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Biomedical subjects

M Fischer

Publications and source records attributed to M Fischer.

At least 577 records · Page 32Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Pregnancy-specific and pregnancy-associated proteins in threatened abortion.

Pregnancy sera (390) were taken between the 5th and 16th weeks of gestation, from subjects whose pregnancies were uneventful throughout the entire gestation period. In-house curves of first-trimester normal values (10th, 50th, 90th percentile) were established for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human placental lactogen (hPL), pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein (SP-1), pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), and pregnancy-associated alpha 2-glycoprotein (alpha 2-PAG) after the measurement of these proteins in the sera by immunoassay. Eighty sera from patients with threatened abortion were also obtained and the placental proteins mentioned above were determined. Values falling below the 10th percentile of the normal population were classified as positive (i.e., pathological) results; the others were considered negative. Based on the outcome of the pregnancy, the results were grouped into true positives (low value and lost pregnancy), false positives (low value and ongoing pregnancy), true negatives, and false negatives. The sensitivity, specificity, and the positive predictive value of each protein as an indicator for abortion were calculated. In terms of specificity hCG and SP-1 were good, whilst PAPP-A and hCG showed the highest sensitivity. The best predictive values were obtained from SP-1 and hCG. The results show that PAPP-A and SP-1 perform satisfactorily but that none of these proteins significantly improves on hCG.

Abortion, Threatened↗
PubMed1987

Psychological factors capable of preventing the inhibition of antibody responses in separated infant monkeys.

The capacity of infant squirrel monkeys to mount an antibody response to viral challenge was evaluated after removal from their mothers in several social and physical environments. Control and separated infants were injected with a benign virus, the bacteriophage X174, and levels of neutralizing antibody were assessed for 3 weeks. Infants separated alone in an unfamiliar environment showed a significant reduction in antibody levels as compared to control infants. Allowing infants to remain in the home environment, either alone or with peers, prevented this inhibition of antibody responses from occurring. Similarly, providing familiar peers in the novel environment facilitated the normal expression of antibody responses. These results indicate that the trauma of maternal separation is significantly reduced when infants are familiar with the separation environment or familiar social companions are available. The reduced antibody response was associated with the highest level of adrenal activation induced by the unfamiliar separation condition, but antibody titers and plasma cortisol levels could not be specifically correlated in individual infants.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Slow increase in the size of the left atrium with atrial fibrillation--a congenital pericardial defect or aneurysm of the left atrium?].

Gradual left atrial enlargement and development of atrial fibrillation--congenital pericardial defect or left atrial aneurysm? Left atrial aneurysms are rare. Whether or not a pericardial defect is associated can be ascertained by a diagnostic left-sided pneumothorax with air entering the pericardial cavity, although a negative finding does not necessarily rule out the presence of a defect. Cardiac surgery (aneurysmectomy) is advisable if the patient develops significant symptoms or if there is a progressive increase in atrial size. A case is presented with progressively increasing left atrial aneurysm and the development of atrial fibrillation. Although a pericardial defect was postulated (from echocardiogram, MR, CT, angiogram) the pericardium was found to be intact at surgery.

Atrial Fibrillation↗
PubMed1987

[Comparison of the results of the measurement of O2 consumption with a conventional bacteriologic method for urine obtained by bladder puncture].

A method is described which utilizes the O2 consumption of aerobes and facultative aerobes from urinary tract infections for their detection. Urines obtained by puncture and the corresponding midstream urines were examined for verification. Irrespective of secondary contamination and the presence of non-causative organisms, the O2 consumption method permits the detection of a bacterial urinary tract infection within 1 h. When this method was used, a comparison between midstream urine and urine obtained by puncture showed a complete coincidence. The O2 method has shown a sensitivity of 96.9% at a specificity of almost 100% for bacterial concentrations of more than 10(5)/ml in the urine obtained by puncture.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗
PubMed1987

Beta-oxidized N-nitrosoalkylcarbamates as models for DNA alkylation by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine in Syrian hamsters.

A single dose of N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (NDOPA) can selectively induce pancreatic-duct adenocarcinomas in Syrian hamsters. Multiple doses or a higher single dose can induce tumours of the liver and other organs. Our earlier studies employing NDOPA systematically labelled with 14C in the three-carbon chain showed that hamster pancreatic DNA is almost exclusively methylated and that the sole source of the methyl group is the alpha carbon of NDOPA. Hamster liver DNA was equally methylated and alkylated by a three-carbon chain. Current studies using generally labelled tritiated NDOPA with a very high specific activity have shown that the three-carbon alkylation is 2-hydroxypropylation. We have identified two adducts isolated from hamster liver DNA, N7-(2-hydroxypropyl)-guanine and O6-(2-hydroxypropyl)guanine, which contain this group, and we have also isolated and identified N7-methylguanine and O6-methylguanine in DNA from hamster liver and pancreas. beta-Oxidized N-nitrosocarbamates, ethyl N-nitroso-2-oxopropylcarbamate (NOPC) and ethyl N-nitroso-2-hydroxypropylcarbamate (NHPC), are useful models for predicting the DNA adducts observed in vivo following NDOPA treatment. Base-catalysed decomposition of NOPC in the presence of exogenous DNA yields five methylated purines (N3-, N7- and O6-methylguanines and N1- and N3-methyladenines). NHPC, a model for N-nitrosamines containing the 2-hydroxypropyl group, reacts with guanosine to yield N7- and O6-(2-hydroxypropyl)guanines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1986

[Course and blood coagulation findings following systemic short-term fibrinolysis in acute myocardial infarct].

UNLABELLED: A series of 16 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction was investigated with respect to changes in coagulatory parameters after intravenous short-term treatment with 1,500 000 IU streptokinase (SK) over a period of 90 minutes. Samples for coagulation assays (fibrinogen, thrombin, time activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), normotest, thrombin-coagulase time, platelets, antithrombin III, plasminogen and antiplasmin activity, alpha 2-macroglobulin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, factor X a were collected before and immediately after iv SK, and after 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hours. Platelets, antithrombin III, factor X a, alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin showed no changes over the observed period. The concentrations of fibrinogen and the activities of plasminogen and antiplasmin decreased clearly during the first 24 hours, reaching a minimum immediately after SK administration. Thrombin time and aPTT were prolonged for 36 hours, with a maximum in the first hours after lysis. CONCLUSIONS: Invasive diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures during the first 24 hours after SK lysis should be carried out only for a definite, strict indication and under repeated control of the coagulatory status. After 24-36 hours there is a trend to normalisation of haemostasis. After 36 hours, surgery may be performed without fear of complications due to abnormal coagulability.

Blood Coagulation Factors↗
PubMed1986

[Distribution of textile fibers in the path of a bullet].

Twenty-one blocks consisting of 20% gelatin were fired at using firearms of the long rifle caliber .22 and .357 Magnum. The frontal area of these blocks was prepared with textile coverings marked with technetium 99m. Two gunshot series of each type were fired at summer, interseasonal, and winter clothing, using different ammunition. The radioactivity of the bombarded blocks was measured by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The results of these gun shot series were presented graphically and compared. Initially (at 2 cm depth), high radioactivity is always detected, which among other things is caused by the defilement of the bullet's surface when shot through the textile covering marked by technetium. The higher radioactivity in the middle and deeper block areas is the result of fiber infiltration. Accordingly, there are greater fiber accumulations in the middle and deeper areas of the path of the bullet. This is the case mainly in thinner clothing (summer). Heavier clothing (autumn, winter) presents a greater obstacle for bullets with greater impact as well. Here, only projectiles having a lesser tendency to deform, as well as a high impact, transport a considerable proportion of textile fibers into the deeper parts of the blocks.

Clothing↗
PubMed1986

[Efficacy and tolerance of imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of surgical infections with and without bone involvement].

Imipenem/cilastatin in a doses of 1.5/day was used to treat 31 moderate to severe infections, predominantly soft tissue infections with bone involvement, in 30 surgical patients. A clinical success was achieved in 93% of the patients. In one patient with diabetic gangrene of the foot, imipenem/cilastatin treatment performed as a last resort was not able to prevent amputation. One patient died from his underlying disease while on therapy. All isolates except one Pseudomonas diminuta strain regarded as contaminant were initially sensitive to imipenem. Two Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains developed resistance by the end of therapy. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most common aetiologic agents. Only few clinical and biochemical side-effects were observed: in two cases an allergic rash appeared following several days' treatment. Four patients developed thrombocytopenia, which, however, was completely reversible after the end of therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Is adenocarcinoma/large cell carcinoma the most radiocurable type of cancer of the lung?

Radiation therapy is widely considered the primary treatment for inoperable "non-small" cell carcinoma of the lung. In clinical investigations, distinction has been infrequent among the histopathologic subtypes of non-small cell carcinoma. Studies have shown significant differences between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma/large cell carcinoma; adenocarcinoma/large cell carcinoma has a greater propensity for extrathoracic dissemination, especially to the brain, and it is less curable by resection when regional lymph node metastases are present. No differences have been documented between adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma. A retrospective study was undertaken to determine the results of definitive radiation therapy by histopathologic subtype of non-small cell carcinoma of the lung. Between July 1977 and April 1983, 134 patients with non-small cell carcinoma of the lung underwent definitive radiation therapy with curative intent. All patients had performance status scores of 80 to 100 (Karnofsky), and received minimum total doses within the tumor of 60 Gy in 6 to 7 weeks, five fractions per week. The median period of observation was 63 months. Ninety patients had squamous cell carcinoma; 44 had adenocarcinoma/large cell carcinoma. The two groups of patients were comparable in respect to age and Stage; there were significantly more women with adenocarcinoma/large cell carcinoma (27%) than with squamous cell carcinoma (13%). The median survival for patients with squamous cell carcinoma was 11.5 months; the 2 and 4 year survival rates were 21 and 7%, respectively. The median survival for patients with adenocarcinoma/large cell carcinoma was 18 months; 2 and 4 year survival rates were 38 and 23%, respectively. Comparison of the overall survival experience did not show a significant difference between the two cell types (p = .12 using Gehan's generalized Wilcoxon test). However, comparison of the proportion of patients with adenocarcinoma/large cell carcinoma surviving 18 months (50%) was significantly higher (p = .02) than that with squamous cell carcinoma (30%). A small body of data from the literature also suggests a better long-term prognosis for adenocarcinoma/large cell carcinoma. This observation requires confirmation from large trials with histopathologic review. If it is confirmed, there are important implications for therapeutic strategies in future clinical investigations of inoperable carcinoma of the lung.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1986

The pathophysiologic and roentgenologic effects of chest irradiation in breast carcinoma.

We studied the effects of radiation therapy on lung function in 21 patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy and radiotherapy for breast carcinoma. The patients had pulmonary function studies and chest X rays prior to radiation therapy and at six weeks, and three, six, and twelve months following radiation therapy. All pulmonary function studies showed a small but statistically significant decline within the first three months following radiation therapy. Changes in the moderate and large airways continued to occur after three months. None of the changes in pulmonary function were reversible. Radiographic changes occurred in 12 patients. These changes occurred later than the lung function changes (median time for the changes was twelve months) and were unrelated to changes in lung function.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Regulatory mutation that controls nif expression and histidine transport in Azospirillum brasilense.

Mutagenesis of Azospirillum brasilense with nitrosoguanidine and selection on ethylenediamine yielded prototrophs which fixed nitrogen in the presence of ammonia. Nitrogenase activity in mutant strains exceeded that of the wild type three- to sixfold. The same mutants were also constitutive for histidine transport. Enzyme activities involved in ammonia assimilation were not affected by the mutation. The data suggest that the mutation occurred at a site which regulates nif and histidine transport functions.

Ammonia↗