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Biomedical subjects

M Volk

Publications and source records attributed to M Volk.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Influence of time and osmolarity on nuclear area of tumor cells growing in vitro.

We investigated the simultaneous influence of the time of cultivation and of the osmolarity of the medium on nuclear sizes in vitro. Cells from a permanent cell line (MaTu), derived from a human breast cancer, were used. We found a linear increase of nuclear size during the first 64 h in culture. In contrast to the important influence of time on nuclear size in culture, even distinct variations of the osmolarity of the medium had little influence on nuclear size. Only if the osmolarity rose by 28% was there a clear reduction of nuclear size.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Needle aspiration of neck abscesses in children.

Needle aspiration of neck abscesses with CT-scan guidance was studied in 17 children with 18 abscesses from 1986 to 1991. Clinical and radiologic findings were analyzed according to treatment outcome. A majority of abscesses (55.6%) resolved after treatment with one to two attempts at needle aspiration and parenteral antibiotics. Unilocular abscesses were more likely than multilocular abscesses to resolve with needle aspiration. In general, abscesses in younger children who presented with smaller neck masses on physical examination and smaller abscess cavities on CT scan resolved with needle aspiration. The data support the use of needle aspiration as an effective initial treatment for pediatric neck abscesses. CT scan was found beneficial in documenting the abscesses and in guiding treatment. A treatment protocol is suggested for the use of needle aspiration in the management of neck abscesses in children.

Abscess↗

The relationship of tonsil bacterial concentration to surface and core cultures in chronic tonsillar disease in children.

Fifty-five tonsils removed for chronic tonsillar disease (chronic tonsillitis and obstructive tonsillar hyperplasia) underwent surface swab and quantitative core cultures in order to identify the relationship between core bacterial concentration and the presence of aerobic bacteria on the tonsil surface. The accuracy of a single core culture was further established by quantitative cultures of 9 sections per tonsil in an additional 19 tonsils. The results indicate that many (61.5%) but not all aerobic bacteria which were found in the tonsil core were cultured from the surface of the tonsil. Conversely, the tonsil core bacteria with the highest bacterial concentrations are more likely to be present on the tonsillar surface and the greater the bacterial concentration, the more likely the bacteria are to be found in most if not all areas of the tonsil core. Therefore, the core bacterial concentration appears to be related to the presence of aerobic bacteria on the tonsillar surface. Surface bacteria may not, however, be truly representative of the core bacterial environment. Implications for the management of chronic tonsillar disease will be discussed.

Bacteria↗

Term pregnancy after fallopian tube transposition.

A 23-year-old woman suffered from primary sterility because of congenital malformation of the uterus and tubes. There was a left unicornuate uterus. The left ovary and the isthmic and ampullary parts of the right tube were missing. Microsurgical transposition of the left tube was performed successfully. Our technique may encourage microsurgeons to use transposition of fallopian tube in cases in which only one tube and one ovary on contralateral sides are available.

Adult↗

Anesthetic complications of tympanotomy tube placement in children.

The anesthetic risks during placement of tympanotomy tubes were prospectively studied in 510 children. Complications were analyzed according to patient risk factors, anesthesia regimen, and surgical variables. No complications were seen in 423 (82.9%) children. Minor degrees of upper airway obstruction (treated with jaw thrust, oral airway, or positive pressure ventilation) were encountered in 61 patients (12.0%), 1 patient had minor obstruction and bradycardia, and 7 patients (1.4%) experienced more severe airway obstruction. Vomiting occurred intraoperatively in 2 patients (0.4%) and postoperatively in 9 patients (1.8%). Twelve patients (2.4%) experienced other complications, including cardiac dysrhythmias, transient hyperthermia, fall from the transport stretcher, and transient agitation. Four patients experienced multiple complications. Patient age, history of anesthesia, and level of experience of the anesthetist were all related to the type and frequency of complications. Anesthesia given for placement of ventilation tubes into tympanic membranes is relatively safe; however, these data are applicable to patients treated by pediatric anesthesiologists in the setting of a children's hospital.

Adolescent↗

Tubal anastomosis using a tissue adhesive.

The success of reversal of tubal ligation depends on the site of the sterilization, the tubal length after the repair of the Fallopian tube, the experience of the surgeon and the duration of surgery. It is therefore worth searching for methods to simplify the operation and to shorten the time necessary without reducing the success rate. We developed a method using a fibrin-thrombin adhesive system in combination with Swolin's one-stitch technique for tubal anastomosis. Instead of four to eight sero-muscular sutures we placed only one or two sero-muscular sutures and then the anastomosis was secured by a drop of fibrin glue. Until now 33 women have been 'refertilized' by this technique. In the case of 28 patients, a follow-up period of at least one year was possible. Thirteen intra-uterine pregnancies were achieved, three were ectopic and one woman aborted. In the cases of isthmic/isthmic anastomosis there were four intra-uterine pregnancies in six patients. We believe this result is a very important step to shortening the time of surgery with respect to the rules of microsurgical technique.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

[Sterilization reversal with additional use of fibrin glue (Beriplast). Preliminary report].

This is a report on the first use of a fibrin adhesive in microsurgical refertilisation. During the period between 4.4. 1984 and 11.11. 1985 a total number of 17 women were operated on with the additional use of this fibrin adhesive. In the first group, operated on between 4.4. 1984 and 14.11. 1984, three pregnancies have occurred so far. On 6.4. 1985 the first patient of this group gave birth to a boy weighing 3050 gr. To our knowledge this is the first delivery world-wide that was effected with the additional use of fibrin adhesive. Laparoscopy of tube function of a further patient in this group who had not become pregnant after 12 months revealed normal anatomical conditions in the region of the refertilised tube as well as perfect patency. Two cases of intrauterine pregnancy are known in another group of 6 women operated on between 13.2. 1985 and 15.5. 1985. In five patients the follow-up period is less than 4 months, and hence these have been excluded from evaluation. No ectopic pregnancies are known so far. We believe we can sum up as follows in respect of preliminary results: Additional use of fibrin adhesive in the refertilisation of fallopian tubes will not result in enhanced risk of renewed closure. It will be possible to develop suture-free techniques of anastomosis after appropriate development. Operation times get shorter by using fibrin adhesive and the stress exercised on the patient by anaesthesia is reduced. There does not seem to be any enhanced risk of ectopic pregnancy.

Adult↗

In vitro cultivation of xenotransplanted human breast-cancer cells.

Xenotransplanted human breast-cancer tissue growing in the second to the ninth passage in nu/nu mice and normal tissue from nu/nu mice was cultivated in vitro. Thirty-two of fifty-two (62%) cultures grew successfully and have been analyzed. The cells were observed using phase-contrast microscopy and May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining. The following cell types could be distinguished: normal fibroblast-like cells (FC), normal epithelial-like cells (EP I), abnormal epithelial-like cells (EP II), and degenerated or dying cells (DC). After staining, the nuclear area of all cell types was measured. The results were: FC = 280 micrometers 2, EP I = 320 micrometers 2, and EP II = 800 micrometers 2. They were compared with the nuclear area of human breast-cancer cells obtained by aspiration biopsy.

Animals↗

In vitro studies of human breast carcinoma cells obtained by aspiration biopsy.

Cells from 14 human breast carcinoma were obtained by aspiration biopsy and used for in vitro cultivation. Growth could be observed in three cultures, which were derived from solid, partly adenoid growing tumors with metastases in the axillary nodes. The growth started after 2--6 days in culture and lasted 2--4 weeks. No permanent line could be established.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Treatment of vulvar cancer (author's transl)].

This is a report on 120 cases of vulvar cancer. The mean age at diagnosis was 66.5 years. 25% were younger than 60, and 10% younger than 50 years. 95% were squamous cell carcinoma. The main site of the primary lesion were the labia (71%). 55 patients had palpable nodes in the groins. 12% of all women (=28% of those treated by radical vulvectomyl) had metastases in the groins. 54 (45%) were treated by radical vulvectomy, of which 23 (43%) received postsurgical radiation. 63 patients had minor operation with consecutive radiation in 51 (81%) of them. The overall 5 year survival rate was 43%. It was 65% in the group treated by radical surgery and 24% in the group of minor surgery and radiation. The radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal and femoral lymphonodectomy is recommended as treatment of choice in all suitable cases. The radiation cannot replace radical surgery.

Adult↗

Studies of thymus-derived and bone marrow-derived lymphocytes in renal transplant patients.

Serial studies of levels and responsiveness of T and B lymphocytes were performed in human renal allograft recipients. Patients given prednisolone-azathioprine immunosuppression had only mild falls in levels and responsiveness of T cells. Patients given a quality controlled ATG preparation had marked and relatively selective falls in levels of T cells associated with a marked fall in T cell responsiveness as measured by PHA and Con-A responsiveness. In vivo correlates of this severe T cell deficiency suggest that T lymphocytes are central to acute allograft rejection and that acute severe T cell deficiency is not associated with risk of infectious complications above and beyond those seen in patients suppressed with prednisone-azathioprine alone. These studies suggest that ATG, produced under quality control conditions and having rather selective anti-T cell activity, is a useful adjunctive immunosuppressive agent for human renal transplantation.

Antilymphocyte Serum↗