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Biomedical subjects

W Straub

Publications and source records attributed to W Straub.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effects of voluntary hyperventilation on glucose, free fatty acids and several glucostatic hormones.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to measure the influence of a defined period of standardised voluntary hyperventilation on the levels of glucose, free fatty acids and several glucose regulating hormones in healthy volunteers. STUDY DESIGN: Eight healthy male subjects were submitted to 20 minutes of controlled hyperventilation and blood levels of glucose, free fatty acids, insulin, glucagon, cortisol, catecholamines and pCO2 were measured before, immediately after and 20 minutes after the end of the hyperventilation period. RESULTS: The hyperventilation led to a significant increase in all above mentioned parameters, except for glucose, where the effect was negligible. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the frequency of accompanying hyperventilation in a great variety of diseases and notably in some intensive care patients we postulate that pitfalls in the interpretation of plasma values of substances involved in glucose metabolism may be avoided by simultaneous determination of arterial pCO2.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Binding of dynein light chain (PIN) to neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the absence of inhibition.

PIN, an 89-amino-acid polypeptide found in a rat hippocampal cDNA library using the yeast two-hybrid system and various neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) fragments as bait, was reported to be an inhibitor of nNOS (Science 274, 774-778, 1996). PIN reportedly inhibited nNOS selectively and did not interact with either the endothelial or inducible nitric oxide synthase isoforms. Inhibition was attributed to the ability of PIN to dissociate the catalytically active nNOS homodimer. PIN is a dynein light chain (J. Biol. Chem. 271, 19358-19366, 1996), which suggested that PIN may serve as an axonal transport protein for nNOS. We have synthesized a rat PIN cDNA by recursive polymerase chain reaction and have expressed the protein in Escherichia coli. Recombinant PIN is a folded dimeric, mostly alpha-helical protein with a single deeply buried tryptophan residue. We have also expressed and purified the nNOS fragment to which PIN reportedly binds (residues 163-245). This recombinant peptide has a disordered secondary structure. Gel-filtration experiments show that PIN binds to both the full-length nNOS and nNOS fragment. However, PIN neither inhibits nNOS activity nor dissociates the nNOS dimer into monomeric species. PIN thus possibly functions as a dynein light chain involved in nNOS axonal transport but is not an inhibitor of the enzyme. Our results agree with the proposal (Cell 82, 743-752, 1995) that the PIN recognition sequence in nNOS both lies outside the catalytic core and is not part of the monomer-monomer contact region.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A perspective of the resource based relative value scale.

The authors address three issues associated with the implementation of the model proposed by Hsiao, et al. First, the mathematical model used and its underlying assumption, in particular as it relates to "time," is questioned. Second, the authors argue that measured rather than perceived (surveyed) data should be used whenever possible. This is particularly true for "time." Third, the authors raise the possibility that adjustments can and should be made based on the type and average complexity of examinations performed at different facilities. The potential implications of RBRVS reimbursement schemes on the practice of diagnostic radiology are significant and, once implement, they will be difficult to alter.

Models, Statistical↗
PubMed1991

Computed tomography in the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma.

The role of computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of victims of blunt abdominal trauma remains controversial. This study was done to assess the reliability of CT in the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma at our institution, to determine if the incidence of nontherapeutic laparotomy has decreased with the use of CT scan and to review the time necessary to complete the scans. Of the 325 patients studied, 37 per cent were found to have abdominal injury on CT scan. Thirty patients required laparotomy; ten of these were nontherapeutic. Excluding transport time, abdominal CT scan required 55 +/- 20 minutes to complete. Abdominal CT was accurate when read by attending physicians (97.5 per cent). Major shortcomings included the commitment of time and personnel, transfer of the patient from a critical care area and reliance on experienced interpretation.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed1990

The ophthalmology of Fabricius Hildanus in the 17th century.

Wilhelm Fabricius, born in Hilden, near Düsseldorf, (Fabricius Hildanus) lived from 1560 until 1634. He had been working as physician and surgeon in Switzerland. He left a voluminous literature posthumously edited as 'Opera observationum et curationum medicochirurgicarum'. It is a compendium of 600 extremely interesting pathological cases, some of them in form of letters to close colleagues. Ophthalmology is represented by quite a big chapter, one of them reports a successfully performed exenteratio orbitae because of a tumor. Further parts, for example, describe special ophthalmic twizzers with certain fixing mechanisms and some kind of an operation table equipped by an adjustable prop for the operator's arm. Fabricius points out that after perforation of the eye the loss of aqueous humour is not consequently noxious. He, too, demonstrates the treatment of a symblepharon and describes amongst other therapies the first successful magnetic extraction of an iron foreign body out of the eye in ophthalmic history.

Germany↗
PubMed1990

[Prophylaxis of cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery. Observation of an application of Chibro-Amuno].

Report on the safety and efficacy of the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor Chibro-Amuno 3 for the prevention of cystoid macular edema in 1,263 eyes operated on for cataracts by 70 different surgeons. The patients received the preparation from the day before the operation up to 12 weeks after. The number of women who underwent surgery was nearly twice as high as that of men. There was a frequency peak in age between 75 and 84 years. In 88.5% of all patients, removal of the lens was followed by implantation of an artificial lens, most commonly by a posterior-chamber lens. Extracapsular extraction was performed on nearly 70% of the eyes. Following intracapsular extraction, no artificial lens was implanted in only 13% of the cases. Complications occurred most frequently after phacoemulsification. Cystoid macular edema was found in only 17 patients (1.34%), and a related loss of vision occurred in 2 eyes. Preoperative risk factors appear to have played a role in the development of cystoid macular edema. We observed that it is more likely to develop after intracapsular than after extracapsular extraction. Furthermore, the risk increases with increasing surgery time, and a correlation exists between operation-related complications and the development of Irvine-Gass syndrome. Side effects were observed in 10% of the cases, most of them conjunctival complaints. Corneal damage attributed to Chibro-Amuno 3 healed without complications. Overall, the safety of the preparation is judged to be good.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Therapy of corneal erosions and 'dry eye' with Solcoseryl and Vitasic eye drops.

A comparative study of Solcoseryl eye drops versus Vitasic eye drops has been carried out under controlled conditions (randomized and double-blind) on a total of 94 patients. 52 had corneal erosion, 30 had dry eye syndrome, 8 cases could not be evaluated. In addition, 2 eyes with photophthalmia were treated with Vitasic and 2 showing keratitis with Solcoseryl. There were no adverse reactions other than 2 instances of stinging with Solcoseryl and 1 case of severe irritation after Vitasic. The patients were examined on days 0, 1, 3 and 7. Results showed a consistent superiority of Solcoseryl eye drops in respect to speed of healing of corneal erosions and moistening of the cornea in the 'dry eye' syndrome which reached statistical significance in some parameters.

Actihaemyl↗
PubMed1984

Our experience with Solcoseryl Eye-Gel in the treatment of corneal lesions. A randomised double-blind study (with 1 color plate).

A comparative study of Solcoseryl Eye-Gel versus a 2.4% cysteine eye-gel was carried out under controlled conditions (randomised and double-blind) on a total of 61 patients with corneal lesions (52 foreign body injuries, 9 corneal erosions). The results showed a marked superiority of Solcoseryl Eye-Gel with respect to more rapid healing and also with respect to the possible subsequent development of a corneal macula.

Actihaemyl↗
PubMed1984

Accuracy of computerized tomography in determining hepatic tumor size in patients receiving liver transplantation or resection.

Computerized tomography (CT) of liver is used in oncologic practice for staging tumors, evaluating response to treatment, and screening patients for hepatic resection. Because of the impact of CT liver scan on major treatment decisions, it is important to assess its accuracy. Patients undergoing liver transplantation or resection provide a unique opportunity to test the accuracy of hepatic-imaging techniques by comparison of findings of preoperative CT scan with those at gross pathologic examination of resected specimens. Forty-one patients who had partial hepatic resection (34 patients) or liver transplantation (eight patients) for malignant (30 patients) or benign (11 patients) tumors were evaluable. Eight (47%) of 17 patients with primary malignant liver tumors, four (31%) of 13 patients with metastatic liver tumors, and two (20%) of 10 patients with benign liver tumors had tumor nodules in resected specimens that were not apparent on preoperative CT studies. These nodules varied in size from 0.1 to 1.6 cm. While 11 of 14 of these nodules were less than 1.0 cm, three of 14 were greater than 1.0 cm. These results suggest that conventional CT alone may be insufficient to accurately determine the presence or absence of liver metastases, extent of liver involvement, or response of hepatic metastases to treatment.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗