase and especially immunosuppressive agents. It was found difficult to estimate the effect of any single measure in this retrospective study by the major benefit of thymectomy is seen in initiating remissions or at least considerable improvements. Indication for operation is thought to be present in progressive myasthenia, acute or chronic, and thymoma, provided that the patient has reached an optimal condition preoperatively by adequate anticholinesterase adjustment, neurophysiological control and immunosuppressive treatment. Thymectomy is not an emergency operation and should be carefully planned. Since relapses after thymectomy are not rare, a careful neurological long-term follow-up appears obligatory.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[Encephalopathy and liver diseases (author's transl)].

As the central organ of metabolism the liver is of the highest importance for the nervous system and for the brain in particular, which only becomes apparent under pathological conditions. It is of importance to neurologists that for them the differential diagnosis of subclinical or chronic intermittent decompensating types of hepatic encephalopathy is predominant. We are actually concerned here with encephalomyeloneuropathies which become manifest by failure on the part of the spinal marrow and the peripheral nervous system. Among the various hepatocerebral diseases the rare Wilson's disease and sporadic Wilsonismus should be mentioned from the differential diagnostic point of view, and especially the differential diagnosis of the porphyrias should be given attention, since they may first appear spontaneously and suddenly under metabolic stress, e. g. anesthesia.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1978

[The vulnerability of peripheral nerves and the somatic toxin linkage in tick paralysis of chickens, caused by Argas (Persicargas) walkerae (author's transl)].

Investigations on the impulse propagation and the pattern of amplitudes of toxically by Argas (Persicargas) walkerae larvae impaired peripheral nerves were carried out under oxygen saturated and anoxic conditions. It was demonstrated, that the maximum nerve conduction velocities of the isolated N. ischiadicus were slightly lowered in the first carbogenic and anoxic phase, in comparison with normal nerves. After the second incubation the conduction velocities were, however, almost the same or even higher. The survival times of the nerves after anoxic exposure, which were determined by the temporal persistence of the potentials, revealed that this neurophysiological parameter always resulted in a higher value for the damaged nerves after every two anoxic phases. The diseased nerves therefore tolerate anoxia longer and better than do healthy nerves in respect to their excitability and in their function of impulse propagation. From these in vitro investigations it is concluded that the noxious substance responsible for the paralysis is not cell-bound, but circulates humorally. The toxin possesses membranophilic properties, but its somatic linkage is very labile.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

[Muscle cramps].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Contraceptives, Oral↗
PubMed1977

Fibre type disproportion in the rigid spine syndrome.

An adolescent presented with the clinical symptomatology of the rigid spine syndrome. Whereas an earlier biopsy from the M. erector trunci showed myopathic features and marked endomysial fibrosis, recent findings in the M. biceps consisted of type I-fibre atrophy, type I-fibre predominance, and hypertrophy of type II-fibres. The significance of these findings and possibly a relationship to congenital fibre type disproportion are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Studies on HLA antigens and cellular and humoral autoimmune phenomena in patients with myasthenia gravis.

The HLA phenotype of fifty-four patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) was compared to that of 600 controls. When male and female patients were compared separately with the control group, HLA-B12 was increased in MG males (P less than 0-023) and HLA-A1, B8 in MG females (P less than 0-023). In addition, HLA-A1, B8 was correlated with the early onset type of MG and with a more severe clinical course (Osserman scale IIb-III) in female patients. Cell-mediated immune responses were studied in a twenty-one hospitalized MG patients. Specific cell-mediated immunity to highly purified muscle proteins was investigated using the two-step-leucocyte migration agarose test and general cell-mediated immunity was studied by determining the cutaneous response to four extrinsic antigens. Cellular immune activity to muscle antigens occurred in fourteen out of twenty-one patients (67%) with MG and with one exception, in none of the controls. There was no significant difference in the LIF inducing ability of the different muscle antigens. A statistically significant correlation between HLA-A1 and B8 and either cell-mediated immune reactivity to muscle antigens or humoral autoimmune phenomena or clinical parameters was not found. Only a trend toward an association between HLA-A1 and B8 and a cell-mediated immune response to muscle antigens could be demonstrated. Positive delayed skin reactions to extrinsic antigens were observed with the same frequency as in healthy blood donors.

Autoantibodies↗