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Biomedical subjects

M Fischer

Publications and source records attributed to M Fischer.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Prevalence of factor XII (Hageman factor) deficiency among 426 patients with coronary heart disease awaiting cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Several case reports of myocardial infarction in patients with factor XII deficiency have been published. In the present study we investigated the prevalence of this condition. METHODS: Factor XII activity (one-stage clotting assay), fibrinogen (derived method), and lipoprotein (a) (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) were measured in the plasma of 426 consecutive patients with coronary heart disease awaiting cardiac surgery. RESULTS: Among the 426 patients, 44 (10.3%) were found to be moderately deficient in factor XII (factor XII activity 17-50%, antigen 15-57%). The prevalence of factor XII deficiency was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) among patients with coronary heart disease than among 300 healthy blood donors (2.3%). Among coronary heart disease patients with this deficiency, elevated levels of fibrinogen, lipoprotein (a), and blood pressure were no more prevalent than in those without the deficiency; nor were cigarette smoking or a positive family history of thromboembolism more prevalent. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary heart disease patients showed a 10% prevalence of factor XII deficiency. However, the pattern of atherosclerotic risk factors did not differ between patients with or without the deficiency.

Blood Coagulation Tests↗
PubMed1994

[Submucous urethral augmentation in stress incontinence. Indications and results].

An endoscopic transurethral collagen implantation was performed in 45 women, suffering from mostly recurrent stress incontinence. No complications have been observed. The results were measured by a standardized PAD weight test. After 6 months, 17 women were cured and 21 were improved; after 12 months, 14 patients were still completely dry and 21 were improved (nearly 80% success rate). Using silicone particles in a lubricating carrier gel (Macroplast), even better and persisting results are expected.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Filtration of airborne allergens in various households.

The filtration system investigated in this study uses the thermic convection caused by radiators for the adsorption of airborne particles. The effect of this filtration system on the reduction of clinical symptoms of allergic bronchial asthma was tested as well as its capability in retaining airborne allergens, in particular those of the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D. pter.), which are responsible for this special kind of asthma. Dust samples were taken before and after the heating season in households of 36 persons with D. pter. caused asthma. Their mite content was investigated using mite flotation and direct microscopy, their guanine content using the Acarex-test. An allergen extract obtained from the filters was tested on its allergen content by RAST-inhibition. It could be observed that compared to the preceding heating season 55% of the volunteers felt an improvement of their asthmatic symptoms. It was possible to extract allergens of D. pteronyssinus, house dust and mould from the filters. All these results show the capability of the filters to adsorb house dust mite (HDM) allergens.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Efficacy and safety of intramuscular glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee. A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

Glucosamine sulfate (Dona, CAS 29031-19-4) is a drug used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. When orally given, it is more effective than placebo and at least as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in relieving osteoarthritis symptoms. The aim of this multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study was to assess the efficacy and safety of glucosamine sulfate intramuscularly given on the same parameters. 155 out-patients with knee osteoarthritis (Lequesne's criteria), radiological stage between I and III, Lequesne's severity index of at least 4 points and symptoms for at least 6 months, were treated with i.m. glucosamine sulfate (or placebo) 400 mg twice a week for 6 weeks. Clinic visits were performed at enrollment, after a 2-week baseline, at weekly intervals during treatment and 2 weeks after drug discontinuation. Responders to treatment were considered those patients with a reduction of at least 3 points in the Lequesne index, together with a positive overall judgement by the investigator. The Lequesne index was slightly over 10 points in average in both groups at the beginning of treatment. A significant decrease in the index was observed for glucosamine compared to placebo (3.3 vs. 2.0 points in average, respectively; p < 0.05, Student's t-test). The responder rate in the evaluable patients was 55% with glucosamine (n = 73) and only 33% (n = 69) with placebo (p = 0.012, Fisher's Exact Test). According to the intention-to-treat approach, considering also drop-outs, these proportions were 51% vs. 30% (p = 0.015).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The prevalence of moderate and severe FXII (Hageman factor) deficiency among the normal population: evaluation of the incidence of FXII deficiency among 300 healthy blood donors.

Factor XII (FXII) deficiency has been reported to be a risk factor for the development of arterial and venous thromboembolism. However, no data are available on the prevalence of FXII deficiency within the normal population. Measuring APTT and FXII activity, seven FXII deficiencies could be detected among 300 healthy blood donors. This corresponds to an incidence of FXII deficiency of 2.3%. On the basis of these data the prevalence of severe and mild FXII deficiency in the normal population can be estimated to be 1.5-3.0%. Assessment of FXII antigen levels revealed, that all seven FXII deficient individuals had FXII antigen levels matching the activity. One presented a severe FXII deficiency (1/300, 0.3%) without detectable FXII activity and an APTT prolongation of more than 120 s. The remaining six FXII deficiencies (6/300, 2.0%) were moderate variations with FXII activities ranging from 20-45% and less prolonged APTTs. Among the 300 healthy donors 16 (5.3%) subjects with prolonged APTTs were identified. Causes for APTT-prolongation were FXII deficiency (7/16), lupus anticoagulant (6/16), mild FVIII deficiency (1/16) and hepatic disorder (1/16). In the remaining sample (1/16) the cause for the prolongation of the APTT remained unexplained. Although 8.7% (26/300) of the donors had a positive family-history of thromboembolism (TE-FHx), none of the FXII deficient subjects were among those with positive TE-FHx.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

High prion and PrPSc levels but delayed onset of disease in scrapie-inoculated mice heterozygous for a disrupted PrP gene.

BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that the prion, the infectious agent of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, is PrPSc, a post-translationally modified form of the normal host protein PrPC. We showed previously that mice devoid of PrPC (Prn-p0/0) are completely resistant to scrapie. We now report on the unexpected response of heterozygous (Prn-p0/+) mice to scrapie infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prn-p0/+, Prn-p0/0 and Prn-p+/+ mice were obtained from crosses of Prn-p0/+ mice. Mice were inoculated intracerebrally with mouse-adapted scrapie agent and the clinical progression of the disease recorded. Mice were sacrificed at intervals, PrPSc was determined as protease-resistant PrP and the prion titer by the incubation time assay. RESULTS: Prn-p0/+ mice, which have about half the normal level of PrPC in their brains, show enhanced resistance to scrapie, as manifested by a significant delay in onset and progression of clinical disease. However, while in wild type animals an increase in prion titer and PrPSc levels is followed within weeks by scrapie symptoms and death, heterozygous Prn-p0/+ mice remain free of symptoms for many months despite similar levels of scrapie infectivity and PrPSc. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings extend previous reports showing an inverse relationship between PrP expression level and incubation time for scrapie. However, contrary to expectation, overall accumulation of PrPSc and prions to a high level do not necessarily lead to clinical disease. These findings raise the question whether high titers of prion infectivity could also persist for long periods under natural circumstances in the absence of clinical symptoms.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Comparison of HLA typing and retyping data in patients with bone marrow transplantation].

Comparing HLA data from 851 patients with serological HLA-A, -B, -DR and/or PCR-SSO HLA-DRB, -DQB reevaluated HLA types produced 107 (12.5%) different results. The high discrepancy of HLA data from patients confirm the demand for a serological HLA-A, -B and a DNA HLA-DRB, -DQB reevaluation before starting an unrelated donor search for bone marrow transplantation. The reliability of serological HLA-DRB, -DQB typing was evaluated as 97.8%, whereas DNA HLA-DRB, -DQB typing was 99.5%.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMed1993

[The content of asbestos bodies in the bronchoalveolar fluid as a parameter of an increased pulmonary asbestos load].

Pulmonary asbestos burdens are usually determined by quantitative pulmonary dust analysis. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for this purpose. First, the upper limit of normal for asbestos bodies (AB) in BAL fluid was established using a reference group of 371 patients with no evidence of increased exposure to asbestos. 99% of these patients had less than 0.5 AB/ml. In order to see whether BAL fluid AB concentration reflected pulmonary tissue content, BAL fluid and lung tissue from a further 64 patients with diverse histories of asbestos exposure were investigated. There was a positive association between AB concentration in BAL fluid and lung tissue only for the overall group of 64 patients (r = 0.86; P < 0.001). Twelve of 13 patients with more than 1 AB/ml and ten patients with more than 5 AB/ml had more than 1000 AB/cm3 lung tissue, a value that is usually exceeded in asbestosis. When the upper concentration limit was set at 0.5 AB/ml for BAL fluid and 50 AB/cm3 for lung tissue, only two out of 64 patients had a false positive value (specificity 95%), but eleven patients had false negative results (sensitivity 58%). These investigations establish that concentrations of > or = 0.5 AB/ml are a reliable indicator of increased asbestos exposure and concentrations > 1 AB/ml are associated with a higher probability of having more than 1000 AB/cm3 lung tissue. However, exclusion of increased asbestos exposure is not possible on the basis of negative BAL findings, since the sensitivity of the method is too low.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Recurrent venous thromboses in hypoplasia of the vena cava inferior and factor XII deficiency].

The cause of recurrent pelvic and leg venous thromboses in a 24-year-old man was found to be a combination of two rare anomalies, hypoplasia of the hepatic, prerenal segment of the inferior vena cava and factor XII deficiency (factor XII activity 38%, its antigen 39% of normal), the latter considered a risk factor for thromboembolism. Subsequent fibrinolysis was not successful. No thromboembolic phenomena occurred during the following 16 months of oral anticoagulation with phenprocoumon. When this treatment was discontinued at the patient's behest, there was a recurrence on the contralateral side. Anticoagulation was resumed and has continued now for 1 1/2 years without recurrence. The patient has been largely free of symptoms. Permanent anticoagulation thus seems unavoidable in this case.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Detection of lupus anticoagulants in the routine blood coagulation laboratory exemplified by 36 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

36 patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were subjected to various screening and confirmation tests for the presence of lupus anticoagulants (LA) which are a risk for thrombosis. In five out of the 36 patients (14%) lupus anticoagulants could be found. Five out of the 36 patients (14%) showed increased antiphospholipid antibody (APA) levels whereby only two of these patients were at the same time LA-positive. The specificity, sensitivity and effectiveness of various tests in respect of LA-demonstrability have been assessed and the results taken as the basis for proposal of a largely automated stepwise diagnostic procedure for LA-determination within the routine coagulation laboratory.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Preliminary results from the third flight of the Millimeter Anisotropy Experiment (MAX).

Preliminary results from the June 1991 flight of MAX are presented. Simultaneous observations were made in bands centered at 6, 9, and 12 cm-1 with a bolometric receiver operating at 300 mK. The experimental sensitivities are the highest reported at angular scales of 0.3 degrees to 1.0 degrees. Interstellar dust is observed to have an emissivity [symbol, see text] nu 1.4+/-0.3 and to correlate with the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) 100- map. After removal of emission from interstellar dust, 1.3 hr of integration on a 6 degrees scan yields an upper limit of temperature difference Delta T/T < 2.6 x 10(-5) at a Gaussian autocorrelation function centered at 0.5 degrees. The experiment and data analysis are described.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

Laryngeal reconstruction in children. Assessment of vocal quality.

During the past decade, the outcome of laryngotracheal reconstruction in children has improved substantially regarding airway patency. Now that we feel comfortable with airway results, attention should be directed toward vocal quality. The aims of this article are to present our evaluation process, which has been developed during the past 3 years, and our assessment of results. Six patients who underwent successful laryngotracheal reconstruction and could be examined preoperatively and postoperatively were studied. Information about disease and reconstruction techniques was recorded. Vocal quality assessment was done using psychoacoustic evaluation and objective techniques, including acoustic analysis. Children offer a specific challenge, especially when their chronological or developmental age is younger than 3 years. Objective assessment still lacks the ability of using cooperative patients, and adequate samples for acoustic analysis are difficult to obtain and standardize. Preoperative abnormalities continued to persist postoperatively. Laryngotracheal reconstruction is instrumental in making oral communication possible, but the vocal quality is disturbed in most patients.

Child↗
PubMed1993

A leucine-to-proline substitution causes a defective alpha 1-antichymotrypsin allele associated with familial obstructive lung disease.

Using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing of amplified genomic DNA, we have identified two defective mutants of the human alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) gene associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A leucine 55-to-proline substitution causing a defective ACT allele (Bochum-1) was observed in a family with COPD in three subsequent generations. Another mutation, proline 229-to-alanine (Bonn-1), was associated with ACT serum deficiency in four patients with a positive family history. These mutations were not detected among 100 healthy control subjects, suggesting a possible pathogenetic role of ACT gene defects in a subset of patients with COPD.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Two-codon insertion mutations of the HBx define two separate regions necessary for its trans-activation function.

A panel of mutants of the hepatitis B virus X gene (HBx) was constructed by oligonucleotide-directed insertion of two codons (Arg Pro) at 10- or 20-amino-acid intervals along the entire gene. These mutants were tested in transiently transfected HepG2 cells for their effects on HBx trans-activation of an AP1-CAT reporter plasmid. The effects of HBx mutations on the mRNA and protein stability were also determined. Our results reveal two separate internal domains of the HBx, one around amino acid residue 68 and the other between residues 110 and 139, that are necessary for its activity. Mutations in the amino terminus (to position 45), between the two necessary domains and in the extreme carboxyl terminal portion of HBx, have little or no effect on its activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗