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Biomedical subjects

W Ernst

Publications and source records attributed to W Ernst.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

'Under the influence' in British India: James Esdaile's Mesmeric Hospital in Calcutta, and its critics.

Mesmerism was for a period very popular in Victorian Britain. The special clinical approach developed by Dr J. Esdaile while on duty in British India is elaborated in detail. The controversy surrounding Esdaile's treatment of surgical, medical and psychiatric cases at the 'mesmeric hospital' at Calcutta is discussed, and the main arguments are set within their contemporary socio-cultural context. Some of the arguments advanced for and against mesmerism contain concerns similar to those that have been raised during later decades in regard to hypnotism and hypnotherapy.

History, 19th Century↗
PubMed1994

Low correlation of human cytomegalovirus DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction with cytomegalovirus disease in organ transplant recipients.

Seventy-five organ transplant recipients underwent prolonged virological and serological follow-up for early detection of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection after transplantation. HCMV DNA detection by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and HCMV early structural antigen (pp65) detection were carried out in 576 peripheral blood leucocyte (PBL) samples. Furthermore, 563 blood specimens were investigated by a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of specific immunoglobulins G, M, and A against HCMV structural antigens. In eight of nine symptomatic organ transplant recipients, HCMV DNA was detected in one or more consecutive blood samples. HCMV DNA PCR was also positive in one or more samples from eight patients who never developed HCMV-related symptoms. HCMV pp65 antigen was detected almost exclusively in PBL samples from organ transplant recipients suffering from HCMV disease. However, antigenaemia was not detected in four PCR positive patients presenting clinical signs attributable to HCMV infection. Two of the initially HCMV DNA positive samples were not confirmed by retesting and hybridisation. The results of the present study demonstrate that despite the high specificity of nested PCR, HCMV DNA may be detected in the absence of clinical symptoms attributable to HCMV infection. In asymptomatic reactivation, limited replication of viral DNA may be responsible for positive results of PCR without any clinical relevance. In this context, pp65-antigen detection from PBL seems to have a better prognostic value, but is not always detected when clinical symptoms are present.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1991

The toxicity of chlorothalonil to aquatic fauna and the impact of its operational use on a pond ecosystem.

Chlorothalonil is a fungicide whose heavy use in eastern Canada gives it the potential for significant aquatic contamination. Laboratory bioassays and field treatments of a pond system were undertaken to determine the toxic effects of chlorothalonil on aquatic fauna. The 96-h LC50 of technical chlorothalonil for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was 76 micrograms/L and was not significantly different (p less than 0.05) from that of the formulated product (Bravo 500). The 96-h LC50 of Bravo 500 for blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and clams (Mya arenaria) was 5.9 mg/L and 35.0 mg/L respectively, while its 48-h LC50 to Daphnia magna was between 130 micrograms/L and 200 micrograms/L. Chlorothalonil exposure of Daphnia to concentrations as low as 32 micrograms/L significantly (p less than 0.05) increased the time to production of first young, but there were no delayed effects on number of young produced or growth at concentrations of 180 micrograms/L or less. Chlorothalonil was initially accumulated by blue mussels to concentrations approximately ten times greater than exposure concentrations; however, tissue concentrations returned to the same level as exposure concentrations within 96 h. Spraying of ponds resulted in mortality of caged water boatmen (Sigara alternata) and threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) which could be related to chlorothalonil exposure, however, caddisfly larvae (Limnephilus sp.), freshwater clams (Psidium sp.), water beetles (Haliplus sp.), scud (Gamarus spp.) and midge larvae (Chironomidae) did not suffer substantial chlorothalonil-induced mortality. Changes in endemic benthic invertebrate abundance after sprays were not remarkable or related to treatment. Faunal impacts in the pond were generally of a smaller magnitude than were predicted by bioassay results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

High density microcarrier culture with a new device which allows oxygenation and perfusion of microcarrier cultures.

A novel system useful for aeration and cell retention in continuous perfused microcarrier cultures is described. The system is based on a vibrating cage that separates cells and microcarriers from the oxygenation chamber and allows gas bubble free oxygen transfer. In the cultivation of monkey kidney cells (VERO) on gelatin coated microcarriers, using different concentrations (5, 10 and 15 g Cytodex 3/liter) cell densities up to 10(7) cells per ml were obtained. The described system is scaleable.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Immunohistochemical analysis of graft rejection in formalin fixed kidney biopsies].

One hundred and five formalin fixed renal allograft biopsies with a graft survival of more than 12 months have been examined by histological and immunohistochemical methods. 51 cases of vascular and 41 cases of tubulointerstitial allograft rejections were diagnosed by conventional light microscopy. 13 cases showed a combined type of rejection. The vascular and the interstitial type contain on average 64 respectively 79 CD 45 positive cells/mm2 surface of section. A mean of 70 cells/mm2 has been calculated for the combined type of rejection. The corresponding mean values of MT 1 positive T-lymphocytes are 46 in the vascular type, 52 in the combined type and 60 cells/mm2 in the tubulointerstitial type of allograft rejection. Apparently because of the great ranges there are no statistically significant differences between the observations in the different types of rejection. His equal for the concentration of Mac 387 positive macrophages and as well for the content of L26 positive B-lymphocytes in the different types of rejection. The concentrations of HLA-DR expressing cells in the interstitium are determined with a monoclonal anti-HLA-DR antibody, which detects a fixation resistant epitope of the DR-molecule. There is an average of DR positive cells/mm2 of 79 in vascular and 107 in interstitial rejection. The combined type of rejection contains 86 cell/mm2 on average, so that there is a statistically significant positive correlation, if you will order the observations in sequence of vascular, combined and interstitial type of rejection. In this case the observations of interstitial and vascular rejections differ statistically significant as well.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1986

Hexachlorobenzene in the marine environment: distribution, fate and ecotoxicological aspects.

The distribution of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) among different matrices of the marine environment has been determined. Low HCB concentrations in water (less than 0.1 ng/l) are reflected in sediments and in biota. Laboratory experiments can predict HCB levels in mussels but underestimate those for fish, suggesting distribution mechanisms such as food-chain relationships and metabolic capabilities which usually cannot be predicted from bioassays. Concentrations of HCB in sea water are so low that no toxic effects can be observed in marine biota, but in fish livers HCB may reach levels higher than those considered safe for human consumption. In the edible parts of fish generally, the levels are too low to render sea-food unusable for man. In bioconcentration experiments a lipid-related bioconcentration factor (BCF) of 3 X 10(5) was determined and several metabolites were formed, one of which was identified as methylthio-pentachlorobenzene.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

A clinical, psychophysical, and electroretinographic survey of patients with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa.

We have surveyed 104 patients (44 families) with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. The range of the survey includes clinical history, ocular examination, documentation of genetic history, Goldmann kinetic perimetry with IV/4 and I/4 white targets, two-colour static perimetry, and scotopic and photopic electroretinography. Comparison of interfamilial and intrafamilial patterns in the static perimetry data strongly suggests there may be at least two genetic subgroups within the disease characterised by the pattern of loss of rod function: in subgroup D (13 patients, 4 families) this is diffuse and severe, while in subgroup R (28 patients, 13 families) it is regional. In both D and R loss of cone function is regional, and in R it coincides with loss of rod function. In D patients the rod electroretinogram is absent; in all but two R cases it is present and usually substantial. All D patients were aware of night blindness before the age of 10, but most R patients not until after the age of 20. Many of the patients could not be classified because their disease was so advanced. The effect of disease duration on visual acuity and visual field area is described for all patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Photopic flicker sensitivity losses in simplex and multiplex retinitis pigmentosa.

Psychophysical tests for flicker sensitivity were conducted on a group of retinitis pigmentosa patients classed as either simplex or multiplex on the basis of the familial incidence of this disease. The results were compared with those obtained from normal observers. A similar pattern of losses, predominantly at high temporal frequencies, was shown by all patients. The pattern cannot be reproduced in normal observers by reducing the luminances of the test stimuli; nor can it be explained by a simple reduction in the signal-to-noise ratio of the visual system.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The products of photoreversing rhodopsin bleaching by microsecond flashes in the isolated vertebrate retina.

Bleaching experiments were carried out at room temperature on rhodopsin in isolated rat, frog and rat retinas with blue and orange laser flashes of very high energy and duration less than 3 microseconds. Blue flashes bleached a maximum of about 50% at the highest energies; orange ones bleached about 30% at intermediate energies but the value decreased to below 20% as the energy increased. This bleaching behaviour can be explained in terms of a kinetic model which assumes that bleaching is photoreversed during the flashes and which incorporates the relevant properties of rhodopsin, isorhodopsin, bathorhodopsin and lumirhodopsin.

Animals↗