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Biomedical subjects

R Stenger

Publications and source records attributed to R Stenger.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Correlation between sex, intrauterine position and familial predisposition and neonatal hip ultrasound results].

AIM: To correlate findings of hip ultrasound on day 4-10 of life with sex, intrauterine position and a positive family history for congenital hip anomalies. METHODS: The SNiP-study ( Survey of Neonates In Pommerania) registered 2256 neonates (2030 term, 226 preterm) between May 2002 and March 2004. Hip ultrasound results of 1043 term and since October 2003 33 preterm neonates were analysed. Time of ultrasound was day 4-10 after birth. Preterm neonates were examined when reaching their corrected term gestational age. Ultrasound was applied with a 7.5 MHz linear scanner and results were classified according to Graf. Chi-square and Fishers exact test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: 4.9 % of the screened hips were classified as IIc or higher, 3.1 % were unilateral and 1.7 % bilateral. Incidence was significantly higher (p < 0.023) in females (6.6 %) than in males (3.2 %). There was no significant difference in intrauterine position or positive family history for hip anomalies with 3.7 % for mothers, 1.2 % of fathers and 2.4 % of siblings positive. There was a higher incidence for congenital hip dysplasia in preterms with 6.1 %, which is not significant due to the limited number. DISCUSSION: Current screening methods miss up to 18 % of newborns with severe hip dysplasia. We were able to demonstrate that screening for congenital hip dysplasia with ultrasound is a diagnostic tool even during the first days of life. There is a significantly higher incidence of congenital hip dysplasia in females, but in contrast to other studies we found no significant difference in intrauterine position or familial history. Earlier diagnosis and therapy on the base of relevant risk factors might correspond with an improved prognosis and outcome. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the significance in preterm neonates.

Female↗
PubMed1999

Lack of sex difference in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leptin levels and contribution of CSF/plasma ratios to variations in body mass index in children.

In adults, leptin seems to cross the blood-brain barrier by a saturable transporter. This may contribute to the development of obesity. The present study in healthy children investigates leptin levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in relation to body constitution. This prospective study analyzed leptin levels in plasma and CSF samples (stored at -80 C) of patients without CNS infection or blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Inclusion criteria included temperature less than 38.5 C, C-reactive protein levels below 10 mg/L, CSF leukocyte levels less than 10(7)/L, no need for neurosurgical or oncological treatment, and no history of trauma. Four groups were designated according to body mass index. Sixty-five children (28 girls and 37 boys) entered the study. Plasma leptin (median) was 7.4 in girls and 2.6 ng/mL in boys., CSF leptin was 0.273 and 0.204 ng/mL, respectively, leading to CSF/plasma ratios of 0.045 and 0.071, respectively. Ratios were clearly dependent on body mass index percentiles (r = -0.484; P < 0.01, significant differences between groups by ANOVA). Median plasma leptin levels in the 4 groups (body mass index, <10th, 10th-50th, 50th-90th, and >90th percentile) were 2.0, 2.3, 4.1, and 8.8 ng/mL; CSF/plasma ratios were inversely related: 8.2%, 7.6%, 5.5% and 3.6%. In healthy children, CSF leptin levels account for approximately 5% of plasma levels. CSF/plasma ratios in girls are lower than those in boys, explaining why calorie intake and energy expenditure are not grossly different despite large differences in circulating plasma leptin concentrations. CSF/plasma ratios of lean children are higher than those in obese children. The dynamic changes in the CSF/plasma ratios are more pronounced in lean children, i.e. the nonlinear transport characteristics of the leptin system amplifies the information about changes in body energy stores in this population, indicating that leptin is part of a mechanism to protect the body from critical weight loss rather than to avoid obesity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Serum eosinophil cationic protein measurements in the management of perennial and periodic asthma: a prospective study.

We performed a prospective study in order: 1) to determine whether a correlation could be found between serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels and clinical and functional status in perennial asthmatics during a 5 month prospective study; and 2) to evaluate the relationship between allergic exposure and ECP levels in periodic asthmatics. Two groups of asthmatic patients were selected: a group of acutely ill perennial asthmatics and a group of periodic asthmatics. The acutely ill perennial asthmatics (n=22, mean age=39.4 yrs) were included on the basis of hospitalization for acute asthma. At the end of the hospitalization, there was a 5 month follow-up of clinical, functional and medication scores, as well as eosinophil counts and ECP levels. The periodic asthmatic group was composed of asthmatics sensitized to birch and tree pollens (n=10, mean age=33.8 yrs). The same measurement were performed on this group, before, during and after the pollen season. Under corticosteroid treatment in the acutely ill patients, there was a significant decrease in serum ECP levels between the first day of hospitalization and the day of discharge (mean: 23.2 microg x L(-1) and 9.5 microg x L(-1), respectively; p=0.006). No correlation was found between the clinical status, functional status and serum ECP levels during the 5 month follow-up. A significant increase in ECP levels was found in periodic asthmatics during the pollen season. Our results suggest that serum eosinophil cationic protein is a useful marker of allergen exposure and of acute asthma treatment. This could be of importance in the prevention and follow-up of allergic asthma; the value of serum eosinophil cationic protein measurements in the day-to-day management of adult asthmatics needs to be further clarified.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

[Asthma, rhinitis and urticaria following occupational exposure to cyanoacrylate glues].

Cyanoacrylate glues are more and widely used in the industry because of easy handling and great sticking power. These very volatile and chemically reactive glues may not only cause contact eczema, but also rhinitis and asthma. Nineteen cases of asthma have been reported to date. We report two new cases of occupational asthma as well as one case of urticaria, a clinical symptom not yet described, to our knowledge. In the three cases, diagnosis was made based on a compatible medical history and positive realistic exposure tests. The mechanism is still unknown, due to the physical properties of cyanoacrylate glues; in fact, it is not possible to perform prick tests or specific IgE measurements. Besides the usual preventive measures, maintaining a relative humidity greater than 55% seems to induce polymerization of free monomers of alkyl cyanoacrylate, thereby reducing their volatility. Rhinitis and asthma due to cyanoacrylate glue may receive compensation as occupational diseases in France.

Adhesives↗
PubMed1995

Platelet-derived growth factor in asthma.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) controls cellular growth, migration, and differentiation. It is secreted by various cell types, including macrophages, and participates in tissue repair and epithelial regeneration. PDGF may therefore be involved in airway remodeling in asthma. This study compared the immunoreactivity of PDGF and its receptors (R alpha and R beta) in bronchial biopsies and the levels of PDGF in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of asthmatics and control subjects. Bronchial biopsies were done in a subsegmental bronchus of 11 asthmatics and 11 control subjects by flexible bronchoscope. PDGF AA and BB, and PDGF receptors R alpha and R beta were studied with monoclonal antibodies and revealed by immunoperoxidase staining. The percentage of subjects presenting positive staining with PDGFs and its receptors was studied in the epithelium and submucosa. PDGF AA, AB, and BB were measured in BAL fluid of 18 asthmatics and 10 controls by specific ELISA. In biopsies, there was no significant difference between asthmatics and controls for PDGF AA, BB, PDGF-R alpha and R beta (Fisher's exact test and Bonferroni's correction). Moreover, the levels of PDGF, AA, AB, and BB were similar in asthmatics and controls. This study does not support a role for PDGF in the repair processes of asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Cyfra 21-1 as a biologic marker of non-small cell lung cancer. Evaluation of sensitivity, specificity, and prognostic role.

BACKGROUND: Cytokeratins are epithelial markers whose expression is not lost during malignant transformation. Cyfra 21-1 is a cytokeratin-19 fragment that is soluble in serum and may be a useful circulating tumor marker. STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were (1) to confirm sensitivity and specificity of Cyfra 21-1 in detecting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and especially the squamous cell subtype, (2) to assess the potential relationship between Cyfra 21-1 and disease stage of the disease in NSCLC, and (3) to evaluate prognostic effect of Cyfra 21-1 in NSCLC. METHODS: An immunoradiometric assay of serum Cyfra 21-1 was performed in 161 patients with lung cancers and 71 others with benign lung diseases. The ability of Cyfra 21-1 to detect different histologic subtypes of lung cancer vs benign lung diseases was assessed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and comparisons with other tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen, neuron-specific enolase, and squamous cell carcinoma antigen. Comparisons of Cyfra 21-1 levels according to histologic subtype and disease stage were done using Kruskal-Wallis test. Independent prognostic value of Cyfra 21-1 was studied with a multivariate analysis of survival (Cox's model). RESULTS: Using a threshold of 3.3 ng/mL for Cyfra 21-1, sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 0.59 and 0.94 in NSCLC, 0.68 and 0.94 in the subgroup of the squamous cell carcinoma, and 0.19 and 0.94 in small cell lung cancer. Cyfra 21-1 levels were significantly higher in advanced NSCLC than in early-stage disease. All 29 patients with serum concentrations > 32 ng/mL had stage IIIB-IV and only one of 14 patients with stage I-II disease had Cyfra 21-1 level > 18 ng/mL. In the multivariate analysis of survival, Cyfra 21-1 was an independent prognostic factor along with performance status and disease stage in NSCLC. CONCLUSIONS: Cyfra 21-1 is a sensitive and specific tumor marker of NSCLC, especially of squamous cell subtype. It also reflects the extent of the disease and has an independent prognostic role along with performance status and disease stage in NSCLC. IMPLICATIONS: A high level of Cyfra 21-1 in apparently early-stage NSCLC should be an indication for more extensive workup before thoracotomy. The independent prognostic role of Cyfra 21-1 level may be useful in stratifying populations with advanced NSCLC or early-stage resected NSCLC as elevated Cyfra 21-1 levels might identify those patients at high risk for treatment failure.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

[An unusual miliary pattern].

Syndromes presenting with interstitial radiological signs are often difficult to diagnose aetiologically. Surgical biopsy prevents certain rare cases being neglected notably when there are atypical manifestations. We describe a case of bronchiolitis obliterans with an organising pneumonia which was classical as regards the histology and its response to treatment but unusual as regards the clinical presentation and the aetiology.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Pathogenesis of bilirubin encephalopathy and subsequent therapeutic consequences].

At present the classic "kernicterus" has nearly disappeared, but toxic effects of bilirubin, nevertheless, play an important role in the etiology of late neurologic sequelae in VLBW infants. Even in very low concentrations of serum bilirubin CNS damages have to be expected when other metabolic disturbances induce the opening of blood-brain-barrier. Since safe criteria for predicting toxic effects of bilirubin do practically not exist, in VLBW infants with perinatal metabolic disorders early preventive phototherapy is indicated to keep the serum bilirubin level as low as possible. Experimental studies in animals showed brain protective effects of barbiturates apart from enzyme induction.

Blood-Brain Barrier↗
PubMed1988

[Transepithelial electric potential difference (tPD) in clinical medicine. Methodologic aspects of measuring potential differences in the gastrointestinal tract].

The transepithelial potential difference of the gastrointestinal mucosa as a diagnostic parameter obtains increasing importance in clinical medicine. Therefore it is necessary to consider methodical aspects of the tPD-measurement under in-vivo conditions. The current paper presents methodical considerations for instance electrode arrangement, positions, composition of the electrolyte electrodes, diffusion potentials, rate of perfusion and unstirred water layer and their influence on the tPD-measurement.

Epithelium↗
PubMed1987

Increase in blood-brain barrier permeability by altitude decompression.

Previous studies indicated that exposure to compression-decompression increases blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability to vital dyes and antibiotics. This report concerns functional and ultrastructural BBB changes induced by altitude decompression. A 2% trypan blue solution was intravenously injected (4 ml.kg-1) into 29 experimental and 19 control rabbits. Some animals also received horseradish peroxidase. The experimental animals were subjected to 30,000 ft (4.3 psi) for 45 min. Controls were kept at ground level. The animals were sacrificed 90 min postinjection. Gross and microscopic examination and spectrophotometric dye determination revealed significantly greater tracer penetration in experimental brains (mean dye concentration 27.06 +/- 4.42 micrograms.g-1) than in controls (4.52 +/- 1.52 micrograms.g-1). No sex differences were noted. Electron microscopy suggested that the increased BBB permeability was due to transendothelial vesicular transport and, occasionally, to penetration through interendothelial junctions. These observations may have relevance to pharmacotherapy in space and at high altitudes and to the pathogenesis of altitude decompression sickness.

Altitude Sickness↗