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Biomedical subjects

K Ulm

Publications and source records attributed to K Ulm.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

[Survival and outcome after pacemaker implantation. Comparison of patients with sinus node syndrome, AV block and absolute bradyarrhythmia].

Survival chances of 2007 patients with pacemaker implantation were determined. For the group as a whole, five-year survival rate was 57%, ten-year survival rate 35%. The prognosis was significantly better in patients with sick-sinus syndrome than those with AV block or brady-arrhythmias. Those with sick-sinus syndrome had an expectancy which was comparable to that of the (age and sex matched) normal population, while those with brady-arrhythmia had a significantly worse ten-year survival rate (24.7%) compared with a normal population (47.8%), P less than 0.01. Since the survival rate in sick-sinus syndrome - with or without pacemaker - is not different to that of the normal population, improved quality of life by preventing symptoms should be balanced against the risk of pacemaker-produced complications when indications for pacemaker treatment are considered.

Adolescent↗

Protein synthesis in the blood lymphocytes of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and its relationship to prognosis.

Protein synthesis primed by endogenous messenger RNA (mRNA) as well as polyuridylic acid-[poly (U)] directed polyphenylalanine synthesis was measured in extracts of blood lymphocytes from a series of 50 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients and compared with the prognostic stage. Patients were clinically classified according to the new international workshop classification [4]. There were 23 patients at stage A, 14 at stage B and 13 at stage C. Extracts from patients of the high risk group (stage C), defined by anemia and/or thrombocytopenia, exhibited a significantly higher poly (U)-translation activity than extracts from low and intermediate risk patients-stages A and B--(P less than 0.01). This finding has a sensitivity of 62% but a specificity of 100%. During follow-up, an increase of poly (U)-translation and endogenous protein synthesis was observed after changing from stages A or B to stage C. Activity of protein synthesis could neither be correlated with proliferation activity, as measured by lymphocyte doubling time, nor with the expression of immunologic surface markers, nor with serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels.

Acute Disease↗

Asbestos-related diseases in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Until recently, in the Federal Republic of Germany there has been a lack of epidemiological data on asbestos-related tumors. Only the numbers of occupational diseases accepted for compensation by the German industrial injuries insurance institutes (Berufsgenossenschaften) can be stated. These show, for 1979, 94 cases of asbestosis, 21 cases of asbestosis associated with lung cancer, and 34 cases of mesothelioma. Since 1972 employees exposed to asbestos dust have been included in a central register by the industrial injuries insurance institutes and are medically examined periodically. By December 31, 1979, 28,476 persons were registered. Of those, 6,582 were still being followed medically, although they were no longer working with asbestos dust exposure. In January 1, 1977, a prospective epidemiological study was started with these people who were formerly exposed to asbestos dust. Up to December 31, 1980, altogether 2,944 people were enrolled in the study. Besides several other enrollment criteria, the individual's permission was required to evaluate his personal data. Of the people enrolled, 85 had died by December 31, 1980. Even if five questionable cases of lung cancer are excluded (n = 80), the observed rates of about 43% tumours of all sites, with 15% lung cancer and 6% mesothelioma, seem to be comparable to the international epidemiological mortality pattern.

Adult↗

Acute inhalation toxicity of diiodotetrafluoroethane.

Acute inhalation toxicity studies with diiodotetrafluoroethane in rats following an exposure of 4 h to concentrations of 6-197.5 ppm show that 16.5 ppm to 197.5 ppm impaired dose-related the animals' attitude and posture, motoricity, autonomic reactions and respiratory function. At concentrations of more than about 90 ppm death occurred as a result of cardiac and circulatory failure. On the basis of these results it could be demonstrated that the no-effect level is 6 ppm and the approximate mean lethal concentration (LC50) would be 75 ppm.

Acute Disease↗

[Value of 201-thallium serial myocardial imaging in coronary heart disease (author's transl)].

There has been clinical evidence that a perfusion defect on a stress image fills in over time. The diagnostic value of initial and 120 min post exercise redistribution thallium-201 myocardial images (RMI) was determined in 120 pts. with suspected coronary heart disease (CAD), all of whom had coronary arteriography. Significant (greater than or equal to 75%) lesions were present in 88 pts. 30 pts. without CAD showed a normal tracer uptake immediately after exercise. Scintigrams taken 120 min after exercise revealed a decrease of 201-Tl concentration in every area of the myocardium. 80 pts. with CAD showed an area of decreased tracer uptake in the initial scans. 120 min RMI in 51 pts. revealed a segnificant increase (p greater than 0.01) of countrate time ratio in previous underperfused area. In 37 pts. persistent defects were present, in every case the defect correlated with the site of a myocardial infarction as determined by the finding of an akinetic area in the left ventricular angiogram. Thus RMI following a single dose of 201 Tl can differentiate between scar- and exercise-induced transient ischemia.

Adult↗

The effect of various interventions during a typhoid epidemic. Results of a simulation study.

This paper presents an epidemiological model for typhoid fever epidemics or paratyphoid diseases with an enteric course, as well as a deterministic approach for the quantitative representation of this model. The model has been tested against one typhoid and two paratyphoid epidemics which occurred in the Federal Republic of Germany. It was possible to simulate the course of these epidemics with sufficient precision, and to obtain information on the effects of various interventions (e.g. oral vaccination or hygiene measures).

Disease Outbreaks↗

Potassium reduces cerebral hemorrhage and death rate in hypertensive rats, even when blood pressure is not lowered.

In a study of the effects of K+ in stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats, adding K+ to normal chow was found to reduce the mortality from 83% to 2%, a 98% reduction. An 86% reduction in mortality occurred even when blood pressure was virtually equal in the two stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive groups being compared. Dietary K+ supplements also reduced mortality in hypertensive Dahl salt-sensitive rats from 55% to 4%, a 93% reduction. There was an 87% reduction in mortality even when blood pressure was equal in the Dahl salt-sensitive groups being compared. The added dietary K+ decreased blood pressure moderately in stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats and modestly in Dahl salt-sensitive rats, which probably contributed to the reduced death rate. More importantly, however, the added K+ seemed to prevent severe lesions in cerebral arteries and deaths even when blood pressure lowering was eliminated as a protective factor. In another group of stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats, there was a 40% incidence of cerebral hemorrhage in surviving rats not receiving K+ supplements and no incidence of cerebral hemorrhage in similar surviving rats receiving K+ supplements, which suggests that K+ supplements confer protection against brain hemorrhage.

Animals↗

Neural network analysis of follow-up data in primary breast cancer.

This paper reports on the performance of a recently developed neural network environment incorporating likelihood-based optimization and complexity reduction techniques in the analysis of breast cancer follow-up data with the goal of building up a clinical decision support system. The inputs to the neural network include classical factors such as grading, age, tumor size, estrogen and progesterone receptor measurements, as well as tumor biological markers such as PAI-1 and uPA. The network learns the structural relationship between these factors and the follow-up data. Examples of neural models for relapse-free survival are presented, which are based on data from 784 breast cancer patients who received their primary therapy at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Technische Universität München, Germany. The performance of the neural analysis as quantified by various indicators (likelihood, Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank tests) was very high. For example, dividing the patients into two equally sized groups based on the neural score (i.e., cutoff = median score) leads to an estimated difference in relapse-free survival of 40% or better (80% vs. 40%) after 10 years in Kaplan-Meier analysis. Evidence for factor interactions as well as for time-varying impacts is presented. The neural network weights included in the models are significant at the 5% level. The use of neural network analysis and scoring in combination with strong tumor biological factors such as uPA and PAI-1 appears to result in a very effective risk group discrimination. Considerable additional comparison of data from different patient series will be required to establish the generalization capability more firmly. Nonetheless, the improvement of risk group discrimination represents an important step toward the use of neural networks for decision support in a clinical framework and in making the most of biological markers.

Adult↗

Cord blood T-cell determination: a further useful parameter for atopy screening of the newborn?

In a prospective study, the total CB IgE and T-cell subpopulations in cord blood of 200 newborn children were determined by means of monoclonal antibodies (CD3, CD4, and CD8). There is no correlation between raised cord blood IgE and reduced T-cell ratio in the cord blood or with a positive family history. In a follow-up study carried out at the age of 12 to 14 months, 21% of atopic children had a positive family history and, simultaneously, a reduced total cord blood T-cell rate (CD3). Only 3% of nonatopic children had a positive family history and a reduced cord blood CD3 ratio. Statistically speaking, this distinction is significant (p less than 0.01).

Female↗