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Biomedical subjects

M Bauer

Publications and source records attributed to M Bauer.

683 records · Page 38Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Pamidronate and calcitonin as therapy of acute cancer-related hypercalcemia in children.

Severe symptomatic hypercalcemia is a rare event in children with malignancies. Up to now there is limited experience treating childhood hypercalcemia with bisphosphonates in addition to calcitonin. We report a 5-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic lymphoma who presented with malignant hypercalcemia at diagnosis. The maximal serum calcium concentration was 15.2 mg/dl (3.81 mmol/l). Conventional therapy with forced diuresis and furosemide failed. Calcitonin (10 IU/kg/24 h i.v. for 2 days) and pamidronate (1 mg/kg over 2 hours i.v.) were used successfully without adverse effect lowering the serum calcium level within 24 hours to normal values. We recommend the use of calcitonin and pamidronate as first-line therapy together with forced diuresis and furosemide in childhood hypercalcemia secondary to malignancies as it is rapidly effective and has no significant side effects.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Quality of life assessment in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): German version of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ-D; disease-specific instrument for quality of life assessment) -- first application and comparison with international investigations].

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome-parameter in health research and care. The aim of the working group Quality of Life in the Competence Network Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD; in the original German: "Kompetenznetz chronisch entzündliche Darmerkrankungen") is to generate instruments for assessment of HRQOL and its implementation as standards in clinical trials, health care and research in IBD. METHODS: The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) is an international validated disease specific instrument for HRQOL-assessment. A German version of the IBDQ was elaborated and tested in 415 outpatients with Crohn's disease (CD, n = 306) and ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 109). The aim of the study was to compare the results of HRQOL-assessment (IBDQ-D) with international investigations, to correlate HRQOL results with disease activity and to preform a pretest of psychometric properties. RESULTS: International data suggest that the IBDQ-D is a suitable instrument for HRQOL-assessment in CD and UC. For both disease a statistically significant negative correlation with disease activity was found. Tested psychometric properties do not suggest that a revision of the IBDQ-D is required. The IBDQ-D offers the HRQOL-assessment as an primary or secondary outcome in clinical trials in IBD in Germany.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Measuring vibrations of transport stress in premature and newborn infants during incubator transport].

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing numbers of centers for perinatology, transportation of newborns and premature infants can not totally be avoided for several obvious reasons. The following investigations were carried out as part of our quality control measures of the established neonatal transportation system, and were aimed on the optimization of a new neonatal transportation equipment resulting in reduction of transportation stress caused by acceleration forces. METHOD: The new system investigated consisted of a Volkswagen type T4 equipped with a Dräger incubator type 5400, which was mounted on a pneumatic patient lift. We measured acceleration forces in three axes (expressed as K-Wert) as well as over a spectrum of frequencies (1-80 Hz). Measurements were taken at different points of the transportation unit during simulated transports driving a predetermined route. After obtaining informed consent of the parents, one actual transport of a newborn was used for an additional point measurement at the newborn's head. RESULTS: The mean K-Wert was decreased by about 50% in the vertical axis between the chassis of the car and the incubator by activating the pneumatic patient lift. Without activating the lift the K-Wert increased by about 20% between the car's chassis and the incubator. The frequency analysis showed resonance effects between the different components of the system. However, by activating the patient lift, effective accelerations in the incubator were decreased to less than 0.1 m/s2 across the whole frequency spectrum evaluated. The single measurement at a newborn's head revealed similar acceleration forces at the head of the baby and under its head. CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of a pneumatic patient lift can reduce acceleration forces. However, our results show that each system (car, incubator, and its base) has to be investigated and optimized for this purpose as a unit. Optimization of the complete system is necessary not only before its primary use but also in regular intervals over the years. Sometimes, further improvements can be reached with minor modifications such as the exchange of worn out rubber buffers.

Acceleration↗
PubMedDate not supplied

MR imaging of the oropharynx and tongue: comparison of plain and Gd-DTPA studies.

The effect of intravenously administered gadolinium-diethylene-triamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) on signal intensity in comparison to plain noncontrast imaging was analyzed. Sixty-one patients with diseases of the oropharynx and tongue base were examined using multiplanar magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The contrast medium Gd-DTPA was administered in 26 cases. Thirty-eight patients also underwent CT. Forty-one patients had surgery and pathological verification. Plain MR imaging was equal or superior to CT in all except one patient. Marked contrast enhancement produced by Gd-DTPA was observed in carcinomas, sarcomas, inflamed salivary glands, and in normal pharyngeal mucosa. The usefulness of Gd-DTPA may be increased by measuring the enhancement in signal intensity versus time to allow a better differentiation of histological features.

Gadolinium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reverse saphenous conduit flap in cats: an anatomic study.

The vascular anatomy of the reverse saphenous conduit flap in cats was defined by contrast radiography of both hindlimbs of 18 feline cadaver specimens. In all 36 flaps, flow of contrast medium from the femoral artery to the distal end of the flap was documented. Direct anastomosis of the superficial branch of the cranial tibial artery with the cranial branch of the saphenous artery and communication of the caudal branch of the saphenous artery with the perforating metatarsal artery, via the medial and lateral plantar arteries, was documented. The cranial branch of the medial saphenous vein was shown to anastomose with the cranial branch of the lateral saphenous vein. The presence of these anastomoses support the feasibility of the reverse saphenous conduit flap as an option for reconstruction of wounds of the metatarsus in cats.

Angiography↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oncogenic potential of c-erbB-2 and its association with c-K-ras in premalignant and malignant lesions of the human uterine endometrium.

The aim of this study was to detect activated c-K-ras by gene point mutation and to find c-erbB-2 gene amplification with p185 expression in association with the c-K-ras gene product p21 in the human endometrium. Specimens obtained from 25 normal, 31 hyperplastic and 72 malignant samples of the human endometrium were examined for point mutation in codons 12, 13 and 61 of the c-K-ras by direct sequencing and c-erbB-2 gene amplification with p185 and p21 expression by differential polymerase chain reaction (DPCR) and immunohistochemistry. Neither the normal endometrium nor endometrial hyperplasias were found to have mutations in the c-K-ras gene, although a double mutation of codons 12 and 13 as a single-point mutation was observed in one case of endometrioid carcinoma (2.8%). In each of two other cases of endometrioid carcinoma (2/72), two single-point mutations of codon 13 (5.6%) were shown. Using DPCR, we found c-erbB-2 to be amplified in 15 premalignant (48%) and 45 malignant (63%) samples. We noticed that nonamplification of the c-erbB-2 gene was associated with the absence of immunoreactivity. Our data indicate that, while c-erbB-2 plays a role in the early development of endometrioid carcinomas, c-K-ras gene activation by point mutation does not.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A new method for collecting urine directly from the ureter in conscious unrestrained rats.

We have developed a new method for urine collection in conscious, unrestrained rats through a chronic indwelling ureteral catheter, which allows direct differential sampling of small urine fractions over periods as small as 1 min. The technique was validated in intact and unilaterally nephrectomized rats by cumulative intravenous saline loading. Comparison of kidney with ureter catheter and contralateral kidney (urine collection from the bladder) revealed no differences in glomerular filtration rate and urine production between both kidneys. One week after catheter implantation in unilaterally nephrectomized rats, signs of renal functional disturbance as assessed by glomerular filtration rate, urine concentrating capacity after 24 h water deprivation, and plasma and urinary urea concentrations before and after water deprivation were not detected. Our technique provides a novel tool for direct measurements of short-term changes in urine composition in conscious animals.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fibrosis of liver, pancreas and intestine: common mechanisms and clear targets?

Chronic diseases of the liver, pancreas, intestine, kidneys, skin and lungs are usually accompanied by scarring. Loss of organ function is often progressive despite the use of immunosuppressive, antiviral or antiinflammatory agents. Therefore, well tolerated antifibrotic therapies are urgently needed. The targets for such therapies are activated mesenchymal cells that synthesize an excess of matrix proteins and resemble the myofibroblasts of healing wounds. These cells derive from normally quiescent fibroblasts or smooth muscle cells and from stellate cells of liver and pancreas. Their activation is triggered and maintained by mechanical stress and several fibrogenic modulators and cytokines. Some agents inhibit myofibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis in vitro, but only few of them are effective in vivo. Potential antifibrotic drugs have been tested mainly in models of liver fibrosis. In the suitable rat model of biliary fibrosis, an antifibrotic effect was demonstrated for silymarin, a defined mixture of flavonoids, and to a lesser degree for pentoxifylline. A spin-off of the large multicenter trials for hepatitis C is the finding that interferon-alpha given for 6-12 months may halt or reverse fibrosis, even in virological non-responders. This has to be proven in prospective randomized trials. Specific inhibitors of the endothelin-A-receptor which are orally available can suppress liver collagen accumulation by 40-60%. Other strategies aim at inhibition of the profibrogenic cytokines TGF-beta or connective tissue growth factor. Effective drug targeting to the fibrogenic liver cells is now possible by use of cyclic peptides that bind to receptors which are specifically upregulated on activated stellate cells. Blockade of such activation receptors can induce stress-relaxation which reverts the fibrogenic cells to a fibrolytic, collagen degrading phenotype. Fibrosis has been discovered as a novel target for the pharmaceutical industry. This implies the use of combinatorial chemistry and an automatized screening machinery, greatly speeding up the design and selection of specific antifibrotic agents. Combined with the rapidly evolving validation of serological markers of fibrogenesis and fibrolysis unforeseen progress in the treatment of organ fibrosis can be expected.

Fibrosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A CD-ROM tutorial for physical examination.

In 1998 the Committee for University Teaching and Staff Development (CUTSD) awarded a grant of $47,975 to develop an interactive CD-ROM tutorial program to facilitate teaching the process of physical examination of the abdomen, lungs and thorax, to students of nursing. This program was developed to complement current teaching methods and make it possible for tutors to use the available class time to further address students' individual learning needs. It was developed to enable flexible delivery of content, to provide a front seat view of the demonstration of the procedures, and simulated practice opportunities in the safety and privacy of computer simulation. The program was not intended to replace hands-on practice as this learning medium does not address the kinaesthetic component of performing physical examination but it is expected to hasten the development of confidence in practice by strengthening the user's knowledge of the techniques and the sequence of physical examination. Through providing the opportunity to elicit inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation examination findings in the context of 10 case studies of patients with health problems, it is also expected to facilitate recognition of abnormalities and their significance for health care students who have little clinical experience. The program has been evaluated by senior nursing students for technical problems, effectiveness as a learning aid and user friendliness. Over all, 92% (n=38) of the students considered that the program assisted them to learn physical examination of the abdomen, thorax and lungs and 95% were satisfied with the quality of the product and found that the sounds and images helped their understanding. The content of the program was considered to be logically sequenced, to have assisted understanding, and the case studies were a valuable learning aid. The evaluation data from this trial also indicates that students would like to learn about physical examination of other body systems using this medium.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of total fat in foods and feeds by the caviezel method, based on a gas chromatographic technique.

This peer-verified method specifies a fast, easy, and reliable quantitative method to determine total fat in foods and feeds in compliance with the new definition of fat from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The method takes into consideration all fatty acids, from C4 to C24, and when fat is present at 0.3-100%. The validation study included 9 matrixes, with fat levels ranging from 1 to 79%. Sample and internal standard (IS; tridecanoic acid) are added to solvent (n-butyl alcohol). Fat is extracted and simultaneously saponified by potassium hydroxide. The fatty acid potassium salts are converted to fatty acids by adding an acidic aqueous salt solution, which produces a 2-phase system. The upper phase, containing the fatty acids and IS, is injected into the fat determination system. After gas chromatographic separation, the fat content is calculated from IS and fatty acid peak areas. The fat content is automatically converted to triglyceride content with a pre-determined factor. Ten replicates of 9 different food samples, which cover the whole range of different contents in fat, proteins, and carbohydrates, were analyzed by the submitting and the peer laboratories. Repeatability relative standard deviation (RSDr) values ranged from 0.47 to 4.62%. Reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) values ranged from 0.85 to 9.52%. These estimates include between-run variability. The method shows good accuracy. Values for standard reference materials (SRMs) are in agreement with certified values. Regression analysis of the correlation between observed fat and certified value over all matrixes and fat levels indicated good precision and absence of method bias (5 SRMs; 1-30% fat; correlation coefficient, R2 = 99.98%).

Animal Feed↗