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Biomedical subjects

R Berger

Publications and source records attributed to R Berger.

At least 1,009 records · Page 56Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of breast milk on nosocomial rotavirus infections in infants.

To prevent nosocomial rotavirus infections in hospitalized children with various non-gastrointestinal diseases, 30 children (mean age five months) received 200 ml of fresh human milk per day in addition to the normal diet for their age. A matched group of children on formula diet served as a control. Fecal samples were routinely screened for rotavirus by a commercial ELISA test. In stools containing rotavirus, the virus RNA segments were analysed by gel electrophoresis to identify the different rotavirus strains. Clinical symptoms were recorded daily and quantified by a score system. Human milk had no effect on the frequency of nosocomial rotavirus infections: ten infected children were fed with human milk and seven were not. However, the severity of the clinical symptoms was clearly reduced: the mean score of clinical symptoms was only half as great and the number of mild or asymptomatic infections was doubled in the group receiving fresh human milk.

Cross Infection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of age on diurnal changes of 24-hour QT interval variability.

QT interval on the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) reflects the time for repolarization of myocardium and prolongation of QTc is strongly associated with sudden cardiac death. Studies using novel techniques on beat-to-beat QT interval variability (QTV) have shown that it is influenced by the autonomic nervous system and is a predictor of sudden cardiac death. In this study, we examined the awake and sleep changes in QTV in 39 normal adults (mean age, 35 years) and 10 children (mean age, 11 years) using 24-hour ECG records. We obtained eight 5-minute segments of ECG sampled at 1000 Hz from the 24-hour records. Our results show that there is a diurnal variation of QTvm, detrended QT interval variance corrected for mean QT, and QTvi, an index of QTvm divided by heart rate variability corrected for mean heart rate. There was a significant increase in mean QT during sleep, whereas there was a significant decrease in QTvm and QTvi. QTvi significantly increased during the early morning hours. There were significant but modest correlations between the average 24-hour and awake QTvi and age (p < 0.01). There were also decreased low-frequency and high-frequency powers of QT during sleep. Coherence between heart rate and QT interval fluctuations in the range of 0-0.5 Hz, and especially in the high-frequency range (0.15-0.5 Hz), was significantly lower in adults than in children (p < 0.0002). These findings demonstrate diurnal fluctuations in ventricular repolarization lability. We speculate that these effects may relate to changes in cardiac autonomic function and may contribute to the well-known diurnal variation in the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Purification of human liver fumarylacetoacetase using immunoaffinity chromatography.

A method is described to purify fumarylacetoacetase from crude human liver extracts using immunoaffinity chromatography. Immobilized rabbit antibodies specific for beef liver fumarylacetoacetase were used as an immunoadsorbent. With this rapid and specific procedure human liver fumarylacetoacetase could be purified to apparent homogeneity. The molecular weight of native human liver fumarylacetoacetase is approximately 83000 as estimated by gel filtration. The two subunits have a molecular weight of approximately 41000, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Purified human liver fumarylacetoacetase has a broad pH optimum with a maximum at pH 7.2 and a Km = 2.1 microM towards fumarylacetoacetate.

Chromatography, Affinity↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Attenuation of ethanol metabolism by supplementary carnitine in rats.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of supplementary D,L-carnitine on blood-ethanol levels and ascertain if the effect was a result of altered absorption or metabolism of ethanol. Mature male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed Purina Rat Chow as such or supplemented with various levels of D,L-carnitine. First it was established that supplementing carnitine at 1% (w/w) level produced steady state concentrations of carnitine in blood after 3 days of feeding. When a single dose of ethanol was given orally after 5 days of carnitine supplementation, the blood levels of ethanol remained significantly elevated for 2-8 hours in the carnitine supplemented animals. Time course of blood-ethanol concentrations revealed that carnitine did not affect the rates of ethanol absorption and therefore, the effect must be due to the attenuation of ethanol clearance from the blood.

Animals↗
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Application of the Mizus endotracheal obturator in tracheostomy and tentative extubation.

A variety of catheters, stylets, and obturators have been used to assist with problems in airway management. Obturators specifically designed for airway use are now available in different sizes. The pediatric-size obturators (2.2 mm diameter) can be placed into the airways of most patients without apparent respiratory impairment. Use of these obturators to preserve a path to the airway is described in cases of tracheostomy and tentative extubation. The advantages and disadvantages inherent in the use of such obturators are described.

Child↗
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Acute megakaryocytic leukaemia with acquired polysomy 21 and translocation t(1;21).

Cytogenetic study of a young child with acute megakaryocytic leukaemia (AML-M7) has shown a karyotype with 49-50 chromosomes with one and two acquired extra chromosomes 21. Fluorescence in situ hybridization detected a minor clone with translocation t(1;21) and loss of a part of chromosome band 1p36. Trisomy and polysomy 21 are not uncommon in AML-M7. A more systematic search for chromosome 21 rearrangements in AML-M7 using FISH techniques is proposed.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Complex chromosome abnormality mimicking t(8;21)in an acute myeloblastic leukemia.

A patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and karyotypic abnormality mimicking t(8;21) is reported. Because of the uncommon morphology of blasts for AML with t(8;21), and absence of AML1-ETO fusion in the RT-PCR analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was applied to precise the abnormality. FISH revealed a complex rearrangement involving chromosomes 7, 21 and 8, and involvement of the AML1 gene without evidence of AML1-ETO fusion. This case of unusual AML illustrates the necessity of collecting all hematologic, cytogenetic, and eventual FISH and RT-PCR data to analyse genetic rearrangements in leukemic patients.

Adult↗
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Prenatal and early postnatal treatment in 3-phosphoglycerate-dehydrogenase deficiency.

3-phosphoglycerate-dehydrogenase (3-PGDH) deficiency is an L-serine biosynthesis disorder, characterised by congenital microcephaly, severe psychomotor retardation, and intractable seizures. We report prenatal diagnosis of an affected fetus by DNA mutation analysis. Ultrasound assessment showed a reduction in fetal head circumference from the 75th percentile at 20 weeks' gestation to the 29th percentile at 26 weeks. L-serine was then given to the mother, which resulted in an enlarged fetal head circumference to the 76th percentile at 31 weeks. At birth, the girl's head circumference was normal, and at 48 months' follow-up, her psychomotor development has been unremarkable. 3-PGDH deficiency is an inborn metabolic error that can be successfully treated antenatally.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of mild hypothermia on metabolic disturbances in fetal hippocampal slices after oxygen/glucose deprivation depend on depth and time delay of cooling.

OBJECTIVE: There is increasing evidence from animal experiments that mild hypothermia induced during or after cerebral ischemia might protect the immature brain from neuronal cell damage. However, the exact interrelation between the postischemic time delay and the degree of mild hypothermia by which to achieve neuroprotective effects on ischemic insults of different severity has not yet been elucidated systematically. To determine optimal neuroprotection, we studied the interaction between these variables in a recently modified hippocampal slice model. METHODS: We investigated the recovery of energy metabolism and protein synthesis (PSR) in hippocampal slices from mature fetal guinea pigs after 20, 30, or 40 minutes of oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). Hypothermia of varying degrees was induced immediately or 2 or 4 hours after OGD and lasted for 12 hours. Prolonged inhibition of PSR after ischemia has been shown to be a sensitive marker of neuronal cell damage. RESULTS: Hypothermia initiated immediately after OGD significantly improved the recovery of energy metabolism and PSR. If there was a 2-hour delay in the onset of hypothermia, neuroprotection depended on the degree of hypothermia. Reduction of the incubation temperature to 31C diminished the disturbances of energy metabolism and PSR, whereas lowering the bath temperature to only 34C was not effective. Hypothermia induced 4 hours after OGD did not have any influence on the recovery of energy metabolism and PSR. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the effects of mild hypothermia on metabolic disturbances in hippocampal slices of mature fetal guinea pigs depended on the intervention delay and the degree of cooling. The shorter the postischemic intervention delay and the greater the degree of hypothermia, the better the neuroprotective effect seems to be.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
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Chromosomal localization of the human proto-oncogene c-ets.

E26 is an acute leukaemia avian retrovirus which induces myeloblastosis and erythroblastosis in vivo and transforms erythroblasts and myeloblasts in vitro. It contains the oncogene v-myb (ref. 4), first described for avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV), as well as a second specific nucleotide sequence, v-ets located 3' to v-myb (refs 5,6). We have reported that v-ets has a cellular counterpart (c-ets) in chicken and human DNA. Now, using two independent methods--hybridization with human c-ets probe of sorted chromosomes and in situ hybridization--we report the localization of the ets locus on human chromosome 11 at bands q23-q24. This finding may be important, as specific breakpoints around this position have been reported for human malignancies such as acute monocytic leukaemia and Ewing's sarcoma.

Base Sequence↗
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Duration of immunity after rubella vaccination: a long-term study in Switzerland.

In Switzerland 319 of 594 young women seronegative for rubella antibody vaccinated at 15-25 years of age against rubella with the Cendehill vaccine strain were retested 15 years later with three tests (hemagglutination inhibition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and a neutralization technique) for the presence of rubella antibodies. For 307 women rubella antibodies were still detectable by all three techniques. For nine women rubella antibodies were demonstrable by only one or two tests. Only three vaccinees were seronegative by all three tests. These three women also showed no booster response after challenge with the vaccine strain. The high percentage of women with persistent rubella antibodies 15 years after vaccination might be explained in part by the presence of subclinical reinfections due to a wild rubella virus.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Breastfeeding trends at a Community Breastfeeding Center: an evaluative survey.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Community Breastfeeding Center's (CBC) impact on clients' breastfeeding experiences. DESIGN: Retrospective survey; participants were mailed a questionnaire. SETTING: A hospital-based drop-in center operated jointly by the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit and Headwaters Health Care Center and offering professional breastfeeding support and peer interaction. PARTICIPANTS: The 164 mothers of singleton births, both inpatients and community clients, who attended the CBC during a 10-month period in 1996-1997 and completed a survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A mailed survey with forced-choice and open-ended questions. RESULTS: Of the respondents, 90.9% rated their overall CBC experience as excellent or good. Seventy-three percent of respondents breastfed for 4 months or longer. Primiparae and mothers of preterm infants tended to visit the CBC more frequently, while achieving duration rates similar to other subgroups. Returning to work was the reason most frequently cited for stopping breastfeeding (35%). CONCLUSION: The CBC is an effective community support strategy to lengthen breastfeeding duration and enhance clients' satisfaction with their breastfeeding experience.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The influence of major connectors of partial dentures of phonation: an instrumental analysis of speech].

After the insertion of removable dentures for restoring partially edentulous arches, phonation is affected by many factors, of which many influences are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of various construction elements of maxillary and mandibular partial dentures on the formations of plosives, nasals, lateral approximates and fricatives. Twenty-four patients were included in the study. For each patient five different test dentures were constructed. Over a period of 24 h, six digital tape records were made for each patient. By this time, the patient had worn the dentures maximally 6 h. With the help of a computer-supported frequency analysis based on the principle of fast Fourier transformation (FFT), it was possible to demonstrate the differences in phonation in regard to denture design. During the test period, the patients were asked to fill in a questionnaire on denture comfort and phonation. This study also quantifies the influence of the sublingual bar on phonation. It can be assumed that the speaker tries to retain his habitual way of articulation despite the inserted test denture. Therefore, a phonation test immediately after insertion of a new constructed partial denture should be interpreted with caution because of the assumed compensation process. The results of this study could have consequences for dental therapy plans.

Adolescent↗