The mortality rate of salicylate poisoning.
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Health Education↗
Biomedical subjects
P Schmidt
Publications and source records attributed to P Schmidt.
Effects of sustained low-level elevations of carbon dioxide on cerebral blood flow and autoregulation of the intracerebral arteries in humans.
Cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv) was measured by insonating the middle cerebral arteries of four subjects using a 2 Mhz transcranial Doppler. Ambient CO2 was elevated to 0.7% for 23 d in the first study and to 1.2% for 23 d in the same subjects in the second study. By non-parametric testing CBFv was elevated significantly by +35% above pre-exposure levels during the first 1-3 d at both exposure levels, after which CBFv progressively readjusted to pre-exposure levels. Despite similar CBFv responses, headache was only reported during the initial phase of exposure to 1.2% CO2. Vascular reactivity to CO2 assessed by rebreathing showed a similar pattern with the CBFv increases early in the exposures being greater than those elicited later. An increase in metabolic rate of the visual cortex was evoked by having the subjects open and close their eyes during a visual stimulus. Evoked CBFv responses measured in the posterior cerebral artery were also elevated in the first 1-3 d of both studies returning to pre-exposure levels as hypercapnia continued. Cerebral vascular autoregulation assessed by raising head pressure during 10 degrees head-down tilt both during the low-level exposures and during rebreathing was unaltered. There were no changes in the retinal microcirculation during serial fundoscopy studies. The time-dependent changes in CO2 vascular reactivity might be due either to retention of bicarbonate in brain extracellular fluid or to progressive increases in ventilation, or both. Cerebral vascular autoregulation appears preserved during chronic exposure to these low levels of ambient CO2.
Adult↗
[Somatotropic pituitary adenoma with lesions of the oculomotor nerve in a cat].
A case of a 6.5-year-old castrated male European Shorthair Cat with an unilateral lesion of the oculomotor nerve is described. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass in the area of the pituitary gland which could be identified as a somatotrope adenoma by immunochemistry. Unlike the feline somatotrope adenoma cases described in the literature this cat showed clinically no acromegalic features or hyperglycemia. An oculomotor nerve lesion in conjunction with a feline somatotropic pituitary adenoma has also not been described before.
Adenoma↗
[Fatal post-traumatic alcohol delirium--compensation responsibility in private accident insurance?].
While several case reports about fatal posttraumatic alcohol withdrawal deliriums after minor traumas and compensation by legal insurance have been published this problem has been hardly addressed regarding private accidance insurance. Based on the very comprehensive definition of an accident in the private insurance law posttraumatic deaths by alcohol withdrawal deliriums can be causally related even to minor traumas and compensations by private insurance are justified. However according to section 8 AUB 88 the contribution of preexisting alcoholism and alcohol related organ damage to the lethal outcome must be subtracted.
Adult↗
Recombinant type A and B phytochromes from potato. Transient absorption spectroscopy.
The cDNAs encoding full-length type A and B phytochromes (phyA and phyB, respectively) from potato were expressed in inducible yeast systems (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris). In addition, a deletion mutant of phyB (delta 1-74) was expressed. The apoproteins were reconstituted into chromoproteins by incorporation of the native chromophore, phytochromobilin (P phi B), and of phycocyanobilin (PCB). The incorporation of P phi B yielded chromoproteins with difference absorptions lambda max at 660 and 712 nm (Pr and Pfr, respectively) for phyA, and at 665 and 723 nm for phyB. All difference maxima of PCB phytochromes are blue-shifted by several nanometers with respect to those obtained with the P phi B chromophore. The deletion construct with PCB shows difference absorption maxima at 652 and 705 nm with the Pfr absorbance considerably reduced. Time-resolved kinetic analysis of a phyB-type phytochrome by nanosecond flash photolysis was performed for the first time. Recombinant full-length phyB afforded transient absorbance changes similar (but not identical) to those of phyA from Avena, whereas the kinetic behavior of these intermediates was very different. Contrary to phyA from Avena, the I700 intermediate from phyB reconstituted with either PCB or P phi B decayed following single exponential kinetics with a lifetime of 87 or 84 microseconds, respectively, at 10 degrees C. The formation of Pfr of PCB-containing recombinant phyB (phyB-PCB) could be fitted with three lifetimes of 9, 127, and 728 ms. The corresponding lifetimes of phyB-P phi B are 22.5, 343, and 2083 ms. Whereas for phyB-PCB all three millisecond lifetimes are related to the formation of Pfr, the 2 s component of phyB-P phi B is concomitant with a rapid recovery of Pr. For recombinant potato phyA and delta 1-74 phyB, no time-resolved data could be obtained due to the limited quantities available. As described for phytochromes of other dicotelydons, the Pfr forms of full-length phyA and PhyB of potato underwent rapid dark conversion to Pr.
Biliverdine↗
Milk-responsive atopic dermatitis is associated with a casein-specific lymphocyte response in adolescent and adult patients.
BACKGROUND: Specific T-cell responses to food antigens have been described in children with atopic dermatitis (AD). However, a subgroup of adolescent and adult patients still experiences food-responsive AD. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate lymphocyte responses to bovine casein in adult patients with AD. METHODS: The stimulatory capacity of lipopolysaccharide-depleted bovine casein was tested in proliferation assays and in limiting dilution assays. Casein-specific T-cell clones (TCCs) were generated and characterized. RESULTS: Higher proliferative responses to casein and modulation of cytokine receptors were observed in patients with milk-responsive AD compared with individuals without clinical reactions on milk ingestion. The results did not correlate with the amount of casein-specific IgE in the serum. The frequencies of T cells that grew in the presence of casein or house dust mite antigens were similar. Only 27% of CD4+ casein-specific TCCs from these patients, but the majority of house dust mite-specific TCCs, produced IL-4 on mitogen stimulation. Interferon-gamma, on the other hand, was produced by the majority of TCCs with both specificities. CONCLUSION: A specific T-cell-mediated immune response to casein can be found in the blood of adolescent and adult patients with milk-related exacerbation of AD. In contrast to house dust mite-specific T cells, casein-specific T cells of adult patients who respond to cow's milk with worsening of AD produce little or no IL-4.
Adolescent↗
Actions and interactions of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-II: body and organ growth of transgenic mice.
To characterize long-term actions and interactions of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) on postnatal body and organ growth, hemizygous phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK)-human IGF-II transgenic mice were crossed with hemizygous PEPCK-bovine GH transgenic mice. The latter are characterized by two-fold increased serum levels of IGF-I and exhibit markedly increased body, skeletal and organ growth. Four different genetic groups were obtained: mice harbouring the IGF-II transgene (I), the bGH transgene (B), or both transgenes (IB), and non-transgenic controls (C). These groups of mice have previously been studied for circulating IGF-I levels (Wolf et al., 1995a), whereas the present study deals with body and organ growth. Growth curves (week 3 to 12) were estimated by regression with linear and quadratic components of age on body weight and exhibited significantly (p < 0.001) greater linear coefficients in B and IB than in I and C mice. The linear coefficients of male I and C mice were significantly (p < 0.001) greater than those of their female counterparts, whereas this sex-related difference was absent in the bGH transgenic groups. The weights of internal organs as well as the weights of abdominal fat, skin and carcass were recorded from 3.5- to 8-month-old mice. In addition, organ weight-to-body weight-ratios (relative organ weights) were calculated. Except for the weight of abdominal fat, absolute organ weights were as a rule significantly greater in B and IB than in I and C mice. IGF-II overproduction as a tendency increased the weights of kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas and uterus both in the absence and presence of the bGH transgene. Analysis of relative organ weights demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) effects of elevated IGF-II on the relative growth of kidneys (males and females) and adrenal glands (females), confirming our previous report on organ growth of PEPCK-IGF-II transgenic mice. In females, IGF-II and GH overproduction were additive in stimulating the growth of spleen and uterus, providing evidence for tissue-specific postnatal growth promoting effects by IGF-II in the presence of elevated IGF-I.
Abdomen↗
Prevalence and time course of microembolic signals in patients with acute stroke. A prospective study.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebral emboli can be identified by the presence of typical microembolic signals (MES) in transcranial Doppler (TCD) spectral curves. The usefulness of this technique was studied by evaluating the prevalence and time course of MES in patients with acute stroke. In addition, we examined the influence of anticoagulation therapy on the occurrence of MES. Another study objective was to identify the value of MES in elucidation of the underlying pathology of cerebral ischemia in patients with acute stroke. METHODS: We used bilateral TCD monitoring of the middle cerebral artery to search for microemboli in 100 patients with acute nonhemorrhagic stroke in the anterior circulation. Monitoring time was for 30 minutes at admission (examination I), after 24 hours (examination II), and again after 48 hours (examination III). RESULTS: Twenty-two of the 100 patients had to be excluded from the study after examination 1 because retrospectively they did not fulfill the inclusion criterion or because they had an insufficient bone window. Forty of the patients (51%) showed MES during at least one of the three TCD examinations. In 9 of the 47 patients without MES during examination I (19%), MES could be recorded subsequently during examinations II and III. A statistically significant decrease in the prevalence of MES occurred between examinations I and III (P = .01). The frequency of MES in a single patient decreased between examinations I and II but increased again in examination III, although it did not reach the initial level. Prevalence of MES was the highest during the period up to 6 hours after the onset of symptoms. However, even at > 72 hours after the onset of symptoms, a substantial number of MES could be recorded. In 18 of the 21 patients with carotid artery stenosis or occlusion who showed MES (86%), these signals occurred ipsilateral to the affected carotid artery. In 5 of the 13 patients with MES and a potential cardiac source of embolism (38%), MES were observed bilaterally. Forty-one patients were without anticoagulation treatment at the time of examination: 19 of these patients (46%) presented with MES. In contrast, of the 37 patients receiving anticoagulation treatment at the time of the first examination, MES could be recorded in only 12 (32%). CONCLUSIONS: Microemboli are a frequent phenomenon in patients with acute stroke arising from a variety of causes, both in the very early stages and several days after the onset of symptoms. The prevalence of MES decreases significantly over time. MES occur more frequently in patients with carotid artery disease than in patients with a potential cardiac source of embolism. Ipsilateral MES are frequent in patients with carotid artery disease, whereas bilateral MES are suggestive of a cardioembolic origin. Anticoagulation treatment appears to decrease the prevalence of MES, but microemboli still occur in patients receiving intravenous therapy with heparin. Because MES occur intermittently, TCD examinations should be repeated several times, even in patients without MES in the first examination, and long-term monitoring equipment is necessary.
Acute Disease↗
Do chronic middle cerebral artery stenoses represent an embolic focus? A multirange transcranial Doppler study.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It remains uncertain whether the annual stroke risk of 7% to 8% in middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis is of embolic or hemodynamic origin. Preliminary reports provide evidence of emboli exiting from acute MCA stenoses, detected by transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography. With multirange monitoring before and after the stenosis, TCD monitoring may help for the first time to differentiate microemboli exiting from the MCA stenosis from those with a source proximal to the MCA stenosis. We searched for microembolic signals (MES) using multigated monitoring in patients with chronic MCA stenoses. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with 78 chronic stenoses of the MCA were enrolled in the study. Additional sources of embolism were ruled out by extensive clinical workup. Twenty-four patients were treated with coumarin, whereas 28 patients received aspirin. The remaining 6 patients discontinued their medication after a few weeks. The sample volume of the multirange probe was placed on either side of the stenotic area of the MCA. RESULTS: Twenty-three (29.5%) of the stenoses were low grade, 18 (23%) were moderate, and 37 (47.5%) were severe. Thirty-seven (47%) of the stenoses were symptomatic and 41 (53%) were asymptomatic before study entry. During follow-up, 2 strokes and 7 transient ischemic attacks occurred. Computer tomography revealed two watershed-type infarcts. Sufficient insonation of the prestenotic and poststenotic segments of the MCA was possible in 70 stenoses (90%). No MES could be detected during a total of 1740 minutes' monitoring time distal to the MCA stenoses, regardless of the patients' medication. MES were also absent in the contralateral MCA. CONCLUSIONS: MES are not detectable in patients with chronic MCA stenoses of different degrees. No MES were found in either symptomatic or asymptomatic stenoses, regardless of the patients' medication. These results indicate that chronic MCA stenoses do not represent a significant embolic source. The absence of MES in the prestenotic Doppler sample volume, the watershed-type infarcts during follow-up, and the absence of small-vessel disease on computed tomography suggests that hemodynamic mechanisms are responsible for recurrent cerebral ischemia.
Aged↗
The totally extraperitoneal (TEP) laparoscopic hernia repair.
In recent years endoscopic techniques using mesh implantation have been added to the many options for the repair of inguinal hernia to diminish postoperative pain, shorten the reconvalescence period and improve the recurrence figures of the classical repair. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate our first experiences gained by applying the TEP laparoscopic hernia repair. Between March and December 1996, 20 laparoscopic herniorrhaphies were performed with complete extraperitoneal balloon dissection. A large polypropylene prosthesis was inserted to cover all potential defects. The follow-up was 2-10 months. There were 10 indirect, 6 direct, 1 combined direct and indirect, 1 femoral and 2 scrotal hernias. Age (26-86 years) and operative time (52-120 mins) had a wide range. Hospital stay lasted from 1-5 days. Morbidity was low: scrotal emphysema (3), peritoneal lesion (2) and palpable mesh crease (1) occurred in a few cases. No recurrences have been seen so far. It seems that the TEP laparoscopic hernia repair is a highly successful procedure with minimal morbidity. Preliminary results are promising. Further experiences and long term follow-up studies will determine the future of laparoscopic hernia surgery.
Adult↗
PACAP 1-27 and 1-38 in the porcine pancreas: occurrence, localization, and effects.
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Animals↗
Targeted disruption of the arylsulfatase B gene results in mice resembling the phenotype of mucopolysaccharidosis VI.
Mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS VI) is a lysosomal storage disease with autosomal recessive inheritance caused by a deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase B (ASB), which is involved in degradation of dermatan sulfate and chondroitin 4-sulfate. A MPS VI mouse model was generated by targeted disruption of the ASB gene. Homozygous mutant animals exhibit ASB enzyme deficiency and elevated urinary secretion of dermatan sulfate. They develop progressive symptoms resembling those of MPS VI in humans. Around 4 weeks of age facial dysmorphia becomes overt, long bones are shortened, and pelvic and costal abnormalities are observed. Major alterations in bone formation with perturbed cartilaginous tissues in newborns and widened, perturbed, and persisting growth plates in adult animals are seen. All major parenchymal organs show storage of glycosaminoglycans preferentially in interstitial cells and macrophages. Affected mice are fertile and mortality is not elevated up to 15 months of age. This mouse model will be a valuable tool for studying pathogenesis of MPS VI and may help to evaluate therapeutical approaches for lysosomal storage diseases.
Animals↗
[Basic training st the Györ-Mosom-Sopron County Free University-- a national model for the training and advanced education of family physicians].
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Academic Medical Centers↗
Child homicide in Cologne (1985-94).
Twenty five child homicides investigated in the Cologne University Institute of Forensic Medicine from 1985-94 were retrospectively analysed with special reference to the evidential value of the autopsy findings and possible peculiarities related to the infants' physiological condition. About 65% of the victims were boys younger than 3 years. About 65% of the child homicides were committed by the mother in the parental flat, predominantly in the early hours of the evening during the weekend. The mode of death were 10x blunt injury, 6x sharp violence, 6x strangulation, 3x smothering, 2x drowning, 2x gunshot and 5x neglect (starvation). The defenseless, helpless and immobile condition of the infant particularly favours a homicide by manual assault, smothering or neglect (starvation).
Adolescent↗
Mapping of the interferon gamma gene (IFNG) to chromosomes 3 in sheep and 5 in goat by FISH.
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Animals↗
Chromophore-protein interaction controls the complexity of the phytochrome photocycle.
A new protocol for the preparation of recombinant phytochromes results in significantly higher yields which, for the first time, have made kinetic studies possible. Flash photolysis with nanosecond laser excitation reveals that, in recombinant and native phytochromes, the decay kinetics of the primary photoproducts I700i and the kinetics of the formation of the Pfr form are similar. Phycocyanobilin-containing recombinant phytochrome, however, shows only a monoexponential decay of the I700 intermediate with a time constant of approximately 90 microseconds, and a biexponential formation of the Pfr form, albeit with time constants (approximately 13 and 100 ms) somewhat shorter than those from native phytochrome. Thus the seemingly small structural modification of the chromophore (substitution of the native vinyl for an ethyl group) has a profound influence on the availability of protein conformational rearrangement pathways. The result is therefore of general interest in chromoprotein dynamics.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Tachykinins mediate vagal inhibition of gastrin secretion in pigs.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Electrical vagal stimulation activates both stimulatory and inhibitory nerve fibers regulating gastrin release in the porcine antrum. The aim of this study was to examine the role of tachykinins in the inhibitory vagal control of gastrin release in the porcine antrum. METHODS: Tachykinin presence was examined by immunohistochemistry and specific radioimmunoassays. Effects of electrical vagus stimulation and capsaicin infusion on tachykinin, gastrin, and somatostatin release were studied using the isolated perfused porcine antrum with intact vagal innervation. Effects of substance P and neurokinin A on gastrin and somatostatin secretion were investigated using nonpeptide neurokinin 1 and 2 receptor antagonists and somatostatin immunoneutralization. RESULTS: Porcine antrum contained substance P and neurokinin A and did not contain neurokinin B, with immunoreactive nerves situated close to gastrin- and somatostatin-immunoreactive cells. Vagus stimulation released substance P, neurokinin A, gastrin, and somatostatin, whereas capsaicin stimulated only tachykinin release Tachykinin infusions increased somatostatin and decreased gastrin secretion, the latter being unaffected by somatostatin immunoneutralization and both being blocked by a combination of neurokinin 1 and 2 receptor antagonists, which also increased gastrin output during vagal stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Tachykinins strongly inhibit gastrin and stimulate somatostatin secretion in porcine antrum, and tachykininergic nerves mediate inhibitory vagal regulation of gastrin release.
Animals↗
Congenital myopathy in Braunvieh x Brown Swiss calves.
A hitherto unknown skeletal muscle disorder is described in six Braunvieh x Brown Swiss calves. The animals showed rapidly progressing muscular weakness and became recumbent within 2 weeks of birth. Histological examination of skeletal muscle revealed a marked variation in muscle fibre size, internally placed nuclei, segmental loss of cross-striation with disorganization of myofibrils, and accumulation of nemaline rods. The most distinctive histological finding was intracytoplasmic, homogeneous, mostly crescent-shaped areas at the periphery of numerous muscle fibres. Electron microscopically, accumulations of tightly packed, parallel filamentous structures, about 20 nm in diameter, were detected in these areas. Enzyme histochemistry showed that all muscle fibre types were affected. Vimentin and dystrophin immunohistochemistry revealed normal antigen distribution within connective tissue components and at the periphery of each muscle fibre, respectively. The lesions could be readily distinguished from other neurological and neuromuscular disorders previously described in Braunvieh x Brown Swiss or American Brown Swiss Cattle. The disease appears to be a novel congenital myopathy in this breed, and a hereditary aetiology is suspected.
Animals↗