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Biomedical subjects

M Majer

Publications and source records attributed to M Majer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Potentials of high-resolution native computed tomography in meniscal diagnosis].

42 patients with symptoms suggestive of meniscus abnormalities were examined by CT immediately before undergoing arthroscopy. The appearances of normal menisci, various types of rupture, primary degeneration and congenital and acquired abnormalities are described. Using arthroscopy for reference, CT had an accuracy of 83%. The place of CT in relation to other non-invasive forms of tomography is discussed.

Adolescent

[Evaluation of the prevention of perioperative thromboembolism with low molecular weight heparin and dihydroergotamine. A study of the incidence of lethal pulmonary embolisms and undesired symptoms, especially the risk of vasospasm and myocardial infarction].

In a prospective trial 33,421 patients receiving a combination of low molecular weight heparin and dihydroergotamine (LMWH/DHE; Embolex NM) as a routine antithrombotic agent were observed. The patients were recruited from surgical, traumatological, orthopedic, gynecological and urological departments. During the observation period 17 patients suffered from myocardial infarction leading to death in 7 cases. In 63 patients pulmonary embolism occurred, causing death in 12 cases. No irreversible vasospastic reaction due to DHE was seen. In one case a reversible ischaemic reaction in a lower limb was described which might have possibly been due to DHE. The low rate of complications suggests that LMWH/DHE is a safe and highly effective combination with a low risk of vasospastic reactions.

Coronary Disease

[High-dose preoperative radiotherapy of primary inoperable oropharyngeal cancer].

Despite the great progress made by tumor therapy in recent years, it has not yet been possible to obtain a decisive improvement in the five-year survival of about 20% and the five-year recurrence-free survival of about 30% of patients suffering from advanced T3 oropharynx carcinomas. A new way to improve the poor prognosis of these patients is only offered by the possibilities of modern radiotherapy with ultrahard X-radiation as well as by the progress of microsurgery. Up to now, the recurrence-free survival of our patient's group suffering from primarily inoperable T3 oropharynx carcinomas has reached 60% (increase of about 40%). This was achieved by preoperative high-dose irradiation and subsequent implantation of myocutaneous skin flaps with the vascular bundle supplying the flap with blood. As is shown by the communications of literature and our own experience, about 80% of all recurrences will appear within the first 24 months after the end of therapy. In our preoperatively high-dose irradiated group, the observation period is meanwhile 48 months, and the recurrence-free survival is still by 40% higher than that of the control groups. Although a new formation of local recurrences cannot be excluded for the further observation time and despite the small number of patients, the rate of recurrence-free patients suffering from tumors of stage T3N+ signifies a most promising therapeutic approach.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

[Combined treatment of the early stages of Parkinson's syndrome with bromocriptine and levodopa. The results of a multicenter study].

125 patients in the early stages of Parkinson's syndrome were randomized and subjected to prearranged treatment adaptation period. Subsequently they were treated with either a mean dosage of 444 mg levodopa and benserazide (47 patients) or a combination of a mean of 298 mg levodopa and benserazide plus 17 mg bromocriptine (32 patients). Follow-up was done up to three years. Combined treatment permitted reduction of the levodopa dosage by 39%. As assessed by improvement of symptoms of Parkinson's syndrome in patients with a minimum treatment period of 1 or 3 years combined treatment was shown to be superior to monotherapy.

Aged

[Five years experience with an influenza subunit vaccine (author's transl)].

After a short review on development, production, and assay of influenza vaccines the authors discuss the special properties of influenza virus subunit vaccine which contains the purified protective antigens of the influenza virus. The results of pre-clinical and clinical studies allow the conclusion that subunit vaccine is better tolerated than and at least as potent as conventional influenza vaccines. It therefore seems to be especially suited for annual re-vaccinations of persons at high risk.

Clinical Trials as Topic

Intramuscular and/or intralumbar postexposure treatment of rabies virus-infected cynomolgus monkeys with human interferon.

From 9 to 10 of 10 cynomolgus monkeys infected with rabies street virus died of rabies about 20 days postinfection (pI). Symptoms of illness appeared 1 to 4 days before death. In an attempt to protect infected animals from the disease, human leukocyte interferon (HIF) was administered intramuscularly (i.m.) near the site of infection or into the cerebrospinal fluid between the first and second lumbar vertebrae (i.e., intralumbarly [i.l.]). Multiple HIF doses given over a period of several days proved more effective than a single HIF dose. In every experiment, i.m. HIF treatment was started 1 day pI. The best result obtained was a survival rate of 7 of 10 monkeys. The i.l. HIF administration schedules, consisting of multiple doses given over a period of at least 8 days, were started on day 3, 7, or 11 pI. Here the best result noted was the protection of 5 of 10 treated monkeys. The latest successful postexposure i.l. HIF treatment began on day 11 pI. The highest protection rate, 8 survivors of 10 treated monkeys, was achieved by a combined i.m. and i.l. HIF treatment. From these results we conclude that human patients severely bitten by rabid animals should in addition to an active immunization be i.m. and i.l. treated with HIF. Particularly, i.l. HIF administration could be effective, even when given several days pI. Whether an HIF administration starting after the appearance of clinical symptoms of rabies can help cannot be decided upon from the studies made in this monkey model. The most obvious difference between rabies in humans and cynomolgus monkeys is the duration of illness between the outbreak of the disease and death (1 to 4 days only in this animal model). It might have been due to this short period of illness that i.l. and i.m. HIF treatment at the appearance of clinical symptoms failed to help any of the monkeys treated.

Animals

[A purified rabies vaccine from human diploid cell cultures (author's transl)].

In order to improve the tolerance of rabies vaccine from human diploid cell cultures, the rabies virus antigen is purified in the sucrose density gradient by means of a flow ultracentrifuge. The purified virus has a specific infectiosity of 10(9) LD50 and a speicific activity of 250 units "relative activity" per 1 mg protein. The purified vaccine has been shown to be well tolerated, effective and stable.

Animals

[The importance of interferon for rabies prophylaxis (author's transl)].

The importance of interferon for the prophylaxis of rabies is not yet fully understood. About 50% of cynomolgus monkeys infected with rabies virus could be protected from the disease with human interferon which was administered at a total dose of 1--10 million units per animal either intramuscularly 24 hours after infection or by intralumbar injection up to 11 days after. The clinical relevance of the findings is discussed.

Animals

Diarrhea in newborn cynomologus monkeys infected with human rotavirus.

Of six newborn cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) naturally delivered and normally nursed five developed diarrhea after oral administration of human rotavirus. Virus excretion was observed in the stool of four animals. This virus was transmitted to four out of six other monkeys causing diarrhea in only one animal.

Animals

Rabies vaccine HDC: toxicological studies in laboratory animals.

A purified rabies vaccine prepared in human diploid cell cultures (Wistar 38 adapted Pitman-Moore strain) was tested in several animal species with single and repeated administration. Acute toxicity studies were performed in mice, rats, and guinea pigs with s.c. or i.m. injections of at least 1 human dose/animal. The results gave no evidence of toxic effects. Studies on local compatibility were carried out in white rabbits (i.c. and s.c.) and albino guinea pigs (i.m.). During the observation period of 1 or 2 weeks after inoculation no adverse reactions were seen. Pyrogen tests in rabbits with 6 lots of vaccines showed that rabies vaccine is pyrogenfree. Long-term studies with 4 injections into rats and dogs and observation over a 4-month period gave no alterations of hematological parameters and of the urinalysis. The behaviour of the animals was not altered. Short- and long-term experiments in animals showed the innocuity of this type of rabies vaccine.

Animals

A purified human diploid cell rabies vaccine.

Continuous-flow isopycnic banding of rabies virus in sucrose gradient was used to purify the antigen for the preparation of a human diploid cell rabies vaccine. Prior to the addition of the stabilizer, the average specific potency of several vaccine batches was 234 antigenic values per 1.0 mg of protein. Further data regarding potency and stability of this vaccine are presented.

Antigens, Viral

Antigenicity of low concentrated HDCS vaccine with and without adjuvant as compared to the standard fluid formulation.

It can be shown that 0.1% aluminum hydroxide is able to compensate a 90% difference in antigen content of a human diploid cell strain rabies vaccine in man. This conclusion, however, is drawn only from the formation of neutralizing antibodies (kinetics and antibody concentration). Further experiments should be performed to compare also the protective capacity of HDCS vaccines varying in antigen content and adjuvant. A sole reduction of viral antigen is reflected by a corresponding reduction in antibody formation provided the different doses fall within the logarithmic part of the dose-response curve.

Adjuvants, Immunologic