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Biomedical subjects

W Thiel

Publications and source records attributed to W Thiel.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[A new herpesvirus-caused disease in tortoises].

This report describes a highly fatal diphtheroid-necrotizing stomatitis in tortoises of hitherto unknown etiology. The tortoises suffered from dyspnea and anorexia, due to massive diphtheroid membranes in oral and pharyngeal cavities. Histologically, eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were found in epithelial layers of oral and tracheal mucous membranes. Furthermore, electron microscopy revealed herpesvirus like particles in affected cells. Possible environmental factors influencing the outbreak of the disease are discussed.

Animals↗

[Assessment of a commonly available latex particle agglutination test in rapid, bacteriologic cerebrospinal fluid diagnosis].

36 cerebrospinal fluid specimens (CSF) from patients with bacterial meningitis were tested for the presence of bacterial antigens with the "Slidex Meningite Kit" (Bio Merieux). This kit has latex particles coated with antibodies against hemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) and neisseria meningitidis (NM) group A and C. With the LAT we could detect the bacterial antigens in 84% of bacterial meningitis cases, 23 of the 27 of Hib meningitis (85.2%), all of the 6 cases of SP meningitis (100%) and two of the three NM meningitis cases. The test is handicapped by the fact, that there is no antiserum against NM sero-group B, the main cause of NM meningitis in Austria. There were no false positive results with the LAT. False negative results were obtained in 19.2% of Hib and in one case of NM. Even under sufficient antibiotic therapy and with negative culture we could detect 9 Hib- and 1 NM-cases during the first 12-48 hours of therapy with this method. The LAT-Kit is a useful addition to standard methods of CSF examinations in bacterial meningitis. With the LAT a rapid bacteriological diagnosis is possible within 15 minutes. The Kit is also able to identify bacterial antigens even with negative culture and after initiation of antibiotic treatment.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Serological investigation of measles (morbilli) in the Melut district, South Sudan.

In Sudan, measles are often not identified and are diagnosed and treated as "fever". Apart from this, the unimmunized population is an important factor, however, cold storage of the vaccine is not always possible. For this reason detailed instruction and introduction in diagnostic identification was given by our team of doctors. The contamination rate and antibody verification varies according to region. The highest percentage of 83% was reached in Melut among hospitalized patients. At the time of our investigation, immunization had not been carried out in this region.

Adult↗

WHO immunization programme and hospital procedure in the Melut district, upper Nile region, south Sudan, in the year 1983 (report).

During the year 1983 the immunization programme according to the WHO-standard was finally started in the Melut region. The tables give details on the extension of tetanus immunization for neonatal tetanus, DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) and also measles in the Melut hospital in 1983. For the first time, a functioning chain of cold storage units could be installed in this hospital. From March to November, 1983 details of mother-child care and ambulant patient care were also recorded.

Adult↗

[The lumbosacral transition: morphologic variations and their functional significance].

The articular facet of a superior articular process of the sacrum is directed backward, inward, and upward with marked variations. 4 angles characterize the orientation of this facet: a) The relative angle of tilt: i.e. the angle between the articular facet and the upper end-plate of the sacrum, measured in a sagittal plane. b) The absolute angle of tilt: i.e. the angle between the articular facet and the horizontal plane, measured in a sagittal plane. c) The tilted part-angle of opening: i.e. the angle between the articular facet and the sagittal plane, measured in a plane parallel to the upper end-plate of the sacrum. d) The horizontal part-angle of opening: i.e. the angle between the articular facet and the sagittal plane, measured in a horizontal plane. These 4 angles are determined by characteristic straights within the articular facet and certain reference planes (upper end-plate of the sacrum, horizontal plane, sagittal plane). Only 2 intersecting straights suffice for an adequate determination of a geometrical plane; therefore, if we know the relative angle of tilt and the tilted part-angle of opening, we are able to construct or to calculate the absolute angle of tilt as well as the horizontal part-angle of opening by using the range of inclination of the sacrum. The shape as well as the orientation of the articular facets at the superior articular processes of the sacrum do not depend on the inclination of the pelvis nor on the inclination of the sacrum nor on the range of the lumbosacral angle. Only the absolute angle of tilt shows a reference to the inclination of the sacrum because the relative angle of tilt shows a certain constancy. The orientation of the articular facets is slightly influenced by static moments, but considerably determined by dynamical requirements. At spines with irregular numbers of praesacral vertebrae, the orientation of the lumbosacral articular facets do not differ from the orientation of these facets at spines with the regular number of 24 praesacral vertebrae. This, however, does not prove right at spines, that have a lumbosacral "transitional vertebra". Such lumbosacral transitional vertebrae detract much from the stability of the lumbosacral region of the spine.

Adult↗

[Paraneoplastic acrokeratosis (Bazex syndrome)].

Bazex acrokeratosis was found in a 79-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. The psoriasiform skin lesions preceded the tumor diagnosis by 8 months. The symptoms, the course of the disease, and histological findings are presented. Acrokeratosis paraneoplastica is a rare disease observed only in patients either with cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract or cervical lymph-node metastases.

Aged↗

[Testicular function in obstructive azoospermia].

The normal histological findings of the testicles with simultaneous azoospermia according to the former opinion renders greatly probable an obstruction of the seminal ducts. The reversed case of an ascertained obstruction, however, must not necessarily contain also normal histological structures or normal hormone tests. In the obstruction syndrome in 6 out of 23 cases we find changes in the diameter of the tubule, reductions of the spermatogenesis and changes at the interstice. Imprint-cytologically an increase of pathological spermatides at the cost of normal cell developments is shown. According to this the FSH-values are slightly but statistically significantly increased. LH, PRL and testosterone are found within the normal. For the diagnostic delimitation of the obstruction syndrome from a production azoospermia according to these findings the performance of a biopsy of the testicles with histological evaluation and the determination of the FSH-value. The relatively discrete tubular changes alone cannot be used for the explanation of the discrepancy between anatomical and functional results of the operative reconstruction of the seminal ducts.

Adult↗

A simplified functional assay for protein C in plasma samples.

The important role of protein C (PC) in the regulation of hemostasis has been appreciated since the description of patients who were deficient in PC and presented with severe thromboembolic events. The potentially fatal complications associated with PC-deficiency require an early and reliable identification of those patients affected with this inherited disorder. The present study introduces a test procedure for the functional assessment of PC in plasma samples. The test utilizes the thrombin/thrombomodulin complex to achieve complete and rapid formation of activated PC whose proteolytic capacity is subsequently determined with a chromogenic substrate. Homogenate obtained from rabbit lung effectively substituted the purified component thrombomodulin in the assay system. This new approach simplifies the test procedure without losing specificity and accuracy. Proteases, such as plasmin, streptokinase and urokinase did not influence the assay and the inhibitory effect of heparin on the PC-activation could easily be overcome by the addition of protamine sulphate. The PC-activity in a group of unselected patients (n = 50), who did not reveal any abnormalities in global coagulation tests, amounted to 100 +/- 12% (mean +/- SD) with a range from 54 to 143% when analyzed in comparison to a plasma pool constituted from healthy volunteers. Since the synthesis of PC depends on the availability of vitamin K, patients receiving phenprocoumon have also been analyzed. These patients (n = 103) presented 40 +/- 11% residual PC-activity accompanied by a concomitant decrease in PC-antigen levels to 43 +/- 10% (mean +/- SD). The test described is specific, sensitive, less time-consuming and can be performed on a routine basis.

Adult↗

[Equivalence of oral and intramuscular premedication. III. Effect of premedication on anesthesia and postoperative pain].

600 patients were given 6 different premedications in randomised design to study their effect on the course of anaesthesia and on postoperative pain. Premedication acts indirectly on anaesthesia, depending on the influence of the drug on anxiety and on the somatic correlates of anxiety. The greater the sedative-anxiolytic effect of the premedication, the easier it is to induce anaesthesia, and the more superficial the anaesthesia, resulting in earlier and stronger onset of postoperative pain. On the other hand, the more anxious the patient is, the more he consumes anaesthetic drugs, whereas anaesthesia remains superficial with the same consequences in respect of postoperative pain. In view of postoperative pain, fast and early awakening from anaesthesia must not be aimed at, particularly after operations which definitely result in postoperative pain (long-term operations in those regions of the body that cannot be immobilised).

Administration, Oral↗

[Susceptibility of the Bacteroides fragilis group to 10 antibiotics. Results of 4 laboratories in Austria].

The susceptibility of 197 strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group (109 B. fragilis, 27 B. thetaiotamicron, 23 B. vulgatus, 1 B. distasonis, 11 B. ovatus and others) to penicillin G, cefoxitin, latamoxef, piperacillin, mezlocillin, clindamycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, doxycycline and chloramphenicol was tested by an agar dilution method. 4 microbiological laboratories in Austria participated in this investigation. In all laboratories the same method was used and a joint quality control carried out. The most active substances were metronidazole and clindamycin (MIC50 1.0 and 0.5 respectively; MIC90 4 mg/l for both). Tetracycline showed only little activity, whereas doxycycline inhibited a major portion of the strains at therapeutically relevant concentrations (MIC50 16 and 2 mg/l, MIC90 32 and 16 mg/l, respectively). The MIC90 of chloramphenicol was 8 mg/l. Piperacillin and mezlocillin were about equally active (MIC50 both 16, MIC90 32 and 64 mg/l, respectively). For penicillin G, the MIC values were also favourable, the MIC90 being 32 mg/l. The possible causes for the discrepancy between the good in vitro activity and the clinical ineffectiveness of penicillin G are discussed. The cumulative MIC values (50, 90%) for cefoxitin were 8 and 32 mg/l, respectively. The MIC's of latamoxef showed a wide distribution resulting in a low MIC50 (4 mg/l) and a high MIC90 (128 mg/l). This distribution was due to the differing susceptibility of the individual species within the Bacteroides fragilis group. For B. thetaiotaomicron the highest MIC values were determined. This species as a whole was less susceptible to the beta-lactam antibiotics tested. The non beta-lactam antibiotics showed no substantial species related differences. No relevant differences between the individual laboratories were observed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Equivalence of oral and intramuscular premedication. I. Oral versus intramuscular premedication].

In a randomised study, 6 different premedications (oral flunitrazepam, oral pentobarbital, oral NaCl solution; intramuscular pethidine, intramuscular droperidol/fentanyl, and intramuscular NaCl solution) were administered to 600 patients, to determine the equal efficacy of oral and intramuscular application. The results show a significantly better mode of action of oral premedication.

Administration, Oral↗

[Equivalence of oral and intramuscular premedication. II. Effect of various conventional premedication drugs].

In a randomised study, 6 different premedications (oral flunitrazepam, oral pentobarbital, oral physiological NaCl solution, intramuscular pethidine, intramuscular droperidol/fentanyl, intramuscular physiological NaCl solution) were administered to 600 patients to determine the equal efficacy of the premedicative drugs in oral or parenteral administration. Patients gave the best rating to the oral application of flunitrazepam. The differences in the assessment of application and effect of the drugs are contrasted by the statement that most patients do not feel any direct influence on their preoperative anxiety by premedication. However, it is easier for them to cope with anxiety because premedication pacifies the patients, whereas each of the dependent variables, such as apprehension, is influenced differently. Oral premedication again proves superior to parenteral premedication.

Administration, Oral↗

Quantitative assessment of soluble fibrin in plasma by affinity chromatography--a comparative study with desAA-fibrin, desAABB-fibrin and fibrinogen.

A quantitative determination of soluble fibrin in plasma was carried out by affinity chromatography. For this purpose, desAA-fibrin and fibrinogen immobilized on Sepharose 4B were used at the stationary side whereas batroxobin-induced 125I-desAA-fibrin or thrombin-induced 125I-desAABB-fibrin mixed with plasma containing 131I-fibrinogen represented the fluid phase. The binding characteristics of these mixtures to the immobilized proteins were compared at 20 degrees C and 37 degrees C. Complete binding of both types of fibrin to the immobilized desAA-fibrin was always seen at 20 degrees C as well as at 37 degrees C. However, binding of soluble fibrin was accompanied by substantial binding of fibrinogen that was more pronounced at 20 degrees C. Striking differences depending on the temperature at which the affinity chromatography was carried out, were documented for the fibrinogen-fibrin interaction. At 20 degrees C more than 90% of the applied desAA-fibrin was bound to the immobilized fibrinogen whereas at 37 degrees C only a mean of 17% were retained at the fibrinogen-Sepharose column. An opposite finding with regard to the tested temperature was made with the desAABB-fibrin. Nearly complete binding to insolubilized fibrinogen was found at 37 degrees C (95%) but only 58% of the desAABB-fibrin were bound at 20 degrees C. The binding patterns did not change when the experiments were performed in the presence of calcium ions. The opposite behaviour of the two types of soluble fibrin to immobilized fibrinogen at the different temperatures, together with the substantial binding of fibrinogen in the presence of soluble fibrin to insolubilized fibrin in every setting tested, devaluates affinity chromatography as a tool in the quantitative assessment of soluble fibrin in patient's plasma.

Body Temperature↗

Crosslinking of fibrinogen to immobilized DesAA-fibrin.

DesAA-fibrin Sepharose was produced by treating fibrinogen-Sepharose with batroxobin. DesAA-fibrin Sepharose was mixed with different concentrations of fibrinogen and at different ratios, and incubated with preactivated FXIII. After 2 hours at 37 degrees C, the Sepharose beads were separated by centrifugation and non-crosslinked fibrinogen was removed by twice times washing with guanidinium chloride, pH 4.1. Under these experimental conditions specific crosslinking of fibrinogen to immobilized desAA-fibrin by FXIIIa was found. These results support the concept of a specific interaction between fibrinogen and fibrin involving polymerization which enables FXIIIa to crosslink fibrin to fibrinogen being in an half-staggered overlap position but not in DD-long contact.

Fibrin↗