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Biomedical subjects

P Franz

Publications and source records attributed to P Franz.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Experimental reflux esophagitis in rats. A scanning electron-microscopic investigation.

We investigated the morphological alterations of the esophageal mucosa due to reflux disease by scanning electron microscopy. The esophagi of several rats were perfused with hydrochloric acid in the lower third, which was sealed towards the cardia with an inflatable catheter. Our findings indicate extensive erosion of the esophageal mucosa with detachment of the epithelial layer and underlying lamina propria from the lamina muscularis mucosae. The esophagi of control animals were perfused with physiologic saline solution and displayed no evidence of erosion or ulcerous alterations.

Animals↗

The milky spots on the chest wall in newborns.

The histologic properties of pleural adipose organs were studied in 14 newborns. These organs contain milky spots, in which lymphocytes, macrophages and plurivacuolated fat cells are present. The milky spots have a mesothelial covering, persist to the age of 9 months and seem to act as defence devices and a site of fluid exchange.

Adipose Tissue↗

Esophageal prostaglandins in guinea pigs and rats.

The synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) in the mucosa of the esophagus is studied in 20 albinotic adult guinea pigs and rats using the radioimmunoassay method. Both species investigated synthesize five PGs. The PG synthesis activity in the guinea pig's esophagus is higher than that in the rat's. PGE2 and PGF2 alpha might be involved in the regulation of lower esophagus sphincter pressure.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

[Distribution pattern of chemical in surface waters as a reflexion of entry pattern--nonvolatile halogenated hydrocarbons].

The concentrations of some nonvolatile halogenated hydrocarbons in surface waters of an industrialized city and its surroundings are given. About 80% of the ballast isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha, beta and delta BHC) and of DDT and its metabolites are in the range of less than 5 micrograms l-1, whereas ca. 50% of lindane (gamma BHC) were found to be between 5 and 100 micrograms l-1. Starting form the remarks about the differential-diagnostic assessment of environmental concentrations conclusions as to the origin of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers are drawn with the help of their distribution pattern. A high part of the gamma isomer, compared with the ballast isomers means an application (e.g. against mosquitos). This fact may be supported if it coincides with the months typical for such an application. in contrast to this if you have high percentages of alpha, beta and delta hexachlorocyclohexane, it indicates a point source or diffuse inputs of technical BHC. If all four isomers are present on a comparable and very low level this may reflect a remobilization from the sediment.

DDT↗

Threshold tracking provides a rapid indication of ischaemic resistance in motor axons of diabetic subjects.

An early abnormality in the peripheral nerves of patients with diabetes mellitus is that it takes a long period of limb ischaemia to block conduction. As a diagnostic test, however, the procedure is time consuming (30 min of ischaemia). We have now used an electronic feedback system to track threshold changes in human motor axons during and after a short period of ischemia (10 min) induced by a pressure cuff. The strength of stimulus current applied over an appropriate nerve was adjusted to maintain a constant amplitude of muscle action potential. This method reveals an increase in excitability during the first few minutes of ischaemia, and a post-ischaemic depression. Both changes in excitability were consistently much reduced in diabetic subjects compared with normal controls.

Action Potentials↗

[MRT of extracranial hematomas at 1.5 T using spin echo and gradient echo sequences].

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1.5 T was performed in 25 extracranial haematomas using spin-echo (SE) and fast-field-echo (FFE) sequences. The age of the haematomas was in 11 cases less than 2 days and in 9 cases more than 14 days. Fresh haematomas were isointense to skeletal muscle on T1-weighted SE images. With T2-weighted SE sequences, fresh haematomas had high signal intensity on the first day, but became inhomogeneous with predominantly low signal intensity on the following days. Areas of low signal intensity could be demonstrated by T2-weighted FFE sequences already on the first day after bleeding. Subacute haematomas were recognised by their high signal intensity on the T1-weighted SE images. Also with T2-weighted SE and FFE sequences, subacute haematomas showed increasingly high signal intensity. The characteristic appearance of haematomas facilitates their identification with MRI.

Hemarthrosis↗

Cerebrospinal fluid penetration after single or multiple dosage with ticarcillin/clavulanate.

Penetration of ticarcillin and clavulanate into the cerebrospinal fluid was studied in ten patients with varying degrees of impairment of the blood-brain barrier. In general, penetration of both drugs was relatively low and variable (5.4 +/- 5.8% for clavulanate and 2.0 +/- 4.0% for ticarcillin) but markedly better in those patients with impaired blood/brain barrier.

Adolescent↗

Esophageal vasculature in the guinea pig: a scanning electron microscope study of vascular corrosion casts.

The esophageal vascularization of adult male and female albinotic Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) is studied by means of light microscopically evaluated serial sections and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of vascular corrosion casts. Bronchoesophageal artery (cervical portion), direct branches of the aorta, recurrent branches of the intercostal arteries (thoracic portion) as well as of the left gastric artery (abdominal portion) supply the esophagus; internal jugular vein, inferior thyroid vein (cervical portion), azygos vein, intercostal veins (thoracic portion) and portal vein, gastroepiploic vein and cranial pancreatoduodenal vein (abdominal portion) drain it. Longitudinally arranged arterioles, venules and capillaries lying at the level of the lamina propria of the esophageal mucosa around the whole circumference of the organ are the most striking vascular features, whereby the venules are considered as those vessels from which esophageal varices arise under pathological conditions.

Animals↗

Calcium-dependent action potentials and associated inward currents in guinea-pig neocortical neurons in vitro.

Calcium-dependent potential changes and inward currents were studied in guinea-pig neocortical neurons maintained in vitro. Under conditions of reduced outward potassium current, induced by external application of tetraethylammonium ions or internal application of caesium ions, regenerative Ca2+-dependent action potentials could be elicited. Strontium and barium ions could substitute for calcium as the charge carrier but not magnesium; cadmium blocked the calcium spikes. In caesium-loaded neurons, in the presence of tetrodotoxin and tetraethylammonium, inward currents were recorded when the membrane potential was step-depolarized to potentials more positive than -50 mV. These currents were blocked by cadmium. It is concluded that guinea-pig neocortical neurons are capable of generating a calcium action potential via the activation of a slow inward current.

Action Potentials↗

Spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in guinea pig neocortex and olfactory cortex neurones.

The membrane potential of olfactory cortex and neocortex neurones in vitro was recorded using conventional microelectrode techniques. During recordings with KCl- or CsCl-filled microelectrodes, spontaneous, subthreshold, transient membrane depolarizations were observed. These were abolished by the GABAA-receptor antagonist, bicuculline methiodide, and were prolonged by the barbiturate pentobarbitone. In most cells they were abolished by tetrodotoxin. It is concluded that these spontaneous depolarizations are inhibitory postsynaptic potentials arising from spontaneous activity in inhibitory interneurones.

Animals↗

Calcium-dependent action potentials in guinea-pig olfactory cortex neurones.

Ca2+-dependent action potentials were recorded in guinea pig olfactory neurones in vitro (23 degrees--25 degrees C). In most cells (in the presence of tetrodotoxin: TTX) the current-voltage relationship displayed 'anomalous' rectification (apparent high slope resistance) at potentials approximately 20 mV depolarized to the resting membrane potential (approximately -80 mV) and strong outward rectification at more positive potentials. Intracellular Cs+-loading blocked outward rectification and increased action potential duration. Such spikes were TTX-insensitive and were further prolonged by external addition of tetraethylammonium (TEA) or Ba2+. Spikes recorded from Cs+-loaded, TTX/TEA-treated neurones displayed a prolonged plateau and an after-depolarization. They persisted when Ba2+ or Sr2+ were substituted for external Ca2+, but not when Mg2+ was the sole extracellular divalent cation. The spikes were blocked in the presence of Cd2+ but persisted when 82% of the extracellular Na+ was substituted by choline. A TTX-insensitive, slowly inactivating inward current at depolarized potentials is believed to account for the subthreshold 'anomalous' rectification and prolonged spike plateau.

Acetates↗

Calcium-dependent inward currents in voltage-clamped guinea-pig olfactory cortex neurones.

Guinea-pig olfactory cortex neurones in vitro (23 degrees C--25 degrees C) were voltage clamped by means of a single microelectrode sample-and-hold technique. In most Cs+-loaded neurones (in the presence of tetrodotoxin), membrane depolarization beyond -60 mV elicited inward currents, which had rapid activation kinetics. The steady-state current-voltage relationship was N-shaped with a region of negative slope conductance between - 50 mV and - 20 mV. The rate of inactivation varied according to the holding potential and the command potential. The inward currents were maintained when external Ca2+ was replaced by Ba2+, and were blocked by Cd2+, suggesting that Ca2+ was the principal charge carrier. The results demonstrate the existence of calcium current in olfactory cortex neurones.

Animals↗

Actions of potassium channel blockers on guinea-pig lateral olfactory tract axons.

Population action potentials were recorded from the guinea-pig isolated lateral olfactory tract. At 30 degrees C, the conduction velocity of the fibres was about 4 m/s and the absolute refractory period was less than or equal to 1.5 ms. The population spike was unaffected by removal of calcium ions from the superfusate but was abolished in tetrodotoxin. Tetraethylammonium ions (10 mmol/l) had no effect on the population spike, however the following potassium channel blocking drugs increased the duration in a concentration-dependent manner (in order of decreasing potency): 3,4-diaminopyridine, 4-aminopyridine, 3-aminopyridine, sparteine, cesium ions and barium ions. In addition to a prolongation, these substances also reduced the amplitude of the conducted spike. It is concluded that the rising phase of the spike is generated by a voltage-dependent increase in sodium conductance and that an increase in potassium conductance contributes to the falling phase. The potassium channels are potently blocked by aminopyridine like drugs.

4-Aminopyridine↗

[Post finem].

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Autopsy↗

Re-excitation of the cardioplegic heart. A possible hazard in clinical cardioplegic arrest.

Clinical cardioplegic arrest may coincide with a washout of cardioplegic agents by varying amounts of extracoronary collateral blood flow. This may shorten the duration of electromechanical arrest. Furthermore, even in the absence of electromechanical cardiac activity, washout may influence the cardioprotective properties of cardioplegic methods. The present study was designed to quantify the effects of cardioplegic washout. In a standardized isolated paracorporeal dog heart model, the St. Thomas's Hospital solution (ST-CP) and the Bretschneider histidine buffered solution (B-CP) were compared under the condition of washout by arterial blood. An inverse relationship was found between the amount of blood flowing through the coronary system and the duration of electromechanical arrest. Flow rates compatible with a 100 min period of complete electromechanical arrest were less than 0.41 ml/100 gr heart weight . min in ST-CP arrest and less than 0.21 ml/100 gr . min in B-CP arrest. This would indicate a greater safety against washout-induced re-excitation in ST-CP arrest. Postarrest myocardial function after 2 hours of complete electromechanical arrest at 20 degrees C was distinctly influenced by washout with arterial blood (20 degrees C) even in the absence of cardiac activity. A 100-min period of 0.2 ml/100 gr . min blood flow during arrest improved postarrest recovery of left ventricular developed pressure by 10% (76% versus 66%) after ST-CP arrest. By contrast, after B-CP arrest at equal rates of washout, recovery was diminished by 20% (79% versus 99%). It is concluded, that ST-CP, as compared to B-CP, provides longer periods of electromechanical arrest under the same washout conditions. Whereas postarrest recovery in the B-CP group is clearly superior to ST-CP in totally ischemic hearts, i.e. in hearts without collateral blood supply (99% versus 66%), this advantage may vanish in the presence of cardioplegic washout.

Animals↗