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Biomedical subjects

R Haller

Publications and source records attributed to R Haller.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Haemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome: report of two cases with special reference to hypoglycaemia.

Haemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome (HSES) is a devastating disorder affecting infants. So far no cases have been reported in Switzerland. It is characterised by the abrupt onset of hyperpyrexia, shock, encephalopathy, diarrhoea, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and renal and hepatic failure in previously healthy infants. Severe hypoglycaemia has been repeatedly reported in association with HSES. However, the pathophysiology of the hypoglycaemia is not clear. We report on two infants (2 and 7 months old) with typical HSES, both of whom were presented with nonketotic hypoglycaemia. In the first case, plasma insulin was 23 pmol/l at the time of hypoglycaemia (0.1 mmol/l). In the second case, increased values for interleukin-6 (IL-6) (319 pg/ml) and IL-8 (1382 pg/ml) were found 24 hours after admission, whereas IL-1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were not measurable. Alpha-1-antitrypsin was decreased (0.6 g/l). In hyperpyrexic, unconscious and shocked infants, HSES should be considered and hypoglycaemia should be specifically looked for. Hypoglycaemia is not caused by hyperinsulinism but may be secondary to the release of cytokines.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1998

Ancistrobertsonine A and related naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids from Ancistrocladus robertsoniorum.

From the as yet unexplored East African Liana, Ancistrocladus robertsoniorum, several naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids have been isolated, based mainly on High Speed Countercurrent Chromatography (HSCCC). The structure of the new compound, ancistrobertsonine A, was elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods. Furthermore, the known alkaloids ancistrocladine, its atropo-diastereomer, hamatine, and its regioisomer, ancistrobrevine B, were isolated.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1995

Changes of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in chronic alcoholism.

Compared with other well established liver enzyme parameters, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) offers a new method for the identification of chronic alcoholism. The dependence of CDT and alcoholism/abstinence was studied in 29 controls and 64 alcoholics (both groups comprising men and women). In contrast to the currently used parameters GOT, GPT, gammaGT, LDH and MCV, CDT measures chronic alcoholism exclusively. CDT is dependent on sex but not age. In chronic alcoholism its rate increases significantly, but drops quickly after a short time of abstinence. CDT variations may be a specific and sensitive indicator of alcoholism or abstinence and possibly the duration.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A survey of drug deaths in western Austria.

We evaluated the drug deaths in western Austria during the period from 1981 to 1991. The increase of fatal cases is partly due to a change in statistical methods and the definition of 'drug victims'. In this paper a survey is given concerning the drug deaths investigated forensically and toxicologically in our area of responsibility.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

MRI-guided biopsy in inflammatory myopathy: initial results.

The purpose of this report is to describe our initial experience with techniques employing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide the choice of muscle to be biopsied in patients suspected of having inflammatory myopathy. Five patients with a clinical diagnosis of inflammatory myopathy (IM) were studied. Four were imaged prior to biopsy. Four had repeated examinations, either immediately following biopsy or to evaluate disease progression. Use of MRI to localize muscle lesions was associated with abnormal pathologic findings in all cases, including histopathologic demonstration of lymphocyte infiltration in three cases of idiopathic polymyositis; nonspecific myopathic changes were seen in one patient with probable dermatomyositis and in one patient with chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy and high serum creatine kinase levels (> 45,000 IU/ml). The precise location of the area sampled by biopsy was visible in only one of four postbiopsy images. MRI shows promise in identifying pathologic muscle in patients suspected of having one of the inflammatory myopathies; however, further refinement of localization techniques may be needed to optimize histopathologic diagnoses.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

[Synthesis, stereochemistry and analgesic action of 3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1] nonan-9-ones and 1,3-diazaadamantan-6-ones].

The 1,3-diazaadamantan-6-ones 13-18 are synthesized from the 4-piperidones 1-3. Different conditions lead to stereoisomeric structures. The 3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ones 8 and 9 show similar geometrical isomerisms. The configuration is determined by means of 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic data. Whereas the diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanones 7 and 12 show opioid-like effects, the diazaadamantanone 13 is a peripheral analgesic.

Adamantane↗
PubMed1988

[The action of aminobenzoic acid derivatives on the ion currents in myelinated nerves. 1. Dose-response relationship].

Effects of Aminobenzoic Acid Derivatives on the Ionic Currents in Myelinated Nerve/1st Communication: Dose-response curves Derivatives of aminobenzoic acid were modified and their blocking potencies on the ionic currents of single potential clamped myelinated nerve fibres were tested by means of dose-response curves. Starting from metacaine (ethyl m-aminobenzoate), derivatives of different basicity were produced by N-dimethylization, N-quarternization and by preparing a corresponding aliphatic amine. The corresponding free acids and the structural isomers of metacaine were tested as well. The physico-chemical properties of the derivatives were characterized by their pKa-values and their octanol/water partition coefficients. Our findings suggest that the site of action of the aminobenzoic acids tested is located at the inside of the nerve membrane. Moreover, no indications of binding to a receptor in a pharmacological sense were found.

Aminobenzoates↗
PubMed1988

[The effect of aminobenzoic acid derivatives on the ion current of myelinated neurons. 2. Inactivation of sodium permeability].

Effects of Aminobenzoic Acid Derivatives on the Ionic Currents in Myelinated Nerve/2nd Communication: Sodium inactivation. Derivatives of aminobenzoic acid similar to metacaine were modified and their effects on the sodium inactivation and on the sodium permeability constant, PNa, of single potential clamped myelinated nerve fibres were tested. Comparing the observed shift of the inactivation curves and the reduction of PNa with the octanol/water partition coefficients of the drugs tested, a minimum lipid solubility seems to be necessary for the substances being efficacious. It is assumed that the uncharged aminobenzoic acids reduce PNa by disturbing the lipid matrix in an unspecific manner. The observed shift of the inactivation curves is explained in terms of the fixed charges at the inside of the membrane being moved apart by the uncharged compounds thus lowering the effective membrane potential. Moreover, no indications for a receptor-mediated mechanism were found.

Aminobenzoates↗
PubMed1988

[Synthesis and antimycobacterial action of lipophilic substituted 2,4-diamino-5-benzylpyrimidines].

2,4-Diamino-5-benzylpyrimidines 1-23 with lipophilic substitution in the benzylic moiety were synthesized by the morpholino-anilino-procedure. Their effects against various mycobacteria were verified by MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) in whole cells and I50-measurements in whole cell and cell-free systems. Especially the substances 7-12 are strong inhibitors of some atypical mycobacterial strains which are sometimes associated with tuberculosis in the elderly and with AIDS. They might be promising candidates for therapy.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Calcium-channel-blocking agent in the treatment of acute alcohol withdrawal--caroverine versus meprobamate in a randomized double-blind study.

We present a randomized double-blind study on the efficacy of caroverine in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. The group B Ca2+ channel blocking agent caroverine was tested against meprobamate in inpatient treatment of alcohol withdrawal. Patients of both groups were similar in age, weight, duration of drinking, ingested quantities of alcohol and intensity of withdrawal symptoms in both groups. The symptoms were quantified daily by Syndromkurztest (SKT), Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE), NGI; the Webster scale was applied to rate tremor, speech and coping. Duration of study was scheduled for 5 days after which other medication, e.g., levopromazine was applied if needed. As caroverine is registered and used as a spasmolytic drug in Austria, patients' verbal consent was sufficient. In both compounds we registered no difference of clinical efficacy, though caroverine presented less sedative side effects. This may be an important factor in the treatment and management of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Dose ranges were 120 mg/day vs. 2,400 mg/day of caroverine and meprobamate, respectively. Thus, drug loading and metabolism can be thoroughly reduced by the application of caroverine--another important point in treatment of alcoholism. In 4 cases of manifest delirium tremens the infusional application of caroverine was openly tested with dose ranges of 2.5-5.0 mg/kg (24 h). Clinical effects were estimated to be similar with oral application as was therapeutic efficacy. This novel indication of a group-B Ca2+ channel blocker presents an interesting feature, which seems to warrant further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Follow-up of schizophrenic patients hospitalized for the first time in 1954 and treated with electroconvulsive therapy].

37 of 43 patients who had been hospitalised because of schizophrenia for the first time in 1954 and subjected to electroconvulsive treatment in the same year, were reexamined 30 years later in respect of course of the disease, social situation, psychopathological pattern and late complications. Whereas in 1954 the direct treatment result was assessed as full remission in 11 cases, as part remission in 16 and as not improved in 10 patients, a similar pattern was obtained in the assessment of the final stages according to the criteria of Bleuler or Ciompi, respectively, namely, a high proportion of socially inconspicuous patients and of severe residual states or permanently hospitalised cases. This result is in agreement with wellknown long-term follow-up studies and is clearly opposed to the assumption that the course of the disease is favourably influenced by drastic shock treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Value of EEG in parathyroid gland disorders and/or symmetrical calcinosis of the basal ganglia (Fahr syndrome). Review of the literature with personal cases].

We evaluated the diagnostic value of EEG tracings in cases of non-arteriosclerotic symmetrical calcification of the basal ganglia (Fahr's syndrome). The group of 41 tracings was composed of probands and patients of a family with hereditary occurrence of the syndrome and other patients where the characteristic calcifications were discovered by chance or in CT screening of persons who had undergone thyroidectomy. The comparison of our EEG results with those presented in the relevant literature yielded no discernable diagnostic value of the investigation. All kinds of alterations of central electrophysiological activity seem possible, at least in our collection, similar to previous findings, but no characteristic EEG pattern associated with Fahr's syndrome was seen. Only a vague correlation of alterations to the age of patient could be surmised, this being, of course, wholly unspecific. Thus psychopathology, neurological data and CT are the prime techniques for diagnosis of Fahr's syndrome, the EEG so far offering only marginal assistance.

Adult↗