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Biomedical subjects

M Senn

Publications and source records attributed to M Senn.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Synovial cyst of the intervertebral joint as cause of a lumboradicular syndrome].

Synovial cysts of various joints and tendon sheaths (knee, elbow, hip, proximal interphalangeal joints are well known. Cysts arising from the zygapophyseal joints however are rare, but not unknown. 3 patients with lumbosciatic pain, due to nerve root compression by a synovial cyst of the zygapophyseal joints are described. The age ranged from 54 to 77 years. There are 2 men and 1 woman. The symptoms and signs involved the fourth (1 patient) and fifth (1 patient) lumbal nerve root and the first sacral nerve root (1 patient). X-rays showed degenerative changes of the facet joints in 2 cases and spondylolisthesis in 1 case. Myelography revealed compression of the fifth lumbar and the first sacral nerve root, but did not allow to make the exact diagnoses. CT scans however made the diagnoses possible in all 3 cases. Treatment was surgical excision of the cyst in 2 cases, 1 patient showed pain relief after steroid-infiltration in the affected facet joint.

Aged↗

[Atypical sciatica].

A 46-year old patient had suffered from progressive nocturnal sciatica and motor weakness of the left lower extremity for three years. The physical examination revealed a discrete neurologic deficit of the left L5 and S1 root. By CT a small presacral mass between the L5 and S1 roots was found. During the CT-guided fine needle puncture the patient felt an electrifying pain radiating into the left lower extremity. The cytomorphological examination showed benign mesenchymal cells, indicative of a neurinoma. Since progredient neurological deficit is to be expected, exstirpation of the compressing tumor is the therapy of choice. Our patient however decided to postpone the operation because of only mild symptoms.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Meal patterns of pygmy goats fed hay and concentrate ad lib.

The meal patterns of pygmy goats fed hay and pelleted concentrate ad lib were recorded and analyzed. The pygmy goats consumed 8 hay meals [6 during the light phase (= light)/2 during the dark phase (= dark)] and 10 concentrate meals (7 during light/3 during dark) during 24 hr (12 hr light/12 hr dark). Sixty-two percent of hay and 74% of concentrate intake occurred during light. Total 24-hr hay (280 g) and concentrate (264 g) intakes were similar, but concentrate was preferred during dark. Concentrate meals were smaller during light than during dark. The mean feeding rate (g/min) within meals for both hay and concentrate was higher during dark than during light. Meal size and duration of postmeal interval were positively correlated for concentrate but not for hay. No significant positive correlation was found between meal size and duration of premeal interval. Separate analysis of diurnal and nocturnal meals indicated that the postmeal correlation for concentrate was evident primarily during dark. The results demonstrate that food intake in pygmy goats shows distinct diurnal variations and suggest that food intake in ruminants is regulated from meal to meal, with different factors prevailing during light and dark.

Animal Feed↗

[Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and lentiginosis].

A 21-year-old female patient with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and lentiginosis is described. This entity is known to belong to the LEOPARD syndrome (L-entigines, E-electrocardiographic conduction defects, O-cular hypertelorism, P-ulmonary stenosis, A-bnormalities of genitalia, R-etardation of growth, sensorial D-eafness). The patient underwent surgery for severe obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract; the postoperative follow-up was uneventful.

Adult↗

Thallium-201 scintigraphy in complete left bundle branch block.

Nineteen symptomatic patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) were examined by thallium-201 (TI-201) exercise scintigraphy and selective coronary arteriography. All elicited significant anteroseptal perfusion defects in the exercise scintigrams, but in only 4 was coronary artery disease (CAD) involving the left anterior descending coronary artery present. To further elucidate the effect of LBBB on septal TI-201 uptake in the absence of CAD, TI-201 scintigrams combined with regional myocardial blood flow measurements using radioactive microspheres were carried out in 7 dogs during right atrial and right ventricular pacing (LBBB in the ECG) at similar heart rates. During right atrial pacing, TI-201 uptake was homogeneous in the entire left ventricle, as were tissue flows. During right ventricular pacing, TI-201 activity was reduced to 69% of maximal TI-201 activity within the septum, whereas it averaged 90% in the lateral wall (p less than 0.05) in 6 dogs. Correspondingly, regional myocardial blood flow was lower within the septum as compared with that in the lateral wall, averaging 89 and 120 ml/min/100 g, respectively (p less than 0.005). In 1 dog, normal TI-201 distribution and tissue flows were found in both studies. Thus, symptomatic patients with LBBB may elicit abnormal TI-201 exercise scintigrams, suggesting anteroseptal ischemia despite normal coronary arteries. The electrical induction of LBBB in dogs results, in most instances, in a comparable reduction in septal TI-201 uptake associated with diminished septal blood flow. Therefore, exercise-induced septal perfusion defects in the presence of LBBB do not necessarily indicate CAD even in symptomatic patients, but may reflect functional ischemia due to asynchronous septal contraction.

Adult↗

[Nifedipine in the treatment of hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy].

The left ventricle of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is typically asymmetrically hypertrophied and noncompliant. The stiff, hypertrophied left ventricle plays a key role in the pathophysiology of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with and without an outflow tract gradient. In 11 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy without a resting outflow gradient, we assessed the effects of nifedipine (10 mg orally) on echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular (LV) relaxation and diastolic filling. Control and one hour post nifedipine M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiograms were performed and the following LV parameters were measured: end-diastolic dimension, systolic shortening, isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT, time from aortic component of the second heart sound to mitral valve opening; msec), maximal fiber lengthening velocity (-VCF; circ/sec), and the percent diameter increase during the rapid filling phase (%DRF; %). Cuff systolic blood pressure fell after nifedipine from 153 to 136 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) as did diastolic pressure from 97 to 85 mm Hg (p less than 0.01). Heart rate was insignificantly increased (72 to 75/min) while end-diastolic dimension and systolic shortening were unaltered. IVRT decreased from 99 to 82 msec (p less than 0.01) and both -VCF (-4.0 to -5.0 circ/sec, p less than 0.01) and % DRF (76 to 81%, p less than 0.05) increased, suggesting more rapid relaxation and augmented filling. Thus, nifedipine improves diastolic filling dynamics in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and therefore appears to be useful for treatment of the nonobstructive form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Adult↗

The synthesis of bile acid glucuronides by agarose-bound UDP-glucuronyltransferase.

Lithocholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid but not cholic acid or the glycine or taurine conjugates of these bile acids are glucuronidated by agarose-bound UDPglucuronyltransferase from rt liver in the presence of UDPglucuronic acid. The identification of bile acid glucuronides is based on the specific enzymatic hydrolysis, incorporation of 14C-labeled glucuronic acid into the molecule and by mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry indicates that bile acid glucuronides formed by agarose-bound UDPglucuronyltransferase are 3-glucuronides. The glucuronidation of lithocholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid is linear up to 45 min and at a protein concentration between 0.5 and 2.0 mg per assay. The pH optimum of the enzyme reaction is 7.0. The Km for lithocholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid, which are 0.040, 0.031 and 0.037 mM, respectively, are similar to those found in microsomal preparations. The use of agarose-bound UDP-glucuronyltransferase offers the possibility to synthesize bile acid glucuronides which are needed for kinetic studies in man and animal.

Animals↗

Isolation and identification of a sulfur-containing metabolite of spironolactone from human urine.

In the urine of normal subjects who were given an oral dose of 500 mg spironolactone (3-(3-oxo-7alpha-acetylthio-17beta-hydroxy-4-androsten-17alpha-yl)-propionic acid gamma-lactone; Aldactone) together with 100uCi H-20, 21 spironolactone, a so far unknown major metabolite has been detected by thin layer chromatography. The metabolite then could be isolated by means of counter-current-distribution. According to masspectral and magnetic resonance data, the metabolite has been assigned the structure of 3-(3-oxo-7alpha-methyl sulfonyl-6beta, 17beta-dihydroxy-4-androsten-17alpha-yl)-propionic acid gamma-lactone. By oxidation of the corresponding methylsulfinyl compound - another already known metabolite of spironolactone - with m-chloroperbenzoic acid, a compound has been isolated which proved to be identical with the new metabolite according to TLC, MS and NMR.

Countercurrent Distribution↗

Molar absorptivities of beta-NADH and beta-NADPH.

Re-investigating the accuracy of the commonly used values for molar absorptivities (epsilon) of beta-NADH and beta-NADPH at Hg 334, Hg 365, or 340 nm, we obtained the following results: The maximum of absorbance of NADH is shifted from about 340 nm at 0 degrees C to about 338.5 nm at 38 degrees C; the corresponding maxima of NADPH are located at about 0.5-nm longer wavelengths. In addition, the absorption curves of both coenzymes broaden with increasing temperature. For these reasons, the epsilon-values of NADH and NADPH are generally different from each other, and are temperature-dependent. Only at 334 nm are they almost identical and nearly independent of temperature. Therefore this wavelength is recommended for precise measurements. The epsilon-values of these coenzymes are influenced by ionic strength and pH. To determine the absolute values of the molar absorptivities, we performed the glutamate dehydrogenase or lactate dehydrogenase assay with carefully purified 2-oxoglutaric acid or pyruvic acid in the presence of excess coenzyme. The purity of the substrates was checked through differential scanning calorimetry, moisture analysis, gas-liquid chromatography, gas chromatography in combination with mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The epsilon-values observed under the various conditions are about 1-7% higher than those currently used.

Absorption↗