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Biomedical subjects

R Schwarz

Publications and source records attributed to R Schwarz.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

[Occlusion of a vesicovaginal fistula with Latzko-repair].

UNLABELLED: The Latzko procedure is a well-known method for the closure of small vesico-vaginal fistulas occurring in the vaginal dome after hysterectomy. This method is favoured by gynaecologists. In three Departments of gynaecology, a total of 104 patients were treated. 76% had been referred from other hospitals. 56.7% resulted from gynaecological operations. In 69.2% was a benign and in 28.8% a malignant disease. In only 2 cases, the primary disease remained unknown. RESULTS: In 97 of 104 (= 93.3%) cases, the procedure according to Latzko succeeded at the first attempt. 5 of 7 recurrences were resolved by the second attempt with the same operative technique according to Latzko, signifying a secondary success rate of 98%. There were only 2 notable complications: the one, where a postoperative bladder haemorrhage attributed to anticoagulants, and the second with a bladder stone noticed 11 years after the Latzko procedure. This technique can be performed in 95% of all vesico-vaginal fistulas occurring. The fundamental advantages of its use are: short duration of the procedure, high cure rate and few complications.

Female↗

A Cyanobacterial Gene Encoding Peptidyl-Prolyl cis-trans Isomerase.

The rotA gene encoding peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase has been identified, sequenced, and shown to be transcribed in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7942. Inactivation of the gene by replacement of a region containing the open reading frame with a gene conferring kanamycin resistance resulted in merodiploids containing both the wild type and the modified genomic region. We were not able to isolate a kanamycin-resistant mutant in which all the genomic wild-type copies were substituted, which suggests that such replacement could have been lethal.

Journal Article↗

Phenotypic Complementation of High CO(2)-Requiring Mutants of the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. Strain PCC 7942 by Inosine 5'-Monophosphate.

The high CO(2)-requiring mutants of Synechococcus PCC 7942, D4 and R14, were obtained by deletion or inactivation (respectively) of an open reading frame immediately downstream of rbc (the operon encoding the subunits of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase). These mutants exhibit photosynthetic characteristics similar to those of high CO(2)-grown wild type, unlike other cyanobacterial high CO(2)-requiring mutants, where the apparent photosynthetic affinity for inorganic carbon is approximately 2 orders of magnitude lower than that of the wild type. Sequence analysis and metabolic complementation of the mutants by inosine 5'-monophosphate identified this open reading frame as the cyanobacterial equivalent of purK, the eubacterial gene encoding subunit II of phosphoribosyl aminoimidazole carboxylase in the purine biosynthetic pathway. Exposure of high CO(2)-grown Synechococcus to low CO(2) conditions led to the induction of transcription of purK. It is suggested that the high CO(2)-requiring phenotype of these mutants resulted from the defect in purine biosynthesis after exposure to low CO(2). We also raise the possibility that the level of cellular purines is involved in the process of adaptation of cyanobacteria to low concentrations of CO(2).

Journal Article↗

[The gynecologist and hysterectomy].

Often it is postulated by mass media that too much hysterectomies would be performed by gynaecologists. Hysterectomy is today a relatively safe routine intervention. This may tempt to a generous indication. Elective hysterectomy has been looked at critically. Two factors play an important role, firstly the position of the women to her uterus, i. e. how does the women settle down her fertility in her life and secondly the position of the gynaecologist, which will be transmitted from him to the patient cousciously or instinctively. Then our position to alternative methods like endometrial ablation by hysteroscopic laser coagulation or laser assisted or pelviscopic hysterectomies has been demonstrated.

Female↗

Retroperitoneal sarcoma in a series of 51 adults.

Fifty-one patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma underwent surgery at the University Clinics of Hamburg from 1970 to 1988. Malignant schwannoma, liposarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma were the most common histological types. High grade sarcomas (G3) predominated (42%), while 26% were graded G2 and 33% G1. Complete resection was possible in 59% of cases. Reoperation for local recurrence and debulking in case of not completely resectable disease was common. Regional lymph node metastasis was found in 20% of cases. The peritoneum was the preferred location of metastatic spread. All adjuvant chemotherapies were followed by tumour recurrences. After adjuvant radiotherapy three of six patients remained free of disease. In cases of residual tumour we observed few partial responses on chemo- and radiotherapy, and all patients died because of the disease. The mean survival time was 60 months, the 5- and 10-year survival rates were 35% and 15%, respectively. Factors influencing prognosis in univariate analysis included grade, size, resectability, presence of metastatic spread, histological type, microscopic local growth (infiltrative vs intact pseudocapsule of fibrous tissue) and local recurrence. With multivariate analysis grade, size and lymph node metastasis retained their prognostic significance.

Adolescent↗

Advantage of three-dimensional treatment planning for localized radiotherapy of early stage prostatic cancer.

Conventional two-dimensional (2-d) treatment planning was compared to three-dimensional (3-d) treatment planning for patients with prostatic carcinoma. Both types of treatment planning were performed for all ten patients with five fixed fields. In 3-d planning we used irregular shaped fields. For further evaluation we performed conventional planning in rotation technique in two patients. The target volume included prostate, seminal vesicles and a surrounding security margin of 2 cm. Using the MPR-version of the MEVAPLAN planning system, the three-dimensional dose calculations were performed. For the volumes of interest (VOI's) we discussed quality of the dose distribution concerning homogeneity in the target volume and isodose distribution in the organs at risk, which are the rectum and the urinary bladder. We defined the tumor encompassing reference isodose (ca. 95%) for the calculation of the involved rectum- and bladder volume. Using the five-field technique our results show a reduction of the radiation related rectum- and bladder volume concerning the tumor encompassing reference isodose (ca. 95%) for the rectum in between 9.5 and 36.6% (median: 19%, n = 10) and for the urinary bladder in between 15.7 and 47.8% (median: 28%, n = 10). Calculated for 80% of the reference isodose the difference for the rectum was 15.7 to 31.3% (median: 23%) and for the urinary bladder 24.5 to 56.7% (median: 42%). A significant reduction of radiation related side-effects concerning rectum and urinary bladder can be expected by a reduction of volume involvement and a consecutive dosage limitation.

Humans↗

[Compartment resection as therapy of choice in subfascial soft tissue sarcoma exemplified by the thigh].

Soft-tissue sarcomas tend to have local recurrences after inadequate therapy. So reactions with wide margins are required. If a sarcoma is localized subfascially, such wide margins are often hard to achieve in a "wide resection". Concerning the growth behavior of soft-tissue sarcomas and the intraoperative orientation it makes more sense to resect these tumors with their whole anatomical compartment. This kind of operation is described by the three large compartmental resections of the thigh.

Adult↗

Experience with recent modifications in the treatment of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.

Analyzing retrospectively our results in treating 113 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva during the years 1973-1985, 5-years survival was identical with 70 per cent in 53 cases with radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguino-femoral lymphonodectomy as standard therapy, as well as in 60 cases with individualized treatment. These recent modifications had better anatomic results and improved the quality of life considerably. Therefore in author's opinion standardized therapy of vulvar cancer is no longer justified.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

[Functional cytology of the apocrine glands of the anal sac in cats, Felis silvestris f. catus].

Apocrine glands of the anal sacs in cats (Felis silvestris f. catus) were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The secretory cells exhibit a typical equipment with organelles that varied according to the season as well as the animal's sex and state of reproduction. This can be mainly explained by seasonal differences in secretory activity. The cytological dynamics observed are, particularly, related to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, which, for the first time, can be demonstrated in its crystalloid form in apocrine glands.

Animals↗

Wound-factor-induced and cell cycle phase-dependent expression of 9E3/CEF4, the avian gro gene.

The gro genes encode for secreted proteins with sequence homologies to inflammatory mediators. Little is known about the function of these proteins or their regulation. The chicken gro (9E3/CEF4) is expressed abundantly in the cells of proliferating cultures but at very low levels in confluent cultures. In vivo, this gene is expressed in connective tissue and overexpressed at sites of injury, especially in areas of neovascularization. Here we provide a bridge between these observations by examining in culture the effect on 9E3 expression and DNA synthesis induced by cell damage and by addition of factors known to be released on wounding. We mimicked wounding by scraping swaths across confluent cultures of embryonic fibroblasts and determined the time dependence of expression of 9E3 mRNA and incorporation of 3H-thymidine. We find that 9E3 is (1) transiently expressed after "wounding" or serum-stimulation; (2) expressed in a cell cycle phase-dependent manner; it is triggered during the G0-G1 transition or early in G1 and subsides during S-phase; and (3) stimulated to high levels by a-fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), bFGF, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), and TGF beta, to intermediate levels by platelet-derived growth factor and not stimulated by epidermal growth factor. We also find that cells that are constantly cycling do not express 9E3, indicating that they skip either the portion of the cell cycle where 9E3 is induced or that they constitutively express a repressor of transcription or an RNA-degrading enzyme. Taken together, these observations suggest that the product of this gene could play more than one role in vivo. For example, in normal tissues the 9E3 protein could be involved in the exit of cells from the resting stage, whereas during wound healing the secreted protein or its cleavage products also could play a role in angiogenesis.

Animals↗

Physiological and molecular aspects of the inorganic carbon-concentrating mechanism in cyanobacteria.

This paper reviews progress made in elucidating the inorganic carbon concentrating mechanism in cyanobacteria at the physiological and molecular levels. Emphasis is placed on the mechanism of inorganic carbon transport, physiological and genetical analysis of high-CO(2)-requiring mutants, the polypeptides induced during adaptation to low CO(2), the functional significance of carboxysomes, and the role of carbonic anhydrase. We also make occasional reference to the green algal inorganic carbon-concentrating mechanism.

Journal Article↗

Characterization of two insertion sequences, IS701 and IS702, from the cyanobacterium Calothrix species PCC 7601.

We describe the characterization of two insertion elements, IS701 and IS702, isolated from Calothrix species PCC 7601. These insertion elements were cloned from spontaneous pigmentation mutants. Both show the characteristics of typical bacterial insertion sequences, i.e. they present long terminal inverted repeats and they duplicate target DNA upon insertion. These elements share no homology with the only other cyanobacterial insertion sequence described so far, IS891. At least 15 copies of IS701 and 9 copies of IS702 were detected by hybridization experiments in the Calothrix 7601 genome. Their occurrence in several cyanobacterial strains is also reported.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Value of inpatient after-care in coping with illness by tumor patients].

In a panel study consisting of two interviews within one year with 100 patients of the Chirurgische Universitätsklinik of Heidelberg it was tried to evaluate the use and the success of impatient aftercare for cancer patients and their coping with disease. The knowledge concerning disease and therapy turned out to be a more important criterion as for the participation in the 'Kur' than severity of disease, age and sex. A high degree of suffering and a relatively stable psyche were prerequisites to productive coping with the disease. The success of coping as well as the success of the treatment at a sanatorium cannot be implicitely objectified. In individual cases rather than with statistical methods, it was possible to identify risk patients who need intensive care. All in all, the 'sanatorium arrangements' gave a high degree of subjective satisfaction. Their positive effects were made evident in a 'sanatorium behaviour', which seems to be characteristic for cancer patients.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

[The cardiovascular system in pre-eclampsia. Pathophysiology and sequelae to be treated].

Physiologic alterations of the cardiovascular system during normal pregnancy are the basis of all discussions about the problem of preeclampsia and treatment. The main point has to be the sufficient blood supply to the fetus. In this review cardiovascular alterations in high and low pressure system have been reported. High arterial blood pressure, elevated total peripheral resistance, reduced plasma volume, hemoconcentration, reduced suspension stability and hyperviscosity are symptoms which can be treated. Clinical experiences with a hemodynamic adjusted treatment, giving firstly infusionary therapy for correcting hypovolemia with the aim of an improvement within the low pressure system which cause an increase of cardiac output and then secondly the use of only such antihypertensive drugs having favourable effects on the uteroplacental blood flow are good and confirm theoretical considerations.

Cardiovascular System↗