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T Abel

Publications and source records attributed to T Abel.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Health lifestyles and self-direction in employment among American men: a test of the spillover effect.

This paper examines whether American males with a high degree of control over their work situation pursue healthy lifestyles and rate their physical health more positively than those who score low on occupational self-direction. That is, are persons who control their work more likely to also try to control their health through living in a particularly healthy manner? We found that there was no support for a spillover effect from high occupational self-direction to enhanced participation in health lifestyles or more positive self-rated health. The findings suggest health lifestyles have spread throughout occupational work groups in the U.S. and support research that maintains such lifestyles have spread across social strata in America.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1989

Melatonin profile in marmots: the influence of catecholamines, hibernation, and light.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of circulating catecholamines and light on the daily melatonin rhythm in the marmot. Endogenous levels of circulating catecholamines and plasma melatonin were measured during arousal from hibernation in light and studies were performed on the circadian melatonin rhythm in two photoperiods (LD 4:20 and LD 8:16). In addition, studies were done on the capacity of broad-band white light at normal room intensities (32 muW/cm2 or 108 Ix) and of low-intensity monochromatic green light (500 nm; 1.4muW/cm2 or 3.1 Ix) to suppress high nocturnal melatonin levels. We conclude that high levels of plasma catecholamines that occur during arousal from hibernation do not influence the production and secretion of pineal melatonin. During the nocturnal portion of its light/dark cycle, the marmot plasma melatonin rhythm is suppressed by both white light and low-intensity green light.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Leydhecker tonography and Ulrich ocular pressure tonometry in probands with healthy eyes and glaucoma patients].

In the study presented here, we compared two methods of measuring the ocular drainage resistance in patients with primary open angle glaucoma and in healthy subjects: (1) 7-min tonography according to Leydhecker; (2) oculopression tonometry according to Ulrich. We examined 30 healthy subjects and 30 patients suffering from glaucoma. Seven-minute tonography according to Leydhecker and the oculopression tonometry according to Ulrich (OPT) were both performed in these two groups. By means of OPT, we determined the discrimination function D1, i.e. the difference between the intraocular pressure (IOP) before starting the test and the IOP after removing the cup. Using these function results, it was possible to differentiate sufficiently between healthy and glaucomatous eyes. Fifty-Five eyes (92%; 60 people examined) were correctly diagnosed, 3% were classified as false negative; 5% (3) as false positive. In comparison, tonography according to Leydhecker showed 10% (6) false negative and no false-positive cases. The results presented here did not show any significant differences between the two methods used. Therefore both methods are considered to be of equal value in clinical use.

Glaucoma, Open-Angle↗
PubMed1988

[New signs for the echographic identification of the adrenal glands in children and adolescents].

Although the shape of the adrenal glands was found to vary according to the angle and position of the transducer, the most common appearance was that of a triangle, helmet or cap. This caplike appearance and the similarity in echo intensity make it difficult or even impossible to distinguish the adrenal glands from the upper pole of the kidney in many cases. By closely examining the approximate transition zone between adrenal gland and kidney, additional signs have been found that enable a better delineation of the adrenal glands. These may take the form of slight indentations ("waist form") or small, jutting edges ("step form"), seen in up to 42% of examinations. Further means of identification result from reflective interfaces at the base of the adrenal glands. These might include capsular veins or interposed fat ("vessel sign" and "reflective base"). These signs provide assistance in delineating and measuring the normal adrenal glands and make the detection of minor abnormalities possible.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[Sonographic imaging of normal adrenal glands in children and adolescents. An analysis of forms and reflex properties].

168 sonographic examinations were performed in 156 children and adolescents for evaluation of the adrenal glands. For the ventrolateral approach, real-time sonography was used resulting in 99% visualisation of the adrenal glands on the right and 91% on the left side. In prone position, static scanning provided acceptable imaging of the right adrenal gland in 85% and the left in 95% of examinations. The "success rate" of transverse scanning was relatively low (67%) as compared to longitudinal sections. The reflective property of the adrenal glands was compared with the reflex intensity pattern of the adjacent parenchyma of the normal kidney. In 71% of examinations no distinction could be made between the adrenal glands and the upper pole of the kidney on the basis of echointensity. In 29% the adrenal gland was echolucent in comparison to the kidney's parenchyma. In no instance was the echointensity of the normal adrenal gland greater. Although the shape of the adrenal glands was found to vary according to the angle and position of the transducer, the most common appearance in children of one year or older was that of a triangle, helmet or cap. This caplike appearance and the similarity in echointensity often make it difficult or even impossible to distinguish the adrenal glands from the upper pole of the kidney. It is therefore advisable to examine the adrenal glands in children from both laterally and dorsally to allow for optimum visualization. In contrast to some reports in adults, increased echointensity of the adrenal gland (adrenal cortex) in children should be considered as an abnormal finding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[Aspergillus fumigatus infection of the lung in cystic fibrosis (author's transl)].

In an 8-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis Aspergillus fumigatus infection of the lung was diagnosed. Pot-plant soil as reservior of Aspergillus fumigatus was shown to be the source of inhalable Aspergillus fumigatus units within the clinic. Cystic fibrosis mucus of the patient acted as nutritive substrate for Aspergillus fumigatus. Consequent exclusion of pot plants in housing and hospital rooms is considered necessary for prevention of Aspergillus fumigatus infection in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary↗
PubMed1980

Rheumatoid vasculitis: effect of cyclophosphamide on the clinical course and levels of circulating immune complexes.

A study of five patients with severe rheumatoid vasculitis treated with cyclophosphamide was undertaken to determine whether immune complexes were present in serum and if their levels correlated with disease activity and response to treatment. Circulating immune complexes were measured by various techniques including the Clq binding and Raji cell radioimmunoassays and determination of the presence of cryoglobulins. Elevated levels of circulating immune complexes, hypocomplementemia, and high titer rheumatoid factor were present during active vasculitis. Clinical and serologic remissions were induced in all patients on cyclophosphamide. In two patients in remission, a rise in rheumatoid factor titer and immune complex levels was associated with an exacerbation of vasculitis and resolved on increased cyclophosphamide dosage. The Clq binding assay and rheumatoid factor titer correlated best with clinical activity. Thus, circulating immune complexes appear to be involved in the immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid vasculitis, which can be successfully treated with cyclophosphamide.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1980

Pathogenic yeast-like fungi in meat products.

100 samples of sausage and ham (cut in fine slices) were examined to find out whether meat products can harbour yeast-like fungi pathogenic for man. Pieces of the test material were placed in a sterile Petri dish containing 1 ml distilled water and incubated at 26 degrees C for 2 days. The colonies grown on the material were identified by international standard methods, tested for extracellular proteolytic activity and serotypes. Experimentally infected meat products were studied culturally and histologically (PAS stain). 14 out of the 100 samples examined were found to contain Candida parapsilosis and 1 C. tropicalis. In vitro, extracellular proteolytic activity was found in 54.5% of the C. parapsilosis isolates. By serotyping, 2 of the isolates wree found to be related with serotype A and 8 with serotype B of C. albicans. The strains isolated from the blood of 27 patients, in part of them, identity of serotype and proteolysing activity was established. In the experimentally infected meat products, C. albicans showed a scarce growth preferably in the pseudomycelium form. C. tropicalis grew very well on the boiled sausage of salami type but mostly in the pseudomycelium form. C. parapsilosis on the other hand, showed a strong growth preferably as round blastospores on all 3 meat products and Cryptococcus neoformans a moderate growth as round blastospores in all the 3 meat products (Bologna type sausage, boiled sausage of salami type and smoke ham). The findings are discussed with a view of their implications for Medical Mycology, epidemiology and the practice of food control.

Blood↗
PubMed1979

[Orbital aspergillosis--a contribution to its diagnosis and treatment (author's transl)].

In connection with a case report, the mycological diagnosis and treatment of orbital aspergillosis are reviewed. In a 59-year-old male patient an exophthalmus on the right side could be diagnosed as aspergillosis spreading from the corresponding sinus maxillaris into retro- and peri-orbicular regions, after other causes had been excluded by differential diagnosis. In a biopsy specimen from the retrobulbar tumor, a fungal granuloma was found which, histologically and by isolation of the fungus, could be identified as an infection by A. fumigatus. Because of the good visus of the right eye, no exenteratio orbitae but an enoral revision of the sinus maxillaris, ethmoidal bone, and bottom of orbita was performed.--By infusions of amphotericin B and local washings with pimaricin (natamycin) in the sinus maxillaris and the region of the operation, a complete healing of the mycotic process was achieved.--Since 1 1/2 years, the patient has not had a relaps. This success of therapy was possible by exemplary cooperation of otorhinolaryngologists, ophthalmologists, pathologists and microbiologists.--In view of the prophylaxis of such infections, recent contributions to the epidemiology of aspergillosis are discussed.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed1978

Epidemiology of Cryptococcus neoformans.

The concept of the epidemiology of Cryptococcus neoformans as the causative agent of cryptococcosis and as a basidiomycetous yeast is based on the fact that bird manure has been until now its only known habitat but not plant material which likewise harbours various nonpathogenic Cryptococcus species. It could be shown that the possible influence of nutritional factors on the morphology and morphogenesis earns attention not only in view of the epidemiology of C. neoformans but of its perfect states, too.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

[Occurrence of Aspergillus fumigatus in West Berlin - contribution to the epidemiology of aspergillosis (author's transl)].

The increasing incidence of human A. fumigatus infections particularly such of the respiratory tract has led to this study of the epidemiological situation. During the period between October 1968 and December 1977, A. fumigatus was isolated from clinical material in 425 cases. These findings which were established at the Mycology Unit, Robert Koch Institute, Federal Health Office, exhibited the following distribution by regions of the body or type of specimen: respiratory tract 277 (65.1(); venous blood 58 (13.6%); urine 3 (0.7%); stools 9 (2.1%) and others 78 (18.3%). Approximately two thirds of these findings were made during the period from October to March and about one third between April and September. The presence of A. fumigatus in the air both indoors and outdoors and also in the environment of patients suffering from aspergillosis was studied with the aid of the sedimentation-method. This method was chosen because the occurrence of A. fumigatus conidia in the air is of epidemiological interest. The number of isolations of A. fumigatus from outdoors samples was low, so the search for inhalative conidia concentrated upon sites near A. fumigatus habitats. These studies revealed that aspergillosis patients, clinical material sampled from them, decaying plant material (agriculture, horticulture), and used clothes and linen may form foci for the spread of A. fumigatus conidia. The control of aspergillosis in the hospital environment involves in particular a control of aspergillosis patients by means of culture and serology (preferably by ghe immunodiffusion test). Numerous recommendations are made on how to prevent A. fumigatus infections in hospitals, at the working site, and in the laboratory.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed1978

A comparative study of antigens of Aspergillus fumigatus isolates from patients and soil of ornamental plants in the immunodiffusion test.

The strikingly frequent and constant presence of Aspergillus fimigatus in the soil of potted ornamental plants kept in private houses and hospitals has been the reason for studying the antigens of the strains found from the diagnostic and epidemiological angles. Culture-filtrate antigens of A. fumigatus strains isolated from the soil of 4 different ornamental plants, epiphyllum (Epiphyllum truncatum), orange tree (Citrus sinensis), Alpine rose (Azalea indica) and Christmas flower (Euphorbia pulcherrima), were compared, in the immunodiffusion test, with antigens of A. fumigatus strains from aspergillosis patients prepared in an identical way. When tested against 8 different sera from different aspergillosis patients there was a good coincidence of results. Control sera from patients suffering from diseases other than aspergillosis, no false-positive reactions could be observed. The findings are discussed in respect of diagnosis and epidemiology.

Antigens, Fungal↗
PubMed1977

Serodiagnostic value of extracellular antigens of an actively proteolysing culture of Candida albicans (immunodiffusion-test).

Cell-free, dialysed and concentrated culture filtrate of a Candida albicans strain, after proteolysis in serum-protein medium (bovine albumine), and after growth in Sabouraud glucose broth (for comparison) were used as antigens for the detection of precipitating antibodies in 558 samples of serum originating from defined groups of patients and healthy persons serving as controls. The differing distribution of antibodies against these two antigens as observed in the various groups of our patients calls for further studies of such antigens on the basis of proteolysis within the serodiagnostics of Candida albicans-mycoses.

Antibodies, Fungal↗
PubMed1977

Ocular cryptococcosis - experimental and clinical observations.

During the previous studies, we could demonstrate that there are strains of Cryptococcus neoformans which after intraperitoneal inoculation, are capble of surviving only in the brain of mice without causing any apparent clinical symptom; only in about 4% of the animals the fatal involvement of the CNS occurred. The present investigations suggest that the selective involvement of eye, i.e., formation of intraocular cryptococcoma, with subsequent blindness is also possible under similar experimental conditions. It was observed that a short-lived uremia caused by intramuscular injection of 0.2 ml glycerine could enhance the rate of the selective involvement of the CNS including the eye. The uremia was controlled by the auxanographic method using STAIB's technique of serum-residual-nitrogen-auxanogram and employing the strain used for infecting the mice. These animal experiments are discussed in connection with a clinical case of intra-ocular cryptococcosis in which the only known basic disease was uremia of unknown orgin. The spontaneously healing cryptococcosis detected in this case after the treatment of uremia, has been discussed. Cases of ocular cryptococcosis described in the world literature have been also briefly discussed inconnection with our results. These microbiological observations will be supplemented by the histopathological findings to be published separately.

Aged↗