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Biomedical subjects

M Reich

Publications and source records attributed to M Reich.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Bourneville's tuberous sclerosis and autism].

Tuberous sclerosis is often associated with developmental and behavioural disorders including typical or partial autistic syndrome. However, it may be difficult to recognize tuberous sclerosis behind an infantile autism during the early stages of the disease. Therefore, tuberous sclerosis must be regularly looked for on the basis of its major and minor criteria in any cases of infantile autism. The child psychiatrist is preferentially involved in the management of the various aspects of this association, ie, behavioural or character disorders, difficulties in social relationships and communication, mental retardation, feeding disorders, and psychological consequences for the families. The support provided may be complemented by that offered by the Association for Bourneville's tuberous sclerosis.

Autistic Disorder

[Superficial damage to the MemoryLens in implantation].

BACKGROUND: Besides silicone and acrylic lenses thermoplastic lenses, such as the MemoryLens, are being increasingly used. Thermoplastic lenses are implanted through a small incision in a rolled state so that they unfold in the capsular bag. Here we describe a complication that has had appeared in two patients. PATIENTS, METHODS AND STATUS: After phacoemulsification a MemoryLens was implanted in 35 years of 35 patients through an incision in the clear cornea revealing two cases of scratched anterior surfaces after implantation. The scratches were caused by the tip of the forceps through excessive pressure and mechanical force during implantation due to an incision slightly too small. CONCLUSIONS: By a lens diameter of 2.31 mm in a rolled state we do not only recommend a forceps with rounded ends but also an incision width of 3.8 mm in order to perform a safe implantation without damage to the lens surface.

Aged

[Discussion group: for caregivers confronted with death in the hospital environment].

Caregivers facing death and supporting dying patients don't have often the possibility to express their suffering inherent in their practice. Repression of affects can be harmful increased by all the "unsaid" and leads to splitting defence mechanisms among them. Caregivers will verbalize this suffering if a specific space and time for talking is provided. Paradoxically the medical team found it unnecessary and equated to a "one more meeting". A talking group is considered as a tool for the caregivers and will adapt itself to the institutional functioning. It has not to be denatured from its real function. It has to avoid pitfalls such as paying back conflicts. This group will survive the institutional assaults if some specific requirements are respected. Thus, the group will achieve, or at least facilitate better relationships between caregivers and patients.

Adaptation, Psychological

Identification of biologically active epidermal growth factor precursor in human fluids and secretions.

A biologically active form of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) precursor has been detected in human fluids and secretions. The secreted protein identified in human urine and milk has an apparent molecular mass of 160-170 kilodaltons and exhibits an affinity for the glycosaminoglycan heparin. More importantly, the secreted EGF precursor is capable of activating the intrinsic tyrosyl kinase activity of the EGF receptor. Our results demonstrate that the soluble form of the precursor is generated from the membrane-anchored form by a processing step that takes place at the cell surface and involves truncation of the cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains of the intact EGF precursor. The findings support the hypothesis that the secreted 160- to 170-kilodalton EGF glycoprotein that accumulates in urine and milk is proteolytically derived from the plasma membrane-spanning precursor expressed in the kidney and mammary gland.

3T3 Cells

Nurse manager performance appraisal: a collaborative approach.

The job description and performance appraisal criteria for the Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM) were revised to provide clarity of role responsibilities and promote collegiality. The new formats reflected much better the complexities and differences existing in the 15 distinct inpatient and ambulatory practice settings. Six categories were defined which summarized the CNM role and a qualitative tool was developed for performance evaluation.

Employee Performance Appraisal

Inhibition of Chlamydia trachomatis growth in mouse fibroblasts by liposome-encapsulated tetracycline.

The in-vitro susceptibility of Chlamydia trachomatis to liposome-encapsulated tetracycline was determined and compared with free tetracycline. Anionic, cationic and neutral small unilamellar liposomes were used in this study. Chlamydia-infected mouse fibroblast monolayers were continuously exposed to varying concentrations of antibiotic, incubated for 48 h and Giemsa stained. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for anionic, cationic and neutral liposomes containing tetracycline were 0.38, 0.08 and 0.04 mg/L, respectively. This was approximately 2, 10, and 20 times more efficient than free tetracycline (MIC, 0.79 mg/L). Neutral liposomes displayed no visible toxic side-effects on the host cells. When compared with free tetracycline, neutral liposomes were the most efficient for the delivery of inhibitory concentrations of tetracycline to chlamydia-infected mouse fibroblast L cell cultures.

Animals

Dexamethasone iontophoresis: effect on delayed muscle soreness and muscle function.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pain alleviating effect of dexamethasone iontophoresis on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) produced via an eccentric exercise bout, and to determine the effect on muscle function. Baseline data were collected on 18 female subjects for maximum isometric knee extension contraction (MVC), knee extension peak torque (PT), knee extension work (W), and muscle soreness perception (SP). All values were subsequently reassessed 24 and 48 hours after a 10-min bout of bench stepping. Immediately following the 24-hr reassessment, the experimental (E) (N = 6) and placebo (P) (N = 6) groups received iontophoresis treatment while the control (C) group (N = 6) received no treatment. Percent deviation from baseline of SP was significantly less at 48 hours (p less than 0.05) for the E group compared to P and C groups. However, MCV, PT, and W were no different between the three groups at 48 hours post muscle soreness bout.

Adult

Systemic effects of implanted prostheses made of cobalt-chromium alloys.

Systemic effects of Co-Cr alloy/polyethylene hip joint prostheses were investigated using instrumental neutron activation to determine the concentrations of up to 16 elements. First, in a prospective study whole blood and serum taken from 10 patients from 1 day before to 90 days after implantation were analyzed. Secondly, in a retrospective study whole blood and serum from 23 patients who had had prostheses in place for up to 18 years were analyzed. For comparison, normal trace element levels in humans were determined by analyzing whole blood and serum from 21 patients. Finally, various tissues and organs from two decreased implant patients were analyzed and compared with normal concentrations obtained from the analysis of five "normal" patients without implants. In agreement with other recent investigations, our analyses of normal serum, whole blood, tissues, and organs show that most previously defined "normal" trace element concentrations were too high, chiefly owing to contamination and insufficient blanks. A detailed discussion shows that for many elements the ranges of normal concentrations have to be revised. This conclusion is of particular importance with respect to the sometimes conflicting earlier reports of systemic effects of metal prostheses. In the work reported here, both the prospective and the retrospective investigations of serum and whole blood showed massive Co enrichments as a consequence of implant corrosion. The data show a wide range of individual burdening, ranging from practically no effect to the most extreme values. The analyses of tissues from the vicinity of the implants in the two deceased implant patients showed strong local effects of Co, Cr, Zr, and Hf, the latter two elements originating from the X-ray contrast media in the bone cement. The analyses of organs revealed significant Co and Cr enrichment in several tissues and organs. Consequently, it can be seen that implant corrosion is not an occurrence of merely local significance, but one that affects the trace element status of the entire organism.

Bioprosthesis

[Temperature-controlled bipolar electrocoagulation].

The safety of electrocoagulation for laparoscopic surgery has been greatly improved by the introduction of the bipolar coagulation technique. But complications caused by coagulation, especially by the overheated forceps, are still reported. In order to reduce those complications, a temperature controlled bicoagulation system was developed. This system allows coagulation with lower temperatures which can be kept constant during the coagulation process. In experiments with human fallopian tubes obtained by adnexectomy and rabbit uterine horns it is shown that those lower temperatures are sufficient for homogeneous coagulation. On line monitoring of the temperature during coagulation provides the surgeon with the possibility of directly controlling the actual temperature at the tip of the forceps. The temperature curves can easily be stored in order to be able to demonstrate the particular coagulation process even after years.

Animals