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Biomedical subjects

M Berger

Publications and source records attributed to M Berger.

At least 847 records · Page 47Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

High-dose immunoglobulin replacement therapy by slow subcutaneous infusion during pregnancy.

The slow, subcutaneous infusion method of immune human serum globulin replacement was used during pregnancy in a woman with common common variable immunodeficiency and splenectomy. Since this method allows high doses of immune human serum globulin to be given with little pain or morbidity, as much as 20 mL/day of immune human serum globulin was tolerated, normal serum IgG levels, were maintained, and the patient was free from serious infection throughout her pregnancy. The infant also had a normal IgG level at birth and had no evidence of intrauterine infection. This may be a preferable route of immune human serum globulin administration, especially during pregnancy and in other situations where high-dose therapy is advantageous.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Queueing and patient flow at a Soweto polyclinic.

We studied all 265 adult patients who came to a Soweto polyclinic on 18 March 1980. The objectives were: (i) to determine the flow of patients and the time spent in the polyclinic; (ii) to use computer models to predict the effects of altering numbers of staff and/or the introduction of an appointment system; and (iii) to elicit information relating to the feasibility of introducing an appointment system. The results show that of the 265 patients, 80% arrived before 10h00 and 1% arrived after 13h00. Forty-one per cent of these patients waited in 5 or more queues. Of the 245 patients for whom the amount of time spent in the clinic was available the mean time spent in the clinic was 171 minutes, with a range of 16 - 375 minutes. The mean time spent receiving attention was 24 minutes. IBM's GPSS/360 programme was not found to be useful for running computer-simulated flow models. Of 241 patients who returned questionnaires, 65% said they would like the introduction of an appointment system and 70% would be able to make appointments relatively easily. An appointment system might considerably reduce time being wasted. The practicalities of such a system in terms of the functioning of the clinic must still be carefully investigated. We suggest that a feasible appointment system be introduced and its effect on patient satisfaction and flow carefully monitored.

Appointments and Schedules↗
PubMed1982

[Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion brings about normal blood sugar in type I diabetes mellitus despite relaxing of diet instructions].

In 6 normal weight juvenile diabetic patients treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) we have investigated whether the restrictive management of the diabetes diet could be relaxed. On 2-3 days of a 4 week period the patients ate a) a conventional diabetes diet consisting of 3 main meals and in-between snacks of a prescribed carbohydrate content or b) a liberal diabetes diet in which the patients could choose the number of meals and carbohydrate contents. With both diets, mean blood glucose levels during the day were in normal range (96 +/- 3 and 101 +/- mg/dl, mean +/- SEM). On the liberal diet meal frequency and carbohydrate intake per day were significantly lower, the carbohydrate content per meal significantly larger when compared with the conventional diabetes diet. There was not difference in insulin requirements per day (basal rate plus premeal dosage). All the patients preferred the liberal diet. CSII allowed juvenile diabetic patients a more liberal management of their diabetes diet without negative effects on blood glucose control. Hence CSII improved the quality of life in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Personality development and temperament.

This paper identifies a number of problems that emerge in our attempts to trace a developmental linkage between early-appearing individual differences in temperament and later personality. It is suggested that the major problem is that of inadequate theory, from which it follows that there will be problems of definition and methodology. Attention is also drawn to difficulties associated with the concept of 'development'. Certain early-appearing individual difference are identified, for which there is accumulating evidence of a genetic or constitutional basis. Further, these appear to show some stability and are accorded an important role in a number of theories, especially that of Eysenck. It is suggested that his approach, despite its many limitations, is worth further exploration.

Extraversion, Psychological↗
PubMed1982

Treadmill training improves intravenous glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in fatty Zucker rats.

The effect of treadmill training on intravenous glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity was investigated in Zucker rats (fafa). In 25-week-old fafa animals with the typical metabolic syndrome of massive obesity, glucose intolerance, hypertriglyceridaemia and insulin resistance, treadmill exercise of only very mild intensity was carried out for 6 weeks. The training programme induced a marked reduction in basal and post-glucose challenge plasma insulin levels and a slight but significant improvement of intravenous glucose tolerance. No alteration in insulin sensitivity of the isolated perfused hindquarter was demonstrable. In another study a 9-week training programme was started in 7-week-old fafa rats before the development of their metabolic syndrome. In the sedentary control animals glucose intolerance and insulin resistance developed during the study period; in the training group, both the deterioration of glucose tolerance and the decrease of insulin sensitivity were prevented. This study demonstrates in fafa rats that (a) in young animals physical training may prevent a genetically predisposed deterioration of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity and (b) in adult animals mild physical training may improve intravenous glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in sexual ducts and genital tubercle of rabbit fetuses during sexual organogenesis: effects of fetal decapitation.

Testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) have been measured in the plasma, sexual ducts and genital tubercle in rabbit fetuses of both sexes during sexual organogenesis. T and DHT were also measured in decapitated male fetuses. In male, T appeared successively in testes (day 19), mesonephros (day 20) and Wolffian ducts (day 22). In sexual ducts, T levels increased from 20 to 25 days, then stabilized until birth. Since DHT was measurable, in sexual ducts of males only from 24 days onwards, T itself is the active hormone on the differentiation of Wolffian ducts. In female fetuses, T and DHT were undetectable, in sexual ducts, at any gestational age. In the genital tubercle T was undetectable in both sexes. In the genital tubercle of males DHT levels increased from 19 to 25 days, then stabilized. In female fetuses, DHT was episodically measurable in the genital tubercle but at levels always lower than in males. DHT is the active hormone on the differentiation of genital tubercle. In male decapitated fetuses T and DHT levels were reduced in sexual ducts and genital tubercle but the differences were not significant.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Biotinylation of human C3.

Purified human C3 was biotinylated using the biotinyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide imidoester (BNHS). Depending on the input of BNHS, from three to six molecules of biotin were incorporated per C3 molecule. The biotinyl-C3 retained over 90% of its specific hemolytic activity and when bound to sheep erythrocytes maintained its ability to adhere to human C3b receptors. These functions could be blocked by avidin. The biotinyl-C3 was fragmented normally to C3c and C3d in human serum and adsorption with avidin-Sepharose indicated that biotin moities were present in both fragments. Fluorescein-conjugated avidin reacted well with cell-bound biotinyl-C3b and was useful for quantitating C3 fixation by flow cytometry. Ferritin-conjugated avidin was used as a marker to characterize the distribution of biotinyl-C3b on erythrocytes by electron microscopy. These results suggest that biotinyl-C3 and avidin derivatives may be very useful tools for studies of many of the biological functions of C3.

Avidin↗
PubMed1982

[Nicergoline and steal effect in favor of zones of hypoperfusion in cerebral ischemic accidents].

Hemispheric and regional variations of cerebral blood flow (CBF) were studied with the Xenon inhalation technique on 19 patients suffering from cerebral infarcts before and at the end of a 10 mg 'alpha-blocking' Nicergoline perfusion. CBF dynamic images and calculations were performed with a gamma computerized camera. No significant hemispheric CBF modification has been noted after Nicergoline perfusion (30.2 +/- 4.5 ml/min/100 g before perfusion and 31 +/- 5.6 ml/min/100 g at the end of perfusion) but, at the end of perfusion, we noticed a CBF increase on the more ischemic areas (25.7 +/- 5.6 ml/min/100 g before and 29.9 +/- 6.8 ml/min/100 g after). This variation depends on the patients (from +67% to -22%). The more ischemic areas are those with the more important CBF increase. This 'inverse steel effect' is comparable to the effect described by other authors for Vincamine or Piracetam.

Cerebral Infarction↗
PubMed1982

Effect of preweaning undernutrition on testicular development in male mice.

Testicular development was evaluated in male mice subjected to undernutrition from birth to weaning (20 days) by separating pups from their mothers. Underfed and normally fed animals were sacrificed every 10 days from 20 to 60 days. From 20 to 60 days, body and testes weights were significantly lower in underfed males. In undernourished males, the establishment of spermatogenesis and the appearance of mature Leydig cells were delayed. The maximal production of testosterone by the testis of underfed males occurred later and was 50% lower than that of controls. The data shows that despite the hypoandrogenic state induced by undernutrition, puberty occurred and spermatogenesis was preserved.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

The effect of preweaning undernutrition upon the sexual development of male mice.

Sexual maturation was evaluated in male mice subjected to preweaning undernutrition by separating pups from their mothers. Underfed and normally fed males were sacrificed at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days of age. From 20 to 60 days, body and organ weights (testes, seminal vesicle) were lower in underfed males. Plasma testosterone levels were lowered in undernourished males at 20 and 30 days of age, and thereafter they were not significantly different from controls. First fertile matings, which occurred between 36 and 46 days (mean age: 40.6 +/- 0.6) in controls, were delayed in underfed males and occurred between 42 and 58 days (mean age: 48 +/- 1.7). The mean body weight, at the time of first fertile matings, was significantly different in controls (29.5 +/- 0.5 g, range 25.9-32.4) and in undernourished males (24.3 +/- 0.3 g, range: 22.0-25.6). Testicular weight and plasma testosterone concentrations were also significantly lower in underfed males, at the time of first fertile matings. The data lead to the conclusion that puberty did not occur at the same body weight in normal and undernourished male mice.

Aging↗
PubMed1982

Disappearance of echocardiographic mitral valve prolapse during ventricular pacing with retrograde artial activation.

M-mode echocardiography in a 68-year-old man with a permanent transvenous pacemaker revealed intermittent mitral valve prolapse. The mitral valve prolapse was present during normal sinus rhythm as well as during pacemaker beats either preceded by or not associated with any P wave activity. During pacemaker beats followed by retrograde P waves, the mitral valve prolapse was no longer seen. It is postulated that atrial contraction during ventricular systole produced a rise in left atrial pressure and prevented the mitral valve leaflets from prolapsing into the left atrium.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in plasma of rabbit from birth to adulthood. Correlation with sexual and behavioural development.

Plasma testosterone, LH and FSH levels were determined and correlated with reproductive organs growth, testicular differentiation, fighting and mounting behaviour in maturing rabbit. An infantile phase of development extends from birth to 40 days, characterized by low testosterone and FSH levels, decreasing LH levels (until 20 days) and by a slow growth of testis and seminal vesicle. The peripubertal phase starts abruptly around day 40. It is marked by simultaneous events: the appearance of mature Leydig cells in the testis, a striking increase in testosterone and FSH levels, a small rise in LH levels and an acceleration of testicular growth. The phase of rapid growth of seminal vesicle and the first meiotic divisions start around day 70, in presence of high circulating levels of FSH and testosterone. Fighting (3 months) and mounting behaviour (146 +/- 13 days) occur lately after a long period of high circulating testosterone levels.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Age-related changes in the feedback regulation of gonadotrophin secretion in the immature and adult male rabbit.

Male rabbits were castrated at infantile (30 days), peripubertal (60 days) and adult (7-8 months) stages. Two different doses of testosterone were injected 10 days after castration (5 injections at 12 h intervals). Plasma LH and FSH were determined by RIA 1, 5 and 10 days after castration and 1 h after the last injection of testosterone. The response of both gonadotrophins to castration was age-dependent. In 30 day old castrated males LH was not significantly modified and FSH had increased only 10 days after castration. In 60 day old and adult males FSH and LH levels were increased 24 h after castration and continued to rise as time progressed. For both gonadotrophins, the response of adult males to castration was higher than that of immature animals. At all stages studied, the highest dose of testosterone (250 micrograms/kg body weight) depressed post-castration LH and FSH levels. Twenty-five micrograms of testosterone per kg body weight was effective to depress LH levels only in 30 day old males, suggesting a change in the hypothalamic-pituitary unit to te negative feedback of androgens. These findings suggest that there are marked changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary unit around the beginning of the peripubertal state. These changes could play a determinant role in the onset of puberty.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1982

Pituitary and plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in male and female rabbit fetuses.

To study the ontogenesis of fetal pituitary gonadotrophin synthesis and release, LH and FSH were measured by radioimmunoassay in fetal rabbit pituitary glands and blood of both sexes from day 18 of gestation until birth. Results on levels of testicular and plasma testosterone were also included. Immunoreactive LH was first detected on day 19 in the pituitary gland and on day 20 in the plasma of fetuses of both sexes. Pituitary FSH was first measurable in both male and female fetuses at 24 days of gestation. Levels of FSH could not be detected in the blood of male fetuses at any time during gestation. In females, FSH could be measured in the circulation from day 27 of gestation until birth. These results show that (1) the ontogeny of pituitary LH and the onset of testosterone secretion are closely correlated and take place between 18 and 20 days of gestation just before the beginning of differentiation of the male genital tract, and (2) the highest concentrations of pituitary LH and FSH are observed, in both sexes, in late gestation after days 24-25.

Animals↗