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Biomedical subjects

M Barba

Publications and source records attributed to M Barba.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Neuroprotection by complement (C1) inhibitor in mouse transient brain ischemia.

The authors investigated the effect of the C1 inhibitor (C1-INH), the only known inhibitor of complement C1, in a murine model of transient focal ischemia. Ischemia was induced by intraluminal occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. After 2 hours, reperfusion was produced by removing the nylon monofilament occluding the artery. The effect of 15 U C1-INH (intravenously) was evaluated in terms of general and focal neurologic deficits, ischemic volume, neutral red staining (to identify the brain areas subject to ischemic damage), and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity (to show astrocytic response). Forty-eight hours after ischemia, C1-INH significantly improved general and focal deficits by 36% and 54%, respectively, and significantly reduced infarct volume (CI-INH, 6.69% +/- 2.93%; saline, 24.24% +/- 8.24%) of total brain. Neutral red staining further showed the strong protective effect of C1-INH in cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. Astrocyte activation induced by ischemia was not affected by C1-INH. These findings show that C1-INH displayed a potent neuroprotective action by effectively reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Coagulating intermittent cutting. Improved high-frequency surgery in transurethral prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) is the gold standard in surgical therapy of symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction. TURP is characterised by immediate treatment success, due to the removal of obstruction combined with a long-lasting improvement of symptoms and voiding parameters. In spite of good long-term results of TURP, intraoperative blood loss produces morbidity. We investigated a blood-sparing cut using a new high-frequency technology. METHODS: (1) A standard high frequency generator was extended in its function by additional electronics. (2) The possibility of a blood-sparing cut using 'coagulating intermittent cutting' (CIC cocut BMP) was quantified ex vivo using a blood-perfused porcine kidney. Four cuts next to each other were performed through the parenchyma using a standard resectoscope with a standard loop. This was done with a commercially available generator and CIC cocut BMP. The blood loss was determined semiqantitatively. RESULTS: (1) In a first step 'coagulating cutting' with coagulating and cutting periods (10/94-- 08/96) was developed. During each cut, phases with predominant cutting effect alternate with coagulating phases of defined duration. As a disadvantage, operation time increased due to lower cutting speed. In a second step cutting combined with coagulation effect with high voltage pulses -- 'coagulating intermittent cutting' (08/96--06/97) -- was developed. In this technique, the output signal consists of a pulse-modulated sinusoidal voltage with high amplitudes. But gas bubbles impaired vision. This finally resulted in the 'coagulating intermittent cutting' with constant voltage pulses and control of pulse intervals (CIC cocut BMP, since 07/97 up to now). (2) Comparing the function of the high-frequency generators in vitro, the Wilcoxon test for paired samples revealed a significant reduction of the observed bleeding with the CIC cocut BMP (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: 'Coagulating intermittent cutting' improves the gold standard of TURP with reduced blood loss. The procedure is feasible with a standard resection equipment. The already trained surgeon has no further learning cure, and teaching of classical TURP is maintained.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Coagulating intermittent cutting: improved high-frequency surgery in transurethral prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: Despite the good long-term results of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), intraoperative blood loss and TUR syndrome produce morbidity. Thus, TURP is still considered invasive therapy. Many minor invasive alternative treatment modalities have been developed in recent years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To minimize the risk of bleeding, we have improved on the high-frequency technology. The output signals of commercially available high-frequency generators were modulated such that each cut results in an efficient coagulation zone in the tissue with excellent cutting quality. RESULTS: Laboratory and in vitro studies using porcine kidneys as well as clinical trials showed good cutting characteristics accompanied by a significant reduction of bleeding. As a result, blood transfusions were less necessary, TUR syndrome occurred less often, the indwelling catheter could be removed earlier in the postoperative period, and hospitalization time was reduced. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that this improved high-frequency technology, termed coagulating intermittent cutting, results in blood-sparing tissue resection and reduction of morbidity.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

New technologies in transurethral resection of the prostate.

Different ablative treatments are in clinical use to lower perioperative morbidity and to maintain efficacy of transurethral resection of the prostate. Modifications to electrodes or high frequency units, or both, as well as improvements in laser technology have been tried. Transurethral resection is performed with a modified high frequency generator. The technique of 'coagulating intermittent cutting' allows reduction in morbidity and maintains the advantages of classical transurethral resection.

Humans↗
PubMed1999

[Coagulating intermittent cutting. Improved high-frequency surgery in transurethral prostatectomy].

In spite of the high and lasting efficiency of transurethral prostatectomy, intraoperative blood loss results in increased morbidity in this procedure. This led to the development of many alternative treatment modalities in the last years. To minimize the risk of bleeding, we improved the high-frequency technology in several steps. To achieve this, the output signals of commercially available high-frequency generators were modulated to the effect that each cut results in an efficient coagulation zone in the tissue at excellent cutting quality. Laboratory and in vitro studies using porcine kidneys as well as clinical trials showed good cutting characteristics accompanied by a significant reduction of bleeding. As a result, blood transfusions were less necessary, the transurethral catheter could be removed earlier in the postoperative period, and hospitalization time was significantly reduced. In conclusion, the improved high-frequency technology in form of the "coagulating intermittent cutting" results in a blood-sparing tissue resection with a consecutive reduction of morbidity.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Bypass fixation.

Hip replacement has been a great achievement of orthopaedic surgery as it reliably abolishes pain and restores function. The success of this operation has lead to its use not only in the elderly, but increasingly, in the higher demand that younger patients whose life expectancy is longer than the longevity of the prostheses used to date. Thus, we are seeing a growing number of patients who require a first or even repeat revision surgery, which is often complex and technically demanding.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of different methods of RNA isolation for plum pox virus detection by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

The diagnosis of plum pox virus (PPV) is still considered one of the most important aspects of the "sharka" problem. In fact, different studies demonstrated an uneven distribution of the virus in infected trees due to a high variability in virus concentration. These aspects complicate the PPV diagnosis. To date, biological, serological and molecular assays have been successively developed in order to obtain sensitive and efficient PPV detection techniques. In particular, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique seems to be promising and can be considered the most sensitive and reliable one. Preparation of viral RNA is still a fundamental step in reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) technique, especially when applied to large scale testing, i.e., for certification purposes. In order to find the most rapid and efficient procedure, we have compared three different procedures of extraction of viral RNA to be processed RT-PCR. Their common characteristics is their capacity to extract the RNA from a small amount of plant tissue without organic solvents in the extraction fluid. The procedures were as follows: an immuno-capture (IC) method using a specific antiserum, a silica-capture (SC) method using a non-specific matrix, and a simple and rapid RNA extraction (RE) method. They all were followed by one-tube RT-PCR. The obtained results show that all the three techniques allowed a successful amplification and detection of PPV in tested samples except the SC-PCR method which proved less effective. In fact, the IC-PCR and RE-PCR methods amplified and detected PPV in all isolates tested, while the SC-PCR method was able to reveal the presence of the virus in apricot and infected control samples only.

Fruit↗
PubMed1998

Detection of plum pox virus in apricot seeds.

Twelve different apricot selection trees from a germplasm collection naturally infected with plum pox virus (PPV) were chosen to investigate the role of seeds in the epidemiology of this dangerous pathogen. All the considered plants showed typical symptoms on leaves and fruits and were positive in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The virus was characterized by immunocapture reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (IC-RT-PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with RsaI enzyme as a PPV-D isolate. The presence of PPV was checked on fully ripe seeds and seedlings. One half of the seed stock was analysed immediately by ELISA and IC-RT-PCR tests: the cotyledons containing also the embryo were separated from the teguments. The other half of the seed stock was germinated and maintained in an insect-proof screenhouse over a 2-year period. PPV was detected by ELISA only in the seed coat while by IC-RT-PCR also in cotyledons. Seedlings from infected seeds did not show any typical symptoms and were PPV-negative in serological and molecular assays. So far, the presence of PPV in seeds seems to play no role in its epidemiology.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1993

[Experiences with the Stamm gastrostomy in children].

This paper is a retrospective analysis of 280 children, who were treated with a gastrostomy by the technique of Stamm in the Pediatric Surgical Clinic at Dr. v. Haunersches Kinderspital of the University of Munich from 1st January 1978 until 31st December 1989. Points of interest were epidemiological data such as the age and the original illness of the patients and the duration of gastrostomy. In 229 children the gastrostomy was performed within the first week of life. The most frequent indication was the diagnosis of an esophageal atresia in 80 cases. 94 of the patients had further malformations, in 30% as a syndrome. In 50% of all cases the gastrostomy could be removed within 40 days after operation, in further 40% between the 40. and 90. postoperative day and in the last 10% later. Heavy complications could be diagnosed in 2.9% without any mortality, easy complications in 10%.

Child, Preschool↗