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Biomedical subjects

W Meier

Publications and source records attributed to W Meier.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Serum levels of CA 125 and histological findings at second-look laparotomy in ovarian carcinoma.

In a prospective study, the serum levels of CA 125 were estimated at regular intervals in 139 patients with ovarian carcinoma. Seventy-two of 78 patients with a second-look laparotomy had elevated CA 125 levels initially. The main aim of our investigation was the correlation of CA 125 levels with the histological findings at second-look laparotomy. A total of 26 patients were free from tumor. In each case CA 125 lay within the normal range. From the 46 patients where residual tumor was found, CA 125 levels were elevated in 23 cases, so that in 23 women with residual tumor, false negative levels were found. There were no false positive CA 125 levels. In all women with raised tumor marker levels at the time of the second-look laparotomy, tumor was found despite the often negative clinical or technical preoperative screening. A negative tumor marker at the time of the second look does not exclude residual tumor. For histological proof of complete remission, a second-look operation is imperative. If the CA 125 level is raised, the relevance of the planned second-look laparotomy is open to discussion.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗
PubMed1989

Clinical implications of the epidermal growth factor receptor in the squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

The clinical implications of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGF-R) were studied in 52 squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix. In comparison to 40 biopsies of the normal cervix EGF-R capacity was significantly increased in the carcinomas, while the affinity was unchanged. The amount of EGF-like substances extracted from the tumors was increased in patients with lymph node metastases, in whom 5-year survival is reduced. Irrespective of tumor stage patients with a very high level of EGF-R (greater than 100 fmole/mg protein) were more likely to have recurrences later or to die from disease: recurrence or death occurred in 5 of 7 patients with high capacity and in 2 of 45 patients with low capacity. Our data suggest that the level of EGF-R is indicative of the biological aggressiveness of cervical carcinomas.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Experiences with SCC antigen, a new tumor marker for cervical carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen was first described by Kato et al. in patients with carcinoma of the cervix uteri. SCC serum levels can be measured with a radioimmunoassay. In our investigation, 2.0 ng/ml was taken as the upper limit of the standard range. In 35 healthy women there were no elevated SCC serum levels. Eight of 40 patients with breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer had raised SCC levels. In only two of 12 patients with benign gynecological diseases, SCC was also elevated. Sixty per cent of the patients with primary and 73% of the patients with recurrent cervical cancer showed pathological values; CEA was elevated in 31% and 51% respectively. The absolute values increased with the stage of the disease. Sixty-nine per cent of patients with squamous cell carcinoma had elevated levels. In five of nine adenosquamous carcinomas SCC was pathological. SCC shows a high sensitivity for squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix uteri. The tumor marker might be helpful in the control of primary therapy and follow-up of cervical cancer patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

[Experiences with the squamous cell carcinoma antigen, a new tumor marker for cancer of the uterine cervix].

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen was first described 1977 by Kato et al. in patients with carcinoma of the cervix uteri. SCC serum levels can be measured with a radioimmunoassay (Abbott), in our investigation 2.0 ng/ml were taken as the upper limit of the standard range. In 35 healthy women there were no elevated SCC serum levels. In only 2 of 50 patients with benign gynaecological diseases SCC was also elevated. 59% of the 102 patients with primary and 70% of the 63 patients with recurrent cervical cancer showed pathologic values, CEA was elevated in 32% and 51% respectively; the mean serum concentrations increased with the stage of the disease. 68% of 142 patients with squamous cell carcinoma had elevated levels, in 5 of 9 adenosquamous carcinomas and in 3 of 14 adenocarcinomas SCC was in the pathological range. 13 of 60 patients with breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer showed elevated values. SCC shows a high specificity and a high sensitivity for squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix uteri. The tumor marker might be helpful in the control of the primary therapy and follow-up of cervical cancer patients.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1989

[The course of squamous cell carcinoma antigen and CEA as prognostic criteria for response to chemotherapy in cervix cancer].

36 patients with cervical carcinoma were treated with cytostatic drugs in our department between January 1986 and December 1988. Following histological diagnosis by staging laparotomy or by means of a scalenous biopsy, 12 patients received primary chemotherapy and 3 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy following a radical hysterectomy, because of the histological extent of the disease. Twenty-one patients were treated by chemotherapy because of recurrent disease. Treatment consisted at first of a combination of cisplatin and etoposide, followed in August 1987 with a combination of carboplatin and ifosfamide. More than 90% of patients, the SCC, CEA or both tumour markers were elevated before the treatment, so that the course of the tumour markers during chemotherapy could be followed. All patients showed primary response to therapy, the tumour marker levels fell rapidly to normal after one or two cycles. None of these patients showed tumour progression while the tumour marker levels were within the normal range. Clinical remission was not obtained in those patients with levels, which remained high or rose again following an initial decrease. After only two cycles of chemotherapy, levels began to rise further and continuation of therapy did not seem justified. Chemotherapy is often the only available therapy for advanced cervical carcinoma or recurrent disease, even though the results of treatment in squamous cell carcinoma remain poor. The course of SCC and/or CEA levels can help in an early decision, whether or not the patient would profit from a continuation of the therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

[The flow properties of blood and their characterization by hemorheologic methods].

In a number of supply disturbances the flow behaviour of blood plays an increasing role in modern therapy concepts. The present paper deals with representing factors, such as haematocrit, aggregation, deformation, which exercise an influence on the complex flow properties of blood under variable conditions. By referring to the example of deformability it is shown how and to what extent different mechanical parameters of individual erythrocytes participate in static or dynamic whole cell deformation. Starting from fundamental quality demands (sensitivity, specificity, value of prediction) to diagnostic measuring technique, haemorheological methods for determining complex flow properties, aggregation and deformation as single phenomena and mechanical properties of individual erythrocytes are presented. Selected examples of application for normal blood, cells altered in vitro or pathological changes measured ex vivo are referred to.

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMed1989

Intraperitoneal infusion of recombinant interleukin-2 in malignant ascites in patients with gastrointestinal and ovarian cancer.

In a phase-I-study recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) in a dose from 0.01 to 0.3 mg/m2/day for 7 to 14 days was infused intraperitoneally. Side effects were fever and fluid retention. 2 patients showed a bacterial peritonitis after paracentesis. The investigations showed that the intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of interleukin-2 activates the whole lymphokine cascade.

Catheters, Indwelling↗
PubMed1989

[Experiences with the "epigastric pain syndrome"].

The report concerns 162 patients suffering from severe upper abdominal pain without organic findings on routine GI-exploration. Palpation of the abdominal wall revealed well localised pain maxima which appeared to correlate with the distribution of intercostal nerve endings. Exploratory local anaesthesia was able to relieve these symptoms whereby - much to our surprise - the therapeutic effect very often outlasted by months and even years the pharmacological effect attributable to the anaesthetic agent. 129 of the 162 patients treated could be significantly improved or even freed of their painful symptoms. Out of the 33 patients with recurring symptoms, three quarters could be cured or significantly improved by separating the subcutaneous fat from the epigastric fascia, thus destroying the cutaneous branches of the intercostal nerves. It seems legitimate to consider the pathogenesis of these symptoms as being due to entrapments of the intercostal nerve endings in the abdominal fascia and it may thus be considered as an organic entity. Diagnosis is relatively easy and without risk for the patient: exploratory local anaesthesia loco dolenti, which in fact may have a long lasting therapeutic effect.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1988

HIV infection is blocked in vitro by recombinant soluble CD4.

The T-cell surface glycoprotein, CD4 (T4), acts as the cellular receptor for human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1), the first member of the family of viruses that cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV recognition of CD4 is probably mediated through the virus envelope glycoprotein (gp120) as shown by co-immunoprecipitation of CD4 and gp120 (ref.5) and by experiments using recombinant gp120 as a binding probe. Here we demonstrate that recombinant soluble CD4(rsT4) purified from the conditioned medium of a stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cell line is a potent inhibitor of both virus replication and virus-induced cell fusion (syncytium formation). These results suggest that rsT4 is sufficient to bind HIV, and that it represents a potential anti-viral therapy for HIV infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[Serum CA 125 values and histologic findings at the time of second-look laparotomy in ovarian cancer].

In a prospective study CA 125 serum levels of 99 patients with ovarian cancer were determined serially. 50 of 55 patients with second-look-laparotomy elevated levels initially had. We were interested in particular in the correlation between CA 125 and the histological findings at second-look operation. In 16 patients there was no residual tumor, CA 125 was in the normal range. In 34 the women tumor tissue was demonstrated; CA 125 was elevated in 14 patients, so there were 20 patients with false negative CA 125 serum levels. No false positive CA 125 values were found. In all patients with elevated tumor marker the residual tumor was histologically confirmed at second look. To verify a complete remission, a second-look operation will have to be performed in spite of a negative tumor marker, since active tumor tissue might still be present. In patients with elevated CA 125 a second-look laparotomy should be avoided at this time.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1988

Ultralate cerebral potentials as correlates of delayed pain perception: observation in a case of neurosyphilis.

Evoked cerebral potentials were investigated in a patient with neurosyphilis, who showed the symptoms of delayed pain perception in the lower limbs: a pinprick to the legs was perceived with a latency of more than one second. After stimulation with CO2 laser radiant heat pulses, evoked cerebral potentials of upper limbs were observed in a latency range comparable to those of healthy subjects, with a negative peak at 250 ms and a positive peak at 370 ms. In contrast, after application of laser stimuli to body sites with delayed pain perception, latency of the evoked potentials drastically increased with a vertex negativity at 1300 ms and a positivity at 1420 ms. Evoked potential measurements with conventional electrical stimuli did not show any difference between affected and unaffected body sites, that is, stimulation of the affected body sites did not produce pathological potentials.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1988

Synergistic effects of vitamin D metabolites.

The vitamin D3 metabolites 1 alpha,24R,25- and 1 alpha,25S,26-trihydroxy vitamin D3 and their combinations with 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 were tested for antirachitic activity in rats, chicken and Japanese quails. The trihydroxylated compounds were found to increase the activity of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3. Since this synergistic effect is restricted to calcium absorption and bone formation while bone calcium mobilization is unchanged, the combined administration might improve calcium balance. These findings raise the possibility of a more efficient therapy of vitamin D-dependent diseases with limited amounts of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

RBC membrane instability for large pipette deformation. A theoretical approach.

Under conditions of high pressure difference micropipette aspiration experiments show a "pinch-off" phenomenon as observed by RAND /31/. In a very recent paper, MEIER et. al /9/ have reported about new data obtained with a modern electronic technique under moderate mechanical load. We have theoretically analysed the conditions necessary to form such a instability. In our approximations we have investigated the effective transmembrane pressure difference which is given both by the true pressure drop, determined by the hydrodynamic flow through a small gap between the cell tongue and the pipette wall and the interaction between the tongue and the wall, as well as by the nonisotropic part of the membrane tension. When the membrane tongue is long enough (greater than 3Rp) we have found a condition for the loss of membrane stability in a point where a minimum of the effective transmembrane pressure drop occurs. An expression for it and the vesicle size are given.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

CA-125 in gynecological malignancies.

CA-125 is an antigenic determinant that can be demonstrated in the majority of epithelial ovarian carcinomas. It can be measured in the serum with a radioimmunoassay by means of a monoclonal antibody. The tumor marker has a low specificity but high sensitivity for ovarian cancer, especially for serous cystadenocarcinoma. In our investigation we were interested in particular in the correlation between CA-125 and the histological findings at second-look operation. In 22 patients, second-look was performed after 6 cycles of chemotherapy, in 16 patients active tumor was demonstrated. In 6 patients with negative CA-125 values, residual tumor less than 1 cm was demonstrated. In order to verify a complete remission, a second-look operation has to be performed. No false-positive CA-125 levels were found. In all patients with elevated CA-125 serum values, residual tumor was histologically confirmed at second look.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗