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Biomedical subjects

O Oelz

Publications and source records attributed to O Oelz.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Antibodies to HTLV-III in Swiss patients with AIDS and pre-AIDS and in groups at risk for AIDS.

We tested serum samples from Swiss subjects by three different assays based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot techniques for antibodies to proteins associated with the recently discovered human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus HTLV-III, the putative etiologic agent for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Of 10 patients with AIDS and 10 with pre-AIDS, all were antibody-positive. Furthermore, 37 of 103 intravenous-drug addicts (36 per cent), 4 of 40 healthy homosexual men (10 per cent), 7 of 83 patients with various types of hepatitis (8.4 per cent), but none of 83 healthy blood donors or 10 other controls were antibody-positive. Antibodies to the major viral protein p24 were found consistently and at high titers in the seropositive members of the groups at risk and in those with pre-AIDS but were dramatically reduced in patients with AIDS. In contrast, antibodies to another virus-associated protein, p41, were present in all cases of AIDS and pre-AIDS but were absent in nearly 10 per cent of seropositive persons at risk. Whereas p41 and p24 thus appear to be the targets of choice for future screening tests, the ELISA test that is currently available is a useful screening tool.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

[Candida endophthalmitis: diagnosis, course and therapy in 8 patients].

Over a two-year period 8 patients were hospitalized with a presumptive diagnosis of Candida endophthalmitis. 6 patients were heroin addicts, while in the 2 other patients no risk factor could be identified. The presumptive diagnosis was based on the typical findings of retinohyalitic exudate and exclusion of other factors causing endophthalmitis. Intravenous therapy with amphotericin-B and flucytosin resulted in definitive scar healing. In 1 patient vitrectomy was necessitated by recurrence of endophthalmitis resistant to antifungal therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Acquired immune deficiency syndrome in the region of Zurich. Report on 12 cases].

Observations of 12 patients with AIDS at this institution from March 1981 to April 1984 are reported. Ten patients were homosexuals and two were bisexual. The majority had travelled abroad (USA, Haiti) and reported multiple anonymous sexual contracts. Eleven patients reported symptoms and signs, of 2-12 months' duration, frequently seen in pre-AIDS: fatigue (10), weight loss (10), diarrhea (7), night sweats (5), fever (4), and generalized lymphadenopathy (1). Laboratory studies showed anemia (10), lymphopenia (9), leukopenia (7), decreased T-helper/T-suppressor ratio (10) and cutaneous anergy to multiple skin-test antigens (9). P. carinii pneumonia was diagnosed in three patients, P. carinii pneumonia and Kaposi's sarcoma in one patient and Kaposi's sarcoma in six patients. Another patient had a chronic mucocutaneous infection with herpes simplex and another an intestinal cryptosporidiosis and Kaposi's sarcoma. Alpha-A-interferon was used to treat patients with Kaposi's sarcoma and three patients with limited disease showed a favorable response. Six patients with advanced disease died.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1983

[Systemic mycoses in hematologic neoplasms].

Between July 1973 and June 1981 systemic fungal infections were found in 27 of 270 autopsies of patients with hematologic malignancies: in 16 aspergillosis, in 6 candidiasis, in one aspergillosis and candidiasis, and in 4 mucormycosis. The frequency increased from 6% during the first 6 years to 25% during the last 2 years (p = 0.025). Fever despite antibiotics and new pulmonary infiltrates were the major symptoms. In only 6 of 16 patients did microbiological findings support the clinically suspected diagnosis. Systemic fungal infections were the principal cause of death in 12 patients. Because of the difficulty of establishing the diagnosis, empiric antimycotic therapy should be started promptly on clinical suspicion in patients with neutropenia and fever despite antibiotics.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed1983

Trichosporon capitatum: thrush-like oral infection, local invasion, fungaemia and metastatic abscess formation in a leukaemic patient.

A thrush-like oral infection with subsequent alveolar abscess formation and a positive blood culture due to Trichosporon capitatum developed in a patient with acute myelogenous leukaemia. Later T. capitatum was identified by indirect immunofluorescence in multiple splenic abscesses. The infection was controlled by immediate aggressive treatment with amphotericin B, flucytosine and rifampicin and by splenectomy. This case of systemic T. capitatum infection resembles somewhat the invasive mycosis due to candida.

Abscess↗
PubMed1982

[Incidence, prevention and therapy of acute mountain sickness].

The symptoms and signs of acute mountain sickness are present in about half of the tourists trekking in Nepal to an altitude of 42000 m. The most common symptoms are headache and nausea. Pulmonary rales are found in more than 10% of trekkers, while high altitude pulmonary edema is rare. Retinal hemorrhages occur almost exclusively above 5000 m. A careful history and physical examination are generally sufficient for medical evaluation of fitness for high altitude. There are no specific tests to predict performance at altitude. The most effective prophylaxis of acute mountain sickness is "slow" ascent, which is arbitrarily defined as an increase in sleeping altitude of 300-400 m per 24 hours. Sufficient fluid intake is also very important. Prophylactic administration of acetazolamide reduces the incidence and severity of acute mountain sickness. Mild forms of acute mountain sickness are treated by a rest day, whereas patients with severe disease should descend as soon as possible.

Acetazolamide↗
PubMed1979

Metabolism of prostaglandin D2 in the monkey.

[3H7]Prostaglandin D2 was biosynthesized and infused into an unanesthetized monkey. The urinary metabolites were isolated and subsequently identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Two pathways of prostaglandin D2 metabolism were identified and resulted in metabolites with prostaglandin D (3-hydroxycyclopentanone) and prostaglandin F (cyclopentane-1,3-diol) ring structures. The major prostaglandin D ring metabolite was identified as 9,20-dihydroxy-11,15-dioxo-2,3-dinorprost-5-en-1-oic acid. Nine other prostaglandin D ring metabolites were identified reflecting various combinations of metabolism by beta and omega oxidation, 15 dehydrogenation, and 13-14 reduction. In greater abundance were those prostaglandin D2 metabolites which had the prostaglandin F ring structure. The major prostaglandin D2 metabolite which had the prostaglandin F ring structure was identified as 9,11,15-trihydroxy-2,3-dinorprosta-5,13-dien-1-oic acid (dinor prostaglandin F2 alpha). Nine other metabolites with the prostaglandin F ring structure were identified, including prostaglandin F2 alpha itself. These, for the most part, were the structural counterparts of the metabolites with the prostaglandin D ring. Since many prostaglandin D2 metabolites were found to be identical with the metabolites of prostaglandin F2 alpha, quantitative determinations of prostaglandin F ring metabolites may not be a specific indicator of prostaglandin F2 alpha biosynthesis. Likewise, data involving the measurement of a biological effect of prostaglandin D2 must be re-examined to account for the possible contribution of prostaglandin F2 alpha, a metabolite of prostaglandin D2, to the biological response.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

[Action mechanism and clinical indications for thrombocyte aggregation inhibitors].

The mechanisms of action of three most commonly used antiplatelet agents (aspirin, sulfinpyrazone, dipyridamole) are briefly discussed. Aspirin inhibits the prostaglandin synthetase of platelets irreversibly and thereby blocks the production of prostaglandin endoperoxides and thromboxane A2, which stimulate platelet aggregation. A daily aspirin dose of 200--300 mg is sufficient to achieve this effect. Sulfinpyrazone appears to interfere with the adhesion of platelets to subendothelial structures and atherosclerotic plaques. Dipyridamole increases cyclic AMP in platelets and thus reduces platelet response to aggregating agents. A few of the satisfactorily performed studies on the clinical effectiveness of antiplatelet agents are mentioned. Sulfinpyrazone treatment of patients with myocardial infarction (Killip--classification I and II), starting 25--35 days after the acute myocardial infarction, reduces cardiac mortality and incidence of sudden death for a period of two years. The efficacy of aspirin treatment in coronary artery disease is not yet definitely established. In patients with transient ischemic attacks, particularly males with appropriate carotid lesions, aspirin therapy reduces the frequency of transient ischemic attacks and possibly the incidence of stroke and death. Sulfinpyrazone is ineffective in these patients. Sulfinpyrazone and aspirin are of value in the prevention of thrombosis in straight arterio-venous shunts. Aspirin reduces the frequency of deep venous thrombosis after total hip replacement in males but not in females. In patients with recurrent venous thrombosis, sulfinpyrazone treatment is effective in preventing thrombosis.

Anticoagulants↗