Cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Middle East.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
S Klaus
Publications and source records attributed to S Klaus.
Age-related changes of Renin-Angiotensin system genes in white adipose tissue of rats.
The adipose tissue renin-angiotensin system has been implicated in the regulation of adipocyte growth and differentiation. We studied the influence of age, body weight, total body fat content, anatomical localization, and diet on the expression of angiotensinogen (AGT) and angiotensin II type 1 (AT 1 )-receptor genes in white adipose tissue of normal and postnatal overfed rats. Relative gene expression was measured in epididymal adipose tissue and liver of control and postnatal overfed (PNO) rats at the age of 4, 8, and 12 weeks using real time RT-PCR. Body fat content was determined by carcass analysis. Body weight and body fat content were only significantly greater in PNO rats when compared to control rats at the age of 4 weeks. At the age of 12 weeks, AGT expression was significantly decreased in both tissues. Furthermore, expression of the AT 1 -receptor gene was significantly decreased in liver but not in adipose tissue at 12 weeks of age. Postnatal overfeeding did not influence the expression levels of either gene at any time-point in either liver or adipose tissue. At the age of 24 weeks, AGT expression was significantly greater in epididymal than in subcutaneous adipose tissue, whereas no site-specific differences could be found for the AT 1 -receptor. We conclude that age and depot-specific mechanisms are of more importance for the expression of AGT and AT 1 -receptor genes during the first 12 weeks of age than a short period of overfeeding.
Adipose Tissue↗
Gender-specific response to interstitial angiotensin II in human white adipose tissue.
Angiotensin II is synthesized locally in various tissues. However, the role of interstitial angiotensin II in the regulation of regional metabolism and tissue perfusion has not as yet been clearly defined. We characterized the effect of interstially applied angiotensin II in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue of young, normal-weight, healthy men (n = 8) and women (n = 6) using the microdialysis technique. Adipose tissue was perfused with 0.01, 0.1, and 1 micro M angiotensin II. Dialysate concentrations of ethanol, glycerol, glucose, and lactate were measured to assess changes in blood flow (ethanol dilution technique), lipolysis, and glycolysis, respectively. Baseline ethanol ratio and dialysate lactate were both significantly higher, whereas dialysate glucose was significantly lower in men vs. women. In men, ethanol ratio and dialysate glucose, lactate and glycerol did not change significantly during perfusion with angiotensin II. In women, however, angiotensin II induced a significant increase in ethanol ratio and dialysate lactate and a decrease in dialysate glucose close to values found for men and this response was almost maximal at the lowest angiotensin II concentration used. Dialysate glycerol did not change significantly. We conclude that baseline blood flow and glucose supply and metabolism is significantly higher in women than in men. In men, interstitial Ang II has only a minimal effect on adipose tissue blood flow and metabolism. In women, however, a high physiological concentration of interstitial angiotensin II can reduce blood flow down to values found in men. This is associated with an impaired glucose supply and metabolism. Additionally, Ang II inhibits lipolysis.
Abdomen↗
[Microdialysis as a procedure for evaluating intestinal hypoxia--an animal experiment approach].
Usual ICU monitoring of patients with abdominal pathology provides no detailed information about hepatosplanchnic haemodynamics or intestinal metabolism. In our animal experiment, the effects of systemic hypoxia on microdialysis measurements of the peritoneum in comparison with the ischiocrural muscle as reference were investigated in 7 rats. The parameter of interest was the course of glucose metabolism reflecting sympathoadrenergic activity during the experiment. Measurements were obtained at timed intervals at baseline, under hypoxia, and during reoxygenation. After induction of systemic hypoxia, the peritoneal microdialysis showed significantly higher levels of glucose in comparison with the ischiocrural muscle. The results indicate hypermetabolic activity or a hypersympathetic response of the bowel in response to hypoxic stress. In the clinical setting, the bowel has an important role in the development of multiorgan failure. Microdialysis may therefore be an interesting tool for the early detection of hypoxic metabolism during and after abdominal procedures.
Animals↗
Renal dysfunction according to the ADQI-RIFLE system and clinical practice patterns after cardiac surgery in Germany.
AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of renal dysfunction according to the Acute-Dialysis-Quality Initiative-(ADQI)-RIFLE grading system in cardiac surgery in Germany in 2003 and to determine if variations in the incidence of renal dysfunction are related to clinical practice patterns. METHODS DESIGN: prospective cohort analysis and practice pattern survey. MEASUREMENTS: 81 hospitals were requested to report prospectively sampled quality-management-data on patient load, case mix, aortic-cross-clamp-time, baseline and maximal plasma creatinine (CreaP), new-onset-renal-replacement-therapy, and clinical practice concerning the use of fluids, inotropic and vasopressor drugs, and diuretics. Fifty-one (63%) centers answered the survey. Twenty-six centers (32%)(representative for 29 623 patients(reported creatinine data. RESULTS: The incidence of a 50%, 100%, or 150% increase in plasma creatinine (graded as risk, injury, and failure according to the ADQI-RIFLE-system) were 9% (2-40%), 5% (0.8-30%), and 2% (0.6-33%), respectively, overall 15.4% (3.1-75%). The incidence of new-onset renal-replacement-therapy was 4.5% (0.6-24%). Centers with a low incidence of renal dysfunction 8.7% (3.1-15.4%)differed from those with a high incidence 51% (15.7-75%)by being more liberal with fluids, not preferring dopamine in ''renal'' or inotropic doses, and preferring noradrenaline as a vasopressor (all: P<0.05), but not by case mix, frequency of urgent or emergency cases, and the use of loop diuretics. CONCLUSIONS: Renal dysfunction is a frequent complication following cardiac surgery in many German heart centers. The variance between centers may not be explained by patient heterogeneity and may be related to different strategies regarding fluid therapy and the use of inotropes and vasopressors.
Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
Head lice in Israeli children: parents' answers to an epidemiological questionnaire.
BACKGROUND: The aim was to determine the influence of the socioeconomic status of the family and the hygienic practices in the home on the prevalence of head lice infestation in children. METHODS: The study was carried out by analyzing the answers to a standardized epidemiological questionnaire given to parents of school children aged 4-17 in Bet Shemesh, a medium-sized urban town 25 km from Jerusalem. RESULTS: Of 3,000 questionnaires distributed, 958 (31.9%) were completed and returned. The majority of the children (72.4%) had been previously infested with lice. Half of them had other family members, mainly brothers and sisters, who had been infested in the past with lice. In 97.5% of the families the mother was responsible for examining the children for lice, and for carrying out treatment when infestation was present. An association was found between presence of lice infestation and mother's education, age of child, and frequency of shampooing, combing, and examination for lice. There was no association between infestation rates and mother's country of origin, crowding in the home, and the sharing of combs, brushes, hats, scarves, towels, and clothes. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence that the incidence of lice infestation depends on the hygienic practices in the home rather than on the socioeconomic status of the family or sharing of personal articles among family members.
Adolescent↗
The prevalence of ectoparasites in Ethiopian immigrants.
Newly arrived Ethiopian immigrants in Israel were screened for ectoparasitic insects and mites. Of 304 individuals examined 65.1% were infested with the head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis). The infestation rate among children varied between 65 and 100%. Children aged 6-11 years were the most infested group and no differences between girls and boys were found. The infestation rate in children was significantly higher than that found in adults. Approximately 39% of those examined were infested with the body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus). The rate of infestation with this parasite was higher in adults than in children and higher in females than males. Ten percent of the immigrants examined were infested with the scabies mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) and 4.3% with the human flea (Pulex irritans).
Adolescent↗