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Biomedical subjects

S Walter

Publications and source records attributed to S Walter.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Value of monitoring serum gastrin after renal transplantation.

Serum concentration of gastrin was measured before and after renal transplantation in 97 consecutive patients in order to assess possible correlations to gastrointestinal bleeding, allograft function, or graft rejection. In patients with transient signs of allograft rejection (N = 29) or upper gastrointestinal bleeding (N = 12) there was a nonsignificant trend towards higher postoperative gastrin levels, and in patients in whom the graft was removed (N = 29), this tendency was more pronounced (p = 0.06). The study demonstrated that monitoring of serum concentrations of gastrin following renal transplantation is of little clinical value. However, increased gastrin levels in serum may indicate that graftectomy may be the ultimate result.

Cadaver↗
PubMed1988

Ultrastructural pathology of dermal axons and Schwann cells in lysosomal diseases.

Skin tissue specimens, obtained from 60 patients afflicted with a diverse range of lysosomal disorders revealed two groups of lesions within dermal axons, largely unmyelinated ones, particularly within axonal terminals: (1) non-specific mitochondria and dense bodies often enlarging the axonal terminal; and (2) disease-specific lysosomal residual bodies, the latter less frequent depending on the incidence and type of lysosomal disorders, i.e., largely only seen in GM2-gangliosidosis due to hexosaminidase A deficiency and mucolipidosis IV, while the spectrum of lysosomal residual bodies in Schwann cells appeared more variegated, especially due to the occurrence of vacuolar lysosomal residual bodies which were never seen within axons. The most frequent location of abnormal intraaxonal constituents in terminal axons indicates a functionally and morphologically impaired retrograde axonal transport but provides no further evidence as to whether the respective parent nerve cell body has also accumulated lysosomal residual bodies. When studying biopsied skin specimens for diagnosis, axonal terminals beneath the epidermis, about sweat glands, and among smooth muscle cells, ought to be incorporated into a comprehensive electron microscopic examination.

Axons↗
PubMed1988

Identification of Erwinia amylovora, the Fireblight Pathogen, by Colony Hybridization with DNA from Plasmid pEA29.

All strains of Erwinia amylovora characterized carry a medium-size plasmid of 29 kilobases (pEA29). We mapped this plasmid with various restriction enzymes, cloned the whole DNA into an Escherichia coli plasmid, and subcloned restriction fragments. These DNA species were used for identification of E. amylovora after handling of strains in the laboratory and also in field isolates. About 70 strains of E. amylovora and 24 strains from nine other species, mainly found in plant habitats, were checked in a colony hybridization test. Virulent and avirulent E. amylovora strains reacted positively, whereas the other species were negative. Apart from the hybridization assay, the positive strains were additionally tested for ooze production on rich agar with 5% sucrose and on immature-pear slices. Unspecific background hybridization of non-E. amylovora strains found for hybridization with the whole E. amylovora plasmid was almost eliminated when a 5-kilobase SalI fragment from pEA29 was used as a probe and when the washes after the hybridization procedure were done with high stringency. Under these conditions, E. amylovora could be readily identified from field isolates.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Measuring change over time: assessing the usefulness of evaluative instruments.

Reliability, the ratio of the variance attributable to true differences among subjects to the total variance, is an important attribute of psychometric measures. However, it is possible for instruments to be reliable, but unresponsive to change; conversely, they may show poor reliability but excellent responsiveness. This is especially true for instruments in which items are tailored to the individual respondent. Therefore, we suggest a new index of responsiveness to assess the usefulness of instruments designed to measure change over time. This statistic, which relates the minimal clinically important difference to the variability in stable subjects, has direct sample size implications. Responsiveness should join reliability and validity as necessary requirements for instruments designed primarily to measure change over time.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Micturition pattern in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Micturition pattern was investigated in 61 consecutive patients with thyroid disease. The patients were divided into three groups: hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, and euthyroid. Micturition pattern was examined after the first visit to the hospital and again six months later, when thyroid function had been restored to normal. Hyperthyroid patients had significantly increased micturition frequency as well as nocturia compared with their own control group when euthyroid (p less than 0.01). Hypothyroid patients had reduced micturition frequency compared with their own control group (p = 0.05). No significant changes were found in the euthyroid group. Which mechanisms might be responsible for the relationship between thyroid function and micturition pattern is debatable, and calls for further urodynamic and electrophysiologic studies. One conclusion is that thyroid disease should be borne in mind when patients present with unexplained urinary frequency or retention.

Female↗
PubMed1987

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide concentration in human bladder neck smooth muscle and its influence on urodynamic parameters.

Three human studies were performed to evaluate the influence of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on bladder and urethral function. Bladder neck smooth muscle biopsies were obtained from nine men with functional bladder neck obstruction, from 10 men with medium sized benign prostatic hypertrophy and from four patients with a normal infravesical outlet. The biopsies were analysed for VIP by radioimmunoassay and by immunohistochemistry. No differences were found between the groups. Pressure-flow-EMG studies were performed in five men and urethrocystometry was performed in six women at rest, repeated coughing and at squeezing before, during and after VIP 3 micrograms/kg X h intravenously. No systematic changes developed in any of the urodynamic parameters.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Transurethral prostatectomy or incision of the prostate in the treatment of prostatism caused by small benign prostates.

In a prospective, randomized study 21 patients with prostatism caused by small prostates (estimated weight less than 20 gram) had a transurethral prostatectomy (TURP), and 17 patients a transurethral incision of the prostate (TUI). In the TUI group operation time and blood loss was significantly less than in the TURP group, while there was no intergroup difference in postoperative fever greater than 38 degrees C, antibiotic treatment, number of days with indwelling catheter or days of hospitalization after surgery. Three patients in the TUI group had repeated surgery. In the TURP group one patient underwent reoperation and one was discharged with a permanent indwelling catheter. Thirty-three patients had a follow-up of 3 months. Both surgical procedures significantly improved symptoms and maximum flow rates, and there was no intergroup difference of the surgical outcome. Forty-five per cent in the TURP group developed retrograde ejaculation versus none in the TUI group. In this preliminary report TUI was as effective as TURP in relieving bladder outlet obstruction caused by small prostates.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Detection of neutrophilocytes and NO2-producing bacteria in urine by dipstick BM-test-9.

A prospective study compared the detection of leucocytes and bacteria in urine with the dipstick test (presence of esterases in granulocytes and nitrite) to chamber counting of urine, microscopic examination of the urinary sediment, and urine culture. Examined were 174 urine specimens. The dipstick esterase test and the sediment count were almost equally sensitive in detecting leucocyturia. Using chamber count and a cut-off point of 10 or more leucocytes per cubic millimeter as denoting significant leucocyturia, the esterase test gave a predictive value for negative test (PV neg) of 75% and a predictive value for positive test (PV pos) of 96%. PV neg of the dipstick nitrite test was 78% and PV pos 100% in detecting bacteriuria (10(5) bacteria per milliliter). Combining the esterase test with the nitrite test did not increase PV neg. Our result was that the dipstick test seems to be a simple screening procedure for leucocyturia and bacteriuria. The test is suggested to replace the time-consuming microscopic examinations of urine for leucocytes. When the nitrite test is positive, routine urine culture may be omitted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

A prospective study of antisperm antibody development in acute epididymitis.

The association between acute epididymitis and development of antisperm antibodies was investigated by the gelatin agglutination technique in prospectively collected serum samples from 27 patients. Agglutinating antisperm antibodies, mainly of the IgG class, were detected in seven men (27 per cent), a significantly increased frequency compared to prevalences previously found among blood donors and men from infertile couples. The antibodies developed de novo in four patients (15 per cent). The increased incidence of positive sera and the kinetics of the antibody responses strongly indicate a causal link between acute epididymitis and autoimmunization against spermatozoa. In the majority of the patients the antibody titers were low, being of only theoretical importance in respect to later fertility.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Community professionals' compliance with consultants' recommendations for developmentally disabled children.

Much of the responsibility for managing children with developmental disabilities lies with professionals working in community services. In many instances advice and consultation for these frontline professionals is available from a regional consultation facility. The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine the relationship between community professional clients' perceptions of the quality of the consultations received and their subsequent compliance with the recommendations made to them for the management of children in their care. Two hundred and ninety-nine consultation recommendations were followed: 2 weeks after the advice had been provided, clients completed a general satisfaction questionnaire and a client perceptions questionnaire. Two months later, compliance with the recommendation was determined by a validated self-report questionnaire. Overall, compliance was good for 73% of the recommendations. Negative client perceptions regarding several aspects of the consultants' skills in conducting the consultation were strongly associated with subsequent noncompliance. The findings suggest that community professional compliance may be enhanced by attention to improving the process of consultation.

Child↗
PubMed1986

[Prevention of infection with metronidazole in abortion induced by PGF2 alpha].

The influence of prophylactic treatment with metronidazole on infectious morbity after induced abortion by intermittent intrauterine extraamniotic application of PGF2 alpha was studied in 255 primigravidae. The rate of inflammatory complications was decreased significantly by oral and rectal application of Vagimid.

Abortion, Induced↗