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Biomedical subjects

M Albrecht

Publications and source records attributed to M Albrecht.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Effects of an herbal crataegus-camphor combination on the symptoms of cardiovascular diseases].

One hundred and ninety (190) patients presenting with "functional cardiovascular disorders" (ICD 10, F 45.3) received purely herbal combination therapy comprising crataegus and camphor (Korodin Herz-Kreislauf-Tropfen) or a placebo, identical in colour and taste to the active treatment, over a period of four weeks within the scope of a multi-centre, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. The principal criterion was the fall in the overall score obtained for a heart-related symptom complex (HSK) during administration of the herbal combination or randomly allocated placebo. The overall score fell significantly by 5.5 or 4.5 points, respectively, from a baseline value of 10.0 points each (p = 0.0165). The sub-score for exhaustion, joint pain, heart disorders, pain on pressure and the total score on the Giessen discomfort chart (GBB) indicated better efficacy with the crataegus-camphor combination than with the placebo. On completion of treatment, the investigators assessed the efficacy of the active drug as "very good to good" in 70.5% of their patients compared with a similar evaluation in just 49.5% of the placebo patients. The degree of satisfaction with the drug therapy according to physician and patient reflected the objective results obtained. 71.6% of subjects in the active drug group were satisfied with their treatment compared with just 52.7% in the placebo group. Adverse events (undesirable side effects) were recorded in 8.3% and 8.5% of patients, respectively. A correlation with the active drug therapy was established in only two cases. Tolerance was therefore positively assessed.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Are children properly classified within the scope of expert assessment to determine need for services?].

This project deals with assessment directives issued by the leading statutory care insurance companies to define the need for care of children at certain ages in coping with the activities of daily life specified by the German Social Legislation. The ages in question relate to healthy, normally developed children. They are used as a measure of comparison for the assessment of diseased children. Besides, they have a decisive significance in defining the need for care. Only if a child is not able to perform a certain activity, although it is meant to be able to do so at that age, can we define the need for help and assistance, i.e. care. The project is divided into two sections. 1. Comparison of age mentioned in the assessment directives for each of the daily life activities of healthy and normally developed children aged 1 to 12 years with the age mentioned in technical literature. 2. Comparison of age mentioned in the assessment directives for each ot the daily life activities of healthy and normally developed children at the age of 1 to 12 years with those mentioned in retrospective interviews with the same group of children. In the first part of the project, an analysis of the literature dealing with the subject was done. The literature included the stock of technical literature in the German language. Studying the literature, ages for children could be isolated, that could be classed with the activities of daily life mentioned in the German Social Code. These ages were compared with those in the assessment directives. In a second part of the project, 81 mothers and fathers of healthy, normally developed children aged 1 to 12 years were asked via a questionnaire. They were asked to estimate retrospectively from what age on their child had been able to perform certain activities of daily life without any help. The comparison of ages mentioned in the assessment directives with those of the analysis of literature conformed only regarding daily life activity. Regarding the other activities of daily life the age for children was set higher in the assessment directives than in the literature. Comparing the age of children in the assessment directives with the results of the questionnaires the age was also set higher in the directives than shown by the results of the questionnaires. The results of the literature analysis and the inquiry by questionnaires show that the ages mentioned in the assessment directives for an independent performance of daily life activities do not correspond to the development according to the age of healthy normally developed children aged 1 to 12 years. As a result of this project it seems to be justified to be doubtful about an adequate assessment of children who are in the need of care. Due to this reason it would be desirable to reexamine the data of the assessment directives by means of a new representative prospective study.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2000

[Concept for a health care economic evaluation of short- and long-term costs and effectiveness parameters of an expanded ambulatory psychosomatic rehabilitation program].

There are only few ambulatory rehabilitation concepts for mothers with psychosomatic disorders (prevalence 5%). Also, only little is known about the evaluation of these programmes. This study compares the socioeconomic evaluations of an ambulatory rehabilitation programme with a post-assistance programme and one without a post-assistance programme. The superior programme should be determined by weighing all relevant costs and benefits. The intensive phase of the ambulatory rehabilitation programme consists of an eight-week treatment with group, single, body and art therapy. The post-assistance programme spans a period of nine-months with 36 sessions of psychoanalytic group therapy. The evaluation of both programme alternatives is made by with the evaluation tool of socioeconomic analyses. For consideration and pricing of costs all direct medical costs, direct non-medical costs and indirect costs are being monitored. Outcomes assessment is realised by cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-utility analysis and cost-benefit analysis. Utilisation of the health care system is being assessed with questionnaires. Measurements are being performed at the beginning and the end of the rehabilitation programme and three, six, nine and twelve months later. Mothers with children aged six years and younger and suffering from various psychosomatic disorders were included in this study. The costs identified for the rehabilitation programme are DM 5571.10 (intensive care and post-assistance programme) and DM 1512.40 (intensive care) per patient. Further progress of the study will show if future cost will differ between the two alternatives. For the comparison of both alternatives all costs will be linked with outcomes. It remains to be seen that additional costs of the post-assistance programme will be compensated with positive outcomes. A sensitivity analysis will show if variation of assumptions will influence the cost-benefit-ratio of the different alternatives.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Small intestinal transit with radio-opaque markers to localize intermittent small bowel obstruction] .

AIM: In difficult diagnostic cases of partial small bowel obstruction, radiopaque, non-digestible markers were used to challenge and localize the site of obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 32 patients (19 female, 13 male, 3-80 years) were examined. Each patient received 20 4-mm radiopaque markers orally. Abdominal radiographs were obtained at 4-8 h intervals. Mechanical obstruction was defined as the clustering of at least 3 markers for 4 hours or longer. The transit of radiopaque markers was compared to plain radiography, ultrasound, barium meal, computed tomography, enteroclysis and operative findings. RESULTS: 18 of 32 patients showed small bowel clustering suggestive of obstruction. Diagnostic agreement was found in 12 of 14 cases with ultrasound, in 7 of 13 cases with plain radiography and in 3 of 6 cases with enteroclysis. 13 of the 18 patients with clustering had surgery. All of them (13/13) had adhesions with the need of resection. CONCLUSION: This investigation is an alternative diagnostic method for the decision between conservative and surgical treatment in cases of intermittent partial small bowel obstruction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Mesenchymal entactin-1 (nidogen-1) is required for adhesion of peritubular cells of the rat testis in vitro.

Epithelial-like Sertoli cells isolated from immature rat testis aggregate to form tubule-like structures when cultured on a monolayer of mesenchyme-derived peritubular cells. At the end of this morphogenetic process both cell types are separated by a basement membrane. In this study the gene expression of monocultures and direct cocultures of peritubular cells and Sertoli cells was examined using DD-RT-PCR. One of the isolated cDNA clones showed high homology to the cDNA encoding the basement membrane component entactin-1 (nidogen-1). Even though the entactin-1 (nidogen-1) gene is transcribed in peritubular cells, Sertoli cells, and in direct cocultures, the mRNA is translated only by the peritubular cells. No entactin-1 (nidogen-1) was detected in the Sertoli cells by Western blotting. Moreover, peritubular cell monocultures and cocultures showed the presence of one single band at 152 kDa in the supernatant, whereas in cell lysates two bands were detectable at 152 kDa and 150 kDa. Perturbation experiments using monoclonal antibodies directed against entactin-1 (nidogen-1) were performed with peritubular cells and Sertoli cells, respectively, and demonstrated loss of cell adhesion of the peritubular cells, while the Sertoli cells remained adherent. From these data we conclude that entactin-1 is exclusively produced and secreted by mesenchymal peritubular cells, and affects adhesion of peritubular cells in an autocrine manner.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis in primary human urothelial cells by the mycotoxin ochratoxin A.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a widespread contaminant in human staple food. Exposure of humans to this mycotoxin is a matter of concern because OTA is a known rodent carcinogen. As the urothelium is one target tissue of this mycotoxin, primary cultured human urothelial cells (HUC) from adults and children were used to analyze the induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) by OTA. HUC were isolated from the ureters or renal pelves of two nephrectomized adults and of two children with ureteropelvic junction stenosis and cultured under serum-free conditions. After a confluency of 70-80% was reached, cell proliferation was suppressed by arginine-deficient medium (ADM), and UDS was assessed autoradiographically by 3H-thymidine incorporation upon exposure to OTA (10-2000 nM), ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS, 5 mM, positive control), or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, 0.2%, solvent control). In control cultures the level of UDS was low. Exposure to EMS resulted in an induction of UDS (2-to 5-fold compared to control), thus allowing the sensitive detection of repair resulting from induction of DNA lesions in all four specimens, and demonstrating that repair of EMS-induced DNA lesions can take place under the chosen culture conditions. In two HUC cultures derived from adults, a significant induction of UDS was observed in the concentration range of 50-500 nM OTA. The highest fraction of cells in repair (CIR) was found at 50 nM OTA for the HUC from the older male (50% CIR). The maximum response in the other specimens from the adult female and the 7-year-old boy were seen at OTA concentrations of 500 and 250 nM, respectively. In contrast to all other specimens, no significant induction of UDS by OTA was found in the HUC cultures derived from an infant's urothelium. Signs of cytotoxicity were observed above 500 nM OTA in all cultures. The varying susceptibility toward OTA observed in vitro may hint at varying predispositions of individuals in vivo.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Transforming growth factor-beta2 mediates mesenchymal-epithelial interactions of testicular somatic cells.

Transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGFbeta2) is an important mediator of growth and differentiation. We here describe for the first time the complete sequence of the TGFbeta2 complementary DNA derived from peritubular myoid cells of the rat testis. The size of the rat TGFbeta2 complementary DNA was 1245 bp, and the deduced protein sequence contained 414 amino acids. Sequence comparison with the human and mouse amino acid sequences demonstrated 96.4% and 97.9% sequence identities, respectively. To elucidate the functional role of TGFbeta2 in testicular somatic cells, we studied its secretion in vitro in monocultures and cocultures of mesenchymal peritubular and epithelial Sertoli cells. The highest amounts of TGFbeta2 protein were secreted in the cocultures and by peritubular cells, whereas Sertoli cells secreted only minor amounts. Stimulation experiments with FSH revealed a reduced secretion of TGFbeta2 in cocultures, probably mediated by a paracrine interaction of the FSH-responsive Sertoli cells. In contrast, TGFbeta2 secretion by peritubular cells was increased after stimulation with glucocorticoids and after addition of recombinant TGFbeta2, indicating an autoregulation of TGFbeta2. Furthermore, application of recombinant TGFbeta2 to cocultures resulted in an enhanced aggregation and cell clustering of Sertoli cells, pointing to an important role of TGFbeta2 in the paracrine interaction of peritubular and Sertoli cells of the developing rat testis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Recombinant human growth hormone improves the fat redistribution syndrome (lipodystrophy) in patients with HIV.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in the treatment of the fat redistribution syndrome (FRS) in patients with HIV. DESIGN: A prospective, open-label study. SETTING: An urban, university-affiliated Infectious Disease Clinic. PATIENTS: Ten HIV-infected patients (seven men, three women) with FRS. INTERVENTIONS: Treatment with 6 mg of rhGH a day, subcutaneously for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body mass index (BMI), body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), body composition by anthropometrics (including waist/hip ratio), buffalo hump. RESULTS: The mean age was 41.7 years, the CD4 cell count was 247, and the HIV RNA was 95 735 copies/ml; 50% had undetectable viral RNA. The BMI was significantly increased from baseline to the end of treatment with growth hormone (25.3-26.9 kg/m2; P < 0.04); the waist/hip ratio significantly decreased from baseline levels, after treatment with growth hormone (1.03-0.9; P < 0.04); mid-thigh circumference increased significantly when baseline was compared with measures after treatment (49.1-51.8 cm; P < 0.03). One patient had to discontinue therapy because of hyperglycemia. CONCLUSION: Short-term treatment with rhGH improved the alterations in body shape that occur with FRS in HIV-infected patients. Waist/hip ratios and mid-thigh circumference are useful measures to follow alterations in body shape in FRS.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Prediction of successful outcome in a randomised controlled trial of the long-term efficacy of interferon alpha treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

To evaluate the efficacy of a 12-month course of recombinant interferon alpha (IFN-alpha2b), and to assess predictive factors of successful response to IFN therapy in chronic active hepatitis C (HCV CAH), 242 patients with histologically proven HCV CAH were assigned randomly to two groups, one treated with IFN-alpha2b (3 MU three times weekly, intramuscularly), the other untreated. To determine the efficacy of IFN-alpha2b 12 months after therapy, a second liver biopsy was carried out on 100 treated patients and 27 untreated patients. The biochemical, virological, and serological response of patients followed up for at least 50 months after treatment was also evaluated to confirm the efficacy of IFN-alpha2b. The genotypes of infecting HCV, anti-HCV core IgM, and HCV-RNA concentrations were also analysed and the predictors of response determined by univariate and multivariate analyses. Response was defined in terms of the normalisation of aminotransferase activities and the disappearance of HCV-RNA. The overall long-term response was 39.4%. Anti-HCV core IgM levels were significantly lower in long-term responders. Patients with increased levels of IgM anti HCV core (>3.8 sample/cut-off), infected with genotype 1b were nonresponders. Liver histology improved significantly in patients with long-term response. Multivariate analysis identified three independent predictors of the likelihood of long-term response to IFN therapy: age younger than 40 years, basal anti-HCV core IgM levels < or = 3.8, and genotypes other than 1b. These data indicate that the treatment with IFN-alpha2b used in this randomised controlled trial is effective in HCV CAH. Anti-HCV core IgM was the strongest predictor of long-term response in the present study.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1999

Fibronectin in human prostatic cells in vivo and in vitro: expression, distribution, and pathological significance.

In the present study we examined the expression and release of the extracellular matrix glycoprotein fibronectin (FN) in a prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP) and in primary prostatic stromal cells using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Perturbation experiments in vitro using antibodies directed against FN and the FN receptor were also performed. Immunohistochemistry was used to show the in vivo distribution of FN and the FN receptor in tissue sections of normal human prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostate carcinoma. The expression of the oncofetal FN ED-B segment in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate carcinoma tissue was investigated by RT-PCR. The FN mRNA was expressed by LNCaP and primary prostatic stromal cells, respectively. Both cell types released FN into the medium in a time-dependent manner, whereby FN secretion was about 2.5-fold higher in cultures of stromal cells relative to LNCaP cells. Blocking FN with anti-FN antibodies resulted in a significant decrease in cell adhesion for LNCaP cells and a change in morphology for the primary stromal cells. FN was located mainly in the stromal compartment of the prostate, showing a distinct distribution pattern in prostate carcinoma, whereas the FN receptor was detectable only in the prostate epithelia. RT-PCR experiments showed the expression of the oncofetal FN ED-B segment in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate carcinoma tissue, with a 3.5-fold higher expression in the prostate carcinoma probes. Our data point to an important role for FN in cell adhesion of prostatic cells and show that an alternatively spliced FN mRNA is upregulated in the pathologically altered human prostate.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The biotechnological potential and design of novel carotenoids by gene combination in Escherichia coli.

Carotenoids are antioxidants with considerable pharmaceutical potential. More than 600 carotenoid structures are known but their availability is limited owing to practical difficulties associated with chemical synthesis and isolation from microorganisms or plant tissue. To overcome some of these problems, heterologous expression of carotenoid genes in Escherichia coli can be used for the synthesis of rare derivatives or even of novel carotenoids. Novel and rare carotenoids can be obtained by combining carotenoid genes from different host species in E. coli.

Carotenoids↗
PubMed1999

Vaporized perfluorocarbon improves oxygenation and pulmonary function in an ovine model of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Perfluorocarbon liquids are being used experimentally and in clinical trials for the treatment of acute lung injury. Their resemblance to inhaled anesthetic agents suggests the possibility of application by vaporization. The authors' aim was to develop the technical means for perfluorocarbon vaporization and to investigate its effects on gas exchange and lung function in an ovine model of oleic acid-induced lung injury. METHODS: Two vaporizers were calibrated for perfluorohexane and connected sequentially in the inspiratory limb of a conventional anesthetic machine. Twenty sheep were ventilated in a volume controlled mode at an inspired oxygen fraction of 1.0. Lung injury was induced by intravenous injection of 0.1 ml oleic acid per kilogram body weight. Ten sheep were treated with vaporized perfluorohexane for 30 min and followed for 2 h; 10 sheep served as controls. Measurements of blood gases and respiratory and hemodynamic parameters were obtained at regular intervals. RESULTS: Vaporization of perfluorohexane significantly increased arterial oxygen tension 30 min after the end of treatment (P < 0.01). At 2 h after treatment the oxygen tension was 376+/-182 mmHg (mean +/- SD). Peak inspiratory pressures (P < 0.01) and compliance (P < 0.01) were significantly reduced from the end of the treatment interval onward. CONCLUSION: Vaporization is a new application technique for perfluorocarbon that significantly improved oxygenation and pulmonary function in oleic acid-induced lung injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Effects of a bisphosphonate on bone histomorphometry and dynamics in the canine cruciate deficiency model of osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of the bisphosphonate NE- 10035 on bone histomorphometry and bone dynamics in dogs after transection of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and to determine, in a placebo controlled trial, whether treatment modified the severity of pathologic changes of osteoarthritis (OA) in the unstable joint. METHODS: Ten adult male mongrel dogs underwent ipsilateral ACL transection. Five dogs then received daily subcutaneous injections of NE-10035 on 5 days per week for 12 weeks beginning the day after surgery. The other 5 dogs served as concurrent OA controls and received subcutaneous injections of saline on the same schedule. At sacrifice, 12 weeks after ACL transection, the articular cartilage and synovium of both knees of each dog were evaluated grossly and histologically and the water content and uronic acid concentration of the articular cartilage was determined. Fifteen days before sacrifice, each dog was injected with the fluorochrome label calcein. The injection regimen was repeated 10 days after the initial date. At sacrifice, static and dynamic variables of bone formation were assessed and bone resorption was quantified. RESULTS: In the OA knee of the control group, bone formation and resorption were markedly increased. NE-10035 markedly reduced both formation and resorption of cancellous subchondral bone, but had no effect on osteophyte formation or pathologic changes of OA in the articular cartilage, which were mild in both treatment groups. Water content of the OA cartilage was increased by about 8% in both treatment groups. However, among the controls, the mean uronic acid concentration of the OA cartilage was increased by about 30% in comparison with values for the contralateral knee, while in the NE-10035 treatment group the mean uronic acid concentration of OA knee cartilage was about 15% lower in the active treatment group than in cartilage from the contralateral knee (p = 0.003 for the difference in OA knee uronic acid concentration between the 2 treatment groups, relative to that in the contralateral knee). CONCLUSION: The antiresorptive agent employed in this study effectively reduced turnover of subchondral bone in the OA joint, consistent with the coupling of bone formation to bone resorption at that site. Nonetheless, over the 12 week period of the study it had no effect on osteophyte formation, in which bone formation occurs via enchondral ossification and is not linked to bone resorption, and, despite the clear inhibition of bone turnover in the OA knee of the active treatment group, did not affect the severity of cartilage changes of OA. It should be noted, however, that although treatment with this antiresorptive agent did not affect the level of chondropathy, the cartilage changes in both treatment groups were relatively mild and the sample size relatively small. Additional studies with a larger number of animals and a longer period of observation (to increase the severity of pathology) are warranted to determine whether the inhibition of bone turnover and the decrease in proteoglycan concentration that resulted from therapy will affect articular cartilage degeneration in the OA joint.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[High-flow priapism following blunt perineal trauma. Interventional therapy].

A 10-year old boy developed an arteriocavernosal fistula with a permanent penile erection (high-flow priapism) after a blunt perineal trauma. The diagnosis was established by Doppler ultrasound, blood gas analysis and angiography. A conservative treatment attempt with penile cooling and puncture of the cavernosal corpera with blood aspiration and etilefrine instillation failed to resolve the priapism. An embolization of both bulbocavernosal arteries was followed by an immediate detumescence. Normal functional erection was preserved. No recurrence was observed during a follow-up of 6 months.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1998

Legionella bozemanii pneumonia in three patients with AIDS.

Legionella bozemanii is known to cause pneumonia often in immunocompromised hosts. To our knowledge, we describe the first three cases of L. bozemanii pneumonia in patients with AIDS. At the time of presentation, these patients had varied histories, physical findings, and radiological findings. All three patients had a uniformly excellent response to treatment despite receiving different antibiotic regimens. The cases illustrate the need for thorough diagnostic workups and prompt institution of antibiotic therapy when clinical suspicion for L. bozemanii infection is high.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1998

The relationship between isokinetic quadriceps strength test and hop tests for distance and one-legged vertical jump test following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Isokinetic measurements and functional tests are often used to assess function following knee ligament reconstruction using the opposite limb as a control. However, the question of whether the uninvolved leg may serve as a reference on functional tests has not been adequately answered. In particular, the one-legged rebound vertical jump has not been used to assess functional levels following surgery of the cruciate ligament. The purposes of this study were: 1) to determine whether the uninvolved leg is within normal range of an age- and weight-matched group, 2) to determine differences between the involved and uninvolved leg in patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, 3) to examine the relationship between knee extensor strength and four functional performance tests, and 4) to determine if the one-legged rebound vertical jump yields more information in the assessment of knee function than the other functional tests with respect to two time-frames. Fifty healthy subjects (group A, mean age = 28.1 years) and 55 anterior cruciate ligament patients (groups B and C) participated in dynamometric measurement, one-legged and two-legged vertical jump, and the single- and the triple-hop test. Mean time for testing was 13 weeks following surgery for group B (N = 30, mean age = 27.8 years) and 54 weeks following surgery for group C (N = 25, mean age = 29.9 years). Pearson product moment correlation coefficients between peak torque and single and triple hop were r = .45, r = .48, r = .51, and r = .55 for groups B and C, respectively. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients between peak torque and the height of the vertical jump was r = .51 for group C. Results for group A revealed limb symmetry indices of 95% or more on all functional performance and isokinetic tests. In group B, all patients showed a limb symmetry index of less than 85% on all tests. In group C, the index for the vertical jump was the only functional test that fell below the level of 85%. Regardless of whether the dominant or nondominant leg is involved, the uninvolved leg can be used adequately as a reference guide for outcome from rehabilitation using these measurements. The one-legged vertical jump test is capable of detecting functional limitations of the lower limb following knee ligament reconstruction up to 54 weeks postoperatively.

Adult↗