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Biomedical subjects

P Werner

Publications and source records attributed to P Werner.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Molecular cloning and expression of cDNA encoding a peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor.

This report describes the cloning of a full length cDNA encoding PKBS, a protein of approximately 17 kDa associated with peripheral-type benzodiazepine binding sites. Cyanogen bromide digestion of purified PKBS yielded several peptide fragments which were subjected to gas-phase sequencing. Based on these partial amino acid sequences, oligonucleotide probes were used to screen a rat adrenal cDNA library. Several hybridizing clones were isolated which were found to contain overlapping sequences. The longest cDNA spanned 781 base pairs and specified an open reading frame of 169 amino acids which matched all of the peptide sequences. Northern analysis with this PKBS cDNA probe in different rat tissues revealed one RNA species of approximately 850 nucleotides exhibiting relative abundances qualitatively comparable with the densities of peripheral-type benzodiazepine binding sites in each tissue. The PKBS cDNA was cloned into an eukaryotic expression vector placing it under transcriptional control of the beta-globin promoter and SV40 enhancer. Transfection of the transformed human kidney 293 cell line with this recombinant vector resulted in stoichiometric increases of about 900 fmol/mg of protein in binding capacities for Ro5-4864 (4'-chlorodiazepam) and PK 11195, two peripheral-type benzodiazepine ligands. These increases were accounted for by the expression of binding sites with approximate dissociation constants of 5 nM for PK 11195 and 8 nM for Ro5-4864, thereby distinguishing the expressed binding sites as being characteristic of the receptor from rat origin rather than of the host human-derived cell line. The rank order of potency of different ligands to compete against [3H]Ro5-4864 binding in the transfected cells was PK 11195 greater than Ro5-4864 greater than diazepam greater than protoporphyrin IX greater than clonazepam, consistent with the specificity characteristic of rat peripheral-type benzodiazepine binding sites. These studies suggest that PKBS comprises binding domains for benzodiazepines and isoquinoline carboxamides and hence is apparently responsible for the manifestation of peripheral-type benzodiazepine recognition sites.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1989

Cryoablation of refractory sustained ventricular tachycardia due to coronary artery disease.

Thirty-nine patients with medically refractory sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) due to coronary artery disease underwent map-guided cryosurgery. Locations of prior myocardial infarctions had been inferior in 22, anterior in 16 and combined in 1. Mean age was 61 +/- 9 years and the mean number of drug trials per patient before surgery was 3.8 +/- 1.4. Intraoperative endocardial mapping induced 67 tachycardias in 35 patients. Each patient received 6 to 18 (11 +/- 3) endocardial cryothermic applications (15 mm, -60 degrees C, 2 minutes) at areas of earliest activation during VT. Encircling endocardial cryoablation was performed in 4 patients who had unsuccessful mapping. In addition, 11 patients had subendocardial resection of their well-demarcated septal scars as well as cryosurgery. There were 2 in-hospital deaths. At postoperative programmed ventricular stimulation, 28 of the 37 patients (76%) had no inducible or spontaneous VT before hospital discharge. Six patients (16%) with spontaneous or inducible VT had a single morphology and were controlled with antiarrhythmic drugs that had previously failed. Therefore, surgery alone or in combination with drugs was efficacious in 92% of the population surviving surgery. The remaining 3 patients (8%) received automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators. No significant difference in surgical outcome was seen between patients who had cryosurgery alone and those who had subendocardial resection together with cryoablation. Mean left ventricular ejection fractions before and after surgery were 33 and 39%, respectively (p less than 0.01). Clinical follow-up ranged from 2 to 36 months (18 +/- 12). One patient died of heart failure and another underwent heart transplantation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Full moon: does it influence agitated nursing home residents?

This study examined the effect of the full moon on agitation manifested by nursing home residents (N = 24). Observations of agitation were recorded on a behavioral mapping instrument, and occurrence of the full moon was operationalized in the three ways most commonly cited in the literature. The hypothesis that elderly nursing home residents become increasingly agitated during a full moon was not supported by this study. In all analyses, agitation was observed less often when the full moon was full than during the other three lunar phases, although differences were not statistically significant.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

GABAA receptor beta subunit heterogeneity: functional expression of cloned cDNAs.

Cloned cDNAs encoding two new beta subunits of the rat and bovine GABAA receptor have been isolated using a degenerate oligonucleotide probe based on a highly conserved peptide sequence in the second transmembrane domain of GABAA receptor subunits. The beta 2 and beta 3 subunits share approximately 72% sequence identity with the previously characterized beta 1 polypeptide. Northern analysis showed that both beta 2 and beta 3 mRNAs are more abundant in the brain than beta 1 mRNA. All three beta subunit encoding cDNAs were also identified in a library constructed from adrenal medulla RNA. Each beta subunit, when co-expressed in Xenopus oocytes with an alpha subunit, forms functional GABAA receptors. These results, together with the known alpha subunit heterogeneity, suggest that a variety of related but functionally distinct GABAA receptor subtypes are generated by different subunit combinations.

Adrenal Medulla↗
PubMed1989

An observational study of agitation in agitated nursing home residents.

Direct observations of 24 highly agitated, cognitively impaired nursing home residents were performed during each hour of the 24-hour day for 2-3 months. Results showed that agitated behaviors (in particular, strange noises, requests for attention, repetitious mannerisms, picking at things, strange movements, and pacing) were manifested at very high frequencies. The data also showed that daytime agitation was positively related to nighttime agitation. Patterns of agitation were specific to each resident, an important finding for future research and intervention.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Physical restraints and agitation in nursing home residents.

An observational study was performed to determine whether the use of physical restraints in agitated nursing home residents leads to decreased or increased agitation. Results indicate that restraint use does not decrease agitation in nursing home residents. Residents exhibited either the same amount or more agitated behaviors when they were restrained than when they were not restrained, suggesting that the act of restraining may itself contribute to manifestations of agitation. The implications of the use of restraints in agitated nursing home residents are discussed, with particular reference to the prevention of falls.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Agitation and touch in the nursing home.

The relationship between manifestations of agitated behaviors and interpersonal distance was examined in 24 nursing home residents with high agitation and severe cognitive impairment. Analysis indicated that agitated residents displayed divergent responses to touch: touch was related to an increase in aggressive behaviors and to a decrease in physically nonaggressive behaviors (e.g., strange movements). The positive relationship between aggressiveness and touching suggests that residents may interpret touching as a violation of their personal space. The finding that residents exhibited fewer strange movements when touched suggests that touching can act as a quieting and comforting form of communication. The implications of these findings for caregivers are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Sanitizing contaminated soil and groundwater pipes by microbiological and physico-chemical methods].

The contribution reports on two contamination cases, i.e., a waterwork "Durlacher Wald" and an industrial plant "Oberrheingraben" which were remedied using biological and physico-chemical methods. Furthermore, it deals with the laboratory investigations of the degradation of hydrocarbons, and also discusses briefly the advantages and problems of the microbiological remediation techniques.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1989

[Results of the use of amine-fluoride preparations in orthodontic practice].

The authors report about a 3 years examination of children wearing fixed orthodontic appliances. The patient were divided into three groups (each comprising 70 persons): 1. Elmex fluid, 2. Elmex gel, 3. control group. Increase of caries intensity was lower while condition of the gingiva was better in the groups using aminofluoride preparations. Good results were obtained especially by employing the Elmex gel.

Amines↗
PubMed1988

Absence of significant postdefibrillation bradyarrhythmias in patients with automatic implantable defibrillators.

Because postdefibrillation bradycardia or asystole is of clinical concern in patients with implanted automatic cardioverter defibrillators, we analyzed the cardiac rhythm after 157 intraoperative defibrillations in 50 patients undergoing implantation of the device. Factors that could influence the heart rhythm immediately after defibrillation were also analyzed. The postdefibrillation heart rate and the duration of postdefibrillation asystole did not correlate with age, conduction abnormalities, type or duration of arrhythmia before defibrillation, delivered energy, lead system, or left ventricular ejection fraction, but they did correlate with the resting preoperative heart rate and the concomitant performance of coronary artery bypass surgery at the time of defibrillator implantation. Temporary pacing (for prolonged asystole) was required in only two patients, both of whom had also undergone bypass surgery. Fourteen patients being treated with amiodarone had slower resting and postdefibrillation heart rates, but the mean duration of posdefibrillation asystole was similar to that seen in patients not receiving any antiarrhythmic medication. On follow-up, 25 monitored and 178 unmonitored automatic defibrillator discharges occurred in 24 patients, without evidence of symptomatic postdefibrillation bradyarrhythmias. Thus significant postdefibrillation bradyarrhythmias were uncommon, but when such a propensity existed it could not be predicted reliably on clinical grounds alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Efficacy of cryosurgery alone for refractory monomorphic sustained ventricular tachycardia due to inferior wall infarction.

The efficacy of cryosurgery alone was evaluated in 15 patients with refractory monomorphic sustained ventricular tachycardias related to inferior wall infarction. Patients were 64 +/- 9 (SD) years old and had a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 39.2 +/- 11.2%. Thirty different tachycardias were mapped with the origin localized to the septum or inferior wall in 20 (67%), near the mitral valve anulus in 6 (20%) and at the base of the posterior papillary muscle in 4 (13%) tachycardias. Endocardial cryoablation of these sites was performed with 6 to 13 (mean 9.2 +/- 1.8) cryolesions per heart. No mitral valve replacement was performed. There was one postoperative death as a result of sepsis. Cryoablation abolished inducible ventricular tachycardia in 11 patients. Of the other three patients, the tachycardia in two was controlled with a single antiarrhythmic agent that had previously failed to suppress inducible ventricular tachycardia. Thus, clinical success was obtained in 13 (93%) of 14 patients. The remaining patient received an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Ejection fraction remained unchanged or improved after surgery in 14 patients (93%). There have been no late deaths, recurrence of sustained ventricular tachycardia or significant mitral regurgitation during a mean follow-up period of 19 +/- 7 months. These results compare quite favorably with those previously reported for subendocardial resection alone, and indicate that cryosurgery is highly effective, does not result in deterioration of left ventricular function and preserves mitral valve competence when cryoablation of the posterior papillary muscle is necessary.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Seatbelt cervical injury in an intersection type vehicular collision.

The seatbelt syndrome represents a spectrum of traumatic entities reported in restrained survivors of sudden impact decelerations, who may exhibit bruising of the torso along the site of seatbelt placement. The case is presented of a patient sustaining cervical spine dislocation and quadriplegia attributed to impingement upon a 3-point attachment harness restraint.

Accidents, Traffic↗