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Biomedical subjects

T Zimmermann

Publications and source records attributed to T Zimmermann.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

[Lung metastases--can resection also be justified in synchronous liver metastasis?].

There is general agreement on the preconditions necessary for the resection of lung metastases: the primary tumor has to be resected completely, a local tumor recurrence as well as metastases in other organs have to be excluded. 5-year survival rate of patients operated under these criteria is said to be about 20 to 40% (number of own patients: 72; 5-year survival rate: 30.2%. Only in a few cases, however, lack of metastases in other organs is given. Often there are synchronic liver metastases. Local intraarterial chemotherapy doesn't put much burden on the patient, induces a decrease of liver metastases in 30% and a complete remission in a few cases, respectively. Between 1981 and 1987 we performed local chemotherapy of the liver in 575 patients. 110 patients showed lung metastases in the course of the treatment or during the aftercare period. In 8 patients we resected lung metastases occurring after remission of liver metastases. 7 patients died 11 to 28 months after the operation, 1 patient is still alive 16 months postoperatively.

Adult↗

[Therapy of hayfever and pollen asthma in children with a new, modified allergen extract].

During a period of 3 years a controlled and prospective study was performed, in which 20 children with pollinosis and pollen asthma (grass pollen) were treated either with a new modified allergenic extract (preparation I: Purethal) or with a standard semi-depot extract (preparation II: Depot-HAL) from the same producer. During the pollen season symptoms, side effects, additional medication, and pollen counts were registered. 20 patients were treated perennially: 5 with preparation II and with reduction of the doses during the pollen season (group A: treatment during 3 successive years), 15 without reduction of the doses during te season with preparation I (group B, 8 patients: treatment during 3 successive years; group C, 7 patients: treatment during 2 successive years). Patients in all groups showed more symptoms in May and June. In the groups B and C less symptoms were recorded. Especially, the score of asthma symptoms decreased. However, the need for additional medication was somewhat higher in these groups as compared to group A. The differences were not statistically significant. In 50% of the children no local side reactions were observed after the subcutaneous injections. In the groups B and C the number of late local reactions after 6 to 8 hours was somewhat higher. The patients treated with preparation I did not show an increase of allergen-specific IgG during the pollen season. The relative contribution of allergen-specific IgG1 and IgG4 to total specific IgG was lower in the blood samples of these patients as compared to those of group A. The efficacy and the therapeutic safety of the two preparations are comparable. Preparation I has a number of practical advantages, especially in the treatment of children.

Adolescent↗

[Pulmonary transfer factor for carbon monoxide (TLco) in healthy children and in children with chronic lung diseases, measured with an improved rebreathing technique].

TLco, FRC-He and IVC were tested in 86 subjects (5-29 years). 46 children were healthy, 21 patients had cystic fibrosis, 13 bronchial asthma and 6 allergic alveolitis. The test gas included 14% helium and 0.3% CO. The wash in time was 18 s, the measuring time 20 s. All children were measured at rest and in a sitting position. The rebreathing volume was 3/4 of the VC plus 300 ml additional volume. The results showed a good reproducibility. The TLco increases with age, height, weight and body surface area, the correlation with VC, FRC and TLC was better. A differentiation between healthy children and patients suffering from lung disease is possible. The clearest results were shown in the case of patients suffering from CF.

Asthma↗

[Surgical indications in persistent atelectasis in early childhood].

Between 1980 and 1989 46 lung resections were performed in 45 children (0-9 years of age) for recurrent or persistent "atelectasis". Indications for surgery were intralobar sequestration (6), bronchial malformations and stenoses (7), chronic pneumonia following infection or aspiration (11), bronchiectases (4), pyocele associated with pulmonary artery ligation (1), upper lobe torsion (1), compression by cysts (6) or lobar emphysema (10). Overall mortality: 4/45 (2 of them within 4 weeks postoperatively) secondary to long-term artificial ventilation and associated or intercurrent disturbances.

Bronchi↗

[Sensitization to house dust mite allergens: diagnosis--therapy].

The 2 closely related house dust mites, D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae seem to be of major allergenic importance in the house dust. The faeces particles, in particular, contain allergenic material in a concentrated form. Practicable control measures, such as chemicals, cleaning, ventilation and temperature regulation, have been able to reduce the number of mites in houses to some extend, and, in general, the clinical effect has been limited. The immunotherapy could be appropriate for this type of allergy, and, in fact, in some studies such treatment has proved to be of some effect. In our own experience, control measures to reduce the mites, antiallergic drug therapy and controlled holidays in a mite free climate allow to reduce by far the mite allergen symptoms. In addition the immunotherapy could be of some success depending on the allergens, the doses of the allergen extract given and the duration of the therapy. It is still an open question, whether the therapeutic effect of the immunotherapy is of long duration after the immunotherapy has been finished.

Allergens↗

Isolation and characterization of parenchymal cells from experimentally induced macronodular rat liver cirrhosis.

Hepatocytes were isolated from thioacetamide (TAA)-induced macronodular cirrhotic rat livers by a collagenase perfusion method. In the content of cellular metabolites, fatty acid uptake and lipid secretion there were no substantial differences compared with cells isolated from micronodular cirrhosis described previously. In contrast to isolated hepatocytes from normal livers those from macronodular cirrhosis had a lowered cellular content of triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol but not of cholesterol esters and free fatty acids. In macronodular cirrhosis hepatocytes of hypertrophic type, rich in cell organelles, can be distinguished ultrastructurally from those with signs of atrophy and degeneration. Immediately after isolation many hepatocytes isolated from macronodular cirrhosis showed plasma membrane blebbing. Whereas the blebbing was without recognizable effects on the fine structure of the isolated hepatocytes of the hypertrophic type, in the more atrophic ones some mitochondria were swollen. In addition, morphological analysis of the crude and purified suspensions revealed a partial selection of the hypertrophic cells during the isolation procedure, presumably due to a more labile state of those cells which showed signs of atrophy and degeneration. When stabilized in the suspension medium, however, the hepatocytes maintained complex metabolic functions for at least 2 h. Thus, the method described allows the isolation of parenchymal cells from TAA-induced macronodular cirrhotic livers for studying ultrastructural and biochemical alterations in hyperregenerative experimental liver cirrhosis.

Animals↗

Glutathione synthesis and export in experimental liver cirrhosis induced by thioacetamide: relations to ultrastructural changes.

Micro-and macronodular experimental liver cirrhosis was induced in female rats by administration of 0.03% thioacetamide (TAA) in drinking water for 3 or 6 months, respectively. The glutathione (GSH) status (content, synthesis, export) and ultrastructural changes of liver were investigated 14 d after withdrawal of TAA. The hepatic level of GSH was increased after 6 months TAA treatment. The levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were not changed after 3 months or 6 months TAA administration. The GSH synthesis was not disturbed in the cirrhotic livers; only the ratio between the 2 synthesizing enzymes was changed in macronodular liver cirrhosis. The plasma GSH content was reduced in both cases, independent of the stage of liver cirrhosis. The electron microscopic studies on cirrhotic rat livers revealed a series of characteristic structural changes, such as disorganization and total lack of the microvilli border, appearance of basement membrane-like deposits within the narrowed space of Disse, disappearance of the highly porous endothelial cell lining and partly an intensively detoriated blood supply within the pseudolobules. It is suggested that all these changes may contribute to a disturbance of the GSH export from the hepatocytes into the blood. It is very likely, however, that the alterations of the sinusoidal cell surface play the most important role. 1. The GSH/GSSG redox potential is shifted in favour of the reduced form in this cirrhosis model. This shift seems to be connected with later stages of cirrhogenesis. 2. A GSH export disturbance is responsible for the decreased plasma GSH level in liver cirrhosis.

Animals↗

Cytochrome P-450-dependent biotransformation in Uje:WIST rats with chronic liver injury induced by thioacetamide.

In female Uje:WIST rats micronodular liver cirrhosis was produced by thioacetamide (TAA) given in the drinking water (0.3 g/l) from the 4th to 6th months of life. 14 d after TAA cessation it was examined, whether this animal model reflects the restricted cytochrome P-450-dependent biotransformation in severe stages of human liver cirrhosis by in vivo (caffeine and metamizol elimination) and in vitro methods (cytochrome P-450, 7-ethoxycoumarin and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation, ethylmorphine N-demethylation). The total biotransformation capacity was unchanged in TAA rats, partly even enhanced. Only several in vitro parameters reflect diminished cytochrome P-450-dependent biotransformation calculated per weight unit comparable to severe stages of human liver cirrhosis. Therefore, the chosen experimental conditions are suitable for conclusions concerning cytochrome P-450-dependent biotransformation in early rather than in severe stages of human liver cirrhosis.

Aminopyrine↗

[Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration in children. Report of over 94 patients].

Over the last seven years, we from the Dept. of Pediatrics at the University of Erlangen have recorded an increase in the rate of children admitted because of aspirated foreign bodies. Despite the most modern methods of bronchoscopy extraction available nowadays, an inhaled foreign body can become a serious matter if it results in acute respiratory distress or - and this occurs much more frequently - if it remains for a long period unrecognized in the bronchial system and, as a result of intense reactions of the mucous membrane, can then only be extracted with great difficulty. As a result, serious pneumonia and bronchiectasis may develop on the basis of this "stubborn bronchitis". In these 94 case studies we have reported case histories, examination findings as well as radiological diagnosis and stiff bronchoscopy for treatment. Finally, we have discussed suggestions for prevention of this accident.

Airway Obstruction↗

The role of the complement system in the pathogenesis of multiple organ failure in shock.

The results of our experiments suggest that the development of MOF is the result of a concerted autodestructive inflammatory process affecting the endothelium which is probably triggered off by the complement system. The combination of two noxious events (application of a low dose of endotoxin during hemorrhagic shock) leads to an enormous intravasal activation of complement including formation of C5a and the deposition of active split products of C3 (C3a, C3b) in the tissue of lung, liver, small intestine and kidney. Histological examination revealed ARDS-like pulmonary changes with inflammatory microvascular lesions and granulocytic infiltration primarily in the liver and to a lesser degree in the intestines and the kidney. The severity of organic lesion closely correlated with the extent of complement deposited. This corroborates the clinical observation that pulmonary and hepatic lesions are always the first signs of MOF, no matter what kind of noxious influence (trauma or peritonitis) gave rise to its development (Mc Menamy, 1980). Which mechanisms are involved in the processes by which active split products of C3 cause damage to tissue? C3a possesses strong chemotactic forces which can bring about aggregation of granulocytes in the tissue. Deposition of C3b on the contrary may lead to the formation of the cytolytically active membrane-attack-complex with the result of direct cell damage. We did not find any severe organic lesion or deposition of complement in our controls (endotoxin only, hemorrhage only). Our results suggest that MOF is a sequel of a generalized, autodestructive, inflammatory process which results from a hyperintensive and uncontrolled humoral immunoresponse to noxious events.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anaphylatoxins↗

Rates of de novo fatty acid synthesis in liver, muscle and adipose tissue in non-pregnant and pregnant rats in vivo.

Fatty acid de novo synthesis was measured quantitatively in liver, muscle and adipose tissue of non-pregnant and 21-day pregnant Uje: WIST rats in vivo. By means of 3H2O incorporation experiments the following rates of fatty acid synthesis, expressed as mumol palmitate-equivalents/animal.min, were calculated in non-pregnant and pregnant animals: liver 0.20 +/- 0.06 and 0.24 +/- 0.06; muscle 0.21 +/- 0.06 and 0.24 +/- 0.08; adipose tissue, 0.36 +/- 0.10 and 0.28 +/- 0.09, respectively. Thus, liver, muscle and adipose tissue contribute at approximately equal amounts to the summarized rate of fatty acid synthesis, which is similar in both pregnant and non-pregnant rats.

Adipose Tissue↗

Short-term effects of carbon tetrachloride on the lipoprotein secretion in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Short-term exposure of isolated rat hepatocytes in suspension to a low dose of CCl4 (20 micrograms/ml) leads within minutes to characteristic structural alterations. The earliest reaction is a disappearance of the microvilli border 5 min after starting the incubation. After 10 min the number of Golgi VLDL is decreased by about 80% and reaches zero after 20 min. The reduction in Golgi VLDL is associated with a decrease in the volume density of the Golgi complexes by about 50% compared with controls and by a marked elevation of intracytoplasmic and intralysosomal lipid deposits after 20 min incubation. Concomitantly with these alterations the total number of VLDL particles within single and multiple particle secretory vesicles located along the cell periphery decreases by about 50% 10 min after CCl4 exposure. This is followed 10 min later by a significant increase of about 20% compared with the corresponding controls. The elevation in the total number of VLDL is combined with an increase in the number of the multiple particle secretory vesicles. The particle content per vesicle, however; is significantly lower compared with controls. No reaction is detectable in the mitochondria, whereas the amount of RER appears to be decreased and that of the SER increased. The incubation of 14C-sodium palmitate prelabeled hepatocytes in the presence of CCl4 leads to a significantly higher content of labeled lipids in the total Golgi fraction and in the cytosol 20 min after CCl4 administration, whereas considerably less labeled lipids are secreted into the incubation medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Relation between renal and hepatic excretion of drugs: VII. Hepatic and renal excretion of phenol red in thioacetamide-induced acute and chronic liver damage.

Acute and chronic liver damage was induced in rats by thioacetamide (TAA). Centrilobular liver cell damage associated with an accumulation of lipid droplets was produced by a single high dose (10 mg TAA/100 g b.m.). Liver fibrosis, micronodular and macronodular liver cirrhosis were induced by chronic TAA treatment (300 ml/l drinking water for 1.5, 3 or 6 months). Acute administration of TAA caused a significant decrease of hepatic phenol red excretion but no compensatory increase of its urinary excretion. In contrast, 24 h after bile duct ligation renal excretion of the dye increased by about 50%. After chronic exposure to TAA for three months hepatic phenol red excretion remained reduced and renal excretion raised significantly. This compensatory increase of urinary excreted phenol red amounts did not occur after 6 months of TAA treatment, probably as a result of additional nephrotoxicity of TAA. Two weeks after cessation of TAA exposure for 3 months, hepatic and renal phenol red excretion returned to normal. Bile flow per animal increased significantly after 3 months of TAA exposure. Apparently this is due to a reduced intrahepatic reabsorption of canalicular bile in TAA-damaged liver.

Animals↗

Thioacetamide-induced cirrhosis-like liver lesions in rats--usefulness and reliability of this animal model.

Long term administration of thioacetamide (0.03% in tap water) results in a characteristic lesion in rat liver, which corresponds to cirrhosis-like patterns of micronodular cirrhosis type after treatment over 3 months. During its development a reproducible temporal course of biochemical and morphological changes can be recognized. After withdrawal of the toxic agent this lesion persists for about 2 months. Then the cirrhosis-like alterations recede and a proliferation of bile ducts predominates, which is associated with increasing portal fibrosis altering the pattern and relatively enhancing the total collagen content of the liver. Considering these peculiarities, the TAA-model is suitable for investigations into connective tissue metabolism in the fibrotic liver and cirrhosis-like patterns. Search for and test of therapeutic principles should be done during TAA-administration (prophylactic agents) or within 2 months after withdrawal of toxic agents (therapeutics).

Acetamides↗