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Biomedical subjects

W Seidel

Publications and source records attributed to W Seidel.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Adenosine deaminase activity in levamisole treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Nine patients who fell ill with a classical or unequivocal rheumatoid arthritis were treated with 150 mg Levamisol a week. Before the beginning of the therapy and on the day after the fourth intake of medicaments the activity of the adenosine deaminase in lymphocytes, erythrocytes and in the plasma was determined. An influence on the enzyme activity by Levamisol could not be proved. Before as well as after the Levamisol therapy the enzyme activity in the erythrocytes was diminished.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

[Diagnostic and prognostic significance of so-called rheumatoid vasculitis--2].

51 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and high rheumatoid factors (mean titres 928) underwent examination for the demonstration of an extraarticular organ manifestation within the scope of the cooperation between the Department of Medicine of the Karl-Marx-University Leipzig and the Institute for Rheumatology of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR in Moscow. The frequency of nodous rheumatism (about 60%) is comparable with the frequency of polyneuropathy. In 20% of the patients a systemic muscle atrophy, a hepatomegaly as well as a Raynaud-syndrome were stated. By means of skin biopsy in 28% perivascular infiltrates were found. Altogether in 6 patients (12%) a participation of the lungs and the pleura, respectively, could be proved. Only rarely a clinically manifest heart disease caused by the rheu-we we found an pericardial effusions in 3 cases. In systemic manifestation, such as myositis, participation of the eyes or vasculitis of the digital arteries with necrosis, were only sporadically to be established. Among 22 patients we found an pericardial effusions in 3 cases. In systemic manifestation in most cases increased parameters of activity were found. From the practical point of view apart from increased titers of the rheumatoid titres and circulating immune complexes (C1q-BT) increased concentrations of the C-reactive protein are prognostically significant. The presence of high rheumatoid factor titres alone as well as the isolated presence of rheumatic nodes must not always be connected with an unfavourable prognosis. When severe extraarticular manifestations are present a possibly early, intensive occasionally extracorporeal treatment is indicated.

Adolescent↗

[Effectiveness of plasma exchange therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic manifestations].

For the advantage of the therapeutic plasma exchange in the active rheumatoid arthritis there exist at present contradictory opinions. Three patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic manifestation as well as high activity of the disease, in whom the conventional therapy with antirheumatic drugs showed only little effectiveness and which was stopped due to severe side effects, respectively, underwent 6 plasma exchange treatments within 14 days. The subjective condition as well as standardized clinical and laboratory-chemical activity parameters quickly ameliorated. A positive therapeutic effect was to be proved still after 6 to 12 months. In 2 patients a proposed synovectomy could be renounced. The reasonable indication for the plasma exchange will be given when there is an acute immunological reaction which can be shortened by a rapid reduction of pathogenic protein fractions before irreversible morphological injuries occur.

Acrodynia↗

Differences of nucleoproteins of human and avian influenza A virus strains shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by the peptide mapping technique.

Electrophoretic mobility differences in polyacrylamide gels were detected between (35S)-methionine-labelled nucleoproteins (NPs) induced in monolayer cells by 15 human and 4 avian reference strains of influenza viruses. The (35S)-methionine-labelled tryptic peptides of nucleoproteins of these strains were also analyzed by peptide mapping technique. Based on several detectable hydrophilic peptides the NPs could be arranged in 7 clearly differentiable groups. After radioiodination of NPs from 4 human and 3 avian reference strains the tryptic peptide patterns showed one clear difference between human and avian strains.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗

Variation of influenza A (H3N2) viruses isolated in the G.D.R. during 1969-1980 epidemics.

A collection of 39 influenza A virus strains of the subtype H3N2 isolated in G.D.R. and of six reference strains were analysed with regard to the antigenic structure of their surface proteins haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) as well as regarding their polypeptide variations. For the field strains during the drift period from spring 1969 to spring 1980 seven main variations resulted from eight polyclonal sera with the haemagglutination inhibition test, and five main variations from six polyclonal sera with the neuraminidase inhibition test. Using the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis polypeptide variations in HA, nonstructural proteins NS1, NS2 and nucleoprotein (NP) were detected. It could be shown that, even during one epidemic, strains circulated with different polypeptide composition. With the help of peptide mapping further variations of NP and NS1 were registered. The mechanisms leading to the emergence of new epidemic strains are discussed.

Animals↗

Periodic leg movements during sleep in the elderly.

Periodic leg movements in sleep (PLMS) occur frequently in the sleep of elderly persons but their significance is unknown. In this study, 63 elderly persons with symptoms of insomnia but without history of renal disease were evaluated polysomnographically. All received laboratory evaluations for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine and completed a questionnaire on sleep complaints. Results indicated a positive relationship between PLMS and urea nitrogen in elderly women. In addition, symptoms of leg twitching and prolonged sleep latency could distinguish arbitrarily formed high and low PLMS groups. These results suggest that PLMS could be a window on the age-related decline in renal function and that these movements are related to several highly specific symptoms of geriatric insomnia.

Aged↗

The variability of genes of influenza A (H3N2) virus strains isolated in the G.D.R. during the 1970-1978 epidemic seasons.

Gene variability of all influenza A virus strains (H3N2) isolated in the G.D.R. during the epidemic seasons of 1970-1978 was investigated by cRNA:vRNA hybridization. From 1970 through 1975 a gradual smooth variability of the majority of genes and moderate heterogeneity in gene homology of the isolates were observed. From 1975 through 1977 the genome variability was more profound and the isolates differed from one another in gene homology. In 1978 the variability became less pronounced again. Quantitative evaluation of the variability for individual genes gave the following results: 0.4% nucleotides per year for genes, 1, 2, 3 (P proteins), 1.4% for gene 4 (HA), 0.1% for gene 5 (NP), 1.0% for gene 6 (NA), 0.1% for gene 7 (M) and 0.4 for gene 8 (NS).

Disease Outbreaks↗

Studies of proteins soluble in acidic chloroform-methanol isolated from crude human leukocyte interferon preparations.

Acidic chloroform-methanol soluble proteins possessing hydrophobic properties and capable of inhibiting in vitro transcriptase activity of influenza virus RNP were detected in native and partially purified human leukocyte interferon (IFN) preparations. Purification of IFN resulted in the removal of at least a portion of such proteins; however, no proteins have been found in highly-purified IFN preparations.

Chloroform↗

[Diagnostic and prognostic significance of so-called rheumatoid vasculitis].

23 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and high rheumatic factors (mean titres of rheumatic factors 1 : 1 434) within a prospective study on the diagnostic and prognostic significance of the rheumatoid vasculitis which was performed together with the Research Institute for Rheumatism Moscow underwent examinations for the proof of an extraarticular organ manifestation. In correspondence with the data in literature we found rheumatic nodes (70%) as most frequent extraarticular organ manifestation. In 1 patient each a participation of the lungs and a rheumatic exudate of the pleura, respectively, could be diagnosed. In another patient there were references to a vasculitis at the fundus of the eye. In only 2 patients there was a vasculitis of the digital arteries with necroses, in one of them a generalized vasculitis. 5 of the 13 neurologically examined patients showed polyneuropathic symptoms. Of the biochemical findings the C-reactive protein and the blood sedimentation rate showed clear increases and correlations.

Adolescent↗

Issues in the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia.

Most people attribute a restorative function to sleep. This is because experimental or clinical sleep disturbance is usually followed by annoying symptoms of fatigue and sleepiness the following day. Can these daytime changes be documented objectively? In the past several years, the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) has been developed and validated as an objective quantitative measure of sleepiness. Multiple assessments of sleep latency yield a profile of sleepiness across the day. This profile changes in the predicted direction with acute total and partial sleep deprivation, chronic sleep deprivation, sleep satiation, and in comparisons between hypersomnia patients and controls. Sleep and wakefulness are complementary phases in the daily cycle of human existence. Adequacy of sleep and energetic wakefulness next day are interacting phases in this cycle. Insomnia can be seen as a perception of disturbed sleep with daytime consequences, but is essentially also a symptom. This paper reviews a number of issues in the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia. The dimensions, daytime consequences and longitudinal aspects of insomnia are considered. Most investigations to date have been geared towards the problem of chronic insomnia and yet we are all likely to suffer from transient insomnia at some point. Psychiatric and psychophysiological disorders have been shown to be the most frequent causes of disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep. Moreover, there is an apparent disparity between subjective and objective sleep parameters with, for example, objectively disturbed sleep in noncomplaining subjects. The criteria of hypnotic efficacy and the effects of triazolam and flurazepam on sleep and daytime alertness have been investigated in normals, chronic insomniacs and the elderly. In general, chronic insomniacs showed all degrees of daytime alertness regardless of nocturnal sleep parameters. About one-third could be classified as fully alert all day long in spite of their complaints. The effect of flurazepam and triazolam on sleep (improvement) was essentially the same. Daytime effects were most closely related to half-life. The long-acting benzodiazepine, flurazepam, impaired daytime alertness although nocturnal sleep was improved. Triazolam improved not only nighttime sleep but also daytime alertness.

Chronic Disease↗

Nighttime and daytime efficacy of flurazepam and oxazepam in chronic insomnia.

Trials of hypnotic medications typically determine efficacy by examining changes in polysomnographically recorded sleep and in daytime performance. The authors employed daytime sleepiness as a new, potentially crucial criterion in such trials. Oxazepam and flurazepam were effective in improving some polysomnographically defined measures of nocturnal sleep in 14 patients with chronic insomnia; flurazepam produced substantial daytime sleepiness and oxazepam did not. Oxazepam produced some rebound insomnia, consisting of about an hour's reduction of polysomnographically defined sleep, but without gross mood disturbance or the patients' awareness of sleep loss.

Chronic Disease↗

Diclofenac and piroxicam in a double-blind trial results and methodological problems. Working Party of the Society for Rheumatology of the GDR for the Testing of Anti-rheumatic Drugs.

Diclofenac (150 mg/d) and piroxicam (20 mg/d) were compared in a cross-over trial with 12-day periods of double-blind treatment and 3-day wash-out periods. The following open phase of the trial lasted for two months and served to assess the tolerance. For this the dosage of diclofenac was reduced to 100 mg/d. 134 volunteers from 5 departments of rheumatology participated in the study. Statistical analysis showed that the two groups were of homogenous composition and that--with certain limitations--the necessary assumptions for the evaluation as a cross-over experiment were fulfilled. All tests used to determine the efficacy showed approximately parallel improvement with both formulations and in the wash-out phase this was followed by marked deterioration. The sum of the parameters for individual improvement showed a tendency in favour of piroxicam. However, clear superiority of one trial formulation over the other with respect to efficacy or tolerance could not be demonstrated by the statistical analysis.

Adult↗

Daytime sleepiness as a criterion in hypnotic medication trials: comparison of triazolam and flurazepam.

Sleep laboratory hypnotic medication trials typically determine efficacy by examining changes in polysomnographically recorded sleep. We introduce the use of daytime sleepiness, as assessed by the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), as a criterion for daytime functioning in such trials. Two benzodiazepine hypnotics, triazolam (0.5 mg) and flurazepam (30 mg), with short and long half-lives respectively, were compared in a multicentered, double-blind crossover study. Results indicated these medications had virtually indistinguishable nocturnal effects, but differed dramatically during the day. Flurazepam decreased sleep latency on the MSLT, whereas triazolam did not. These results could indicate that daytime sleepiness is a concomitant effect of flurazepam.

Adult↗

Reduction of CK and CK-MB indexes of infarct size by intravenous nitroglycerin.

The effect of i.v. nitroglycerin administration on indexes of infarct size was examined in 31 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Serial creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB isoenzyme determinations were used to calculate infarct size. Twenty-nine patients served as controls. Two subgroups of the study group were formed to evaluate differences between early and late intervention. In the first group (n = 22), continuous infusion of nitroglycerin over 48 hours was initiated within 8 hours (mean 4.5 hours) after the onset of symptoms. Peak CK activity for the nitroglycerin-treated patients (n = 9) in this subgroup was 544 U/1 vs 871 U/1 for the controls (n = 13) (p less than 0.05). The rate of CK release was reduced from 79 to 33 U/1.hr (58%), as was total CK and CK-MB release (p less than 0.02). Calculated infarct size was 69 gEq in the controls and 48 gEq in patients receiving nitroglycerin (CK-MB: 69 vs 43 gEq, p less than 0.05). In the late intervention subgroup, nitroglycerin therapy was begun more than 8 hours (mean 12.8 hours) after the onset of symptoms. Here, too, use of the agent was associated with lower peak CK and CK-MB levels as well as a reduction in calculated infarct size (p less than 0.05). Hemodynamic measurements, recorded every 4 hours, showed that nitroglycerin also reduced left ventricular filling pressure significantly and cardiac output increased. Blood pressure fell slightly, and systemic vascular resistance declined. The results indicate that i.v. nitroglycerin reduces CK and CK-MB release and thus calculated infarct size in both early and late intervention.

Adult↗