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Biomedical subjects

R Baumgarten

Publications and source records attributed to R Baumgarten.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Treatment of chronic hepatitis B with interferon alpha-2b].

In a prospective randomized trial 58 patients (46 men, 12 women; mean age 41 [18-65] years) with histologically proven chronic hepatitis B and demonstration of HBs antigen and hepatitis B virus DNA in serum were randomly divided into two groups: 30 patients were treated with recombinant alpha 2b interferon. The interferon was administered subcutaneously, 3 x 10(6) IU, three times weekly for four months. 28 patients served as untreated controls. There was a six-month post-treatment follow-up. Two patients in the treatment group and one in the control group had to be excluded later. In the treatment group one patient responded completely (HBs antigen, HBe antigen and HBV-DNA negative) and eight partially (HBe antigen and HBV-DNA negative). In three patients of the control group, HBe antigen and HBV DNA were no longer demonstrated (P less than 0.05). The loss of HBV features was associated with normalization of serum transaminases activity. Reactivation of liver inflammation after seroconversion was not observed.

Adolescent↗

Treatment of chronic hepatitis B with interferon alfa-2b.

A total of 58 patients with histologically confirmed chronic viral hepatitis B and presence of hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) in the serum were randomized in a prospectively controlled trial. Thirty patients were treated with 3 megaunits of recombinant interferon alfa-2b (INTRON A, R Schering-Plough, Essex Corporation) subcutaneously thrice weekly for 4 months. Twenty-eight controls received no treatment. The post-treatment follow-up period consisted of 6 months. Twenty-eight treated patients and 27 controls completed the protocol. One female patient of the treatment group showed a complete response, and eight other treated patients (32%) showed a partial response to therapy. Three patients in the control group (11%) lost hepatitis B e antigen and HBV DNA spontaneously. This finding is statistically significant (p less than 0.05). The elimination of hepatitis B virus markers from the serum was associated with a normalization of aminotransferase activities in the serum. Reactivation of hepatitis was not observed after seroconversion.

Adult↗

Effects of treatment of male and female rats in infancy with mifepristone on reproductive function in adulthood.

Treatment of neonatal male and female rats with mifepristone (1 mg s.c. every 2 days from Day 1 to 15 or Day 4 to 18 of life) interfered with the normal development of their reproductive capacities and of the adrenal glands. The effect on the adrenal glands seemed only temporary. Effects on reproductive functions seemed permanent. Female rats developed abnormalities in structure of the oviduct and ovarian capsule reminiscent of effects reported after perinatal treatment with androgen or oestrogen. During adulthood, anovulatory polyfollicular ovaries developed, reminiscent of rats treated with a small dose of androgen in infancy. Males showed retardation of testicular growth and delay of puberty. During adulthood testes did not grow beyond 65% that of normal rats. Sexual behaviour was deficient in that ejaculations occurred only rarely; when ejaculations did occur, fertility was unimpaired. Males treated with mifepristone in infancy exhibited female sexual behaviour as adults after castration and injections of testosterone and oestradiol. All effects pointed to an insufficient action of testicular hormones in infancy to bring about normal 'masculinization'. Mifepristone therefore appears to show 'teratogenic' actions in rats which affect female reproductive tract development and, in males and females, development of the systems underlying normal reproductive activity and functions in adulthood.

Adrenal Glands↗

[Significant laparoscopy and ultrasound findings in chronic hepatic porphyria].

In the years from 1983 to 1989 we diagnosed in altogether 69 patients a chronic hepatic porphyria. As a rule the light microscopic and sonographic findings in the liver use to be uncharacteristic. Yet, unexpectedly by sonography in eight patients findings, suspicious for metastases, were stated. Multiple coin lesions with a marginal edge mostly rich in echoes were impressing. The laparoscopy resulted in grey/blue-discoloured depressions in an otherwise even surface of the liver, thus suggesting mass necroses respectively rebuilding processes. Subclinical stages of a chronic hepatic porphyria could have been proved by the partial red-fluorescence of bioptates and a corresponding porphyrin secretion. The histological changes of the liver were--in contrary to the impressing laparoscopic picture--rather insignificant. In case of a successful intervention the pathological porphyrin secretion was done in about eight months. Mostly, more than a year used to pass away till the sonographic findings normalized. The seldom described phenomena use to conceal the danger of a false interpretation and an unnecessary stress for the patient. More over the causes and the development of these peculiar porphyria findings are unclear; they need in an discussion among medical special branches.

Adult↗

[Liver parenchyma damage in immunosuppressed patients: diagnostic differentiation].

Liver abnormalities are common complications in patients with immunosuppressed state iatrogenic or infectious induced. They are caused by infections due to hepatotropic viruses or by other infectious complications, drug induced or caused by rejections in patients after transplantation. Hepatic neoplasms have been associated with liver abnormalities, too. Problems in evaluation of liver abnormalities in these patients are discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Treatment of chronic hepatitis B with interferon alpha-2b].

A total of 58 patients with histologically confirmed chronic viral hepatitis B and presence of HBsAg and HBV-DNA in the serum were randomized in a prospectively controlled trial. 30 patients were treated with 3 megaunits of rIFN a-2b s.c. thrice weekly for 4 months. 28 controls received no treatment. The post-treatment follow-up period consisted of 6 months. 28 patients treated and 27 controls completed the protocol. One female patient of the treatment group showed a complete response (loss of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV-DNA), 8 other patients (32%) revealed a partial response to therapy (loss of HBeAg and HBV-DNA). Three patients of the control-group (11%) lost HBeAg and HBV-DNA spontaneously. This finding is statistically significant (p less than 0.05). The elimination of HBV-markers from the serum was associated with a normalization of aminotransferase activities in the serum. A reactivation of hepatitis was not observed after seroconversion.

Adolescent↗

[Dihydralazine hepatitis. Morphologic and clinical criteria for diagnosis].

70 cases of acute dihydralazine-associated hepatitis with centrolobular or confluent necroses, registered in the files of the Berlin-Friedrichshain Institute of Pathology, between 1981 and 1985, were classified into 3 types of diagnostic probability for differential diagnosis versus virus hepatitis. Classification was conducted according to recommendations given by a working group of pathologists, specialised in liver pathology. 42 cases out of this material had come from Prenzlauer-Berg Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases, and were re-examined under clinical aspects. 6 of them were discarded from evaluation. Type I proved to be of high diagnostic reliability, as was seen from 61% of all cases. Only 3 cases had to be discarded from that group and were associated with other drugs, such as halothane, methyldopa, and propranolol. The following clinical parameters proved to be of particular value for definite assessment of drug-induced hepatitis: time of exposure (for analysis of co-medication), time of recovery, and re-exposure test. Only circumstantial evidence so far can be provided for all histological types to causative relationship between drug ingestion and hepatitis. Compliance with mandatory notification should be ensured in all cases, since suspicious cases are explicitly included. Higher sex-related disposition of women to drug-induced hepatitis was confirmed in our material, with the female-to-male ratio being 3:1.

Acute Disease↗