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Biomedical subjects

M Blum

Publications and source records attributed to M Blum.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

[Morgagni hernia. A rare form of diaphragmatic hernia].

The Morgagni hernia is the rarest form of diaphragmatic hernias. Knowledge has been accumulated over time of combinations with other congenital malformations, familial occurrence, and traumatic genesis. Morgagni hernia has been more often recordable from women, along with rising age and usually located on the right hand side. Embryonic disorder of diaphragmatic differentiation is believed to be the major aetiological factor. Vitamin deficit as well as some chemical substances, primarily active in the foetal period, have become known as additional factors of predisposition. Intensive diagnosis to rule out malignancy is absolutely essential because of the variability of symptoms of this type of hernia. Colon fragments and large omentum were found to be most often contained in the hernial sac. Contrast medium X-ray checks of the gastrointestinal tract and pneumoperitoneum are preferential methods of examination. Exploratory laparotomy is generally considered the optional therapeutic approach because of possible saving of liver veins, safe removal of the hernial sac, and the possibility of abdominal exploration. Preoperative wide-range sterile covering of the patient's body around the site of surgery is recommended to allow for possible thoractomy, as may be required.

Female↗
PubMed1988

Sexual behaviour, a stress factor affecting ovulation and cycle length.

The hormonal profile and clinical picture of women, mean age 21 years, with aberrant anovulatory cycles, lasting from 35-65 days were presented. Although all subjects had orgasmic experiences by automanipulation, and 4 had sporadic sex with men, the fact of not having regular heterosexual relationship, acts as an emotional stress, with resulting higher PRL and urinary catecholamine level, as compared to an age-matched control group of 14 women, having regular 1-2 weekly coitus. Sexual behaviour affects cycle length and ovulation, having no effect on estradiol level. Menstrual disorders and aberrant long cycles, resulting from absence of or sporadic sexual encounters should not be treated. They are a temporary phenomenon, which disappears after establishment of normal heterosexual life-style.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Transcriptional analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase gene expression in the tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons of the rat arcuate nucleus after estrogen treatment.

The tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the rat hypothalamus project to the median eminence and release dopamine from the axon terminals into the portal vessels. The released dopamine is transported to the anterior pituitary and acts to inhibit the release of prolactin from lactotrophs. About 50% of the tuberoinfundibular neurons have been shown to have estrogen receptors, and several research groups have shown that estrogen treatment affects dopamine release. Our interest is to determine, using an in vitro run-on transcription assay, whether acute estrogen treatment modulates the expression of the gene encoding for the rate-limiting enzyme for dopamine biosynthesis, tyrosine hydroxylase, in a manner parallel to the values reported for dopamine turnover. We found that after 20 min of estrogen treatment in a 3-week ovariectomized rat that tyrosine hydroxylase gene transcription decreased to 40% of control and continued to decrease after an hour of estrogen to 5% of control. After 4 days of estrogen, tyrosine hydroxylase gene transcription increased but was only about 70% of control. In contrast to the bimodal change in tyrosine hydroxylase gene transcription in response to acute estrogen, we were only able to detect a change in the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA after 2 weeks of estrogen treatment, when a 2-fold decrease was observed. Similar results for dopamine turnover, as compared to tyrosine hydroxylase gene transcription, have been reported by others in that 3 h after a single estrogen benzoate injection, dopamine turnover was decreased, while after 3 days there was not a significant change. Therefore, it seems that the changes in tyrosine hydroxylase gene transcription after acute estrogen treatment qualitatively parallel the values reported for dopamine turnover, suggesting that the rate of transcription may be an index of neural stimulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Cardiac arrhythmia during chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Repeated bouts of ventricular tachycardia were triggered by the inflow of dialysate during acute peritoneal dialysis performed in a 79-year-old woman. Subsequent continuous Holter monitoring of 21 patients, many elderly and with cardiac disease, undergoing chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) revealed atrial and/or ventricular premature beats in 19 out of them. However, there were no differences in the type and frequency of the extrasystoles between the recordings performed on a day of dialysis or on a day on which dialysis was deliberately withheld. No new arrhythmias were seen in the 2 patients who were previously free of arrhythmias, in whom CAPD was undertaken. It seems that CAPD does not provoke or aggravate arrhythmias, even in elderly or cardiac patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Bilhemia--a review of diagnosis and therapy].

Bilhemia is a rare complication after liver injuries with high mortality. Clinical signs are rapid increase of direct and total bilirubin up to extreme values and increase of bile acids in serum. The reason is an intrahepatic connection between biliary and venous system. The bilio-venous fistula can be shown by ERCP and retrograde cholangiography via T-drainage. Localisation can be ensured by ultrasonography und computertomography. Treatment consists in resection of bilio-venous fistula, tamponade of intrahepatic cavities by use of a net of polyglactin-910 (Vicryl) or polyglycolic acid (Dexon) or sucking T-drainage.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1986

Effect of parathyroid hormone and uremia on erythrocyte deformability.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) caused a significant decrease in human erythrocyte filtration rate (EFR). This effect was Ca2+-dependent and was partially reversed by the Ca2+ blocker verapamil. It was mimicked by the Ca2+ ionophore A-23187. Mg2+ even at high concentrations could not substitute for Ca2+. There was a dose response between the filtration rate and Ca2+ or PTH concentrations. Serum ultrafiltrate of patients with chronic renal failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism caused significant inhibition similar to that seen with PTH extract. Ultrafiltrate from patients with chronic renal failure following parathyroidectomy and from healthy individuals did not cause this phenomenon. Erythroyctes deformability in uremic patients appears to be caused by high PTH levels. Our present findings agree with ones about the toxic effects of PTH on various biological systems.

Calcium↗
PubMed1986

Protein, DNA, and virus crystallography with a focused imaging proportional counter.

A set of programs has been developed for rapid collection of x-ray intensity data from protein and virus crystals with a commercially available two-dimensional focused geometry electronic detector. The detector is compact and portable, with unusually high spatial resolution comparable to that used in oscillation photography. It has allowed x-ray data collection on weakly diffracting crystals with large unit cells, as well as more conventional "diffractometer-quality" crystals. The quality of the data is compared with that from oscillation photography and automated diffractometry in the range of unit cells from 96.3 to 383.2 angstroms. Isomorphous and anomalous difference Pattersons, based on detector data, are shown for a variable surface glycoprotein mercury derivative and for a repressor-DNA bromine derivative, which has been solved at 7 angstroms with detector data only.

Computers↗
PubMed1986

One-year results using a risk scoring system in a family planning clinic.

During one year (from 1/1/85 to 12/31/85) 1038 women sought contraception at a family planning clinic. Contraception was recommended using a risk scoring system to increase the suitability of a method to the needs of an individual woman. Among the 546 women fitted with a IUD (copper or unmedicated), the continuation rate was 90.49%. Removal rates for pregnancy or bleeding were small compared with the rates published in the current literature. Among the 472 women using oral contraceptive pills (combined or triphasic), the continuation rate was 99.16%: the triphasic pill was well accepted, without discontinuation for menstrual disruption, pregnancy, or gastrointestinal side-effects. Only 20 women (1.92%) selected a barrier method (diaphragm with spermicide) suggesting the need to improve the image of barrier methods as safe and reliable. We conclude that prescribing contraception using a risk scoring system increases the appropriateness to the needs of the woman, thereby eliminating many complications and side-effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The influence of short-term estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on the blood pressure and daily urinary catecholamine excretion in a small group of post-menopausal women.

The blood pressure and daily urinary catecholamine excretion were examined in nineteen non-smoking post-menopausal women, receiving estrogen replacement therapy for a period of 4 months. The estrogens administered consisted of 17 beta-estradiol combined with estriol and norethisterone acetate administered sequentially (Trisequens, Novo, Denmark). Before the institution of treatment, the blood pressure and urinary catecholamine excretion were normal. After a period of 4 months, no change in blood pressure was observed. However, a marked and significant increase in daily urinary catecholamine excretion was noticed (72.3 +/- 18.96 micrograms/day to 102.0 +/- 26.0 micrograms: p less than 0.01). The pathogenetic implications of this increase are discussed.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1986

[Sonographic determination of the normal kidney volume in newborn infants and infants].

The kidneys of 211 infants (106 males, 105 females) were measured sonographically. Renal length, width and depth and the calculated kidney volume were correlated to body weight, body length and body surface. It was possible to establish a nomogram, which presented a good correlation between body weight and kidney volume and which can easily be used for routine ultrasound examination. In another prospective study the kidney volumes of 82 young infants were within the normal range of this nomogram.

Biometry↗
PubMed1986

A diurnal rhythm in proopiomelanocortin messenger ribonucleic acid that varies concomitantly with the content and secretion of beta-endorphin in the intermediate lobe of the rat pituitary.

The present study investigated whether diurnal variations in the secretion of alpha MSH and beta-endorphin from the intermediate lobe (IL) of the pituitary are associated with parallel changes in the synthesis of mRNA specifically encoding proopiomelanocortin (POMC). The results demonstrate that concomitant diurnal variations occur in both plasma and IL concentrations of immunoreactive beta-endorphin and alpha MSH. Plasma and IL peptide levels were relatively constant during daylight hours (0600-1800 h), but increased after the onset of darkness and reached maximal concentrations at 0200 h. To examine the possibility that this diurnal rhythm in the content and secretion of POMC-derived peptides resulted from diurnal changes in the biosynthesis of POMC, the concentration and rate of synthesis of POMC mRNA were examined. POMC mRNA levels were elevated during the dark period, reaching a maximum level at 0200 h that was 2-fold higher than that occurring during the light period. POMC mRNA synthesis, determined by measuring the number of RNA polymerase II complexes transcribing the POMC gene in isolated cell nuclei, also varied diurnally, with maximum transcription rates occurring at 1800 h, thus preceding maximal increases in POMC mRNA content and POMC peptide secretion by 8 h. Together, these data indicate that diurnal variations in the content and secretion of POMC-derived peptides are associated with parallel changes in POMC mRNA concentrations and are preceded by similar changes in POMC gene transcription.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

[Primary treatment of chest injuries in polytrauma].

Lung damage in the wake of thorax trauma has often occurred with delay. Treatment of such cases is difficult, and pulmonary failure has often been the result. Extended shock phase due to haemato-pneumothorax is one of the causes involved in this type of complication. Surgical treatment is often necessary of abdominal and thoracic injuries which occur in combination. The severity of haemorrhagic shock can be detected by early drainage of the thorax as a way of lung relief, and it will provide some safety for prolonged diagnostic and therapeutic action and for situations of obstruction. The lung can thus be more effectively protected. Hence, some generosity should be exercised in deciding primary thorax drainage for patients with multiple injuries, with suspicion of polytraumatisation, unconsciousness, and with artificial respiration.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1986

[Early diagnosis of diffuse peritonitis].

Treatment for diffuse peritonitis was applied to 62 patients at the Surgical Clinic of Münster University, between 1983 and mid-1985. Mortality accounted for 46.8 per cent. Therapeutic approaches depended on both clinical patterns and intraoperative findings. Repetitive laparotomy with abdominal lavage and generous drainage was predominant. Only five cases were given treatment with opened abdominal cavity. With early diagnosis and immediate laparotomy, 17.7 per cent of all patients were cured, and no further operation was required. A second operation was necessary for 19.3 per cent, and several laparotomies were needed by another 16.1 per cent. Twenty of the above 62 patients (32.3 per cent) died in spite of several laparotomies. Nine patients (14.5 per cent) had been received in moribund and thus inoperable condition. The mean interval between first and second laparotomies was 5.3 days. Repeated abdominal lavage became necessary in cases in which the start of therapeutic action was delayed to 6.4 days on average. This interval had been 8.3 days for patients who died despite repeated surgery. Early diagnosis was found to be the decisive prerequisite to lower peritonitis lethality. Clinical parameters in conjunction with routine laboratory checks have proved to be sufficient for adequate diagnosis in 95 per cent of all cases. High-risk patients have to be identified long time in advance. They require early surgery and intensive postoperative supervision and monitoring, if the fatal vicious circle of peritonitis is to be overcome.

Adult↗