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Biomedical subjects

M Wagner

Publications and source records attributed to M Wagner.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Reducing maternal mortality in St Petersburg.

Following the entry of St Petersburg into Europe's Healthy Cities Project in 1991 it was decided that the highest priority should be given to reducing the city's maternal mortality ratio, then standing at approximately 70 deaths per 100,000 live births. Preventing deaths from unsafe, illegal abortion became the main focus of attention. The use of modern contraceptive methods was promoted, information was disseminated to improve the utilization of family planning services, special outreach services for teenagers were established, and providers were given opportunities for education and training. The maternal mortality ratio and the abortion rate have now declined and contraceptive use appears to be increasing. These achievements are attributable in large measure to the commitment of a broad spectrum of St Petersburg society as well as to outside support.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[MNGIE syndrome in 2 siblings].

Two siblings (one man, one woman), presenting with diarrhea, severe weight loss peripheral neuropathy, ophthalmoparesis, asymptomatic leukoencephalopathy were diagnosed as a new cases of Mitochondrial Neuro Gastro Intestinal Encephalomyopathy syndrome (MNGIE). Hirano (1994) defined four criteria for the diagnostic: peripheral neuropathy, ophthalmoparesis, gastro intestinal dysmotility, muscle biopsy with histologic features of mitochondrial myopathy (ragged-red fibers, muscle fibers with increased succinate deshydrogenase stain or ultra structurally abnormal mitochondria). In a review of the literature, we found 31 cases with MNGIE. With our two cases, we study this group of 33 patients. First symptoms begin about 13.5 years with a median of 10 years and extremes for 1 to 32 years. The first signs are gastro intestinal symptoms (recurrent nausea, vomiting or diarrhea with intestinal dysmotility) in 22 cases, an ophthalmoparesia in 4 cases, intestinal and ocular signs in 1 case, gait ataxia or peripheral neuropathy in 3 cases, hearing loss in 1 case, gait ataxia or peripheral neuropathy in 3 cases, hearing loss in 1 case. During the evolution, besides the cardinal signs, the following features have been observed with a variable frequency: hearing loss, short stature, facial palsy, dysphonia, dysarthria, sweating, orthostatic hypotension, bladder dysfunction, hepatomegalia, The laboratory features are: abnormal Nerve Condition Studies/EMG compatible with a sensory motor neuropathy, lactic acidosis, mitochondrial respiratory chain defect (essentially complex IV deficiency, complex I deficiency or multiple complex defect), MRI leukodystrophy, elevated CSF protein, heart block, ragged-red fibers or increased SDH stain. The prognosis is poor, due to a severe weight loss bordering on cachexia 13 patients died with a mean age of 28.5 years (median 24 years, extreme 3 years to 51 years). The prognosis seems to be worsened by a young age of onset. The 33 patients belong to 19 families with 7 cases of consanguinity. 25 patients had a brother, a sister or a cousin affected. The study of these families is compatible with an autosomic recessive transmission, suggesting a pathology of the nuclear genomi, probably impliying the control of the mitochondrial DNA replication. In fact, in 13 cases, a study of the mt DNA was realized: multiple deletions were founded in 6 cases, multiples mutations in one case, unique mutation in 1 case. In 5 cases ther was no evidence of abnormality. These precise etiology and pathophysiologic significance of the mt DNA deletions, and the heterogeneity of the modifications of the mt DNA remain unknown. However, the possibility of various phenotypes for a same genotype or inversely is known in mitochondriopathies.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Expression of a truncated EGF receptor is associated with inhibition of pancreatic cancer cell growth and enhanced sensitivity to cisplatinum.

Human pancreatic cancers over-express the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) and all 5 known ligands of the EGF family, including EGF, transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), amphiregulin, betacellulin and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF). The aim of the present study was to confirm the presence of EGF-R-dependent autocrine loops in a human pancreatic cancer cell line and to explore the possibility that interrupting EGF-R activation by introducing a truncated receptor abrogates pancreatic cancer cell growth. The anchorage-independent growth of PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells, previously shown to express TGF-alpha, was inhibited by specific anti TGF-alpha antibodies. PANC-1 cells were then either transfected with an expression plasmid encoding a kinase-deficient EGF-R cDNA (HER653) or infected with the same EGF-R cDNA using a retroviral vector. Multiple transfected and infected clones co-expressed the truncated EGF-R and endogenous EGF-R as revealed by Northern blot analysis and immunoblots. In these clones, there was a marked attenuation in EGF- and TGF-alpha-mediated EGF-R tyrosine phosphorylation and c-fos induction. There was also a significant decrease in colony formation in soft agar by comparison with control cells and a significant increase in the effect of the growth-inhibitory effect of the alkylating agent cisplatinum in these clones. Our observations indicate that dominant negative inhibition of EGF-R may have therapeutic potential in pancreatic cancer.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1996

Effect of pH and acyl-CoA chain length on the conversion of heart mitochondrial CPT-I/CPTo to a high affinity, malonyl-CoA-inhibited state.

The effect of pH and acyl-CoA chain length on the conversion of the malonyl-CoA-sensitive carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT-I/CPTo) to a high-affinity, malonyl-CoA-inhibited state using a particle derived from rat heart mitochondria was determined. Preincubation with malonyl-CoA for one minute in the absence of acyl-CoA substrate lowers the IC50 for malonyl-CoA from 2 microM, 14 microM, and 15 microM at pH 7.4 to 15 nM, 14 nM, and 14 nM for decanyl-, lauryl-, and palmitoyl-CoA, respectively. Reducing the pH to 7.1 and 6.8 had little effect on the transition to the high affinity, malonyl-CoA-inhibited state. Preincubation of malonyl-CoA with the acyl-CoA, but not with L-carnitine, prevented the transition to the high affinity, malonyl-CoA-inhibited state.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗
PubMed1996

Hereditary multiple exostoses: confirmation of linkage to chromosomes 8 and 11.

Hereditary multiple exostoses (EXT) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the formation of cartilage capped prominences that develop from the epiphyses of the long bones. EXT is heterogeneous with three different locations currently identified on chromosomes 8, 11, and 19. Recently, we identified and studied 12 large multigenerational EXT families. Linkage analyses demonstrates that 6 of these families map to 8q24 and 6 to 11p. None of the families map to the chromosome 19 locus. The results suggest that there are two major loci, on chromosomes 8 and 11, involved in the cause of EXT. The locus on chromosome 19 remains to be confirmed.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11↗
PubMed1996

Modulation of auditory responses during oddball tasks.

The modulation of auditory input processing in relation to slow event-related potentials was examined in two studies. A steady-state response (SSR) was evoked by a stimulus train delivered at 40 Hz. Slow potentials were elicited by an oddball task implemented as changes in the pitch of single stimuli within this 40-Hz train. In study 1, subjects responded to rare targets by means of a button press. In study 2, subjects responded to targets by means of a motor response in one session and by silent counting in another session. In both studies, the oddball task elicited a P300 to targets. SSR amplitude was reduced 100 ms following each stimulus, while a second amplitude reduction around 350-400 ms was discovered following targets, in particular, following a button press. Parallel to SSR amplitude reductions, the latencies between stimulus and subsequent SSR peak were reduced. Results indicate that processing of oddball stimuli and motor responding alters 'automatic' auditory processing at the level of the primary auditory cortex; the second SSR amplitude reduction which develops in parallel to P300 might support the hypothesis that slow positive potentials indicate widespread (disfacilitation) inhibition of cortical neural excitability.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

MR-imaging of non-Alzheimer's dementia.

Up to now, computerized tomography (CT) and MR-imaging have been used for the morphological assessment of dementia patients, while MRI has become the structure imaging modality of choice. With the advent of fast and ultrafast sequences provided by higher gradient field strengths, functional MR studies like diffusion, perfusion and activation studies become available. The greatest advantage of MR is its versatility including MR-imaging, 3D postprocessing, MR-volumetry, MR-spectroscopy, MR-angiography, MR-perfusion and diffusion imaging as well as functional MRI activation studies. The application of the multimodal MR-technology in dementia disorders has already began and has to be validated in clinical practice. The multimodality of MR represents a diagnostic challenge for the future with the hope, that the diagnostic efficacy, which has to be proven, is also followed by an improvement of patients care and prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Characterization of Bacterial Communities from Activated Sludge: Culture-Dependent Numerical Identification Versus In Situ Identification Using Group- and Genus-Specific rRNA-Targeted Oligonucleotide Probes

The structures of bacterial communities were studied in activated sludge samples obtained from the aerobic and anaerobic zones of a wastewater treatment plant showing enhanced phosphorous removal. Samples were analyzed by in situ hybridization with oligonucleotide probes complementary to selected regions of the 16S and 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) characteristic for defined phylogenetic entities (genera and larger groups). The microbial community structures revealed by molecular techniques were compared with the compositions of culturable bacterial communities, obtained from the characterization of 255 isolates from tryptone-soy (TS) agar and R2A agar. These isolates were characterized by 89 physiological tests and their cellular fatty acid patterns, and identified. Culture-dependent techniques indicated the following distribution: different Aeromonas spp. (2.7-8.3% on R2A agar; 45.0-63.7% on TS agar), Acinetobacter spp. (5.4-9.0% on R2A agar; 5.0-9.1% on TS agar), Pseudomonas spp. (up to 10% on R2A agar) and Shewanella putrefaciens (up to 3.0% on R2A agar), all members of the gamma subclass of Proteobacteria, were isolated most frequently. The relatively rare isolates of the beta subclass were identified as Acidovorax spp., Alcaligenes spp., and Comamonas spp.. The Gram-positive bacteria (high DNA G+C) were assigned mainly to Arthrobacter spp., Microbacterium spp., and Mycobacterium phlei. In order to assess the in situ abundance of the most frequently isolated genus, Aeromonas, two rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes were developed. The two gamma proteobacterial genera Aeromonas and Acinetobacter constituted less than 5% of all bacteria. In situ, Proteobacteria belonging to the beta subclass and high G+C Gram-positive bacteria were dominant. From filamentous bacteria, Sphaerotilus spp. and Leptothrix spp. could be detected occasionally. In addition, one sample contained a high proportion of the morphologically distinct filaments of Microthrix parvicella.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Controlled multicenter trial of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernioplasty vs Shouldice herniorrhaphy. Early results.

BACKGROUND: In February 1993 a prospective randomized multicenter trial was initiated to compare laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernioplasty to Shouldice herniorrhaphy as performed by surgeons of nonspecialized clinics. METHODS: Until January 1994, 87 patients with 108 hernias took part in the trial (43 Shouldice and 44 laparoscopic repairs). RESULTS: The laparoscopic procedure took significantly longer than did the open operation but caused less pain as measured by pain analogue score and consumption of paracetamol and narcotics. The postoperative complication rate was 26% in the open and 16% in the laparoscopic group. The patients in the laparoscopic group were discharged earlier and their convalescence was shorter than after open hernia repair. There has been one early recurrence in the laparoscopic and two in the open group to date with a mean follow-up of 201 days. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic hernia repair causes less pain than the conventional operation and enables the patient to return to full work and usual activities earlier. The recurrence rate will not be known for 5 years.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1996

Measuring stability of wire cerclage in femoral fractures when performing total hip replacement. In vitro study on a standardized bone model.

The stability of wire cerclage was investigated on a wooden model. Two semitubular shells made of hard oak were firmly joined together using cerclage wires of different diameters and with different techniques. A conical test piece was then implanted. The test set-up was subjected once to an axial force of 4 kN and a torque of 20 Nm using a testing machine. Implant excursion at the interface was measured. One hundred forty measurements carried out on test pieces with fissures demonstrated that cerclage wires with the largest diameter possible should be used with a double-loop technique. Wire diameters under 1.2 mm are unsuitable for cerclage of the femur because they rupture easily. The most stable cerclage is obtained with two double cerclages using 1.5-mm stainless steel wires. Although micromotion is greater than for the reference group without fissures, no cases of excursions exceeding 100 microns could be measured. In comparison with a femoral shaft that is not fractured, marked instability remains. It is recommended that a tightening tool be used to tighten the wires, as this achieves considerably more stable cerclage than that achieved with two forceps.

Bone Wires↗