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Biomedical subjects

V Zahn

Publications and source records attributed to V Zahn.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Multiplex RT-PCR-ELISA compared with bioassay for the detection of four apple viruses.

A sensitive and reliable multiplex RT-PCR-ELISA technique for the detection of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus, Apple stem pitting virus, Apple mosaic virus and Apple stem grooving virus was developed. This technique is compared with the method used commonly for indexing by woody indicators, which is time consuming and expensive. For the RT-PCR-ELISA technique, the amplified products were labeled with digoxigenin during the RT-PCR by incorporation of a digoxigenin labeled primer. After hybridization of the PCR products to specific capture oligonucleotides, which were bound covalently to the surface of NucleoLink strips, anti-digoxigenin antibodies were used for detection. More than 100 samples were tested in parallel by indexing and multiplex-RT-PCR-ELISA. All infections detected by woody indicators were also detected by multiplex RT-PCR-ELISA. Furthermore, additional infections were only found by multiplex RT-PCR-ELISA. The colourimetric detection of multiplex-RT-PCR products was at least as sensitive and sometimes slightly more sensitive than detection by gel electrophoresis. The results show that this molecular technique is more reliable for the detection of the above mentioned apple viruses than indexing by woody indicators, thereby helping to reduce cost and time during the certification of plant material.

Biological Assay↗
PubMed1992

[Waste prevention and recovery of valuable raw materials in the hospital].

Quite a number of the diseases with which Public Health services are concerned are due to environmental factors. It is our aim that especially the Public Health staff should tackle with efficiency and dispatch all the problems connected with damage caused by such factors. Environmental protection is in fact Medical Science. The volume of the waste deposits has been exhausted to the full. Burning of refuse is not the proper alternative: natural science tells us that it is definitely no solution of the problem. The best kind of waste is not to waste anything, i.e. waste that does not arise at all. The belief that disposable or throwaway goods improve hygiene, is totally erroneous and a misconception. All persons engaged in Public Health must unanimously demand from industry the production of high-quality, well sterilisable and easy-to-clean package items for repeated use. Active environmental protection motivates the staff and enhances the reputation of their work.

Disposable Equipment↗
PubMed1984

Uterine contractions during pregnancy.

The principal function of muscular tissue is contraction. This is also true for the uterus this function begins with sexual maturation. During pregnancy special conditions are brought about by the increasing distention of the uterine cavity. For clinical practice, external tocography is of importance for the recognition of uterine motility Data in the literature on the normal frequency of contractions during pregnancy vary greatly and caused us to study this topic. Moreover, most cases of prematurity independent of other causes suppose a prematurely increased uterine motility. In order to register this activity a portable recording apparatus was developed. We studied in particular the question for how long and how often uterine contractions should be recorded. A one hour daily recording was found to be sufficient. In order to gain information on the average number of contractions it suffices to record during one week. In 26 healthy primiparous and 28 multiparous women the number of contractions from the 25th to 41st gestation week was recorded. A notable finding was the frequency peak about the 32nd week. The number of pregnancy contractions as a sole parameter for the recognition of impending premature delivery is not sufficient. However, the information may be important when taking in conjunction with the previous history and the state of the cervix. We considered tocolysis indicated when as a weekly average there are more than two contractions per hour with beginning cervical dilation or more than three contractions per hour regardless of cervical findings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Circadian Rhythm↗
PubMed1984

[Effect of exercise during pregnancy on uterine contractions].

External tocometry was performed one hour before and one hour after pregnancy gymnastics in 102 healthy pregnant women between 25th and 38th gestational week. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of contractions. The short-term increase in frequency of contraction was without any clinical importance. No prolongation of the duration of contractions could be observed with advanced pregnancy. 34 per cent of the women were delivered in the 41st gestational week, 32 per cent before the 40th one. In case of threatening premature delivery gymnastics are contraindicated with exclusion of relaxation exercises. They are allowed only in case that a good attitude of contractions before and after gymnastics can be demonstrated by objective external tocometry.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Antibiotic prevention in gynecology. Concentrations of ceftizoxime in the serum, myometrium, endometrium and fallopian tubes].

34 patients received an intravenous bolus injection of 2 g ceftizoxime over 5 min at various times before abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy. Ceftizoxime concentrations in myometrium were substantially higher than in salpinges and endometrium. Tissue concentrations of 4 micrograms/g could be maintained for at least 3 hours. The ceftizoxime tissue concentrations attained in myometrium, endometrium and salpinges justify therapeutic studies and controlled prospective clinical trials on the prevention of postoperative wound infections with this antibiotic.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Clenbuterol--a long term uterine relaxant.

Clenbuterol (C.) is a bronchospasmolytic agent which selectively stimulates beta 2-receptors; side-effects of the drug are virtually minimal. C. effects a strong uterine relaxation. The renal elimination after oral administration is 34 hours. In a pilot study 26 women during labor received C. because of uterine hypermotility and increased fetal risk. After oral doses of 40 microgram, 60 microgram and 100 microgram a marked uterine relaxation was achieved in 20 women. Six women did not respond, because the dilatation of the uterine orifice was too much progressed. The effect of an intravenous injection was not superior to that of an oral administration. 21 women with signs of imminent premature birth received C. orally during pregnancy. There were a number of high risk cases among these women. In average a period of uterine relaxation of 63 days was achieved. 18 women reached the 38th week of pregnancy. No cardiovascular side effects were noted in the fetuses, only at the begin of the treatment the mothers showed mild transient palpitations or also transient tremor.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1981

Registration of contractions in pregnant women using a microprocessor controlled digital recorder.

As a further development of the two component contraction recorder TOKOPORT, a digital microprocessor controlled contraction memory has been built which registers, analyses and displays contractions in pregnant women. The memorized data can be read out in graphic form. The possibility of conveying the data by telephone is under development. The device is small, simple to operate and portable.

Computers↗
PubMed1980

[Pregnancies after ineffective interruption or intrauterine procedure in early pregnancy (author's transl)].

We report about 13 pregnancies after intra-uterine procedure in early pregnancy. In 12 cases infant and placenta were without any lesions. One infant had a traumatic loss of the left arm and shoulder caused by the ineffective interruption of pregnancy. Into discussion come the conditions in which we can support the wish to carry on pregnancy after an early intra-uterine procedure.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1979

Prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia.

Prenatal diagnosis was attempted in 14 fetuses at risk for homozygous beta-thalassemia, gestational age 18-22 weeks. In 4 cases the placenta was entirely anterior, placental aspiration under ultrasonic control only had to be used for fetal blood sampling. In 10 fetuses fetoscopy was used for puncture of a chorionic blood vessel. Diagnoses were based on the rate of in vitro synthesis of beta-globin related to total non-alphaglobin synthesis. With the aid of fetoscopy, nearly pure fetal blood was obtained in general. Placental aspiration resulted in samples which contained a low percentage of fetal and a high percentage of maternal cells. The attempt of fetal blood sampling resulted in fetal loss in two cases. In 2 aspiration cases no diagnosis could be made because the samples were inadequate. In 2 cases the diagnosis was established in spite of low fetal cell content through determination of the specific radioactivity in the placental and pure maternal blood. Until now 6 children have been born in whom prenatal diagnosis had been attempted, none of them has homozygous thalassemia. Present efforts are directed toward improving the safety of fetal blood sampling and the biochemical methods for the diagnosis in placental samples with low fetal cell content. Although the prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia is possible, the procedure has still to be considered experimental.

Female↗
PubMed1979

[On the feto-maternal transfusion of red blood cells during transplacental and para-placental genetic amniocenteses (author's transl)].

The concentrations of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) containing red blood cells in the peripheral blood of the mothers was studied in 113 cases by the method of Kleihauer & Betke prior and following trans-abdominal amniocenteses for genetic reasons between 15 and 18 weeks of pregnancy. Prior to the amniocentesis, 25% of the patients had HbF positive cells. Following the amniocentesis 36% of the patients showed HbF positive cells. In one out of six amniocenteses a measurable increase of the concentration of HbF containing red blood cells by approximately 0.22% was detected. These increases are within the limits found prior to amniocentesis and are not significant. There was no difference in the incidence and level of microtransfusions between paraplacental and transplacental amniocenteses. Because of the possibility of Rh sensitization Rh negative mothers should receive Rh immunoglobulin. None of the 112 patients had an abortion within two weeks following the amniocentesis.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed1979

A new tocograph with cassette recording system and separate servo graphic recorder.

In order to register contractional activity, especially in the case of high-risk pregnancies, a tocograph was develop by means of which the contractions are registered by a small cassette recorder, which the patient can carry by about with her. A separate graphic recorder is responsible for the playback and this recorder remains at the doctor's practice. The patient is able to register her contractions herself as the unit is so simple to use. The recording section weighs only 500 grams, including the specially developed pressure transducer with optical distance-meter. The tocograph is produced in series.

Female↗
PubMed1978

Prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia using selective hemolysis of maternal cells contaminating fetal blood sample.

The prenatal diagnosis of the severe, hereditary anemias may be impossible when a placental blood sample which contains a high percentage of maternal rather than fetal cells is obtained. An incubation system described by Boyer et al. [3] with minor modifications, was applied to mixtures of blood from prematures and adults in order to increase the proportion of premature cells. After 40 min incubation, 95% or more of adult red cells were destroyed, whereas 30-60% of premature red cells were recovered, as determined by several independent methods. In a pregnancy at risk for beta-thalassemia, a placental blood sample which was purely fetal was obtained. Complete lack of in vitro beta-globin synthesis showed the fetus to have homozygous beta-thalassemia. When fetal blood was mixed with maternal blood in a ratio of 1:15, beta-globin synthesis in the mixture was comparable to that of normal fetuses. In contrast, when the cell mixture was subjected to selective hemolysis prior to separation of globins, beta-globin synthesis again was not detectable. Thus, using selective hemolysis, the correct diagnosis could be established from a blood sample containing only about 6% of fetal cells.

Female↗